A Path Rewritten

Chapter One

Introducing Uzumaki Naruko!

Hey guys so I hope you like this. It will be a FEM/Naruto/Sasuke pairing. This story will follow very closely to cannon as I will be pulling out text from Naruto. I will also be adding in my own scenes so that you can see how Sasuke and Naruko get together. Also I promise not everything will be word for word, there will be times when I change up the original text and add my own in.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto only the things that you don't recognize.

A small blonde child laid unceremoniously at the feet of a black clad figure, his face hidden behind the mask of a lion. Though his expression couldn't be seen the annoyance and anger rolled off of him in waves as he glared down at the pigtailed little girl, who was staring up at him with wide, watery, cerulean blue eyes. The whisker like marks that lined her cheeks seemed to twitch as she tried to keep from crying.

"Lord Hokage, I found this one outside decimating the Hokage mountain," The ANBU member hissed as his eyes narrowed behind the mask. Naruko stared up at the intimidating figure as her face began to turn red. She felt like that was exaggerating a little bit as she was only using paint, but felt too terrified to say anything out in her defense. The man held no fondness toward her, much like the rest of the village, though she had no idea why that was. They all seemed to send her the same cold, cruel look that caused her to shiver with loneliness.

The Sandaime Hokage stared down at the small girl with what was akin to affection. The old man was the only one she ever found comfort in, he never stared at her with cruelty, or dislike, but instead with grandfatherly endearment.

"I'm sorry, jii-san," Naruko sniffled as she wiped at her face trying to rid herself of the few tears that had fallen. The Hokage smiled down at her as she called him her grandfather, she had been calling him that since she was three years old. It was hard for him to think that it was only three years ago. She had become more of a handful as she grew older, but knew she never truly meant anything bad by her pranks. It was clearly just a way for her to be recognized and it still pained him to this day that he couldn't take her in, but between Hokage duties, and his own grandson he just wouldn't have the time.

"You are dismissed," the Hokage said waving his hand as the ANBU member disappeared from the room, but not before he glared one last time at the demon child. "Naru, what have I told you about your pranks? Not everyone finds them as amusing as you do."

"I didn't mean anything by it," she stuttered out but became more at ease as soon as the cold man had left. Picking herself from the floor she wiped the dirt that was smudged on her orange shorts.

The Hokage stared down at the girl still finding it incredible that she had picked the bright orange outfit. Her shorts were bright orange with a dark blue apron skirt, while her kimono shirt was the same bright orange, the sleeves only going down to her elbows, with dark blue designs on it. It was practical to fight in, as she was training to become a ninja, but the color would easily be spotted. There would be no hiding from her enemies no matter where she was, but it fit her boisterous attitude.

Picking himself up from his seat he walked around the desk to stand in front of Naruko. His hand coming out to lay on her shoulder as he smiled down at her, trying to put her at ease. "I know, I'm not angry young one. You will have to clean it up as I'm sure you already know, it will be your punishment."

The tears disappeared from her eyes as she glanced up at her jii-san. He ruffled her blonde bangs sending her yet another warm smile that eased the hole in her chest that could only be filled by love. "Yes, sir," she said. "I'll do it right now!" The Hokage chuckled as he moved to go sit back behind his desk.

"Don't you have to get to the academy?" he asked with a raise of his eyebrow. Naruko frowned knowing she was caught in the act of skipping class. "You'll clean up the mountain afterwards."

"Okay, jii-san, I promise I'll get it done." She turned to leave her face heating up from embarrassment by being caught. Just as she stretched up onto her tiptoes to reach the doorknob his voice stopped her.

"Oh, and Naruko, I don't want to hear about you skipping class again." Naruko ducked her head as she ran out of the room and away from the Hokage tower. It wasn't something she felt that she would be able to promise her jii-san. Classes tended to bore her as they hadn't gotten to actually learning anything hands on. She understood she needed the knowledge of the basics before she could actually do it, but it was still taxing to learn it all.

Sighing she raced toward the academy knowing that she would be getting a lecture from Iruka-sensei when she arrived. Perhaps if she wasn't overly late he would go easier on her.

~3~

Six Years Later

Naruko stared around the classroom after having arrived on time, she remembered the unspoken promise to jii-san and had tried her best to keep it. Over the years she had only skipped a few times after their conversation, mostly with Choji, shikamaru, and Kiba. They were the only ones that would have anything to do with the girl. Surrounded by guys wasn't her first option but females her age didn't want anything to do with her at all.

