Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, its world and affiliation. I do own my OC and that's fine and dandy with me.
Author's Note: Sorry for the LONG LONG ass wait but I lost any and all inspiration due to Game of Thrones seasons and then after that re-watching all episodes. After that, I so got into the SanSan fiction as well as Jamie/Brienne. Then the Avengers genre and fanfiction of Steve/Bucky and Thor/Loki. And then and then and then and so on and so forth. BUT as I reread this story and got back in the groove of things, did I finish this chapter recently. Next chapter I will make it longer, I promise! And now: ENJOY!
OOOOO
Earlier that Morning:
Shuffling through paper work on his desk, the Hokage stamped what needed to be stamped and read what needed to be read. A knock at the door halted his movement. Putting the stamp down, lacing his fingers with his elbows on the desk, the Hokage leaned forward and granted entry for the knocker.
Milo Hack poked his head in after opening the door. The Hokage gestured him in quickly.
Milo walked over to the desk and bowed:
"The report is finished for the evaluation of Roxanne for the 2 missions we completed, sir" Holding out a scroll to the Hokage, Milo straightens up and await orders.
The Hokage stared at the scroll for a second then held out his hand, Milo stepped forward and handed the scroll over.
"I made the announcement as soon as you two walked through the gates of the village, it is now official"
"We figured as much and so if that is all, sir, I would like to head home and rest"
"Just a couple questions regarding her performance"
"It's all in the report, sir"
"Yes but I want your personal opinion on the matter, off the record" Milo nodded "How was she on the first assignment"
"Recon mission: we left the village and went at a good pace to the location. I had intended to keep going that pace until Roxanne outpaced me and once I found out she knew where we were headed, I pick up the pace. We got there a few hours later and began the mission. I thought we would be there longer but Roxanne surprised me when she said she got all she needed to report.
Of course I didn't say anything until we were far away from that location. Asked her what she knows and so explained: that the guards took shifts on the wall and each shift changes they renewed the shield around the area. Each shift always had 1 sensory skilled shinobi and 1 highly skilled Jonin who can renew the shield. Between shift changes there is a 5 second window. Other than the shifts changes there are 8 other shinobi's securing ground and building areas, 4 Jonins guarding the entrance and 2 at stand with the vault"
"Where were you located for this recon?"
"In the brushes of a nearby tree"
"Was the location visible from where you were?" Milo shook his head
"There was a 20 foot wall blocking our view" The Hokage stopped and stared at the Jonin
"Then how can she tell what was going on?"
"She said that she could sense each individual signature chakra each guard was emitting, no matter how small the chakra she can sense it and can detect what their level of skills are"
"That's a very interesting skill to have and at such a young age" Milo nodded in agreement.
"Tell me about the second mission: the retrieval of the scroll"
"Hokage-sir, it's all in the report"
"But I want your point of view on what happen during the second mission, off the record of course" Hokage said cutting off any argument from the Jonin. Milo took a deep breath and stepped closer to the desk so to not be heard from anyone who might be walking by the closed door.
"We left yesterday morning and ran to the same location, it took us the same amount of time to get there as the day before. We stopped to have a bit to eat and rest before going into hiding. I picked a different spot to hide in but it didn't make any difference to Roxanne, she could still sense where all the guards were. She told of an area where when they change shifts the best to slip through the 5 second window is. I doubted it but didn't say, as this mission was her call" Here the Hokage raised his eyebrow in question and so Milo explained.
"I wanted to see if she can take control as well as she can take orders during a mission. I wasn't disappointed. A few minutes after the sun set and before the shift is schedule to change, Roxanne signaled me to follow and I did, we changed our spot to a more secluded area on the other side. She pointed to a spot on top of the wall where when the shield is renewed, that spot is last to be covered. She counted down to the second and when I saw the shield shimmering, we moved and we moved fast that I almost lost sight of her for a second but then she grabbed me quickly. We hid in the shadows until she signaled to move, I followed. We stayed in the shadows, heading to the main building and once we caught sight of it, she stopped. Roxanne pulled out a black scarf and covered her headband, then gave me one. I was confused at first but did as she did: covered my headband. She pulled out her kunai and counted down with her fingers from 5. When the last finger dropped, she disappeared and reappeared again. Gesturing for me to follow, we went to the entrance and I see that she got rid of the 4 guards quietly as no one was alerted. Roxanne then did the signs for the transformation jutsu and changed the dead guards into potted plants. After that hand on the handle, we went in and quickly made our way to the vault area, I followed since she knew where to go. We stopped at a door, looked to make sure no one is coming, Roxanne confirmed and we slipped in.
I saw firsthand how she got rid of the other guards.
