Naruto waited patiently at the gate of the village, back leaned up against one of the massive wooden struts as he idly watched the clouds drift across the sky. He remembered watching Ensui-sensei do this a lot when he was just a genin; it would often take him Itachi and Shisui almost half an hour to get him to stop. They had tried various methods; from attacking him, which rarely worked when they were lowly genin, to just sitting there and annoying him, that was Shisui's preferred method anyway. Itachi had once even tried to place the man under a Genjutsu; he spent the next ten minutes hanging upside down from a tree by his shadow. He might have stayed there longer but Ensui had quickly grown bored of maintaining the technique.
He wasn't sure why he was in such a pensive mood today; even Anko had commented that he seemed distracted. Perhaps it was just because he felt as though he was about to lose his precious little students. He was almost sure they were shoe-ins for chuunin; the decision on that front would likely be made by the end of the week. He sighed in irritation before straightening up and facing back toward the village, the sound of footsteps rousing him from his introspection. It wasn't as though he would never see them again; he had just grown rather attached to the kids.
"Morning sensei." Ami's chipper voice cut through the mid-morning quiet, eliciting a smile from the redhead. Speaking of students, his favourite was walking up to the gate at that very moment; he couldn't help but notice that she seemed a little more thoughtful today.
"Morning Ami-chan, that's a rather large sword." Naruto replied easily, referring to the almost comically large Ninjato that rested between the violette's shoulder blades, forming an X with her other, more size-appropriate sword. The girl blinked in surprise before subtly palming the hilt of the blade, as if just remembering it was there.
"Oh, yeah…" She looked down, an almost quizzical expression on her features. "Nee-san was acting real strange yesterday and right before I left this morning she gave me her sword; it was really weird because she knows I can't use it yet. She said she had a new sword, one that needed her attention more." The girl shrugged, her lips looking uncertain on which way to turn in her confusion. "It looked kind of old and beaten up though." A sigh escaped her lips. "I don't get her sometimes." That at least elicited a small chuckle from Naruto.
"There's truth in those words." He ruffled the girl's hair for a moment, much to her obvious irritation, but at least it stopped her from thinking too much. "Sometimes you just have to stop trying to understand the people you care about and accept their decisions, no matter how strange they seem; one day you'll understand them, trust me." His smile was infectious and soon Ami bore a small one herself; he quickly turned his attention to the large blade on her back though.
"We're going to have to seal that up though." He continued. "It's only going to weigh you down and mess with your balance if you carry it like that." Spotting her worried expression he simply grinned again. "Don't worry, you can keep the scroll with you; it's just best to not try and get used to a new weight right before a mission. Looking at your sister I'm sure you'll grow into it one day, just like you'll eventually grow out of the sword you have now." He winked slyly. "By then you might have someone of your own to pass it on to." After a few moments of thought the violette nodded and Naruto quickly showed her how to seal away her latest acquisition.
"Now then…" he chuckled as they finished up and she strapped the scroll into one of her pouches "…don't make a habit of going around collecting swords now; Kenjutsu-users are rather particular about them and more than a few have a recognisable history, as well as a reputation." Ami just glowered in his direction weakly before being forced to relent as Sasuke and Sakura arrived, causing Naruuto's smile to grow.
"Right then, I officially commence what may well be the very last mission of team Naruto!" He pointed dramatically off into the distance for a good few seconds before realising that all of his genin were simply giving him a deadpan look.
"You don't have to put it like that sensei." Sakura intoned blandly, rolling her eyes at her sensei's antics. The redhead pouted before playfully crossing his arms with a childish scowl.
"You'll all miss me when we separate; you'll see." He stated matter-of-factly; however Sasuke and Sakura just stared at him with the same piercing look before walking right out the gates. There might as well have been a small raincloud over Naruto's head as he hung it in defeat; at least until Ami pulled lightly on his shirt.
