A/N: And thus begins chapter 4... Again thanks to all my reviewers. This chapter, hints of JaceAnko will start to appear (Maybe. I'm doing this on the fly so who knows). Hmm, not much to say... Except enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not lay claim to Naruto, ergo call off your law-jutsu!
Chapter 4
Jace yawned as he looked at the three Genins before him. Their Jonin teacher was just about 3 hours late now. The Phoenix container was not amused, well, he wasn't irritated either, he was just kinda tired. The kids however were getting on his nerves. He thanked whatever deities were watching out for him that the 3 he raised had been, relatively, well behaved. First off there was Mr-I'm-to-Emo-to-smile Sasuke, who kept shooting Jace these odd, slightly creepy looks. Next to him was a girl who Jace had mentally named the Pink Haired Harpie, who just sat staring at Sasuke, asking him out, talking to him about God only knows what. Only to be met with stone cold silence every time. The last of the group was apparently conversing to the small dog on top of his head, Jace didn't have too much of a problem with this but the kid was damn loud and intruding on his sleep.
Ten minutes later Kakashi finally deigned to join the group of Genins, and Jace. He was about to speak when Jace flash stepped in front of him and with his free hand, the other holding a slurpee of course, grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him in close, "If you are ever that fucking late again I will rip your balls off and feed them to that kid's dog. Are we understood?"
Kakashi blinked with his one eye at the apparently pissed off purple haired man in front of him who, upon a quick sniff smelled oddly of Lilacs. He's... Kinda cute when he's angry. Kakashi thought quietly to himself as he nodded in reply to Jace. "I, uh, take it your the assistant the Hokage said I would be having?"
Jace growled in conformation before releasing the Copy Nin and sitting back down. Sasuke watched Jace sit back down, his own thoughts mimicking his new teacher's. Kakashi glanced over his team then shrugged mentally, "All right, roof. 5 minutes." He said as he Shunshined away in a swirl of wind and leaves. Jace sighed, disappearing in a blaze of white flames and lightning. The three Genins gaped at what they saw before dashing to the roof.
Kakashi carefully observed Jace over the top of his book, which was in fact a camera under a particularly well made henge, with great interest. His one visible eye scoured the purple clad man. "So, Jace right? How about after team training we get together and maybe talk about how were gonna work this?"
Jace, who had been staring off into space thinking of times past, looked at the cyclops, "Uh, I guess..."
It was around then the Genin's managed to find their way to the roof. Kakashi merely raised an eyebrow and motioned for them to sit down. "So, I'm new at this whole teaching thing. But why don't we start off telling a little bit about ourselves. I'll start, my name is Kakashi Hatake, I like... The color purple, things, I dislike... female competition, other things. My hobbies are... Gaining new appreciations for purple leather, Irrelevant."
Sakura just about shrieked, "We just learned your name!"
Kakashi shrugged, "Since you're so vocal about it, you can start off."
She mentally slapped herself and then blushed, "Uh, My name is Sakura Haruna, my likes are... (She looks at Sasuke and giggles.) My dislikes are... Ino-Pig and people who mock my forehead, my hobbies and dreams... (Again a side glance at the Uchicha brat followed by an inane giggle.)"
Jace swore mentally, Fangirls. I hate fangirls... Well better then fanboys I suppose. He shrugged indifferently as Kiba started.
"My name is Kiba Inuzaka, my likes are my dog Akamaru, playing with him, and learning new battle techniques, and my dislikes are cats, baths and people who don't like dogs. My hobbies and dreams? Hmm, I wanna work as a vet like my sister, and I love chasing cats with Akamaru!" He grinned widely at this as the small creature sitting on his head barked happily.
The group turned to the last Genin, Sasuke sighed and in his I'm-So-Tortured voice spoke, "I'm Sasuke Uchicha, My likes are getting stronger...And purple, my dislikes are idiots and weaklings, my goal is to kill a certain man and rebuild my clan. And maybe seduce a certain man while I'm at it." He said as he stared at Jace a little too much for the purple haired man's comfort.
Jace paused and sipped his slurpee, before he realized they were all looking at him expectantly, "Ugh, fine. My name's Jace. My likes are Slurpees, fighting, my adopted kids, my dislikes are assholes who betray friends, bastards who experiment on kids, and fuckers who abuse women and children. My goal was to destroy a certain place, but I did that, so looking after my kids has been my priority these days." The group stared at him for a moment deadpanned as he took another nonchalant slurp.
