I have no rights to Naruto.

Enjoy.

x-x

"Come on 7, is that all you got?"

She would not kill them, she would not kill them. Squirrel had warned her. Behind the plain white mask that simply had the number 7 on its forehead Morino Kaida gritted her teeth and repeated the mantra in her head again and again as she sparred with Juca. Usually she could meet him strike for strike, buoying back and forth winning and losing equally.

But this was no ordinary spar, and Juca didn't know it was her.

Several months ago she had heard the rumour. Morino Ibiki was thinking of retiring, as much as she hated to admit it, her Dad was not as able as he used to, the brain and reflexes as sharp as ever but his stamina was slowing down, nothing major for any other profession, or even may other Shinobi. But for the ANBU Commander, for his own strict expectations it wasn't good enough. He was the longest serving ANBU and Commander in the Unit's history, practically a living legend and Morino Ibiki did not want to hang around past his time to become a laughingstock. So he was apparently training his replacement or possible replacement.

To Kaida it was a no brainer and when she confirmed that Squirrel was now over the vetting and selection for ANBU training and placement she went straight to him. He had watched her grow, helped to protect her, train her. He knew exactly what she was capable of and agreed with her application so quickly that Kaida was caught out. His smile and simple "You're ready." brought the biggest smile to her face.

It was also a good opportunity and worked well with an idea he had had the last few years and discussed with Morino-sama. So Kaida trained. She told no one but never voiced the knowledge that Sai-sensei knew exactly what she was doing when she asked him to help train her out of any signature moves she had. Only returning his smile and nod with one of her own, soaking in little tid bits he threw out here and there about ANBU regulatioins, hazing and selection. Kaida thought she knew a lot but the ANBU selection process and training was changed yearly, adjusted for the groups and meant to make or break the shinobi into a shinobi strong enough for ANBU. If you could tough it out.

"Come on 7, how did you even become Jounin? Seriously, who did you fuck?"

Kaida breathed deeply hand trembling as she blocked his blow, he didn't know it was her and technically his words had a grain of truth, she didn't fuck someone, but she had kissed someone to win her Jounin match.

"And you're dead." Kaida sighed.

Hours later Kaida sat in the changing room, mask clipped to her belt as she looked around at the similar faces. All the Kunoich wore the same face as did the Shinobi. No names and no true faces. Complete anonymity to prevent any favouritism or previous animosity. Without the numbers on the mask and armbands you really didn't know who was who. Her Dad had implemented the no bloodline or flashy jutsu's in the selection process years ago but Squirrel had gone one step further and devised a list of weapons and jutsu's that could be used. Basic but effective, a true test of skill and endurance, as proven by the twenty mile, 50 kilo weighted run they had done, followed by kata after kata, then a random weapon spar with current ANBU. And this was after several weeks of the same, and trial missions with different ANBU cells.

The door banged open Seko striding into the room, despite her exhaustion and the hell they had put her and the others through Kaida couldn't help but appreciate the form Seko cut in his uniform the way everything moulded and showed off his physique. She knew them, really knew them and it was the only reason she hadn't gone Morino on either of her team mates, this was training, this was ANBU, this was the difference between life and death on the field, and the death of your team.

"Get the fuck up, who said you could rest? Think you passed, safe and sound. Shits only starting."

They really had been taking lessons from her Dad, Kaida thought, hand immediately coming up to cover her mouth and nose, grabbing her mask as she fought the gas bomb Seko suddenly realised into the room, slamming the door shut behind him. There was no escape, this was just the next step.

Interrogations, hours of questioning, sleep deprivation, light and sound assault, genjustu.

Kaida thought she knew exhaustion but standing in the hall, with eight other candidates she finally allowed herself to sigh in relief. She had survived, whether she was actually accepted or told to improve and apply again with the next cohort she would find out soon enough. Thirty had applied, some had been pulled during the training, others quit and two had lost control over the genjutsu hiding their features, automatic disqualification.

Doors opening and striding footsteps that she would recognise anywhere had her glancing left, watching her Dad, flanked by Squirrel and the main trainers/selectors including Seko and Juca enter the room. Making it to the front of her group the watching ANBU quietened in the galleries, they always gathered to see who passed but this year with no names and the same faces, the hall was packed.

"Nine out of thirty. Congratulations or commiserations you are now ANBU." Squirrel stated, Kaida nearly sagging in disbelief. His next words blurred as nervous excitement and fear began to fill her. The newest ANBU called up by number, told to remove their masks, asked to state their name dropping the Genjutsu, given their code name, and then her Dad handed them their new mask.

Number.

Mask.

Name.

Drop the Genjutsu.

Code name.

New mask.

Repeat.

Then it was her turn.

"Number 7."

Straightening her back and with a deep breath Kaida moved to stand in front of her Dad, for the first time in her life feeling trepidation as she looked up at him. At Squirrel's prompting she removed her mask and spoke, dropping her Genjutsu.

"Morino Kaida."

Ibiki's eyes bulged, Seko and Juca nearly choking to the side as the hall hushed.

"Angel?"

Squirrel stood tall, smiling freely as finally, finally someone had gotten one over on Morino Ibiki and better yet it was him. He couldn't wait to tell Newt, the only remaining member of the ANBU team that had protected Kaida when she was in the Academy. Clearing his throat in a bid to get Ibiki's attention and failing Squirrel shrugged calling out Kaida's code name.

"Dragon."

Ibiki blinked, cleared his throat and didn't even bother trying to hide the fact that his eyes were watering as he presented the Dragon mask to his daughter. "Congratulations Dragon."

"Commander." With a bow Kaida took her new mask, and was immediately engulfed in her Dad's arms, his voice think with love and pride as the hall erupted in a mix of amazed whispers and delighted applause.

"Well done Angel."

The Dragon of Konoha.

x-x