A/N: Hello, I would like to personally thank you for your interest in this story of mine. Please read the Author's Note as it will explain a few caveats about this story that should be stated.
Number One: This is an attempt at a complete rewrite of at least Part One of Naruto with my personal flair to it as well as OC. I do want to do the whole story rewritten, including Shippuden, but this is just the first chapter so let's not get ahead of ourselves (myself?) here.
Number Two: I will try to develop side characters and female characters that did not get the attention or care that they deserved in the manga. *Cough* All the female rookie 11 members *Cough*
Number Three: Kid Naruto's character will not be as stupid as he was in canon (at the start at least), as I believe Kishimoto made him that dumb on purpose so he could explain how the power systems and fighting work to the audience. Naruto readers and fans don't need this basic explanation so Naruto will not be handicapped in this regard.
Number Four: There is no Asura/Indra cycle in this story. Period.
Chapter One has been updated as of 10/9/2022
Chapter 1
Approximately Twelve Years After the Kyuubi Attack on Konoha and the Fourth Hokage's Final Sacrifice. Second Day of Spring, March 21st.
The sun, in all its blazing glory, hung at its zenith in the cloudless spring sky over the Land of Fire. A light breeze blew lazily through the thick branches and lush leaves of the fire country's signature towering trees; it coasted over calm rivers and the well-traveled dirt roads that weaved across the verdant countryside. The wind was the herald of an ideal spring afternoon as it brought its much-welcomed breeze to the outskirts of Konohagakure. The Leaf Village's spring festival was in full swing and cherry blossom petals carpeted the ground at the foot of the village's imposing main gate. The wind leisurely strolled past leaf shinobi, who it thought, was most unfortunate to be on guard duty on such a lovely day. Most of their faces mirrored this sentiment.
Inside the village, people from every corner of the Land of Fire were gathered in celebration under the warmth of the midday sun, indulging in all that the festivities had to offer. Children paraded around in the crowded streets, their playful footsteps and laughter echoing into the nearby bustling shops and down dead-end alleyways. Clinking wind chimes outside open windows echoed the wind's song of afternoon's arrival above the many travelers and traders conducting commerce within the myriad of Konoha's establishments. The sounds of their bartering quickly faded, as the wind continued forward, dancing along the village rooftops joyfully kicking up stray petals. If the wind could smile it surely would have an ear-splitting grin, elated that so many people were enjoying a perfect spring day.
Yet on this seemingly perfect day, there was one window that remained shut with curtains drawn closed. The wind's imaginary grin faded. How could one not enjoy even the smallest of today's pleasures? The more that it thought, the more it realized that this simply wouldn't do. So, with all the haste and force it could muster the breeze threw itself valiantly against the window frame.
Anko Mitarashi managed to barely crack one eye open before being assaulted by the light of high noon that had somehow streamed in through the drapes of her purple bedroom curtain. Groaning loudly and rolling away from her assailant, she curled her sweat-dampened pillow over her head in a vain attempt to find even the smallest amount of relief. It would be her first mistake of the day.
Moving hurt.
Trying not to move hurt.
Thinking about not trying to move hurt.
Everything just fucking hurt.
Anko groaned again, drawing her legs up to her stomach and curling into herself. Her hands balled into fists as she tried in desperation to will away the increasingly painful throbbing inside her skull. Even with her eyes shut tight she felt the world lurch sideways as an intense wave of nausea caused her to let loose a string of whispered profanities. To which she instantly regretted as she grimaced. Why did her throat feel like the arid sand dunes from the Land of Wind?
She stayed motionless for several minutes, drawing in labored breaths. Each second feeling as if her head would explode from the mounting pressure. After the waves of nausea had subsided, she tried to slowly sit up. Her stomach churned violently in protest, and Anko suddenly felt bile rising in the back of her throat.
Oh no.
Her second mistake. She was going to puke.
