Disclaimer: Seriously!

Ch. 7: Trimming the ROOTs


The journey back to Konaha was, for the most part, uneventful. They spent a night at a hot spring when they were within the borders of Hi no Kuni; the next morning they set out once again. They only stopped once at a small rest station so they could enjoy a cup of tea, or in Anko's case Red Bean soup, as well as a plate of Mitarashi Dango.

After that it only took an hour to get within sight of Konoha's walls. They were beset upon by a couple of blank masked ANBU before they entered the perimeter barrier, and just out of the Hokage's crystal ball field of vision.

"ROOT, so Danzo has made his move." Anko said bitterly as she drew a Kunai.

When the masked Shinobi went on the offensive Anko moved to intercept them, Hinata also dropped into a stance as she activated her Byakugan.

Naruto drew his sword and shifted into a stance favored by bandits. Another masked Shinobi dropped down, causing the two young Shinobi to evade. The ROOT ANBU drew his tanto and rushed towards Naruto. Naruto brought up his sword to block but the ROOT channeled his Lightning element through the blade, shattering Naruto's blade and sending electrically charged shrapnel into Naruto's body. The electricity had an adverse reaction with Naruto's body, sending him flying through a tree before he stopped and lay paralyzed.

The ROOT blocked the Shuriken that Hinata threw, and side-stepped her Jyuuken strikes before delivering a hard kick to her thigh. Hinata barely managed to replace herself with an explosive tagged log. The ROOT jumped away as it exploded.

Naruto struggled to get back on his feet. He felt something pierce his chest before a weird fluid entered his system. He reached up and plucked the blow dart out of his chest. Throwing it away he charged in to help Hinata.

Anko had made quick work of one of their assailants, the other was still alive. The ROOT had managed to get a shallow cut on Anko's forearm; Anko had gotten a deep cut into the ROOT's left shoulder. The toxin she coats her weapons in was beginning to take effect, as shown by the ROOT's tanto slipping out of their grip. Anko dashed forward and knocked out the ROOT, before turning and going to help the younger Shinobi.

Hinata managed to dodge the ROOT's Taijutsu strikes, Naruto rolled in and tried to slice the ROOT in half using his Blade power. The ROOT, surprised, barely managed to avoid the blade, he drew his tanto to deflect a Kunai thrown by Anko before leaping away. The next instant they found themselves surrounded by regular ANBU, and when the ROOT went to retreat Kakashi dropped in with a Raikiri. Kakashi pierced his body with his attack and the ROOT dropped dead.

"Yo, you kids alright?" Kakashi said with his signature eye smile.

"Never thought I'd be happy to see the ANBU surround me." Anko breathed out as she put her weapon away.

"You've all improved," Kakashi said happily, "now go report to the Hokage, we'll handle the rest here."

"Right, sensei." Naruto said before he and the two Kunoichi took to the trees.

-Hokage Tower-

Anko ducked under the ruined door to Tsunade's office, she saw Shizune applying bandages to an ANBU. Tsunade sat on her ruined desk as she placed her arm in a sling. "Bomb."

"So, why are ROOT attacking?" Anko asked as she produced a mask from her pouch.

"Because we have Danzo in custody." Tsunade said as she turned to the burned remains of the ANBU that saved her life. "We need to find their main base, your request to explore Uzu will have to be postponed until we deal with this rebellion."

"Right, where do you need us Hokage-sama?" Anko asked as she stood at attention.

"Get yourselves to the barracks, Shikaku is there." Tsunade said before she reached into her desk and pulled out two vests, "You are now Chunin rank, make us proud!"

Naruto and Hinata slid their new vests on before heading out with Anko.

-Barracks/Temporary Command HQ-

Naruto and Hinata entered the facility alongside Anko, their fellow Shinobi were frantically darting down the narrow halls. "Mitarashi!" a scarred, older version of Shikamaru yelled out. "Send those kids to the others, I need you specifically."

"Alright, you two go to the mess hall and get some chow, then go to the Genin area and link with your classmates."

-Shikaku-

"Tell Squads A, & B to fall back and link up with Squad E, then have them move up and capture the enemy's right flank. Squads C, & F should focus on defending the hospital. Squad D will hold the line until Hatake's unit returns. Uzuki, you and your unit will continue to harass these traitors from the roof tops. Yuhi, how's that Genjutsu coming?"

