A/N: And here is my ninth chapter. Hope you enjoy it. I did. Narutos first mission.
A/N: And so voting has ended. I shall write the ANBU arc. It will began after one... two chapters. Depends. Dont forget my other poll in my forums! Will Sai join the academy with Naruto or not? Votes so far are 2 for yes to 0 for no.
A/N: Go and check my newest story, Day in Uchiha manor! Its KuroshitsujixNaruto xover! Hope you like it too.
Remember to review!
Enjoy!
Chapter 9: When fox need help, troubled Lion helps.
Three days later.
Naruto woke up at the clinic of the ANBU base. He first noticed that his body ached from everywhere. When he opened his eyes, he saw that body was covered in bandages and there was a nurse filling a sudoku sitting next to his bed. When she realized he was awake she threw it away calling in the doctor. Hana had run inside with uncanny speed staring the check up.
After Narutos brains had got up with the current world, he had asked one thing.
"Where's my mask?" His voice was rather weak.
Hana smiled and nodded to his side. At the nightstand there was standing a mask with fox painting looking towards him. He had tried to reach for it but his hands didn't follow his orders. Hana had explained that she was using a drug which accelerated his recovery but as downsize, drug had also paralyzed his body. But soon as he woke up, she stopped using it.
It took two weeks for Naruto to be discharged from the clinic. He was fully healthy in a week but Hana didn't take any chances with his health.
"Do you have any idea what kind of state your body was when you were brought here? It is a complete miracle you're alive. With our without your pet" Hana scowled at him after he had tried to sneak out. He had wanted to leave the clinic to do some training but before his feet had touched the floor, Hana had appeared next to him glaring. "Anko-san shouldn't have been so rough." She muttered while inspecting his shard. "To put someone so young through so much stress. It's even possible that your growth will slow down because of this."
So Naruto had taken a book, a lollipop and leaned back. She had denied every possible effective training method telling to him not to strain his mind more than his body.
Slowly everyone visited him. Even the Hokage came smiling pleasantly wishing him getting better. It had been ten days since Naruto had been brought to the clinic.
After two weeks had been full, he had raised out of the room leaving snickering nurses and Aunt Hana who had a twitching eye.
Tanta had repaired his gusaris to his please. He had used them to protect himself from an explosion which cause was Anko. When he went down to the roof to get those back, he found something he hadn't expected. Tanta was lying on his knees on the patio. Naruto could here weak weeping sound coming from her.
"What's wrong?" He raised the question.
Tanta was visibly shocked and looked at him. Quickly she formed a smile on her face even while tears kept running down her cheeks. "Oh, Naruto-kun. You were discharged finally?"
"Tanta-san, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Naruto asked again with confused expression. Crying was something that people did when they were sad. Tanta was crying… so she was sad. But she wasn't hurt… was she? "Are you hurt?"
"Nothing escapes from your eyes does it?" She muttered silently with a hint of sarcasm in her voice which of course escaped him completely. "No, Im just tired. That's all."
"Why are you lying?" Naruto asked.
Tanta sighed and smiled to the boy. "Actually I am not, Naruto-kun. Im tired. But that's not the reason Im crying."
"Then what is?"
"M-my hu-husband… I mean my ol-old husband ha-has a-a-asked for a d-di-div-divorce!" Tears started falling from her eyes and she crushed to Naruto hugging him tightly. "I don't know why? Or I do actually… he said I was never there. That I haven't seen Tenten for years. That she can hardly recognize me anymore. That I don't think anything expect my ANBU career. A-and on-once he ac-accused me of having a-a-a FAIR!!!" She started crying to Narutos shoulder who had no idea what was going on. So he just did what Aunt Hana had done to him when they had first met. He gathered chakra to his palm and muttered: 'Dreamless sleep'. Tanta went numb and started to breathe calmly. He had seen Hana using this technique several times and had decided to copy it. It had been his hardest technique so far to accomplish. Even harder than the regular bushin but he was more determined to learn this technique than some academy jutsu. He had even created a new technique while he was practicing this. It placed its victim into a sleep but created nightmares instead of calm sleep. Anko had begged him to teach that to her.
Gently he placed her to patio to sleep and thought his options. He had no idea what just had happened. He was never good when it came to emotion department. He left that to others.
