IceLand

[FIC] The Kunoichi's Heart 12!!!

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:15:58 GMT

Hello again!! I finally had some energy and inspiration to finish this chapter!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3839127/12/The_Kunoichis_Heart

PLEASE REVIEW ON FF DOT NET!

Preview :
“I don’t think I can. And we’re hardly in any positions to call each other ‘sensei’, right Iruka?” The warm breath moved from its place on Iruka’s temple down toward her lips as it finally mingled with another one.

Iruka could feel the hotness on her face as the masked face got closer to her own. She gulped. “Uhm...What happened?”

Kakashi raised his eyebrow, “Before or after we’re going to bed?”

To remind u again in case u forgot :

Title: The Kunoichi's Heart
Rating: R
Disclaimer: The characters are NOT MINE.
Chapter: 12/???
Words : 4,126 words
Summary : What if Iruka was a female? She wasn't a little girl anymore but she wouldn't couldn't let go of her past. Follow the Naruto story from the very beginning....
Pairing : KakaIru, SasuSaku, NaruHina (the others will ba canon-like hopefully)

Start : http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3839127/1/The_Kunoichis_Heart

[FIC] The Kunoichi's Heart 10!!!

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:52:36 GMT

Hello again! Chapter 10 is UP!! Sorry for making u all wait!! >_<

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3839127/10/The_Kunoichis_Heart

Preview :
“Let me go, Kakashi!” Iruka glared hotly as the jounin’s bigger hand prevented her from attacking the Sannin who was standing with his ever disgusting smirk in place. She didn’t want anyone to stop her from punching that disgusting face out of the window –or country if it was needed- even if it was Kakashi of all people!

“Calm down, Iruka! You can’t attack without thinking! He’s a Sannin!” Kakashi shouted back at the usually gentle Chuunin, turning the kunoichi to face him instead and trying to keep his rational mind in check at the same time. It was damn confusing to see how drastically the gentle & polite chuunin could change after Orochimaru’s coming, but it wasn’t the time now. The most important thing now was Sasuke – who was as defenseless as a two-year-old baby right now.

Title: The Kunoichi's Heart
Rating: R
Disclaimer: The characters are NOT MINE.
Chapter: 10/???
Words : 5,222 words
Summary : What if Iruka was a female? Follow the Naruto story since the very beginning.....
Pairing : KakaIru, SasuSaku, NaruHina (the others will ba canon-like hopefully)

Start : http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3839127/1/The_Kunoichis_Heart

[FIC] The Kunoichi's Heart Chapter 09

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:19:23 GMT

Finally... chapter 9 is UP!!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3839127/9/The_Kunoichis_Heart

Title: The Kunoichi's Heart
Rating: PG-13 (this chapter), R later on.
Disclaimer: The characters are NOT MINE.
Chapter: 9/???
Words : 5,373 words
Summary : What if Iruka was a female? Follow the Naruto story since the very beginning.....
Pairing : KakaIru, SasuSaku, NaruHina (the others will ba canon-like hopefully)

Start : http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3839127/1/The_Kunoichis_Heart

[FIC] The Kunoichi's Heart 08_FINALLY!

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 03:03:06 GMT

Hello...!! FINALLY I've finished chapter 08 of The Kunoichi's Heart! ^___^

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3839127/8/The_Kunoichis_Heart

Sorry for the long wait for u all LJ readers!! >_<

Btw, I've made a fanart of this very fic. Hope u like it! ^__^

The Kunoichi's Heart by ~blue-iceland on deviant ART

And another version of it :

The Kunoichi's Heart_version2 by ~blue-iceland on deviant ART

- Izky

[FIC] The Kunoichi's Heart 07_Newest!

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:09:01 GMT

Heelloo....!!

Just posted the newest chapter 7 of the Kunoichi Heart here :

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3839127/7/The_Kunoichis_Heart

Hope u like it! ^__^

- Izky

[FIC] The Kunoichi's Heart 06

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 08:10:14 GMT

Hello you guys!

FINALLY I update again! ^_^

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3839127/6/The_Kunoichis_Heart

Title: The Kunoichi's Heart
Rating: PG-15 (this chapter), R later on.
Disclaimer: The characters are NOT MINE.
Chapter: 6/???
Words : 5,154 words
Summary : What if Iruka was a female? Follow the Naruto story since the very beginning.....
Pairing : KakaIru, SasuSaku, NaruHina (the others will ba canon-like hopefully)

Notes:
I’m SO sorry for the very late update! –bows- I had my reason though : I had been facing 2-3 medic exams these weeks and it really cut my free time to manage this. Still, the good news? After those freaking exams, I finally get read back all those previous chapters and I decided to edit/rewrite some parts in ALL chapter (1-6) so the story will flow better. I recommend u to read from the very first chapter! And WARNING : This’s UNBETAED yet! Expect SO many grammar errors!

[FIC] The Kunoichi's Heart 07

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 10:56:39 GMT

A/N :
Sorry for the wait! Here the next chapter…. I’m a bit worried with how this chapter comes out because there are SO MANY things revealed here & I had difficulty writing all of them. I hope it won’t be too OOC…. @_@ WARNING!! STILL UNBETAED!!

Still, hope u like it…! :) - Izky

Title : The Kunoichi's Heart
Rating : PG-15 (this chapter), R later on.
Disclaimer : The characters are NOT MINE.
Chapter : 7/???
Words : 5,575 words (Boy….. this is a new record to me! :O )
Summary : What if Iruka was a female? Follow the Naruto story since the very beginning.....
Pairing : KakaIru (the others will be canon-like hopefully)

| Chapter 01 - The Failed Student |
| Chapter 02 - The Realization |
| Chapter 03 - The Promise & the Test |
| Chapter 04 - The Growing Fondness |
| Chapter 05 - The New 'Friends' |
| Chapter 06 - Her Sensei |

Btw, I posted this story in fanfiction.net as well! The fic is currently still 4 chapters only there. I plan to post more later…. ^_^

Here the link : http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3839127/1/The_Kunoichis_Heart

Important : From chapter 08 now on, I’ll ONLY post the Kunoichi’s Heart chapters in my FF account. But I’ll keep posting the news of incoming chapters in my LJ journal here. It’s easier for me that way bcause in my LJ account I still need to reedit the chapters in HTML codes and honestly - it'll be a bit difficult to me in between my busy college days. Hope u'll be understand. *bows*

----------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 07 - The Broken Mask : 5,575 words
----------------------------------------------------------------

As Jiraiya told her, Iruka visited the Sannin’s old apartment at midnight, together with Kotetsu and Izumo.

“Wha…!! It has been years since we saw you, Jiraiya-sensei!!” Kotetsu grinned, patting the broad shoulder of their sensei fondly. His other teammate, Izumo, bowed slightly at the Sannin, a wide smile on his face.

“It’s great to see you in Konoha again, sensei.” He said.

Jiraiya simply laughed, grasping Iruka’s shoulder and pulling her into his arms as the smaller female simply smiled and let herself tucked in his sensei’s arms. She had always been Jiraiya’s favorite student since long ago –and vice versa, after all. “Yup! It’s great to see you three brats well! I can’t even recognize who’s this polite woman when we met yesterday!”

Iruka simply blushed, “Sensei!”

They ended up having a small dinner in the rather cramped small apartment, sharing stories and news together. Sake were brought, laughs were heard through the thin walls, and jokes were shared between the old team. They were simply talking about those training times where they were still gennins, remembering the past missions, and laughing about the stupidity they often did those years ago.

It was until Iruka fell slept due to the drunkness a hour later (she was always a light drinker) when finally Jiraiya’s gaze turned a bit somber and glanced at his other two students. “So….how is she?”

Izumo, the most sober out of them four, glanced down at the sleeping kunoichi. Iruka’s head was pillowed on the sannin’s hard thigh as the rest of her body sparwled out the tatami. He smiled slightly at the pure content on the sleeping female’s face, “Nothing changes. She has been busy in Academy and the Mission room. And with the chuunin exam this close, she has been busy preparing it as well, sensei. She is as busy as ever.”

Kotetsu grinned, “Still, there’s something new, sensei. You’ll be glad to hear it.”

Jiraiya raised his eyebrows, smirking. “If it’s about she’s ‘dating’ Kakashi, tell me something else that I don’t know, Ko.”

Izumo and Kotetsu shared a similar shock gaze, “Wait… how do you know about that, sensei??”

Jiraiya grinned, patting the sleeping female’s head on his lap fondly. “I caught them walking together for a dinner the first time I met her yesterday. She has a good taste, huh?”

Kotetsu snorted, gulping his sake. “You’re just biased because Kakashi is your student’s student.”

“And let’s not forget he’s your Icha-Icha fan number one as well…” Izumo added, raising his eyebrows.

Jiraiya simply chuckled at their accusations, “Naah....I’m honest! Kakashi may be the one that will break that thick wall of hers. If there’re things that he inherits from Yondaime, it’s his stuborness. He won’t stop before he got what he wants. And from what I saw, underneath the underneath, Iruka is the one he really wants now.”

Although I wonder……

Kotetsu raised his eyebrows, “Are you sure about it, sensei?” Doubt showed on his slightly drunken face.

“We have been doing/saying nothing about their closeness because Ruka seems to care about him than the other guys….but honestly, I don’t think Ruka is aware herself. She’s much too polite and oblivious to notice the way Kakashi treats her.” Izumo shook his head.

And I’m sure Iruka doesn’t know that she’s practically THE first kunoichi who gets a free dinner from the copy nin…

“Hmm…..now I’m curious. How many guys attempt to court her since I was gone by the way? Do tell me you kill anyone who takes advantage of hers and her too nice self.” Jiraiya gulped his huge jar of sake. A strong possesive streak could be heard by anyone there.

Kotetsu smirked, filling his own glass with sake. “As you said, there have been some that tried to ask for her attention. But when they get a bit naughty, well….just say me and Zumo already took care of them.”

Sometimes those bloody medic jutsus from Tsunade-sensei can be sooooo useful. Nothing is worse for guys than erection dysfunction… Tehehe……

“I still personally think it was a bit too much, Ko.” Izumo sighed, knowing what his teammate think the way that feral grin appear on Kotetsu’s face.

Jiraiya laughed out loud at their explanationn, “Ooho….I don’t want to know what you’ve done, brats. But you get approve from me allllll the way as long as they deserve it.”

Kotetsu simply threw his tongue out at Izumo, “See? Even sensei agreed!”

Izumo coughed, “Okay….back on track, please. There’s something else you should know, Jiraiya-sensei.”

“Hm?”

“Iruka has been….’taking care’ of a certain blonde kid. They’re acting practically like mother and son if I don’t know any better.” Izumo continued, sipping his sake.

“Huh? Do tell more…” Iruka is always a mother hen after all…

“I mean….Iruka has been close with…Uzumaki Naruto, sensei.” Izumo stared back knowingly at Jiraiya’s surprised eyes, waiting for his sensei’s reaction.

Wha… Minato’s brat? How is he now…..hmm… I should see whatever the kid’s doing later. For Minato’s sake.

“Since when…?” Jiraiya couldn’t help but ask.

Kotetsu frowned thoughtfully, “Hmm…maybe it was ….. three-four months ago? I’m not sure… but it was right after that Mizuki-bastard -you already knew it, I’m sure- stole the forbidden scroll. Iruka protected Naruto from hitting a huge shuriken thrown at him and the next day they were already getting along like mother and son. And Iruka got a huge scar on her back from that incident as well.”

If that Mizuki-bastard didn’t crazy right now, I would kick him all the way to hell myself….

Jiraiya simply drank his sake in silence, throwing all infos into his brain.

“And right after that, Kakashi passed Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura as his gennin team - which was a miracle to us by the way. That’s where he and Iruka began getting close. They have been practically acting like married couple with three kids since then… That’s why we don’t ‘warn’ Kakashi of anything…We thought he may be…different than other guys.” Izumo added.

Kotetsu grumbled, “Though until now we haven’t seen him make any obvious moves to Iruka yet besides following her around. He takes that philosophy underneath the underneath far too seriously…”

Although it was so GLARINGLY obvious he’s soooooooo taken with Ruka, huh?

Jiraiya smiled slightly, “I’m glad to know Iruka’s been opened more to get close with anyone besides you two. But, from what I saw yesterday, it’ll take a lot of efforts to make Iruka open her wall…..especially to Kakashi himself. He has his own problems after all….” He frowned at those thoughts.

I had been jounins years ago…. And if I’m right… I think I can predict what Kakashi’s thinking… Being a jounin takes a lot of risks after all….

“Well….Iruka only opens herself before kids below twelve. Sometimes I wonder how she could keep her ‘innocent’ façade any longer than she does now….” Kotetsu continued, staring at the sleeping chuunin. Iruka didn’t stir the whole time. She was a silent sleeper since they were children.

Izumo sighed, shaking his head. “I only hope she can be honest to herself….and to us, Ko.”

Jiraiya stared down at the girl -no-the young woman on his lap, that he considered like his own daughter. He sighed inside.

Tsunade…Iruka…you two are far too much alike, aren’t you?

When will you forgive yourself?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A FEW DAYS LATER……..
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Iruka breathed in.

The headache was coming faster and faster.

And the sight in front of and behind her weren’t helping either.

What…

The…

HELL…

This….

Ridiculous…

Thing…

“Can you explain to me…Jiraiya-sensei? What. Are. You. Teaching. To. Naruto..???” She gritted her teeth, trying to come up with any possible answer herself to think why oh WHY Jiraiya-sensei….

WHY the hell did her damn sensei teach that….THAT AWFUL jutsu to her innocent Naruto!???

Sexy no jutsu!?? What the HELL is that damn awful crazy jutsu anyway!?? And now I know Naruto has NO sense of naming ANY jutsus AT ALL….

Jiraiya stepped back carefully, sweatdropping at the sight of his female student trying to control her rage. It had been quite some years since the last time he saw Iruka snapped…. And now it seemed like he would see it again.

I’m dead….I’m dead…..

I know I’ve been praying someday she will let out that infamous temper of hers… But…but…not like THIS….

“Err…Iruka-chan…calm down…Unlike what you’re thinking, I do NOT teach Naruto that jutsu! Honest! He learned it himself!” Jiraiya stuttered, knowing far too well what would happen if he said wrong words.

And apparently he did.

Iruka’s eyebrow twitched. “And he wouldn’t invent that jutsu if….YOU.WERE.NOT.ASKING.HIM.TO.BEG.YOU.SENSEI.” The female kunoichi tried hard to supress her temper down, but it was soooo difficult when she was very much aware Naruto was behind her, still in his-er-her full of naked glory, looked guilty at her.

“Iruka-sensei!! I’m sorry! I just-“ Naruto, covered by some smokes that carefully hide his-her naked figure in certain places, tried to explain, but Iruka cut him.

“Don’t explain yourself, Naruto. You’re responsible for three academy teachers fainted due to blood loss today. So…just shut up until I’m done with Jiraiya-sensei here. And then it WILL be YOUR turn.” Iruka growled at her student, daring him to talk more.

Naruto shut up at her glare. It was very very rare to see his sensei’s rage outside the class. But as rare as it was, it didn’t mean that it wasn’t less frightening than usual.

Jiraiya tried to walk away while the female sensei’s attention drifted from him.

But no. It wasn’t his day.

“Jiraiya-sensei. I.AM.NOT.DONE.WITH.YOU.”

Jiraiya whimpered.

I’m dead….

“Iruka-chan!! I have nothing to do with his sexy no jutsu, I swear!! I WAS peeking at the hot springs when I met him!!”

Apparently it was a wrong thing to say.

Iruka’s ponytail twitched.

That did it, sensei.

You’re DEAD.

With inhuman strength that Jiraiya dreaded to feel and only very very few people knew, much to Naruto’s amazement, Iruka pulled the huge Sannin by his arm in a blink of eye and swing him for quite a few seconds in the air with only her right hand, and threw Jiraiya out into the empty air.

“Hyyyaaaah!!!!!”

“Waaa…!!! Forgive me, Iruka-chan!!” The sannin cried. Literally.

Naruto’s wide eyes widened even more at the inhuman strength his sensei showed in the last few seconds.

Not satisfied to see the huge silver haired sannin to crash against the nearby tree and broke it, Iruka shouted at the top of her lungs as her hands made complicated seals that was too fast for Naruto to see.

“Doton Yomi Numa. Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!!!”

In mere seconds, the large area surrounding the Sannin (and the said broken tree) turned into a sinking swampland, making it impossible for anyone or anything in that area to move around or escape. Jiraiya cursed as his form was swallowed into the swampland until only his head appear on the surface. He could feel his ribs crack at the pressure. Shit!! She got enough chakra to perform that jutsu!??

Iruka walked toward her sensei’s trapped form, staring down down at him as she hissed under her breath. The usually smiling face was replaced by a cold mask of an angered kunoichi “So….sensei? Any last wishes?”

Jiraiya gulped, staring up at those angry eyes.

I must choose my words carefully…

“Eer…. Forgive me, Iruka-chan. I just wish…”

“Hmm…?” The angry brown eyes didn’t change a bit.

Smooth Jiraiya…VERY smooth… She is as bad as Tsunade in the part of having a hot temper if her feathers are ruffled too much…

“…I just wish….I meet your sensei before, to tell her that she should be proud having a student like you. You grow up to be a great kunoichi, huh?”

Apparently the God still loved Jiraiya and the sannin FINALLY said the right choice of words.

Iruka’s dark brown eyes widened a second, and eventually softened.

Jiraiya-sensei…… You……

Jiraiya sighed in relief when a second later the swampland was turning back into the common yard and the hermit was standing up once again.

“Ouch….I think you broke my ribs with that one throw, Iruka-chan.” Jiraiya joked, wincing at the painful way his ribs move.

She REALLY inherits that inhuman strength from Tsunade, huh? Good job, old girl…

And I think you master that jutsu TOO well, even for my liking…. Ouch…

“You don’t have to say them, sensei. I’ve gotten nothing to be proud of as her student.” Iruka said solemnly, meaning the last words the Sannin said to her. The previously angry kunoichi wasn’t there anymore. Instead, there was only a silent standing kunoichi on her place.

Jiraiya smiled sadly at her, patting her head and pulling the suddenly silent chuunin into his arms, “Hey….she was always proud of you, kid. I am proud of you.”

“You just try to comfort me, sensei…” Iruka mumbled, but not resisting the hug her sensei gave her.

“Naah….I comfort women by acting on it, not by saying pretty words. You realize that, don’t you?” Jiraiya chuckled, lifting the now calm female into his arms with an ease considering he just had few ribs broken. Iruka didn’t resist at all. She was used to be picked into those strong big arms of her sensei’s years ago whenever she felt troubled or too tired to walk, and the habit grew until now.

Iruka simply sighed, tucking herself more into her sensei’s red robe. She always loved how safe it was, being tucked into those strong arms of her sensei’s. “I’m sorry I let it out at you, sensei… I know you didn’t do that purposely, but I can’t hold back my temper…” Jiraiya was one of the very few people that knew about her hot temper since years ago and still didn’t mind of her….to this very day.

Jiraiya grinned, “Don’t worry. I’m tougher than that. And sometimes….it’s better if you let go yourself like that, you know…”

“If I do that….you-“

The sannin smiled, shaking his head slowly. He knew what his student thought too well. “No, I won’t mind at all, kid…”

With that, Jiraiya, with Iruka safely tucked into his arms, walked up toward the dumbfounded Naruto, who already turned back in his boy form. He grinned at the baffled expressions on the Gennin’s face.

“You…and…Iruka-sensei…..that jutsu…damn…that’s amazing…how did..” The gennin stuttered.

Jiraiya chuckled, winking in return. “Your training will begin tommorow. Meet me at the waterfall on seven, okay?”

With that, he leaves with the female chuunin in the swirl of smokes.

He didn’t miss another two presences behind the trees a few feet away from the still shocked Naruto.

Let’s see how you’ll handle this, Kakashi…

I just hope I’m not wrong with you two…

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Behind the tree, two figures happened to witness all the events that occurred since the very first time.

“Damn…..I don’t know she has it in her. You choose an interesting kunoichi to pursuit, Kakashi.” Zabuza whistled, smirking behind his bandaged mouth at his friend, scratching at his vest slightly. He wasn’t used to the way the new jounin vest of his clung to his usually bare chest and the missing presence of his huge sword across his back. Sandaime was still forbiding him to use it at least for a few weeks more. But well, as long as Haku happy (the boy was pretty happy with his own chuunin vest), plus with only two ANBU members (instead of ten) followed his ass all day, he wasn’t going to complain….. much.

Kakashi simply raised his eyebrows, leaning against the hardness of the tree as his eyes busy trying to understand the words in his trusty Icha-icha book. As confused as he was, he still need to keep his reputation as pervert after all.

“She is strong.” He simply said. His eyes were still glued on his book.

“But you don’t realize how strong she is…until now.” Zabuza raised his eyebrows at the book cover. During the week he ‘friended’ Kakashi, Zabuza found it a bit ironic that the personality the silver haired jounin had was far different from any bingo books that explained more than a few of his traits on the battle field.

Honestly…I didn’t know the genius copy nin, who mastered more than thousand, killed so many lives, is a lazy pervert…. AND smitten by a mere chuunin no less…well, she’s definitely NOT a mere chunin though…

“Hn..”

“She can perform an A-rank jutsu simply like that. And that inhuman strength…. I’ve never ever seen any females that can lift a huge sannin like Jiraiya as if she lifts a feather…” Zabuza shook his head in disbelief.

And I wonder why she’s still a chuunin… That ability of hers is worth a jounin - an ANBU even…

“And her closeness with Jiraiya, the sannin… Tch, you’re pretty dead if you make one wrong move on her…She gets those two overprotective teammates of hers AND Jiraiya the Sannin on her back. If I were you, I would think carefully about pursuing her, Hatake.” Zabuza smirked, recalling his meeting with the woman’s teammates a few days ago.

Izumo wasn’t too fond of his rude words to Iruka and Kotetsu was a step away of punching him for his comment that they ‘spoiled’ the female too much. They didn’t fear him being the ex-missing nins or the jounin; they simply wanted to protect their teammate. Zabuza didn’t dislike them.

Kakashi sighed, closing his book. “Let’s go for a drink.”

I think I need lots LOTS drink to understand what the hell happened a few minutes ago….

He straightened up, glancing at the ex-missing nin. “Oh yes, nearly forget. If you’ve never seen a female do that, then clearly you’ve never met the other Sannin, Tsunade.”

Zabuza blinked, “Really?”

Kakashi simply curved his visible eye, “Come on… .”

And they left.

Leaving a baffled Naruto, who was still trying to understand what the hell happened in that yard a few minutes earlier.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Jiraiya entered his female student’s house by the window with a practiced ease considered he was carrying someone in his arms through window. Iruka herself was silent, choosing to tuck herself into her sensei’s arms trustingly. She suddenly felt tired, far too tired that afternoon. The sudden use of her chakra that was far bigger than usual (thanks to that Doton jutsu she inherited from Jiraiya himself) AND Jiraiya’s comment were making her tired, confused and…. lost.

Carefully, the toad sannin put Iruka on her bed, trying to make her as comfortable as ever to take a rest.

“Well…I guess I should go now, huh? You just rest now, okay?” Jiraiya grinned softly, patting Iruka’s head with gentleness he had rarely ever shown to anyone but two women in his life, the two most important people in his life.

“Sorry to throw you earlier, sensei…” Iruka mumbled, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the warmth palm on her forehead.

Jiraiya chuckled, patting her cheek fondly. “I said don’t worry about it. I’m tougher than that, you know…”

Iruka kept silent.

“I should go now.” Jiraiya sighed, preparing to stand up from his crouched position beside the bed. His cracked ribs began making him twitch.

Maybe I should ask Izumo to heal it... He’s the best after his sensei that I know after all…

Iruka’s hand pulled his haori, preventing him to move.

“Stay, sensei.”

Jiraiya simply raised his eyebrows.

“Stay until I sleep at least.”

Sighing in experated affection, the huge Sannin simply sat on the floor and leaned against the bed side as he crossed his legs. “Alright, alright.”

There had been silence for a full minute before Iruka spoke again.

“Ne….sensei?”

“Hmm..?”

“Do you mean what you said earlier…? About her…. and yourself?”

Realization fell into Jiraiya eyes as they softened at the sight of the sleeping chuunin that he considered as his own daughter.

“We were always proud of you, Iruka-chan.” He said softly.

“You’re lying, sensei….”

The sannin sighed, “It is the truth. The problem is you and her were and still are too stubborn to admit it.”

That’s the similarity you two share and refuse to let go until now…

“I’m not proud of who I was, sensei. I was a troublesome girl back then. No one liked me….”

Jiraiya flicked his fingers on the chuunin’s forehead. “Don’t say that, child!”

Iruka grimaced at the slight pain, brushing her own hair in frustated way. “If I were not - as you insist - Every one wouldn’t have left me, sensei…. Mother….Tsunade-sensei….Father….him….and…”

Jiraiya winced when Iruka stopped her sentence. It wasn’t spoken, but the words rang around both of them.

And even you, sensei….

Jiraiya brushed his own hair slightly, trying to come up with some explanations. He began his words carefully as if he was talking to a child who still believed that babies coming from eggs and seeds in their ‘bird and bees’ talk, or worse, in the middle of watching his/her parents’ sex video.

“Everyone has problems in their life, Iruka-chan. I …have my own problems to deal with that time and I can’t promise I won’t do that again to you….. Your mother was dead because of sickness when you’re a mere baby, how could she hate an adorable child like you that time? And your father … the Kyuubi incident. Many were dead that day and no one could predict their own deaths against that sudden disaster, even a talented ANBU like him, ne? And him… well, I personally think Orochimaru could be careless of everyone in his paths toward that crazy immortality talks of his, you’ve got nothing to do with his leaving. And last…Tsunade…. She……..”

Jiraiya sighed as he imagined the blonde woman and her laugh. He often imagined her beautiful laughs, her clear shouts, her confident smiles…..

When will you forgive yourself, Tsunade…?

“She has gone through so much in her life… The deaths of her parents….Nawaki….Dan…Orochimaru’s betrayal….and lastly… her last talk with you.” Jiraiya winced inside when he realized Iruka’s brown eyes turned empty.

“She couldn’t accept all of it….so she left. She needs time, Iruka-chan.”

…Just like you, child….

“Would….she return one day, sensei…?” Iruka’s voice sounded so small and afraid, so unlike the adult kunoichi she was. Even after vanishing for years, Jiraiya was still –and always be- one of the very few people that Iruka considered as her most trusted ones. She didn’t - couldn’t - put her usual rational mature face in front of him, especially alone like this.

Jiraiya smiled sadly at the question.

“She will. Tsunade is a strong person by body and heart. She only hasn’t had enough time to realize it yet.” The sannin said clearly.

I believe in you, Tsunade… even if it’ll take you all years…

“………………”

“And….until she returns, you should think about yourself as well, child.” Jiraiya continued, brushing the soft brown strands that escaped the chuunin’s customary ponytail. It had been more than a few years since he met the female chuunin, but Jiraiya knew - understood - her too well that he was aware of the chuunin’s conflict with her own past. The female chuunin was too afraid to do anything else because she believed she deserved what she got now.

And she would let it build up until she broke.

“Huh…?”

Jiraiya chuckled at the confused eyes stared back at him. “You have more than a few people that care about you. Don’t close yourself around them.”

“But….”

Jiraiya shook his head, not letting her continue. “I don’t mean you must change right away. But…frankly….we miss the old you, you know.”

Me….Kotetsu…Izumo… even Sandaime….

Iruka’s eyes widened at those words. “Sensei…”

Jiraiya smiled, patting her head gently. “Let your real self out for once. Open up with the ones closest with you. Just let them see behind that innocent happy mask of yours, Iruka-chan…”

Iruka blinked. “But…..”

Once again, Jiraiya shook his head. “Just try it, child. And you’ll know people love you regardless how you act before them. It’s your heart that makes them do.” And he grinned, the same grin he gave her years ago.

Iruka stared at her sensei’s face. Her old sensei’s face. The years of travelling eventually affected his skin, making it paler and softer than his hard unbroken skin those years ago. The grin he gave was more somber yet equally heart warming as his years ago. The always silver hair was turning a bit whitish on the ends, letting Iruka know that her sensei wasn’t as young as he was before.

And those dark eyes…

It reminds me….

Iruka’s eyes softened.

Ah…now I remember….

“You know what, sensei…?”

“Hmm..?”

“Your eyes…… Kakashi-sensei has the eye as dark as yours.”

Jiraiya raised his eyebrow in the sudden mention of the silver haired jounin’s name.

Huh…what are you talking about, Iruka-chan?

Iruka chuckled sleepily; eyes began closing in its own accord as her lips formed the words her brain couldn’t make to remember.

“His stare…. always seem to read through the depth of my soul… just like yours does, sensei….”

And…. it makes me warm inside….

And the chuunin slept. A slight tired smile formed on her face.

Jiraiya chuckled at the sudden honest admission.

Ah…..you haven’t realized it yet, have you, Iruka-chan?

At least….there’s hope for you, Kakashi……

----------------------------------------------------------------------
THAT NIGHT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

After talking with the silver haired sannin, Iruka was awake with a renewed strength. She felt a bit more…secure and confident that night. Her sensei’s words always calm her raging feelings down, guiding her through her confused life with his wise words. Jiraiya had gone through so many things and he still kept smiling, facing the troubles before him with the knowledge he achieved for years being shinobi and believing in the future. She wouldn’t wonder if the toad sannin was choosen as the next Hokage to replace Sandaime one day.

