Sasuke's Struggle
"As I have learned, there is no point in attempting to chance the minds of men to what you say you are. Instead, I find value in living up to expectations! And, who has more expectations than children? Everyone has a favorite snack, a favorite sweet, and favorite...delicacy. Go back to your childhood Mitarashi Anko, find the treats which make you happy."
"What makes...children happy? After all, the only one worse than you...is better than you in nearly every capacity. If you can't uncover this secret in one month, then you'll never have your answers to...the following statement," The voice claimed.
There was a pause. An unsettling silence worked its way over her room. On the one hand, she wished this silence could last forever. On the other hand…
"It is great and it is small. A hefty title which lauds the tongues of men, yet fills the bellies of children. Whether by men or by child there is joy to be found in its utters. That is what one might call...humans. That is what Konoha...has made of the woman, Mitarashi Anko," the voice explained.
"Tsk, riddles?! I don't have the time for this! I need to warning Hokage-sama!" Anko said to herself, however the voice must have snapped his fingers because she heard a snap that brought her attention back to the screen. She noticed...an Anbu standing under a dense light. It was much too dark to see anything else.
"Ah yes, Hokage-sama. Sarutobi Hiruzen, of course you desire to seek comfort among him. Such is obvious. However, I told you before Mitarashi Anko. I want to play a game. The only players are you and I. We're not here to include others. Because you see, the issue with other players is...you can never guess their true intentions. Ne, Anbu-neechan?" the voice asked.
Anko watched the Anbu straighten up, yet...they did not remove their mask. However, their voice spoke. "Mission Folder X5QW12-DV43, ordained by decree of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato.
Surveillance of potential flight risk, Mitarashi Anko, has come into effect. The individual in question is to be continually monitored for signs of defection following recent connection to the Snake Sannin, Orochimaru. Jonin, Inoichi Yamanaka to relay all psych evaluations to the Hokage…"
"W-What?"
"Jonin Ibiki Morino assigned monitoring and reporting daily activities, mood changes, behavioral patterns, and tendency towards violence not specified by shinobi protocol…,"
"Shut up!"
"Jonin...Kurenai Yuhi assigned…,"
"SHUT UP!" Anko screamed at the television. The snap of fingers made the Anbu quickly stop talking as the footage once again faded to black. Anko clenched the soft carpet of her floors. Her face contorted with utter rage. Her teeth pushed against each other and she did not close her eyes...even when the tears threatened to fall from her face.
"Within Konoha, you will learn as I have learned. Show none mercy. Show none trust. Show none respect. However, if you can find what makes you so pifitul, Mitarashi Anko, then...I SHALL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU TRULY DESIRE. Come and find me. For I...shall never lie to you," the voice said and the only sound that was left to her was from her Tv.
"What I...truly desire?" Anko asked.
For the past week, Anko had been trying to find the source of this riddle without success. Each attempt only made her angrier. This frustration in combination with her increasing rage against the people she had assumed to be friends was quickly driving her mad. No doubt Ibiki was already jotting down his notes to the Hokage about her attitude.
"Maybe I wouldn't have an attitude if you fuckers trusted me more!" Anko snarled out. She entered the comfort of her home and closed the door. She then threw the covers over her head. Why? Didn't she deserve to be happy too?
.....
"I don't understand why you told her to 'Trust No One' only to then claim that you would never lie to her. Isn't that going to be counter productive?" Yugao asked from in front of the door which led to Naruto's shower.
"Hmm. what's with the sudden interest in my plans? What happened to maintaining that legendary Anbu silence and not speaking a word to me unless I command you to?" Naruto asked. He smiled when he opened the door, his wet hair releasing drops of water onto the floor and a towel wrapped around his waist.
Yugao would release a growl, but she was much too tired to give the blonde the satisfaction. She only settled for a huff. "Rest assured, I would still cut your head off if I could," Yugao replied. She hoped there was as much steel behind her voice as she wanted there to be. However, she only watched Naruto make a childish face at her before returning to his shower.
"Believe it or not, Anbu-neechan, we orphans are not complex basket cases. If you can prove to us that you have what we need then we're yours forever. I'm going to give Mitarashi Anko the one thing you guys never could. If you think about it, the reason this might be successful...is because Konoha lacks a distinct type of faith in her shinobi. Heh, the Will of Fire. What nonsense," Naruto uttered as he brushed his teeth.
Yugao said nothing. She could only grit her teeth and bear the remarks he made about her home nation. She watched him put on his clothes and grab his things for school. "But then what are you doing with Uchiha Sasuke? Why are you making that woman, Uzumei, do this?" Yugao asked. She watched Naruto open the door to leave. He faced her.
"Because I find there to be an interesting sense of poetic justice in the pariah of Konoha controlling the actions and whims of the Last Uchiha. It makes for a good novel, don't you think?" the blonde asked as he closed the door behind him leaving Yugao alone.
Truth be told, class was very boring. The excitement only began when he discreetly followed Sasuke to his regular training area. The blonde settled himself in a tree about five ten feet from the raven-haired boy. He watched Sasuke train his heart out. As much as Naruto was loathe to admit it, on his own Uchiha Sasuke was very talented. Talent, he supposed, was there to be appreciated. He had come to learn that when absorbing the memories of so many people who had accomplished great things.
Where talent was shown, then people flocked to it. Like moths to a great flame they desired to be consumed by the flames of that talent. Perhaps before this time, he had been swept up in Sasuke's talent as well. It pushed him to be better. What nonsense. He was already better. He just hadn't been aware of it at the time.
"Hmm, let's see. Uzumei-chan should be here in another...ah, right on time," Naruto grinned as he watched his mysterious servant come into the fields with an herb basket. He rested his head against the body of the tree. Honestly, sometimes he wondered if he was having fun or if he was being cruel. Perhaps it was a little bit of both.
He saw that Uzumei had noticed him. He waved to her expecting a good performance. Uzumei bowed to him and then continued on her path. The red hue from Naruto's eyes shined.
"Ah Sasuke-san, it's a pleasure to meet you again. Still hard at work I see," Uzumei said with a smile. She watched Sasuke grunt as he picked up his things. The glare he had sent towards her told her that he did not wish to be disturbed. However, she quickly disregarded it. It was hardly a threatening look
"What are you doing here? Why are you following me?" Sasuke asked. This had been the second time he had encountered the woman. He did not want to tell her that she had left a mystifying impression upon him. He could not help but think about her sometimes and it was utterly infuriating.
Now that she was in front of him again, he was not sure what he could say to her. However, he heard her chuckle. He had to be going mad. It was the same way his mother used to laugh.
....
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