Author's Notes: This story grew out of my frustration at not being able to find any Iruka fan fiction that wasn't KakashixIruka. Generally I don't have a problem with slash, but, to me, it just didn't make sense in Iruka's case. I mean, he's affected by Naruto's "Sexy no Jutsu", so he's probably straight. That and even if Iruka did swing the other way, I don't see Kakashi as a likely partner; they barely know each other and what they do know of each other they don't like. So no KakashixIruka here, guys. If you're looking for something more along those lines there are tons of other stories on to fit the bill.
Secondly, I got to thinking that the idea of Orochimaru founding the Hidden Village of Sound seemed kind of… odd. How would he found a village so quickly anyway? So I started wondering if maybe the village existed before Orochimaru, and the idea behind this story spiraled out of that curiosity.
Finally, I've taken a bit of creative license with this story; mostly involving Iruka's abilities, which are (as of this writing) unexplored in the series, but also involving the time period in which the story is set. The story takes place somewhere between Tsunade's arrival in Konoha, and Sasuke's departure (i.e. – episodes 98 – 108). I think it's only a couple of weeks in the actual series, but here it's portrayed as slightly longer.
Anyway, enough babbling for me. I bet you'd like to see the actual story, wouldn't you?
Chapter One: PreludeDawn broke slowly over the forest surrounding the Hidden Village of Konoha, causing the birds to twitter excitedly and the small nocturnal creatures of the forest to dart into various darkened dens. The day did not dawn brightly, however, as the sky was somewhat overcast, and the surrounding gray seeped into every corner of the thick underbrush as dense, wet mist.
The Anbu scout paused atop a tree branch and surveyed the forest floor below. The mist was so thick it was almost impossible to see the ground or anything that might be moving across it. Even the base of the tree on which he perched was all but obscured.
Sighing under his breath, the scout shifted position and prepared to leap to another branch when something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.
There.
No, there.
Something was moving through the mist below and it seemed to be considerably larger than a fox or rabbit.
The Anbu member paused, considering whether he should sound the alarm. He would be seriously embarrassed if the mysterious movement turned out to be something as innocuous as a bear. Still, he had a job to do, and that job required he act upon any suspicion of approaching danger. He sat back on his heels and let out the long, low birdcall that would summon other members of his patrol to his location. He was satisfied when he noticed that, at the sound of his call, all movement in the mist below had ceased.
Probably meant something was up, then.
Just then, another member of his patrol landed soundlessly on the branch next to him. The scout nodded in greeting to him, then to the other members of the patrol that appeared on various branches surrounding him. Silently, he inclined his head toward the forest below to indicate something was down there, and without a word, the patrol moved as one, leaping silently into the mist.
They landed almost soundlessly in a circle surrounding the area the scout had indicated. As the mist parted with their movements, the patrol could suddenly see three figures kneeling on the forest floor. The figures' heads were lowered and they didn't seem to be moving, but their shoulders and chests rose and fell with breath. There were two men and one woman, all wearing forehead protectors, though the mist concealed the symbols inscribed upon them.
The Anbu patrol leader was the first to speak, "You are trespassing here. State your business or be gone."
One of the men, the one that knelt in front of his companions spoke, "We wish to speak with the Kage of Konoha. We mean no disrespect and will come peacefully and unarmed if requested."
The Anbu patrol leader paused, considering, "What business do you have with the Hokage?"
"We wish to surrender to the Hokage and discuss a treaty," the man raised his head to look the patrol leader in the eye, and at that moment the sunlight caught the metal of his forehead protector, burning the image into the Anbu members' eyes.
He was a member of the Sound. Which probably meant the other two were Sound ninja as well.
The patrol leader was stuck. Since they were Sound ninja, this could possibly be some sort of trickery. In fact, it likely was. However, the patrol couldn't just leave them there to continue their mischief, nor could they attack them outright when the opposing ninja had already surrendered. Sighing, the patrol leader turned to the rest of his squad, "Disarm them and bind their hands. We'll take them back to the village and, if the Hokage decides to see them, so be it. In the meantime, they'll remain in Anbu custody."
The Anbu patrol members moved to respond, and found that the Sound ninja offered no resistance. The man at the front of the group seemed to be carrying no weapons other than the usual shuriken and other basic ninja gear. The same went for the second man to his right, although that one had an inordinate number of scrolls upon his person. The woman, however, had been wearing two wicked looking daggers, one sheathed at each thigh.
The weapons were removed and the prisoners' hands bound. The three then rose to their feet as one and allowed the Anbu patrol to escort them back toward the village. The sun had just risen to its zenith by the time they reached the village's gates.
Iruka's class had just begun when a shout from one of his students summoned the rest of the children to the window, "Look, an Anbu patrol! And they've caught someone!"
"Back to your seats!" amid the chorus of "ooh"'s and "let me see"'s, Iruka attempted to push his way through the throng and regain some control over his students.
"Look, Sound ninja!" squealed one of the girls.
Iruka snapped into action, "Everyone, back to your seats! Now!"
Were the Sound invading again? He'd have to begin evacuation procedures if necessary. Hurriedly pushing the rest of the way to the window, and frowning deeply in worry, Iruka looked down into the street below.
An Anbu squad of six was moving at a brisk pace down the street, surrounding what appeared to be three other ninja. The three ninja in the center appeared to be unarmed and it looked as if their hands had been tied behind their backs.
At the forefront of the three was a tall man, bearded, with striking red hair. He was dressed simply in a long sleeved black shirt, baggy black pants, and a dark blue vest covered in pockets. His wrists were wrapped in dark blue bandages and he wore a Sound forehead protector across his brow. He walked with purpose, staring straight ahead as if nothing would faze him.
Just behind the red haired man, slightly to his right, was another, younger man with shoulder length dark green hair. He too was dressed simply, in a baggy kimono-style top and baggy black pants, the pants sporting a remarkable number of pockets. Wrapped around his waist was a dark blue sash, and he too wore a Sound forehead protector. He had handsome, angular features and a curious expression on his face as he looked at the surrounding village. Noticing the children at the window of Iruka's classroom, he smiled and nudged the woman next to him, indicating the window with his shoulder when she looked up from behind a long spill of white blonde hair.
The woman was pretty, with delicate, almost kittenish features, and had eyes so bright a blue that Iruka could see their color from where he was standing. She was dressed a bit more complicated than the other two, in a pair of baggy blue cargo pants, a black fishnet shirt, and a white tank top over the fishnet. Her wrists were wrapped in white bandages, and empty weapon holsters were strapped to the outside of each thigh. Her forehead protector sat mostly beneath her hair, but Iruka could see the gleam of the metal in the morning sunlight.
The woman glanced up at the window her companion had indicated and a small, almost hopeful smile graced the corners of her mouth. She murmured something inaudible to the green haired man beside her and he nodded vigorously, looking satisfied.
Iruka harrumphed and turned back to his classroom. "Everyone back in your seats right now," he barked, and this time the children scrambled to obey. Striding back to his place at the front of the class, Iruka pulled out his lesson book and shuffled some papers.
"Whatever is going on, it looks like Anbu has it well under control. There will now be a pop quiz since you all seem so sure you don't need to pay attention in class today."
The children groaned and pulled out pencils and paper while Iruka smiled inwardly. It looked as if no danger of invasion was currently eminent, so he would enjoy reasserting authority over his unruly class. If only they knew, he mused, just how worried I'd been for a moment, they'd have me wrapped around their fingers in no time.