He thought for a moment before he snapped his fingers. "That's right! Itachi-kun knows. He's so smart. But he has acted very weirdly lately. I wonder if he's okay…" He rushed away leaving Tanta sleeping on patio.
He found Itachi at the lounge playing pool by himself. He wasn't the most social person in the house. And currently last Uchiha in the ANBU. Rest had died during the missions. He always preferred playing alone. No matter the outcome, he would always win.
"What brings you here, Naruto-kun?" He asked while leaning closer to table. "I thought you would be training with your gusaris to make up to lost time."
"I was but…" He told about his encounter on the roof.
"So… Tanta-taichou is getting a divorce." Itachi sat on the table while leaning on his stick. "No wonder really. Only few of us really have a life outside the base. It's a curse we have to pay for protecting this village."
"What should I do? I left her there sleeping."
"Hmm… Im not really the best person who you should ask." Itachi muttered. "Akahana-taichou should be much better."
"But everyone else is on a mission. And besides you're… I always think that you are so smart that this wouldn't be a problem to you." He took out an orange lollipop and sighed.
Itachi sighed. "Well, let me think for a moment. I never had a girlfriend. I've always been focusing on training almost forgetting that there is a world so I never really had a heart brake before. Only time close to that was when I six. I was around this girl… her name is not important. I thought she was pretty. Little loud and annoying but pretty non-the-less. For couple of months we were friends. She was actually my only friend now that I think about it."
"What happened?"
"I never really liked people. I avoided the crowds if possible. She… didn't like that. She wanted to be in the centre of the crowd." He sighed. "I guess I could say we broke up. Or she dumped me. One day she said that she didn't want to be my friend if I didn't want to be friend of her friends."
"So she left?" Naruto asked with innocent curiosity.
"… yes. I was going to graduate early anyway so why bother having friends like that." Itachi run his fingers through dark flocks.
"Do you miss her?"
He shrugged. "Sometimes I wonder what it would've been if I had chosen friendship over career. So I guess I do. But it's too late for now."
"Why?"
Itachi turned around and prepared to hit a ball. "Im an ANBU. Soon to be a captain. And besides… they are acting all weird if you ask me…" That last part was muttered like to himself.
After a moment of silence Naruto decided to break it. "What should I do?"
Itachi stopped in the middle of a hit. "Tell her… life will continue on. That it doesn't matter if they hate her… long as she loves them it's all okay. You will continue to protect them from shadow if sunlight doesn't suit you anymore."
Naruto thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Thanks!" He rushed back to roof where Tanta was still sleeping. She had curled little to more to a ball. She seemed so peaceful this way. After a while he undid the jutsu she slowly opened her eyes. "W-what happened? I must have fallen to sleep."
Naruto didn't answer to that.
She quickly stood up and corrected her attire. Perfect she tried to be. "I must get going now." She dried her tiers. "I have something to talk with them. I have to collect my things and everything… lets have tea soon, okay?" She walked away.
"Life will continue on!" Naruto yelled to her and she stopped. "It doesn't matter if they hate you… long as you love them it's all okay! You will continue to protect them from shadows if sunlight doesn't suit anymore!"
Tanta crashed on to her knees. "Thank you…" She whispered so Naruto only barely heard it. "You know… I've always wanted a son." She looked up. Rain clouds were gathering over them. "Actually a son and a daughter. Son like my husband. And a daughter like me… it's obvious it didn't happen. But maybe… someday… you and I… someday."
Naruto walked to her and placed his hand to her shoulder. It was one of the few gestures he knew. She tilted her head to that hand. "I just… hope I could have been better… a mother to my daughter. A wife to my husband. I just… I just… don't know."
"Want me to do anything?" Naruto asked.
"No… you've done more than enough." She stood up and smiled to him. "I just… need to be alone now. Oh! I almost forgot." She pulled out small storage scroll and threw it to him. "I've fixed them for you. And also… happy early birthday." She smiled and walked away.
Naruto was curios what she had meant by that. He rolled the scroll open and unsealing it. His old gusaris were fully fixed. But those were not only what there was. There was also a third one. It was two meters long. He couldn't believe it. He had been given a new gusari. He tested it weight in his hands and smirked. "This will be fun."
