Chapter 4
AN: Back for more! I hope everyone's weekend was great, and that this week is amazing as well. Anyway, wow, I see a lot of readers are enjoying both my 'ANBU' stories. Shout out to dragme2thefinish because through private messaging I find that their birthday is this week (I think Tuesday) so I hope your birthday is filled with fun and wow.
Finally, if you guys haven't yet, check out KingofSarutobi "Orphan"- the new chapter is up and it's one of my staple reads.
One week after the attack…
Sasuke Uchiha was many things: a genius, an avenger, an Uchiha. And avenging genius Uchihas don't get captured by three missing ninja barely chunin level- but he had.
It was unacceptable. When he woke up in the hospital, Kakashi lazily read his book and informed him that ANBU had stopped him from being taken. Seething at his vulnerability, the 'last' Uchiha demanded more training, more power than the team exercises and conditioning he had been limited to. Kakashi just eye smiled, patted him on the head, and told him powerful jutsu weren't the answer; that the ANBU who took down the leader just used shadow clones, poison, and a C rank jutsu.
Sasuke scoffed at that and left the hospital to train on his own, spending his week off at the Uchiha training grounds. I need to get stronger- to beat him. The brooding teen clenched his fist in his pockets in anger, not noticing his afternoon walk after another stagnant training session was taking him to a section of the village he'd never been in before: the part of town his sensei and every other higher up ninja lived, bought food and hung out around. No civilians and most shinobi under chunin level knew about it- heck, Sasuke only knew about it because he lived with an ANBU for a month after the massacre (AN: no way a recently orphaned seven year old would live alone right away- not when he no doubt had no way of knowing how to do simple things like cooking, cleaning, ect).
His thoughts lost in the past, Sasuke almost missed a certain blonde haired dead last walking slowly through the streets, a limp in his step and blood splattered on his face. Almost, is the key word. He's gotten stronger- I need that power. Heh, I have the Sharingon, I'll fight him and steal that power. A dead last doesn't need it anyway, I bet he got an office job or hospital post- those losers don't need power like an avenger.
Naruto was exhausted- relieved, but exhausted. A simple escort of the Daimyo from the capital to Konoha turned almost deadly when a pack of seven missing ninja- this time with mixed Iwa and Kiri head bands- had attacked the caravan holding the Daimyo- well, the decoy anyway. In reality team Ro was escorting the Daimyo's double while Gama and two other squads took the real Daimyo of Fire on an alternate route which wove underground at times. They defeated the bastards with only minor injuries- by Naruto's standards anyway. Hikaru kept insisting Naruto be carried when he sprained his ankle in a round house kick. When they returned to Konoha with the bodies, the higher ups congratulated them on their work, but everyone in Ro got the impression they weren't happy none were taken alive- it made proving their likely affiliation with the newly discovered "Otogakure" nigh impossible.
That was almost a day ago and Naruto was off until noon tomorrow. Until then, the exhausted ANBU had plans to secure his apartment, shower, and sleep with his newly made sound barrier seals and privacy seals- months of work would pay off, as Gai's voice was not something one could learn to 'tune out'.
That was Naruto's plan, before the Uchiha he saved- not that he would ever know- stopped him on the street.
"Fight me, idiot." Sasuke demanded arrogantly. Naruto looked the brat- for Sasuke Uchiha was very much a brat in Naruto's eyes now- and stared at him with tired eyes.
"No." He said simply and attempted to step around the older boy.
"Hn. Scared? You will fight me." Sasuke said and blocked his path again. Naruto sighed, wishing he had agreed to go get sushi with Hayate and Yugao now, or even the hot springs with Hikaru. He idly wondered if this was karma for slipping away from his comrades. Nah, not even karma is this cruel.
"I just got back from a mission; I'm tired and have no time for you- leave." His voice was cold but Naruto didn't care: he had a (hopefully still hidden) Ramen stash waiting for him and warm shower calling.
Sasuke grinded his teeth. He didn't use to be this unhinged, but the last time he saw Naruto had showed him how far behind he was falling, if a loser could over take him.
"If you won't fight me willingly, I'll make you! Fire style: fire dragon jutsu!" He snarled. Naruto's eyes widened slightly at this. Sasuke believed it was because he was impressed or scared, and smirked.
