Chapter 2

AN: Another chapter in Academy to ANBU! I was shocked really by how many positive reviews this fic got on its first day. Thank you everyone for your kind words and ideas! Anyway, I didn't think y'all would mind an early release- I had some time today to finish writing and editing…

Sunday, Training field seven…

Naruto, in his off duty gear, dived under a branch in pursuit of the package. Kakashi was having him practice the capture and retrieval aspect of ANBU, and his tiny summons Pakkun was deceivingly elusive for his size. Naruto refused to give up however- ramen was on the line!

Ever since Naruto joined ANBU he had a sneaking suspicion everyone hated ramen- or at least him going to get ramen. Monday through Saturday lunch and dinner were packed affairs to save time while Sundays were too exhausting for him to want to trudge across town in the opposite direction of the apartment for ramen. The couple of times Hikaru treated him they always stopped at the "Bent Kunai," a bar and grill for active/former ANBU. Deliveries were impractical as well for his favorite food. Naruto was stuck to instant ramen and a thief was going around the complex that only stole the instant cups. It was an outrage, as the bastard was able to bypass every trap he set up, even the barrier seals.

But Kakashi had given Pakkun a scroll to carry today. If Naruto caught him he would be treated to unlimited ramen at Ichiraku's. Nothing would hinder his quest.

Almost there. The pug diverted himself from a mud pit trap and blindly charged past another set of explosive tags.

Closer. Pakkun rounded a corner, where five clones waited. He dodged three but two more were waiting with a net and glue.

"I hate you" he growled in a rough voice as he tried to clean his paws off. Naruto smirked and grabbed the scroll.

"I win!" A slow clap sounds from behind. Kakashi and Dragon materialized from the trees.

"Impressive; only one hour to capture and even I couldn't track Naruto most of the time." Kakashi complemented with an eye smile. Dragon whistled.

"To keep up with a ninkin after only a month. Not too shabby. Not good enough, but almost passable." Naruto beamed at Dragon's roundabout praise. Dragon was harsh at times- bi monthly inter squad training he led still left bruises on Naruto's spleen- but he was fair. If Dragon said it was "almost passable" then it was "almost good" by normal standards.

Then again, Naruto was in ANBU- everyone else's standards didn't apply to them.

"Thank you Sempai, Commander." Naruto bowed. Before he would of loudly proclaimed how of course he was awesome, but that died the day Iruka almost did. Well, that and Tenzo tazed him or burned a ramen cup every time he boasted or acted rude. So much precious wasted.

"I think you earned the ramen, Naruto, my treat." Kakashi noticed Dragon back away slightly to the side but didn't think much of it.

Until he was flapping in the wind as Naruto forcibly dragged him towards the stand.

"What are we waiting for! Ramen calls me! Blessed ramen, here I come!" Poor Kakashi could only hope to survive the hyperactive blonde's charge as the boy slipped from serious 'on duty mode' to 'kid mode'.

Ramen stand…

Kakashi was regaining conciseness in time to see Naruto devour his seventeenth bowl.

"Keep em coming, Teuchi! Kakashi-sempai is paying!" Naruto cheered. Teuchi chuckled, glad his favorite blonde was back- his stand needed the money.

"Naruto! Where have you been for a month? Even your apartment was cleaned out!" Ayame swatted Naruto with her towel to gain his attention. Seeing the red aura surround his 'big sister' he gulped.

"W-well, Ayame. I passed and am now a part of"

"A special assignment for the Hokage" Kakashi interjected. ANBU weren't really supposed to advertise their status- those that figured it out, fine. Otherwise? Need to know only. He shoots Naruto a meaningful look, at which point the blonde nods.

"Yeah, a special assignment. Ninja stuff, can't talk about it." He grinned at her and she relaxed.

"Oh ho ho. That must mean you're closer to being Hokage, right Naruto, and where's your head band?" She smiled brightly, as did Teuchi. Naruto frowned slightly, and their smiles turned to confusion.

"Heh heh, see, I don't really want to be Hokage anymore. The paperwork, councils- bah, too much work for an awesome ninja like me!" He said cheekily, only to yelp when, despite his captain being on a mission, a jolt shoots up his spine for every bragging word he spoke. "Oh, and I'm trying to keep my passing status a secret so if you could not say anything please?" Father and Daughter soften their eyes and nod, understanding.