"It won't work, we're three short!" Kurenai yelled as Anko ran over, "You almost missed the party!"

'Kurenai being sarcastic, we must be fucked.' "What do you need Nara-san?"

"I need you to deliver a very special package to the enemy."

"Right," Anko said out loud as she picked up the box that Shikaku placed in front of her. 'This is gonna rock!'

-Naruto-

Hinata had led them down the corridors to the room their friends were waiting in. They found Sakura, placing a sling around Tenten's shoulder. Kiba was sitting on a cot as he sharpened his gear. Shikamaru sat back in a chair as he held his bandaged hand. Naruto was about to make himself known when Hinata grabbed his sleeve, she gestured for them to step further down and talk in private.

Naruto decided to follow her and when they were behind a corner he decided to start, "What's wrong?"

"U-um, what happened earlier when you were hit by that strange ANBU's Lightning enhanced tanto?"

"I wish I knew, I just realized today that I've been lucky. These new powers I have, I don't understand them myself, and yet the power went to my head."

"M-maybe, the Lightning Release affects your body."

"I think so too, but more importantly, that guy was trying to kill me, and he wanted to capture you."

"Y-yeah, I expected as much."

"What about your sister?"

"She's more than likely with father. Either way, she's beyond our reach."

"I'm glad I didn't consume him, Kami only knows what twisted fantasies he had of you."

-Anko-

After asking a few squad leaders for the current battle layout, Anko jumped onto a rooftop followed by a team of Chunin. She placed the box down and used a kunai to break the seal. She looked at the Chunin who took point and he relayed the enemy's position. '!' Anko shot her arm out as snakes erupted from her sleeve, they encircled the Chunin and pulled him towards her as a Fuuma Shuriken embedded itself where he had been standing.

"Thanks!"

Anko dashed to the edge of the roof and tossed the box into the ruined building the ROOT had ducked into, an instant later a massive sealing array had surrounded the building, killing everyone within. When it receded, it left a spiral pattern on the walls.

Loyal Konoha Shinobi rushed in and secured the enemy position. Inside they searched for anything that could provide intel on their enemy's main base.

Anko breathed out as the search party came out with a map. Another sealing array appeared under her, so she leaped into the air. She made it to a nearby rooftop as the seal activated, killing the Chunin guarding her. She ran through hand-signs before using Shunshin to get back to base.

-Naruto-

They had just received their orders: link up with Asuma's unit and deliver their new orders, then they had to bring back an important enemy document that one of his Jonin acquired. They found him and his forces under assault from a small squad of ROOT.

Asuma evaded the Tanto of one ROOT then he began channeling Wind Chakra through his Chakra Blades, acting quickly he dashed forward, slashing the ROOt that stayed within range. He stopped the flow of Wind Nature as he blocked the tanto of another ROOT, before leaping back to avoid a Kagemane.

He looked back to see Shikamaru, with Naruto and Chouji guarding him, holding the remainder of the ROOT by their shadows.

'So, Naruto has been made a Chunin. This will be interesting.' Asuma ordered his forces to capture the ROOT as he turned to Shikamaru and pulled out a cigarette. "So, what are our new orders?" Asuma asked as Naruto handed him the scroll containing his new objective. Asuma read it before he pulled the cigarette from his mouth and put it behind his ear.

"Ebisu," Asuma yelled out as Ebisu Shunshined, "escort the kids back to Shikaku. They're carrying something very important." Asuma said as he handed Shikamaru the scroll containing the document. "Naruto, I'll have you take Ebisu's post until he returns."

"Alright, I'll get you to Nara-sama in a most efficient manner."

"So, what was his post?"

"Nothing he was just annoying me, besides we have to secure another building and your Kage Bunshin will come in very handy."

-Anko-

Upon returning to Shikaku, Anko learned what Naruto had been assigned and asked Shikaku if there was anything else he needed from her. He told her he had nothing, she was free to form her own squad and engage the enemy until he contacted her again. She thought carefully as she headed towards the Genin Area, she definitely wanted Hinata in her squad, the Aburame brat was also an asset for what she had in mind. The hard part was who should be the third member, the Nara was valuable for his intelligence, the Akimichi for brute power, but Naruto had that one quality she treasured: unpredictability.

