Chapter 4: The Third apprentice

The title needs adjustment because team Anko isn't very imaginative. There have been many suggestions and a PM came in suggesting as a joke 'the A-team'. Honestly, it made me laugh so I thought to share it here. Also picturing Hinata as BA did not help much.

At the twins house.

All heads turned towards the door. Another knock came, this time slightly softer almost hesitant.

A light bulb went off in Naruto's head, that's right Hinata would show up. He made his way towards the door once more just as enthusiastic as he had been the first time he had thought it was Hinata. "Hi Hinata!" Naruto yelled as he swung open the door.

However the woman in front of him wasn't Hinata. Naruto couldn't help but think how often that would happen to him today and why was he so anxious to see Hinata anyway? Perhaps it was because he finally made a friend that wasn't his sister.

"H-hi N-Naruto." The delicate rather shy reply came from behind the woman. The lady who now saw that the place was safe stepped aside showing Hinata behind her. Anko watched and wondered what Kurenai was doing here, as far as she knew Kurenai was training for her jōnin exam and didn't take any missions unless they were inside the village. That must be it, she mentioned before that she sometimes had guard duty over some Hyūga kids, she never mentioned who though.

"Hey Hinata-chan, who is that?" Naruko butted into the conversation also wanting to say hello to her friend and curiosity had gotten the better of her as to who the accompanying Chūnin was. The woman now standing beside Hinata had long black untamed hair and the most unique red eyes with an additional ring in them. She looked wicked.

"Hi. I am Kurenai Yūhi and I am currently Lady Hinata's bodyguard." The next part she directed to Anko "Oh hello Anko, didn't know you were here too. How are you?" Anko didn't reply she just grinned and gave a short nod instead.

The kids looked questioningly trying to puzzle out how the two women knew each other. A small part of Naruko was relieved that they knew each other; she didn't think she could stand another one of Anko's fireworks introductions.

Seeing the confused looks on their faces Kurenai explained: "I met Anko during our Chūnin exams. We both became Chūnin she was only 12 and I was 13 at the time." Unlike Anko she was calmer and her tone just gave you a warm comforting feeling. Almost as if you were talking to a bigger sister, she had a very protective yet gentle aura around her. Meanwhile Naruto's eyes just got twice as big. He couldn't believe that his new sensei was only 12 when she became a Chūnin, that was amazing!

"Aawh Kuri-chan you leave out the best part." A wicked grin was now part of Anko' face. "What Kuri-chan meant to say was that we both kicked ass during the Chūnin exams and then got totally drunk. She might look all sweet and stuff like that but boy she outdrink anyone. "Anko laughed as Kurenai blushed while mumbling about simply liking shōchū (strong sake) and that it wasn't as bad as Anko made it out to be and something about a baka named Asuma.

Naruto couldn't help but laugh. He truly liked Anko, she was not only strong but also playful, bold and told it as she saw it. He wondered if she would help him with some pranks once she would come back from her mission. Hinata and Naruko shared a look, they both had the feeling that there was more to that story and wondered who Asuma was.

"Anyway it is good that you are here tomato-chan. As I just told your two little friends here I won't be here in the next two years so I wrote down training instructions for you all in these scrolls." Anko threw a scroll towards Hinata who caught it easily. "However, we have a problem." At this Naruto and Naruko looked away in embarrassment knowing what was coming next. "These two here can't read thanks to stupid idiots not teaching them." You could clearly hear the venom in Anko's voice directed to some unknown villagers who were supposed to teach them. At this point Kurenai's eyes widened, she was briefed earlier by Hiashi about Anko's inclusion in the secret but it was a complete surprise that she was supposed to be training them too. It would explain though why she was here in the first place. Perhaps she could help with this. After all some jōnin would eventually take a genin team and she herself had hopes to attain one too. Well, once she passed her own jōnin exam that was.

"Perhaps I can be of assistance with this?" Kurenai phrased it as a question but there was a certain resoluteness underneath it. Like it or not, she was planning to help.