They weren't interested in being her friend as she was deemed weird, and someone she should stay away from by their parents.

Sighing she placed her cheek on the palm of her hand, as the rest of the class piled in around her. Today was exam day and she was determined to pass this time, if only the bunshin wouldn't be placed on it. Naruko seemed to have difficulty no matter what she did, she just couldn't seem to expel the right amount of Chakra. Her body just felt overfull with Chakra that disrupted any flow and then caused the clones to come out dead and sickly looking.

It was embarrassing but she didn't have anyone that could tell her why that was, and what she was doing wrong. Her cerulean eyes grew dimmer at the reminder that she was all alone, her body slumped forward.

She would do her best, she would become a Kunoichi, prove herself, and become Hokage, that was her dream. Sitting up straighter she became determined, today would be the day that she passed. Believe it! Her eyes grew brighter at the thought as she held her head higher practically bouncing in her seat with the need for the exam to start already.

Finally after what seemed like hours Iruka-sensei walked into the classroom announcing with his presence that the exams were starting.

"We'll call your name one by one to come into the next room and perform for the exam," Iruka announced as he stared at each of his students. His eyes lingered on the blonde pigtailed girl in the back as he knew what he was going to say next would dampen her spirits. "To graduate you'll have to successfully use the 'Bunshin no Jutsu'."

As predicted his words caused Naruko to deflate some but it didn't stop her determination to pass. She'd have to if she wanted to become Hokage, that alone would drive her to win, people would one day acknowledge her existence.

One by one her classmates were called until finally "Uzumaki Naruko!" was called. Pulling herself to her feet Naruko could feel just the slightest bit of doubt as she walked toward the door of the other room. Swallowing hard Naruko took the last step and pushed open the door as she hesitantly took a step into the room. Once inside she glanced around but the classroom was empty besides the two Chunin and a table full of forehead protectors. Turning her attention back to Iruka-sensei and Mizuki-sensei she waited for them to tell her what to do.

"You may start," Iruka said with a nod toward the small girl. Nodding Naruko lifted her hands determination running through her veins, as she did the hand seals ram, snake, tiger.

"Bunshin no Jutsu!" she called out as she finished with the hand signs. Feeling fear once again she glanced to her side but instead of seeing a perfect clone standing beside her she saw hers laying on the floor. It looked pale, a washed out version of herself, its eyes staring ahead unseeingly, as the body was limp and unresponsive. The clone looked sick and close to death, it had been a failure.

Her body deflated as she wrapped her arms around her middle, she knew that she had failed before they even said anything.

"I'm sorry Naruko but you have failed," Iruka said as Mizuki glanced over toward his comrade.

"Iruka," Mizuki started as he glanced over at Naruko. "This is her third time taking this test, and she was able to make a clone, even if it wasn't perfect. We should just let her pass." Naruko didn't even bother getting her hopes up at this, she knew Iruka-sensei and knew he wouldn't allow her too. She just wasn't ready, who would want a ninja who couldn't even make a simple clone. Even though Mizuki would fail she was still grateful that he had even tried to pass her. It meant a lot to her that he had at least tried.

"I'm sorry Mizuki but everyone else made two clones, and Naruko only made one, that was useless. I can't let her pass, she can try again next year." Pain exploded in her chest at her sensei's words as a look of hurt crossed over her features before she forced them deep down. Naruko would never allow anyone to see her weakness.

"I understand Iruka-sensei," Naruko gasped out trying to shove out a happy and carefree persona, like she didn't care that it would be another year. Iruka seeing past the happiness and to the pain sent her a sorrowful look but he could not pass her. Turning around Naruko allowed shadows to cross over her eyes as no one could see them now.

Once she had left the room she allowed her head to dip forward as the sadness came crushing down suffocating her. She forced herself to keep moving forward, to not slow down because if she did she would collapse in on herself. Arms still wrapped tightly around herself she took another step forward, followed by another, and another until she came to the swing that hung from the tree right outside the academy. Not being able to push herself forward any further she collapsed on the swing, straddling it so she could watch as people tumbled out of the school.

All around her she could hear her fellow, or old, classmates being congratulated by their parents and family. Each word stung at her own heart, it was prove how alone she truly was. She had no parents, no family, all alone. No one was around to tell her that she would get it next year, that everything would be okay.

