ANBU's Test

On the next day, Naruto awoke and went out of his bedroom to a little passageway that showed a great view of Konoha's neighborhood as he soft gust of wind passed through his face and literally blew all his worries of the world even if was only for a second. His only duty today was to showing at ANBU headquarters for his test in the afternoon. Once he changed into his ninja clothes and his chunnin vest, he went through the streets of Konoha for a little walk. At some time, he ran into Kakashi and they started talking about doing some training and about Naruto's test.

"Ohayo, Naruto. How you are up to this morning? Ready for your test this afternoon?" – Said Kakashi, smiling towards his student who in just a few hours could be the youngest one of the Rookie 9 to enter the Anbu Special Forces and even though Kakashi had the mask, pride was literally visible on his features, as he saw Minato's face in Naruto.

"Ah! Kakashi-sensei. I'm sure am, I was just thinking on heading towards the lake, I recently got a scroll on some suiton jutsus and I would like to have a run on them, see how I do. Maybe, even use them to impress the Anbu judges". – Said Naruto as held the scroll he was holding and showed to him.

"Very good. I got free time, why don't I come along and help you with your training. If I already seen such jutsus, I could see what you're doing wrong and correct them. Also, I would like to talk you about what is like to be a member of Anbu, consider it my legacy to you. I was an Anbu captain after all".

"Great, let's go then". – Said Naruto as him and Kakashi were tagging along towards the lake, in order to see what are those jutsus Naruto wanted to learn as well as practice them to use at the Anbu's test.

"So, tell me Naruto. How are you feeling today?" – Asked Kakashi, earning surprised looks from Naruto, since he didn't know that Kakashi knew about him and the genjustu mistress and wondered if his sharingan was somehow reading his mind as they talked.

"What do you mean, Kakashi-sensei, I feel good. I'm about to become an Anbu what's not to be feel good about". – Said Naruto almost mumbling the rest of the sentence, while looking down at the same time, thinking about the girl who was once his angel here on earth and now she was with another guy.

"I'm actually hurt that you would think less about my ability to understand emotions, Naruto. Tell me it is about the girl from yesterday, right? The one you were looking at. I could very well see your sadness when I told about her relation with Sarutobi Asuma. It's okay you can tell me these things if you want to". – Asked Kakashi, before seeing Naruto's head lift and his eyes were looking directly at Kakashi's, much to his dismay, since he knew sadness when he looked at it and such look wasn't different.

"Well, I'm sure that Asuma can offer her more than I could, I mean he's her age and all that, how can I compete with someone as experienced as him. Asuma is a powerful jounin while I'm a chunnin wanting to get into Anbu. Between us, she chose him."

After some talking about Naruto's feelings and some of Kakashi's experience back in Anbu, they trained the specified jutsus that were on the scroll Naruto picked up. Upon an hour, Naruto mastered the two suiton jutsus on the scroll and just relaxed a little bit near the lake, lost in his thoughts. I thought she loved me, but I guess that's not good enough for her. She is a strong kunoichi, she needs an even stronger shinobi to protect her. Needing to change the subject, Naruto and Kakashi talked about Anbu and some tough missions that Kakashi had to endure while being an Anbu captain.

"You see, Naruto, at sometime in your career, you'll face a lot of death situations in front of you and you know what you usually happens to you, when you experience strong emotions. As an Anbu, you need to keep your emotions at bay. Anbu are the elite, Anbu are power, agility, stealth, experienced. But I guess you do just fine with your stamina, power and jutsu arsenal, I believe you'll do just fine."

"Don't need to worry about me losing to my emotions, Kakashi-sensei, as you may or may not see, I'm not that stupid kid who was always jumping around and saying those inspirational craps all the time. And if you are wondering if I am like this because of Kurenai, you're sadly mistaken. I dropped that mask a few months after leaving with Jiraya-sama for training. Just how do you think I was able to beat those Kumo shinobis in the first place."

