Finding the right Path
It has been a while since I've been on here, and I am still on Holiday mode. Just want to relax.
As per usual, there are no pairings for now but that may change int the future
I do not own Naruto or any other aspects that reference people who could sue me...
Enjoy
Chapter 5
Menma was a little anxious about his test tonight. He really didn't know what to expect, but he knew this was something different. Naruto explained that normally, Kakashi would give his team the bell-test. Menma also knew that it required teamwork to pass; he had started reading some of the documents which Naruto showed him but got bored halfway through. The rest was explained by Naruto, especially about the team placements and what team they'd be in. With that thought in mind, he was about to get some lunch when he started shivering. It felt as if something really bad had happened and that he was needed. 'Naruto' was his first thought, as he started running in a random direction.
Naruto on the other hand, slowly opened his eyes only to shiver at the man in front of him. Ibiki smirked; having that effect on someone often gave him untold pleasure. Naruto on the other hand was afraid. He was very afraid… He knew that he was bound to get caught. He knew that breaking into the Hokage's tower and reading all that was available could get him in trouble. Worse yet was all the secrets that he learnt and how he told most of it to Menma. He explained to Menma that death after interrogation was the price for the information… Especially if one was caught. At the thought of Menma, Naruto looked around the room. Menma was no-where to be found so Naruto started struggling with the shackles, trying his hardest to get free.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Ibiki spoke, causing Naruto to look him straight in the eyes. "You see, people normally use shackles that supress chakra, those shackles on the other hand are designed to retransmit your chakra into its elemental designation…" Here Naruto could feel the shock from the shackles. "The ones you have on send bolts of lightning through your system every time you try and use chakra. There is fire style, ice style, and metal points to name a few, and each one inflicts some form of damage." Naruto couldn't believe his ears. He had quite a large chakra reserve, but his control was phenomenal. This however didn't stop him from being shocked.
"Now, do you know why you are here?" As Ibiki spoke those words, the metal door opened to reveal a Shinobi of the ANBU corp. entering the room with a person over his shoulder. Ibiki looked at the ANBU member and signed who it was. Ibiki was slightly surprised, although he didn't show it, by the person who was on the ANBU's shoulder. It was none other than Menma. He wondered how the other Uzumaki had found their base of operations and figured he had to cut the game short… or maybe…
"Well, look who tried to escape." At his words Naruto looked at the person to see his twin brother. He was about to speak before the ANBU tied Menma to a chair using the same material he was locked up with. "So, now that we have the pair of you, how about you tell us why you are here." Ibiki started once more as the ANBU member left the room.
Naruto was about to answer but stopped when he realised what was happening. He was about to confess all his wrongdoings in the hopes that his brother would get off. He knew about Ibiki and some of his methods, especially his psychological interrogation method. Now Naruto knew why he was here and that he definitely would have been tortured thoroughly had it been for the other reason. Well, at least he hoped that was the case.
"I-I think I know why I'm." Here Naruto started coughing. The shock to his system and the trauma of what happened recently had dried his mouth and caused an itch in his throat. "Am I going to be a part of ANBU?" Ibiki looked straight into Naruto's eyes. Ibiki couldn't believe that this young Shinobi figured out the test. Normally, Shinobi with a heavy conscience would confess to something that they did. Shinobi straight out of the academy often spoke about anything that could be regarded as treason. He was about to answer when three people walked through the door. The first was the young Kunoichi that Naruto had met in his favourite training ground. The second was an ANBU member with long purple hair. The last however slightly scared Naruto. It was none other than the God of Shinobi himself, the Sandaime Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Congratulations for making it passed Torture and Interrogation. However you still need a physical and skill assessment." Spoke the Purple haired ANBU member. "I'm Neko and I will be one of your trainers. Normally you have only one unless you have a certain skill in other areas." Neko spoke once more. Looking, from Naruto's perspective, straight at him. "However, had your brother interrupted this session, you would have failed your test. How did he know where we were in the first place" The ANBU asked, only for Naruto to shrug his shoulders.
"Heya brat, don't shrug your shoulders when your superior is talking to you." The purple haired Kunoichi with the trench coat spoke.
"Sorry Taicho. I have no idea how he found me, but I think that I have a theory" Naruto spoke, trying his best not to piss of the sadistic Kunoichi. At his words Neko only nodded and remained silent the rest of her time there.
"That's' better. Now I'm Mitarashi Anko. You can call me Anko-Sama, Anko-Chan or Taicho. I will be helping with your training alongside Neko-Chan here." The ANBU didn't react to her nick name, Naruto however looked slightly shocked. He looked to the Hokage for confirmation. The Sandaime nodded once before speaking up.
"Naruto. They will be training you whilst in ANBU. There will be two others that will train you as well." The Hokage spoke, gaining Naruto's attention.
