A/N: Sorry for taking forever to update, but hopefully you guys still remember me.
Beta by: Cyrro, thanks to her everyone is getting this chapter, so cookies to you dear.
3. New beginning.
Naruto was brooding. There was dark black emo cloud visible above her head.
In any other regular day, Naruto showing any sign of emotion was a big news for her ANBU team mates. They even made bets on the matters she would show emotions towards. So far, Itachi was leading the betting pool and Kakashi, who left ANBU about a year and half ago, was a close second. Naruto herself didn't know about those bets, no body dared to piss her off by informing about her team's mischievous antics.
But, everything aside, why was she brooding on her off-duty day?
It had been six years since she joined ANBU. Her hair had grown longer, and now it reached down to her hips. She usually liked to tie it up in a single pony tail when ever she was out on missions. But on off-duty days, she liked to keep it loose. Her face had also lost all the baby fat, turning her into a splitting image of her mother Kushina(thoughshe didn't know that fact yet), with her father's colouring. She had grown taller as well. She was now taller than most of the girls in her age group.
The most significant change for the twelve year old was her strength. She was easily more powerful than a regular jounin and was promoted to a full-fledged ANBU a few months ago. Rumor had it that she would be promoted to the captain position really soon. If she did get promoted, she would break the record of becoming one of the youngest ANBU captains ever.
The past few years has made her more open to the people around her as well. She still wouldn't communicate much, but she was more emotional than ever, well as emotional as she could Hokage was relieved to see her progress. He was sure that if she closed off entirely; Kushina, her mother, would find a way to come back from dead to torture him. He didn't even want to think about what Minato, her father, would do.
And, in all this time,no one had ever seen her brooding like this.
Well, to answer their question of what was bothering Naruto, we need to do a little time travel and go back to that very morning.
Flashback...
"Owl, remove your mask," The Hokage ordered as soon as Naruto entered his office.
The Hokage had called for Naruto urgently that morning, immediately after she came back from her mission. It was still very early, but the Hokage was already in his chair, fighting through his most dangerous enemy: aka, the paperwork.
Anyway, she did what she was asked and stood at attention.
"Now take a seat child," he kindly said, gesturing to the chair in front of him. Naruto did what was asked without any hesitation. ANBU missions were tiring, even with her level of stamina, they tended to tire a person to their bones.
After she was seated the Hokage started talking immediately. "Naruto, I am not going to beat around bush. I will get straight to the point," he said and paused for a moment, most likely to gather up his thoughts.
Naruto just gave him small confused look.
What was that old man was planning now? Whatever it was, it didn't sound good.
"I want you to temporarily retire from ANBU and continue as a regular shinobi," he said in a single breath.
Naruto eyes widened a bit and she lifted her hand to sign an answer. But before she could sign anything he stopped her and continued,
"I want you to join a genin team, as a third member of the team. Besides, it's about time you stopped hiding away from public eye behind masks," he finished calmly, inwardly releasing a relived breath. He said it! He actually said it with a straight face!
What?! She literally jumped off the seat. She was giving him a wide eyed look that clearly said have-you-lost-your-mind?
The Hokage noted how much she looked like her mother when she showed more emotions. It saddened him a bit, but he brushed it off. He after all was making sure she would be forced to show more emotions and open up to more people from now on.
"Please take the seat again Naruto, we are not finished yet," he said sounding very calm and cool, puffing out some smoke.
It took her all the self-control that she learned in the previous six years not to react and calmly took the seat.
"You know all about the Uchiha incident," the Hokage said and Naruto nodded, "Well, after all the enquiries, they were found not guilty. But the council isn'tcompletely sure of the situation yet. Danzo may be in prison but the others are not any better. They don't trust the Uchiha clan fully, not yet. Tomorrow Itachi's little brother, Sasuke, will graduate. I want you to join his team and keep an eye on him for me. Itachi lost all trust from his clan after that incident, and they don't share important info with him anymore. If your report does not turn out satisfactory to them, the village will move accordingly," he finished, looking very old and tired.
