Chapter 36: Chapter 36 : Assignments(2)
Naruto was a bit annoyed with his Hokage's sudden tight-lipped attitude. The aged warrior was the only person alive who could keep anything away from him. It only applied to matters that were of miniscule importance, so he never got too worked up about it, but it still got on his nerves a little.
When he left the Hokage's office, Naruto had taken up to walking around Konoha's Tea Avenue. While in the ANBU he had little time to appreciate a lot of the village because of his busy schedule.
Now, finally with some down time, which he considered the jonin rank as, he was able to check out some of the shops in his home. He had already been to Ichiraku Ramen, the greatest restaurant known to man in his opinion, before he joined the Black Ops, and it was still his favorite, but he wanted to try something different.
He had at least been to Shushuya's, and knew of the kind of food they sold there. He had never seen such large plates in his life. The blond really wanted to go there again and actually eat this time. He'd make Yugao treat him there next time he did something worth a meal.
He was currently heading to a place called Amaguriama, a sweets shop in the heart of the Tea Avenue. He was told by Uma and Usagi that they sold Konoha's best Kuri Zenzai. He had never tried chestnuts and a sweet bean paste soup made from crushed red beans before, but he was eager to try it out.
Most children loved sweets and the like, but with his mature mind and knowledge of healthy eating, he had skipped the entire candy-phase and went right into the eating-for-a-better-self-phase. Both Kakashi and Yugao were always telling him that he needed to act more his age and try out new 'younger people' things. What's more 'young teen' than buying sweets?
Amaguriama was close, and the smells throughout the Tea Avenue were amazing. Nothing smelled bad or bitter, nothing smelled like blood or death, and it was wonderful to get away from it all, he realized. From this day forth, whenever he thought about peaceful times, he would remember this enticing aroma. This is what peace smelt like, if anything.
Before he reached the sweets shop however, he felt them. They were calling out to him, asking for him to come. He smiled. He had hoped he could give them a proper goodbye. They all deserved one.
With an unseen gesture, Naruto had told them where to meet him. ANBU code was one of the most useful things he had ever learned, right up there with his and his Hokage's secret chakra burst code.
No one had even noticed when he Shunshined (Body Flickered) in the middle of the street, fading from the Tea Avenue like he was never there. It used to surprise his team, his ability to fade away so inconspicuously, but after working with him for so long they had just chalked it up to something else the boy wonder could do.
It only took Naruto five minutes to arrive in Training Ground 44, his former ANBU team hot on his heels. The Forest of Death was a regular meeting place for Team Ro, it being so secluded from the village made it the perfect place for privacy and secrecy, both very important factors in the life of an ANBU. He settled on the forest floor so that his entire team could look at him. He could feel their minds; most of them were not pleased.
Neko, Saru, Uma, Risu, Ushi, Ookami, and Raion suddenly appeared on the branches above him. Neko and Saru had already come to terms with their captain's retirement, not exactly loving the idea, but accepting it nonetheless. He knew the two operatives, especially Neko, wanted nothing more than for him to stay, but respected the decision of their captain and Hokage.
When it came to the ANBU Black Ops, emotions were never something expressed all that much. This meant that the blond had to do all of the talking, i.e. the 'mushy mush.'
"Neko, I appreciate your acceptance, and I know that you will be a great captain." Neko's heart skipped a beat, making Naruto smile. "Which is why I've recommended you as my successor." He finished happily.
His sister was giving off waves of gratitude and respect. Most of the time, when ANBU Captains retire, they only announce their successor to the Hokage, letting it be a surprise to their squad. However, in Ro-Han, Naruto wasn't the only different one. It had been made clear early on in Naruto's command that the entire team hated surprises, so the young Jinchuuriki never held his tongue when it came to big, non-classified information.
"You'll do me proud, I know it." He added before moving on.
"Saru!" Naruto began. "You big pervert!" He heard the Nara sigh. "I think I might even miss you!" He chuckled, the only person to laugh at his joke. He had laughed with his team before, but Naruto was a strict captain. When they wore the mask, they were ANBU, nothing more, nothing less. ANBU did not laugh.
The blond, however, was no longer in the corps, and his mask was no longer a part of him, so he was free to laugh as much as he wanted. "Keep supporting your captain with brilliant strategies, and never change." He gave a warm smile. "You wouldn't be the same if you didn't hit on every woman you come in contact with." Naruto could have sworn he heard Neko snort. "And listen to Neko. She may be a bit bossy," he could feel his nee-chan's eyes narrow behind her mask, "but she'll keep you alive." He looked at the rest of the ANBU. "She'll keep you all alive."
"Uma, I'll never forget your kindness." He started. "Or your willingness to teach me some of the Hyuuga's techniques." He really loved his new arsenal of tricks, and it wouldn't have been possible without the horse-masked operative.
"The promise I made to you still counts." He added, reassuring the woman that he would do what he had sworn. The Hyuuga main and branch families would be united as one when he became the Hokage, he'd make sure of that. Once he was done, the entire clan would be freed from their cages, no more imprisoned second class clansmen. He felt the Hyuuga woman's mind; she believed anything and everything that came out of his mouth.
He next turned to Risu, the only other blonde on the team. The young woman was his genjutsu specialist, and a Yamanaka to boot.
"Risu." he almost huffed. "Try and cool it with all the fooling around with men." He really didn't like how dirty the woman's mind could be. When he had joined Ro-Han he was almost victim to the 'Man-Eater,' until Yugao scared her something fierce. That was one of the times he was glad to have such an annoyingly overprotective sister.
"There's someone out there who is just waiting to tame you, I'm sure of it." The woman purred underneath her mask at Naruto suggestively before Neko cleared her throat, causing the blonde, squirrel-masked operative to stand down. "Until that man braves that suicide mission though, Neko will be able to keep you in check." He almost felt bad for the woman; her emotions were that of depression. Now she'd never get laid!
___________________________________
there is 10 chapters ahead of the public release in p atreon for only 5$
my p atreon is :
https://www.p atreon.com/Huvnn
or search my name : Huvnn
________________________
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone