Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Colourless Vanity	By : Cepheus Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1743 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Approach
- 2-Offer
- 3-Understand
- 4-Departure
- 5-Meeting
- 6-Truth
- 7-Control
- 8-Burning
- 9-Observing
- 10-Forming
- 11-Forcing
- 12-Portraying
- 13-Organizing
- 14-Honing
- 15-Entering
- 16-Bruising
- 17-Admitting
- 8
- 9
- 10
Note:I think you’ve noticed I’ve been rewriting this thing :) if you haven’t already, go back and take a look.
Note2:I hope I am making a good work at keeping Naruto both IC and settled with the current situation. I believe that, given him more time and better teachings, he’d show his true intelligence.
About ANBU… in canon ANBU come after Jounin as a rank, but here I twisted that detail a bit; any ninja with good potential, or strong or skilled enough, can be privately asked to join the ANBU ranks. Normal ninja think they can choose the ANBU path only after having reached the rank of Jounin, so they wait until they get there to ask to join.
ANBU though prefer shinobi of lower rank than Jounin because this way they can settle the double life without taking on too demanding positions.
Cepheus:I am happy this fic has gained so much popularity :) thanks, everyone!

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Rating: M
Summary:(ItaNaru, GenmaRaidou, IruKakaIru) Naruto is tired of his life, but he would never run away from it… so instead, he’s given another option –become a member of the newest ANBU team…
Warnings:yaoi, male x male relationship, dark themes, torture, angsty. Flames will be used to roast my food.
Disclaimer: fuck, I still don’t own. Shit.

“Talking”
‘Thinking’
–Flashbacks, memories, dreams–

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Colourless Vanity
Chapter 09: Observing

Naruto yawned, scrubbing his eyes and curling more in the blankets around him.
When his brain finally started working again, he realised he wasn’t in the forest anymore, and was instead in his new bed; blinking tiredly, he wondered how had this happened.
The last thing he remembered was trying (mostly failing) to avoid Itachi’s attacks, all the while keeping the leaf in place.
Probably he had ended up passing out due to lack of chakra, or something.
Glancing around, still sleepy, he locked his gaze to the window at his side, and he noticed there was barely any light coming from outside –it was either really early in the morning, or barely dusk.
His internal clock pointed towards the first option, and he sighed –apparently he’d slept all night along without even realising it, and now he felt rested and good.
Surprised, he noticed there were still cuts and bruises on his arms and legs; apparently, by blocking Kyuubi’s chakra away, the demon wouldn’t be able to heal his wounds as fast as before –he would need some disinfectant to take care of them, apparently.
Focusing on Kyuubi, Naruto realised he could barely feel the presence of the fox, which was something foreign to him –ever since Jiraiya had forcefully made the two meet, he had been able to feel the demon’s presence, the two different chakra that ran through his body. Now he could no more. Somehow he felt empty, and yet…
It was a comforting feeling, to know he was learning everything on his own, without demonic aid.
Standing up, the blond grunted, stretching and cracking his shoulders and joints. Slowly, he made his way around the room, gathering together the things he would need and then exiting the room, mildly wondering where Hyoo said the shower rooms were; paddling down the corridor, looking around every few steps, Naruto managed to choose the right direction and a few minutes later he entered the shower rooms, mentally patting his shoulder.
At this time of the morning no one was around, and Naruto tried to quench the fear he had slept a bit too much; he didn’t want to have the ANBU think he was lazy.
Naruto knew that other ninja were used to wake up earlier than he did, but even though he had overslept till noon only once or twice in his life, he had never tried waking up before eight –unless Kakashi demanded his team to meet at seven, then arriving three hours later much to their chagrin.
Yawning loudly without bothering to cover his mouth, Naruto sighed –he was kind of glad there was no one around.
No, not because he was shy –he wasn’t. He’d appeared naked without reserves to Konoha’s male population when in Oiroke no Jutsu, so decency wasn’t part of his vocabulary… especially given the fact he used that jutsu to evade being caught.
No, being naked in female form wasn’t the problem –the real problem was his original body, the one he was conscious about. Even when at the onsen with Jiraiya, Tsunade and Shizune he had tried to stay underwater, only getting out when Jiraiya wasn’t looking (not that Jiraiya looked. That pervert had been waiting for chicks to come in and had not spared a glance in his direction the whole time).
Not that he was ashamed. He wasn’t. He was proud of managing to keep in shape. He wasn’t overly thin, even though ramen didn’t sate his hunger anymore as it had done when he was younger, and still…
Kakashi–sensei would probably chide him about how ramen had stunted his growth, but it was so cheap for him, and delicious, and with his low money income, there was nothing better than ramen.
He loved ramen, but there were times when Iruka cooked for him, or when Kakashi–sensei brought him vegetables, so he didn’t really have anything wrong on that part, either…
It was simply an irk of his –he didn’t quite like showing his body off.
Naruto beamed happily when he opened the water and was hit by a jet of comfortably hot water, hissing in pleasure as his body relaxed. He’d needed that.
Afterwards, he would go and eat breakfast –some ramen sounded perfect, and he was starving.
