From ANBU to Sensei

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any other form of Media.

Things to know before reading.

1.) How to read this fic. (No I'm not insulting your intelligence level. I'm just giving a template for easier reading.)

Normal writing.

"Character speaking."

Flashback -Start / Flashback -End

"Dramatic speaking" (used for strong emotion, or a Bijuu/Summon talking.)

POV (point of view change notice, followed by the character's name.)

Right now I'm standing in front of the ninja academy dressed in my old jounin uniform and wearing my circular sunglasses. As for the academy it's certainly an odd piece of architecture. The entrance is circular, but the rest of the academy is rectangular. The walls are white with red accents on the doors and roofing shingles. Last but not least over the doorway is the symbol of Konohagakure, a leaf with a spiral. "I can barely remember the last time I was here."

"We were nine years old."

I looked to my right and saw a woman with pitch black, wavy hair. She was about three inches shorter than me. She was wearing what appeared to be a really long white scarf draped over and around a red tunic-like ensemble. Her right arm had a red sleeve whereas the left arm was bare. Her most startling feature was her crimson eyes. "You're right. It's been a while Kurenai." I gave her an uneasy smile. Kurenai and I were on the same genin team, simply put there was history between us. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it we were never romantically involved.

"Ryuuji you never struck me as the type of person to take on a team of genin."

I shrugged my shoulders. It was easy to tell she was probing me to find out why I was here. "Hokage-sama felt my talents were better suited teaching the next generation about espionage and survival. I disagreed, however I might as well do the job right otherwise I wouldn't be here scouting out possible genin for my squad." I hope Kurenai is satisfied with that explanation.

"I had a similar idea. Why don't we go talk to Umino Iruka and ask if he can let us secretly observe his class."

I nearly chuckled at Kurenai's suggestion. Seriously...when does a ninja need 'permission' to sneak around and spy on people?

Kurenai and I entered the academy building. The interior was nothing wholly remarkable. The walls were plain white, and the floors were your simple wooden floors. It didn't take us long until we reached Umino Iruka's classroom. The room was rather large, and had many rows on either side of the room facing a gigantic blackboard. Which made sense, considering that on any given day it could house over thirty ninja hopefuls for hours on end. At this moment the room had only one occupant. It was a man dressed in the standard Konoha outfit that many Chuunin and Jounin wear. His distinguishing features were his brown hair tied into a 'pineapple' style hairdo, and he also had a scar across the bridge of his nose. At the moment he was taking cursory glances at various papers behind his desk in front of the blackboard.

"Iruka-dono would you mind if we observed the genin candidates today?" Kurenai asked as she approached the desk getting his attention.

"Not at all Yuhi-san...and you must be Gekkou Ryuuji."

"I take it Hokage-sama notified you of my recent reassignment." I asked wondering how my name got passed around the 'Konoha grape vine' so quickly. While I'm not an untalented Shinobi by any means. I also don't have the same kind of reputation as shinobi like Maito Gai and 'the Copy Ninja Hatake Kakashi.' In-fact I go to great lengths to be unnoticed at times.

"You should know 'the Konoha grape vine' better than I do. Nothing stays secret for long in a ninja village unless it is well guarded."

I could practically 'feel' Kurenai giggling behind me. Which was very out of character for her. Naturally I felt stupid for forgetting such an obvious fact about the 'grape vine.' "Well we should probably get to observing those genin now." I suggested while scratching the back of my head. Kurenai chuckled while Iruka sweatdropped.

"The genin are out at the training grounds outside in the back." Iruka said hiding an amused expression.

As Kurenai and I were about to leave an idea popped into my head. I formed a cross shaped handseal. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." I whispered and an exact replica of me appeared out of a cloud of smoke. Afterwards Kurenai and I exited the academy entrance and headed for the adjoining training grounds.

