Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Assassin's Creed or Half-Life
Chapter 6: A Few Hopefuls
Hinata was getting frustrated, for the past week she has been trying to follow the trio to no avail, while she always saw them at the same starting point they would always start climbing walls and running and jumping on rooftops she would be able to follow them for a few minutes but would lose them quickly after; she attempted to mimic them and climb as they did but she did not understand how, since walls of Konoha buildings were designed to prevent chakra legs and hands from sticking to them she would always fall down (she still had not realized that she should not be using chakra and using bricks and windowsills as footings); at least her luck slightly picked up when she met Kiba yesterday, when he saw the black haired beauty with Naruto he was devoted to catching them, the problem was that now they had lost them again, the boy said something about the sent getting mixed up with a really bad odor at one point that he was unable to use his sensitive nose for a while.
While the teammates were walking back they were passing in front of the Uzumaki estate, and to their surprise the see their pray; problem was, said pray had actually seen them and acknowledged them by smiling and waving at them as they entered the estate and closed the door.
"They knew; they knew all along that we were following them" said Hinata after a minute of silence.
"Then why did they allow us to follow them in the first place?" asked Kiba.
"It was practice of some sort give us time to get on their tacks then see how fast they can lose us, do you realize Kiba-kun that in order for me to get to the Hyuga compound from the area we lost them, I have to go in front of the Uzumaki compound, today they allowed us to see them entered because they were telling us that it's a challenge for us" the Hyuga girl said with her eyes shining with determination.
"So what tomorrow same time same place?" said Kiba with a smile.
"Yes"
Inside the Uzumaki compound
"Do you think they will realize the Grandmaster's test Haku-san?" said a pink haired girl.
"Hmm… I really don't know but you have to remember that this is training for you too" said the boy "You may be good but you need to get better, with ninja dogs and noses like the Inuzuka it is bound to get much harder."
"I have not forgotten, Haku-san; by the way how are you preparations for your first mission for the brotherhood outside of Konoha; Naruto said that you will be promoted to assassin if you succeed"
"Well, it is a tough mission but that is not the reason he is promoting me, the training I got when I was with Zabuza-sama has made my skill level into that akin to a person with rank of assassin; Naruto-sama knows this which is why I am doing this mission solo with Kakashi-san coming with me as cover as an observer on a diplomatic mission for Konoha. However the one we should be celebrating is you; Naruto-sama is says you are ready and will give you your final exam when I get back" said Haku beaming at Sakura.
"I am happy really; it's just that the reality of it all has not hit me yet"
Grandmaster's Office, Uzumaki estate
Naruto sat behind his desk reading his mother's Codex, the knowledge it contained on how the world used to be divided into seven continents and now it was one, it was also filled with reports of missions she or Minato did. It also had some information on bureaus where missions for assassins can be found, how to identify them and introduce one's self there in order to the Rafiqs in them as to be identified as an assassin.
One week later, with Shino
Shino was angry, not that it showed on his face, he never did show any emotions, but this entire week his teammates have been coming late to training and missions in the morning, Kurenai sensei was angry at first but after Hinata told her something she quickly forgave the two and authorized their lateness for following lessons; four days ago Shino so both of them running through town, that was the last straw for him, he would not care anymore about what his teammates did since they were leaving him out of that, he would train alone and not include them in anything.
Uzumaki compound, same day after the Parkour practice
"Sakura-chan, I received a letter from Haku and Kakashi-sensei, they will be here tomorrow, both missions were a success" said Naruto with a smile.
"That is good to hear, does that mean that Haku-san will be promoted tomorrow?"
"Yes, and with his promotion he will become able to take on apprentices, I have a feeling we will have a few after the Chunin exams next month, I hope you will be ready to take on some yourself by then"
"I will not disappoint grandmaster"
Next day after Haku's return, leap of faith training area
"Indama yatba' al-Akharoon kal-omiyan al-Hakeeka,
Tathakar, la shai' Hakeekee
Indama Yukaiyad al-Akharoon bil-Akhlak aw al-Kanoon,
Tathakar koolon mubah.
Nahnu na'mal fee a-Thalam li khidmat a-Ddaw'.
Nahnu Hashashoon" said Naruto.
"Where other men blindly follow the truth,
Remember, nothing is true
Where other men are limited by morality or law,
Remember, everything is permitted.
We work in the dark to serve the light.