Without even realising it, he started singing some silly tune out loud, too happy to really care about that; this was his first morning as an ANBU trainee, and the thought put him in a very good mood.
Apart his Genin promotion, when Iruka had for the first time admitted caring for him, he could not remember another time he’d felt this giddy. It felt amazing. As if he could do anything, as if he was allowed to run a feet from the ground.
Smiling brightly he rinsed the soap from his hair and turned around, shutting the water close, only to see a figure standing some feet away, staring at him; without really seeing who that person was, Naruto grabbed a bar of soap and threw it at the figure. “Pervert!” he yelled, cheeks tinting red.
The person easily grabbed the soap with his right hand, a second before it could collide with his face, and Naruto gaped, realising with a blush that the one standing there had been Itachi, the usual blank expressionless face fixed on him.
Well. That was… awkward.
With an eep Naruto grabbed the towel and folded it around his midsection, blushing crimson as he glared at the older man, who didn’t even look apologetic. Instead, he carelessly dropped the soap on the floor, eyes trailing up and down Naruto’s frame, making the blond shift uncomfortably.
“Wha… what the hell?!” Naruto growled out, embarrassed. “S–stop staring at me! It’s freaky!”
“What is that scar?” Itachi blatantly ignored Naruto’s words and pointed to the teen’s chest, eyes narrowed.
Naruto blinked in surprise, speechless –what the hell was Itachi speaking about?
Following Itachi’s pointed finger, he noticed a clean and neat cut on the left side of his chest, almost over his heart, and all his exuberance vanished as he stared at the white edges of the wound; it was… it was the only scar still on his body even after Kyuubi’s healing.
As a reminder of something that hurt Naruto so deeply it would never fully heal, his own body had refused it to disappear, as well.
Naruto’s eyes turned a bit dull as he looked away, and Itachi noticed it.
“This… this is where…” Naruto’s right hand unconsciously curled a bit mimicking a claw. “Ah, nothing, just a scar… that’s all” he laughed sheepishly, stretching a smile that was a bit less happy than before.
He did not want anyone to know the exact amount of damage he had received during his fight with Sasuke, and no one could know.
Not even Tsunade nor Jiraiya, nor Iruka. Not even Kakashi, who had been the first to arrive at the Valley of End.
No one had to know exactly how Sasuke had attacked him, wanting to kill him. It was best to let this detail fade because it would only make things harder for Sasuke.
Naruto knew why he’d used Chidori, of course –strong enough to rival Naruto’s Rasengan, it was Sasuke’s strongest attack… to finish it off in one blow, killing his best friend to achieve the Mangekyou Sharingan.
No, no one in the village had to know.
“It’s nothing,” he said, his smile widening even more. “Err… I didn’t wake up too late, did I?” he scratched the back of his head, but in doing so the towel unrolled and fell on the wet floor.
Blushing crimson again, Naruto remembered the situation he was in and with an undignified squeal (though he would never admit he’d done such unmanly thing) he kneeled, grabbing towel and clothes, and ran into the cabinets at the right, shutting the door close behind his back.
The red on his cheeks refused to disappear, his heart thumping in his chest for the embarrassment. Yet another stupid thing that happened to him.
Itachi was left standing alone in the shower room, with a small frown gracing his face; he thought that Kyuubi would heal any kind of injury his vessel received, unless it was a close–to–death kind of wound.
That meant this scar… had met such occurrence.
Who did Naruto fight to death?
Of course, Itachi knew nothing of the happenings at the Valley of End; he had still been at Akatsuki at that time, preparing to go back to Konoha, and had received news of Sasuke’s attempted defection only after that.
In regards to what had happened between Sasuke and Naruto, Itachi hadn’t received any detail, only knowing that they had fought when Sasuke had tried to leave Konoha for good, so there was really no way he could link that fight with Naruto’s scar.
Eyes narrowed in thought, Itachi recalled how thin Naruto had looked; truth to be told, he’d already noticed it the previous night, but he had not been aware he looked this malnourished. Where did he take all his energy from?
If not helped, this would surely become a liability. He had to make the blond eat better, more balanced meals, and he would need to inform Anko as well.
“I’m done,” Naruto exited the cabined completely dressed, his hair still dripping wet, and no trace of the blush from before. Better ignore what had happened. “Are you going to train me again today?”
He didn’t even know whether to be afraid or happy.
Shaking his head and abandoning his previous trail of thoughts, Itachi shook his head, preceding Naruto out of the shower rooms. “No –today you will focus on different training methods” he stated, making sure the other was following him. “But first you will have to eat”.
Naruto’s eyes lit up at that. “Ramen!” he yelled, happily. Since Sakura’s gift back at the hospital he had not been able to go to Ichiraku, but still some instant ramen would be ok.
Itachi’s left eye twitched.
He had been warned about the teen’s obsession with that food. Now he needed to know just how regularly did the blond eat it.
“How many times per week do you eat… ramen, Naruto?”
