Disclaimer: I, Lady Sassy Sas, do hereby disclaim all rights to the wonderful world that is Naruto.
"You're staring again,"
"I'm not!" came a hissed reply.
"You totally are."
"Am not!"
"You are."
"I'm not!" this time it was a screech of indignation.
"Well, you've just gone and given us away. And you were the one who told me not to make a sound," the first voice retorted.
A huffing noise sounded, "And yet, you did,"
"...Touché,"
All was silent as they turned back to what had their attention in the first place.
"But just look at the form. It's flawless!" came a breathless exclamation.
The other voice made no comment.
A sigh sounded and then some shuffling, "Come on, we've been here a while. We need to get moving otherwise they'll have our hides."
"Awww!" the second voice whined, "But the good part is just about to begin!"
"I'm leaving without you,"
A snort came, "'Course you are," came the sarcastic reply before muttering, "They'll have your ass if you leave me behind, not mine. After all, I'm being thorough with this," the last bit came out louder.
About forty seconds of silence then, "Heeeey! Wait up, teme!" A lot of scuffling, a wisp of cold air and then silence thereafter.
He made his way through the corridors that lay deep beneath the village. He'd lost track of how many times he had made this trip but this time he actually cared about what his destination meant. He felt a swell of pride as he thought and he sped up.
"Are my eyes deceiving me or are you actually on time?"
"Shut up, Shiranui,"
Together, Kakashi and Genma entered the large conference chamber that was on this level of ANBU headquarters. They were in the ANBU get-up and had their masks in place as they entered. They each scanned the room quickly and made their way to the front and stood in a line with the rest of the Elite ANBU that were behind and off to the side and behind Ibiki.
Then the doors opened again and in strode two blondes. One was short, big-breasted and had pigtails. The other was quite tall and held himself with confidence and purpose and had short, spikey hair.
The latter was in ANBU garb. The other, of course, wore her usual outfit only this time it included the formal hat that went with her title. They strode down the centre of tiered seating and desks to the front where she nodded at Ibiki who nodded back then proceeded to stand to his right and behind him while the other blonde stood to the left and behind. He clasped his hands behind his back and his legs slightly apart.
"Right you pansies! Granny meeting ends now. It's time for your superiors to take the stage." Ibiki called out. A few chuckles emanated from around the room but they went as quickly as they came.
Ibiki strode forward and stopped in the centre of the room, "We're here to accept the babies who got into ANBU and then partner them with some of the older, experienced elites. They will stay with that person for two years before being formed into an Elite group or, if they so choose, to go solo or stay behind the lines. If they don't meet the expectations of their partner, they will be kicked out and then allowed to try again after three years – more, depending on the circumstances."
Kakashi's eyes kept darting around the room. He knew there would be discussion about these rules if talking were allowed. He had no doubt that Shikashi would be fine. He was more worried about whom his partner would be. It wasn't going to be himself as family were prohibited from working on the same team for obvious reasons. He wouldn't mind a whole lot if Genma became his mentor. For all the gossip about the playboy there was no doubt that he took his job seriously. He seemed harmless and happy-go-lucky but Kakashi knew of all the trouble he got into as a kid.
Nobody took Genma seriously and it always worked to his advantage whether out in the field or in a pub. It was exactly what Genma wanted people to think of him.
"This year's bunch seems promising but they always do. These next two years are crucial to see who will actually stick it out and who will cower under pressure and run scared at the first sight of imminent death while fighting; who has the courage to complete...less than...questionable tasks and who can get in and extract information from any circumstance while not leaving a trace of evidence. And who will take less than savoury...and not your run-of-the-mill...requests."
"In other words: Illegal. Looks like it's back to good old fashioned assassinations," Genma said under his breath, just loud enough for Kakashi to hear.
Kakashi gave the barest of nods and saw Naruto's back straightening and his head slightly cocked and turned towards them. He heard. Still amazes me how sensitive he is thanks to the Kyuubi.
