Hello, BCFireShadow here!
I know I'm late, but we had a lot of things to do in school. So here's my chapter!
And please, please, put reviews. I don't have enough motivation, people. Please?
Anyways, I don't own Naruto. Dang it, but the truth hurts, ain't it? (Not really)
Chapter 4- A New Responsibility
Konohagakure no Sato followed this curriculum; the Hokage was the highest position, next were the Sannin level, then the ANBU and Special Jounin next, Chuunin, Genin, then Academy Student. Others were; the Tokubetsus, those who fill the gaps between each rank, the Clan Heads and the Civilian Heads completing the Council, and the Oi-Nins, the Hunter Ninjas.
After the war, ninjas were fewer, but higher in rank. Also, those who survived the war made one step higher in the ranks because of it. New teams were formed along the way.
But none were as famous as Konoha's best tag team, an ANBU duo who was practically known for rescuing people, fighting people, or simply guarding the Hokage. They wore the standard uniform of the ANBU, but the other had metal plates on his arms and the other had chakra bands. The first also uses the Dog (Inu) mask, the other the Fox (Kitsune) mask. At the ANBU missions, they were known to be both ruthless and did not show any mercy to the victim being killed.
At ANBU HQ, it was quite the opposite.
Kitsune had the habit of training the others in each style, and learning from them, adding a few key strokes to his taijutsu. Pranking others who lowered their guard because they knew they were safe was also a hobby of his, and the poor kouhais were introduced to the practical finesse of the 'Pranking King'. He also became friends to all of them, not one hated him because he had this aura of calmness, friendliness and understanding. He was pretty much known to the outside world as the Hero of Konoha, Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto.
Inu was, in all terms, quite the opposite of his teammate Kitsune. He always had to be encouraged to make friends with others and train with others courtesy of Fox. He was reserved, quiet, but without anybody noticing, Kitsune's personality had rubbed off on him a little. He also trusted Fox because he was the first true friend that understood that understood why he does things differently. This ANBU member was known as Hatake Kakashi.
At first, admittedly, the Hokage was skeptical at first. She felt that her younger brother wouldn't like ANBU as its specialty was to protect Konoha behind the curtains, completely opposite his personality. She remembered that day when she found out that they were accomplishing mission after mission.
'What the- 30 missions, only in one month?' she looked up at the duo, one in his usual slouch and bored expression posture, and the other was standing 'professionally' in front of his leader, meaning, smirking at the expense of the 'old lady'.
"So… not fit for ANBU, huh?" Naruto asked.
Tsunade rolled her eyes at his apparent boastfulness, but somehow the young man wasn't that loud anymore. Maybe Kakashi was the reason. "And killing? Are you okay?"
"I am, Baa-chan." Naruto confirmed. "I had with Kakuzu,but he was immortal, you know. And killed Asuma-sensei. Injured my friends, too. Still, he didn't have blood, so… yeah. Madara was killed by our combined efforts, not me. Tobi and Pein had a change of heart- how, I don't know- and sacrificed himself. So I didn't technically kill them. I don't even remember any first kill. Isn't that where you puke your guts out? No thank you. Kakashi-sensei would be the done to kill them. I don't know. He says I'm not yet prepared?"
Smiling at the memory, Tsunade went to the next one; how the two had changed ANBU HQ. ANBU now became more dedicated in their work after an awe-inspiring speech from the blonde, they were more alert and serious that they can even detect the slightest of sounds that most Kage won't hear, and nobody had qualms from each other.
The both of them had changed the ANBU for the better.
'Come to think of it the two is on a mission. I wonder, are they alright? The mission that I gave them was to attack the last remaining members of Akatsuki, the ones that stole the eyes of the Uchiha were Obito once stored them, and in return implanted the Sharingan in their eyes. Are they safe? Of course they would. They are the best after all. After this, maybe I can retire.. and drink a lot of sake and gamble. Yeah, plans, plans.'
She didn't see the crack on her bottle of sake.
Kakashi Hatake was having a hard time. He was currently fighting the poison inside him injected by the enemy into his body earlier. He had to grip himself from shaking too much so he wouldn't attract his teammate's concentration. Pushing himself up to stand, wrapping bandages to the wound in his torso where the poison entered, he quickly hid the medical pack and put down his gear. He looked at the blonde beside him.
"Kitsune, report." He ordered, wincing a little. He prayed to God Naruto wouldn't notice that,
"Hai, Senpai. Ano, before that, are you injured, Inu?" Kitsune asked, peering at the man. He only noticed the medical pack being hidden. 'Oh well, I'd find out sooner or later.'
"Nope, I'm not. How're the heads?" he asked, referring to the ones that they incapacitated earlier.
"Oh, that?" Naruto said, tilting his head. "Tora-sempai got it covered. He should be coming in. Dang, those guys ACTUALLY hit me. Because of that Izanagi technique."
"Actually, I think.." the figure of Yamato holding a bag arrived at the scene. He gave it to Naruto who sealed it in the scroll. "You can defeat him without beating a sweat if he didn't have the Sharingan." He commented, making his former student smile.
"Thanks, Yamato-sempai."
"Don't mention it."
