"Talking"
'Thinking'
'Demonic / summon'
Team Anko.
Chapter 2.
Naruto awoke slowly and sat up in bed, rubbing the last bit of sleep from his eyes. He looked around the room he was in and mulled over the previous night's events. He pulled the sheets back slowly and swung his legs out of the bed and stepped onto the cool floor of this room, his new room, that's what that Anko lady had told him. Looking at the closed door leading out of the room he listened for a moment, wondering if the silence that met him was an indicator that he was completely alone. After a moment of nothing he quickly grabbed his new Kunai and moved towards the door and opened the door as quietly as he could just a crack and peered out and down the circular hallway.
"There's no one here" he whispered to himself as he gingerly stepped out of the room and felt fabric beneath his feet. Looking down he found a neatly folded shirt and shorts. Picking up the items of clothing he realized they were his own clothes from his apartment and headed inside to get dressed before exiting the room and headed off in a random direction to explore the tower. He came to a spiral staircase and decided heading down would be a good idea and began his descent to the lower level.
When he reached the bottom, he looked around and kept walking in a random direction until he came to a large window overlooking the forest outside. Shuffling over to it he took a look out the window for a few moments and allowed himself a small smile as the sun's light warmed his skin through the glass.
Anko was slightly annoyed, she had just gone to wake Naruto up only to find him missing from his room, the only evidence he had been there were the missing clothes she had left outside his room when she had arrived back at the tower last night. She eventually made her way down to the next level and spotted the boy in question staring out the window and stopped for a moment to observe him.
She took note of the small smile on his face and her annoyance melted away into concern and then determination as she slowly and silently moved to stand just behind him.
"Good, you're awake" She spoke with as much enthusiasm as she could muster, causing the small blonde to jump in fright and whip round to face an amused Anko.
"I was Just looking around! I swear!" Naruto blurted out in a panic as he clutched his kunai.
Anko gave him an amused look and let out a small laugh, putting the boy at ease a little. She walked away from him down the hall and then stopped and turned back to him when he hadn't followed her as expected.
Naruto for his part was studying the woman properly now that he could see her in clear daylight and not the shadowy gloom of the forest evening the night before. He guessed she was in her late teens or early twenties and had the most peculiar outfit consisting of a tan trench coat and dark orange skirt over a very form fitting mesh body amour that started at her neckline and ended just above her knees and below, dull grey armoured greaves and finally blue Zori footwear. He looked up to her face and found her light brown eyes glancing back at him, hair the colour of midnight lilac tied back in a short ponytail that fanned out in random messy spikes and bangs that seemed to almost completely cover her Hiati-ate.
"Well, do you want to eat or not? You're going to need it kid!" she quipped in amusement until Naruto's stomach made a gurgling sound, answering her question for him. She motioned for him to follow and proceeded to lead him into a small kitchen area and sat him at a small table already prepared with food for breakfast, a bowl of steamed rice, Miso soup, Tamagoyaki and grilled fish and a steaming cup of green tea each for the two of them.
Naruto stared at the food before him and then back to Anko for a moment with apprehension as she sat herself down opposite him and noticing the look on his face she asked.
"Is there something wrong with the food?"
Naruto shook his head demurely at the question as he hesitantly picked up the chopsticks and tried his best to pick at the food with little to no success.
Anko leaned over the table and gently took a hold of his hand, repositioned the chopsticks in his hand, guiding him through the correct motion slowly so he could see for himself how to use them himself. The boy looked somewhat embarrassed at having to be taught such a basic skill that most people took for granted.
'I've got my work cut out for me with this kid' she mentally sighed as she watched him try on his own with a little more success than before.
"You'll pick it up in no time, don't worry about it, kid" she said quietly before she lifted her cup to take a drink of her tea.
"Whoever first thought using two sticks to eat food was a good idea was a massomist" Naruto mumbled after dropping a piece of grilled fish back down to the plate with his less than stellar chopstick skills.
Anko choked on her tea at that remark and ended up choking while trying not to laugh out loud. She patted her chest, trying to clear her airway of the offending liquid but it was made worse for her when Naruto simply stared at her owlishly. After taking a moment to calm herself down she couldn't help the amused smile as she corrected the young boy.