"The new recruits will come up when called and be handed their Tanto and Mask and give their code-name to myself, the Hokage and the Second-In-Command. They will also be told who their two-year partner and mentor will be," Ibiki looked around the room with a stern expression then nodded and pivoted sideways and nodded to the Hokage.
Tsunade stepped up beside him and looked around the room slowly, letting her eyes fall upon all the new recruits sitting in the tiers. She noted, with interest, that there were more this year than there had been in the previous five. Good.
"First and foremost: Congratulations. You have tried and passed the requirements and have made it into the probationary period of become a full-fledged elite. The next two years, as your commander said, will test you and put you through trying times. Should you cope and come out a full-time ANBU operative, you know you will serve your country well and be an elite or you will have time to see if it does not suit you for various and personal reasons.
"Now. You will serve your country and Kage in various ways that you wouldn't and won't do as an ordinary Shinobi. You can turn down some requests but for the majority, you'll be doing them with no questions asked. If you disagree with this: tough shit. You may as well turn around and leave now. As ANBU you are giving up a majority of your free-will to receive and take missions. You will be doing the jobs nobody else wants to do. They could put yours and your comrades' life in peril and if you get caught doing an illegal job, you're left on your own. We will disown you for the sake and integrity of our village and reputation; unless it's for an extremely unusual circumstance." The blonde woman stopped pacing and turned to face the tiers and crossed her arms, "Without further ado, come and get your masks and tanto's and do well in the profession. Your life changes hereafter; for better or worse is up to you."
And then the recruits were called up one after another by Ibiki and presented their masks and tanto's by Tsunade and gave their code-name to Naruto. Shikashi was halfway down the line and Kakashi's eyes lit with pride as he watched as his son was handed his mask – a wolf – and tanto. Naruto's daughter, Aiko was also among the recruits as well as their other team-mate Akio. It took half an hour to get through all the recruits.
"Now, each of you will come to either myself, Lady Hokage or Operative Kitsune-ko ((Fox prince)) and we shall give you the name of the operative you shall be working with,"
Murmurs did fill the room this time as the recruits started to form three lines. Kakashi noted Shikashi was in Ibiki's line and saw the jerk when he was told whom his partner was. He stayed there a little longer as some sort of discussion was carried out and then became curious as Naruto was called over. Another minute went by before the blonde went back to giving out names of partners to the recruits. Shikashi hesitated and asked another question to which Ibiki went and addressed Tsunade before returning and giving him a curt nod.
"I wonder who he got," Genma mused.
"Naruto." Kakashi replied without emotion before striding over to his son and clapping him on the back, "So proud of you, son."
Shikashi turned around in surprise before smiling, "Thanks dad. But I couldn't have done it without your help and everybody else's and...mums,"
Kakashi jerked in surprise before turning his eyes to meet those of his son's, "Your mum?"
"Hai," Shikashi smiled and spoke softly, "Mum helped a lot,"
"Hn." The silver-haired man didn't question any further. He didn't doubt that Sakura had helped their son in some way, "Well, we should go celebrate. Where do you feel like going?"
"I know the perfect place,"
"Oh? And where would that be?"
"With mother,"
He gazed at the cenotaph where her name was also chiselled into the marble. Two places: here and on her own grave stone. He wasn't sure if he liked it or not. In one way it seemed to be throwing it in his face every time he visited but it was also respectful. She probably would have named something in the hospital after her too but even Tsunade knew Sakura would have come back to haunt her if she had; it was never Sakura's style.
It was the anniversary of her death; his son's birthday. It was and always had been a bittersweet day.
"Sakura..." he was standing in his usual slouch with his hands in his pockets as the mizzle continued to fall, his droopy eye darting from Minato, Rin, Obito and Sakura's names' in quick succession.
