Hey guys back with a new chapter. This one is a little over the place and I feel like Anko was very hard to write in this chapter but I did my best. I hope her internal strife comes across in this chapter or it's gonna be bad. Let me know what you guys think.
"Kakashi-Sensei." Naruto made his presence known to the Sixth Hokage. He had taken a night stroll and ended up at the top of the Hokage monument. Much Like his student, he found comfort being near his sensei's stone carving. The mission he was about to send Naruto on had been weighing on his mind since the day he brought it up. He figured being near his sensei might give him clarity.
"Our favorite unpredictable ninja." Kakashi couldn't help but tease his student.
"Yeah, yeah sensei! Did you call me up here just for that or is there something else?" Naruto bit back earning an eye smile from Kakashi.
Naruto wandered to his dad's head like usual and plopped down looking out into the village. Subconsciously looking for Anko she had split with him and headed for the front gate to meet Sasuke.
"I'm trusting you with this Naruto. You know how I feel about this, but I'm willing to trust your word. Don't make me regret it." Kakashi would never have a shred of doubt about trusting Naruto... Usually. Naruto was not the same Naruto he was a month ago. He was different. A Naruto in love is even more unpredictable especially when he can't help himself. His savior complex although admirable makes it too easy for him to choose rash decisions for the people he loves.
"A lot of people are counting on me Kakashi-sensei and I won't betray their trust in me. The mission always comes first. I've learned that the hard way more than once except for the few exceptions we both agree on." Naruto gave a long pause as if he was trying his hardest to think of the right words before he spoke.
"You know it's your fault... those words you said during the bell test. They stuck with me and now they're just as much my nindo as yours. "In the Ninja world, those who break the rules and regulations are called scum."
Naruto paused for a moment to stand up and turn around still on his father's head. His eyes locked to Kakashi's."But those who abandon their friends are worse than scum."
Kakashi could only nod his head in approval. "I guess I brought this on myself then." He chuckled with Naruto joining in.
Anko was currently making her way through the village. It always seemed so different at night to her. Only ninja that were out this late and as ninja do they moved in the shadows and with purpose. As a child, she used to enjoy watching them jump by barely a blur her eyes could keep up with. Wondering where their mission would take them what kind of adventure they were going to experience. Closing her eyes and pretending she was fast enough to keep up as they jumped from building to building. It was her escape from the world and even to this day she couldn't help but wonder where they were going. Only now she could track them and for the most part, knew the ninja and could infer what kind of mission they were being sent on. It most certainly killed the fantasy but she still enjoyed it none the less.
Her eyes landed on a shinobi hunched against the front gate of the village. Anko recognized that raven-haired scowl anywhere. Walking up cautiously she could almost feel the power radiate of the god-like shinobi. It was similar to Naruto in how his presence overpowered you. The only difference was Sasuke felt like a heavyweight that made it hard to breathe. While Naruto was like a warm blanket that made you feel protected and safe.
"It's Like two sides of the same coin." She whispered to herself giving a nod.
Sasuke gave a small smile that Anko couldn't see at her words. "Be careful who you say that to; don't need Naruto to get any smugger about us being "bonded"."
His voice made her jump and mentally bash herself for talking out loud.
"Yea I'm not sure that's possible you should hear the stuff he says about you when you're not around. I'm sure you would cringe yourself into non-existence." Anko chuckled and even earned a small smirk from Sasuke.
"Anyways I wanted to say thanks for tracking down Orchimaru... I'm sure you have better things to do." Anko gave a small bow to show her gratitude.
"I didn't do it for you... and to be clear I never lost Orchimaru he hasn't been out of my reach since the war. There's no way would I let that man walk around freely without some kind of overwatch." Sasuke's words were cold as soon as the snake Sanin's name came out of his lips."He hasn't left his hideout in months." He finished his sentence with a small "Tch"
"I'm confused if you knew where he was all this time why haven't you already captured him." Anko had a look of confusion on her face not sure what to make of Sasuke's words.
