Three weeks have passed since Kurenai went to Anko's apartment to check on her, because she had not seen Anko at work for a few days and heard that she's only been doing D-rank missions in the evenings, because Anko has been acting out of character, Kurenai started to worry about her surrogate little sister.

Kurenai discovered that Anko had taken in Naruko Uzumaki, the daughter of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, the container of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Kurenai began to help Anko care of Naruko from time to time, helping Anko improve her cooking skills and the efficiency of her housework, and she also helped Anko with schooling Naruko only to find that the little girl had Minato's intelligence and ability to absorb information quickly.

Anko thought at first that she would not enjoy taking in a homeless orphan, but the decision to do so was the best decision Anko has ever made in her life. Naruko has brought so much happiness and love into her life, her heart is completely healed from the loss of her mother, the betrayal of her father and the abuse by the village, Anko no longer thinks about the past, she now thinks about the future with Naruko in it, Anko has grown to love Naruko like her very own daughter.

Naruko and the World Tree

Adoption Arc

Chapter 5 - Anbu Black Ops Leader, Asuma Sarutobi

Streets of Konoha

09:50

Asuma Sarutobi, the son of the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, is walking through the streets of Konoha, he is on his way to Anko's apartment as she has been doing less shinobi work in the last few weeks as she has only been doing D-rank missions according to the mission givers.

Asuma is going to Anko's apartment on his father's instructions to find out why Anko has been doing less shinobi work lately, but Asuma knows exactly what it's about.

Hokage Tower

Hokage's Office

Half an Hour Earlier - 09:20

Asuma entered the Hokage's office, as soon as he closed the door Hiruzen immediately activated the privacy seals that were placed all over the room, they locked the door, closed all the blinds and soundproofed the entire room to ensure that no one could overhear their conversation or try to read their lips from a distance.

"I have summoned you here this morning because I have an important matter to discuss with you regarding Anko Mitarashi." Began Hiruzen, who had his elbows propped on the desk, his hands clasped together and his chin resting on the index fingers of his hands.

"I assume this is about Anko protecting Naruko and taking her in, yes, the Anbu have informed me of this." Asuma is the leader of the Anbu Black Ops, with his intelligence and ability to play shogi he is very well suited to lead the Anbu for his father.

Hiruzen nodded once. "Yes, that's right, when I first heard about Anko's violent attacks on civilians and shinobi, I immediately used my crystal ball to check on her, it was a shock when I found out she had Naruko with her, her violent actions suddenly made sense." Hiruzen confirmed what the discussion was about.

Asuma chuckled lightly. "I must say I was surprised when I heard Anko was protecting Naruko Uzumaki, I was even more surprised when I heard she had taken her in." Asuma turned serious. "But I quickly took the leaked information that Naruko had the Nine-Tailed Fox as the main reason for Anko's violent retaliation to protect Naruko, that's why I ordered the Anbu not to arrest Anko, her actions were justified."

"That is exactly why I didn't have Anko arrested, but I want you to know that I'll have Danzo, Homura and Koharu executed at the next village council meeting." Hiruzen is serious, and Asuma knows his father wouldn't joke about it, it would be a shit joke if it was.

"I've always wondered why you haven't done it sooner, those fuckers have tried to stab you in the back at every opportunity, they've abused their power for years, they've executed civilians, council members, shinobi and even people from the shinobi clans, all because they tried to speak out against their corruption." Asuma speaks his honest thoughts as he addresses their abuse of power.

"And now they've gone one step further, they've leaked information that could put our village in danger, if the other shinobi villages get hold of this information, which we have to assume they have, we have to assume that there's a plot on the planning board to steal Naruko Uzumaki." Said Asuma with growing concern in his voice, for the safety of their village could be at risk.

"Yes, we have to assume they already have and are planning to kidnap Naruko, unfortunately for some nations the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox is worth a war, its power alone would more than make up for the loss of troops in a war." Hiruzen worries for Naruko and is saddened by how far some people and nations would go to gain power.

