Tuesdays with 'kashi

By: russet-fangs

Author's notes: this story is dedicated to my Onii-chan Emil who always gives me good advices and irog, snotty chim-chim, whom I missed so much.

Warning: severe grammatical and typo errors. Many rejected my offer for proof-reading. Sorry to tell that. another warning is that this story is not just plain friendship between two men. it's l o v e...love

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine, I assure you.

Watch out for mush… the author deserves some confidence. I'm gonna make you proud, Onii-chan

Chapter 1: The hard-working sensei

"LET'S KICK THOSE ASS!!"

"konohamaru don't pull my glasses!"

"watch out for chalk dust shower!!!"

"I bet you didn't do your assignment!! Bwahaha!! I'm better than you!!"

ahh..the messy, chaotic room of Konoha's soon-to-be ninjas. Chalks flying everywhere, sleeping students, fights among the juveniles, drawing marks on every space in the wall, the hot summer sun… this is the everyday scenery Iruka-sensei views. As he tiredly calms the kiddos, his mind ached for peace.

"pls…tone down your voices…" he warned hopelessly. Though he knows that he needs to stay strong for these new generation, it's not his fault to find it hard sometimes.

He looked at them, all dirty and giddy, smiled and massaged his temples. Evenly walking towards the seats, he glanced at the clock and suddenly felt dread. One more hour to go…

"iruka-sensei…I think I hurt my toes…", a tiny, squeky voice told him. Iruka looked behind him and saw Michiru, the daughter of one of the landowners in Konoha. she was a sweet girl with hazy brown eyes. indeed, looking at her feet, the kid has a wound.

He smiled once more, for encouragement, and tapped her shoulder. He tried to touch the wounded area but the girl moved it away.

"let Iruka-sensei look at your wound, he would make it go away…"

"eeh..Iruka-sensei…doesn't do healing! He just smiles and teach! Don't worry! I'll go to my mother later and let her treat me!"

Iruka smiled once again, knowing that the girl had said the truth. His teaching made all his talents, as a ninja fade. His memories of fighting for a mission are getting blurred and his life has gotten monotonous. But, he loves teaching and in his life, he felt no regrets. His whole existence needs no more adventure. He just wonders when he would settle down. You know the sort of marrying a woman and settling down. He has been a busy man and his only way of relaxing is thinking of what would his destiny have for him.

"alright…but if it hurts..tell me, ok?"

"sure thing, sensei" she beamed at him and walked away.

The only problem he faces now is that, from what he observed weeks ago, these kids whom he has grown to love have somewhat been distant to him. he couldn't figure much and after long hours of thinking, still no clear answer. Maybe his low-level ninja makes his student feel that he isn't qualified. Maybe he is making too much mistakes. Maybe he is too strict. Maybe he is too loose. Or maybe he is just thinking too much.

"IRUUUUUKAAAAAA-SEEEEEENSEEEEEEEIII!!"

His trail of thoughts shattered as the kids chanted his name in chorus. Focusing his eyes as to what seemed like a revolution, the chuunin patiently made an inquiring look.

"it's time already! You need to dismiss us, Iruka-sensei", someone said from the back as was sooned joined in at by the others.

"uhh…hmm…", Iruka responded. He adjusted his position and heaved a sigh.

"alright…but be sure to answer your assignments. See you all tomorrow."

"haha! Iruka-sensei forgot!! There's no classes tomorrow!!"

with that, the students marched away with a barricade of noise. Iruka watched them, sinking again into his deep thoughts. There's something wrong with him…came the conclusion.

"oi! Iruka-sensei…what's wrong?"

Absent-mindedly he answered, "I don't know either…"

"WHAT!!!"

Naruto screamed into his former teacher's ears and startled the poor guy. The latter tilted his head and stared wide-eyed at his almost-son.

"what's wrong!!! Answer me!"

Naruto panicked and waggled his finger at anything he suspects as the cause of the problem. He scratched his head and pointed at the children.

"are they making you stressed, Iruka-sensei?"

"iie..naruto… don't mind my answer earlier. i'm fine now, don't worry"

"ooohhh…I'm soo not going to believe you!!!"

"…nobody does, I suppose…", the older man whispered.

"WHAT!!"

iruka smiled at the blonde mop. He really is concerned, looking at his flaming red face, out of sheer panic.

"Iruka-sensei!! I think…you need help. you're not feeling good! There's something wrong!!! I know...don't deny it!!"

"Naruto…you don't have to. I mean I don't have to. I'm fine, see?"

"NO…you are not fine!"

"but…if you tell anyone that I'm sick or something's wrong with me, nobody would teach the children"

"but!! But!!"

"no buts..now. I just need some rest. Ok?"

"…"

"I'll be going now"

Naruto followed his sensei's footsteps and went the other way. He pondered to himself while walking distractedly on the road.

Of course, the caring teacher of team 7 was there to see it all. He purposely bumped himself on Naruto and smiled sheepishly under his mask.

"Good evening, Naruto. How are you doing today?"

"I'm good, kakashi-sensei…but you see…I'm worried about Iruka-sensei"

"what about him?", he said knowing fully well what would be the answer but shot the question just for the hell of it.

"he seems troubled by something"

"how do you think I can help?"

"YOU WANT TO HELP?"

"why wouldn't I, iruka's like a family"

"HONTOU!!?"

"yes naruto… so maybe I could talk to him and such. But he seems like the shy-type"

"I bet he is!!"

"I know!", he planned it really well, huh?

"What it is!! Tell me!!", Naruto grinned at the older, lazy man.

"tell Iruka that you want him to meet someone that can absolutely help him!"

"what!! I would refer you to iruka-sensei!! He thinks of you as perverted!!"

sure he does, Kakashi thought. "I cant help him if he's scared of me"

"oh!"

"…?"

"I would tell him, you're not perverted and and and…COULD YOU STOP READING THAT PORN MAGAZINE WHEN YOU'RE WITH IRUKA-SENSEI!?"

"uhh…yes?"

"ALRIGHT! I'LL TELL HIM TOMORROW!"

"ok"

"do you really think we can help him?"

"of course, don't you trust me?"

"errr…"

"I'll be going now, I have a meeting"

"that one in the old hag's office?"

"yes"

"that started 4 hours ago!"

"uhh..yeah..see ya"

Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke and left Naruto thinking that he has made a very wrong decision.

Ooo000ooO

Hope you enjoyed it. I'll be posting the next chapter next week so please read and review. I don't mind criticisms as long as it has a hint of truth. Thanks for everybody who will read.