A/N: AND THE WINNER OF THE FIRST POLL, WITH 16 OF A TOTAL 70 VOTES IS! FEM-HAKU! Initially, Anko had the prize, but right around chapter twelve, Haku overtook and has soundly kept the lead. How do you feel about this Haku?
Haku:... I... I suppose it could be worse.
Anyway, as you guys should have noticed by now, a new line of speech is literally a new line.
Ex: "One person speaking," actions of person or another in the area. "Same person speaking"
"New person speaking"
So during the Omake, Sasuke was the one who mentioned Konohamaru. Itachi lost the bet. Next interview!
Hybrid: Hey, everyone! Let's welcome to the show darkhuntressxir! Welcome aboard huntress!
Huntress: Thanks for having me! *trips* HEY WHO TRIPPED ME?!
Konohamaru: THAT'S MY LINE!
Hybrid: Anyway... *helps in seat* first question is obviously, what caused you to open my story? Like... what drew you in?
Huntress: Sorry Konohamaru... but yeah, at first I was just looking for something to read, and then I stumble upon your story. I thought it was just like every other ANBU Naruto story... but I give it a try and guess what? I'm stuck on this story! It's kinda different, since Naruto has a family and Sasuke's not so much of a jerk! Thanks for making this awesome story!
Hybrid: So you found a refreshing spin to it? Nice to know I'm doing SOMETHING right... Now! Where do you hope to see the story go? What do you want to happen?
Konohamaru: Do I get the Rasengan in this story?!
Hybrid: No.
Konohamaru: Awww...
huntress: *pats Konohamaru* I'm actually fine with whatever is going to happen, as long as there isn't too much gore. I just want to see Sakura get serious about being a Kunoichi faster than in Canon.
Hybrid: Well... it is rated M. And there's the whole HIDAN factor eventually. So, sorry, but there will be scenes of heavy gore. Anywho, the last question we have time for! How do you feel about the fact that Fem! Haku won the poll? And who did you vote for?
Huntress: Haku wins? YES! OF COURSE HAKU! *Jumping around like a maniac* She is just too pretty not to vote for!
Hybrid: Welp, there's our answer! Looks like that's all the time we have! Thanks for talking with us huntress! We look forward to hearing from you more in the future!
Konohamaru: Bye onee-chan! See you later!
Huntress: Thanks for having me! Bye Konohamaru-kun!
Chapter 20: Introductions and Explanations
There was mass chaos in the classroom. Most of the class, sans Naruto and Sasuke who were still trying to ward off confusion-induced headaches, were raising hell about why the duo and Sakura got two sensei's, while Ami was rasing hell about the fact that her cousin was one of them and not her sensei. This was the scene Jozun, and surprisingly the Hokage, walked in on. Everyone was huddled around the 'Rookie of the Year' and the 'Dobe' being loud and pestering them.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!" Jozun shouted, instantly stilling the entire room. Everryone turned mechanically to see the Sekazu clan head glaring at them, all trace of sickness gone. He was purely a Jounin now.
"Sit. Down." he growled. In an instant, every single Genin was in their previous seats, their hands clasped, sitting at rigid attention. Well, every one except Ami.
"Oji! Why aren't you MY sensei?!" Jozun leveled his death glare on the girl. Really, they looked eerily similar aside from gender.
"Ami, I'm saying this one time. The world does not revolve around you. I'm sure Hayate can teach you more than enough. And if you need help with the Limit Break, you can ask your parents. I've got better things to do than teach a spoiled brat who thinks she's the most important person in the clan. Now sit down." Ami turned purple with anger and decided to do something really stupid: she attacked her cousin.
"Limit Break: Comet!" she bolted forward, her fist raised as she tried driving it into Jozun's gut. He smirked and raised his palm.
"Limit Break: Fortress." the whole class saw his muscles stiffen to impossible levels as Ami's fist impacted his hand. A very loud crack ensued as the girl cried out and cradled her hand to her chest. Jozun bent over her with an evil grin.
