Anko was standing looking grim, 'Yup, she is very displeased.'
Tsunade, "And just when I was feeling good about having a Head apprentice. I should have known things were going too smoothly."
Temari was mix between worry, anger and stress, "I have to return to Suna. This is bad."
Shikamaru, "My team and I will escort you. You are not alone."
Temari nodded, "Much appreciated, Shikamaru - kun."
Tsunade rubbed her temple, "I wil send ANBU ahead to scout the area and provide support to our Suna equivalent. Hopefully we will have answers by tomorrow morning."
Temari, "Hokage - sama, I shall take my leave to prepare then."
Tsunade, "Of course Temari - hime. Shikamaru, your orders are still standing, guard and protect Temari - hime as the representative of Suna. Dismissed!"
Shikamaru, "Understood Hokage - sama."
Tsunade watched them go, "Anko, I was thinking of sending Naruto and his team to Suna."
Anko eyed the Hokage, "You are asking me, Lady Hokage?"
Tsunade's lips twitched, "Considering you are basically his nee - chan, I want your opinion."
Anko snorted, "Uchiha disagrees but if I am being honest. The reports received have shown Naruto has a knack for collecting information and getting in and out of places using his disguises."
Tsunade, "So, we will not have any objections to him going right after returning to Konoha and his nee - chan?"
Anko hummed, "I don't think so. Tanna - chan adores Gaara - kun as well. Not just as the Kage of Suna but as a boy she once took in when the world wanted to villainize him and his family."
Tsunade, "That woman is too soft when it comes to children, no matter they are civilian or shinobi."
Anko, "That's my futre wife, Hokage - sama. Perfect in every way that matters."
Tsunade, "Yes, yes, now get going. You still have patrol duty I believe."
Anko, "A full schedule, I am afraid. No going home till early morning. It does no help that the incoming traffic has been high."
Tsunade muttered, "Which comes with it's own peoblems and challenges. At the very least, the Yamanaka brats seem to shine in their element."
Anko snorted as she left the office and jumped across the rooftops avoiding the solar panels scattered around. Things had changed for her ever since the third war ended, or rather ever since Orochimaru betrayed the village. All she could remember from her childhood was the dread of war, training, fear of losing everyone, training, missions, training, experiments, training and hardly any breaks. She remembered the meetings with Danzo and how he wanted her and a few others in his army, her Sensei had even promised to give her to the old coot. She had felt so betrayed and then the very next day, she had been marked and left behind while Orochimaru desserted Konoha, another betrayal. That was the first heart break she had to face, even worse, she lost her teammates during a mission after that. Anko swore to never let anyone close to her that, after she recovered from the grief.
Izumi greeted her, "Anko - Sempai."
Anko, "Izumi - chan, report."
Izumi, "A few drunken brawls uptown. It has been dealt with by the Uchiha Police. It is peaceful downtown for now. West side there was a bar fight but the bar tender took care of it. Heading East now."
Anko, "Alright, much appreciated."
Izumi, "Later Sempai."
Anko watched her go as she recaled another change and heart break spread across the village as a whole when the Yondaime passed away protecting the village. Anko never thought she would face a third heart break but it happened, only this time, she poured all her negative emotions into her interrogation. It had earned her multiple nicknames but most prominent one was Mistress of Snakes Poison which later shortened to Mistress of Snakes, due to her liberal use of sumons. Also Anko had never in her life expected to be tied to a civilian ever in her life, that too a civilian who was basically considered disabled in everyone's book. Or maybe that was exactly why she found herself always revolving around her. The purple haired woman originally wanted to know what the deal was with that woman. Most people in her position went crazy or became very depressed and committed suicide. This one girl however stood out like an outlier to what was considered normal and it tickled her curiosity.
Anko, "Yo Yugao - chan."
Yugao, "Anko - chan, greetings."
Anko, "I thought you'd be at home still with your kid."
Yugao smiled, "I just started patrolling. Also Hayato and I decided, he should take a break to spend time with our Nagi - chan."
Anko, "Tanna - chan and I will visit again soon. Just to spoil little Nagi - chan of course."
Yugao's eyes lit up, "Ah yes! Spoil her before showing what a terrifying teacher you will be. Anko - chan, you are something else."
