Note: BIG thanks to Rawritsakookye for editing this story (!)
:1:
Iruka was on his way home when he saw that a group of three done up men entered the village's gates after a long and tiring mission. As soon as they noticed the teacher, they surrounded him, trapping him into the body-triangle.
"Iruka-sensei! The snow! I liked it so much, oh how I regret you were not there to enjoy it too!" Naruto grinned at his favorite teacher fondly, squeezing the tanned palm in both his hands. "And I missed you all those weeks!"
"You missed our eves by the ramen-counter, I presume," the teacher sighed, pulled his hand out of Naruto's grip and rubbed his temples. He was so tired today, and the mention of the snow didn't add to his mood. Other way round: the mention of the snow was enough to make him behave oddly. But, for his own sake he had to be polite, not sarcastic! Wishing to somehow fix an impression, he made a weak effort. "Still I'm glad you are back here and safe," Iruka gave his former blond student a warm smile. Abruptly, realizing they were not alone, he raised his big brown eyes to the other two men. "I'm certainly glad to see you too, Sasuke," added Iruka quickly, making an eye-contact with the other boy. He received a small weary smile and turned to the next person, already half-way blushing, because now he had to say something likewise warm to the last figure from the just returned group. Iruka started to hate himself for deciding to pass the gates this evening. "And also you…" Even before he opened his mouth to start the talking Iruka knew that man will make it complicated! And the way he was interrupted was evidence enough.
"Maa, save your politeness for someone who really needs it, Iruka-sensei," muttered the silver-haired jounin in front of him, his tone slightly offended. "Though I wonder why you don't like the snow so much," he added, making Iruka freeze only with the gaze of his single gray eye – a very cold and suspicious eye; as cold as the snow in the snow-country.
How did he guess that the snow was the exact reason of Iruka's uneasiness? The first thing Iruka hated about the silver-haired jounin was his immutable straightforwardness. All the skills, which man possessed, and all the wonderful jobs the man did to protect their village, couldn't make Iruka suppress a shudder while speaking to him. The slightest communication between them brought the teacher into the state of complete incompetence, and uncontrolled rage started to run through his whole body; this time was not different. Iruka stiffened and spitted the words in a manner he never allowed himself to use in a conversation with the other people.
"As if it could be for of your concern, Hatake-san. You'd better save your advertence for someone who really believes you mean it."
There was a pause, and then came a response, like a punch in the gut, and Iruka realized he'd got into a trouble there.
"Well, considering your reaction and your facial expression, it could be dangerous for the people around you, Iruka-sensei. I'm afraid I have to declare the problem to our Hokage," The jounin said it seriously, his voice low and threatening. It made Iruka's back reclaim a goose-skin in a second. He started to tremble and almost opened his mouth to yell at the damn jounin to leave him alone, when the cheerful laugh interrupted his uneasy thoughts and two arms pulled him forcefully into a tight hug.
"Don't be mad at Kakashi-sensei, our mission was a tough one indeed," declared Naruto, doing his best to distract Iruka's attention. It didn't help so far, the two men's angry gazes were still crossed. They stared at each other as if ready to jump and beat the hell off out of their opponent. Even Sasuke couldn't stand the competition of the teachers.
"We had it hard," declared the usually uncommunicative boy, "and we are on our way to hand over our mission reports…"
That was a mistake. Sasuke realized it immediately and the half-spoken phrase died on his lips.
"Your mission reports…" Iruka hissed. Now he was distracted indeed! His eyes desired to burn a hole in Kakashi's head. "Your mission reports…" he repeated louder, clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white. An impressive picture of the sample of Kakashi's report appeared before Iruka's inner gaze. A crumpled dirty piece of paper with the bare signs of terrible handwriting… A nice example for the kids! And now he dares to pose a threat…
Naruto frowned, noticing the teacher started to visibly tremble. He loosened his grip and came around, sticking his blond head in front of Iruka's face, so that the eye's contact between the two men was disturbed.
"Iruka-sensei? Are you feeling well?" asked Naruto, giving his favorite teacher a small smile.
Iruka sighed, grateful for Naruto's interruption. It was as if he came up from the depth of the cold cavern. And even the slightest reminder of coldness chaining his limbs always made him loose control. Iruka shook his head, feeling embarrassed of his behavior in front of his former students and particularly in front of their current teacher.
"Sorry Naruto, I'm fine. I think I just need a distraction and some sort of tension's release after the tiring day."