The teen furrowed his brow, thinking about it. “Normally I eat at Ichiraku twice per week, especially if I can get Kakashi–sensei or Iruka–sensei to pay for me…”
If that was it, Itachi didn’t think it was too much…
“But I get instant ramen most of the time, it’s less expensive,” Naruto continued after a pause “beef one at that… that’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner so… I don’t know, fourteen times a week?”
That eye twitched again. Fourteen meals out of twenty–one par week.
“What do you eat for the remaining meals?” he asked then, fingers joining his eye in the twitching.
“Either I don’t eat because I’m training, or I eat something Kakashi–sensei forces me to –yucky vegetables, you see,” Naruto pouted. “So… as I was saying… Ramen!”
“I’m sorry to say that, but you are therefore forbidden from eating ramen as long as you are in the ANBU headquarters,” Itachi stated, his voice icy cold.
The shock passing on Naruto’s face could have been amusing to Itachi, but he was still a bit unnerved by just how much ramen the teen was allowed to eat.
“What?!” Naruto’s screech filled the corridors, and Itachi was ready to bet even Hyoo heard it in his office. “No ramen?!”
This time, the older Uchiha did not restrain a smirk.

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The common room was still filled with many ANBU members, some wearing their masks and some without them, most of them eating breakfast; one of them, much to Naruto’s glee, was Tomoyo, the Hyuuga captain he’d met the previous day.
“Naruto–kun!” she exclaimed, waving at him. She had her mask on her hair, and her swords were not on her back this time. The moment she saw Naruto approaching, she smiled brightly at him.
Naruto returned the smile, but stopped as Tomoyo and Itachi noticed each other’s presence and stood still, sharing a look and tensing up. The blond teen frowned, realising that their clans had once been in deep rivalry (he could remember Neji and Sasuke’s attitude towards each other), and suddenly he pictured Itachi and Tomoyo in his mind, trying to gouge each other’s eyes out.
The mental image, even though pretty freaky, threw the blond into a snickering fit, unable to shove it away –well, until Itachi started speaking.
“Good morning, Tomoyo–san,” he greeted, his voice holding no apparent dislike for the older woman.
The Hyuuga returned the greeting with the same politeness, and Naruto smiled as he couldn’t feel any animosity between the two; it was either they were too mature for this kind of stuff, or because inside ANBU walls even petty clan hostility faded away.
“Tomoyo–san, I’ve just discovered that Naruto’s eating regime has been off for who knows how much,” Itachi shifted to what could be called small talk, even though his face was still emotionless–looking and his voice was quite and even. “It needs to be promptly fixed”.
It took nothing else.
Tomoyo’s maternal instinct was thus activated as she glared down at the blond teen with her pearly eyes; Naruto found himself under strict inspection and fidgeted, swallowing his uneasiness down.
The woman’s eyes narrowed into slits.
“Naruto–kun… shinobi need a balanced set of meals everyday, you can’t rely on ramen alone! It will make your body weak, you need to eat meat and vegetables as well…” she chastised. “Especially since you live alone… you need to take care of yourself!”
Even though Tomoyo was aware that part of the fault was not Naruto’s but how money had been administrated and kept from the teen when he was younger, after he started working as a Genin he had enough money to start eating better meals, and eventually he could have asked Tsunade or someone else for help –so in a way, Naruto was still at fault.
“But… Tomoyo–san…” Naruto tried to intervene, but thought otherwise under the twin glare of both Hyuuga and Uchiha. Definitely, the resemblance between the two was uncannily scary.
Stupid, old family clans, Naruto thought.
Both captains moved to the food tables to gather some healthy food for his breakfast, which left him standing alone in the middle of the dining room; much to his surprise, some ANBU members used this opportunity to approach him.
One was a nice young man, only three years older than Naruto was, with brown eyes, that the blond remembered seeing somewhere in the Chuunin exams –as an examiner. Soon enough, Naruto joined in a conversation about different types of explosives, sitting on a nearby table and waiting for Itachi to come back.
“How do you cope with your duties as a Chuunin together with your ANBU life?” Naruto asked curiously, watching Kei (the brown haired examiner). “I mean, what if you are in a mission and the ANBU decide to call you in ?”
Since Naruto was still a Genin, and didn’t want to be kept as such forever, he wanted to move quickly up to Chuunin level, but he knew that the higher the rank, the higher the probability of long–term missions or simply missions that required him away from ANBU service –and yet, he didn’t want to stop at Genin.
It would also seem pretty strange to everyone who knew him.
“Well, ANBU service is not as demanding as you think,” Kei replied, chuckling. “Usually any ANBU trainee chooses a profession that will allow them to be free any time the commander requires them to, so most of the ANBU here are either retired shinobi working as villagers, or low–ranked ninja… if you want to reach Jounin rank, you ask for less missions as ANBU or you take on jobs no one would want” he looked around. “Do you see him?” he pointed at a masked ANBU sitting in a chair with a book. “He should have been training Genin squads, but he asked to be placed in Guard duty”.
Said shinobi waved at them from his seat, not lifting his attention from the book.
“Guard Duty sucks, it’s boring, especially on the wall surrounding Konoha,” Kei continued, shrugging “but it’s also less demanding and allows him to take in more missions as an ANBU”.
