Naruto; What If
Eighth Arc; Turmoil
My standard form of writing applies.
" " - Spoken
' ' - Thought
"Jutsus" - Jutsu. Some are kinda bastardized, so don't expect much.
( ) - Commentary. You should know how this goes by now. We see things. I have snarky smartass comments. You want laughs. I see a mutually beneficial deal here.
~~Badadumdunbum~~
Chapter 53 - Black Ops
~~Badadumdunbum~~
BADOOM!
I AM BACK! Bitches. Who wants a piece? C'mon, I got plenty of ammo for everyone!
~~Badadumdunbum~~
"Congratulations are in order, you two. Your scores are well and above what is required of the rank of Chuunin." Tsunade pushed the two vests on her desk towards us, smiling proudly. "Wear them proudly. You've earned it."
Naruto picked his up with pride, still grinning from ear to ear. As I lifted up my own, feeling the heft, I found it was much heavier than it looked. Still, it's not really my style; I prefer my cloak and armor. Speaking of which, I think Io should have those ready for me by now.
But anywho. Tsunade turned her gaze on me specifically. "And Sasuke, you wished to join the Anbu, didn't you?"
I nodded, but this was news to my partner. "Huh? The Anbu?"
"Yeah. My skillset lends itself much better to assassinations and outright combat than your average missions require."
He gave me a strange look. Almost sad, really. "But doesn't that mean you won't be going on missions with Team 7 anymore?"
Tsunade answered for me. "Partially. The Anbu operate on a different schedule than the regular forces, but he'll be able to accompany your team when he is inside the village and the mission requires it. Effectively, he'll just have less free time, seeing as he'll be assigned both standard missions and Anbu-related ones. This will continue until he chooses to either return to the regular forces, or become a full-time Anbu agent." Just then, she reached into her desk, pulling out something wrapped in brown paper.
"Normally, the identity of Anbu agents is a secret reserved only for myself and the Anbu Commander. However, I see no harm in allowing you to know, Naruto." She finished unwrapping the object, revealing it to be a mask. "The Wolf mask hasn't been used in many years, not since the last Shinobi World War."
She held it out to me, and as I took it, a shiver ran down my spine. There was a deep gouge running down the left eye, a scar that its previous owner had recieved. It wasn't ceramic; no, something else, almost metal, but I couldn't be sure exactly what it was. Just that it was heavy and seemed to absorb chakra, or blot it out somehow. Perhaps it's meant to protect the individual from prying dojutsu? Or to protect them from chakra-based ninjutsu, either way. That aside, the motif on its face was vicious, predatory, and practically malicious. Meant to strike fear into whoever beholds it, I suppose.
Looking back up to Tsunade, she said, "As you can probably tell, the last person to hold the title Wolf didn't survive the war. But he was a hero, and one of the strongest Anbu to ever join the organisation. Out of respect for him, the code name has been reserved until someone equal to him in strength takes up the mantle. I believe you're worthy of it."
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama. It's an honor."
The young-looking Hokage shook her head with a knowing smile. "Don't thank me yet. You've still got to go through Ibiki and the Anbu selection process. Head over to T&I, they'll point you in the right direction."
With a nod I turned and started off, Naruto catching my shoulder. "C'mon man, I know you really want to avoid Anko, but this..."
I brushed him off. "It's fine, Naruto. This is something I have to do. Why don't you go and see Hinata? Pretty sure she's waiting for you."
He watched in silence as I walked out, heading for the Anbu headquarters, home of the Torture and Interrogation squad.
. . .
Naruto turned back to Tsunade with a worried look on his face. "Tsunade-baachan-"
She cut him off, a slight edge of pain in her voice. "I know, Naruto. We have to let them work this out on their own. It's for the best, even if we don't like it."
He shook his head, still sounding worried for his partner. "I hope you're right, Baa-chan." And as he walked out, Tsunade finally stopped smiling, interlacing her fingers with an expression that looked as worried as Naruto sounded while she muttered to herself.
"So do I, Naruto. So do I."
~~Badadumdunbum~~
Tenten's shop had something for me, at least. The sword wasn't done yet, as it was a speciality item, but the armor and new cloak were finished. I dropped those off at my home for later, as I had things to do. Oh, but one thing I picked up from the weapons mistress that I opened up right away was a unique collar.