Kakashi looked towards his blonde subordinate, inwardly wincing at the poison taking over his system. He gritted his teeth in pain and for once, thanking Yamato for entertaining Naruto. Actually, he's not that old not to fight the poison-the poison that went to his system was too hard to remove, and only Tsunade and his student Sakura could remove it.
But that's the thing-they were too far to reach in time. Refining his posture again, he asked a question to assess the Yondaime Hokage's son on how he had progressed.
'I don't have much time.'
"Naruto, why do you think people like him," he gestured to the latter's scroll where he kept the incapacitated bodies were sealed. "Search for power like the Sharingan?"
"Well, I could think of many possibilities, but one really points to something; because they had let the darkness inside them to consume their goodness.. But to have power.. is to have someone to protect." He smiled wistfully, remembering his genin days when he had the first true friend that could really understand him, Haku.
Kakashi nodded, inwardly smiling. 'Yep. The perfect choice.'
Yamato's interest was piqued. 'Interesting.. what is Taichou trying to do? He never asks complicated questions in missions. What is wrong, I wonder?'
"Why'd you ask, Kakashi-sensei?" the blonde jinchuuriki asked.
"Hm?" he looked at him lazily, now that their masks were removed. "Oh, nothing. Just…"
"Just…?" Tenzo repeated. The only answer he was a cryptic response, accompanied by a somewhat eye smile of his captain. Yamato was suddenly taken aback at the sad visage of the sole survivor of Team Minato. He suddenly remembered why Naruto was Kakashi's (second, next to Gai, of course) best friend.
"I'm proud to be your sensei, Naruto. I wish you'd grow up like your father and be a great shinobi. I'm very glad I've gotten to know you, and to be honest, you're my first real best friend, after Gai. Thanks for everything." Kakashi said, giving a wistful glance at the two before entering his tent. He knew Naruto can't do anything anymore t the point. He wasn't a healer, a poison expert, no. And they were too far from Konoha-even with Naruto's superior speed he was a lost case. He was, admittedly, feeling weak.
Naruto only blinked, not understanding why his sensei had done that. Tenzo, however, felt pity for the young jinchuuriki, understanding the words underneath.
' Naruto….I'm sorry.'
Next day, Naruto went to his sensei's tent, only to find a note attached to the flap. Reading it quickly, he tried suppressing his tears and biting his lips, not letting his tears fall.
Hastily opening the tent, he trembled at the sight of his former senseis and current ANBU teammates. One was kneeling, head bowed down as a sign for respect, and the other one was lying still on his futon, a contented sleeping face. Naruto finally let his tears fall, quivering beside his second teacher.
Hatake Kakashi, son of the White Fang, the only non-Uchiha to hold the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan and also known as Kopi Mangekyou Sharingan no Kakashi, that night, died.
The Hokage was the leader of the whole Leaf village, a supposedly calm, collected, understanding, and powerful shinobi. But this Hokage, was a temperamental one, a kunoichi with massive strength, and was currently worrying about ANBU's three highest officials.
Earlier, when she was looking at the files of the three, a group picture of the old and modern Team Seven consisting of 'The Four Guardians of the World' Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze, Sakura Haruno, Sai and Sasuke Uchiha, the Copy Ninja Kakashi Hatake, and the Wood Master Tenzou Yamato. The first three member's picture was hanging on the wall, beside the newer one.
A crack had appeared on Kakashi Hatake's face, separating him from the rest.
She hadn't stopped worrying.
And when she heard Naruto just passed ANBU HQ, holding the last Akatsuki bounties, she ordered Neko and Hebi to fetch Tora. His face was drooped down, and he handed an Inu mask, and quietly, but for everyone to hear, he solemnly whispered.
"He's dead, Hokage-sama."
Sai stood there, in the corner, wearing ANBU uniform and all, but he couldn't stop his mouth from hanging open. His fellow comrades' jaws dropped on the floor when they all heard the news. Tsunade only blinked once and gaped.
"Hokage-sama, is it true? Kakashi-sempai is gone?" Sai couldn't help but ask. His sensei was dead?
Tsunade looked at the mask that Yamato that he had given, and silently picked on it. She was surprised as a note- secretly inserted at the eye holes, and if he was still alive, she would be impressed.
"Hai, it is true." The Slug Sannin looked at the seal of the note, recognizing the Hokage insignia, meaning for Hokage's eyes only. She quickly made the hand sign for everybody to leave the room, and put the seals made by another blonde on the door. Quickly reading it, she gasped.
She was currently reading the last request of the late Kakashi Hatake.
Naruto was tired, sad, furious, lonely, and helpless at the same time.
'My sensei just died yesterday, my friends just died months ago, the only one that can relate with me are Sakura-chan, who's in the hospital, drowning herself in work, Sai, who cannot project his feelings that good, and Sasuke, who can't even show his dam* face when needed, and I'm stuck in this office.'
'You know, you've still got lots of work. Go on, you need to rest. Too much stress for a sixteen year old.' Kurama' voice boomed inside the jinchuuriki's head. 'Or maybe, let it out.'
And so, Naruto let loose of his frustrations, crying himself to sleep, Kurama absently drying the wet papers in front of his container.
Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto, by the vote of the candidate Kakashi Hatake, the council, and the elders, had been decreed as Rokudaime Hokage.
