Chapter 26 : Unmasked(3)

Inside the restaurant Shushuya, Inuzuka Hana, Yuhi Kurenai, and Mitarashi Anko sat at a single table waiting for Uzuki Yugao. The ANBU woman was off duty for a few days so they had planned to have lunch today. Their purple-haired friend had said she had someone to introduce to them, something about them finally meeting her little brother, which was weird because they thought she had no family left.

Hana had already started eating her meal, not wanting to wait for Yugao. People who had met Hana thought that she was the opposite of her clan's wild reputation, but when you got to know her the woman was exactly like her scary mother.

The chunin had been a little upset with herself. Yugao was an ANBU agent, Anko had been promoted to jonin two years ago after her curse mark was removed, and Kurenai had just recently got her jonin-rank as well. Hana had gone straight into the veterinarian business right after she acquired her chunin status, and hadn't taken on any high-risk missions that would warrant a promotion. She loved her job, she really did, but when all of her friends were higher ranked than her it was kind of annoying.

"Where is she?" Anko asked, getting a little impatient. They had been there for a good half an hour. It was very unlike Yugao to be late.

"I don't know. Just order already, she won't be upset." Hana replied.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, Hana-chan." Kurenai scolded. "You act just like your dogs sometimes, I swear." She added, getting a chuckle from Anko.

Hana growled at her friend and frowned. She opened her mouth to defend herself but was cut off by their late friend. "Sorry we're late guys." They heard Yugao say from behind them. When they turned around to greet the purple-haired woman they frowned.

"Where's this so-called brother of yours, little Miss Late?" Anko asked. When they got a look at the woman, she was alone. "We thought you were going to introduce us to some cute little kid. So, where is he?" Yugao chuckled. Anko was always a little impatient.

"He's outside." Yugao began. "He ran into someone he knew before we came in. He'll be here in a second." She said while taking a seat next to Hana. "So how's everyone been?"

Kurenai was the first to speak. "I've been chosen to lead a Genin team when the next batch graduates." The young woman had a happy smirk on her face. She had taken the Jonin Exam in the first place to become a jonin-sensei. She had wanted to pass on what her father and sensei had taught her when she was a genin. It had been her dream since she was a kid.

"When will that be?" Yugao asked with genuine curiosity. She knew her red-eyed friend wanted to be a jonin-sensei more than anything, and was happy that she was finally about to accomplish her life's dream.

"They graduate in two days, and then our teams are assigned to us the day after." Kurenai answered. "We get to know who's assigned to us tomorrow so we can prepare the final genin tests." She added.

After the Genin Graduation Test at the academy, the jonin-sensei of every squad would test the effectiveness of the team. If the sensei thought that the team wouldn't work well together then the genin would be sent back to the academy and placed into different teams.

That was the usual way to do things at least, unless you were a certain silver-haired shinobi. His methods were a bit harsher, but he was one of the greatest ninja under the Lord Third, so he could get away with more than most.

"That's wonderful Kurenai, I'm glad you finally reached your dream." Yugao congratulated the new jonin. A lot of people had doubted that the kunoichi could become a jonin because she was a genjutsu specialist. While they were important to the village, when it came to shinobi battles they weren't the first people to be picked, unless they were Uchiha. But the woman had proved them wrong and became an exceptionally powerful Genjutsu Mistress of Konoha.

"Thank you." Kurenai replied with a smile. She was in such a good mood that nothing could bring her down. Not only was she about to start her dream career, but she could do it side by side with her boyfriend.

"What about you Anko? Has the Hokage decided to assign a few kiddies to you?" Yugao asked. Anko had been a jonin for two years and she had yet to be asked to be a jonin-sensei. Not every jonin became a sensei, but Anko was an extremely talented young woman who had many specialized jutsu that would benefit the village if she shared them.

Anko scowled. "No." was all she said.

Hana decided to elaborate. "Hokage-sama still thinks giving Anko-chan a genin team would be disastrous." This time it was Anko who growled at the big-mouthed Inuzuka. When Anko had made jonin she had asked if she was going to teach genin. When the Hokage all but laughed at her and thoroughly dismissed her genuine question she was more than a little bitter. Sure, she might be a little unconventional, but she didn't think that made her an unqualified sensei.

Before Anko had the chance to defend herself, they were greeted by a young male voice. "Sorry about that." The voice said. "It's been a long time since I've seen Usagi."

"It's okay." Yugao waved at the blond that came up to their table. "Sit down, Naruto-kun. I want to introduce you to everyone." Naruto nodded and sat with a smile. "Naruto, this is Yuhi Kurenai, Inuzuka Hana, and Mitarashi Anko." The moonflower pointed to each of the kunoichi as she spoke. "Girls, this is my little brother, Uzumaki Naruto."

For a good minute the three women stared at the blond with wide eyes. Word that the Kamikage, the Bringer of Hope, was the village pariah, Uzumaki Naruto, had already cycled. For the three women, no, for the entire county, God's Shadow was the biggest celebrity to have come from Hi no Kuni. He was even more famous than the Daimyo, who told the Hokage what to do when he wanted – Konohagakure no Sato belonged to him after all. It shocked them into silence when he just sat with them like it was the most ordinary thing in the world.

Anko was the first to recover. "Oi, oi! You knew him the whole time?!" She yelled. Anko was pissed.

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