We are assassin" repeated Sakura.
"Now as a final act of commitment to the brotherhood, present your ring finger so you may be branded as one of us" said Naruto.
Sakura presented her ring finger and Naruto pressed the heated iron stamp on its base; to her credit she held in her pain only closing her eyes and showing a grimace on her face.
"Now follow us sister for the final part of your initiation" said Naruto as the three assassins jumped off following each other performing a leap of faith.
"As you have just finished your training, you will be awarded the rank of novice, meaning that you will be given easy missions and you may come with either of us, to observe or help, on difficult ones, according to your performance you will be promoted. Before you go celebrate, I want to ask you to test Ino, her particular skills could prove useful to us as we grow" said Naruto.
"Thank you Grandmaster. By the way Naruto, Haku-san, would you like to come with me in order to celebrate?"
"Sure thing Sakura-san" said Haku.
As Naruto was about to answer he heard a messenger eagle's cry "I'm sorry there is something I have to do; I forgot to tell you Sakura-chan, your assassin weapons and outfit have already been prepared, you can pick them up from your, now official assassin's locker, before your mission, and you can, like Haku, only ware it when you have brotherhood business, but I want you to carry the hidden blade at all times."
"Understood Grandmaster" said Sakura as the two lower ranking assassins left to base.
Naruto headed to the messenger birds tower and examined the eagle, said predator had a message attached to it; taking it off, Naruto opened the message and started reading.
'If anyone is reading this that means that the order is functioning once again,
My name is Jiraya, former master assassin of the Namikaze brotherhood which is now no more, I have some unsettling news I uncovered about Akatsuki, the organization made up of S-class criminals have been controlling the fourth Mizukage, there are some movements that the Kiri retables are making it appears they are making their move soon, I will be heading to Konoha after the first part of the Chunin exams, meet me at the hot springs
Safety and Peace Brother'
'So it was true' were Naruto's first thoughts 'after meeting Jiraya, I should send Haku to meet these rebels and help them out, maybe we can get in contact with the assassin brotherhood there; this Jiraya could it be the Jiraya, of the Sannin and famous author of the Icha-Icha series?'
Sakura and Haku, Dango Shop
"Naruto a while ago was weird wasn't he, Haku-san" said Sakura.
"For a second it looked like he was going to come but then he changed his mind; I wonder what could have happened" said Haku.
"Hey you guys" can the voice of Kiba calling the pair "where were you today? We did not see you at the usual place"
Looking at the entrance the two assassins noticed Kiba and Hinata walking in the shop.
"Wow, they found us" said Sakura sarcastically.
"I am amazed they did, our smell was concealed by the smell of Dango" said Haku.
"W… W… We were coming past here after we finished training" said Hinata while the dog-boy was fuming "I wanted to pick up dango for Hanabi-chan"
"About this morning, there was something we needed to do so we could not come, sorry but we won't be able to play with you anymore this week, we are back on duty and will be taking missions, Kakashi-sensei said something about being prepared for the Chunin exams" said Sakura.
"Where is N… Na… Naruto-kun?" asked the timid girl.
"Forget Naruto, who's this beautiful girl your with Sakura" said Kiba earning himself a scowl from the Hyuga heiress.
"Oh, sorry we were so busy the last few weeks we forgot to introduce Haku-san here to everyone; he just joined leaf as a chunin shinobi, pending evaluation to become Jounin" said Sakura.
"Don't you mean Kunoichi Sakura?" said Kiba.
All of a sudden Haku started to cry, Hinata and Kiba could not understand why.
"Haku is a boy you Idiot" said Sakura as if reading their expression "its ok Haku-san don't let it get to you; though you should start wearing more masculine cloths, the feminine Kimonos are what keep you being mistaken for a girl"
Hinata and Kiba were struck shocked, while Hinata was at first relieved that the person living with Naruto was a boy, then she became fearful, what if Naruto stopped being interested in girls and became interested in boys instead. She then vowed to ensure that she confesses to Naruto and make sure that does not happen.
A/N: another short chapter, these are taking a lot out of me, my update rate will slow down considerably probably down to a chapter or two a week, there is still the introduction of Ino in the next chapter and some ninja and assassin missions the group is going to do, after that the chunin exams.
I thank all who have read the story so far and has added it to the favorite or alert list.
Finally those who review will get CAKE.
Slices out