With brown eyes wide, she sprang up from bed and made a mad dash to her bathroom. It was still dark in her little apartment and Anko tripped over herself in her haste. With all the grace of a flailing newborn deer, she slammed into the kitchen countertop while rounding the corner. She thought she might have heard something shatter as her hands franticly tried to push herself upright but the incessant feverish pounding of her headache held her full attention. That and the vomit bubbling up as her stomach flipped again.
The sound of her bare feet striking the wood floor echoed through her abode as she flew into the bathroom, flicking the light on before practically diving for the toilet. Anko managed to get her head into the bowl a half-second before retching up a stream of bile. Her whole body shuttered and tensed as wave after wave surged forth. After the fourth round, her vision finally stopped swimming and her body finished convulsing. Anko slumped against the bathroom wall, her insides boiling like hot magma and glazed eyes half-lidden in a daze. With what little remaining focus she had Anko concentrated on her breathing again, sucking in air through gritted teeth and pained breaths. She did not know how long she stayed unmoving, completely unaware of the passage of time but after what seemed like a painful eternity, the worst had seemed to pass.
Anko commanded her body to move, slowly standing up on unsteady legs. Her face twisted in disgust as the bile assaulted her senses. It made her eyes water and she had to fight the urge to gag from the sight and smell. After flushing it away, she steeled herself, gingerly walking a few shaky steps before leaning forward with both hands on the vanity.
Anko took a long hard look in the mirror. The corner of her mouth twitched upwards into a small smirk. She was sort of impressed.
"Well shit," Her voice was a raspy croak.
Her disheveled mauve hair was spiky in all the wrong places with her fanned-out ponytail losing its rather unique look. Her skin was damp and sticky under her lightweight chain mesh and Anko was certain she smelled foul. She was a mess, but damn at least she was a hot mess. Her humor only staved off her terrible morning momentarily, smirk pulling down into a larger frown. Who was she fooling? She looked as good as she felt, like shit.
Anko inspected the rest of her person. It seemed that she had passed out with the usual attire on minus her shin guards and-. With wide eyes in shock, Anko felt her stomach plummet to her toes. Her snake fang pendant was missing.
With newfound vigor, she frantically patted her coat and double then triple-checked her pockets, all coming up empty. "No no no, damn it!" Anko swore loudly, white-knuckled fists at her sides. She couldn't have lost it, could she? It had been a gift, one of the very few pleasant gifts he had given her. A memento, a memory of simpler times, when all that mattered was the small smile of recognition of her sensei.
No, Anko would find it. She had to. Now was not the time to panic. All she had to do was retrace her steps.
Pushing the anger into the back of her mind, hissing all the way like an ill-tempered snake, Anko tried to recall the events that transpired the previous night but to no avail. It was as if a great black cloud had descended upon her. She tried to fight against the oppressive fog, focusing all her limited concentration on the singular act of remembrance, but all there were was flashes of color, a choir of unintelligible voices, and then nothingness.
"What the fuck happened last night?" Anko muttered in frustration, rubbing her temples as she made her way across her apartment. She needed something to drink to get the lingering taste of bile off her tongue, too absorbed in her inner turmoil to notice the glass minefield as she rounded the corner.
"Ow, shit!" Anko cursed, more in surprise than pain, when a large shard of glass embedded itself into the bottom of her unsuspecting foot. She hopped away backward on her good foot, leaving thick droplets of blood across the floor. Her other bodily pains were temporarily numbed by the sting of lodged glass and in that moment of clarity, the snake lashed out to the forefront of her mind as Anko's face contorted in pure rage.
Oh, that was it. She was so done with this shit.
"FUCK THIS FUCKING SHITTY DAY! DAMN IT!" she screamed at the top of her lungs; her voice cracking from the strain before doubling into a fit of coughing. Then a few moments later, a knock on the door.
"I-Is everything okay in there?" A muffled voice called out.
"Does it fucking sound like everything is sunshine and rainbows?!" Anko seethed after catching her breath, rage-filled eyes snapping up to the door. "I've got the world's largest piece of glass stuck in my foot, I can't remember anything about yesterday and...and, Fuck!" Frustration at her current situation was too consuming to continue forming coherent sentences. She just wanted to punch something right now. Very very hard.
