There had been times in the life of Uzumaki Naruto when he didn't feel particularly good, most of those times had been when everyone laughed at him for failing whatever they were doing at the academy, however now he knew what the phrase 'I feel like shit' meant.

His vision was bleary, his head was pounding and he couldn't concentrate on anything as he questioned whether he was asleep or awake, or even if he had died and not realised it. He knew he had been the subject of torture, he had felt the kunai as they dug into his flesh, he had been awake when they systematically tore apart his psyche, yet he refused to give up... he would not let them win.

That bear of a man he couldn't remember the name of, that vicious woman with the beige trenchcoat and the man that reminded him of Ino, they had all hurt him, they had all smiled as they tried to make him despair, they all laughed at his denial of their statements concerning the Hokage... they had all enjoyed breaking him apart.

At least that's what he thought at the beginning. however the longer it went on and the more they subjected him to, the more their eyes showed an emotion that he hadn't noticed at first... regret.

They regretted doing what they were, despite smiling at laughing at everything they put him through, those smiles never reached their eyes.

That was what allowed him to finally realise what his training was, it was that that let him realise he was being prepared for actual torture, taught how to keep his mouth shut and not allow the enemy to discover any of the information he would no doubt be trusted with.

So while his hatred of them had died, it didn't change the fact that he was currently about as close to dying as a person could be without being in critical condition, something that hadn't been helped by the fact he hadn't been allowed to sleep since his arrival or the poison that was put into his blood stream by the purple haired woman.

He couldn't tell how long he'd been there, he couldn't even remember how many times he had met each of the interrogators/torturers, all he knew was that he was exhausted, cold, hungry and thirsty. That and it was dark... but that was about it, he couldn't even tell if there was anyone in the room with him right now.

Of course he knew that if there wasn't then one of them would be soon and they would wake him up in a harsh manner if he did nod off... they did every other time after all.

His ears picked up on a noise, it sounded like voices but he wasn't certain, whether the sound was people talking or not, his mind couldn't process anything that would be said, it was just as his eyes picked up on a light appearing before him that he finally lost his ability to remain conscious.

XXX XXX XXX

Light, that was the first thing Naruto's mind registered as he slowly began to regain consciousness, the second thing that his mind registered was the fact that there was someone looking at him.

"So, you're awake," came what had become a rather familiar voice over the past couple of weeks, "come on, you need to sit up."

He noticed the delicate hand that placed itself at the back of his neck to assist him in sitting up before a glass of water was placed at his lips. Without so much as a second thought he proceeded to start gulping down the cool liquid, instantly feeling better as his parched throat was soothed by the life giving fluid.

Finishing the glass, Naruto simply closed his eyes before asking a simple question to the person in the room with him.

"Why are you here Mitsuki? I remember you taking my bunshin out of town so why are you back?" his question was simple and the response he got in return was clear.

"All members of Black Ops are taught how to enter and leave the village without anyone knowing, right now only members of ANBU, the council and Hokage-sama know I'm in the village," she explained to him before continuing, "as for why I'm here with you, it is standard policy for someone to stay with anyone that has just undergone resistance training, normally the initiates instructor is the one to greet them upon awakening, however Tenzō decided that since I'm closer to you than he is, it would probably be better if I was the one you woke up to."

"I see…" those words left his mouth easily before he proceeded to lay back down, letting his exhausted body rest a little before making his next statement, "so I take it I'm right thinking that those people didn't enjoy torturing me."

"Yeah, you should've heard them when they brought you here, Anko-sempai actually said she was almost sick doing what she did to, I quote 'what is practically a Konoha Genin'," her voice was even throughout her statement, just what he expected from the dark haired woman.

"I… see," he managed to say before feeling a strange sensation in a small spot on his arm. Opening one of his eyes, he looked towards the area he felt strange, almost immediately noticing that there was a tube sticking out of him.

"You have been on an intravenous drip since you lost consciousness, you went three days without food, water or rest so the iryō-nin in charge of overseeing black ops members decided to put some nutrients and liquid into your blood directly," Mitsuki stated from his side, obviously noticing the small amount of confusion that had slipped onto his face upon seeing the tube, "however now that you're awake, you can start eating and drinking properly, I've even managed to procure a few cups of instant ramen for your enjoyment."

