A/N: Welcome to another chapter of Road to Heaven. There were some concerns regarding the plot of the story after The Prologue, something I have hoped to remedy here. Kakashi makes an appearance and so does Tsunade. So, plenty to look forward to. I just hope I did justice to their characters.
Chapter 1: You have been Hired
Location: ANBU Headquarters
The figure landed exactly twenty yards from the front gate in keeping with the standard protocol. If he had been even so much as an inch closer, they would have been using his roasted remains as visual aid to teach new cadets what became of hotshots who tried to push the envelope a little too far. Then again he wasn't much for caution. As he walked in he knew, even though his body didn't register any change, that his chakra had been locked. A result of the elaborate fuinjutsu seals that lined the entire compound.
Understandable. It was after the ANBU HQ after all. Konoha's temple for all things related to its intelligence. It was the foundation on which Konoha stood strong, mighty and invincible. Everything from the priorities of missions to details of black-ops and strategic assets were processed here. A brain-child of the Nidaime Hokage, it was now entering its 77th year.
Anyone wanting to cripple Konoha would have to look no further for a target. Removing or even damaging the foundation would lead to its collapse. Sounded really simple right?
It wasn't.
The security around this place would make the one around The Hokage Tower look like Konoha market's on Trader's Day, though in entirely different ways. While the Hokage Tower was a fortress, nigh impregnable, ANBU HQ was more akin to a black-hole. You will get in, but you sure as hell won't be getting out. Not before the guys in the T&I Department were done with you anyway. After which your dead remains will be going to the morgue for incineration of course. The locking of chakra was just the preliminary measure.
It was something he discovered on his own. He had discovered at least a dozen more, he was sure there were hundreds. Sometimes in his free time he tried to frame scenarios where he was the enemy trying to infiltrate the place. None of them ended particularly well for him.
He walked to the first check-point, where he rolled up his sleeves to reveal his ANBU tattoo on his upper left forearm. The leaf symbol on his arm was a simple enough design and could be replicated by anyone with half-a-brain, except it really wasn't just a tattoo. It was his identity card. Each one was unique in its own way and trying to replicate one would not only be futile but incredibly stupid. The man manning the post scanned it once before waving him in. He passed through half a dozen more of these check-points. The entire process took fifteen minutes.
The place was similar to the Konoha mission desk in some ways. The same basic plan. But the difference was like night and day. An apt analogy. While the Konoha mission desk catered mainly to civilian clients, this was where the real action was. Matters related to Konoha's security only. Mission difficulty started from A-ranks and only got higher. Almost everything was classified. Rumor had it that the office of the Hokage itself wasn't in on half of what went on in here. The cool ambience coupled with the grey walls gave the place an oppressive aura contrary to the more friendly mission desk.
This place was Konoha's dark side given shape.
He handed his mission scroll to the man manning the desk, who barely registered its contents, heads of three B-ranked missing-nins. Two from Kusa, and one from Kumo. It had taken him the better part of a month to track and kill them.
The man made some entries into a register. This info would be circulated and used to update the bingo books. It was a cumbersome process but it needed to be done. After collecting his paycheck he proceeded to the lockers. The locker room was attached to the showers, something he really needed.
Most lockers had the personalized touch of their owners. Some made shrines of their loved-ones, others used theirs for keeping secrets from their loved ones. In here you could learn a lot about the men and women behind the masks if you just kept your eyes open. Some even kept photos of celebrities they admired.
His, however was more bare-bones than the others. It wasn't personalized in any way, housing only the bare essentials. A change of civilian clothes and his spare uniform were all it contained at the moment. He removed his mask and was about to reach for the clothes when he felt a familiar presence behind.
"You're losing your touch Kakashi." He observed dryly as he slammed his locker shut and turned around to see the man leaning on the lockers a few yards away from him.
The silver-haired cyclopes casually turned a page of his book as he spoke.
"Or maybe you just got better," he said, "though I have to ask, were you just fishing for compliments?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes, he couldn't believe he walked into that one. He could never get the best of Kakashi in a verbal duel. The man was craftier than a fox and more slippery than a serpent.
"Why are you here?" He settled for asking. While Kakashi hadn't officially been a part of ANBU for years, he was still engaged with them as a consultant, giving him enough reasons to be here. A fact, which never failed to irk him.
"You wound my heart Sasuke-kun," Kakashi said, still leafing through his book, "and here I was thinking you would have missed your old-sensei."
Sasuke had to admit, grudgingly even to himself, the man was a master at pissing people off. A talent which he suspected served the man rather well in the battlefield. He bet his opponents were too pissed and annoyed at him to be thinking clearly while facing him. The reason why Kakashi was still here and his opponents were not. His own irritation was so great that he barely registered that the man had used his real name a fact which went strictly against protocol.
"One of these days I am going to slit your throat in your sleep." He threatened.
"I'd be worried if you knew where I slept," Kakashi remarked, "as for why I am here? I am here to offer you a job."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"I already have a job."
"I'm offering you a better one." Kakashi shut his book and tossed him a scroll, which he caught.
Despite himself Sasuke opened the scroll, burning with curiosity. A quick look through it and he shut the scroll to toss it right back at his former sensei.
"Not interested." He said curtly.
"Why not?"
"I work alone. Teams aren't my thing." Part of the reason he took this job was the liberty it allowed him, and it would be a cold day in hell before he gave that up.