Although I don’t think people appreciate killing their own Hokage after getting him caught peeping at women’s hotsprings….

“Ne…Iruka-sensei?”

Iruka glanced up from her academy reports, smiling at the sight of blonde curled up so comfortably in her couch. The blonde was spending a night in her house that night. Right after she woke up from her rest (which was two hours ago), Naruto quite immediately appeared beside her bed, telling her what cool jutsu she used earlier and damn! His sensei was amazing! And whoa, she just fought with a Sannin, no matter how much a pervert he was!

It had been a while after dinner that Iruka could stop Naruto’s mouth from babbling out how amazing she was.

Apparently she didn’t succeed far too long.

“What is it, Naruto?”

“Why did you call the pervert hermit -sensei?” Naruto looked up, staring at her curiously from behind the manga he was reading at the moment.

It took a few seconds for Iruka to realize that the pervert hermit Naruto mean was Jiraiya. She chuckled. “Well…because he had been my sensei in my gennin years for quite a while, Naruto. I’ve never told you about it before, huh?”

Naruto’s eyes brightened at the news, “Really? So how is he? Is he THAT great as he said, sensei? Does he have many cool jutsus like Kakashi-sensei? Tell me, Iruka-sensei!!”

Iruka smiled lightly at the blonde’s eagerness. “Honestly…Jiraiya-sensei isn’t called as ‘the Toad Sannin’ for nothing, Naruto. He has been living for years, even longer than average shinobis that generally…dead before thirty. He has so many great jutsus that maybe only few elite jounins could master.”

Naruto sat up from his earlier sparwled position, listening intently. “So…do you know any of his jutsus, sensei? Can you teach me? Pretty please..?? Like the one you use in the yard this morning? It’s AWESOME!!!”

Iruka put down her pencils, focusing to the talk as she shook her head. “I can’t do that, Naruto. True, Jiraiya-sensei had taught me some of his jutsus -like that Doton jutsu, but I can’t randomly teach them to you or any other kids.”

And not to forget some of them are too dangerous to use by a gennin your age… Jiraiya-sensei will kill me if I taught any of them to you….not that I can do that in my state now….

Naruto pouted, “Ah…why not, sensei?”

Iruka sighed. “You’re still too young to learn them …Moreover… I have no rights at all to teach the jutsus Jiraiya-sensei taught me to you.” continued the chuunin hesistantly. She was very aware -despite his friendly manner - the silver haired Sannin was very selective in choosing who will be his next successor - or in Iruka’s case - who would inherit his infamous jutsus.

Jiraiya-sensei said to open up with the ones closest with me….

Is this… alright, sensei?

Naruto sighed in dissapointment, “Awwww… why not?? Don’t you trust me, sensei?”

Iruka stared softly at the blonde, imagining the kyuubi fought ruthlessly to break the seals inside him. The picture soon was replaced by Naruto’s smile, his cheeky grin, his laugh, and his fond hugs.

“I trust you, Naruto. I only can’t trust…. myself.” She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. Her sensei’s previous words rang clearly in her head.

“Just let them see behind that innocent happy mask of yours, Iruka-chan…”

“What!?? That’s a strange thing to say from you, sensei!! Who won’t trust you!? You’re the nicest sensei I have!!” Naruto protested, quickly throwing himself at his sensei’s arms, feeling hurt at the sudden sad expression his Iruka-sensei held at the moment. It was a strange emotion that Naruto very rarely saw in her always smiling face.

Don’t be sad, please…

Iruka opened her arms, letting the blonde snuggle more into her form. She sighed, opening her eyes back. She decided to tell him a piece of her thought and the real reason her refusing to teach him. That was the least she could do. “That’s the problem, Naruto….Sometimes I’m too nice…. too damn nice that I simply accept anything from people without questioning it back, that I simply can’t withstand anyone close to me to be hurt. I’m afraid that I can’t bear watching you train that jutsu…It’ll be…too hard for me I guess.” She tried to smile, but it was harder and harder to keep by seconds. The images of a bloodied Naruto trying to get the key of mastering those A-level ninjutsus - days until weeks - would be too hard for her to bear in mind. Jiraiya’s previous words rang again and again in her mind.

“Let your real self out for once. Open up with the ones closest with you. Just let them see behind that innocent happy mask of yours, Iruka-chan…”

“But…you’re nice to everyone. I’m sure no one will be angry if you think/say something stupid about them once a while, sensei! Hell, no one in academy back then was angry that you punish them because they were cheating in exams! And you train me those basic jutsus in Academy yourself back then!” Naruto argued, staring up at his sensei’s lost expression. He felt something tightened inside, nearly choked at the solemn way his dear sensei stared at him.

Sensei…? Why do you look so…lost?

Iruka could feel something tightened inside her. True, she let out her temper more than necessary in front of her students. They were children. They were innocent. She didn’t need to wear her nice & innocent façade before them because they didn’t have any hidden meanings before hers beside the naughty yet creative pranks to their teachers. They didn’t judge her. They were safe.

And training you those basic jutsus are nowhere close to the danger and risk you have to face to learn those A-level jutsus, Naruto…

“Just try it, child. And you’ll know people love you regardless how you act before them. It’s your heart that makes them do.”

“Naruto…you’re really a nice boy… But…my problems are more complicated than what you think….It’s…” she refrained to say more at Naruto’s frightened expression.

Sensei….it’s hard…

It’s hard….

Will Naruto …accept me…… really accept…the real me?

Will he smile back at me……after seeing my broken smile?

I’m afraid…

I’m afraid, sensei…

Jiraiya-sensei…

Tsunade-sensei…… I’m sorry……

Naruto immediately threw himself once more at his sensei, shouting and pleading at her. “Sensei! Please don’t cry! Please just don’t!! I don’t want to see you sad, sensei!! I’ll do anything you ask me to do, but please….don’t cry!!” He begged, unaware his own tears fell as he tightened his arms around his sensei, wetting Iruka’s shirt in the process. It was hurt to see the usually smiling and happy sensei broke before him.

It was the time that Naruto finally realized that Iruka wasn’t the angel that can always smile, soothing his isolated childhood with her gentle and honest words, accepting his lost soul and the monster inside him with open arms.

No, Iruka was simply a woman, a human. A human that just broke before him, and Naruto couldn’t bear to witness the tears that fell slowly along her cheeks.

“Forgive me…forgive me, Naruto…. I won’t cry…I won’t….” She tightened her arms around the blonde boy, the one that seeped inside her thick walls, the one that broke the carefully built happiness façade covering her broken souls without her realizing it until now.

But the tears kept falling.

“Just….just …please … don’t leave…”

No……Iruka-sensei isn’t a broken human……

She is…

……a fallen angel……

And Naruto cried with her.

Tbc………

A/N : Naruto…you’re such a sweet boy…. *sniffs* And now we know Iruka isn’t a ‘happy go lucky’ guy…er.. girl….er.. woman… I felt bad for her… ;___;

This’s a difficult chapter to write, really - especially about Jiraiya & Iruka’s interaction. I haven’t read/seen the two talking too seriously either in fics/manga/anime so please bear with me if they’re too OOC for your liking. ^^;

Still, I must admit that I really admire Jiraiya. He’s one of my favorite characters in manga until now. Hope u like him as I do! ^^

Notes : From now on, I’m afraid I’ll update next chapters in much slower pace because my college starts again on Monday (Oh noes….. ;___; ). I might update every 2 weeks if I’m quick enough, but I can’t promise. The worst? You might wait a month at least for the next chapters. I’m sorry. @__@

- Izky

The Next Chapter - Their Confusion

Preview :

“Every shinobi like us has our own problems to deal with. She’s only better in hiding it behind those innocent smiles of hers, Hatake.”

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“Now I wonder…. if her smile is true at all….”

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“Wha… Don’t tell me you MISS that lazy pervert of sensei, Iruka-sensei?” Naruto raised his eyebrow in wonder, grinning cheekily at the blush adorned his favourite sensei’s cheek soon.

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[FIC] The Kunoichi's Heart 06

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 23:24:46 GMT

Title : The Kunoichi's Heart
Rating : PG-13 (this chapter), R later on.
Disclaimer : The characters are NOT MINE.
Chapter : 6/???
Words : 4,918 words
Summary : What if Iruka was a female? Follow the Naruto story since the very beginning.....
Pairing : KakaIru (the others will be canon-like hopefully)

| Chapter 01 - The Failed Student |
| Chapter 02 - The Realization |
| Chapter 03 - The Promise & the Test |
| Chapter 04 - The Growing Fondness |
| Chapter 05 - The New 'Friends' |

A/N :
Hello again!! ^^ Here in this chapter you’ll know WHO Iruka’s sensei was. Enjoy the chapter. ^__^

-Izky

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Chapter 06 - Her Sensei : 4,918 words
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They were walking together side by side on the now almost empty street. It was very late on the afternoon and most people already finished their jobs and went home. Iruka, ignoring the growing warmth the jounin provided beside her, glancing back at the other side of streets. “I wonder where Naruto and the others are now….”

Kakashi shrugged, eyes kept on his dear Icha-icha book as his feet automatically brought him to his destination. “Sakura usually loves shopping at the shops in the west side of village. It’ll take them hours before they’re done, sensei…”

Or before Sakura are satisfied with her choice of clothes….maybe.

“But….all of them looks pretty tired already. Shouldn’t they take a rest? You look tired as well, Kakashi-sensei…” Iruka voiced out her thought.

Kakashi shake his head slowly. “A dinner won’t kill me. And…you’re too nice sometimes, Iruka-sensei.”

One day…I’m afraid it’ll be your weakness, sensei…. People can take advantage from your kindness….

“Uh…is it a bad thing?” Iruka blinked, unsure with what the jounin implied. She ignored the sudden hurt she felt at those words.

Huh? Did I miss something…? All of them just go back from a week long mission. They should at least take a shower and change….

“Sometimes.” Kakashi answered, turning his face slightly to glance down at her with a rather odd intensity inside that single eye. Iruka could feel her cheeks warmed at the treatment, unsure with the sudden close proximity they had now.

EEr…hello Kakashi-sensei…? Can you stare somewhere ELSE??

“Uh…Kakashi-sensei? Where will we go eat?” Iruka changed the subject.

“Ichiraku Ramen? I’m pretty hungry right now…” A second later, the jounin was already back on his Icha-icha book.

Iruka shook her head at the typical answer from the jounin. “You should eat more healthy foods, Kakashi-sensei.”

Kakashi just blinked back, glancing at the chuunin beside him. “Huh? You don’t like ramen?”

Iruka shook her head, sighing. “Well… I love ramen myself. But with Naruto often eats dinner in my place….well…let’s say I’m a bit fed up with those bowls of ramen...”

“We can eat at another place then…” Kakashi chuckled.

Iruka wanted to answer back, but her attention shifted at a sudden presence of chakra a few feet away from where they were. Kakashi seemed to sense it as well.

Wait….this chakra….. Iruka blinked in realization.

It’s………

……….

…..

….

..

.

“I….Ruka-chan? Is that you?”

Iruka’s eyes widened even more as they gave her a sight of someone who she hadn’t expected to meet that day.

The old man was standing no more than fifty metres away before her, walking casualy along the now empty street. His surprised face was looking at her as a smile appeared slowly on his face.

“…Jiraiya….-sensei?”

He’s….here…

His face looked a bit worn with lines of years he went through. Rougher if Iruka could find the word. The silver hair was longer by several inches. And instead of wearing black (or green jounin vest like she remembered a long time ago), red sleeveless haori hang outside a grey-green kimono. The new addition was a metal protector on his forehead, a single kanji was written. What the heck did ‘Oil’ mean anyway…?

Oh yes…. His favorite jutsus are -were- often using toad oil…

“Uh….Iruka-sensei…?” Kakashi glanced down at the sudden change of the female chuunin beside him. He was long recognized Jiraiya’s chakra since they turned to walk this block, so he wasn’t surprised much to see the sannin. But, Iruka’s response to the sannin’s presence seemed confused him.

Is there something wrong, sensei? You look as if you see a ghost or something…

Well… Jiraiya’s hair is a bit white….but I doubt his is THAT white…

Iruka, on the other hand, kept staring at the figure before them. Forgetting for a moment anyone’s presences around her, Iruka fastened her steps until she practically ran toward the figure before her eyes and jumped into the automatically opened arms.

What the….

Kakashi blinked.

Now….THAT wasn’t anything he would expect the adult (stressed the word here) chuunin would do to… anyone.

Much less to the pervert sannin…. I must be dreaming here… A woman practically throws herself into the SUPER pervert’s arms???

“Jiraiya-sensei!!!” Iruka could feel her own tears against that hard chest, clutching the red haori, and burying herself deeper into the figure she long to meet since years ago. The long forgotten memories resurfaced against the familiar scent of sandalwood and waterfall, tickling her nose with its familiarity.

“Wow…. It’s not everyday a beautiful lady threw herself at me….Still, didn’t expect to meet you here, girl.” The chest rumbled as her sensei chuckled, tightening his arms around her smaller frame. He was practically lifting the much smaller female sensei to his arms as if she was a child.

“Mmm….” Iruka nodded, wiping the tears off her eyes as finally they broke apart. Jiraiya let her down carefully, a fond smile on his face as he stared down at her. Trying to compose her self, Iruka bowed slightly at the huge silver haired guy before her. “It has been a long time, Jiraiya-sensei.”

“Yeah….and wow, look at you now. You have breasts.” The leer was unmistakeable as his dark eyes stared unmistakably at the bulge on Iruka’s vest.

Eer….he hasn’t changed much apparently….

Trust Jiraiya to say THAT after years not seeing each other.

“SENSEI!” Iruka blushed. HARD. She ignored her instinct to cover herself before him. After all, she did wear full uniform, right?

“Hey, take it as compliment from me.” Jiraiya winked down at her.

Really, after more than a few years not seeing her (the last time they meet was….five-six years ago?), Jiraiya was so surprised at the huge changes the chuunin had now with the small girl he trained years go. The previous tomboy girl, the prankster, was growing up into a so soooo pretty young woman. And look at those breasts, damn…

Consider the rather tight chuunin vest of her, she MUST use bandages to tighten those growing bobs…. Damn… those must be HUGE now… The sannin smirked pervertly.

You grow up A LOT I see….

He eyed the kunoichi from head to feet, tying to find the similarities the little girl had those years ago with the female figure before him. His gaze grew a bit somber when reaching the scar ran over the female’s face. Something familiar tightened inside him at its sight. Still, he kept his feeling inside. He wasn’t a sannin for nothing after all. His smirk never changed.

You never forget, don’t you, Iruka-chan…?

Iruka sighed, chuckling at the behaviour her sensei often did to older women those times ago. And now, that behaviour was directed to her. She should feel insulted. “Then does it mean that I’m old already, sensei? You used to peek at old women in the hot springs back then.”

Her sensei looked scandalized. “Hey!! I look at woman above fifteen year old!”

Iruka just grinned, “Hai…hai….”

And maybe below sixty huh..? Like a certain…blonde….

”Uh....sorry to interrupt...” Staring at the closeness and the easeness that was shared between the female chuunin and the sannin, Kakashi couldn’t help the curiosity that grew in matter of seconds inside him as he walked closer and closer to where the two stood.

Since when did Jiraiya know Iruka…? I don’t think they meet each other before…. And a few minutes ago they practically hugged each other like a….

Feeling a sudden possesiveness inside him, he grasped the chuunin’s shoulder slightly, cutting whatever talk the two shared.

Both of Iruka and Jiraiya stopped their conversation as Iruka felt a familiar large hand on her shoulder. She turned around only to find a confused dark grey eye stare down at hers. “Iruka-sensei…?”

“Ah…Kakashi-sensei!!” Iruka blushed, just realizing that she ignored his presence the seconds her eyes met the sight of Jiraiya five minutes ago.

“Hey, Kakashi! Long time no see you, huh!” Jiraiya grinned at the sudden appearance of the new person. He smirked, not missing how gentle the way Kakashi’s hand gripped Iruka’s shoulder was.

Well…well….now this’s unexpected….

“Hnn…” Kakashi nodded back, his uncovered eye curved slightly at the sight of Jiraiya.

“Kakashi-sensei! I’m sorry! It’s horrible for me to walk away from you like that.” Iruka blushed, feeling guilty for some reasons she didn’t know.

Oh my … I’m SO impolite….. I know I’m too happy to see sensei, but I should pay attention to Kakashi-sensei as well!

“Huh? Are you two together or something?” Jiraiya, a single-minded one he was, grinned mischievously. He was rewarded with an adorable sight of the blushing Iruka and a raised eyebrow of Kakashi’s, as if challenging him ‘What’s about it, old man?’ Kakashi wasn’t the most polite person after all.

Woah….. you’re so lucky, Kakashi.

“Jiraiya-sensei!! Stop thinking like a pervert, okay!!” she blushed, restraining herself to give her sensei a good punch on his head as he certainly deserved it.

“So…. What are you doing here, old man?” Kakashi raised his eyebrows, slightly pulling the oblivious Iruka closer to him. The possessive gesture made Jiraiya grin.

Possesive much, Kakashi…? Tehehe…. Years I’ve thought you married my Icha-icha book and here you’re with my little Iruka-chan…?

Still… ten points for you, Iruka. You’re getting Sharingan Kakashi as your man. Damn…. You have a good taste here, girl…

“Hey, don’t call me ‘old’ , brat!! I’m not fifty yet!” Jiraiya laughed at him.

Surprised at the closeness she saw between two men before her, Iruka couldn’t help but ask. “You two know each other..?”

Jiraiya nodded, grin on place as usual. “Yup. He’s my student’s student. And looked what he becomes today!”

Iruka grinned teasingly at that, “A pervert? Now I know where his pervertness comes from….”

Jiraiya and Kakashi both looked offended at that, “HEY!!” Iruka just laughed, “Sorry… but you can’t deny Icha-icha connection here, sensei. You still write that thing, right?”

“Hmmph… See if I want to give you one of my books ever again.” Jiraiya pouted childishly.

“No thanks. I can live without that … trash, sensei.” Iruka raised her eyebrows, obviously amused at the sight.

“Ouch….You wound me, Iruka-chan!!” The sannin faked a cry.

“That’s the point, sensei.” Iruka chuckled.

Kakashi just sighed, looking at her then turning back to Jiraiya again. “Okay, enough of joking. Iruka-sensei and I want to go to eat now. Are you coming, old man? We could talk there.”

Then find out how you ended up being a student of my sensei’s sensei, Iruka-sensei…

And HOW I’ve never known about this before.

Jiraiya shook his head at the offer, grinning sheepishly. “Naah… Actually I just arrive in Konoha….As much as I want to…I need to meet someone first.”

Iruka wanted to ask, but judging from the way Jiraiya said it, it would be the best if she kept silent.

Kakashi nodded, turning back at Iruka once more. “Okay then. Let’s go sensei.”

Oh well…I can ask Iruka instead…

“Before that, how long will you stay in Konoha, sensei?” Iruka glanced up at the silver haired sannin. She really would like to talk more with him sometimes in the near future. Preferebly no longer than a decade like before…

Jiraiya grinned, ruffling her neat hair fondly, “Missing me already, huh? I think I’ll stay for a while. Something needs my attention here.”

Iruka frowned a bit at that.

Only something BIG that requires a Sannin like him to go back here to Konoha…but it’s not my place to ask….

I guess it’s better not to ask….for now.

Eventually Iruka smiled back, letting the man play with her hair. “Then maybe we can go have a drink together one day. Kotetsu and Izumo will be glad to see you again, sensei.”

“I look forward to it, kid. Until then, I’m staying in my old apartment, you know where it is, right? Just visit me there, night preferably, okay?” Jiraiya winked.

Iruka nodded, “Okay then. See you again, sensei!” Bowing slightly, Iruka then let the silver jounin pull her to walk ahead.

‘See you later then, old man.” Kakashi waved lazily.

“Yeah, you too, brat! And enjoy your date!”

“SENSEI!!”

The sannin laughed out loud at her response.

Staring at the pair who walked away from him, Jiraiya grinned.

I wonder if Sarutobi-sensei knows this….

------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I don’t know Jiraiya has students after Yondaime.” Kakashi said casually.

They were eating in a small cozy restaurant. In Iruka’s personal opinion, it was a bit much for a dinner, but Iruka wouldn’t complain. After all, when the last time did she eat outside besides in Ichiraku Ramen anyway??

“Huh? Oh… Jiraiya-sensei is not my sensei…officially.” Iruka shrugged, enjoying eating the white noodle before her slowly. She tried not to stare at the jounin before her, respecting the fact that the Jounin had to eat without his mask. Although judging by his already empty plate she didn’t need to do that anymore.

He eats fast….

“Officially…?”

Kakashi was, in fact, really interested to know more. He knew Jiraiya practically since he was born, but he wasn’t aware that the silver haired sannin decided to have another team to train after Yondaime, Kakashi’s sensei.

And Minato-sensei had never told me about it….

Iruka nodded, sensing she perked the jounin’s interest a bit.

Well…not many people know about it after all…

Grinning sheepishly, Iruka answered. “Hmm…how do I explain this… it’s just that Jiraiya-sensei had taught us for a while…. It was unplanned though.”

“By ‘us’…do you mean Kotetsu and Izumo as well..? And what do you mean with ‘unplanned, sensei?” Kakashi asked.

Iruka nodded; eyes down at her bowl, staring in remembrance. “Yeah. We were taught by our sensei before, but ‘something’ came up and sensei left. Sandaime didn’t want us to waste off our training time without any jounins guiding us. That’s why he asked Jiraiya-sensei to be our jounin teacher for a while. That was a long time ago though…”

I missed those training times….

“Hmm…” The silver haired jounin was just silent, not asking anything more. Iruka smiled, not knowing why.

“You don’t need to look away you know – but thanks.” Kakashi suddenly said.

Iruka immediately glanced up, meeting the familiar curved eye. She grinned sheepishly, “Ah….sorry. I just don’t think you’ll be comfortable eating before people like this.”

“You’re too nice, sensei.” The jounin shake his head, but judging from his tone – Iruka realized that he meant it as compliment…this time.

Iruka smiled, “You seem to say that a lot to me. Now, do you want to talk about something, Kakashi-sensei?”

He wouldn’t ask me for a dinner without having some things to ask or tell me…. And I need to ask about Zabuza-san and Haku-san’s living in Konoha anyway…

Kakashi stared up at the ceiling as if he was thinking of something, “Well… Actually it’s the other way around. Do you want to ask me something, sensei?” He glanced back at Iruka, who blinked back at the question.

He curved his visible eye again at the sudden blush that appeared in Iruka’s cheeks. It was a rather relaxing late afternoon (or night), Kakashi must admit. After a week filled with adrenalin rush and tension from a C-turned-A mission, the adorable blush on the chuunin’s face was a rather welcoming sight for him.

Full stomach and an adorable chuunin before me...The only way to make it better is to add a new Icha-icha book to read on my lap.

Still, Kakashi realized that it wasn’t the best time to read his dear novel at the moment. He was aware that Iruka had many questions regarding the mission and the sudden appearances of Zabuza and Haku, and he knew the chuunin needed his seriousness for once. So, no Icha-icha this time. Too bad.

Iruka blushed, feeling suddenly like an open book before the jounin.

Sometimes I feel like he can read me better than myself…. I wonder why… He’s just so perspective…

“Well..now that you say it…. Do you mind explaining about Haku-san and Zabuza-san coming to Konoha, Kakashi-sensei?” She asked, somehow already knew some of the answers. She just needed to confirm it.

The new nins come to Konoha, followed by ANBUs for safety reasons…. Are they…missing nins or enemies before? There are only two ways missing nin can be ‘accepted’ into a hidden village that I know...

Kakashi shrugged, leaning back at his seat. “Hmm….promise not to kill me first, sensei?”

Iruka blinked, “Huh? Why?”

Kakashi brushed his untamed hair slowly, somehow a bit nervous to explain it.

Well…she’s sometimes a bit too mother hen….and I don’t know how she’ll react knowing the C-turned-A mission thanks to Zabuza and Haku’s as enemies…. And the mission is SUPPOSED to be confindental…..but she’ll find it later anyway….she’s one of the staffs in the mission room after all….

Glancing back at the confused brown eyes before him, Kakashi sighed.

Still…she deserves to know the truth… She’s practically the mother of team 7…

Kakashi just shook his head, trying to wipe the slight blush that came after the last thought of his. He was soooo grateful for the mask.

“Kakashi-sensei?” Now Iruka was really curious. The jounin has been silent for quite a few seconds.

“Promise me first, sensei?” The jounin asked again. As kind as Iruka was, Kakashi didn’t want to take any chances though.

Iruka smiled at the rather childish way the jounin asked her. She nodded, “Alright, I promise.”

And so he explained.

------------------------------------------

Gatou was dead.

The crazy businessman was finished by Zabuza’s blows while he can’t move anywhere because the kunais pierced against his blazer thrown by Kakashi. They finally had a silent agreement to finish the crazy businessman, who had decided to destroy ALL the shinobis on his way with his gatling gun. That bastard met his end, very painfully.

And now, after a few hours finishing the deals between Gatou’s right men and cleaning the piles of broken buildings after the fierce battles between the two sides, it was time to go. Wave County would build their great bridge together without any disturbances from Gatou or his men anymore.

“Where are you two going to go after this?" Kakashi asked them.

Missing nins -like Zabuza was- were considered traitors and were hunted down because of the secrets they may hold. Other Hidden Villages would be interested in purchasing this information because it could be useful in gaining an upper hand in battle or obtain possession of a Bloodline Limit technique, like Haku’s for example. Anyone would try to get hold of him and his special ability.

“Tch….we’re going anywhere as long as Hunter-nins can’t catch up with us.” Zabuza grunted, staring ahead at the huge path spread before them.

“Then…this’s where we part. I’m glad to meet you all.” Haku bowed slightly, a sad smile on his face. The two missing nins agreed that leaving early was the best for all. They didn’t miss the way civilians (even Tazuna and his family) stared at them in slight curiousness, wariness and fear, before and after Gatou’s death.

All of them were silent until a sudden voice of Naruto’s broke it.

"Hey! Then why doesn't Haku and Zabuza come with us to Konoha?" Naruto asked. "Yeah! You guys won't have people on your trail that will want to kill you anymore, and you'll get to work in the same village as us!" He continued.

The rest of them blinked at Naruto’s words.

There had been silence for a full minute before someone broke it. Kakashi.

“Hmm… It can work. There are only two ways a missing nin can be relinquished of his status after all." Kakashi said, holding up two fingers. "One, they are killed. Two, they are accepted into a hidden village that is either allied with the village the nin is from, or the village the nin is from doesn't want to mess with the hidden village the nin is accepted into. The second option seems possible for you and Haku, Zabuza. Konoha doesn’t take Mist kindly after all…"

Sakura grinned at the explanation her sensei provided them, “Then it’s okay!! Konoha will accept you two!!!”

“Still…there will be some tests that the ex-missing nins must take to prove their loyalty to the village they wished to join to. And not to mention the security that would keep them in place…” Sasuke frowned.

Naruto grinned cheekily at his team’s answers. “We can discuss the bits later… But more importantly….. what’s your answer?” He asked the two nins before him.

Zabuza smirked as he saw the smile grew on Haku’s gentle face.

------------------------------------------

Nearly an hour later, Kakashi found himself surprised that he was still alive after telling Iruka what had happened with team 7, Zabuza, Haku, Tazuna’s family and Gatou. (He left the parts of Naruto’s changing into a kyuubi mode caused by the rage of losing Sasuke’s life - it was after all … a really confidental data that only Hokage deserved to know and no, he didn’t want Iruka to castrate him….literally.)

The chuunin-sensei, much to Kakashi’s surprise, didn’t blame him for anything. She was simply silent, staring at Kakashi’s side after the long explanation the jounin gave her.

“So…are you angry, Iruka-sensei?” Kakashi couldn’t help but ask.

Iruka just sighed, shaking her head and smiling slightly at him. “It was a mission. We can’t predict what can or will happen there. I’m just relieved that all of you come back alive and safe, Kakashi-san… ”

Kakashi curved his eye in return as relief filled inside him. “Me too, sensei.”

“….And what do you think of Haku and Zabuza?” Kakashi asked again.

Iruka nodded back, a smile kept on her face. A hidden steel could be felt behind her soft words “As long as they’re not having any intents to destroy Konoha in all kinds of ways and proving their worth and honesty, I’ll treat them the way they treat me. As Konoha shinobi.”

Kakashi’s eyes softened at those words.

“Still…Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura…. They’re growing up so much….It is thanks to you, Kakashi-sensei.” Iruka stared back at the silver haired jounin, giving him her full smile.

Thank you, Kakashi-sensei….

“Maa….I’ve done nothing but torture them, Iruka-sensei.” Kakashi chuckled, feeling warmth grow and fill him inside at the sight of that smile.

I will do anything to get you smile like that, sensei…

Iruka chuckled in return, “If you say so, sensei.”

Their talk was stopped by a sudden whistle coming from behind him. Kakashi could feel himself twitch at the familiar chakra.

“Well…well…let’s see what we get here…. Kakashi? Iruka-sensei?” A grinning Genma was a sight that Kakashi was rather not see that night.

