AN: Ah it's good to be back. Although this is a little under my usual word count, I'm glad to be back. As always no flame wars, please leave comments below, and thanks for reading.
It had been three years since the day Naruto died. Sasuke stood alongside Hinata, Menma, and Sakura at Naruto's grave. It was still early the sun barely stuck up over the ridge of the forests outside the village, but today would be a long one. The four of them were finally becoming ANBU today. The missions would be more dangerous, but the four of them had spent years training and honing their skills as a team. The group all left together and headed to the Hokage's mansion. The streets were empty and only the occasional barking of a dog added to the noise of silence. The four passed the time reminiscing about past missions and the crazy antics of their friends when they were home.
Sasuke couldn't help noticing the huge and drastic change that Hinata had gone through since Naruto's death. Gone was her closed parka and baggy pants and in their place was a more confident Hinata. She had a lighter white jacket that she wore unzipped. Her crystal blue shirt underneath had the Hyuuga crest on the back. She now wore form fitting pants now, and a special pair of black fingerless gloves that channeled chakra almost effortlessly. Sasuke had grown more and more attracted to her since she had really stepped into her role as a future ANBU member.
Sasuke and the others had been put through a large gauntlet of tests, coming out of each one stronger and more prepared after each one. During their training Sasuke had all, but mastered his new Mangekyou Sharingan, his Susano'o and Amaterasu working in almost perfect sync, and his blade skills nearly surpassed Itachi's. His affinity for Raiton had eclipsed his Katon almost completely. Sasuke had spent months with Shikaku and Shikamaru a like learning how to successfully plan for nearly every situation. He had also begun to master Snake Jutsus with Orochimaru, in response to Menma's Toad Jutsus he'd been learning from Jiraiya.
Sasuke kept his blade strapped to his side hanging freely from his gray chainmesh pants. His shirt was black and short-sleeved just like his older brothers. He wore a standard dark green Jounin Flak Jacket over his shirt, and a high-collared, purple, short-sleeved jacket over that. Around his neck sat a silver Uchiha crest. He wore basic black sandals, and white ankle socks. He had the standard Shinobi gear around his waist. His head band was black like all most of his fellow Jounin.
Hinata had become a Taijutsu master that even Lee and Guy had taken note of. Her channeling of Chakra had become so great she had surpassed even the most powerful Hyuuga members. Her speed in close range combat was unparalleled and she'd even began to find ways to integrate close range Doton and Suiton into her attacks as well as learned to place the Hiraishin seal as had all the members of Sasuke's soon to be ANBU team, to further extend its range for Menma. Hinata had also spent a lot of time learning how to negotiate not only from her clan, but all of the clans both small and large in Konoha making her a negotiator that would rival even a Kage.
Sakura had spent months learning interrogation skills from Ibiki and Anko alike. Sasuke had seen several of the low key cases they'd allowed Sakura to work and he now had personal fear of her. Sakura had also learned medical skills both offensive Jutsu and life saving Jutsu from Tsunade. She was a prodigy in that respect to. Not to mention the time she spent working with Tsunade and others to finally get basic Medical Ninjutsu into the graduation requirements of the Academy graduation. She'd also spent some time with TenTen learning how to wield several weapons to a proficient extent and to an even greater extent the scythe of which she now traveled with a large black and white version of her chosen weapon.
Her attire consisted of a black and red version of Naruto's jacket that was short-sleeved and didn't go past her naval, instead stopped a few inches above it and was unzipped, giving a generous view of the steel mesh undershirt she wore underneath it. But that, like the jacket, stopped just above her naval, an inch below where her jacket stopped. She also wore some tight black cargo shorts that stopped a few inches above her knees. The boots that she had on stopped just above her calves and just below her knees. Adorning her hands were fingerless Jounin gloves that also had reinforced steel knuckles to further enhance the damage done to her opponent should she have to engage in Taijutsu. Other than that, all other standard equipment were in their standard places, including a tanto strapped to her lower back to serve as a back up weapon just in case she loses her scythe.
Menma, Sasuke's closest friend and biggest rival, was both exactly the same and yet polarizingly opposite to him. Where Sasuke had learned sword play and close range Raiton and Katon Jutsu, Menma had mastered long range Fuuton and Suiton Jutsu, and become a master of using Chakra Blades when in close range. He'd spent some time studying the Hiraishin at lengths and used it both for offensive and traveling purposes. His time spent with Jiraiya had taught him many Toad Arts, as well as given him an addiction to a certain book series.
