Anko Mitarashi's Student
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto. That being said, I do bend and add aspects, so don't come here expecting a replica of the canon story. Also, this story has crass language, typos, graphic violence, feels, so be warned. Not in this chapter specifically, but in the future. Thank you for taking an interest in AMS, I hope you enjoy!
SUMMARY: After the fall of Root, Hiruzen Sarutobi is left with some troubles forming teams. When a certain special jounin takes it upon herself to turn the most hated genin in the village into a well-rounded apprentice, she has her work cut out for her. But will she prove capable of making the defiant, kind-hearted brat, into a kickass kunoichi?
CHAPTER ONE:
"..Well you'll know November has come,
When it's gone away.."
Hokage's Tower, Konohagakure...
Sarutobi sighed behind his desk, his forefingers pinching the bridge of his nose.
The foreboding existence of that hidden branch of ANBU, Root, had finally been destroyed.
Just in time for genin team placements, no less. Hiruzen Sarutobi was grateful to be rid of the shadowy organization, despite that it meant his previous friend, Danzo, was scheduled for execution. Many of the old war-hawk's co-conspirators went within him, either to prison or by dying in the battle that took place when forces stormed the Root hideout. The entire operation was, shocking, to say the least. The shocks started from information he received from Jiraiya, which started the entire ordeal. He had been sent information that Root was not only taking up missions behind his back, but had also been in communications with Orochimaru. And that wasn't even the worst of it.
Danzo had mistreated his shinobi far beyond words, he had ordered hits on so many without clearance, he had weakened relations with other villages, and even more.. The proof Jiraiya sent forced the aging Sandaime into action, and the underground hideout of Root was overrun with loyal shinobi.
He was first surprised by the lengths that Danzo's shinobi went to prove their loyalties to him.
He felt knots form in his stomach upon remembering the talented young ninja who Danzo had destroyed emotionally. The futures they could have had if he had only taken action sooner…. The potential they had... Hell, the happiness they could've found. Instead, they were nothing more than Danzo's weapons, or worse, his human shields.
Sarutobi's deep rooted disgust for the man only grew upon seeing the children that the vile war-hawk had groomed into servitude. Fortunately, many had been saved. Many became civilians after the traumatic event, and a minority decided to join the official side of ANBU.
Besides one particular boy, whom was currently far too young to be ANBU.
Now he was left with an uneven number of genin, The Would-Be-Konoha-12, was now the Konoha 13. This was due to the addition of a rather odd, young root member by the name of Sai. He was a strange one, who now wished to serve Konoha officially. Of course, the aging Hokage would not deny him that.
In a way, he felt that he owed the young boy something.
Hiruzen had pondered for days what he would do. A shuffling of the teams, which he'd decided immediately after the graduation exams, would not solve his issue.
Of course, the Ino-Shika-Cho team was set in stone, for more reasons than just tradition. He knew in his heart that the team would have no issues working together, just as seamlessly as those before them. As for the rest, he was fairly confident in the teams he had chosen.
But now? He was questioning all his decisions. The boy, Sai, would fit perfectly under Kakashi. He used ninjutsu and taijutsu, both were categories Kakashi Hatake soared in.
And of course Sasuke Uchiha would also be on Team Seven, under Kakashi. It only made sense that way. With the rookie of the year on Hatake's team, it was tradition for the kunoichi of the year to be placed alongside him. So that meant Team Seven was Sakura Haruno, Sasuke, and Sai...
As for Kurenai Yuuhi, she was going to be forming the members of Team 8 into trackers. Naturally, the Inuzuka boy and the Hyuuga heir fit perfectly for that team. He couldn't deny that Shino Aburame fit right in alongside them, given the unique abilities of his kikaichu bugs.
A series of knocks at the large oak door of his office finally pulled from his thoughts. He grumbled for a moment, before signaling the chuunin guarding the door to open it. There stood Special Jounin Anko Mitarashi, handing in her mission report.
'Anko is an intelligent woman, perhaps I could ask her input.' After all, it really couldn't hurt. He had one genin left to sort, whether it be sending the girl to Genin Corps, or possibly finding someone to apprentice her.. He could also send Naruto Uzumaki or another genin-hopeful back to the academy, but that was a possibility he didn't want to entertain… Hopefully, Anko would provide him some extra insight.
"Hokage-sama, here's the report from the capture and interrogation mission you sent me on." She said, giving a respectful bow before placing the thin packet on his desk. The sturdy wooden desk was already littered with paperwork, ink, and assorted clutter.
"Ah, Anko. Your timing couldn't have been better."
The pony-tailed special jounin quirked an eyebrow at his statement. She tucked her hands into the pockets of the beige trench-coat she wore everyday.
The high collar of which hid the curse mark on her neck.
Anko tried to hide the traces of her previous involvement with Orochimaru, but they followed her like a storm cloud overhead. She was playful, intelligent, and vicious, but her heart carried a heavy burden. One which stemmed from that odd marking between her neck and shoulder.