Kakashi was somewhat shocked at Naruto's life-long ambition changing but realized he shouldn't be. It was common knowledge in the jonin and ANBU circles that the Third and Naruto had a sort of falling out after Naruto learned of his tenant. Since that night the Hokage looked even older than normal and cringed every time he gazed at the pictures of a younger, smiling Naruto wearing his hat. Rumor was the boy had even taken to calling the Hokage by his proper name, scaring many.

If Naruto called some one by their proper title and they never had a 'Naru-nickname', then Naruto respected them as a person and authority figure. An example of this would be Iruka or Kakashi, neither ever receiving a playful butchering. But, if Naruto gave someone a personalized nick name and said person betrayed him enough to lose said nickname, it was the equivlant to being spit in the face and peed on by Naruto. So much like his mother.

"Oh? Then what is your dream, o awesome ninja?" Ayame giggled, breaking Kakashi out of his musings.

"To be strong enough to protect those precious to me! And maybe get a ninja animal." He added absentmindedly. Kakashi perked at this.

"A ninja animal? What kind?" Was his little brother trying to emulate him, to become a dog summoner? If so, Kakashi's private dreams of his own Mini me would be realized! He could rub it into Gai that his look a like lived next door.

"Yeah, a cat, though ninja cats cost the pay of an S-rank mission so it will take a about a year before I can afford one. Still, cats are so cool!" And there goes that dream, for cats were the opposite of Kakashi's 'hip and cool'. Unless…

"Say, Naruto. Try this on." Naruto slurps a noodle and grabs the cloth shoved his way.

"A…mask?" Naruto was hesitant- it almost felt like Kakashi wanted a clone but surely the man wasn't that desperate to one up Gai, was he?

Kakashi eye smiled. "Just try it on, okay? It makes you look cool." He shrugs and slides it over his face. Ayame pulls out a hand mirror and lets him look. He had to admit; he did look cool.

"I like it." Naruto says after a minute more of admiring himself. Kakashi's eye smile somehow got larger.

"Good, good. Phase one complete." He muttered, too low for Naruto to hear. Within a year Naruto would have a dog- not some smelly cat.

"Well I have to get going- early training tomorrow and wall patrol." Naruto slid out from the bar and bolted across the rooftops at speeds unheard of for a fresh graduate. Kakashi couldn't be prouder as his sensei's son already resembled a well trained shinobi.

A cough brings Kakashi back to the ramen bar and he blanches at the bill.

"F-fifty seven bowels?!" Teuchi cackled and had dollar signs at the money he just made.

Six weeks later…

Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, groaning at his jonin's stupidity. A simple C-rank, turned into a B or A rank one after the group was attacked by the 'Demon Brothers', missing ninja from Kiri. Normally the procedure was to kill missing ninja and take their bounties, as interrogating every renegade genin and chunin wasted resources.

But these two were from the bloody Mist, an island nation so tight lipped even Jiraiya had yet to get reliable intel on the smallest of the Great Five in years- and these Demon brothers had only defected thirteen months ago.

"Get me Team Ro" he spoke to what appeared to be thin air. Time for Naruto to experience his first pick up mission.

If only Kakashi hadn't insisted his team would continue the mission, with or without back up- no one could be spared for that long, but Sarutobi couldn't justify forcing them to return without the village looking weak- it had to be the commanding officer's call. And team seven's leader believed putting it to a vote. What is this, a council meeting? Why can't all my shinobi be like my ANBU?

Six hours later…

Team Ro barely touched the branches, they went so fast. Naruto was forced to use his chakra to keep the whiplash from yanking his cloak's hood down.

The mission wasn't urgent, but their captain wished to test their speed and agility after not being outside the village for weeks (in Naruto's case, ever). The verdict? Naruto held them up.

'Five minute break- eat and drink' Tenzo signed. Rule twelve of ANBU mission parameters stated talking out loud was forbidden unless absolutely necessary.

'Yes Captain' they signed back.

'Sorry for holding you guys back' Naruto bowed his head in shame. For all his speed it would still take months before he could match his teammates in their ridiculous travel pace.

'Do not apologize Mouse. When we get back- up agility and speed practice.' Tenzo assured him. 'By new year you will be quicker than Wolf'. Said Wolf scoffed silently at this- he was the second fastest among them without chakra. 'With chakra' Tenzo added, breaking the budding pride in Naruto and panic in Hikaru.

Four hours later Ro landed around team seven who had taken to guarding the prisoners, Meizu and Gozu, who were gagged and glaring. Tenzo stepped forward, him having the only necessary speaking role.