“Genma-san. Good evening.” Iruka, as polite as ever, bowed lightly at the senbon-sucking jounin who was standing beside their table.

“What are you two doing here…? Having a date, huh?” Genma winked at him as he patted Iruka’s shoulder in a friendly manner.

Kakashi simply raised his eyebrows when Iruka blushed HARD and sputtered, “We’re NOT! We’re just talking about team 7’s last mission!”

Genma raised his eyebrows in return, “Is that what you call these days?”

Kakashi simply curved his visible eye, keeping his mouth shut when Iruka’s blush going redder and redder by seconds, clearly embarrassed, anger, and expiration mixed into one at the senbon sucking jounin’s words. He rather enjoyed the adorable sight before him. An angry Iruka was a rare yet very welcoming sight to him and Kakashi intended to enjoy it as long as he could.

“Genma-san! Stop joking around! We’re only having a dinner!” The chunin groaned, blush filling her face.

Why does everyone ALWAYS think THAT way!???

“Sooo…..our innocent Iruka-chan is having a dinner alone with our lazy Kakashi. I can’t wait until I tell Izumo and Kotetsu. They will be soooo…happy!” Genma leered at her.

Iruka started hyperventilating. “Don’t call me that!”

“So…. How many children do you want, Kakashi?” Genma joked more, winking at the amused silver haired jounin.

I can hear the wedding bells already….. Fufufu….

“Maa…Genma. That’s enough.” Finally Kakashi said, wondering if Iruka got any redder she would burst.

I’m not going to follow that thought….

Genma chuckled, “Sorry. I know…you two want to be left alone, huh? I’ll leave you two loverbirds for now.” With a wink, he left their table.

“Should we leave now, Iruka-sensei? It’s rather late already.” Kakashi stood, glancing at the chuunin who was currently trying to calm herself down.

“Aah…sorry for that, Kakashi-sensei.…” Iruka stood as well, letting out her wallet. She refused to think anything passed five minutes ago or she would have a serious brain damage. “And I should pay for myself as well…”

Kakashi simply shook his head, grasping the smaller hand in his. “No need for that. I’m paying this time, sensei.”

Iruka tried to protest, but Kakashi simply pulled her hand. The chuunin had no choice but follow him out the restaurant.

It was never occurred to Iruka that they had been holding hands until Kakashi dropped her home.

--------------------------------------------------

“It’s very rare to see you in Konoha, Jiraiya.” Sandaime smiled at the sight of his student crouching on the bark of tree outside the Hokage’s room.

“Hello to you too, old man.” Jiraiya chuckled, waving slightly.

Sandaime nodded, opening the window so the sannin could enter his office. Jiraiya accepted the silent invitation, jumping into the dark room with an ability even jounins would envy.

“So….any news?” The Hokage closed the window back. The moonlight shone vividly, creating a soft silver hue around the dark room as Sandaime sat back on his seat.

Jiraiya nodded, leaning at the other side of desk. “I believe Orochimaru has begun his plan.”

“Do continue.”

“My sources believe that he’ll infiltrate Konoha later….in the next Chuunin exam, which will be….a month from now on.” Jiraiya continued, staring at the empty wall before him.

Sandaime raised his eyebrows, “Do you believe it…?”

Jiraiya laughed, irony filled his next words. “Believe it, sensei? I can not believe he takes this long to invade Konoha…”

Sandaime nodded, “We’ll need to tighten the security for the exam later then…”

“It’ll be difficult. So many people -mostly civilians- will enter Konoha to see our gennins’ performance and we can’t inspect every person there….it’ll be far too many.” Jiraiya mused.

“But it must be done. I’ll arrange jounins and some chuunins to be on their guard along the exam later.”

“You do that, old man.”

“Hnn…”

“Speaking of chuunins….. I just meet Iruka-chan.” Jiraiya grinned, standing up from his position.

“Well….it has been a long time since you last see her. How is it?” Sandaime smiled at the mention of one of his favourite nins.

Jiraiya chuckled, brushing the spiky silver hair of his. It had grown longer than the last time Sandaime saw him. It nearly reached the sannin’s knees now. “She grows up to be a beautiful kunoichi…. And I can’t believe she has a boyfriend now!! Ah…young love….” Jiraiya grinned at the baffled expression of his sensei.

“Wha…!? I thought Iruka is still single? Are you sure, Jiraiya?” Sandaime shook his head in belief.

Iruka? Boyfriend? I’ve never expected……

“Oh yes I’m sooo sure of it. And she got a real catch here. The copy nin himself no less.” Jiraiya chuckled.

Sandaime blinked for a few seconds, trying to digest the new info into his tired brain (those damn piles of reports were starting to kill him). Finally he let out a chuckle. “Ah…I see…. Kakashi has shown his interest to her for quite a while. But I’m afraid you’re wrong here, Jiraiya… They’re not dating, I’m sure.”

“Huh..?” It was Jiraiya’s turn to blink. He realized that Kakashi was one of the male jounins that had more than a few females (and maybe a few males) trailed behind him. Too bad the silver haired jounin was soo focused into Jiraiya’s icha-icha to answer his admirers’ wish (Well..not that Jiraiya would complain, still..)

Don’t tell me Iruka does NOT like Kakashi at all?? The Hell!? They’re practically MARRIED the way they talk and act around each other!??

“Are they in denial then?”

Sandaime grinned, “Let’s say….it’s like….. Kurenai and Asuma’s situation.”

Jiraiya blinked again, before he got the meaning. He groaned, “Damn…. It’ll take them years to get together if you’re right, old man!”

The classic fear of every elite jounins like Kakashi has….. and his past…

Not to mention about Iruka’s past as well….

But I want to see some of my grandchildren before I turn sixty, damn it!

And I’m not even fifty yet…..

Sandaime merely sighed at his comment, “Well…Iruka isn’t the brightest woman in the relationship department. She’s one of the best chuunins we have, yet….she’s practically oblivious of everything related to her own relationship. I don’t know how she could do that in a shinobi village like this…”

Jiraiya gazed at the window, enjoying the calming moonlight against his face. “Well….if you ask me…I would say she inherites it from her sensei….” His previously happy eyes turned a bit somber in remembrance.

Sandaime nodded, smiling sadly. “Yes…. You’re right…”

“So….do you hear any news from that sensei of hers, old man?”

“Our ANBUs reported her presence at Cloud Country two months ago. She was still gambling her money off as usual. Shizune was with her.” Sandaime pulled his dear pipe out from his desk. He needed to smoke.

Jiraiya merely sighed.

Tsunade…. When the hell will you get your ass back here, you woman….

Your students are still waiting for you, damn it….

Tbc….

A/N : Yes, Tsunade is Iruka’s REAL jounin sensei…. Do u guess it right? =P And in this fic, I decide the Sannin aren’t fifty yet! Ah…the joy being the fic writer… I practically own ALL of them… xD *evil laughs*

And the plot thickens…… @______@ I don’t think I’ve ever read a fic where Tsunade AND Jiraiya go as Iruka’s sensei before (I wanna a change from the usual ‘Orochimaru as Iruka’s teacher’ things xP)… so pardon me if it’s not your usual KakaIru fics…. ^^;

Btw, bcause some people asked, I’ll tell u that this VERY fast updating style will last until at least chapter 8. After that, I’m afraid I’ll be MUCH slower at updating bcause my break is over and college will begin again…. Just want to ‘warn’ u ahead… ^^;

-Izky

The Next Chapter - The Broken Mask (Will be up on next Tuesday/Wednesday, I hope…)

Teasers :

Kotetsu snorted, gulping his sake. “You’re just biased because Kakashi is your student’s student.”
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Tsunade….Iruka….you two are far too much alike, aren’t you?

When will you forgive yourself?
---------------------------------------------------
“Don’t explain yourself, Naruto. You’re responsible for three teachers fainted due to blood loss today. So…just shut up until I’m done with Jiraiya-sensei here. And then it WILL be YOUR turn.” Iruka growled at her student, daring him to talk more.
----------------------------------------------------
With that, Jiraiya, with Iruka safely tucked into his arms, walked up toward the dumbfounded Naruto, who already turned back in his boy form. He grinned at the baffled expressions on the Gennin’s face.

“You…and…Iruka-sensei…..that jutsu…damn…that’s amazing…how did..” The gennin stuttered.
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Until next chapter! ^___^

| Chapter 07 - The Broken Mask |

[FIC] The Kunoichi's Heart 05

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:25:50 GMT

Title : The Kunoichi's Heart
Rating : PG-15 (this chapter), R later on.
Disclaimer : The characters are NOT MINE.
Chapter : 5/???
Words : 4,876 words
Summary : What if Iruka was a female? Follow the Naruto story since the very beginning.....
Pairing : KakaIru (the others will be canon-like hopefully)

| Chapter 01 - The Failed Student |
| Chapter 02 - The Realization |
| Chapter 03 - The Promise & the Test |
| Chapter 04 - The Growing Fondness |

WARNING : UNBETAED YET!

OMG... I update again.... I can't believe I'm THIS fast.... O___o

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Chapter 05 - The New ‘Friends’ : 4,876 words
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“You’re to accompany Tazuna-san of the Wave Country. He's a bridge builder requesting for some shinobi to escort him back to his home and protect him from bandits or robbers. Good luck.”

“Hn..”

“Yay!! Thank you, Hokage-sama!!”

“Great, old man!! Iruka-sensei! Just wait for me! I’ll buy a ramen for you there!!”

“Maa…..it’s enough, kids. Let’s go. See u later, Iruka-sensei, Hokage-sama.”

Iruka only could nod and smile back at the backs of the team 7 as they went out of the Hokage’s office together with the builder.

“Don’t worry too much, sensei.”

Iruka turned back to glance at the Hokage, smiling sheepishly, “Ah….forgive me, Sandaime-sama. Did you say something? ”

The old man chuckled at her, sipping his tea calmly, “They will be fine. Kakashi will make sure all of your students back safely, Iruka-kun.”

“I know he will. Excuse me, Sandaime-sama.” With a polite bow, Iruka walked rather hurriedly out of the office.

Now alone, Sandaime smiled sadly.

Maybe….this team could break her mask one day….

I only hope I’m still alive to witness that moment….

------------------------------------------------------------

Iruka finally reached the Konoha gate. The sight of the backs of team 7 greeted her as she finally shouted.

“Naruto!!!”

All of team 7 glanced back at her, obviously surprised at her sudden appearance (except Kakashi-sensei who just waved back lazily). In seconds, Iruka already snatched Naruto away from the group and landed a few feet away from them.

“Iruka-sensei??” Naruto’s confused blue eyes blinked at her.

Iruka just grinned sheepishly, “I forgot to do something.”

“Huh? What is it, sensei?”

Giving her back at the team not away from them, Iruka took Naruto’s face between her hands and kissed the temple softly, “Be safe, Naruto.”

Naruto grinned at the gesture and immediately latched at his favorite sensei‘s waist eagerly. “OF COURSE, SENSEI!!!! YOU TOO!!!”

“Okay, please be careful, Naruto-kun.” Letting go the child’s arms around her, Iruka smiled at Naruto who immediately ran back toward his team.

“Be careful, Sasuke-kun, Sakura-chan!” The other two gennins nodded and waved back. Sakura shouted back happily, “Thank you, sensei!!” Even Sasuke smiled a bit.

She waved at the team who walked off the gate when she just realized that there was one figure walking to her instead of going off with the rest of team.

“Kakashi-sensei?? Sorry for the disturbance….” Iruka smiled sheepishly, a familiar blush rose as the jounin went closer.

Eer…he might be angry at me suddenly coming like that…. Baka Iruka…

“Maa….don’t worry over it, sensei.” The jounin just shrugged, stopping a feet away from her. Kakashi couldn’t help the smirk he made at the blushing state he put the chuunin into.

Nervous aren’t we…..Iruka-sensei.

Iruka didn’t understand why she can’t put the slight redness off her face at the sight of the familiat silver haired jounin walking to her. She nodded instead.

All of those years before she grew closer with Naruto, Iruka had thought the silver-haired jounin as an unreachable figure, the infamous Sharingan Kakashi who had great skills and mysterious past who didn’t bother to know others who didn’t deserve it. And that horrible horrible book he always seemed to read plus the impossible reasons he always gave if he was late to give reports always made Iruka herself wary with the sanity of the said jounin. She was told before that jounins were crazy after all, and of course many already proved it.

But nowadays, watching the said jounin strictly (or lazily, depended on his mood) instructed his students, her ex-students, to do their training properly and the way he handled all of them for the past months, Iruka couldn’t help but change her perception slightly over the silver haired jounin.

From the few months she knew Team 7 (mostly when they were in training), Iruka could gather few facts that Kakashi-sensei was a guy who had a dry sense of humor, terrible sense of timing, an unhealthy likeness to enjoy his student’s suffering in between their training (as ALL normal jounins did), and a pervert (what else you call a person who buried his nose under that icha-icha book two third part of his day???).

Recently Iruka could feel that it was not as awkward as before that she now could stand easily beside the guy without fidgeting on spot. She even exchanged a few short talks and jokes with the jounin while waiting for Naruto’s training to be done.

Maybe it was Naruto’s influence.

Iruka glanced back fondly at the view of the three gennins and the old man who walked away from them, ignoring her own blush. “Shouldn’t you follow them now, Kakashi-sensei?” she asked confusedly.

“Hmm…before that, is there anything else you want to say, Iruka-sensei…?”

Iruka grinned sheepishly when her question was answered back with one of his own.

He’s so perceptive…. That’s Kakashi-sensei. He always be able to read what I want to do nowadays….

“Eer….right.”

“Hmmm…?”

“Please take care of them, sensei.” Iruka smiled, finally braving herself to stare up at the jounin before her. Her brown eyes met with the single deep grey, staring down to hers. The said eye softened slightly, which made Iruka blushed deeper for reason she didn’t know herself.

“Of course.” He curved his eye in return.

I’ll try to return your ‘children’ back in one piece, sensei…. I’ll make sure of it.

“And you have to go back safely as well, okay?” Iruka couldn’t help but said it as well, not knowing why. It was as if her mouth having a brain of its own.

“It’s a promise, Iruka-sensei.” Kakashi opened his eyes back, staring the smaller figure before him for a few seconds longer than he usually did with his jounin mates.

If you want… I will try to return….back to you, sensei…

He suppressed his sudden want to go much closer to the female chuunin.

“I should go.” With a nod returned by Iruka, the jounin vanished in a swirl of smokes.

A few hundred meters away, two gennins glanced at each other with knowing smile. Sakura giggled behind her hands as Sasuke merely smirked at the blonde’s obliviousness to what happened between his ‘mother’ figure with their silver haired sensei.

You’re so whipped, Kakashi-sensei….

Naruto simply blinked at them, “Huh? What’s wrong with you two!? We’ve got to move you know!”

“Nothing.” Sasuke and Sakura answered in unison. Sakura winked at Sasuke’s knowing smirk thrown at her.

Let’s see how long it will take Naruto to realize it…

A few minutes later, Iruka was still standing there. She was staring up at the sky, hoping for the safety of people close to her.

Please let all of them be safe……

Kakashi-sensei, you better keep your words…

----------------------------------------------------------------
MORE THAN A WEEK LATER……..
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Team 7 finally came home after their mission.

“Iruka-sensei!! Tadaima!!!” Naruto said, smiling widely at her as he latched on her waist. He was covered by some scraps, but much to Iruka’s relief – still very much alive and breathing.

Thank God….

“Okaerinasai, Naruto.” Iruka smiled down at him, forgetting for a minute her job as relief replaced her constant worry of the safety of her favorite gennin team the second she saw that familiar blonde head. She was in the middle of carrying some mission papers to the locker room at that late afternoon, but it could wait later. Much later.

Most people already go home anyway. I could file these papers later.

Her smiles widened when Sakura and (surprise!) Sasuke appeared beside her. Like Naruto, both of them covered by small bruises and dirts, but nothing was worse. The small pink haired girl hugged her back tightly, “Yay! You won’t believe what happened in our mission, sensei!!”

“Oh, and what happened, Sakura-chan?” Iruka ruffled her pink hair playfully.

“We can’t tell you. It was mission-related, sensei.” Sasuke answered, but Iruka could sense a hint of small smile threatened to appear on his face.

“You’re cruel, Sasuke-kun.” Iruka chuckled, “By the way…where is Kakashi-sensei?” She turned around, expecting the familiar silver hair to appear suddenly in front of her as usual - only to find no one around them.

Sakura let go her waist as the said girl pointed back to the Hokage office, a few doors away. “He’s there, discussing with Hokage something about Zabuza-san and Haku-san’s fate. I hope it’s alright….” Iruka could sense a worry radiated from the three gennin as the pink haired girl said those words.

“Zabuza-san? Haku-san? Who’re they?” Iruka blinked.

Sakura and Sasuke looked uncertain to answer, but Naruto beat them. “They’re our new shinobi friends, sensei! We met them in Wave country and they have really cool jutsus!”

Huh…? Shinobi friends…? And Zabuza….. I think I’ve heard that name before….

“Yo, sensei!”

Iruka snapped out of her mind as the familiar curved single eye met her dark brown ones. “Kakashi-sensei!?”

The jounin appeared before her and –thank God- his Icha-icha wasn’t seen anywhere near his face / hand. Unlike his three students, the jounin seemed in better condition, except for his left bandaged hand. Kakashi felt himself smile at those familiar brown eyes.

Glad to be back, sensei…

“Hey! Don’t go much closer, pervert-sensei!” Naruto pushed the jounin away from his favorite sensei as Sasuke glared at the jounin as well. Kakashi leaned away a bit at their gesture, “Maaa…..”

I think they’re still traumatized after accidentally being exposured to that one page from Icha-icha…… Honestly, they’ll go through that period a few years later…. No need to shock to see picture people fu**ing in bed, right? Or maybe Iruka hasn’t given them any ‘bird and bees’ talk before? Well…I should ask her to do that sometime later…

Iruka just blinked confusedly at them.

Huh? What’s wrong with them…?

“Naruto-kun! Watch your language!”

“Eep!! Sorry sensei!”

Iruka just sighed, smiling up at the said jounin. “Thank God you all are alright. How’s the mission, Kakashi-sensei?”

Kakashi just shrugged but answered nonetheless. “It was long & tiring mission, but it ends fine.”

No one is killed except the enemies. And Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura improved so much. We brought back two ex-missing nins that -after a few talks & questions- may join Konoha. I count this as success.

“Hmmph…… where can I translate ‘ends fine’ to ‘ends as ANBUs trailed behind me for unknown time in the future’?” Came a sudden dry voice behind all of them. It was dry, hoarshe, and a bit darker than anyone voice Iruka ever heard. In reflex, Iruka turned to the unfamiliar voice, kunai in hand. Papers that previously held in her arms were already neatly put on the nearest desk in mere second. Before her ex-students realized it, she already stood protectively before the gennin.

“Who are you??”

Before her, two unrecognized figures walked toward them. The taller one, he had white bandages wrapped on his lower face, hiding his mouth from the view. He had dark grey pants complete with patterned boats. His upper body held nothing but a dark belt hang from his neck to connect to his pants, showing anyone his pale yet darker chest and two armguards (like Sasuke’s) with similar pattern as his boats. The shorter one (which Iruka guessed as female) was a rather beautiful looking girl. She had a long beautiful black hair which tied in a white bun on top her head and left two long bundle of hair fell around her face. She wore a blue-green short kimono, a long sleeved dark vest inside, and a short dark brown hakama. The wooden sandal was showing her pale and slender legs. Unlike her companion, her face showed a smile that made her look more harmless than a kitten. Like the rest of Team 7, both of them covered by some scraps and dirts. And Iruka could recognize blood stains anywhere in a fifteen meters radius, included on their clothes.

Before Iruka could contemplate more, a familiar large hand grasped her shoulder gently as its owner turned her to face against him instead. Kakashi curved his eyes at her surprised look, “Maa….. Iruka-sensei. It’s alright.”

Grasping Iruka’s shoulder a bit tighter, Kakashi noticed the reflex she showed a few seconds earlier. She moves so fast…. And that fighting posture….where did I see that before…?

The seconds the jounin finished his sentence, Iruka’s tensed shoulder relaxed under the familiar touch as she lowered the kunai and get it back to the holster. “Kakashi-sensei? Who are they…?”

If Kakashi-sensei says so…. Then maybe they’re not enemies… are they?

Before Kakashi could answer her, Naruto already beat him. “They are the new friends we met in Wave country, sensei!! The scary dark guy is Zabuza-san! And the pretty one is Haku! They have really cool jutsu, you must see them later, Iruka-sensei!!”

“So….you’re her sensei, huh?” The sudden voice of the dark guy (Zabuza-san, Iruka presumed) made Iruka glance at the unfamiliar nins before her once again.

“Uh…”

“Zabuza-san! Be nice, please!” The second voice joined as Iruka blinked at its owner.

Wait a minute….I’m sure girls don’t have that baritone voice unless…

“Oh My God….You’re a BOY!???” Iruka’s eyes widened as her brain just registered with the fact.

“………………….”

“………………….”

“………………….”

There had been a defeaning silence for more than ten seconds before everyone laughed out loud. Even Sasuke chuckled. SASUKE.

Oh my…I think I said a wrong thing here…..

“A…Ha…HA..HAHAHA!!! SEE??? Haku!! I TOLD you before that you’re TOO pretty!!!” Naruto laughed out loud, rolling on the floor insanely.

“Ahh…haha…..*gasps* Naruto!! It’s not THAT funny!!” Sakura chuckled, trying her hardest not to laugh out loud as her blonde teammate did.

“Sensei, you damage his brain already. Congratulations.” Sasuke shook his head, chuckling at the sight of his blonde teammate still rolling on the floor, laughing.

Now I know where Naruto get that blunt mouth of his….

“Wow, Iruka-sensei. I don’t know you have quite a sense of humor.” Even Kakashi, whose hand was still on the chuunin’s shoulder, chuckled. He really enjoyed the unexpected yet very welcoming closeness he had with the chunnin, who was at the moment tried to bury herself under the ground -out of humilitation- if not Kakashi’s hand tightly grasped her shoulder, preventing her from going anywhere, to underground or anywhere else.

The dark guy rolled his eyes, chuckling as well when his companion, Haku, blushed slightly at the remark. Haku was used to people whispering behind him that he was ‘too pretty’ to be a guy, but this Iruka-sensei apparently was the first adult (the first child is Naruto) who was so bluntly said it in front of his face.

Iruka blushed HARD after realizing her blunt words. “I…..”

…Oh my God….

I just said VERY rude words to people I barely meet ….

How the hell a GUY get to be THAT pretty anyway!??? I’ve never EVER met one like this (maybe Sasuke or even Neji, but they’re not THIS pretty), so it’s caught me off guard!

A glimpse of past passed before her, causing Iruka’s eyes widened even more at the remembrance. A slight fear seeped inside her spine.

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“Cheer up, sensei!”

“Eer…Ruka, I don’t think this’s the best time to say ANYthing…” Izumo whispered urgently beside her, eyes stared worriedly at their silent sensei who stared at nothing for the past few days.

“But, Zumo! Sensei has been like that for DAYS! Moping around and-“ A hand closed her mouth before she could go further complaining.

“Ssst!!! Ruka! Be silent for ONCE, okay??? Can’t you see sensei needs time to-“ Before Kotetsu finished, Iruka already jumped before her sensei. Her eyes stared back against those empty ones.

“Sensei! I know you’re still sad over him & I’m sorry for that - although I still don’t think him like you do… But there’re NOTHING we can do about it!”

“Ruka!!” She ignored the worried shouts her friends threw on her.

“Don’t act like this! You’re a COWARD if you give up now, sensei!!”

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Immediately, Iruka bowed deeply at the ‘boy’. “Forgive me! I know I was rude before! I hope it doesn’t offend you!” The carefully hidden memories were coming faster and faster, making her wince inside. She tried to block them out of her mind.

The two looked surprise at her sudden outburst but eventually the rather beautiful shorter guy smiled at her. “It’s okay. You’re neither the first nor the last people to say that to me, sensei. Still, thank you.”

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“What did you SAY….??” Their sensei hissed slowly, the earlier empty eyes now filled with anger from Iruka’s words.

“You KNOW I’m right!! Face it, sensei!”

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“RUKA!!!!!”

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Iruka stood back hesitatedly, staring unsurely at the guy before her. “Really…? I’m really sorry that-“

The boy shook his head, stopping Iruka from continue her words. ‘It’s really alright, sensei. By the way, we aren’t properly introduced. I’m Haku and the one beside me is my sensei, Momochi Zabuza. It’s nice to meet you. We’ve heard of you so much from Naruto and the others on the journey here.” He smiled.

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“RUKA!!!”

“SENSEI!!! DON’T!!!”

Izumo and Kotetsu’s cries rang clearly around them.

And Iruka only could widen her eyes at those angry eyes.

“How…DARE…you!!!???”

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Feeling the honesty behind those words, Iruka finally smiled back – hesistantly. She tried to hide (or better, stop) the slight trembling of her fingers behind her. “Ah, yes. I’m… Umino Iruka, a chuunin instructor in Academy. Nice to meet you too, Haku-kun, Zabuza-san.”

“A creature of water huh? It fits with your personality though…” Zabuza raised his eyebrows, smirking behind those bandages as he eyed the chuunin’s appearence.

Iruka could feel her mind snapped out of the memories at those slightly rude words. She tried to form a forced smile. She wouldn’t - couldn’t- break now. “I’m….sorry. I don’t understand what you mean, Zabuza-san.” She stared back at those dark eyes, reading -somehow- question there.

What….?

Zabuza just raised his eyebrows, “Well-“

“So, what do you need to do now, Zabuza, Haku?” Kakashi decided to interrupt at that moment– which was Iruka really grateful for. She didn’t think that she could hold her smile any longer. She leaned into the warm hardness behind her, somehow needing support to keep standing. In return, the jounin tightened his grip on Iruka’s shoulder, which went unmissed by Iruka herself. Instead of blushing at the rather close proximity they had, Iruka simply leaned more into the shoulder behind her head, focusing to return her suddenly paler face to a normal color. She felt ….. frightened for some reasons that she knew very well.

Even after these years….. I’m still….

Kakashi narrowed his eye(s) a bit at Zabuza, silently asking him to stop whatever he wanted to say to the chuunin sensei. Unlike the others (Haku was currently talking and joking with the three gennins, backs on them), he noticed how Iruka tensed and paled at her ‘mistaking Haku as girl’ incident. And Zabuza’s gaze didn’t help a bit but worsen the sensei’s state.

Drop it for now, Zabuza. Or you’ll have a date with my Thousand Years of Pain jutsu.

Zabuza simply raised his eyebrows in return at his before he turned his face aside, glancing away from those dark eyes.

Whatever.

“Yeah! What old-man said about you two?? You WILL live here, right?” Naruto, oblivious with the silent talk between two high nins, asked Zabuza after sharing his jokes with Haku and his two teammates.

Zabuza shrugged when Haku answered instead with a gentleness rarely showed in a guy. He reminded Iruka of Izumo with his calm behaviour. “The Hokage decides to accept us thanks for Kakashi-san’s explanation and all of team 7’s support. We’re going to have a test a few days later to decide what our ranks will be. Until then, there’ll be a few ANBUs trailed behind us for….. safety reasons.”

Ah….

Finally understanding a bit what was going on with the ‘new friends’ appearance from Haku’s simple explanation, Iruka chose to keep silent (at the moment, she didn’t think she could form any words at all anyway). She glanced up at Kakashi instead.

Will you explain later?

For which the jounin answered with curving his single eye – a positive answer for her.

Naruto, oblivious with the exchange thrown between his senseis, blinked confusedly at the two. “So, where do you stay now?”

Haku nodded, “There’re an empty twin-room apartment in the Jounin section. The Hokage said that it was next to yours, Kakashi-san. We’re heading to that place after this.”

“Wait a minute!! Then you need to go SHOPPING, right??!! Yay!! We can accompany you, lets go!! We have two hours before the shops close today!!” Sakura, in a sudden excitement, grabbed Haku’s hand and a second later already ran away with the helpless nin. She let out a wink that was caught by an amused Kakashi. She was sure the jounin could see her mouthing the words as well as Sasuke’s warning glance. The paleness of the female sensei didn’t go unnoticed by them.

Take care of her NOW!

“Wait a minute!! Sakura-chan!! Wait for MEE!!!” Naruto followed after them, pulling Sasuke’s collar forcefully, “Come on, Sasuke-baka!!” which was answered by Sasuke’s grunt. The dark haired gennin threw his last warning glance at the silver haired jounin, pointing subtlely at the chuunin sensei. He was satisfied by a curt nod by his sensei.

“Brats these days….” Zabuza just grunted, following after them with a much more sedate pace.

Iruka just blinked at their vanishing figures. “Wow…. I don’t know they’re already that…close.” She managed to mutter those words.

Kakashi just shrugged, his nose already busy under the familiar orange colored book in his other hand (when did he open THAT??) “Children bond fast I suppose.”

Iruka raised her eyebrows at that, oddly feeling experated mixed with fondness at his careless and bored tone. “I hope you’re aware that Zabuza-san is NOT a child you know.”

Kakashi just shrugged again, not bothering to lift his eye at her. “Nope. But he likes to ‘play’. Seems like a child to me.”

“If you think like that, I suppose you and all jounins are children in big bodies as well then.”