"Kakashi forbids it for some reason...Something about letting things fall into place whatever that means. Damn fool!" Anko looked at his frustration and could relate very well to how he was feeling at that moment. She had wanted to cut that bastard's head off since the day she finally broke free from his control.
"Well, it doesn't matter anyway. The golden child convinced him to finally let us kill the bastard. Where is the dobe anyways." Sasuke gave her a pointed look. She was too busy trying to understand what Kakashi was waiting for these past few months to give a thorough answer.
"Uhh, yea Kakashi wanted to speak to him before we left I assume to go over the details." Her thoughts moved to that conversation.
Sasuke scoffed again. "Kakashi isn't one to be overbearing it's more likely that he's testing Naruto's state of mind before he lets him off his leash. He could never help pushing our buttons to get our true feelings out." Sasuke's words sounded harsh but his eyes were too soft for Anko to believe he was actually mad about it.
"You were lucky to have such a good sensei... not everybody is so lucky." Anko chided back.
Sasuke gave her a quizzical look before he understood what she meant. He could only nod in agreement." I guess we do share a Sensei in Orchimaru. Although we seem to have two different experiences.
It was Anko's turn to look at him in confusion.
"I went to Orchimaru on my own to seek out his power and the power he could give me. I killed for him and did his bidding all while knowing he wanted my body for his own. Although I know see that time as a mistake. A misguided attempt at gaining power I could have easily got if I stayed in the village. At the same time, there were certain things I could only learn from my time with him so for that I'm grateful." Sasuke's eyes clouded over in darkness as he spoke again.
"And now he dies for the sake of the village. His evil will not shadow over the village any longer." Anko nodded in agreement surprised she got so much out of him.
"I agree, although I'm not sure why are you telling me all this. It's obvious our experiences were different. But in the end, we both came to the same conclusion that Orchimaru is a sickness, cancer that needs to be eradicated." It was Sasuke's turn to nod in agreement.
"I just wanted to be clear what was going to happen on this mission. There will be no capturing he could plead for his life while crying and kissing at my feet it will not change my blade slicing through his neck. As for why I told you... I wanted to see your reaction with my Rinnegan. Naruto may trust you but that doesn't mean you've earned mine yet."
Sasuske pause and stared down Anko. "I know how far his spies will go to follow his orders. I needed to make sure you were serious."
Anko balled her fist so tight her nails were drawing blood. She wanted to explode to yell in his face how much she hated Orchimaru and how much she hated him forever doubting her loyalty to Naruto. But in the end, she had no right, every suspicion or doubtful moment was her own doing. All she could do was nod and accept that she was starting at less than zero with Sasuke and most of the village.
"I'll only say this once. I would never betray Naruto he saved my life, he saved my very existence. I was a ghost before I met him! I was barely a shell of myself the curse mark took everything! It made me hollow unable to feel anything but despair!" Her voice gave a slight quiver as she finished her sentence and did again once she spoke. "I will die before I betray his trust! Before I go back to the person I was before him."
Sasuke looked at her intently using his Rinnegan to watch her heartbeat for any indication she was lying. Even a T&I pro like Ibuki couldn't get past his eyes. Noticing the slightest change in a person's anatomy was almost second nature to him at this point. And well Anko passed his test with flying colors.
"His curse mark is really something isn't it?" He said almost impressed by it. "It took me a long time to realize what it was truly doing to me I ignored it at first thinking it was more my psyche changing than the curse marks influence. I can only imagine how his prototypes felt being so sloppy and uncontrolled I'm surprised it didn't kill you." His words shot through her with a sense of understanding nobody else without a curse mark could.
