Chapter 7: Pink Camellia

Naruto had a rough time after propositioning Shikamaru. Just like Shika had said Ino didn't leave it alone and in turn Sakara had found out. Naruto could still hear her yelling at him calling him disgusting telling him that she wouldn't heal a homo. Saying "No wonder Sasuke left he probably felt your disgusting love for him and had to get away." "They should have just let you die when he put his hand through your heart I would have if I had known." "Sai probably only acts the way he does because you infected him."

The villagers also started kicking him out of establishments again. His apartment now had fun new phrases on the walls fag, homo, ect. The villagers were never very creative. On the plus side Tsudade had finally agreed to consider a team change. Unfortunately the counsel were pushing for him to be in anbu as none of the other teams would mesh well with Naruto. Naruto wanted the same as it would prevent his bad luck with teammates from continuing. Anbu don't have a name. He could just dye his hair for missions and no one would know it was him. Naruto got the news a few weeks later that he would be training under a special branch of anbu, under councilor Danzo.

Training started out as most training does for anbu, hazing and breaking of the weak links. You have to live at the barracks underground and are not allowed above ground unless your training demands it. You eat the simple food they provide mostly soldier pills and dry rations. Sleep on the ground surrounded by your peers. Shower in communal showers to ensure the anbu no longer care about privacy or social norms like personal space.

The setting wasn't the worst part though, Naruto didn't care about that. It was how they break the weak links. Every night and morning an anbu guard brings you a death row inmate from one of the various prisons. You then have to practice killing and torturing that inmate in whatever way the paper they hand you says. Some days were easy a quick kunai to the skull. Other days were hard, remove every finger, toe, hand, foot, and limb piece by piece. Making sure to burn the wound so they wouldn't die before your instructions said they could. Those were the assignments that haunted Naruto, his sister's weren't here to comfort him when the nightmares came. Every time he woke from one and disturbed his future teammates the senior room agents would make him run the stamina training course through the underground half flooded tunnels until he collapsed into a dreamless sleep. (Basically a extremely tough/ long version of tough mudder ninja style)

Training wasn't easy but it was better than the mornings and evenings of his days. Stamina, basic field first aid, lessons on suicide pills for if you are about to be taken captive, and practical mission training. Most of this was below ground very few of the mission training operations were above ground and even those took place in TI which getting there only took leaving the tunnels for 5 min at a full run. Yes they timed you and the late ones got to spend more time with TI for practice with enduring torture.

The training lasted months, Spring turned to Summer, Summer turned to Winter. Until Naruto was trained enough that they felt he didn't have to live in the barracks with the rookies anymore. The village looked different to him, things seemed brighter louder. He felt more at home in the rooms at the dancing Willow. Spending most of his free time there as Peony watching the leaves on the trees sway and listening to the sounds of the koto. Naruto's problems didn't exist as Peony, but Peony still didn't feel comfortable letting any of her customers take her to bed besides Shikamaru. Even he was coming less and less though as his family was pushing him to pick a bride and as he started falling in love with Temari. He would talk about her sometimes, with Peony, how smart she was, brave, and how she made him want to work slightly harder. If even only a little. These conversations made Peony open up a little to him tell him in a round about way about Naruto's childhood.

How villagers didn't like her calling names and charging her prices for stuff she couldn't afford. Having stones or sometimes even knives thrown at her. Never knowing if she would have heat or clean water in her house. Sometimes the villagers would break into her house and destroy they few belongings she had. Until she can here, here was safe.

Shikamaru really just came to talk, smoke, and relax. He even got Peony to talk about Gaara. How they met, how she gifted him a cactus without knowing what it meant. How much she missed him and wanted him to come visit even if she was usually to busy to even see anyone. Shikamaru said he couldn't tell her why he was busy but said Gaara and the other Kage's were dealing with delicate situations. Naruto knew this of course Danzo had made sure he knew who was after him and the pain he would face if they captured him. But it was still nice to hear it as Peony especially when Shikamaru told Peony he would be visiting soon to have a meeting with Tsunade.

Naruto hadn't seen her since training started since she lost a bet with him and had to make out with one of Jiraiya's toads. She also had to get Jiraiya to accept that Naruto was not going to take his summoning contract. He signed one with the foxes with the assistance of Kurama. They Ate all the wild toads and snakes and other things Naruto hated. They also kept him company cuddling with him when none of the other root members were watching. His favorite being a large dog sized, 3 tailed, black fox named Kage.

Peony couldn't greet Gaara at the gates she shouldn't know he was even coming. Naruto could though. He sat on a roof there waiting on the day he had convinced Danzo to give him off saying that the old Naruto would have been there for Gaara's arrival even if the new one shouldn't care. He would have to go on a kill mission with one of his senpai, but it was worth it.

Naruto jumped off the roof and walked up to Gaara some of his usual excitement missing but a smile was still on his face. "Gaara I'm so glad you're here, you look good I hope they are taking care of you after they got you back." He could tell they noticed the change in his energy but they didn't comment on it with all they eyes and ears of security that would be for later when they were alone. He left Gaara at the hokage tower promising to meet up with them later at the guest house they would be staying in. Naruto then ran off into the tunnels to do his training for the day. He would have to work hard to make up for the lost time.

Pink Camellia- longing for you.

Kage- shadow