Start Chapter 14 and From Behind the Fox Mask to the Next Generation Arc
It's been a long two years and I'm ready to come back home. I learned so much from Jiraiya and our travels. Although he taught me a lot of stuff he wanted to pass onto me I don't exactly plan on using a lot of it unless it's needed. I mean in all honesty the Rasengan and its variations are cool. Summoning toads is going to be very useful in the future for communication and possibly in battle. I'm not one for flashy techniques, so we'll see how all of this actually will be applied in combat. Well we're almost home so I guess I'll go.
Outside of the Leaf Village
Naruto and Jiraiya walk slowly towards the gates of the village, "It's been a while since I've been here." Jiraiya motions for Naruto to go ahead home. Walking at a good pace the blonde Chuunin sees not much has changed about the village, "Except for Tsunade's head being added to Hokage Mountain." He smiles at the addition and walks to his apartment.
Inside of Naruto's Apartment after a Cleaning
The blonde Chuunin smiles at his work before turning to his empty kitchen. He begins to scrounge around for food and eventually finds some cup ramen, "I guess this'll have to do." Shrugging his shoulders Naruto starts preparing the instant meal. Once it's done he sits down and begins to eat it. Recalling how he used to live on this stuff back in the day he smiles nostalgically. A knock at his door peels him from his musings and he looks out the window to see, "Iruka!" Rushing over to the door he opens it to reveal his mentor, "I missed you!" Embracing the Jounin in a manly hug the two separate, "Come on in."
Iruka nods before entering and taking a seat, "I've come to tell you that you've been promoted to Jounin." Naruto looks shocked and smiles in pride as Iruka hands him a set of black Jounin slacks and shirt, "That means we're on equal ranking now, but enough of that, how was your training trip?" Still in shock the blonde Jounin shakes it out before going into detail about what he learned.
After a while Naruto finishes his story and asks, "So what have you been up to?"
The brown-haired Jounin shrugs his shoulders, "I've been running missions mostly, training hard, the usual." Pausing and looking out the window Iruka sighs, "Well it was nice seeing you again. I expect you to be at the Hokage's office ready for missions tomorrow at noon." Naruto nods and Iruka takes his leave. Stopping at the door the brown-haired man smiles, "Naruto I'm proud of how far you've come in these past few years, but I want you to remember where you came from. Don't lose sight of what's important to you." Closing the door behind him the Jounin leaves for the night.
Naruto processes that before saying, "I guess grocery shopping will have to wait until after the mission." Yawning and looking at the clock the blonde decides it's time for bed.
At the Hokage's Office the Next Day
The two Jounin stand side-by-side waiting for their mission orders, "You two will be conducting a search and destroy mission along with retrieval of important documents in Water Country. A couple of Chuunin level Mist Ninja have gone rouge and taken some important documents. The Hidden Mist Village wants some assistance finding them and these documents." Handing Iruka the scroll Tsunade waits and the two accept the mission given to them, "Alright then make your preparations and get a move on." As they exit the room the Hokage says, "By the way Naruto those Jounin robes look good on you." The blonde thanks her and the two leave the office.
Somewhere in Water Country near the Hidden Mist Village
Naruto and Iruka traverse through a small path off the road that has been recently cleared. Keeping their eyes peeled for traps they tread lightly as the go through unknown territory. Eyeing something off the blonde Jounin motions for Iruka to hold his position and he squats down noting a tripwire. He inspects even closer to notice that there is not only a second tripwire, but also a third that's practically invisible, "Tricky, the good news is I saw it." Stepping over the trap they keep an eye out for anything else that's out of place. A little while later they see smoke coming from out in a heavy mist, "I think we've been detected." Naruto says quietly and Iruka nods as they draw their weapons. Charging wind chakra into his knuckle busters Naruto gets ready. Iruka draws a baton and charges water chakra into it forming it into a katana, "I'm going to summon some toads to help us track them." Biting his thumb and making hand seals the blonde Jounin summons some smaller toads to go hunting.