"It nearly did. Naruto told me my Chakra network was almost completely severed from the damage it did. A couple more months and I would be just a good as dead. Not that I was surprised. It started slowly but by the time Naruto freed me, I could barely channel chakra. I relied on my summons more than anything, I could just dump the measly chakra I had left into a summoning seal." Sasuke listened on in a somewhat attentive manner. He knew all too well that the feeling of being underwater the curse mark made everything hazy even in the heat of battle it was always more of a distraction than helpful. Every time he came back from his second transformation the haze got worse like more of himself was slipping away. It was something that scared him immensely at the time. The power was just too addicting to stop himself.
The conversation grew quiet after that. Everything that needed to be said had been and Sasuke was comfortable enough to at least let her come along which for anybody who knew him was a pretty big deal. If it wasn't Naruto, Kakashi, or Sakura they were considered worse than dead weight to him.
"Sasuke! You finally showed up!" The silence was broken by Naruto's yell that echoed through the street. Sasuke could only shake his head while hiding his smirk. He would rather die than admit it was nice seeing the dobe again.
Naruto's megawatt smile somehow shined even in the dead of night. "Took you long enough dobe. Kakashi wouldn't let you go without a speech huh?" Naruto could only smile with a knowing nod.
"Yea Yea teme I know you missed me!" He said making Sasuke give his signature "tch". None the less Naruto stuck his balled-up handout, and Sasuke did the same giving a solid fist bump.
Anko only watched on. Just from that short interaction, she could tell how in sync they were. If she were honest it made her a little jealous at just how in sync they were. She barely had time to dwell on her jealousy before Naruto picked her up in a spinning hug.
"Missed you Anko." He whispered in her ear as she set her down.
"Baka" Was her only response as her cheeks turned a tinge pink. Sasuke watched on in mocked disgust. Making the whole thing even more embarrassing. Didn't stop naruto from kissing her cheek.
"Wow, the dead last actually has a girlfriend. Never thought I would see the day." Sasuke couldn't help but tease his only friend.
"Well, you're still right Sasuke she isn't my girlfriend." Anko's neck almost snapped as she whipped her head back to Naruto. Before she could get any words out Naruto snatched her by her waist pulling her close.
"She's my mate." He beamed at his closest friend.
Sasuke bade an audible grunt. "Whatever let's get moving if we want to make it before daybreak. She better not slow us down. I'm not stopping for if she cant keep up ill leave you both behind."
"Did you forget who was mission leader Sasuke? Well take breaks when there needed not everybody has limitless stamina like us." Sasuke hmpfed but didn't say anything else.
Anko gave an appreciative nod. "I'll try not to hold you two back shall we get moving?"
Sasuke held his fist up motion silently for them to stop. "Were here." His voice flat and emotionless like usual at least to Anko. Naruto could hear the tiniest anxious inflection in his voice.
Anko scanned her surroundings Sasuke had stopped in the middle of the forest. She tried her hardest but couldn't distinguish and single thing out of place to indicate a hideout was in her eyesight." I don't see anything." she responded barely a whisper.
Naruto just motioned to a normal looking tree. "The moss is on the wrong side of the tree."
Anko only gave a nod as she looked at the other trees in the area and just like Naruto said she noticed all the surrounding trees had moss on the other side of the tree. "What a weird way to mark his hideout." She whispered to him. He chuckled in response to her thought process.
"You two gonna flirt or can we get on with this." Sasuke as always had to make an unwanted and unneeded comment.
Naruto just gave a cute pout to Anko who smiled back at him. Even in the most stressful mission of her life, she had him to lighten the mood. He acted like they weren't about to fight one of the most dangerous men on the planet. She would have stabbed any other person for not taking this mission seriously. But she knew this was just his way of doing things.
Naruto gave her a wink before hopping down from the tree he was in following Sasuke to the tree. For the moment Naruto was thankful he was here. Sasuke was the only one who knew how to open Orochimaru's hideouts. If it were just him here, he would most likely resing to smashing the ground till he hit something that wasn't dirt.
For Sasuke, it was a simple hand seal. "Tch, he knows we're here." was all he said before heading down into the underground lair.