No, that was her own duty. Glancing up she could see Iruka staring her way but as soon as he looked away Naruko stood up from the swing and took off down the road. There was no reason for her to stay here. All there was, was torture, and she already had enough of that to last a lifetime.

~3~

Naruko was walking down a deserted street, she had chosen it so that no one would mess with her. The last thing she needed was for someone to realize she hadn't passed and pick on her for it. Kicking at a rock she stared ahead, she would train, get better for next year. Even if it meant she had to train until she bled and passed out from exhaustion.

If that's what it took she would do it.

Not noticing a person had walked up behind her, she jumped when her name was called out. Spinning around she came face to face with Mizuki-sensei. Curiosity took over her expression as she took a step forward. What was he doing here? She kind of wished he would leave, she wanted to be alone. However not wanting to seem rude especially in front of the person who tried to pass her she plastered on a strained smile.

"Mizuki-sensei, what are you doing here?"

"Follow me Naruko," Mizuki said not wanting to be overheard when he talked the girl into stealing the scroll. But to do that he first had to appeal to her or she would never do it, even for teacher figure in her life. The girl wasn't stupid, she knew right between wrong, but he was hoping he could blur that line by the time he asked her to do it.

Nodding Naruko instantly did as he asked, he was someone she could trust why wouldn't she? Mizuki jumped up on the nearest building with Naruko following closely behind as they traveled higher and higher before settling on a ledge. Looking out toward where the sun would be setting soon Naruko waited for Mizuki to say what he had come to tell her.

"Iruka-sensei is a serious person Naruko, you have to understand that," Mizuki said trying to make her understand. "His parents were killed when he was young and he had to take care of everything himself." He was trying to appeal to the fact that her parents had died when she was young as well, hoping that this would play into his hands. Naruko frowned trying to understand what Mizuki was saying to her, she still felt bitter toward Iruka-sensei.

"It still doesn't make since why he only picks on me," Naruko said bitterly. Mizuki watched Naruko out of the corner of his eye. The young girl curled her hands into a fist at her side. Mizuki smirked hiding it from the girl as he thought that his plan on falling into place. Now all he had to do was appeal to her a little more before telling her about his 'special secret'.

"He probably sees himself in you, he's probably thinking he wants to see you become strong in the way he did. Try to understand Iruka's feelings since you also have no parents." Frowning Naruko bowed her head, it hurt to hear the truth.

"Still," Naruko muttered as she stared down at her fists. "I wish I had graduated." She had a dream, one that seemed harder now to succeed in. Looking away from Naruko Mizuki smirked.

"In that case, I'll tell you a special secret." This caught Naruko's attention as she pulled herself around to face the older man. Leaning forward she listened in as Mizuki told her about the special scroll and how she would need to go about getting it. Naruko frowned thinking that it was stealing from the Hokage, and she couldn't do that.

"But wouldn't that be stealing, Mizuki-sensei?" Naruko asked announcing her doubts.

"It's not stealing Naruko-chan," Mizuki said trying to ease her worrying. "It's a secret exam only for those who are special. In your case you're the special one. You won't get in trouble, all you have to do is take it from the Hokage and then go to our rendezvous place. Then when you get there you can learn as much as you want, and it'll prove to Iruka-sensei that you have what it takes to pass the exam."

Still frowning Naruko thought it over, surely if she wasn't suppose to do it Mizuki wouldn't tell her too. He was her sensei, someone to trust. He wouldn't lead her astray. Finally she nodded causing Mizuki to beam at her.

~3~

Taking off Naruko ran across the rooftops toward where the Hokage slept. Mizuki had told her where to find the scroll at and she was determined not to fail at this. She would prove to everyone that she had what it took to become a Shinobi.

Coming to a stop two houses down from the Hokage's she crouched low, cloaking her Chakra ahead of time. This was something that she was actually good at, it wouldn't fool the Hokage but it would make it less likely for the Hokage to detect her right away. If she was lucky she would be able to get to the scroll before she was detected. Then all she had to do was disappear before he could stop her.

She wasn't stupid enough to think she'd be able to get out before he noticed her. Jumping onto the next roof over she pushed her back close to the wall and scooted along it quietly. Reaching the window she eased it open and slipped through before closing it. The room was lit up which bothered Naruko but she gracefully walked across the room, refusing to make a single sound.