He trained next two days to exhaust to take up his lost time. News of Tantas divorce reached everyone's ears soon. She had asked Hakena and Hana to help her with moving her things out of her home. What she had left there anyway. What Naruto understood from rumours, meeting with the family wasn't a happy one.
Naruto had been given two more days to rehabilitation so he would be ready for his first field mission. He was now training his newest gusari but wasn't going so well. It was so much harder than older ones.
He consternated and stepped forward. Spinning the long chain in his hands making its weight to fly an arc. He punched his hand on the way of the chain intercepting its flow. Then he stepped forward and bent his body and raised his hand. Weight flew over his back towards his left hand. He was about to catch it when something grabbed his legs and forced him off-balance.
"You're too weak even after all this time." Sai entered the dojo in his usual training attire.
Naruto didn't reply. He only stood up and tried again. When he had begun training with gusaris, Tanta had given him one universal advice. The advice worked for every weapon possible. 'Train until this is part of your body.' She had said. Naruto had taken that advice to the heart.
Sai watched him train with neutral look on his face. "Your stomach is open." He said after a while.
Naruto lowered his right arm and moved his left arm to more centre while he leaned more to the right. "Like this?"
"Better."
Then Naruto created a group of Tsuki bushins even if they were only had one twenty of his power, it was good practice. And two weaklings could corner much stronger person if teamwork was perfect. That was one of the basic tactics he had been thought by Shiyaku and Danzo. Shiyaku had referred the battle like a game of shogi.
"Remember, it requires one mistake from the silver general, and a mere pawn can take it."
"How's that possible?" Five year old Naruto asked confused. "Silver general moves so much faster than a pawn?"
Shiyaku chuckled. "Mere physical abilities mean nothing if not used correctly. And remember, there is only one silver dragon in the game. But there are whole bunch of pawns. So if pawns move correctly, they can corner the silver general and then finally take it."
Danzo had used more original metaphor.
"Konoha's principal is teamwork." He said while holding some cards. "The idea is that never a shinobi is left alone so there is always someone watching his back. That's why we place them to the genin teams. So there wouldn't be any 'lone heroes' who get themselves and their few comrades killed by their ego."
Naruto looked the hand of cards in front of him. "I hope I will get placed on a team with strong people. I don't want to be with weaklings."
A cane hit his head painfully. "Idiot." Danzo muttered and hold out his cards. "Shinobi team is like a hand of cards in poker. The better you are the higher number you got. Too many people place their hope in that one person. In that one card." He held out one of his cards. It was king of hearts. "But king alone isn't enough. Remember, pair of twos takes out an ace. Or how a low straight takes out three good fighters."
Naruto thought about before nodded. "Teamwork is that important?"
Danzo closed his visible eye to reform his thoughts. "The hand of cards can be used in this too." He said. "Let's say shinobi is a hand. And the land mean mans attributes like genjutsu, ninjutsu, kenjutsu and so ford. The higher number again the better you are."
Naruto thought again for a moment. "So your saying that If we have a person who has queen of hearts (genjutsu), another person who has king of spades (kenjutsu), third person who has the jack of clubs (ninjutsu) and nine of diamonds (taijutsu) and ace of spaces (kinjutsu) you get a perfect team?"
Danzo smiled glad how quickly he had gotten it. "Exactly. When a person with right attributes is placed a team with others with right attributes the team can accomplish its mission easily. Of course, we don't have enough people with various attributes to accomplish that in practice so we have to improvise. If there's a mission needing high genjutsu abilities, it would be waste of resources to send a master of ninjutsu with him."
He opened his eyes. He was ready. "Attack."
Sai observed as Naruto jumped back as three of his bushins charged towards him. Naruto kept walking backwards avoiding kunais and shurikens alike. He reflected them by spinning his second gusari rapidly in front of himself.
Suddenly two of them appeared behind him throwing their own gusari to each other trying to trip him. Naruto averted by back flipping himself acrobatically at the same moment throwing ray of senbons towards projectile attacking bushins. They puffed out of existence turning back to soil which they were created from. When he was flying in the air he saw from the corner of his eyes another ray of senbons attacking towards him. Naruto twitched his body avoiding all of the first ones. Second group of clones attacked on the same time jumping on his way sacrificing themselves for creating an opening. Naruto threw his gusari through the roof so it would cling on to it and swung over attacking clones abandoning his gusari when it was done.
