Disclaimer: Naruto is the property of Kishimoto.
Chapter 7
Six months later,
Naruto and Itachi could be seen standing in a training ground facing off each other.
"Hit me with a fire technique." said Naruto
Itachi nodded and made hand-seals.
Fire Release: Fire tiger explosion. A huge tiger made of fire appeared from Itachi's mouth and rushed towards Naruto.
Naruto forced to earth not to rise for blocking the fire as the tiger neared him. Just as the tiger came to a distance where he can touch it with his hand Naruto made a swipe move with his hand and Itachi saw his technique sucked into nothingness.
"What did you do?" asked Itachi never seen a technique like this before.
"I created a vacuum as soon as the fire reached me." said Naruto.
"But you have the earth for defense against fire, why make such a technique that requires too much precision." asked Itachi.
"I won't have earth everywhere." said Naruto.
Itachi nodded agreeing with Naruto.
'But the technique has its limit. Too early and the surrounding air would fill the vacuum and too late the fire would hit me.' thought Naruto.
"Now my turn." said Itachi and took out a ninjato strapped to his back.
He activated his sharingan and had to deflect a wind shuriken instantly. Soon many more wind shurikens started coming his way.
Itachi was deflecting every shurikens coming his way with his ninjato embedded in chakra for 20 minutes now.
"Thats enough you two." said Kurenai appearing behind Naruto. The whole filled was filled with slice marls.
"Hokage sama has called both of you." said Kurenai.
Itachi and Naruto nodded and headed towards the exit.
"Are you not coming?" asked Naruto when he saw Kurenai not following them.
"No I haven't been called. Just you two."
"I will meet you in the dango shop. Now go." said Kurenai.
Itachi and Naruto turned back and disappeared.
Hokage Tower,
"The ANBU Commander has noticed both of your talents. As such he is interested in recruiting You in the ANBU."
"So Itachi, Naruto are you ready to join the army?" asked the Hokage.
"When do we begin Hokage sama?" asked the boys at the same time.
"Go to the ANBU office next day. The first six months would be your probation period. Hence you would be under observation of a senior. Then he would decide your rank and post." said the Hokage.
Naruto and Itachi bowed and left the Hokage's office.
"So what do you think?" asked Naruto while the duo were walking in the Konoha streets.
"Its a good opportunity for us to test our strength against stronger enemies." said Itachi.
...
Dango Shop
Kurenai, Itachi and Naruto were sitting in a corner table talking with each other
"So what did Hokaga sama want this time?" asked Kurenai.
"The Hokage had some propositions for me and Naruto." said Itachi.
"What do you mean by proposition?" asked Kurenai.
Naruto looked around to see if anyone was listening. Seeing no one he said. " The Hokage wants us to join the ANBU."
"So you two..."
"Yes we have accepted the promotion." said Naruto.
"So we won't remain a team any more." said Kurenai more to herself.
She knew a time would come when she would be separated from the boys. they were too strong to remain chunin any longer and still they were growing. But still she became sad.
"I would miss you two. Anyway congrats and these four years with you were best of my life." said Kurenai with a sad smile.
'And four years I have cared for you Naruto.' thought Kurenai.
"Same for us Kurenai." said Utachi.
"We have to meet our senior tomorrow." said Naruto indicating that this was their last meeting as a team.
Kurenai nodded and said, "I guess now I would try for the position of teacher in the academy."
Naruto looked towards her questioningly. "Yes I wanted to teach someday but its not permanent after all I have to become a jounin too." said Kurenai.
The trio became silent.
'Its not like that I won't see them anymore but still its hurts to know that Naruto won't stay beside me from now on.' thought Kurenai.
"Okay guys we should call it day. Good Bye." said Kurenai and ran out of the shop.
Itachi and Naruto looked at each other trying to understand what happened to her.
"See you tomorrow at the ANBU office." said Itachi and bid Naruto goodbye.
Next Morning, Kurenai's Apartment.
Kurenai could be seen sitting on a chair drinking tea. She couldn't sleep at all last night. Every time she closed her eyes Naruto's face appeared before her and she remembered she won't be seeing that face every day from now on. She didn't think Naruto as the cold hearted Kyubi brat as everyone else thought. To her he was just a lonely boy abandoned boy who needed love.
'How strange life can be. I am infatuated with a boy younger than me and whom the all village is afraid of.' thought Kurenai.
She was broken out of her thoughts when someone knocked her door.
'Who could it be at this hour' thought Kurenai as she reached for the door.
"Naruto" said a surprised Kurenai seeing the blonde boy whom she was falling for.
"You haven't slep last night." said Naruto looking towards Kurenai's eyes.
"Yea nightmares. Anyway what are you doing here. Shouldn't you be meeting your senior." asked Kurenai.
"Yes. I won't be seeing you for a while so I want do say good bye to you."
"And...thank you." said Naruto
"What? I don't understand." said Kurenai.
"You are the first person to show concern for me so thank you for that. Anyway bye." said Naruto and turned to leave.
"Naruto." said Kurenai.
Naruto looked back only to see Kurenai rushing towards him. Kurenai hugged Naruto with all her strength. Naruto remained in the hug.
"Okay I must be going now." said Naruto after some time.
Kurenai nodded and released him. Naruto stared at her and started walking away.
'Don't forget me Naruto.' thought Kurenai.
Kurenai was the first and only person showing concern for him, caring for him, always asking if he had eaten anything or not. Naturally Naruto started expecting her care and developed a weakness for her.
"Aren't we suppose to meet at the ANBU office?" asked Naruto.
"That was the plan but Uchiha district happened to be in the same direction of Kurenai's apartment." said Itachi appearing behind Naruto.
The duo looked at each other and continued walking.
ANBU Office,
"So where is our senior?" asked Itachi to girl sitting in the reception.
"Don't worry your assigned senior is a little tardy. He will come." said the girl.
Itachi and Naruto had all ready met the commander and were informed about the ANBU code of conduct. Now they were waiting for their senior. They were given the basic ANBU gears and a blank mask. They would be given actual mask after they passed the probation period.
"Good morning." said Kakashi entering the office.
"Kakashi." asid Naruto.
"No no. From today I am Kakashi sempai to you too." said Kakashi eye-smiling.
"So you are our assigned senior. I see." said Itachi.
"Yes boys and as you can see we are already late so lets begin your probation training." said Kakashi.