"Well uh, I can help." the voice stated apprehensively as if anticipating her growing ire. "It's me Iyasu, your next-door neighbor. I am a medical-nin, remember?"
Anko's brow unfurrowed. Yes, she did vaguely recognize the voice in hindsight. She was ready to retort back that she didn't need help, that she was perfectly fine. However, before she could, Anko felt something wet against her uninjured foot and looked to see blood beginning to pool in a small puddle underneath her. Slumping her shoulders, she visibly deflated at the sight, all her energy and anger turning into dismay on the spot. "There is a spare key underneath the potted plant on your right..." she began. The words felt like mush as they came out, her mood dripping into them too much for her liking. Pausing for a steadying breath, her voice was firmer when she continued. "Be careful not to set off the tripwire near the doorframe when you come in. You don't want to find out what happens if you do."
Her trained ears picked up the medical-nin muttering 'Tripwire..?'. A few seconds later the mechanisms of her front door lock came undone; her apartment door swinging open with an audible creak of the hinges. Golden sunlight bathed her little apartment in illumination as Iyasu quickly inspected the rest of the apartment's entryway with nervous eyes, before the two locked gazes.
"Thanks Iyasu. I-"
"Pleasantries later." The medical-nin interrupted; bringing his hand up in a gesture to silence her. His apprehension seemed to melt away as he surveyed the scene. Iysau's amber eyes widened with alarm upon seeing the expanding pool of blood. "Sit down on the couch and put your foot up on the table. I'll clean up the blood after we get your foot properly treated." Slightly taken aback by his new sudden forwardness but not wanting to delay any further Anko nodded, hopping over to where she was told. As she did, the living room light turned on and she heard her front door close. "There is a first aid kit under the sink," she called out behind her.
Iyasu successfully avoided the boobytrap, the remaining glass shards littering the kitchen floor, and had the kit in hand by the time Anko had elevated her injured foot. She was a bit surprised that he wasn't wearing the typical uniform of his profession. His attire was that of a civilian with a mess of chocolate brown hair atop his freckled face. Then it dawned on her that he wasn't at the Konoha hospital at this time of day.
"Why aren't you at the hospital right now?" She questioned when he had staunched the bleeding. Iyasu paused assessing her injury, blinking before smiling akwardly. "Did you, uh, forget that the spring festival is ongoing?" His nervousness flickered to the surface before going back to the wound.
Flashes of pink petals danced through the fog in her mind. The festival. All shinobi got at least one day off during the three days of festivities. "N-No I didn't forget," Anko huffed, her white lie out in the open, sinking lower into the cushions in annoyance. "Today has just been a huge pile of shit. I woke up almost puking on myself." How dense was he? Anko thought, Can't he see that I'm having the worst day in existence? She barely noticed the pain when he gingerly pinched the bloodied glass between an index finger and thumb, too preoccupied with rubbing her temples again, her headache back in full force. He sure was lucky his skills were so damn helpful right now because she was seriously contemplating kicking him in the head.
Iyasu was silent, too focused on his task to reply. She lightly winced as the glass came free with trained precision. It was quickly replaced with a steady flood of heat as chakra spread across the wound. She felt the warmth deepen into the middle of her foot and grimaced. The puncture must have been a tad deeper than she thought.
Around twenty minutes later and her foot was expertly wrapped in white bandages. Iyasu even had her apartment cleaned in record time too. She rotated it to-and-fro and wiggled her toes in a slowed-controlled fashion, eyeing Iyasu's handiwork. The said medic was competent; it felt almost as good as new. Anko just wished the rest of her body felt the same way. She didn't know she could feel this exhausted after sleeping until noon. Her limbs still felt like lead and the headache was only becoming manageable thanks to Iysau supplying some pain reliever pills from the first aid kit. She glanced over to where Iyasu was standing, watching her almost clinically. It seemed he took his work very seriously, a trait about him she didn't know until now.
"I really did mean it. Thanks." A hint of a genuine smile graced her lips. Iyasu waved his hand dismissively with a sheepish grin, his eyes darting away from her as he did so, "No need. That is what...friendly neighbors are for." Pausing to find the right words.