Naruto threw out a kunai and engaged in taijutsu fight with a group of five of his clones who were trying to surround him. He charged head on against the person in the middle and taking it by surprise. Then he threw ray of senbon against the two on his left while kicking the one on his right side. That left four clones together. One from taijutsu fight and three with gusaris. He watched carefully when the last of the five approached from behind as the three attacked from the front.
Quickly starting to form hand seals. "Katon: Kaji Kokyuu no Jutsu!" (A/N: I copied this jutsu from certain fic, I don't know if it's from canon or if it's original but I apologize for copying it.) And he exhaled a moderate sized fire ball striking down the first in front. Then he stepped aside and grabbed clone behind him from his hand and threw him over his shoulder (A/N: judo throw). It hit the floor of the dojo and was dispelled. The last two were now keeping their distance.
Naruto took out his longest gusari and charged forward. He averted their attacks by stepping side while throwing his gusari towards the last one of the second. It had been expecting this and stepped aside throwing senbon towards his neck. Naruto ducked and the needle hit his forehead. Luckily he had titled his head so the attack would only scrape his hair and fell of.
He threw the other end of the gusari in arc, tidying them both up. Quickly cutting both their throats and it was over.
Sai clapped his hands. "Good tactics. Exactly like from a book."
Naruto shook his head. "Tsuki bushins are weak. Even if I could create twenty of them I would still easily overpower them."
Sai nodded understanding. "But you have no luck creating mizu bushins, which requires water affinity."
"True." Naruto nodded and sighed. "Want to spar?"
So they spend next few hours sparring like maniacs. When they were done they both walked to bathing area to soak themselves.
Pool area was divided into two parts. Training area and to relaxing area. At the training area they had pools where one could swim easily (A/N: just think normal swimming pool in poolhalls) or to train jutsus which require water. Relaxing area had some hot springs, bathtubs and even few different kinds of saunas. Naruto and Sai were in a bit of a hurry so they skipped it. They removed their clothes and soaked themselves into hot springs.
"This sure is nice." Naruto muttered dreamily.
"Pleasant way to remove ones sweats." Sai confirmed. "Why you keep your hair in a pun even now?"
Naruto opened his eyes and looked at him curiosly. "What you mean? If I don't, my hair will soak and it will take too long for it to dry."
"Then why not to shorten it?"
"Well… Aunt Hana has long hair, Hakena-san has long hair, Tanta-san has long hair which is on pun. Almost every woman has a long hair. I just think it would look nice if I would have longer hair." He touched his yellow flocks. "I just think so."
Sai shrugged. He only thought it would be more practical to have short hair.
As they cleaned themselves and left the pool area, they came across Aunt Hana.
"Naruto-kun, here you are. I've been looking for you." She rushed to him smiling. "Are you feeling okay? No injuries aching or anything?"
"No." He smiled. "Im good as new."
Hana nodded. "Okay then. We must go now. It's time."
"Time?"
"Time for your first mission." She smiled little nervous. "Of course it will only be easy patrol so don't expect much."
"Okay." Naruto nodded.
They reached Danzos office where Sato was folding papers like always. "A mission?"
Three of them nodded. "Naruto-kuns first mission."
"Danzo-sama is expecting you." Eye-glassed woman said coldly and nodded towards the door.
Inside, bandaged man was reading some report. When the door was opened he lifted his gaze from the paper. "Akahana-san, Hyena, Naruto-kun. Or should I say, Fox?" He smiled pleasantly. "Ready for a real mission?"
"Sure." Naruto answered to a smile.
"Your mission will firstly be only simple patrol duties. So you will get used to system and outside world and the village again. You will not leave the village until further notice. In a month or so you will be given your first real ANBU mission. Until then, you will be helping others in their patrol duty. You're not allowed to wonder alone anywhere. Not until we are sure you can take care of yourself or you won't blow your cover. Understood?"
"Yes."
"You will be accompanied by Hyena all the time. Hyena, this is your primary mission until further notice. You're to protect Naruto at all time. Understood?"
"Understood." Sai answered with emotionless voice.
"And then there's discussion of your promotion." Danzo smirked slightly to Hanas stunned expression.
"What promotion?" She asked. "I didn't hear anything about it."
"Im promoting Naruto-kun as a captain of the Zero group." Danzo leaned back satisfied smile on his face.