Menma now wore a standard dark green Jounin flak jacket, under which was a short-sleeved black shirt and under that was a long-sleeved steel chest piece. He wore a pair of black pants that were littered with pouches filled with Hiraishin kunai. On his back were two large Fuma Shurikin. He also carried two Chakra Blades on his sides. His most notable feature though was his coat, a long-sleeved black long coat. It had a dark red Uzumaki swirl on the back. Menma had never known what clan he belonged to, so when he had the coat made he'd had the symbol added in honor of Naruto.
As they stood there in front of the Hokage's mansion Sasuke couldn't help tearing up a little bit. He'd become more emotional over the last three years. Itachi had taught him how to conceal his emotions in battle, but in everyday life Sasuke's new friends had shown him how to open up. Hinata took his hand in hers and looked at him with that same smile he'd grown to love over the last three years. He blushed pulling his hand away slowly. She smiled softly and looked at the other two members of their team and the four started their way inside the mansion.
"Kakashi has personally recommended you four for promotion; not only to the rank of Jounin, but also that you four are added to the ranks of ANBU as well. I've taken heed of his advice and I've decided that I will take it, and so I will be permitting you to all the privileges awarded at this level as well as the responsibilities. However before I promote you, you must accept your first mission as an ANBU." Tsunade was thorough as ever.
"And this mission does it have details?" Menma asked carefully.
"Every mission has details, Menma. But that's not the purpose of an ANBU member. You are the most elite of Shinobi and you are the first line of defense. You don't get to ask questions, the threats you deal with are immediate and real you don't have the luxury of information. You live on the edge of danger, and you must make choices blind, and you may never know what the consequences will be before you make your choices, but as ANBU that is your job." Tsunade's words rang in the ears of all four Shinobi. A fog of silence fell over them before Hinata stepped forward.
"I accept Lady Fifth." Her words rang out giving confidence to the others. The other three stepped forward Hinata continuing to speak. "In honor of Naruto-sama's memory we will all accept."
"Well well, Hinata being the voice of confidence now that is new." Tsunade laughed. "Either way I'm glad you've accepted." The four breathed a sigh of relief. "Come with me you four. As is tradition with all ANBU members we need to pick out your masks and get you proper gear." Tsunade led them down the hall to a door on the far end. "Inside are the available masks along with proper ANBU gear. Take your time and choose your mask wisely."
The four Shinobi walked in together and stared at the wall. Sasuke had had a mask in mind for the past several weeks. He grabbed the mask as soon as he saw it. It was a polished, smooth, and unlike most of the other masks it was black. The mask was rounded on top and came to a soft point at the bottom. The eye sockets were wide and narrow surrounded by red where the white's of the eyes should have been. Across the top were sharp jagged red lines, and fang like white lines on the bottom. Sasuke looked at the mask, Ryu, realizing that an Uchiha hadn't worn a Ryu mask since his father Fuugaku. Sasuke put on his new mask and quickly changed into his new gear, which was for the time, a set of standard ANBU gear of black mesh pants, a black short-sleeved shirt, and a dark green sleeveless Flak Jacket.
Hinata had also grabbed her mask rather quickly. It was grooved on the top in layers to give a mane like effect. The mask was silver in color with eye sockets that were surrounded by a ring of light blue. The mask, Raion, matched the one that her late mother had chosen. Today I make you proud mom. Hinata thought to herself in pride. Hinata slid on the mask and walked over to the ANBU gear following Sasuke's lead and quickly changed into her new gear.
Menma's choice was a bit harder. He'd spent a lot of time staring at the wall before him. He skipped over the most of the masks before stopping on a special mask. Unlike the others this one was a polished white. It was rounded on the bottom and had to ear like points on top. The eye sockets were large thought the holes for the eyes were no larger than the average mask. There were six thin yellow lines on the sides of the masks. The mask spoke to Menma who took the mask. Written on the inside was the word Kitsune, the animal Naruto was most known for. Menma put on the mask seeing the word as a sign from Kami. After choosing his mask he dawned his ANBU gear as well.
Sakura was the last to pick her mask. She'd spent a long time preparing for this moment. While the others were choosing a mask based on their personality, or for other such reasons, Sakura was hiding her pain from the world. She would use her mask to show the world that she wasn't a scared little girl anymore. No longer would she be useless. Like Hinata's mask Sakura's was a polished and smooth silver mask. Along the top were six lines orange and black in alternating fashion. The eyes were surrounded by a large amount of white. Behind this mask, Tora, Sakura would hide her emotions. This was her chance to make herself into a better Shinobi. I can't rely on others to always protect me. Starting now I'm going to protect the others. With her silent promise she took her mask and quickly put on her gear.
