Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

A/N: Running out of inspiration :/ Help needed, even small pokes in any direction will be very much appreciated.

But I should point out that without your support, this chapter wouldn't have even been completed. So thank you very much!

Dango continuation - part three

0OoO0

...

It seemed that the overconfident ninja (who put up a boring fight) were those bodyguards combined. The separation was some sort of bloodline or clone jutsu, Anko didn't think it was top priority for the moment since her drug and the missing-nins' assistance should be more than enough to restrain him. The captured man and his partner-in-crime had followed someone's suggestion to go around disguised like that. They had planned to use Orochimaru's reputation to their advantage; apparently even a vague similarity got a different reception in some places. They didn't remain disguised too regularly and had to keep up their other job in case the real Orochimaru found out and didn't like it. This was one of their drug dealings.

Kisame and Itachi belonged to a group that the bastard had been a part of.

The missing-nins had found it important to locate and uncover this little charade.

The pervert and his partner were using Orochimaru's reputation as per an unknown person's suggestion.

Coincidence or perhaps those rumours were purposefully initiated for a reason…

Anko clenched her fist. There was still nothing concrete and the men wouldn't share further information. However, they didn't object to working together to find the other partner. Anko decided that she would hand in both of them alive. Ibiki Morino might be able to retrieve more clues since Itachi seemed uninterested in questioning the ninja further.

...

Itachi and Kisame stayed with the unconscious prisoner, all under an illusion, while Anko went to retrieve information. From what the man had let slip, his partner had an ability to detect and recognise a person's chakra. The best course of action would be for the powerful missing-nins to remain outside of the partner's range. Itachi had provided an educated assumption of that range of detection, which Anko personally thought was too conservative, but didn't disagree.

Her immediate task was to observe the agreed meeting place their captured ninja and his partner had agreed on. Anko would gather as much information and possibly pinpoint the culprit, but the main goal was just information. Maybe, knowing Ibiki, he could link up the bits and pieces and provide her with useful information.

Even though this unknown ninja could detect and recognise chakra, that didn't mean that Anko had to give away her real appearance just yet. Unlike with the captured missing-nin, she didn't want to reveal her identity when it could compromise future missions. He hadn't met her before and first impressions were important. Except...and Anko was only agreeing with this because of the possible link to a particular bastard, Itachi had suggested that she dress up as a civilian female. With the outfit that he had organised for her, the woman felt that she was only a notepad and pen short of being a waitress. Waitress. Maybe she was overgeneralising and most feminine clothing just happened to remind her of waitresses...it still left Anko silently questioning the silent ninja's hobbies. She didn't think that the Sharingan copied chakra-unrelated things and the whole outfit, bra included, fitted her extremely well. Maybe Itachi wasn't as much of a rock as people thought... Her previous frustration dissolved when she broke out in devious chuckles, which she quickly changed to high-pitched giggles when she noticed a couple walk pass.

Anko coughed to clear her throat and interrupt the giggling. She didn't want to be portrayed as too artificial, there was no way she would be able to manage that facade without eventually choking herself. To establish some 'normalcy' and pass time, Anko, now dubbed as 'Mimi', went shopping. She had to restrain herself from buying too many dango sticks, or food in general, and reluctantly entered a nearby clothing store.

Pushing the door open and her first thought was, 'I didn't know that he was gay.' However, seeing as how her instincts hadn't kicked in and told her to kill and torture, the male in the centre of the very pink store couldn't be the bastard...or her instincts could've been dampened by the blinding colour and sheer shock.

The stranger who physically looked like Orochimaru, glanced up and definitely noticed 'Mimi' and her expression. Anko told herself that this was a mission, didn't hesitate and walked right up to him.

"Your hair is gorgeous!" Mimi gushed.

...

Mentally still grumbling about the lack of broken fingers, since the man only had ten for her to break, Anko dumped a gagged, bound and unconscious missing-nin in front of the Akatsuki pair.

"Accomplice but he didn't have the mentioned special skills, just someone who was taking credit of another's work. Seems like there's hidden party."

"Wouldn't abducting him raise suspicion then...?" Kisame, obviously aware of Anko's twitching, ventured carefully.

"Both were perverts and idiots, didn't take much to defeat them; it could simply be a drug-deal gone wrong and possible death by raging women for the other. I had witnesses, who also helped," Anko smirked gleefully as her twitching reduced, "'Mimi' was dragging him back to her parents for proper punishment. If anyone asks, that's both of you. I did send a message ahead."

"I received it," Itachi nodded, "High probability that our identities are still intact."

Mood significantly improved, she grinned, "Want to dissect his mind now?"

"No, this will be sufficient for now."

"Hey, can you teach me that jutsu you used on that other guy?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"You don't have the required chakra control."

"Then train me!"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Ask someone else."

"That's not an answer! Come on, give me some tips and tricks. I'll practice and you could test me next time."

"There may not be a next time."

"But not guaranteed that there won't be..."

"No."

"Itachi..."

The Mist-nin thought aloud, "I'm not cut out to be a parent."