Kakashi tried to look deep at his cerulean eyes in order to understand just who was the one talking to him and, by some point he concluded that he was the real Naruto, without his invisible mask of 100 happiness. It wasn't for the fact that he lost his stamina, because Naruto managed to learn two high ranked suiton jutsus: Suiton Daibafuku no Jutsu (1) and Suiton Suryuudan no Jutsu (2), after extensive training time. He was just beginning to understand that even though hopes are what hold a man to purchase his dream, sometimes such man have to face the fact that only hope won't solve anything, sometimes such man have to come in terms with reality and remove some obstacles in his life. Kakashi couldn't say for sure that Naruto forgot about his dream to become Hokage, but he managed to see in Naruto's eyes, that if he wants to become the strongest in the village, he had to take two things into consideration: Survive and surpass every ninja in the village. Not many ninjas have had the bless to get through these two things and those that managed to do that, would gain the title of hokage of Konoha (3).

After some time, Naruto and Kakashi said their goodbyes. Naruto went to the Anbu headquarters, while Kakashi was heading for the Dango Shop to have some lunch.

-At the Dango Shop-

Once Kakashi entered the restaurant, his one eye caught a little glimpse of a red-eyed kunoichi chatting with the snake mistress known as Mitarashi Anko. Both of them became really close friends together with Uzuki Yuugao, another member of Anbu special forces. Yuugao was junior Anbu when Kakashi was an Anbu captain.

"Ohayo, Kurenai-san, Anko-san." – Said Kakashi as he smiled in a friendly manner, holding his orange book in one hand and greeted the girls with the other, much to the dismay of Anko and Kurenai, since If they could wish for anything was to get rid of the god damn book which managed to turn every man into a bloody pervert.

"Ohayo, Kakashi" – Said both of them in unison, but never taking their eyes of the book on Kakashi's hands.

"So, Kakashi, what have you done today so far?"

"Oh! Not much, I just talked to a 'blond' friend of mine in the morning and gave him some pointers about Suiton jutsus. – Kakashi said, leaning over to see any reaction out of Kurenai, with the word 'blonde', being successful and continue talking. – Anyway, I just came by to grab something to eat and then I'll be on my way."

After Kakashi disappeared with his dango order, Kurenai and Anko returned with the talking.

"So, Kurenai, does Kakashi knows any blonde ninja, because I certainly don't recall on any shinobi that had blond hair. The last one was the Yondaime and he passed away like fifteen years ago."

"Beats me, Anko-chan" – She lied, since she knew exactly who Kakashi's friend was and sadness came apparent on her face which didn't get unnoticed by Anko."

"Kurenai-chan, what's wrong? Is about Kakashi's blond friend? Do you know who is this guy Kakashi's talking about?" – Asked Anko as Kurenai could just nod, showing Anko that she knew who he was and answered only his name and nothing more, leaving

"Uzumaki Naruto." – Said Kurenai, looking down just as thoughts rushed her head with images of the blonde smiling upon her showing such deep blue eyes as well.

"Uzumak…Oh I remember now, it's the 'burden'4 brat. I came to know that he had affinity with wind, but suiton also. It's very rare for a shinobi to have two chakra affinities. I didn't know he was that strong, but why are you so down like this, is it because of him? You tell me what he did and he's going to beg you for mercy after what I did to him." – Threatened Anko in Kurenai's defense, but little did she know that was quite the opposite.

"Yes, I know that he is strong. No he didn't do anything to me. – Said Kurenai, much to the dismay of Anko who once again saw Kurenai's sad face and asked."

"Than what happened to make you sad like this? What happened between you two?" – Asked Anko now very eager to know, since she didn't know of any involvement between the two of them of any king and quite frankly it was pissing her off to no end, since Kurenai wouldn't open her mouth about it.

Kurenai just didn't understand at first. She was thinking on the blond shinobi, that was once her blond shinobi, but she dumped him to go out with Asuma and now she was having second thoughts. Anko looked at her friend, with a questionable gaze. What did Kurenai and Naruto had that made her feel that way, just by the mention of his name?

"Kurenai, just why are you so sad about Uzumaki Naruto? Is it pity from what he carries inside of him?"

