Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine.

Trying to find a story. It's KakashiIruka. Can't remember how it starts but I know when they get together Kakashi forgets Iruka for a while after he was injured and is recovering at Iruka's. I think Iruka's actually a hunter or something and he has very mouthy bird summons.

Chapter 1

Iruka ran flat out, scroll clutched tightly. His first mission as a special jounin and everything was going very, very wrong. But the information he'd found….he had to warn them. Because if this succeeded all it would do was spark of another war. He'd lost his family to the last one; he could not stand aside and allow another to begin, not when he could prevent it. That was if anyone would listen to him, there was always the risk that they wouldn't after all. He figured he had another day at most before what he had done was realised and others were sent to hunt him down and kill him. Would his 'parents' be proud of him for doing this? Or revile him as a traitor to their village? He saw the forest in the distance and felt a flash of hope; he just had to get across the border. He could blend in as a courier for the upcoming chunin exams, hopefully.

Iruka relaxed a little as he lept into the trees, scanning warily for danger as he continued to move. In the shadows of the trees he knew his uniform made him stand out and he was just waiting to be challenged since he had obviously been in a fight. A normal border patrol wouldn't notice, would assume he was a courier, but the famed Konoha ANBU? They would realise there was something off immediately.

Hound crouched on a branch, face hidden not only by his everyday mask but by the white of his ANBU one. He was tired, sore and had way too much blood soaked into his uniform. Thankfully very little of it was his own. Sometimes he hated assassination missions, especially solo ones. He sighed and went to move off only to freeze and look around. He glanced down and frowned as he saw the battered shinobi stumble on a branch, obviously worn out and injured but determined to continue on. Curious and worried Hound dropped from his branch, watching as the other male's eyes went wide while he quickly tried to stop his forward momentum. Hound just watched as the suna-nin managed to stop, staring at him warily but showing no hostility.

Iruka fought the urge to pant for air or yell at the ANBU for trying to give him a heart attack. He stayed silent, trying to get his breath back and waiting for the man to do or say something.

Hound studied the other ninja curiously, taking in the wounds and his obvious exhaustion, as well as the scroll he was clutching as if his life depended on it. He was young but from his vest and other signs Hound figured he was at least special jounin. "What is your business?" He asked, the mask distorting his voice and he watched the younger man straighten up tiredly.

"Information for the Hokage." Iruka answered, trying not to show how creepy the voice distortion thing was.

Hound cocked his head to the side curiously. "From the Kazekage?"

"No ANBU-san. Information I found on a mission….regarding an invasion of Konoha by the new Sound village and…..Suna." Iruka swallowed as a blade came to rest against his throat but made no move to defend himself.

"Then why is a suna-nin bringing it to our attention?"

"Because this could start another war and…..and I lost my family in the last one. I won't just stand by and let it happen again." Iruka stated firmly, staring into the eye holes of the ANBU's mask.

Hound blinked, that was interesting. The younger ninja seemed to believe what he was saying but he could have been misinformed. Still… "Follow me." He ordered and the other man nodded, taking a quick drink from what sounded like a basically empty canteen. Seeing that Hound tossed him his own, getting a surprised yet grateful look before he drank several mouthfuls before handing it back. They took off through the trees.

Iruka stumbled; feeling light headed and felt the ANBU grab him. "How badly are you hurt?"

"Apparently worse than I thought." He shook his head to try and clear it and felt the world spin before he was suddenly no longer standing. He had been placed on the ANBU's back and he blinked in shock before slumping in exhaustion. This was nice, it beat trying to run with almost exhausted chakra reserves. "Sorry bout the blood." He mumbled and felt the ANBU chuckle.

"Don't worry about it, this uniforms' a write off anyway." And that was the last thing Iruka heard as he passed out.

Iruka blinked groggily and then groaned at seeing the white ceiling. Great how had he messed up….and that was not the ceiling of Suna's hospital. Iruka looked around in confusion even as a nurse walked in only to pause when she saw he was awake. Seeing his confusion she moved over to check his vitals. "You are in Konoha hospital shinobi-san. One of our ANBU brought you in two days ago. How is your pain?"

"Fine." He coughed and she gave him some water. "Two days?" He asked in alarm, going to sit up only to find he was chained to the bed.

"Please do not try and move too much shinobi-san. Hokage-sama will be by to see you shortly."

"Iruka, my name is Iruka." He told her and she nodded, writing it on his chart before leaving.

Iruka sighed and stared up at the ceiling, well he'd made it to Konoha. He flushed slightly at the realisation that the ANBU had carried him in but at least he'd made it and in one piece. He turned his head as the door opened, watching as several ANBU entered before an elderly man in red and white robes. Iruka couldn't exactly bow when stuck in bed so he bowed his head in respect as best he could.

Sarutobi stared at the young suna-nin on the bed. He'd gone over Kakashi's report several times along with the scroll the young man had been clutching. The information inside, if true, was very worrying. "I take it you know who I am. Name and rank."

"Umino Iruka, special jounin." He answered before reaching for the water and failing. One of the ANBU lifted the glass for him and he gave her his thanks once done.

"And newly listed missing-nin." He pointed out, seeing the young man flinch at that. "Why shouldn't we hand you back to Suna, Umino?"

Iruka swallowed heavily, he'd known it would happen and had thought he had accepted it but hearing that he'd been listed as a traitor still hurt. But he was doing the right thing, he knew he was. So he took a deep breath and told the Hokage everything he had seen, heard and managed to piece together.

TBC….