Almost instantly the whiskered boys eyes lit up at the promise of his favourite food, even if it was only the instant variant and not Ichiraku's, ramen was ramen and right now that is all that mattered to him.

After removing the tube from the boys arm, the young woman proceeded to leave his side, taking the glass with her as she proceeded to refill the glass and start boiling a pot of water, allowing the blue eyed boys eyes to wander the room.

It looked sterile, lots of light and white decorated the room, while four beds lay parallel to each other and a series of worktops, including one that seemed to act as a kitchen, which was where the slightly older girl was currently located.

Of course all that did was confirm for him where he was, it was the medical room in the ANBU HQ, he had only looked at it once since he hadn't expected to be confined to it at any point. Yeah, wishful thinking at its finest.

"Here you go, eat up but take your time, your stomach will probably react violently to begin with," the dark haired woman stated seriously as she passed him a cup of instant ramen and a glass of water.

"Thank you," he managed to get out as he took the fork she had given him with the cup of ramen and proceeded to start eating. Normally he would use chopsticks, however right now, he didn't think he had the energy or coordination to successfully utilize his preferred eating implement.

For the next hour, all that could be heard was the quiet slurping of noodles as the whiskered ANBU proceeded to slowly consume the cheap food he was being supplied, he was aware that technically he should be eating something fuller than ramen but right now he wasn't concerned about what he needed, preferring to simply think of the noodles he hadn't been capable of having since he was passed into that bear of a man's care… he still couldn't remember the man's name after his stint of being a human practice dummy for every torture and interrogation technique available outside of mind walking.

By the time he had finished all the cups his senior made him, he found that he was no longer feeling as terrible as he did when he woke up, quickly chalking it up to the Kyūbi's influence healing him now that he had some form of sustenance.

"Mitsuki, how long was I asleep?" he asked as his mind began to start functioning in a more normal manner, allowing him to look at the woman and take note of her calmly analysing him as she started talking.

"Approximately eighteen hours. As I said before you were placed on an intravenous drip to ensure you didn't die of dehydration, though to be fair Anko, Ibiki and Inoichi did monitor your condition to ensure you didn't actually die under their care," she informed him in her usual tone, earning a nod of acceptance from the blond.

"I see," he began to feel annoyed at just how often he had said that since he had woken up, surely he could come up with something cooler, he was Uzumaki Naruto for crying out loud! "so how did I do?"

"According to Ibiki you passed, though you had a rocky start," she explained to him calmly.

"I guess you could say that…" he nearly cringed at his inability to make light of the situation despite his efforts, then again he still wasn't at one hundred percent and even though he was certainly feeling better it didn't change one simple fact… he had literally just woken up after a seventy two hour long torture session.

That thought made his brow furrow, was such a method normal for recruits?

"Mitsuki, do recruits normally get tortured and starved for three days?" he asked the short haired assassin, who proceeded to let out a sigh of resignation at his question.

"Normally, a recruit isn't starved, deprived of water or sleep, however because of your healing factor and stamina, it was decided that you needed a more severe approach than normal," she informed him with her eyes closed, making him look away from her, "however do not forget that it was Hokage-sama that authorised these methods and according to Tenzō, he only allowed them because he believed you were strong enough to make it through the training."

Upon hearing that, Naruto couldn't help but feel much better, not because he suffered worse than others but because the old man had believed in him and decided to push him to breaking point realising that he wouldn't snap, that knowledge alone was enough to put a smile on his whiskered face.

"Don't smile so early, your training hasn't finished yet," the statement instantly made Naruto's face take on a stony expression, one that Mitsuki instantly realised had been created within the past four days… an expression created by being subjected to the art of torture and refusing to break.

"So how long will my next session last?" he asked in a colder voice than was normal for him as he thought of how hard it would be to last another three day session with T&I.

"Ten minutes at most," upon hearing that his blue eyes narrowed in suspicion, he knew that Tenzō had had him set aside a week for this training and so far he had spent approximately four of those seven days either getting tortured or recovering, now he was only expected to take ten minutes for his next session.

His mind focused on the fact that he would end up having three days left after this next session of training, meaning it was likely that there would be even more sessions after that.

"So, are you ready for the next session?" the green eyed girl asked him seriously, earning a sharp nod off the blond, sure he still wasn't in top shape but if his workmate was asking him, it meant he didn't need to be in perfect condition for the next part… besides it should only take ten minutes according to her, "alright then, wait here, I'll inform Tenzō that you're awake and ready."