"I'll be one of them and I will teach you how to Torture and Interrogate prisoners, hostages and others. I will train you alongside Anko here. I don't like people slacking off and I have no time for young punks. I was only ordered to train you and if I had it my way, I'd leave you to the wolves." Here Ibiki raised his eyebrows slightly. Anko caught it however.
"Hey Scarface, who're you calling a wolf?" She asked, looking as menacing as she could. The Sandaime however just sighed while telling Anko to quieten down whilst he recommenced talking.
"Your other Sensei will meet you at a later date. He will teach you both tracking, alongside Anko, and infiltration." The Sandaime stated whilst lighting up his pipe. "You have passed the first test, the others should be downhill from here, however… Keep in mind that you almost failed and would have found yourself back at the Academy. Your superiors here have all acknowledged your strengths and believe that you would make a good ANBU. I believe that you are ANBU material, however, actions prove better than words." Here the Sandaime walked away, leaving Naruto and an unconscious Menma chained up with the shackles.
"Now, your other tests will be tonight, take your brother and head off home to prepare." Ibiki spoke. Slowly removing the shackles from Naruto and then Menma. "Neko will be around to help with the where and the when. Menma must not know about you being in ANBU. It could jeopardise both his and your Ninja career" Ibiki spoke once more, making sure that Naruto understood the hidden message.
With that last thought, Naruto was bought back to the surface by Neko and Anko and taken back to his and Menma's apartment. Naruto didn't know what to think of the situation. He had a feeling that the Sandaime wanted him to spill his guts about his past transgressions. But that would only get both him and his brother in trouble. With that in mind, Naruto put Menma in his bed and had a little rest himself. He wasn't too keen on lying to his brother about him being in ANBU and how Menma came to be home in bed.
Thirty minutes later
Menma awoke with a start. He looked left and right trying to figure out where he was and how he got here. The last thing he remembered doing was running to an unknown location; where he got knocked out by some ANBU operatives. Before that he was walking to get some Ichiraku Ramen when he felt dread. At that thought, Menma bolted out of his room and straight into Naruto's. Naruto was relaxing and felt Menma shift in the room next door. He knew he was going to enter his room and seek out answers.
"Aniki, Aniki." Menma screamed coming through the door. Naruto could see the fear in the eyes of Menma. He knew that Menma felt scared and powerless, even if he was a Genin and a Shinobi. "Aniki are you hurt, I felt you get hurt, is everything okay." Menma started speaking so fast that Naruto could barely hear what he was saying. Naruto got up and hugged his brother trying to calm him down. Naruto was always the level-headed out of the two. Menma always wore his heart on his sleeves, though lately…
"Menma, everything is okay. I'm alive. You must've had a bad dream." Menma looked into Naruto's eyes and pulled away slightly. Naruto knew he was caught out so he started signing to Menma in their secret language. Menma's eyes widen before he picked his brother up screaming, "I knew you could do it." With that both brothers fell to the floor laughing. Although they were trained in the Shinobi arts, they were both just kids at heart. Innocent… If only life could stay that way.
"Ano, what's going to happen now? Do you move out or still stay here." Menma asked from beside his brother. Naruto thought for a moment before answering.
"I'll stay here, but I'll be out most of the time. You will have to start cooking for yourself and read a bit as well. It will be difficult, especially if we have C-Ranks or higher out of Konoha." Here Naruto looked at Menma only to raise an eyebrow. Menma was slightly rubbing the back of his neck looking away from Naruto.
"Aniki, I don't have my test till tonight. It wasn't the bell test like you thought it was." At this Naruto sat up and looked at his brother. He knew that Menma had the skills to become a great Shinobi. Naruto in the darkness, and Menma in the light.
"Well there are other tests that could happen tonight. Normally Kakashi would do the bell test, but things can change. Where do you meet and what time?" Naruto asked, only to see Menma looking at the ground.
"He didn't say what time, all he said was that our test was tonight. How am I supposed to know where to meet him and at what time when he didn't state it." Menma fired off, whilst at the same time slightly hyperventilating. Naruto looked at his brother than thought for a minute.
"Does either of your teammates know where the test is going to be held?" Menma looked at Naruto with a question mark, trying to determine if they would know. Menma shook his head slowly about to deflate even more before Naruto spoke again. "Well maybe this is your test." Menma looked at him before going bug-eyed. Naruto was right most of the times, and Menma knew it.
"I think I need to find my teammates and see what they think. I'll catch up with you later on Aniki. I probably won't be home till late." Menma spoke, walking out of Naruto's room and into his own to get ready. Naruto knew that Menma would pass the test. Sakura and Sasuke were both good students at the academy, problem with that was that this is not the academy anymore and things can change very quickly.
As Naruto was pondering on the test further, Menma left the house to find his teammates. When he left, a knock came to the door. Naruto, thinking that Menma forgot his keys smiled whilst opening the door. Instead of Menma at the door, it was Neko, the purple haired Anbu. "You are to report to training ground 44 two hours after dark." She spoke quickly and only loud enough for Naruto to hear. With that Neko disappeared as quickly as she appeared.
