Yo, hey everyone, another story for ya guys. Enjoy!
Rated: T
Summary: "Rejection is a part of life, but eventually it may become easier to bare." Iruka doesn't want to let someone else in his life, but Naruto is determined to get him involved with his other sensei. Naruto's pranks get the teacher to finally notice the lazy pervert. KakaIru
"Iruka-sensei!" The loud boy's yell didn't come today. The blond boy only sat down in his seat. He seemed quite down for some reason.
Iruka Umino sighed faintly. He had a class to teach. He finished the class and made his way outside. He found the blond sitting on the ground by the front door. He knelt down beside the young boy.
"Naruto, are you alright?" Naruto tried to nod, but a sniff gave him away.
Iruka placed a comforting hand on his student's shoulder. "You can tell me anything, you know." The boy whined.
"Sa-Sakura only ever notices that bastard. I, I, don't know what to do." A small smile rose to the older man's face.
"Rejection is a part of life, but eventually it may become easier to bare, and if they're true to you, they'll come for you." Naruto's blue eyes pleaded.
"Wh-What?"
"If you try your best, and be yourself, you'll get the right one." Naruto instantly beamed.
"Yeah! You're right, I'll show her!"
"Naruto."
The blond turned to him, words stopping in his throat.
"Remember to look out for your other friends, though."
Iruka sat at his desk. Paperwork laid across the desk as he worked. Iruka tapped the pen on the desk. His mind drifted to his conversation he had with Naruto once. Rejection is a part of life, but eventually it may become easier to bare.
He was a major hypocrite to tell Naruto that he could push through it. Iruka couldn't get over his from a while back. He was young, but he thought she had been the one. He had told her his feelings, and she quickly shut him down.
Iruka could never get over that, so he never got involved with anyone else. He wouldn't even try.
"Iruka-sensei!" A loud voice broke through his thoughts. He turned toward the door as Naruto ran through. He smiled.
"Good morning, Naruto."
"Guess what?!"
He didn't get a chance to say anything.
"I'm on a team with Sakura, and that bastard." He grumbled the end.
Iruka shook his head.
He was about to tell him to watch his language, but another voice cut him off.
"Yo," said the intruder.
"Hey Kakashi sensei! Have you met Iruka-sensei?" The dark eye traveled to the teacher.
"Not exactly." His eye turned upward. Naruto chuckled.
"Well, now you do." Iruka rolled his eyes and went back to grading a test.
He barely heard Naruto talking away. He didn't know if he was talking to Kakashi or himself, but it didn't seem too important.
"We should go out for ramen, the three of us." Iruka froze at Naruto's statement.
Naruto beamed as Kakashi shrugged.
Kakashi smiled beneath his mask.
"Sounds like fun." Iruka hid his annoyed expression.
"No, I can't today, Naruto." Naruto instantly pouted.
"But Irrrukkka-sennssseiii! Please!" Iruka made the bad choice to glance up into the blue orbs.
"... Fine." Naruto cheered.
"Oh yeah!"
Iruka sat down on Naruto's left side, and Kakashi thankfully sat on the right. The three ordered some ramen. Naruto instantly dove in when his arrived.
"Mmm, tasst so guudd!"
Iruka smiled a bit at the boy. Naruto and Iruka got into a conversation soon after. Naruto told Iruka about how he was fairing in his team. Iruka actually seemed to forget the silver-haired shinobi on the other side of Naruto.
"I knew you could do it," was all Iruka said. Naruto nodded.
"Yup! I'll beat Sasuke. Believe it!" A chuckle came from his right side, making Iruka freeze again.
"I don't really see that, yet." His voice teased. Naruto grinned.
"Yet! Right, sensei?" He turned to Iruka. Iruka nodded stiffly.
"If you keep trying."
Naruto giggled a bit as another bowl of ramen arrived. He started to chow down loudly. Iruka stood, and both of the other two turned toward him.
"I'll be right back. I need to get more money." His eyes flashed to Kakashi. "He's known to leave the check for someone else."
He left after that. Naruto frowned.
Kakashi raised a brow.
"What's with the long face?" Naruto pouted.
"It's Iruka-sensei. He never seems, uh, happy." Kakashi tilted his head in thought.
"Maybe your pranks could help." Naruto grumbled.
"Nah, he hates when I do them, but.."
Naruto grinned mischievously.
"That gives me an idea."