Foxfish
Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto
XxXxX
Ages:
Naruto and Isaribi and the Rooky Nine: 12
Anko: 22
Yamato: 24
Kakashi: 26
Third Hokage: 70
Gin- 15
Hyuuga Haran- 23
XxXxX
'Thought'
"Speaking"
"Jutsus/Demon speaking"
"Fish speaking"
XxXxX
Previously
Gaara was on the ground, bleeding from slashes and cuts all over his body and Naruto was walking up to him.
His cloths were torn and he likewise had cuts all over his body. Looking up as the ANBU approached, he let out a weak smile before collapsing to the ground.
XxXxX
Now
Naruto's eyes slowly opened. Greeting him was the off white tile ceiling of Konoha's hospital.
Afternoon light poured in through the window to the right and through it Naruto was saw Konoha bathed in yellow and orange light.
To his left there was an empty chair and another hospital bed, also empty.
Naruto lay there half awake watching as the light from the outside coloring the room orange, red, then blue. Soon the artificial lights drowned out the darkness as night set upon the village.
Naruto was about to close his eyes again when he heard the sound of the door to the room sliding opening. At first he thought it might have been Isaribi or even Anko but instead was greeted by one of the medical-nins working at the hospital.
In silence the medical-nin checked over Naruto, running a complete medical scan on Naruto and writing down the results on his clipboard.
"How are you feeling?" asked the medical-nin, looking up from his clipboard.
"Tired and a little sore, but that's it" responded Naruto. "How long have I been out?"
"You've been out for a little over a day" said the medical-nin, glancing at the dates and times on the clipboard to double check this.
"Ah...and the preliminaries for the third exam, how did they go?"
"Sorry, I don't know myself. I've been on double duty since yesterday, but if I hear I'll let you know" he said as he began to leave the room.
"Ok, thanks."
As the medic left, Naruto was once again left in silence. Night had fully set on Konoha and the village was all lit up.
Hearing the door slide open again he was greeted not by the sight of the medical-nin returning but by Anko.
"Hey gaki, how ya feeling?" she asked as she sat down on the chair next to him.
Pushing himself up a little, Naruto responded, "Fine, just tired and sore, but nothing big. A medic was just in a few minutes before you walked in and he didn't say there were any problems."
"Yea, I ran into him on his way out. Nice guy, done a couple of missions together... He said that you were alright and could leave tomorrow morning at the earliest."
Nodding his head, Naruto pushed himself up even further, "What happened to the preliminaries?"
"Oh, what, after you helped to destroy not only the tower but part of the forest too?" Anko smirked. "That Gaara kid, the Jinchuuriki from Suna has been sent home and his brother and sister both withdrew to escort him home, and when I say withdrew they were ordered to return home by the Kazekage."
"The remaining genin went through their own matches today in the stadium. Let's see now...Hyuuga Hinata fought Akimichi Choji and she won. Inuzuka Kiba fought Nara Shikamaru with the Nara just barely wining, that kid is a freaking genius, was able to get the Inuzuka and his dog to knock each other out. Hyuuga Neji fought Dojin, the bandaged guy from Oto, Neji killing him. And last but not least Aburame Shino defeated the last guy form sound, Zaku, by having his arms blow off!"
Silence descended the room for a moment before Naruto asked, "So, when will the official third exam be held?"
"In about a month. This allows the contestants to rest up and train a little while at the same time giving the dignitaries and diplomats plenty of time to gather here."
Naruto was about to ask another question but Anko held up her hand to silence him. "I've got to get going gaki. Visiting hours ended long ago but I'll come back tomorrow with Isaribi-chan and hopefully get you out of here" she said with a smile before patting him on his head, to Naruto's chagrin, and leaving the room.
XxXxX
The next morning came with the doctors doing one last checkup on Naruto before the doctors said that he was fit to leave the hospital.
All his original cloths were too damaged to be salvaged so the hospital provided him with a pair of grey sweatpants and a blue t-shirt to wear home.
It was going to be an experience Naruto wasn't looking forward too. Not only news of what happened would have been heard by every villager, he would be showing off his green scaled skin for everyone to see and gawk at.
Just as he finished putting on his shirt and as thoughts of everyone pointing and staring at him filled his head, Naruto heard the door open.
Expecting to see Anko and Isaribi he was surprised to see Gin and Haran walk into the room.
" Haran-sensei? Gin-san? What are you doing here?"