Naruto didn't bother doing anything except focusing on what this next session could possibly be. He had already been exposed to some incredibly cruel methods of inflicting pain, some of which he was certain would haunt his nightmares for years to come, however this next session was probably going to be something either nowhere near that level of cruelty, or something so horrible they couldn't inflict it on him for more than ten minutes.

He was personally hoping for the first.

Letting out a yawn as he continued to sit up in the bed, he waited for instructions on what he would be doing next, which is exactly what he received in the form of his spiky haired instructor entering the room with a bundle of clothes in his arms.

"Uzumaki," the dark eyed KDF member stated his name sharply, earning a focused gaze off the young blond before he placed a uniform, complete with cloak and blank mask, on the bed, "get changed and meet me in T&I for your next portion of training."

"Hai, Tenzō-sensei," came the whiskered blonds reply before the dark haired ANBU left the room and allowed the boy to change into the very same uniform he had last worn.

His heart rate rose as he left the medical ward, passing through the base, taking note of the fact that everyone seemed to be ignoring him right now, then again, right now he was far more concerned about the fact that his training wasn't over and he still wasn't feeling anywhere near ten percent, let alone one hundred percent.

So it actually worked out for him, he definitely didn't feel like talking to too many people right now, he just wanted to get the training over with as soon as possible and finish his recovery so he could be in good health when he returned to society.

His mind began to race as he was led back through the corridor to T&I, he had hoped he wouldn't have to go there again, especially so soon but in the end, it appeared that whatever the next portion of training was, would once again be held in that area.

Walking out of the corridor, he was greeted by the sight of a young woman with dark purple hair tied into a short and spiky ponytail (that he immediately thought looked like a pineapple, just like Iruka and Shikamaru), her eyes were a light brown and lacked any form of pupil (something that really drew the blonds attention for some reason) and had a Konoha hitae-ate wrapped around her forehead.

The part that really stood out to him was the tan trenchcoat, he recognised it from his time being tortured and immediately realised that this woman was one of the people that had made him suffer.

He tried to hold back a shiver, he really did but in the end he simply wasn't good enough and found himself letting out an involuntary shudder at her presence.

"Uzumaki, this is Mitarashi Anko and she will be assisting in your next portion of training," he heard Tenzō say with his usual commanding tone, making the boy tense as he prepared himself to once again be knocked unconscious by his teacher.

"Come on gaki, follow me," the purple haired woman stated, knocking the whiskered child out of his state, only to blink a few times as he saw the two older ninja walk away from him.

"Hurry up Uzumaki," the wood user said calmly, making the blond walk forward as fast as he could given his condition, which really wasn't that fast.

Following the two he was soon standing before a nondescript door, labelled 'Interrogation Room 6', something that immediately made him feel a sense of foreboding.

"A few days ago we found a spy within the village," the woman named Anko started, earning a look of concentration off the blond, "we've already managed to extract all the information we need from them and as such… all that is left is for them to be executed, that's where you come in."

Naruto suddenly had to stop himself from gulping in nervousness, he would have to kill someone that couldn't fight back? He didn't know if he could bring himself to do something like that.

"The reason we are doing this is simple," the brown haired ANBU stated seriously, drawing the blonds attention, "normally those that are recruited into ANBU have already killed a large number of people and grown desensitised to the action through combat, you however are clean of blood despite the fact you are being brought into the organisation as an assassin."

It didn't take long for the blond to understand what they meant, so it was with a resolute nod that he accepted the situation, upon which he was led through the door… and immediately froze.

His mind stopped processing anything, his heart stopped beating, his lung stopped pumping, time seemed to stand still as he looked at the person in the chair, as he lay his eyes on the waist length, pink hair he had long since grown attracted to.

The world started moving again as his mind tried to understand what he was seeing, why was Sakura in the chair? How could she possibly be a spy? Why were they wanting him to kill her?

"Go ahead recruit, it is time to prove your loyalty to Konoha," he heard Tenzō's calm voice cut through the air like a white hot knife through heated butter, causing his head to turn to face the man.

"W-why? Why is she here?" he asked in a weak voice, unable to bring himself to feel anything other than dread at the current circumstances.

"We already told ya gaki, she's a spy and must be dealt with accordingly," Anko said with a carefree tone that made the blond freeze again.