Wonder why my mouth feels like moving on its own….

“That we’re told.”

Iruka sighed at the careless response she got from the jounin beside her.

Does my presence bore him that much…?

I think I should go….

Iruka tried to bow slightly at the jounin beside her (her polite manners always insisted her to do that before leaving any conversations), but found it’hard to do. She blushed when she noticed how their positions were. The jounin was currently having his right arm curling around her shoulder, drawing her into his green vest as Iruka herself leaned into his chest, oblivious till now. “Eer….Kakashi-sensei. You can let me go now….”

“Hmm….are you okay now?” The jounin, oblivious to Iruka trying to get out of his arm, pulled the smaller one tighter into his arm as he practically dragged her to walk out the mission room.

“I think I should go. I’m sorry to bother you…. Eer, I can walk myself, Kakashi-sensei.” Iruka was sure this was NOT how people (or F-R-I-E-N-D-S) walked together.

What the he** is he doing!?? People ARE staring!!

“Naruto might not see it, but don’t think the rest of us didn’t notice your paleness. You look a bit tired as well. We should take a break or something now. Where do you want to go eat, sensei?” Kakashi’s eyes were staring ahead although his nose was still buried on his Icha-icha novel. He ignored the chuunin’s words.

Iruka glanced up at the jounin in confusion, eventually letting herself being dragged by the jounin. It was useless thing to do with a much bigger and stronger jounin pull her around, she sighed in defeat instead. “I’m alright - just a bit tired, Kakashi-sensei. I should go home now to take a rest. Really, I can really walk you know. And I don’t think it’s-”

Kakashi just curved his eye at her. “Nope. I like my option better. And I like this. Come on, let’s get you to eat something.”

Iruka blinked, before the meaning of those words entered her brain. Instantly, she blushed.

Does he mean …. what I think he means?

The piles of unfinished papers lied forgotten on the desk few feet away as the two shinobis walked together, both completely oblivious with the raised eyebrows of their coworkers and their open smirks. Kurenai smirked behind her hand. Asuma simply grinned. Genma whistled. Raidou smiled. Anko giggled. The same line crossed over the other shinobi’s minds as they shook their head in experated affection at the chuunin and jounin’s backs.

About damn time……

Way to go, Kakashi…

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“Aww….! These look GREAT! You should buy them, Haku-san!!” Sakura squealed at the piles of new clothes in her arms. The colors complemented Haku’s dark eyes and the pale skin of his.

“Ah…these look good, thank you Sakura-san…” Haku smiled kindly at the pink haired gennin, enjoying the attention he got so rarely from anyone besides Zabuza.

“Well…If you agree with them, let’s go to find some other things for you and Zabuza-san!” Without waiting for his response, Sakura dragged the taller nin happily to the other sections of the huge shop.

“Hai…hai….” Haku obeyed without questioning, chuckling lightly.

Naruto shook his head at two of them, following them with a much more sedate pace. “Sakura-chan so loves shopping, doesn’t she, Sasuke-baka?”

The dark haired gennin next to him only shrugged, eyes trying to deny the obvious admiring gazes most of girls in the shop threw at him, walking beside his blonde teammate. “Hnn… she does.”

Wonder what that lazy jounin’s doing now to Iruka-sensei…

He better takes care of her… It’s an unusual sight to see her go sick suddenly like that……

“Tch….I don’t know why I bother doing this. Females are so troublesome…..” Zabuza grunted, following behind the two gennins. His trained sense had picked up the hidden ANBU’s chakras around him and it made him a bit tense. Honestly, he just wanted to get to his and Haku’s new place, take a shower, and sleep. Is that too much thing to ask?

Sasuke just smirked at the older guy’s words. “You better be patient, Zabuza. Sakura won’t be satisfied until…at least an hour from now on.”

Zabuza groaned.

Naruto laughed at him, “Haha! Don’t worry, Zabuza! Haku gets along very well with Sakura-chan! He looks pretty happy, doesn’t he?”

“Well…Haku is the gentle-man-kind a guy. He can’t refuse any female’s wishes…” Zabuza muttered. Although he had been practically taking care of Haku since the boy was still a brat, apparently Haku didn’t inherite Zabuza’s dislikness toward anything female-related. It was one of things that Zabuza found a bit annoying yet -sometimes- endearing from the boy that he considered as his son.

Did I just say ‘endearing’?? Damn it… talking with few females and they already change my way of speaking….. Someone shoot me please…

Sasuke smirked, “I couldn’t help but agree with you.”

Naruto just grinned, patting the taller nin slightly. “Don’t worry! Sakura-chan’s choices are always the best! You’ll be so grateful later in your new apartment!”

Zabuza simply raised his eyebrows in return, “You’re smitten AND whipped by that pink-haired teammate of yours, brat?”

Hmm…Like teacher like student, huh?

Like the rest of them (except that Naruto brat), he didn’t miss either the strange sudden change in the chuunin’s expression at her mistaking Haku as girl or the gentle way Kakashi treated the said female chuunin. Still, romance or female weren’t his things, so he might be careless about the whole thing.

Tch… never expected the emotionless Sharingan Kakashi can be smitten by any females…. a mere chuunin nonetheless…. Oh well, as long as he can give me a good fight….heh…

Naruto blinked, brushing his blonde hair in a thoughtful way, dismissing the way Zabuza talked to him so rudely. “Well…she is one of the most important people in my life. Still, Sakura-chan is soooo in love with the angsty boy here, though I don’t know why she is.” He pointed at Sasuke, sticking his tongue childishly.

Sasuke coughed, “I don’t know what you mean.”

Zabuza smirked behind the bandages, “She does. That’s pretty obvious to me.”

Ah….teenagers…

Naruto grinned, pointing at Sasuke. “He is in denial.”

Sasuke glared back at him, a slight blush appeared on his pale face. “I am not, dobe!”

“Sure you are, Sasuke-bastard…” Naruto whistled.

“You…!!!” Sasuke threw a punch toward him, which was dodged by a kick from Naruto.

“Hehe!! You’re blushing!!” Naruto grinned knowingly, evading the next few kicks the Uchiha threw at him.

Zabuza sighed inside, watching the two gennins bicker and fight like children they were.

I can’t believe I’m stuck with children like them…. Now I know why Kakashi has that grey hair of his… Poor him…

“Enough, brats. We should find Haku and that pink-haired girl. It’s late enough already and I want to go to sleep.” He said, gripping Sasuke and Naruto’s shoulder, preventing them from doing anymore harm to each other.

“Tch…” Sasuke shook his head, but he put his hands back into his pocket.

Naruto simply grinned cheekily.

Tehee….You know I’m right, Sasuke….

Tbc…….

A/N :

And more about Iruka’s past….. @__@ WHO was her sensei anyway...? xD You WILL find out about it in next chapter, I promise! ^_^

Now I really twist the plot from the manga storyline…. I really admire Haku and Zabuza, dam* it! It’s very sad that they’re dead… ;_; So I make them keep alive in this fic! xP The idea of them being Konoha nins was inspired by THE best Naruto fic (VERY literally) I’ve ever read : For the Love of My Friends by foxie-sama in ff.net! Go read it if u haven’t! ^___^ (It’s NOT a KakaIru fics btw (more a Naruto fic, 56 chapters and still on going, but damn..it’s THAT good…. *_*)

And SasuSaku hints!! ^__^ I’m sorry, SasuNaru fans, but as I stated before - I’ll make other pairings as cannon as possible. So expect some SasuSaku or NaruHina in later chapters… =P

pS : LoL…Iruka didn’t realize they had been hugging the entire time they’re talking… Talk about obliviousness….or denial…. xD

If you don’t like this chapter….well…you can shoot me. ^^;

The next chapter - Her Sensei [Will be up THIS very Friday/Saturday (3-4 days from now on), I’m fast, ain’t I? ^____^ ]

Teasers :

Oneday…I’m afraid it’ll be your weakness, sensei…. People can take advantage from your kindness….
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Kakashi blinked.

Now….THAT wasn’t anything he would expect the adult (stressed the word here) chuunin would do to… anyone.
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His gaze grew a bit somber when reaching the scar ran over the female’s face. Something familiar tightened inside him at its sight. Still, he kept his feeling inside.

You never forget, don’t you, Iruka-chan…?
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Naruto grinned cheekily at his team’s answers. “We can discuss the bits later… But more importantly….. what’s your answer?” He asked the two nins before him.

Zabuza smirked as he saw the smile grew on Haku’s gentle face.
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Until next chapter! ^_________^

-Izky

| Chapter 06 - Her Sensei |

[FIC] The Kunoichi's Heart 04

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 03:14:02 GMT

Title : The Kunoichi's Heart
Rating : PG-13 (this chapter), R later on.
Disclaimer : The characters are NOT MINE.
Chapter : 4/???
Words : 4,893 words
Summary : What if Iruka was a female? Follow the Naruto story since the very beginning.....
Pairing : KakaIru (the others will be canon-like hopefully)

WARNING : UNBETAED YET!!
A/N :
And here the chapter four is! :D I stated before that this fic is NOT an always happy-go-lucky-fic, but it won't be full of angst either. I don't like too much angst/tragedy... >_> AND it WILL have a happy ending! So don't worry too much.... ;) Last, enjoy the story! :)

~blue iceland (a.k.a. Izky)

| Chapter 01 - The Failed Student |
| Chapter 02 - The Realization |
| Chapter 03 - The Promise & the Test |

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Chapter 04 - The Growing Fondness : 4,893 words
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“Iruka-sensei!!!”

Iruka didn’t have a chance to turn her head in the middle of shopping when a blur of orange attacked her and attached itself into her lower body. The force of it left the female sensei let go her shop carriage and fell straight toward the hard floor.

“Eeep!!!” Too late and couldn’t do anything with her feet trapped, Iruka waited for the impact with the cold hard floor of the supermarket.

She didn’t expect to feel a hard warm of something on her front side, grabbing her shoulders gently as her body fell against it from the force of Naruto’s hug.

Opening her eyes warily, she only met with a familiar green vest. Turning her face up, she met with a curved single eye with a familiar masked face and silver hair.

“Nice to see you too, Iruka-sensei.” Kakashi couldn’t help but chuckle slightly at the sensei’s expression. She was gaping and blinking for quite a few seconds at him, as if she didn’t recognize who he was. The expression quite resembled a few year olds she taught.

Surprised to see me, sensei…?

Iruka blinked for quite a while before realizing that somehow she was sandwiched against Kakashi’s front and Naruto who was clinging at her lower back.

“Ah…hello to you too, Kakashi-san….. NARUTO! How many times I’ve told you … Don’t do THAT from behind!!? ” She turned her head back at Naruto, fully prepared to scold the blonde boy.

Naruto just grinned cheekily at her, finally releasing her lower back. Iruka could feel the larger gloved hands released her shoulder as she turned fully back to scold at her ex-student.

“You know I’m shopping right now and if that’s not by Kakashi-san I could fall into the floor! You should think before you do that again, understand, Naruto-KUN!??” She scolded him for a minute when Naruto just turned his head down obediently.

But, right after she finished her scolding, Naruto glanced up again at her and hugged her from the front, “Iruka-sensei!! I PASS THE TEST!! WE PASS THE TEST!!”

Iruka hadn’t expected the hug once more as the force thrown her against the figure behind her. She had to apologize later to Kakashi as her mind just processed the sentence came out from the hyperactive boy. “Wha..? You … pass the test?”

Glancing at the spiky blonde hair on her waist stupidly, Iruka could hear Naruto mumbled rather loudly to her chuunin vest. “Yup…I’m a genin now, Iruka-sensei!! With Sakura-chan and Sasuke-baka!!”

“Naruto!! Wait a minute! You walk too fast… and Kakashi-sensei too!!”

A familiar feminine voice turned Iruka’s eyes up to find her ex-students – Sakura and Sasuke walked toward them from the supermarket’s gate.

“Sakura-chan? Sasuke-kun?”

“Iruka-sensei!! It’s good to see you!! We pass the test!” Sakura walked happily toward them and clutched at Iruka’s arm.

“Hn…Iruka-sensei.” Sasuke trailed behind, his scowl on place as usual. Still, he bowed slightly at her sensei.

Kakashi raised his eyebrows at the respect Sasuke had toward the chuunin.

He GROWLED at me the first time we talk and here he BOWS to Iruka?? The angsty boy has serious manner problems here….

Iruka seemed still processed the information, “Wha….? You three pass…?”

They pass!? Really?

She wasn’t a dreamer and she knew that she had to fully accept if Naruto and his team would be failed by Kakashi’s high expectation (and considering this was Sharingan Kakashi, it could be very very high….). She didn’t dare to imagine what the results could be all day, that’s why she went shopping, hoping to ease her stressed mind off it.

“Iruka-sensei? You alright?” A whisper right beside her ear seemed to snap back her into the reality. A blush automatically rose on her face as she nearly jumped in surprise. She wanted to step away from the jounin behind her, but two gloved hands on her upper arms and a happy Naruto clinging on her waist made it impossible to do so.

“Uh…I’m fine… Naruto, you can let go, okay?” She said weakly as she ruffled the blonde hair. She wanted to say more, but the hardness she could feel across her back and the warm grip on her upper arms made her lose some of her concentration.

“Hmmph…no way…you’re warm, Iruka-sensei.” Naruto mumbled, rubbing his head against her sensei’s stomach.

“Naruto! You must let go of her, Iruka’s sensei could get hyperventilate! Her face turned red now!” Sakura scolded at her teammate. Sasuke grunted in response.

Sakura-chan… People get hyperventilate if they turn blue…not red… Iruka’s automatic teacher mode would have wanted to say that, but the sensei currently could not think of..anything.

On the other hand, Kakashi was having a big time himself. He didn’t know why, but it felt…. calming to stand closer to the chuunin sensei. The sensei’s chakra was rather calm and welcoming, His usually sharp nose went down, barely touched the brown strands of hair fell after that cute ponytail, trying to recognize the sweet smell around the female.

She smells like…. sweat….ink….. and…waterfall? Is there any waterfall here…?

Turning his neck slightly, Kakashi blinked at the chuunin’s face. She looked….well… for the lack of better words….dumfounded.

A chuckle was heard from behind Iruka as finally the jounin behind her stepped away from her, letting go her arms in process. He didn’t miss the way Sakura hide her slightly blushing face behind her hand or Sasuke raised his eyebrows at them with a smirk on his face. The jounin simply curved his eye in return at them.

Hmm… Looks like a certain pair of gennins are too observant for their own good….

“Maa…Iruka-sensei. You don’t need to look that surprised to hear the news you know.” Finally Kakashi joined the conversation, stepping aside to face her.

Letting a sigh in relief (of what? ) , Iruka finally smiled at the three of her ex-students before her (actually one clinging on her, but that’s beside the point). “Congratulations. Now you become gennins. I’m sure you three will be great shinobis one day!”

Her smile softened a bit after realizing for the first time the other’s appearances. Judging from the leaves, dirt, and scraps covered most of the gennin’s appearance, Iruka knew it was not an easy task to pass Kakashi’s expectation and test (which hopefully didn’t involve any Icha-icha at all…) and knowing her students passed the test made her warm all over inside.

I’m very proud of them…

Naruto tightened his arms around her waist as his warm laugh was muffled against Iruka’s vest. “Thank you, sensei!”

Sakura squealed at her and hugging her waist as well, the part which Naruto hadn’t hugged on. “Yay!! Thank you, Iruka-sensei!!”

Sasuke nodded back, there was a hint of tiny smile on his lips, but maybe that was only Iruka’s imagination. “Hnn.”

Giving in to be a temporary human pillow to her two ex-students, she finally braved herself to glance up at the jounin before her, “You too, Kakashi-san. Thank you.”

Thank you for believing in them…

The jounin chuckled, rubbing his spiky silver hair lazily. For some reasons that he didn’t know, he could feel blush grew on his cheek. He had never felt grateful for the mask he wore now. “Maa…that’s not me you should thank to. Your students were doing great on their own. They can’t do that without your teaching though.”

Iruka chuckled back, ruffling both Naruto and Sakura’s hair with both of her hands, “They naturally are great and good children, that’s why.”

Naruto, ‘satisfied’ with his human pillow, finally letting go his sensei’s waist, in the process making Sakura let her go as well, “Iruka-sensei. Are you better now? Do you still feel hurt? And how is your back? Is it still hurt?” he asked worriedly. The more he saw and talked to the chuunin, the more Naruto felt closer and closer to her. Iruka was turning into one of his most important persons and Naruto couldn’t help but worry over her conditions every day.

Hell, if that Miz-bastard still can walk around freely in Konoha, I’ll punch him thousand times for every wound he gave to Iruka-sensei!

Iruka knew she was going better and better day by day. Still, sometimes she still felt light headaches and slight pain on her back if she stood too long. But she wouldn’t want to make Naruto worry, right?

“I’m better, Naruto-kun. The doctor said I shouldn’t do any harder activities yet, but I’m doing okay.” Iruka smiled reassuringly at him.

“You said that you fell on stairs a few days ago, Iruka-sensei. But what’s that got to do with your back?” Sasuke, as observant as ever, raised his eyebrows at her.

Kakashi kept his mouth shut, understanding that Iruka didn’t want to make her students worry about her more than they already did.

You’re too kind, sensei… They were already gennins now. You should stop spoiling them rotten you know…

Iruka sweat dropped. Actually she didn’t want to tell the truth about why or how she got her wounds to her innocent students yet. That’s why she explained that she fell on stairs to some students that asked her that. But of course, she didn’t tell them the wound on her back.

“I..uh…it’s a long story, Sasuke-kun. I just scrapped my back when falling on the stairs. That’s all. Naruto-kun is just too worried about me.”

Naruto protested. “Hey! I AM worried about you. You got-“

Before Naruto finished her words, Iruka quickly covered her mouth with her hand, smiling nervously. “Naruto, there’s no need to explain it, okay?”

Seeing Iruka clearly didn’t want to talk more about it, Kakashi tried to help. “Maa…. Well, then excuse us, Iruka-sensei. I see you’re in the middle of shopping. We shouldn’t disturb you. Come on, kids, you have to go home as well. It’s late already.” With that, Kakashi nodded slightly at Iruka and gestured to his now gennin students to follow him out of the market.

Sakura and Sasuke nodded, bowing slightly at their academy sensei.

“Hn. See you later, sensei.” Sasuke grunted and walked away, following his jounin teacher.

“Well…I’m off as well, Iruka-sensei. Bye!!” Sakura waved before walking off.

Iruka waved slightly on them. She glanced down at the blonde boy still standing beside her. “Shouldn’t you go home as well, Naruto-kun?”

Naruto just shrugged, grinning at her. “I want to accompany you shopping. No one will scold me if I get home late anyway. You don’t mind, right sensei?”

Hearing that, Iruka felt a tight lump on her throat, imagining the empty small apartment Naruto had lived all these years. She sometimes had a chance to visit the blonde boy to discuss about his academy reports. The apartment was small, scrappy, and filled with junks and things that were scattered on its floor. There were no adults that would remind the blonde how to take care of his things and his home. How to clean, how to cook (Iruka learned the hard way how Naruto had no logic sense whatsoever about what he could eat or not. Honestly… , ramen covered by spoiled milk?? She still had nightmare for that particular food Naruto made in cooking class) how to put things in their right place, and many others things that Iruka herself had a slight chance to learn before Kyuubi attack the village and killed her parent. She knew sometimes Sandaime visited him as well, but the Hokage tended to be very busy every day and there were nobody else who would care to visit Naruto.

A small boy like him shouldn’t live alone in that small apartment…

No wonder Naruto was so attached to her. He needed a parent figure, Iruka realized, and the closest thing was herself, Naruto’s own teacher.

“Naruto¬-kun? Would you like to have a dinner with me?” Carefully she asked that to the boy beside her. After a few long years, it was the first time for her to invite anyone –save for Izumo and Kotetsu to their monthly dinner together – for dinner because she was too busy in her academy job to cook more than necessary and invite some friends. Having to cook for Kotetsu and Izumo, which had bottomless stomachs, was hard enough for Iruka. No need to add anymore stomach to feed in.

But well… she could make an exception for Naruto.

Naruto’s grin –if possible- widened even more, “Really!?? Of course Iruka-sensei!!”

Iruka chuckled, glad to see the happy glow showed in that chubby face.

Yes, Naruto always seems to be an exception for me….

And it felt right.

--------------------------------------------------

It had been a few weeks since the dinner she had with Naruto. She now had to admit to herself that yes, she grew fond of Naruto, and yes, she treat him more than a teacher should to a student, and yes, she care of Naruto very much.

Naruto, despite of his new D-missions with team 7, always seemed to visit her anywhere. He loved to talk about how the missions go, how lazy Kakashi-sensei was, how frustrated Sasuke made him, and how smitten Sakura-chan to Sasuke and how it made him want to puke, because who the hell wants to like that ignorant pompous Uchiha boy anyway?? And of course not to forget, he WILL be the Hokage one day!

But despite of Naruto’s comments, Iruka could recognize the growing fondness in Naruto’s tone every time he talked about them. Iruka herself really enjoyed his stories, because it let her know how the development of their team was, however slow and impossible it was. And yes, team 7 was growing closer each day. She could feel it from Naruto’s stories.

Iruka herself grew fond of the team itself. She knew there were two other teams who passed the exam, team 8 under Kurenai’s guide and team 10 under Asuma’s (she met them a few days ago and congratulated them and of course had a long nice talk with their jounin senseis), still she couldn’t help but put most of her attention to the team 7, the team where Naruto put into.

Every few times each week, she made time to visit them on the training ground and greeted them. Once she even made them lunches, for Kakashi-san included (Apparently Kakashi-sensei really liked the eggplants she made). Sakura even joked slightly that Iruka was too much fussing over them sometimes, which made the chuunin sensei blushed. But really, all of the teasing worth the smiles, the laughs, fond hugs Naruto gave her in every chance he could when they were together.

She hadn’t realized how much Naruto really affected her life.

And now….she needed to make sure of something.

Will…Can Izumo and Kotetsu…accept Naruto like me?

Kotetsu and Izumo were two of the most important people in Iruka’s life. And realizing her growing fondness to Naruto, she couldn’t help but want to share what she felt about the blonde boy to them, the ones who always be there to listen to her happy news and troubled mind.

They’re always beside me after these long years…

When sensei left me…

When my parents were gone forever…

When ‘he’ was gone as well….

When I was truly left alone…

I wouldn’t be here without these two here….

They deserve the truth… at least…

Deciding to tell them the truth, she asked them to have dinner with her. Now, Iruka , together with her teammates Izumo & Kotetsu, was having their monthly dinner. They were currently eating in one of the small cafés that night. It was a bit dark but cozy. The food tasted good and the environment was friendly. Iruka liked that.

“-and you know what, Ruka? We had to stand for SIX hours straight every damn night!!! It was HELL!!” Kotetsu groaned, munching his meat ball eagerly. He had been complaining about his and Izumo’s last mission for the past ten minutes.

“Language, Ko. And no, it would have not been six hours if you hadn’t been caught by the daimyo sleeping in the first place in the middle of his speech you know.” Izumo replied, drinking his sake calmly.

“So it was MY fault??”

“Yes.”

Iruka sighed inside, watching the bickering of her two teammates before her. Sometimes she had to wonder how the hell Kotetsu and Izumo can bear each other’s presence without killing each other. They were far too opposite. Where Kotetsu was brash, blunt, and honest with everything he said, the ‘attack first, think later, anyone up for a fight?’ type, Izumo was the calm, rational, soft spoken, the ‘think before attack, maybe we can avoid fighting please?’ type.

Now that I think it…they remind me of Naruto and…Sasuke?

Nah…Sasuke isn’t THAT polite… and Izumo was anything but arrogant.

And no, I refuse to think Naruto will grow up to be THAT rude.

“Helloo….Ruka? You’re still there??”

Iruka blinked as a large hand waving before her face. Kotetsu’s. “Huh? Sorry? What did you say?”

“You’re daydreaming, Ruka.” Izumo chuckled.

Iruka smiled sheepishly, brushing her scar slightly. “Ah…forgive me. I must be more tired that I think…”

“Yeah, you look a bit pale. So, how is your wound? Better?” Kotetsu asked.

“Mmh….it’s better. The wound is already closed, but the skin around it is still a bit tender.” Iruka answered honestly, refereeing to the huge scar on her back.

“If you want, I can make the healing process faster, Ruka. It’ll be still a huge scar though.” Izumo offered, eating his noodle. He was, after all, the medic nin of their team. And their sensei’s favorite.

“Yeah, you know Zumo can do that, Ruka.” Kotetsu added.

Iruka smiled at their concern, shaking her head. “Nah… it’s okay. You two are still tired from the mission. Just go take a rest after dinner, okay?”

“Yes, Mom.” Kotetsu winked. Izumo just chuckled.

“So….what do you want to talk about, Ruka?” Izumo asked suddenly.

Huh? How did…

“And don’t give us that look. We know you since forever, you know.” Kotetsu said, shrugging his shoulders.

“I can’t hide anything from you guys, can I?” Iruka groaned, blushing slightly.

“Nope.” They answered in unison, grins on their face.

“So?” Izumo asked.

“Eer….”

“Spill it out, Ruka.”

There were only few things that could make her two best friends put that look, the one which filled by curiosity, fondness, acceptance, and…. love.

And Iruka realized this time, it included…. herself.

Feeling her heart warmed over this thought, she finally decided to say those words.

“I think........I like…no….I love Naruto, Ko, Zumo.”

Despite of the random noisy talk other people had around their table, Iruka could feel the sudden silence very well.

She tried her best not to flinch against the surprised looks her teammates threw on her, staring back against them instead.

It had been a long thirty seconds before one of them finally blinked. Kotetsu.

“Ruka?? You mean you AND that kid?? But he’s TOO young!!!” Kotetsu was horrified.

EEwww!!!! Don’t tell me that she’s a pedophile??? Our sweet Ruka….. I think I wanna go puke or something…..

“Calm down, baka!! That’s NOT what she means!!” *PUNCH* “Right, Ruka?” Izumo, understanding his teammate so well (too well actually), sweatdropped at the ill expression Kotetsu had.

“Eer….yes, Zumo.” *sweatdrops*

“OWWW!!! That HURTS, Zumo!!”

“Maa…. Calm down, you two…” Iruka sighed, once again seeing the familiar sight of them bickering before her.

Honestly…. They’re such kids….

“Okay…. *coughs* Ruka?” Izumo, the calmer one, stared back at her.

Iruka nodded, asking him to continue.

“Since when….?”

“Well…I can’t exactly realize when….but…it might be nearly a month ago I asked him to have dinner with me. And after that…. He always seems to be anywhere I go. We often go for Ramen after he finished training and he often tells me how team 7’s going recently. Sometimes I watch them training as well. You won’t believe that Kakashi-san has quite a sense of humor in him.” Iruka couldn’t help but chuckle lightly in remembrance.

“Eeer….Kakashi-san?”

“Hmm..?”

“Are those…..your students hanging upside down with rope on the tree…?”

“Well…yes. What’s about it?”

“Nothing…”

--------------

“Sasuke…. Is that GERBIL on your ….chin? It’s…alive…”

“Don’t ask, Iruka-sensei…”

“But…”

“Kakashi-sensei just invented a new jutsu. That’s all.”

“I don’t think I want to know, Sasuke….”

--------------

“Arghh…!!! Iruka-sensei!!! Help us!!!”

“Sakura-kun? What’s wrong?”

“Do you see a cat with pig tail fly around this area? Kakashi-sensei told us to find that… THING!!”

“Eeeer…” *sweatdrop*

--------------

“Ruka….”

Iruka blinked, glancing up at her friends, only to find them raised their eyebrows in confusion. She blushed slightly, “Sorry.”

“Okay…back on track. So…any reasons at all?” Izumo asked, curiosity filled his face.

“I … don’t understand myself what happened … but… I just really want to protect him…. He looks … so…happy…when I’m near him. It makes me happy to see him like that.” Iruka smiled slightly.

“Do you….pity him then?” Kotetsu raised his eyebrow, an unfamiliar seriousness crept inside his words.

Iruka surprised even herself when she shouted immediately, “NO!! That’s NOT what I mean!”

In return, Izumo knocked Kotetsu on the head. Hard. “Forgive him, Ruka. He tends to have a runaway mouth sometimes. Not that you don’t know that.”

“OOWWW!! I just ASKED Damn IT!”

Iruka coughed, deciding to explain more of her thoughts. “It’s just….that… I know he has… that … in him, but that’s not what makes me care about him… Sometimes I think….he reminds me of…myself... a long time ago.”

Slowly, she saw the change in her teammates’ expressions. Their eyes softened in remembrance.

“Yeah… I agree…” Izumo smiled slowly.

“Now that you say that…. I think I can see that.” Kotetsu nodded, a small grin appeared.

He acts very much like your old self….

The prankster, the tomboy little girl who always had runaway mouth……

Do you miss her as we do, Ruka…?

Iruka asked hesistantly, “So…. Do you think… I-“

…do the right thing? Caring and loving…..that Naruto?

Before she could continue, Izumo already reached her hands and Kotetsu sat beside her, circling her shoulder gently. Both smiled at her hesitated face.

“Whatever you do…. We’re always beside you, Ruka.” Izumo smiled, staring at her with gentleness he just reserved for her.

“Yeah…. Liking Kyuubi boy or not, hell- if you want to be Orochimaru’s daughter or wife– we’ll accompany you FOREVER, okay!??” Kotetsu grinned widely, tightening his grip on her lightly.

