Chapter 23.Team 7

|I was sitting in front of a statue admiring the art and the talent of the artist. My wife came to see me. "Hey, handsome!", she said.

"What are you doing here?"

"I am just checking if you were hanging out with some bitches"

She smiled at me but I could clearly see the frustration on her face. It was understandable. I haven't had sex with her for months. In fact I haven't had any kind of sexual pleasure in those months. "Hey, I am sorry. I was busy with work. I couldn't get into the mood"

"It's okay," she said as she rested her head on my shoulder. She then asked, "Why are you looking at that statue during your free time?"

"It reminds me of my Jii-chan"

"Huh?"

"He used to tell me stories about this god"

"That's a god?"

"Yes, he is"

"What's his name?"

"His name is…|

Someone was knocking on the door. Saruto woke up. He put his pants over his underpants. Then he turned his gaze to Anko who was still sleeping on his bed after their intercourse from the previous night. He covered her naked body with a bedsheet and then walked up to the door. He opened the door as he yawned. Tenzo was standing there waving at him. "Did you cut your hair Tenzo?"

"You noticed captain"

"Of course I did. You had the longest hair among all my subordinates. Now it's gone"

Tenzo grinned. Saruto then scratched his head as he said, "Don't tell me you're just here to visit your former captain!"

"We're appointed to a mission"

"An ANBU mission?"

"Technically yes"

"Hey, you know that I don't like those missions, right?"

"The orders came from the Hokage. We're taking care of Sasuke's retrieval from now on. He appointed you as a special captain of my squad"

"I thought he was going to let Jiraya-sama handle it"

"The plan has changed. And one more thing, we're ordered not to discuss any information about this mission to Naruto or Sakura"

"Okay I get it"

"We will be waiting for you at the entrance"

"Okay, tell your squad that I'll come up with a plan during the mission after checking up with their strengths and weaknesses! I'll be there"

Saruto then closed the door and went to take a shower. After the shower, he wrote a note to tell Anko that he was going on a mission. He left his apartment and started hopping over the buildings. [Saruto]

'What?'

[Did you get any dreams from your past?]

'Yes, this time it was like a hint'

[A hint?]

'Our plan. The dream I had last night, it was vague but I know it is related to our plan'

[I see]

'Hey, if I am correct, current Sasuke isn't strong enough to beat Orochimaru. In less than one year, Orochimaru can easily take over his body so I should act before that happens, right?'

[About that, Shisui left a message for you]

'Good timing! I should read it first'

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Naruko came back home running. She opened the door as she was screaming in joy, "Kaa-chan! Oni-chan!"

Naruto woke up by the noise as he fell on the floor from his bed. He rubbed his eyes and then looked at the time, "I was sleeping all this time? This training is hard"

He then went downstairs. His sister was showing her headband to her mother. Naruto was shocked because having a headband means she became a ninja. "Naruko!"

"Huh? Oni-chan look at this! I am a kunoichi, ya know!"

"Kaa-chan, what is this? She's ten years old and she's already a kunoichi?"

"Naruko asked for early graduation just like you did. She succeeded in her first try"

Naruto was happy for her sister but he knew what becoming a shinobi meant. He only went outside the village once but that was a painful moment of his life. He patted his sister on her head and went to the bathroom. Naruko smiled and said, "Kaa-chan, I am going to the hospital to see Tou-chan!"

"Be careful!"

"Don't worry about me, I am a kunoichi now!"

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The next day, team 7 was summoned to Hokage's bureau. Fugaku spoke, "Your team is not complete but you're the only team available right now. So, I have to add a new member to your team"

The door opened as Naruko entered, "Oni-chan, I am on your team, ya know"

After seeing his sister, Naruto turned his attention to Fugaku, "Hokage-sama, she just got her headband and she's already going on a C rank mission?"

Kakashi was annoyed. It was hard for him to handle Sasuke and Naruto, now he had to handle the siblings issues. He rubbed his head.

"Like it or not, if you want to go on missions, it's the only way!", said Fugaku.

"Naruko, you should stay with Sakura-chan and listen to what she says, ya know!"

"Stop treating me like a kid, ya know!"

Kakashi in the middle of their argument took the scroll on the table and started reading. After reading it, he turned to look at the old man waiting at the door. "Let's go you three! If you succeed in this mission, I am inviting you all to Ichiraku ramen"

After hearing the magic words Naruko and Naruto started moving. Sakura followed them.