He would always feel responsible for her death even though he knew it wasn't his fault. Unlike Obito and Rin. Those were and forever would be his fault. He had so many bad memories and past events that it was incredibly hard to carry on at times. There were days were felt like hanging his head and drowning his sorrow; no more tomorrow's to live for.
But he wouldn't follow his father's footsteps. He still had unfinished business to tend to and his son to live for. He would not die by his own hand and leave Shikashi to fend for himself even if he was old enough to look after himself and there were plenty of people to help him. His eyes travelled up to the name of his father. He felt a surge of pride. He had much more to tell him but he was glad that he had told him that he was proud of him when he had died during the Pein invasion.
"I-...I'm sorry. I have much to tell all of you; that time will come eventually but for now I will say I'm glad that I got to fight alongside each of you. That I had you for my father. That you were my sensei and mentor and adoptive father. Obito, I hated you for being late all the time and not following the rules. I was such an arrogant stuck up prat back then. But now, I appreciate all that you did...and unlike me, you're excuses for being late were legit. I'm sorry for not protecting Rin."
He took a deep breath before continuing, "Rin...I'll explain my actions to you when I'm with you, I swear. To everyone. I'll explain to you why I did what I did."
He stopped and brooded in silence for five minutes before he sighed and took his hand out and traced his wife's name with the tips of his fingers. There wasn't a lot he could say to her, not much to tell her, it was painful to talk about what happened to her and he had already kept her updated on Shikashi. And he was pretty sure Shikashi had been telling her as well. So he said the only thing he could always say.
"Sakura...I love you,"
"Are you sure about this?"
"Are you questioning my decision!?"
"I would never do that. It's more like..."
"Like what?"
"...Anyway, he hasn't even gone on many missions, yet. Isn't it a little early to be bringing him on this fully?"
"He's more than mature enough and I haven't seen or heard anything that would jeopardize the project by bringing him in. Hell, he may even find something that we've overlooked!"
"Unlikely."
"Even so, my decision is made. Once he's back from the boarder he'll be fully inducted into the case."
"Hai, Hokage-sama," the shinobi bowed respectfully before turning and striding out the door.
"Are you sure it's wise to bring him in on this?" the brunette assistant asked softly from behind the chair the blonde sat on.
"Taking your boyfriend's side, Shizune?"
"N-no, Tsunade-sama. I know Shikashi is level-headed and extremely intelligent but...he does have Sakura's hot-headedness."
There was a small pause and the tap of a ceramic cup being set on the desk, "That's true,"
"You didn't think about that, did you?"
"I was distracted when I was making the decision."
Shizune sighed, "And by distracted you mean drunk. Really, you need to lay off on the Saké, Tsunade-sama, what would Sakura say if she were here?"
"Hah!" Tsunade let out a very un-lady like snort, "She'd be drinking with me, not trying to take it off me,"
The brunette had no comeback to this statement because it was true. Sakura was always more inclined to join Tsunade in drinking and gambling than she was to oppose it. In truth Shizune missed the drunken escapades of the two women. Sakura was the only other person other than Jiraiya who could rival Tsunade in drinking.
"Do you think about her, Shizune?"
"All the time, Tsunade-sama,"
"As do I, Shizune. As do I," and with that, Tsunade downed was left in the cup and brought out three more bottles of Sake and proceeded to glug it down.
"Ko?"
A slight turn of the head was all the confirmation he got that his partner was listening.
"Did I do alright back the-"
"Not another word." And with that, his partner sped on.
Agent Ookami Yaiba (Wolf Blade) was half a second behind his fellow operative but he was still thinking about the mission. Something just wasn't sitting right for him. He kept repeating everything they had done over and over and over and over and he still couldn't fathom what was out of place. They had done everything down to the T. So what was it?
They were about two hours from the boarder of Konoha when he came to a sudden stop. He crouched on the branch and scanned the area quickly before bringing his hand to form a seal. He then leapt forward and knocked the other agent out of the branches before quickly reaching out with one arm and extending his chakra to pull him and his mentor to the trunk. They rapidly slid 15 feet before coming to a jarring stop.