Anko's smile disappeared as a tiny pang of guilt blossomed in her chest. She really should have touched base with him more often. She hadn't seen him in a few weeks and when she had, it was usually brief pleasantries or shooting a teasing remark to see him squirm. Her bad habit of not keeping in touch with those around her was rearing its ugly head. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from letting out a heavy sigh. The last thing she needed right now was self-pity.
Seeing her turn somber at his words, Iyasu quickly spoke up. "I-I didn't mean anything by that." He brought his hands up apologetically. "You, uh, look like you did have a terrible morning and, and-.", he nervously stammered, the words tumbling out of his mouth faster than he could think. It dragged her out from her inner storm cloud and Anko was suddenly acutely aware of her own appearance. Wrapping her form deeper into her tan coat, she attempted to fix her hair in vain. "Sorry, that came out wrong!" He frantically waved his hands back in forth. "W-Why don't you, uh, tell me what happened this morning?" Iyasu's voice was weak, and he looked desperate to disappear into thin air, eyes darting everywhere except in her direction. She did not retort, choosing to glare daggers at him instead, sparing him from a verbal lashing. That was his second strike. Couldn't he have at least some sense of tact?
Anko regurgitated the events that had happened to her, deciding on keeping her missing pendant to herself, after all, Iyasu was right. They were just friendly neighbors... acquaintances really. Her personal problems were hers alone. Meanwhile, Iyasu switched between listening intently to shifting in place, glancing at the exit whenever Anko's ire spiked. He did not want to be on the receiving end of her fiery wrath when he was already on such thin ice. When she had finished explaining (ranting) Iyasu composed himself and waited until she seemed visibly calmer to speak.
"Well, you've got all the symptoms of acute veisalgia. Although it could be a number of other things as well, however, given your escapade last night my educated guess would seem to be the most likely."
Anko raised an thin eyebrow at him, her expression laced with just a hint of irritation. "Normal human vocab-." she began only to stop as her eyes widened in realization. "Wait! You know what I was doing last night?!" She stood up swiftly from her spot, her hoarse voice cracking again, pointing an accusatory finger. The bottom of her foot burned from the abrupt weight put onto it and Anko hissed profanities under her breath. Iyasu frowned at her recklessness but kept his vocal protest mute. "In simpler terms, it means you have a hangover." He watched Anko stiffen in response, confusion evident on her face. She'd never had a hangover quite like this before, just how hammered had she gotten?
"You went out for a celebration with your fellow exam proctors last night. I saw your group leaving while I was coming home after a late shift at the hospital," he explained. "I overheard something about celebrating the start of spring and a birthday."
"Oh!" Anko blurted out suddenly, after momentarily fighting through the still-present fog in her mind. "Ibiki's birthday!" Her smile then faded as quickly as it appeared. "I still don't remember anything..." The female ninja slumped back down on the couch, seemingly defeated that her dilemma was not solved immediately. Iyasu's eyes darted to the apartment door in response to her antics. With his job done, he was eager to put this situation behind him and spend the rest of the day not healing a wound or putting his foot in his mouth. Preferably both.
"Your memory should clear up soon and that foot of yours will be fine with some rest. I suggest staying off your feet for the remainder of the day." Iyasu told her, shuffling his way to the door. "Yeah, yeah. I don't need a lecture from someone younger than me." Rolling her eyes, Anko made a swift shooing motion with her hands. She had no intention of following his advice, but he didn't need to know that. Today officially called for at least fifteen orders of that delicious dango from her favorite sweets shop near the Hokage mansion.
The male medical-nin heard a clicking noise from below that didn't seem to come from the door being opened and he looked down to find his foot snagged on the tripwire. In that instant, a puff of white smoke erupted around him and he shouted in surprise. Iyasu accidentally inhaled the smoke as he frantically backpedaled away, coughing and sputtering as he did so. Anko watched, mouth agape in utter disbelief, as her neighbor crumbled into an unconscious heap of limbs mere moments later. Struck speechless with only the sound of the joyful festivities as company, Anko dropped her head into her hands. Why was her day just getting worse and worse?
