"Err! Stupid Kakashi-sensei! I bring Sasuke back and he doesn't even care about training! Pff like he ever cared in the beginning anyway. All he ever did was train the 'precious and last Uchiha', got he's just a FUCKING HIPOCRITE! And now Ero-Sannin is gone, he won't train me for a while since apparently I'm strong enough to bring the teme back then he doesn't have to worry for a while. Kami, I'm starting to wonder if it's even worth sticking around her?" Naruko yelled out to herself as she sat on the Yondaime's stone head.

Little did she know that someone was watching her the whole time, this someone had seen her strength and determination first hand and had hoped that the others would help her achieve her dreams. Obviously he was wrong, 'Hmm, maybe it's time I took matters into my own hands…' he thought, as he continued to watch the little blonde yell her frustrations out.

Not even giving it a second thought, the man walked out of the tree line, and slowly walked toward the blonde. He had seen her file, hell he had written a lot of it himself though he would be the first to admit that he didn't know a lot about her even with the file. As he approached the frustrated little girl, her ears could hear his footsteps and her body tensed.

"Good, you seem to be aware of your surroundings even when frustrated, that's very good." The man said as Naruko slowly turned around to face the new arrival.

Naruko knew him, he was the first proctor of the chūnin exams, Ibiki Morino. The tall man stood a little over six feet tall, and you could tell he walked around with an air of authority that was well earned through years of service. His most prominent features were the scars that covered his face, one starting below his right eye and headed around the right side of his head, and the other one covering his left eye and a small part of his mouth. She knew under his bandana there were numerous other scars that he had received from torture, and to be honest she was a little frightened of the man.

Naruko gulped while staring at the man, "What can I do for you Morino-san?" she asked in a soft tone, her body tensed slightly ready to make a break for it if necessary.

Ibiki saw this motion and frowned slightly. He knew how the village treated her, so she was probably on edge around strangers and that's not counting on strangers that sneak up on her. He had to calm her down if he was going to make his plan work. Hold up his hands in a surrender pose, "Hey, I'm not here to fight, I just heard your yelling and I wanted to see what was wrong." Ibiki said, never taking his eyes off of her. She seemed to buy the lie and relaxed a little, "I heard your yelling, so no one is training you?" Ibiki asked taking a few steps toward the blonde.

"No, they all seem to think I'm not worth it. Though that hasn't been anything knew, that seemed to be the collective decision by everyone that I'm not worth anything." Naruko said, sitting back down and hugging her knees to herself.

Ibiki could hear the pain in her voice at being thought of as insignificant, and he knew if he proposed her becoming his apprentice she would most likely take it. Knowing this he smiled, "So you want to get stronger eh?" He asked as he walked up beside her, her guard now completely down.

"Yeah, but what does it matter anymore?" Naruko asked, not looking at him but staring out on the village she told herself that she would protect.

"So what are your strengths and weaknesses then?" Ibiki asked, he wanted to get as much information up front about her abilities so he knew how to train her properly.

"According to everyone I had rather large chakra reserves, and even Kakashi-sensei said I could become a Ninjutsu specialist because of that though he didn't teach me any jutsu at all. According to what Ji-chan used to say I have good stamina as well. Other than that I'd have to say my stealth is probably good after all of the pranks I've been able to pull and get away with. I'm also able to summon toads but that's about it and the only jutsu I really know is the Yondaime's Rasengan though even then I suck at it." That last part brought a small sad chuckle, at the memories of her pranks, from her.

Ibiki knew full well about those things, but he wanted to make sure she knew of them as well. "So you what if I offered you a way to get stronger?" Ibiki asked, now looking at the blonde out of the corner of his eye.

"And how do I know you're not going to do things to me like my neighbor does?" Naruko asked, her body shivering visibly.

This floored Ibiki, and he had to force himself not to show his rage. He'd find out later on what all he did to her but for right now he needed to get her onto his side and agree to be his apprentice. "I'm not like that, what I'm offering has only been offered to one other. Do you want to be my apprentice?" Ibiki asked through a controlled tone.

Naruko's head shot straight up and look the man in the eye from her position on the ground, "You'd do that for me?" she asked, almost disbelieving what he said.

