A few days later he had another visitor in the night.
This one he sensed the instant they gently eased his window open. Suddenly awake, Naruto once more activated his Byakugan and smiled.
Another round with Talon then. No Hare or Pig in sight. That was odd. Must be another personal visit.
He felt his body ache to get back to bed and decided to simply try a different approach. He heard the footsteps lightly fall on the floor.
"I know it's you Talon."
There was silence. He walked noisily forwards and ducked under the blow Talon tried to give him before grabbing the arm. The man was stronger than he was but wasn't trying to put any power into his arm.
"What brings you here?"
Talon gave a chuckle and shook his head.
"Well this is boring from you. Where are the traps? The combat thrill?"
"I was sleeping. It's the middle of the night. I do sleep you know."
"Amazed to hear it. So Tsunade told me about your wish to join ANBU black ops directly instead of going through the standard ANBU channels and working your way in the regular way. Let's see if you have what it takes in your first official training exercise. You have thirty seconds to grab your kit."
"If I decline?"
"I have permission to force you to. Twenty five seconds."
It took him barely fifteen before he was fully ready and standing before Talon.
"Good. Let's start with a little exercise shall we? A light jog to get your limbs warmed up for something more serious."
Then the running started and kept going.
He knew he wasn't built for this and that it wasn't currently his style, but apparently this was an early morning run for the members of the Black Ops.
He struggled to even keep pace with Talon, his shorter stride not helping his cause one bit.
His lungs burnt, his legs ached and urged to stop but he urged them to keep within touching distance of the man.
Why was he doing this anyway? Root didn't undergo this level of stupid exercise, even if they were drilled to within an edge of their lives.
He stopped running and Talon disappeared from view. He caught his breath and sat on a tree branch. A minute later, the man reappeared, panting and sweating.
"You can't keep that pace?"
"Yes. You know that. Why are you testing me like this?"
The first rays of sunshine began to break over Konoha's forests as Talon sat next to him. He began to smell the sweat on his body but didn't care, he could get rid of it later if he wanted to.
"Because you want to join Black Ops Naruto. Admittedly you kept up for half the course which is better than some of the ANBU could right now."
"That was only half? We were sprinting for at least half an hour."
"Technically it doesn't have a set length, but when you just stop is halfway. It's a way of forcing people onwards."
That made an odd kind of sense now. You gave people an unknown target and decided to see how well they did.
"Physical running is but one aspect of the Black Ops way though. I nearly became one before I chose the more relaxed path of merely captain of the ANBU. The Black Ops themselves are pretty secretive."
"Wisely so."
Talon patted him on the shoulder.
"Also because they forget what it's like to really be human. No social contact, not even between each other. Strict secrecy. A life totally in the dark. Nobody leaves it alive or sane. Do you really want that Naruto?"
He considered. He did not want that. Yet it was not quite that simple.
"What of duty to Konoha? Were you called because there was no-one else who could?"
"I wouldn't do it. ANBU can still fear Naruto. Everyone fears something and I fear that. Without a team I could joke with, feel some kinship with and be alive with...I wouldn't want to live."
That sounded bleak.
He considered again. Could he give up everything and everyone so easily? The answer was something of a shock. It was a no.
He checked again and got another no.
"It sounds like I don't want to become a part of the Black Ops unit then."
Talon slapped him hard on the back.
"Good choice. Now...regular ANBU forces and you are more than ready to take it up. Hell, you could succeed me as captain in a few years when I decide to take a more leisurely life and train some genin like Dog. Maybe settle down and find a nice young lady like Anko. So what do you want to do now?"
Naruto couldn't stop the yawn from occurring. Months of a vaguely regular sleep pattern had made him a little less used to waking at all hours and not sleeping for days on end.
"Sleep or a bit of training?"
Well he was awake now. He would have to train with team 8 later as well. A bit of extra practise wouldn't hurt him that much.
"Training."
He imagined Talon was grinning broadly beneath the mask.
"Excellent news."
Naruto was still thinking through. Yes, ANBU Black Ops wouldn't work for him. Nor would being back at the heart of Root as an operative. But leading Root forces? Was that compatible with that future?
He couldn't help but feel that was a yes, even if he hadn't worked out all the details yet.
Training with team 8 had finished for the day and Naruto was going through a series of stretches to relax tensed muscles.
It wasn't the most vigorous training that he had ever undergone but it was good for him. That and he got to spend more time with friends.
Shino and Kiba made their goodbyes relatively quickly, leaving just Naruto and Hinata.
He remembered what Anko had said to him when she had come round those few nights ago. It couldn't hurt to take the advice of a friend could it?
"Hinata-san?"
She stopped stretching herself down and he saw her relax a little and smile.
"Yes Naruto-kun?"