As we approached the training grounds I noticed Kurenai making handseals. Knowing her as I do, she was no doubt covering us in a genjutsu to hide our presence while we observed the genins. I nodded to her and we immediately jumped into the nearest tree that would enable us to get a Birdseye view of the training grounds. Being in a thick cluster of relatively tall trees, I was able to view the entire training grounds. There were several posts with either straw men, or large circles to use as a marker for target practice with any number of ninja tools, usually kunai and shuriken. There were also a few circular patches of ground, presumably some crude imitation of an arena for taijutsu lessons. Last but certainly not useful was a lone swing hanging from a tree near the academy entrance. As for the genin most of them were throwing things at the posts, one of them was sleeping...probably a Nara. The Chunin observing training was a silver haired man named Mizuki. He was looking on in disinterest until he saw the sleeping Nara and scowled. I chuckled at the sight.

"What do you think of the Uchiha?" Kurenai asked temporarily breaking me from my musings. Pointing to a boy with a blue shirt bearing the Uchiha crest.

"As far as throwing weapons at a stationary target goes. He's easily the best. I wouldn't be altogether surprised if he picked up that trait from Itachi."

Kurenai looked a little uncomfortable. "The fact that you can say his name so casually is disturbing."

"I was there that night remember?" She nodded, and I continued. "While I was able to save a few clan members. I was powerless to stop Itachi. If Hokage-sama didn't send in reinforcements when I sent out the call for backup, then I wouldn't be here talking to you." I wasn't aware I was grinding my teeth until I accidentally bit my tongue. It goes without saying...'that night' is a sore subject for me. "The tall genin in the long coat with the spiky hair and sunglasses has potential. He looks like he could be an Aburame. I've worked with members of that clan on many occasions." I said changing the subject. Then I remembered my old Anbu Captain Aburame Shikuro. He had a nasty Jutsu that involved microscopic insects that could devour chakra at the cellular level. It was Horrifying to witness.

Kurenai took a calculating glance at the boy in question. "He's an Aburame. I've worked with them before as well."

Kurenai and I continued to observe and evaluate the plethora of genin. Many of them were from prominent clans. My instincts were telling me that Hokage-sama is using the current peace we are currently enjoying to full effect based on the fact that none of the genin were younger than twelve. Simply put, the academy had a change in staff, education, and the genin themselves have had more time to spend with their families and learn their clan techniques. However one genin in particular caught my attention more than any others.

"Is that really Hyuuga Hinata?" I asked pointing to a girl wearing a white long sleeve coat with a tear drop symbol on the back. She had raven colored hair and the famed 'pupiless' eyes as the rest of her clan. Many people mistake the Hyuuga eyes as pupiless. Seriously if somebody were without pupils they wouldn't be able to take in light and see.

Kurenai nodded solemnly. "Yes. I used to escort her to the academy. Her childhood has been difficult, and not just because of that event."

The event Kurenai is referring to is the reason I joined the Anbu. Ten years ago a masked ninja had kidnapped the heiress to hyuuga clan using the peace treaty as a cover. The heiress was Hinata and her father Hyuuga Hiashi was the clan leader. He killed the ninja, who turned out to be the head ninja of Kumogakure. Kumo demanded Hiashi's dead body as compensation for the loss of their head ninja. However any ninja worth their salt knew it was another attempt at obtaining the Hyuuga clan's kekkei genkai, the 'byakugan'. Yet we conceded to their demands in a way. Instead of Hiashi being handed over to Kumo. It was Hyuuga Hizashi from the lesser branch who was sent in his twin brother's place. Hizashi was the Jounin sensei for my team. Neither me Kurenai or our other teammate Sarutobi Asuma were the same after that.

Asuma couldn't stand the fact that his father the Hokage could give into such a ludicrous request, even if another war would've broke out otherwise. So Asuma decided to join the Twelve ninja guardians and use his skills to protect our countries Daimyo. Asuma wasn't seen back in the village until eight years later.

Kurenai became a chunnin instructor for the ninja academy. It wasn't until recently that Kurenai was promoted to Jounin.

As for me, I went into Anbu and never looked back. The only people I associated with afterward were my friends, and my sickly younger brother Hayate. Now that I'm out of Anbu I have a lot of catching up to do in the socializing department.