Making it down the hallway she was able to find the room that the scroll was placed in. Sighing out in relief of not being caught yet she crouched down and searched through the wall of scrolls. It was amazing that she hadn't been found out yet, surely any moment jii-san would walk through that door and demand to know what she was doing.

Starting to feel anxious that he could come in at any moment caused her to search faster. "Found it," she whispered as she fastened it to her back. A floorboard creaked causing her to swing around in fear.

"Naruko what are you doing here?" jii-san asked causing her to freeze up. Gasping she finally drug herself out of it as she stood up to her feet.

"Sorry, jii-san but I gotta pass," she said as she spun around and disappeared out of the window. Knowing that the Hokage knew that she had it she needed to get to the meet up place fast. She wouldn't have very long to study it before the end of the exam.

Racing toward the forest she quickly came to a cabin and sat back against the nearest tree. Now all she had to do was wait, and in the meantime she could get down to studying. Glancing through the scroll she came across something interesting, the shadow clone jutsu. Eagerly she dug into the scroll going through the motions and trying to learn it before Iruka-sensei showed up.

It took longer for Iruka sensei to find her than she thought, half a day had passed already but it was more than enough time for her to learn the shadow clone jutsu. Falling back onto the forest ground she huffed as she tried catching her breath. It had taken a lot out of her but she had done it. She could make a shadow clone successfully!

A satisfied grin spread across her weary face as she giggled lightly at the ground. Her fingers burrowed into the dirt as she felt satisfied with herself. She had done it, surely now she could become a Shinobi.

"I've found you," came Iruka sensei's voice but she felt like it held an undertone of disapproval.

"They're you are Iruka-sensei!" she said no longer feeling tired as she jumped to her feet. Smiling widely she placed her hands behind her head and shot her sensei a giddy look. "You've found me, I've only learned one thing, though I thought you would be here a long time ago."

Iruka glanced over her in worry as he saw a light sheen of sweat and exhaustion coat her face. She had dirt and grime littering her body, there wasn't a clean space on her. It seemed she had been working hard on something, his eyes scrunched in worry.

"You look all beat up, what are you doing here?" Naruko cocked her head to the side in confusion but Mizuki did say he would act like he didn't know what she was saying. He was a pretty good actor. Bouncing on her feet she grabbed at Iruka's hand wanting him to be completely focused on her when she showed him what she could do.

"Oh don't you worry sensei! I'm going to try this awesome jutsu and when I do you'll let me graduate. Alright!" Iruka frowned as he watched her not believing that she had just been out here practising all day. He was worried that even though she had been practising, it had damaged her body pretty badly in the process.

Glancing behind her he noticed the scroll that she had been said to have taken. Frowning he stared down at the blonde. "Naruko, where did you get that scroll?"

"Mizuki sensei told me about it, and about this place as well. I was suppose to come here with it. He said if I show you this jutsu that I would defiantly graduate!" Iruka froze not believing that Mizuki had told her to do this. Tensing he could hear something moving through the air, and jumping into action his first instinct was to protect Naruko.

Reaching out he shoved against her chest using Chakra to push her as far back as possible not thinking about keeping from bruising her. Naruko shocked at what just happened kept her eyes trained on her sensei as several kunai impaled him to the cabin wall. She gasped as she landed in a crouch rubbing at her chest where she was shoved.

She watched as Iruka bled from the wounds that the Kunai inflicted. They pinned him against the wall keeping him from moving. She winced at how painful it looked but it was worse at the next words she heard.

"Nice job finding the moron!" Mizuki said from the tree's causing Naruko to flinch. His words hurt her, why would he say such a thing? Why was he attacking Iruka sensei, her precious person. None of it made sense to her causing her head to spin.

Naruko, give me the scroll," Mizuki said but Naruko wasn't sure that was a very good idea. He had attacked them, surely that meant that he was the enemy. But it was Mizuki sensei!

"Naruko!" Iruka yelled at her as he pulled himself free from the kunai. Many were still impaled inside his body causing her to flinch in worry. He sure had lost a lot of blood. "Whatever happens don't give him the scroll! Do you understand! The scroll has dangerous forbidden ninjutsu written in it. Mizuki used you to get his hands on it!"