Iruka Umino was not having the best of days. He would say, with a good measure of confidence, that he was having one of the worst days out of anyone in the village. While others were no doubt enjoying themselves amidst the beautiful weather, he was sweating buckets as he ran and jumped across the rooftops of Konoha's Hokage district, brown ponytail bobbing as he did. Chakra pumped through Iruka's legs and arms as he tried to keep up with the number one hyperactive knucklehead ninja Naruto Uzumaki. Said ninja was currently evading capture as pranksters want to do, and Iruka pivoted right and jumped to an adjacent roof when Naruto made a mad dash to escape sight.
The little rascal had gone and painted over Hokage Rock again as a sign of celebration from graduating from the ninja academy. Of course, Naruto had to pick today of all days with the ongoing celebration to deface Kohona's largest monument for all to see. The dolt had made his loud proclamation, in his usual bravado, of becoming the greatest Hokage who ever lived when Iruka caught him defacing the Fourth Hokage's stone face with a red spiral. Despite the disaster that almost occurred just a few nights prior with Mizuki, Naruto seemed to be back to his old ways in record time. The memory brought a sting to Iruka's back from his still-healing injury, making him grimace. Naruto, conversely, was a bundle yellow and orange in his trademark jumpsuit as he whooped and hollered from his location atop a metal water tank some distance away.
"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto shouted, one of his hands cupped at the side of his mouth. "You can't catch me. Never in a thousand years! I'm a full-fledged ninja now!" The nine-tails jinchūriki laughed in excitement waving a large brush thick with red paint to-and-fro over his head. Iruka stopped to catch his breath, looking up to see the gleaming of Naruto's newly adorned headband, replacing those old pair of green goggles he had worn for years, shining in the afternoon sunlight and couldn't help but to crack a small smile despite his annoyance. "You brat! If you don't get back here this instant, I will be forced to go inform Lord Third about your misdeeds!" Iruka yelled back. He was certain the Hokage was already fully aware of what the fresh genin had done but he knew that Naruto, in all the boy's reckless abandon, did not.
Naruto took a step back from shock, his wide smile turning into an even larger frown. "Gah, not Gramps," he whined childishly. "The last time he got mad I couldn't eat at Ichiraku's for a whole week!"
"I'll personally make sure that it will be for an entire month this time." Naruto heard a stern voice behind him say. A voice that sounded suspiciously just like the current leader of the hidden leaf village. The boy whirled around to find the Third Hokage behind him, remnants of white smoke rising into the air, garbed in the official Hokage attire. Hiruzen Sarutobi had his signature pipe in hand with a look of well-controlled displeasure befitting one of a teacher catching a disobeying student. The Hokage sighed heavily as Naruto started to bawl and beg for forgiveness, clinging to his white robes.
"Gramps please, anything but Ichiraku Ramen. This was the last time. I swear I'll never pull another prank as long as I live!"
Hiruzen briefly wondered how many times he had heard that one before. He had to fight the overwhelming urge to sigh again when Naruto continued with his hysterics. "I-I-I have to have Ichiraku Ramen Gramps, Iruka promised all I could eat for the whole week for graduating and- Ow!"
He reached down and pulled on the boy's ear to get him to stand up, much to Naruto's chagrin. Iruka arrived below them on the roof, stretching his back as he stood a good distance away, giving both a wide berth. He'd properly apologize to the Hokage later for his student's mess. The academy teacher simply smiled a small knowing smile as he listened to Naruto's pleas for mercy. No doubt Naruto was about to get one of the Hokage's famous disciplinary lectures.
"Naruto, listen to me." Hiruzen began, commanding Naruto's attention as he let go, cutting off the boy's grumblings of a sore ear. "You are a ninja of the Hidden Leaf now. You have a duty and responsibility to keep to not only your fellow shinobi but to all the people of this village."
Naruto's cerulean eyes tore away from Hiruzen's own as he looked down at his feet, his words a quiet mumble. "I know, I know..."