Naruto nodded –it made sense.
Even then, he had to choose between a boring outer life, or less ANBU missions… he needed to think about that.
“What about you then?” Naruto turned his attention back to Kei. “I remember seeing you in the Chuunin exams… but since they’re been held only four times every year you must be doing something else?”
“Yes, of course,” Kei laughed again. “I am a researcher for Konoha’s medical division… I’m in the team that makes poisons, antidotes and medicines”.
Naruto stared at him in awe –that was so cool!
He’d never thought there could exist something like that, but there again, he’d never wondered where poison mixtures some ninja used came from.
“Medical divisions are not required to fight in battle, so I do not have to hide my strength then,” Kei continued, shrugging. “Of course we get other assignments, but nothing too dangerous, we do a job very few want to tackle, after all”.

“Ah, I have another question!” Naruto bubbled in, frowning a bit. “ANBU members are not known to the rest of Konoha’s population, right? Also, normal ranking shinobi can’t know if you’re ANBU or not”.
“Exactly –what’s your point Naruto?”
“Well… but even I know that Kakashi–sensei was an ANBU once. Why did everybody know of him? And does that mean he’s always known Iruka–sensei was one too?”
Kei nodded at the pertinent question.
“Family clans like the Uchiha and the Hyuuga demand to know whether one of theirs turns into an ANBU. It’s like, an inner–family police of sorts. Also, sometimes shinobi that show skills superior to the norm, or that would benefit of such knowledge to be of public domain, share their identity with everyone”.
“But wouldn’t that make it harder for them? I mean, wouldn’t more enemies try to kill them knowing they’re ANBU members?”
“Very good point, and yes –that’s the downside of it… yet, it also makes you look sure about yourself, as if you’re saying, I’m strong enough to admit I’m an ANBU, so I am not afraid of showdowns!”
Naruto chuckled. In a way, it was true.
“In Kakashi’s case, though, it’s because of… well, nothing you have to bother knowing for now,” Kei waved his arm. Kakashi’s father and what had happened then were not his story to tell; the fact that the copy–nin had needed to show his loyalty to Konoha, and consequently, his skills to cleanse from the ‘bad reputation’ left to his name, and the sadness that brought him to that point…
It was Kakashi’s story to tell –eventually, if he ever wanted to.
“Ah, right, about Iruka–san…” Kei leaned over towards Naruto. “He was ok with everyone thinking he was a weak Chuunin, besides he spent a good period of his life here hurting for the loss of his parents… he hid his face and tried to be left alone… when he finally shoved it all away and started reacting, Kakashi had already left the ANBU”.
Naruto nodded, biting his lower lip –he knew of Iruka’s parents, but he didn’t feel guilty anymore about their deaths. Iruka has talked about that with him and Naruto wouldn’t go back to that anymore.
A huge plate filled with food came down in front of Naruto, making both teen stop speaking. The blond looked up, only to face a rather satisfied Tomoyo and a stern looking Itachi.
“What… what’s this?” he asked, poking the pile of food with a finger.
There was so much to eat –he couldn’t possibly eat it all… yes, he ate ramen like a starved person but still… only ramen.
There were a couple of onigiri, a cup of orange juice, a bowl of fruits cut in pieces, two toasts, some fried fish the villagers used to eat at breakfast, and what looked like a giant jelly blob of unidentified colour next to some cereals.
“I’ll have you plan a check–up with the ANBU medical division,” Tomoyo replied, sitting down. “You’re awfully thin, and by what Itachi said, you lack nutritional vitamins, proteins, minerals and a lot of other things that you cannot find with eating ramen everyday”.
The blond stifled a groan, tempted to slam his face on the table.
“But I can’t possibly eat all of this and –what is this?” he pointed at the wobbly jelly.
“That is a nutritional jelly that has been especially developed to help incapacitated ninja during their recovery –it will be good for you because it will be quickly absorbed in your organism, instead of having to wait out a month or two for your system to grow accustomed to different foods” Tomoyo replied. “Now, eat it up”.
She looked both smug and expectant. Naruto looked back at his food, lifting a piece of the wobbly thing to his eyes with a spoon.
“Ah, Tomoyo–san, good morning,” Kei smiled up at the woman, mirth in his eyes at the distraught expression of Naruto. “I just wanted to ask you –did Hokage–sama finally decide which group will do first shift with Sasuke–kun?”
Both Naruto and Itachi stiffened at the name; the blond had completely forgotten that Sasuke was waiting for a punishment for his attempted defection, and of course, the older Uchiha was merely concerned, if only slightly.
“Ah! Right! What… what was Sasuke’s punishment?” Naruto let go of the spoon and stood up, staring right at Tomoyo.
“Calm down, Naruto–kun” she smiled at him and motioned for him to sit back down. “He will be kept under strict ANBU control for six months, and he won’t be able to enter the Chuunin exams for the next two years” she explained. “Also, he will be forced to do only low–ranked missions for the next year”.
