Chapter 17

Itachi walked into Naruto's home to a rather unusual sight; the redhead was on his couch, reading through a scroll. That was normal enough, but it was the fact that Anko was kneeling on a footstool behind him, slowly running her hands through his spiky locks with a look of wonder on her face. Itachi watched for about a minute as Anko just kept running her hands through Naruto's hair, breaking apart the laws-of-physics-defying spikes only for them to reform as soon as her hand passed through.

"How the hell does it do that?" Itachi managed a smirk as he watched the amusing scene, Naruto finally looking up from his scroll at his teammate.

"Hey, Itachi." Itachi just nodded as Anko suddenly fell backwards off the stool in surprise, rubbing her head as she glared at the Uchiha.

"Damn, do you always have to be so freaking quiet?" Itachi just shrugged, he was a ninja; weren't they supposed to be quiet? Naruto chuckled at the scene, running his hands through his hair once to see if Anko had disturbed it much. They had been happily living together for over six months now, officially anyway, with Naruto as Anko's technical legal guardian. They thought it would be pretty strange if she started calling him dad and they didn't particularly feel like siblings so they mostly just left their relationship how it was.

"It's time for our mission. Ensui-sensei said he had something special planned for us today." Naruto just grinned as he got up, shrugging on his tracksuit jacket and sandals.

"See you guys later." Both boys just waved to Anko as they left, sighing slightly as they took to the rooftops to get to the Hokage's tower faster.

"Damn, I wish Ensui sensei would just teach us the Shunshin, it would make getting around a whole lot easier." Itachi just groaned as he picked up the pace causing Naruto to look at him strangely.

"Please don't mention that around Shisui, ever since he saw sensei perform that technique it's all he ever talks about. I swear the day he learns that jutsu is the day I will see somebody happier than when Anko cooked you ramen for your birthday." Naruto looked mock-offended but chuckled all the same; that had definitely been a very good day for Naruto.

"Please, like that could ever happen." Itachi just shrugged but mentally he had an image of Shisui practically bouncing around the village in joy. They reached the Hokage tower quickly despite lacking that basic Jonin travelling technique and hurried through the building where they met up with a slightly bored Shisui who had been waiting for them. He just smiled upon seeing them and the trio walked into the office where they greeted Ensui and the Hokage. A triple call of 'Hokage-sama' followed by polite nods to the Jonin filled the room before both seniors motioned for silence.

"So Ensui-sensei, you said you had a surprise for us." The older Nara just nodded slowly, not even bothering to move his face from its usual lazy frown.

"Yes, I have been talking with the Hokage about your past mission record and have negotiated you three going on a B-ranked mission." The three Genin just gaped in shock, except Itachi, of course, but inside he was no less surprised. All of a sudden, two loud cheers rang out through the room as Shisui and Naruto loudly high-fived one another. The Hokage and Ensui sweat-dropped at the action, possibly rethinking the decision after the slightly immature display. However he two quickly rectified it by turning and bowing to the Hokage quickly.

"Thank you Hokage-sama, Ensui-sensei." The older Shinobi just sighed, they might act slightly immature at times but looking back over their records they were undoubtedly qualified. Their missions had all gone without a hitch so far, even the more dangerous C-ranks they had been assigned. Each could easily be called a prodigy in their own right and that included Shisui who hadn't even unlocked his Sharingan yet.

"Alright you guys... Meet me at the gates in fifteen minutes. Make sure you pack for a long trip, we don't know how long this will take." After getting a round of nods from his student, Ensui vanished in his shadowy Shunshin, practically making Shisui drool over the technique. Itachi saw this and sighed before dragging his cousin away to pack for their trip. Naruto was also about to leave when he was stopped by the aging Hokage.

"Naruto, hold on a moment." Naruto paused on his way out, turning around to the Hokage curiously only to see a look of concern on the older man's features. "Be careful out there." Naruto's brow furrowed while the rest of his features remained perfectly neutral.

"Of course, Hokage-sama." With that he left, quietly leaving through the door to get his things from his house and to tell Anko about his mission. As soon as he left Sarutobi sank back in his chair, sighing deeply as he looked over at Minato's picture, the blonde's face staring right back. He shook his head again as he quickly returned to the stack of paperwork on his large desk.

Thanks to their Sensei's laziness it actually took about half an hour before they were leaving the village, but none of them complained. Already used to it after six months with the Nara, they let their fantasies on how a B-ranked mission might play out. The three Genin were conspicuously backpack-free. Ensui began to lecture them on being prepared, but Naruto had quickly interjected that he had made them all a few storage scrolls which were subtly hidden across their bodies. The redhead smirked at his teacher's pleased look before returning to keeping watch over the road that stretched out in front of them.

AN: You shall not pass!!! Unless you gib me stones