Naruto seemed unfazed but Sasuke's statement Put her on high alert. She tried to steady herself her hands started shaking in pure adrenaline as she watched Naruto's back disappear underground. Her legs suddenly weighed a hundred pounds as she forced herself to move. Her chest began to rise and fall faster and faster as she became breathless her mind growing so unfocused she almost tripped over her own feet as she stumbled down the stairs. Bracing herself against the wall she tried to keep up with her two teammates unsuccessfully as her body felt so heavy she had to stop just to regain her breath. Her knees shook so bad that her only option was to slide against the wall falling to her knee. Gasping in liters of air but still feeling like she was running out of air.
The audible gasps were enough to alert Naruto and Sasuke. Naruto was immediately at her side trying to diagnose whats was wrong with her. "What's wrong?!" His voice frantic and filled with concern. Anko was only gasping as a pit started forming in her chest.
"I ha..hu don't know I can't breathe...poison maybe...Help please." She started pawning at naruto's jacket fighting for full breathe.
Sasuke looked annoyed as usual as he barely acknowledged the situation. "Don't be stupid your having a panic attack. I'm going on ahead while you handle this." Sasuke couldn't help but take advantage of the situation to get orchimaru alone.
"Panic Attack? wha...what should I do." He said looking like a scared puppy as Anko started shaking so hard she almost bounced off the cobblestone floor.
Sasuke turned his back waving his hand uncaringly behind him. "Calm her down dobe."
Naruto just stood in shock for a moment trying to think of a way to calm her. Anko at this point thought she was going to pass out. Her eyes closed shut as the dark atmosphere felt around her made her feel like she was being swallowed whole. She tried to focus on Naruto her hands buried in his jacket. "Please make it stop... she begged."
"Breathe slowly Anko. Focus on my voice your gonna be ok." As gently as he could he slipped his hands around her cheeks putting his forehead against hers."It's ok breath with me ok."
Anko focused on her breathing trying to match her lovers. The warm feeling of his hands on her cheeks calmed her immensely. "Use your cloak please..." She said in between breathless gasps.
Naruto immediately complied his chakra surging into a golden cloak that lit up their surroundings and no doubt making their presence even more known. But at that moment all he could do was think about Anko. Doing anything he could to make her feel even a tiny bit better.
Relishing in his warmth Anko finally begin to calm Narutos Nine-tails cloak made her feel like she was being wrapped in a warm blanket even in the current damp hallway they were currently in. She opened her eyes to see his once blue eyes transformed into golden crosses. Her trance broke as an explosion rocked the base.
Anko yelped the shaking almost coming back. "I'm sorry ...I can't stop it... I don't know what's happening... to me." She hastily got out in between breaths. He brought her in the biggest hug he could he started pouring his chakra into her.
She felt the warmth from his cloak envelope her whole body. The panic instantly stopped as she felt the power of his chakra. The feeling was beyond describing, the amount of power flowing through her body was unbelievable at that moment.
"Don't apologize Hebi-hime." was all he said as he continued to pour his chakra into her while helping her up at the same time. The two golden beings embraced in the middle of the most dangerous lair in the world. '
Naruto was listening to the battle Sasuke was having. Once he entered his cloak he could sense Sasuke slaying his way through henchmen. The explosion seemed to be his final attack. He could sense Orchimaru and Sasuke in the same room and he started getting anxious.
"Are you ok to walk now we need to back up Sasuke?" Anko only nodded enjoying the feeling of her new power. Even if it was temporary she wasn't going to waste this opportunity. She never let go of his hand as they made their way through the hideout.
"Let's finish this." Her voice holding no nervousness or hesitation anymore. The shaky anxious wreck she was a moment ago had completely disappeared. She was going to kill him and nobody was getting in her way.
"How far you have fallen snake Sanin." Sasuke couldn't help himself but taunt the gaunt Orchimaru.