Anko laughed as she was joined by Yugao in the patrol. The shinobi had come up with an easy to adjust patrol routine where they would each be given an area to patrol at certain periods of time. Sometimes these patrol routes would coincide with other shinobi and they were encouraged to team up and do patrol together till the routes diverged again. The Hyuugas had added their own posts around the village points to ensure the shinobi running around were friendly and not an enemy in disguise. Yugao told Anko about how they had started to teach Nagi to say more words and how proud she and Hayato were of her. Anko listened till they reached a turn point where Yugao's route led her in a separate direction. Anko promised to visite her and her family soon and the two separated as Anko climbed up a taller building and looked around using her summons to keep an eye on ground level.
The greedy little things agreed to patrol with her in return for live mice and chickens, something Tanna got for the little shits after Anko had complained once. Tanna had sweetly asked the snakes to join Anko in the patrol with promises of getting more mice and chicken if they helped. The gluttons actually agreed and she was not complaining about the help but her girlfriend was just too nice. Sometimes she wonders if she was finally high on some of the shinobi cocktails she enjoys and imagined Tanna up. It had been curiosity in the beginning then, Anko realized she liked the civilian with the strange friend circle. A circle that consisted of the Daimyo's wife who has tea with her whenever she visits, a couple of clan ladies and fellow shinobi. It was not strange for a clan girl but for a civilian it was pretty out of left field. It put her on a radar as a person of curiosity not interest or importance but something curious to look at.
Anko looked up as the dark night started to fade to purple, signalling the coming sunrise in the horizon. The solar lights went out first then the electric lights were switched off by the early risers. Anko carried on with the patrol and ran into Shinji's little paramour Nagisa Hatake. Anko learned about them from Tanna who apparently was the first person they had told about their relationship. She had just accidently over heard them and became the second person to know, she was not judging however, they were free to love whoever they want. Tanna had congratulated them and simply reminded them of the requirements they needed to fulfil and sending them off. The look of relief on the two boys at being treated normally was funny and cute, she still teases them about it sometimes.
Nagisa, "Sempai."
Anko nodded, "Nagisa - kun, I will be turning in now."
Nagisa, "Of course sempai."
Anko returned to the office and gave a quick report, 'Ugh! I am sleeping till evening.'
Tanna was already up and about preparing food, "Welcome back, Anko - chan. The live mice and chickens are set aside like always."
Anko, "You know you do not have to do that. The greedy things are putting on weight."
Tanna laughed, "I know but they do keep you company so I would like to thank them my way. Besides the civilian farmers are always happy to catch the mice for me for a nice penny."
Anko hugged her nuzzling her shoulder, "You spoil me with your cooking. You spoil my summons with treats. We are never letting you go."
Tanna, "I will hold you to that promise, Anko - chan."
Naruto yawned, "Good morning, nee - chan."
Tanna, "Morning Ruru. I see you showered already."
Naruto, "Was hoping it will wake me up."
Tanna, "Here, coffee to wake you. I made some bread toast with cheese and chopped veggies, plus boiled egg on the side. Runny for you, half boiled for me and full boiled for Anko."
Anko, "Awesome, I will join you after shower."
Naruto, "Anko - nee, I got your favourite citrus wash. I left it in your room."
Anko grinned, "Favourite little brother ever."
Jiraiya entered as Anko went to shower, "No breakfast for me?"
Tanna, "I did not know you were still here. How do you like it?"
Naruto scowled, "Don't be rude pervy Sage. You should have said something when I asked before."
Jiraiya, "Work can be unpredictable, you know that."
Naruto, "So? You can still make time for food and family."
Jiraiya raised his hands, "Aye, aye. I apologise."
Tanna, "Sit down Jiraiya. There is coffee in the mug if you want some."
Jiraiya looked around, "I heard you were getting an awarrd for your novels."
Tanna, "I turned it down."
Jiraiya, "Why? It is not always people get recognised for their work."
Tanna, "I would prefer it more if that money went into schools and Academies, so that kids could be encouraged to become whatever they want."
Naruto, "You want to encourage more writers nee - chan?"
Tanna nodded, 'Besides it does not feel right accepting an award for stories that are not even mine. I do have self respect and awareness after all.'
Jiraiya eyed her face, "Sometimes I find you hard to read."
Tanna blinked, "Excuse me? I am hard to read? I am not exactly a Master of Poker face you know."