"No, it's not that at all, Anko. Ah! Forget about it, I don't want to talk about it. So, how about you Anko, interested in someone at the moment?"

"Oh, no, my friend, you're not getting out of this so easily, I want to know what happened between you and Naruto to make you feel bad just by hearing his name?"

"Anko-chan, please let's change the subject, okay. I don't want to talk about this."

"Did he hurt you or anything? That seems very unlikely, because I've never seen anyone want to protect others, like him, I doubt that very much."

"It's quite the opposite, in fact. – Kurenai sighed, she didn't want to discuss about it, but Anko wasn't easy to fool and she knew that she had to tell her the story. "Ok, Anko-chan, I'll tell you, but you have to promise me that you won't tell this to anyone, okay."

"Okay, okay, I promise, you're no fun, Kurenai-chan."

"The thing is it was I who hurt him in the first place. – Kurenai said, learning a surprised stare from his friend (5), as Kurenai was telling her the story".

-At the ANBU Headquarters-

Just inside the ANBU headquarters, a blond chunnin approached the reception counter and handed Tsunade-sama's permission note in order to be handed out to a certain ANBU that was recruiting shinobis today.

"Anbu-san, sir, there is a chunnin here, with a permission from the Hokage to take the test."

"Send him in, I was actually expecting him." - Said one Anbu member who seemed to be hidden in the shadows so as to show the new recruits what is like to be an Anbu.

"As you wish. Uzumaki-san, come here, will you take a seat over here" – The receptionist pointed for him to take a seat in front of a certain Anbu character that was wearing the bear mask.

"So, Uzumaki Naruto, is it?"

"It is."

"Why do you want to become a part of Anbu?"

"To get stronger and to get lost in a way" – Naruto answered cold and objectively, receiving a glare from the Bear masked anbu.

"Get lost…what the…? Care to explain chunnin."

"Certainly. I came to know for a fact that Anbu are very strong shinobi, as well as the fact that no one, apart from Anbu and the hokage, knows of an Anbu's life, what outside people just know, is that a certain masked anbu is very strong. So, I want to become strong as well as hiding my presence."

"I see. Well, here in Anbu we have a training method that seeks efficiency, so if you're willing to join Anbu forces, be prepared to have an exhausted training, few hours of sleep and major trauma like situations."

"I can assure you, Anbu-san, I've been through worse and survived, you don't scare me one bit."

"Confident, aren't you? Well, Tsunade-sama spoke highly of you, I can see that you have guts and from what you told me, you've seen death in front of you and surpass it, that's what Anbu need to survive. Now, here in Anbu, we ask our troops about what they want to specialize in and based upon their answers, we test them to see in what level are them in order to receive training. So tell me, chunnin, which element do you have affinity with and what would you like to be learning here?"

"I have right now a strong affinity for fuuton chakra and a less strong for suiton type chakra. My taijutsu is low-level jounin level and my genjutsu is average, I can only dispel them, but I can't properly use them. So, what I would like to learn is three things: Kenjutsu, Genjutsu and Raiton jutsus."

"I see, well, you chose some good elemental ninjustu right there, Uzumaki-san, and the areas you chose to improve are easy to teach, as well as easy to learn, depending of what you show me right now at least."

"Right now?"

"What, you don't certainly thing I would just give your Anbu clothes and the title without a little test, now would you. Please, show us a little more appreciation, we just like to play a little with the new recruits and if you manage to entertain me, I'll let you pass. But serve as a warning, I'm going full out and I expect you to do the same"

"One thing I saw in my life is that if I don't fight for real, my neck will be on the line, so do not worry about me holding back, because I'm sure wont' hold back. I expect a good fight from you and after that, I expect to fight some worth adversaries along the way." – Said Naruto with enough confidence to make the now bear masked Anbu smile behind his mask and showed Naruto the way to his test.