"Masochists I think you meant"
"Ughhh yeah that" Naruto blushed slightly, averting his eyes back to his plate.
"Relax, kid, just take your time, we have to head into the village to run some errands today and once we get back, we'll start your training!" Anko spoke enthusiastically, giving the blonde a reassuring smile.
They settled into a comfortable silence as they ate the rest of their meal. It wasn't long before both were finished and headed towards the village. Well … Anko moved towards the village with Naruto slung under one arm like a package grumbling the entire way as she had not allowed him to bring his Kunai. She bypassed the front gate and headed straight for the Hokage's Office so she could report in and see what progress was made towards the acquiring supplies for Naruto's training.
Arriving at the entrance, she lowered Naruto to the ground and ushered him into the Hokage's office.
Hokages office, ten minutes earlier.
Sarutobi was currently in a meeting with the head and deputy head of Konoha's T&I department, Morino Ibiki and Yaminaka Inoichi respectively. The topic of discussion being the previous night's interrogation of the Chunin guard.
"I have compiled a list of names of those we know partook in chasing the boy last night, the Names marked in red are those that we know caused the boy physical harm" Ibiki stated as he handed a file to the Hokage. Scanning over the list Sarutobi's features hardened as he recognized the names of a few of his shinobi. Dropping the file to his desk he tapped his fingernails against his desk rhythmically for a few moments as he contemplated his next course of action. A moment passed before the Hokage looked toward Inoichi, a tall man with long platinum blonde hair and teal eyes, a look of disdain marring his face.
"I assume you took a stroll through Chunin Sukemu's memories of last night, Inoichi?" Sarutobi finally asked.
"Yes, and I went through his memories on the other dates the boy was chased out of the village as well" Inoichi spoke as his body tensed for a moment and then relaxed as the memories of what he saw were still fresh in his mind.
"And what did you find?" The old Hokage asked impatiently. A part of him didn't want to know, didn't want to admit that several of his shinobi had hurt an innocent child. His hopes were dashed when Inoichi's reply came through gritted teeth as he spat the words out.
"I can confirm several instances where Chunin Sukemu partook in physically beating Uzumaki Naruto, threw shuriken and Kunai at him and encouraged civilians and his fellow shinobi, to abuse the boy"
Sarutobi's eyes widened, he of course knew that Naruto had been chased from the village several times, but he had no Idea that the boy had been physically abused. And within the span of a few seconds his temper had exceeded boiling point and his usually calm demeanour shattered like glass, giving way to rage, shame and despair.
"Have I truly failed this much!?" Sarutobi asked himself before sweeping everything off his desk in a fit of rage.
"HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO DAMN BLIND!?" He raged as he stood from his desk ready to destroy his entire office in some vain attempt to satisfy his anger and guilt.
"There's more I'm afraid, Hokage-sama" Ibiki spoke reluctantly.
Sarutobi looked up, fixing Ibiki with a hard stare "What is it!?" he demanded, his face contorting into a vicious snarl.
There was a small pause before Ibiki cleared his throat and braced himself mentally before the words tumbled from his mouth. "It would seem the Anbu protection detail you assigned to the boy was complicit in this treatment … They stood by and watched"
Sarutobi snapped his fingers and not a moment later, his four Anbu bodyguards appeared before him in kneeling position, heads bowed ready for orders. He picked up the file from his desk and tossed it at Anbu's feet. And in a tone of disgust and righteous vengeance he ordered "Gather Dog, Cat, Hawk and Bear. Take that list and find them! All of them! I want them all behind bars by lunch time and then I want you to track down Gecko and Goat and arrest them! You will not be gentle, and you will make sure you are seen carrying out your orders, if any of the shinobi resist … Kill them! I have no need for shinobi who abandon their duties! Have I made myself clear!?"
An Anbu donned in a mask reminiscent of a tiger raised his head and with a tone of determination and a nod he spoke "Crystal"
"Go!" Sarutobi commanded with a swipe of his hand and all four Anbu members disappeared in blurs of motion.
