Hey guys! I have the official pairings that will last till the end of this story! Now, I understand the arguments behind some of them—some of you have made it very clear in your messages. I understand very much so, but I believe that Anko should stay as his big-sister figure. He really doesn't need that many girls on him. If there comes a time when I might actually have to add her, sure. But not now.
On with the show!
Naruto's face paled. "What?"
"You are the container for the Kyuubi." Anko said softly.
Everyone sat still. Haku grabbed his hand protectively while Tenten sat in thought. She'd only heard about the Kyuubi through tales of the orphanage, and all left the children with nightmares. She shook her head and broke down what Anko said; Scrolls contain kunai, a container.
"Anko-nee," Anko turned to her, "when you say container do you mean like my scrolls sealing my weapons?" Tenten asked.
She nodded. Frankly, she was glad that they were taking it so well, and from the looks of it Naruto was the one having the most trouble with it. The other two... well they were spending more time concerning themselves over Naruto rather than the news.
"So was this the reason?" A tear slipped.
Was this the reason why the villagers treated him so horribly? They thought he was the Kyuubi? He chuckled cynically to himself. Was he the Kyuubi?
Angrily gripping his hands together, Naruto let two more tears fall. It would make sense. The villagers were always glaring at him when he was younger, and had taken to beating him. It just explained so much... He had to know for sure!
"Am I?" Naruto asked through shaded eyes. None of them spoke out-right for fear of their own voices losing strength, but their shaking heads was all he needed before he smiled.
Courageously Anko found her voice cracking as she spoke, "You're not the Kyuubi. Got that?" She walked around her couch and pulled him into a hug with Haku and Tenten pulling themselves in as well. "You are Uzumaki Naruto." Haku said, "Never doubt that."
Rubbing her head on his chest Tenten wiped away the small trail of wet shock and showed him her scroll, "This is you Naruto." He raised his brow, eliciting soft chuckles from the girl, "You contain the Kyuubi like a scroll does a kunai."
Naruto nodded and gently held them close.
Nearly a minute later Anko broke off and wiped her face off with a tissue. "Keep this a secret guys 'cause the penalty for spreading the secret among the younger generations is death."
Haku nodded lightly; She had a question, but it was somewhat foolish to ask. "Can we tell our a few of our friends? Our closest friends only?" Bringing her hand up she put her hand through her hair in thought. "Only those who wear the masks you do, and no more!"
Smiling slightly Haku nodded. She was never one to really keep secrets like this from her friends.
On second thought, would Naruto want to tell? Peering up, one toothy smile was all she could see, but she had to be sure, "Naruto." Haku asked, "Are you alright with telling our friends?"
In truth, she knew what his answer was. He would say yes and then they'd be able to gauge their friends reactions. Most were fairly intelligent, more so for Shikamaru's case, but none had anymore knowledge on sealing or Kyuubi than what the academy taught—which wasn't much.
"Of course we will!" Naruto declared, "They'll understand!"
Anko shook her head before heading to bed. He was always so optimistic that at some point when she was staying with him and Haku she was afraid that he would turn her in to a Naruto version of a girl. Anko clicked her teeth, that would be interesting.
Hitching her head backwards she gave a mock-glare to them and said, "Come to bed soon."
"Damnit! That's cat's fast!" Tenten growled out.
"Just keep on him!" Naruto yelled, "She's heading towards the market district."
Haku and Tenten nodded. They took bounds of steps across rooftops like a bird flying high above prey. Quickly stepping from building to building Naruto viewed the surroundings: Buildings, trees, streets, people, birds, cat, dogs—wait cat! "Haku-chan! Tenten-chan! Over there!" Naruto pointed over to a street cross-roading the academy.
"I'll try to get him using my Ice-Release!"
Naruto nodded and wiped the sweat off his face. They'd been chasing the cat for hours with their sensei continuously leading them from a radio. How he was tracking the cat's movement was beyond him. All he did know, on the other hand, was according to a leader-board set-up in a bar somewhere was that the fastest time Tora had been caught was five hours after starting.
They had been chasing her for three. And every-time they got her in arms reach she would suddenly get some kind of burst enabling her impossible to catch until she was either neutralized or worn out.
Seeing the cat enter through the academy the trio gave chase through polished halls. The air rushing pas t them was one of learning. Intellectual growing and molding through trials of hard work. Then again, seeing many potentials taking tests could bring about those memories, unwanted or not.
Turning corners Haku made the sign for her bloodline when they found the turn to be a dead-end. A mirror formed behind, blocking from salvation to damnation.
The cat could almost feel that troublesome woman's body crushing it's own as it searched for a way out. Looking long and hard it licked it's chops and flicked it's tail trying to look intimidating. Vainly scratching at the brown-haired girls hands to receive a ball of ice with the smallest of holes around it did it finally surrender with one last hiss.
"Do you think we should tell her owner on how to handle her?" Tenten asked.
Haku nodded. "It would save the cat and some other unfortunate genins from future run-ins." she answered.
Haku looked down to the cat in her ball. The thing wasn't actively trying to cause harm. It scratched out.
Haku blinked, or maybe, it was. She stuck her ball out in front of her and let it float as they walked. She didn't want to be near it.
