~Chapter 2~
Mebuki sat in the waiting room outside the Hokage's office. As best as she could tell she would be next to see Lady Tsunade. Since she hadn't scheduled the meeting ahead of time, she was forced to wait until the Hokage had a bit of free time. Which apparently she didn't have much of. After what felt like the entire day she was finally allowed to enter the office. Mebuki was surprised to see the Hokage sitting with her head on the desk.
"Ahem, madam Hokage?"
A single raised hand silenced her. The silence hung in the air for a solid minute before the Hokage shouted.
"Fuck this job! How did Grandfather and old Hiruzen do this?" She stood with a growl and stared out the great windows. "So Mebuki-san, what can I do for you?"
"Hokage-sama, I wish to know the address of Naruto Uzumaki. He left a wonderful gift at my home and I wish to thank him."
"And what was this gift?"
"A lovely bouquet of chestnut blossoms. My family has always been fond of them."
"I see. Well unfortunately Naruto Uzumaki is presently unavailable. But I will pass on your thanks to him."
"May I not speak to him Lady Hokage?" Mebuki's voice rose slightly.
"It is not that you 'may' not, it is that you 'can' not, at this time." Tsunade's voice was tight and stern. "He is unavailable to everyone, not just you. He is being tested. Even I will not speak to him for some time."
"Oh, I see. Well I would still like to thank him in person. So please let me know when I may speak with him."
Tsunade sighed. "Very well Mebuki-san. Now please I have a mountain of work to do."
"Yes my Lady. Best of luck." She left the office not sure if she had won anything.
Naruto's world exploded as a fist impacted his nose and sent him sprawling to the ground.
"Up you whelp! Up!" The Commandant shouted at him, as he had for the past six months.
When the blonde had followed the instructions in the scroll and found his way into a world he couldn't even believe. The Konohagakure Anbu Shadowguard; also known as Konoha's Wolfpack. A one hundred percent covert unit of the Anbu Special Forces. Their members are unknown even to other Anbu divisions. Only the members of the Anbu Command and their Shadowguard brethren know the identities of the members of the Shadowguard.
Naruto clambered to his feet and stood across from his sparring partner. He had no choice, there was only days till the thirteenth elimination fights. And only four weeks left in total. He chambered his arms and readied for the next exchange. His opponent moved first going in low trying to take out his knee. Naruto slid his leg back shifting his stance and threw out a short jab. The brown haired boy blocked the shot with forearm but allowed himself to open his guard. Naruto slid his leading leg in between the boy's feet and behind his left foot. Throwing his weight into the boy he tripped him and following through he pinned him to the ground.
"Yield!" The blonde said confidently.
The boy sighed. "I yield Uzumaki."
At his words Naruto stood from the mount. He offered a hand to the boy.
"Come on Nakamura. Maybe next time." Nakamura took his hand and stood.
"Yeah next time." He smiled but Naruto saw it. Nakamura had just made it through from the last elimination fight. He'd finished fifteenth and only just barely. If he didn't finish thirteenth or better this week he'd be out of the class. And the boy had accepted that he wouldn't do it. Naruto wanted to say something but he couldn't he had to focus on graduating. He'd finished eighth in the last fight. Which would be fine enough to get him to the final elimination. But he wanted to be sure of his graduation. The Shadowguard were given the best training and resources, he had to become one. Only the top three on fight day were guaranteed to graduate. Since during the elimination fights you can only challenge up to two ranks above you. Meaning that only rank five and above could threaten the top three and even if they lost, they'd still be in the top seven when all was said and done.
"Alright whelps! Line up!" The trainees ran and quickly lined up. "In two days three more of you will be left behind. Only the absolute best will be allowed to don the mask. But we are not ignorant to potential. From this week onward, anyone who is eliminated will be guaranteed acceptance into next year's class."
An excited murmur went through the class. It was a near certainty that those cut from the class wouldn't be selected again. But to be guaranteed a second chance, that was big. Everyone smiled, those near the bottom smiled because it meant that it wouldn't be in vain should they be cut, and the rest smiled because it meant that they had a greater chance of serving with friends in time.
"That's enough arselings." A loud voice split the air and everyone fell silent.
"Attention! Commander on station!" The Commandant barked. And everybody in the training room snapped to a curt attention as the Shadowguard Commander Ai Shinwo stepped forward.
"Alright you pieces of shite. Let's see what you are made of, eh?"