Thick black leather with metal plates all around, it was something like a fashion statement, except for the highly complicated and advanced seals inscribed on each steel plate. They were designed to absorb and conceal chakra, storing it for later use if needed, while also concealing my chakra signature from detection. Similar to the seals myself and Naruto had set up on ourselves,(Long story) but it's something I can deploy much quicker by simply removing the collar.
Other than for the extra chakra boost at critical times, it's also to keep myself sharp by limiting my chakra output slightly. But for the most part, it's just for stealth purposes while also protecting my goddamn neck.
But, anyway. I'll omit the brief conversation Tenten and I had, as it was mostly her offering sympathy over Anko and prying into my feelings before an inadvertant chakra spike on my part told her to very quickly shut her mouth before I shut it for her.
I finally made it to Anbu HQ, entering to find that same persnickety bastard at the reception desk. "Ah, Mr. Uchiha. Ibiki is expecting you."
"You aren't dead yet?"
He returned my less-than-subtle sentiment. "I should be saying the same thing to you. Level B2, room 207."
Well, that was less fun than I'd hoped it would be. Moving right along, I went through the door he unlocked, down a few flights of stairs and down several hallways, eyes scanning the number above each and every door for the one he'd mentioned. I'd like to say it went perfectly, completely without incident.
But that would be lying,(Not that any of you would believe me if I did) and my luck isn't quite that good.
As I went, gazing up towards the room numbers, I didn't pay as much attention to the front as I should've, nor did I pulse my chakra outward to feel for anyone I didn't feel like dealing with.(Stupid of me, I know. But I didn't feel like setting off any alarms or causing a scene inside of the Anbu's home, particularly not when I'm trying to join them)
I rounded a corner, my gaze moving down just in time to come eye-to-eye with somebody else silently moving through the halls, the one particular somebody whom I did not want to deal with. She was reading a file from a manila folder, not watching where she was going as usual, stopping just in time to keep from barreling into me, her head snapping upward to look into my eyes.(She's still got the habit of looking up slightly, looking right to where my eyes would be. Damnit, she's still got me in her head. Or is that just muscle memory for her, now?)
We both froze,(Probably with stupid looks on our faces) dead-still in that moment as more information was exchanged through that look than friends could get with hours upon hours of conversation.
Anko finally blinked, opening her mouth to say, "Sasuke..."
"What?" Getting my muscles to work the way I wanted them to was a chore and a half, but I managed to speak with an even tone, though it came out far more frosty than I'd intended.
She flinched, casting her eyes towards the floor. "N-nothing. It's just-"
Kill the bitch... DO IT!
I reach forward, caressing her cheek before gently running my fingers through her hair, just the way I used to. I smile, stepping forward as I wrap my arms around her.
"S-Sasuke!" She is stricken with surpise, staring up at me as I say,
"It's been far, far too long. I should've done this a long time ago, Anko."
Her eyes tear up as a loving, trusting smile overtakes her expression. "Sasuke..." And as I place a tender, feather-light kiss upon her lips, I drive my knife through her gut, wrenching it up until it hits her rib cage. "Uhl-Glktch!" A trickle of blood escapes past her lips as she stares up into my eyes, a dumbstruck look of utter shock on her quickly-paling face. "W-why?"
"Because I want you to feel the same pain you gave me." And I twist the blade, slowly dragging the sharpened steel across her belly until she stops shaking, the blood and gore spilling out onto the concrete floor.
"Sas...Uke... I'm s-"
"Shut up and die already."
NO!
With a blink, everything snaps back to reality, my hands no longer coated in her fresh, scalding-hot blood. "I have nothing to say to you. Leave me be." No, I refuse to stand here and be guilted, by either her or my goddamn conscience.
And I brush past the Jounin, trying my best to shake off the feeling of blood on my hands.
. . .
"Do you honestly believe that was necessary? What if he'd attacked her? What then?"
Ibiki shook his head, placing the crystal ball they'd been watching inside his coat. "I knew he wouldn't. He cares too much."
Though the bigger man couldn't see it, the Anbu Commander's eyes narrowed behind his mask. "He's an Uchiha. The more they care about someone, the more likely they are to kill them. You of all people should know that, you've dealt with enough of them."