Naruto, "Not like that nee - chan."
Anko, "I think he was talking about your thought process, Tanna - koi."
Tanna looked at where Anko was with hair wrapped in towel, "Come sit, Anko - chan. I made your favourite tea too."
Jiraiya, "Seriously, most people would jump at the chance of getting acknowledged by the Daimyo. Why are you not accepting it?"
Tanna had an exasperated expression, "I originally wrote those stories for Ruru, not the general public. The fact that people enjoy the story is a bonus yes, I will not deny, but they are for Naruto. I am not interested in awards for it."
Jiraiya, "The Daimyo's wife may have something else to say in the matter."
Tanna, "Shijimi - san knows why I declined."
Jiraiya, "And that is another thing. You are one of the few people on a first name basis with that woman. How did you do it?"
Tanna deadpanned, "I talked about girl stuff."
Jiraiya snorted, "Sure! But you know the court will take this as an insult instead right?"
Tanna paused then sighed, "I know."
Anko, "So, that is why she is delaying it instead of outright rejecting it."
Naruto, "Hey nee - chan, you know I will happily escort you to Daimyo's palace if you accept it right?"
Tanna, "I know but it does not feel right. Like I am placing an unnecessary label on my work, when that was never the intention."
Jiraiya laughed, "That my dear is calle artist vision. You are upset your work is being misinterpreted as something else."
Tanna sweat dropped, "How dramatic!"
Anko, "Well, that is how some rogue shinobi feel about their kills. They kill not out of duty but because to them it is art. Heaven help anyone who insults them."
Naruto, "You mean like that weird bomber?"
Anko, "I guess, yeah."
Tanna heard a knock, "Coming."
ANBU Tiger spoke, "Uzumaki Naruto, Mitarashi Anko, you are being called for an emergency mission. Jiraiya - sama you are here too. Perfect, you are being called too."
Anko, "Alright!"
Tanna, "Go, I will clean up."
Naruto, "No, my clones will. You cooked nee - chan. Let me clean, okay? Besides you have to get to the Academy too."
Anko, "I agree. I will drop you off there."
Tanna, "Very well. That works too. Lock the door after you are done Ruru. I will probably not see you off."
Naruto, "Oh! Why?"
Tanna, "Emergency meeting with all three of you. Yeah, you will be gone by the time class disappears."
Anko groaned, "There goes my plan to sleep in."
Tanna, "You can sleep in for a whole week after this."
Anko, "Thanks Tanna - chan, here is your stop. See you soon."
Tanna waved her farewell, "Be safe."
Iruka, "Tanna - Sensei? You are early today."
Tanna smiled, "Anko - chan dropped me off."
Iruka, "Huh, Kashi - kun did the same for me. Wonder what is going on?"
Tanna, "Things must be quiet tense then, if both Jiraiya and Kakashi are called."
Iruka, "Jiraiya - sama too? I wonder what is happening out there."
Tanna, 'I have a feeling it is Gaara's kidnapping arc. I just hope everything works out.'
Tsunade, "You are here."
Naruto, "Oba - chan what is going on?"
Tsunade, "I have grave news. As you know, Shikamaru and team left in the morning to escort Temari - hime back to Suna."
Naruto, "Huh! Are they alright?"
Tsunade sighed, "Sadly no, they were attacked on the way by Orochimaru's men."
Sakura tensed, "That is bad."
Tsunade, "I am sending Team - 7 to check the situation. Sakura as my Head medic you will be in charge of their care and health, understood."
Sakura straightened, "You can count on me, Shisou."
Tsunade, "Naruto, please sit."
Naruto raised an eyebrow but sat down, "Just tell me Oba - chan."
Tsunade, "The Kazekage of Suna, Gaara was taken by the Akatsuki yesterday late in the evening and Kankuro was hurt in the process."
Sakura twitched but breath in calmly, 'They were what? Those bastards! I will kick their asses. SHANARO!'
Sasuke pursed his lips, "Are you alright?"
Naruto calmed himself, "Do not act like you are not angry, Suke. I know you."
Sasuke massaged his hand, "I am not the one with bleeding hands."
Sakura, "Let me, Sasuke - kun. Naruto - kun, let's stay calm, okay. We are going to Suna so we need to keep our heads together."
Naruto, "Yeah, I am alright. Do not worry about me. Oba - chan, was there any other updates?"