Despite his old age, the Sandiame's keen observation skills had not dulled. He took notice that there came no loud retort laced with indignation, no defiant storm raging within those bright blue eyes. This concerned Hiruzen, it was unusual to see Naruto look defeated so quickly, especially in matters pertaining to his future Hokage status. He knew young children were like a sponges, soaking up and retaining experiences. He mused that the ordeal with Mizuki must have stuck with the boy.
"If you know, then I shouldn't have to tell you that part of that duty means not tarnishing the legacies of those that came before us. Those faces are more than just a monument, they represent the collective will and determination of all shinobi of this village since its founding." Hiruzen's outwardly stern expression deepened into a frown, betraying the gnawing guilt he felt looking down at the child who bore such tremendous responsibility and weight. He was the Hokage, the once heralded God of Shinobi, a beacon of strength and pillar of authority throughout the ninja world but he could not give Naruto the one thing he truly needed growing up.
A family.
Hiruzen could only act from afar as to not draw suspicion from the council and villagers, and there were only so many favors he could call in and political capital to expend to ensure Naruto had everything in order to live comfortably. An apartment near the Hokage District but not too close to arouse suspicion. A monthly allowance for the necessities. All funneled through a fund officially named "Hokage Residence renovations" paid by a small portion of the village's property tax, all overseen by the Hokage himself. Naruto needed these things to survive, of course, but none of those relieved the isolation, and the mounting loneliness day after day. Hiruzen knew the boy craved attention, he saw what with Naruto's endless stream of pranks and boisterous bravado. It was, after all, why he had enrolled the boy as Iruka's student. He was almost a spitting image of how Iruka was back at Naruto's age.
He motioned with his pipe for Naruto to look at his own handiwork. "If you want to have yours up there amongst them, the first step will be for you to bear their will, the Will of Fire within your heart and carry it into the future," Naruto did not speak when Hiruzen paused, merely nodding dejectedly. "It also means no more drawing on the Hokage Rock with paint." Hiruzen stated with finality, taking the brush from Naruto's hand without resistance, his voice never wavering as he looked down at the blonde jinchūriki.
"...I understand Gramps." Naruto's voice was barely a whisper as it cut through the long silence that had passed between them. The boy's eyes were still trained squarely on his toes poking out of his blue sandals. "I know that you and Iruka-sensei have it, but everyone in the village is supposed to have it too right?" Hiruzen tightened his grip around his pipe at the way Naruto's voice trembled. It was no secret amongst most of the adults in the village what lay dormant within the young boy and with that knowledge, bred fear and hatred. He had done everything in his power to restrict information about the Kyuubi and Naruto's jinchūriki status, but behind closed doors, the prejudices of the parents had been passed down to their children. "It's just that the others, t-they..." Naruto's voice trailed off, trying valiantly to keep his voice steady. He didn't have to finish for the Hokage to hear what was left unspoken. The Sandiame was now certain the incident with Mizuki had shaken Naruto's resolve. He hated that he could not protect Naruto from the cruel realities of this world. A world that saw only tools and targets to use those tools against.
Naruto felt something land on his head and looked up with wide eyes to find the Hokage's hat placed squarely on his blonde hair, the white shawl draping well past his shoulders and down his back. It was clearly too large for Naruto's small body. A kneeling Hiruzen was in front of him, showing a kind smile that tugged at the elderly man's wrinkles.
"Being Hokage does not mean that everyone will like you. Some may even despise you. However, wearing this means that you must protect everyone regardless. To make the difficult decisions needed for the sake of the village." Naruto simply nodded, dumbfounded. Was he dreaming?
"Congratulations on your graduation." Hiruzen took in the range of emotions that were as clear on Naruto's face as the blue sky above them. "How does it feel?" It took Naruto several moments to process what was happening, his mouth completely agape, but soon after tears formed in the corners of the boy's eyes, and his lower lip quivered.
"I-It's he-heavy." was all Naruto could choke out, the tears now spilling over and down his whiskered cheeks. He brought his forearm up to rub his eyes on his sleeve as sob after sob racked his frame.
