Of Preparation and Expectation.
With training due to start later that day it was easy to see why I was unsettled. Jonin aren't the be all and end all of ninja, and I, a special Jounin was a grade below them. Neither liked the idea of having someone as sensei again, Hokage-sama excluded of course.
The prospect of training intensifying at someone else's rate, moving on when they wanted to and not having full control over my own grown brought back memories of my time as a student. Orochi, I thought bitterly. You got the end you deserved.
Life needed to change every once in a while, and as I turned out from the alley and began to follow the river down to a nice quite spot, I reminded myself that Hatake-san was my key. ANBU duty was sure to be tough, but it would allow me to feel useful again. The exam had become hollow.
The river flowed in a lazy sway through Konoha, running in an arc from the north east and ending in a beautiful pool in the south west. If one was so inclined, the lake allowed for a quiet get away. I was so inclined. A short water walk took me across and round to a small island of rock and dirt that couldn't be reach other than this way.
Even in a village full of ninja catching a glimpse of a ninja, especially one as unapproachable as me, casually strolling out across the surface of a lake was something I don't think the villagers were likely to get used to. I needed quiet to prepare for the days training, and this was my answer. They could deal.
After a few steps onto the compacted dirt something cool, almost cold, pressed against my neck at a strange angle. The cold steel made me shiver part pleasure and part excitement.
"Don't move,"
I considered the command for a moment before twisting outward and reaching for my weapon pouch. There was a soft ripping sound and I found myself facing the lake with my hand pressed against my leg.
The sandy colour of my pouch dangled just to the left of my head, I was prevented from turning my head, to see it fully, by the steel against that side of my neck. The evasive movement I'd just performed left me even closer to the water and it was swashing against my boots.
"It's over,"
From the very start, I cursed herself. The kunai was withdrawn and the pouch dropped into my hands. I turned to face my attacker; Kakashi met my scowl with an almost blank look. The Jounin, absent-mindedly returned his kunai to his own pouch.
My intensions to speak were superseded by Kakashi vanishing. Shunshin was a jutsu that the better Chunin and all Jonin could do. It's a form of fast travel that takes up a fairly large amount of chakra, so is restricted to short distances. The ninja uses chakra to enhance their muscles and reflexes.
Most ninja use something to cover their tracks if it's being used as an exit. Leaf nin used smoke and leaves. In combat however it simply looked like the ninja would vanish or appear. Movement so fast it was hard to track.
The only way to reach this island was across that water. It was under an overhang so it could not be dropped down to.
"Hatake can shunshin that far? Not good."
"Hatake!"
The door to the Jounin's apartment was already open, so I took the opportunity to barge right on in. A flick of my wrist sent a star across the room in his direction; annoyingly he caught it on a finger. Kakashi vaulted from the back of his sofa to the front and half turned as he did.
Having correctly surmised that that I would shunshin behind him as the star was blocked, the copy ninja was in a prime position to defend. He gave me a few body slips and parried my attacks. Eventually I overextended myself and noted with frustration that Hatake had a grip of my wrist and elbow.
A slight twist caused enough pressure in my arm to drive me to the ground, with the weight of that loafer pressing down on my back.
"Get off of me Hatake. Now!" I writhed useless under the combined advantage of my arm as leverage, and his position afforded him.
"This morning, at the lake, was pathetic." He gave my wrist the gentlest of tweaks to emphasise his point. "You couldn't have expected me, which meant you couldn't defend against me. Do you know why?"
"Because you're better than me?" I barked, resuming my vigorous writhing.
"Not the reason I had in mind." He replied, sound a little bemused, "You expected to be meeting me around now. You ruled me out. A Jounin must never lower their guard, home village or not. An arranged meeting is not a guaranteed one."
He finally let go of my arm and stood up. I climbed to my feet, grimacing in pain and knitted my fingers against my sprained shoulder. I scowled at him again.
"How am I-" I began.
"Supposed to know?" Kakashi finished, "from now on I want you to expect me at any time. Day or night, mission or not, I want you to expect me when you're shopping, when you're sleeping, when you're eating, alone or not, meeting with the Hokage or when you're bathing."
Taken a back I raised my eye brows, still I couldn't take the smile off my face.
"You wouldn't..." I breathed. Admittedly, a little excited by the prospect.
"Would it be the first time?" he asked, "Training ground three. Come prepared, Anko-san." Eye smiling at me, Kakashi Hatake vanished.
Again.
A/N: I won't make any excuses for this chapter. It is a basic method of establishing the level of awareness Anko will need. Also to build on a few possible events later.