"Hmm… anything else?" Kakashi asked him, concern lacing his voice, which could easily be mistaken as genuine, but Sasuke knew better. However he had been given an opening and he would exploit the shit out of it.
"Gee, I don't know. It couldn't be because of the fact that you're demoting me to chunin, or the fact that you'd be leading it. Couldn't possibly be either of those could it?" He tried to lace as much sarcasm as he possibly could.
Kakashi chuckled as if enjoying the antics of a misbehaving puppy.
"It's cute how you seem to be under the delusion that you have a choice." Kakashi said.
"You seemed to have overlooked the fact that you're not my superior Kakashi." Sasuke smirked, "I answer to the ANBU Director, I doubt he would be keen to let me go."
Kakashi said nothing for a while and seemed to sigh with defeat, and Sasuke's smirk got wider, having finally got one over Kakashi. He turned around to walk away and only his reflexes stopped the projectile from hitting his face. He was puzzled. Kakashi wasn't petty enough to throw stuff out of tantrums. He studied the projectile closely and realized it was another scroll.
His stomach dropped. It had the official seal of the ANBU Director which could only mean one thing.
"Is it…"
"Your relieving letter?" Kakashi chirped cheerfully, "Yes, it is. The ANBU thanks you for your services."
Sasuke couldn't believe this was happening. He had nightmares which started like this. Maybe this was one too. Any moment now he would wake up and forget about all this.
"You're not dreaming Sasuke-kun." Kakashi said, his words barely being registered through the haze of Sasuke's shock. "Training ground 7, Friday, 9 AM sharp. See you then."
Kakashi walked away from Sasuke giving the boy time to process his fate.
"One down." He said to himself, "three to go."
Location:- Konoha General Hospital.
"So, I told her if it bothered her so much she should just avoid her you know." The elderly woman said, "I mean if she spent a fraction of the time bothering me telling her how she exactly felt about her, she wouldn't be in this mess now would she? You know what I mean?"
"As a matter of fact I do, Risu-san." Sakura said smiling indulgently at the woman, while checking her blood pressure. Her current patient was a lady well into her sixties. She wasn't exactly a patient. She was just here for her weekly health check-up. For some reason she always requested Sakura.
Konoha had a program where shinobi medics were required to volunteer in a civilian hospital for a preset number of hours. The idea was to establish a camaraderie not only between the shinobi medics and their civilian counterparts but also the general populace. Most of the medics she knew treated their hours with the enthusiasm of five-year olds faced with the possibility of eating their greens without the added advantage of knowing that it was good for them.
For Sakura however the mundane everyday problems of the civilian populace made for a welcome change after the life and death situations she dealt with in the field.
"You know Tsukune will be here next month, so maybe you could show him around you know,"the woman continued the lop-sided conversation, "he really doesn't know anyone here."
Sakura sighed patiently. Tsukune was Risu's grandson. She was the woman's favorite topic of conversation along with her neighbors and her youngest daughter-in-law. He was a businessman who owned several casinos in the town of Tanzaku-gai as Risu often bragged. Ever since striking a friendship with Sakura she had gotten taken with the idea of setting her up with him and always seemed to be working towards that goal 'not so subtly'.
"I might not be in Konoha then," Sakura said gently trying to sway the woman from her current line of thinking, "you know how the system goes."
"Yes, yes I know." The woman said dismissively, waving her hand, while Sakura helped the woman to her feet and into her coat, she had taken off at the start of her check-up, "I don't know how a nice, pretty girl like you can throw in your lot with those barbarians."
Sakura laughed the woman's concerns away, not taking offence to the woman's words or correcting her perception about said 'demons' and how she happened to be one of them.
"Everything looks good Risu-san." Sakura told her patient, "I will have Saburo send over your full report by tomorrow."
The woman went her way, extolling the virtues of garlic which she credited to her good health, while Sakura went to the office of the Senior Medical Officer to take her next case.
"Well, that's it for the day Sakura-san," he told her, "It's been a rather slow day. By the way there is someone here waiting for you, says you are late for an appointment."
Sakura grimaced. She had hoped that she would receive a pass today. Apparently, no such luck for her. She wasn't looking forward to this. She could always skip, but that would be just avoiding the problem for now in return for escalating it later.
Her choice was made.
"I guess I will be leaving then," she told him and getting a nod of sympathy in return at her predicament, even though he wasn't quite sure what it was.
"Take your time," he called after her. "Take the rest of the day off, if you have to."
"Thanks."
Sakura discarded her hospital gown and changed into her uniform before exiting the hospital premises to rendezvous with her escort and was surprised to see her best friend.
"Well well look who's finally here," Ino said, her tone laced with amusement, seeing her friend in disarray, "hope you have a handy excuse, 'cause he wasn't happy."
The old Sakura would have gone on the offensive or made up some excuse, these days however, avoiding conflict was becoming something of a habit.
"He sent you to drag me to him?" Sakura said a little skeptically.
"Oh no dear, I volunteered." Ino said unashamedly, "Now let's get you there shall we?"
"You seem to garner a lot of pleasure from my misery." Sakura complained as she walked next to her friend trying to prepare herself for what was to come next.
"You brought it on yourself." Ino countered, "You missed your last two appointments forehead."