Giving her a shrug, "I've seen how you act, and with the proper training you'd do well with by me. I can train you to be an ANBU and part of T&I if you'd like." Ibiki said nonchalantly.

Naruko wondered in the back of her head if this was a trick, but she didn't care. Someone was offering her training and she'd be damned if she didn't take it. "Okay!" she said with a huge fox grin, her six whiskers crinkling ever so slightly.

Nodding his acceptance, he turned to head toward the Hokage's tower, "Come on then, we need to inform the Hokage of your new position. I'll leave telling your sensei to her and I'll take you to where you'll be living from now on." Ibiki said, not looking over his shoulder to see if she was following.

Naruko just jumped up happy as could be and ran after the man.

XXXxxxXXXxxxXXX

Hokage's Office

XXXxxxXXXxxxXXX

Tsunade was sitting behind her desk doing paperwork that the council kept trying to bury her in. She was getting fed up with the council and their protests of imprisoning Naruko for beating the Uchiha. She was pissed that they somehow got around her order to have him jailed and only let him off with several months of probation. Oh to say she was pissed was an understatement; and to make matters worse, she was out of sake that she hid from Shizune. Yep today was just not a good day for the Godaime Hokage.

As she looked over at the stack of paperwork she had to finish, and secretly thinking of practicing a Katon jutsu on it, a knock sounded at her door. "Enter." She said, her head still down as she quickly went about to finish and sign off a few mission reports she had currently been working on. The elderly woman heard two sets of shoes walking towards her and stop just short of her desk. She looked up to see Ibiki with Naruko standing to his right and behind him.

"Oh great, what is it that she did now?" Tsunade asked, dreading that she may have to do even MORE paperwork from whatever stunt the younger blonde would have pulled.

"Hey! I haven't done anything in a few weeks Baa-chan!" Naruko exclaimed.

"I know, and that's why I'm absolutely sure you did something. You've been overdue for it for a while now." Tsunade said, a smirk gracing her face. Naruko just grumbled incoherently before Ibiki quickly moved to get the older blonde's attention.

"Hokage-sama, I'm here to inform you that I'm taking Uzumaki here under my wing as my apprentice. I'm going to show her to ropes of the ANBU T&I division." Ibiki said, his face holding zero emotion on display.

Tsunade looked at the veteran shinobi with a frown. This was something she wasn't expecting. "May I ask why?" Tsunade asked. It wasn't that she doubted Naruko's skills at all, far from it, it was just that the T&I division wasn't for everyone. And those that did go in tended to never be the same again or just weren't fully sane to begin with.

"She's very creative, if nothing her past saying anything. She's able to not only think outside the box but at the same time still follow the rules which many before have found very difficult. Also her background shows that she can mentally and emotionally handle everything that is thrown at her there. I have the utmost confidence that she will truly succeed with us; And in the event that I'm wrong, she'll already be placed within ANBU so she can transfer out in the event that she can't hack it." Ibiki said, his shoulders back almost holding himself with pride as he listed everything off.

Tsunade had gone over Naruko's file long ago. She knew what she was capable of both on and off the battlefield, or at least she thought she did. With the recent council debacle she had slowly begun to become more and more reclusive, keeping away from most contact for whatever reason. Heaving a sigh, she knew she had no argument she could fall back on except her own personal ones and even then they held no merit in this decision. Turning to the little blonde, "Is this what you truly want?" She asked, hoping that she'd say 'No' and this could all just go away and she'd stay safe.

"Well this truly seemed like my only option. I mean Kakashi-sensei won't train anyone other than the traitor… Sorry I mean Sasuke-teme. Ero-Sannin left, saying that because I was strong enough to bring him back that he didn't have to worry about my training just yet, so I ran out of options. Ibiki-san here gave me this option and I'm going to take it." Naruko said, a fiery determination burning in her eyes. 'This is my chance to get away from the teme, and prove that I'm stronger. AND Ibiki said he'd make me stronger so I can protect everyone.' Naruko thought.