Sir, she didn't even blink or flinch when she sliced each throat and stabbed each heart of those 2 guards as quietly as possible. Sir, only a skilled Anbu can make those moves. New Genins on an A-classed mission usually freeze or stumble or faint when they make their first kill or see their first kill and can't take the intents of the enemy but her, nothing" Milo sighed and rubbed his head.
"I got the scroll and we left the building, went into hiding in the shadows again. Talked strategy on how we are going to get out if the next shift is in an hour and sooner or later they will find those missing and killed guards. Roxanne smiled and said to just follow her lead. What came next, I'm still trying to wrap my head around it, it just happens so fast"
"What did?"
"We waited a minute then she counted down with her fingers again and when the last finger dropped, we moved and how fast she moved. Up on the wall, she knocked out the Jonin after cutting a hole through his hands and the shield dropped. We didn't waste time and ran for it before the alarm sounded. When we were at a distance, she told me to lower my chakra, I did and she made 20 clones with lowered chakra that ran off in all directions. We kept running, didn't stop for a break or anything and once we saw familiar surroundings, she let up on the pace and released her clones. I had to stop to catch my breath and rest my legs. She kept watched after taking one deep breath and waited patiently for me. She told me about 10 of her clones were wiped out from the escape but we weren't being chased in the beginning thanks to those clones. Came back to the village, signed in and told her to go home and rest. She did ask if it was going to be official. I told her yes it is now. She left and I came here"
"And what do you think of her?"
"Skilled, quick, strategic and quiet. Not at all like a Genin fresh out of the academy, sir. More like a Jonin with many accomplished missions on her belt. She should be a Jonin leading her own team or on her own missions, sir"
"Yes, well, she wanted to start from the bottom and with this assessment, she will. I'll run the paperwork and she is officially your student in a 2-man squad. Head home now and rest, Milo, you look like you are going to fall asleep on your feet"
"Thank you, sir" Milo bowed and turned to the door but stopped when the Hokage spoke up.
"Oh, one last thing before you leave" Milo turned back to the Hokage and saw a scroll in his hand.
"Read this when you get home. It's classified and top secret, tell no one. To do so will result in your arrest and penalty is death" Milo was stunned and confused but took the scroll all the same.
"Now go home, you'll need it, there are a lot of A and B classed mission to complete and your squad will be at the top of each list to star in it" Opening the report, the Hokage began reading the scroll. Milo nodded and left, quietly closing the door.
'Indeed there will be a lot of requests for this squad after word gets out on their completed missions' Lighting his pipe and puffing out smoke, the Hokage sighed and returned to reading.
OOOOO
Back to the Team 7 at the present time:
After leaving the Hokage's Office with instructions from Kakashi to meet up again in the morning, Sakura waved bye to the guys and headed home. Naruto waved back and lead the way to his apartment building with Sasuke.
"It's barely 3, you think she's up?" Sasuke shrugged in answer, not knowing if she is because of how tired she looked when they saw her this morning.
"And if she isn't?" Sasuke asked and Naruto lifted his arms to put his hands behind his head as he looked up to the blue sky and shrugged in answer.
"I wouldn't mind a nap myself" At this Sasuke blushed but Naruto couldn't tell, he turned his head the other way when a flock of birds flew by.
"We did get up pretty early today and after running after an escape artist of a cat, a nap does sound good" Still watching the birds, Naruto again failed to notice the shade Sasuke is turning and he was glad for it because Sasuke wasn't quite sure why he reacted the way he did when Naruto mentioned a nap. Shaking it off, Sasuke gave a grunt in reply to Naruto's comment and stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking ahead.
Naruto hid a smile.
At the apartment, in front of Roxanne's door, Naruto lifted his hand to knock when Sasuke stopped him.
"What if she's still asleep, do you want to wake her?" Naruto shook his head and took out the key. Unlocking the door, Naruto quietly open it and peaked inside. Lights are off in the room but there is movement in the kitchen and so Naruto open the door, letting Sasuke see inside too. The scent of cooking caught their attention and they see Roxanne in front of the oven, turning meat over in a pan.
Naruto smiled and open his mouth to greet Roxanne when she suddenly turned and hushed him. Confused, the boys stepped in and closed the door. Going in the kitchen to stand close to Roxanne, she turned again and whispered.
"I'm still asleep so keep it down" At that, both boys turned to look in the bedroom and saw the form of someone sleeping on the bed.
"Okay?" Sasuke asked.
"Help with the set up and chop some veggies. I'm hungry and will wake up soon to eat" Both boys nodded and set to work, Naruto with the veggies and Sasuke with wiping and setting the table first then helped with the chopping. No one said anything, just enjoying the company whilst making an early dinner or late lunch.