"Ryuuji. Asuma and I have moved passed that. So should you." Kurenai placed her right hand on my shoulder in a comforting gesture.

I smiled. "You're right." It was then that I got a head rush. This head rush came in the form of memories of me having a lengthy conversation with Iruka. My Kage Bunshin must have dispelled itself. "I just received my clone's memories. Iruka and I talked about the genin's personalities as well as some background information. If you want I could share this with you."

"Sure Asuma and I were going to have lunch later at his favorite barbecue restaurant. He's also going to be a jounin sensei."

Both bits of information caught my interest. While I won't pry into Kurenai's potential love life, that doesn't mean I won't hassle her and Asuma about it when I confirm it. What kind of friend would I be if I just ignored such juicy blackmail. Naturally I hid any trace of my thoughts behind an expression of neutrality. "I'll see you there." I said before disappearing from the academy grounds in a swirl of leaves. I've said it before and I'll say it again, yay shunshin no jutsu.

I reappeared in front of a modest apartment complex. It was similar to most buildings in konoha, being that it was painted white with tan roof shingles at each level. What separated this building from most was the fact that it was newer than most apartment complexes. It was only a block away from the merchant district. The contractors had civilians in mind when they made the top level apartments slightly bigger than the lower level ones as an incentive to rent or buy them in favor of the more convenient lower level ones. My brother Hayate was smart when he bought his apartment on the top level. While a civilian would have to haul themselves up three flights of stairs, a ninja could make the leap to the top floor in a single bound. So to honor my brother's intellect I channeled a little chakra to my feet and leaped up to the top floor. As soon as I knocked on the dark red door to Hayate's apartment. I heard an angry feminine scream. "Go fucking figure, I unintentionally interrupt my little bro's 'fun time' with his girlfriend." I snarl as I berate myself.

A minute later and the door creaks open revealing my brother clad only in a pair of blue boxers. Hayate and I share the same general facial features, height, and light skin. That's where the similarities end. In contrast My hair is medium length dark brown, and spiky. Hayate's hair is light brown, down to his shoulders and flat. While we both have light skin, mine is pale. Hayate is sallow skinned as though he were perpetually sick, which he usually is. Aside from our differing states of dress, our eyes make the final difference. I keep mine hidden behind a pair of circular sunglasses. Hayate's eyes are small and grayish black. He also had bags under them.

"Ryuuji you are (cough) (cough) an asshole."

I nervously scratched the back of my head with my left hand. "Sorry bro. How was I supposed to know Yugao was with you."

Hayate smirked. "I was (cough) just kidding. Yugao has been (cough) (cough) wanting to spend some time with me since she (cough) (cough) (cough) returned from her mission."

"Hayate-kun have you ever told Ryuuji-sempai he has awful timing." Said a woman wearing a purple nightgown of some sort. She was at least five and a half feet tall. Her hair was a rich purple and passed her shoulder blades. Her skin was pale pink in color. Her eyes were dark brown and glaring at me. Despite how beautiful she may be, I knew her to be a top notch Kunoichi. I was responsible for her training in Anbu after all. Simply put if I was smart I wouldn't stammer out an awkward apology like most guys would do. If I was smart I'd keep my mouth closed and leave quickly.

"All I wanted to do was catch up with Hayate before I meet with the other jounin instructors, so I'll be leaving now." As you can see I went halfsies on this one. I quickly shunshin'ed away before I made the situation anymore awkward.

I reappeared in front of a slightly time weathered building. It was a barbecue restaurant renown for it's high quality, yet affordable beef. I would know seeing as Asuma discovered this place years ago, and I have been a semi-frequent customer ever-since. I stepped inside and as if led by a compulsion jutsu. I ignored my immediate surroundings. I knew the place well enough that I already knew that Kurenai and Asuma would be sitting close to a window with plenty of light shining through. Sure enough I found the table and Kurenai was sitting in our familiar booth. It was window side, and the last booth in it's row. Kurenai was sitting on the side with her back to the wall.

"Took you long enough. Asuma already placed our orders and went to pick them up."