"I'll miss you sensei." She quietly admitted, a faint blush darkening her pale cheeks. In an instant Naruto's sour expression brightening into a grin that could have made the sun jealous.
"And that's why you'll always be my favourite Ami-chan." He announced just loud enough to be heard by his other two genin as they retreated as far from him as they could. With a quick ruffle to the violette's hair he quickly strode off to join them, leaving her red-faced and her eye twitching.
"I won't miss that though." She muttered darkly before storming off to catch up with her wayward team.
It was actually a rather dull assignment for their so-called 'last mission' and Sasuke complained about it constantly. He consistently cited that if they were 'sure to be chuunin' then why would they have to take such a simple mission. Naruto just argued right back that it was still a C-rank and even as chuunin they would be taking missions like these. It didn't really seem to sate the dark-haired Uchiha but at least he quietened down for a while.
In reality though the mission was a C-rank in name only; it was just a simply delivery mission to a town right on the border with Ta no Kuni. The rank was only because it was so close to Otogakure territory and the two villages weren't exactly on friendly terms. However Naruto had chosen the bland mission on purpose. No excitement, no action, no fighting or danger. He didn't want his team to remember their time like that; he wanted them to remember them as a team.
And that was how they acted; they joked and laughed, poked fun at one another, talked about aimless and sometimes nonsensical things and generally behaved like Naruto believed a team should. On the outside, with their bickering and snide remarks, they might have appeared frosty or even distasteful toward one another but nothing was said with venom and everything was mostly good-natured. The mission might have even been completed in this manner too but naturally problems were attracted to Naruto like iron to a magnet.
"…and you should have seen how shocked the Hokage was, his pipe nearly fell out of his mouth!" Naruto chuckled as he finished regaling one of the many stories from his youth; more specifically one of the pranks that Shisui had talked him and somehow Itachi into pulling. His genin laughed along with him, Ami actually wiping a tear from her eye as Sasuke determinedly fought down a smile. Naruto was rather proud of the young Uchiha; he remembered when his stories that involved Itachi used to make the boy scowl and generally darken in mood.
However months later and Sasuke seemed to have slightly let up on the warped, view in his mind that Itachi had always been some scheming, evil murderer. It seemed to lighten the boy's step to know that Itachi had at one point just been a normal kid like him. However Naruto couldn't help but notice the confusion this also brought to the boy; like him Sasuke was now questioning what he knew about the older Uchiha. The redhead could only hope that, like him, the numbers just wouldn't add up.
In his momentary distraction, lost in his thoughts, Naruto almost didn't notice the trap laid before them on the simple country pass that was taking them deeper into Hi no Kuni. However at the last moment the sixth sense shinobi spend lifetimes breeding snapped him out of his daze. A kunai was suddenly palmed and flying through the air before his genin could even blink, spearing a stray wire to a tree that had been tripped when Sakura ignorantly walked through it. Naruto didn't blame her, the trap was expertly hidden in the undergrowth and even his eyes had only caught the flash of it as it was tripped.
Immediately the jovial Jounin sensei was gone, replaced by the trained ANBU and potential Hokage candidate as a mask of steel descended over his features. Likewise, snapped out of their own dazes, his genin moved into position as they had been trained, expertly coordinating to cover one another's blind spots. Briefly a proud grin slipped past Naruto's stalwart façade before that to was wiped clean and his eyes began to intensely search the surrounding forest.
Before his team could even ask what was happening Naruto threw a single kunai high into the air before vanishing in a flash of red. All around them they heard the subtle thuds of more kunai being buried into wood and earth as Naruto let loose a veritable storm of steel. For a moment the genin simply watched on in awe as red flashes filled the air around them, blinking in and out quicker than they could follow at times.
When the dust settled there were four shinobi bound neatly on the path in front of them and all of it had happened in mere seconds. Behind them Naruto stood with a scowl; these people had decided to crash what was supposed to be his team's last mission together. That was unacceptable in the redhead's eyes and precisely what he didn't want to happen when he took this mission. In hindsight he should have probably known better.