"Care to try again? Or are you done embarrassing yourself with your pitiful control over your Kekkei Genkai? And if you attack me again, since you are now officially a Genin," Naruto snorted lowly at this point. "And a member of the Clan I lead, I'd be well within my right to do whatever the hell I want. Now sit down. I won't say it again Ami." the girl grumbled darkly, but returned to her seat.
"Now then, Team Twelve?" Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura raised their hands. Jozun saw the blonde and blinked.
"Naruto? What the hell?" the blonde merely grinned.
"Ano... Sensei?" Sakura said timidly. The Jounin kind of scared her. "We are also apparently Team Seven... and we don't know which Sensei to listen to." Jozun scowled and turned to the Hokage, who had been silent up to this point.
"What's the deal? My team, which you forced me to take against my will, is also Kakashi's?"
"You see Jozun-kun," Jozun growled lowly, but said nothing. "Kakashi is mainly for Sasuke when he awakens his Sharingan. True, he could get help from Itachi, but Itachi is away on mission a lot. You, however are mostly to help Naruto with... a potential ability... and to whip Sakura into shape. She is very smart, true, and has great potential, but she lacks... physical capabilities. That is where you come in. that and I want you to make sure Kakashi doesn't exclusively train Sasuke. You will split the workload between all three evenly."
"Uh... potential ability? What potential ability could Naruto have that would require my help?"
"That is best discussed in a more... private setting," the old man said with a pointed look at the rapt children. Everyone looked to Naruto, who forced a look of confusion onto his face.
Dammit Jiji! "Don't look at me, guys. I have no clue what Jiji is talking about." Hiruzen had the barest hint of a knowing smirk on his face. At that precise moment, Asuma, a black-haired, red-eyed female Jounin in a bandage dress, and Mitarashi Anko entered, the snake Mistress dragging a silver-haired man who was clawing at the ground, leaving deep gouges.
"No!" cried Kakashi. "I'm not supposed to be here for another three hours! Dammit Anko, let me go!"
"Not happening, Bakakashi. You could at least make an effort to show up on time to pick up your Genin team!"
Jozun coughed into his fist, causing the duo to stop bickering and look at him, and subsequently the Genin who were trying to hold in their laughter. Kakashi quickly stood and acted as though nothing had happened.
"Yo," he said lazily, while giving a slow wave. Asuma sighed and palmed his eyes. Everyone noticed his lack of cigarette, if only because they were so used to him having one.
"Team Ten," the Sarutobi clan head said. "Let's go."
"Hey, Tou-chan, if Shika or Ino tells me you're being lazy in training them, I'm siccing Oba-chan on you." Naruto said lazily. Asuma paled and ushered the Ino-Shika-Cho trio out the door quickly.
Kurenai chuckled a bit. "Team Eight, let's go." Hinata, Shino, and Kiba rose and followed her, Kiba noticeably drooling.
Kakashi said nothing as Gekko Hayate entered, got his team, and left. One by one, the Sensei's entered, got their teams, and left, until only Kakashi, Jozun, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Anko, and Hiruzen were left. Even Iruka had left a while ago.
"...What are you waiting for Kakashi?" Jozun finally asked.
"For you to... wait, why are you here?"
"Hokage-sama forced me into having a Genin team."
"Just like Itachi, and his Sensei before him, and all the way back. Team Twelve has as much of a history as Team Seven," Hiruzen said sagely, taking a pull from his ever-present-but-not-always-lit-pipe.
"Who was Nii-chan's Sensei?" Naruto asked in curiosity.
"Uzumaki Kushina." Naruto's eyes widened and his mouth dropped.
"Jozun, if you have a team, why aren't you with them?" Kakashi asked, changing the subject quickly.
"I am," the Sekazu responded with a flick at the two Genin and the Ex-ANBU. The Silver-haired Jounin frowned.
"That's my team."