As they approached a hidden training ground inside the anbu headquarters, Naruto and Bear got ready to fight and engaged in taijutsu battle. Naruto since was smaller than his opponent wouldn't risk charging straight forward against what looks to be a giant wall in front of him. While Naruto and the bear Anbu was fighting a little taijutsu match, some high leveled Anbus were watching the entire thing behind a double layered glass, along with the Godaime. After a while, Naruto and the bear Anbu were fighting only with punchs and kicks, in order to see Naruto's movements as well as sense of battle. Naruto assumed a position and waited for the Anbu to charge, only to evade the Anbu's punch quickly using his arm in a way as to move the direction of the punch so as to get passed him, protecting the entire body from being hit by Anbu's attacks, sending a fast low kick, making the Anbu almost drop to the ground, if it weren't from the man's agility. After that, Naruto came charging with a sequence of low and high punches being defended by the Anbu, while his legs were trying to reach Naruto's, but to no avail since Naruto were protecting those as well, earning some average grades from the Anbus watching the fight.

"Very good fighting, Uzumaki-san. A couple more experience is needed, but you've got some powerful attacks there, as well as defensive techniques. Now, for the ninjtusu part, let's fight only using jutsus, then."

"Ok, then."

"Begin" - said the Anbu, making some hand seals, screaming Katon Gokyakyuu no Jutsu (6) as he launched a huge fireball towards Naruto, who channeled chakra through his feet, jumping with great speed, as well as making his own set of hand seals. Fuuton Daitoppa no Jutsu (7). With that, Naruto sent a strong gust of wind towards the Anbu who forced some chakra through his feet in order to hold his body to the floor as long as he could, in hope to avoid the jutsu. Sensing that the wind was strong enough to make him lose his grip, he lost the battle and was sent flying, before gaining balance and landing on his feet. Quickly getting up, the Anbu throw a couple of shurikens while doing hand seals, Kage shuriken no jutsu.

As Naruto saw the two shurikens multiplicate to 20, he throw two kunais as well doing some hand seals and screamed Kage Kunai no jutsu, using as a diversion. While the kunais and shurikens were equally matched in number, a lot of weapons could be seen on the ground, but when the Anbu went to look for his opponent, he was long gone, hiding his chakra in order to wait for the right moment. Naruto, no, 5 Narutos rounded the Anbu as he made Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. Meanwhile, the bear anbu was cursing behind his mask.

"Damn it, this chunnin cornered me, now there is five of them and either one of them can use jutsus, I have to be careful."

Naruto practiced this strategy once with Jiraya, all he need to do was make each clone appear to perform a technique at the same time, in order to fool the opponent, since he wouldn't know at the time which technique would be coming at him. Not even an Uchiha could manage to escape, since he had to focus on each enemy at a time, leaving him no time to know which one would attack. In the meantime, Tsunade-sama was having some déjà vu, remembering her once teammate Jiraya do the exact same thing to a iwa nukenin they encountered once.

"Well, well, it seems like Naruto learned that from our perverted sannin after all". – Tsunade said, much to the dismay of those present around her.

"Tsunade-sama, just what is he doing?"

"Just watch. Naruto is cornering the Anbu with five kage bunshins. Each Naruto is going to perform a jutsu in order for the Anbu to get confused. You see, he has to attend to probabilities. Since Naruto has enough chakra for each clone to use, he can either make them release all jutsus at once, or fool the opponent, since he won't know which one is going to attack."

"That's brilliant Hokage-sama, you said he learned from Jiraya-sama. This chunnin is very interesting."

Back at Naruto's fight, each of the clones were making different jutsus, scaring the Anbu a lot, since he knew he could receive all five of the jutsus. Suddenly, the five clones screamed mostly at the same time: Fuuton Daitoppa no Jutsu, Rasengan, Suiton Daibafuku no Jutsu, Fuuton Rasenshuriken no Jutsu, Suiton Suryuudan no Jutsu, earning a wide mouth stare from everyone behind the glass, as well as the bear Anbu.

"You can stop now, Uzumaki Naruto, you've passed the test. Congratulations". – Said the Bear Anbu, merely able to hold his composure at the display of Naruto's abilities with High Level Jutsus and the fact that he wasn't even tired yet, proved that his stamina and chakra capacity were something to call on."

