The author says: Hello my lovely readers, this is chapter 8 for you :)
The last chapter received a lot of positive feedback and I thank you all so much! Every single review makes me smile! ^^
Oh and here's a promise for you: I won't abandon this fic! I promise to finish it! I don't know yet how long it's going to take, considering that university starts again in two weeks, but it will be finished!
And now, happy reading!
I don't own Naruto!
'He had no idea'
Chapter 8
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.
- 'The Times They Are A-Changing' by Bob Dylan
"The time to transfer bodies is close, Sasuke-kun", the snake Sannin's voice sounded exhausted, as if it cost him a lot of energy to even speak. "Kukuku", he chuckled weakly, "I will finally possess the perfect body."
A fit of coughing shook Orochimaru's sick body. Droplets of spit flew from his mouth, spraying his blanket and hands. His head lolled back against the headboard of the large bed he was half lying, half sitting in. The amber snake-like eyes closed limply.
Sasuke stared at his sensei with a look of pure revulsion and contempt on his handsome face.
Orochimaru looked beyond pathetic. Sasuke couldn't believe the man's words. Was that weakling really still thinking he'd give his body to a man that was nothing but a shadow of his former self? Sasuke couldn't deny that Orochimaru had taught him everything he knew and that he had been a formidable master. The raven truly believed that he would never have acquired the same level of skill and power, if he had stayed in Konoha. Training under the legendary Sannin had brought him closer to reaching his goal of killing Itachi as ever before. Aside from that, there was nothing left to learn from him.
Sasuke had the strong feeling that he had surpassed his teacher. Looking down at the form of the weakened man, a feeling of superiority filled him. Right now, Orochimaru was inferior to Sasuke; he was sure of that. They hadn't sparred in weeks, because of Orochimaru's decreasing health, but Sasuke knew that in his worn-out state the Sannin was no match for him and his Sharingan.
How could Orochimaru still think that he had anything to offer to Sasuke? The voice of doubt that had accompanied the boy since his first year in Otogakure, was cheering him on. This voice of doubt had become stronger inside of him with each passing day. Giving his body to a man that had nothing left to offer to Sasuke but certain death and possession, was out of the question.
Had he ever honestly intended to let himself be killed in order to get power? He realized that this whole idea had lacked logic from the very start. Maybe Naruto was right... But no, all thoughts on Naruto had been banned from his mind since the day Itachi had caught him in the genjutsu, showing him the girl dying in his arms. The picture of her closing her eyes forever and telling him that she hated him had haunted him for months afterwards. His dreams had been filled with her dimming blue eyes, that held so much accusation and hatred, directed at him. It had taken all of his willpower to push those images to the farthest corner of his mind. Why was he thinking about her again now? Was it because he was going through a moment of uncertainty? Because he saw that the girl had been right in telling him that handing over his body was not the right solution? So maybe she had been right... But this didn't change anything. And it was not like he'd ever get the chance to admit it to her anyway. Sasuke shook his head to dispel all thoughts on Naruto; leaving him a bit irritated.
Killing Itachi and getting revenge was his major goal, always had been. Maybe he actually did consider giving up his body in exchange for power at one point. But he held all the power he needed in his own hands now. He was no longer dependent on Orochimaru. Maybe you never depended on him in the first place? There it was again! The voice of doubt... Annoyingly clear in Sasuke's head. Would he ever get rid of it?
Turning his head away from the man on the bed, Sasuke quietly left the room. Kabuto was already preparing Orochimaru's current body for the transfer and it was only a matter of days, maybe hours even, until Kabuto would ask Sasuke to get prepared, too.
He wouldn't let that happen. He had come to a decision. Sasuke knew what he had to do. And he had probably less than twenty-four hours to do so.
Haruno Sakura was sorting through the piles of paper on her master's desk. To the neat pink-haired girl it was a miracle how Tsunade managed to make such a mess all the time. Today, it seemed as if the chaos was even more messier than usual... Maybe it had something to do with Tsunade's new lover, she mused, but very quickly shook her head to forget about the image of Tsunade and Jiraiya using the desk for anything else than paperwork.
