((Disclaimer: I Don't Own Naruto or Any Character Related to the Series))
A/N: I enjoy the anime's unique style of replaying scenes from previous episodes with altered material in new episodes so I will adopt it into my writing. Hope no one gets thrown off by this. And like before read, enjoy and review.
Sasuke and Anko stared each other down as the jonin drew a kunai from her sleeve ready to strike him down. Without warning his sharingan's genjutsu activated seemingly trapping Anko in place. As he reached for his own kunai Sasuke's hand was suddenly cut by Anko's kunai.
"How did she negate my genjutsu…"Sasuke thought wiping off the blood from his hand.
"So this is the little Uchiha brat who failed to join the ANBU Black Ops," she shouted, licking Sasuke's blood from her kunai. "Some prodigy you are," she taunted as the Third Hokage stepped between them.
"Sasuke Uchiha, meet your jonin squad leader… Anko Mitarashi…"
Chapter 2 – Team 9 Assembles
The tension between Sasuke and Anko carried into the Hokage's office. While Sasuke wrapped up his hand in bandages Anko watch him enticingly, still taunting him with her sadistic smile. Neither one of them could say they had much respect for the other but internally they both doubted the Third's decision.
"Now that the introductions are out of the way, I'll explain the conditions of this team to you," Sarutobi stated, tilting up his hat.
"Conditions… how can there be any conditions when there's no team," Sasuke questioned, pointing out the fact that he and Anko were the only ones there. All of a sudden Anko's swift hand flew from behind Sasuke, simultaneously, smacking him in the head.
"Shut the hell up and listen you little brat," she demanded, silencing the young Uchiha.
The Third subtly coughed to regain their attention, "The other two shinobi were contacted by Anko prior to this meeting. You're the last to join Team 9."
"Team 9 huh…" Sasuke whispered curious to find out who the other two ninja might be. "And what makes this team so special."
"There are a number of reasons as to why I would consider this team special but I'll allow Anko explain that later. Until then you should know something… You are the only genin ranked ninja within your team."
Sasuke shrugged his shoulders at the thought but responded to amuse himself, "What does that mean; are the others 'skilled' jonin like her?"
"You're really pushing your luck with me," Anko returned, latching on to Sasuke from behind as he quickly brushed her aside.
"No… the shinobi assigned to your team have never even attended Konoha's Ninja Academy."
"Wait!" Sasuke snapped, "Are you serious? I'm not joining this team to babysit a group of kids."
"You're right," Anko yelled, slapping Sasuke once again, "I am. The reason your future comrades haven't attended the Ninja Academy is because-"
"Anko, perhaps it's best you show Sasuke why instead," the Third suggested, bringing down Anko's elated reaction.
"Yes, you're right Hokage. I was going to meet the others at the 21st Training Ground anyways. The Uchiha can follow me there."
*humph* Sasuke grunted dismissing the ideal, "I refuse to join a team I know nothing about."
"Don't be so anxious you arrogant little brat," Anko proceeded to provoke him, "Soon enough you'll have all the time in the world to get to know them." She grinned then walked out the door before shouting back into the room, "I'll be waiting outside."
"Sasuke, Anko can be a bit much at times but I assure you there's a reason why I chose her to lead your team," Sarutobi explained, though his words seemed to fall on deaf ears as Sasuke left the room. "Her test will certainly be a testament to that."
Sasuke reluctantly followed Anko as they headed for the training ground. He remembered Iruka explaining how the 21st through 27th training grounds were restricted to jonin ranked shinobi only. Those foolish enough to venture there without a supervising jonin never returned to the Leaf Village.
"Looks like we're here," Anko announced, dropping down from the treetops to the field below.
The gifted genin dropped down beside her and quickly noticed the sign before the 21st Training Ground reading "Entrance Forbidden." Suddenly he noticed someone sitting down by the river kicking back and forth within the currents. The person couldn't have been more than two or three years older than him (Sasuke being 11) yet he couldn't tell whether it was a boy or girl. His attention then turned to the young girl leaned on the three behind him. As their eyes met she set up, apparently recognizing the Uchiha.