No however, the real reason Naruto's eyes widened was his disbelief at Sasuke's stupidity. He replaces himself with a trash can from a nearby alley.
"You moron! Fighting between comrades in the village streets is prohibited!" Naruto shouted in anger. The Sasuke he knew would never be so stupid- but when Naruto saw his eyes filled with lust for power he groaned; the reports of the Uchiha becoming a flight risk in his search to kill Itachi were not exaggerated. Sasuke prepares another attack, when he suddenly slumps down. Anko, Dango in hand, glares down at the boy in disgust.
"Foolish maggot. Naruto, you alright?" She asks. Naruto nods.
"Yes- he was no threat, but thanks. What should we do with him?" Naruto asked. Normally a shinobi who pulled such a stunt would spend the night at T & I to cool off, be interrogated, and then taken to the Hokage for punishment. With the Uchiha, though, it was likely nothing would happen.
Anko snorted at Naruto's question.
"He'll get the same treatment as everyone else, the Hokage doesn't care if he is the last of his bloodline. Weren't you the one who told me the old geezer promised that 'the village' comes before any individual- isn't that what he told you during your talks?" Naruto winced a bit at his own unsaid accusations- he had patched things up with the Hokage completely when they had their 'heart to heart' and Naruto made him wear orange all day- and rubbed his hair sheepishly.
"Sorry, sorry: you're right. I'll leave him to you then!" And Naruto takes off before Anko can yell an indignant 'hey! You should take him' and slips into his apartment through the window.
The next morning Gai woke Naruto up at the normal four am time, somehow bi passing all of his seals-again.
"YOSH! MY YOUTHFUL MORNING STUDENT! LET US BASK IN OUR YOUTH AND DISCOVER WHAT THE SPRINGTIME OF YOUTH HAS IN STORE FOR US TODAY. WE SHALL SPEND THE MORNING TOGETHER BEFORE YOUR YOUTHFUL SHIFT STARTS." Gai shouted in Naruto's tiny room, his flailing arm almost knocking over the book case. Naruto blinked blearly.
"What'd you say?" He mumbled through his mask- he never did get a shower as Anko showed up demanding Dango after he checked his traps and fed the plant, and thus was still wearing what he had on yesterday, making him seem more like Kakashi than ever.
"OH! YOU'RE TOO HIP AND COOL, MINI-KAKASHI. NEVER FEAR, I SHALL SHOW YOU THE WAY BACK TO YOUTHFULNESS!" Gai swung the still half-asleep Naruto over his shoulder. "WE SHALL TAKE AN ICE COLD SWIM IN THE RIVER BEFORE RUNNING AROUND KONOHA ON OUR HANDS!"
By the time Naruto fully awoke he was cursing Gai with his very soul as the water bit into his skin. Note to self: research better security seals. With that thought in mind Naruto begrudgingly swam the laps with the green monster, never noticing Dragon observing from a nearby tree.
"I know what you're thinking, Mouse- but just like with your ramen, your house will never be safe from Gai. Your training with him is too amusing. Though perhaps I should have let you sleep in, seeing as your squad did just complete an A-rank escort mission…nah." Dragon continued muttering to himself as Naruto crawled out onto the bank and was given the leg and chest weights he wore while training with Gai. Grumbling curses the almost thirteen year old slid them on and started on his run six hour run with Gai, who alternated between hands and feet.
ANBU Locker room, noon…
Multiple ANBU squads were preparing for various missions and shifts when Naruto walked in with a twitching eyebrow and muttering.
"Hehehe. Just you wait, Gai and mini-Gai. I will create a barrier you can't break through! And when I do, my mornings off will cease to be interrupted by ramblings of…" Here Naruto shuddered. "Youth." Tenzo, Yugao, and Hikaru winced in sympathy for their young friend- the poor boy was Gai's new 'pet project' that extended beyond training and into attempts to bring back Naruto's "youth". It was really not a fate they wished on anyone.
Unfortunately for Naruto the other squads found it hilarious.
"Hahaha I am so glad you were suckered into that apartment and not me!" Jaguar teased. He had moved in right after Naruto had, avoiding the curse that was Gai. Most of the other ANBU sniggered as the youngest among them muttered like a deluded old man about killing who ever taught Gai about seals. Of course, Ro all knew it was Dragon who just disabled them randomly for kicks. They would never tell Naruto, however, for fear of Dragon carrying out his threat of assigning them 'Konohamaru duty' for a month.