"Sempai. Team Ro, confirmation one-seven-Ro, are here to apprehend the prisoners for questioning back in Konoha." Tenzo was stiff, formal. At the apartments he bantered and relaxed around his old captain. On missions? Tenzo could put the Daimyo to shame in etiquette.

"Thank you, Tiger. I take it this Mouse's first time on a 'pick up' mission?" Kakashi drawled even as his eye bore into the smallest ANBU. For his part Naruto didn't sweat or fidget, even as Sasuke and Sakura balked at him and Sai merely gazed without expression.

"Ah, yes, Sempai. You may leave now, we'll take it from here."

Kakashi led the genin away. Naruto chanalled chakra to his ears (a control exercise Hikaru started him on a few days ago- he could only hold it for a thirty seconds while mastered was an hour.) to listen in on his old classmates and his replacement.

"Kakashi-sensei, who was that ANBU? He looked my age" Sasuke questioned, feeling weak.

"Ahh, Sasuke. You will find there are shinobi younger than you three but stronger than I am. Age is inconsequential to shinobi. To be a ninja is to negate any obstacle one has, such as being 'too old' or 'too small'." Kakashi hid his smile as he imagined Naruto bristling at the comment.

Naruto cut the chakra off and did in fact bristle for a moment until Tenzo brought him back.

"Mouse. We will taking them back using the 'long method' instead of sealing scrolls to get you used to it and for sleep deprivation training." Naruto nodded and everyone winced slightly. The long method involved locking their chakra up and binding them after checking for weapons. It would be a grueling twenty-hour light jog. "Come over here and draw the seals on them- I'll check them before you activate them to prevent an explosion."

Naruto worked carefully, ignoring the two missing ninja's fearful and hate filled eyes. Within half an hour and a lesson on a new knot, team Ro was off.

Naruto stumbled, bleary eyed and dirty into his room. Not bothering to take his uniform off he plank fell into bed. Gai and Kakashi were both on missions and his team was off until tomorrow night- all was good, he could sleep. As he drifted off Naruto considered what bad karma he had to have been given Tenzo as a captain on the mission. For the entirety of the twenty-one hours Naruto was forced to be in the middle to clutch the prisoner's rope and strengthen it with chakra- the easy job.

Until Tenzo decided he also had to work on point balancing with one had while reciting the advanced theory of hand signs- all twelve of them- and the history behind them. Anytime he messed up either task Naruto had to restart. Needless to say it was tedious and by the end his team was prepared to suppress him if he tapped into the Kyubi chakra for the first time- his frustration was palatable.

All that was behind him though now and Naruto was free of sadistic sensei until tomorrow night for Hospital patrol.

Week later…

"And that's all the intel we have. The goal is to bring back Ryuga alive for interrogation." Dragon barked. Naruto and his team were kneeled in the commander's dim office, being given their first A-rank mission since Naruto joined. Tenzo hadn't wanted this- he and the Hokage hoped to keep Naruto close for at least another month- but the village's safety came first, and Naruto's abilities made Ro the best squad to track down the traitor before he reached Rice. Even if none of them were fresh.

Ryuga Ryushi. A slightly above average chunin, twenty two years old. Received a field promotion three years prior for his contributions in the barrier corps, but most of his collegues couldn't name a single thing about him except he was a diligent worker. As they set out through the North gate Naruto couldn't help but notice nothing pointed to traitorous activities. Ryuga was just so average.

'That's what makes him the perfect spy.' Yugao signed. Naruto cocked his head.

'Being mediocre in every way?'

'Exactly: no ninja is able to remain so completely under the radar. If you ever find someone that has no life, hobby, quirk, or 'bad days'- they're up to something.' She explained.

'Mouse- two hundred clones, send out in pairs. When they find the trail tell us.' Tenzo ordered, deadly serious, as was Hikaru.

Ryuga defected last night around midnight after his superior opened a loyalty investigation on him. It was now seven am. He was part of the barrier team. The safety of Konoha rested on their shoulders.

It only took thirty minutes for the trail to be found. Ryuga's chakra signature had been tagged leaving the barrier in the direction to Rice, and the man wasn't well versed in track evasion, making it child's play for Naruto. Now they were approaching the Valley of the End- the border between the two countries.

'If he goes over border- permission to pursue?' Yugao asks as they gain on him, Naruto clones and Hikaru disabling the few traps set up.