"Well, they definitely wouldn't be able to kill Naruko unless they have an Uzumaki themselves, because only Uzumaki can become Jinchúriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox, since only their chakra gives their bodies immunity to the burning effects of the Nine-Tails' chakra." Asuma said as matter-of-fact.

"No, no non-Uzumaki as ever survived having the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed inside them, it always ended in a violent, painful death, they were all burnt alive from the inside out, I've never seen it happen, but the documented records of the Uzumaki clan describe these exact details, all non-Uzumaki who had the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed inside them died as a result without exception. An Uzumaki is essential to the creation of a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and all nations know this, so Naruko is more important to them alive than dead." Hiruzen explained to Asuma, which he took no joy in explaining, but nevertheless it was a fact and Hiruzen had to accept it.

"It doesn't help that Konoha has lost a great deal of its strength since the attack of the Nine-Tailed Fox over three years ago, more than half, we lost Minato, Kushina and Guren who were on par with you, Jiraiya and Tsunade. Orochimaru went rogue and defected from Konoha, Tsunade and Jirairya went AWOL and no offence, you are an old man now, don't kid yourself father, you are a long way from what you were in your prime and you know it." Asuma did not want to say that, but since they were spitting facts he was not going to hold back on his father's current state and strength.

"And to make matters worse, those three old bastards could end up fucking us over royally, should our enemies act on the information they have freely given them." Asuma feels his anger and killing intent rising.

"Believe me, I'm aware of everything you just said, I will put the elders under the guillotine for their treachery and I intend to appoint a new Hokage at the next village council meeting." Hiruzen is a man who would rather settle things peacefully, but his top priority is to protect his village.

"Alright, I will do everything within my abilities to help you, I doubt you summoned me here just so we can rant about senile old people." Azuma is ready to help.

Asuma managed to elicit a slight smile from Hiruzen with his last jibe at the elders before turning serious again. "My plan is to get Anko and Naruko to attend the next village council meeting, which will be held in the next few days. Under the pretext that Anko is trying to get custody of Naruko Uzumaki, I plan to award custody to Anko no matter what happens during the meeting."

"Anko has proven herself worthy of becoming Naruko's guardian, I would also like you and Kurenai to attend alongside Anko, you are both close friends of Anko and could give her the emotional support she might need for the upcoming meeting." Hiruzen finished explaining his plan to Asuma.

"Sure, I can do that, is there anything else I can do for you?" Asuma is ready to help his father humiliate the elders with a very sour dish.

"I want you to persuade Anko to come to me today, citing the shinobi duty violation as a reason to check on her, because that is the most plausible reason for you to seek Anko out at her home." Replied Hiruzen, to which Asuma gave an affirmative nod, after which the privacy seals were released and Asuma left the office.

Anko's Apartment

Front Door

10:00

Asuma reaches Anko's apartment, but before knocking on the door, he takes the cigarette he has been smoking out of his month. {I better put it out because the last thing I want is a mother scolding me for having it lit near her three-year-old child.} Asuma stubbed out the cigarette and put it in his pocket for later.

Asuma knocks on the door, a few seconds pass before Anko opens the door while carrying Naruko, slightly surprising Asuma. {Anko really took Naruko in, her personality never led me think she was the kind of person who would do that, but I should know by now that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.} Asuma collected himself before coughing into his right hand.

"Good morning Anko, it seems that the reports that you took in Naruko are true, I'm here on orders from Lord Hokage to find out why you have been neglecting your duties as a shinobi, but now that I've confirmed the reports I received about you taking Naruko in, you must explain to me why you took in the Nine-Tails Jinchúriki and that isn't a request, that is an order." Asuma spoke with authority in his voice, he wasn't only the son of the Third Hokage but also the leader of the Anbu Black Ops, he had to have that authority in his voice to retain respect.