Naruto slumped down on his seat, unsure whether to be relieved or not; Sasuke had avoided death, chakra sealing and imprisonment, and that was a strong relief to Naruto, and yet…
Sasuke wanted to be strong, and this way he was incapacitated from advancing. Would that cause him to grow uncomfortable and try something bad again?
‘I just have to… have faith in his promise then’he thought to himself. ‘Sasuke promised me. He won’t go back on his word’.
Glancing upwards at the older Uchiha to spy his reaction, he was left a bit disappointed, as the man’s face was, as usual, unreadable. And yet his eyes held a different meaning; he was indeed affected by the news, but Naruto could not understand what he was thinking.
“As I was asking…” Kei prodded.
“First month it’ll be my team” Tomoyo replied. “Second month it’s Anko’s turn”.
“What about the remaining months?” Kei asked again.
“It has yet to be decided, I fear,” she mumbled. “But… I heard we will probably get some… reinforcement… from Ne” she hissed the last part.
Naruto blinked, surprised at her darkened expression, and to see a similar expression on every other ANBU who was listening to her.
“Ne? what’s Ne?” he asked, moving things in his plate. “I never heard of a village called Root before…”
There was a tense silence in the room, and everybody looked away, wondering how to explain the teen about it; surprisingly enough, Itachi was the one who spoke first.
“Ne is a special division of Konoha’s ANBU, under the leadership of a man called Danzou,” he stated, face emotionless but eyes darkened in anger. “Danzou was a shinobi of Konoha that was openly opposing Sandaime–sama, as he was of the idea that power achieves more than diplomacy. He created a training division of ANBU, separated from us, with the consensus of the Council”.
Tomoyo nodded at the concise explanation. “The group has been disbanded once, but he managed to keep it up and working nonetheless. Even though he gave his word that he and his subordinates are loyal to Konoha, it’s obvious he’s working against the current Hokage, as well. Tsunade–sama and Hyoo–sama both do not trust him”.
Naruto was surprised to hear this. He bit his lip, thinking about it for a moment, then looked up at Itachi and Tomoyo again.
“Then… why did Tsunade obaa–chan appoint someone from root if she deemed them not trustworthy? Why didn’t she shut Ne down?”
This time it was Kei’s turn to sigh.
“The Council of Elders approve of it –mostly because Danzou is one of them– and they never completely shared Sarutobi–sama’s idea of a pacific way to keep Konoha safe. They have always been more on Danzou’s side, and now the do the same with Tsunade–sama since she shares his ideas –of not controlling the country with wars.”
“Besides,” Tomoyo continued, “the Council protects Ne. It cannot be shut down unless they agree with Godaime–dono”.
Naruto slowly nodded. He could understand that… besides, the elders that were plotting against Tsunade were the same they had opposed him because he was vessel of Kyuubi.
It was no surprise he disliked them.
Maybe he was not one to know a lot about politics –they went above his head all the time– but he was starting to see how politics could influence life, even in a shinobi–ruled community; to be Hokage meant to understand this kind of thing as well as be able to fight.
He could fight and grow stronger to fight better… but he knew nothing of politics.
The teen inwardly sighed ‘it’s not like me to back down from a challenge…’ he thought to himself. It was just another thing to learn.
“So, there will be members from this Root division coming to Konoha?” he asked. What could that mean…
‘They will be trying to spy for Danzou. Also, they might check on Sasuke to see if he’s willing to side with them?’he wasn’t overly sure, but it could be an option. ‘Nah, Sasuke would never accept. Besides, if it’s just some Ne shinobi, they can still be watched over’ he reassured himself.
“Yes,” Tomoyo answered. “It will be a hassle”.
Itachi glared down at Naruto, noticing he had yet to finish eating. “You’d better clean your plate, Naruto. We have a training to go through and if you are not ready to start in five minutes, you will not be allowed to eat any lunch today”.
With an eep, Naruto hastily munched on his food –no lunch after training with Itachi?
There was no way in hell he was going to lose his lunch–time!

…–…–…–…

Iruka stared down at his once–student with barely suppressed glee, and filled with a deep sense of accomplishment.
Tsunade had accepted his request –Sasuke would be under his command for two days every week, doing a three–hours lesson every day.
He intended to get the best out of this. Literally.
“Well, Sasuke, I guess you know why you are here, right?” Iruka smiled down at the teen, and Sasuke had the distinct and sudden impression that the man’s smile was a bit more feral than it should have been.
“Yes, Iruka–sensei,” he replied, not looking away.
Helping out at the Academy twice every week as one of his D–rank instalments had sounded pretty easy at first, so Sasuke had been glad for that… but now, facing his former sensei, he got the sinking feeling he should have chosen to do something potentially less dangerous.
Like cleaning a pond filled with poison snakes and crocodiles, for example.
Yes… Iruka’s eyes and smile promised he’d have a lot of pain to face.
The older man knew that usually he wouldn’t be allowed to give such responsibility to a thirteen–years old boy –having him teach to a class of academy students was not something for such a young teen– but Sasuke was an adult for Konoha’s standards.