True tothe Hokage's words, the Uchiha who was controlling the ninetails that night was not found among the clan members. There was now a huge chance of a rogue Uchiha running around, working against the Hokage sent out tracking teams to investigate and search for some one like that. So far, no trace of such an Uchiha had been seen.
The Police Forcewas made open to all the clans after that incident, although the reason wasn't publicly Hokage knew that a huge hole had been created between the villagers and the Uchiha would take some time to fill that hole, if it ever happens any Uchihas were told clearly not to attempt any reckless moves like the coup d'état again, but no one wanted to take any chances when village's security came into question.
Since they were not found guilty, they demanded have all surveillance placed on them removed, which was done as a show of mutual trust from village. All in all the tension was definitely much less now, though it wasn't completely gone. A minimal problem with village's security system had occurred, but it was solved easily. Too easily actually: Hiruzen had a sickening suspicion about the whole situation but, after checking everything, nothing was found out of place.*
Naruto took a deep breath and signed, 'Do you not trust the Uchihas? Or is this completely the idea of the councillors?'
The Hokage tensed at her question. "Both are the reason actually," he answered slowly. Putting down his pipe he continued, "I don't out right distrust them, but I don't trust them completely either. The Council believes, now that they know Itachi can't be trusted, their next village-clan bridge will be Sasuke, who is also a talented child. You will not be alone in this situation though. Kakashi will be in the same team with you as your jonin-sensei, to help you out," he said leaning back on his chair.
She went silent after his explanation. On one hand she didn't want to get out of ANBU, but on other hand the village needed her. No matter how much the villagers hated her existence, it was still her village and she had a duty towards it. She was most suited to supervise this situation, and she couldn't just leave Itachi's little brother to someone else's hands.
'I understand,' she signed determinedly. 'Iwill accept the mission.'
After another pause she added, 'It is a mission right?'
"Well, you can put it that way. Thank you for doing this Naruto. I knew I could trust you," Hokage said with a kind smile.
He took out a scroll from the pile of papers in front of him and said, "Take this scroll with you."He handed her the small scroll. "It contains information about your new team mates. Watch out for your other team mate too. Good luck" he said and waved her farewell.
She gave a cut nod, took the scroll and teleported away to the base.
End flash back...
Now that was the reason for Naruto's brooding. Lord Hokage was a big bully, and he just bullied her into joining a freaking genin team.
"I never imagined I would find you brooding here," said an amused voice from behind Naruto. "Don't you generally brood on the Hokage mountain or something?"added the voice, with a touch of mischievousness in his deep tone.
She turned to the person belonging to that voice with aglare. 'Cut the act Captain. You know why I was upset,' she signed.
"Now, now, I am not your captain anymore Naru, Tenzo is. But I am going to be your sensei from tomorrow, so start calling me Kakashi-sensei,'' said Kakashi with his famous eye smile.
She gave him a dry look. 'Why are you here sensei?' she signed, making a face on 'sensei' part.
"Oh! I was just here to annoy Tenzo or Itachi, who ever I find first, and to tell you that no genin team given to me has ever passed their second genin test. Unless you can convince your team mates to work with you, as a team, you will fail. See you soon," he said with a cheerful voice and another eye-smile, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Naruto's emo black cloud grew ten fold with thunder lightening added to it. Great, just freaking great! He just came here to make sure she communicated with her team, and actually convince them to work with her, or she would fail the had never failed once and she intends to keep her record clean, thank you very much.
Line break...
Itachi was having a bad day. Why you ask? First, his mother forced him to tutor his little brother for his graduation test, which would be held later that day. All morning he was stuck with his brother, training with him and helping him practice his academy level questions. On one hand he loved his brother, it was an absolute truth, and he also loved to spend time with him too, but on the other hand but he disliked academy level training. It becomes much too easy after a point. Though basics are important and all, he an ANBU captain, was not cut out for any more academy training.