Everyone but Anko looked surprised at this suggestion. Anko knew that Kurenai wanted a team eventually and just as she had hoped, Kurenai's helpful nature caused her to offer assistance. Perhaps this was easier to solve after all. Who knew they might even swap being sensei's to the kids. A large part of Anko still couldn't believe she somehow managed to end up teaching not only one kid but three. She must be going soft. Dammit! That was it no more dango fuelled nice moments. Knowing full well she was in a good mood when she offered Naruko apprenticeship while eating dango. She knew that had to be the real reason, there was no way after all that she, Anko Mitarashi, was going soft. No way in hell.

"Well that solves it. Kuri-chan here will help you with reading and writing while Hinata already starts with the scrolls. Now if I am not mistaken the academy starts in less than two months right?"

The three of them nodded.

"Good that means you have until them full time to learn. I'll leave it to Kurenai to set up a time-schedule for you. I should be back about a years' time before you all graduate. Should you need a space to learn or a quieter place than this neighbourhood my house is available. Kurenai has a key ask her for a copy. Also before I forget, you can borrow any theoretical books from the library, just say that I gave you permission. I have to go now. Cya in two years kids, ja mata!" With that Anko shushined away.

The four of them stood there awkwardly for a while until Kurenai decided to break the silence. "Sorry we haven't been properly introduced yet, I don't know your names."

"Oh sorry, I am Naruko and this is my twin brother Naruto Uzumaki. Pleased to meet you Yūhi-san."

"Just call me Kurenai-sensei or sensei. No need to be so formal. Pleased to meet you both too."

Naruto was moping about the fact that this would have been the perfect moment for him to use Anko-sensei's firework banner introduction. He couldn't wait to learn how to read. Perhaps she left it behind in one of the scrolls she gave them. He wondered though what her rank was. "So is Anko-sensei a Chūnin like you?"

Kurenai was slightly shocked at the question. In her experience most avoided her friend like the plague as she had the reputation of being slightly sadistic in the best of times. This kid sure was different. Looking around in the room she realised that all three children were actually very different from the average kids that you could find in the village. "No, she isn't. She is a tokubetsu jōnin – specialized in torture and interrogation."

"Yatta, we've got the best sensei around." With that Naruto did a mini celebration dance. Hinata blushed thinking how cute he was and brave for being so open. Naruko was amused at her brother's actions as she herself tended to be slightly more revered in comparison. She wasn't nearly as outgoing as him; at times she envied his ability to always see the best in people.

Naruko was thinking about how much could change in less than 24 hours. They were always very reliant on each other as it was hard to ignore the villagers' constant hate. Last night she had come home very late and it was obvious that Naruto had worried about her. It was sweet how he tried to not show the over protective brother mode too much but once he saw her he couldn't help but hug her. They had talked about everything that had happened once she wasn't in such a bad mood anymore and she had filled him in on the events. That is when he told her he had been really worried and prepared to go out looking for her, fearing that the villagers had acted upon their threats of violence. And yet he still wanted to become Hokage, something about protecting her and getting recognition. Firstly she loved the gesture but did not need her brother to protect her and secondly why would he want to be recognized by those fools anyway? They might have been twins and all but at times her brother really puzzled her. She did know he had a special strength in his character that would make others follow him, he was indeed one of a kind.

Before she could contemplate more about the villagers and why they were hated with such a passion her thoughts were interrupted by Hinata's question.

"E-ex-cuse me K-kur-enai sensei, but wha-t are you pla-planning to teach us?" Hinata tried her best not to stutter too much but she was still struggling. After she went home this morning she didn't stutter much at all only when Naruto was well being very sweet and giving her compliments once she explained about her eyes did she stutter. But after spending the whole morning with her Hyūga family her newly found confidence had shimmered away and she ended up stuttering more than once again. Hinata had really hoped that she would get rid of her own habit soon. But the angry frowns or worse the ever disappointed faces of her family were just too much to bear. Even her own sister two years younger than her started to look down upon her.

Kurenai simple smiled at Hinata, knowing full well that she purposely said 'us' as to not further embarrass her friends that they couldn't read. "Well Hinata-chan I was planning on getting some books from the library to start us of." She now said Hinata-chan as they were amongst friends however as long as she was in public she would continue to say Lady Hyūga or Hinata-sama depending as Hyūga protocol demanded. "Would you like to join us?" Kurenai directed the question to the Uzumaki twins.

"Hai." Came the answer in two-fold.

About the same time in the Hokage's tower.