"What you mean?" Hana demanded. "Naruto has been an ANBU for few weeks and now you're promoting him as a captain? What's the meaning of this?" Danzo's smirk widened as she left the honour suffix out.
"As you know, my personal group hasn't a captain expect for Seal who unfortunately died during a mission in Iwa so Im looking for a replacement." He leaned back. "Naruto-kun here I believe is a perfect for it. By reasons of my own." He smiled.
"Does Hokage know about this?"
"Root is my personal group. Hokage has now word what I do with it. And Naruto-kun is part of it. Officially I mean. And now we have solid reason for him staying in the top floor when new trainees join ANBU."
"New trainees?" Hana asked.
"Yes. Hokage and I have decided to keep Narutos true identity as a secret from anyone else. Only remaining current ANBUs know the truth and they shall not speak of it." He stood up and walked one of his shelf's and studied some scrolls. "These last few months have been very exhausting to our forces. Our efficiency has been cut back by twenty present. And Hokage has been questioned by the council why new trainees haven't been accepted since Uchiha Itachi. He has been able to hold them back until now but since that mission in Mizu… anyway, new trainees will arrive in two months. They are already trained by twelfth group until they think they are ready to join officially."
"I… see."
"So, Naruto-kun must appear very effective and frightening when that time comes. And as a captain of Group Zero he is expected to be one of the strongest"
"He may not be strong but cunning he is and definitely group captain material." Hana agreed. Then she looked down to him. "What you think? Do you want to be a captain?"
Naruto shrugged. "Sound like fun." Then an idea hit him. "Doesn't that make me Sai's boss?"
"… yes." Hana nodded. "What? You're going to boss him around?"
Naruto thought about it. "Sai…" Everyone waited in silence what he would do with his powers. "I want you to spar with me soon. Okay?"
Both Danzo and Hana face faulted even if he was better hiding it. Hana cursed herself. Normal kid with such authority would have used it to something more… childish! But Naruto only asked him to do something they always did! Asked! Not even ordered but asked! How screwed up a child could be?
"Understood, Naruto-taichou." Sai answered like a clock.
"Don't call me that. It sounds creepy. Naruto goes fine." He smiled widely.
"Naruto." Sai confirmed.
Danzo coughed getting everyone's attention once again. "Naruto-kun, you maybe a captain but remember that senior captains always outrank you. So with Hyena, you're in charge. With Akahana-san you're just a regular ANBU. Understand?"
Naruto nodded.
"And now is time for this." Danzo took a wooden box and handed it to Naruto. He opened it. "Its your ANBU sword." Naruto took his ninjato and hold it in his hands. Swordfight weren't his strongest forte, especially due his small body but he knew that only few of the ANBUs actually used their swords in fights. Even though practicing with bokken was one of his primary training methods he still wouldn't trust his life in a sword. But he bowed in appreciation. "Thank you." He was now fully accepted.
"Good. Now, your patrolling area will be G6. The market district. Akahana-san, its time to you to equip Naruto."
"Yes, Danzo-sama." Hana nodded and nodded Naruto to follow.
They exited the Danzos office and made it to lower levels. Armoury had a guard at the door. He was wearing a zebra mask and… filling sudokus. "Yo, Hana! Needing new kunai set or something?"
"No, Naruto-kun here will be going to his first mission. He needs the 'patrol pack'."
"Okay, there you go." Guard opened the door.
Naruto walked around watching long shelfs of kunais, shurikens and other weapons.
"Naruto-kun! Come over here." Hana called him out. She stood next to a table holding a pack bag. "This is a 'patrol pack' it has everything you might need on a short term patrol duties. Twenty five kunais, twenty five shurikens, some ninja wire, five explosive tags, painkillers and flares." She pulled out two round tubes. "When something happens, you break one of these. The blue one alerts all the ANBU in the area to come into your aid and the red one all the ninjas higher than chunins. You just break the tube from the middle and the chakra inside will alert others." She threw him the pouch. "Remember to check it for just in case." Then she walked to tech shelf and took three set of head phones and gave one to each. "Radio channel 2215-b. Password 2k388ar." She told as she set the frequency. Naruto tied his pouch to his leg and placed the headpiece of his ear. Then they dressed their amours, gloves, leg shields and such.