"You didn't have to do everything Sensei; we could have handled it." Sasuke muttered as he relaxed his stance, the scowl on his face for entirely different reasons.
"No need to take risks though; I wouldn't want anything ruining our last mission together right Sasuke-kun?" Naruto flippantly shot back, his cold mask melting away even as they watched. It still gave Ami shivers to see that happen and made all the genin wonder if they would ever be able to seamlessly flow between honed killers and normal personalities like that. "Anyway…" Naruto continued "…what's the point of having these abilities if I don't use it to protect the people precious to me, like you guys." At that both Sakura and Ami's cheeks flushed a little; the beaming grin the redhead gave didn't help.
However at that moment Sasuke's danger senses flared, causing him to duck forward at the same moment a thin steel ninjato separated a few strands of hair from his scalp. Immediately he whirled, Sharingan blazing furiously as he lashed out with a ferocious kick to sweep out a fifth attackers legs. They jumped back but Sakura was already there, landing a devastatingly precise blow to the middle of their spine. The attacker, a grim-looking chuunin with grey hair, immediately crumpled forward but managed to keep to their feet.
That quickly changed as Sasuke once again pressed the attack, flowing into a crippling volley of fast-paced blows before sweeping out the man's feet. As he tried to get back up he only found cold steel pressed to his throat, Ami standing over him with a frosty look in her dark eyes. He only saw it for a moment though before the sword was suddenly reversed and he was knocked out soundly with the hilt of the blade. Immediately Ami whirled on Naruto, the cold look vanishing into one of annoyance as she unconsciously did the very same thing she had just been wondering about moments before.
"What gives sensei? You missed one!" She shouted, her voice catching a little in her irritation; however she didn't expect the sly grin she got from the redhead.
"Sometimes the best way to protect someone is to make sure they can protect themselves; it may be out last mission, but I'm not going soft on you guys." Naruto responded easily, causing Ami's next sentence to die on her tongue and her mouth to open and close like a dry fish. Finally she just clenched her fists in her hair before exhaling loudly in exasperation. "Everything is training remember; it was one of the first things I taught you." The redhead carried on.
"So what was the lesson today?" Sasuke grunted, his own irritation masked behind his usual apathetic look.
"That Takigakure chuunin always operate in groups of five." Naruto shot back, his attention turning back to said tied up shinobi that were now glancing fearfully at the team that had so effortlessly taken them down.
"Takigakure?" Sakura questioned slowly, her eyebrows knitting together for a moment. "But why would they attack us? Konoha and Taki are allies aren't they?" At that a rather vicious grin took over Naruto's face, one his team had only seen when he was about to enter what they called 'interrogator mode'.
"That's a good question Sakura." His gaze flickered to the bound group, making them flinch briefly as they swore the redhead's eyes flashed crimson for a second. "Maybe out guests would be so kind as to answer us." The chuunin quickly got over their momentary fright though, individual looks of indignation and spite appearing on their faces.
"We're not telling you anything you major village trash!" The chuunin that spoke did so with such spite in his voice it was as though he was spitting the words at them in disgust. However he seemed a bit nervous when Naruto simply continued to grin, stepping closer so that the chuunin could even make out the way his canines were just a little longer and sharper than the average person's.
"Oh, I'm sure you won't tell us much." He chuckled but it was hollow and lacked any kind of mirth. "Ibiki on the other hand… well he's all too persuasive I'm afraid." Despite their best attempts to hide their fear one of the chuunin gulped quietly at that. Ibiki Morino had a certain reputation across the elemental nations and their supposed allies in Taki knew this all too well. However the one hwho spoke out first did so again, doing his best to draw a sneer across his face as tho0ugh he were actually in some position of leverage.
"As if we'd get that far!" He called out, at the same moment moving his jaw around in an obvious attempt to get at something in his teeth. A moment later when he could only look up with knitted eyebrows and a worried frown he spotted Naruto carefully examining the small pill between his fingers.