Sakura barely registered her hated nickname, as her mind wandered to the reasons she was summoned. If she had, she would have caught the concern in her friend's voice. But right now she was just walking resolutely forward, wanting it to be over.
"Look I know it has been hard, but he's just trying to help," Ino told her, "so cut him some slack will you?"
"I'll try," Sakura said trying not to commit, "you know you don't need to escort me all the way there."
"Hey I'm just following orders? But I will make it up to you." Ino said unashamedly before changing tracks, "How about a girl's night out? I'll see if Hinata and Tenten are free and we can all go out."
Sakura bit her lip, not quite sure if she wanted to and to make matters worse she really didn't know how to refuse her friend either.
"Come on Thursdays are Lady's Night at the Blue-bar." Ino kept trying to convince her.
"Fine," she finally conceded, earning a whoop of celebration from Ino. Sakura couldn't help smiling. Ino's enthusiasm was infectious.
Her good mood however plummeted a few notches, when she realized that they were finally where they needed to be.
The building they were at wasn't large or imposing by any means. It was a single-floor, white structure with a cobbled pathway leading to the front door surrounded by a plush green lawn, giving it a rather pleasant aura. It was the most intimidating place in Konoha as far as Sakura was concerned. It didn't help that it stood right next to the building that housed the Konoha Torture and Interrogation Department.
"Well this is it," Ino squeezed her arm once offering comfort, "good luck."
Taking a deep breath to steel herself Sakura walked towards the building like a convict walking to their execution. The receptionist guided her to his office, whose mahogany doors were shut at the moment. Without pausing she rattled the gold plated knocker announcing her arrival.
"Enter." Came the command from inside.
On entering the first thing that greeted her was a pleasant smell, one she couldn't quite place. It was distinctively floral, but unlike any she had ever encountered. The rest of the room looked familiar. Painted light yellow, with a medium-sized desk and a few chairs. Sheaves of files and paper occupied the lone table in a state of controlled mess. In addition there was a couch placed near the right side wall of the room. The man was the last thing that entered Sakura's line of vision. He seemed to be working on a plant. Wearing gloves, the kind gardeners wore, and diligently snapping twigs off the plant with a pair of shears.
"Take a seat Sakura-chan," The man said without bothering to turn around, "I'll be with you in a second."
Sakura patiently waited for the man to finish his work. She didn't have to wait long fortunately. Snapping his gloves off with a pleased grin, and removing his goggles he smiled at her and waved his arm towards the plant.
"So what do you think?" He asked her with the air of an artist revealing his masterpiece to the world.
Sakura blinked in confusion for a couple of times before realizing he was asking for her opinion about the plant. Recovering, she studied it for a few seconds before feeling confident enough to give an opinion.
"It definitely looks healthy enough," Sakura ventured, "but I must admit I've never seen flowers like that. What is it?"
"I haven't named it yet," he said, pride evident in his voice, "it has a very pleasant fragrance doesn't it?"
Sakura was impressed despite herself. Breeding a new species was a time-consuming work requiring a lot of patience and dedication.
"It's beautiful." She murmured.
"Yes it is," The man agreed, "but unfortunately we must now turn our attention to less pleasant subjects."
Sakura grimaced, waiting to be given a dressing down. Inoichi Yamanaka, her counselor also happened to be the father of her best friend. He had seen her grow up and he had been a part of a lot of her pleasant memories. That didn't make any of this easier though. He had taken a personal interest in her case. Something which would have been frowned upon because of his personal history with her, but he had made it happen.
She still wasn't sure if she should be grateful for his consideration or insulted at his coddling.
"Why did you miss your last two sessions?" He asked her, taking his seat on the opposite side of the table facing her.
"I've been swamped at the hospital," came her automatic reply.
Inoichi smiled at her and not with disapproval or condescension.
"So you've kept yourself busy?" he said, "that's good thing. You've been productive despite your ordeals when it would've been so much easier to retreat within yourself."
"Yeah well if I'm busy I'm not dwelling." Sakura shrugged. She didn't want approval for this. She didn't deserve it.
Inoichi paused, evidently waiting for her to elaborate, but she kept her silent.
"You moved out of your house a couple of years ago," he said after a while, "what made you take that decision?"
That wasn't a hard question to answer. "I'd been a chunin for several months by then, my hours were inconvenient to say the least, it just felt like the right time."
"Has that affected your relationship with your parents?"
"Mother took it hard at the beginning, but she was supportive."
"And your father?"
"… No, it didn't change anything."
"What about your relationships outside your family?"
"I have drifted away from most of my Academy friends except Ino, though we are still cordial with each other when we meet up."
The series of questions and answers continued for a while. Sakura had begun to relax when Inoichi finally closed on a topic which was a potential minefield.
"You were in a relationship I believe."
Sakura paused as she pondered over what she would say next. She had indeed been in a serious relationship. She had dated a civilian for almost a year after becoming a chunin. He had been the son of one of her mother's friends. She had met him at a party, and one thing had led to another. He was handsome, charming and sweet and unlike most civilian guys wasn't intimidated by her job and status as a kunoichi. So when he had asked her to be his girlfriend, she had accepted. The first few months had been great. He was supportive and seemed to take pride in the fact that he was dating a kunoichi. But inevitably her job started to take a toll on their relationship. Her newly acquired rank and status as a medic kept her busy in the field for almost three-quarters of a month. It was getting harder and harder for them to take time out for each other.