After that Naruto, Hana and Sai had all dressed in their armours they walked to other end of the armoury. There, another guard greeted them and opened the door. It led to a dark corridor.
"Masks on!" Hana told and pulled out her robin mask, Sai his hyena mask and Naruto… He held his mask with fox painting in his hands. "Ready?" Robin asked looking at her.
"Ready." Naruto nodded and placed the mask on.
They rushed through the corridor until they came to its end. There was a door which she opened. They entered the place which seemed like normal house.
"Welcome" Said unfamiliar voice. "to my house, ANBUs." Mans voice said.
Fox looked to other side of the room where an elderly man was sitting in a chair while reading a newspaper. "I didn't see anything." He said.
Fox looked up to Robin obviously questioningly. "This is house of Ataru Moboshi. He is retired ANBU who is kindly offered his home to our use. He will guard our passageway and allows us to infiltrate the village more subtly."
Fox nodded.
"We're off then." Robin stated and left with her team. They rushed outside.
Fox masked ANBU stood on top of the building looking down to busy market street of Konoha. Of course no-one saw him. He had henged himself as a normal pigeon which was sitting on roof. On the other side of the street. Small robin bird was standing on a near rooftop. And on the street normal looking dog was scratching behind its ear. Then suddenly robin jumped away and hid itself. "This place is clear." His headpiece started to talk quietly. "Fox, Hyena, go to other side of the area. Alert me if anything happens. Understood?"
Both of them backed into shadows and dropped their henge. Then they pushed the 'buzzer' in their radios making short sounds stating that they understood.
They spend five hours observing and looking at people. Nothing really happened though. Most interesting part was when a woman started screaming hysterically about lecherous bastards and perverts in the middle of the district. Both Sai and Naruto only looked each other quickly and shrugged not understanding the argument.
So it began. Next month Naruto, Sai and third team mate guarded the village without single mistake. Sometimes it was Hana, Hakena, Itachi or someone else who didn't have any other missions. There wasn't any big events expect one missing-nin trying to steal a scroll from Hokage tower. Fox and Hyena, and their excellent teamwork took him out before he had taken two steps in front of them. Fox had quickly questioned him. Missing-nin from Waterfall. Had tried to steal the scroll wanting to sell it to the highest better. It had also been day of Foxes first kill. After questioning, Naruto slid his throat knowing it wouldn't do any good to take the man into custody. It wasn't a big deal. That was a big deal. Hyena had called for back-up soon as the man had been noticed. Hana, Itachi, Tenzo, Anko and Tanta arrived just in time to see Naruto cutting mans throat with his kunai. He didn't even tremble as blood coloured his clothes in red. He only stood up and simply said: "Have to learn a cleaner way to kill them." And walked away. Hana and Tanta had been ready to cry to his lost innocence. Tenzo had merely nodded trying to keep his body from trembling. Anko had smirked widely, only person without a mask and raised her thumps. Itachi had been only one to speak. "If you hit the heart first, it will release pressure inside their veins so blood won't erupt on your face." Fox had nodded understanding.
That night though, Hana had brought dinner to his room, she had found him sitting on his bed head resting on his knees. His long hair free. "I didn't know there would be so much blood." He had whispered.
Hana had comforted him happily. 'There's still some humanity inside him.'
Of course he never showed it during missions.
So at begin of his second month as ANBU, he was given his first real mission. It was to protect Daimyos son who was visiting Konoha. For this mission was consisted by a three men cell. Itachi (who had been promoted as group captain thanks to his excellent record and death of his former captain) as a team leader, Naruto as sub-leader and Sai as third member.
Mission went fairly well. Expect for that Daimyos son was a spoiled brat who didn't understand the threat behind that title. Half of the occasions his servants had to pull the teenage boy out of red-light district. And of course he didn't even notice two shadowy figures following him in capes like shadows. Fox and Hyena had been placed in close watch while Itachi himself kept the perimeter safe. But luckily for all of them, man was never assaulted. Expect for occasion when a waitress slapped across his face, being mistaken for a prostitute.
"And then there was this time when a dog bit his leg." Fox continued the mission report in Hokages office. "But we decided to let it slide. It was his own fault for kicking its puppy. And then there was…"
"Enough, Fox-kun. Enough." Hokage silenced him. "Excellent work keeping him safe. You may return to base, or are there any questions?"