"Ah, so that would make you the squad leader then, good to know." He commented idly; if the man had been about to commit suicide through this pill then it meant that he was the one with the potentially dangerous information. Well, that was for Ibiki and the others in the T&I department to find out, right now Naruto just needed quick answers.
"How did you-" However anything the chuunin was about to say was violently cut off as he was forced to gag on his own tongue. The redhead had roughly grabbed him by the back of his flack jacket and begun dragging him toward the trees.
"If anybody wants a crash course on in-the-field interrogation, follow me." The jounin flippantly called out with an idle wave before vanishing into the brush. The three startled genin simply looked between one another before Sasuke quickly jogged off after him, an intrigued gleam in his eye. A few seconds later and Ami made hesitant moves to follow him, looking back at Sakura sheepishly, a hand on the back of her head.
"Well, I did say I wanted to learn everything Naruto-sensei had to teach." And with that she sped up after her other teammates leaving Sakura to nervously paw at the front of her shirt. A few moments later when a scream ripped through the trees and the faces of the chuunin around her paled she nodded to herself.
"Yeah… I'll stay and guard the prisoners." Somebody had to, or at least she kept telling herself that.
The Konoha that team Naruto stepped into was very different to the one they had left not even a day ago. Shinobi were buzzing about in a flurry of activity, flitting across rooftops and coming and going through the gates like drones in a hive. Civilians had suddenly become scarce, the streets looking positively barren in their absence and almost eerily quiet save for the soft padding of sandal-clad feet across tiles and roads. It was a sight that nobody in the team had personally seen before, and one that Naruto only knew of through accounts of older veterans and his parents' journals.
A hidden village at war.
For once even Izumo and Kotetsu seemed busy, studiously examining reports that came and left via shinobi coming and going. They could only spare a brief word with Naruto as they reported their mission a success and quickly filled out the appropriate paperwork. A moment later an escort arrived and promptly vanished with their prisoners in a dizzyingly fast display of efficiency.
"Sensei, what's going on?" Ami managed to squeak out between heavy breaths, finally able to catch her second wind after a painfully fast sprint back to the village. What was worse was that Naruto didn't even look like he broke a sweat and likely could have gone a lot faster; it was almost terrifying just how much more powerful he was than them. It didn't help that he had been unusually quiet the entire way back after the chuunin had finally admitted that Takigaure, along with Kusagakure and Otogakure had declared war on Konoha.
"I can't say yet." The redhead answered solemnly, his features set and discouragingly stern. "But I'm going to find out; you guys should go home while you can; I imagine it's going to get very busy very soon." And with that he blinked out in a flash of red.
"Thank you for the report Kisuke, you're dismissed." Hiruzen sighed wearily, his strained eyes still managing to rise and meet those of his subordinate as the shinobi quickly saluted and vanished. He couldn't even keep track of how many similar reports he had heard or made today but he had an obligation as Hokage to meet the eye of the men and women he might be very well sending to their deaths.
"Did you hear everything you need to Naruto?" He called out, seemingly to an empty room, although the old man knew better.
"So it's true, they really did declare war on us." The redhead spoke up, slipping through the window with a troubled expression as four ANBU simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.
"What gave it away?" The old man replied wearily with a humourless chuckle; it was not the time for comedy but morale was almost as vital to a war effort as shinobi or kunai. Naruto remained stony faced though as he stepped in front of the desk.
"What happened?" The older shinobi sighed, leaning back in his chair; Naruto knew the man was being serious as his pipe looked completely untouched.
"We still can't really be sure; I didn't get any word of this before shinobi started returning home with reports of being attacked, especially along caravan routes. It was only a few hours ago that we confirmed exactly who it was attacking us. They had been using mostly hit-and-run tactics to try and catch us unawares but, like your team prove, Konoha shinobi are not cattle walking to the slaughter and many have escaped their ambushes." The Hokage leaned forward, clasping his hands together; his various wrinkles and lines had never seemed so deep before.