"Sasuke is different from most. He reminds me of Itachi with the amount of control he has over his emotions, given his age. Besides, if he couldn't resist the temptation to harm her, then he has no business being apart of the Anbu."
The Commander shook his head once more. "You are one cold bastard, Morino. She's your subordinate and you put her life in his hands when he wants nothing more than to tear her limb from limb? I could feel the killing intent from here, it was so strong."
Shrugging his trench coat-clad shoulders, Ibiki responded, "As I said, I knew full well she was in no danger. Now come, we need to get back to the barracks before he gets there." And then he stood, just before they both shunshined out of the room.
~~Badadumbundum~~
Pulling open the door to 207, I enter to find Ibiki standing with the Anbu Commander just behind him, along with about fourteen different Anbu agents gathered in what looked to be a rec room, some wrestling, others watching a TV, and still more playing a game of cards.(They've all got perfect poker faces)
Aside from the couch, a dozen chairs, pool table and card table, there were several lockers along one of the walls, holding what I'm assuming is spare equipment. The entire room was lit with flourescent lights in the ceiling, the scents of cigarettes, alcohol, blood and pizza heavy in the air.
"Welcome to Anbu, Sasuke." Ibiki greeted me, inclining his head.
"Good to see you again, Ibiki. Huh. For some reason, I expected something a little more militaristic from the Anbu headquarters."
He raised an eyebrow. "The Anbu are assassins by trade, not soldiers. Discipline is secondary to skill here."
Not like the regular forces are all that disciplined, if you ask me. "Right. So, is there some sort of initiation or a test of some sort?"
Wearing a rather discomforting smile, the big man of T&I replied, "You passed the psychological evaluation already, and the Commander here has authority over your initiation. As my work is done, I'll leave you to it." He moved past me, silently exiting the room.
Turning my gaze back to the Anbu leader, he then said, "You will have a series of trials by combat and stealth before you're issued a uniform."
Smiling languidly, I decided to be a dick and show off a little. Flaring my chakra, I shunshined seventeen times, swiping a kunai off of each Anbu in the room before leaving a miniscule cut on each one's shoulder, quicker than even Kakashi could keep track of. By the time I was once again standing in the same spot I'd started, the Anbu Commander was just now in the middle of spinning around in the direction I'd first started.
"Over here." I stated, making him spin back as several of the others in the room finally reacted to the incident, smacking the spot they'd been cut, one or two actually muttering something about a mosquito.
Before each of them noticed it had happened to everyone. I held up my hands, fifteen kunai suspended from my fingers by the rings. "If I can take the knives off of Konoha's elite and land a feather-light hit on each before the leader can even turn around, I'd say I'm worthy of the mask. Besides, hiding in the bushes isn't really my style." Dropping the weapons on the Commander's feet, I really wished I could've seen the look on his face.
Heh, probably would've been even better than Kakashi's when I clocked him in the balls three years ago. But anywho, the Commander-in-Cock shook his head, turning around to face his agents. "Well? Would any of you trust having him guard your back?"
After sharing a look, the fourteen masked men and women unanimously answered, "Hell, yes."
The Anbu leader turned back to me. "There you have it, from the dragon's mouth. You'll ifnd the uniform in your locker over there." He inclined his head towards the set of fifteen lockers,(I now have a count of them) "Welcome to Anbu."
And like that, the Commander shunshined, leaving me alone with the rest of the team. He'd also taken those kunai when he left, for some reason.
Shaking my head, I asked, "Is he always this dramatic?" Nods all around. "Great. So, I thought there would be more than just a handfull of agents working for Anbu."
One of the nearest ones, good old Otter, replied from his place on the couch. "Yeah, we get that from every new recruit. Welcome to Alpha team; the best Anbu has to offer, all assassination and combat specialists. Sometimes there's justice, and sometime there's just us, heheh. We've got four squads per team, and a team for every letter of the alphabet. Plus reserves, for when one of us bites the dust. So which mask did the Hokage give you, kid?"
Justice and just us? Must be the team's motto or something.