"N-no… there must be some mistake!" the spiky haired youth shouted desperately, there were very few people he cared for and Sakura was one of the most important in his eyes, the mere thought of ending her life was… agonising to say the least.

"There is no mistake, she is a spy and will be dealt with accordingly," the oldest of the group stated seriously, making the blond flinch at the statement, "now you have a choice, either kill her and make the death swift and painless, or you will be removed from the ANBU program, have your memories adjusted by the head of the Yamanaka clan and made to live the rest of your life as a civilian."

Once again Naruto froze, he would lose his place in the entire shinobi system if he refused? That was something that he couldn't accept, he couldn't just sit back and let himself actually become a civilian, he had joined ANBU to ensure his place within the shinobi ranks, even if he officially had no place within them.

But at the same time they were demanding that he murder the girl he liked the most because she was apparently a spy? He didn't like that one bit, why did he have to kill her? Why him of all people? Why did she have to be a spy?

His mind acknowledged one thing, no matter what he said, she would die, it was simply a question of whether he would kill her, or would someone else? If he didn't, then there was no guarantee it would be a quick death and to top it off, he would be rendered a civilian, his dream would be torn from him with nothing to show for it.

In the end, there was only really one choice.

He didn't like it but it was the only one he could make.

Grabbing a hold of a razor sharp kunai, the blond slowly walked towards the pink haired girl, flinching at the sheer fear contained with her eyes as her words were muffled by the gag shoved into her mouth.

"I'm truly sorry, Sakura-chan," he said in a hushed whisper as he placed the point of the blade on her neck as he grabbed her head to hold it in place before he proceeded to slice strait through the supple flesh, causing several spurts of red liquid to hit his mask, not that he knew, he had closed his eyes as soon as he pulled back the weapon for the kill.

Falling to his knees, the blond couldn't stop the tears swelling in his eyes as he tried to rationalize that it was the only choice, he tried to use that knowledge to make himself feel better, not that it worked.

"Good work recruit, you aimed for one of the eight vital points to ensure the target died, even if you were obviously hesitant," he heard Tenzō state calmly, praising him on following what he had learned from the anatomy class.

"Yeah, I didn't know if you'd have it in you to go through with it but looks like you did," his mind didn't focus on what the purple haired woman said instead he simply knelt there, his mind focused on the simple fact that he of all people, had killed Sakura, "still, looks like it's over huh Tenzō?"

"Indeed, now open your eyes Uzumaki," the spiky haired man demanded seriously. Despite his feelings on the matter, the fact was that right now Tenzō was his commanding officer and he had to learn how to obey the man, so it was with great pain that he reopened his eyes, upon which his mind froze once more.

There right in front of his eyes, in the very chair and with the very cut he had given her, was someone that was most definitely not Sakura. Instead there was a young girl with short, brown hair and lifeless blue eyes sitting before him, the most important part however, was the Iwa hitae-ate adorning her forehead.

"W-what? W-who is that?" were the only words that managed to escape his lips as he looked at the unknown person, he had been certain that he had sliced Sakura's throat, not this girls.

"She was an Iwa genin that wandered too far across the border of Hi no Kuni a few weeks ago," Tenzō informed him seriously, "it is common knowledge that wandering into an enemy villages territory is likely to get you killed, which is why the Tsuchikage will not retaliate for her disappearance."

"B-but I thought…" Naruto started but couldn't bring himself to finish.

"That she was Haruno Sakura from your old academy class?" Anko finished for him, earning his undivided attention, "that was just a henge forcibly applied to them so you'd think she was, we needed to see if you would be prepared to kill anyone for the good of the village."

"And you proved that you could, now get up, you have three more days of training before your return to the streets," and with that, the blond saw the mokuton user walk away before feeling a firm grip help him to his feet.

"Well, off ya go, I might not see you again but ya never know splatter face," the brown eyed woman told him with a grin, causing him to put his hand to his face and discover the blood that had stained it.

"Heh, guess I'm not just a blank slate anymore huh?" he muttered to himself before facing the young girl he had killed and finally realising what he had gotten himself into.

He was an assassin not a soldier, he didn't fight, he murdered, his enemies wouldn't fight back, he only had one justification for his actions 'they're my orders'.

And with those thoughts on his mind he left the cell, feeling sicker than he had ever felt before.