Standard disclaimer applies.
Ch 2: Duty
"Sasuke! Wait up, teme!"
The boy in question turned his head to the annoying voice. Not again.
"Hey, let's spar! Sensei probably won't get there for a while, and I got nothing better to do than to kick your ass!"
"Leave Sasuke-kun alone, Keiko! Can't you see you're annoying him!" shouted his other female teammate. Sakura shyly turned to face the object of her affections. Sasuke knew that look in her eyes; he saw it a hundred times before. The whole world is populated with people who irritate me.
"Hey, Sasuke-kun, you want to-"
She never got to finish her morning ritual, as their teacher appeared in front of her.
"Enough. Hokage-sama is expecting us. Now, follow."
If they were surprised at his appearance, they didn't show it. The trio knew better than to question the orders of their squad leader. The only who had ever said anything was Keiko, and they were mushy compliments.
"Of course, Itachi-sensei! We're ready to-"
"Be silent." That shut her up.
Stupid girls and their stupid crushes. Why bother when one could train?
------
Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf village. Despite being one of the youngest shinobi nations, it had claim to a rise of power few could ever rival. Many inside the village were not aware of the origins of their home. It all began with the Bloodline massacres. These mass murders had occurred when those of the Hyuuga clan, at that time a part of Kumo, first came into conflict with the presiding Raikage. Even back then, Kumo fostered an aggressive eugenics program to further the powers of the bloodlines within their village. The result was the Sharingan. The mother of the first Sharingan child was a blood Hyuuga by the name of Natsumi. The father was none other than the Rokudaime Raikage himself, Hattori Aoshi. It was not a bonding made from love, but the Raikage's order that created the first Sharingan child. Aoshi had no love for his child; he just saw an avenue for more power, as those with power usually see the world.
Natsumi was adamant in her refusal to give up her child, for, unlike the father, she did not wish for any harm to come to her newborn, which would undoubtedly occur in the hands of that man. So, she ran away, as far as she could, until deciding to hide as a farmer in Fire Country. There she decided to raise her daughter. What, a daughter? Wasn't the first Uchiha one named Uchiha Madara? A popular misconception, at least by those who even know of the history of the Sharingan. In fact, the first person with the bloodline was a female. She was known as Hyuuga Midori. Actually, in an attempt to throw off their pursuers, her mother changed her last name to Uchiha, so Uchiha Midori would be more accurate. As the girl grew up, she did so without any knowledge of her true past, believing that her father died while she was very young. Her mother did not want her to know about the Raikage or the Sharingan, so she withheld such information from her daughter. She led a relatively carefree life, as any girl in her position would do so, eventually marrying a neighboring farmer's son, one named Kazuma Ichigo. As the years past, the two decided to move away after her mother had passed away. They traveled deeper into Fire Country, to a small, unnamed village. There, they had a boy, by the name of Madara.
Years past, and Madara grew into the strongest boy in the village. He was unnaturally fast, stamina unparalleled, and a mind as sharp as anyone had seen. The village was proud to have such a boy in their village, protecting them from bandits and such. News had spread about a boy in a village of Fire Country who rivaled even ninja. The aging Raikage, still enraged at the audacity of Natsumi, and by relation, the Hyuuga clan, ordered his men to capture the boy. One of those ordered was a Main House member of the Hyuuga, by the name of Takumi. A widespread search for the boy had begun in Fire Country. The daimyo was unable to prevent such an incursion; it would incur the wrath of Kumo, something his country would not survive. Fortunately, the situation was resolved by none other than the boy in question.
When they found the boy, they attempted to capture him. His father, Ichigo, tried in vain to stop the nin from taking his only child. They beheaded him for his insolence. Madara, who at that moment was no match for such elite shinobi, stared on helplessly as the enemy completed their gruesome deed. When his father's head rolled away from the rest of his body, the young boy's anger exploded. The Kumo nin never saw it coming. Half of them were dead before they realized the threat that had emerged. It was a quick battle, or a massacre, depending on your perspective. The last of the shinobi, Takumi as it turns out, trembled as he hugged his bleeding arm close to his stomach. He shuddered as the boy, now covered with blood stalked towards him. All he could think was…
His eyes are so red…like a demon's…
------
"Reporting as ordered, Hokage-sama!"
Sarutobi glanced up at the people he already knew were there. He couldn't help but smile at the girl's enthusiasm. "Yes, I can see that."
"Ready to go! So what high-profile assassination do you want us elite ninja to undertake? Or perhaps it's an infiltration into enemy territory? Or maybe a rescue?" Keiko was literally bursting with energy.
Sasuke snorted. As if they had done any of those things. All they had accomplished so far were tasks that could be done by toddlers.
"Actually, it is a rescue mission," said the Sandaime, his face settling into a serious countenance.
All three students' eyes widen. Then Keiko screamed, "All right! Finally, something that isn't stupid!"
Sasuke didn't verbalize his approval, but his smirk gave it away. Those who knew him saw this as a sign that he was excited about this prospect. Sakura herself seemed excited as well, but it wasn't hard to see the nervousness that settled over her features. A rescue mission? We're just genin, we're not nearly experienced enough.
Itachi, on the other hand, looked…the exact same. Even his younger brother couldn't tell if he approved or not.
"One of our most important clients has requested this mission. It is a rescue and retrieval. Take utmost care in handling this assignment." Then Itachi spoke for the first time since entering the office.
"Who is the target, Hokage-sama?" The Sandaime took a deep breath. The team members were on the balls of their feet.
"The cat of Hajime Seiko."
Keiko fell forwards. Sakura stumbled. Sasuke didn't move, but felt as though he had been backhanded across the face. Itachi, well...who the hell knows what he was thinking?
"Understood. Team 7, let's go."