It was Sakura's third year as Tsunade's apprentice and although Tsunade openly disliked her for what she had done to Naruto, the Hokage was a fair master and whatever grudge she was holding against her pupil, she tried her best to suppress it during lessons. At first, Sakura had been very apprehensive of the violent Hokage. She didn't know why one of The Legendary Sannin would choose a girl like her, from a civilian family, as her personal apprentice. Moreover, she knew that the blonde barely tolerated her since Sakura's merciless denunciation of Naruto.
It was only thanks to Kakashi that Sakura had gotten this chance and she was more than grateful to her former sensei, even if said man avoided her for the same reasons Tsunade despised her, too. Apparently, the grey-haired man had recommended Sakura and her skills in chakra control. Tsunade had generously granted the pinkette to be tested, assuming that Sakura wouldn't meet her requirements. To Tsunade's dismay – she just couldn't stand the girl – Sakura had proven to have a talent for medical jutsu and her vast book knowledge was helpful as well. Even if she lacked physical and combat skills, Tsunade had admitted that the girl had potential and taken her on as an apprentice. During the time with her, Tsunade had also seen how Sakura tried her best to redeem herself in Tsunade's eyes. She was a very hard-working pupil and Tsunade approved of her fierce dedication.
Sakura saw that her master's secret stash of sake had been emptied once again and made a mental note to refill it. Satisfied with the re-established order on the Hokage's desk, she was about to leave the office, when Tsunade entered through the door, followed by a very bored looking Nara.
"Sakura", the blonde barked, "please leave and I don't want to be bothered for the next half an hour or so."
Surprised about the abrupt dismissal, Sakura shot a curious glance at Shikamaru, silently wondering what could be so important that Tsunade didn't want Sakura to hear it. Being the Hokage's apprentice had granted her useful insight into the daily workings of the village and the duties and responsibilities of being Hokage. Tsunade didn't mind her being in the room when she assigned missions or received messengers from other countries. So to not displease her master, Sakura left with a quick, "Yes, Tsunade-shishou!", and shut the door behind her.
Tsunade regarded the chuunin in front of her, Nara Shikamaru. Once again, the lazy genius was in her office. Over the last weeks he had been a great help in organizing the next chuunin exams and successfully tightening the relationships between Konoha and Suna. She was annoyed about the fact that she would have to do without him in the future, but the genius was needed for more important things.
Two 'poofs' and the tell-tale white smoke announced the arrival of the other two persons she had been waiting for. The smoke cleared and revealed two ANBU members. Both were kneeling on one knee in front of her desk, heads bowed, awaiting orders like every obedient ANBU. "Hokage-sama", the greeted with one voice.
"At ease", Tsunade ordered and the two shinobi stood up straight, standing next to Shikamaru.
Both of them wore the traditional black and grey ANBU uniform, consisting of the metal armour and arm guards. The taller of the two wore a Tiger mask. His long black-brown hair reached the middle of his back. The second man had shaggy brown hair and a Bear mask hid his face.
Although the uniforms and the masks were supposed to assure the ANBU's anonymity, Shikamaru had the sneaking suspicion that he knew the two males next to him. After all, he had grown up with them.
"Tiger, Bear, remove your masks", Tsunade ordered again and without hesitation, the two revealed their faces. Indeed, Shikamaru knew the two, who were now nodding at him in greeting. While in their uniforms and masked, they were not allowed to reveal their identity by small things such as acknowledging an old friend.
"Nara Shikamaru, Inuzuka Kiba, Hyuuga Neji", the Hokage addressed the three assembled men. "There are several things I want to discuss with you." A frown appeared on her face. Rethinking, she corrected herself, "In fact, there's no room for discussion, as everything has already been decided. So I'll just tell you."
Wondering where this was going, the three expectantly looked at their Hokage.