Sarutobi turned his attention back to Ibiki and Inoichi "The civilians on that list will be charged with Reckless endangerment of a child and child abuse, The shinobi on that list I want in the blood prison by the end of the week, make it happen!"
"Uzumaki Naruto will be compensated for the treatment he has received from the civilians and the Shinobi whose sworn duty was to protect him! Half of each civilians' financial assets will be seized as a means of compensation in the form of a fine for their crimes, as for the shinobi, all their assets will be seized as compensation! Have I made myself clear as to your new tasks?" Sarutobi asked as he took his seat behind his desk.
"It would be my personal Pleasure Hokage-sama" answered Inoichi while Ibiki merely gave a curt nod.
"Good, it's time I set an example and showed this village that crimes will not go unpunished, no matter who the victim is. You're both dismissed to return to your duties" Sarutobi finalized and started to straighten up his desk as the two men left his office.
Anko and Naruto
Naruto and Anko were walking toward the door of the Hokage's office when Ibiki stepped out followed by Inoichi. Anko stopped in her tracks in light surprise, Naruto followed her example, but he was more curious as to why they had stopped.
Ibiki's eyebrows rose slightly as he came to a slow stop, his eyes locked with Anko before his gaze shifted down to the Blonde child, who under his imposing gaze averted his eyes and shuffled his small frame behind Anko slightly. Ibiki let out an Inaudible sigh at the sight of the boy's behavior, it wasn't anything he wasn't already used to, looking as intimidating as he did even without the nightmarish reputation he had garnered over the years, but the boy's behavior he now knew was indicative to his treatment at the hands of the villagers and he felt a growing sympathy for his situation.
His eyes rose back up to Anko and found her to be asking the silent question he knew she wanted to ask from her eyes alone. He gave her a solemn nod as an answer to her silent question before he spoke, his voice holding its usual gruff tone.
"Your suspicions were confirmed by Inoichi"
Inoichi who had just come to a stop next to Ibiki gave her a nod of confirmation as his face set into a grim visage until he noticed Naruto just behind Anko. He gave the boy a small reassuring smile before he looked back up to Anko and gave her a small smile as he spoke "The T&I department is about to become very lively"
"How many?" Anko immediately asked, her temper rising despite her best efforts to suppress it around her new student and ward.
"Twenty-seven" Ibiki replied as his face set into a scowl.
"Here, for when you get back to HQ" Anko replied as she fished a scroll out of her trench coat pocket and passed it to Ibiki who looked at the scroll in confusion before looking back up to Anko, letting the silent question convey through his expression towards said Item.
Anko nodded to him silently "I have to see the old man about the training supplies, I'll let you both get back to your fun" she spoke as she moved to walk past them and into the office until Inoichi interrupted her.
"He's in a foul mood so tread carefully … if you need anything, the Yamanaka clan's doors are open to you"
"Thank you Inoichi" Anko gave him a small smile of appreciation as she ushered Naruto towards the Hokage's office.
Upon entering the office with Naruto, she saw the evidence for herself as Sarutobi was picking up discarded files and papers from the floor of his office. The old Hokage looked up at her, his face stern until he caught sight of Naruto just in front of her.
His face settled into a smile at the boy as he stood up straight and placed the files and papers on his desk "Ah! Naruto-kun! Anko-chan found you I see! How are you doing today?" Sarutobi asked, his emotions warring just beneath the surface, he wouldn't allow his sour mood to potentially scare the young boy.
Naruto smiled for the first time in what must have been days as he walked up to Sarutobi with a small smile and eagerly hugged the old man, his small arms wrapping around his waist as he looked up to the old Hokage with a huge smile that softened Sarutobi's internal turmoil almost instantly.
"Jiji! I've missed you!" Naruto all but shouted as he buried his face into the Hokages robes.
Sarutobi allowed himself a small sad smile as he placed a hand on Naruto's head and gently ran his aged fingers through the boy's hair, his mind swimming with regret.
"Old man" Anko greeted with a respectful nod as she watched the scene with a small well-hidden smile.