"Permission to talk freely?"
"Granted."
"Why do we waste our resources in protecting son of Daimyo, when he has his own guards already?"
Old Hokage leaned back. Naruto sure had grown from the small boy who had once lied on his desk. It was both encouraging and depressing thought how he had changed. "Because in ninja village like this there are much more shadowy characters at large." He answered exhaling a smoke cloud.
Naruto thought about it for a minute. "Of course. I understand. Because in this village there are hundreds of active and inactive ninjas who all have skills far more than a normal samurai, it would be easier to enemy to get closer targets convoy without raising any suspicions."
"Excellent, Fox." Sandaime nodded. "That was excellent deduction. Do you have anymore questions?"
Naruto shook his head.
"Dismissed."
Naruto stepped outside of the office. He was still trying to learn the shushin. Hyena was waiting outside and started following him. As they walked on the corridors they passed many shinobis. Fox could feel many eyes following his moves. He could hear whispers but nothing clear. Only words like "Who's that?" and "Danzo", "Root" or "Freaks" reached his ears. Then he passed pair of two geezers who watched him with open disgust. Fox narrowed his eyes behind his mask. Those two were the only people beside Hokage outside the base who knew about him. And their opinion was clear even to Naruto. Danzo had told about them many times.
He ignored the two geezers and continued his walk. But didn't reach the front door just yet. "And here is the Hokage tower." Mans voice said. "Today we have our fieldtrip here. Now, as everyone knows, Hokage tower is the place where our Hokage takes his seat. Can anyone tell me, what is Hokage?"
Naruto saw large group of kids of his own age led by man who had large scar across his face.
Few hands rose from the group. "Ino-chan." Teacher said.
"Hokage is the strongest ninja in the village! He protects everyone." Blond haired girl stated loudly.
"You have so troublesome voice." Boy who vaguely reminded Naruto of Shiyaku, if man had been sucked out of all his batteries.
"You shouldn't say such things, Shikamaru." Fat kid eating chips stated kindly.
"Hey, Iruka-sensei! Who're those kids!?" Boy with Inuzuka clan markings asked loudly pointing directly at Fox and Hyena who kept walking towards them or the front door behind them. Iruka followed his finger and suddenly paled a degree or two. "Okay class! Clear the way!" He quickly ordered his students as Fox got nearer and nearer.
"But why?" Inuzuka kid asked.
"Because Im telling you!" Iruka said hastily and pushed them aside. Class watched confused as Fox and Hyena walked pass them. Many chunin and jonin of Konoha had heard of Fox. And seen him. He may have been good at stealth but not good enough to fool veteran jonin. They all knew of Root and knew also that there hadn't been any new applicants in ANBU since Uchiha prodigy and not especially a kids like these. So meeting the infamous Fox was undoubtedly little unsettling to fresh chunin teacher. Even normal ANBU officers were enough to make him feel nervous and now here walked so-called emotionless killers. Two of Danzos 'pets'. He didn't want to act like a coward but his students were… well, kids. And he wasn't going to risk them so he ordered them to clear the way just in case.
Naruto, inside the fox mask recognized two people from the group. Boy with arrogant and dark look, Itachi downsized and Hinata Hyuga. Poor girl seemed suffered from the death of her mother. He hadn't seen her since that one tea ceremony gathering. He of course didn't show his recognizing in anyway. Just kept walking.
Kiba was confused. These kids walked in ANBU masks and Iruka-sensei acts like demons had walked pass them like they owned the building. Kids needed a lesson. 'And perhaps Hinata-chan would look at me adorably after I show my awesome powers.' He pulled out a pen and held it out like he was going to throw a kunai when suddenly fox mask turned and Kiba felt his heart stopping. He was hit by such massive force he couldn't even move nor tremble. Then it disappeared. Like it had appeared, it disappeared when the fox mask turned away. Whole class, Iruka included could feel much better when they saw him disappear out of the door.
What students didn't know, they were hit by Narutos killing intent. He himself hadn't even noticed using it. Only had felt movement from the corner of his eye and turned to face it ready to action but was kind of disappointed to find a kid with a pencil. Was he being paranoid? Perhaps he should meditate soon as he could? Hyena hadn't noticed it either. Only had quickly glanced to opposite direction in case of ambushes.