"Shut it! Captain Tiger, permission to sanction an assassination mission of whomever sells Gai his jumpsuits and taught him seals?" Naruto asked hopefully. Tenzo sighed, familiar with this situation.
"Permission denied, Mouse. Besides, I think you'll like your mission we're preparing for tomorrow…or at least, you'll be doing the rest of us a favor" Tenzo said. Naruto cocked his head.
"What kind of mission?"
"Oh, just running the trap course for the academy today." Tenzo grinned evilly at the pale expression on Naruto's face; when Hawk- who usually ran the course- was called in on a mission, Tenzo had swiped it for his squad. Not only would Ro get to observe an unbearably easy watch from the shade of the trees, but Naruto would be able to see his teacher again- in off duty gear, too.
"Is this payback for making the Hokage wear orange?" Naruto asked.
"Why, whatever made you think that?" Tenzo asked. By his too innocent expression, however, Naruto knew: his captain was a vengeful bastard when he wanted to be.
Academy, next day…
"Alright class, remember to treat whomever is the instructor with respect: they'll teach you basic traps and how to disable them!" Iruka was stern with the nine year olds, especially Konohamaru and his friends. His pride as a teacher was on the line, and if his students misbehaved it would reflect poorly on him. They reached the clearing the new instructor wanted them at quickly and Iruka's jaw dropped. Standing in the middle of a sea of traps, was his unreachable student, Naruto. The boy wore standard black pants and long black shirt, and the face mask he sported resembled a certain cyclops. What really got Iruka, though, was when Naruto turned to face them and plopped down, holding up ten flags.
"I don't believe in babying students and find learning by doing is better than anything- my traps teacher threw me in the deep end so I will do the same. I am your target- I have ten flags on me- one for every three students. Your job is to team up into three man cells and make your way through the field to me, setting off as little traps as possible. You will be graded on how quickly and efficiently you get through. The winning squad will be treated to dinner by me at Ichirakus" That got the kids' attention. Iruka's jaw dropped though at the cool tone of Naruto and the difficulty of the traps set. "Go" Naruto said after a moment and thirty students split off, preparing for their trial.
Iruka used a shunshin and kawarimi to make it into Naruto's circle, and sat next to his old student.
"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto greeted happily. "I didn't know you were teaching this class." Naruto sounded happy, and he was, but he was also nervous- Iruka was known for being able to make Naruto talk about everything, not something Naruto wanted at this time when his ANBU status wasn't spread around.
"Hello, Naruto. I haven't seen you in almost five months! Where have you been?" Iruka asked crossly. The chunin was both ecstatic and pissed at his former student.
"Heh, special assignment and all that- pretty boring most of the time. I was asked to take over for the ANBU today so that's why this course isn't as detailed as I like" Naruto apologized sheepishly. Iruka gaped at him, flabbergasted that this monster of a test wasn't the final product and forgetting about Naruto's situation in the moment- just like Naruto hoped for.
"What do you mean 'as detailed as you'd like'? This is high genin level- not meant for Academy students! You can't expect nine year olds to succeed." Iruka ranted on to Naruto, who began tuning him out. Finally the chunin ran out of breath.
"You done? Good. Listen, teamwork is more important than flashy jutsu or fancy taijutsu move. If I made it easy they wouldn't realize this; the way my course is set up they will have to work together to get a flag, while also figuring out how the most common-and deadly- traps work, even if these versions only shoot out paint." Naruto gave a cold stare, daring Iruka to argue. He'd seen the genin squads and their high mortality rate on missions when their teamwork and basic knowledge was lacking, verse the ANBU squads whose teamwork saved both the ninja and the missions constantly. If being harsh now prevented even one genin death, Naruto view this as a mission complete.
Iruka looked at Naruto in pride. The boy he knew would have boasted about doing everything alone and screamed a battle cry: not lecture on the importance of working together and pushing oneself. It made him wonder what 'assignment' Naruto had.
A few squads had overheard Naruto and strove to work better together. With new determination the students strove to win, not just for food but also to make their temporary sensei proud.
Up in the trees Hikaru and Yugao played go fish.