As they walked back out Naruto peeked into several class-rooms along the way, looking for the one that filled his head with so much warmth. The way someone looks upon a scene and says, "This is where I met her." He smiled, that was how he felt about his class. Some were acquaintances, and didn't receive the mask, but they were all fairly friendly to him. Itsuki may not remember it but they had met before their match with Kakashi.
Back when Naruto and Haku were together and she was sick he had ran around the village looking for someone to help him. He had ran to the Hokage but the receptionist wouldn't let him through that day. He had even ran looking for Anko but to no avail. Iruka wouldn't have helped... He'd spent an entire day trying to find medicine while Haku was stuck in bed coughing her little heart out until Itsuki had come to ask him what was wrong.
After that, the rest was history. Itsuki had gotten him his medicine without his father knowing and had told him how much to take simply from observing his dad.
Naruto gingerly wrapped an arm around their waists carefully and slowly pulled them in. They both stared at him curiously before they shrugged and wrapped either of their arms around him. Five minutes later Naruto's eye caught Iruka's new class in session. Gesturing over with his head he had Haku and Tenten follow him to the door where they all looked in.
It looked as if their old sensei was having quite a time. The class was chatting and being overall obnoxious. The worst though, out of the whole, had to be three students sitting in the back where they used to sit. In Haku's seat was a girl with twin pigtails rising to higher standards. Her black vest sat idly on her buckling over the pink she wore underneath. Naruto narrowed his eyes, he couldn't tell what kind of pants she was wearing.
In his old seat was the Hokage's grandson. Konohamaru, was it? He'd met him a few times before from his visit's to the old man's office. Occasionally there would be a small little munchkin trying to 'assassinate' the Hokage in order to take his hat.
All-in-all the trio thought he was adorable. Though after a few run-ins where Konohamaru attempted to 'assassinate' Naruto for some unbelievable reason he somehow transferred his obsession from Hiruzen to Naruto, which made it less adorable and more annoying. His outfit was similar to Moegi's in a way that he wore a green vest with a black long sleeve shirt under-neath, and sitting on his neck was a blue scarf.
The last boy sitting in Tenten's seat was Udon. Tenten had once said that he was the brains of the groups despite Haku's chastising. For him he wore a simple black jacket and glasses. Next to him he heard Haku cough a little. Apparently his little snot-stream made her uneasy—not that he could blame her.
Naruto let out a small breath and made his decision. He opened the door to his old room, and walked in. He'd never been one to do something like this in the past but... maybe he and his team could let loose for now.
Haku just shook her head in what he guessed was amusement since he could just barely hear her giggle. Changing sides he glanced shortly at Tenten who seemed to be playing the hardened kunoichi. He chuckled to himself; she was like that with everyone else but them.
He never did get to see this side of her that often anymore.
"Hello, may we interrupt?" Naruto asked, tilting his head.
"I suppose Naruto-kun, but for what exactly?"
"I just wanted to see the next up and coming shinobi." Naruto answered honestly.
Iruka considered the idea. It was an interesting to say the least. He hadn't ever had a fresh genin team come in so perhaps this would be a good idea to present what his students could potentially become.
"Alright Naruto." Iruka said, turning to his class, "Alright every-one. I know we've only been here for a few days but I want to show you all something." He turned to Naruto and gestured for him. Naruto stepped forward into Iruka's hold.
He calmed his breathing as Iruka continued, "I want to show each of you what you all could become when you graduate." He motioned for his other team-mates. "These are our newest genin, but these one's in particular were ranked top in their class."
Many looked excited until one voice silenced the rest, "I bet I could take you." A purple haired girl walked down, her pupiless eyes glared hard at them as she walked briskly towards them.
"If you're anything like Hinata than I should be able to beat you." She proudly declared.
Naruto just stared at her before he shook his head. Had she been listening to a word her sensei had said? His answer was spoken easily when she walked straight up to him leaving herself completely open. If he were in her position, he would've been approaching much more cautiously. Slightly turning his head to Haku and Tenten he waited for an answer.
They both nodded.
"You do know that Hinata wasn't top of the class, right?" Naruto said slowly, softly even.
The girl nodded, abeit slowly. "Than why would you antagonize us when we were the top of our class?" Naruto stated, "Learn humility and please listen." He brought his hand to pat her head and send her off. That is, if he could've. The girl had stopped his hand before he could offer some semblance of forgiveness.
"You do know who I am right?" Naruto and his team shook their heads. "I'm Hanabi Hyuuga."
"Nice to meet you." All three said quietly.
"The feeling isn't mutual."
"Here." Naruto kneeled down. "You know what I think you need."
Hanabi raised one brow bemusedly. "I think you just need a hug."
Behind him Tenten leaned over to Haku. "What did you do with Tora?"
"I've brought her to Ibiki." Tenten nodded. Little bastard deserved it.
Hey guys! Made it to the end! Yeah!
Alright I have some news for you all. I'm going to be writing another story to hopefully compensate for Anko's non-relation to Naruto! Frankly, I've been wanting to write this for a long time and I've been giving it a lot of thought. So! Everyone go ahead and PM on this one since I have no intentions of supporting another story-even if mine—through another story not even crossing over. Mind bend right?
Anyways, I will be making these longer, by the request of Skilgannon the Damned.
... I'm tired guys. I'll be having training in the morning from 7:45 to 12 and then 5:30 to 8 so I'm not going to be able to update for a while. Sorry about the inconvenience. I will update within the next few days though so no frowny faces!
R&R and PM guys! See ya!