Without much effort, Sasuke had defeated what was left of Orchimaru's lackluster henchman. If you could even call them that. Anybody who had a speck of power long ago left the snake sage to wither away in his cave.
A mirth chuckle came echoing around the room as the snake sannin could barely force himself out of his self imposed throne. Using a wooden cane carved with two snakes twisting into a handle.
"Who knew immortality would come with such a price." Orochimaru's words were filled with self-loathing and hate.
Sasuke grimaced not believing what he heard. "You mean...? You finally did it?" It was rare to see Sasuke so off-kilter. He couldn't help himself though and ask.
The sannin erupted in bone-chilling laughter. "Kukuku... it only took 1000 sacrifices but yes. Unfortunately, there were some side effects. As you can see."
Sasuke had a hard time not noticing the snake's condition. His skin somehow even more sickly white. His blue eye markings turning gray and losing their sharpness almost like somebody colored of the lines. His eyes glazed over with a murky white like an off-color byakugan. Sasuke was almost positive he was now blind.
His body hunched and barely functional relying on his cane for some relief from his own body weight. The once slender Snake was now disgustingly skeletal. None of this fazed Sasuke mind you. His decision was already made before he even entered the hideout.
Drawing his katana Sasuke showed no hesitation. Orochimaru's head launched from his body wildly attacking at Sasuke.
"A dead man's desperation... Never thought you would become what you hated so much."
If Orchimaru could see no doubt it would be a smug Sasuke. The thought alone was enough to make his blood boil.
"How dare you mock me!" Orchi bit his finger while rolling up his sleeve no doubt about to summon Manda.
Faster than lightning itself Sasuke had blown by Orchi. There was a moment of silence before a shriek exploded from the darkroom. Sasuke was to busy cleaning his katana from the snake's blood elegantly dripping down its beautiful edge to acknowlde the blood curdling scream.
"I wouldn't resist much more... most be hard to do so much at your age," Sasuke smirked at his own joke before shearing his blade.
Orchimaru helplessly tried to stand with his new stumps for arms. Even with blood pouring from his open wounds it didn't seem to have a real effect. Any ninja by now would have passed out and been in death's door.
"So you weren't lying..."
Sasuke didn't wait for an answer before kicking the sannin in the back making him face plant and skid across the ground. Taking his place over the prone snake. Drawing his blade once more he drove it straight through his heart earning only a grunt and gargle of blood coming up his throat.
"How does it feel to be immortal? Your life's work now turning you into my pincushion. I wonder if you could survive your head being cut off? Guess we will have to find out!"
"Stop!" Naruto's voice boomed through the open room.
Sasuke like usual didn't take his advice twisting his sword eliciting a defeated moan from Orchimaru.
"Why would I stop...better yet why would I listen to you?" Narutos face distorted in anger.
"He's obviously defeated let's seal him and take him back." Naruto barked out. "I know you're angry but this isn't the right way and you know that!" His voice getting more stern with every word.
Sasuke lifted his blade withdrawing it from Orchi's body. Naruto gave a sigh thinking he got through to his friend. Letting his nine tails cloak drop he made sure to leave a little chakra left in Anko.
Anko nearly jumped when Sasuke brought the blade down again this time In the nape of the snake's neck.
"He's not leaving here alive...He already figured out immortality I'm not giving him a chance to escape no matter how feeble he appears." Sasuke's voice held no room for arguing as he lifted his blade this time slashing horizontally at his neck trying to separate his head from his body.
Orchimaru long ago quit talking. He was perfectly conscious but he knew any pleading would only backfire on his part. He put his faith in the ever upstanding ninja Naruto was.
Before Sasuke could finish his swing Naruto was at his side grabbing his wrist just fast enough to throw the blade of course hitting Orchi's shoulder instead.
"I said stop!" Naruto put some weight into a shove knocking Sasuke back enough to get between the Ex sensei and his student.
