A Red Head Namikaze (Itachi Uchiha fiction)

12. Anbu Black ops

"I cant believe you didnt tell us that you were coming back." Sato huffed in annoyance. The former team 8 was catching up at Inora's apartment. "I'm sorry guys. I really wanted to surprise all of you but when I came back things werent how I expected them to be." Inora said slowly.

They both understood what she was talking about. They were aware that Inora and Itachi were best friends and how the current situation is affecting her. "I cant believe Itachi would do such a thing I mean killing his entire clan?!. Is he.." Tomura smacked the rambling Inuzuka. "That is enough Sato." the Nara warned.

"I cant believe Akemi has grown this big. She was a small puppy when I left" Inora said in hopes of changing the topic. Both of them caught up on it and they started having conversations about their life for the past 3 years.

She was roaming in the streets of Konoha mindlessly. She saw a bunch of people crowded in front of a shop. "What are you doing here you plague?" She heard a man yelling. "I was only looking at the masks" she heard a quiet voice which was familiar. She peeked to see Naruto on the ground. The shopkeeper threw a mask at him and it hit Naruto. Inora became furious. She saw him going to hit Naruto. She immediately went and caught his hand.

"What do you think you are doing?" She asked in a low voice. "He just wanted a mask and is this how you treat a kid?" She glared at him and looked at the people gathered around. "And you guys think this is some kind of show?" She glared at them. Everybody started to disperse. She gave him the money for the mask, took the mask from the ground and dragged Naruto with her.

They sat near a tree. "Thanks" he said quietly. She smiled at him. He blinked for a couple of seconds looking at her. "Hey. You are Inora. You are back" he said cheerfully. "Yes Naruto I'm back. I'm surprised you remember me. Wanna go get some ramen?"

"Thank you for the food" they both said and started digging in.

"You started academy? Really? Boy you have grown so much" he giggled hearing that. "So how is the academy?" She asked.

"It is boring but Iruka sensei looks after me. He is just like you. He doesnt look at me like everyone else." Inora didnt know how to react to that whether to be happy that there is someone who is good to him or to be sad at how the others are treating him. Either way she smiled at him. "Do you have any friends?" She asked carefully. He became quiet. Inora got her anwer from his silence.

"I have an enemy." He suddenly said.

"Enemy?".

"Yeah. His name is Sasuke Uchiha. He is a big show off. I dont know what is so good about him but every girl in my class just swoon over him ..."

It reminded her of Itachi. She looked at the mask in her hands. It was just like Itachi's Anbu mask. She wondered how Sasuke was doing. He lost his family. That kid loved his brother so much. Poor kid.
She saw Naruto still rambling about how much he hates Sasuke.

"They are definitely not like us when we were in the academy Itachi." She said to herself.

"What? Did you say something?" Naruto asked. "Oh. Its nothing but I have to go. Here take the mask. See you later Naruto."

~

"Are you sure you are okay?" the Sannin asked for the what seemed like a 100th time. "I am completely fine old man. I cant stay stuck up just because one of my friends decided to go rougue" she said stuffing her mouth with the dinner in front of her.

"I submitted a Jonin application for you to the Hokage" Jiraiya informed her. "Really? Thanks old man." She smiled sincerely thankful for him. "Dont mention. You are a fine shinobi Inora."
"I should go see the Hokage tomorrow. I havent seen him ever since I returned home. I should join back on duty." They talked for a while and decided to call it a night.

Inora was walking towards her apartment thinking about something. She decided to go meet Kakashi.

"Inora? Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. I just want to talk to you about something Kakashi. Can I come in?" He let her in.

"You want to join the Anbu? You know I am not in the Anbu now right?"

"I am aware Kakashi. I just want to know your thoughts. Maybe some advice?"

"You are a truly talented shinobi Inora. Considering your medical ninjutsu training you can also be a field medic. You are an ideal Anbu candidate. If you attend the exams I have no doubt that they will pick you immediately. But I have to warn you, being an Anbu is not easy."

"Being a shinobi itself is not easy either Kakashi. Dont worry I know what I am getting myself into if I join Anbu. Thank you for this Kakashi."

~

She was on her way to the Hokage's office. Her talk with Kakashi last night cleared her mind. She was going to talk to the Hokage about joining the Anbu. On her way she saw the great stone faces and noticed that her father's face was painted. She stood there looking at it confused. Minato had a mustache with the words 'I am an Idiot' on his forehead.

"How dare you do that to the fourth Hokage's stone face. Do you know how great he was as a shinobi?" He heard a man yelling at Naruto and was pulling Naruto's ear.

She sighed. Naruto and his pranks. "Ouch Iruka sensei. That hurts" Naruto said rubbing his red ear. "You are not going anywhere until you finish cleaning the mess you caused. I want it to be spotless" the man named Iruka instructed him.

"I must agree, that is quiet an amusing look on my father" Inora joined them. Both of them looked shocked to see her. "Hey Inora how is my work?" Naruto asked casually. Iruka smacked him on his head. "That is Lady Inora to you idiot. She is Inora Namikaze, the fourth Hokage's daughter." He bowed to her. "I apologise Lady Inora. I will make him clean it. Dont worry" Iruka apologised.

"What?? You are the fourth Hokage's daughter?" Naruto asked stunned.

"Please dont call me 'lady'. Just Inora is fine. You dont have to apologise for his fault. Naruto will clean it, I'm sure. And to answer your question Naruto , yes that man you painted up there is my father." She looked at him sternly.

Naruto pouted "Fine. I will go clean it." and he left.

"I assume you are the Iruka sensei that Naruto talked about?"

"Oh. Ah . Mm. Yes that is me Lady.. Mm.. I mean Inora"

"Can I talk to you for a moment if you dont mind?"

~

"Is this about Naruto?" Iruka asked hesistantly.

"No. Its about Sasuke Uchiha."

"Why do you want to know about him? If I may ask?"

"Itachi Uchiha was my best friend. I was away from the village for a while and I am aware of what happened to the Uchiha. So I am just concerned for Sasuke. He is like a brother to me too. And I am not really sure how to approach him."

"Oh. What happened was a big tragedy. Sasuke is an excellent student. He seems to be a bit shaken from what happened but he is distracting himself with more training. I am certain he will become a fine shinobi. You can try talking to him but he is not much of a social person"
'Just like Itachi' she thought.

"Thank you Iruka"

~

"Welcome back Inora. Your Jonin application has been accepted." The Hokage said.

"I appreciate it Lord Hokage. I wanted to tell you that I am planning on joining the Anbu Black Ops." The Hokage just looked at her a little stunned at her sudden revelation.

"If that is what you want you may do it Inora. There is an upcoming Anbu exam next month. You can help in the leaf hospital until that if you want to. Come see me after you passed the exam." The Hokage informed her. She bowed and went for the door.

"I am aware of what happened but I still want to hear it from you Lord Hokage. Do you really think Itachi is capable of killing his clan?" she asked him looking straight in his eyes. He composed himself pretty quickly but she saw it in his eyes even if it was for a moment. There was guilt and regret.

"Yes Inora. Itachi Uchiha is now a wanted S rank criminal in the bingo books" she just nodded and left.