If she were a Nara or Aburame she'd have to choose Shikamaru, simply because it made the most sense. Logically. However, she was Anko for fuck's sake; she'd choose on the fly for better or worse.

-Naruto-

Naruto slid under the tanto of a ROOT Shinobi as he ran through several hand-signs, 'Tiger, Snake, Bird, Ram, Dog, Ox' "Wind Release: Blusterous Slice!" Naruto unleashed a wall of Chakra that, when magnified by the confined space,hit the ROOT with enough force to crack his mask before sending him into a wall. Naruto spun around pointing the tip of his Blade at Asuma who merely lit a new cigarette.

"Not bad," Asuma said before he inspected the Root, "Itsuki Yagami, Chunin."

"Huh?"

"That's what this Shinobi's official name and rank are." Asuma turned to Naruto, "I guess you do deserve that vest, skill wise anyway."

"Thanks?"

"By the by, Ebisu has returned so get your ass to the Barracks, if you make it in time you might get to work with Anko again."

-Hinata-

Hinata sat in the emergency section of headquarters making her mother's signature ointment on a massive scale. She was unfortunately running out of ingredients, and would have to go and retrieve more. The problem was the ROOT fighting there blocking the access to said ingredient. When Anko burst through the door, followed by Shikamaru.

"Hinata, we gotta move! We lost contact with the local holding cells, one of a certain traitor's lackeys has escaped!"

"Troublesome, her name is Tayuya. She's probably still weakened from her use of that seal thing, but that doesn't make her a pushover."

"What about the Uchiha, is Sasuke still in custody?" Hinata asked as she finished the last of her ointments. She stood and removed the apron she wore.

"He's vanished from his cell." Anko said harshly. "Right now our priority is stopping this Tayuya woman from getting back to her master."

"What are her abilities, Shikamaru-san?" Hinata asked as she tied her head band around her head.

"She uses a flute to induce potent Genjutsu on her opponents" Shikamaru flexed his finger at the memory. "If she activates her seal she can summon and control demon like creatures."

'She has the Curse Mark of Hell!?' Anko thought as her own Curse Mark throbbed in pain. 'That's the one that causes the most damage to the user,' she remembered Orochimaru applying it to a man from Suna. He didn't last a minute before his Chakra Network exploded. 'The fact she activated it manually, and survived, means she is either very lucky, stubborn, or an Uzumaki.'

"Hope you're not planning on going without me!" Naruto declared as he Shunshined in.

"Picked up a new trick?" Anko asked, putting the Kunai she had drawn away.

"This ability I have is very convenient, it almost takes the fun out of it. Almost." Naruto opened the window before leaping out.

-Forest of Konoha-

"That motherfucker! How dare that choad muncher leave me in that cell with those rapists! God damn it, I'm going to beat that stupid fucker's smug face in!" a red headed woman yelled out as she beat a long-haired Shinobi's head in. She breathed out as she kicked the corpse, sending it into a nearby tree.

She brushed some strands of her hair away from her eyes, she scanned her surroundings before sighing. 'Which direction should I go?' she turned towards the corpse again and spit some of her blood on it. 'I still haven't healed, my body prioritized the damage caused by the Curse Seal.'

She rummaged through the pouch on the corpse. All she found was some light make-up and feminine care items, "I hate Kunoichi like this! Nothing good!"

"I hate 'em too" a feminine voice said from the tree line, "well Tayuya, ready to see how three real Kunoichi fight?"

'So, she really is like an older, womanly Naruto.' Shikamaru thought as he watched her reveal herself to his second most difficult opponent, not including his father.

"S'up bitch!" Tayuya replied happily, "oh look, it's that lazy shit who couldn't beat me without his little girlfriend."

Shikamaru dropped down, followed by Naruto, and Hinata.

'A Jonin, and three Chunin going up against one Kunoichi from Oto bearing the Curse Seal of Demons. To make matters worse her hair color falls into the range Uzumaki's have.' Anko thought as she drew a Kunai, "Naruto Uzumaki, meet your distant cousin."

"What the fuck are you talking about? I'm not related to that!" Tayuya yelled as she charged