But they had been determined to make it work and tried hard to keep at it. Her last field mission had served as the final nail in the coffin however.
"It wasn't working out," she tried to be nonchalant about it, but talking about it was still like getting stabbed through her heart, "we couldn't make time for each other."
"You broke up after you returned from your last mission, and you haven't been in the field for almost three months now," Inoichi said, "so, would you want to talk about the real reason?"
Sakura remained silent this time. Resolutely so.
"You need to talk about what happened to you sometime Sakura," Inoichi sighed, not put-off by the girl's defiance, "keeping these things bottled up is unhealthy."
"I just don't feel ready." Sakura muttered, breaking eye-contact with the man.
Inoichi remained silent for a while, before tearing a paper from his pad and scribbling something on it and handing it to her. Sakura realized it was an address. She looked up at him questioningly.
"This is the last session you will have with me Sakura," Inoichi said, "I'm clearing you for active duty."
Sakura was shocked. This was the last thing she expected. Technically a shinobi could be cleared three months after having survived a 'traumatic' mission, but she hadn't expected it. Getting back on the field wasn't something she had been dreading but it wasn't something she felt she was ready for either.
"Just like that?" She asked thoroughly puzzled.
"You have your issues Sakura," He elaborated, "but if our sessions have told me something its that I can't be the one to help you. Only you can do that."
"Are you angry with me?"
"Just the opposite. I know exactly what you are going through," he said gesturing towards the piece of paper he had just handed her, "when you have the time go to that address any Friday, 5PM."
"I don't have to go if I don't want to?"
"I wish you would," Inoichi admitted, "but no, its completely voluntary."
Sakura stared at the paper for a while before pocketing it.
Sakura left Inoichi feeling rather weird. She hadn't been expecting that. Feeling a little dazed she made her way to her apartment. She was barely halfway there, when a messenger chunin intercepted her, handing her a scroll. The scroll carried summons from the Hokage herself. This day just got a lot more eventful than she thought it would be when she woke up this morning.
Thanking the messenger she changed her course to the Hokage tower.
The receptionist at the front-desk took one look at her and waved her in, leaving her mystified as there were several others who were seated in the waiting room to meet the Hokage. Two of the men she recognized as prominent merchants who had dealings with her family and one looked like an official from the Daimyo's court.
Suddenly a cold ball of dread took shape in her abdomen. Why had she been summoned? She was a mere chunin. Someone way down the totem-pole to be even considered being granted an audience. Let alone being a priority over actual important people. She had seen the Hokage only twice. Both times it was during guest lectures that she gave to aspiring medic-nins in the program. One was a theoretical lecture on the effect of various toxins on the cell membranes of various tissues. The other was a practical class where she demonstrated an extremely risky procedure involving the use of healing chakra through one's own blood. Something she had tried in her last ill-fated mission.
The Anbu stationed at the door opened it to allow her in. She muttered a thanks as she walked in wondering what exactly she was walking into.
The first thing that came to mind when she entered the Hokage's office was that it had one hell of a view. The right window opened out to give an excellent view of the Hokage Mountain, while the left gave a panoramic view of the entire village. The room itself was simple enough, though rather tastefully furnished. Then her eyes fell on the lone occupant of the room.
Tsunade Senju was a beautiful woman in her fifties who didn't look a day over twenty-five. But that was just the physical aspect. She was also one of the most feared ninjas of the era, the greatest medic-nin bar none with a pedigree matched only by the now nearly extinct Uchiha. In her relatively short reign as the Hokage she had proved herself to be a shrewd and effective administrator.
Sakura stood there awkwardly staring at the great woman, who seemed to be engrossed in the paperwork in front of her, not even registering the additional presence in the room. Feeling she should do something, Sakura bowed from her waist.
"Chunin Haruno Sakura reporting Hokage-sama."
The woman's eyes peered over the folder she had been reading to meet Sakura's. Sakura resisted the urge to gulp, and fought her shaking knees. It might have only been three seconds before she spoke, but to Sakura it felt closer to three hours.
"Take a seat Haruno-san."
Sakura obeyed trying to keep her movements smooth and graceful, something she failed at as she almost knocked over a pile of files off the table. Her reflexes saved her from a greater embarrassment. Mumbling a quick apology to her leader, who ignored it altogether, she finally settled herself.
"I was just going through your file," She said, indicating the folder she had been reading, "it makes for rather interesting reading material I must say. There is a lot to like here."
Sakura remained silent as the Hokage continued to talk.
"Excellent grades in the academy, graduated with honors as the top kunoichi at age twelve. Disciplined, focused and driven, with a keen intellect and imagination. Works well with others and shows potential as a leader," Tsunade continued, "very impressive indeed."
Praise from the Hokage should have been a matter of joy and pride for her, but she had a feeling this meeting wasn't a pat in the back for doing a good job.
"And it gets better, participated in your first chunin exams six months after graduating on the recommendation of your jounin-sensei and made it to the final round, eventually earning a field promotion a few months later after which you joined the medical program, where again you distinguished yourself as the brightest candidate, completing the four year course in two and a half. I can go on and on. All your superiors have written you glowing commendations and have nothing but praise for you."
Sakura could sense a 'but' coming.
"So.." Well close enough, "Why are you wasting your time?"