"Wh-"
"Shut up." Shikashi barely whispered with a hurried urgency.
He untangled himself and scanned the area using his acute hearing to listen out for anything, "Hear that?"
The blonde nodded, "Yep. Nothing." The blonde discreetly summoned his senju chakra so he could sense everything around them.
"Don't!" the young man hastily warned while grabbing the agent's forearm, "You can't use senju mode! It takes too long and puts you in danger."
"It doesn't take me as long as it used to and I'm counting on you to protect me from any attacks," Naruto argued.
"And I will; from physical attacks. I can't protect you from genjutsu. I may have my mother's affinity to spot one when it's used but by then it could be too late for you. You're the most susceptible person I know to genjutsu's. I only just noticed it was a genjutsu is because we suddenly leapt from being six hours from the boarder to two," He paused to catch his breath and to take another sweep around them, "I think we should head back as quickly as we can and as undetected as we can make ourselves. I have a feeling we're seriously outnumbered and by extremely skilled opponents. Before you say what you're going to suggest; no. Can't afford to."
Naruto stared at the intensity in Shikashi's eyes and met it with his own. Shikashi definitely had his wits about him and Kakashi's perceptiveness. He had the ability to think quickly and in dire situations which was what was required of him. He held his gaze for another few minutes before giving a curt nod and they both dashed forward, hoping to get back to Konoha sooner rather than later and lose their tail on the way.
They sped through the branches near lightning's pace. They darted up and below and jumped from one tree to the next sometimes skipping two or three trees in a single bound. They had been going for four hours now and were near the rendezvous Tsunade had set up for them.
Then one of them came to a sudden halt and held up his fist to stop the rest of his team.
"What is it?" his second-in-command came up beside him.
"Look around," the leader replied in a tight voice.
The brown-haired ANBU did as he was told and took in a deep breath, "Shit."
They looked at each other, gave a slight nod and descended to the ground. The four stood back-to-back in a relaxed defensive stance, kunai in hands at chest level and slightly crouched. Their darted around the small clearing in the forest and waited for their adversaries to appear.
Where are they? Why aren't they attacking? The leader asked himself mentally.
The clearing had patches of blood soaked ground and the trees surrounding them had scorch marks and scratches all over them. Chunks of earth were overturned. The place was a battle-ground and the leader knew only of one thing that could make such restricted destruction; the Kyuubi could only be held back so much when Naruto went into a fit of rage, even though he had accomplished becoming one with it.
"This needs to be reported to the Hokage, immediately," one of the other members stated.
"Leave it to me." And within seconds the fourth member had a scroll out and with a few quick strokes of his brush, produced one of his animated ink birds which soared off in the direction of Konoha.
The leader nodded at him in thanks before turning to face the way they had been heading, "Let's carry on. Keep eyes and ears open. Formation B; move out!"
And the group was off.
"Step away from him, Arisa," the man sighed like an indulgent parent as he watched the woman kneeling in front of the young man and stroking his hair.
"Oooh, but he's so pretty!" she pouted and continued to stroke his hair, then she suddenly snapped her head around to look at the older man who had spoken, "Can I keep him!?"
"No."
She pouted again before smiling and nodding her head to the other side, "What about him?"
"No, Arisa. You can't keep either, they aren't pets,"
"But they could become pets. I could make them into my own pets and have fun with them any way I want to," she smiled slyly and stroked the blonde's cheek with her index finger, drawing blood at his cheek with her bright red finger nail and brought it to her lips.
"You have enough pets,"
"Yes, but they get boring after a while. They expect what I want them to do and are used to it so it becomes less fun. I want new ones who will dance with vigour when I play with them!"