'Yes- but once we set over the border, if we are captured or killed we will be labled missing ninja to keep Konoha from the backlash.' That put a heavy silence on the group. There was only two reasons that directive would be made: the first is that the target belongs to said nation, and the other was the nation had a hidden village, meaning conducting missions (and not just passing through) on their land was equivalent to openly declaring war.

Somehow, in the recent past, Rice had started their own village, and it was on Konoha's doorstep.

Ryuga was close- he just made it past the valley. In his hands were the plans for Konoha's barrier points- necessary for Orochimaru-sama's plan during the chunin exams. The origional plan was for Ryuga to send the scroll with Kabuto next week- but the loyalty investigation changed everything. Ryuga was headed towards a better life, one where his true talent would be recognized, not stunted because he wasn't some big shot name. He hated pretending to be weak- in Oto he was a jonin, not a pitiful chunin. They would see, Konoha would realize their mistake soon.

"Ryuga Ryushi. Surrender yourself: you're surrounded." Tenzo spoke with confidence, making his voice echo with chakra. Naruto clones henged into different ANBU members circled in, tantos drawn. The real team Ro were mixed in.

Crap! They sent over twenty ANBU after me. But I'm just a chunin, even if I'm a part of the barrier squad. Heh, I'll bet they'll underestimate me, and then I'll strike. He smirked arrogantly and pulled out a chakra conductive knife, his pride and joy, preparing for an escape.

Unfortunately for Ryuga, ANBU don't underestimate, especially those under Tenzo's care. He taught Naruto and the others from their first practice that ANBU treat babies the same way they treat kages- with extreme prejudice.

'Formation C.'

Ten of the clones jumped close, puffing away with twice the normal amount just before they connected. In the confusion Yugao and Hikaru go in, Hikaru blocking the tenketsu on Ryuga's arms and legs while Yugao took out the weapon. Finally, Tenzo created wood bindings and Naruto shinshined behind Ryuga, knocking him out with a chop like Dragon taught him during the last practice.

Tenzo sealed the traitor into a prisoner scroll and the ANBU began to head back.

'Good work. Let's go-' "DOWN" and they hit the deck. A fist the size of a boulder grazed the crown of Naruto's head, cutting a strand. He shivered at the close call.

"An Akimichi!" Hikaru let a stream of curses.

"Not just any Akimichi- that is Akira, an A-rank missing ninja. She defected two years ago- now we know where she went." In front of them was indeed an Akimichi, more muscle than fat though and a music note headband adorned her forehead.

"You crossed the border- prepare to die" She taunted. Tenzo cursed inside. They just finished a gate patrol before being given this mission- no one was fresh and Akira was bordering on elite jonin two years ago- what level would she be now, studying in a new village? No, better to talk their way out than fight- keeping Ryuga from escape was top priority.

"We have not crossed the border, I assure you. I suggest we go our separate ways instead of needless bloodshed." Tenzo reasoned. Akira just laughed.

"I say you crossed the border- and your bounty alone, Woodland Tiger, will pay my food bill for a month!" She expanded both arms and the group scattered.

Truth was Akira was not actually looking for a fight- she was at less than half her chakra and recovering from a mission. But orders were orders. She had to get Ryuga, take his intel, and then kill him. Konoha couldn't find out her master's plans.

"Wolf- now!" Tenzo yelled, and Hikaru landed on the right hand. Sending a lightning enhanced gentle fist (it's stupid for other Hyuga to not use much ninjutsu-so much potential) at the elbow, the arm shrinks to normal size, hanging limp. Hikaru is hit by the left hand, however, and is slammed into a tree. Yugao blocks another punch with her sword and preps the planned counter attack, only for both to be blown away, screaming with blood pouring from the ears.

"How do you like my decapitating sound waves, kitty cat?" Akira sneers, showing holes in her fingers letting out sound waves. She expands her whole middle, ready to squash the two.

"Wood style: Tree limbs" Tenzo states quietly from behind, and five thick wood pillars rise to ensnare Akira. Meanwhile, Naruto and two clones pick up the unconscious Yugao and Hikaru, taking them back to Konoha's side, but not before receiving a burst eardrum from a disrupted sound wave.

"Like this can hold me! Partial expansion jutsu!" And one finger from the non-blocked hand enlarged, sending Tenzo into a tree with a sickening thud. Tenzo bursts into wood, and the real one rises out of the ground. Sound waves tear his armor apart, giving him deep lacerations in the torso.