Sakura had walked in expecting to be reprimanded. She wasn't sure for what but she was expecting it. But for her to be on the receiving end of one because of her achievements wasn't something she knew how to respond to.
"I…. I'm afraid I don't understand Hokage-sama," she stuttered.
"I read your file, up to and including your last field mission." She said then she held up another file, she recognized it as one of those written by Inoichi containing the psychological evaluation of the shinobi returning from field duty, "There is only one thing I would like to say to you, get over your pity party kid."
Sakura's jaw almost dropped to the floor, but Tsunade was on a roll now.
"You're not the first to lose their team on the field and you won't be the last, hell this might not be the last time 'you' lose a team. This is the world we live in, and I'm not going to coddle you and hold your hand to say everything will be alright. You're a kunoichi for kami's sake, and I won't have you playing nursemaid to a bunch of civilian grandmothers." She paused to take a breath, "Cause if that's what you are going to do, I swear I will kick you off the force myself. So I'll ask you, is that what you want?"
A bubble of rage expanded within Sakura. For the first time in a long time, she could feel her blood pounding again with adrenaline. She wanted to rant and rave at the woman, though the saner and more rational part of her head told her that the actions she was contemplating could be treated as insubordination at best and treason at worst.
Clenching her fist in her palms she managed to calm down and answered in a relatively steady voice.
"No, Hokage-sama."
"Good," Tsunade clapped her hands once, "in that case, you are being reassigned. You'll meet your new jounin leader three days from now at the Training Ground 7. I don't care what you need to do to get your shit back together, get drunk, laid or whatever it is that you kids do these days to clean your systems, I want you mission ready. Any questions?"
The rather blue language of the Hokage aside she did have questions. She had a lot of questions as a matter of fact. But she also had the feeling they wouldn't be appreciated at the moment.
"No Hokage-sama." She settled for saying with as much defiance she could pack in her voice. Just for a fraction of a second she could see a hint of approval, in the Hokage's gaze, but it was gone as soon as it came.
"In that case you're dismissed."
"So, there I did your job for you." Tsunade said to the seemingly empty room once the chunin had left.
From the shadows emerged a tall, masked, gray-haired man with his head band covering his right-eye, casually leafing through a book in his hands. She really wished he had the courtesy to not read it in her presence at the very least, but it was one quirk she had tried to overlook considering what she was putting him through, not to mention Kakashi was the best shinobi in the service and had earned that much.
"The girl has fire and I can see why you'd want her," the jounin admitted pocketing the book, "Though I must admit that was kinda harsh even for you."
"She'll get over it." Tsunade waved off his concerns nonchalantly, "Don't you have somewhere to be right now?"
"Hmmm… I guess I do." The man said, "If you'll excuse me."
"And Kakashi." She called out to the back of the exiting jounin as she went back to her paperwork, "Don't be late."
Location: Konoha Mission Centre
Naruto patiently waited his turn in the queue to submit his mission report and more importantly collect his paycheck. Even though, the correct term should have been wages if he was being honest. The mission was nothing more than household chore undertaken for the civilian populace and in some cases the shinobi ones too. A shinobi of his age should have found the work degrading and genin his age were generally looked down upon by their more 'successful' compatriots.
But he didn't mind. Work was work and money was money. After all pride never paid bills nor did it put food on the table. He had no family and few acquaintances so in his opinion he did just fine. He didn't mind the work either. It was honest work and gave him a chance to be productive. His work had gained him some popularity with the clients too. Popularity though probably was not the right word. But he was definitely sought after. On a good day he could complete three missions.
So he ignored the borderline condescending looks he received from the rest of the shinobi in line. Most of them were directed his way by the Jounin who were escorting their wards after a day of missions. The new genin usually kept to themselves still soaking in the novelty of finally being given the right to be called shinobi. There older ones stood there sulking about the D-ranked missions. But most of them were just too happy to be part of something bigger. Still untouched by the cruelty of their world.
When his turn finally came, he was pleasantly surprised to see a familiar and friendly face at the mission desk.
"Hey Naruto," The scarred but smiling face of Iruka greeted him, "long time no see."
"I'll say." Naruto returned the grin, "You got fired from the academy or something sensei? I knew they would wear you down eventually."
"As if!" Iruka snorted, "After having dealt with you for so long, I have gained the resilience and patience of a mountain. You know what they say…. What doesn't kill you!"
Iruka and Naruto went back some way. During his Academy days, Iruka had been his teacher and some might even say a mentor. One of the few people who took an active interest in his well-being. Kami knew he wasn't an easy brat to care for. He had been a devil during his younger days. His pranks kept most of the chunin forces on their toes, Iruka included. It was funny how they became friends. It started out as intense dislike.
Iruka had hated his disruptive behavior during the classes, and Naruto resented the man for being the only one to catch him and for sabotaging his pranks. It soon became a contest. A test of wills. Neither willing to break before the other. Before long the intense dislike turned to grudging respect which turned to actual respect…and the rest as they say is history.
"Yeah yeah," Naruto conceded, "But seriously. Why are you here?"
"Survival training." Came the reply.
"Ah! Ran?"
"Nope. Suzume."
"That explains it."