Heaving another sigh Tsunade pulled a form from her desk, "In order for you to be ANBU, normally the Commander has to give you a recommendation and you must be of chūnin rank or higher. Well you have one of the two, and seeing as all of your other work that you've been able to accomplish…" Tsunade stood after finishing writing on the document that she had worked on while talking, she walked over to a small cabinet and pulled out a vest, "As the Godaime Hokage of Konohagakure I promote you, Naruko Uzumaki to the rank of chūnin. Now take your vest. Since this isn't a normal ceremony I won't bore you with the whole speech. I just want you to promise me that you still stay being who you are okay?" the elder woman said with a small smile on her face as she handed vest to her surrogate daughter. 'To be honest with myself I should have done this right away, but because of all of this damn paperwork that the council keeps throwing at me I forgot to do this. I also need to correct the councils mistake now that this is back on my mine…' Tsunade thought to herself as she started to formulate orders.

"Don't worry about me Baa-chan! I never change!" Naruko almost yelled out with her patent fox grin. The older woman seemed to relax at the small outburst, not even minding being called the nickname.

"Good, now I'll inform your squad that you will no longer be part of it when they come to get their next mission." Tsunade said, as she turned and sat back down behind her desk, "Now go on, I have all of this paperwork to finish." She said with malice dripping from the word of her now most hated enemy.

Ibiki and Naruko nodded and bowed before leaving quickly. Outside of the office, Ibiki turned to his newest recruit, "Alright, I'm going to show you were you're going to be living from now on." Ibiki said, as she started to walk out of the building with Naruko hot on his heels.

Back inside the office Tsunade activated the seal that called Shizune. In minutes the young woman came through the door with even more paper work in her hands, "You rang Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked as she tried to peer around the mass of paperwork.

"Yes, I need you to get two things for me. What's left of Team 7 and more…"

"Tsunade-sama I'm not bringing you anymore sake. If you finish this work load though I just might…" Shizune said in an off-hand manner. When she set the paperwork down and stretched out her back, she saw her master rushing through mounds of paperwork, her pen and signature hard at work and going at a pace she had never touched before. Shizune laughed on the inside as she left to get Team 7, 'If only I had thought of that days ago, she might not be so far behind…'

XXXxxxXXXxxxXXX

ANBU T&I Division Building

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Naruko and Ibiki walked into what looked like a normal office building. Keeping step with tall scared man, Naruko entered an elevator and they road it down. During this time Naruko started to think on what she might be taught, 'He said ANBU, so does that mean there's going to be serious training? Or is this all just another act to just get my hopes up and crush it?'

As Naruko continued to muse over this thought, the elevator finally finished its descent. Ibiki nudged her to wake her from her thoughts and they proceeded to walk down a long corridor.

"Alright, now we are going to get started right away. I like to have all of my staff nearby, if you have any objections then speak up now." Ibiki said in a commanding tone.

"I can really live here?" Naruko said looking up to the man's face.

"Well not down here, ANBU have an apartment complex that they can use. Most tend to stay there as the village pays for them, but if you like were you live now the you can stay ther…"

"NO! I'll live in those apartments!" Naruko shouted out quickly before holding her hand in front of her mouth to stop from saying anything else.

Ibiki say this and the downtrodden look on the blonde girl. He could tell something was wrong. He knew from his information that she wasn't living in the greatest of places. She actually lived in the worst district of Konoha, her apartment was in shambles and from reports it was always being broken into by the other villagers and vandalized.

Heaving a sigh, "Look Naruko, I take care of my own. I refuse to allow anyone to harm one of my own men no matter what. You are for all intense and purpose ANBU now, you will have exams to go through and we'll train you up to par but all I ask is that if your ever in trouble that you ask me for help." Ibiki said, giving a rare smile.

Naruko looked at the man for a second then nodded, "I understand Ibiki-san." She said in a small voice.

Ibiki knew he wasn't going to get anything from her right now, there was no bond of trust formed yet. 'Well everyone who's worked with us has some issues, she'll be no different.' Ibiki thought to himself as he started to move on.

"Now I'm going to set you up so you can watch what we do here. You'll be sitting in on an interrogation. I want you to study how the interrogator operates and remember everything they do. I know everyone mannerisms and ways of torture so I will be testing you afterwards." Ibiki said as he opened one of the doors that opened to a room with a metal table in it. He motioned for her to take a seat in one of the shadowed corners and quickly place a genjutsu around her to keep her invisible.