"The three of you will form a team. Effective from now on." No objections followed her words, but thanks to his intelligence, Shikamaru was quick to realize that in order for the three to form a team, either Neji and Kiba needed to be demoted to normal jounin or Shikamaru would be promoted to ANBU. Shikamaru had the uneasy feeling that whatever came next, would be very troublesome for him.
The irritation must've shown on his bored face, because Tsunade shot him a look, a rather evil grin spreading over her face. "I see, you have already realized what's going to happen next, Nara. The time for being lazy is over. You are hereby promoted to the rank of jounin and also the newest ANBU member." Sounding very sarcastic, she added, "Congratulations are in order, I guess."
Shikamaru sighed, rolling his eyes. "How troublesome."
Neji gave him a comforting smile. Kiba was a little more enthusiastic. Clapping him on the back and grinning at his old friend from the academy, he said, "Welcome, man!", which earned him another muttered 'troublesome' from Shikamaru.
Neji was silently watching the Hokage. He was wondering about the sudden changes. He was already assigned to a team and he had hoped to be promoted to ANBU captain within the next months and get his own team. He had never really worked with either Kiba or Shikamaru. The only time they had been on a mission together had been the Sasuke retrieval mission, which had ended rather disastrously. Besides, he could see why he would be paired with Kiba, as both were good for reconnaissance and tracking missions, but Shikamaru with his intelligence and outstanding strategical planning skills, was more suited for an assault or hunting team. But of course there were also teams that were put together for certain purposes and consisted of shinobi especially chosen for a single mission. Maybe this was the case and they would be send out together only once?
Tsunade spoke up again, interrupting Neji's train of thoughts. "You are all probably wondering, why I put you on a team together", she stopped at the confused look on the Inuzuka's face; apparently, not all of them were wondering, "but your new captain specifically requested each of you."
At this new information, all three of them shared a curious glance. Someone had requested them?
"And who is this captain, Hokage-sama?", Kiba demanded to know. Since he had joined ANBU, he had become more level-headed and composed, but at times he returned to being impulsive, loud and boastful.
Tsunade shot him a glare, telling him to shut up. "You will meet your new captain in five weeks. Until then, I will not reveal this person's identity." This answer was quite mysterious, Shikamaru thought. Why wouldn't their captain want them to know who he was? Bothersome.
"For the following five weeks, you will work together as a team, getting to know each other. The missions you will be doing in the future are nothing like you have done before." She shot Kiba another glare, as he was about to voice the questions he undoubtedly had. "This is as much as I can say for now. This must sound very confusing to you, but rest assured that everything will be revealed in five weeks."
Tsunade paused, gazing at the young men in front of her. "Besides training together, your new captain has certain tasks for each of you." At this, the three shared another glance. Whoever their new captain was, he – or she? – certainly knew what he wanted.
"Hyuuga, for the next five weeks, you will spend your afternoons with me", the Hokage declared. A look of surprise crossed of Neji's face. "I will train you in medical ninjutsu. Considering your profound knowledge of the human body and excellent chakra control, due to the gentle fist style of your clan, it won't be too difficult for you to learn. In fact, there are many talented medical nins from the Hyuuga clan. The Byakugan will help you immensely. We will start tomorrow, be prepared."
Neji frowned a little at this new development. He had never really thought of becoming a medical nin. However, he was not averse to the idea. He knew that the Byakugan would grant him an advantage over 'regular' medic nins, as he could see 'inside' of the body. Having mastered the juken taijutsu style of his family in his early years, his chakra control was indeed above average. Deciding that he had no objections to train under the Hokage, the frown on his elegant face disappeared.
"Inuzuka", Tsunade addressed the boy with the wild appearance, "I don't see how you will be able to learn this in only five weeks, considering your limited intelligence –", this earned her an indignant sputter from Kiba and a smirk from Neji, "– but you will train under Yamanaka Inoichi, who will teach you some sensory type techniques. As you aren't a sensor type, the techniques won't be as effectual, but you'll still be able to do them. Your enhanced sense of smell and hearing will also aid you in this. It's going to nicely complement your tracking skills."