After that, he was again forced to go grocery shopping with his mother. Now, grocery shopping wasn't a bad thing to do either, but, with his mother, it definitely was.
She would stop at every shop gossiping with other women. It took forever to buy any thing and move from one shop to another. Occasionally, she would also introduce him to other women, and they would ask him a bunch of stupid personal questions. There was a reason why ANBUs wear masks, they had to maintain secrecy so he had to douge their question as politely as possible. And then those women would also offer to introduce him to their beautiful and wonderful daughters, nieces etc. Couldn't they see he wasn't interested in any of their wonderful and beautiful young daughters and nieces? He was perfectly happy with his carrier right now. Ok, it might not be perfect; he would like to get back the trust from his clan elders. But his clan elders never trusted him that much to begin with, so he was ok with that.
But getting it back would be better. He was tired of suspicious looks from those old geezers. He had enough to deal with already, he didn't want a romantic relationship in the mix right now.
Besides, if he ever (very rarely mind you!) put any thought into what kind of girl he would like infuture, his mind (which he believed was completely rotten for that matter!) would show him the picture of long blond hair with bright blue eyes, completed with a soft smile which was reserved only for him.
It's been a year since he started having those disturbing feelings towards his best friend, and those feelings were increasing on a regular basis. Boy he hated that. Why did it have to be her? Why was it Naruto of all people? She was supposed to be his best friend. He couldn't go crushing on her, could he? He was in denial at first, but then that bastard Kakashi got tohim. He was sure he wasn't showing any sign of his feelings on the outside, but the copy nin Kakashi could tell. He remembered that encounter clearly, man was it awkward. It happened right after he turned seventeen.
Flashback...
"Itachi, I need to talk to you for a minute. Come with me."
Itachi was a little surprised by the silver man's rather unusual invitation. Why was his fellow ANBU captain calling him all of a sudden? Was it a new mission? was this mission classified? But nonetheless he nodded and followed the older man.
Naruto raised an eye brow at the unusual gesture from Kakashi, but didn't question her ex-captain.
Previously, Itachi was sitting with his old team. This was actually one of his very rare daysoff, and he really wanted to avoid his mother right now. Naruto, Tenzo and some other ANBU were present, and they were playing go-fish. That indeed was a slow day for him.
After they were outside the base, Kakashi turned to him and said very calmly, "You have feelings for her." And that wasn't a question, rather it was a statement.
At first, Itachi was confused about who was he talking about. But soon Kakashi made it clear. "I mean Naruto."
He was a bit taken back by the sudden question. But didn't show any of that outside. "She is my best friend and I respect her a lot, if that's what you meant by feelings Kakashi," he answered as calmly as possible. But in inside he was a bit scared. This guy cared about Naru like his own blood sister. If he had found about his feelings towards her, he might get a chidori in the face.
"Are you in denial or something? Come on its kind of obvious to me that you like her romantically," Kakashi answered with a raised eye brow, well only eye brow, and a dry tone.
It took Itachi all his self-control not to flinch at that.
"I don't know what are you talking about," he said calmly.
Denialdenialdenialdenial!
But by now Kakashi'slone eye was showing an amused expression.
"So you are indenial," concluded the silver haired man, making Itachi visibly flinch this time. "I get it. Well, get over it already. I knew an Uchiha before who had a crush on a girl I was alsoacquaintance with. You, though not as expressive as him, are showing quite a lot of signs similar to him."
Itachi was sweating a bit inwardly. Well, he was doomed.
"Don't wary, I won't tell her that, yet. She deserves someone who will be honest with her. Take care of her," he said softy, with an eye smile patting on his shoulder and teleported away.
End flashback...
Kakashi also advised him to confess his feeling to Naruto soon. According to him, it would make her happy.
But, Itachi wasn't entirely sure about his feelings towards Naruto. What if it was only admiration? What if she didn't felt the sameway? What if she closed off to him again? What if she though the was taking advantage of her in any way? No, that couldn't happen. He just couldn't lose her. He just needed confirmation that his feelings for Naruto were indeed true, and he would gladly confesse verything to her immediately.