He was a ninja, well–suited for this kind of stuff, besides, he wouldn’t be alone –he was constantly watched by ANBU members and other teachers would be in the nearby classrooms if problems were to arise.
Besides, it would be a good lesson for Sasuke.
“Perfect,” Iruka smiled again. “You will take one of the younger classes, I will have you meet them in a second… as you might remember, each class up from year one to three has four teachers for the different subjects, whilst the last two years a single teacher follows the class…” he pointed towards the row of doors in front of them. “Class four, year two, is currently without a Weaponry practice teacher, as she went into maternity leave, so you will supply to her place”.
Iruka moved down the hall, making sure the young Uchiha was following him, and smirked.
In fact, Midori–chan, Class Four’s Weaponry teacher, left a full month before the chosen date, as Iruka had asked her to, and she still owed him a favour.
“You will have to keep an eye in their practice kunai throwing, shuriken throwing, basic Genjutsu and Ninjutsu, and of course, Taijutsu as well,” he continued. “Their program is on the teacher’s desk, and you will also test them every two weeks”.
Sasuke nodded, vainly trying to quench the sensation of doom creeping on him. Was it even legal for him to teach a class, despite him being of age as stated by shinobi law?
Maybe he could still ask to be dispensed…
‘No,’he thought, a second later. ‘Uchiha never beg, nor ask for mercy nor plead nor…’ his inner monologue was cut short by a crash resounding from a closed door at their right.
Exactly where Iruka had stopped.
Shit, he had a bad feeling about that now.
“Sasuke, meet your class for the next few months” Iruka said happily (was it even ok for him to be this happy?), opening the door.
Sasuke was left to stare at the crowd of children in front of him, suddenly realising (with a flip of his stomach) three of them looked horridly familiar to him. Instantly he recognised them –they were the three kids that followed Naruto around like stalkers.
‘Oh, shit,’was his only conscious thought, as the three stared at him like animals observing their prey.
“Class, as you know Midori–sensei is taking her leave… so meet Uchiha Sasuke, he will be your teacher’s replacement from now on!” Iruka waved at the class, pushing Sasuke forwards.
Instantaneously all the kids started whispering, and Sasuke could hear his name being repeated over and over by many students as they all stared at him in wonder; he seriously hoped he could avoid fangirls so young, since he knew he could not stand it.
“He’s the one who hurt Naruto–nii!” Konohamaru finally yelled out loud, enraged.
Silence fell in the classroom then, as everybody turned towards the Sandaime’s grandson.
“Konohamaru–kun, you know better than to lie like this” a red haired girl chided. “Sasuke–kun would never do that to anyone, especially to Naruto–nii!”
“Yeah, he wouldn’t do it!” another boy yelled.
Iruka stared at his students, warmth in his chest; without knowing it, Naruto had already many admirers amongst the younger lines. Konohamaru had taken it to him to talk to his teammates about his role model, how cool Naruto was, and what he was doing for the village.
This new generation had a lot to teach to the older ones, indeed.
More than half of the class considered Naruto an excellent ninja, Konohamaru first in line, and they all knew about his fight with Neji at the Chuunin exams, about the real happenings at the battle against Gaara too (thanks to Konohamaru again, who had peeped on the official reports) and many other things.
Even something Naruto himself didn’t know –the Great Naruto Bridge back in Nami.
Apparently Konohamaru wasn’t an idiot. He had visited his ‘brother’ in hospital, and had put two and two together. Sasuke was in the same hospital, in the same room, and the whispers in the corridors were clear enough for Konohamaru to do the math.
That was the reason Iruka had placed Sasuke with those children.
A good training for the teen, who would never look down upon anyone ever again, and would learn patience, and the children would have fun.
“I heard it from mom, she works at the hospital!” another girl yelled. “He was the one who hurt Naruto nii–chan!”
Konohamaru, Udon and Moegi, amongst many others, turned to stare at him with blazing eyes filled with rage.
Sasuke groaned. This was going to be a big, huge mess.

…–…–…–…

“Naruto, yesterday you had a taste on how to control your chakra, and I expect you to continue that training by yourself to improve further,” Itachi stated, and Naruto nodded, to signal he understood. “As for today, I will have you concentrate on hiding your chakra flow from your opponents”.
Naruto leaned over. This would be a very useful skill, but how to?
“Err,” he started, only to stop as Itachi lifted his hand.
“Usually, shinobi keep their chakra in their bodies, and only let out a recognizable amount when they start a jutsu,” the older man explained. “When in battle though, it is common sense to let out a small trail so that allies will not attack indiscriminately. Recognising that kind of trail is vital in a mission or an ambush, and masking your own chakra from the enemies will confound them”.
“But if I mask my chakra, won’t it be detrimental to my teammates as well?” Naruto asked.
“There are ways to mask your chakra so only your allies can recognise it, of course,” Itachi replied. “That way enemies can’t tell who you are, whilst your allies won’t attack you”.
The blond nodded thoughtfully. “So, if I can mask my chakra to feel weaker than what it is, will opponents underestimate my strength?”
Itachi nodded.