Kiba didn't have any knowledge about sensory type techniques, he was only aware that they were really helpful in locating other shinobi by sensing their chakra. He didn't know if this would prove useful, but he would learn it. Tsunade had unknowingly challenged him. Maybe he wasn't a prodigy such as Neji or a genius like Shikamaru, but he would show her! Questioning his intelligence! Ts! Kiba now definitely had the ambition to prove her wrong. He'd learn the techniques and prove to Tsunade and his mysterious new captain that an Inuzuka was unfailing and could do just as good as anyone else!
Seeing the ambition light up in Kiba's eyes, Tsunade knew she had succeeded in appealing to his huge ego.
With a look at Shikamaru, she went on. "Nara, as you're the only one that hasn't yet received ANBU training, you will need to catch up on everything in the next five weeks. While you train with your new team mates in the mornings, you will spend the afternoons training with Hatake Kakashi. I know that the two of you already know each other and considering that Kakashi is a seasoned ANBU, you'll be able to learn a lot from him." An evil smirk graced the Hokage's lips, as she added, "Expect your carefree life to be over from now on, Nara. There is no time to be lazy any more."
"How troublesome", Shikamaru sighed for the second time. Training under Kakashi? While Shikamaru respected the man very much, he also knew that the aloof jounin was probably as lazy as himself. Or would his attitude change? Kakashi wasn't the most respected jounin in Konoha for nothing.
"Hyuuga, Inuzuka, accompany him to ANBU headquarters. I've already arranged for him to get a room. You", the Hokage said, addressing Shikamaru, "will also get your uniform and ANBU tattoo today. Your respective new senseis, including me, will start working with each of you tomorrow."
The blonde's eyes focused on each of the young men for a moment. "Before I dismiss you, I have to remind you that you will not speak a word of this to anyone else."
The three gave a collective "Yes, Hokage-sama!", and a curt nod.
They left the office. The Hokage leaned back in her chair. She had given the orders. The three had taken the news very well. She had expected the Inuzuka to cause trouble about being taken from his current team, but no one had questioned the changes. Even the Nara with his uncanny intelligence had not objected. It would probably have been too troublesome. However, Tsunade came to the conclusion that the three plus their new captain would form a fine team. Once said captain came back from training, all further plans would be put into action.
Four weeks later, Tsunade was found in her office, awaiting the return of a two-men team, she had sent out the previous month. For once, it was not yet dark outside, but an early afternoon sun shone through the large windows of the room. As if on cue, said team appeared in front of her desk with a 'poof'. Tsunade's head shot up, meeting the masked faces of two of her ANBU.
The blonde woman smirked happily when she saw the masks. The slightly taller of the two was wearing a Snake mask, the shorter one a clean, white mask, which marked her as a new member of the ANBU. New recruits wore white masks until after their first mission, after which an animal mask fitting the ANBU's personality was chosen. (1)
"Hokage-sama." Both female ANBU stood at attention, waiting for their leader to either allow them to move or to give orders.
"Remove your masks", Tsunade said and in unison, both women took off the masks.
The removed Snake mask revealed the face of Mitarashi Anko. Her pupil-less, light brown eyes sparkled with mischief, which reminded Tsunade very much of Naruto's eyes back before the incident with Sasuke. Anko's messy purple hair was tied back in a spiky pony-tail and her bangs fell into her eyes, almost completely hiding the Konoha forehead protector around her head. Her usual revealing outfit had been replaced by the standard ANBU uniform, under which she wore her mesh body suit.
The other person's face was tan and three whisker marks adorned both cheeks. An amused smirk was on the pink lips, as Naruto greeted, "Ne, baa-chan, how do I look?" The young woman spread her arms playfully, showing off her new ANBU uniform.