He knew the meaning of the various suffixes well enough, but was always confused by the chan and kun. Was it a sign of a deeper friendship or something that meant more? Such a small syllable yet such a deep one.
"Would you like to," he struggled for the correct wording, "obtain and eat lunch at the same place and time as me?"
He felt almost glad of the hood he wore because something about asking felt...embarrassing? That was odd. He was merely asking a teammate to lunch.
Hinata laughed lightly. He liked that sound more than he wanted to admit.
"I would like that. Would you like to get ramen?"
"I would indeed."
They walked through the streets together. It wasn't quite the vision he had had but...he wasn't going to take her hand. Why would he even want to? It was illogical but made sense and...
It could wait till later. They had reached their destination.
Ayame looked up as she saw Naruto approach and put on her best smile. Then she saw Hinata.
The smile dropped just a little as she saw them talking. Well there were ways she could find out more about the situation. She hadn't entirely judged the girl just yet, although her reputation as a kind hearted person went before her.
She dashed into the kitchen and attempted to do something, anything, with her hair before emerging again as Naruto took his seat next to Hinata.
"Naruto-kun!"
She gave him a hug across the counter which he didn't respond to in the slightest. Whilst she held his head still she gave Hinata her best 'mine' stare. The girl looked stunned. Good. Very good.
She could work on this. She wondered briefly whether this would count as overly cruel to the Hyuuga girl. It probably was, but all was fair in love and war. This little battle was about both.
"How have you been? What would you like?"
Naruto felt very confused. Why was she completely ignoring Hinata?
"I am well Ayame-san. Have you met Hinata-san? She is my teammate and someone I would call a friend."
Hinata looked slightly away, her cheeks a little pinker. Or was that his imagination. He saw the smile falter slightly on Ayame's face. Before it rebrightened.
"Nice to meet you Hinata-san."
Her eyes said entirely different as they bored into Hinata's. Hinata knew what she was doing and felt annoyed. Too late to leave now then. She was good at enduring things like this.
"I would like a miso-ramen please."
"Sure, what would you like Naruto-kun?"
"I would like a seafood ramen."
The girl nodded enthusiastically and went for the kitchen at speed.
Naruto turned to Hinata.
"Is something not right about Ayame-san's behaviour Hinata?"
Hinata considered whether she would have time to tell him the truth about the situation. To be fair, she couldn't tell him the whole truth right here. Nor would he fully understand all the minutiae of the emotional responses.
"Well yes, but I wouldn't worry about it. How have your dreams been?"
He considered the question and knew exactly how they had been.
"They are a replay of the memory half the time. It causes me to wake myself. My sleep has been sufficient but less satisfactory."
She nodded.
"If you want to talk about it, I'm always here for you to talk to."
Then she turned and saw that Ayame had chosen that moment to walk out through the kitchen doors with a colossal seafood ramen in her hands.
Hinata sighed internally as she realised exactly how the girl behind the ramen stand was going to play this. She didn't want to get involved in it at all but felt protective of her Naruto. Wait her?
"Here you go Naru-kun. I hope you really love it."
Hinata saw how she had bent to put the bowl down and sighed again. Really? That obvious?
"Thank you Ayame-san. I will wait until Hinata's ramen has arrived before beginning, it would only be polite to do so."
That shocked both girls. Ayame was forced to recover first, a fact Hinata found amusing.
"Such a gentleman as well, her order will be arriving shortly."
She turned, giving Hinata another withering glare in the process.
"Where did you learn about politeness Naruto-kun?"
"I observed that in the Aburame household they only eat when everyone has been served their meal. It seemed illogical at the time, and Shino explained it to me. Being polite is a good thing from what I can gather."
Hinata couldn't help but be a little bewildered at the situation. Not only was Naruto utterly oblivious to her advances, but...
Then Ayame returned with one of the smaller bowls of ramen that she had ever seen. The girl had a smirk on her face directed only for Hinata.
Yep. That was expected as well. Disappointing and annoying but expected. Why was she deciding to do this now?
She was glad when more customers arrived to order food. That at least kept her away from Naruto for a couple of minutes.
They began to eat. She smiled at how he was eating it so quickly yet without any mess. Then again, eating was simply the act of getting food into his belly for him. She ate as well, noticing just how small her portion was in comparison.
Then she realised Naruto had noted it as well.
Then he offered her some of his just as Ayame finished dealing with the other customers.
She blushed and accepted. The blush was unnecessary but it felt good to sneak a glance back at the girl who was trying to ruin her time with Naruto.
Ayame stared in defeat as Naruto shared a part of his portion with Hinata. How had she lost him so completely? She slunk to the back quietly.
"Dad, can you man the front for a bit?"
Teuchi looked up; the swift chops from his cleaver continuing even though he wasn't looking. He didn't need to look.