So the aroma of food got all stomach grumbling, including the Roxanne in the bedroom who is now awake and stretching in bed. Tossing the blanket off and giving one last yawn, Roxanne got up and went to the main room where she see the trio finishing off their dinner dance. Last item on the table, they all looked up and saw her standing there but she waved them off:
"Go ahead, you can start. I'm going to take a nice hot shower but save me some" and then she was gone, the sound of the shower being turned on.
Clone Roxanne shrugged her indifference and sat down, pouring herself some juice and scooping a nice portion onto her plate. The boys sat and filled their plates and cups also.
"So Roxanne" Sasuke started "What did you had to do to get in a 2man squad?"
"Well, from what I gathered, I had to take 2 more test to prove to my assigned Jonin that I can take on as much work as any 4 man squad" Taking a bite from her plate.
"But you told us that they put you on a project"
"It was sort of like a project, I did get evaluated by the Jonin"
"So what'd you do?"
"Recon mission mostly; He taught me the basics on the first and then on the second I took over to see if what I learned the day before stuck. Got back this morning and my assigned Jonin said it'll be announced that morning"
"Yeah, Kakashi-sensei told us of the news this morning" Roxanne nodded
"So when is your next mission?" Sasuke asked
"Tomorrow morning, couple days" Silence was the response
"But Roxanne, you said when you got back we'd celebrate"
"I know Naruto and we will, once I get back, have my rest and then the celebration will start. I didn't forget, Naruto"
"What are we supposed to do till you get back?"
"Train obviously" Naruto gave a blank look to what Roxanne said like there should be more to it "Look, we are all Genins now with our own sensei's and a lot of the times we will be busy with missions and training. Sooner or later, our missions won't be scheduled the same and that means less time together or not at all. Especially when Kakashi deems you guys ready to take on B's or C's missions out of the village for who knows how long"
Silence as the boys thought about it, none heard a door quietly opening.
"So. We make the best of it" Naruto finally said with Sasuke nodding in agreement.
"Exactly, Naruto and I hope you guys saved me some, I'm starving" the real Roxanne responds and sat down while drying her hair. Naruto smiled when she sat beside him and started filling a plate for Roxanne who smiled back, putting the towel on the back of her chair and picked up her fork.
"So today will be a simple: we'll hang out, check out the town and maybe see what everyone else is doing. And if I feel like it, take a toss into the Death Forrest" Forks dropped loudly on the plates under it in surprise. They all turned to Sasuke.
"Problem?" Taking a bite, Roxanne and her clone stared at Sasuke's unmoving form while Naruto kept eating, not surprised or worried about the agenda. They stared at their pale faced roommate who remained unmoved and so continued on, ignoring Sasuke.
"Anyways, how are the weights on you Naruto? Starting to feel light or you ok for now?" Naruto chewed his food before answering.
"They're ok but I'll let you know if I don't feel them anymore. Sasuke, however, had a rough start" Naruto chuckled "He couldn't believe we wore weights the entire time we trained. He almost fell through a roof" Here he laughed out loud.
"I'm not going"
"Up to you, we're not forcing you or anything"
"Still not going"
"For now"
"What you mean 'for now', not 'for now', never"
"If you say so"
'Hn"
"For now" Naruto parroted Roxanne and laughed when Sasuke flicked his fork at him.
OOOOO
Cleaning the dishes and table, the 4 headed out after Roxanne and her clone changed. Locking the door, they took the stairs instead of the usual leap over the railing. Naruto as telling how the day went while everyone listened on their way to the training ground, deciding to start there to look for any of their friends who might still be training. No one questioned why Roxanne's clone is still with them, just accepted that each of them had a Roxanne by their side.
When they came to one of the larger training areas, both Roxannes stopped and listen. The boys stopped too, not questioning until Roxanne, the one that walked with Sasuke disappeared.
"Where'd she go?"
"We'll see" the sound of that didn't sit well with Sasuke whom raised a brow at the ominous words.
Moments later, a rustle from a bush sounded and Roxanne appeared but she had a bundle covered under her hoodie sweater and a smirk when she landed feet from the group.
"Lets go!" and ran off. Roxanne followed after, laughing.
The boys looked at each other before running after the girls.
Roxanne, the one with the bundle in her sweater, was in lead and with a chakra punch, she leaped up to the roof tops of the residential areas and keep running. Everyone followed and no one on the street were none the wiser of the happenings on the roofs. Zig zagging, up and down they all went until one great leap had them all soaring the skies to the trees. Each landing on individual branches, they all stopped and tried to catch their breaths. Naruto laid down on his branch while Sasuke sat and leaned up against the trunk of the tree on his branch.
"So I've noticed that Sasuke isn't wearing his weights today" Roxanne said from her branch as she looked down at Sasuke. Naruto waved the comment away but showed one of his ankles to let her know that he had his weights on.
