Finding the Right Path
Sorry it has taken a while, this was supposed to be out sooner, but Uni is a hassle. I'll try to update on a semi-usual basis, but no guarantees.
No pairings for now, but that may change.
I do not own Naruto or any other aspect that reference people who could sue me...
Enjoy
Chapter 7
Menma arrived home to an empty house. It was just after dusk, and the suns light was quickly fading. Menma wanted to speak to Naruto, but found he wasn't home. This only caused some form of loneliness in his being. He wanted reassurance, and Naruto was the one whom comforts him.
Menma walked into his room, curled into a ball and cried himself to sleep.
Naruto arrived at training ground 44 an hour after the sun had set. He had stopped by Ichiraku for a light meal, seeing as he still had time on his hands. He wouldn't normally go to Ichiraku without Menma, but he felt the need for something to eat.
"Well, look who's early." Anko exclaimed, looking at Naruto with a predatory grin. Naruto was knocked out of his thoughts with the remark.
"I thought you said two hours after dark?" Naruto responded. He had purposely arrived an hour after to get the lay of the land. He knew bits and pieces about Training Ground 44, better known as the Forest of Death. He knew there was 44 entrances, so he needed to figure out which one he would need to attend.
"Yes that is true." Anko replied. Snapping Naruto from his thoughts. "I expected you'd arrive early. It is something that you like doing." Anko smirked, dropping from the branch she was standing on and walking towards Naruto.
Oh great, it looks like I have a stalker. Naruto thought to himself. Anko stood directly in front of him. "So how long have you been spying on me?" Naruto asked, catching Anko slightly off guard. She hid it well with that dangerous smirk of hers. Naruto missed the look entirely and had mistaken it for crazy.
"Why would I spy on a brat like you?" Anko asked, smirk still evident on her face.
Time for Naruto to take it up a notch. "Well I do recall seeing you a few times." He lied. He felt, as opposed to see. "I mean if you want someone to scratch an itch, I'd gladly oblige." He said, whilst slowly smirking.
Naruto's smirk faded as soon as he felt a hard hit to his face. He was on the ground gazing up at the stars. He knew in that instant that he had overstepped the boundary. He couldn't believe how foolish he was. This is something he expected from Menma, but Naruto himself, felt that he was mature than his twin brother.
Sorry if I…" Naruto started, trying to get up. He had stopped when he felt the kunai pressed to his throat. Looking up he saw the mask crack a little, before the evil smirk appeared on Anko's face once more.
"If you ever say anything like that again, you'll be wearing a grand smile." Anko stated, putting her unused finger to her throat and dragging it across.
Naruto nodded his head very slowly, trying not to elicit any more anger from his superior. Anko stood and leapt to the tree. Sitting on the branch, she started feasting on her favourite food, Dango.
Naruto got up slowly, wondering what that was all about. He could see that he had offended the Tokubetsu Jonin. He just didn't understand how. With that thought in mind, he took off in a run, back to village.
Anko didn't even gaze at her apprentice. She was still thinking, thoughts reeling in her mind. Smart assed little shit. Just like all the other fools in this village. She thought, trying her hardest to forget the ordeal and enjoy her meal.
She was always intrigued by the twins. At first she hated getting the assignments from the Hokage to 'babysit' them. But she found them very interesting as the years went by. She even gave them hints that she was spying, just to see what they would do, and to her surprise, they did not let her down.
She saw the strength each of them had and marvelled at their genius. When she let them know she was watching, they stopped training to their full extent, and pretended that they were average at best. Truth was, they could have graduated from the Academy the year they first entered. That just shows how good they are.
Now she was regretting her decision. She was the first to ask if both boys, well maybe not both, could become a part of the ANBU Corp. She even asked to train them herself. But the Hokage stated that they needed balance in the teams and that Naruto had the potential for ANBU, but Menma wouldn't make it.
The Hokage also stated that she couldn't take on an apprentice, because she was naught but a Tokubetsu Jonin, not a master. Hence the reason for Naruto having more than one sensei. It was slightly unorthodox, but not unusual. This was the first time that four masters had one student. This was to evenly distribute the load amongst Anko and her peers.
Hmph, let the others train the little shit. Don't think I'll be available much. She brooded once more. At that, Naruto wandered back into the clearing. Anko could see that he had something in his hands. The smell of it wafted to her nose, and she glared daggers at Naruto.
Seeing the look, he slowly made his way towards his superior. Stopping at the base of the tree, he started speaking. "I'm sorry if I offended you." He exclaimed, offering her the bag of Dango.
She snatched it up, keeping a wary eye on Naruto. This was too nice for a shinobi. It almost felt like one of their pranks.
Naruto saw the look and felt even worse. He didn't mean to upset one of his sensei's, but he saw it, for a split second, he saw the hurt in her eyes.
Anko took one out, and started examining it. She was sceptical of this whole charade. Taking a bite she kept her eyes on Naruto still thinking this was a prank. As no prank was deployed, she continued munching on the goodies.