"Release, Iruka-sensei?" he heard Kakashi's mocking voice. "If you need a helping hand I…"
Iruka gritted his teeth angrily. Still, with just a Naruto's shining face in front of him it was easier to ignore the bastard. If not for the brave boy, there was no guaranty he could suppress an urge to slap the man's face, no matter that man somehow happened to be the best jounin for miles around.
"What about the ramen tomorrow?" asked Iruka, smiling back at Naruto and enjoying the fire lighting in the blonde's eyes with the sound of the word 'ramen'. Suddenly he was interrupted.
"Agreed. And I'll expect your explanation about the snow, Iruka-sensei. Otherwise I'll be forced to go to Hokage," said Kakashi firmly, his frame still hidden from Iruka's deadly gaze by Naruto's body.
'So he decided I asked all of them out,' thought Iruka, biting his lower lip. He smiled at Naruto even broader, though he suspected the smile looked rather disgusting. 'Or he probably knows I won't like his presence and wants to tease me. He wishes to see me freaking out, he always does!'
The teacher decided in the last couple of minutes he showed enough impatience. With a polite mutter of, "Go rest, boys, you need it, I'll see you tomorrow," he turned away and ran down the street, looking for a curve to hide in and hating the road for being so straight.
Kakashi shook his head.
"Maa, did you hear it? Iruka-sensei just called us 'boys'!" he said loudly enough to make sure Iruka heard it. "I'm so flattered I think I won't crumple my report today!"
"Kakashi-sensei, stop acting like a kid," muttered Sasuke, heading to the Hokage's tower. "Why do you bother driving Iruka-sensei mad?"
Kakashi shrugged and overtook him easily, immediately falling into the pace of the boy's steps.
"Did you see his reaction on the word 'snow'?" asked Kakashi. "That was remarkable. I wonder…"
Naruto overtook them too and pointed the finger at his superior.
"You'd better stop teasing Iruka-sensei! Who cares he reacts weird? Everybody has some words they react weird at," declared Naruto and demonstratively winked to the frowning Sasuke. "Forget about snow, we are finally back!" Naruto laughed and made a wide gesture with his hand, showing there was no sign of any snow in the fire-country.
'Like hell I will forget,' murmured Kakashi to himself, smiling sheepishly, and he hoped also innocently, at both of his students. He was lucky the boys were too tired to pay attention to his craftiness.
:+:
When Iruka approached the ramen-counter the next day, he saw Naruto and Sasuke sitting there side by side and chatting quietly. The scene made him smile. It was really pleasing to be a witness of how positive and calming the young Uchiha influenced that unstoppable blond hurricane in the little boy's body! Well, sometimes. It happened rarely, but here they were now – young and happy together.
'They are not little boys anymore,' Iruka reminded himself and looked around, afraid to see a person with a silver hair, masked face, orange covered porn-book, or all those things together in one, somewhere near. He noticed nothing similar to that and exhaled, definitely relieved.
"Sorry I'm late," declared Iruka cheerfully and couldn't hide an evil grin, while watching both boys start and blush.
"Wow Iruka-sensei! I thought you were someone else," said Naruto, smiling back at Iruka.
Sasuke nodded to Iruka and gave his friend a slight push with his shoulder.
"The one you have on your mind won't excuse himself for being late, dobe".
"I know it well, teme!" cried Naruto loudly, turning his head to Sasuke and pressing the finger to his chest, "but he definitely could do it at least once!"
Iruka leaned on the counter and watched a furious exchange between the two best friends. He thought that was exactly the true soul's affection he saw now and was very much impressed. How did it happen that he never had such a close friend in his life?
"Snow," murmured a tender voice straight into his ear.
A cold wave passed through Iruka's body and he squeaked powerlessly, falling down past one of the high counter chairs because of sudden weakness in his knees.
Iruka was sure he'd fall. But a strong hand caught him and instead of the floor, his lower back connected with the cushion of the chair.
"You are going to tell me everything about you and the snow," declared the silver-haired jounin, towering above the teacher and hypnotizing him with a stare of two different colored eyes.
Iruka was aware they were being watched by the people around them, their students inclusive, but he didn't care.
"Like hell I will," murmured Iruka, staring back into Kakashi's mismatched eyes. He had the right to have a personal secret, and no one could force him into an intimate talk, not even the best jounin in the world with his damn sharingan!