“If you care about Naruto that much…… we’ll try to get along, ……. right Ko?” Izumo smiled, patting her hands gently with his much larger hand.

“Zumo is right, Ruka. You have to introduce him to us as well sometimes later, okay?”

“You two are the best, guys. Thank you.” Iruka put her best smile at the two of the most important people in her life.

“Hey, anything for you, sis.”

Iruka chuckled, leaning on Kotetsu’s broad shoulder trustingly. Her hands were on Izumo’s larger and paler hands, rubbing gently against her softer ones. She felt truly content.

“Eer…. I think I can survive without the ‘Orochimaru’ part, Ko. I’m not THAT crazy.”

All of them laughed at that.

Thank you, Ko, Zumo… I’m so lucky to have you two…

.
.
.
.
.

“Er…. So….you are not liking him in THAT way right? Because not only for the ill facto-“

*PUNCHS*

“Oww!!! What’s that for, Ruka??”

Iruka simply brushed her knuckle, shaking her head. “That’s for thinking me as pedophile, Ko.”

Izumo and Kotetsu shared a knowing nostalgic smile, missed by the female that tucked herself back into her teammate’s arms.

The old real you is still somewhere there, Ruka.

When will you let her go…?

--------------------------------------------------------------
A FEW MONTHS LATER………………….
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Both of them reached Iruka’s house after going shopping for food in markets. Naruto was happily bringing loads of ramen in the huge plastic bags as Iruka herself opened the door with the key, two smaller plastic bags on her other hand.

“Iruka-sensei!! What would we make this time!?? Can I have ramen?? Yesterday Kakashi-sensei made all of us eat together in Ichiraku Ramen like we did two days before! And it was really good! You should have eaten with us as well!!” Naruto talked animatedly, walking inside the house happily after putting off his shoes like what Iruka told him to.

Iruka grinned, walking into the kitchen and putting down all the groceries on the table. Naruto trailed after her. “Really? Does he pay for you, Naruto-kun?”

Naruto sulked, “No. He said that we have to pay what we eat ourselves. Like what Kotetsu-san said to me before. That’s not cool. You usually pay for my part as well. Or Izumo-san.”

Iruka shook her head, smiling, “Well… that’s because I or Izumo offer to pay for you ourselves. And of course, I guess, Kakashi-sensei and Kotetsu did not.”

Naruto pouted at her, “Still. It’s no fun.”

Iruka grinned, brushing the familiar yellow bangs from his temple, “You should realize one day it’ll be your turn to treat people. Now, just go take a bath first. Your clothes are already on the bathroom for the change.”

Their relationship grew quicker than Iruka thought. Nowadays, Naruto could spend half a week in Iruka’s house. Every few days, Iruka would pick him up after the mission or training, treat him Ramen, and go back together to her house to have a sleepover. There were more than a few Naruto’s things emerged in her house – not that she minded of course – such as the clothes, scrolls, toys, shurikens, and many else, that Iruka sure never bought herself, and all of them were saved neatly in Iruka’s main room.

“Do you mean I must treat you, sensei?? Naah…I prefer the other way around. ” Naruto snorted and ran toward the bathroom before her sensei could reprimand him for not running around the house.

Iruka just sighed fondly at the retreating figure, preparing to cook for the dinner.

I definitely could get used to this…..

-----------------------------------------------------------

The dinner turned out to be far noisier as Naruto talked animatedly over his mission, eating his dinner and watching his favorite sensei’s response.

“And then Sasuke-baka just smirked in that ‘I’m GREATER than thou’ way and-“

“Naruto-kun, eat that vegetable.”

“Ew! What’s that greenish thing anyway?? But if Iruka-sensei says so, okay. And then Sakura-chan just giggled and blushed at him AGAIN. I just don’t get it, what’s GOOD in that baka Uchiha boy-“

“Languange, Naruto-kun.”

“Ah yes, I mean that ARROGANT Uchiha boy. Sorry. And Kaka-sensei just read that good for nothing porn in his usual lazy posture. I mean, he’s great jounin and all- yeah I agree- but he’s reading PORN!!”

“Okay, I understand what you mean.”

“See, sensei?? And –“

It was an hour later when the dinner and the dishes were done that Naruto told the news.

They were currently sitting before the TV, watching the cartoon (Naruto loved to watch the Bleach anime). Naruto cuddled beside his sensei as he giggled, telling the news.

“We get to do a C MISSION tomorrow!! It’s an escorting mission, sensei!!”

“What?? I thought you’re still not ready for that kind of mission, Naruto-kun.” Iruka blinked worriedly.

“Pft. I’ve been bored doing D Missions since forever, sensei! Even Sakura-chan and Sasuke-baka agreed with me! We succeeded asking Sandaime to give us a greater mission, and tomorrow we’ll go to the Wave country!!” Naruto grinned in triumph.

“Did Kakashi-sensei agree with you all on this?” Iruka couldn’t help but ask.

He shouldn’t let team 7 go at all. They’re only few months being Gennin & already get mission to outer country??!

Naruto nodded happily, “He agreed as well! He said we need more experiences in missions and this C mission will be a great chance to get one, sensei!”

Kakashi-sensei…. I’ll kill you … later.

Naruto talked more and more, but Iruka couldn’t get her growing worry over the upcoming mission.

No matter how low-ranked that C mission is….. there’s still a chance for enemy nins to lurk along the way…

I hope things will be okay….

That night, Iruka fell asleep with unusual worry growing in her

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A forgotten memory of their backs, walking away….

….Vanished in the darkness of the night.

She only could nod, helpless against the bittersweet of their last moment together. She remembered the forced smile, the awkward silence, the worried glances her friends threw between them.

“I can’t do this anymore…….” The words were the last things she heard from those lips.

“I’m going….”

She couldn’t say ‘I’m sorry’….

It was too late….

-----------------------------------------------------

He stood proudly over the Hokage monument. The dark, familiar dark eyes stared down, down at her. The previously thin line turn into a familiar grin she grew to love so much to see every day.

She wasn’t going to see it again for how long…. She didn’t know.

“I need to go. See you later, Iruka-chan. Be a strong kunoichi, okay?”

She nodded, trying her hardest to smile. She wanted their last moment together filled by her smile and his laugh.

She didn’t want to make the same mistake ever again.

She didn’t want his last memory of her crying; she really didn’t.

“Take care….sensei….”

She gave him her best smile.

He gave her his last grin and he vanished in the swirl of leaves.

Standing alone now, she slowly tilted her head upward.

The bright sunny sky answered her eyes.

“It’s raining, huh?,” She asked no one.

And it was.

------------------------------------------------------------

Tbc………

A/N :
So….we get a glimpse of Iruka’s past here…. She isn’t simply what people think she is…. ;) And now...off we go to the Wave country! To Haku and Zabuza, the Missing Nins! ^___^

The Next Chapter - The New ‘Friends’ (Will be up hopefully next week)

Teasers :

“You’re to accompany Tazuna-san of the Wave Country. He's a bridge builder requesting for some shinobi to escort him back to his home and protect him from bandits or robbers. Good luck.”
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Maybe….this team could break her mask one day….

I only hope I’m still alive to witness that moment….
------------------------------------------------
A few hundred meters away, two gennins glanced at each other with knowing smile. Sakura giggled behind her hands as Sasuke merely smirked at the blonde’s obliviousness to what happened between his ‘mother’ figure with their silver haired sensei.

You’re so whipped, Kakashi-sensei….
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“Oh My God….You’re a BOY!???” Iruka’s eyes widened as her brain just registered with the fact.

“………………….”
--------------------------------------------------
The piles of unfinished papers lied forgotten on the desk few feet away as the two shinobis walked together, both completely oblivious with the raised eyebrows of their coworkers and their open smirks.
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LoL...... Please comment! I'd like to hear what u think of this chapter! :)

| Chapter 05 - The New 'Friends' |

[FIC] The Kunoichi's Heart 03

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:50:42 GMT

Because I'm having a very important exam next week, I decide to post this chapter faster than before.... still, this is UNBETAED

I'll post the betaed version later.... @_@

EDITED October 14th,2007 : This's finally betaed by my dear beta reader, filleyice. Thank u dear! :D

Title : The Kunoichi's Heart
Rating : PG-13 (this chapter), R later on.
Disclaimer : The characters are NOT MINE.
Chapter : 3/???
Words : 5,087 words (Boy...that's A LOT O_o)
Summary : What if Iruka was a female? Follow the Naruto story since the very beginning.....
Pairing : KakaIru (the others will ba canon-like hopefully)

WARNING : Unlike what some people think from these first chapters, this's NOT an always happy go lucky fic... It'll turn darker and angstier later.....

| Chapter 01 - The Failed Student |
| Chapter 02 - The Realization |

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Chapter 03 – The Promise & The Test : 5,087 words
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Today, instead of teaching in her class, Iruka was sitting on her kotatsu and enjoying the heat provided under her in her own house. The academy reports and student files were scattered before her. She was supposed to take two free days off to give her body a rest. But Iruka couldn’t do that because her sense of duty kicked in.

It was her duty to decide which group each student would get into and to choose their jounin teacher. It wasn’t an easy task considering that she had to measure every student’s ability and compare them with each other and prevent each student with a special bloodline (or a certain Uchiha with any of his fans) from attacking each other. Plus she had to choose their jounin teachers as well.

Hyuuga Hinata. She is a quiet yet sweet girl… I can’t put her into a team that the boys could dominate her too much like the loud mouthed Ayashi, or even Ino. Hmm… Shino would be a good choice for her. But if it’s just the two of them, it’ll be too passive… I need someone who is loud and active enough to cover for them…Oda? Hmm…too troublemaker himself. Naruto? Eer…he’s TOO loud……and I've noticed that Hinata stutters more before him… Although I think Naruto’s honest and open personality could be good to open her introverted self more and vice versa, Naruto can learn to be more sensitive with girls… Well… still… maybe…Kiba? Well…Yes, he would do… He gets along fine with Shino and I think he has a crush on Hinata.

Shikamaru is a genius kid, but he is too lazy to take a role as leader, at least not yet. The other two… Choji? He and Shikamaru are close friends and their fathers often work together as a team. Chouji then. For the girl part… maybe Sakura? Nah…she’s a bit…passive as well. And I’ve noticed she has a little self-esteem problem, must tell the jounin later. Tae? She’s too polite… Ino? Ah yes, perfect choice. She’s dominant enough for the two boys. Their fathers must be glad, two generations in the same team…

Sasuke… the best student this year. He’s all rounder in his skills, but he was too silent. I need someone who’s loud enough for him… Naruto? Ah yes, he’ll do. Too bad Naruto,in spite of what you’re saying about hating him, you two could complement each other well. The other should be the one who can calm both of them. Hmm… but Shikamaru’s taken already. Gato? Nah… he’s rather rude, he and Sasuke would kill each other in seconds… Hinata? But she’s taken in other teams already… Argh!!? This is more difficult than I thought it's be! There’s no one with that quality besides Shikamaru or Hinata! Who…who else? Maybe…other girls? Sasuke with girls (or his fangirls)… I bet all of them would fight –or bicker- with each other for their Sasuke-kun’s love… bad idea… As far as I know, only Hinata who didn’t pay much attention to him in class - a wonder indeed for a girl her age. Sakura? Hmm… she’s not THAT much a fangirl…unlike Ino…*shudders*… hmm…maybe putting her into the same team as Sasuke could increase her motivation as shinobi one day… and of course, her low self-esteem problem. Well…sorry Sasuke-kun. You get stuck with a fangirl this time. Maybe you would learn the attraction of the opposite gender then… Well…. I don’t want to sound rude, but maybe I could help him with the ‘restoration of Uchiha clan’ a bit this way… I hope I’m not wrong with this team.

………………
………………………
…………………

Hmm…all the student teams are already arranged. Too bad we can only choose three out of these ten teams to be Genin teams. Now comes the hard part… To choose the jounin teacher for them. I don’t want to think about how crazy the jounins can be sometime…but *sigh* okay… You could do this, Iruka.

Team Hinata-Shino-Kiba… Hm… Each of them comes from famous clans. Hyuuga. Aburame. And Inuzuka. They would make a great tracking or hunting team. Their ninjutsu and taijutsu couldn’t be compared against each other, but I think they’re good enough at it. Still, they could do better with their genjutsu skill, being a hunter team it is… They could counter attack any genjutsu if they have trained enough against it. A genjutsu specialist then… Who…? Ah, Takeda-san or Kurenai-san. Still, Takeda-san is too dominating. Kurenai-san would do … and I’m sure she could make Hinata more confident with her skill… She pays more attention to Hinata since long ago…

Team Shikamaru-Ino-Chouji … Those three have an advantage as close childhood friends. Ino is a dominant female, no use if I get the same type for the jounin. They would bicker with each other for hours. Besides, Ino loves being the center of attention, especially being the only female. Male jounin then. Genma? Nah…he would only flirt shamelessly with Ino. Hayate? Mm…too ‘contagious’… Raido? Hmm…could be. I need to think more on it later.

Team Sasuke-Naruto-Sakura… This’s a risky team I can tell. Somehow I could imagine them grow up to be like the Sannin *shudders* Bad Idea Iruka…don’t think that way…bad mental image… Still, they have a lot of potential… Sasuke as a skillful talented shinobi (not to mention an Uchiha), Naruto with his brash way and endless life strength, and Sakura with her high intelligence… I have to be careful in choosing their jounin teacher. Asuma? He seems too laid back to me… Sasuke needs a figure that impresses (or traumatizes) him enough to make him at least follow the teaching. Raido? The same… Ibiki? Eer… he could ‘impress’ the three of them enough… rather too scary though. We don’t need a more traumatized Sasuke on the way. Female Jounin then? Like Anko? Ugh… I think Sasuke would rather choosing to be gay than ended in a team full of females (as if his fanclub isn’t enough…). And then there was Sakura’s problem. She would accept any jounins as long as they’re really far too smart for his/her own good. Hayate? He IS a genius. But he’s far too ‘sick’ to impress Sasuke’s ego. Maybe Genma? Far too pervert though. Who else!? And the LAST problem is Naruto’s as well. Not many jounins want to associate with ‘the boy’. So…who? Asuma? Kurenai? AARGH!! This team is the worst one!!! I can’t think of any jounins for them!!

…I need a second opinion on this arrangement… maybe I can ask Sandaime this afternoon… He’s always the wise one…

Satisfied with her decision, Iruka cleared all the files from the kotatsu and snuggled deeper in it instead. She set her inner clock to wake her in a few hours.

-------------------------------------------------

“Ah… Iruka-kun. It has been a while since I last saw you. Isn’t today your day off?” Sandaime’s smile always made her smile back. Sandaime was always giving her wise words and guiding her through her ‘darkest’ moments. For that, Iruka always respected his decision and thought of him as a ‘grandfather’ figure. Apparently he was enjoying his late afternoon tea in his office.

“Ah…I’m fine Sandaime-sama. May I talk with you for a while?” Iruka asked from behind the door.

“Please come in and sit with me then. Your presence is always welcome, Iruka-kun.”

They ended up drinking tea together and enjoying the afternoon. Iruka had to admit it was a rather relaxing and slow day, leaving her usually tensed & overwork mind to relax for a moment. She even exchanged a few jokes with Sandaime.

“You look better. The small break seems good for you.” Sandaime smiled at the content and honest look on the female chuunin's face. He always considered her as one of his ‘daughters’, or maybe ‘granddaughters’ and it made him happy that the chuunin could put away her polite mask before him.

“Thank you, Sandaime-sama.” Iruka curved her eyes in content.

“ I’ve heard about your case with Mizuki… Do you want to talk about it?” Sandaime sipped his tea on his chair.

Sitting before the old hokage, Iruka grimaced a bit at the sudden question. During her recovering time, she hadn’t had a chance to ask about Mizuki’s fate. She assumed the ANBU already took care of him. “If I may know…how’s he now, Sandaime-sama?” She even couldn’t bring herself to say his name.

Sandaime nodded in understanding, “He is placed in the underground jail. He shouldn’t bother us for a long time, Iruka-kun. You don’t need to worry about him anymore.”

Stealing a rather forbidden scroll would cost a heavy punishment, but Iruka didn’t want to dwell on it anymore, much less the reason why Mizuki did it in the first place. She was still recuperating from her trauma. Nodding her head, Iruka began, “Sandaime-sama, actually I come here not to talk about it.”

Sandaime raised his eyebrows, “What it could be then?”

Taking the student files out of her rather small bag, Iruka gave them to Sandaime who accepted and began reading some of them. “Is this the genin team arrangement this year, Iruka-kun?”

Iruka nodded, “Yes. I’ve arranged most of the teams already, but there’re a few teams that I haven’t decided yet. Can you give me your opinion please?”

Sandaime nodded, reading the arrangements. “You put Shikamaru-Ino-Chouji as a team? Good choice…”

Ten minutes later, Sandaime already knew about the brief arrangement of all. He mostly agreed with Iruka’s decision, but he recommended changing for Shikamaru-Ino-Chouji’s Jounin teacher which –he decided- would be best for Asuma to teach, instead of Raidou. Iruka agreed.

It was Iruka’s turn to tell him her biggest problem.

“I’m afraid I don’t know the right jounin candidate for Sasuke-Naruto-Sakura’s team. They’re … a special case. Sasuke as an Uchiha, Naruto with his endless energy, and Sakura with her higher-than-most-people-intelligence. It’s a bit difficult to find a jounin who would want to teach the raw potentials in them, Sandaime-sama. Do you have any advices?” Iruka asked.

Sandaime nodded, “Hm…Sasuke is one of the last Uchiha, right? He would need quite a figure to teach him sharingan. I can tell he’s one of those who are born with that ability.”

Iruka sighed, “That’s one of the problems as well. Sasuke needs a figure that impresses him enough to make him -at least- follow the teaching. He holds his abilities high and is proud of them. And Sakura is sometimes too clever. She would accept anyone as long as he or she is really too smart for his or her own good. And last, Naruto is… the boy. Not many people, even some jounins, who would want to associate with him. I couldn’t think of anyone who would want to bear with all of those.”

Sandaime nodded again. His eyes focused on the papers before him for a few minutes, and finally, he glanced back at her. “Iruka-kun, I think I know who the perfect candidate for this team is.”

Iruka blinked, “You do? May I know who is he/she, Sandaime-sama?”

Sandaime smiled, “He’s never taught a gennin team before, but I’m sure he would do fine.”

“He? Who-?”

“Hatake Kakashi.”

“Nanii!??”

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Iruka sighed for the twentieth time that morning. Most of her wounds were already healed except for the concussion and of course the injury on her back. That was why she still had bandages around her head. But this time, she tied back her hair in a low ponytail on her neck. She didn’t know why, but it seemed more and more people stared at her hair each passing day when she had it down. She knew it was unusual for her to walk outside her house with hair down, but she didn’t realize it was that bad looking. So, she felt relieved bit when some of the stares boring into her skull vanished themselves after she decided to have it in a low ponytail.

She was sitting on the desk in front of the class while the others sat on the chairs before her. The others, the jounins, sat excitedly in their seats, talking and joking around with others as they waited for the meeting to start.

Which would not be for at least an half hour more. Thanks to a certain lazy –always-late silver haired jounin.

Iruka put her head down into her hand as she sat resignedly back on her chair. Really, if she didn’t know better, she's think she was teaching some of pre-genins in her own class – except these jounins were bigger, taller, and of course crazier.

Why me!??

A sudden cloud of smoke swirled beside her as the guy they had waited for at least one hour finally appeared before the class. Icha-icha book was opened as usual under his nose. “Yo. Sorry I’m late. I got lost in the way of life.”

Iruka just sighed again, resigned to her fate. Actually, from his usual two hours late, Kakashi definitely was early, but Iruka wouldn’t tell him that. “Please take a seat with the others, Kakashi-san.”

The single eye just curved into inverted U at her, “Glad to see you again, Iruka-sensei.” Then he walked lazily toward the sitting jounins and took his own seat, between Asuma and Genma. The others just grunted at his presence.

Ah…the joy being the infamous late jounin… Kakashi grinned behind the mask as he sat at the seat his friends provided for him.

Feeling a familiar heat in the pit of her stomach, Iruka coughed, signaling the meeting to begin. The room suddenly turned silent in seconds. Good. “Good morning, everyone. As you know, tomorrow is the day for the genin tests. Here I would announce who gets which team. Most of the teams consist of two boys and a girl who pass the academy exam this year. But as you’re all aware, out of all the teams I’ve arranged for you all, there’ll be only three teams that’ll be accepted as genins. Everyone follows so far?” She asked.

There were nods, grunts, smirks, and grins. She assumed those were a yes. The jounin test was really varied in many kinds, but there were only few jounins who would really want to pass their team. There were far too many children’s grave, far too many in Konoha already. No need to add the risks for more of those. In fact, Iruka would consider her students to be lucky to pass more than one team every year. (Like the last year, only Gai-sensei passed three students as his genins.)

“You’re free to do any tests you think as the best for them, but please keep them under the rules. I’m sure you all know what the rules are. I do not want to see or hear of anyone getting killed here, got it?” She put her best teacher ‘obey ME or you can go fuc**ng EATEN by missing nins for all I care ’ glare. Everyone nodded obediently at that. Iruka ignored the gulps or snorts that were heard.

At the other side of the room, Kakashi simply raised his eyebrows at the rare display of the female sensei’s resoluteness.

Hmm…no wonder her students obey ALL her words all the time….

“Good. Then I’ll announce the arrangement of teams now. Keep in mind, if you pass them, you’ll have the responsibility of three young lives in your hands for an unknown time in the future."

It went unsaid that it would be a few days, months, or years before one of them would be killed.

Everyone went really silent at that.

Iruka nodded, began reading the list. “There are ten teams this year and five teams more from last year. Team 1 – Watane Anji, Kotama Juro, Mataro Keima – Jounin : Yamashiro Aoba.- “

Aoba grunted and rose from his seat, taking the mission scroll from Iruka’s desk. The scroll already consisted of student’s data and their photos and of course a brief direction how to test them. He got out of the room after that.

“Team 3 -….”

“Team 5 - ….” Another jounin went outside the room.

“Team 10 – Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Chouji – Jounin : Sarutobi Asuma.” Asuma nodded and took the scrolls. He walked out of the room in his infamous lazy stroll. He would be a perfect match –or idol- for Shikamaru, Iruka mused.

“Team 4 - ….”

“Team 8 – Hyuuga Hinata, Aburame Shino, Inuzuka Kiba – Jounin : Yuuhi Kurenai.” There were several raised eyebrows at that. Three famous clans in a group? Sounds interesting… Kurenai walked to her desk, smiled at her and nodded, taking the scroll. Then she went outside as well.

There were several teams after that, until the only ones in the class were her and the infamous copy nin. Kakashi raised his visible eyebrow at her as the last jounin walked outside the door.

“I take it your unlikeness to my hair is cured then?” He said, walking in a lazy slouch to the front desk where Iruka sat, not waiting for Iruka’s announcement. His Icha-icha in his hand - thankfully wasn’t opened this time. He was rewarded with the blush on the chuunin’s face.

Iruka blushed a bit at the remembrance. True, it had been a few days since she last saw the jounin and today, seeing that silver hair barely had an effect on her stomach. Stiffly, she handed the scroll to him, not answering the question. She purposely announced Team 7’s as the last because she wanted to have a few words with the jounin regarding them. “Kakashi-san, I want to have a few words with you before you leave, if I may?”

Accepting the scroll, the jounin raised his eyebrow in question. “Oh? Are you asking me out, Iruka-sensei?”

Hmm… I didn’t know you have it in you, sensei. Not that I'm complaining though…

Iruka blinked at him, before the meaning hit her. Instantly, she blushed hard, “NO!! That’s not what I mean!!”

Kakashi just chuckled, sitting on the seat before her desk, “Maa…I’m joking, Iruka-sensei.” He was enjoying the rather adorable sight the chuunin made before him.

Iruka tried to return her face color to normal, coughing, “Your Team – Team 7 consists of Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Haruno Sakura, Kakashi-san.”

Kakashi shrugged at her, “What’s about them?”

One of *the* last Uchiha…? The sensei’s son? And a girl named after a flower? Sounds interesting…

Iruka sighed inside at the emotionless response she got from the jounin.

Well…at least he doesn’t protest having a rather imbalanced angsty boy, a kyuubi container, and a pink haired girl as his team. Wait a minute… does he know any students beside Naruto…? I don’t think so…

Iruka sighed, “Honestly, I didn’t plan to hand them to you because you haven’t had teams before – at least I don't think so. But Sandaime-sama thinks that you’re perfect for them and after a few considerations, I agree with him.”

Kakashi kept silent.

Let’s see what you wanted me to do, sensei….

Meeting their eyes, Iruka continued. “This team is… an unusual team. Sasuke as an Uchiha, holds high his skill. Believe me when I say you must impress him enough before he wants to be taught by you. The next, there’s Sakura who has a bit of a low self-esteem problem although she is really smart. She currently…has a crush on Sasuke, and sadly I must say it clouds her judgments sometimes. And the last…Uzumaki Naruto. I know you’ve met with him already. And as you and I are aware…he’s….” Iruka struggled inside, trying to continue despite of the big lump growing inside her throat, “…he’s the Kyuubi’s container. He’s a bit hyperactive but a good boy.”

Kakashi finally sighed, “And what do you mean with telling me all of this, Iruka-sensei?”

Iruka swallowed, glancing down at her clenched fist, “I don’t know how you test them, Kakashi-san. And I am not asking you to pass them or something like that. The only concern of mine is…these three are a risky team. They tend to be rather…opposite of each other although I hope they could cover each other’s weakness someday. Please don’t take them lightly. That’s all.”

There was a silence at that. Iruka closed her eyes tightly, waiting for any responses of what?

Kakashi kept silent, staring at the chuunin before him.

She’s worrying over her students too much… I can’t promise that I would pass them as Gennin….still…

Before him, Iruka kept lowered her head as her worry grew more and more at the jounin’s silence.

He would think I’m too worried sick over everything… I know it’s a bad idea to tell him all of that…but I couldn’t –

Suddenly she could feel a light pressure on her clenched fist. Opening her eyes warily, she saw a paler and larger gloved hand uncurled her smaller tanner fisted right hand slowly. The gesture oddly… felt intimate.

“You’re a really good teacher, Iruka-sensei.”

Iruka blinked at that, finally braving herself to glance up at the face of the nin before her. An intense of single gray eye stared back into her chocolate eyes.

There’s a hint of blue inside that pool of grey…

A second later, the pool of grey vanished and it curved like a downward crescent moon.

She could feel a strong grip on her uncurled hand, gently rubbing against her skin.

“Don’t worry about them. I’ll do my best, Iruka-sensei.”

And Iruka couldn’t help but smile back at him.

“Arigato….Kakashi-san.”

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After briefing with the jounins, Iruka went to the class where she informed all the students which team they would get and who their jounin teachers were. She ignored Naruto’s shouts, Sasuke’s glare, and Sakura’s protest when she announced their team. The other teams were nodding and smiling (and grunting and snorting and…), which made Iruka glad at least some of her students agreed with her decision.

She considered it went well actually.

And the next day, today in fact, she stood once again before the class, calmly explaining to her students what they might expect from their jounins.

“After I go from this class, there’ll be jounins here that will take each team to anywhere he/she would like you to go. Remember, you’ll be tested by him/her in many ways before he/she announce that you pass. You won’t be gennin yet. That’s all from me. And good luck.”

When she walked outside the room, Naruto followed her as well, taking a grip of her vest in his small clutch. He stopped Iruka from taking walking further along the hall. “Yes, Naruto?”

“Iruka-sensei!! I still don’t understand why you pair me with Sasuke and Sakura-chan! They’re both impossible!!” Naruto whispered not-too-lowly.

Iruka sighed. They had talked about it yesterday, but it seemed that Naruto still didn’t understand what she meant.

“Naruto-kun. As I told you yesterday, your score is the lowest one in the class. The only way to balance it is to pair you up with students with the highest score – which in fact – is Sasuke-kun and of course Sakura-chan.” She explained.

She refrained herself from telling Naruto the truth, because, hell, Iruka herself still doubted that this choice of the team for them was in fact slightly possible.

But well, this is the second reason as well. It is still the truth, so it doesn’t count as a lie. Sorry, Naruto.

Naruto pouted at her, which looks so cute with those adorable blue eyes of his. Iruka just chuckled and ruffled his blonde hair, giving in into the cuteness.

He will grow up into a very good looking boy one day…

“Just be patient, Naruto-kun. The most important thing you have to do now is to pass the test to be gennin soon. But yes, you need to make friends with your team. Sasuke-kun and Sakura-chan are good children, Naruto, you will realize that later.”

Naruto kept pouting – at least until seeing his sensei’s smile he grinned instead. “You know what, Iruka-sensei?”

“What..?”

“After that incident with him, I thought a lot about it….and finally, I decided to do something.” The grin was still there, although the shining eyes dimmed a bit, lost in his remembrance.

Iruka carefully kneeled before him, brushing his blonde hair gently. It felt so soft despite its spiky appearance. “Hmm..?” she urged Naruto to continue.

“If the villagers do not want to acknowledge me because of the…thing inside me, I’ll make them do it on their own.”

“And how will you do that, Naruto-kun?”

