Spoilers: There shouldn't be any…but this starts during the Chuunin exams…Everything that happened up to Hayate's death remains the same. But after it become my fanfiction. So the anime is somewhat ignored. Sort of.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did, IRUKA WOULD KICK JOUNIN ASS!

Chapter 1

"Remember, when I return to this village, you will come with me. But until then, you are to stay here. Hide yourself, and just remember." The cold voice hissed in his ear, tickling the strands of dark brown hair that had fallen loose.

"Yes Sensei, but-"

"No. Just listen." the older man pressed a pale hand to the youths forehead. "Do not ask. Just live the way you would until I return, when your true purpose will be needed."

"But sensei-"

"No." the hand pressed harder, and the young teens eye lids grew heavy. "Now, what did I tell you?"

"To…to remember." the boy whispered, his eyelids closing over coffee colored eyes, and his body becoming limp in the elders arms.

"Very good." The man lifted the boy effortlessly, and placed him in his bed.

The man stepped back, and silently walked out of the boys small apartment, on to the roof and into the cool night air. "You don't even know yourself." the man pumped chakra into his legs and headed toward the Konoha village gates. "Do you, Iruka."

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Iruka yawned, and tried to blink the sleep out of his eyes so he could get a clear look at the glowing red numbers of his digital clock.

But there was a problem. The clock was not there. It was nowhere where it was supposed to be. Next to his bed, on the night stand.

That was when Iruka's sleeping mind realized that he wasn't even in his bedroom, or in a bed for that matter.

"Crap." Iruka said, jolting upright in shock, and noticed a little to late that he was sitting in his kitchen chair, and toppled backwards. "Ow." Iruka groaned, "Some ninja I am."

Iruka stood up, straightened the chair, and his clothes.

If someone where to examine the table, one would find a vast assortment of essays, quizzes, tests, and homework scrolls. Many with a large red 'x' on numerous problems or sections. This was truly a disappointment for the ninjas to be.

And upon closer inspection, one could find the exact moment in which Iruka had fallen asleep. If the large red line, the smudge, and then a mini puddle of red ink was any indication. The similar, and matching red blotch on Iruka's face only added to the suspicion.

Iruka sighed, then remembered that it was a Thursday, and he in fact had classes. Iruka's eyes shifted, and he peaked at the clock hanging on the wall.

"Oh thank kami." Iruka breathed, as he realized that he still had an hour before he had to be at school. Iruka stacked the papers, grabbed a clean uniform, and entered the bathroom, to attempt to start the day somewhat normally.

XXXXXXX

Iruka made it to the academy in one piece and with his morning coffee. After this mornings incident off falling backwards, and the near twenty minutes it took to scrub the red ink off the side of his face, Iruka's morning was going fine.

He set the papers on his desk, and began writing instructions on the black board.

"Iruka-sensei." a cool voice stated, then knocked on the door lightly indicating that the person was coming in.

Iruka turned to see who it was and went back to writing after realizing who it was. "Hello Genma-san. What can I help you with?"

"Nothing really…" Genma said, rolling his senbon back and forth with his tongue. "But…um…I was instructed to tell you that, since you're the head sensei at the academy and all, that we are on high alert." Iruka dropped his piece of chalk, and turned to Genma.

"What happened?" he asked in a deadly serious tone.

"Hayate. The ANBU found him dead a little under three weeks ago. This is the first time they let the information out into the public. We're, that is everyone, is to be high alert since the Final Exam, is next week." Genma stated, fingers fidgeting slightly with his kunai holster.

Iruka sighed. He and Hayate had been friends, back when they had been in the academy. "So…so does Hokage think a rival village did this?"

Genma shifted to his other foot. "No, he thinks that…village already here did it. We just don't know who." Genma straightened. "So everyone needs to be on alert. Especially since… Sasuke, he has a mark…" Genma began chewing frantically on his senbon. "You're not supposed to know that." he muttered as an after though.

Iruka nodded. "I wont tell."

"But, the whole reason for this visit is to tell you to be ready with the kids. Ya know, watch out, and be ready to move if need be." Genma said seriously.

