Thank you.
Chapter Two
The Right to Wear the Mask
To say that the Dursleys were glad to be rid of them would have been an understatement. Naruto had made himself at him in the quaint house, ignoring Petunia's complaint's and Vernon's threats as he kicked up his heals in the living room to watch TV or commandeered the kitchen in a misguided attempt to make breakfast. Sasuke had to perform a quick and contained water jutsu to deal with that fiasco. To make matters worse Curl, Yowl and Little decided to move in with the jinchuuriki, trailing after him where ever he went.
Sasuke found the whole situation vastly amusing, though he would die before he admitted to anything. He had no respect for the family that was supposed to care for Harry. They had shown that they were nothing but scared, pathetic, grasping cowards who did not even dare to stand up for the right to have their home as their own.
Pathetic.
And Harry of course was loving it, not that he dared let his guardians see that.
By the time they were dropped off at Kings Cross every one of them was eager to move on, the Dursleys away from Harry and the ANBU and vise versa.
Harry led them through the maze of people and platforms with deft precision. He explained the barrier to Platform 9 ¾ to his bodyguards. They had a hard time believing him but when he walked straight through a solid brick wall they were forced to concede.
On the train Sasuke took up a post by the window while Naruto commandeered a place by the door, both wearing their ANBU masks and covered in their white cloaks. Harry sat beside Naruto. It was not long before the door to their compartment rattled open.
"Harry?" asked a red haired boy. Harry looked up and smiled.
"Hey Ron, come on in,"
"Harry?" Naruto asked. Ron and the girl behind him hesitated. They had not even noticed the two masked people that sat in the compartment with their friend.
"It's okay. This is Ron and Hermione. They're my friends," Naruto nodded and sat back. Sasuke gave them a once over glance before turning his attention to what lay outside the window. Not much.
"So how was your summer, Harry?" Hermione asked. Harry shrugged.
"Not all that bad, although it got better once these two showed up," he grinned. "Don't think I've ever seen Uncle Vernon that scared in my entire life!"
"What did they do?" Ron asked, interested.
"Well, not much really. Sasuke," he motioned to the ANBU in the cat mask, "just twirled around some throwing knives and Naruto," now to the fox mask, "just set himself up like he lived there all his life. It was beautiful! He even brought in some foxes that live in the park,"
"Foxes? Why foxes?"
"Why not?" Naruto asked blandly. The redhead quailed under the disconcerting gaze of the mask.
"No reason," he squeaked.
"You like foxes?" Hermione asked curiously. Naruto shrugged.
"We have an affinity for each other, you could say,"
Sasuke snickered. It was so quiet that it went almost unheard. But Hermione caught it.
"Is that funny?"
Sasuke turned to fix her with the gaze of his cat mask, "Yes, little girl, it's funny. That is why I laughed. That is generally why people laugh," he said with as little vocal inflection as humanly possible. Naruto grinned behind his mask.
The train lurched forward.
Hermione huffed and glared at Sasuke, "You don't have to be so rude, you know," she admonished.
"Don't mind Sasuke. He's like that. Always has been and probably always will be," Naruto waved a hand. Hermione did not look very convinced but she let the matter go.
"So…why are you two wearing masks?" Ron asked timidly. Sasuke nonverbally told Naruto to do the talking.
"It's part of our uniform. While we are on duty we are always masked," Naruto explained briefly.
"Uniform? For what?"
"Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai," Naruto nodded, not really caring that his answer answered nothing.
"And what's that?"
Neither ANBU said anything for a moment then Naruto spoke again, "We are elite fighters, currently second and third most powerful in our Village,"
"Who's the most powerful?" Hermione asked.
"Hokage-sama,"
"Oh…" the British teenagers shared a confused look. Naruto had answered every question so far but his answers were far from enlightening.
"So, how have you guys been?" Harry asked breaking the uncomfortable silence that had sprouted.
"Pretty good," Hermione shrugged, "I've been really worried about all the attacks that have been happening lately but my summer has been very quiet, thankfully,"
Attacks? Sasuke and Naruto shared a look and listened closely.
"Percy's still acting like a prat," Ron grumped, "He and Mum had a row last month and haven't spoken since,"
"He still working for the Ministry?"
"Yeah. And he hasn't changed one jot. Still can't get over the fact he was wrong and Mum and Dad were right,"
"Stupid git," Harry muttered.