“I will be the Hokage one day!! Then everyone will know and admit me as a strong shinobi!! I promised myself that!!” Naruto’s grin widened as those blue eyes shone brightly back into Iruka’s brown ones.

Iruka could feel warmth seeped inside her heart at hearing those words. She didn’t have the heart to tell Naruto that it was a nearly impossible dream to reach. But maybe…maybe Naruto would be an exception to that. Instantly, she embraced the small boy into her arms.

“I believe you will make it someday, Naruto-kun.”

And yes, she surprised herself that she really meant it.

---------------------------------------------------------

Long after that, Iruka busied herself with her works in mission room. Her job as teacher academy was on a long break after the graduation and it would be a few weeks before she could teach the students –and of course the new ones- again. So, she settled to work in the mission room herself.

It had been four hours before she finally had enough.

I’m too worried about Nar-Team 7’s test. I…need to ask a few questions to Sandaime-sama.

Her logic gave her the reasons why she shouldn't care so much (she was merely his teacher; the kyuubi was inside him, he was cursed kid, and any other facts that Iruka couldn’t bother to think more about), but she knew deep inside her, somehow, somehow, Naruto already had already made his way into her heart, placing his wide grin and his blue shining orbs and his laugh and his pranks and what else in a special place in Iruka’s heart. Iruka didn’t know how it could be, but she couldn’t lie to her own feeling.

I really care about him… more than a teacher should do. And …… I don’t regret it.

After a few minutes forcing herself to walk quickly to Sandaime’s office, finally she reached the door. She knocked on it hesitantly.

“Please come in.” came a gruff voice.

Iruka opened the door carefully; walking inside and doing what she'd really wanted to do that day.

“Sandaime-sama, I’m sorry I'm disturbing your work, but I have to ask you something important.”

Sandaime just raised his eyebrows, the smoke from his pipe billowing slightly. “And what could that be, Iruka-kun?”

“What kind of teacher is that Hatake Kakashi , Sandaime-sama?” She was really curious to know what method Kakashi would use to test Naruto and the others and how much a chance they would have to pass those tests.

Sandaime just raised his eyebrows higher, amusement clear in his next words. “Ah… do you mean what kind of man he is, Iruka-kun?”

Huh..?

It took her a good 10 seconds before she get the meaning. Horrified, blushing to the ends of her hair, Iruka stammered. “That’s NOT what I mean, Sandaime-sama!!”

What the hell!?? Don’t tell me he thinks that I like Kakashi-san THAT WAY!!??

Amusedly, Sandamie continued. “Well… I know it’s about time now for you to get married… 23 years old and all… And Kakashi is good enough for you, except maybe you have to do something with his tendency to be late over everything…”

Fearing she would faint anytime now, if she didn’t get the damn blush off soon, Iruka stammered, “Sa-Sandaime-sama! Don’t …joke around, please…??”

“And I must warn you of his tendency to read porn in public…well you know that already… He’s not entirely a pervert like Jiraiya but well…maybe it’s a good thing for you, female and all… they tend to be very very creative in bed – or so people say..“

Iruka wanted to die.

“But I can assure you that he’s a good guy. He considers teammates precious things. He will die before letting your students be hurt in front of his eyes without doing anything about it.”

Somehow, Sandaime’s explanation turned slightly safe as Iruka’s blush turned off slowly. Ignoring the earlier explanation, Iruka focused on the last sentences Sandaime said, “ His teammates, Sandaime-sama? Really?”

Sandaime chuckled and nodded. “I know you’re really worried sick about your students, Iruka-kun. But don’t worry. Kakashi can keep the three of them in line. He’s a genius.”

Nodding, Iruka felt a bit of relief washed over her. “Can I see… his past students’ data book then?”

Maybe I guesses wrong.... Maybe he had teams before... I might learn from his past students if that's the case….

Sandaime nodded, giving her a small black book from his robe, “I'd realized you’d ask for it soon or later. Just read it and you will understand.”

Carefully, she opened the book, only to be surprised at the content it showed, which was blank, “None at all?? What do you mean with this, Sandaime-sama!??”

Sandaime sighed, gently letting go of the pipe in his mouth, “He ‘s rather … strict with his standard of the test. He values work as teammates highly, which unfortunately, hadn’t happened in some Academy students years ago. That’s why he gave up the chance of being a jounin teacher five-six years ago.”

Iruka frowned at that, trying to remember. She herself had been a teacher since four years ago, but she had never known Hatake Kakashi as a jounin teacher before. Mostly she only knew him from the mission room as the best formidable jounins, the copy nin. There were of course rumors that he had been ANBU years before, but Iruka had never been interested enough to find out more.

Sandaime continued, “I don’t know how he'll decide for your three students this year. But rest assured that he’s the best candidate to handle this kind of team. As far as I understand from your story, he would be a great teacher for Sasuke to handle the Sharingan eyes if Sasuke ever gets one –he is named the Sharingan Kakashi after all, moreover, he’s a genius that is smart enough to handle Sasuke and Sakura’s intelligence. And for Naruto’s case, I’ve never known him as anything but a honorable shinobi. He wouldn’t treat Naruto differentially from the others. Besides-“

It looked like Sandaime wanted to continue more, but he only coughed and smiled wearily at her questioning eyes, “He’s a good guy, that Hatake kid. I only ask this of you, Iruka-kun…”

“And what’s that, Sandaime-sama?”

“Believe in Kakashi and your students. He has his own judgment and in case your students do not make it pass the test, please don’t hate him for that.”

Iruka swallowed, trying to absorb all of that into her mind. Finally she nodded, “I’ll try, Sandaime-sama.”

There was an odd glint in those pair of dark eyes after that. Before Iruka could contemplate what it meant, Sandaime beat her to it.

“Beside, he has a really attractive face, Iruka-kun. It’d be a shame if you let go that guy – ah but of course you know that already, don’t you? Or you haven’t seen his face yet? That mask is worn for that very reason you know.”

“SANDAIME-SAMA!! STOP JOKING AROUND!!”

And he laughed.

Well…Iruka… I’m not joking either…mostly…he…eh.

Tbc……..

A/N :

Okay…..I think this’s the LAST chapter full of adorable & cute things…..We will see more into Iruka’s mind bits and bits…. @____@ Hope u like it! :)

~blue-iceland (a.k.a Izky)

The Next Chapter - The Growing Fondness (Will be up MAX. on Saturday/Sunday, 6-7th October)

Teasers :

Kakashi raised his eyebrows at the sudden respect Sasuke had toward the chuunin.

He GROWLED at me the first time we talk and here he BOWS to Iruka?? The angsty boy has serious manner problems here….
-----------------------------------
On the other hand, Kakashi was having a big time himself. He didn’t know why, but it felt…. calming to stand closer to the chuunin sensei. The sensei’s chakra was rather calm and welcoming, His usually sharp nose went down, barely touched the brown strands of hair fell after that cute ponytail, trying to recognize the sweet smell around the female.
-----------------------------------
“Ruka?? You mean you AND that kid?? But he’s TOO young!!!” Kotetsu was horrified.
------------------------------------
The old real you is still somewhere there, Ruka.

When will you let her go…?
-----------------------------------
She only could nod, helpless against the bittersweet of their last moment together. She remembered the forced smile, the awkward silence, the worried glances her friends threw between them.

“I can’t do this anymore…….” The words were the last things she heard from those lips.

“I’m going….”

She couldn’t say ‘I’m sorry’….

It was too late….
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Well...what do u think? ^_^

| Chapter 04 - The Growing Fondness |

[FIC] The Kunoichi's Heart 02

Sat, 29 Sep 2007 01:42:29 GMT

And here chapter two.... ^_^

Title : The Kunoichi's Heart
Rating : PG-13 (this chapter), R later on.
Disclaimer : The characters are NOT MINE.
Chapter : 2/???
Words : 4,782 words
Summary : What if Iruka was a female? Follow the Naruto story since the very beginning.....
Pairing : KakaIru (the others will ba canon-like hopefully)

| Chapter 01 - The Failed Student |

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Chapter 02 – The Realization: 4,782 words
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“You know why the villagers hate you so much? It’s because…. inside of you …there is the Kyuubi, the nine-tailed monster that killed hundreds of our people ten years ago. That’s right. You killed all the people that day when you were born, Naruto-chan… And of course, Iruka-sensei’s parents … and mine as well.” Hate poured into each word as Mizuki said them.

“That’s a LIE!!” Naruto’s shaking voice could be heard for miles.

“Oh, no…that’s a fact. Why do you think people have never liked you? They despise you. Why? Because inside your little body, there’s a monster waiting to escape, to kill again and again…” Mizuki’s voice got lower and lower.

“I DON’T BELIEVE YOU!!”

“Believe it or not, I will kill you here. You deserve it anyway, you monster.”

Through her fuzzy sight, Iruka saw Mizuki slowly retrieve a huge shuriken from his back and–to her horror-throw it towards them-no, towards Naruto!

Naruto!!!

Without thinking, she leapt out toward the shuriken with the strength she didn’t know she still had, hugged Naruto to her battered body, and shielded both of them with her back.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A mere second later, Iruka could feel pain slamming into her back. She coughed blood onto the ground; some of it fell on Naruto’s shocked and teary face.

“Iruka…sensei?” came the trembling voice.

Iruka tried to focus on the boy in her arms, but her own blood and tears (since when did she cry?) made it so fuzzy that it was only blurring her sight. Trying to smile, she tightened her grip on Naruto's back.

“Forgive…me…Naruto… Don’t blame …yourself…Kyuubi or not… you’re a … good boy…believe that…”

With that, her sight turned black. Her bloodied body fell down toward the boy under her.

Amid the blackness that began consuming her, she could hear Naruto shouting at the top of his lungs.

“YOU DARE HURT IRUKA-SENSEI!!?!?? KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!!”

Opening her eyes for the last time, she could see what seemed like hundreds of Narutos attacking Mizuki at the same time.

You did…well…Naruto…

And she smiled.

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“-Ruka-sen….-wer..Me…”

“-Ruka-sensei…!”

“IRUKA-SENSEI!!”

Trying to open her eyes, Iruka could feel someone pull her to lean back against a hard surface, a tree she presumed.

Finally opening her eyes, she was greeted by a pair of huge blue eyes filled with tears, threatening to fall in seconds. She offered a weak smile. “Naruto…?”

Naruto, kneeling before her, sighed in relief. “You’re okay, Iruka-sensei!?”

“How’s…Mizuki…sensei?” she whispered weakly, too tired to say more.

Naruto stiffened a bit, but answered the question. “He's out cold. I already tied him up with rope, there.”

Glancing briefly at the direction Naruto pointed, Iruka just nodded in relief. Mizuki was unconscious and tied to one of the trees. From his wounds, it was likely that he would wake up in a few hours. They still had time.

She had never thought that Mizuki could pull something like this. His motive was still unknown to her, but now she knew for sure that the silver haired Chuunin was holding a really deep grudge against the boy –with or without the Kyuubi inside.

Their last conversations passed through her exhausted mind once again.

“Why are you doing this, Mizuki…?” she asked, gritting her teeth. She needed to know why all of this had started before deciding on her next action.

Mizuki just smirked, shrugging. “Simple. I want more power. And the scroll Naruto-chan stole is one of the gateways for me to achieve that.”

“You would abandon your loyalty to Konoha because of this single scroll!??” Iruka said in disbelief.

Mizuki just chuckled, playing with the kunai in his hand, “I don’t need to explain myself to you, sensei. Konoha isn’t worth my time, that’s all you need to know.”

“Run, Naruto.” Sensing that there was no way to change the man's mind, Iruka pushed Naruto aside and attacked Mizuki with shuriken, hoping for a moment of distraction.

And the fight began.

What was Mizuki after? Did he really want to exchange his loyalty as a Konoha Shinobi for a simple scroll, just like that?

There were some facts missing and unknown to her now. But Iruka couldn’t force her tired brain to work anymore.

On the other hand...Naruto…

She could feel a painful throbbing in her back, but she tried to forget it for a minute. “Naruto…?”

“Yes...?” There was worry in those blue eyes, and Iruka’s eyes softened.

“Come here…for a minute…”

Obediently, Naruto moved closer until he was nearly on Iruka’s lap.

Slowly, forcing her right hand to work, Iruka brushed Naruto’s blond hair back. There was some blood in it, but she didn’t care. The important thing was that the boy was still alive.

Iruka smiled at the fact.

I suppose…I care about him more than I thought…

“I’m," she began, coughing, "glad you…’re…alive, Naruto.” She whispered between the bitter taste of blood flowing inside her mouth.

Naruto’s tears fell down in seconds at that. Immediately, he jumped into Iruka’s lap, embracing his sensei tightly. His speech was broken by sobs. “I thought… you… died… Iruka-...sensei…”

Not minding the painful grip the boy had on her, Iruka smiled against the blond hair obscuring her face. “Let…me…give you…something.”

The boy snuggled closer into her chest, still sobbing. “…What?”

Forcing Naruto out of her arms slightly, Iruka touched Naruto’s face lightly, “Please…close your…eyes.”

Seeing the boy had closed his eyes obediently, Iruka's left hand touched her own hitae-ate, pulling it as well as the band tied with it out. Strands of brown hair fell down immediately. With trembling and bloodied hands, she tied the hitae-ate on Naruto’s head instead.

“You can…look now, Naruto,” she said, and coughed.

Naruto opened his eyes slowly. They widened at the sight of Iruka’s untied hair and immediately both of his hands went up toward his own head.

And felt an unfamiliar cold metal…

His blue eyes widened even more as his mouth hung open, finally understanding what was going on.

Iruka smiled widely as she kissed the metal on the boy’s forehead, on the Konoha symbol. “You pass the test, Naruto. Congratulations.”

Even I can’t produce THAT many kage bunshins with my full chakra. You deserve this for your courage tonight, Naruto…

“SENSEI!!!!”

A second later, with the weeping little blond circling her broken torso tightly, Iruka had never been happier.

She chuckled, tasting the bitter blood, which was oddly sweet behind her lips.

Welcome to the Shinobi world, Naruto…

“Iruka!!”

Seeing a few familiar figures jumped down before them, Iruka could feel the smile widen slightly. Izumo. Kotetsu. Genma. And the last, Kakashi.

Finally….

And she closed her eyes.

----------------------------------------------

Kakashi didn’t think anything when he searched around the rivers, jumping from one tree trunk to the next. His body moved on autopilot as his mind tried to process what was happening in Shinobi-mode. Yet his brain only could form a single word as he pictured Naruto’s familiar grin.

Sensei!!

He knew it was unlike him to do something without any plans beforehand. Hell, he didn’t even spare a few seconds to summon any of his dogs! His mind was filled with so many feelings that there was no place left for any thinking.

There was anger, confusion, disappointment, fear, but mostly… remorse, as he continued to jump through the trees, trying to sense any chakra in his surroundings. The Forest of Death was a very large area to find a small child, and it was a very difficult thing to do with only a few Chuunin and Jounin.

Forgive me, sensei...

I can’t forgive myself if I can’t protect what you left….

It had been a few minutes without result, when suddenly he heard a faint shout a few miles ahead of him. It was faint, but Kakashi could hear every word of it clearly.

“YOU DARE HURT IRUKA-SENSEI!!?!?? KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!!”

His eyes widened at those words.

Iruka-sensei…? Don’t tell me…

Fisting his hand tightly, Kakashi ran faster, hoping that he wasn’t late. The image of Iruka’s smile and Naruto’s grin filled his mind as his feet brought him to where the sounds were coming from.

Be alive….please…

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Apparently, the battle was already finished.

“How is she?”

Relief surged into his lungs as Izumo answered, hands testing the pulse on the female sensei’s neck. “She’s alive, thank God. She’s fainted due to blood loss. We have to take her to the hospital, though.” The other Chuunin, Kotetsu, had already picked up the unconscious sensei as he glanced at Kakashi.

“Kakashi-san. What should we do with him?” He turned his head at the man still tied up a few meters away from them.

Kakashi nodded. “We will take him to Hokage-sama. Sandaime will decide what to do with him.” He gestured to Genma to handle the man – the Chuunin whose name he didn't bother to learn. Genma nodded and did what he was asked to do.

“Will… Iruka-sensei be…alright?” Naruto asked between sobs, his fear filling his words.

Kakashi glanced down at the hiccupping boy, who was standing beside him, familiar blue orbs staring into his own dark eye, tears glistening and asking with worry. Aside from the dirt and leaves on his form, there were no injuries on him.

Thank God…

Kakashi smiled as his single uncovered eye softened at the boy, and his gloved hand found itself patting the blond head gently. He felt the growing warmth inside at the first contact he'd had with his sensei’s son.

“She’ll be alright. Everything’s alright, kid.”

And he meant it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

“Iruka-san! You shouldn’t get up on your own. Your back is still tender, you know!” The nurse shook her head at the stubborn patient on the bed.

Iruka just smiled sheepishly, trying to sit straighter. She was really tired of sleeping on her stomach.

“Ah…forgive me…”

The nurse shook her head again, sitting on the side of the bed with a wet towel in her hand. “I know it’s not comfortable. Still, you should lie on your stomach. I would like to clean your back and check whether it’s healing or not, Iruka-san.”

Groaning internally, Iruka lay on her stomach obediently. She could feel the nurse open her hospital gown from behind. She winced a bit when the cold wet fiber met with the tender skin of her back.

“My…this will be a huge scar, I’m afraid,” the nurse whispered.

Iruka smiled against the pillow. “It doesn’t matter. The important thing is that my student is still alive.”

The nurse sighed. “Well... you’re extremely lucky, Iruka-san. A few millimeters more and the shuriken would have hit your spine. It’s a miracle you avoided that.”

Yeah… I’m extremely lucky. With a few broken ribs, a huge blow to the back, a concussion, and a nearly pierced lung…

“Well…it’ll be fine in a few weeks. I suggest you don’t do any hard activities yet, okay??” The nurse finished her cleaning and buttoned the gown. Iruka didn’t move at all.

“Iruka-sensei!! I brought flowers for you!!”

Iruka’s smile widened at the hyperactive blond boy barging into her hospital room.

Ah well… it’s worth it….

-------------------------------------------------------------
-A few days later-
--------------------------------------------------------------

“Iruka-sensei. I heard the news…”

Iruka winced inside at the words, glancing up sheepishly from the papers she was currently working on at the concerned face of Kurenai. Beside her, Asuma and Genma wore the same expressions. It seemed that the news of Mizuki and his betrayal had traveled very fast around the mission room.

“Ah….Kurenai-san. Asuma-san. Genma-san.” She bowed slightly from her sitting position; the bandage wrapped around her torso prohibited her from doing more than that.

“Do you feel better now, Iruka-kun?” Iruka smiled back a bit at the worry in the red-eyed woman’s words. To Iruka, Kurenai was one of the older Kunoichi she looked up to, and it warmed her heart to know the Jounin cared about her.

“You shouldn’t start working so early, Iruka-chan…” Genma said, for once not winking at her,. She remembered the Jounin was one of the Shinobi that helped in searching for Naruto, for which Iruka was grateful (and she could let the –chan go this time).

“I’m fine…really…” Iruka brushed the long strands of hair from her face, free from the usual hair band. Because of the concussion, her head had to be wrapped in bandages, which prevented her from wearing her hitae-ate on her forehead as usual (and the hair band as well). She wore the hitae-ate around her neck instead.

“So…how bad is it…? You still seem a bit pale… shouldn’t you be still in the hospital or something?” Asuma raised his eyebrow, concern evident in his words. His cigarette –for once- wasn’t in his closed mouth.

Inside, Iruka grimaced at the word ‘hospital’. Like other Shinobi, she wasn’t too fond of the hospital, where it reeked of death and blood. That’s why she'd run here (after escaping the nurses of course), hoping the work could ease her troubled mind. No such luck though. “Well… the worst is the injury on my back and I got a little concussion…that’s all…”

From the looks of the three Jounin, they didn’t believe her a bit.

Iruka sighed, shaking her head. “I’m fine. There’re some scrapes around my arms and legs as well, but that’s all.”

“Don’t ‘that’s all’ us, 'Ruka!” Suddenly, Izumo and Kotetsu appeared beside her. Iruka groaned.

And here they come… my ‘babysitters’…

“What’re you doing!? You’re STILL supposed to be in the hospital, you stupid woman!” Kotetsu shouted, hand gripping Iruka’s sleeve none too gently.

“Keep your voice down, Ko. 'Ruka, you should be resting now. Let me and Kotetsu take over your job today, 'Ruka?” Izumo asked in a worried tone, patting Iruka’s shoulder gently.

“I’m fine… really, guys…”

“Where the hell can we translate ‘I was nearly beaten to death’ to ‘I’m fine’, 'Ruka?? You look like HELL!!”

“Keep your voice DOWN, Ko!!”

“Er… Izumo-san, Kotetsu-san…calm down, please...?”

“It’s useless, Kurenai.”

“Shut up, Asuma.”

Iruka sighed at the obvious worry in her teammates’ tones. Really, for years she'd had them as her teammates; the one fact she really understood so well was that the two of them were really over-protective of her, particularly in times like this.

“Maa…what are all these people doing here? Waiting for new missions?” The familiar baritone voice came along with the sight of that familiar silver hair. Kakashi walked toward the desk where all the Jounin and Chuunin stood, surrounding the obviously agitated Chuunin.

Instinctively Iruka stiffened up at the sight before her.

Silver hair…

“'Ruka…? Are you okay?”

“Your face’s pale…Iruka-sensei, are you sure you’re okay?”

That same silver hair…

Mizuki…NO!!!

And Iruka fainted.

---------------------------------------------------------

“And what did Ibiki get from him?” Sandaime stared back at him.

Kakashi shook his head. “Nothing. He doesn’t talk about anything. He only laughed and screamed to be let out.”

“He's gone crazy.” Sandaime sighed at his explanation. “I appreciate your effort, Kakashi. You may go now.”

“What about…Naruto?” Kakashi couldn’t help but ask. From Iruka’s report, it was regrettable that that traitor (Kakashi still hadn’t bothered to remember his name) had a chance to let the secret out of his disgusting mouth.

He’s old enough to know the secret. After all…it’s about himself. He deserves to know the truth…

Sandaime nodded at his curiosity. “I’ll explain to him myself.”

Satisfied with the answer, Kakashi asked another question. “Should I tell Iruka-sensei about this, Sandaime?”

“She will ask if she’s ready. And I’ll appreciate it if you tell her if she does.”

Kakashi nodded. “As you wish.”

Walking out of the Hokage’s office, Kakashi walked in his infamous lazy stroll, his mind busy trying to process what had happened recently.

It was strange… that crazy Chuunin took risks too big, fighting Iruka that night. There were some Jounin patrolling outside the Forest, yet he still risked a fight with Iruka, who was a Chuunin like him and could give him a hard fight in return. His only intention was the Kage Bunshin scroll, it only held a simple yet important jutsu. Why didn’t he steal a more precious scroll? There is something fishy about this…

“It’s useless, Kurenai.”

“Shut up, Asuma.”

Kakashi raised his eyebrows when he saw the crowd ahead of him. Iruka, sitting behind her desk with a tired expression on her face, was surrounded by Jounin and Chuunin who were talking rather too loudly for Kakashi’s tastes.

“Maa…what are all these people doing here? Waiting for new missions?” Walking toward the said crowd, Kakashi raised his eyebrows at the slight change in Iruka’s face as their eyes met.

Apparently the quiet Chuunin, Izumo, noticed it as well. “'Ruka…? Are you okay?”

“Your face’s pale…Iruka-sensei, are you sure you’re okay?” Kurenai asked as well.

The Chuunin didn’t answer as her face went paler the closer Kakashi got.

Huh…? Is there something on my face, sensei?

And then, seconds later, she fainted.

With Jounin reflex that even only a few Jounin could have, Kakashi already had his arm circling the unconscious sensei, keeping her head from meeting the hard surface of her desk. The Jounin and Chuunin around them let out gasps of concern at the sudden event.

“What the hell?? Kakashi-san??”

“Kakashi-san? What happened?”

“Iruka!!??”

Kakashi ignored the voices around him as he lifted the Chuunin into his arms and said simply, “She’s still tired from everything that has happened recently. I’ll take her to the hospital.” With that, he vanished in a swirl of leaves, leaving his baffled friends to themselves.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Well…I’ve never thought my presence disturbed you so much, Iruka-sensei…” said the Jounin who sat beside the hospital bed. The Icha-Icha book was–as usual-opened under his nose. Unknown to the sensei, Kakashi was eyeing the female Chuunin out of the corner of his eye, somehow glad that there was nothing wrong with her besides … that.

Iruka blushed at the remark, too humiliated to say anything. She sat against the headboard of the bed with pillows under her back, letting their softness ease her bandaged back.

According to the silver haired Jounin, Iruka fainted right after he had arrived. And–being the good comrade he was-he picked her up and brought her to the hospital, where the doctor later explained that Iruka was still-somehow-traumatized after what had happened in the ‘Mizuki accident’. The most disturbing fact was that apparently she couldn’t bear seeing ANY silver haired guys for a while because it was a trigger for her trauma. Still, the doctor reassured her that it was normal and it would fade eventually. She should be back to normal in a few days - hopefully.

Kakashi, Iruka guessed, wore an amused expression behind that mask, which was the reason why Iruka didn’t dare to look at him (with or without her trauma).

Kotetsu, Izumo, Kurenai, and others had visited her earlier, but regretfully they had their own jobs. Iruka couldn’t blame them; it was still in the middle of the afternoon, after all. (And she was grateful for the fact that there was no Kotetsu or Izumo bickering about her health anymore).

Still, unfortunately for her, apparently Kakashi had no job at that time (he had just finished a mission report that day), thus allowing him to visit the poor sensei for a little longer than them (which Iruka hope was just a few minutes longer). He was currently engrossed in the middle of reading that … porn.

As far as Iruka knew, she had exchanged only a few words during all these years with the copy nin. And that put Kakashi as a mere ‘acquaintance’ to her. So, why the hell was he keeping her company now!??

Except… maybe he feels responsible for making me faint this afternoon…After all, how many silver haired guys are there in Konoha anyway?? He must be amused by all of this…. Oh God, he must think I’m so weak – can’t handle a little trauma at all……

“You don’t talk much in front of me, do you Iruka-sensei?” The sudden words from the Jounin snapped Iruka out of her thoughts. In response, she glanced back, avoiding looking at that dreaded silver hair in the process.

“Huh?” She blinked.

“Do you hate me, Iruka-sensei?” Kakashi stared back at her; his tone was neutral. His Icha-Icha book, for once, was turned down on his lap. He had noticed the Chuunin’s expressions for a while and somehow… somehow, he felt…hurt by the grimace the Chuunin had sent him.

Does she dislike me?

“Wha…NO! Why would you think that, Kakashi-san!?” Iruka shook her head a few times in confusion.

“Well…you’ve never wanted to talk to me more than necessary… like now.” The Jounin raised his eyebrow at her, eyeing the slight blush that appeared on those tan cheeks. His heart tightened at the familiar sight.

Iruka blushed, brushing the scar across her face in a nervous gesture, lowering her gaze back to her lap. She decided to tell the truth, there was no use lying in front of that piercing eye. “Uh…well…how do I say this…er… it’s stupid.”

“What is stupid…?” Now Kakashi was really curious.

She couldn’t answer that. She didn’t understand the reason itself.

Why can't I…? He has never done anything wrong to me…

…it’s his eye…

His stare always seems to be reading the depths of my soul… and it makes me a bit uncomfortable…

Yet why…is it so…familiar?

I think…I’ve seen those eyes….somewhere…before…

……

Plus, my stomach always wants to dance around when he’s near…

What the hell’s wrong with me!?? ARGHH…!!!

“Never mind.” Kakashi sighed, lowering his eyes to his own hands.

So she doesn’t like talking to me. Fine…

Kakashi ignored the hurt feeling he felt as he readied himself to leave. It wouldn’t do if he made Iruka more uncomfortable than she already was. He'd better leave before things got uglier.

She could feel the man beside her sigh at her silence. For some reason, it made Iruka feel more horrible than ever.

“I’m…sorry. I don’t understand myself,” she said finally, looking down at her hands.

“Hmm...?” Kakashi glanced up. Feeling that the Chuunin sensei still wasn't finished with her words, he relaxed his posture back into his seat.

“It’s just that… ano… your stare makes me…uncomfortable.” There, she'd said it.

“Uncomfortable…?” Kakashi raised his eyebrows in wonder.

Huh?

Iruka didn’t dare to look back at the Jounin (for fear of the silver hair trigger or something else). She could feel heat rising into her cheeks.

“Um…-"

“IRUKA-SENSEI!!!”

Iruka could kiss silly the person who barged into the uncomfortable silence at the right time in the right place.

Naruto! I love you!!

She hadn’t had a chance to greet him back when suddenly a bundle of orange blur jumped into her arms, embracing her around her waist. Her back protested against the pressure, but she didn’t mind a bit of pain. Her smile automatically grew at those big blue orbs staring up at her.

“Iruka-sensei!! How’re you!?? Kotetsu-san and Izumo-san said that you got sent back to the hospital AGAIN because you forced yourself too much! You should listen to the doctor you know! I’m worried! Does Iruka-sensei need something!? I can bring you something so you’re not lonely here, so-…” Naruto rambled on and on, cuddling eagerly into his sensei’s arms. Iruka chuckled at Naruto’s antics. She couldn’t help but brush the blond spiky hair gently. Her smile widened (if it was possible) at the familiar hitae-ate the blond boy wore.