"What? We can't walk our injured teammate out of the hospital? The same teammate who stopped that insane Suna kid?" smirked Gin.
"N-no, that's not what I meant..."
"We came yesterday too, along with Isaribi-chan, but you were still out cold."
"But how did you know I would be released today?" asked Naruto looking at Gin.
"My wife is a doctor here, so of course she was checking up on one of my students" said Haran in a tone of voice that made it seem like that piece of information was common knowledge to everyone. "Although I don't think she was one of the doctors who treated you."
"Oh, my thanks to her then" said Naruto awkwardly.
"Not a problem. Shall we get going then?"
Naruto paused for a moment and fidgeting on the spot. "Anko said that she and Isaribi-chan were going to stop by so..."
"Ah yes. I already sent word to her and she will be meeting us at the restaurant" said Horan.
"Restaurant?"
"Yes, to celebrate you and Isaribi-san passing to second exam" said Horan.
"So I passed? Even though I never actually fought my match?" asked Naruto.
"And what would you call that battle with that Suna kid you idiot? A step dancing competition?" laughed Gin.
"That counted as your official match, but the Hokage will be wanting to see you soon" said Horan. "He will send a messenger to get you, but there is time to eat first."
As Horan turned to leave Gin suddenly reached into his bag on his back, "Ah, almost forgot," he said as he pulled out a pair of sandals and the standard issue rain cloak for Konoha shinobi.
"Heard your shoes were destroyed too" He said giving Naruto the sandals. "And I wasn't sure if you wanted to cover up so..."
Gratefully, Naruto took the cloak from Gin and put it on with the hood up, "Thanks Gin. Really, thank you."
"Hey no problem, what are friends for?"
Soon they were out of the hospital and walking down the street heading towards where most of the villages restaurants were located.
"Man, now all we need is for you and Isaribi-chan to become chunins and we can go in more exciting missions!" exclaimed Gin happily as they walked.
"I mean, don't get me wrong the patrol missions weren't that bad" said Gin quickly, glancing over at Horan. "But I would like to take on some higher paying missions too."
"If we all are chunins, what type of missions will we take?" asked Naruto looking over at Horan and Gin.
"Well, recon, assassinations, higher level escort missions, guard duty, and even some sabotage missions will all be opened up for us. But that doesn't mean we will stop going on patrols too" said Horan looking specifically at Gin for the last part.
"It just means that we will be open for more dangerous missions. We are still one of the few water specialist teams in Konoha, so our missions will try to play to that. But given your performance against Suna's Jinchuuriki, Naruto-san, even if we take on missions in the heart of earth country we should still be fine."
The conversation settled down as the neared the restaurant, a steak house owned and operated by the Akimichi clan.
Walking inside Horan gave the waitress their reservation number and quickly they were seated at a corner table waiting for Anko and Isaribi to arrive.
They didn't have to wait long as so they heard the exuberant call of "Haran-kun!"
Turning in his seat Gin looked to see Anko and Isaribi approaching the table.
"Dude, that's who you live with? I thought she was supposed to be a complete snake loving psycho but she's a complete babe!" exclaimed Gin turning to Naruto.
"She is" deadpanned both Naruto and Horan at the same time.
"Aw and what are you boys talking about here?" slurred Anko as she approached the table.
"Just warning Gin-san here about you" said Naruto.
"Hey Naruto-kun, feeling better?" asked Isaribi sitting next to him.
"Much better, thanks!" he said with a smile.
With a smile on her face, Anko sat down next to Horan and pulled out the menu.
"Anko-san, this is my other student Gin-san" said Horan formally introducing Anko to Gin.
"Ah, Naruto-kun and Isaribi-chan have told me about you. You specialize in Ice based jutsus, don't you?"
"Y-yes" stuttered Gin a little.
"That's very unique. Not that many people in Konoha know those types of jutsus."
"My family is originally from Snow country but joined Konoha when it was founded, so...yea" said Gin nervously as he glanced down at the menu in front of him.
Taking the sudden break to jump in, Isaribi said, "Anko-chan, how do you and Haran-sensei know each other?"
"We've done some missions together" said Horan, not glancing up from his menu.
"Some missions? Some Missions? It's because of me you fell in love with your wife!" said Anko, practically shouting.
Tuning to Gin, Naruto, and Isaribi she said, "So here's how it went, we were sparing and-"
"Anko-san, I don't think they need to hear this" said Horan, slightly nervous.