Mizuki smirked as he rounded on Naruko planning on telling her one thing he was sure to make her turn her back on the Leaf village.

"Naruko there's no point in you having it, I'll tell you the truth." Confusion was now all Naruko felt, as she stared at the white haired Chunin.

"No!" Iruka screamed as blood ran down his mouth. He didn't want her to find out about this.

Naruko frowned turning to look at iruka now, what did he not want her to know?

"Twelve years ago I'm sure you know about the demon fox being sealed right?" Naruko stared up at him in confusion wondering how that had anything to do with her, and why Iruka didn't want her to hear about it. "Since that day a special rule was created for this village."

Naruko frowned, she had never heard about any rule. "What rule? Why haven't I never heard about it."

"Well of course, this rule was never meant to be told to you. You couldn't know about it. The Leaf Village has hidden quite a big thing from you."

"Why couldn't I know? Tell me!" Mizuki smirked liking how confused and betrayed she already looked. He was going to break her, and take pleasure in doing so.

"The rule is that nobody is allowed to talk about the fact that you are the nine tailed demon fox!"

Naruko froze, her eyes widening in horror and shock. How could she not know about this? Why had they kept this a secret from her all these years! Her body tensed as she could feel the betrayal run through her veins. Jii-san had kept this from her, she thought she could trust him. Even Iruka-sensei didn't want her to hear about it.

He's screaming at Mizuki even right now not to tell her. They all had betrayed her, kept such a huge secret from her. Everyone hated her because of this, everyone knew but her. She had been a fool.

"You're the nine tailed demon fox that killed Iruka's parents and destroyed the village." Naruko flinched at the thought of being the reason that Iruka-sensei didn't have any parents. She had been the one to take them away from him even if it wasn't her directly. She housed the reason inside her body, surely that was enough reason for Iruka to hate her.

She was too shocked to do anything as the information filtered throughout herself. "Stop it!" Iruka yelled. However Mizuki was just getting started, he wanted to see her fall too pieces before he killed her.

"You were sealed up by the Hokage you admired, even loved, and you have been lied to by everyone!"

"Stop!"

"Didn't you find it odd how everyone hates you? Iruka is the same! He also hates you!" Flinching Naruko could feel the tears streaming down her face as she felt despair, pain, and even anger. Standing up she yelled out while dirt kicked up around her in her fit of rage. "Nobody will ever love you! That scroll was used to seal you up!"

In a split second Mizuki grabbed his oversized Shuriken and flung it at Naruko, seeing how broken she was, and knew it was the time to get rid of her. Iruka saw his movements and gathering all of the strength he had flung himself across the clearing, shoving Naruko back down on the ground, and crouched over her body. Protecting her from being impaled by the weapon and instead taking the brunt force himself.

Shocked Naruko stared up at him watching as pain flickered across his face. Tears began to stream down her face harder, Iruka was once again hurt because of her.

"Why?" she sobbed out.

"My," he gasped out, blood spraying from his lips, landing on her face. "My parents after they died, there was nobody to… compliment or acknowledge me...since I wasn't good in doing things like learning or doing homework… I kept acting like an idiot, it was better than being nothing… it was so painful. Naruko, you also must have been in a lot of pain." By this point Iruka was crying, tears washing the blood from her face as she stared wide eyed up at him. "I'm sorry Naruko, if I only did a better job… you wouldn't have to feel like this."

Feeling overwhelmed and not sure who to believe, or even trust at this point she did the only thing that made sense. She ran. Crawling out from underneath Iruka she wiped at her tears and took off in the opposite direction, taking the scroll along with her.

Behind her she could hear Iruka-sensei yelling at her to come back but her feet kept carrying her farther and farther away. She had to get away from them, had to clear her mind. Everything was upside down and made no sense.

She ran further and further into the forest her mind spinning around in circles. Sprinting from tree to tree she soon had to come to a crashing halt as her tears kept her from seeing where she was going. Landing down at the base of a tree she shoved her back against the trunk and froze when she heard voices. Her breathing was labored but she forced it to calm down as she masked her Chakra.

She didn't want them to know that she was there.

"I can't believe you'd even transform into what killed your parents to protect her."

"She won't hand the scroll over to someone like you!"

"You idiot, Naruko and I are the same." Naruko upon hearing about this grew angry. She would never betray her village, trick a kid to get a scroll, like he did. "If you use the skills in that scroll you can do whatever you want! There's no way that demon wouldn't use the power of the scroll. Unlike what you're assuming."