"Enough! I said no, Arisa. Do not try my patience anymore." The man stood and nearly everyone in the room either gasped or took a step back. He was a tall man, around 6 ft 4 or 5. He had a scar running from his left temple to just below the right corner of his mouth. His eyes were steel grey and his hair was cropped short grey hair which was peppered with black and white strands. His voice was a slightly gravelly baritone. He had a slight limp which told everyone he had either had it from birth or suffered from an injury which never healed properly. Other than that, he held himself up straight and an air of confidence and authority about him. Anyone who looked at him could tell he was a shinobi.
"Where is Konichi? He should've been back by now," the large man started pacing slightly.
"We got word about ten minutes ago saying they were going to be delayed," one of his subordinates answered.
"Why?"
"They never said, sir."
"I told you you should have sent another team, one which was competent but did you listen to me? No, like always," Arisa huffed.
"Enough, Arisa. Unless you want to be sent back to do sentry or courier duty you will keep your mouth shut, is that clear?" he asked in a tone which brooked no argument.
She shot him a poisonous glare and replied without emotion, "Crystal."
"Haruda!"
"Yes, master?"
"Send out a back-up team. Konichi's team can't afford to be delayed,"
"Yes, master," Haruda scurried off to do his bidding.
"Katsumi-san?"
Katsumi turned to face the man who had called his name, "What is it?"
"Both teams have run into a slight altercation,"
"Altercation?"
"Y-yes. More Konoha ANBU,"
"Kuso," he clasped his hands behind his back, "Can they cope?"
"W-we're still receiving information, sir. But I think you're going to need to send the Kurohyou out,"
"Kurohyou!? But they haven't been out in over a year! Isn't that over-kill?" somebody else shouted out.
Katsumi sighed and sat back down on his ornate chair at the top of the dais. He held the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger and closed his eyes while thinking of what to do. Kurohyou was the best team he had but he also agreed with the woman who had questioned if it would be over-kill. He let the conversation which was taking place within the room to drift through his ears as he thought. It was risky; Konoha ANBU were lethal, he had numerous mementos to know this but he was also hopeful that he'd be able to use them for his own use. He just didn't want to sacrifice his best team to do so.
He remembered how badly it had gone seventeen years ago. He remembered how many were lost in that battle and how one of Konoha's most prominent shinobi had just slipped from his grasp. He was still annoyed over that lost. Maybe he could pay them back somehow but how? Then an idea came to him and a sinister smile slowly spread across his face. Everyone in the room went completely silent as he started to speak.
"Arisa, get your team together. It's time for Kurohyou to be deployed. Have them meet me in the Conference chamber. Our plans are going to have a slight alteration.
"Shikashi,"
The young man rolled over and groaned. It was too early to wake up.
"Shikashi,"
"Leave me alone..." he mumbled.
"Shikashi," the soft, smooth voice called again.
This time, Shikashi did open his eyes and squinted against the bright light that was in front of him. Bolting up while rubbing his eyes he looked around for the voice. But instead he saw...training ground 7? He rubbed his forehead in confusion. How in the hell did he end up in Konoha? He was on a mission with Naruto, was he not?
"I'm so glad you're awake, Shikashi," he swivelled around to face the speaker and stopped in his tracks.
There, in front of him, was a pink-haired woman in a Konoha ANBU outfit. Her mask was pushed to the side of her head and she was leaning down to get a good look at him with a soft smile on her face, her eyes closed and in a crescent shape.
"M-mum?" he asked in a shaky voice not quite believing his eyes.
"Hai, Shikashi," she dropped down so she was sitting on her heels, "How've you grown. I can't really say who you really take after...apart from the hair colouration. Sorry for that," she gave a nervous giggle and rubbed the back of her head...just like his father always did.
"Is it really you?"