"Correction. It's our team. The Hokage here, in his infinite wisdom, decided to take steps to make sure everyone on the team is properly trained. By the way, hi Anko," the man said with a mild blush. Naruto cocked an eyebrow at the action. Jozun never blushed. Anko grinned and winked at the only brown-haired person in the room.
"Hey, yourself." Jozun turned redder, before he quickly turned to the children.
"Come on, all of us are meeting on the roof. See you there Kakashi," then, he disappeared in a Shunshin, followed quickly by the cyclops, and to Sakura's great surprise, Naruto. Sasuke rose, grumbling, and ran out into the hall, headed for the stairs. She quickly followed.
Anko looked at the aged Hokage, who looked back at her.
"So... you and Jozun, hmm?" Anko just grinned gain and left the building.
On the Roof
"Well, we have about three minutes. So, Naruto, what's this possible ability?" Jozun asked when the three appeared on the roof balcony.
"I actually have three possibilities, but I'm still deciding which two to take." both Jounins cocked an eyebrow. "Kurama said he can unlock two, but the third will be forever sealed. I'm still trying to figure out which two would be best. Bu the one you were chosen for, Jozun, is the Shikotsumyaku. For obvious reasons, if that's one I choose, you're best suited to helping me with it, because it's so similar to your Limit Break."
"What are the other two?" Kakashi asked lazily.
"Does it matter at this point?"
"Not really, but I'm curious."
"Curiosity killed the Scarecrow," Jozun commented
"Touche." At that moment, the other two burst out the door, Sakura huffing and puffing. Jozun and Kakashi shared a look, then sighed.
"She really does need work."
"I'll leave that to you. You are better at training the body than even Gai." Jozun just hummed in annoyance.
"Why don't we do some introductions? Since three of us know Kakashi won't tell you anything other than his name," said Jounin just hmm'd. "I'll go first. My name is Sekazu Jozun. I like Curry, most spicy foods, and my girlfriend. I dislike my clan, but I have to put up with them anyway because I'm clan head. My hobbies? I guess training and messing with my room-mate Kisa. My one dream for the future is to figure out a way to not fucking die of sickness." Naruto and Sasuke nodded, but Sakura looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
"My Kekkei Genkai, the Limit Break allows me to vastly improve my muscles to think and move faster, hit harder, and withstand more damage. But, it comes with a severely weakened immune system, which just gets weaker. Basically, my body is at war with itself."
"Why don't you see a med-nin?" Sakura asked. Jozun looked at her like she was stupid, then cast a questioning glance at Naruto, who shrugged in resignation.
"Gee, why didn't I think of that? Kid, my room-mate is a med-nin. She can treat me, but she can't cure me. At this point, it seems like only Lady Tsunade of the Sannin can do that. On that depressing, fucked up note, Pinky, you're up." both Jounin, plus Naruto, smirked at the nickname. Sakura just glared.
"My name is Haruno Sakura, sensei, not Pinky. My likes are..." here, she cast a side-long glance at Sasuke and blushed. "reading and sushi..." this surprised nearly everyone.
I as expecting some kind of fan-girl reaction like looking at him, then giggling.
Me too. The young males exchanged a few looks, which to them amounted to an entire dialogue.
Were you expecting an actual answer? Sasuke asked with his eyes.
Hell no. I was expecting her to be unintelligible through the Kami-damed giggles. Naruto answered.
Yeah, me too. Maybe what you said a while ago had some affect?
We can only hope.
"I dislike teriyaki, and for now... Naruto... my hobbies include reading...and uh..." she glanced side-long at Sasuke with a blush again. "and gardening. My dream for the future is... to have a family..."
"Well, at least it's only for now, eh Naruto?" Jozun joked with a playful suggestive wink at the blonde, who scowled.
"She's not my type." the Jounin shrugged while Kakashi snerked a laugh.
"Ducky-do you're next," said the silver-haired man. Now it was Naruto's turn to snerk while Sasuke frowned.