"Shush you. Anyways where was I...Oh yes. We were sparing and things got a little out of hand. He was going without using his Byakugan when one of my snakes got the drop of him and bit him. You should have seen it, the venom causes extreme pain and he was on the ground crying like a girl."
"I was not crying like a girl Anko, your damn snake nearly killed me and all you could do through the entire trip to the hospital was alternate between laughing and apologizing to me."
"Well who would have thought a bright yellow and orange, four foot snake would get the drop on a Hyuuga in the middle of an open field. Anyways, he was through the worst of it and requested to returned to the Hyuuga clan compound. The doctors agreed as long as one of the Hyuuga doctors on staff checked up on him. And as luck would have it, that doctor would become this blok's wife" finished a grinning Anko.
"I would have married her anyways. Your story makes it seem like I never knew she existed when in fact I was trying to get to know her the formal way. Your poisoning just sped things along."
"Yea, keep telling yourself that"
"She still mad at you, did you know?"
"After all these years?"
"Hell hath no fury..."
After that the conversation turned to other light hearted topics as the group ordered and ate their food.
Soon the meal was over and as they were leaving the restaurant they were confronted by a chunin messenger.
"Uzumaki Naruto. The Hokage requests your presence immediately" she said before taking off again.
After saying good bye to everyone, Naruto quickly took off in the direction of the Hokage's tower.
XxXxX
Sarutobi sat behind his desk contemplating the piece of paper in front of him. With it the life and dreams of one of his shinobi would be forever altered.
He felt that chunin approach the door and before she could even knock, Sarutobi called out, "Enter."
"Uzumaki Naruto here to see you, as requested" said the chunin.
"Thank you, send him in please."
As she left he saw her motion to the smaller cloaked figure behind her. Entering the room and approaching the desk, Naruto dropped the hood from his head, reveling his green hair and scales.
"Naruto-kun, congratulations of an excellent show of force. You were able to take down a powerful enemy and sustain only minor damage to yourself."
"Thank you Hokage-sama."
"But it also presents a problem. You see, in you battle you showed great skill and power not only in controlling the power of the Kyuubi and taking down the Suna Jinchuuriki, your actions also made it known to all present without a doubt that you contain the Kyuubi."
"This isn't a problem with our own forces as they already know of your burden, but it was kept secret from the other villages. Now, because of your actions, this fact has become known the Suna, Oto, and possibly Ame and Kusa."
"H-hokage-sama, I had to other option. You ordered me to take him down and to do that I needed to draw upon the Kyuubi" explained Naruto nervously.
"I'm not reprimanding you Naruto-kun. You were acting under my orders" said Sarutobi with a small smile. "I'm telling you this so that you know why this decision has been made."
"What decision?"
"It has been agreed upon by the council, to have you removed from the exam so that the other contestants have a fair chance at passing and so that it will not look like to the other villages that we have rigged this exam to go in out favor."
Naruto just stood there in silence
"So I am not allowed to become a chunin?" he asked in a soft voice.
"No, no my boy. This means that your power level far surpasses most chunins, and certainly most genin." Taking a deep breath, Sarutobi continued, "Do you know about Uchiha Itachi?"
"He was suppose to be a genius and he snapped and killed his entire clan."
"Yes, yes. At the age of 10 he passed the chunin exams and at the age of 13 he became and ANBU captain. You and him have some similarities. Where he was a genius, gifted with one of the best tactical minds that Konoha has ever produced you could be considered a genius in the use of force and power. Where he could cause an opposing force to fold in on itself due to planning, you could take one head on and come out on top."
Standing up and going to the window he continues, "He was to one who first came up with the idea of causing the shadow clones to explode on command. Something that you have taken a step further, if I'm not mistaken."
"Yes sir... but no offence, but what does this have to do with me not being allowed to finish the chunin exams?
"You have proven yourself loyal to Konoha multiple times and have shown that you can control the Kyuubi to a certain extent. Do you remember your battle with the Suna Jinchuuriki, Gaara?"
"Yes sir"
"Do you remember the jutsu you used to create the fox heads out of earth and water?"
"Yes sir. The Kyuubi showed me how to do it, kinda. It's hard to explain but he showed me the idea and the hand seals and...well, you know the rest."
"Yes, yes I do. But did the Kyuubi reveal where it knew this jutsu from?"