"Yo, think chibi-kohai is really an old war vet in disguise? I mean, he sounds thirty, not twelve!" Hikaru grumbled as he lost to Yugao- who had their captain giving hand signs behind Hikaru- feeling like his favorite squad mate was being dull.
"No, idiot- Mouse is just growing up, something you could learn from." Yugao admonished. She was proud of Naruto for his maturity as of late, she was no longer worried of having two Hikaru's on Ro.
"What's so bad about being childish some times? We accepted this mission so Mouse can hang out with his old teacher- not lecture!" Tenzo sighed as the recent bickering topic started up.
"Stop it, both of you!" Tenzo ordered. His brain couldn't handle another argument over Naruto's personality. "Wolf, Mouse is on a mission- an easy one, sure, but still a mission- and as such is in the 'mission mode' we taught him." At this Yugao looks smug. "And Cat? Lighten up a bit. You are playing a card game on a mission right now, so any jibes on Wolf's maturity are moot at this point."
Now it's Hikaru's turn to throw his shoulders back in victory. Tenzo palms his mask in exasperation as the two clearly didn't get it.
"Hey, what's up?" Naruto's voice breaks Tenzo from his stupor. Naruto smirked. "The kids are done- I'm just a clone. Boss is taking the winners to Ichirakus." Tenzo nodded.
"That's fine, Mouse. After you're done get some rest- we have sewer patrol tonight." Everyone grimaced. Ever since their first time, Dragon took it upon himself to let Ro handle most of the sewer patrol as it became easier with Naruto's clones.
"Darn that Dragon- sadistic bastard. See you in a few hours" and he poofed away.
That night…
"This sucks" Hikaru said as they made their way through the tunnels, not bothering to follow the 'silent unless necessary' rule. Silently, Naruto agreed. He had twenty clones do a preliminary sweep, but they still had to double check everything.
"Shut it- at least we only have the west sector. We should be done within six hours." Yugao was in a foul mood. Her date with Hayate would have to be postponed as the sewer smell took hours to get out.
"It's not so bad. There isn't any…" Naruto trailed off then cursed. "Crap- there's six hostiles setting up explosives." They take off soundlessly, Naruto in the lead. No more complaints or bickers filled their thoughts- with danger up ahead they became the elite ANBU of Konoha.
They reached the section of the tunnels the clone dispersed. Suppressing their chakra Ro looked from the shadows.
'Six. Wearing scratched Kumo headbands.' Tenzo signed.
'Recognize the one in the back- Kumo B-rank. Takashi the Tank. Went rogue three months ago.' Naruto signed back. He was well versed in the bingo books now, as he was determined to win the vacation passes for his squad at the next Bingo book tournament.
'Understood. Mouse- throw five of your new smoke tags on my signal- Cat, Wolf, kill the four in front. Mouse, capture the fifth working on the bomb tags. When finished, assist me with Takashi.' Tenzo ordered. With nods, Naruto threw down the tags.
What made these 'smoke tags' so special was Naruto's little twist: instead of storing actual smoke in the seal, he stored chakra smoke from his clones, making it similar to the hidden mist jutsu. After facing Rai, Naruto had asked Kakashi for the jutsu. After trying it, it became clear that even with it being technically a D-rank jutsu, for Naruto to use it he'd have to develop a water affinity to perform it with any degree of effectiveness, which Kakashi wouldn't teach him before his wind manipulation was complete- still weeks away, even with clones. To make up for the lack, Naruto altered the standard smoke tag a bit. After accidentally sealing an annoying clone into the matrix, Naruto set it off in frustration, only to grin manaically when his apartment was filled with a thin smoke. Now, each tag held twenty clones worth of chakra smoke, which lingered longer and blocked sensors and smell, not just sight.
Once the tags released a mountain of smoke Hikaru and Yugao took off, making the four in front fell, all of whom were genin level. Naruto went over near his target, who was frantically attempting to finish his seal but kept making mistakes. Dropping down behind, Naruto took a deep breath and tried out his new jutsu from Kakashi.