Sarutobi looked up to Anko and nodded to her in greeting before gently pulling Naruto back and guiding him to sit in a chair in front of his desk. He then took his seat behind the desk and motioned for Anko to join them.
"I expect you've come for what was discussed last night?" Sarutobi asked Anko as he opened his top drawer and retrieved a scroll and placed it upon the desk just in front of her.
"After you left last night to find young Naruto here, my discussion with Shikaku led to some plans I'd like to share with you both in regard to his training" Sarutobi spoke as he then retrieved his pipe and tobacco from the same drawer.
"Plans?" Anko asked in slight confusion, was the Hokage changing his mind about her becoming Naruto's guardian?
"Yes … I have decided that Naruto-kun will not be attending the academy and shall be apprenticed to you full time, however he will also receive tutoring from several of our other top trusted Jounin, I feel he will benefit from a wider variety of lessons, this will also allow you time to continue your own duties within the T&I department" Sarutobi explained as he began packing his pipe, emphasizing the word trusted with a pointed look to Anko.
Anko blinked and had to admit it wasn't a bad idea, but she still had some reservations with leaving the boy alone with anyone she couldn't vouch for herself, they boy was now her responsibility after all, and she was adamant that no harm would come to him again under her care if she had anything to say about it.
"There will be a new class of students attending the academy in a few months' time and I would like for Naruto-kun to be ready for team placements when that class graduates, however I feel Naruto-kun would also benefit greatly from getting some hands on experience before graduating and thus I have made a special dispensation for him to take on D-ranked missions under your command once he is at a satisfactory level of skill" Sarutobi continued, lighting his pipe and taking a drag of the sweetened tobacco.
Anko was silent for a moment as she processed the information, her eyes scanned down towards Naruto who looked excited and practically vibrated in his seat at the prospect of becoming a ninja. She couldn't help but find his enthusiasm infectious and allowed herself a small smirk. She turned back to Sarutobi with a nod and voiced the question at the forefront of her thoughts.
"Who else will be teaching him?"
"Several Anbu have requested to aid in his training" Sarutobi responded as he leaned back in his chair.
"Who?" Anko asked a bit more forcefully, forgetting for a moment that it was really not her place to question who the Hokage would allow to teach Naruto.
Sarutobi raised an eyebrow in mirth at Anko's minor display of disrespect as he took another drag of his pipe and exhaled a small billow of smoke. Letting her sit and stew for a moment longer before he decided to be merciful and spill the beans.
"Dog, cat and bear, I will also find a part time tutor for the academic side of his studies, I still expect him to have the same lessons as his peers attending the academy, but I haven't had the chance to see to that yet, I will send word once a suitable and trustworthy candidate is found" Sarutobi finished before looking towards Naruto with a small smile "Is this all alright with you Naruto-kun"
Naruto was silent for a moment as he looked down in thought, but he couldn't hide the excitement that danced in his bright blue eyes as he nodded slowly and then voiced his thoughts.
"Yeah, Jiji, I need to become super strong, and this will help me get strong, right!?" he asked with barely contained excitement.
"If you work hard and listen to all of your teachers, yes … but tell me, why do you need to get strong?" Sarutobi inquired curiously as he looked at Naruto in amusement.
Naruto smiled wide; his eyes crinkled shut as he jumped up from his seat and in a voice that held more conviction than either thought possible, he proclaimed "Because one day I'll be the greatest Hokage!"
Sarutobi allowed himself a true smile and a chuckle escaped his lips at the boy's determination and enthusiasm.
"That's the spirit! Work hard and learn as much as you can, my boy, and hopefully I can one day see this hat resting upon your head!" Sarutobi grinned at the boy as he swore the furthermost Portrait on his office wall move slightly. His eyes lingered on the portrait for but a moment before turning his attention back to Anko and Naruto.
Anko had smirked at her new student's determination as a single thought ran through her head 'Definitely got my work cut out for me with this kid but … it looks like he's got some spunk After all!'
"Well, I think we have covered everything we need to for now and I'm certain you have other errands that you need to see too today" Sarutobi spoke as he stood up from his desk and walked around it to stand before them "Naruto-kun, study hard and listen to Anko-chan, okay?"