"Take that you bastard." She ground out. Akira had let loose the last of her chakra, and the wood bindings drained the rest away. She struggled to stay awake but smirked, wanting to go out with a bang. Tenzo sees this and finishes with the plan.

"Now, Mouse!" Tenzo shouts as he slumps against a tree. Naruto switches with the destroyed clone. Six hand signs later and his second elemental jutsu impacts Akira's head.

"Wind style: Air force palm" and a compressed vacuum of air fires into the woman's skull from his hand's center, blowing her brains out.

"Mission…accomplished." Tenzo whispered, and fell unconcience.

"Captain!" Naruto was frantic. After sealing what was left of Akira Akimichi he lugged his captain over his shoulder, balance broken from his burst eardrum.

It takes almost five hours for Naruto and clones to reach the patrol near the gates. Immediately his team was taken to the ANBU hospital and Naruto was rushed into a meeting with the Hokage, commander, and Danzo after a quick healing session.

"ANBU agent Mouse, we are here to have an oral report on Ryuga's capture and apparent death, seeing as the scroll containing him was damaged beyond salvage when your captain, Tiger, was injured." The Hokage was grave- on one hand Ryuga failed in handing over the information to whomever he was trying to and an A-rank rouge was taken out. On the other hand, they couldn't interrogate him, and both of the dead were damaged beyond a mind scan. A hollow victory, really.

"Hokage-sama. Team Ro, after a twelve hour shift, was summoned to track down the traitor Ryuga Ryushi. We set out from the North gate…"

Naruto took a deep breath as he completed his reported. His stomach churned as his superiors seemed to loom down on him. He followed orders to a tee- back up. Twice he saw an opportunity to jump in before the signal or to rescue injured parties, and twice he let the opportunity slip past because of orders. Yes, they won. And yes, everyone was expected to survive and be back on rotation in a week.

"I see you blaming yourself, Mouse." Dragon cut into his thoughts. "You were not ready for this mission yet but you performed it to a high standard. We lost a valuable source of intelligence, but we kept everyone alive- that is most important here. Ryuga didn't escape, marking this as a successful mission."

"Do not coddle the boy. The mission parameters were clearly"

"To bring Ryuga back and keep him from any outside forces- they did that. Being alive was preferable, but be grateful our secrets weren't leaked." Sarutobi stopped Danzo from tearing Naruto down; the boy was tired, injured (though he was mostly healed by now) and beating himself up over his inability to do more yet.

"Go rest, Mouse. You will spend the week under my tutelage until your squad is ready. Be at HQ tomorrow at nine. Oh, and the bounty will be split evenly between your squad. Dissmissed." Naruto wordlessly disappeared in a shunshin, longing for his bed.

"You put the weapon in ANBU but still you coddle him. For shame, Hiruzen." Danzo sneered as he hobbled out.

"That was his first kill, correct?" Sarutobi asked with an eye roll after the elder left. Dragon nodded.

"Tomorrow it will hit him, after he is rested and settled- I'll give him the talk."

Sarutobi closed his eyes, wishing he could be the one to give it, but knowing Naruto still hadn't completely forgiven him. "Very well then."

Sunday, Two months later…

"You'll have to do better than that!" Naruto said as he danced around the field, dodging Sasuke's endless stream of fire balls. It was funny outmaneuvering his former rival but he also felt bored. Was he really Rookie of the year? Sheesh, I could take him without my hands now!

Naruto had spent a week being Dragon's training dummy disguised as actual teaching. Naruto had walked into the HQ training room sick to his stomach as he realized he killed someone. He looked at his hands in horror at what he did, until the commander cleared his throat. Dragon told him bluntly,

"You kill- that's what a ninja does. You didn't enjoy it- that is good, that means you're human- but grow up: killing and dying for the village is a part of our job. Now prepare yourself: you're mine this week." And without another word Naruto was sent flying with a punch. Hell week had commenced. Dragon called it 'dodge and speed training'. Naruto had called it 'Being a Dragon's chew toy 101'.

That was two months ago and since then his team had upped their training to prevent such a simple enemy out classing them with an unexpected trick. Naruto used his reward money to bribe a medic ANBU in how to patch up wounds better- Tenzo almost died from blood loss, and Naruto apparently should have sutured the cuts and checked for concussion before moving any of them. The medic, another Hyuga, was pleased to see someone taking a further interest in first aid, as only captains had to take courses over it and if the captain was out, many squads were screwed beyond the absolute basics as competent combat medics numbered less than ten in the entire village- the others were basically doctors with a little ninja training. Naruto wasn't able to learn medical ninjutsu, but within a few weeks he could stitch, cauterize, and brace to just below battlefield standards in speed and quality.