"Earth style: Headhunter jutsu!" He whispered, screams of the enemy covering the noise, and sank into the ground. It wasn't perfect, but Naruto couldn't use destructive jutsu in close quarters or risk the man- a short balding chunin with a sloppily slashed headband. Under the ground, Naruto's hands shoot out and grab the ankles. Pulling down with all his might the man lets out a startled yelp as he finds himself neck deep in earth. Naruto reappears behind him and knocks him out with the hilt of his new chukoto. Opening the prisoner stasis scroll Naruto quickly seals the unconscious man in, silently grumbling that his last scroll was used- prisoner stasis scrolls were expensive, and it took a level four to make.
"Die, Konoha scum!" A voice Naruto could only assume was Takeshi rang out. Naruto turns to see his captain and teammates having little trouble with the hulk of the man. Takeshi was powerful with his earth release, but Yugao had cut off one of his hands, making most jutsu impossible. "Earth style: Mud wave!"
Or not. Jumping up to the ceiling team Ro avoids the floor becoming a disgusting river of sewage and dirt. Yugao and Tenzo give a familiar hand sign and Naruto grins behind his mask; he loved this combo, even if it was insanely difficult.
Naruto made three clones who shunshined in a triangle formation around Takeshi. The man draws a kunai and slices toward one. At that moment Yugao switched with the clone and blocks the strike. While he's destracted with holding off her sword, Tenzo switched with the one of the left and stabbed the man with a wooden spike from his arm. Naruto then finished it behind them, his chukoto laced in wind chakra to decapitate the man. The mud hardend, no longer fed by chakra, and squad Ro lands around the body.
"Good work" Tenzo praised, slightly winded. He had engaged in a taijutsu match with the target, as at first neither wanted to damage the area, though for different reasons. "HQ has already sent back up to disable any other threats. Mouse, are you able to dismantle this area's?" Naruto studied the matrix on the wall carefully. It was obviously made to be let off dominoe style, and so he'd have to go dismantle them one at a time. It would take hours.
"I can, captain. It will take hours, but I can do it." Tenzo nodded.
"Good, then we don't have to wait for anyone to come. Take care of this section, we'll guard you." With a sigh, Naruto started on the first tag, slowly unravelling the seal.
It ended up taking half a day before Naruto finished the last glued on tag- only because three other sections had a domino style chain as well. Finally done, Naruto rolled his shoulders and turned to his captain.
"Finished. Please tell me we are off duty now" He begged. Tenzo shook his head.
"Sorry, but all Jonin and ANBU are to report to the war room for a debriefing- the one you caught cracked." Naruto perked up a bit at that; finally they had information!
Ten minutes later Ro found their place on the ceiling, the room too full for the late arrivals. No one talked much, even Gai, kneeling next to Kakashi in the front row, barely whispered.
"We can now begin" the Hokage breathed, and the already grim room went deathly quiet. "Last night ANBU discovered another group of missing-nin, this time all from Kumo, setting up a chain of bombs in the underground sewers on a routine sweep. They killed five of the perpetrators, one of whom was a B-rank in our bingo books, and captured one. Ibiki and Inoichi uncovered their motive and origin." Most stiffened at what he said next. "They were working for Otogakure, the budding village in Rice we've been searching for. It appears they were promised entrance to the village if they managed to collapse the western sector and then capture an unsealed Byakugon or Sharingon user." Outrage from the jonin filled the room.
"We should destroy them!"
"How dare this startup try and take Konoha!"
"Silence!" Sarutobi ordered. "We cannot prove anything yet and we don't know who this new village has sided with. Furthermore, they have sent an official request to participate in the Chunin Exams taking place in three months…I accepted."
"Hokage-sama, is that wise?" Ebisu spoke. Naruto observed the stuck up jonin, familiar with him from a trivia night: the man was a walking text book, but never thought outside the box. Case in point, he didn't see the reasoning of the Hokage's position.
"Yes, Ebisu, it is. This way we have them in a position that when- for there is clearly no 'if'- they try something, we will be under full rights to crush them under the great tree of Konoha. Furthermore, I have already decided that Teams seven and eight will be required to be in the exams." Kakashi nodded at his leader but Kurenai was indignant.
"Hokage-sama! You plan to use Hinata as bait? She's not ready." Kurenai argued. In truth before today she would have loved to have Hinata in the exams to toughen her up- but not now.
"She is a kunoichi, as are you- my word is final. Besides, both she and Sasuke will have an ANBU to guard them the entirety of the exams, regardless if they make the finals." Whispers went around, as having ANBU guarding a particular person bordered on messing with the exam. Kakashi spoke up.