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Meanwhile, away from the village, Tenzo's squad led by Saruto was hopping on the trees. Saruto after reading the message from Shisui was misleading his squad. He had to make it look like they were searching for Sasuke but he didn't really search for him even though he knew where he was. Saruto sent a wood clone to look around but in reality, he sent the clone to where team 7 was. He was told that team 7 would be escorting Tazuna, the bridge builder.

'Shisui's message mentioned a swordsman of Kiri among the Akatsuki. Kakashi killed Biwa Juzo. That guy survived because of my involvement with the Mizukage Yagura. So, that means this new member must be Momochi Zabuza, the demon of the Mist. Naruto's first big battle was supposed to be against this guy and his partner, Haku of Hyoton. According to Shisui, Zabuza is working for Gato but this time it's for the Akatsuki'

Saruto's clone caught up to team 7. He merged with a tree and stayed hidden. Team 7 was fighting against Zabuza. Kakashi managed to beat him it seemed. Saruto looked at Naruto. He was surprised to see Naruko there. They were gasping for breath which meant they helped Kakashi in the fight. Meanwhile, Sakura was standing beside Tazuna with her whole body shivering in fear. After seeing the smile on Naruto's face, Saruto's clone sent the message to his original. He then disappeared after assuring himself he had nothing to worry about here.

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A couple of days later, Kakashi, Sakura, Naruko and Naruto were standing in front of the grave that they made for Zabuza and Haku. Naruko was crying. Naruto was comforting his sister. He turned to ask, "Kakashi sensei, they were enemies but I am feeling sad for them"

"That's the reality Naruto. Friends will turn into enemies and enemies will become friends!"

"So, we're just some tools of this ninja world like Zabuza said", said Sakura.

Kakashi said, "In the ninja world, we're considered as just some tools but do you guys think Haku was just a tool?"

Naruko wiped her tears off and said, "Haku wasn't a tool. He wanted to protect Zabuza. That's a noble intention if you ask me"

"It's decided" Everyone looked at Naruto. "Haku said to me that I'll become stronger if I want to protect someone. I have people to protect, my family, the friends who accepted me and the village that refuse to accept me as I am, I'll protect them all as the Hokage. I'll forge my own way to become a great shinobi and become the Hokage. That's my nindo"

He wiped his finger on his forehead protector and grinned.

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At the hideout, Zetsu arrived with Kubikiribocho. Pain was there but this time in person. "I didn't take their body. It would draw more attention"

"Demon of the Mist defeated by three genins and the copy ninja. Konoha is hiding their strength"

"Even I can't infiltrate inside the village. Yamanaka clan's barrier has improved suddenly"

"Two more years, we can proceed with the extraction. In three years, we will achieve our goal! Then their strengths won't matter. So, this loss wouldn't affect our plan"

"What do we do with the sword?"

"Orochimaru has Hozuki Mangetsu's brother as a subordinate. Give the sword to him!"

"There is something else. One of the genin who defeated Zabuza was Kyubi's jinchuriki"

"Uzumaki Naruto is it? Yondaime's son. I'll take care of him personally once we captured all the others!"

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The next day, Saruto was following a lead with his squad. He felt something. 'Mokuton user? It's neither me nor Tenzo. So, it must be…'

He turned his gaze in that direction. He paused as he glared at that Mokuton user, who was hiding inside a tree, directly in the eyes. "Captain, is something wrong?" "Nothing, let's move!"

And they left.

"Did he see us?"

"I don't think so"

"But I do", Saruto said as he emerged from the wood and grabbed Zetsu by his throat. "Tell your real leader that I don't like being spied on. If I see you lurking around me, I'll burn you all into ashes"

He let go of him and disappeared. "He's scary!"

"Don't worry! He's not that strong"

"You think? We're sweating from his heat and his presence. That's technically impossible for our kind!"

"Maybe, we should avoid following him!"

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Months later, Kakashi announced to his team 7 that they would be participating in the chunin exam. Naruto clenched his fist after hearing that.

"Once I become chunin, I'll get Sasuke back home!"

Sakura and Naruko agreed with him and the three of them left the place. Kakashi was standing there alone. Saruto jumped from a tree and said, "I think we finally found their hideout. Itachi and Jiraiya-sama will be with you in case the Akatsuki attack the village"

"I'll send Pakkun to you if that happens"

"Take care of Naruto and keep him in the dark about my mission!"

"Captain, will you…"

Kakashi was hesitant. He couldn't finish the sentence. "I won't kill him Kakashi! Sasuke is still Itachi's brother. He just hates me. That doesn't mean I should kill him. He chose this path to beat me. All I can do is protect him from Orochimaru but only Naruto can bring him back!"

He then left the place. Kakashi looked at the sky and then started walking.

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