Naruto still stood up looked up to the Hokage and with a small, determined smile he nodded his head and turned to Anko as she stood and gave her a smile for the first time since meeting her "Where are we going next Anko-sensei?"
Anko couldn't help herself and smiled back at the blonde as she picked up the scroll from the Hokages desk and pocketed it before leading him towards the door "First things first! We need to get you looking like a proper ninja so were heading to the market district to get you some new clothes for training!"
"Okay, see you later Jiji!" the blonde said as he gave the Hokage another quick hug and dashed out of the room with Anko hot on his heels.
"H-hey! Wait for me!" Anko called after him with a slight growl of annoyance before dashing out of the office to catch up with the boy.
Market district.
Anko led Naruto through the marketplace towards what she had told him was the best weapons and Shinobi clothes shop in the entire village. As they walked, Anko couldn't help but notice the glares directed at Naruto and glanced around, noticing the villagers and some shinobi whisper to one another as he passed them by. She instinctively placed a palm over her shuriken holster as she passed by a group of what she guessed where Chunin who sneered and spat at the ground as Naruto walked by and levelled them with a glare and flared her chakra toward them laced with as much murderous intend as she could muster. She felt satisfied as they flinched and turned away 'Yeah... you'd better fucking walk away!' she thought to herself in victory, not letting up on the killing intent even after their nervous gazes had turned to her and they started to shuffle away to another area of the market.
Anko then tapped Naruto on the shoulder "we're here, come on" she spoke as she guided him toward what could only be described as a worn and decrepit looking store until Naruto abruptly stopped moving all together.
"What's wrong kid?" she asked quietly
Naruto stared at the building and then looked to Anko with uncertainty and back to the building in front of them "I … I can't go in there … besides, I don't have any money" he stated as he currently found the ground a more interesting place to look at.
Anko paused and looked down at the boy "Nothing bad will happen to you while I'm around … I promise, besides the Hokage gave me money to buy you new clothes and training supplies, besides, I know the owner quite well so there won't be any problems, okay?" she reassured him as she used a small amount of force to push him through the door to the store.
The inside of the store was a far cry from its outward appearance as Naruto looked around at the rows upon rows of shelves neatly packed with weapons of every kind and neatly folded clothes, bookcases filled to the brim with books, manuals and scrolls.
Anko quickly lead him to the back of the store where a woman with long brown Hair and chocolate brown eyes dressed in a red Cheongsam styled dress stood over the counter idly flipping through a magazine.
"Welcome to Higurashi's is there something I can … oh! Hey Anko-chan! It's been a while" the woman greeted warmly after looking up from her magazine.
"Hiya Yumi-chan! Yeah, I've been totally swamped at the T&I department lately … I have someone here I'd like you to meet" she said with a smile as she ushered Naruto in front of her and placed both hands on his shoulders.
"This is Uzumaki Naruto, my new student … We're here to get him outfitted for Shinobi training" Anko announced with a grin.
Yumi peered down at the boy with a neutral expression for a moment, looking up and down before giving him a gently smile "Hello Naruto, my Name is Higurashi Yumi, welcome to my family's shop!" She greeted, surprising Naruto that he hadn't been met with screaming and threats to leave the store.
He looked up at Anko in slight astonishment, receiving a nod of encouragement before he looked at Yumi and gave her a little nervous wave "Hello"
"What the fuck is that thing doing in here!?"
All three turned to see a man glaring at Naruto like he had just smelled something foul.
Anko was about to defend her student when Yumi's voice cut her off "You'll keep a civil tongue in my store, do you understand!?" she asked sharply as she gave the man a disapproving glare.
The man tore his gaze from Naruto and looked at Yumi with an expression equal parts disbelief and disgust before he looked back at Naruto "You seriously want this filthy piece of shit in here polluting your store!? You some sort of-" he spat out loudly as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Some sort of what?" came a deep voice from behind the man who immediately turned only to have to look up at a bear of a man wearing a blacksmiths apron and brandishing a huge forging hammer over one shoulder and a set of thick iron tongs in his other hand, his face set in a look of calm fury "Go on … don't be shy! Spit it out … some sort of what?" The man growled lowly as he loomed over the shorter man, his steely gaze boring into the rude customers own wide eyes as the man began sweating and shaking in place.
