Naruto's POV

The walk back from the academy was hell. I could barely keep my mind in check after receiving the letter from Danzo. His creepy smile was engraved in my thoughts as I walked through the now dark and gloomy village.

I was so eager to be on a team with Sasuke and Sakura, and now knowing I'm most likely going to begin seeing less and less of them really hurt. I didn't want to lose my best friend and never get to know my crush.

"This sucks." I mutter quietly under my breath and staring down at the white envelope in my hands.

What could be inside? I wonder, turning a corner and nearing my house.

Opening up my front door I am greeted with the lights flickering on and confetti being blown onto my face.

"CONGRATULATIONS!" voices boom loudly and catch me completely off guard.

I stumble back a bit out of shock and blink my blue eyes a couple of times.

My dad is standing before me with outstretched arms and a big cake in his hands that reads "Congratulations on your Graduation" written in baby blue frosting. Kakashi, Rin, and Obito are all standing by our living room table with presents and bright smiles. Well Kakashi's eye is turned into a crescent moon but that's the best smile he can muster. Sasuke is sitting on the couch with one leg folded over the other giving me his signature smirk but I can see he's just as happy with my reaction as everyone else is in the room.

"Y-You guys…" I smile bright, feeling all of my emotions get the best of me. I make sure to tuck the letter into my back pocket. I guess I'll deal with that later.

"Congrats, kiddo." My dad smiles brightly and motions for me to walk into our living room. He places the cake down on the table and ruffles my hair before heading into the kitchen to grab plates and a knife.

I take a seat next to Sasuke.

"Naruto you're a full-fledged shinobi now how does it feel?" Obito asks enthusiastically and from the way he's smiling, and his eyes are shimmering I feel like he's more excited than I am.

This morning I would have been so eager to tell everyone the team I got assigned to and how I'm looking forward to future missions. But the feeling of the letter in my back pocket has me feeling differently towards the question.

"Pretty good, I guess." I smile and rub the back of my neck sheepishly.

Obito doesn't seem satisfied with my answer as he raises a brow.

"Only pretty good? Come on spill all the juicy details whose on your team? What team number did you get?" He presses and my dad walks in with paper plates and knife.

"Is it team 7? Are you going to keep the legacy going?" My dad asks, cutting slices of cake and handing them out to everyone.

I take my slice but feel my appetite vanishing at the questions.

"I uh" I stammer, looking over at Sasuke who already knows the answer. He simply gives me a sad look.

I take a deep breath and pull out the envelope that's wedged in my back pocket. I guess I got to break the news now.

"What's that?" Rin asks.

Everyone in the room eyes the envelope with curiosity.

"It's a letter I got from the Hokage. He didn't put me on a team and told me to read this when I got home." I answer, and my father immediately frowns at my words.

Before I can protest that I'm way too anxious to open its contents my father is the first to speak.

"Open it." He demands, no room for argument in his voice.

The room becomes uncomfortably silent as everyone is quite anxious as to what is written in the letter.

Knowing it came from the Hokage it can't possibly mean anything good.

I place down my plate on the coffee table and open the letter. The sound of paper tearing only causes my palms to become even sweatier than they already are. I really have no idea what the Hokage could possibly want from me and my gut feeling is telling me it's not going to be something to be happy about.

Unfolding the letter I read it aloud.

"Naruto Namikaze, it is with great pleasure that you have been chosen to be trained under me to become an ANBU. This is an astounding privilege only ever granted to the most elite of shinobi. Your training will begin tomorrow morning at 5 am. You are expected to meet me at this hour every day and tardiness will not be tolerated. I look forward to our training. Signed, The Fifth Hokage."

The room is silent.

I look up from the letter and see that everyone is staring at the ground besides my father who has his fists clenched so tight that his knuckles are turning a vibrant white.

"Sensei-" Obito speaks up but is cut off almost immediately.

"I'm going to kill him."

And with a flash he's gone.