Tsunade grinned at Naruto's seemingly good mood. Maybe pairing her with Anko had been a good idea. To humour the blonde, she let her hazel eyes roam over Naruto's new attire. The grey and black ANBU uniform fit her perfectly and she looked older than her sixteen years. Unlike Anko, she was not wearing the normal, loose-fitting shinobi pants that went with the standard uniform, but kept wearing her black leather pants. Tsunade sweat-dropped at the girl's uncanny fascination over leather. The metal breast plate hugged her torso nicely, covering her now usually exposed midriff. Underneath the breast plate, she wore a black tank top. Her forearms were covered with long black gloves and the ANBU arm guards. Her upper arms were bare, showing off the new ANBU tattoo on her left biceps. To Tsunade's surprise, there was a wide hood attached to her shirt at the neck.
"Why the hood, gaki?", Tsunade wondered aloud.
"Oh", the blonde said and reached up with her hand, fiddling the fabric of the hood. She pulled it over her head and immediately her hair was completely concealed from sight, as well as her blue eyes. The lower part of her face was covered in shadows. If Naruto added her porcelain mask, her identity was carefully hidden. "The hood helps to hide my hair. There aren't many ninjas with this shade of blond, so it's quite conspicuous", Naruto reasoned and Tsunade noticed the deliberate tone in her voice. The Fifth nodded in agreement. Especially for Naruto, it was essential to keep her identity a secret.
"So, how was training, brat? I see you're still in one piece."
Naruto shot an amused glance at her newest sensei. "Well, Anko-sensei here certainly has a different interpretation of the word 'training' as Kakashi-sensei has. She does live up to her reputation!"
"And what kind of reputation would that be, gaki?", Anko turned on her pupil with a very dangerous glint in her eyes, hands angrily on her hips.
"Hehe", Naruto chuckled nervously, "you see what I mean, baa-chan?"
Tsunade fondly grinned at the pair. She hadn't seen Naruto like this since she had returned. Well, technically, she had only seen her once since then, but the last time, she had been too serious and tense. Tsunade really hoped that the time with the easygoing and tomboyish Anko had helped Naruto along in the process of recovering.
Eventually, Tsunade had to interfere and stop their bickering before it turned violent.
"So, Naruto, do you feel like taking a mission tomorrow?", Tsunade addressed her daughter-figure.
"Huh", the girl answered, confused. "I thought I was going to start with my mission now." After all, she had trained to get her own team and to put her plans into action.
"Yes, I know, gaki", but there is one mission that needs to be done before you take off on your own", the Hokage explained. "I'd send someone else, but you see, this came up just today and has to be done quickly. It's not even an ANBU mission, only a B-ranked one." Tsunade eyed Naruto's reaction. Three years ago, the girl would have thrown a tantrum, but now, her face turned serious. This was a mission and even if she was very eager to finally get started, she would listen to her Hokage's orders. "So, you think you can handle it, Naruto?", Tsunade teased.
"Yes, Hokage-sama", Naruto answered respectfully; easily switching from her sloppy familiarity with the Hokage to the well-trained ANBU she now was.
Tsunade nodded curtly; unknowingly, Naruto had just passed the first part of the test.
"Fine, brat. You will meet the other members of the team tomorrow morning." With some last instructions, Tsunade dismissed the two women.
Naruto was roof-jumping towards Kakashi's apartment. She had put her hood back over her head and the white porcelain mask was also back in place, hiding her features. Before she left, Kakashi had offered that Naruto could stay with him again. She didn't want people to know that she was back in Konoha yet, until she had met the team mates she had specifically requested, so she could not yet use her own apartment in case anyone saw her. She knew that she couldn't avoid her old class mates much longer and being back in Konoha had her actually looking forward to seeing them again; maybe some more than others. There was a certain pink-haired girl she'd rather avoid for another three years.
