Shikamaru the Academy teacher

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and am not going to make long speeches about it like everyone else does.

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Chapter 1 – Iruka's departure, Shikamaru's nightmare

"So, Iruka-sensei, you're really going to go for the Jounin exam this year?"

Naruto and Iruka are sitting in the Ichiraku ramen bar, Iruka having just offered to treat Naruto to ramen.

"Yeah, Naruto, you think I'll make it?"

"Of course you'll make it Iruka-sensei! I believe in you! With your superior skill in...um...er...what area are you good at again?"

Iruka claps Naruto in the head.

"Hey what was that for?"

"Heh, Naruto, you don't even know my strength or my skill, how do you know I'll pass?"

"I believe in you Iruka-sensei! Just how you believed in me! Your strength or skill doesn't matter, I know you can do it!"

Iruka is pleased to have someone supporting him. He finishes off his bowl of ramen.

"Thanks Naruto...hey wait where'd he go?"

He looks around and sees 38 empty bowls where Naruto was sitting.

"DAMN YOU NARUTO, I'M JUST A POOR TEACHER, I CAN'T AFFORD ALL THIS!"

I knew he was up to something, he was just flattering me to get me to pay for his ridiculous appetite, it was a mistake to take him out here in the first place, JUST WAIT TILL I GET MY HANDS ON YOU NARUTO! Iruka screams in his mind.

The next day Iruka sets off to the country of stone, to the hidden village of Rock where the exams are going to be held. As he leaves a few chuunins watch him go.

"So now that Iruka's gone off, who's going to teach the young ninjas?" asks one.

"I dunno, I'm sure Hokage-sama will just choose another chuunin..." replies another.

"Well I'm sure not going to teach a bunch of snotty kids. We should leave it to our lowest ranking Chuunin to do that, someone like...

"SHIKAMARU!"

A shout can be heard coming from the fifth Hokage's office. She is standing furiously in front of a young chuunin with his hands in his pocket, hair done up in a weird ponytail and standing looking slightly embarrassed.

"WHY WEREN'T YOU AT THE IMPORTANT CHUUNIN MEETING I ANNOUNCED TWO DAYS AGO? GIVE ME A GOOD EXPLANATION!"

Shikamaru winces "Um...I was busy staring at the clouds (slaps himself hard) I mean...I was helping my father look after the deer, they're really important deer you know..."

"I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR STUPID COWS, YOU'RE A CHUUNIN AND YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES NOW!" the fifth bellows at him. Then, amazingly, she calms down. Then she smirks at him. Shikamaru is really getting freaked out by now.

Oh crap, this is going to be real troublesome, I can feel it!

"Hehe, Shikamaru, since you weren't at the meeting where we decided the replacements for the positions of those chuunins that left for the jounin exam, you'll just have to take the last job, the one no-one wanted. From tomorrow on you will be taking Iruka's former position as teacher in the ninja academy, which means you will be taking all his original classes including (in a deep spooky voice) Konohamaru's class, hehe... (starts to cackle evilly)"

Shikamaru almost faints with horror. He falls onto his knees.

"No...not kids...anything but kids...please...Hokage-sama...I beg you...I promise I'll never be late or lazy again...please..."

Tsunade just smiles evilly "Too late now, its your own fault for not coming. Tomorrow you will report to the headmaster of the academy and he will tell you what to do. Now get out of my office!"

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Shikamaru screams in his mind as he walks out of the fifth Hokage's office.

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So how was it?