"Yeah." Naruko froze when she heard Iruka say that. Even her precious person thought that she was a demon and would do anything to destroy. Even he didn't acknowledge her. "The demon fox would do that but Naruko is different, she is. I've acknowledged her as one of my excellent students!"

Naruko froze clutching at the scroll tightly, almost not believing her ears. "She may not be the hardest worker, and she is clumsy, and nobody accepts her. She already knows what it is to feel pain inside her heart, but she isn't the demon fox, she is a member of the Hidden Leaf Village. She is Uzumaki Naruko!"

By this point she was once again crying her eyes out. That was how Iruka really felt about her. He didn't hate her like she had thought.

Grabbing his Shuriken again Mizuki threw another had him causing more blood to pour from Iruka's body. "Iruka I said I would take care of you later, but I've changed my mind. Now you can die!" He aimed his weapon letting it slide from his fingers but at the last second Naruko flung herself from her hiding spot and kicked off from the ground. Her right foot swung through the air and connected with Mizuki's chin flinging him back.

The oversized Shuriken went off course and instead of hitting Iruka cut through a limb of a tree instead.

"Naruko you shouldn't have done that," Iruka said feeling worried for his student. Mizuki now knew she was here, he would go after her next.

Standing up she leaned against the scroll her face facing the ground. Her eyes were in shadow as she stared up at Mizuki. Anger boiled in her blood at the thought of anyone trying to touch Iruka.

"Don't touch Iruka-sensei! I'll kill you!" She yelled out her voice calm not wavering one bit with her anger.

Behind her Iruka was feeling scared. She was going to get herself killed, there was no way she stood a chance up against Mizuki. "You idiot! Run away! Hide!"

"I'll kill someone like you in one shot!" Mizuki yelled getting fed up with Naruko's antics. It was time to end her.

Naruko smirked wanting to finish this fight quickly and she knew exactly how to do that. That new jutsu she had learned should do the trick.

"Then do it demon fox!" Her blood boiled at the name as she quickly went through the hand motions for the shadow clone jutsu. Hundreds of Naruko's filled up the forest. They were surrounded by orange and blue figures, hanging from the tree's, filling up any space on the forest ground. Iruka and Mizuki looked amazed at how many she had produced, and that she could even do it.

Naruki feeling cocky glanced over at the frightened Mizuki as she smirked down at him. All her clones copied her movements as they all got ready to fight the Chunin.

"What's wrong Mizuki?" she asked playfully. "Weren't you going to kill me with one shot?" When he didn't answer she did for him. "Well, I'll start then." Naruko flung herself at Mizuki along with all of her clones. They all fought to get in a punch and Mizuki wasn't a match for all the blonde girls. In the end he laid on the ground passed out, blood leaking onto the dirt beneath him.

"I think I went a little too far," Naruko said as she dispelled the jutsu and turned to glance back at Iruka. Sitting up even though he was still in pain he still wanted to congratulate her. She had passed in his eyes.

"Naruko come over here, there's something I want to give you," Iruka said motioning for her to come closer as he sat up. Curious Naruko did as she was told covering the several feet to stand in front of him. She still kept enough space between them to be respectful. "Close your eyes."

Feeling a little weird about closing her eyes she did as told anyway. Iruka had proven to be someone she could trust. He wouldn't hurt her or let any harm come to her.

She could hear a rustling and something metal click. "You can open your eyes," he said. Slowly she opened them wondering what he had in store for her. She noticed that he had taken his forehead protector off which only confused her.

"Sensei what are you doing?" she asked but he didn't answer as he tied it around her forehead. Staring at him she had frozen wondering what this meant.

"Congratulations on graduating!" Iruka yelled. He had expected her to be happy but she just stood there staring at him. He began to grow worried that after everything that happened she was shock.

It was quite the opposite actually, inside she was dying of happiness, but on the outside nothing showed. She was forcing herself to not cry, she couldn't lose it right now.

"Let's celebrate!" Iruka said trying to get an reaction from her. "I'll buy you a cup of ramen.!" Naruko's lip began to quiver which caused Iruka to stare at her but that didn't alert him to what she did next.

Without saying a word Naruko flung herself the short distance between them and wrapped her arms around his neck. Tears had finally fell from her face.