"Hmph brat." She exclaimed, ignoring Naruto completely as she started demolishing the treats.
Naruto exhaled, he didn't know that he was holding his breath. He still felt bad for what he had caused. He didn't think she deserved this. With that thought in mind, he put his back towards the base of the tree Anko was in, and slid to the ground. He waited in that position till the rest of his superiors arrived.
"Your mission is simple." Neko exclaimed, looking at Naruto. The rest of his superiors had arrived just before two hours after the sun set. The only member missing was the nin Naruto hadn't met. He was still on an assignment.
"Hey brat you listening?" Anko exclaimed, whacking Naruto in the back of the head with an open palm. He felt that this was going to be a usual occurrence.
"Thank you Anko." Neko continued. "As I was saying, your mission is simple. In the forest of death are ten shinobi. You have to track each one…" Here Naruto smirked slightly "and kill them." The smirk dropped off Naruto's face just as quick as it had appeared. His face slightly paled at this revelation.
"That is all you have to do to complete your mission." Neko ended, looking Naruto, from his perspective, straight in the eye.
"So all I have to do is track down these ten shinobi and kill them… what's the catch?" Naruto asked. He saw the 'look' that Neko was giving Anko. Anko had stood by Naruto since Neko started talking. Neko was at the front, instructing Naruto on what to do and Ibiki, stood to the side, minding his own business.
"The shinobi are from Konoha's prison. They have each claimed the life of more than three Konoha citizens. They have each been interrogated and sent to the cells. They was told that if they kill the blank faced ANBU, they would be set free." Here Neko showed Naruto his ANBU mask. It was blank, no design could be found on it at all.
"You ready for this brat?" Anko asked, smirking from her position.
"What if I fail?" Naruto asked. He still did not feel comfortable.
"There is only one way you fail this assignment… death." Ibiki chimed in. Speaking for the first time tonight.
"Hey Scarface, don't go scaring our protégé." Anko exclaimed. This confused Naruto even more. It was as if Anko wanted him to pass, but how. He was sure that he was on her bad side.
"When do I start?" Naruto asked, all attention focussed on him once more.
"Whenever you are ready to, start. You are to meet us back here when you are finished." Neko responded to Naruto's question.
Now Naruto was really scared. He had to go into the Forest of Death, at night, alone and track and kill ten shinobi. With that in mind, Naruto ran through the gate.
"How do you think he'll fare?" Ibiki asked, looking after the entrance that Naruto used.
"Hmph, brat thinks he can do this… foolishness. He should have prepared himself better. He might not make it out." Anko replied. She wanted him to make it though, just to see how he could surprise them.
"He'll make it, I just wonder what mask he'll come out with." Neko exclaimed. Every ANBU went through the same process. Killing shinobi in the Forest of Death. If they succeeded, they would return to the gate that they entered. When they walked past, their mask would warp into what their code names would be. This was always the process of getting new ANBU. Only those whom are skilled could pass.
Naruto ran for five minutes without stopping. He was slightly afraid, but knew that he couldn't fail. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." Naruto exclaimed, while summoning twenty clones. These clones would break off in pairs, the first becoming the target/decoy, and the second landing the killing blow.
Each clone jumped off and completed their task. Naruto sat on the ground, legs crossed, waiting for the good news. He knew that this could easily take all night, but he wanted to get this over and done with as soon as possible. Little did he know that he was also being watched.
Naruto walked out of the same gate that he entered. It was almost sunrise, and the pre-dawn glow had brightened the sky. He was surprised to see his three sensie's waiting for him. Ibiki wore a smirk, Neko was standing with her arms crossed and Anko sitting on the tree branch once more. She jumped off and joined her peers in front of Naruto. She wore the biggest smirk of them all.
"Pay up, pay up." She exclaimed, putting her hands out in front of Neko and Ibiki. They both conceded and handed Anko a wad of Ryo.
Naruto was confused, had they bet on if he would make it or what?
"Welcome back, from this day forth you will be known as Fox. No other ANBU knows your identity, keep it that way." Neko exclaimed. Naruto was confused, they had already chosen his code name, and it was one that he hated.
"Now, Anko will take you to the ANBU hospice, you are to recover from your wounds and meet tonight at the Hokage's tower. She will also take you to your knew living quarters." With her part done, Neko disappeared from the site.
Naruto was confused, he had to live in his own quarters, that didn't sound good at all. Seeing his face, Anko reassured him. "Relax, those quarters are for your ANBU gear and anything that you don't want to leave at home. You can still live with your brother." At that revelation Naruto smiled, a true smile… and fainted.
Anko caught him before he could hit the ground. "Got himself injured, looks like a giant cat's claw." Ibiki exclaimed, disappearing as well and leaving Anko with Fox.
"Brat did well. It normally takes longer for ANBU to pass this test." Anko stated, whilst disappearing with Fox in her arms. First stop, the hospice.