"What's wrong dear? Isn't Naruto out there?"
He saw the tears and quickly looked outside to see Naruto and Hinata talking. He'd seen people talking like that before and knew the signs. He gave his daughter a consoling arm around the shoulder.
"There are other boys out there Ayame...don't hate her for it."
She nodded through the tears that were gently forming as she took the cleaver from her father and began to chop.
Teuchi emerged to man the front of the stand. He saw Naruto and Hinata both with finished bowls and he felt the good buzz you get when you are about to get paid.
"Good meal Naruto?"
"Indeed. Thank you for your service."
He laughed.
"Thank you for your custom. I hope you and Hinata-san have a lovely day."
He took the money. Naruto gave Hinata a quick word and was off to do some more training or something similar.
"Oh, Hinata-san, a word?"
She turned and walked back to the stand uncertainly. Teuchi leant in and whispered so nobody else could hear.
"Sorry about Ayame and keep hold of that boy."
She blushed very deeply and struggled to remain upright for a moment.
The older man laughed as she wandered off slightly dizzy. They were very adorable together, although he wasn't entirely sure that Naruto knew it yet.
Kiri
The Mizukage checked her face in the mirror her office contained. It was good enough for the moment. Soon she would find a husband. Soon.
Certainly things were definitely quieter than they had been for some time. There were the usual, small levels of banditry but...something was odd.
She had forced Yagura out and slain him, restoring peace to the Water country and they had rebuilt from years of war and abuse, now they were once more a major power in the world.
Yet she felt it in the air. War was coming. Everyone was prepared, ANBU from the four remaining nations were always scouting. Daimyo's were meeting and planning alliances.
Her eyes turned to the note on the desk from another Kage.
Things were going to go wild sooner rather than later. She'd rather not be the one to fire the first shot.
Kumo
A finished pressing the metal girder before tossing it aside.
Sweat gleamed from muscles as he grabbed a towel to get the worst of it mopped up. He felt the need to keep working out and in preparation. He knew the lists of his forces from the days of pouring over them and strategising with his best.
He knew war would come sooner or later, and it felt like it would be sooner. From what he knew of the Akatsuki and the tailed beasts they were nearly done.
B was dead. Remembering that little fact caused him to flick a bench into a wall where it splintered apart. Yet Akatsuki were not an organisation a nation could go to war against. He could hunt and he could search but not declare war on with an army.
Someone was going to pay for it. He would summon the Kage but with only four...it was never going to be the same. It would never come to a decision.
Either Suna had to rise again or there was going to be a war sooner or later to make it only three great nations.
He wouldn't want to be the man to start it though. He didn't want to be the one to spill so much blood.
Iwa
He looked out of the great window of the Kage office over the rolling hills of the Earth country.
It had been relatively peaceful for his lands these last years. He had rebuilt his forces; he had maintained a decent peace.
Still he knew in his heart that the peace wouldn't last. With five nations nobody could wage effective war as there was no balanced position of warfare. With four things were more unstable. If anyone declared war there wouldn't be much left.
He, Oonoki the fence sitter would not start that war. He would wait for another hot-headed young Kage to start the war and simply play his hand carefully.
Then he felt the ripple of chakra spread through his office and prepared himself. Who was it that thought they could simply attack the Tsuchikage?
He prepared the hand signs necessary to crush the intruder. Were they ANBU? Black Ops maybe? Konoha? Kumo? Upstarts in Kiri hoping to use Konoha as a shield?
He saw the masked man and felt a little confused.
"Akatsuki? Why are you here?"
"I am impressed you remember us. We did take care of quite a few problems for you after all."
"You took our Jinchuriki from us."
"You asked us to. Begged us in fact. What was the reason again...oh yes. They wouldn't listen to you and go to war if requested. They ran away from you and you didn't like that."
He cracked his knuckles at the masked man who just lounged against a wall.
"You know nothing of us."
"I controlled the Mizukage for years; I know more than you hope Fence Sitter."
The old Kage snorted his defiance.
"Then you die."
The polygon of light enveloped the man in a cube of light before it brightened. There would be nothing but dust left of the man. Part of the floor was gone as well but it was a small price to pay.
Then the dust settled and the man was still standing there.
"Come now Oonoki, there is no need to throw that kind of jutsu around in here."
The old man gritted his teeth and made the mistake of looking into the eyes.
"Rinnengan?"
There was a dark chuckle from under the mask.
"You're about to find out."
He didn't have time to call for his guards before the world swirled before his eyes and he found himself dumped unceremoniously into a world that wasn't his own.
"Come out and face me you bastard!"
Then he was struck in the back. He saw the point of the blade poke out from his ribcage. Red with blood. He realised it was his.
"I am going to have a lot of fun with you."