Night of Hope

Chapter One: Underneath the Underneath

Team seven was entering to the gates of Konoha after their first C-rank, turned A-rank, mission together. Each member looked worse for wear and refrained from speaking due to heavy thoughts on the happenings of the mission. Something that visibly worried and confused Konoha's eternal gate guards who knew the group to be loud at all times. 

Sasuke Uchiha, the last of his clan loyal to the village, had his hair tousled from it's regular style and usually perfect clothing crumpled in some areas. His coal-black eyes gave the impression of indifference even as they were slightly squinted in thought. His pale skin even more ghostly white from the strain of healing injuries. Usually he would have immediately left for home to avoid the annoyance of his fan girls, but at the moment he had something.... no... someone on his mind.

Sakura Haruno, Uchiha fangirl, was inwardly fuming. Her long pink hair was tangled horribly. Her skin and clothing was covered in specks of dried mud while her fists clenched, wrinkling the ripped fabric. Her green eyes flashed with fire as she looked from Sasuke and away again. She knew. Knew the Uchiha was remembering her who they met on their mission. The harlot!

Kakashi Hatake, the perverted sensei of team seven, continued to read his perverted book in silence. His clothing was as rumpled as it always was, hair flopping in it's gravity defying normality. In fact the only way to tell there was anything strange going on with the man was his slight swaying that was barely noticeable. otherwise, his mask of boredom was perfectly in place hiding the calculative look he continually passed over the last member the young genins. His thoughts comparing reasons for why the youngest would hide his obvious intelligence and why they received ANBU back up when they had never sent for help in the first place. 

These were puzzles Kakashi would solve, especially since he had felt a connection snap into place with the small form of the ANBU member. The scent of the tiny warrior, mint and rosemary with a hint of rose, had caused a feeling of deja vu that was almost overridden by his sense of desire. He knew he had met the person somewhere before but wasn't given the chance to ask the silent yet powerful agent anything which had caused his alpha side to chafe. So, yet another question and puzzle presents itself to the white-haired male. One that had his navy-blue eyes shining in anticipation of the hunt. 

Naruto Uzumaki, unusually happy and loud at every given moment, was startling silent all things considered. His smile was still in place, however it didn't appear as carefree or large as normal. there was a strained quality that caused a change to his normally sunny appearance and highlighted his oddly dull deep blue eyes. His bright blonde hair seemed to have been dampened and his tan skin was slightly paler. He moved with a bit more elegance than his normal clumsy attempts which wasn't missed by the searching gaze of his sensei.

Naruto was exhausted. His clothing was filthy and he was practically on auto-pilot as the group finally began to make it's way to the Hokage tower. He easily ignored the stares he received from the villagers as easily as he ignored the gaze of the former ANBU and the man's suddenly protective demeanor. Navy eyes sliding dangerously around the streets. He somehow knew the man was doing it subconsciously while his mind was elsewhere. Naruto could only sigh as his mind blanked further just wanting to sleep for several days.

Finally, they reached the Hokage's office and stood at attention the best the battered team could. The Sandaime looked up from his papers with a wary and worried look. The group was the quiet for his liking. Especially 'Naruto'. Kakashi quickly gave his report. 

The elderly Hokage sighed wearily, rubbing his temples he started speaking while noting 'Naruto's' tensing form as Kakashi questioned about the ANBU who had helped the team, "well, that was very well done team seven. Few genin would have been capable of surviving such a mission. However, I'm afraid I cannot give to much information away on your mysterious benefactor, being an active ANBU member and all. The most I am allowed to say is that it was most likely Kitsune you met. She was supposed to be resting though.

The elder sent a fatherly glare towards the smallest member the team without the other member's notice. The small blonde flinched. 

"I'll be sure to send your thanks when I happen to see her," this did not sit well with Kakashi even as 'Naruto' relaxed. Seeing this, and wanting to punish the small child for certain reasons, the elder hid a smirk as he stated "however, she can often be found around the training fields. Especially training ground 3. She also has a room within the ANBU headquarters." The two shinobi's quickly changed attitudes. If looks could kill the Hokage would be dead without a doubt.

"Well then, by your leave Hokage-sama! Ja ne team, we'll meet in one weeks time!" Kakashi quickly said before flashing away. The pink terror and brooding Uchiha quickly followed, not noticing their last team mate remained behind due to their deep thoughts. 

The bright blonde watched tiredly as the elder Hokage went through the motions of securing the office. Once the privacy barriers were in place, 'Naruto' knelt in the honored fashion of the elite ANBU, eyes sharpening even as they retained the black circles which denotes 'his' exhaustion.

"Rise child. Drop the henge as well dear, you must be nearing the ends of even your mighty reserves," stated the elderly man with a gentle look.

"Hai, Hokage-sama," replied the kneeling blonde. 'He' rose and quickly released the fuinjutsu that held the henge in place to reveal her true form. A young girl appeared, she had a smaller stature than even her cover form with gently rounded features and high cheekbones. Her eyes were a warm cerulean that held pale green streaks and a brilliant strength, framed by long eyelashes. Her hair fell in heavy waves to her waist and was a brilliant gold that outshone even the sun and matched her tanned skin perfectly. She was even blessed in the figure she was given, a perfect hourglass. Her appearance fit well with the air of elegance and grace she seemed to exude. 

Her clothing, a light blue and green battle kimono top with matching black ninja pants and sandals, gave a sense of royalty. Her family emblem emblazoned upon the back in gold. No one could say the girl was fragile even with her below average height. This was the girl who had made genin at 5, chunnin at 7, jounin at 8, ANBU at 9, ANBU captain at 10, and was well on her way to making commander. She was Sarutobi's pride and joy, his unofficial granddaughter, and his pain in the arse to deal with. 

Now that the girl was 13 the Sandaime wanted to see the young woman married before he did off. He knew he had the backing of his old teammates and even Iruka Umino who was like the girl's older brother. Yet he could not get her to agree at any suggestion of marriage! She just showed no interest in romance! 

Or at least, she hadn't until he placed her on the same team as the Uchiha. Imagine his surprise when he saw her spying on his meeting with the Hatake just before teams were announced. Now, he and the others were determined to get the two together no matter her arguments of being to young.

"Jiji," came the deadly silky purr of the young ANBU captain's voice, "care to tell me what you think you are doing? Are you trying to get him to discover my secret jiji?"

Even the Hokage shivered at the poisonous tone behind the words, not that he let the weakness show. Yes, this girl would be more than happy to avoid Kakashi for the rest of eternity and live in celibacy. He would have to put a stop to this.

"Namika Ohta Namikaze-Uzumaki you need to remember who you are speaking to. I am both your guardian and your Hokage, Captain Kitsune," commented the elder with iron in his tone.

Namika blushed at the reprimand, "forgive me Hokage-sama," she stated while bowing slightly. The elder male let out a sigh as he looked at the young child before him. This was not the life he had desired for the intelligent girl, but life in the shadow's was safer for the young sun compared to life in the open. Now however, he worried she might kill herself with overwork. After having taken 4 A-rank missions in a row, 3 without her team, he had sent team seven on what was supposed to be an easy and relaxing C-rank. Instead it had nearly sent Namika in to chakra exhaustion. 

"Look, Namika, you're exhausted. Go home, sleep and then come back later. We can discuss this then, alright?"

Namika merely sighed before nodding. Bowing deeply to her beloved jiji, she quickly shunshined to her ANBU dorm and fell face first onto her soft bed. Yes, she would put thinking off until tomorrow. Hopefully by then she would have a plan to deal with troublesome matchmakers and handsome older mates that she hardly needed nor wanted.