"Thank you, Anbu-san, I'm quite honored to be a part of Anbu forces" - Said Naruto, politely bowing at his once opponent and now co-worker.

"You earned it. Now, as you can see here, your supplies are on top of that table over there. You'll have the standard Anbu uniform and a katana, since every Anbu has one. Now, we have two choices of Katanas. Since you have fuuton chakra affinity, you can choose a katana which steel was forged in order to channel the wind chakra and make your sword not only sharper but also much stronger."

"I'll have the fuuton katana."

"Very well. So, you can change over there. Go and return for your nomination by the Godaime-sama as a new member of Anbu forces."

"Understood."

In nothing but a minute, Naruto appeared back in the room with his Anbu gear all settled, now standing before the Bear Anbu, Tsunade-sama, ex-Anbu Black Ops Hatake Kakashi and a few other Anbus.

"Why I'm not surprised to see you here, Kakashi-sensei?" – Said Naruto as he managed to take a glimpse of Kakashi reading his book at the corner of his eyes.

"Do you really think I wouldn't be here to see one of my students become a part of the elite troop of Konoha? I knew you were going to pass, Naruto and you sure did. Congratulations".

"Thanks Kakashi-sensei."

"Uzumaki Naruto, put on your mask and come forward" – Tsunade ordered Naruto.

"Hai, Hokage-sama."

When Naruto put his black wolf mask, many Anbus stopped what they were doing and turn to notice their new addiction to the group. As he walked towards Tsunade, he turned to acknowledge the surprising stares given by his now fellow co-workers. Surprisingly, a cat masked Anbu was watching the sudden change at the new Anbu, before and after Naruto put his mask on. This Anbu was no other than Uzuki Yuugao, one of the strongest Kenjutsu users in Anbu forces and of course Konoha as a whole, as well as best friends with a certain red-eyed Kunoichi, also known as Kurenai. Once Naruto kneeled before the Hokage, Tsunade started to perform the nomination of the newest Anbu in the force, Naruto at the age of fifteen years old.

"By the power invested in me by Konoha, I nominate you Uzumaki Naruto a member of Anbu special forces. As from now on, when you attend to missions, you shall be called 'black wolf', congratulations."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama, It's quite an honor to be nominated for Anbu special forces. – Said Naruto, now with the Anbu special tattoo already placed on his left arm, between the shoulders and the biceps."

Tsunade, even though didn't show, was sad that the once hyperactive unpredictable ninja of Konoha now standing next to her with a serious face and respect towards her, that she immediately came to miss the old blond shinobi. While looking at Naruto, the only aspect that could resemble Naruto was his golden hair. Almost crying, she thought: Uzumaki Naruto is no more, now he is Black Wolf of Konoha. Now turning to see Kakashi, she wondered:

"Kakashi, could you see Naruto inside that black mask?" – Asked Tsunade, seeing the once hyperactive Naruto hiding behind the black wolf mask, wondering about the fact that Naruto never ceased to amaze her with his decisions and conquests in battles.

"I'm afraid not, Hokage-sama, the Uzumaki Naruto you know no longer exists."

"How can you tell?" – Asked Tsunade surprised by what the lazy jounin said to her about Naruto's true self.

"You see, this is the real Uzumaki Naruto, Hokage-sama. The one you meet was only a mask he wore, so people could forget what he carries even if it were for a little bit."

"Do you think Minato did well by doing this to his son? I understand that he did it to save Konoha, but he doomed his son to carry that much of a burden. You Know, Kakashi, at some level, I can't seem to decide whether the Yondaime chose wisely by putting his son to this never ending battle".

"Even though Naruto changed a lot, he still vows to protect the ones he came to love. It was his decision to turn to Anbu, not only because he wants to be strong and well disappear, he did it to prevent anyone from Konoha to suffer because of the burden he was chosen to carry by the Yondaime. Somehow, he took the entire responsibility regarding Kyuubi only to himself… But there is something else."