Three bandit clean ups and a two week border assignment had forced Naruto to fully get over the 'killing is an absolute last resort' feeling he had grown up with in the academy. Many shinobi in peace time could find ways to just capture or evade targets and rarely had to end lives- ANBU wasn't like that. Though the force spent a large amount of time as silent watchers inside the walls, they got their hands dirtier than most. Naruto learned to accept it over time. It helped that Hikaru took it upon himself to force Naruto to find a hobby. A small plant now greeted him after work everyday from the living room window.

Today, Naruto had gone to the training grounds for his tracking lessons only to find Kakashi-sempai waiting with his genin team, a pale boy he'd never talked to before smiling creepily at him. Sasuke had taken one look at his black outfit and mask and smirked. As he was off duty and planned to go out to eat afterwards Naruto had left his head band and emergency uniform sealed in a scroll in his pocket- no one but the Hokage and those above chunin rank had caught on that the 'demon' became a shinobi. While not imperative for him to hide the fact, the promise of a ramen buffet from Tenzo if he managed to keep a low profile until the chunin exams was plenty of motivation.

"Dobe. Trying to copy a ninja since you couldn't be one?" In truth Sasuke was curious- no one had seen Naruto since the graduation exam. One person swore they spotted him at Ichiraku's once two months ago but nobody was sure. He had become a ghost. The Naruto standing in front of him was like a cat- slender, light on his feet, and deadly quiet.

"Hello, Kakashi-sempai." Naruto chose to ignore his old school mates- he technically outranked them and if he started insulting them Tenzo would have his hide for setting a bad example. Even while on missions he finds out! "Are they practicing with us?"

"Hello, Naruto. Yes, my cute little genin are starting tracking to prepare for the chunin exams in four months." Naruto nodded in understanding.

"The commander debriefed us on that last week- so many patrols and guard stations and we get the worst one" Naruto grumbled. Team Ro was on second stage duty, meaning they were going to be stuck in Anko's personal playground. Captain Tenzo already had two practices a week scheduled in the forest to prepare and set up check points. Kakashi winced slightly in mutual sympathy, not missing those days of monotonous watching of stupid genin play fighting.

"You'll be fine" he reassured weakly, not believing himself for a second- many ANBU tried to be put on medical leave or long term missions when Konoha hosted the exams. "But enough of that. Naruto, you are going to be the target for these three today!" Naruto narrowed his eyes at the genin while Sasuke and Sakura scoffed.

"Like that baka could be anything special. I bet Sasuke will find him easily!" Sakura shrieked loudly.

"Why should I waste my time with them Sempai? If I'm here to be a target then I would rather go and nap at home." Naruto turned to leave.

"If you don't get caught I'll teach you the second step to your wind manipulation." That stopped the young ANBU- he finally mastered the leaf cutting exercise but nobody knew or had time to tell him what the second stage was until after the chunin exams. "And teach you a wind jutsu tonight." That did it.

"Of course I'd like to help! Welcome to hell, genin, and just try to catch me!" Naruto said with a grin before Naruto was replaced with a log without any smoke or seals. Kakashi chuckled at his student's (well, two of them- the third was blank) expressions.

"Naruto is on a special assignment, so to say, which is why he isn't on a team and you haven't seen him" Kakashi answered the unspoken questions. When they paused to contemplate his words the jonin decided to motivate them. "Well? You have two hours so I'd start tracking him- his specialty is traps and tracking him will be difficult as his ears have become almost as good as an Inuzuka." And his chakra sensing will be ANBU level within the year went unsaid- Kakashi couldn't crush his student's hopes before they began.

Watching his students dart into the forest Kakashi hoped his plan to nip his students' egos in the bud would work. Ever since the wave mission Team seven had begun thinking themselves the best in Konoha simply for surviving Zabuza and beating his apprentice. Cockiness and arrogance killed more shinobi than many would care to admit, and Kakashi was determined to not let his students become an engraving on the memorial stone. If they were beaten by Naruto, their pride would be crushed, allowing Kakashi to build them back up properly.

As Naruto dodged another of Sasuke's sloppy punches he sighed. Just because he kept out of reach of them today and ended up capturing them Sasuke demanded 'that power' like Naruto should just drop on his knees and hand over his hours of training- impossible. It would have been worse if the blonde had divulged that Kakashi tutored him.