Arriving at Kakashi's apartment, she politely knocked on the front door, taking off her ANBU mask, so he would know who it was. She could feel Kakashi's chakra signature approaching and seconds later, the wooden door opened to reveal her old sensei. He was hiding the lower part of his face behind his hand, as he apparently wasn't wearing his black mask. The grey-haired jounin looked at his student with surprise in his one visible eye. He had not felt her chakra signature at all; in fact, he still wasn't feeling it. Anko had trained her thoroughly, it seemed.
"Naruto!", he exclaimed and his eye curved up into his famous eye-smile.
"Psst!", Naruto hissed and quickly stepped into Kakashi's apartment, closing the door behind her.
Kakashi chuckled softly and let the hand, that had obscured his face, fall back to his side. Naruto looked at her sensei. His now visible lips curved up in a warm smile that fitted nicely to the curved eye. She remembered how surprised she had been the first time she had seen him without the mask. She still wasn't used to the sight, but she felt warm at the display of trust.
On impulse, Naruto returned the smile and a foxy grin graced her lips.
"The uniform looks good on you, Naruto", Kakashi complimented. "It reminds me of my days in ANBU", he mused.
Naruto suppressed a light blush. She was still not used to compliments or praise. Gladly, her rumbling stomach saved her from an answer. Kakashi offered to prepare a meal for them and Naruto took a quick shower. Back in her normal clothes, she joined her sensei at his kitchen table. They ate in silence for some minutes, before Kakashi broke it by asking about her training with Anko.
Naruto found herself unusually talkative. Maybe it was the nice food or the company of a trusted person. Kakashi listened to her stories about how Anko's training had been more torture than anything else. Apparently, the purple-haired jounin had tried to squeeze the training of months into only four weeks.
Naruto eventually finished. In the meantime, darkness had fallen and an exhausted yawn forced itself out of Naruto. Kakashi fondly smiled at the young woman. He couldn't deny that she had changed, but he also saw that there was hope that Naruto would lose the feeling of depression and tension hanging over her.
Naruto slept on Kakashi's couch that night, feeling safer than in months.
The next morning, Naruto was surprised to see Kakashi already up and ready to leave. Without telling her why, he was following her to the Hokage tower. Naruto was wearing her usual shinobi outfit, but had added a hood to the neck of her midriff-baring tank top. She had grown rather attached to the hoods. They provided her with a feeling of anonymity that she had never experienced in her childhood, while wearing the orange jumpsuit.
Naruto and Kakashi had the decency to use the door for once and together entered Tsunade's office. Suddenly, Naruto laid eyes on the too familiar pink hair of one Haruno Sakura. Naruto's lips turned into a snarl of contempt. Hadn't she wished not to see the girl just last night?
"Kakashi, Naruto", Tsunade welcomed them. At the sound of Naruto's name, Sakura spun around to face her blonde ex-team mate.
Naruto pulled off her hood and revealed her face. Thousands of different emotions swelled up inside her. Sakura... Even in her head, Naruto no longer added the affectionate -chan to Sakura's name. She had tried so hard to befriend the pinkette, but she had never acknowledged her. Neither as a friend, nor a mere team mate. And finally she had spat at her in the middle of a public street; told her that she hated her; slapped her in the face... betrayed her.
Hot anger whirled around in the pit of her stomach. The dull ache in her chest flared up painfully. She suppressed the urge to claw at her heart and before the building rage could overwhelm her, Naruto tried to push it all back down.
She could feel Kyuubi growl in disappointment in the back of her mind. The fox demon was very excited about her sudden and severe mood change. Naruto felt his evil chakra trying to seduce her into using his powers. With a final mental push, she suppressed the Kyuubi's malevolent energy and concentrated back on Sakura.
Apparently, Naruto's momentary fight for dominance over both her anger and Kyuubi's fuelling evil intent had shown too clearly on her features.
The pink-haired kunoichi had an expression of pure horror on her face. If Naruto had taken the time to listen carefully, she would have heard Sakura's frantic heartbeat.
"Naruto!", Tsunade barked emphatically.