The train ride was fairly boring for Sasuke and Naruto. So boring in fact that Naruto even dozed off. He quickly caught himself before his chin hit his chest and shot Sasuke a glance to see if his partner had noticed. He had not.
Harry, Ron and Hermione changed into their black school robes. Naruto poked fun at the two boys in 'dresses' until Sasuke pointed out that they were similar to the traditional Hokage robes that he so aspired to wear. Naruto shut up. Sasuke grinned to himself behind his mask where it was safe from being seen and hence ruining his reputation.
The train pulled into Hogsmead Station. Sasuke and Naruto trailed dutifully after Harry, their bags slung over their shoulders, masks still in place and weapons at the ready just in case.
Needless to say they drew quite a few odd looks and whispered comments.
"You'd think they've never seen ANBU before," Naruto blithely commented. Sasuke turned and glared.
"Usuratonkachi, they probably haven't,"
"Don't call me that!" Naruto growled, glaring right back.
"Make me," Sasuke taunted, knowing that the blond would take the bait.
And Naruto would have started a fight if the largest human he had ever clapped eyes on had not interrupted him.
"'Arry!" Hagrid called. Harry waved and plunged headfirst into the crowd, trying to get to the half-giant. Naruto cursed and he and Sasuke dove in after their charge. They surfaced, both in a foul mood and eyeing Hagrid warily. Harry introduced them to the Care of Magical Creatures Professor.
Hagrid smiled at them, "Nice to meet you and welcome to Hogwarts,"
Naruto nodded. Sasuke only stared making Hagrid uncomfortable.
"Yeah, well, Professor McGonagall asked me to tell you to report to the Headmaster's office before the feast,"
"No problem, Hagrid," Harry nodded and they parted, Hagrid to round up the first years and Harry (and Naruto and Sasuke) to find Ron and Hermione and a carriage. Naruto gaped in horror at the skeletal horses that were hitched to the carriages. Sasuke shuddered and tried to ignore them.
"Horses of Death," Sasuke muttered, explaining more when Naruto looked at him, "it is said that you can only see them if you have seen 'Death,' in whatever form that may be,"
"Horses of Death, huh? Creepy stinkers,"
But they got into the carriage without complaint, Naruto sitting beside Harry and Sasuke sitting across from him. That left Hermione to sit next to Sasuke since Ron had taken the space beside Naruto. Hermione was not pleased that she was stuck next to the rude one.
C'est la vie.
Sasuke was not pleased. Even Naruto was frustrated, and that was saying something, all things considered. Harry had been whisked off to a tower room in order to speak with some woman they learned was the head of the school about the presence of Harry's foreign bodyguards. She argued that, as strangers, they should not be allowed to have free run of the school and its grounds.
Sasuke stated in return that they would fulfill their contract to the best of their abilities whether she permitted them entrance or not. As the two highest ranking ANBU in Konoha they had their Village's pride, as well as their own reputations, riding on their shoulders. It was not a matter of choice. It was simply duty.
Naruto seconded Sasuke, telling her that if she had a problem then she should take it up with the Godaime and the man who was paying them, a Mr. Sirius Black.
That shut her up.
"Black? Sirius Black?" she stammered. Naruto nodded. "Impossible. Sirius died years ago,"
"Apparently not, since it is impossible for anyone to sign a contract with the Shinobi under a false identity," Naruto cut in confidently. Sasuke nodded, backing him up.
"But…"
"You doubt the word of a Konoha shinobi?" Sasuke asked quietly, fingering a shuriken. Naruto held up a hand. Sasuke put the shuriken back in its holster. McGonagall started breathing again.
"Professor," Naruto said with patent cheerfulness, "a Konoha shinobi, especially one of the ANBU Division, never lies about their contracts to their clients. Unless they happen to be on an undercover recon, but that's a whole different matter and another three years of special training so we won't even get into that. Or interrogation,"
"And have you ever been under interrogation?" McGonagall pried. Naruto said nothing. Sasuke answered for him.
"Our lives are none of your business. We are Shinobi, human tools and weapons. We are ANBU, the best of the best of the best. Be glad you got us for this job for we are the best that can possibly be hired since our Hokage does not take contracts. We have accepted the contract to protect Harry Potter and this school with our very lives if need be and neither Naruto nor I will go back on out word. If you are still distrustful you may contact Godaime-sama and she would be happy to send you a copy of the contract for your perusal," he said it with such an air of finality that there was little even McGonagall could do to protest. She sighed and slumped in her chair, defeated.
