A Matter of Opinion
Rating: PG
Summary: Umino Iruka has never been anything special. He doesn't ever expect to hear any different.
Disclaimer: I own nothing Naruto. I get my anime fix from Cartoon Network and fan fiction.
Nothing Special
Umino Iruka is easily embarrassed. He usually has a slight blush dusting across his features when talking to his superiors, or to those he isn't well acquainted with. It is a well-known fact, and that makes him a favourite target of good-natured teasing.
If nothing else, Umino Iruka blushes prettily.
He isn't particularly good looking, and the only remotely distinguishing thing about him is the scar running across the bridge of his nose. In a village full of shinobi, however, scars are really nothing special. He had been an average gennin, an average chuunin, and now is an average jounin - if there is such a thing.
Iruka had never been outstanding – neither poorly performed, nor exceeding expectations in his chosen path. As a child, he had played pranks to get attention. As an adult, he had learned to fade a little more into the background.
He teaches. He files mission reports. He goes on the occasional mission himself.
He buys lots and lots of ramen for one Uzumaki Naruto.
Aside from that last, Iruka is considered a well-balanced, if self-conscious individual who knows how to carry a blush with charm.
So when, out of the blue, he is called into the Fifth Hokage's office, he thinks that it must be something about the Academy - or, maybe, something about Naruto.
At the latter thought, his stomach makes some interesting attempts at acrobatics, and Umino Iruka picks up his pace, just a little.
He does not in any way expect the praise for his performance during his (admittedly rare) missions, and most certainly not the offer of a place in the ANBU standard missions teams.
He has been blushing from the moment he walked into the office, of course, and as Tsunade smiles up at him from behind her desk and holds out a white mask to him, all he can think of to say is; that beyond the basics, he's never been particularly skilled with a katana.
Author's Notes:
Yes, I am using the term 'author' loosely. I'm aware that the title is rather lame, but that's no biggie.
I have no beta, so my apologies if this is something that is better left on my laptop rather than the world-wide-web.