Kakashi shook his head, "Informative... All right meet tomorrow at training ground 7 at 8am sharp. Don't eat breakfast." The Genins all moaned and then dispersed, the masked Jonin looked at his so-called 'assistant', "So, uh, dinner then? When do you-"
"Eh, I'll cook something at the apartment, just show up at my place whenever. I'm sure a good ninja like you can find it." Jace drawled as he flame/thunder shunshined away. Kakashi put away his book/camera and cracked his knuckles. He liked a challenge...
-About three hours earlier with Team 9-
"..And those are my hopes and dreams, now it's your guy's turn." Kurenai Yuhi said to her three Genins.
Naruto shrugged, "All right I'm Naruto, I like ramen, my Dad who saved me from hell, my brother and sister, training, and ramen. I also like raising exotic plants. I dislike judgemental people, jerks who break promises, the wait time for my ramen. My dream is to become the best Hokage Konoha has seen!" He said that last part with a wide grin. Kurenai smiled at the bold haired boy then looked at Gaara and nodded at him.
Gaara shrugged, "I'm Gaara. I like my family, the one who cares about me anyways. I like the color red and experiencing new things. I, like my brother, despise people who would judge me before they know me, I hate the life I had before Dad, Bro and Sis came along." A harsh glare filled his eyes as he remembered his past. He shook it off and continued, "Dreams? I would like to become an equal to the legendary Sannins and see the world. Or settle down with someone important to me, works either way." He said impassively, his hyper-active brother giving him the thumbs up.
Kurenai motioned at Ino to go. The blonde cocked her head and thought a moment. "Hmm, I'm Ino Yamanaka, My Likes are Sasuke-kun, (Both boys rolled their eyes at that.) flower arranging, and gossiping. I dislike people who mock flowers and forehead girl. My dream is to become a Kuinouchi worthy of Sasuke-kun!" Both boys groaned at that last part.
Kurenai just sighed, "Ok then, everyone. Meet at the training ground at 10 tomorrow morning for one last test to see if you're ready to be Genin."
"What? But we already graduated!" whined Ino.
Naruto and Gaara looked at each other and shrugged, "No use complaining. I mean c'mon, we rock. We have a future Hokage and Sannin here! And... You, but you seem to be competent so it's all good." Naruto said with a wide grin directed at his fellow blonde.
Ino muttered something under her breath and wandered away as Kurenai disappeared in a whirl of leaves. The brothers looked at each other and shrugged heading off towards their home, "Hey Naruto... I bet Dad would get along well with Ino."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, "What makes you say that?"
"They both dress in purple." Gaara stated matter-of-factly.
Naruto raised an eyebrow as he stretched his hands over his head, "I guess. She's pretty hot ya know." He said with a slight grin on his face.
Gaara glanced at his brother, "I guess. I dunno, I liked Sensei's eyes."
Naruto elbowed his brother at that one, "You got a thing for our instructor?"
Gaara blushed slightly, "You breathe a word to anyone and it'll be a plan 36."
Naruto paled, "36? But that's... inhumane!"
They bantered a bit more heading back to the apartment.
-5 or so hours later-
Tayuya burst into the apartment, "Mother fucker! That bitch is fucking crazy!" She said as she dragged her body to the couch and collapsed on it.
Her brothers simply nodded in agreement as they went about their business. Gaara was sitting at the table his feet up reading a scroll on weapons. Naruto was looking through a monthly planting magazine. They had long gotten used to her outbursts at her trainer.
The red headed girl raised an eyebrow at the 'don't give damn' attitude her brothers had displayed. She sighed dramatically and rolled onto her back. She was sore all over from sparring with Anko, followed by a 'survival test' which had consisted of Tayuya hiding in the forest of death with Anko hunting her. Though the teen badmouthed the Jonin deep down she enjoyed it; which led to her suspecting a slight masochistic streak in herself, but whatever. She was however excited because she had finally proven her father's 'gift' to her battle ready, as she had managed to go toe-to-toe with the purple haired sadist (the female one anyways) for half an hour. She smiled as the man she viewed as a father walked through the door. "Dad!" She exclaimed happily to the sole person she swore her face off at.
Jace looked at his adopted daughter, "Hey sweetie, how was your day?"
Tayuya rolled her eyes, "The usual... For a bit, I managed to use it effectively today." She said rubbing her neck. "I managed to go on even with Anko-Sensei for a while with it." She said happily.
Jace mused for a moment before he smiled, "Great. Gonna have to spar with me and show it to me sometime." He said with a grin, as he drank a slurpee.
Tayuya smiled with praise before lying back onto the couch closing her eyes.
