Game of Shadows by Adrian King1

Chapter 44

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor The Gamer. I own nothing, really.

Chapter 44

"Have I ever told you that you are a monster, kiddo?" Anko asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Besides everyday?" I shot back with a grin. A flash of the Grinning Man's face appeared in my mind though. 'She's not talking about that,' I told myself.

"But that was close, be more aware, brat," She chided, but I had thought about something to do if she mentioned that.

"What even was that?" I asked, since Eiji clearly didn't know Gaara was a Jinchuuriki. "Did he have another Bloodline Limit besides the sand thing?"

"No," She shook her head.

"Anko," Kakashi said with a neutral tone, but I heard it for what it was. A warning to shut up.

"Can't tell you more, kiddo," My sensei said, faking a dismayed gesture and voice with the back of her hand against her forehead. "At least, not in front of the rest of the brats," Said brats frowned at her before looking at me. I simply shrugged helplessly but shot a look at Shikamaru. The boy gave me a slow blink before turning and nudging Ino who was glaring at us.

"Does it really matter?" The Nara said uncaringly. "Sounds more troublesome than anything else. Besides... we won't have to deal with that one anymore," His blond teammate rolled her eyes at his words before turning with a huff. She probably realized that if the senseis didn't want to tell them something, they wouldn't.

"So," My teacher continued tilting her head to the side. "Did you 'prove your strength'?" She asked, with a wicked grin and a teasing tone. I simply smiled at her.

"I think so," I nodded, not bothered by her joking at all. "At least... I've proved to myself that my dream isn't just a dream. I've proved to myself that I can reach those heights."

"Dream?" She blinked and I blinked back. "Why is this the first time I'm hearing of these?"

"I... hadn't told you?" It was my turn to tilt my head.

"No, you didn't, brat," She replied with annoyance clear in her voice.

"Well, then, you should know, Anko Mitarashi," I spoke with a grin forming on my face. "You'll be known as the Tokubetsu Jounin sensei of the God of Shinobi."

"Woah, you don't go for low goals, huh?" She shot back almost instantly, even if there was honest awe in her face. "But did you have to add the Tokubetsu part? It would have worked just as well and sounded much more awesome if you hadn't," She grimaced.

"But that's what you are, isn't it?" I asked innocently.

"Definitely your student," Asuma commented from the side with a grin.

"And definitely Naruto's brother," Kakashi added, leaning against the wall and with his infamous book in hand.

"Speaking of..." I turned my attention from the Jounin group towards the arena, where Naruto was already face to face with Haku. "Thoughts?"

"You don't have an opinion now?" Shika asked.

"Well, obviously my friends have been holding out on me," I replied, glaring at them, especially at a certain Uchiha who looked everywhere but at me. "So I really don't know."

"Well, we don't know anything about her so there's that," Ino shrugged with a grin that said she clearly wasn't worried about my annoyance. I knew what Haku could do, although, being fair, my knowledge could be at least a bit wrong since I didn't know how he could have progressed in the time since the wave mission where he didn't even appear.