“You shouldn’t hug her too tightly, kid. She’s still recovering, you know,” came a dry voice at her side.

Oh, my God! I forgot that Kakashi-san’s here as well!

Turning her glance to the Jounin beside her, Iruka couldn’t help but blush a bit at the rather odd stare that single grey eye bore into hers. “Ah… it’s fine, Kakashi-san.”

Kakashi couldn’t help but stare deeply at the rather adorable scene before him. He was even tempted to lift his hitae-ate to engrave the sight forever in his mind with the Sharingan. Anyone could see the close bond the two shared between them, and somewhere in the depths of his mind he could see the long forgotten memory emerge slowly, creating the picture of a certain smiling red-haired woman with a blond baby in her lap.

“Look Kakashi-kun… Isn’t he cute…?”

Kakashi nodded at his sensei’s wife, a slight smile appearing behind his mask. “Hai, Kushina-san.”

Naruto, who was obviously annoyed that someone had disturbed his cuddling time with his favorite sensei, grunted at him. “Iruka-sensei said it is fine. Who’re you, mister?”

Kakashi blinked, the memory vanishing in the blink of an eye at his words.

Ouch…. Now he isn’t cute at all, Kushina-san….

Horrified by Naruto’s less than polite tone, Iruka smacked the blond’s head. “Naruto! You shouldn’t talk like that! And he’s Kakashi-san, my…friend. Tell him you’re sorry!”

Naruto wanted to protest but refrained against Iruka’s glare. He finally mumbled, bowing a bit toward the copy nin. “Sorry…”

Kakashi just shrugged, “It’s fine… But I’m serious about her wound, you know. Don’t hug her too tightly.”

Naruto pouted at that, hesitantly loosening his too tight grip on Iruka’s waist (which, in a tiny part of Iruka’s mind, she was really grateful for). Instead, he sat beside Iruka on the bed, facing the sitting Jounin who sat on the single chair beside the bed as his legs dangled a few feet from the floor. “Okay…I’m Uzumaki Naruto, Iruka-sensei’s student. Who’re you, mister…?” he asked curiously. Obviously he forgot Iruka had introduced the guy a few seconds earlier.

Kakashi’s eye curved into an inverted-U. “I’m Hatake Kakashi.”

Hmm…he obviously forgot our last meeting in the Forest of Death…

Naruto’s eyes blinked innocently. “Kakashi? Scarecrow…? You have a weird name, Kaka-san! And why do you wear a mask? Are you ugly or something?”

Iruka rumpled Naruto’s hair a bit in exasperated affection. “Don’t say that! He’s a Jounin, Naruto. You should respect him.”

Naruto grinned sheepishly. “Ah…sorry, Kaka-san.”

Kakashi chuckled a bit, not minding the nickname he got from the hyper blond. Slowly he brought his hand to brush Naruto’s hair gently. “It’s fine, Naruto.” His orange book, thankfully, was hidden already – or so Iruka thought.

Naruto didn’t mind the touch at all. He grinned widely back, obviously enjoying the large hand on his spiky hair. “You know what, Kaka-san?”

“Hmm…?” The Jounin kept rubbing the boy’s hair, obviously enjoying it as well. Iruka just stared at them, feeling a sudden unknown warmth grow inside her.

Kakashi himself was lost in that grinning face. The whiskers on those chubby cheeks only added to the cuteness factor and Kakashi couldn’t help but smile at him, although it was hidden by the mask.

Minato-sensei…. He really resembles you, huh….

“You seem weird to me, with the mask and that one eye, but you’re nice. Not many people want to talk to me except Iruka-sensei. She’s the nicest sensei I have!” he said honestly, a wide grin on his face.

“Really…?”

Despite of the warmth she felt at Naruto’s innocent, honest words, Iruka tensed up.

Kakashi should know…about Kyuubi…

“Mmm… And I think you and Iruka-sensei will make a nice pair together!” Naruto laughed.

At this, Iruka forgot about her worries, blushing to the roots of her hair at the innocent remark instead. “Naruto! What’re you talking about!??”

“Maa…it’s okay, Iruka-sensei.” The Jounin just chuckled at her outburst, still rubbing Naruto’s blond hair. It seemed that he was rather taken with the little blond boy in front of him. Stealing a glance at the blushing sensei, Kakashi felt something tighten inside his chest. Again; that made it how many times that day?

She should blush more often…

Naruto laughed back at Iruka’s expression. “Iruka-sensei! Your face looks like a strawberry!”

Iruka was tempted to smack the sneaky blond boy near her, but a soft knock made her turn her head to the door. “Yes?”

A nurse walked into the room, smiling at the sight of the three of them. “Umino Iruka-san?”

Iruka nodded. “It’s me.”

The nurse came to her and nodded. “You can go home this afternoon. The doctor said you should take a break for a few days, two days minimum. You’re still a bit tired, so please don’t overwork yourself, alright?”

Iruka just nodded obediently. “I will try.”

“Well…then I’m off. Please enjoy your day, Umino-san.” There was a strange glint in the nurse’s eyes when she said that as she glanced at the three of them. Iruka was sure she winked at her.

Huh…? Did I miss something…?

Kakashi just shrugged at the confused glance Iruka threw at him. “Don’t ask me, sensei.”

Women are strange like that….

Tbc....

A/N : Oh well... even nurses can sense there's something between the two... xD

Thank you again for my lovely beta!! at_splicken!! You're really great and SOOO quick,dear! :D

The Next Chapter - The Promise & the Test (Will be up AT THE VERY LEASTnext Saturday/Sunday, the first weekend in October- hopefully) - I might update faster than that though... ^_^

~blue-iceland

PS : *SPOILERS for chapter 367*
I used the REAL name of Yondaime & his wife here. It was stated in chapter 367 by Jiraiya AND Tsunade. ^____^

Previews for the next chapter : Unbetaed!!

Iruka sighed, “That’s one of the problems as well. Sasuke needs a figure that impresses him enough to make him -at least- follow the teaching. He holds high his ability and proud of them. And Sakura is sometimes too clever. She would accept anyone as long as he or she is really too smart for his or her own good. And last, Naruto is… the boy. Not many people, even some jounins, who would want to associate with him. I couldn’t think anyone who would want to bear with all of those.”
------------------------------
“You’re free to do any tests you think as the best for them, but please keep them under the rules. I’m sure you all know what the rules are. I do not want to see or hear anyone get killed here, got it?” She put her best teacher ‘obey ME or you can go fuc**ng EATEN by missing nins for all I care ’ glare. Everyone nodded obediently at that. Iruka ignored the gulps or snorts that were heard.
------------------------------
Well…at least he doesn’t protest having a rather imbalanced angsty boy, a kyuubi container, and a pink haired girl as his team. Wait a minute… does he know any students beside Naruto…? I don’t think so…
------------------------------

That's all I can tell u now... =P

| Chapter 03 - The Promise & the Test |

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Oh yes....btw... I just posted a new cute Kakashi art in my DA account. Go see it if u're interested! :D

Chibi Head 02_Kakashi by ~blue-iceland on deviant ART

[FIC] The Kunoichi's Heart 01

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 03:14:09 GMT

PREVIOUS TITLE : A WOMAN'S POINT OF VIEW

First : I’m a KakaIru fangirl and I don’t mind shounen-ai or a few yaoish stuffs. But I just want to imagine how the life’s in Naruto story if Iruka was female. That’s all. I don’t mind enjoying some M-pregnant KakaIru fics, but I rather want to enjoy it in a natural way which means I need to change his gender completely and restart from the very beginning. This’s a KakaIru fic. I’m still deciding whether it’s for SasuSaku or SasuNaru, but the main view would be KakaIru. If you don’t like it, please don’t read.

SECOND REVISION : Forgive me for the sudden HUGE changes in the storyline. There are some HUGE changes in the plot that I’ve decided to do after some discussions and thinking in my part, which are :

- Naruto will remain as BOY/MALE (bcause for some reasons, I wanna make this story as canon as possible and I think Naruto as male is the best for the plot later)

- The POV will NOT be in Iruka’s only. I wanna try to make from other’s characters perceptive as well.

- So... I've decided to REWRITE the fics from the VERY start and change the title as well.

That’s the news from now. Again, forgive me to change these things without warning/ asking for ur opinions. If u have any questions regarding the changes, please ask me & I’ll explain more to u. Thank u & enjoy the story. *bows*

WARNING : I’m an artist, not a writer. And I’m not English speaker. My grammar is H.O.R.R.I.B.L.E. Oh the horrors… >_> You can ask my beta bronze_tigress if u don’t believe it.

PS : Anyone interested to be my beta?? My dear beta-reader , bronze_tigress, has been busy for a while so I don't want to make it worse for her. ^^; My requests are :
- He/she doesn't mind to wait at least once a month for the next chapters
- Doesn't mind to point out where my grammar/spelling mistakes are. I like learning so my english can be better and better. ^_^

And last, enjoy the story. ^^

~blue_iceland

~THE KUNOICHI'S HEART~

Title : The Kunoichi's Heart
Rating : PG-13 (this chapter), R later on.
Disclaimer : The characters are NOT MINE.
Chapter : 1/???
Words : 4,386 words
Summary : What if Iruka was a female? Follow the Naruto story since the very beginning.....
Pairing : KakaIru (the others will ba canon-like hopefully)

Chapter 00 – The Prologue

Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf Village ~

It was a fine morning. Birds chirped everywhere, waking the inhabitants from their sleep. Every person, ninja or civilian, got out of bed to start the day (except ones who were coming in after an overnight shift/mission).

It was a pretty calm morning, until a loud feminine shout was heard.

“NARU-----TOOOO!!! What did I tell YOU not to do THAT AGAIN!!!???”

An equally loud boyish voice answered.

“But…But…IRUKA-SEN--SEI!!! It’s FUN!!! You try it!!!”

From far away, two figures could be seen running on the rooftops. The taller figure, who seemed to be a woman, was running after the shorter figure that carried a few cans of paint in his hand. The woman shouted another few curses at the blonde boy who just laughed freely. Far behind them, you could see the sculpture of the Hokage’s face on the mountain, painted creatively with what seemed like horrible makeup.

The people under them just shook their heads at the antics above their roofs.

“Iruka-sensei….such a high-spirited young woman…”

“And that blonde boy… He seems to be always a troublemaker.”

“Poor Iruka-sensei…”

Yep, it’s a fine usual morning.

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Chapter 01 ~ The Failed Student : 4,386 words
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Umino Iruka, a single female chuunin, a full-time teacher at the Academy and a part-time staff in the mission room, walked out of the class room with the yearly reports of the would-be-genins filling her arms. She had her dark brown hair up in a ponytail with a few strands of hair escaped from her hitae-ate worn around her temples. Her tan skin glowed a bit with sweat, making her chuunin vest fit a bit tighter around her black shirt. She hadn’t noticed the greetings people sent to her along the way, trusting her feet to walk on autopilot to the staff room. Her mind was busy thinking about things that had happened these recent weeks.

This year I’ve already graded all the students’ report…but…

Poor Naruto…he couldn’t graduate with all of these scores he had. If only he could have passed the bunshin jutsu…Nah, there’s nothing you can do, Iruka. He really has to learn that not everyone can graduate every year…

“Something wrong, Iruka?”

The sudden voice made her look up almost immediately, for the first time noticing that there were two worried faces in front of her. Kotetsu and Izumo.

“Huh? I’m fine, Kotetsu, Izumo.” Iruka smiled, carefully putting all the reports into the locker standing beside her. After that was done, she turned back to her friends.

“Not that I mind, but why do you ask?”

Kotetsu, the ruder of the two, snorted. “Please, Iruka-kun. We know you for decades. You always used to be worried sick over everything, particularly your students.”

Izumo kicked his friend on the shin lightly, “What we really mean is we’re worried about you. I think your face is a bit pale, Iruka.”

“Ow!! No need to kick me!!”

Iruka just sighed seeing the antics of her friends. She, Izumo, and Kotetsu had been friends since forever it seemed. They had been teammates since they were Genin and sometimes they still went as a Chuunin team if a team was needed. Izumo and Kotetsu, like her, worked in the mission room as well to manage the missions they gave to and from other shinobis. But unlike her who chose to work in the Academy, they worked for the Intelligence & Torture Unit under Morino Ibiki, a place where Iruka was sometimes asked to help as well.

“Please you two, keep your playtime out of work, okay? I’m fine really…. It’s just that Naruto-“

“You mean that little blonde boy in your class? He seems like trouble to me…” Kotetsu cut off her words.

“Is he…that kid?” Izumo blinked.

Iruka winced at the tone her friend used against him. “He’s a good boy.”

Despite the little boy’s pranks all of these years, Iruka admitted at least to herself that she grew fond with the blonde. Iruka herself had taught him since she got her job at the Academy, which was four years ago, when Sandaime insisted –despite villager’s protests- that every child in Konoha deserved an education as their right.

Izumo, who seemed to know her distress, patted her shoulder. There was regret in his next words. “Ah…I know… I’m sorry. It’s just that…”

Iruka shook her head, showing him it’s alright. “No, it’s okay. It’s just that…. he couldn’t pass this year's class. His score is not good enough…” She sighed again.

Naruto, as much of a troublemaker as he was, was actually a bright child. Too bad for him, being an orphan and having more than half the villagers hate the blonde, there weren't many that wanted to help him to understand more of the academy lessons than necessary.

That’s why Sandaime took it on himself to take care of the boy, especially his education. Still, so many Hokage’s duties made the old man sometimes too busy to make time for the boy. And thus, the task fell on Iruka’s shoulders, as Naruto’s teacher at least.

Iruka couldn’t help but be disappointed with the result. Naruto’s score was less than required from the academy. And this was supposed to be the boy’s last year.

Naruto…what should I do with you…?

“You care about him a lot, Iruka…” Izumo said, noticing his friend’s expression. He had always been the more observant of the two.

Iruka felt her lips turn up a bit, “Yeah… He’s an orphan… and actually under all the pranks he pulls he’s really a good boy.”

She had been a teacher at the Academy for more than five years, since she was 18 years old. She had met various kinds of children and learned how to handle them. Each child was special in his/her own way and Iruka always wanted to show them that. However, Naruto was a special case.

He’s barely twelve year old… yet he’s been an orphan since he was born. And it doesn’t help that he’s the Kyuubi container. Yondaime-sama… I wonder how you would feel if you could see how most of the villagers treat your son…

Shaking her head, she smiled back at her teammate. “Well… I think I should go to my desk. It’s nearly my watch. See you later, Izumo, Kotetsu.” With that, she left them to their own thoughts.

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“Well…. Genma-san. I’m sure you know this but could you write more… thoroughly?” Iruka raised her eyebrow at the sheepish face of Genma, one of the jounins who were lined up before her desk.

“Ah…I know that, Iruka-chan. It’s just that I was in a rush…with the mission and all…”

Iruka bit her lips to keep her mouth from shouting at the said jounin. In a rush?? It's more like you wrote this report down as you walked into this room… which is probably true.

Glaring at the jounin before her, Iruka said in a flat tone. “This…chicken scratch handwriting can’t be accepted, Genma-san. I’m sorry, but you have to write it again. Please use this new form. And don’t call me that.” With that, ignoring the pout Genma wore (not that it was cute or anything), she handed a new paper to Genma. “Next person, please.”

“Ah…you’re really not cute, Iruka-chan.” Genma winked at her, before walking away to go – hopefully to do what she told him.

“Don’t call me that.” Iruka glared back at him. She had never liked people call her such a sweet nickname, no matter what flirts they were.

“Hard day, Iruka-kun?” A feminine voice snapped Iruka out of her killer stare. Iruka turned her eyes up to see Kurenai, one of her jounin friends.

“Ah…you can say that, Kurenai-san.” Iruka couldn’t help but smile lightly at the red eyed woman standing before her desk. Gratefully, she accepted the mission report from the woman’s hand. “Thank you for your hard work, Kurenai-san.”

Reading briefly the report, Iruka nodded in satisfaction. “It’s great, Kurenai-san.”

Thank God for the nice handwriting… It’s a rare case to find jounins who can write legible reports nowadays… I should open a grammar class or something for these jounins. Hopefully the next ones would be –at least half good- like this.

“Maa…Iruka-sensei, I came to give you my report…” A familiar baritone voice made Iruka’s shoulders automatically stiffen up.

There goes my hope…

Glancing up at the figure that appeared beside Kurenai, Iruka couldn’t help but sigh inside. “Ah… Hello, Kakashi-san.”

A single nearly closed gray eye stared back at her. Iruka could tell that the guy was amused by what he saw, though Iruka didn’t know what it was. Unconsciously, Iruka rubbed her hand against the scar running across her face in a nervous gesture, turning her eyes away. Unlike most of the women, she bore a scar on her face and didn’t bother to hide it under make-up, which was too troublesome for Iruka’s liking (she wasn’t too fond of make-up, thank you).

She had never liked how that single eye pierced through her. It sometimes made her feel…. inadequate in the presence of the silver haired jounin.

Hatake Kakashi, a silver haired jounin, the Sharingan Kakashi, the master of a thousand jutsu, the copy nin, was an intimidating presence in his own way. With his lazy almost careless posture, his single eye always held the same bored expression, like he never wanted to bother to grace you with his presence. And with half of his face covered with that damn mask (and hitae-ate to cover the other infamous eye, the Sharingan), there’s no way you could tell what he thought. And that…that…Icha-Icha thing…what the hell was the man thinking, walking around the mission room and the streets outside with that book hanging down under his nose?

Simply put, Hatake Kakashi wasn’t on the list of Iruka’s favorite people at all.

A paper that had seen some better days was thrust under her nose. Iruka grimaced at the state it was in. It was covered with mud and leaves and the messy handwriting clearly didn’t help the condition of the paper. And of course, it was two days late.

Resigned to her fate, she accepted the mission report, already calculating how she would have to rewrite it again in a more acceptable form. “Ah…thank you, Kakashi-san.”

“Glad to help, Iruka-sensei.” There was something in that tone that made blood rush barely up to her neck.

“You never learn, do you, Kakashi?” Kurenai’s amused tone seemed to break Iruka out of her down mood.

“Mm…what makes you say that, Kurenai?” Kakashi’s bored tone asked back. Iruka didn’t dare to glance up in their direction, busying herself with the papers sprawled on her desk.

“Nothing.” From her tone, Iruka bet there was a smirk across those red lips.

“Thank you for your hard work, Kurenai-san, Kakashi-san. Next person, please.” Iruka smiled lightly at them, finally risking a glance at the copy nin briefly, before turning back to the next shinobi lined up behind him.

“See you later, Iruka-sensei.”

“Bye, Iruka-kun.”

With that, they vanished in smoke. Iruka sighed inside.

Jounins… are exhibitionists.

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Kakashi walked in his usual lazy steps into the familiar building, ready to hand the finished mission to whoever manned the mission room. A daimyo was too paranoid to walk back to Waterfall country after a few days in Konoha and Kakashi got the job to accompany the paranoid old man.

He didn’t mind though. The trip only wasted half a day and Kakashi was already back to Konoha at the late afternoon.

Walking into the building, he was greeted by some jounins (which he answered with a casual nod). A certain dark bearded jounin, leaning back at the wall, waved lazily at him. “Hey, Kakashi. Done with the day?”

Kakashi nodded, walking toward the said jounin instead of the staff desk. The mission scroll could wait for few minutes anyway. “Hnn.”

“What’re you doing here?” He leaned back against the wall, glancing at the few jounins who finally left the staff desk.

“Waiting for Kurenai. As usual.” Asuma grunted, pointing at a certain familiar red eyed jounin who apparently done with her report.

Instead of glancing at the said jounin, Kakashi’s eyes stared far toward a certain ponytail which appeared behind the piles of papers before Kurenai.

Ah… there she is.

“See you later.” Without bothering to see his friend’s response, he straightened his posture and walked closer to the desk him recently fond to see.

“Maa…Iruka-sensei, I came to give you my report…” Stepping beside Kurenai, Kakashi glanced down to see a certain brown haired chuunin who just finished with Kurenai’s report.

“Ah… Hello, Kakashi-san.”

Kakashi couldn’t help but stare at the person before him. The chuunin , Umino Iruka, was always an unusual sight for him. For him who used to see how many guarded or emotionless faces in every shinobi he came cross – friends or enemies, it was a rarity to see such a carefree honest face –free of burden- in an adult face like Umino Iruka.

He always wondered how this Iruka person could be a shinobi –much less passed the chuunin exam- with an open face like that. Didn’t she realize it was dangerous to show what you thought or felt right on your face?

Maybe…she hasn’t had those experiences…yet.

Kakashi could feel something tighten inside him when the chuunin turn her eyes away from his, failing to hide the blush that rose very slightly on her tan cheeks as she brushed the scar on her nose. It was obvious that his stare made the chuunin nervous.

Deciding to forget whatever he thought at the moment, he gave the report (from two days ago of course, the mission today would be given a few days later – he had reputation to keep after all) right under her nose. Predictably, the nervous face turned relaxed (and if Kakashi squinted more – a bit grimaced) at the sight of familiar report. “Ah…thank you, Kakashi-san.” The slender tan hand accepted the sheet, careful not to touch his much bigger hand.

“Glad to help, Iruka-sensei.”

“You never learn, do you, Kakashi?”

It was the sudden voice of Kurenai’s that broke Kakashi’s gaze from the chuunin. He glanced at the red eyed female beside him, who apparently was amused with something.

“Mm…what makes you say that, Kurenai?”

In response, Kurenai just smirked at him. “Nothing.”

Kakashi narrowed his eyes for a few seconds, searching for any hidden clues underneath those simple words.

Women are so complicated…

“Thank you for your hard work, Kurenai-san, Kakashi-san. Next person, please.” Iruka, apparently quite done with his report, smiled lightly at both of them. Kakashi curved his eyes in return, deciding to not bother with the other jounin’s words.

“See you later, Iruka¬-sensei.”

He vanished in the swirl of smokes.

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“But…Iruka-sensei!! I studied hard already!!” Naruto’s wail resonated through the classroom, which was empty save for Iruka and Naruto himself. His spiky shoulder-length blonde hair was sticking out everywhere complete with a black bandana tied on his head. He wore a bright orange jacket and pants that looked too baggy for his small frame.

“Naruto-kun, you should understand you still had to go to class everyday, not lock yourself into your apartment!” Iruka tried to keep her temper in check, which was not an easy task by the way.

“I’ve studied for hours in my room! I can answer most of my homework, Iruka-sensei!” Naruto, his chubby face in a pout.

Iruka sighed, “Naruto-kun, your score isn’t only measured by homework alone. You should have gone to class more often. Your presence in class is not for nothing you know. It has its own score.”

“Well…the class is no fun! The teachers always treat me like I’m not there! And that stubborn Sasuke always looks down on me, I hate him! How could I study like that in class!??” Naruto shouted again, his blue eyes shining with some tears already. Still, he refused to cry before his teacher.

Iruka grimaced inside. She was aware most of the teachers in the Academy despised Naruto due to his … background. In fact, Iruka was aware that the only teacher who somehow cared about Naruto’s well being was …. herself. As for Sasuke’s case…well… he always looked down on everyone.

“Naruto-kun… I know this’s hard to accept. But the Bunshin test your class must take this morning is your last final test that determines your passing and graduating from the Academy. But… it isn’t the only test you have to take. Your score is the accumulation from all the one year class you have studied in. And I regret to tell you this…but…” Iruka could feel a great lump formed inside her throat at the big shiny blue eyes staring back against her.

“What, sensei?”

“You…can’t graduate this year. I’m sorry.”

She expected Naruto to shout, to cry, to scream, or to do anything that would show how he couldn’t accept the fact. This was Naruto after all.

She didn’t expect the empty blank eyes that stared back at her, with a few tears falling down slowly against that chubby cheek.

I’m sorry….Naruto…

-------------------------------------------------

The graduation ceremony went well. All the parents congratulated their children and promised to celebrate at home. Everyone smiled, laughed, and thanked the teachers for how great they taught the children and said how thankful the parents were.

She was supposed to be happy that day, because how could she not? It was an event that came once a year and she could finally see how every student of hers could develop into a great shinobi one day.

The parents congratulated her and smiled at her and hugged her and had so many happy expressions on their faces, telling her how proud they were of their children. Yet, Iruka was aware of missing some familiar faces, those of Uchiha parents and their children. In fact, one of the only two remaining Uchihas (where the other had gone missing-nin) stood proudly with his solemn face when he received his hitae-ate from the Hokage himself. Iruka wanted to do something more for the boy, but the glares she received from Sasuke finally made her just pat the dark hair and smile, saying that she was proud of him.

Still….

There was only one student missing today.

Iruka couldn't help but feel that her smile was more and more restrained with every passing hour of the ceremony.

Naruto… where are you…?

“Lost in thought, Iruka-sensei?”

In reflex, she turned her head aside, meeting with a rather familiar smirking silver haired guy.

“Mizuki-sensei…” Unconsciously she took a step away from the other chuunin.

Like her, Mizuki was one of the chuunin teachers at the Academy. He was rather handsome alright. Plus with that silver hair, he had women trailing behind him at every step. Iruka wasn’t too close with him because well… she wasn’t too fond of his arrogance. He loved attention and Iruka preferred to be alone rather than being the center of it. They were rather…too opposite.

Aware she was standing like a fool in the middle of graduation, Iruka tried to smile a bit, rather forcedly it seemed. “Ah…what could I help you with, Mizuki-sensei?”

Mizuki grinned, patting her shoulder in a rather close friendly manner. “Well…this’s a graduation ceremony. We should celebrate it together, Iruka-sensei. How about we go having a drink or something?”

Iruka thought about it. The ceremony was over already and she could take a break and have fun as her colleagues did. But something told her she couldn’t.

Naruto…

“Ah…I’m sorry. I’m afraid I can’t do that. There are a few students I still have to talk to today…” she explained sheepishly.

Mizuki’s grin seemed to fade at that. His eyes hardened, “Do you mean students….like that boy?”

There was something off with his tone that Iruka didn’t like. “I would like to go to meet few students that can’t make it to the graduation today. I’m afraid I need to have a few… words with them.”

Mizuki shrugged, “Well…too bad then. Call me if you change your mind, Iruka-sensei!” With that, he strolled off to join the other teachers who laughed at their jokes not far away from them.

Iruka sighed. Looking back at her happy colleagues, she made her resolution.

I need to meet and talk to Naruto…soon…

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“Something on your mind, Iruka-sensei?”

The familiar baritone voice snapped Iruka out of her blank stare. She quickly glanced up from where she sat toward a standing Kakashi before her desk. His Icha-Icha book was opened under his nose as usual.

Aware that she had been working at nothing for a while now, she blushed. Rather frantically, she stammered at the amused jounin before her who was no doubt enjoying her nervousness. “Ah … forgive me. Do you need something, Kakashi-san?”

She had searched for Naruto everywhere this afternoon, but to no avail. His apartment was empty and Iruka thought she had already searched every damn place she thought Naruto would likely be. But damn, it looked like Naruto wanted to be alone today and Iruka couldn’t blame him. Rather disappointed, she decided to man her task in the mission room as usual. And from a quick glance at the clock, it was eight pm already.

Time’s sure going rather fast today… I should search for Naruto tomorrow then…

“You look exhausted, Iruka-sensei.”

Iruka blinked at that, but somehow couldn’t find a reason why the jounin asked her that. “Um…I’m fi-“

“IRUKA!!”

Suddenly, Kotetsu and Izumo appeared in clouds of smokes beside her desk. Their faces looked pale. Immediately, Iruka stood up, forgetting her conversation with the jounin before her.

“What happened, Kotetsu? Izumo?”

“This is an emergency!! Your student, Uzumaki Naruto! He’s stolen a secret scroll from the Hokage's Office! Sandaime told all of us to find him NOW!” Kotetsu said in a rush.

Iruka’s face went pale at that. “Are you sure!? When’s the last time you see him!?”

Naruto…what have you DONE!??

Izumo gripped her arm lightly, “We guess he ran toward the Forest of Death. I don’t want to tell you this, Ruka. But it’s possible that he might have been caught by enemy nins right now. The scroll he stole is forbidden jutsu for most people and rather precious. We must find him as fast as we can.”

She could feel her legs shake at that. Gripping back at Izumo’s arm, she whispered, “We must go NOW.”

At that, they vanished in a swirl of smoke.

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Hmm…… it seems today is the graduation day… Many new gennins huh…

Walking home after yet another mission, Kakashi glanced briefly at the many people who walked on the streets around him. Although it was already late in the afternoon, many people were still filling the streets. Parents walked with their children (whom –Kakashi guessed from their happy faces- graduated with flying colors) and promised to treat them to family restaurant to celebrate.

That’s not my business though…

He let got the chance being a jounin sensei for gennin team since long ago after a few times managed to fail those brats that didn’t think anything but their self (true, they were the lowest rank in their class, still…)

Oh well…Forget about it. I should give the yesterday mission report now…

Entering the mission room, Kakashi’s bored gaze glanced around until it found a familiar chuunin-sensei sat before her desk. Automatically he headed toward the desk.

The unfamiliar sight of unsmiling Iruka made him raise his eyebrow slightly. The sensei was writing down something on papers before her, but anyone could see she didn’t think anything related with the papers and work before her. She was staring at the floor next to where Kakashi stood, lost in thought. She wasn’t aware of his presence yet.