"Who will be watching our genin, Hokage-sama?"
"Squads Falcon and Beta will be watching over Hinata Hyuga, while Team Ro and Gama, under the guise of normal exam patrols, will be with Sasuke Uchiha." Said squads Gama and Ro all cursed in their minds. None of them liked the Uchiha after hearing of his attempted assault, and being told to guard him for over a month was not their idea of fun. Kakashi seemed to sense their displeasure and sent an eye smile up towards the ceiling.
"If I may, would it be possible to commission an ANBU to help train each genin squad? It would help prepare them for the trials ahead." Naruto's stomach started dropping, hoping his Sempai wasn't doing what he thought he was doing.
"Very well then, anyone in particular you'd like to request from the guard detail?"
"Oh, I think Mouse would be wonderful" Kakashi eye smiled as Hikaru held Naruto's shoulder to prevent him from attacking the cyclops, "and Wolf as well." Now it was Yugao holding Hikaru back, and Naruto tossed a wind charged kunai right at Kakashi's head, who caught it easily. Everyone not in the know yet about Sasuke sweat dropped at the violent reaction. "Maa, maa, Mouse. If you and Wolf work with my genin every Tuesday and Thursday I'll show you the first step to water manipulation." Naruto stopped reaching for another kunai.
"And?" He questioned. Sarutobi could have ordered him to do it for free, but found the situation amusing- that, and it made Kakashi spend more time away from the memorial stone. Hikaru, meanwhile, looked betrayed at his kohai, who was selling them out!
"I'll buy you a ramen buffet." Kakashi managed, mentally crying for his wallet. Naruto hummed.
"Good, but not good enough after he attacked me and no doubt will try to use his Sharingon on me every chance he gets. You know what I want."
"No. Anything but that."
"Nope. Besides, cats are better."
"I should disown you for that!"
"You never adopted me. Accept and let me pick it out or I'll spend the three months showing them my sexy jutsu."
"…Fine. We'll go pick you out a cat after this." Kakashi growled out. His little mini me project was failing! Most chuckled at how the twelve year old just got Konoha's resident cat hater to spend a fortune on a cat.
"Excellent! Pleasure doing business with you!" Naruto cheered. Hikaru was still gaping.
"Moving on- we will discuss the increased patrol and preperations. I fear we may have to fend off a coordinated attack soon. Shikaku, your analysis?"
Seven hours later the Hokage dismissed them, and Naruto, despite his lack of sleep, was waiting for Kakashi. The height challenged ANBU locked onto Kakashi, pinning the man with clones.
"Oh Sempai, you weren't going to leave without me, right?"
"Hehe. I would never. Let's go find you a pet dog."
"Cat"
"Dog"
"Cat"
"Please, anything but cats."
"Nope, I like cats; Tora and I are best of friends" everyone, even Sarutobi and Danzo, paled a bit at the thought of the Jinchuuriki and Tora getting along.
"At least look at the other animals?" Kakashi begged, pulling out his orange book. Naruto had crawled up to his shoulders, and pulled out a book on training cats.
"…fine." Kakashi did a mental victory sign. "But I'll still choose a cat."
"Dog."
"Cat"
"DOG!"
"CAT!"
The two made their way out of the war room, neither caring for the scene they caused.
End! Sort of a build up chapter. Don't worry, training team seven will be a passing few scenes- Naruto's squad has WAY too much to do before and during the exams to waste time with Sasuke's emoness. I really don't care for or hate Sasuke, but I figured if Sasuke couldn't deal with Naruto becoming stronger when he could see the progress, how would he act when Naruto becomes stronger seemingly out of the blue? It would more than likely resort in Sasuke becoming unhinged quicker (I am not a believer in the Curse mark making him leave- he's just a revenge obsessed jerk). Anyway, questions for you guys.
Any D rank jutsu you guys want Naruto to learn? Already I have the earth style one and I have a few ideas how to use it for a certain mission I pushed off for next chapter.
Also, do you guys want him to have a ninja cat like Kiba has Akamaru? Or a regular cat/different animal? Either way it has a specific role for the chunin exams- nothing after that for now really. Finally, any tips, recommended fixes, or recommended mission ideas are always welcome! Have a great day.