“To be able to keep your chakra masked and hidden will make you useful in missions –it is a vital skill, especially in ANBU ranks… why is that so, Naruto?”
Naruto frowned a bit. “Because this way we cannot be distinguishable from lower ranked shinobi” he replied after a moment.
Itachi nodded, vaguely pleased.
“Exactly,” he stated. “Perception is what make us stronger, Naruto. To hide amongst the enemy and be able to fool them, is what spies do. To hide your presence and attack when needed is what an assassin does. The same skill ends up being used by all kind of ninja, and you will have to learn this skill as well”.
Naruto smirked; he could remember one of Iruka–sensei’s lessons, back at the academy, about how chakra differed greatly from person to person, much like DNA. At a quick look it was the same for everyone, but delving deeper added details that belonged only to certain individuals.
To be able to cover these details from prying eyes was definitely important, and most of all to be able to feel the differences when others couldn’t was even more sought after.
“From now on, you will train yourself to sense chakra. Your abilities are barely average for your age, but I want you to apply harder, because I know what you lack is merely attention and practice” Itachi stated, and Naruto was grateful for his words. “Masking your chakra will keep you alive”.
“What about my teammates? I do not know how to recognize your chakra” Naruto squinted his eyes, vaguely resembling a fox by doing that.
“Right now, you will need to recognize mine first, as I’m the one training you at present time. There will be chances for you to feel Iruka and Raidou’s chakra later” was the reply he got.
“I understand,” the teen smiled. “So it’s because of his experience and skills with recognizing chakra that Kakashi–sensei was able to always know where Sasuke, Sakura and I were when hiding?”
“Personal predisposition and individual skills,” Itachi replied. “Certain things will aid you, others will prevent you from successfully hiding or masking your chakra. For example, Hyuuga’s bloodline can see chakra even when the owner is not using it. By masking chakra, though, even a Hyuuga would have problems –that of course varies depending on the individual strength of the Hyuuga and their personal advancing with the Doujutsu”.
That made sense. It meant that most shinobi could only feel chakra but not determine whom it belonged to. It also meant that with good training, everyone could hone their skills and have nothing to worry from any bloodline.
It was just a running to the top of every skill in order to best the opponents.
Naruto liked it.
“Any trained ninja can count the number of enemies using chakra without problem, unless they erase their pathways or they stand too close to one another,” Itachi finished his explanation “also, if you never met your enemies or never recorded their chakra flare into memory, you won’t recognize them”.
“So that is why most ninja cannot recognize if one of them is an ANBU or not?”
“Yes –ANBU mask their chakra differently from normal shinobi so they can keep their identities safe… also, shinobi have other ways to see or feel for enemies other than chakra” Itachi decided to warn Naruto in advance. “We won’t indulge on that matter for now, but are you able to tell me how you’d be able to check for a hidden person without searching for their chakra?”
Naruto thought it up for a bit, concentrating and trying to see the possibility by different points of view.
“Err… Kiba’s family can track down ninja by their smell,” he said after a moment. “Kakashi–sensei used dogs as well when he was fighting against Zabuza. So, dogs?”.
Itachi nodded encouragingly, making Naruto furrow his brow to think about it more.
“Animals in general then? Using animals’ enhanced senses”.
“Yes,” the Uchiha approved. “Not just dogs, but other animals suck as snakes, cats, species that can move without making noise”.
“How does recognizing different chakra work?” Naruto asked, confused. He could understand using the sense of smell and similar, but how to learn to differentiate chakra surges?
“It would be like looking at a person from distance,” was his answer, after Itachi thought about it for a moment. “You know they are there because you can see them, but at first sight you can’t know if you’ve met them before or not… or if they are friends or foes –unless you approach them, of course”.
‘And just like you can put a mask to hide your face… you can hide your chakra, too,’Naruto thought. This was a clear and simple way to explain things and it was easy to understand, too.
He was having fun learning, and it was a first for him; training at the academy, or by himself, or with Jiraiya and Kakashi had never been this fun. Itachi challenged him with questions, and praised him and he was actually learning.
“Well, are we starting yet?” he started bouncing up and down, happy at the prospect of learning something new.
Itachi couldn’t hold back a smirk. “For today we will work on your raw chakra, and have you learn how to sense nearby ones, and where they come from”.
Naruto had barely time to nod –Itachi disappeared and in a flash reappeared behind him, pressing one of his hands over the teen’s eyes, covering them.
“What the–”
“This is a trick few can use, kind of dangerous to use, but helpful nonetheless –I will block three of your senses now” Itachi’s voice was close to Naruto’s ear and the blond shuddered lightly, blushing. “You won’t be able to see… to smell… and, most of all, you won’t be able to hear”.
Itachi’s other hand brushed against the back of his neck and Naruto froze.
“Wh… what for?” he asked, not liking the situation one bit.
“Without your concentration attracted by your other senses, you will able to only feel chakra with your mind and inner sense. It’s the only way you can do it quickly at the level you’re at, without having to work on this for months, maybe years –by raw and primal feeling, as if you were a child or an animal”.
