AN: Hey everyone! Sorry about the late update, my job kept me busy the last few days, and I could barely get a moment to type anything! I wrote this chapter while away, but waited to get home before uploading it. Now that I'm home, it's back to business as usual. In this chapter, things get a little more complex for our whiskered hero, and a surprise is in store for Naruto! Remember to review and let me know what you think! I'm getting closer to coming up with Naruto's pairing, but I'm still open for suggestions!
Chapter 10:
Sarutobi ran to the now shattered window and stared out of it impassively. Of course, the shadow-double of Anko Mitarashi was nowhere to be seen, but Sarutobi had no doubt that they'd see her again. Taking a deep sigh, he turned to Naruto, who was slack-jawed and looking at the spot where Anko's double had vanished in shock.
Sarutobi walked over calmly to the boy and squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.
"Are you alright Naruto-kun?" he asked softly. Naruto's sapphire eyes looked up at him fearfully.
"Old Man," Naruto gasped. "W-What's going on? Why are there people after me? What did she mean by getting a Fox?"
Sarutobi tensed slightly, which did not go unnoticed by young Naruto. Naruto's eyes narrowed and he regarded Sarutobi suspiciously. However, Sarutobi was not known as 'The Professor' for nothing, and expertly changed the direction in which the conversation was heading, by turning his focus on Anko, who was clutching at her arm and panting heavily.
"Anko-chan," Sarutobi said solemnly. "What happened to you? We should get you to the hospital at once!"
Anko waved Sarutobi off.
"I'll go after I tell you what I've found out sir," Anko's brown eyes regarded Naruto carefully.
"Can you ask Naruto to leave for a moment?" she added. "This information is...sensitive."
Naruto scowled deeply and crossed his arms defiantly.
"You two know what's going on!" Naruto protested. "I'm not going anywhereuntil I get some answers!"
Naruto fixed his gaze on Sarutobi pleadingly.
"Please Old Man!" he continued. "I need to understand what's happening to me!"
Sarutobi heaved a heavy sigh and rubbed his beard in rapt contemplation and turned his gaze back on Anko who was watching Naruto with something akin to sympathy.
"Anko-chan," Sarutobi dictated. "Naruto-kun may stay. He has just as much right to hear your story as anyone, but first..."
Sarutobi went through a series of rapid handsigns and the room glowed with a faint blue light.
"I've put up a sound barrier," Sarutobi explained casually. "We must keep this report between ourselves."
Sarutobi turned to Naruto and regarded him seriously.
"Do you understand, Naruto-kun? You must not tell anyone."
Naruto nodded that he understood completely, and Sarutobi walked back to his desk, and sat down, gesturing for Anko to begin her report.
To say that Sarutobi was surprised after Anko's tale of her subsequent defeat and information on the mysterious figure that Naruto claimed was his 'shadow' would not have done the old Hokage justice. He was downright alarmed that such a person was able to navigate his village's streets completely unnoticed by ANBU or the other ninja of the village.
Most of all, he worried for Naruto's safety. He knew that if the mystery man wanted, he could easily let slip about Naruto's tenant to whomever he wished. This wouldn't be so much of an issue if Naruto was at least genin, but the boy was only six! To put so much responsibility on his shoulders at a young age, literally made Sarutobi's heart hurt. But at this point, he wouldn't have a choice in the matter. Naruto need trained now. But who could do the job without prejudice of his tenant?
Sarutobi's thoughts were interrupted by Naruto who cleared his throat loudly and glared at him.
"Yes, Naruto-kun?" Sarutobi sighed regarding the boy he considered to be his surrogate grandson. Naruto crossed his arms again and tapped his foot impatiently.
"I still want to know what the fake snake lady meant by possessing a fox! You haven't explained that part to me!"
Anko and Sarutobi exchanged a glance and turned their attention back on the young boy. Sarutobi reached for his pipe and packed it.
"I'm afraid I can't say anything about it Naruto-kun," Sarutobi apologized miserably. "When you become a genin you may ask me and I promise I will tell you, but for now, you are not ready for the information."
If looks could kill, Naruto would have murdered Sarutobi eight times with his frosty glare.