"Very well. May I at least have your names so that I may introduce you at the feast?"
"Uzumaki Naruto,"
"Uchiha Sasuke,"
McGonagall nodded, writing down the foreign names. "And what about those masks. Do you always wear them?"
"Part of the uniform," Naruto shrugged.
"Can you take them off?" she asked. Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other. They turned to McGonagall and as one reached up and removed the white porcelain masks from their faces. McGonagall raised an eyebrow at their obvious lack of years. "How old are you two?"
Naruto smiled slyly, "We have been legally adults for six years now. Our age has nothing to do with our skill and is therefore not important,"
The headmistress frowned at them over her glasses. Their faces did not twitch a muscle.
"Right. Well, off with you Potter. You three should hurry before the feast starts without you,"
Harry nodded and fled the office his re-masked bodyguards trailing silently behind him.
"How dare that woman accuse us of lying!" Naruto exclaimed, rightfully furious. "She doesn't even know us and she's accusing us of lying!"
"It's not her fault, you know," Harry tried to defend McGonagall, "There's been lots of terrible things happening lately. It's hard to know who to trust anymore,"
"But to accuse us of being liars!"
"Let it go, Dobe," Sasuke advised his fuming partner.
"I don't lie." Naruto grumbled.
"Good for you. Now shut up,""Yes, Uchiha-sama," Naruto drawled, suddenly in good humor. Sasuke scowled, not that it did him any good since Naruto could not see it.
"Usuratonkachi,"
"We're here," Harry said, interrupting them. Naruto and Sasuke examined the large doors and followed Harry through them.
The student population of Hogwarts was not what it used to be ever since the return of the Dark Lord Voldemort. There were noticeable gaps at every table. Harry made a beeline to Ron and Hermione. Naruto and Sasuke followed. They took their seats across the table from Harry and his friends.
"We gotta patrol this whole school too, don't we?" Naruto whispered to Sasuke wearily. Sasuke nodded.
"Garter snakes and foxes?" the Uchiha asked. Naruto nodded.
"After the feast. We're going to have to figure out some way to eat you know. Want I should send some kits out to that forest to hunt for us?"
"Probably a wise idea for now,"
"Hey," interrupted a red-haired girl who had decided to sit next to them, "Who are you guys? Why are you wearing masks?"
They just looked at her.
"We are ANBU. We wear masks. It's part of the job description," Sasuke said.
"As for the rest you'll probably find out later," Naruto said brightly, smiling even though he knew that she could not see it.
"Why won't you tell me now?" she begged.
"Well," Naruto pointed out, "you haven't introduced yourself, for one,"
She blushed at her oversight, "Sorry. I'm Ginny Weasley, Ron's sister,"
"Naruto. And this brick wall here is Sasuke," Naruto jerked a thumb at Sasuke, grinning when he felt the Uchiha's glare burning into his skull.
"I'm not a wall," Sasuke snapped.
"Foul tempered tom cat?"
"Unhousebroken fox,"
"Snake kisser,"
"And you with the toads?"
"At least Ero-Sannin was just a pervert rather than a homicidal manic bent on absolute power and global domination," Naruto fisted his hands under the table. Sasuke's aura grew dark.
"He's dead."
"Thanks to who?"
"Bakemono," Sasuke stepped over the line and froze instantly, shocked at his own words. Naruto stiffened, back straightening and shoulders tensing. He stood.
"I'll go call my foxes. You stay here with Harry." And he left.
Sasuke felt like a heel. He had called his best friend a monster in the most foul of ways. He felt like slamming his head against the table. Repeatedly.
He cursed foully and fluently in five languages and ten dialects.
When he was done he noticed he had garnered the attention of most of the people in the large room. He said nothing. He knew, of course, that he would probably have to swallow his pride and apologize. Bakemono was one of the taboo insults to use against Naruto, something he had observed religiously since learning of the Sealing of Kyuubi.
It was sad to say, but Sasuke was glad when McGonagall stood to address the students. She introduced Sasuke and raised an eyebrow when she noticed that Naruto was missing. Sasuke offered no explanation.