The new team stepped out into the hall not as regular Shinobi, but as ANBU, elite Shinobi who worked personally for the Hokage. Tsunade smiled at them and their choices. "So then you've made your choices. Let's see, Ryu, that must be Sasuke following in his father's footsteps. And Hinata you've taken after your mother I see, may Raion serve you well. Tora, Sakura that is a beautiful and powerful mask, how proper for you, and Menma." Tsunade was a bit shocked when she saw his mask. "Menma do you know who's mask that is?"
"Sadly Lady Tsunade I do not." Menma responded.
"That mask was made at the request of Forth Hokage. It was to be given to the next Shinobi to master the Hiraishin. Though his title was The Yellow Flash of Konoha, I think the title, The Black Flash of Konoha, would fit you better. Even more fitting that you, the Fourth Hokage's son, would inherit his title."
All four of them stood there in shock. "I-I'm his son?" Menma barely managed to sputter.
"Yes. You are Naruto's twin in fact. You were born about fifteen minutes before him. After you were born you were taken out of the room while Naruto was born. What happened after is still to this day a mystery. Whatever did occur, you ended up under the watchful eye of Donzo. He raised you assuming you had received the Nine-Tails when you were born." The four stood there still a bit surprised. "Now about this mission, Kakashi, Itachi, Orochimaru, I, and even Jiraiya have been" Tsunade was cut off by Sasuke who seemed to have one more announcement.
"Tsunade I think it's time we tell them." Sasuke said getting the attention of his fellow three Shinobi.
"You're sure Sasuke?" Sasuke nodded his head. "Then by all means tell them."
"I'll just say it then, I'm the Nine Tails Jinchuuriki." The look of shock on Sakura, Hinata, and Menma's face was exactly what he expected.
"How is that possible?" Sakura demanded.
"That day in the forest…" Sasuke choked on the words. "W-when Naruto died… His dying wish was that I protect the Nine Tails. When I accepted his wish, I became a willing host to the Fox, and he in turn allowed me to take him into me and that was that."
"How come it never tried to overtake you?" Menma asked.
"You know I was worried about that too, but it seems my Sharingan acted as a natural seal, and Jiraiya placed a seal on me as a backup plan. But he never seemed to want to take over me. The first time we talked he told me about how he'd come to respect Naruto."
"Leave it to Naruto to befriend the Kyuubi." Hinata said bringing a smile and small laugh to everyone in the room. And she was right, Naruto had always seemed to make friends with the most unlikely people.
"Yes he was a noble Shinobi, who seemed to surprise us all." Tsunade took a brief pause. "But back to the mission at hand." Once more Tsunade was cut off this time by Shizune bursting into the room.
"Tsunade-sama! Suna, has been attacked!" The whole room was in shock for only a moment before the four newly promoted ANBU Shinobi looked to Tsunade in terror. "It gets worse," Shizune hesitated to finish her statement. "The Kazekage has been kidnapped. Kankaro is chasing the assailants north of Suna, if we dispatch a team with in the hour they should be able to catch him and provide him back up."
"Gather Kakashi and his team, have them ready with in the hour." Tsunade said. Shizune turned to leave when Sasuke stopped her.
"Tsunade with your permission send Team Kitsune. We can leave now and not waste a moment. We should catch up to Kankaro with in two days. This will give Kakashi's team time to properly prepare." Tsunade laced her hands together and sighed. She had always thanked Kami that Naruto had never been so logical, but she knew she wouldn't get that luxury with Sasuke or any of this group for that matter. Sighing heavily she nodded to Sasuke.
"Granted. Now go Gaara and Kankaro are both counting on you." The four left with haste glad that they had gone to see Tsunade in their gear. Once they were out of ear shot Tsunade sighed again.
"Lady Tsunade... Are you sure you made the right choice?" Shizune asked softly.
"Tell me Shizune, had it been Naruto standing there and not Sasuke would you be asking the same thing?" Shizune nodded no. "Exactly. These four are all as stubborn as Naruto. Even had I told them no they would have gone. So why deny them. Whether we want to admit it or not, they're our future. We need to just believe in them. They are all great Shinobi in their own right and as a team they are nearly unstoppable. When we can no longer protect this world Shizune they will." Shinzune smiled seeing Tsunade's logic and agreeing. Starting today the fate of the world was in the hands of Sasuke and his team. She felt safe knowing this single fact.