His answer was a thwack on the back of his head which he rubbed at, "Of course it's really me you baka! I know you can't be that stupid! Please tell me you didn't pick up Naruto's scattered brain habits," she groaned in despair, "Honestly, I didn't think Kakashi would be that stupid to let Naruto take over all your training,"
Shikashi smiled, "No, no! He didn't. I've actually been taught from pretty much everyone. Tsunade, Shizune, dad, Naruto, Chouji, Ino, Genma, Shikamaru...all of them, really,"
He felt a feather light touch on his cheek and he looked up into the vibrant green of his mothers' eyes. She wasn't smiling but her eyes shone with pride and utter devotion, "I know, Shikashi. I've been watching you ever since you were born. You've grown into a fierce young man and an outstanding shinobi. I couldn't be more proud of you and nor could your dad. I know he's been kind of distant over the years but that wasn't anything you had done. Your father has never been able to let go of his regrets easily and his self-blame is absolutely phenomenol; nobody I know – or knew- could match it," she smiled sadly, "he's been on the hunt ever since your birth, Shikashi. He's been trying to find the people who killed me. He won't rest until he does, nor will the others. I also know that you've been brought into the case of what happened seventeen years ago, but I implore you to let it go...at least until the people who have captured you forget about you and Naruto. They're after something else."
"What?! What are they after!?" Shikashi clung to his mother's forearms.
Sakura gave him a tight smile and her eyes held sympathy, "I can't tell you that, honey. Just, whatever they are after, you –and nobody else- can stop them. They're going to get it and you'll have to let them,"
Shikashi was frantic, "But! Why? Why can't you tell me? Mum..." he broke down and clung to her for all he was worth, "I don't want you to go, again. I want my mummy. I've missed you. There's a hole somewhere in me and it's only been filled a minute ago, the closest I've gotten to filling it is when I was at your grave. Please, don't leave me! Please..."
Sakura cradled her son in her arms and stroked his hair all the while making calming noises.
"My beautiful boy. I have to leave you," she bent and kissed him on the forehead before bringing him up to face-to-face, "Shikashi, listen to me. Are you listening?"
Shikashi nodded, "Y-yes, mum,"
"You're not going to have a lot of time when you regain consciousness. You're going to have to grab Naruto and get out of where you're being held. Once you're outside, run east and keep going. Your father and the other members of his ANBU squad will meet you a mile and a half out. Shikashi, whatever you do, don't stop. You're not safe and you won't be until you're back in Konoha." She cupped his cheeks, "I can only give you a few moments to get out, but only a few."
"M-"
"Go now, Shikashi. Just remember that I worship you and your father." She drew him into a tight embrace before pulling herself and her son up, "Go now, Shikashi!"
"B-"
"Now!"
He blinked open his eyes and bolted to his feet. He could already tell that a powerful genjutsu was in place so he grabbed Naruto, who was lying to his left and lifted him over his shoulders before pushing chakra to his feet and fleeing. Thirty seconds after he heard explosions behind him and people shouting frantically to put out fires.
Soon he was out in the night air and racing to the east. It took him fifteen minutes to reach the ANBU team who looked like they had been through a few battles themselves.
"Shikashi! What-" his father began.
"No time," was his hasty reply as he sped past them, leaping branch to branch. He didn't know if he could tell them what had happened when they were back in Konoha, especially the part with his mother. But he didn't care, he knew his mother had just protected him and Naruto and given them their lives...again.
Thank you, mother.
This wasn't as long as I had anticipated but I got really hacked off with it. I've lost track of how many times I've edited it but I don't give a damn anymore. It's done and over with and I've got assignments to do and I don't even understand two of them and one has to be in this Wednesday and I haven't even begun it. Gah!
It's fairly short and I promise, as soon as things have calmed down and I'm not taking to hospital in the back of an ambulance after falling off a horse and twenty minutes later going into shock and becoming totally unresponsive, I'll get the next and quite possibly last part of this story out. And I'll try and put a lot of action in and try to make it super-doopey craptastic like this one.
At least it's progressing...o.o
Anywho...
Reviews and such are greatly appreciated!
Hope you enjoyed it and thanks for reading!
Lady Sassy Sas xXx