Ever since its inception the Academy held mock survival training sessions in and around the training grounds surrounding the village. It was led by the chunin instructors. It could last anywhere between a few days to a couple of weeks. Naruto remembered these times somewhat more fondly than the others. It also explained Iruka's presence here. With no classes to teach he had been assigned to the mission desk. Though Naruto knew it was more likely that he volunteered.
"Hey! People are waiting here," shouted one of the disgruntled chunin in the queue.
"Hold your horses will you?" Iruka shouted back, before shooting Naruto an apologetic look. Taking this as his cue, Naruto handed over his mission reports.
"We should catch up sometime." Iruka continued handing Naruto his paycheck.
"Yeah we should," Naruto agreed, "Can't wait to tell you all about the excitement my last mission entailed when I stubbed my toe while painting a fence. Speaking of which you wouldn't happen to have any C-ranks for me would you?"
"You know you need a full genin team…."
"… And a jounin instructor… yeah I know. I had to try."
Iruka must have picked up on his dejection despite his attempts to hide it and his next words confirmed it.
"Tell you what. Why don't you meet me for lunch tomorrow? That will give you the chance to brag about the Chunin exams you participated in."
"I don't know…." Naruto muttered noncommittally.
"I'll be buying."
"Ichiraku's at one?"
"Fine. Now get out of here brat, before you start a riot at the queue."
Naruto laughed good naturedly as he walked out of the room, feeling better than he did when he walked in.
"Sempai!" A female voice came from somewhere behind him. Naruto paid it little mind. He wanted to get home, fix some dinner and go to sleep. Maybe he should make a trip to Ichiraku's. He hadn't seen Teuchi and Ayame in a while.
"Sempai!"
But then again he would be having lunch there tomorrow. So seeing his friends could wait. But he was really craving ramen right now.
"Sempai!" The voice called out again. This time a lot closer than before. Now Naruto was beginning to get annoyed at this nameless 'sempai' ignoring this girl. But before he could turn around and arm wrapped itself around his own and turned him around to come face to face with a familiar face.
"Miyuki?" He exclaimed on seeing the girl who for the last thirty seconds had been trying to get his attention.
"Hey!" The girl's face was flushed. "I thought you were ignoring me."
"Yeah sorry about that," Naruto apologized running his hand through his hair. "I just wasn't expecting anyone I knew that's all."
As far as surprises went, this was a somewhat pleasant one. A few months ago in the Chunin exams held in Iwa, Naruto had been asked to be a part of her team to replace a teammate who had somehow managed to break his ass during a D-ranked mission. Naruto still wasn't sure if it was funny that someone got hurt during a D-ranked or tragic because it happened more often than one would imagine. But he had bonded with the girl during the exams and she had picked up a mild case of hero-worship for him.
"We just came back from a C-rank," she said once the initial pleasantries had been exchanged, "sensei and the guys are at the mission desk submitting the report."
"That's great," Naruto fought down a pang of jealousy at her words, "so are you guys participating in the next exams?"
Miyuki shook her head, "Sensei thinks we should gain some more experience and skills before we attempt again, seeing how the last one went… if you hadn't been there we would've been dead for sure."
Naruto nodded. It was true. He did save their lives. But they believed that he saved them from a team of Iwa ANBU.
That wasn't exactly true. They were being hunted, but it wasn't by a team of ANBU. There was only one in the team that attacked them. The rest were more than likely just your run of the mill chunin. Which was a good thing otherwise things might have gotten a little hairy. They had underestimated him, which factored in him dispatching them fairly easily.
But he really didn't mind her thinking that. After all what is an exaggerated tale or two without a couple of embellishments?
"There you are," a male voice interrupted their conversation, "we wondered where you'd gone… Hey Naruto."
Naruto recognized the new arrival as Katashi, the other member of his temporary team. He raised a hand acknowledging him. Katashi walked up to them holding what looked like a paycheck.
"I did ask to be excused," Miyuki scowled, obviously annoyed at being interrupted.
"I just came to hand you your check," Katashi defended himself, a little nonplussed at hostility emanating from the girl, "also sensei is treating us to dinner, would you like to join us?"
The question was obviously meant for Naruto and the boy was obviously being polite. Naruto was about to refuse.
"Do join us sempai," Miyuke chimed in, "I'm sure sensei would like to speak with you too."
Well that changed things. On the one hand Naruto was sure while their sensei probably would like to talk to him. The jounin had after all enlisted him to allow his team to participate in the exams. They probably won't appreciate doing that in front of their genin. Definitely not while he would be mooching off of them in a team gathering.
Still…. It was a free meal, and Naruto felt he deserved a meal at the very least for his troubles . He was about to open his mouth to accept, when there was another interruption, this time by a jounin.
And not just any jounin.
Most people in Konoha would say he was 'The' jounin.
"Maa maa Miyuki-san, I would beg you to consider postponing your dinner plans with Naruto-kun," The jounin addressed the genin, "I'm afraid I've to borrow him with regards to a matter of some urgency. You don't mind do you?"
The sudden unexpected arrival of the jounin had left the younger genin tongue-tied. Naruto didn't blame them. Even by the standards of jounin the man's appearance was unsettling. And despite the polite tenor of his voice and words, it was obvious he wasn't asking for permission.
"Um…"
"Excellent," he said as if the matter was settled, "shall we?" He addressed Naruto.
Naruto sighed helplessly. "Sorry guys, guess I'll have to take a rain-check on that dinner. Maybe next time."