The Third took his hat back and placed a comforting weathered hand on Naruto's head. "I know." was all Hurizen said as he looked out over Konoha.
The road that Naruto was just taking his first few steps down was far from an easy one. The Third knew though, that he didn't have to walk down it alone. He hoped the team that he had hand-picked for him, the one that Naruto would find out in one day's time, would show him that. Perhaps if fate allowed, they would be a family of their own in time. For now, he was thankful for a moment of privacy from their perch atop the water tank.
Anko's thin eyebrows scrunched downwards as her eyes scanned over the crumpled note in her hand for what seemed like the hundredth time. After barely surviving the hell that was the beginning of her day, she found the piece of paper while scouring her apartment for her still-missing pendant. It was her first clue and she would track down this lead if she had to tear through every corner of Kohona, festival be damned. She was sitting cross-legged in Ibiki's office at ANBU's headquarters, waiting for the said man to walk through his own door. Anko knew his schedule and that Ibiki was a very diligent worker. The man would not miss a day of work even if he was as hungover as she had been, though she highly doubted that Ibiki would've even got buzzed at his own birthday party. He probably just ordered water like a killjoy. She dryly chuckled to herself at the thought before going back to picking her teeth with an empty wooden dango stick.
Then suddenly the door opened and in stepped Ibiki, his usual black bandana and long dark trench coat in tow and with a tall stack of case files in his arms as company. If he was surprised by her sudden appearance, he didn't show it. "Mitarashi." He greeted flatly. Anko raised her dango stick in silent greeting as she stealthy stuffed the note back into one of her coat's large tan pockets. "Care to tell me why you're showing up here of all places on your day off?" He questioned, towering over her as he walked over to his polished oak desk. As Ibiki passed, he caught wind of the heavy, almost sickly, sweet scent of shampoo and perfume wafting from her presence. It almost made him instinctively curl up his nose. Almost.
"How was your morning?" Anko asked, clearing her throat when her voice cracked every so slightly. Cursing inwardly, she fixed him with a wide smile and hoped he didn't notice.
Ibiki raised a single eyebrow at her evasiveness, placing the tower of files down and taking a seat behind the desk. He regarded her demeanor with concealed suspicion. "I fail to see how that's relevant to you being here. In my office. On your day off." He repeated, his expression unmoving.
Anko's sweet façade dropped at his words. She scowled and huffed unladylike at his refusal to answer, her good foot tapping the sparkling clean wood floor. Ibiki silently relaxed at her visible frustration. This was the Anko Mitarashi that he knew. "We went out last night for your birthday to celebrate, remember?" Anko's tone dripping with obvious displeasure.
Ibiki grunted in acknowledgment as he reached for a case file, flipping through the contents. A missing-nin captured by ANBU who recently escaped prison from a foreign nation. Just perfect. "It was not my idea to go. You all showed up on my doorstep late last night."
Ibiki's comment brought forth flashes of a plain-looking white door and the sound of Genma's voice. It was muffled and distant, Anko couldn't even make out his words. Then it vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.
"Well, we wanted to throw you a party..." She began, trying to move the puzzle pieces of her memory into their correct places. All her memories of the previous night were still clouded, she could not pierce through the fog. Maybe those extra three cups of caffeine-laced tea just to get out the door today wasn't the best idea. "...I think."
"You think?" Ibiki's eyes darted to her over the open folder he had been reading. Anko avoided his gaze, her mouth twisting into a thin line. She didn't answer Ibiki's probe, opting to concentrate on the deft twirling of the bare dango stick between her fingers, sinking lower into the chair's brown leather. He didn't push the topic, content to resume his work analyzing, and a tense quietness settled between them.
It was not uncomfortable as silence always seemed to be a recurring companion for them, with the two of them having worked quite regularly together over the years. The commander of Konoha's Interrogation Force found that Anko was particularly well-versed in coercing uncooperating prisoners. A job she was a bit too enthusiastic about at times. Anko chewed the inside of her cheek unable to take much more of the lingering silence, however she dreaded what she had to say next.