Naruto finally grew tired of the game and shunshined himself behind the older boy, knocking him out with a chop, following the same plan of attack he used on Ryuga- basic but effective. Dragon always said flashy jutsu were fine but a kunai or fist usually got the job done. Lately Naruto had started to see the logic in that world view.

Sakura and Sai stood a bit speechless. Here was the dead last, taking out the top graduate with little effort. Sai was of course stronger than Sasuke (though he was ordered to only show it in emergencies) but he was still surprised. Kakashi clapped slowly from a tree.

"That was a very decisive victory, Naruto. Sakura, Sai, take Sasuke home please and let him recover his pride alone. Oh, and you are not allowed to talk about your training here today or about seeing Naruto, am I clear?" He bore his eye into them releasing killing intent. Sakura and Sai give affirmations and carry their unconscious teammate away. After they vanish down the path Kakashi eye smiles at his least annoying student. "Naruto, I believe I owe you a jutsu."

Six hours later…

"Wind style: Drilling air bullets!" Naruto whispered- on team Ro, one had to learn to barely whisper the attacks unless in a pinch, and his three teammates actually had enough control to not use the speech release for focusing chakra on the lower ranked jutsu- pushing his stomach out with chakra before compressing it, expelling two masses of compressed air towards a boulder twice the size of Kakashi. The two hit, and the boulder was cracked straight through the middle.

"That's enough for the day" Kakashi ordered and Naruto collapsed to one knee. "For not completing your elemental manipulation yet you show surprising ability with the A-rank jutsu. With practice and cutting the waterfall I'm sure you'll be able to get up to six bullets." Kakashi eye smiled as Naruto groaned and fell face first into the dirt. "Of course, using a stronger call would give you a cushion of control." He added.

"You know why I can't do that, but thanks," Naruto mumbled. "I have tower patrol for the week so I can send clones out to work on the waterfall." He wasn't happy about being given the right corner position for the entire week- it was the only spot that required a constant stream of the chameleon jutsu. Yugao and Tenzo swore it was to make him master it, but Naruto suspected they were just too lazy to do it themselves.

"Hey, sempai?" Naruto asked hesitantly after a moment. Kakashi gave the go ahead motion. "I asked the Hokage about my parents again and he said he didn't know about them but he had that look in his eye- the one when he's lying to me- so I was wondering if you knew about them?" Kakashi winced inside, hating himself for what he was about to do.

"I can't answer that, Naruto, so stop asking" He said harshly. Naruto flinched at the tone and Kakashi went back to his cheerful tone. "Anyway, it will take months to spilt the waterfall- take your time, and I'll see next week!" And Naruto was left alone to crawl back to his apartment.

Next day, after shift…

Naruto rolled his muscles, stretching after a tedious day of standing without being seen and listening to the Hokage do paperwork. A few times jonin and genin squads would show for mission assignments or reports but general the sound of stamping was the only break in silence.

Then Kakashi's team came in for another C-rank, a diplomatic one requiring the Hokage's approval.

"Kakashi. I thought I told you to stop spending time at the memorial stone for hours- you're three hours late." The Hokage growled slightly. Naruto latched onto the words 'memorial stone.' 'I've heard of that- maybe my parents are on there? Why didn't I think of that before?' Naruto, longing for any scrap of his past, determined himself to unravel the mystery of where he came from.

After that Naruto had counted the seconds until his freedom. He set a new record for changing into his street clothes and darted out of the dim base.

At the stone, Naruto ran his fingers along each name. Keito Ushio, Sakira Uzumo, Kushina Uzumaki…bingo! Writing the name down inside the cover of the history book Tenzo had assigned, Naruto took off back to HQ. Kushina was the only Uzumaki, making her most likely his mother. If the third never told him, that meant it was another secret- a secret kept in the basement of the records vault.

At Dragon's office…

"Excuse me, Dragon-sama." Naruto stood ramrod straight, showing the most respect he could. He had to get on Dragon's good side.

"Ah, Mouse. What does my favorite punching bag need?" He sounded amused. Naruto resisted the urge to twitch, missing his mask already.

"I request to be assigned the records room rotation this week." Naruto said bluntly. Dragon hummed.

"Really? Now why would a young agent like you request the most monotonous post?" Naruto had his excuse ready.