Kakashi’s eyebrow raised even more at the paper, reading the messy illegible writing.

I don’t know she could write backward like that… And are those written in… … ANBU code?? Na…ru…to…?

An image of a blonde-haired little boy appeared inside his mind.

Ah……sensei’s son..

Kakashi rarely ever saw the little boy, but he made a point to see how the brat did every few weeks. He often crouched on the trees facing the boy’s apartment to see how his sensei’s first and only child managed with his life, hiding from prying eyes and enjoying the sight before him (the boy was sure clumsy in his own apartment and he managed to be pretty creative with his foods).

He was aware every adult in Konoha avoided the blonde boy, afraid and hate mingled in their gaze every time they saw the boy walked on the streets. Still, he couldn’t manage to bring himself to meet him in face, much less talk with him because of the reason unlike most of the villagers had. It wasn’t his intention to introduce himself to the boy (at least not yet), because, he knew an innocent little boy like him wasn’t living in the same world like a bloodied nin like him – at that moment.

Still… I have to make sure he can grow up to be a fine shinobi… that’s the least I can do for you, sensei.

Deciding not to dwell in the past (too much), Kakashi got back to do what he would do earlier – giving his mission report to apparently still unaware chuunin. He decided a waking call was in order.

“Something on your mind, Iruka-sensei?”

The question seemed to do the trick as the female chuunin blinked and glanced up quickly at him and immediately blushed at him. “Ah … forgive me. Do you need something, Kakashi-san?”

Now that he had the chuunin’s attention, Kakashi just realized that Iruka seemed a bit paler than usual, a contrast against her usually healthy tan skin. Her usually soft brown eyes turned a bit gloomy as well.

“You look exhausted, Iruka-sensei.” He said bluntly.

Hmm… today is graduation day… maybe she is too tired after attending the long-speech of Sandaime-sama in the graduation ceremony…?

Iruka seemed startled at his question, blushing slightly at his statement. Kakashi’s eyes softened a bit at the finally familiar gesture.

Now that’s a better expression on her face…

“Um, I’m fi-“

Before the sensei could continue, there was a sudden swirl of smokes appeared next to her. Immediately she stood up, forgetting her conversation with Kakashi as the figures of two other chuunins, Hagane Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo, stood before them. Kakashi could feel him tense at their pale faces.

What the…

“This is an emergency!! Your student, Uzumaki Naruto! He’s stolen a secret scroll from the Hokage's Office! Sandaime told all of us to find him NOW!” The spiky haired one said in a rush to the surprised chuunin, ignoring his presence.

“Are you sure!? When’s the last time you see him!?” If possible, Iruka’s face went paler at the mention of her student.

“We guess he ran toward the Forest of Death. I don’t want to tell you this, Ruka. But it’s possible that he might have been caught by enemy nins right now. The scroll he stole is forbidden jutsu for most people and rather precious. We must find him as fast as we can.” The other one, Izumo if Kakashi recalled the name right, explained in a rush.

Naruto?? That kid!??

The information ran through Kakashi’s brain quickly.

Before he could say anything, the three figures before him already vanished in the swirl of smokes.

Damn it….

And he followed.

Tbc……

A/N :

Well…what do u think of this edited chapter?? Hope u like it… ^^;

| Chapter 02 - The Realization |

[FIC] In Her Eyes

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 23:48:07 GMT

Title : In Her Eyes
Genre : General/Romance
Rating : PG
Disclaimer : Not mine.
Summary : Sakura’s thoughts about her sensei’s love life
Pairings : KakaIru
Author’s Note :
I’m not an experienced writer and this’s the FIRST TIME I’ve ever written a short kakairu one shot. (The other one is A Woman’s Point of View, a mega long story) Be gentle please. >_<

Beta-ed by my dear bronze_tigress Thank u, dear! :D

In Her Eyes

Sometimes she wonders.

Being the female teenager she is, she always imagines how the face under that black mask looks.

Having been taught by him and having worked on the same team – even after Sasuke’s disappearance and his return – for years, she often wonders how come she or Naruto or Sasuke never manage to see what Kakashi-sensei looks like under that familiar mask.

Is he good-looking? So good-looking that he hides under that mask? To avoid being hunted by his fan club (which recently she learned about from the gossiping female jounins) maybe?

Or is he so ugly that he is ashamed to show his face before everyone? (Ashamed and Kakashi-sensei….. two words which Sakura never ever used in the same sentence before, wow.)

Or is it simply because he loves the mysteriousness and the curiosity it’s caused?

Knowing Kakashi-sensei, maybe it's the last one.

Still, she often wonders what kind of female would be interested in her sensei (and vice versa), whose face is (always) more than three quarters covered by a mask? And who spends twelve hours a day reading that Icha-icha porn under his nose?

She imagines a woman who’s beautiful, sexy, with the kind of gorgeous body that she thinks would be in the Icha-Icha book her sensei always reads. She guesses that sensei likes that kind of woman. If not, why else are his eyes always glued to that book??

Still, that thought brings a very disturbing image of her Tsunade-shishou kissing the said jounin.

She can’t look at either of her senseis for two days straight after that particular image.

When she asks her teammates, both guys just blink back at her. One with his blank look. The other with his –huh-did-you-say-something?-look.

“A jounin with his status thinks more about his mission than his social love life, Sakura. You realize that.”

“Huh? Who wants to marry who?”

She just sighed at both responses, having predicted them as usual. Although growing more and more handsome nowadays, both her guys are still just useless in this kind of thing.

It’s sad actually, even after working in the same team for years, how little they know about their silver-haired sensei. They know him well, yes, as long as it’s mission-related of course. Still, there are only a few facts that aren’t mission-related they know.

He always comes late, except for a mission. He reads porn. He hates tempura. He has a dry sense of humor.

That’s it.

Where does he live? Does he have a family? What’s his hobby besides reading Icha-icha? Is he married?

That last question particularly disturbs her more than she lets on.

Reading from the official documents, she knows he’s 31 years old. Young enough to be still active in piles of A or S-missions. Yet old enough to get married and have kids of his own. It is a shinobi’s village after all.

Even with the mask in place, she just knows that he’s handsome. His figure is lean, smooth, but packed with muscles enough to do 1000 push ups every day. His silver hair is always falling in the right way, covering his left eye as his right one stares deeply at you, filled with an unknown past and surprising wisdom. She often wonders how that single eye surprisingly always manages to show people what his expression is, considering how little of his face is visible.

Still, being the girl she is, she just knows more than enough kunoichis who set their eyes on her sensei’s figure every time they pass the mission room.

Kurenai-san is her first bet. Her red eyes, particularly after Asuma-sensei’s death, stare longingly at Kakashi’s back. Still, Sakura knows that her sensei never answers them, honoring his dead friend and their unborn child.

Shizune-san always blushes whenever they go into the Hokage’s office, to give reports of the A-missions they manage to finish. Still, Kakashi-sensei never says a word about that, eyes dropping low as usual at the Hokage’s words.

Anko-san just winks suggestively at him for a reason that until now she never understood. They have just take a mission from the desk staff (and manage a short chat with Genma-san and Iruka-sensei) when the purple-haired woman pats his shoulder. “As usual, eh, Kakashi?”

She knows there are several more kunoichis that cross paths with him. Yet she has never seen any kunoichis that have held her sensei’s eye for more than a few seconds besides those three. (She doesn’t dare to imagine Tsunade-shishou- it’s just…eww…)

Maybe her sensei isn’t interested in a kunoichi then? Maybe it’s… …. a civilian?

It makes sense to her, really. For a jounin of his status, it’s considered dangerous to reveal any relationships openly. And he has enough shinobi life in his without adding another. Maybe that’s why he instead chooses to be with a civilian and hide her from prying eyes, particularly (& hopefully) those of his enemies.

She has just decided to find out more about this civilian theory when suddenly an ANBU appears before her and her team in the middle of their training.

“He’s wounded. In the hospital. Godaime-sama said to find you and tell you to meet her at the hospital first.”

The ANBU barely finishes his words before their sensei vanishes in smoke.

Being curious as they are, the three of them follow their sensei. To the hospital.

Who is this ‘he’ anyway?

It’s a great shock for them (especially Naruto) when they see their current sensei sitting beside a bed where their ex-academy sensei’s sleeping.

“Kakashi-sensei!?? What’s happened to Iruka-sensei??” Naruto cries out, rushing over to the other side of bed.

“Iruka-sensei…? How…?” She manages to walk and stand beside Kakashi-sensei, followed by Sasuke when the door suddenly opens.

“Geez….Kakashi. I told you to meet me first.” Tsunade, scowl in place, walks into the room and stands before their sitting sensei.

“How is he?”

She’s surprised to hear the worry and panic in his usual emotionless lazy tone. A quick look at both of her teammates confirms that she isn’t the only one who notices that.

Tsunade sighs, brushing the long strands of brown hair on the pillow. She has rarely ever seen her shishou show her caring side more than necessary to the patients (Being Hokage and the best medic is very time consuming & tiring, Sakura realized that). Apparently, Iruka-sensei is an exception.

“He’s fine. A few kunais nearly pierced his right lung. A few broken ribs and a concussion. And he spent nearly all his chakra. Fortunately, we managed to stabilize him. He’ll be fine in a week or so.”

“Who?” She can feel the chakra swirling slowly around her unmoving sensei. There is a tension in his laid back posture.

“Three Rock jounins. He killed them all, Kakashi. It was an A-mission, classified.”

Her eyes widen at that. Three jounins? A-mission? Her eyes turn back to the unconscious man before them. As far as she knows, Iruka-sensei is rarely out of the academy, being busy with his students, and only goes on a mission if they were short-staffed or something. And here he is, in hospital after successfully killing three jounins in A-rank missions?

The same shock in Sasuke and Naruto’s eyes tells her they’re surprised by the news as well.

Tsunade, understanding their shocked faces, just sighs. “Don’t look too surprised, kids. Iruka’s one of the best chuunins we have. He’s on jounin level, but he always refused to take jounin exams. He’s used to these missions, right Kakashi?”

Their sensei just nods, silent as his solemn single eye never leaves the unconscious man before him. Hearing Tsunade’s explanation, Sakura can see some of the tension leave his body, but he’s still as stiff as a board.

“How long until he’ll be awake?”

Tsunade just pats his shoulder, “Maybe in a day or two. You can take him home after that. Make sure he gets well rested at home, okay?”

“What’s all of this got to do with Kakashi-sensei, Tsunade-baachan?” Naruto voices the question they have really want to ask since they entered the room.

Tsunade in return only blinks back at the three of them, disbelief in her next words. “Huh? You don’t know? Both of them are living together.”

Huh? Live together?

Kakashi-sensei and Iruka-sensei? They’re so opposite of each other that she is surprised that they managed to meet each other, much less live together. She even could describe in detail what differences both senseis have from each other to support that fact.

When Kakashi-sensei has a tendency to be late for everything, Iruka-sensei always manages to come on time for everything.

Kakashi-sensei always loves to read that porn with the same bored expression when Iruka-sensei will blush so hard at reading the mere first page of that book which Naruto insisted on giving him as a birthday gift a few years ago.

Kakashi-sensei is a jounin, trained to hide his emotions under that expression of his when Iruka-sensei is always free to let out his temper every time the students play pranks in class.

Kakashi-sensei is so unpredictable, doing anything anywhere he likes without telling them the reasons. In contrast, Iruka-sensei is so organized, doing everything from the very start until the very end and he always twitches at the slightest disturbance of his carefully planned out class.

There are so many other differences between them that she doesn’t bother to count anymore.

But, the point is…. Kakashi-sensei is a jounin, ex-ANBU, the copy nin, the genius who has mastered more than one thousand jutsus. He kills so many S-criminals and lives to tell it. Sakura even won’t be surprised if in the next few years he’ll reach the level of the the Sannin like Tsunade-shishou or Jiraiya-san.

She doesn’t understand how a genius extraordinaire shinobi like him finds himself beside an academy teacher, chuunin, normal shinobi like Iruka-sensei., much less live together with him as roommates.

It’s two days later that she finally realizes the reason, having seen it herself.

The careful and tender ways her sensei handles the still unconscious man. The way his eyes curve as those familiar brown eyes finally open and look at all of them. The slight brush of the paler hands against those tan ones.

She’s never imagined her sensei to be interested in guys. It’s just that…it’s like imagining Sasuke would fall in love with…….Naruto….or Shikamaru with…. Kiba…

………..

…………..

It’s hot actually. She ignores that part.

At least, she knows now that her sensei has a crush on his supposed roommate. His handsome roommate.

She’s finally aware of how handsome her academy sensei is, having –finally- a chance to look at that brown hair – without its usual hair tie – falling down around that smiling face as he greets them after finally waking up a few minutes earlier. She has to wonder why Iruka-sensei never goes outside like that.

She glances back at both of her teammates. Both of them have a similiar slight blush on their cheeks as they greet the waking older chuunin.

“Thank you for visiting me, Naruto-kun. Sasuke-kun. Sakura-chan. But I’m fine now.” The chuunin brushes his nose sheepishly, smiling at them.

The effect is so downright adorable that Sakura barely manages to keep herself from squealing and jumping into her academy sensei’s lap. Sasuke and Naruto’s blushes grow redder and redder by the second.

Kakashi-sensei, apparently aware of the situation, just sighs and gives the sensei a hair tie. “Iruka, tie your hair please.”

The younger sensei, much to her (and the boys’) disappointment, does what his roommate said and smiles back at the older man. “Thank you, Kakashi.”

It is in that short moment that Sakura finally could see why her extraordinary sensei chooses the brown haired chuunin.

It shows in his dark brown eyes and his smile, shining brightly toward the silver haired jounin himself. It’s similar to the ones Iruka-sensei gives to his students, but it’s still different.

It is pure love.

She isn’t surprised when the jounin answers it with –oblivious to Sasuke and Naruto’s gaping mouths – a soft masked kiss on the sensei’s cheek.

“Anytime, Ruka.”

And she smiles.

You’re extremely lucky, sensei.

----------------
End (maybe?)
----------------

Author’s Notes :
I know it’s pointless…. I’ve just typed a few words and it ended up like this. -.- Hope you enjoy it, however bad it is. *sweatdrops* Please tell me what you think of this. Thank you. *bows*

[ART] KakaIru Banner + 'Good Morning' Art

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:25:18 GMT

Phew.....Am I late?? *just finished a three-day-final exams* I hope not...

Actually I already had finished this a few days ago, but I didn't have enough time to go online when facing TONS of medical books ... I HATE exams >_< Pray for me passing OSCE test please... ;_;

Well..enough of that. I come bearing my entry for :

Here it is.....

I had made the lineart a loooong time ago and you can find them in my DA gallery somewhere in HERE ^_^ I just mixed them into one & colored them for this contest. What do u think?

My Ideal KakaIru is where they act in character without too much sugary part that made them too OOC (believe me if I say that I'm a bit allergic with people saying 'I love you'in every fic/reality. I've NEVER ever said those words, even to my ex-boyfriend, poor him xD ). I like the silent calm angsty Kakashi and the sweet stubborn caring hot-tempered Iruka, extra bonus if they can bicker with each other too. And no, sadly I can't make myself like IrukaxKakashi, for me - Kakashi is THE Seme all the way... but that's my own opinion. ^^

And bcause I really LOVE the KakaIru in the background (the sleeping part XD) , I made them into a separate art. You can find it in my DA gallery here :

KakaIru 13_Good Morning by ~blue-iceland on deviant ART

Hope u'll like them!! ^__^

PS : The second chapter of A Woman's Point of View is already up! A Woman's Point of View 02

~blue-iceland

[FIC] A Simple Story

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 09:49:54 GMT

Title : A Simple Story
Anime : Naruto
Pairing : Kakashix.....?? MALExFEMALE pairing. Can you guess it…?? :P *The answer is in the end of story. :)
Disclaimer : Not mine.
Summary : They had never believed in love at the first sight.
Rating : PG-13

A/N :
I just wrote the idea a long time ago and just finished this a few days ago. I'm NOT an english expert or a good writer, so please tell me if I make mistakes ^^;

They had never believed in love at the first sight.

It had been an accident after all.

He had been drunk after a tiring mission. She walked home alone after a tiring day full of mission reports in staff room.

They met in the middle of lone streets in midnight.

He barely could walk straight when she concernedly help him to walk along.

She brought him to her small apartment. As she just closed the door, her back already was pressed to the door when unfamiliar lips covered hers hotly.

Pale hands trailed everywhere along her tanner skin as she moaned softly against that pale neck, tanner hand gripping those pale silver hair.

They ended up in bed after a few minutes struggling to let go their uniforms.

They finished disturbing the neighbors at three o’clock in the morning. She fainted due to tiredness and he slept on due to the drunkenness, tightly wrapping her into pale skin.

Came the morning. He had a hangover and she barely could walk after a rough night.

Having aspirin for him and taking good bath for the cramps on her part, they talked.

It was an accident and they agreed it wouldn’t mean anything more than a one night stand, a fling.

He opened the door and she closed it.

They didn’t meet again after that.

-----------------------------------------------------

She knew something went wrong with her body.

She vomited in the morning and she had cramps all over her body. She got tired easily when teaching in the class and her co-workers told her to take a break for a while.

She visited the hospital and a polite doctor said she had to watch herself and the baby inside hers. She blinked at that.

Apparently that one night stand gave her something more. She wondered if he ever used condom that night.

It didn’t matter though. She barely knew him beside him using mask and his silver hair.

And of course, why would the infamous copy nin would want to do anything with a common chuunin working in mission room besides having a good lay for a night?

She could raise the child alone. After all, she was an orphan and she could take care of herself alone for these ten years period after her parents get killed by kyuubi incident.

She was still young, barely twenty year old. And her job in mission room didn’t earn money much.

She decided to take teachers exam. The job was exhausting but the pay was pretty good.

She passed the test and got a few classes to teach every week. She preferred it to manning a desk in mission room all day.

She sold her old apartment and moved into a smaller one in a far silent area. She needed to save up for her baby.

She was already in her second trimester when suddenly they met again in the book store. She bought a drawing book for her baby when he read some adult books in the adult area.

She bowed slightly at him, having a bit difficulty with her pregnancy. He just blinked at her and her obviously large stomach.

‘You married?’ He asked.

She shook her head, turning away to the cashier. ‘No.’

She didn’t want to see him anymore. She walked out the store quickly, gripping the book tightly on her chest.

‘Who’s the father?’ Came a monotone voice behind her. He followed.

‘No one.’ She answered.

‘You weren’t in that house when I looked for you.’ He said in lazy tone.

‘I moved. Sold it.’ She didn’t want to talk anymore with him.

‘You weren’t in mission room either.’ He continued.

‘I went to different job.’ She answered.

‘Why?’

‘Why you’re following me?’ She grimaced.

‘Let’s get married.’ He said.

She just blinked, finally turning to face him. ‘Huh?’

‘That’s mine, right? I don’t want him/her grow up without a father.’ He shrugged.

She just nodded. ‘Okay.’

---------------------------------

They slept on different bed.

He was on couch and she was on her single bed.

She refused to move into his bigger house and he didn’t object.

He had always been there though. He practically lived in that couch, reading that porn despite her hate to it.

She made him breakfast and dinner and washed his clothes and feed his summon dogs and went to teach children in academy.

He did the dishes and filled the refrigerator and guarded her home and left for missions.

They rarely talked to each other.

‘You don’t have to do this’ She whispered one night.

It was nearly nine months and her time nearly up.

‘What do you mean?’ He raised his eyebrow, icha-icha book under his nose.

‘We could get divorced and the baby would stay with me. You don’t need to do anything.’ She said in neutral tone.

‘I don’t want to have my child fatherless.’ He said.

‘She or he could have your last name. That’s what you want, right? A successor?’ She asked out of desperation.

‘I do.’

‘You could have her/him then. I would go away after giving birth to him/her.’ She sighed, turning her head away to the window.

‘You’re not a burden to me.’ He went up from his couch, walking closer to her standing form.

‘I don’t want your pity.’ She finally admitted that.

‘I don’t pity you.’ He growled.

She went silent.

----------------------------------------

The next day she vanished from the village.

She told Hokage that she need a long break and could he gave her permission to leave village…for a while?

And please, don’t tell him about her whereabouts.

She went that same day, going to the country where her parents was born.

It was a beautiful country. She rented a small cottage facing a lone and calm sea on a remote beach.

A few weeks later she gave birth.

It was a boy.

He had her dark brown eyes and his silver hair.

She named him ‘Yuki’ cause it was winter and everything was white with the snow.

The beach was really beautiful in white. Snow fell into the cold and hard surface of thin ice.

She liked it.

She often walked along the beach with her Yuki in her arms.

Yuki was a silent baby boy. He rarely cried and often seemed to like sleeping than crying.

He reminded her of him.

--------------------------------

It was a few weeks later when suddenly she was woken up from her sleep.

In reflex, she aimed the kunai under her pillow to whoever dared to attack her and her baby.

Yuki!

Quickly she turned her head beside to see her boy. The cradle was still silent, a silent tiny breath was heard from it.

Wearily, she turned to face her captor above her. Whoever it was, he/she managed to keep both of her hands up to her head and her legs under his/hers.

‘You left the house.’ A familiar baritone voice was heard.

She gasped, finally recognizing that silver hair glinting with the moonlight from the window.

‘You… What are you doing here?’

‘What are you thinking!?’ That single grey eye stared hard at her, angry.

She had never seen him angry before.

‘What…?’ She confused.

‘You could have been dead without any protection here! You and the baby!’ The eye still stared at her, angry.

‘I…don’t want to be your burden.’ She managed to whisper it out.

‘As I said before. You’re not.’ Came the dry voice.

‘What do you want?’ Finally she asked.

‘You. And our baby.’

She didn’t expect a pair of soft lips crushed against hers hardly, forcing her to open her mouth with his tongue. She finally complied.

She moaned into the kiss, feeling his body fell down, crushing her smaller form into the single bed.

‘Yuki-‘

‘He’s sleeping-‘

‘We can’t-‘

‘I put a silence jutsu over this bed-‘

‘Mmh-‘

He managed to take her a few times, before they collapsed into the soft mattress. She was too tired to move when he snuggled into the crook of her neck. His arms wrapped tightly around her body.

‘I’ve always wanted to do this every night with you’ He managed to whisper it to her ear and kissed her neck.

‘Really?’ She snuggled more into his arms.

She could feel him smiling into her skin.

She smiled back, running her hand over that soft silver hair.

‘Good night.’ And she slept.

-----------------------------------

The next day, he whispered his question to her.

‘Stay with me.’

‘Huh?’

“I didn’t do it right before, but now I want to.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Stay with me forever, will you?’

She was silent for a while, brushing the soft silver bangs out of his eyes.

‘You sure won’t regret it?’

‘Why do you think I will?’

She was silent for a while, and much to his relieve – smiled.

‘I will.’

They still didn’t believe in love at the first sight.

It had been accident after all.

But they wouldn’t have it any other ways.

The End (Should I end this?)

A/N : What do u think? I'm not a writer, but this style kinda stucked with me. Hope u like it... ^^

PS : I wrote this after imagining if Iruka's a FEMALE - so this's a KakashixfemaleIruka in AU of course. But if u don't want to believe that, this can work as KakashiXOC as well. So sorry for causing the confusion for some of you... >_<

Anyone could beta-read my fic, please?

Sat, 07 Apr 2007 06:35:44 GMT

Err...hello guys. It has been MONTHS since my last post. If u're wondering, I'm an anime artist who's taking a LONG break from drawing naruto art. Still, I manage by miracle to write a VERY long KakaIru Fics.

The idea is how the life's in Naruto story if Naruto and Iruka were females since the very beginning I'm not sure if this can be accepted by kakairu community and I'll take this off if that's the case.

I'm just wondering if anyone interested to beta-read this fic? I'll send the first few chapters via email if u're interested. Thank you. ^^

Oh, and this's the last Kakashi art I've ever drawn in my DA account (I forgot if I ever posted this here before *sweatdrops* ). Enjoy! :D

Kakashi 02_Kakashi Fandom by ~blue-iceland on deviant ART

If u're interested to see more of my naruto arts, simply go to my DA account here --> http://blue-iceland.deviantart.com Thx! ^^

blue-iceland

[ART] Two Naruto Arts

Sun, 27 Aug 2006 08:25:47 GMT

Hello. It seems so long the last time I post naruto art ^^;

I've made an ID for a contest ID in a DA Club I join and a short doujin featuring Kakashi & Sasuke.

Hope u'll like them. :)

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/38749519/ [Kakashi no Jutsu]

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/38749099/ [Team-7-ID]

Hope u'll like them. :)

-blue_iceland

Naruto Family Art

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 16:34:32 GMT

Hello everyone, I finished this yesterday and I'd like to post it here for u to enjoy. It's not a really kakairu, but hope u'll like it! Thank you! :D

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/36904120/

-blue_iceland

[ART] KAKASHI ART

Tue, 11 Jul 2006 08:34:30 GMT

Hey, meet you all again! After finished this Iruka-Naruto-bonding-moment art I make a kakashi art this time, hope all of you'll like it. ^^

WARNING : Prepare your tissue! May cause suffering from nosebleed for ones that don't have enough immune for hot men! XD (or it's just me? :P)

Here the link : http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/36129394/

Hope all of you enjoy it! And comments & critiques are welcomed as always!! :D
-Ice (a.k.a blue_iceland)

[ART] Not really kakairu but....

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 07:20:48 GMT

Hey, this's not kakairu art - still, hope all of you'll like it. ^^

AN IRUKA-NARUTO ART! :D

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/35868380/

Hope all of you enjoy it!And comments & critiques are welcomed as

always!! :D -Ice (a.k.a blue_iceland)

[ART] Not really kakairu but....

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 07:18:26 GMT

Naruto Art again!! ^^

Thu, 25 May 2006 03:41:14 GMT

I've been trying to learn Photoshop and this is the second result of that! :D This is the colored version of One Family Hope all of you will like it!! ;)

I'm sure I said this before, but I'll say this again : =P

I'm sure I'm not the first person who has the idea about 'this family' thing in Naruto. Still, I can't help but persuade my poor right hand to do my biding and this is the result. And if you're sharp enough, you'll realize a few of my favorite Naruto pairings showed here ;)

And if you're blind enough not to realize it, here ;P :

Jiraiya-Tsunade : Grand Parents (I love them, especially Jiraiya!! :D)
Kakashi-Iruka : Parents (of course...^^ My no.1 favorite pairing in Naruto XD,guess who the son & son in law are... ;P )
Naruto-Sakura-Sasuke : Children (or love triangle? O_O)

Or... if you're traumatized with all pairings above, just pretend all of them are one big family... not hard, ne? ;)

And if you want to see DeviantArt version, here --> One Family colored version

*EDIT : so sorry for the text on the left below part of the picture. It's not too clear and I can't erase it with my limited knowledge of photoshop ^^;

Comments & Critiques are welcomed as always!! :D
-Ice (a.k.a blue_iceland)

These characters are properties of Masashi Kishimoto
If you want to use parts or all of this art, please contact me first, thank you. :)

[ART] Naruto's Family Art!!

Sun, 21 May 2006 07:42:11 GMT

Oh my.... Finally I finished it!! ^____^ *cheers on the background* This is the first time I try to use Photoshop (and make colored art XD) and -by some miracles- I can finish this before college begins again on Monday T_T. This time I drew Naruto's family (the continuation from my Naruto art before this --> One Family ) It's not really Kakairu (my bestest fav pairing in Naruto =P), but you can see it as One Family with :

Jiraiya & Tsunade as GrandParents
Kakashi & Iruka as Parents (of course =P)
Naruto, Sasuke, & Sakura as Children ^^.

It's about how their usual afternoon time goes (after busy works) and how Iruka suffers from doing daily chores of the household XD but in MODERN TIME :D. The conversation should go like this :

Iruka : "Kakashi!! Put THAT book AWAY!! There's children here!! and Jiraiya-sama, Tsunade-sama, don't drink before dinner, please!!? and where's Sasuke & Naruto!? It's their bathtime now!!" *puts dango and tea for kakashi*
Kakashi : "Yes, dear." *STILL keeps reading*
Jiraiya : "Aww...Iruka,it's only a drink. The great Jiraiya won't be drunk before dinner, right Tsunade?"
Tsunade : *nods*
Naruto & Sasuke : *hides behind the couch* "Sssst...!"
Sakura : 'What are you two doing down there?'*eyes Naruto & Sasuke*

And bcause this's my first time to use Photoshop and make colored arts, so sorry if the colors don't go well with your liking *sweatdrops*.

Btw, this art make me wonder, do you know some links to KakaIru (or Kakashi/Iruka) fics or arts that are in modern times? I haven't seen much of it, but I really want to use some inspirations to draw some. ^^

Or, if you want to view it in deviantart : Afternoon Time

Comments & Critiques are welcomed as always!! :D

-Ice

*EDIT : I edited Iruka's skin and the images much more smaller now. ^^

[ART] Naruto Family Art

Wed, 10 May 2006 15:09:27 GMT

Long time no see you all! I just finished my last exam yesterday and finally I make a fanart this morning. ^^ It's not exactly kakairu, but... you can call it 'family potrait' or something. ;) Don't worry, it's safe - really.

DeviantArt style -> One Family

Comments & Critiques are welcomed as always!! :D
-Ice (a.k.a blue_iceland)