Jace walked through the kitchen glancing at what the two boys were doing. He shook his head as he saw a planting magazine in Naruto's hands. Sometimes I worry about that boy. He thought to himself. He was about to grab a can of ravioli when he remembered Kakashi had asked him out for dinner. He paused and mulled that for a bit. Wait, he asked me out... Nah I'm reading too much into it.
An hour later the Copy Nin arrived to pick Jace up. They walked out to a fairly decent restaurant and discussed possible training methods over dinner. As dessert was served, Kakashi chose to go in for the kill.
"So Jace... Are you single?" He said hesitantly.
Jace looked up from his omni-present slurpee, "Umm, yeah. Why?"
"Would, uh, you, uh. Like to go out with me?" The cyclops asked with hesitation in his voice.
"...Uh, I don't umm, swing that way." Jace said. Aww damn this is gonna make things awkward later isn't it.
"Are you sure?"
Jace raised an eyebrow at that, "Why does everyone ask me that? Yes, I'm quite sure."
"Oh. Then... You are like... The gayest straight guy... Ever." Kakashi said slightly surprised, he had been sure Jace was like him.
Jace shrugged, "Maybe, but I'm still straight. Sorry man. Hope this doesn't make things uh, awkward."
Kakashi waved him off, "Nah, it'll be fine." Cause I still get to look at you. Hehehe...
Jace was more than vaguely unsettled at the look the ninja was giving him. He got up, "Well, I gotta go. I had a nice time. Sorry again." He said as he paid for the both of them before walking out. Kakashi shrugged at the lost opportunity and resigned himself to finishing his cream puff.
-An hour or so later-
Jace had wandered aimlessly, more than a little too disturbed to go to home for the moment. He looked around to see where he was. "Entrance to Training Area 44? Forest of Death... Sounds like a nice place to me."
He gently tossed his now empty slurpee cup over his shoulder and used a shunshin to get into the forest. He smiled as he walked through the dark area, "Feels like old times." He said with a soft chuckle. He might love the life he had now, but he didn't mind the life he had before, despite the horrible violence it entailed. He paused in front of a particularly large tree, glanced at it, then jumped up. Landing on one of the branches, he curled himself up against the trunk and lightly fell asleep.
Half an hour or so later, his eyes fluttered open looking up into soft brown orbs. "Hey! Wake up!" The figure above him said as it shook him into full consciousness.
"Eh? Bah... Lemme sleep." The lilac haired man said sleepily as he sat up none the less. He looked over the figure before him, hands on her hips in a vaguely pissed off manner.
"Sleep somewhere else and get the fuck outta my territory," she almost snarled at him.
Jace raised an eyebrow slowly taking in her features, he snapped his fingers, "Ah! You're Anko, right?"
She paused for a moment and looked at him, "Yeah, what's it to you?"
"Nothing I guess, you're the one looking after my kid. We met like 6 months ago." Jace said calmly eyeing the woman.
"Oh you're the Brats dad? Were you the one that gave her the seal on her neck?"
Jace slapped his face. "Of course you'd notice... So much for secrecy."
"Hard not to notice; it was glowing blue after all." Anko said with slight impatience, tapping her foot.
"It glows? Damn I forgot to take that into account... Oh well it works well enough from what I heard her tell me." He sat cross legged on the tree branch as he ignored the glares from the woman before him.
"Mind telling me why my student has what seems to be a fucking curse seal?" She growled that last part out, hatred in her voice at the mention of curse seals.
"Curse seal? Please don't compare that twisted and barbaric... Thing... to the Phoenix Seal. Though I will admit it did give me somewhat of an idea for it." Jace said, "I gave it to her. Her brothers have... Extra sources of power and I wanted to make sure she'd be strong enough to match them."
Anko reflected on that for a moment, "Tell me what makes it so different then and I may let you walk away from here intact." She said as she drew a kunai and licked its edges.
Holy fuckin' hell that's hot. Jace shook the thought away and started his explanation, "Well, first off, the seal is based off the users own chakra. It slowly drains any unused chakra, it gets alot when you're sleeping for instance, or if you're eating, walking, not doing anything too chakra intensive. Doing this has 2 purposes, the first is it stores this unused chakra for later, and it slowly enlarges the user's chakra coils." He paused and made sure she was following along, "Anyways, it's got 3 levels, when the first level is activated the stored chakra is used to accelerate the healing process, probably allowing the user to survive some mortal wounds. The second level floods the user's body with chakra, making them faster and stronger than normal chakra enhanced abilities, the user still retains the healing factor as it also benefits from an increase. The third and final level gives the user access to all the chakra it's stored, a massive boost in power. Works something along the lines of a soldier pill, though it's about a thousand times more effective than one. Gives the user access to a chakra supply that if left alone long enough can rival that of a jinchuriki." He stated matter-of-factly.
