DISCLAIMER : I only own the plot, sadly.

I watched my students come and go over the past few years when I taught them their first jutsu or their first shuriken throwing practice. It feels nice when I see their joyful faces during graduation. Their laughter made it worthwhile and my loneliness forgotten. Even until now, my house welcomes my previous students with a listening ear for their problems. They confided in me their worries and I, a solution in return. I leaned on the frame of my front gate, waving as Sakura said her goodbye.

Her face was marked with dried tears of frustration over her inability as a med-nin. I heaved a sigh of relief after her frail body gradually stopped shaking due to her hard sobbing. Poor child, she is just sixteen and already placed with a huge burden on her shoulders. Although we won the war against the Mist, Konoha was in a state of distress after many shinobis laid in the makeshift hospital bed with gruesome battle wounds. Granted, Sakura was gifted with great healing power at a young age however, there was only so much a person can take when many lives are precariously hanging between your hands and death.

Konoha was missing quite a number of potential shinobis and it was truly a shame. The number of Jounins was not enough to support the reconstructing job needed on Konoha. With the number of the injured at a record high, even Tsunade-sama was forced to lend in a helping hand.

Therefore, Tsunade-sama came up with a solution; any form of teaching shall stop immediately. Chunins with Genins under their belt would be assisted with a Jounin who will assign miscellaneous work to help improve the condition of Konoha. Konoha had taken quite a hit with buildings turned to rubble and the food supply short. Thus, being a teacher to a class of Genins, Tsunade-sama instructed me to bring my students and report to Kakashi tomorrow.

So, the next day and now, here we are.

I looked to my left and smiled at the joyful faces of my students. Their eyes were filled with determination and anticipation. I couldn't blame them considering this was their first real mission. I still remember the days when these troublemakers would play pranks on me just so they could win a bet made between each other. My heart glowed as I watch them march down the village with excitement.

Finally, we arrived at Konoha Shelter where Kakashi was already waiting with a disgusting book in hand. If I weren't there for myself during a match between him and two ANBU from the Mist, I would have never thought the expressionless, dead eyes, pervert of a Jounin were the genius everybody came to respect and fear. Anyone who hadn't met Kakashi would have thought he was a lecher and they were right to some extent because well, he was. Sometimes, when I take a shortcut back home behind Konoha's shady alleys, I overhear graphic details about Kakashi's prowess and I had to swallow back bile.

But, I digress.

For once, Kakashi was earlier than well, ANYBODY! Kakashi was a man known for his ability to be late for an arranged meeting or even an important discussion. I wonder which hell froze over for him to be on time. I don't know if I actually like him since I haven't had the chance to have a proper talk with him but my guts tells me to be wary and I trust my instinct. It has proven true mostly except the time Naruto came home all flustered and I thought he confessed to Sasuke but it was the other way around! I laughed so hard it got me out of breath. Aside from that, my instinct hasn't been wayyyy off.

Again, I digress.

Anyhoo, here comes the man himself, Hatake Kakashi.

"Iruka-sensei," Kakashi finally reached me after walking like a sloth over to my side and gave a short bow.

"Hatake-san," I reciprocated it and yes, he's Kakashi in my head. Calling him Hatake is just a formality.

"Please call me Kakashi; calling me Hatake-san makes me feel older than my age." He replied with a smile or so I thought when his eyes turned into crescents. I couldn't see his smile because of the black mask covering his face but I like to be optimistic.

With that, we started breaking up the group into three teams. After telling each team of their job, they all went ahead and separated to the respected venue. They took pride in what they were doing and I really thought it was precious. No matter how much Genins I have taught in my life, the feeling of euphoria never ceases when I see my own students ecstatic like today.

"Aren't they cute?" I thought aloud and jumped when I felt Kakashi's presence looming behind me.

"Sure they are." He deadpanned.

My face grew bright red as I sputtered like an idiot. He gave me quite a scare. I couldn't trace his chakra at all and before I know it, he's standing behind me. I must be getting rusty. Embarrassed by my reaction, I decided to help somewhere away from him. Soon, I got lost into what I was doing until Yuki, one of the sweetest Genin in my class tugged my sleeve and asked me to join her and the rest for lunch. I put down the chunks of wood I was carrying and said okay. I mean, who can resist nice children really?

I wanted to be nice and ask Kakashi if he would like to join us for a quick break but what I saw had me flying into a rage.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I exclaimed loudly.

I stormed in cumbersome steps a metre away from where Kakashi was lounging under a tree reading that idiotic Icha Icha Paradise. He didn't as much as look at me, he merely continued flipping the pages with that poker face of his. Did he even read that book?

"Kakashi-san. Just what do you think you're doing?" I punctured each word harsher than the last through gritted teeth. Oh man, my head is getting light. Being angry is so exhausting.

After awhile, Kakashi gingerly put down his book and stared at me with bored eyes, "I'm reading."

I swore I saw red when he said that.

"You are supposed to be helping out!" I raised my hands in exasperation. I felt my face flush with my cheeks getting warmer and warmer.

"Iruka-san," his eyes smiling in pretence.

"Kakashi-san," I nearly spat out the word, my tone in mock respect.

I was ready to fly into rage about how a lazy prick he was when suddenly, I felt myself being summoned. Crap, I was going to lecture Kakashi. What could be so important that I be summoned now? Rolling my eyes and a promise to Kakashi that I will be back, I transported myself to Tsunade-sama's office.

"You summoned Tsunade-sama?" I bowed in greeting.

"I'm just going to go out and say it." Tsunade-sama said to me in her commanding voice while she poured herself another cup of sake.

I stiffened. I felt my gut constricted which left me with a heavy heart. Whatever she was going to announce, I knew I wouldn't like it one bit and I was right.

"I need you to be one of the examiners for the Jounin exam, Iruka."

And just like that, my anger dissipated.

A/N :

HEYHEY! Here's my first KakaIru story and an action-packed one.

I hope chapter 1 was intriguing enough for my readers to want more because this is just a test run. So, if you guys want me to finish this, please drop in a review to to tell me how you liked it because you don't know how even a smiley face can make a writer pick up a pen again.

I thank you in advance. :D