This is my first fan-fic so please review!
I know this first chapter is kinda slow to get started, but I'm still getting used to the whole keeping someone else's characters "in character" all the time.
It's harder than I thought it'd be!

Also, I do not own Naruto or any characters there-in, nor am I making any monetary profit from this. (Just writing experience!)

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-Stand Alone Scarecrow-

-1-

Spring flitted into Konoha and the warming weather was making his students more restless than usual. In a great display of benevolence, brought on mostly by a building pressure behind his temples, Iruka-sensei dismissed class early, and half-smiled to himself as the young nin stampeded into the sunshine.

Perhaps a bit of fresh air and sunshine will do me some good too… he thought to himself as he gathered up his papers and shoved them into his bag for later grading. He stood and stretched, then picked up his bag and set off through the streets of Konoha.

Iruka breathed deeply of the freshly scented air, and set off through Konoha's busy streets. Letting his feet guide him as the warm sun melted the stress from his shoulders. His mind began to wander and he found his thoughts drifting to the yellow-haired hellion who'd once terrorized his classroom. He smiled fondly as his memory dredged up images of an orange jumpsuit sitting next to him in Ichiraku's Ramen bar, slurping down bowls like a stray dog half-crazed from starvation.

I wonder how Naruto's faring with Jiraiya…

He sighed and turned away from such thoughts. The fact that he missed Naruto's excessively energetic presence was no secret, and certainly not something he was ashamed of. But dwelling on his former students' absence did little to fill the void that had formed when the boy had left to continue his training.

Iruka was unsurprised when he found his feet had carried him to Konoha's memorial.

How long has it been since I last visited this place? He wondered as he started up the hill, but froze when he noticed the thin silver-haired figure, standing still and silent as a scarecrow.

Kakashi!? I didn't realize he was back… I probably shouldn't bother him.

Iruka turned back towards the village, but the Jonin was already heading down in front of him.

Wha!?

Iruka turned to look back over his shoulder at the vacant hilltop.

"Kakashi-sensei!" he heard himself call out

Kakashi paused, and leaned back over his shoulder, managing to make even that small gesture look as languid as possible.

"Yo." His eye crinkling in a smile

Suddenly Iruka found himself with nothing to say, "I... I didn't mean to disturb you." He said lamely. "I didn't realize anyone would be here."

Kakashi shrugged, "I was leaving anyway." Then he paused, "But isn't it a bit early in the afternoon for you to be here? Iruka-sensei."

Iruka felt a slight heat rise to his cheeks, "Ah… class dismissed early this afternoon."

Kakashi chuckled, "Too nice a day to be locked inside with a pack of raging demons, Iruka-sensei?"

Iruka shook his head, "I love my students! But today… Well… I think we were all… a bit restless."

Kakashi's eye crinkled in a lopsided smile again, then with a two fingered wave turned to walk away again.

"Umm… Kakashi-sensei!"

Kakashi turned again, his visible eyebrow arched slightly in curiosity.
He'd barely spoken to Iruka since he'd entered Team 7 in the Chunin Exams.

"If you're not busy later, Kakashi-sensei… Perhaps, you'd like to join me for some Ramen?"

Kakashi watched him for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright… but it's your treat."

Iruka chuckled wryly "My treat then."

Kakashi's shambling stride fell in step beside him as they made their way through the village to Ichiraku's Ramen Bar. Neither said a word until they'd seated themselves at the counter and ordered their food.

"Have you heard anything…"

"About Naruto." Kakashi finished, having already guessed what the other would ask.

Iruka nodded

"No."

Iruka sighed, and thanked Teuchi as he served them their bowls and sake.

Kakashi turned away to shovel down his food. "You really miss that delinquent."

"Don't you?" Iruka asked,

Kakashi turned back and found himself struck by the open honesty in that deep brown gaze.

He let his eye fall to his now empty bowl with a rueful chuckle, "Yeah... Sometimes."

Iruka laughed, "It sounds strange to say it, but… it's almost… too quiet around here without him."

"What about Konohamaru?" Kakashi asked, sipping sake through his mask

Iruka smiled, "Konohamaru certainly has his moments… but there's only one Naruto."

"Thank Kami for that." Kakashi snorted

Iruka froze a moment, and then burst into laughter.

Kakashi felt the corner of his mouth twitch and found himself unable to fight the grin that quickly developed into chuckle. Iruka's laugh continued to build, sweeping Kakashi along until both nin sat laughing uncontrollably.

As their laughter finally subsided, Iruka wiped away a tear and reached into his pocket to dig out his money when Kakashi threw down a bill,

"I'll get it." He smiled

"But I thought today was my treat?"

"You can pay next time."

"Are… are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Thank you. Kakashi-sensei."

"Yeah."

With another two-fingered wave, Kakashi turned and shambled off down the street. Iruka watched him until he turned a corner, then slipped his bag over his shoulder and headed towards his own home.

I haven't laughed like that since Naruto's last birthday… He chuckled again, and raised a hand to shield his eyes as he looked towards the late afternoon sun, "What a nice day."

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As I metioned before, this is my first fan-fic, so please review! I'll try to upload more (eventful) chapters in the near future!