Hearing rustling Iruka says, "Here they come." Not soon after water flies at them and both of the Leaf Jounin quickly counter with water jutsu of their own. Naruto makes more hand seals for a wind technique that sends a strong wind through the area effectively clearing the mist. Four Chuunin are revealed and the duo stands back-to-back quickly coming up with a plan.
Naruto makes a cross-handed seal before saying, "Ninja-Art: Shadow Clone Jutsu." Twenty Naruto's surround the area and in groups of five the doppelgangers engage the ninja, "Take out one at a time and then re-group." Without much effort Naruto and Iruka are able to effectively neutralize two of the rouge ninja.
The other two however, manage to beat the clones of the blonde with ease, "Okay time to take them out, you take the one on the left I'll take the one on the right." Iruka says and they go to work. Naruto drops his training weights gently on the ground before rushing at his target with blinding speed. He lands a solid blow to the ninja's heart with his knuckle-buster and the rouge ninja collapses dead. Iruka comes over to Naruto with the head of the other one, "Well that was easy let's get their heads and those documents then head over to the Hidden Mist Village." Getting to work the two ninja clean up the evidence of their relatively easy battle.
At the Mizukage's Office
Iruka hands the Hidden Mist's military leader the scroll containing the heads of the missing ninja and the unopened documents they were carrying, "Thank you Iruka Umino and Naruto Uzumaki I will make sure to send the Hokage my thanks and here is the compensation for their bounties." They bow in respect for the foreign leader before taking the money and heading home.
In the Hokage's Office a Couple Months Later on Naruto's Birthday
Naruto and Iruka report back after another successful mission in Earth Country involving a rescue mission, "Well good job you two. Now Naruto I see that you've come back from 31 C-rank missions 24 B-rank missions and 17 A-Rank Missions and haven't failed one of them." Naruto nods confused by that statement, "I'm wondering if you would consider becoming a member of the ANBU eventually."
The blonde Jounin shrugs his shoulder, "Well not really, but I wouldn't turn it down if I was offered it."
Tsunade nods, "I see, well it's nice to know that, good job on your mission." She waves them off and they leave the office feeling confused. A shadow comes from the corner of the office, "Pick him up later, but don't kidnap him. I feel like that would create a lot of problems." The dog-masked ANBU nods before leaving in a puff of smoke.
Later that Night
Naruto sits reading a book on fire ninjutsu when he feels a presence entering his room, "Who are you?" Drawing his kunai he turns to see a dog-masked ANBU, "ANBU, what do you want with me?"
A muffled voice says, "I'm here to extend you an invitation to the ANBU Black-Ops of the Leaf Village. Should you choose to accept this offer you will be taken away to our headquarters and you won't leave there except for missions." Pausing for second the masked-figure says, "You will not exist in this village for your time in the ANBU unit and will be required to wear a mask anytime you are outside of your bunker. You will not be allowed to use your real name just the codename of assigned to you." He breathes before asking, "Do you accept these responsibilities?"
The blonde nods, "I do."
"Good, we're starting your training now. Get dressed." Throwing Naruto ANBU clothing, armor, a ninja-to and a fox mask he waits for the blonde to suit up. Once the teen is ready he clasps on the mask, "Come follow me." They head out into the night and towards the ANBU facility.
Underneath the Leaf Village Several Weeks Later
Naruto struggles to maintain being awake as he goes through silent training. He's sleep deprived, carbohydrate-depleted, and irritable. Dodging a hail of kunai that comes at him the blonde is beginning to feel the fatigue of the past few days set in. He blocks a ninja-to swipe from his opponent and goes back to hiding seamlessly. Feeling a prickle on the back of neck Naruto turns to parry a downward slash from his enemy before kicking the ninja away from him into a tree knocking them out. He hears clapping coming from the upper deck, "Very good Fox you're almost through with the last phase of your training. Take a lunch break." Sighing in relief the blonde heads out of the training zone and into the mess hall to eat. Once in there he grabs some food and collapses onto a lunch bench.