"What are you going to be doing?" Naruko asked curious if she'd be left alone in there.

"I am going to be getting your file together. Also I'm going to send a team to gather your things and place them in an apartment for you. After that I've got to devise a training schedule for you. Over the next two days you will be tested extensively so I can figure out what your abilities really are and how much training you are going to need." Ibiki said. Naruko thanked him again and with that she was left alone in the room.

She wasn't alone for long though as the door was thrown open and four people entered. One she recognized as the crazy snake lady from the exams. Two of them wore ANBU masks so she couldn't figure out who they were, and the final person was thrown on the table and restrained.

"Well, let us see what secrets your willing to tell us eh?" Anko asked after the prisoner was restrained.

What happened over the next hour made Naruko's stomach turn, though she kept from throwing up out of sheer willpower.

XXXxxxXXXxxxXXX

Hokage's Office

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Tsunade was currently running through her paperwork, signing forms left and right. She had broken four different pens going at this speed, but she was almost done and Shizune had even showed her the two big bottles of sake that she would get if she got this work load done.

In front of her desk stood what remained of Team 7. Kakashi was standing there reading his smut as usual, Sakura had hearts in her eyes as she kept staring at Sasuke, and Sasuke who was currently wearing a chūnin vest and looking as if he owned the place.

Tsunade's hand began to cramp up as she was on her last form, 'NO DAMNIT! Work through the pain! Work through the damned pain!' Tsunade through as her muscles started to lock up in her forearms, however she quickly using speed she had developed over years of shinobi training she signed her name one last time for the day. Unfortunately she ended up breaking the pen as well but she couldn't care, 'HAHA! Take that paperwork! Tsunade-1 Paperwork-0! And I get sake as well!' Tsunade thought in a giddy mood now.

This mood was quickly registered by Kakashi and he was quickly on edge. Not knowing anything of the situation as his head had been in the lust filled pages of his Icha Icha, he quickly and silently closed the book, slid it back into his pouch, and made it look like he was paying attention. He tried to sense his surroundings and was waiting for an attack to come, his hand having ghosted down to his kunai holster.

Seeing no attack he quickly wanted to leave and get out of whatever situation he was going to be in, "Hokage-sama, I'd like to apologize for my squads tardiness," this got a glare from the genin and chūnin next to him, "I'm sure Naruko will be along any minute now."

Tsunade having been doing a victory dance in her head, quickly remembered why she had called them. "Actually she won't be. She's been taken of Team 7's roster." Tsunade said.

Before she could continue Kakashi spoke up in confusion, "What do you mean she's no longer on Team 7's roster, if I might ask Hokage-sama?"

"Naruko asked for a transfer. She was upset at her treatment, and from what she's said I hardly blame her. Now that isn't why I called you all here. First, Uchiha I want you to turn in that vest immediately." Tsunade said in an even voice.

Sasuke was shocked at first by hearing of Naruko's transfer. Sure he didn't like her too much, but he never really like anyone. When the blonde Hokage called for his vest his Uchiha rage reared its head, "And why should I? The council promoted me…" Sasuke started to say.

"And they had no right to. There is only one person who has any right to promote people, and that's the Hokage. You were illegally promoted. You have yet to show the qualities of a chūnin at all. Now turn in the vest genin." Tsunade said, backing her statement up with a commanding voice that brokered no complaining and a small amount of killing intent.

Sasuke gritted his teeth, "I am stronger than any genin in my year. How is this fucking fair?!" Sasuke yelled out.

"For one being chūnin isn't all about strength. It's about teamwork, and from the reports I have you don't have that capability. You act as if everything is above you, to be honest the only reason you're not in jail right now is because of the damned council. You attempted to leave this village, only to be brought back by one of your teammates. I should strip you of your shinobi license and seal away your chakra for that act of treason, but the council has forced a stay of my hand. Now turn in that vest right now, or I will jail you." Tsunade said, her killing intent raising with each sentence she spoke.

Sasuke seeing that he had no more room to argue reluctantly turned in his vest. "Good, now Team 7 since Team 7 is currently on probation I will be require a weekly update Kakashi on everything, as well as having the current members undergoing psychiatric examination by the T&I Department. You are all dismissed."