Then, when he was finally out of his mother's clutches, he went to the ANBU base only to hear the news of Naruto's temporary retirement from ANBU, and her joining his brother's genin team. Talk about troublesome incidents, he thought tiredly.
In another part of village, a clans' a worth of lazy people sneezed and thought 'how troublesome' in union.
Line break...
" Naru," a gentle voice called Naruto.
Only two people, aside from the Hokage, had the guts to call her 'Naru'. One being her ex-captain, Kakashi, and the other being Itachi, her best friend.
She was busy brooding on top of Hokage Mountain after her little chat with hersoon-to-bejonin-sensei. Hearing that voice, a soft smile immediately crossed herface. She quickly turned to the source of the voice,and saw Itachi slowly walking towards her. His hands were in his pockets, and he seemed quite relaxed. Naruto knew better then to judge him by his posture. He hid his emotions almost better than her. Although his presence seemed only to make her happy and her heart warmed every time she saw him. Whenever he was around, she felt safe and relaxed. Maybe it was just his chakra – it was very comfortable and peaceful.
He came and sat beside her gracefully. He had been graceful for as long as she could remember. The last few years hadn't changed him much. But just like her, he had gotten taller. He was almost as tall as Kakashi now. His shoulders had gotten broader; his physical appearance seemed lean and fit. He still liked to tie his hair in a single loose pony tail, which according to Naruto, made him look badass. The worried expression he had earlier was gone from his posture. He was more relaxed now, and he looked happier these days.
"I heard what happened today," he started talking, looking at the village below them. It was around 7 on evening. A soft breeze was blowing past the mountains. The sky had turned dark quite a while ago and stars were visible in the night sky alongside a half-eatenmoon.
Her mood darkened again. She looked down at her lap and bit her lips.
Looking at her reaction from a side glance, Itachi let out asigh."It won't be that bad only haveto be there until one of your team mates makes chunin. You will be all right. I promise," he said gently, giving her a soft look.
Was it just him or she looked cute even when brooding? He shook his head. It wasn't the time or place to think about his troublesome feelings.
But Naruto, oblivious to his reaction, bit her lip again. 'I am a little nervous. All of my life, I only knew ANBU, I don't know how to even talk to anyone outside the ANBU,' shesigned.
"Be yourself." he said almost instantly. "Be yourself and they will love you," he finished looking softly down at her.
'I don't know. It's just that I don't feel right about this. It isn't a thing I can just practice and perfect it. I have to actually communicate with others and have to go onmissions without a mask on. It's too troublesome,' she signed sadly.
Again, in another part of the village, a clans' worth of people sneezed. They briefly wondered if they were catching cold and thought it was too troublesome to think about and went tobed early.
"Well let's get you some practice then,"he said.
Naruto raised an eye brow at his really usual answer.
"My brother is in your team right? I am having dinner with him today as a celebration for his graduation. Will you join us? Don't worry, it's just me and him. Let's meet him shall we?" he said, offering his right hand towards her.
She looked a bit confused. 'When?' she questioned, though she pressed her own right hand into his palm.
He gave a bright smile. "Now."
Naruto's eyes widened. But before she could refuse he teleported both of them to the front of a restaurant, where a very annoyed looking Sasuke Uchiha was waiting.
Line break...
When his big brother offered him to take to a dinner to celebrate his graduation, Sasuke became truly happy. He didn't care what his clans men said, he just truly loved his big brother. He was a bit annoying sometimes, but Itachi was the best thing that ever happened to him.
When they reached his favourite restaurant (which makes excellent tomato dishes.) Itachi told him to wait outside and teleported away.
First he was surprised and soon he became annoyed. After waiting for over half an hour, he appeared with a blond girl in tow. The blondgirl was glaring bullet holes through his suspiciously cheerful looking brother's back. Clearly she didn't want to be here with him...Wait what?Not want to be with his brother!