...qqq...

Ibiki Morino often worked between the late and early hours when few voluntarily would. He found that the most 'natural' method (no drugs) of keeping awake and alert was remembering that Anko Mitarashi could drop by unexpectedly. She did, with the usual accompanying, "Arriving!" One of his paper-pushers immediately straightened his back. The Head of Torture and Interrogation forced back a smirk. The ninja was obviously still fresh to the scene that Anko had such an effect on him. Better than caffeine, she was.

He turned to face her with his usual impassive face, "Report."

"Two unconscious missing-nin!" She threw a sealed scroll at him, "That's the preliminary, now, let's find out what else they know..." Her prisoners weren't awake to witness her facial expression, but there were others and Ibiki could hear the furious scribbling to prove it. He really did like Anko sometimes.

...

Other times, he didn't. This was one of those times.

"Arriving!" The woman burst through the window, which was fine, the cost would just come out of her salary. Theatrics he could live with too, but she had to ruin his perfect moment of suspense. Oh well, no matter, the whiny kids would be going through Anko's version of intimidation later anyway.

The woman had wanted fresh victims and so had volunteered for the proctor position. Between the council's hatred for her, the Hokage's allowances and Anko's natural tendency to scare even the bravest of ninja...she was only offered the position of proctors for the second exam. It was the one with the least proctor-genin interaction after all.

...qqq...

Iruka Umino had argued and lost against the famous Kakashi Hatake to withdraw his previous students from the Exam. He wondered if the man knew what they might experience, not everyone could be like the silver-haired prodigy and whether the jounin realised just who the proctors were...

No, the main reason for his unease lay more in the other competitors. He rubbed the back of his neck, hoping to somehow distract himself from the prickling feeling racing down his spine. The Hokage glanced his way but didn't comment on his behaviour. They both understood Iruka's restlessness. The chunin scratched his scar when the discomfort was minor but he had picked up the neck-rubbing from other ninja. Naruto was dear to both men; they hoped that their instincts were wrong this time.

It was effectively shattered when they heard of the possibility of the traitor.

Iruka stubbornly hung onto the shards of hope that Naruto would survive.

...qqq...

She was called, she came and it was like a dream and nightmare come true. Orochimaru. They were right to inform her; the ex-apprentice recognised that technique instantly. Anko did want to face and kill him but...not at the cost of others' lives. She wasn't like him.

Then she saw the IDs of the victims. Fuck. That BASTARD! Not only had she been unaware of him but she still hadn't realised his presence after he used his tongue to return her kunai. Anko immediately sent a message to the Hokage and requested ANBU squads to enter the Forest of Death. They would, ideally, track and stop the traitor from killing anyone. Her target, however, would be his death.

She'd curse herself and the bastard later, her immediate priority was more important.

...

Anko found him embedded in a tree and was instantly pulling him out with Hidden Snake Hands, something he had taught her. They fought and while her reflexes were good enough to dodge some of his attacks, she knew she couldn't win and had already planned to use a murder-suicide technique.

But, slippery as ever, he out-maneuvered her. Escaped her, mocked her and threatened the whole of Konoha if she interfered with the Exam.

The cursed seal had reactivated and was giving her excruciating pain. However it wasn't all physical, she was guilty of still feeling hurt from his words. The Sannin had been her teacher, someone she had trusted, and he had thrown her away. Anko hated him.

...

The Hokage tried to reassure her that it wasn't her fault that he got away. She didn't believe him. She'd curse the Council, terrify other ninja and binge on dango...anything to keep from feeling useless and unwanted. She didn't know that the old man would always smile sadly when she wasn't looking and she didn't know that it was because she was similar to another outcast. Try as he might, the Hokage couldn't protect everyone.

The next time Orochimaru made an appearance, Anko Mitarashi wasn't at the front line. Instead, she placed her efforts into helping others escape the destruction. Revenge was one thing but she would never become him.

...

The Hokage died.

Anko lost someone who believed and supported her.

Orochimaru will pay.

...

She sat on the carved version of the late Hokage's head.

"You shouldn't be here," Anko whispered hollowly.

"Perhaps," returned a familiar voice, just as quietly. Itachi approached her side and dropped a thin scroll in her lap.

She glanced up at the missing-nin, "What about..."

"Clone."

Anko nodded absentmindedly and after detecting nothing malicious, unsealed the scroll. Inside was a simple cluster of white chrysanthemums, symbolic for grief, and a wrapped up stick of dango.

"Thank you," she glanced up but he was already gone.

The woman smiled faintly and got up to place the flowers on Hiruzen Sarutobi's grave.

...xxx...

oO0Oo

A/N: Selective information here, mainly to show more of Anko's motivation to hunt and kill Orochimaru. Before she had already wanted him dead, but the Third Hokage's death will be the catalyst that drives her further. It's also another factor that Anko and Itachi have in common.

Thank you for reading, though I'm sorry to say that until there's more concrete ideas, I'm not sure about the next update. Once again, I'm going to be cautious and leave this as complete but there may be more.

Airily