5 Years Later
Request for Transfer
As he looked over the file, Minato couldn't quite understand what he was reading. Naruto has submitted a Request for Transfer. He was asking to be transferred to ANBU. After years of being on the same successful team since he was Genin, the team with one of the highest mission completion rates on the roster, Naruto was asking to be transferred. Skill-wise, there was no reason to deny the request, but Minato still had his concerns.
He placed the paper in front of him. Unfortunately, as much as he was surprised, he knew he shouldn't be, not after everything Kakashi had told him over the past couple of years. He was having problems with Naruto, not the same as when he was twelve. Almost the exact opposite. Naruto was withdrawing from the team, protesting teamwork, or even flat-out refusing to cooperate with his team. Even if he was to go to the ANBU, teamwork was still involved.
Kakashi had said Naruto was being insolent, and distant, angry even. He preferred to work solo and refused to participate in any team-related activities. He hadn't seen the Konoha 13 in months or spoken with anyone outside his team. He spent so much time alone.
Minato ran his hands over his face.
He was worried about his son, to say the least. An emotionless shinobi wasn't good, and it was even worse for the Jinchuuriki of Kyuubi.
When Naruto started spiraling, he had hoped it was just teenage rage or hormones. The innate desire to rebel against authority that all teenagers had, shinobi or not. But Naruto never outgrew it. Unfortunately, it only got worse as he got older. He only became more detached and irritated.
Minato could pinpoint the exact moment his son shifted in the wrong direction. The day he came from the Land of Waves, his first C-rank mission that had turned out to be an A-rank at least. Had it traumatized the youngster?
Whatever happened five years ago, Naruto, at seventeen, was already a Jonin and now wanted to be an ANBU member. He had the skills that was for sure, but he didn't need Naruto to suppress his emotions any further. What could he do? If he said no, Naruto would claim that Minato was treating him differently from other shinobi because he was the Hokage's son.
Minato looked down at the photo of his son attached to the request. Even in his photo, Naruto looked livid.
A knock on the door to his office shook him from his thoughts, "Yes?"
The door opened, and his son walked in, "You wanted to see me, Hokage-sama?"
"Hey," Minato smiled at him. He was his spitting image, especially now as a young adult, although the long hair in the ponytail at the base of his neck was the only differentiating feature.
Minato held up the paper in his hand.
"My transfer request?" Naruto confirmed. His voice was steady and deep, with a sharp edge that never seemed to fade.
"Yeah," Minato nodded, leaning forward on his desk.
Naruto stood in front of his desk, hands behind his back. His face was void of all emotion.
"Help me understand, Naruto," Minato asked.
"Understand?"
"Why are you asking to join the ANBU?"
Naruto swallowed hard but didn't respond or show any other reaction.
Minato sighed, "Son, your team has one of the highest success rates on the roster. Why do you want to leave your team? Is there a problem?"
"No."
"Okay, then why?" Minato pushed. Minato held his son's gaze, trying to read him, but there was nothing to read.
"Does there need to be a reason for you to approve it?"
Minato was slightly taken aback, "Well, no. As Hokage, I don't need a reason, but as your father…"
Naruto cut him off, "I wasn't asking my father."
The razor edge to Naruto's voice deepened, showing his irritation.
Anger. It was the single emotion that he showed.
"You…?" Minato stuttered.
Your father doesn't trust you. Kill him. Get rid of him.
"I sent the request to the Hokage, not my father," Naruto said through gritted teeth, trying to ignore the demon's thoughts in his head, "I'd appreciate it if you didn't treat me differently than the rest of your shinobi."
Minato let out a deep breath and held his son's gaze. Naruto wasn't wavering in his request.
"Fine," Minato nodded, then reached for the 'Approved' stamp, slamming it down on the paper, before holding it out for his son to take, "Report to Tenzo; he will handle it from here."
Naruto took the paper, then bowed, "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
"Naruto," Minato tried, but Naruto had already walked out the door.
Minato just shook his head.
"Hokage-sama?" the young Chunin assigned to the assistant job walked in just after Naruto walked out.
"Please summon the rest of Kakashi's team for me," Minato ordered, a little exasperated. Interacting with Naruto always left him feeling aggravated and fatigued as well.
"Yes, sir," the Chunin bowed before heading out to do as ordered.
Minato was leaning forward on his desk, with his head buried in his hands, when he heard the door to his office open and shut. He knew exactly who it was without even having to glance up. He was familiar with the chakra signature and the two others accompanying him. He needed to get this over with. When he lifted his head, the team he summoned stood before him. Aside from Tsunade herself, Sakura is one of the best medical shinobi in the village. Sasuke was the pride of the Uchiha Clan, and of course, Kakashi, his student who had become a world-renowned shinobi in his own right.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice," Minato said, sitting up straight.
"Of course, Hokage-sama," Kakashi nodded.
"Shouldn't we wait for Naruto?" Sakura asked.
"No," Minato shook his head, leaning back in his chair.
"Sir?" Sasuke asked.
"Naruto has been transferred to the ANBU," Minato stated.
"What?" Sakura asked. It was the last thing any of them had expected.
"I approved his transfer request earlier today," Minato replied with a sigh, "I asked you here to tell you and to inform you that I will be assigning you a new team member soon."
"He requested it?" Kakashi asked.
"Yes," Minato nodded.
His student didn't seem surprised; perhaps he was the only one who told Naruto to do it.
"Actually, sir," Sasuke said, "I was hoping to speak with you about something."
"Sasuke?"