Hearing Tsunade's voice broke Naruto out of her rage-induced stupor.
She shook her head and to her own surprise, she realized that she had been leaking a huge amount of killing intent. She felt her slitted pupils and blood-red eyes return to their normal blue state.
Sakura visibly relaxed, but the look of horror and fear didn't leave her eyes. What had just happened? Sakura couldn't take her eyes off of the blonde girl. Was this really Naruto? The blonde idiot she had hit for her stupid remarks and her clumsiness? And what was she wearing? No orange and a bare midriff? Who is this girl?
"Na-Naruto?", Sakura whispered, the fear and confusion evident in her voice.
Naruto's blue eyes met her green ones and Sakura gulped. Naruto's eyes were hard and cold. Where was the usual spark of joy? The carefree expression of a girl that had loudly declared to be the next Hokage? With a sinking feeling, Sakura slowly realized that she might be one of the reasons for Naruto's drastic change. What had she done? How could she? An increasing wave of shame rolled over her. Sakura's eyes suddenly stung from hot tears. She needed to somehow make up for her mistakes.
The blonde averted her eyes from Sakura. She saw the tears in the other girl's eyes, but it barely affected her. Mere tears would never be able to compensate for what Naruto had felt in the moment of Sakura's betrayal.
Naruto turned fully away from her former team mate, facing Tsunade. "Hokage-sama", she said in a voice devoid of emotion. Her face was schooled into an expressionless mask that would have made an Uchiha proud.
"Y-Yes", Tsunade stammered, more than shocked about the scene she had just witnessed. Clearing her throat and collecting herself, she faced the four shinobi in front of her desk.
Only now did Naruto see the fourth person next to Sakura. Chiding herself for her lack of attention, Naruto blamed it on the unexpected meeting with Sakura. Still, this mustn't happened again. She mustn't allow herself to get distracted by something like that.
She regarded the other shinobi. Naruto had never seen him before, but after all, she had been absent for three years. He had jet-black short hair and extremely pale skin. He was several inches taller than her and wore a midriff-baring short black jacket; a tanto was strapped on his back. His face and dark eyes betrayed no emotions.
When the boy, who was probably a year or two older than herself, noticed her watching him, he gave Naruto an incredibly faked smile.
Unfazed, Naruto looked back at Tsunade, who had seemingly recovered. "Now that all of you are here, I will assign you the mission", she said with a forced smile, trying to break the remaining tension. "Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto and ...Sai, you will form a team for this mission only. Your captain will be Hatake Kakashi."
Tsunade carefully glanced in Naruto's direction. Would she object to working with Sakura? Naruto met Tsunade's eyes, returning the questioning gaze. Naruto would not back down. She had already agreed to the mission yesterday. Even knowing with whom she was partnered, she wouldn't go back on her word. Maybe she had changed, but she remained true to most of her former principles.
Satisfied, Tsunade continued. Unknowingly, Naruto had just passed the second part of the test. "Your mission is to safely deliver this scroll", she held up a large, red scroll, "to the Kazekage. It is of most importance to the peace treaty negotiations and must under no circumstances fall to the enemy's hands."
When mentioning the Kazekage, Tsunade saw a flicker of emotion cross through Naruto's ocean blue eyes. The girl was probably looking forward to seeing Gaara again.
She went on with her instructions. "This mission may seem simple, but stay alert at all times."
"Yes, Hokage-sama", the four shinobi said.
Tsunade handed the scroll over to Kakashi and the jounin stored it in one of the many pockets of his jounin vest.
"Go get everything you need and we'll meet me at the gates in half an hour", Kakashi ordered and shunshin'ed out of the office. Without a second glance at her team mates, Naruto nodded to Tsunade and vanished with a small 'poof' identical to Kakashi's.
Naruto gathered her things in silence. It wasn't much and considering that she was temporarily living with Kakashi, she hadn't really unpacked anything. Most of her clothes were sealed in storage scrolls, anyway, which made it simple for her to choose the scrolls she needed now.