The dog-masked ANBU from the other week comes and pats him on the shoulder and says, "You're progressing very quickly, and you might break the record for fastest training time." Naruto smiles at that as he lifts his mask and begins to eat slowly trying to savor what little nourishment he's getting, "Are you glad you joined the ANBU?"
Chuckling dryly the blonde says, "For the most part, yes. It'll be nice though when I can start eating and sleeping normally again." The two share a laugh, "So I've been wondering why you re-joined the ANBU?"
Lifting his mask the dog-masked ANBU reveals it to be Kakashi Hatake; "I got tired of dealing with Sasuke, Sakura, and that other kid. They never learned to work as a team and eventually it wore on me. Now that they're all Chuunin I don't have an obligation to teach them anymore." Naruto nods and goes back to eating his meal for a bit, "Once you're done eating come to the testing ground, I think it's time you take your final exam." Getting up and putting his mask back on Kakashi leaves the blonde to his thoughts.
Later that Day
Naruto crouches in the bushes waiting for his opponent to relax. Once the ninja does he moves in for the kill. Sneaking up he presses his ninja-to to the neck of the enemy and says, "Yield." The ninja does as he's told and clapping rings throughout the upper deck. Naruto feels exhilarated knowing his training is finally done.
"Congratulations Fox, you are now officially a member of the ANBU Black Ops of the Hidden Leaf Village. It's time for your marking and induction ceremony." The blonde ANBU member heads out of the training zone before heading out finally done with his torture.
A Night after the Marking and Induction Ceremony
Naruto looks over the village atop of the head of the Fourth Hokage dressed in his ANBU attire and sighs in relief, "I'm one step closer to my goal dad. Are you proud of me?" A warm breeze blows comforting the blonde and he closes his azure eyes for second taking in the moonlight. Opening his eyes behind the mask he says, "I will not fail the village, mark my words." Fazing out of sight the blonde leaves the Hokage Mountain to undertake his first mission as an ANBU…
In the Dead of Night Somewhere in Wind Country
Scanning the area behind his fox mask Naruto decides it's time to start planting the explosive tags under the bridge. Waiting for the searchlight to scan the other way he makes his move once it hits the far end. He darts to one of the critical points in the bridge and plants three explosive tags. A mirror flash signals everyone is in place and the team clears the area. As the guard shift changes the unsuspecting Sand ninja and bridge are blown to smithereens as the tags at the supports and mid-section ignite. Naruto and his team move through the brush remaining undetected. Sighing in relief at the successful completion of his first mission Naruto stays on guard as they move through the night.
In the ANBU Mission Office
The blonde ANBU and his team report back from their mission, "The target was destroyed, there were several Sand ninja inside as expected and they were killed. We remained undetected throughout, so they will not know we were the perpetrators." The highly decorated ANBU behind the desk nods and burns the mission report.
"Very good Fox, Dog, Cat, and Hawk you may take a break for the next three days until your next mission." The ANBU bow and leave the mission's office before heading towards their bunkers.
Once inside his Naruto takes off his mask and sighs in fatigue. Kakashi asks as he takes off his Dog mask, "You alright Fox?"
The blonde nods his head, "Yeah, just tired from staying up for so long. I'll get used to it eventually." Undressing and heading into the shower room Naruto cleans off the mission grime and gets dressed to eat before bed.
As he exits the room Kakashi says, "Hey, Fox you're doing great right now. Just keep up the good work and you'll make it through." Naruto nods before heading to the mess hall to get some food after his first real test…
Author's Note: I know the progression between Chuunin, Jounin, and ANBU was short. However, I wanted to move onto the main part of the story at this point. From here on out things get real interesting. Stay tuned.
End Chapter 14