"This week captain and Yugao-sempai are leaving on Wednesday for a special mission while Hikaru-sempai is putting in for a vacation until they return Sunday. I wish to earn extra money for a better sword and extra fuinjutsu lessons from Jiraiya-sama when he returns for the chunin exams. I am told the records rotation pays more than others." Everything Naruto said was true- he did need extra money- records payed equal to a C rank and a half each shift- to bribe Jiraiya-sama into teaching him for a couple hours on seals- Naruto was on level two, and level three was proving to be too much without a tutor to clear some things up- and his squad did leave him for the week. Naruto originally would have taken the several days off as a reason to stay in a secluded training ground, camping supplies in hand, and work nonstop on wind manipulation and his new jutsu. Now he'd send ten clones to make progress on the waterfall while he snooped for his birth certificate and probable mother's file.

"Hmm. Very well, report tomorrow to Lizard for your post. You'll be in the lowest basement for the next week." Dragon shooed him away. When his subordinate was out of earshot Dragon allowed a chuckle. "It's about time you started searching- you're ready to know, even if our Hokage can't see it yet. Though his manipulation skills need work. Oh well, I guess another private session is in order."

Apartment…

Naruto was too giddy to sleep- he would have a week to send clones into the complex- his parents were at his finger tips. It was this elation that caused Naruto to be on the floor, kunai pressed to his neck.

"Mousy-chan, you make this too easy" a sultry voice whispered in his ear. A shiver ran down his spine at that. Only one person was like this.

"Anko-sempai. You made your point-please get off of me." Naruto tried to stay calm- he found that when dealing with Anko, going off the deep end just turned her on.

"Aww, but this snake likes mice for snacks. Why can't you play with me?" She pouted and got off him. Naruto breathed out, letting his heart beat slow.

"I take it Kurenai left you for Asuma tonight again?" Naruto asked- since she moved in to an apartment down the hall a month ago she always bothered him, Kakashi, or Yugao when Kurenai wouldn't let her in her own apartment upstairs. Anko pouted.

"Yeah, and no one to mess with at T & I." She looked hopefully at Naruto.

"No. Absolutely not. I won't pay for your Dango. Or let you stay here tonight on my couch, even if you do swear it's more comfortable than yours." He made the x sign with his arms to emphasize his objection.

"What if I taught you how to make and use a sleeping poison this week so you wont have to buy them for missions?" Damn it. He had been trying to decipher that recipe from the 'common poisons and sleeping toxins for dummies' book for weeks but there was a reason poison makers were very rare as he couldn't figure out the right mixture balance and kept killing the rats he bought for practice (AN: really, the fact that in Naruto most shinobi couldn't do a bit of everything made them little more than magical soldiers- instead, they should all understand the basics of most areas, if only to save money on supplies.). Money didn't grow on trees and his squad's allotted supply funds never seemed to cover the 'want' items like basic poisons that made transporting civilians or the injured easier, as carrying them while awake was dangerous if attacked and stasis scrolls were dangerous for non shinobi as it linked to one's chakra, and civilians didn't have a developed network. Team Ro was lucky to not need to sedate anyone yet because a pack of three needles cost more than a full C rank mission.

"Fine. I'll pay for ten plates of Dango and you can sleep on my couch tonight. But I'll expect I'll be able to make that sleeping poison this week?" He relented.

"When I'm through with you, you'll be completely immune to it and be able to whip it up and store in two minutes! DANGO, HERE I COME!" And she charged towards her favorite Dango shop, Naruto over her shoulder.

End! So, how was the second chapter? I got Naruto past the first kill and how Dragon dealt with it- by taking his mind off of it and giving him something else to focus on (mainly, how much of a sadistic bastard Dragon is at times). For those wondering about my lack of fight scene ability- they are not my strong suite. I wrote this as realistically as possible. Remember, Naruto has only been a shinobi for about three months during that mission (more or less). Sure, he is stronger and wiser than before, but Tenzo would be stupid to throw him in with the sharks, but still needed to give him a role. Thus, Naruto is the back up and finisher for the time being unless the situation called for a more active role. Also, the reason Ro took such a beating- They were tired, sound attacks are strange, and they were not expecting it, making Akira able to take out two members without effort and the third by surprise. Thankfully, she was beaten and Naruto played his part in a kawarimi and jutsu attack well.

Finally, I had Naruto learn some first aid for a later date, and because it would make sense for a shinobi in his position, giving him a more active role until his other abilities are up to snuff, and I figure what better way to spend a reward check than on extra lessons?

Have a nice week everyone!