Finishing quickly, she walked over to Kakashi's bedroom door. She knocked and stepped inside after a cheerful 'come in'.
Kakashi was just sealing his bedroll into a storage scroll of his own and put it in his bag pack. His single dark eye smiled at Naruto.
"Why didn't you tell me that Sakura was going on this mission?", Naruto demanded to know, her ocean blue eyes scrutinizingly staring at her jounin captain.
Kakashi looked at her levelly. "Would it have changed anything, if I had told you? Would it have prepared you, if you had known?"
Naruto thought about his words for a moment. Seeing Sakura had been unexpected, to say the least. Before meeting her this morning, she had not wasted much time on thinking about her. Would she have reacted differently, if she had known? She couldn't say for sure, but she highly doubted it. Nothing could have prepared her for the sudden rage that had threatened to overwhelm her for a few seconds.
"No", she answered truthfully and Kakashi gave her a self-satisfied eye-smile.
Naruto went back to the living room where she had left her katana on Kakashi's coffee table. She carefully strapped it onto her back, so that the hilt poked out over her right shoulder, granting her easy access in case she needed to draw it. Pocketing several scrolls in her back pouch, she checked her kunai pouch on her thigh once again and finally deemed everything to be thoroughly prepared and in place.
About to shunshin away to the gates, a hand on her shoulder stopped her. Naruto turned around to look up at her grey-haired sensei. Wordlessly, he held out his right hand to her. Naruto looked down. There was a brand-new Konoha forehead protector in his hand. The metal plate engraved with the Konoha leaf insignia, shone like a mirror. The cloth of the headband was black and rather long.
Naruto looked at it. Should she take it? She was a ninja of Konoha again. It would only be right to wear it again. She was an ANBU and had joined the ranks of Konoha's military forces once more. Even if she did not yet feel like she belonged here again, she unconsciously did so already. And if she ever wanted to be acknowledged by the villagers, she needed to show them that she was a proud shinobi, fighting for the Leaf.
Making her decision, Naruto took the offered forehead protector from her sensei's hand. The silver metal was cold to her touch, the black cloth smooth. With a practised motion, she tied it tightly around her head. The long ends were falling freely down her neck, along with her hair, which was in a long braid today, that she had tucked into the hood, so it wouldn't fall out.
Naruto was wearing the Konoha forehead protector for the first time in three years. Did she feel better now? Maybe. Did she feel worse? No. At least something, Naruto thought sarcastically and pulled the hood back over her hair.
Kakashi watched his pupil's face after putting on the headband. Unknowingly, Naruto had just passed the third part of the test.
Sakura and Sai were already waiting for them, as Kakashi and Naruto arrived at the gates. Sakura shot a nervous glance in Naruto's direction, but she wasn't able to make out her expression, due to the strange hood that hid her hair and half of her face. The pinkette noticed the katana on her back and quietly wondered, what else Naruto had learned during her absence.
With a nod to the guards, Kakashi led the way out of Konoha.
It seems as though I never really stay here for long, Naruto pondered. She had returned to Konoha four weeks ago and had only spent two whole nights in actual Konoha. Wondering whether this was going to change in the future, Naruto quietly followed Kakashi.
(1) I don't know, if the ANBU masks are really chosen like that, but I think it's a logical explanation, better than choosing some random animal.
Thanks for reading, guys! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
In case you're wondering, this is not going to be the 'Kazekage Rescue Arc' mission. This story won't follow cannon, except for some key events I chose to use. This mission has a completely different purpose!
A lot of you asked when Naruto and Sasuke are finally going to meet... I think there will be at least four more chapters before that happens... I hope you won't stop reading because of it, because I have the whole scenario already planned out since I started writing this story and I'm so excited to finally type it! So please, until then be patient, dear readers, and enjoy the rest of the story!
So, did you guess who Neji, Kiba and Shikamaru's new captain will be?
Let me know what you think, please! :)
Over and out,
xXHaneliXx