After a moment of intense silence, the man with the hammer leaned in closer to the customer and growled "Yeah, that's what I thought … I suggest you get the fuck out of my store before I forge you straight into a bloody heap on the floor!" The man threatened causing the man to wilt and head for the exit as quickly as his legs could carry him.
"Kenji …" Yumi called lowly as she fixated the man with a glare.
The now named man turned to look at Yumi and swallowed the growing lump in his throat "Yes, wife?" he asked as affectionately as he could, trying to hide his nervousness as best he could.
"I could have handled him myself you know!" she shot at him, crossing her arms over her chest in annoyance.
"Yeah … I know" Kenji sighed as his arms dropped slowly to his side and his shoulders slumped in defeat at his wife's stern glare.
"Then why did you feel the need to but in?" Yumi snapped.
"Sorry, sorry … but I was not going to hide out back while my lovely wife and customers were being verbally abused!" Kenji snorted as he looked away in slight embarrassment at the dressing down his wife was giving him in front of one of their regular customers and … his eyes locked on to Naruto and he blinked in surprise and then glanced up at Anko and then back down to Naruto and gave the kid an appraising look.
"Ugh-oh" Yumi muttered as Kenji moved towards Naruto and towered over him and grinned down at the boy.
"Heya kiddo! I'm Higurashi Kenji, Master of this here forge and shop! What's your name!?" he asked with a friendly smile.
Naruto stared up at the man wide eyed and took in his appearance. He was tall and well built, his brown hair held back by a red cloth tired around his forehead and light grey eyes and a moustache with a full beard giving the man a naturally intimidating aura that melted away as soon as he smiled at Naruto.
Naruto gulped silently and replied quietly "U-uzumaki Naruto"
Kenji gave a light chuckle as he straightened up "No need to be shy Naruto-san, welcome to my shop! How can we help you today?"
"We're here to get him outfitted and supplies to begin training" Anko piped up for the first time since the whole altercation had started.
"Hmm I see, I'll be right back, I'm sure Yumi would be happy to help you find what you will need in the meantime" Kenji said as he retreated into the back of the store, leaving his wife to help Anko and Naruto.
Yumi just shook her head at her husband's Antics before she faced Naruto "Let's get you sorted shall we!" she said happily as she walked around the counter and lead Naruto and Anko over to the Clothing section of the store.
The next half hour was spent with Naruto trying different outfits until he settled, by Anko's choice, on a pair of black combat pants and a black long-sleeved shirt with a dark green hooded jacket, Black Zori sandals and a matching set of dark brown leather shuriken holster attached to his right calf and equipment pouch attached to a dark leather belt around his waist. Naruto looked at himself in a mirror and twisted and turned in the new clothes to get a feel for his new clothes.
"This is your first lesson, Naruto, dark clothes will make it much easier to stay hidden out in the field on missions … staying hidden is a basic and essential skill for a shinobi's survival" Anko explained, getting a nod of understanding from the seven-year-old.
It was then that Kenji returned carrying a long polished wooden box and smiled as he knelt down placing the box before Naruto "This is a gift for you … it was ordered a long time ago and the customer never returned to collect it" Kenji spoke as he gently lifted the lid to reveal a katana neatly resting on a bed of red velvet. The lacquered Black steel with inlaid gold Fuchi depicting calm waves lapping a shoreline. The Tsuka was wrapped in a rich crimson silk over black ray skin with an ornate golden whirlpool Menuki pin holding the entire blade together with a Shirasaya of pure black with the exception of the same crimson silk making up the Sageo cord and a beautifully hand painted red whirlpool motif ringed by gold halfway down its length. The Tsuba was ornately crafted black lacquered steel with inlaid golden decorative waves that swirled around and ended in alignment with the blades edge. Kenji delicately picked the blade up out of the box and expertly removed the blade from its scabbard to reveal a beautifully crafted Light blue steel sixty-two-centimetre-long blade forged in the sori style, its gentle curve near the end of the blade leading to a wickedly sharp tip. The Boshi pattern running the full length of the blade resembled crashing waves. A true work of art.