I sat down opposite kurenai knowing Asuma would likely be sitting next to her anyway. "I stopped by my brother's apartment for a short visit. I didn't think you would be here this early."

Kurenai sighed. "For the past two years Asuma and I have been coming here an hour earlier than we usually did when we were a team."

I nodded knowingly. While Kurenai and Asuma did get over sensei's death, that doesn't make the nostalgia of sitting at our booth at our usual time any less painful. I probably should have taken that into account.

"Foods here." Said a man a little over six feet tall, looking in Kurenai's direction. He was wearing the same jounin uniform I was except he had a sash around his waist with the emblem of the twelve ninja guardians. Appearance wise he had a darker complexion than either Kurenai or myself, and his hair was darker than mine yet lighter than Kurenai's. He also had a short, thick beard on his face. His most defining feature were his unique brown eyes marking him as a Sarutobi. "And apparently so is our wayward teammate." He said finally looking at me while carrying a tray filled with the famous high quality beef and various vegetables. He quickly set the meat and vegetables down on the grill that was set into the table in our booth and narrowed his eyes.

I narrowed my eyebrows in return. "Says the squirrely bastard who joined the league of runaway ninjas."

Asuma snarled. "That's the twelve ninja guardians you conformist government voyeur." You could practically see lightning arching from my shades to his eyes.

Kurenai sighed. "Not even two seconds pass and you two resort to acting like genin."

Asuma and I looked at kurenai and we both burst out laughing. Even Kurenai eventually joined in on the laugh. I was the first to recover. Asuma sat down next to Kurenai after that.

"Look at us. Here we all are about to become jounin sensei's." I said wistfully.

Asuma and Kurenai became slightly pensive. Asuma looked towards me.

"Kurenai told me that you had a clone talk with Iruka about the genin. Feel like sharing the goods?"

I smirked. "Who should I speak about first?"

"Nara Shikamaru." Asuma said at once earning a raised eye from Kurenai. I shrugged and continued.

"He's the son of Nara Shikaku from the infamous Ino-Shika-Cho team. Iruka and I suspect that Hokage-sama wants to recreate that old combination since Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chouza both have children the same age and in the same class no less. As for Shikamaru himself, Iruka told me his grades aren't anything to write home about. Yet some of the questions in class he actually felt like answering were more detailed than some mission reports that have been submitted by various chunin. Iruka would know seeing as he has assisted the Hokage with administrative work from time to time."

Asuma had a thoughtful look on his face. "I thought as much. One time when I substituted for Mizuki I noticed Shikamaru sleeping in class. I threw an eraser at his head and woke him up. He took a quick look at the board I was writing on. I was showing the class how to angle Kunai trajectory using a formula I learned. I swear to you the kid studied it for a second before becoming disinterested and falling asleep again. Normally I would write it off as typical academy student boredom, if it weren't for the look of concentration on his face before he fell asleep."

I contemplated what Asuma said for a second. "It is possible that Shikamaru inherited his father's intellectual prowess as well as his inherent laziness."

Asuma seemed to agree with my assessment.

"What about Haruno Sakura. All I know about her is that she has the highest grades in the class, and an aptitude for genjutsu."

I looked towards Kurenai and began recalling information about the academy student in question. "She comes from a civilian family. As such Iruka believes that she studies hard to not be shown up by the clan children, as well as trying to impress the number one rookie Uchiha Sasuke. Beyond that there really isn't much more I could tell you."

Kurenai pondered what I said before I continued the line of questioning. We continued discussing what I learned from Iruka until I mentioned the name of a peculiar genin candidate.

"What do you two think of Uzumaki Naruto?"

Kurenai was the one to voice her opinion. "He was barely able to hit the stump with his kunai, and from what Iruka said to you his grades are worse than Shikamaru's. What interest do you have in him?"

Asuma didn't say anything, however the look on his face says that he agreed with Kurenai. While I knew that neither of them had any ill will towards the nine tails container. I wondered how they could miss the obvious.