I pulled the object in question from my bag, and before I'd even had it in full view, the entire room took on a whole new mood. "W-what the... She gave you the Wolf mask?" Otter began muttering to himself for a moment, glancing at the others before back to me. "Kid, you must have balls of steel to be handed that upon joining us."
Balls of steel, huh? Well, they feel like it, some days. "And a heart of iron, though that gets mentioned far less frequently." I meandered on over to the lockers, finding one already labelled Wolf.
Nice. I pulled it open, finding the infamous ninjato of the Anbu along with three sets of the black pants and high-neck sleeveless shirts. There were also two pairs of black sandals, though I think I'll stick to my boots. Three pouches, two kunai holsters, forearm guards, streamlined grey flak jacket and elbow-length black gloves. Not to mention a large, black cloak. Huh.
"Other than the clothes, mask and armor, the uniform regs are delegated to each individual Anbu based on mission priorities. You just need the tattoos once you get changed over." A female voice explained from just behind me.
Glancing back, I found Yugao Uzuki standing there, wearing the Cat mask as before. "Care to explain why there's no shoulder armor included in the uniform?"
She shrugged. "The tattoos are apart of the uniform. It was decided that freedom of movement and identification was of higher importance. As you can guess, the tattoos are special."
Well, that's great. Guess I've got to get those done today, then. "Fair enough."
~~Badadumbundum~~
After a long, boring and tedious introduction process, I met the remaining members of Alpha before Otter broke out some kind of unique, chakra-based tattoo kit. He said it was going to hurt like a motherfucker, but it didn't bother me one bit.(Not when compared to... Well, you know)
Once that was done, I was dismissed until called upon. Which would probably be tomorrow for orientation, meet and greet with others, training session, ect.
So I made my way home, leaving the Anbu kit in my locker for later. Back in the homestead, I found Kin sitting at the table having a pleasant dinner conversation with Itachi and that woman he'd seduced, Tiri.(Heh, she was actually pretty fun to be around. Really made me think of Naruto, only more mature and with boobs. Seriously)
"Yo, freeloaders. How goes it?" My entrance was met with a chorus of greetings, some more enthusiastic than others.
My brother merely inclined his head, smiling up at me from his spot at the table. "Welcome back, Sasuke-kun. How did your meeting with the Anbu go?" Hm? He already knew?
Well, he always was a crafty, perceptive bastard. "Well enough, ran into a few people I've already met. How's retirement been, brother? Is it as nice as I hear?"
"Not quite as pleasant as one might think, having nothing to accomplish. I have made due with walking around the village and meeting with people I once knew, seeing the sights, as it were. It's been a long time since I've been able to sit down and enjoy a bowl of Ichiraku's ramen, after all."
Heh, I knew he had to've missed that place. "Good to see you haven't been getting stir-crazy. And you, miss Tiri? How's the life of a nurse, these days? All I hear from Sakura is complaints about how often Naruto comes in from training too hard."
"It's a tiring, yet rewarding job. Lately, there haven't been anywhere near as many shinobi returning from the field with serious injuries, so I'd say we're doing quite well. Oh, Kin, didn't you have something you wanted to show us?" The nurse turned to the former Sound ninja, whose eyes went wide.
The younger woman blinked, then answered as her eyes widened. "Oh! Yeah, there was. Come one." She stood, pushing back her chair before heading for the living room, beckoning us. Oookay.
I started to follow, before Itachi caught my hand. "A moment, Sasuke." Hm? Glancing back, I saw he had an unreadable look in his onyx eyes.
"Yeah, Itachi? What is it?"
"Just a piece of advice I've been meaning to tell you, but haven't really been able to find a way to put it into words. I know how much it hurts, how badly our curse burns, but I just want you to know that love and hatred are not opposites; they are two sides of the same coin. We hate, because we hurt. And we hurt... Because we love. Always remember that, Sasuke."
~~Badadumbundum~~
Looking back, that was the single most wise thing I've ever been told. And it is the only reason that I have been able to maintain my sanity.
~~Badadumbundum~~
BAM! All three shots, right there.
Got a few shout-outs in here, but I'm too lazy to go back and search for them. So DON'T sue me.
~~Badadumbundum~~
If liberals don't want us to treat every Muslim like a terrorist, why do they treat every gun owner like the Newtown shooter?
~~Badadumdunbum~~