"Well, what is it?" She asked her foot tapping against the ground once.
Sarutobi sighed, sliding forward a paper with the names of every new genin. Mitarashi's eyes passed over the page speculatively, a sly grin on her face.
"Hokage-sama, are you asking for my help with placements?" He saw an entertained glint in her eyes, hints of surprise laced within her expression. She was surprisingly easy to read when she let down her guard, he noticed. One of her hands now rested upon her hip, the other held the paper.
He hesitated for a moment, before speaking the honest truth. "Yes. I've only managed to think of one team, who will be placed under my grandson."
"I'm guessing that new kid threw off your plans, eh?" The snake mistress said jestingly, smirk still on her face. Her eyes steeled for a moment as they passed over the genin list again. "You'll have to break your usual traditions for team matching." She added, a bit more contemplatively.
"I'm well aware. Unfortunately, I think I've worked out how some of these teams should be formed. Based on the traits of these students, I can match nearly all of them with jounin-sensei who would help them grow."
"So, what's the problem? Do you just want my, oh so valuable, second opinion?" Anko said, her playful demeanor reentering the conversation. She nearly shuddered when she looked back at the exhausted hokage in front of her.
It genuinely looked as if the man had wilted, like a flower kept from sunlight far too long. He'd aged a damn decade in a matter of seconds.
"I.. Cannot find a team to place Naruto Uzumaki on," He paused, taking a puff from his pipe. He blew the wisps of smoke from his lips before continuing.
"I know the determined little girl could make it work on any of these teams, but.. I am not confident enough to place one of these jounin with a fourth student, who also happens to be the village pariah." The aged man in front of Anko seemed to have a weight lifted after voicing his concerns. He was certainly in need of someone to listen to his frustrations, it was quite obvious.
And this was a man paraded for his genius, nicknamed, 'The Professor.'
"Not only would her team fail to understand her, but.. Being on a team with a hated jinchuuriki is a burden all its own." He let his pipe sit against his desk, the embers within it seeming to die out as he paused.
Anko swallowed. She'd never had much of an inclination towards children. But here was the Sandaime, voicing his concerns to her of all people. She, in a way, was a village pariah in her own right. People were always wary of the snake mistress, believing her to be evil or a spy for Orochimaru. She had felt suspicious, hateful glares. She had made friends regardless, but damn, it had been hard.
She couldn't deny that she felt a newfound kinship with the girl, despite never even having met her.
The special jounin felt the eyes of Sarutobi land on her, expectantly.
"Tell me about the little gaki." She said, her voice as solid as steel beams. Hiruzen gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk, and she hesitantly took a seat.
And so, Hiruzen Sarutobi began.
He told Anko of the blonde's devious pranks, getting snorts and smiles in response. From painting the hokage monument, to leading ANBU on chases regularly, and so much more. He told of her character, determined, brash, and audacious. He told of her hardships, being bullied and an orphan. Of her mistreatment by every civilian in the village. Of being stunted in the academy, and refused service. How she'd failed the academy twice now, placing her two years older than some of the others in her graduating class.
By then, the allegedly cruel snake mistress had clenched, trembling fists balled at her sides.
Anko Mitarashi was no stranger to using an outward appearance to hide your suffering, hell, she did it herself. Her devious persona had been played up a bit in response to the preconceptions of others.
And deep down, she wondered if the girl had developed her own persona to shield herself from others?
A loud, happy-go-lucky prankster persona would serve that purpose very, very well.
"I'm aware of how my shortcomings have hurt the child, and I regret my lack of action in the past and present everyday. I wish.. I could do more." The tan, wrinkled man in front of her said. He recalled that the only real bonds the girl had were him and a chuunin named Iruka Umino. Anko was familiar with the man, recalling how red the teacher got when she teased him in the workplace. He, like many others, wasn't very fond of her sexual-sadist sense of humor...
She ran one of her hands over her bangs, pushing them back for a second as she listened to the hokage's words.
"Irregardless, I fail to see how this solves the issue at hand.." the man muttered, looking at Mitarashi. There was a silence, but Anko's eyes met Hiruzen's.
A flabbergasted sense of realization dawned on the elderly man's face. "Unless, you intend to..?" His voice trailed off, unsure if he was being too hopeful.
"I'd like to take the little Blondie on as my student."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I just edited this chapter again, as of 11/24/2020. Nothing too significant, but age change for Naruto, and formatting changes. Oh, and how there will be song lyrics at the top of every chapter. This is because music really inspires me to write this story, so it fits I think. These lyrics are chosen based on what I feel Naruto would listen to during this chapter. I think this Naruto would be a big fan of pop/punk and pop punk. THIS IS NOT A SONGFIC! Just a fic with songs.
Song this chapter: 'November Has Come,' by Gorillaz.
Thank you for reading, much love~