"I'm Uchiha Sasuke. My likes are Tomatoes, Naruto and his family, my big brother, and training. I dislike fangirls," Sakura here made a choking sound and looked like she'd been hit. "and sweets. My hobbies are training, and hanging out with Naruto. My dreams for the future are to help rebuild the Uchiha clan," Jozun and Kakashi both giggled perversely, causing Sasuke to frown. "and eventually join ANBU, hopefully getting to the Commander's position."
ANBU HQ- Dragon's office
ANBU Commander Dragon prided himself on his ability to say he had complete control of his emotions, and he feared only four things in the world. Death was not one of them. No, they were, in order of least to most feared:
Mitarashi Anko.
Losing his position and being forced into some crappy old retirement home.
The Hokage.
But the one thing he feared above all else? His ex-subordinate: Kage. Shadow had been one of his best operatives, true, but the kid had not been loyal to Konoha, but to his family and friends. That meant if Konoha threatened those he held dear, he'd raze the village, and Dragon wasn't sure anyone could stop him.
As he was working on some paperwork, he felt a mild shiver run through his body.
Hmm... seems like someone is gunning for my job. Eh, as long as it's not Uzumaki, I'm sure I'll be fine.
Back with Team Seven/ Twelve
Naruto had to snort, and muttered to Kakashi, "looks like Ryu-sama has some trouble headed his way." the Cyclops just nodded.
"Now for the little ball of sunshiny energy," Jozun said with amusement.
"Shut up, Jozun."
"Baka! Don't talk to our Sensei like that!" Sakura reprimanded.
"Shut up, Pinky. I've known Jozun since before any of us were in the Academy. Kakashi too. Anyway, my name is Uzumaki-Sarutobi-Namikaze Naruto."
"Three last names? Stop lying Baka!" Naruto sighed in exasperation.
"Sakura, if you interrupt me one more time, I'm throwing you off the roof. Uzumaki is my birth mothers' name, Namikaze is my birth fathers', and Sarutobi is my adopted name. As I was saying, I like Ramen, gardening, and my friends and family, especially my cousin Konohamaru. I dislike idiotic people, traitors, and the three minutes it takes Ramen to cook. My hobbies include Training, growing my garden with my Oba-chan, and pranking. My Dream for the future is to have a big family and be the Hokage."
Sakura was the first to pipe up. "What kinds of plants do you have in your garden?"
"Mostly edibles like Strawberries, carrots, cucumbers, that kind of stuff. But, my Oba-chan set aside a plot for me to cultivate flowers and special plants that I wanted."
"Hate to break up the bonding pow-wow," Kakashi drawled.
"No you don't," quipped both Jozun and Naruto simultaneously.
"But we have to tell you that you three,"
"Aren't really Genin yet, I know," Naruto said as he laid back and folded his hands behind his head, closing his eyes and relaxing fractionally. "And knowing Kakashi, he'll say we have our true test tomorrow at Seven A.M. In training ground Seven, and not to eat breakfast 'cause we'll just puke it up. But Jozun wants this shit done today, because he wants to avoid Kisa for the rest of the day, because he forgot his meds, and doesn't want her to strangle him. You two probably also have two different plans to test us. So what say we go with Kakashi's basic time, but at Four in the morning, and you two can take the day to plan what you'll do to test us?" Kakashi and Jozun both grumbled in annoyance.
"Why Four?! Don'y you know I need my beauty sleep?!" Sakura cried. Naruto grunted.
"Bitch, you need to hibernate. I have my reasons."
"Ugh... seems like we have our work cut out for us, eh Kashi?"
"Yep. See you three bright and early at Four, following Naruto's brilliant plan, at training ground Seven. C'mon Jozun, we can plan at my apartment."
"Thank Kami. I really do need to avoid Kisa right now."
"Stop forgetting your meds."
"Oh shut the hell up." with that, the two Jounin left in twin puffs of smoke. Naruto grinned.
Time to watch Sakura suffer and get serious. Kurama just cackled.