Anko mused, decided she was satisfied with the explanation and sat down across from Jace. "Well I guess you're not the second coming of Orochimaru then."
Jace scowled, "Ugh do not compare me to the motherfucking won't stay dead creepy ass stalker snake bastard."
Anko raised her eyebrows at that comment, "Ah, you've met him then."
"Unfortunately. Prick just won't stay dead. I have a deep and abiding hatred for the bastard as he helped in the research that..." He trailed off at that.
Sadly for Jace once her interest has been piqued Anko Mitarashi doesn't let go... "That what? Hey believe me I have more than enough reason to hate the pedophile."
Jace looked her over, "Yeah, I've heard. The one person who said I was a fool for letting my daughter train with the, and I quote, 'Crazy Snake Mistress of a Traitor.'" He laughed at that, "Don't think the Ol' Bag realized I smacked her across the face till I was walking away."
"Wait, you... defended me?" Anko said, confused.
"Yeah I mean my kid likes you. Not that anyone could tell... And I got Ol' Man Sarutobi to tell me about you. After all I'm not gonna trust my kids to just anyone." He stated matter-of-factly.
"Wait wait, you know my past and you trust me?" She said, slightly stunned.
"Yeah, I mean from your mission record you've taken on some of the hardest missions and survived, so you're strong. And I despise people who judge others solely on their past and not on what they strive for in the present." He said with a slight smile. "I mean, hey, what's wrong with enjoying stabbing a guy in the face who deserves it? Well, alot of things I'm sure... But in my own defence, everyone I've stabbed in the face so had it coming."
They stared at each other for a few moments in silence before laughing, "I think I might just like you." Anko said laughing and finally putting her kunai away.
Jace smiled, "Good to know. Now what kind of things have you been teaching my daughter?"
Anko grinned sadistically launching into an explanation of her training and opinions on Tayuya. The two conversed like this for a few hours on topic ranging from their favorite methods of dispatching large amounts of enemies to the more useful aspects of some torture methods. They laughed as Jace told her stories of his time with his friend Dray. Eventually Jace stretched, looking around the thick forest. "Damn, I should get going before my kids assume I'm still with Hatake."
Anko laughed, "You realize he's-"
"Gay as rainbow colored bunny? Yeah, only after he asked me out..." Jace shuddered slightly, "And to make things even more fun I'm helping look after his Jonin team because he needs to focus on the damn Uchicha brat." Jace scowled as his trenchcoat clad companion laughed.
"Have fun with that... But I mean, can ya blame him for assuming you were..."
"Yeah, yeah, I already got 'the gayest straight man alive' comment from him." Jace paused, "Ya know, that'd make a great shirt. Have to make one sometime." He flashed a toothy grin. "So you hang in this place often?" He said gesturing at the forest around him.
"Yeah, pretty much the only one that comes here." Anko answered as she got up and stretched as well.
"Cool... Then I will most definitely come visit again." He said with a smile before he disappeared in a flash of white fire and lightning.
Anko grinned, "Show off."
-At Jace, Gaara, Naruto and Tayuya's apartment-
Jace appeared in front of the door, he checked his watch to see how late it was, and mentally flinched, Well. They should all be asleep... He opened the door to find all three of his kids staring at him, huge grins plastered on their faces. Fuck.
"So, Dad how was your night with Hatake-san.." Naruto said mockingly.
"Yeah you throw him down and fuck each other for a few hours?" The red headed girl said with a smile.
Gaara knew better then to comment but laughed slightly at his siblings.
Jace glared at them all, "For the last fucking time I am not gay! Get over it! I wasn't even with Hatake for long. After dinner, he asked me out." This elicited an 'Oooooooo' from Naruto and Tayuya, "And I said no. Then I went and hung at training grounds 44 and hung around there for a few hours." And with that he escaped to his room and locked the door behind him.
The kids shrugged it off and went to their respective rooms. Tayuya was the last asleep staring at the ceiling. Wait... Anko-Hag hangs at Training Area 44, or Forest of Death, was Dad with her? Naaah. She shrugged the thought off and drifted into a semi-peaceful sleep.
..............................
A/N: And thus ends this chapter. Wasn't quite sure how I wanted to end it so if it seems a little abrupt, I apologize. Hope you all enjoyed... And again, please review! Me and my multiple personalities love reviews...
Tune in next time for: More fun with team 7! More fun with team 9! And maybe, just maybe fun with A-Ranked Missing Nins!
Stats:
Kurenai: Age 22
Anko: Age 25
Jace: Age 32
Kakashi: Age 29