Random time Skip Time. I know, I'm sorry. No excuse for my laziness, but I told myself I'd wait until someone reviewed this story again before I updated.. So, anyone who is reading this, thanks go out to CedarKuruQan

BTW, I orginally planned to upload more, and I have more down, but I realized what I had written was WAYYY terrible. So here is something small to keep you busy.

Naruto is eighteen

Naruto's Point of View

I couldn't of been happier to have received training from a man who knew as much as Jack did. I had once commented that he knew everything. I've never asked a question he couldn't answer; no matter how much pain it caused me, or how many people told him I shouldn't know. The first time I had ever killed a man, I had felt nothing. The ninja academy texts spoke of how hard it would be, how some shinobi sought professional help after their first assassination mission. How taxing it would be on my mental health. Yet there I was, sitting there, not feeling guilty, or even the least bit stressed. Confused, I asked Jack a simple question, and his answer was just as simple.

I met Jack at our usual spot, he looked the same as he always did, tall, confident, untouchable. I was only an Inch shorter then him, but that Inch always felt like a mile. Jack had helped me through so much over the years. I have been training under him since I was a small child, only just last week, was I able to win one spar against him. I still remember the pride I felt in that one moment. Of course, he was able to best me the next three spars we had.

As I neared Jack, he had a different look on his face the he usually sported. He also had two small packs resting on the tree next to him. I could tell, we finally going on assignment. I bubbled with pride. Years and years, we had fought with the old man to get a mission. We'd demonstrated our skill, techniques, and teamwork more times then I care to remember, and we had yet to get a mission. So my first question of the day was easy. "What changed?"

The answer I got only brought more questions.

"The Hokage saw our spar yesterday."

"Yeah, I know, what changed?"

"He saw that little stunt you pulled."

"So, wait, the only reason he was holding us off from missions was because I wasn't as good as you?"

"yes." He lips were in a line, as he gazed at me with a stern expression, as if he expected me to know. I was infuriated, it was safe to say me pride was bruised.

"what? So he hasn't given us an assignment in the five years since I made chunnin because I wasn't good enough? That's horseshit Jack, I'm better then any other kid my age, and they've had missions since they were twelve!" As I said this, I realized I had only ever seen three other kids my age in action, and even that was only until they realized I was there. Being a demon container, and apprentice to a foreigner did that to your social life. His response was as honest as I knew it would be.

"You know damn well are missions require a little bit more skill then transporting a document. Speaking of, do you want to know what our mission details are? I guarantee it isn't something as simple as mowing grass. We're killing a men Naruto, not just one man, two, in addition to whoever we have to kill along the way." He under-handed the mission scroll to me, and I snatched it out of the air. My eyes locked on the large red A as I pulled open the scroll.

Rank – A

Issuer – anonymous

General mission- Team Fidelis Is to eliminate the targets depicted in the enclosed photo's before three weeks time. Team Fidelis is to do this without being detected

Details – The two men enclosed meet at a small enclave every other Monday, the location of which is marked on the map provided.

I couldn't fathom why our first mission was an A rank, at the most, I had expected a low B-rank mission. Though I wasn't about to complain. I did however, have one question.

"what happens if we get caught?"

"Konoha denies ever sending us, claims were missing nin, and then we're either imprisoned for life, or executed."

"oh-ugh. Wow"

Jack gave me his usual smirk and handed me one of the small packs, "you ready to go?"

I took the small pack, and threw it on, smiling like a damn fool. I didn't dignify his question with an answer.

"so, you got the map? And the pictures?"

Then it was Jack's turn to smile like an idiot.

"sure, here, look at them while we walk, we have three weeks to get to all the way to Iwa."

I grabbed the pictures and gazed at the pictures of the men we would kill. They looked overweight, and both sported facial hair, though, in different spots. I followed standard procedure, and gave them each easily memorable nicknames. This would help us remember what they looked like.

"This one is Stache'" I held up the right one "and this one is Tee"

Jack thought for a moment, and then nodded. "Short, simple, too the point. I like it."

And with that, he began walking for the gates; I followed diligently, eyes glued to the map. I moved just behind Jack and slightly to his right side without thinking. He'd drilled so many procedures into my head over the years; it was firmly engrained in my muscle memory.

We talked about nonsense mostly.

"any girls catch your eye?"

"no"

"Huh, you sure? There's tons of hotties in Konoha."

"Yea, show me one who is willing to talk to me."

He sighed. I hated that sigh. It meant he felt sorry for me. So I quickly amended my statement.

"But that Sakura girl had a nice body."

"Ha! You kidding? All the girls in Konoha and you think the psycho pink haired girl is hot?"

Now I was curious, "how do you know that?"

"Every Friday me and Kakashi meet, and he has a new story about something absolutely nuts Sakura did for some kid named Sasuke."

"like what?"

"Team seven is tasked with guarding a V.I.P. to fire country, and as there walking through this cave, a large explosion suddenyl blows up the roof of the freaking cave! Well, Kakashi was struggling to hold up some debris that had fallen over the client they were hired to protect. Sasuke had been thrown when the explosion went off. Sakura looks right at Kakashi, who is still struggling with half of a freaking cave ceiling, and walks off to go check on Sasuke!"

"Oh my god. Wow. She didn't even try to help Kakashi? I can't believe it. How retarded do you have to be? Going to check on someone who is not in any immediate danger, before helping people who are? Not just any people either, but someone you're being paid to protect!" I laughed along with Jack at the idiocy as we walked down a small path. Basking in the carefree atmosphere. We wouldn't need to be cautious until just before we reached the Rock country border.

First, I want it understood I'm not bashing Sakura. I really don't mind Sakura, even if she can be annoying sometimes.

As always, If anyone wants to Beta, let me know.

And please, don't hesitate to review.