Naruto followed the man outside the mission centre and soon fell into a step beside him. Soon the two of them were traversing through the Konoha market. It was a Wednesday. The traders sold their wares at reduced prices compared to the rest of the week. So it was a busier than usual.
"You know you just cost me a free meal right?" Naruto said, more than a little annoyed at the jounin.
"Technically ,free meals don't cost anything," came the witty reply.
"Yeah… I'm out of here." Naruto said, turning to walk away.
"Maa maa that was just a joke Naruto-kun," the man said placating the blonde genin, "but I've to ask, aren't you curious as to why I sought you out?"
Naruto was curious alright, extremely so as a matter of fact. But he also knew conversations like this were like a game of poker, and they held stakes. His curiosity versus whatever purpose the man needed him for. His ignorance of the said purpose was both a strength and a weakness. On the one hand whatever Kakashi had to say could definitely of use to him, on the other hand it could also lead to a situation he wouldn't be able to walk out of if he didn't do it now.
"Does it have something to do with my next meal?" Naruto quipped.
"…"
"Thought so." Naruto continued on his way. "I wish you a good night."
Naruto was feeling rather pleased with himself, before the jounin brought him crashing down.
"I could always order you to follow me." The man said in his trademark lazy drawl.
Naruto froze in his tracks. He hadn't thought of that. The jounin could indeed do that. He probably knew this might happen. Judging from his smug smile(not that he could see it behind his mask. The crinkling of his lone visible eye was indication enough though) he probably wanted it to happen.
"You wouldn't," Naruto tried to salvage some pride, but it was obvious he was only making things worse. The man however continued to regard him with his benign gaze, not bothering to even reply. Naruto sighed in defeat, before once again falling in a step besides the man. You don't challenge a royal flush to a show of hands with a lousy pair after all. Gotta know when to fold them after all.
"So where are we going?"
"Well it is time for dinner, I was hoping you could join me."
"…"
Naruto couldn't recall wanting to punch a man more in his life.
To say he was impressed would be an understatement. The man might be an A-grade jerk but he certainly wasn't a cheapskate. The restaurant he had been led to was one of those expensive posh types. Neon-blue lights lit up the entrance. Judging by the way the uniformed escort greeted Kakashi it was obvious that he was a regular here. Considering how he was able to simply jump the queue outside, he must be one the patrons.
A dark haired pretty woman probably in her twenties dressed in a blue flower-patterned kimono led them to a table near the back-end of the restaurant. Once they were seated Kakashi placed his order, before gazing at Naruto to do the same. Naruto was hoping to get some ramen. But he needed to get some payback on the man who had dragged him here. So he ordered three of the most expensive dishes on the menu. If it bothered the jounin, he didn't show it.
The server left but not before placing a bottle of warm sake on the table. The jounin poured some out in a saucer and offered it to Naruto before pouring some out for himself.
"May the will of fire burn brightly in you." The man raised his saucer, toasting Naruto.
"And may it have ignited a hundred more before going out," Naruto finished the ritual, before throwing the drink down his throat. He winced at the burn of the alcohol as it went down. It was strong stuff. He wasn't a great drinker and wasn't particularly fond of the drink either. But he endured. Somewhere in the back of his mind he wondered how on earth did the jounin drink it without removing his mask? He must have missed it. His saucer was empty, and he was now pouring a second round.
"You aren't going to kill me are you?" Naruto queried.
"No. Why would I want to kill you?"
"I don't know. What would an elite jounin want with a washed-out genin?"
"Touche."
"So, back to my original question. What do you want Hatake-san?" Naruto was through playing games, he simply folded his hands in front of his face and studied the man.
"Hmmm… So I'm assuming you do know me."
Yes, Naruto knew the man. Even among the jounin the man was an elite. The cream of the crop so to speak. A hero in the last war, his exploits during and after the war had made him a legend. Though not yet thirty the man had survived through everything a shinobi possibly could and more. There was a legend that the man once cut through a bolt of lightning with his jutsu. Rumor had it that he was being considered for the post of Hokage after the demise of the Sandaime, before it finally went to Tsunade Senju.
"Only by reputation."
Kakashi inclined his head in acknowledgement of Naruto's unsaid praise.
"What do you know of Team-Seven Naruto-kun?" He asked.
There was a pause in the conversation as their server appeared with their food. Once she left, with a hasty 'Itidakimasu' Naruto dug in with gusto. He was hungry, and Kakashi was paying. It was no ramen, but it sure as hell was close. So for the next few minutes the conversation was halted as he inhaled his food. If Kakashi was offended by his table manners, he didn't show it.
"No more than anyone else." Naruto said modestly between bites, actually he knew more than most people, being something of a fanboy when it came to the Kage of the leaf. It was the one aspect of his theoretical education he excelled at, going above and beyond the standard textbooks provided at the Academy. "I know it used to be the single greatest shinobi unit in Konoha. They were known to enforce the will of the Hokage under his/her direct authority, and also produced future candidates. Loved by their people and feared everywhere else."
"Right you are." Kakashi said, sounding pleased, "since the time of Nidaime-sama, Team-Seven has served as the arm of the Hokage. As you no doubt know, the Sandaime, Yondaime and even the Godaime have been products of this team."