"From what we can gather it appears to be a joint assault on our borders from Kusa, Taki and Oto; already they have managed to move down as far as Kusuki Gai and have managed to entrench themselves deeply in the surrounding villages." He continued, getting Naruto to join him in frowning as the redhead sank into the chair opposite the older man.
"But why? Have they made demands? What reason could they have for attacking us so out of the blue?" The jounin queried, more to himself than the Hokage.
"It's unprecedented I'm afraid but I almost feel as though I should have seen this coming. Kusa has always been somewhat of a wildcard and an attack from Otogakure was always going to happen. However I held out hope that Takigakure would not be swayed by whatever false promises Orochimaru would have to offer them." At the mention of the snake sannin Naruto grimaced.
"You think he's behind it?" Even as he asked Naruto felt silly, of course the slippery Nuke-nin was behind all this. Hiruzen simply gave a weary sigh, matters concerning his old students were always a sore and touchy subject.
"The delicate balance of powers between the five major villages has always put strain on the countries between us and the resentment for their treatment as war buffers is always simmering just beneath the surface. Only Orochimaru would be mad, enough to ignite that spark and fan it, likely with a smile on his face." The older shinobi conceded, causing Naruto to scowl; he could almost picture the sly grin on the pale-faced missing-nin's features. However a moment later it was replaced by a smouldering glint in his violet eyes.
"Well then, ask whatever you need of my team and me; we'll work to end this war before any more lives are senselessly lost." The redhead announced resolutely, a steely edge to his tone that made Hiruzen smile ever so briefly.
"You don't even understand how proud it makes me to hear that." Soon enough though the smile once again dissolved, replaced by a more professional look. "However in light of these recent developments I'm afraid I am pushing up your teams promotions; as of now all three are chuunin." Naruto's eyes widened at that; he knew his team would likely be promoted but in light of the war he thought he would have at least some time to ease them into the new situation. However before he could say anything Hiruzen raised a hand.
"I'm afraid Naruto, that you are too valuable a shinobi to be tied down to the type of missions fresh chuunin will receive. It is a hard decision to separate a team just as war breaks out, but I have to use every resource available to me in the best way I can." Expecting protest, he was surprised then to find Naruto simply staring at him with a determined glint dancing behind his eyes. "You aren't contesting me." The redhead seemed to consider it for a moment before shaking his head; Hiruzen hadn't seen such a resolute face since Minato left on the mission that would earn him the nickname the yellow flash. It was almost terrifying to see that reflected in his son, considering the potential lurking in that lithe frame.
"I understand. You are my Hokage, you can use me as you see fit." Naruto stood up then, the fire in his eyes never dimming for a moment as he turned to the exit. "Now if you'll excuse me Hokage-sama, I have to remind the world how my father struck the fear of Konoha into an entire generation." His voice was practically a growl at this point and only paused a moment at the door, his hair shrouding his eyes in shadow. "They seem to have forgotten in his absence."
As Naruto stepped over the threshold of house he was nearly tackled right off his feet by a silvery blur. He managed to catch the little bundle of energy though, swinging her around much to her excited cries. In that singular moment, with Haya held in his arms and the familiar scent of dango hanging in the air Naruto felt his earlier frustration melt away. To many people home was simply where they lived, but for Naruto , Home meant the one place where the outside world would never touch him; it was just him, and his family.
Kami help the person that tried to take his home from him.
"Naru-Niisan!" Haya exclaimed brightly, her stormy eyes glistening with an unusual amount of excitement. "People are running everywhere really fast but Neechan won't let me run with them!" Naruto simply blinked at the younger girl for a moment.
"I told you Haya, they're not just running for fun, they have places to be; anyway none of them are as fast as you so you wouldn't have any fun." Anko called out as walked into the room wearing an apron, the scent of ramen wafting in behind her from the kitchen. Upon her explanation Haya simply turned and stuck her tongue out, causing the Kunoichi to roll her eyes playfully.