"I would like to see the Hokage." Anko was still peeved at her previous meeting with the kids. How on earth was the Hokage allowing this to happen? Old idiot, professor of shinobi her arse.

The snobby secretary looked up and down the tokubetsu jōnin standing before her. Noting that it was Anko standing before her she snidely remarked that the Hokage was too busy for the likes of her. Clearly this woman was suicidal.

Hearing a commotion outside of his office Sarutobi went to investigate. Once he opened the doors he burst out laughing. "Anko, may I ask what you have done to my secretary?"

"Oh konnichiwa Hokage-sama, I was just teaching this little piggy here to learn some manners."

The secretary's clothes in question had somehow turned bright neon pink while she herself was now sporting a pig's snout and tail. As she tried to launch a protest only the sounds of a pig squeaking came out (Or so she thought as Anko had placed a small genjutsu over her).

With a few last laughs the Third decided that enough was enough and asked Anko to undo it, inviting her into his office. He told one of his Anbu's to start looking for a new secretary... again.

"Not that I minded the distraction of the never ending paper-work but why are you here? Should you not be preparing for tomorrow."

"Hai, I was indeed preparing for tomorrow but I wanted you to know that I've got a complaint to file for two youngsters. Specifically the Uzumaki twins, they were forbidden by the teachers in the pre-academy to learn how to read and write."

"I know..." It was a silent admission of the Third and he truly felt his age at this moment. He was already aware of this fact a while ago but due to the amount of work he had to complete everyday he had simply forgotten about it. Anko was fuming at this point, ready to whack the old guy over his head. "How could you let this happen?!" She stood up from her seat, slamming both her hands on his desk.

"Sit and calm down Anko-san!" His tone left for no argument and Anko realised that he was still the village leader so she listened... for now. But he better had one darn good explanation.

"I knew of this a while ago when Naruto stopped by my office, I asked him how school was going and after sometime he admitted that they were usually kicked out of the class room or simply not taught. Now I cannot say I am blameless here, but once I raised this issue during one of the school board meetings they said the teachers were fired. In hindsight I should have checked. But seeing that I never heard Naruto about it again I assumed it was in the past." With that he produced a sake bottle and poured the two of them drinks.

Anko however was not satisfied with this answer. "Why are they not in an orphanage? Scrap that how come they live on their own and have no one checking in on them? You should have seen the place, it was a dump."

At this the Hokage was actually shocked.

"What do you mean they are on their own? I've been assured that there is one of the attendees of the orphanage checking in on them daily. How did you come by this information?"

"Sorry to tell you Hokage-sama but you clearly have no clue what is going on in the village if you believe that." Anko ignored his second question as she was not willing to divulge her growing interest in training and taking care for the brats.

Sarutobi felt that stab literally. He always thought that the will of fire was strong even in the villagers but it seemed that the hate they carried for the Kyuubi overshadowed that. He hated to admit it but it seemed that Anko was right. "Perhaps we can find a ninja to live with them?"

Anko wanted to suggest herself but as she was leaving it was impossible. Suddenly she remembered that Kurenai was staying at her place as Kurenai had some trouble with her landlord. "Or we could move them into my place"

"Anko you know you will be gone for two years tomorrow, it won't help a thing."

"No that is not what I meant. Kurenai, I gave her my keys as she had some issues with her landlord she is staying at my place from now on, seeing as I am not there. She is the yucky-sweet big sisterly type after all. Plus I already told the kids they were welcome at any time..." Anko trailed off knowing she said too much, there was no way the Hokage wasn't going to question how and why she seemed close to the twins. However, it seemed like he was too excited at the prospect of finding a good home for Naruto and Naruko, and he never questioned her about it. They discussed some minor details and he said he would fill in Kurenai once Anko had left for her mission.

Moments later Anko had left and Sarutobi found himself alone in his office once again. He was glad to see that Anko had taken the promise of being Hinata's and Naruko's sensei to Hiashi so serious. He was even happier that Naruto was now included into this as well. Yes, he had neglected his duties towards the children of his successor in favour of the village but it seemed like things were going to work out for the better now. Still he had to address the fact that his command was ignored, he signalled for a messenger. It was time to hold a meeting with a certain pre-academy school and the orphanage, heads were guaranteed to roll tonight.