"No, he just showed me what to do."
"Ah, yes. The original move was developed by one of our kunoichi who was killed in the Kyuubi's attack. Originally from the whirlpool village, she came to Konoha when that village was heavily damaged and united with Konoha. Of course it wasn't a fox head that it made, but rather a replica of her hand."
Going back to his desk, Sarutobi pulled out a square piece of paper and handed it to Naruto, "I want you to channel some chakra through that."
Almost instantly the top of the paper became mushy while the bottom dried out and was on the verge of turning to dust.
"What does this mean?" asked Naruto holding up the card.
"That is a special type of card for discovering a person's chakra affinity, surly you've heard about it before."
Seeing Naruto nod his head, Sarutobi continued, "The top part means that you have an affinity for water, while the bottom says you also have an affinity for earth. This means that Earth and Water types of jutsus will come much easier for you than fire, wind, or lightning."
"Naruto-kun, I have to ask you, are prepared to take on highly dangerous missions where there might not be any backup? To remain loyal to Konoha and the Hokage in the face of all hardships and against all odds?"
"Yes sir" said Naruto without so much as a pause.
Sitting back down behind his desk, Sarutobi looked up at the portrait of the Fourth Hokage looking down onto the room.
'He is ready and Konoha can use his strength. You would understand Minato.'
"You passed the test Naruto-kun" said Sarutobi as he signed the paper in front of him.
"You are now officially offered a position in Konoha's ANBU forces. Go home and think about it. If you accept then head to this address at noon tomorrow if not there will be no consequences towards you. You are dismissed."
'Forgive me Kushina'
XxXxX
Naruto walked back to the apartment in silence, contemplating the Hokage's words and what would come next.
When he finally made it back there was still a few hours of sunlight left and at first glance the apartment was empty.
Sitting down at the table he pulled the note with the address and just stared at it.
So absorbed in his thought he didn't notice Anko coming out of her room, dressed only in a towel and her hair soaking wet.
Humming to herself she pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge before turning to Naruto.
"So, what did the old man want to talk to you about?"
"Yes" was all Naruto mumbled, still staring at the piece of paper.
"Naruto-kun...I'm talking to you...Earth to Naru-" said Anko a little put off as she rounded around the table but stopped when she saw what he was looking at.
Nothing about the paper gave it's content's away, but Anko knew that address. After all she too had been presented a similar piece of paper after an impromptu meeting with the Hokage.
The ANBU, besides being the elite shinobi branch in Konoha were also under the absolute control of the Hokage, and that meant that only the Hokage could give the final permission to allow someone to join their ranks. He doesn't always interview them personally, but on occasions he will.
Sitting down across from Naruto, Anko placed the water bottle on the table next to her.
"So that is what he wanted to talk about. What did he say to you?"
"He said that because it would become known from to the other nations that I and Konoha's Jinchuuriki, I will not be allowed to participate in the third exam" said Naruto quietly. "But that I am strong enough to be placed in the ANBU."
Silence filled the apartment until Anko broke it, "I remember when I was called to the Hokage's office for the same reason. I was trying to get into the ANBU them, filling out applications and taking dangerous missions, where here you are chosen by the Hokage personally. But even though I wanted it, I still had to think, 'Is this really what I want?' I won't lie to you and say the ANBU is a glorious force. It's hard, it's dirty, and above all it's dangerous."
"Every single day you could be sent on a suicide mission without warning and be expected to carry it out, because if you don't many, many more lives could be lost. But in it you can meet some of the strongest most capable shinobi this entire village has to offer."
"I can't tell you what you should or shouldn't do. This is a decision that you and only you need to make."
Standing up Anko walked towards her room. "I'm going to get dressed, and when I'm done you and me can go pick up Isaribi-chan from the training field I left her at."
She was about the enter her room when she turned around and walked back towards Naruto. Pulling him into a hug he said, "Whatever your decision is, I will fully support you as best I can."
Kissing him on his forehead, Anko retreated back to her bedroom and closed the door behind her.
XxXxX
The next day Naruto found himself outside of the ANBU headquarters.
Adjusting the pack on his shoulders Naruto took a deep breath and walked into the building.
XxXxX
And that's it for now! Sorry about the long delay between updates. That won't happen again (I hope...)
So what did you think? This chapter was focused on Naruto, but next chapter will focuse more on Isaribi.
Ja ne!