As they began to leave the office, Sasuke looked back at Keiko, who hadn't budged. She seemed ready to explode at the Hokage, but instead she deflated.
"You know what? You suck, ojiisan."
------
"You love to tease her."
The voice belonged to another ninja who sat on the windowsill on the eastern wall.
"She assumes. A bad trait for a ninja." The newcomer didn't respond to that.
"You have your report ready?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama." The shinobi pulled out a scroll from his left hip pouch. "It seems that those rumors were false."
"I understand." The Hokage slipped the scroll into a drawer into his desk. "We'll discuss it later. Right now, we need to speak about your re-assignment."
The man quirked an eyebrow, but said nothing.
"You'll be taking Itachi-san's place as Team 7's instructor."
Sarutobi knew from experience that his subordinate didn't like that idea.
"For what purpose, Hokage-sama?"
"He is needed elsewhere. You are the only other available who is capable of teaching these children, especially Sasuke."
Ah, so that's why he was being re-assigned. "Circumstances dictated this change?"
The Hokage sighed. "They always do."
"When is this order effective?"
"Tomorrow. I will be briefing Itachi-san when you are meeting his team. Now, about your mission report…"
------
"Report."
"Kakashi-san has returned from his mission, Danzo-sama, and has just finished his briefing with the Hokage."
"Outcome of the mission?"
"Success. The rumors were silenced, and he was unable to discover any leads."
"Well done. Report back to your assigned post. We don't want people wondering where you've gone."
The ninja almost snorted, but held himself in check. Danzo-sama sure liked pointing out the obvious, but if he gave any outward inclination to what he was thinking, he'd be leaving in a body bag. Danzo required utmost obedience, in body and mind.
"As you command, Danzo-sama." With a shunshin jutsu, the man was gone. Danzo turned around, heading back into the arena where his trainees practiced.
The future of the Root organization…
The two boys were still exchanging blows. The black-haired one ducked beneath a roundhouse kick delivered by the boy with blond hair, springing from his crouched position with punch aimed towards the stomach. The blond continued with the momentum of his kick, and the attack causing a glancing blow. Without the resistance of the blonde's body, the other boy stumbled, leaving him exposed to his opponent. The blond brought down a knife-hand strike aimed at the back of his neck, only to dodge the kick heading at his face. When the boy slipped past his attack, the black-haired used one hand to flip away, creating some distance between his opponent and himself. They were ready to start anew when they felt another's presence. Both their heads turned their heads to the sparring area, as did Danzo's.
He's awake.
The newcomer approached the sparring mat. He bowed towards the two as he stepped onto the practice area. The original two nodded at each other before bowing to the arrival, then taking up fighting stances in front of him, as the third boy did the same. Without any signal, the two rushed their new opponent, a flurry of punches and kicks raining down upon their challenger. The boy was hard-pressed to avoid the attacks. It seemed as though he might have been on even ground against one of them, but it all he could do to defend himself. Once in a while a punch or a kick would slip past, but the melee continued. Danzo was getting annoyed
He still holds back. This is a problem.
"Stop, all of you."
At the sound of the female voice, all three sprang apart. The voice belonged to a woman who glided gracefully into the training area. At first glance, she appeared to be out of place in such a secretive organization, and more suited to the courts of nobility. Dressed in a purple kimono covered with the design of white petals, her hair elegantly done, it was hard to visualize her as a deadly kunoichi.
"Naruto?"
The third boy turned to the woman. "Hai, sensei?"
"Holding back because they're your friends only stunts their own growth."
The black-haired boy just smiled cheerfully, as if he had already known that Naruto was holding back. The other blond, however, was not so accepting of this news.
"Dammit, Naruto! You're always playing with us! Stop doing that! It pisses me off that-"
"Enough, Kaizo. If you couldn't force him to fight seriously, then the failing is partly yours."
"But sensei, he never does! He won't unless he's fighting you!" shouted the boy.
"I guess then we'll just have to be as strong as sensei, then," spoke the black-haired boy.
"Correct, Sai. Train harder, for the glory of 'Ne.'"
The occupants of the arena dropped on one knee and raised their heads as the voice of their leader echo within the chamber. As one, they responded to Danzo's statement.
"Only with strong Roots does the Tree weather the Storm."
Danzo looked into each students' eyes, seeing the whirls of emotions that passed through them. Anger, pride, fear. But above all, a sense of devout loyalty to the ideals of 'Ne.'
"You have all become strong, enough so that I must call upon your skills, for the good of Konoha."
The woman in the purple kimono replied, "But Danzo-sama, surely they require more training? They are no more than genin in skill. Perhaps in a few years…"
"Your concern for your pupils is commendable, Megumi, but even genin are required to do missions. Regardless, they are ready for the tasks I must assign them."
The woman glanced over at her boys, then bowed her head. "Of course, Danzo-sama. Forgive me."
No response was verbalized, as Danzo attention was now on Sai, Kaizo, and Naruto. They are strong, but they lack battlefield experience, and that is a flaw I must rectify.
"I have missions for all of you. Take them seriously, as your lives depend on it." His gaze lingered upon Naruto as the words left his lips.
Sai continued to smile cheerfully, as if he wasn't even listening. Kaizo grinned madly, excited at the prospect of a dangerous mission. Naruto…he simply stared unfocused, with small beads of sweat running down his forehead. One might think he was nervous about the mission, and Danzo knew that, in a way, he was. He'll learn to fight seriously. Otherwise, he'll be killed.
"Naruto, return to your room. I will summon you when I have completed briefing the rest of your team."
A little shorter than my last chapter, but it seemed like a good place to stop. Review if you like, but don't feel obligated. That way, I won't feel guilty when I read someone else's story and forget to review it.