"Yeah, but now that Niisan is here I can run with him right?" She asked Anko the question but it was to Naruto that she turned and offered up her best puppy-dog look which the redhead maintained had to be illegally cute.
"Ah, sure." Naruto shamefully relented, unable to stand up to such an adorable look; it was only a kick in the gut when the little silver-haired bundle of energy beamed and wriggled her way out of his arms, quickly dashing off into the kitchen where apparently ramen awaited. The moment she was gone Anko seemed to literally teleport across the room, pulling Naruto down into a searing kiss before he could even properly greet her. It only technically lasted a few seconds but it still managed to leave Naruto somewhat breathless with its intensity.
"Wow, hello to you too." He was fairly certain there was an all-too goofy grin plastered on his features then. "What's the occasion?" He asked dreamily, eyes not quite focused as he tried to capture that feeling for a little longer. It turned out he didn't have to as Anko leaned forward to plant another quick peck on his lips.
"Does there need to be?" She shot back slyly, slinking back and putting on her best 'innocent' expression.
"Well, I'd like to know if there is so I can make it happen again." Naruto admitted with that same goofy grin, only to sober as he saw Anko's expression become just a little more pensive.
"Well I was just thinking about what's going on all of a sudden and how you're sure to be right out there on the front lines and-" However the violette was cut off by a finger pressed against her lips as Naruto leant in so their faces were very close.
"Don't even talk like that; I mean come on…" He leant back up and plastered what many knew to be a signature cocky grin across his features. "It's me we're talking about." He chuckled as he struck a particularly goofy pose, almost like Jiraiya might during one of his lame introductions and even Anko had to suppress a few giggles. "Anyway what's all this worry that I'm getting? Am I not allowed to be worried about you going out and doing the same; it's not like you're not a Kunoichi." As he spoke he slipped around the shorter woman, sliding his arms around her waist and nestling his chin on her shoulder.
"Oh? So now I need to be worried for because you're the big bad Bloody Flash and I'm just Anko Mitarashi?" She questioned only semi-seriously, her eyebrow cocked expectantly. Almost instantly Naruto froze before quickly releasing her and backing off, wiping his hands in the air as he did so as if to remove some invisible dust.
"Nuh uh, I'm not touching that one again!" To emphasise his point he pivoted on one foot dramatically, crossing his arms and letting out a childish huff. This time it was Anko who slunk up behind him to envelop his chest with her arms.
"Aww, not one itty bitty argument about how powerful we are, Mr Hokage candidate?" She whispered in her best sultry tone, which just so happened to be incredibly good. Naruto simply shook his head again, letting out another melodramatic huff, although it seemed a bit strained and his legs nearly buckled as Anko purposefully rubbed her ample chest across his back.
"Nope!" Came his clear and directed response and after a moment or two of silence both grinned at the same moment with Anko releasing a playful sigh.
"Well that's no fun." However before Naruto could respond, Haya's chipper voice echoed in from the kitchen.
"Oniisan, Oneechan! The ramen's getting cold!" She called, shattering the carefully constructed tension the couple had been building. Both let out a small chuckle at the same moment as the violette turned to reply.
"Well we can't have that!" She shouted boisterously, earning a faint giggle from the doorway. However as she moved to actually enter the kitchen she felt a strong grip around her wrist; confusion evident on her face she turned back to her redheaded boyfriend.
"You know, with the war and everything, I will probably be gone quite a bit; it probably won't be easy." Naruto muttered, his brow creased and his usually vibrant eyes quite dulled. However Anko's features merely softened as she took a step into him, letting him briefly envelop her with a proper hug.
"We're shinobi, it isn't supposed to be easy; but that's why we make it work. Anyway, it's not like you have to go right now; you have time for Ramen right?" She answered earning a bright grin from the taller shinobi as both moved into the kitchen, still embracing like they never wanted to be separated.
"Of course; there's always time for Ramen."