Despite not quite sure where Kakashi was going with this, Naruto found himself enjoying the conversation. The place had a nice ambience, the food was heavenly, and he was listening to stories of legends by arguably the greatest living shinobi in Konoha. There were worse ways to spend an evening.
"Over time, however this institution collapsed." The jounin continued, "The last Team-Seven was disbanded over fifteen years ago."
"Why was that?" Naruto couldn't help asking.
"I'm sure it wasn't over anything important," Kakashi said nonchalantly.
"I don't know, sounds pretty important to me."
"The point is," Kakashi kept talking ignoring Naruto's query, "The Hokage believes it is time Team-Seven was reinstated. This time under me."
That was all very interesting, Naruto had to admit, he just wasn't sure why he was being told this.
"Is that why you threw this…party?" Naruto spread his arms indicating the impressive spread of food remaining on the table. "I'm sure congratulating you would be the right sentiment, but I must confess I feel rather sorry for you, if I'm the only one you had in your guest-list."
"I'm afraid you misunderstand me Uzumaki-san." Kakashi said. "This dinner isn't celebratory, its business."
Now Naruto never considered himself among the brightest Konoha had to offer. His current rank and station were the perfect indicators of that. But street-smarts were something he prided himself on. The smarts he had earned from the school of hard-knocks. Those instincts of his were now working overtime as he pieced everything together.
"That's right Uzumaki-san," Kakashi said correctly interpreting the look of dawning comprehension on Naruto's face, "I'm here to recruit you."
The piece of unagi between the two chopsticks didn't seem to make its way to his mouth. He replaced the chopsticks back on his plate, as he stared hard at Kakashi, all cheerfulness gone.
"Is this a joke?" He demanded.
"I assure you I have never been more serious." Kakashi assured him, his tone graver than it had been all night.
"Why on earth would you want a genin-washout in a team which has been known to churn out legends?" Naruto remarked,"If these are the standards we're setting I'd be really worried for Konoha."
"You seem to have a remarkably low opinion of your skills," Kakashi countered, "And of me as well if you think I didn't do my homework on you. You were after all Jiraiya's apprentice."
Naruto held the gaze of Kakashi's lone eye, ignoring the stab of pain in his heart at the mention of his old sensei's name and focusing on the implications of the words. Only one other knew of his association with the now dead sannin and Kakashi coming here meant he was in their confidence. But he chose to hold his silence for now, letting the man speak.
"During his years of travel, Jiraiya had managed to create the most sophisticated information-network the elemental nations has ever seen," Kakashi said, "A network which served Konoha well, while he was alive. A network which now lies dormant."
"So that's why you want me?"
"You're the only one alive who knows how it operates."
That confirmed it. A big game was afoot here and the stakes were high. The network Jiraiya had painstakingly created was totally independent of the 'official' Konoha network. The sheer complexity and intricacy of the thing was an art in itself.
He had hoped it would never be needed.
"Believe it or not, in some ways you'll be the most important part of this team," Kakashi said gravely, "it's not a bad gig. You'll formally be a part of a team, running high-ranked mission not to mention a chance to rise through the ranks."
Naruto could hardly believe what he was hearing. Barely an hour ago he was lamenting his luck for being unable to go on higher ranked missions and now he was being asked to be a part of the greatest one eve.
Well potentially anyway. There were concerns... a lot of them in fact, but at the moment he couldn't bring himself to care. He was about to be part of a team. That was all that mattered.
"In that case." Naruto closed his eyes, when he opened the again, they were shining with their usual mirth, "How can I refuse? So when do I meet the rest of the team?"
"Actually the team isn't complete yet." Kakashi's tone reverted back to its cheerful tenor, "As your first assignment, I need you to recruit the last member."
"Me?" Naruto blinked owlishly at Kakashi as he registered his words, "Why on earth would you want me to do that?"
"Because Naruto-kun, I believe you are the best man for the job." Kakashi handed the bewildered genin a folder. Naruto opened it with some trepidation. His eyes widened when he studied its contents.
"No way."
Character Profile
Sasuke Uchiha
Affiliation: Konoha
Registration ID: 0896
Rank: Chunin, ANBU Hunter-nin(formerly).
Teams: Team 5(formerly), Team 7(current)
Bio: Sasuke Uchiha is the last of his extremely feared martial clan the Uchiha after his elder brother in a fit of madness murdered his entire clan down to the last child, except for Sasuke. Vowing vengeance he patiently awaits the day when he can finally make his brother pay for his crimes. Graduated the academy at the age of twelve at the top of his class and becoming chunin at the age of thirteen on his first try at the Chunin exams held in Suna. He eventually went on to join the ANBU black-ops where he distinguished himself as a man who completed his missions without any collateral damage. A feat matched only by Hatake Kakashi, his ANBU mentor. Considered a genius on par with Hatake Kakashi and Hiruzen Sarutobi, he is well on his way to more glory.
A/N:- Well hope that chapter clears a few things. As you probably have guessed by now, that Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura weren't the part of the same team when they graduated. One of the major plot points of this story is that they grew into their own without being influenced by each other. So the Team-7 of this fic will have characters who already have undergone some serious development off-screen, things which will be explored as they are revealed. I will be leaving these character bios at the end of each chapter to help the reader with the story, so as to reduce some confusion as to how much it differs from the canon. Anyway, thanks for reading, do let me know what you thought.
Until next time.