"There is more? Explain Kakashi."

"Konoha's genjutsu mistress."

"What does Kurenai have to do with…." - It was all Tsunade managed to say, until she remembered Jiraya saying about his relationship with the red-eyed Kunoichi.

"In spite of the burden that he carries, he also suffered deeply when he returned from bringing back Sasuke only to see his 'beloved' dating Sarutobi Asuma."

"Just how much beating can he take and just be able to sleep at night, I already lost count, Kakashi, just who is he?"

Kakashi just answered short and painful. "He is Konoha's black wolf".

"Hai".

-At Naruto's apartment-

Once Naruto went to his apartment, Kakashi went to his and Tsunade went to her office, feeling pity on the new appointed Anbu. I don't think I could even hear his story that I would become insane, I can't imagine what's passing on your mind, now, Naruto, you're so close to us, wet you're further than before. What happened to you? I actually miss your old foolish self, you little brat. – Muttered Tsunade, holding tears from remembering Naruto when he put the Anbu mask on, it was like the old one vanished from sight and a new one appeared, stronger, wise, experienced, determined Black Wolf of Konoha.

-Back at the Dango Shop-

Because of the issue they were discussing, it seemed that time was inexistent, when Kurenai finished telling her story with Naruto to her friend.

"I can understand why you were crying, Kurenai-chan". – Concluded Anko.

"Hai, and every time I see him or hear anything about him, my heart literally stops beating, I can't breathe for a while and my tears are just consequence of the entire thing."

"Kurenai-chan, what are your feelings towards the blond?"

"I'm in love with him, Anko-chan. – Kurenai promptly answered, earning a look from Anko-chan which leads Anki thinking: How could you do this, Naruto, you of all people managed to melt the Ice Queen of Konoha.

"More than Asuma?" – Asked Anko, already knowing that her friend's relationship wasn't going to last very long.

"Asuma is a nice guy and all, but what I saw inside Naruto's eyes that day was indescribable, Anko-chan. When I look at Asuma, it's not the same thing."

"So, what you're going to do, then?"

"I can't stay with Asuma, knowing I'm in love with someone else, Anko-chan, I would just fool him and I don't want that." – Even though Kurenai loved Naruto, she couldn't bring to herself to actually hurt someone else's feelings like she did with Naruto.

"So you're breaking up with Asuma?". – Actually Anko was never too thrilled about her friend's choosing on dates. Asuma sure was a nice guy and all but she knew that he wasn't any good for her. Asuma, a chain smoker, was a brute guy and was no used to be dating material, at least not to Kurenai's standard, but the way she and Naruto met, Anko just saw the blonde chunnin in a new light.

"I never should have dumped Naruto, Anko-chan, now I have to talk to Asuma in a way that he don't get hurt."

"Just do what your heart and intuition tells you, my friend. If Naruto is what you want, then you shall get him".

"Thanks, Anko-chan. Well, it's getting late and I should wake up early tomorrow to meet with my team, so I'm going to take a quick shower to brush off things."

"Do that, I'll head home as well. I have to be prepared for tomorrow, an Anbu force captured some missing nin this morning and they are arriving tomorrow. Me and Ibiki will have to tortu…interrogate them a little bit, it will be fun. It's been a while since we had a bunch of missing-nins to play with."

"Same old Anko. Well, good luch with the interrogation thing". - With that, both shunshined to their own apartments to call the day. Kurenai entered her apartment and emptiness surrounded her once again, she was cursing herself for being so weak. She was biting her lips out of anger, she just wished to punish herself from breaking Naruto's heart like that. He already have so much to suffer in his life, he shouldn't have to suffer because of my rash thinking.

As she was getting ready to sleep, images of the blonde shinobi rushed inside her mind and she stopped breathing once again. She thought she deserved to be like this, she considered this to be Naruto's voice calling up to her for what she did to him. But she would as hell do the right thing and obey what her heart has been telling about. It could take some time, but I must do what I must. Naruto-kun, please forgive me.