"True the kid can't hit a target accurately for squat. However he also didn't tire out from hours of physical training. Don't forget that he doesn't come from a major or even minor clan. He's had nobody to train him one on one. Whatever he knows, he learned himself, similar to the Haruno girl. I think the kid has potential."

We sat in silence thinking of the possible teams we could lead until Asuma pointed out that our food was ready. We were about to load our plates when a familiar chunin entered the restaraunt winded and nearl out of breath.

"Has (pant) anyone seen Uzumaki (pant) Naruto (pant). He broke out of class.." Then he saw us in our booth and advanced towards us. We recognized him immediately. It was Iruka.

"Iruka why don't you sit down and explain the situation to us?" I said to him wondering exactly what was going on even though I already had the general idea.

For a second he contemplated running back outside the restaurant, but instead he took a seat next to me. Asuma used the opportunity to pile the choice pieces of beef onto his plate with his chopsticks, Kurenai did the same with the vegetables, while I waited for Iruka to explain the situation.

"I was teaching the class about the finer points of 'Bunshin no jutsu' when I decided to exist the room and come back in with a clone. I was going to have the class try and identify which was the real me. When I came back in Naruto was gone."

Kurenai quitely took a bite of a vegetable, Asuma reached for a piece of beef, while I kept my focus on Iruka.

"What did he do next, I doubt he broke out of class just because of his hatred of the bunshin jutsu."

Iruka's face turned flush with anger. "HE SNEAKED OUT TO PAINT ON THE HOKAGE MONUMENT." Iruka practically bellowed.

Our reactions were mixed upon hearing that. Asuma was silent and couldn't move. His chopsticks slipped and dropped a piece of beef that was on it's way to his mouth. Kurenai began coughing trying not to choke on a piece of broccoli. I promptly covered my mouth with my left hand and clenched my stomach with my right, and began quivering in place. Asuma snapped out of his daze.

"Iruka think about where Naruto will go next. Try to predict his next move."

Iruka must have taken Asuma's advice seeing as he immediately exited the restaurant. I tried to get up but only succeeded in falling out of the booth howling with obnoxious laughter. For what felt like five minutes I couldn't breath. It had been years since someone did something that utterly ridiculous. That last person to deface public property was Uchiha Obito. He threw toilet paper all over the Hokage's office. I laughed my head off then as well.

"Ryuuji get a hold of yourself. It wasn't that funny." Kurenai reprimanded me tartly.

I gathered what was left of my wits and sat back in the booth occasionally chuckling. I fished around my wallet and dropped my share of the bill down. "Your right 'hearing' about it isn't that funny. Which is why I'm going out there to 'see' it." I exited the restaurant and headed towards the Hokage monument.

POV- (Asuma)

After Ryuuji hastly exited the restaraunt I looked over to see Kurenai with an angry scowl on her face. As a precaution I scooted over a little. "It was kind of funny, you have to admit."

Kurenai's scowl lessened. "True, but that doesn't change the fact that Ryuuji can act like a child sometimes."

I sighed before a thought occurred to me that would calm Kurenai down. "You know because Ryuuji never ate anything, we have his share of the food, and he over paid."

Kurenai smirked. "Your right Asuma, lets enjoy this rare opportunity on his expense and order something fancier."

I took that as my cue at sat in Ryuuji's former seat across from Kurenai. From this vantage point I could observe her more desirable features unimpeded. Ryuuji didn't know what he was missing to say the least. Shortly after that a waiter came buy and we ordered some expensive imported sake. I lifted my sake saucer for a toast. "To our obnoxious former teammate." Who turned this luncheon into a date.

Kurenai mirrored my gesture. "To the baka who left too much money at our disposal."

We ate in quiet contentment after that.

Explanations

1.) Next chapter will be the formation of the teams.

2.) No Kakashi will not be a sensei in this fic. He will still have an important role to play.

3.) The teams will be similar to canon, there will be a switch however.

4.) I have a valid reason for keeping some Uchiha's alive. I will not tell you why at this time.

5.) As evidenced by this chapter the point of view will occasionally switch from Ryuuji to other characters.