Kurenai then made her presence known. "You're not planning on taking Naruko away from her, are you?" Asked Kurenai worriedly.

Asuma isn't surprised that Kurenai is here, she and Anko are like sisters so it was to be expected. "That depends on Anko's decision, if she refuses to talk to me, Naruko will be taken by force if necessary, I advise her to tell me why she took her in, that's the only chance she has to keep her." Asuma replied, giving Anko no reason to believe he was bullshitting her, he wouldn't be a good Anbu Black Ops leader if he couldn't come up with a convincing lie.

Asuma sighed. "Listen, I'm not here to judge or criticise you for taking Naruko in, I know I couldn't make a decision like that, but you need to explain to me why you took Naruko Uzumaki in and why you've neglected your duties as a shinobi, neither I nor the Third Hokage can help you unless you talk to us." Anko and Kurenai know that Asuma isn't the type to make up bullshit like that, even if he's the leader of the Anbu, they know he's serious.

Anko sighed. "Come on in, I'll explain once we're all inside." Replied Anko quietly.

Open Plan Living Room and Kitchen

10:05

Anko let Asuma into her apartment, Anko and Kurenai sat on the sofa, Naruko stayed with Anko on her lap. {Who's that? He looks scary. Is, is he a bear? Yep, he's definitely a bear.} Naruko grinned at the thought that a bear had come into her home.

Asuma pulled a chair from the dining table in the living room and sat on it in front of the sofa, crossing his arms and giving Anko a stern look. "So, why did you take Naruko Uzumaki in? Again, I don't want to judge or criticise you, but I need to know why."

Anko gave Asuma the exact same explanation she had given Kurenai. "If I hadn't taken her in, Naruko would have continued to be mistreated by the other villagers, she'd have become lonely and isolated in a village that hates her, it would have been a hell worse than hell itself, I couldn't let that happen, and when I figured out she was Minato and Kushina's daughter, that was just an added incentive for my decision." Anko finished her explanation.

"I see, so you took Naruko in to protect her from the same abuse you yourself have been subjected to for the past two years, but Anko, you must inform Lord Hokage..."

"I'll not give up Naruko!" Snarled Anko loudly, interrupting Asuma. "I will not give her up, I refuse to give her up without a fight!"

"It seems having Naruko hasn't dulled the snappy, quick-tempered side of you." Said Asuma jokingly with a grin.

"Naruko as brought out a dormant part of my personality, my femininity, something I thought I never had, but Naruko as brought it out of me, but yeah, I'm still as snappy and feisty as ever." Said Anko with a gentle smile and pulled Naruko into a loving hug, which the little girl eagerly returned.

"But I repeat myself, I refuse to give up Naruko without a fight, this village will have to kill me before I allow it to take her from me, and I'm more than willing to let it get that far." Said Anko with a deadly tone in her voice, Kurenai inwardly hoping it would never come to that.

"Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but you still need to inform Lord Hokage, because your current custody of Naruko is illegal, I know he's my father, but he is a good man, I'm sure he'll agree to give you custody of Naruko, especially if you show him how much you love her. If you want, I can accompany you and help you talk to him." Asuma said respectfully of his father.

"I'll also accompany you, the more people you have behind you, the more chance you have of succeeding." Kurenai immediately pitched in. "So let's go to Lord Hokage and see if he'll help you." Kurenai determined to help her surrogate little sister, as a surrogate big sister should.

Anko sighed. "Okay, you win, I'll go see Lord Hokage."

Anko, still holding Naruko, left her apartment and headed to the Hokage tower accompanied by Asuma and Kurenai.

Hokage's Tower

Hiruzen was watching and listened through his crystal ball, he is very pleased. {Well done Asuma, you managed to get my key players on the board.} Thought Hiruzen with a grin on his face.

To Be Continued

Next Chapter - Chapter 6 - The Third Hokage's Plan

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