"Not again, Old Man!" Naruto whined. "You say the same thing when I ask you about my parents! I think I've earned the right to know about stuff that concerns me!"
Anko shook her head at Naruto.
"You don't get it brat," she said flatly. "Lord Hokage has to keep many secrets to keep the village running smoothly. You can't just march in here and demand answers to things. Besides, he promised to tell you, so just shut up and be patient until he does!"
Naruto scowled at Anko who scowled back equally. Their staring contest lasted for a full minute until they were abruptly interrupted by Sarutobi who cleared his throat importantly.
"Anko-chan," he said, getting the Snake Mistress' attention. "I know you are tired from your ordeal, and would like to retire to the hospital for treatment, but there is something of the utmost importance I need to discuss with you."
Anko straightened at once, which made her wince slightly. She was still in a decent amount of pain from her fight with her shadow self. Sarutobi frowned at Naruto.
"Naruto-kun, I will have Neko escort you back to your apartment tonight, and she will watch over you to make sure your 'shadow' does not bother you again. Neko?"
At the sound of her name, the cat-masked ANBU materialized in front of the Hokage's desk, bowing reverently on one knee.
"Yes Lord Third?" she asked monotonously.
"You heard everything I need from you, I take it?" Sarutobi questioned as he inhaled from his pipe. Neko responded with a prompt nod, and Sarutobi leaned back in his chair.
"Please be vigilant Neko," Sarutobi cautioned. "I do not wish for an incident similar to the one we've had tonight to occur again. Keep Naruto-kun safe."
Neko glanced at the indignant boy and nodded again to the Hokage, who exhaled a cloud of tobacco smoke., and turned to Naruto.
"Now, go get some much needed rest Naruto-kun," the Hokage said genially. "I will have a surprise for you tomorrow morning. One that I'm sure you'll like."
Naruto, (who was still glaring ruefully at the occupants of the room) perked up at once upon hearing the word 'surprise'.
"Really Old Man?" he said exuberantly. "I'm holding you to that!"
Sarutobi nodded with a slight smile and gestured for Neko and Naruto to leave the room. When the double oak doors of his office closed, leaving no trace of Neko and Naruto, Sarutobi turned to Anko who still stood at attention.
"Anko, we have much to discuss."
Naruto could have done without the shunshin from the foot of the Hokage Tower with Neko to his apartment living room. When they arrived, Naruto promptly ran for the bathroom and emptied his stomach in nausea.
Neko giggled softly in amusement when Naruto stumbled back into the living room, only to glare at her scornfully.
"Hey Neko-san?" Naruto asked innocently. Neko nodded at him to continue.
"If you need to take me home from now on, let's just walk, okay?"
Neko nodded and said:
"But Naruto-san," she admonished. "You are going to be a ninja someday, are you not?"
Naruto titled his head to the side and squinted his eyes in confusion. Neko shook her head in amazement.
'Honestly,' she thought resignedly. 'The boy can be so perceptive at times it's frightening, but he is clueless about simple things!'
"Naruto-san, the shunshin is a technique that all ninja utilize to some degree. You'll have to learn how to use it eventually."
Naruto frowned and crossed his arms.
"I'll just make up a super-cool way to travel without doing that!" He argued. Neko just sighed and walked towards his apartment door.
"I'll be outside keeping watch for any undesirables, Naruto-san," Neko informed him, as she opened the door. "Just call for me if something happens, I will respond immediately and assist you."
Naruto nodded and with a soft snap of the lock, Neko vanished out the door and into the night.
Naruto got ready for bed, thoroughly enjoying having hot shower water for once, and brushed his teeth. He crawled into bed and stared at his ceiling for a while, wondering if Neko-san was still hanging out on his rooftop. He wondered about the Old Man's surprise for him and couldn't help but speculate over what it could possibly be.
About an hour later, Naruto found his eyelids getting heavy and tossed in his sheets to get comfortable as he drifted off to dreamland, excited at the prospect of his surprise tomorrow.
Too bad his dreams would keep him awake in terror all night.
AN: Poor Naruto. Kept in the dark and being hunted. And his dreams? You'll have to find out what that'll entail next chapter!