Naruto stared at the blade wide eyed in disbelief.
"That is a sexy blade!" Anko commented in surprise as she stared at the sword before she looked at Kenji.
"Are you sure you can just give away a masterpiece like this? I'm no sword expert but that thing has to be worth at least a few Million Ryo!" Anko asked in shock.
"Twelve million Ryo is its current value" Kenji stated nonchalantly while waving off any possible attempts at refusing this gift.
Anko's eyes almost popped out of her sockets at the swords Value and gave Kenji a look that clearly said, 'Are you fucking crazy!?'
"Yes, I am giving it to young Naruto here for free" Kenji said as he gently replaced the sword into its scabbard almost reverently and placing it back onto its velvet bed "The sword was paid for in full by the original owner, the blade is my finest work and constructed from the finest chakra conducting tamahagane from the land of whirlpools, I can assure you, you will not find a finer blade in the land of fire, perhaps even in the whole elemental nations aside from maybe the legendary swords of hidden mist's seven swordsmen … alas it is unfinished and I am unable to complete it"
"Why?" Naruto asked quietly as his eyes were wide and fixated upon the sword in all her glory as she lay to rest in the box.
Kenji gave Naruto a sad smile as he reminisced on a fleeting memory "The original owner had planned to inscribe Fuinjutsu onto the blade …"
"What's Fuinjutsu?" Naruto asked as he looked up to Kenji's sad smile, quickly replaced by an amused expression.
"Thought you'd ask that, so I grabbed this too!" he said as he revealed a book and handed it to Naruto
Naruto accepted the book and looked at the cover and read the title out lout "The … art … of … Sail- Sealing b-by Senju … Mi-Mito"
Kenji stood up and released a small sad sigh as he looked down at the blonde child and then up to his wife and Anko "You'll probably want to hold onto it until he's ready"
Anko gave him a nod and knelt down next to Naruto and revealed a scroll from her utility pouch and unravelled it, revealing a sealing matrix "Naruto … watch" she said as she gently reached over and closed the sword case and moved it over the centre of the sealing matrix, she went through a few hand signs and placed her hand on the matrix and pumped chakra into the paper over the seal "Seal!"
A pop and smoke revealed the box had now disappeared and in the centre of the seal matrix appeared the Kanji for 'box'. Naruto stared wide eyed "Where did it go!"
"It's stored inside the scroll" Anko replied with a cheeky grin.
"B-b-but how?" Naruto sputtered in sheer astonishment.
"Tell you what … read that book and when you can tell me how, you can have the sword back, deal?" she smirked at him with amusement as Naruto simply gaped like a fish out of water between the scroll Anko was rolling up and the book he held in his hands and groaned when he realized he would have to actually read a book.
"Anyway, we should finish getting what we came for and get a move on, I'm hungry" Anko quipped as she stood up, placing the scroll back in her utility pouch.
Naruto was still sat on the floor trying to comprehend what he just saw before he looked up at Anko sceptically "Are you a wizard?" he asked suspiciously, earning a laugh from Kenji and Yumi and a slight scowl from Anko.
Anko scoffed, crossing her arms and turning her body away from him slightly "Do you see a pointy hat on my head?"
"... No" Naruto replied childishly, crossing his arms as he gave her another sceptical look.
Naruto huffed slightly before he turned to look at Kenji "Thank you for the sword, I promise I will take really good care of it" he said trying to hold back the quiver in his voice from showing how overwhelmed he felt at receiving such a kind and generous gift, the first real gift he had ever received. He wiped a stray tear that escaped.
Kenji simply gave him a smile and a gentle incline of his head before bidding them a good day and returned to his work in the forge and Yumi continued to help the Sensei and student find what they needed. It didn't take long for them to finish buying supplies and they exited the shop, Anko leading him toward a Dango stand she was very fond of for some lunch before they headed back and started training.
T&I department.