"Anko start sealing him and get him ready for transport. I'll handle Sasuke." That earned a scoff from Sasuke.
"Resorting to fighting me that fast Naruto? I thought you would at least go into a long-winded speech about duty and orders and blah blah blah. " Sasuke mocked home but Naruto long learned to not let his words get to him.
"The only thing that gets through to you is my fist." Was Naruto's simple answer.
"It's not me you should be worried about...I'm guessing you never got Anko's perspective on this." He pointed towards Anko who's was currently standing over the fallen Sannin. Watching him squirm in desperation to flip himself over.
Naruto tried his best but he couldn't get a read on Anko her eyes were emotionless the shaking had come back but this time it wasn't fear it was anger. He only knew that thanks to the remaining nature chakra in him feeling the pure hate radiating off her.
"ANKO!" He screamed getting her attention. She didn't even look his way her entire existence at the moment was focused on her immortal ex sensei. Every particle in her body vibrated with the urge to sever the snake's head from his body and burn the remains.
"Dammit Anko! I can't fight both of you... don't do this! You're better than this don't lower yourself!" He was grateful at that moment that he left a little of his chakra in her and pulsed it to knock her from her trance.
She had never been this angry in her life any stunt Naruto pulled didn't even come close to the rage that was burning through her. Every fiber of her being ached to kill him. She even went as far as to draw her kunai.
'Do it end him...don't let this monster live another day longer!' Her mind reassuring her of the decision she was making.
'Listen to Naruto!" Another part of her mind screamed. 'If you kill him your no better. You know he's right.' Anko's mind was at war with her instincts. Everything told her to kill him but Naruto's voice was pulling her from the edge. Every time he heard his voice her anger waned a little each time. But then came back full force at the memory of her past self and what she did. This was less about killing Orchimaru and more about finishing her quest for revenge.
"Anko seal him. It's not for either of you two to decide. We bring him to the village and his fate is decided there. We aren't gods no matter how strong we are. We have to follow the same laws as everybody else or were as bad as him. Have faith in Kakashi's orders, have faith in me that I'm making the right choice. " Sasuke let out a tch before prying Narutos hands off his shirt.
"Whatever dobe it's your mistake to make. I can easily find him and kill him anytime I please." Sasuke didn't give time for a reply as he vanished into the darkness leaving Anko and him alone with utterly defeated Sannin.
"He deserves it Naruto! Everything he's done he deserves to die right now. I deserve to do this. For my teammates! For that mother who I killed in cold blood! For everybody, he's ever hurt! If you don't let me do this I'll hate you! I'll hate you till the day I die!" Her eyes were filled with unspilt tears as she yelled with such fury that made genuinely scared naruto. She hated the words that came from her mouth but it wasn't a lie. It was the honest truth.
He knew she was one hundred percent serious and that this was not up for discussion. "I can't let you do this. Hate me, curse me, never talk to me again. But if you do this you'll lose the last of yourself to him. It's not for you to decide...it's what got you in this situation in the first place. You choosing yourself over the village over thinking you knew what's best. If you cant do the right thing ill make the choice for you. " His voice was stern but not in caring to her feelings. He had no choice but to take her hatred if it meant saving her soul.
"Leave! Find Sasuke and don't come back here. Go back to the village and I'll catch up." Anko didn't move she couldn't her body told her to finish this and she was going to. She knew it was futile with Naruto so close but she didn't let that stop her from trying. As fast as she could she brought her kunai down aiming for his already partially severed neck.
"I said leave!" Naruto's chakra exploded with his yell making Anko freeze from the pure pressure it gave off. Grabbing her by the collar he threw her towards the exit. Her body bouncing off the ground as she skidded to a stop at the end of the room.
Anko grunted as she lifted her abused body off the ground her eyes never leaving Naruto's. His eyes were sympathy and sadness but Anko's was filled with pure disgust. Unadulterated hate and at that moment he knew he lost her.