“What… what do you want me to do?” Naruto still didn’t like that prospect, but he trusted Itachi and would obey him.
“I will stand still in front of you and keep my chakra visible to your senses. Take your time to settle down and feel out for it –when that’s done, I will move slowly at first, then faster. You will have to keep pointing where I am. That’s all”.
Naruto nodded warily, it didn’t sound too bad. He could do it.
The hand on his neck brushed upwards, making Naruto shift uneasily and shiver, and then he felt it press harder on a spot about the height of his ears. There was a flare of chakra and a sharp twinge of pain, followed by his ears whistling.
Then, the pain dulled to a silent throbbing. He could hear no more.
His breath was amplified in his head, vibrating in his skull, and his heart thumped a bit faster, the motion vibrating as well, but no outside noise. His ears were not working anymore.
Naruto gulped, pushing away the sudden rush of panic that threatened to overcome him; there was nothing to fear, Itachi was teaching him. And yet, he’d relied on his senses so much that he felt rather helpless by losing even a single one…
And now he had to give up three of them in order to learn something.
He needed to endure this.
The cold hand on his neck moved forwards, touching his forehead, and then moved downwards, pressing a spot right above his nose; Naruto felt the same sparkle of chakra and the same kind of pain hit his nose.
He grunted, taking a deep breath with it, only to realise that his sense of smell had completely vanished; he could still breath through the nose, but nothing had a scent anymore. It felt as if he’d been anesthetised.
Lastly, as he was busy working out the sensation without feeling anxious, the hand over his eyes pressed hard on them. It was accompanied by the same sharp pain and when Naruto opened his eyes, he could only see a veil of black darkness.
He blinked, his eyes watering a bit, but his sight did not come back.
He was completely cut off from the world around him, and he breathed hard, his hands trembling; he knew that a real ninja could keep calm in horrible situations, but right now he had to fight wave after wave of hysteria.
He could no longer see… smell. Hear.
He was crippled, even if only temporarily.
If this was how an incapacitated shinobi felt, he knew he couldn’t endure this for too long. Relying on his senses so badly and now it was working against him.
What if he ended with a sense less during a battle? He couldn’t be defeated like this!
‘Keep focused, keep focused,’he repeated to himself, breathing deeply in and out. It was not a nightmare.
Like a mantra he kept repeating the same line over and over, ignoring the stillness around him, and finally his shoulders relaxed and the panic dulled away.
Finally, when he felt it was ok, he concentrated on Itachi. He closed his eyes, because that gave him the impression he wasn’t really blind, and focused on the nothingness around him.
The silence was overwhelming, everything was still, and the only thing that allowed him to know it wasn’t a nightmare was the soft wind on his skin; he kept that as his anchor, and searched out.
He had no idea on how to ‘feel’ chakra out, no one had ever explained it to him, the concept was foreign, but he knew there was a way to do it. He had always used his senses to feel for a person, not their chakra, and even though he could feel a burst of chakra if strong enough, he had done it unconsciously, so there was no way he could redo it now.
Tentatively at first, he started prodding at the silent darkness with his mind, picturing what he thought could be a chakra burst. Finally, after what felt like ages, he was rewarded with a strange whitey flash in his closed eyes.
Stopping, Naruto tried to prod again where the white flash had been. He couldn’t see the flash per se, and yet…
The flash returned again, and Naruto flinched. He couldn’t properly explain the sensation but it was familiar, in a way.
He mentally pictured himself nudging at the light, and it appeared again, glowing a bit more steadily the more he prodded at it. It was hard to keep it there, but soon Naruto understood –he had touched that chakra with his own.
He was touching someone else’s chakra with his own!
Itachi’s. this was Itachi’s chakra.
It was raw and let out a cool sensation, but it was definitely there. Naruto smiled a bit, allowing his chakra to nudge forwards a bit more, testing around the white glowing flash, and it responded by nudging back. Naruto grunted, the contact had felt strange.
‘Got it now,’he allowed his trail of chakra to stay near the other one, and was then able to concentrate fully on it; the cool sensation was growing stronger, and with it, a light difference in the colour of the chakra.
It wasn’t as white as it had seemed at first, more of a white with rosy edges.
It was shifting and was not just a sphere of still chakra –it moved counter clockwise in a slow, almost lazy manner, barely visible to his… inner eyes.
‘Ok,’he thought then, as he decided he could keep this up without too much of a hassle. He lifted one arm at his side, signalling Itachi he was ready for the next step.
The chakra in front of him shifted slightly, and started moving to its right.
Naruto smiled brightly, following the cool chakra through the black, silent darkness.

…–…–…–…–…–…–…

Cepheus:did you like this chapter? I hope the wait was worth it :) if you still worry about the pace, please allow me to remind you that I don’t want to hurry things up.
Review?
Glossary: (have patience if you know most of those, some might still do not)
Ne– Root. The Japanese original name for the secret ANBU division of Danzou.
Nii–chan– older brother in a familiar way. In Japan it is used also by younger children referring to older males they’re friend of or familiar with.
Oiroke no Jutsu– Naruto’s sexy technique, which he uses to change sex.
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