"What is she doing here," he thought, turning away from her as she fell back into her reserved that.
"Alright you little brats fall in line," Anko excitingly shouted despite the timid reactions of her squad. "Sasuke Uchiha. Hinata Hy úga. Haku Kosame; my name is Anko Mitarashi and I will be acting as the official squad leader of Team 9."
"Really… how exciting…" Sasuke replied sarcastically.
Anko just snickered, "And my first order of business," she hesitated as her deep brown eyes targeted Sasuke, "IS TO WHIP YOU PATHETIC BRATS INTO SHAPE." Out of nowhere the hyperactive jonin snatched Sasuke up by his shirt surprising Haku and Hinata.
"S-Sa-Sasuke…" Hinata worried as the Uchiha's sharingan activated instinctively.
"Ha, didn't you learn anything before. Your weak level of sharingan can't do anything to me," she taunted him as Sasuke struggled to escape her clutch. "Wait a minute… he's not trying to attack me at all. Is this what Lord Hokage was trying to warn me about?"
*memory*
"Anko, there's something else you should know about Sasuke Uchiha," Sarutobi stopped her before leaving the room. "The night his clan was massacred, Sasuke's kekkei genkai activated for the first time."
"You mean the Uchiha's sharingan…"
"Yes. The sharingan is usually a sign of prodigies for the Uchiha, especially for those as young as Sasuke. However because of Sasuke's traumatic experience his sharingan is unstable. Though he's learned how to activate it on command it also seems to activate at will when Sasuke feels endangered."
"So he's another flawed prodigy, like me…"
*memory*
Anko let go of Sasuke after realizing his attitude was a way to hide his own frailties; very reminiscent of herself. She looked around at her new squad all of them supposed prodigies in their own right yet known of them able to realize their potential. Now it was her job to help them reach that potential and shed their insecurities. Unexpectedly she started to grin.
"I guess the Hokage wants me to do the same thing," she thought, turning towards the group. "It's time to break the ice. Since as far as I know none of you've ever met before now you're each going to share a little about yourselves," In an instance she moved behind Sasuke and bumped him forward, "and don't you dare be shy or I'll be happy to feel in the gaps."
Sasuke sighed as he proceeded to introduce himself, "My name is Sasuke Uchiha and I'm the last of my clan. And one day, I plan to avenge all of their deaths… by killing that man."
"Sasuke…"
"Next up, Hinata Hyúga," she blurted causing Hinata to jump.
"Ah… okay sensei," she quietly responded with her faint voice. "My name is Hinata Hyúga. My father, Hiashi Hyúga, is the head my clan's main house thereby making me the heir to Hyúga Clan," her entire expression abruptly dropped, "But because of my… inabilities, my clan is on the verge of-"
"That's enough," Anko quickly interrupted her. "I'm only interested in learning about you, not your clan's private affairs. Haku it's your turn."
"You want to know about me," Haku recited, looking away. "Six years ago the ninja of the Leaf found me wandering in the Land of Water lost, cold and hungry. I was covered in the scent of death and my skin was stained with blood."
"What the hell is with this guy," Sasuke thought. Hinata was also taken by the boy's dark tone appearing just as bewildered as Sasuke.
"Then they asked me, what happened to me before… so I told them… that I killed them… that I killed everyone within my village."
Immediately, both Sasuke and Hinata's confusion turned into fear as Haku's murderous past was revealed. Already, in the short time at which they had met, Team 9's faults were exposed before them. Now they had to bear these faults and become a team.
"Great. Now that we all know each other it's time for your first squad mission as Team 9," Anko started to laugh, leaving her students even more confused.
A/N: What better way to "break the ice" than by telling your new squad that you're a murder. Anyways, Team 9 has been formed and Anko is ready to send them on their first mission. I hope they're up for the challenge and hope you guys/gals leave a review.