Tsunade eyed him, "Yes, Kankuro has been poisoned and Team Nara requires medical assistance immediately. Reports believe it is the same poison. Team Nara is in one of our psot villages, Ragi."
Sasuke, "That's close to Suna's border."
Sakura, "I am ready to go any time."
Naruto, "Me too! My trave seal is always packed."
Sasuke, "You know me, Hokage - sama."
Tsunade, "Very well then team - 7, no it will be a new name now. Team Koun, you are to help Team Nara medically and ensure they reach Suna. Once there Sakura, your mission is to heal Kankuro. Sasuke and Naruto, you will be tracking Gaara's where abouts."
Kakashi, "What about us Tsunade - sama?"
Tsunade, "Kakashi, Jiraiya, new intel suggests one of Akatsuki base is located in Ame."
Anko, "The new village we have trade relations with.... Fuck!"
Tsunade nodded, "It is a delicate situation. Ame is delivering top tier materials we require for our weapons but if Akatsuki is working there."
Anko, "I suppose you want me to increase the survaillance?"
Tsunade, "Yes, I apologise Anko. I know it was supposed to be your day off."
Anko waved her hand, "No, if what you say is true then it is time to work not rest. I can rest once the situation is settled."
Kakashi, "We will count on you to hold the home front up Anko."
Anko, "I have a whole team of Yamanakas and T & I helping me. It is the two of you who should be more careful."
Naruto, "Anko - nee, tell nee - chan I am going to save Gaara - nii. She need to know."
Anko, "I will take care of Tanna - chan, Ruru. You just come back safely, alright."
Tsunade, "If everyone is ready then. Team Koun move out."
Everyone, "Yes Hokage - sama."
Anko left with a grim face as she headed back to T & I. Ibiki looked up as he saw her enter the office looking serious. Ino was surprised to see her but did not comment as Anko being here meant something serious happened. Anko nodded the girl was definitely smart and quick at picking up queues. Anko took out the folder marked as Ame and started to go through the merchants list under Ino's watchful gaze. The blond did not ask questions, instead she took out a folder that had list of observations about the people Anko was looking at. At first glance everything looked normal at least on the surface but on closer look something was a little odd. Every merchant seemed to avoid getting an in at the centre of Konoha, prefering to stick closer to the gate areas as if to gaurantee quick escape. Anko would like to claim she was a paranoid hoe and was seeing problems where there were none but she did not get where she was by being a fool.
Ino looked at her with anticipation, "Do we have a lead Sempai?"
Anko, "Most likely.... I do not like the implications however. They are hiding something."
Ino, "I will get to it Sempai. You can count on me."
Ibiki, "If they resist you know what to do."
Ino, "You got it boss."
Team Kuon was on the other hand racing towards Ragi village which was located on the borders of Fire and Wind countries. Ever since trade in Konoha increased the number of villages seemed to have gone up as well. Naruto expected it, especially after all the lessons on economy and how trade attracts civilization. However, learning is one thing and observing it happening was another thing completely. His nee - chan always encouraged him to learn not just through books but also by observing hthe people in his surroundings and how they behaved. His nee - chan was always pointing out certain habits, claiming they were from a previous research paper. Naruto searched for those researches but found none, he was pretty sure it was his sister's own observations but understood why she kept it to herself. Being able to watch and understand patterns that well would make her a target so Naruto kept quiet as well whenever he mentioned those habits out loud as they were travelling.
Sakura, "Naruto, let's take a break there. That inn belongs to my family."
Sasuke, "Will we get discounts?"
Sakura deadpanned, "The room is paid for by the village so do not worry your pretty little head."
Kakashi, "Great, this is also where we part ways."
Jiraiya, "Naruto, as fascinating it is to discuss the human mind with you. Keep it to yourself for now. I do not want Orochimaru to target you. You are already talented."
Naruto stared ahead then sighed, "Yeah, I get it. Relax Ero Sannin, I will be alright."
Sasuke, "Don't worry. We will not let anything happen to him."
Sakura hummed contemplative, "Still I am surprised you know about this topic. I only heard Ino ramble about it before and I will not lie, it is fascinating. However a little tedious and mind numbing to understand."
Naruto, "It is useful for mental warfare against enemies. I can do emotional damage once I get what makes them tick."