"Really? That you noticed but not going to give a comment on the fact that Roxanne stole something and we ran away" Again Naruto waved the comment off. Roxanne with the bundle chuckled at Naruto below her.
"I'd doubt they noticed I stole something, just like I doubt they saw or sensed me" Roxanne with the bundle chuckled as she rubbed said bundle.
"what did you take anyways?" Naruto asked as he sat and looked up.
Both Roxanne smiled and with wink and click of the tongue, they both flipped off their branches. Naruto smiled and Sasuke sighed but both jumped of their branches and landed a couple feet from where the Roxannes landed.
"Something that should have been training too" Zipping the front of her hoodie, a furry head popped out and barked
"Akamaru?!" Both Naruto and Sasuke yelled out but clamped their mouths with their hands as they looked around for anyone nearby.
"Don't worry guys, no ones around to hear or see us" One Roxanne said as she rubbed the little puppy's head.
"What are you doing with Akamaru?" Sasuke asked
"Well, you see, our little buddy Akamaru here was on the sidelines instead of training with Kiba and his team. I mean Akamaru is as much part of the team then Kiba is and yet, he was brushed aside. I felt bad so" Here Roxanne lifted Akamaru from her sweater and set him on the ground "I'd figure that since we will be doing a bit of training, he can join us. Isn't that right buddy?" Roxanne knelt down and scratched Akamaru behind the ear as he barked in confirmation.
"But we don't know how to train a dog" Naruto said.
"Its no different then training you" Roxanne said off handedly
"Hey!?" Naruto turned to the Roxanne that is standing by the Roxanne kneeling with a scowl.
"I'm kidding" Sasuke snorted uncharacteristically but hid it with a cough when Naruto turned his scowl to him.
Roxanne walked over to Naruto and put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it.
"Listen, I know how to train an animal and no I don't mean you" She cut off Naruto before he could say something about being called an animal. "So she (thumbing to the other Roxanne) will be with Akamaru while we (gesturing to herself and Naruto) drill Sasuke"
"Hey?! Why me?!"
"You forgot your weights, how is it fair that we pull extra while you get off scot free?" Sasuke open and closed his mouth, no words or sound coming out. He knew that she was right but he wasn't about to admit it.
"You have to catch me first" and he's off like a snap.
Roxanne and Naruto watched as he took off, giving him a heads start and started stretching.
"So you'll be fine here?" Roxanne asked Roxanne
"Which is which?" Naruto asked before the other Roxanne answered.
"I'm real" Said Roxanne that is playing with Akamaru. "We're good, go and catch Sasuke before he gets to far" Both Naruto and Roxanne nodded before they ran off. Once they gone, Roxanne stood up and started stretching. Akamaru, getting the hint, stretched too.
"OK pup" Looking around the area they are in "First thing we are gonna do is a race to see how fast you can keep up. Then after a little jumping from tree to tree to see your eye hand coordination skills" She looks down "Well eye paws coordination. Lastly, a little dodge ball. Ok?"
Akamaru barked in agreement and Roxanne took out her knife to mark the tree they jumped out of.
"This will be starting points for both racing and jumping" Two slashed horizontally "300 meters straight ahead and back. Ready?" Bark "Set?" Bark "GO!"
A blur was all seen.
A few seconds later both appeared back at the tree.
"Awesome!" Akamaru barked in praised "OK, from this tree to every tree in a wide circle" she circled her arm around the area "Then back to this tree" bark
"Do you need help up?" Akamaru growled in answer
"Alright, alright" her hands up and then jumped up with Akamaru along side her to the branches.
"Ready?" Bark
"GO!" Once again a blur was seen.
Laughter and barking in amusement could be heard.
OOOOOO
Elsewhere:
Afternoon sun can be seen filtering through the curtains. A yawn and groan could be heard from the occupant in the bed. One stretch and they tossed the blanket off their person and sat up, feet on the floor. Arms stretched up above their head as their bones popped and with one more yawn, they scratched their head and rubbed the sleep from their eyes.
Milo looked around his room until blurry eyes landed on the scroll he left on his night stand.
Taking a breathe and slowly let it out, he reached over and broke the seal, rolling the scroll open.
As he reads, his mind snapped to attention at the words written on the scroll, his brows furrowed so deep in confusion at first then snapped up to his hairline as his eyes grow wider and wider with every sentence he reads. Finally as he reads the last sentence did he drop the scroll and it floated to the floor, Milo stunned as it reads:
'This Information is to be remain Confidential at all Cost. To breach this information will result in Imprisonment and immediate Death'
OOOOO
A/N: Dun, Dun, Dun! What could the scroll mean, what information is confidential and forbidden to be told that will result in Death? I don't know but stay tuned
Also: Reviews, comments and 2 cents are Very Welcome
PS: Good to be Back!