"Look" Anko started, eyes sliding down to stare at the floor. "I'm having trouble remembering last night and I...Ineedyourhelp." She whispered the last part through gritted teeth so quickly Ibiki almost didn't hear it despite his extensive experience as an interrogator. Well, this certainly was not something he was expecting out of the proud kunoichi.
When she dared a glace for his reaction, Anko caught the tiniest of smirks on his chiseled scared face. It was like a weathered slab of stone, impassive and imposing at first but she'd notice the little chips and groves that one could see on closer inspection. She bristled at this particularly aggravating grove, almost splintering the dango stick she was gripping. Her expression darkened from the increasing amounts of embarrassment and annoyance.
"You know what? Never mind, I'll figure it out myself. Go back to reading your torture porn. Clearly, it's more important." Anko fumed, standing up and turning around to stomp out the door.
"Sit down, Mitarashi." Ibiki commanded, now giving her his full attention, putting down the file he had been holding. He had a feeling that if he didn't resolve this now, it'd be sure to give him more grief in the future. "I'll forgive your little outburst just now if you tell me why you're so worked up."
Anko spun on her heels, facing him. Ibiki's face was once again hardened stone. Narrowed caramel eyes bored into his own, lit with brown fire. "Notice anything different?"
He could tell she was in rough shape, despite her best efforts to hide it. She hadn't even tried to get under his skin since he walked in, which must have been a new record. She seemed drained, most likely from one hell of a hangover but Ibiki held his tongue knowing that teasing her right now would be more trouble than it was worth. He'd do it later. However the most glaring oddity was that her usual necklace was nowhere to be seen. "Your necklace is missing." He stated matter-of-factly.
"You're damn right it is." She spat, stomping up to the pristine oak desk. "Today has been shit. My day off has been total fucking shit!"
Anko refused to sit back down, pacing back and forth as she retold the day's events since she had woken up. She didn't care that her bandaged foot burned with each angry step. She was making a damn point and her shin guards clanked with each step in agreement. "And then after all that, I find this in my bedroom!" Anko all but shouted. Ibiki watched as the kunoichi unfurled the crumpled white slip of paper he had seen her reading when he walked in and slammed it down onto his desk. Her ample chest heaved even through the thin metal mesh as she took short angry breaths through her nostrils. Ibiki kept his eyes on the paper as he unlaced his fingers and motioned Anko to take her previous seat. Anko finally obliged, feeling ever so slightly better having vented for over ten minutes straight. Ibiki took the crinkled note, smoothing it out as best he could, and read aloud.
"To whoever owns this apartment. I found you passed out against your apartment door after our chat. I couldn't wake you and you reeked of alcohol. I found the spare key, don't worry I put it back where it was, and put you to bed. I left a glass out for you to have some water when you eventually wake up.
- J."
A long and increasingly unbearable awkward silence hung over the two tokubetsu jōnin. Ibiki read over the note in his mind two more times, in disbelief that did not reach his outward appearance while Anko was attempting to have her head disappear into the folds of her tan overcoat. She was regretting even coming here. This was a horrible idea. Stupid, stupid, stupid Anko.
Then Ibiki suddenly laughed, making her jump slightly in her seat from shock. It was a loud booming sound that drove a burning heat from Anko's bare neck, up her whole face, and to the tips of her ears. "Shut up, Ibiki." When he did not, her glare attempted to freeze the man solid. "I mean it. Shut. The. Hell. Up." her low hissing voice lashing out like dangerous venom-tipped fangs.
Ibiki's laughter relented to a low chuckle. He was far too amused to be perturbed by her threats. "So this is your only lead?"
"I told you can't remember anything!" She angrily snarled through gnashed teeth; her demeanor turning even sourer. Anko expertly twirled her dango stick in her hand and sprung from her seat to bring the pointed wood down on the note with such force that it bore a hole in Ibiki's pristine oak desk, right next to the one-letter signature.
"Tell me. Who the fuck is J?!"
A/N: Don't forget to please leave a review! Thanks.