Iruka nodded. "Thank you. I will."

Genma smirked, and was practically stampeded when the children began pouring into the room. "I'll see ya later Sensei. I have to go learn how to Procter an exam." Genma laughed, and disappeared in a puff of chakra smoke.

"Okay class! Shut up, sit down, and follow the directions on the board!" Iruka shouted over the roar of the children. His almost good morning, now officially ruined.

XXXXXXX

Kakashi wandered into the Hokage building at around 10:30. The mission room was only open for another half hour, and only one Chuunin still at work.

He entered the room with a quietness that only he, an ex-ANBU and high leveled Jounin could possibly possess.

"Hello Kakashi-sensei." For all the training and experience Kakashi had, he was still surprised, and almost jumped.

"Err, hello sensei. How are you on this fine day?"

Iruka blinked. "Terrible. I swear this day started out bad and only got worse."

Kakashi laughed. "Oh, I'm sure it couldn't possibly get any worse."

Iruka sighed. "I suppose not." Kakashi handed him an old mission report. "Can I ask you something?" Iruka asked quietly, almost afraid to ask.

"Of course." Kakashi smiled under his mask. "Go ahead."

"H-how is Sasuke?" Kakashi frowned. Of all the questions, that was the least suspected.

"Well…I cant really say-"

"I already know about the mark." Iruka interjected.

Kakashi was surprised for the second time that night. "Oh. Well…we have it under control, I suppose. He's getting ready for the final exam. I suppose you know about…Hayate too." Iruka nodded sadly, correcting little mistakes on Kakashi's report. "Do you know whose proctoring the finals?"

"Genma. He came by the academy this morning and told me." Iruka said simply, and filed the report. "If your worried about Genma, he wont persecute you for being late." Iruka laughed.

"Heh, no. You seem to know Genma well… I didn't know you had a relationship with him." Kakashi smirked.

Iruka spun around. "No! No, me and Genma were good friends with Hayate and a couple others in the academy. That's all." Iruka explained quickly.

"Oh." Kakashi said. "So, then how did you take the news of Hayate?"

Iruka sighed, and rubbed his forehead, fighting back a headache. "It was hard. Mostly since he died three weeks ago, from what I've heard, and I only just found out. And from Genma no less."

"Well at least Genma told you. I found out by overhearing Izumo and Kotetsu talking about it." Kakashi laughed dryly. "Its worse to hear it in an eavesdropping manor."

"I suppose." Iruka walked around the desk, with his things all ready to go. Kakashi didn't even realize that they had been talking for the last half hour that the missions room was open.

"Hey, Iruka-sensei…its late, you wanna go get something to eat…or something?" Kakashi asked lamely. But Iruka seemed to take pity on him and ignore his bad skills at asking someone out.

"Thank you Kakashi-san. Really, but I'm tired and the mini-nins' have shuriken practice tomorrow…I hope you understand." Iruka said gently, afraid he might hurt the Copy-nin.

"Oh, that's alright Iruka-sensei. But will you be at the Final Exam next week?" Kakashi asked, almost hopefully.

"No, classes are still on. I wont be able to go." Iruka looked disappointed.

"Oh, well. See ya around Sensei." Kakashi waved, and excited the room.

Iruka nodded to the retreating figure, locked up the room, and excited through the window.

XXXXXXX

Iruka stepped into his small apartment, which hadn't changed much since he was thirteen, except for new furniture…which wasn't much.

Without bothering to turn the lights on, Iruka dropped his papers on the floor, somewhere in the same area in which his sandals were kept.

Iruka took off his sandals, and with an exhausted sigh, turned around, only to come face to face with a pair of yellow eyes.

"Welcome home, Iru-kun."

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A/N- okay, so this is my first attempt at a Naruto fic. Honestly, I don't know if someone already has a fic like this, I don't remember reading one like my idea, but my memory sucks.

There will be some Iruka love with someone -cough- Kakashi -cough- , but not until later chapters…when it fits into the story…which I have not completely figured out yet.

Review please.