Iruka had felt the killing intent as everyone else passing by. It wasn't enough to paralyze a chunin who had more than once felt a killing intent in his life (once from a giant fox) but it was amazingly great to only a kid of six… seven years of old. His students were ready to cry. With exception of Hinata who was only looking after the ANBU. Iruka raised his eyebrow to this but shot it out of his mind. His other students needed him now more. "So let's go to see the Hokage! The strongest ninja in the village who protects us all!" He stated loudly. Students nodded happy of the secured feeling the Hokage was giving them.
Hinata had also felt the massive force of killing intent but hadn't been affected by it. In the contrary it gave her a familiar feeling inside and made her think her long time crush, Uzumaki heir, Naruto-kun who would once join the academy. She suddenly started to dream of Naruto once again like always before. After the death of her mother she had taken his words to her heart. She knew her clan saw her as a failure but she still tried her best time after time (A/N: my Hinata is more confident and not so much of a failure but NOT that confident and will be given to Kurenai in near future like in canon). And when it came too hard for her, she started to imagine how would Naruto think of her when he would join the academy. How he had grown, how he would want to be her friend and then to be his boyfriend… she was once again lost in her dream world.
Sasuke was shaking ever so badly. He hadn't been this scared in his life! He had just met his brother and had changed few words with him before he had to leave. Sasuke had always thought that his brother had been a prodigy and that he was the youngest ABUN now. And now there was this kid who couldn't be older than himself in ANBU mask. ANBU! Who was he?! He needed to know! How could he show people the difference between him and his brother if there were more people so much stronger than him?
Fox and Hyena arrived at the base forgetting everything about the incident. Fox removed his mask releasing his face. He removed his armour and weapons and decided to visit the lounge. He nodded politely to people who passed him. He met Aunt Hana at the lounge reading a book. When she saw him she asked about his mission. Happily Naruto told about all the funny incidents the son of Daimyo had ended up in.
After little chat Naruto walked off to cafeteria. He found Itachi from there.
"Naruto-kun, or should I say; Naruto-taichou?" He asked joking about his promotion like he often did.
"What you're doing?" He asked curiosly after picking something to eat.
"Just thinking some… things." Itachi said glumly far seeing look in his eyes. "Did you know I've given everything to this village?"
"Huh?" Naruto asked sitting opposite of him.
"Ever since I was able to walk I've been trained. Trained to be a perfect shinobi. My father wanted me to become greatest Uchiha ever." He muttered. "He has being talking about… some things of our village. What you think of Sandaime?" He looked into Naruto.
"I don't know." He shrugged. "I guess he's nice. And he is always brining me ramen for my birthday present."
Itachi snorted. "Sometimes I wonder which your favourite is. Ramen or lollipops?"
"I guess it's hard to decide." He smirked back.
"Naruto… if you were ordered to… kill Akahana-san, because they're saying she's planning something… would you follow that order or choose to ally with her plan."
"What you mean?" Naruto asked confused. "Are you ordered to-?"
"No. It's not Akahana-san." Itachi smiled assuring. "It's just… would you choose your village or… your… family?"
"Family." Naruto said before he had properly stopped.
"Really?" Itachi raised his eyebrow surprised. "But you don't have a family?"
"Sure I do!" Naruto smiled widely. "I got Aunt Hana, Danzo-sama, Sai, Tenzo-san, Anko-san, Hakena-san, Tanta-san, Shiyaku-san, Ibiki-san, Old Man and everyone in this base!" He stated happily. "And you too of course!"
Itachi smiled to how foolish he had been. "I should have known." He rose from his seat. "So you're saying that I should follow my heart, huh?"
"Huh?" Naruto asked confused.
Itachi petted his head. "Here." He pulled out new bag of lollipops. "These are from Wind. Enjoy."
"Sweet! Thanks!" Naruto smiled and pulled out one of them. It was yellow. "Want one?"
"No, Im good." Itachi smiled and walked away. "Naruto-kun… don't patrol around Uchiha district for some time, okay?"
"Wha yo meen?" Naruto muffled a lollipop in his mouth.
"Nothing. Just… stay clear of that place for few days, okay?"
Naruto shrugged and nodded. "Sure."
Itachi walked away a dark look in his eyes. "Now then… Shisui is waiting for me…"
Chapter END