"I was going to put in my own Request for Transfer," Sasuke said.
Minato nodded with a small smile, "To the police force?"
"Yes, sir," Sasuke nodded.
"I assumed you would eventually. Very well. Please submit the proper paperwork, and I will approve it," Minato agreed.
"Thank you, sir," Sasuke said.
"Well, unfortunately, with two team members down, there wouldn't be much of a reason to keep your team on the roster," Minato sighed, "Kakashi, Sakura, I'll be transferring you to other teams. I'm sorry."
"It's fine, Minato-sensei," Kakashi nodded.
"I'm sure Tsunade would like me to be more at the hospital anyways," Sakura shrugged.
"Thank you for understanding," Minato said, dismissing them.
Minato turned to look out the large panel of windows behind him. He hoped he didn't just make a huge mistake in allowing his son to join the ANBU. In any other situation, he would be proud that his son was strong enough to join, but now, Minato worried that the ANBU would bury any emotion or love that Naruto had left.
"Naruto!"
"Sakura," Naruto stated as he turned to find Sakura and the rest of the group whom his father had deemed the Konoha 13 a few years ago after the Chunin exams.
Although his sensing abilities had told him who exactly was in the group, he had difficulty making them out as the group walked toward him. It was late, and the sun had set hours ago; the only light was from the scattered streetlamps. He was heading home from training alone in the Forest of Death, a place no one would dare go without reason.
Naruto stood waiting with his hands in his pockets, a habit he picked up from Kakashi after years of being on his team. He waited for them to approach in standard shinobi gear for Konoha. His father approved his ANBU transfer a few days ago, and his meeting with Tenzo will make it official tomorrow. It was his last time having to wear typical the typical Konoha uniform. He was looking forward to retiring it.
As the group stopped before him, Sakura beamed, "We are heading for some BBQ. Do you want to come?"
"No," Naruto replied bluntly.
"Why?" She pushed.
"I've got a long day tomorrow," Naruto lied.
"Come on, Naruto," Lee exclaimed, "It's been a while since we've seen you!"
Naruto flicked his gaze to the loud, green-clad shinobi. Lee had begun to get on his nerves over the past few years. He liked him at first when they met at the Chunin exams, but now Naruto found him nauseating; just the sound of Lee's voice put him on edge.
"Please? Naruto?" Sakura asked, "Who knows when we will all be together again."
Naruto subconsciously gritted his teeth; he wanted this night over. He wanted his rank in the ANBU and to put all these people into his past. He wanted to move on already.
"Fine," Naruto snapped.
"Yay!" Sakura giggled, "Let's go!"
Naruto shook his head as he followed the group silently to the restaurant, hanging back a few paces behind them. The less he interacted with them, the better the easier it would be for all of them. They were all chatting, splitting off into small groups. As soon as they reached the entrance, Naruto noted that their Genin senseis had joined them, including Kakashi. The grey-haired shinobi always seemed to be watching him these days, and he wasn't thrilled about it.
One more night.
Naruto kept reminding himself. He would have this last night; then he was home free. The ANBU would give him the space and freedom to do as he wanted; relationships be damn.
He sat cross-legged at the end of the table, sandwiched between Kakashi at the head and Sakura. The room was tiny and claustrophobic. His body craved to get out of there as fast as possible, but as he had practiced many times before, he swallowed his feelings and tried to focus.
Kill them. Kill them all.
Naruto took a deep breath, trying to ignore the deep, menacing voice in his head.
"Naruto?" Kakashi called, shaking Naruto from his own thoughts.
"What?" Naruto leaned forward on the table and shot his old sensei a look.
"What made you want to join the ANBU?" Kakashi asked. His voice feigned honesty, but Naruto knew exactly what he was trying to do. It worked.
"You joined the ANBU?" Neji asked.
Naruto looked across the table at the Hyuuga. The table had gone silent, and all eyes had turned to him.
"Yes," Naruto stated in a complete sentence.
"Why?" Ino asked him.
"I have my reasons," Naruto replied trying to keep his answers as short as possible.
They don't trust you.
Be quiet.
"What about your team?" Asuma asked.
"Not my problem," Naruto shook his head.
"Not your…? Jesus," Asuma stared at him, but the look on Kakashi's face told him to drop it.
That's it, Naruto. Release your emotions. Let me free.
"Well, good luck then," Neij replied, returning to his food; his voice indicated that he didn't mean it.
"So, what are you going to do, Sakura?" Ino asked.
"What do you mean?" Sakura replied.
"Well, with Naruto in the ANBU and Sasuke joining the police force, what happens to you?"
"Oh, well, Yondaime-sama said that I'll be reassigned, but Tsunade wants me at the hospital so that missions won't be a priority," Sakura explained.
"What about you, Kakashi?" Gai asked.
"I'm not sure, to be honest," Kakashi said, crossing his arms, "I don't have a team; Minato-sensei said I would be reassigned, but who knows."
Naruto listened to their conversations with half interest, only catching parts.
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. His head was starting to hurt; he wanted to leave. He needed to leave. They were about halfway through their meal; Naruto hadn't touched anything. Kakashi and a few of the older shinobi were still watching him.
They don't want you here.
Shut up.
He was done; he needed to get out of here. Naruto stood quickly, catching the attention of many, but he didn't acknowledge it. As he turned to leave, Kakashi had called his name. Naruto looked at him over his shoulder, holding his gaze for a bit, but didn't say anything.
After a few moments, Naruto turned to leave. Ignoring those who called his name as he walked out.