Ibiki and Inoichi arrived back at the headquarters and entered the central control room and made their way towards Ibiki's desk and placed Anko's scroll on the desk and unravelled it finding a sealing matrix to both their surprise. They looked to one another in silence for a moment before Ibiki placed his palm on the sealing matrix and applied chakra to the paper over the sealing matrix, his other hand in a half tiger seal "Kai!"
With aloud pop and a poof of white smoke, a dirty white crumpled heap of cloth appeared with a handwritten note on top of it. Taking the note Ibiki picked it up and began to scan its contents while Inoichi picked up the crumpled piece of cloth to find it was a dirty white t-shirt riddled with holes and dried blood, holding it up his eyes widened as realization dawned on him that this was a child's shirt and then it hit him with full force exactly what he was holding.
"Anko searched the boy's apartment last night and found this under his bed …" Ibiki said as he crumpled the note in his hand as he stared at the shirt Inoichi was holding up, his anger at the whole situation reaching boiling point. He looked to Inoichi to find the usually calm man's face had twisted into a look of utter disgust. Inoichi couldn't tear his eyes from the shirt as the memories of his mind walk through their prisoner's head resurfaced and he began hyperventilating as he dropped the shirt down on the desk, turned from Ibiki and strode like a man possessed towards the lower cells. Ibiki knew he should stop him but he himself was struggling not to give in to his baser instinct and follow Inoichi down to the cell block.
He called out to his subordinate and friend "Inoichi!"
The man stopped at the door leading out of the room, his body shaking with unbridled rage, his knuckled whitening over balled up fists. He made no attempt to look at or even answer his superior as Ibiki stared at his back.
"Make it last..." Ibiki finally spoke.
Inoichi didn't answer, he gave no indication that he had heard his captain aside from the pause in his movement. He then walked out the door. The entire control room was deathly silent as other members of the T&I division dared not utter a word and went back to their assigned tasks.
Ibiki gently picked up the shirt from his desk and stared at it as his mind swam with the memories of Inoichi's report after Invading Sukemu's mind for memories of his crimes. One of his aides approached him apprehensively and Ibiki glanced at the young woman.
"Sir?" she asked gingerly hoping not to Invoke the wrath of her captain.
"Just spit it out already" he snapped quietly, his eyes now back on the shirt.
"W-was it wise to let Inoichi-sama-" she started only to be cut off by Ibiki.
"Do not concern yourself with Inoichi … return to your post and use the PA system to broadcast every sound coming from cell three to the entire complex" he ordered curtly with a hard look toward the young woman.
"Y-yes sir" she stammered before hurrying back to her control station and fulfilling her captain's order before turning to glance back at him out the corner of her eye like so many others in the room.
Ibiki then placed the shirt back down on his desk and cleared his throat loudly to gain the attention of the room before his icy tone and bloodlust washed over them like a tsunami.
"If I find out any of you in this room, or any of your colleagues not currently on duty have partaken in Uzumaki Naruto's torment or laid a hand on him … then what is about to happen in cell three will pale in comparison to what I will personally do to you!" He spat out before leaving to enter his personal office, slamming the door shut behind him with a thunderous crash.
Then the screams started howling through the Pa systems throughout the cellblocks and control room sending shivers up the spines of the T&I agents as Ibiki's threat hung over them like an invisible reaper. The screaming would last hours until Inoichi was worn out and drained of chakra.
Chapter end
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, do you think I'd be writing fanfiction?
And chapter 2 is done, I do apologize If some of the sword details are inaccurate, I did my best with what source material I could find about. I think I described it fairly well and you should be able to get the picture, it's a very pretty sword. Anyway, I'll start work on chapter three as soon as I can and get it out as soon as it's ready. As I explained at the end of the last chapter, I understand that Naruto and especially Anko are quite OOC, I know but it's important to the early parts of this fic, there will be a time skip coming up, possibly at the start of the next chapter depending on how I rework it.
I hope you have enjoyed this chapter and I do hope you'll stick around for the rest of the story as it comes.
If you could leave me a review, I'd appreciate it, it's nice to know where I've done well and where I could improve in later chapters.
Thanks for reading :)