A girl not wanting to be around him or his brother! Now that was new. What was going on? Who was she?
"Naruto, meet my younger brother Sasuke. Sasuke meet Naruto, she also graduated today. She had an accident back in her child hood which left her mute, so she was home schooled to avoid communication problem," Itachi introduced him to the blond girl. Sasuke glared at Itachi and took an uninterested peek at the blond girl. Now that he looked at her, she was around his age and- Holy crap! she was so beautiful! More beautiful then all those fan girls in his class combined.
He concealed his inner shock and said, "That doesn't explain how you know her, big brother." He crossed his arms over his chest. He never heard any mention of a beautiful blonde girl named Naruto at home.
Itachi noticed hisbrother'sreaction and smiled inwardly. He knew Sasuke would notice how beautiful his Naru was. He felt proud of her and scolded his small inner mind for feeling jealous towards Sasuke. Itachi wasn't jealous of his little brother getting to be ona team with Naruto. Not at all.
But the problem was, not only his younger brother, but many of otherpassers-by also noticed her beauty. Itachi wondered for a secondif it was a good decision to bring her out here after all, but dismissed that quickly.
"I was once her guard, and before you ask yes, the reason is confidential. We became friends after I was released from guarding her. Now she is my bestfriend," he stated.
Sasukevwas now wide eyed and wide mouthed, shocked at that statement. His anti-social brother had a beautiful girl as his best friend! Now he really wanted to know more about her. And why on earth she was being guarded? an ANBU guard of Itachi's calibre at that.
Naruto, oblivious to the reaction she was attracting, was becoming increasingly nervous by the second. She tightened her grip on Itachi's hand, and tried to hide behind him. Itachi looked at her briefly andgave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
The whole action wasn't missed by Sasuke, and he was becoming more confused by the second.
"I thought it will be nice for you to meet a serious Kunoichi for once, who isn't your fan girl," Itachi said to him and turned towards her. "I also thought she could meet someone from the same graduating class as her. Who knows, you could be on same team tomorrow," he finished with small wink at Naruto who glared at his cheeky answer.
But Sasuke's mind was racing by now. How strong was she to get his big brother's attention? Not a fangirl? Well, his brother would never call one of his fangirls his friend, let alone best friend. She was beautiful, he would give her that, but was she strong enough? With a thousand questions running around his head he just answered with his favourite word. "Hn."
"Well, let'seat."
"Hn."
Line break...
'That was awkward,' Naruto signed.
True to her words, dinner was very awkward. Sasuke refused to speak much and Naruto didn't even try to communicate for once. Itachi was never a talkative person. So dinner was mostly filled with awkward silence.
After that Itachi politely asked to walk her home which she accepted.
Now they were walking towards ANBU quarters together.
"Well, at least you know how my brother is now," Itachi said.
After apause, he added in a softer tone, " I am glad you came and stayed through it."
'Like I had a choice,' she signed, giving him a dry look.
He chucked a little at that, and ruffled her hair a little.
After walking for a while in silence they reached the ANBU quarters.
"Well, look we reached your quarters," he said and they both stopped in front of Naruto's house. Itachi turned to Naruto and said, "Well, I should be going!then, it's getting late. Good night Naru." He looked down at her softly.
Naruto nodded. 'Goodnight,' she signed with a little and beautiful smile, and went up to her front her door and gave him a last wave before going in and shutting her door with a click behind her.
Outside her door, Itachi sighed softly. Unknown to Naruto, his stupid heart was beating like crazy again, only she could do it with just a small smile. It took him almost all his self-control not to hug her and never let her go. God, what was she doing to him?
Unknown to them, the whole scene was observed by an amused old man through his crystal. Well, now that was really interesting development, thought the old man.
A/N:
That incident with Obito sneaking in to the village is featured here, where Itachimet himin canon. Here he wasn't sure enough to tell Hokage aboutthe meeting.
I have a challenge. Guess who will be their third team mate?
Please Review.
