Hidden
I.
Though undoubtedly dangerous, it was supposed to be a fairly straight forward mission.
Iruka bit hard into the flesh of his cheek, stifiling his breath as the enemy Nin applied more weight to his already dislocated shoulder. Rule number one, he snorted to himself, there's no such thing as a 'straight forward' mission. He should've learned that in Academy. Pain radiated like fire down his back, scorching each individual vertebrate until his thoughts scattered and he could hardly breathe. Just barely move. He knew he had to think fast, because if any more Nin from Iwagakure showed up there wouldn't be any more him to salvage, let alone a mission.
Iruka narrowed his eyes, blinking away the sting of sweat, baulking at his suddenly defeatest attitude. No, he decided, he'd come to far for failure now, especially over something so stupid. Over some asshole rock ninja who'd crossed paths with him before his infiltration. Why hadn't he struck as soon as he'd recognized the man?
Iruka tried furiously to keep the stomach acid from crawling up his throat.
He knew there was a simple answer to that question, though it annoyed him to realize he had to be in this position to carry it out. The fact of the matter was he, a 'missing Nin' new to their village - but willing to establish ties anyway - could not just up and kill a resident ninja. No matter how much said ninja had threatened him.
Iruka supposed he should be thankful the bastard's stupid brain hadn't matched him to Konohagakure until about thirty seconds ago. He was also silently thankful the rock ninja had attacked first. The perfect way to eliminate an enemy in this situation? Make it unaccountable. The man's comrades were no more than twelve feet away, starring in curiosity and confusion. The perfect witnesses.
Iruka couldn't help chuckling through the pain. It was fortunate the idiot's head was as hard as a rock, as he had yet to utter a word of Iruka's identity.
He wouldn't get the chance to either.
Suddenly wrenching his arm - he almost blacked out at the sickening crunch - Iruka landed a high kick under the rock Nin's jaw, distantly pleased at the choked yell and resulting gurgle. He'd probably knocked out most of the man's teeth so he wouldn't be saying anything for a couple seconds.
Just long enough for Iruka to shove a katana through his heart.
Gods forgive me the life I take...
The Nin looked down at the hilt protruding from his chest, a pained cough and gusher of blood pouring from his mouth. He looked confused, and Iruka felt something other than sweat burn his eyes. Something like tears. Gripping the broader man's shoulder, Iruka ripped the blade back out, a breath ripped from his lungs along with it, and starred into the waxy face.
He had electric blue eyes that vaguely reminded him of his favorite student...back home and far away in Konoha. The man couldn't have been much older than Naruto himself
So, with dark eyes betraying nothing - the usually sweet chocolate color muted and blank - Iruka watched as the man crashed to his knees, even more blood spilling from lips and chest wound. He sent a discreet glance towards the other ninja, both respectively silent and attentive to their comrades last moments.
Which I only do to save my own...
Iruka lifted his sword in the deathly silence, the imagined sound of his students voices and appreciative laughter, giving his arm the strength to fall once again.
Shnk.
And to save those I hold dear.
II.
Iruka smeared the dark paint across his eyes, starring disinterestedly at his reflection in the mirror. The apartment had been provided after he'd performed services illustrating his loyalties to the Tsuchikage - which included difficult missions, and the handing over of a few moderately important pieces of info pertaining to the Kumogakure. The place was small, barren, a yellowed tinge to the walls and perfect for the mission he was currently carrying out.
Of course, Iruka had originally changed his appearance in the hopes of avoiding such...incidents as what occurred a few days ago, but nothing too drastic.
He plucked a stick of charcoal out of the pencil tin.
One of the reasons Iruka had been sent in the first place was that his boring and rather unassuming looks could be efficiently altered with excellent effect. If he were frank, and he usually was, he'd admit it was one of his most notable skills when delegated to infiltration. Girl, boy, prim, or boisterously friendly, Iruka could do it all.
Geese, he thought with some amusement, I sound like the Wonder Peeler 3000.
See, what people didn't know about the chamaeleon game - or better known as Infiltration - was that it had more to do with the details than anything else. Gestures, a certain posture, even minute facial expressions were the most effective way to attract or detract attention. If information were needed from a notoriously drunken Jounin, or perhaps a lonely and sheltered housewife, all Iruka had to do was say the right words, make the right hair flip, or tilt his hip just so and conversation could be negotiated from there.
Iruka was remarkable because he was unremarkable. Everything else was just paint and parlor tricks.
Brushing a couple strands of hair over his left eye - it gave a tried and true 'mysterious' look, no lie - Iruka recoated his scar with a thin layer of concealer. Though it was still fairly visible if one got up close, he knew the dark stripe of charcoal and red smear crossing his eyelids and nose all the way around to his temples, would shadow it enough so most wouldn't notice. He'd purposely made his eyes the most striking of his features, hoping to instil a certain amount of fear. Also, it helped with the glare of 'Hidden Rock,' as almost everything reflected the sunlight. Their buildings, streets, surrounding territory, all were made out of the same smooth stone.
He'd dressed in loose fitting attire, quite resembling that of the Sunagakure Ninja, as they and Rock shared perhaps the longest border among all the major Nin territories. They'd also shared families and trading rights for a century.
Iruka figured about another month - despite it being attested to as self-defense, the Nin's murder had set him back a couple weeks developing friendly contacts (if you called round drinking and good natured permittance of gropes, friendly) - before he'd be able to gather the documents from the Tsuchikage's hidden base.
Iruka taped up the material around his calves, sighing at the cottony softness of their uniforms. Really, the Hokage should think about investing in more comfortable uniforms for the Leaf Ninja, instead of spending it on pipe tobacco. He was quite jealous of Iwagakure already.
III.
It had ended up taking more like a month and a half, and even then he'd cut it pretty close. The night of his theft, Iruka had been spotted by border patrol on his way out of town. Luckily, it had taken them a precious few hours before they'd figured out what happened - a couple clever traps in just the right places did a hell of a lot of damage - and way before the Tsuchikage had been able to send out trackers. Or so he'd later beat - uh - heard from a defected rock Nin.
So, feeling surprisingly swanky - Iruka supposed it had to do with living a certain way for so long - and not even realizing it, he strolled right into Kohona in full Iwa gear. Of course the guards had been informed of his special missions before hand, but that didn't stop Kotetsu, who was on duty at the time, from wolf whistling the other Ninja. Iruka had peered at him strangely for a moment, before doing a totally confident little saunter onto main street.
He regretted not changing outside the gates almost immediately. Okay, so he looked out of place, no need to stare at him like he'd just killed the Hokage and was planning to murder everyone's first born child. Iruka grumbled and rubbed irritably at his shoulder. Maybe he should stop by his apartment first before reporting to the Hokage...Yeah, but then he'd feel like a lazy, good for nothing Jounin - really, those guys needed serious help. Like pills or something.
Skirting another mad produce seller who'd just thrown an apple at his head - which he caught by the way, and it tasted damn delicious - Iruka couldn't help laughing to himself. Man, he really was good if even his own villagers, the people who saw him everyday, were taken in by the arrogant swagger and over-the-top make up. He clucked idly with his tongue. It was true what he'd said - a mere change in demeanor and approach could make someone a completely different person.
In fact...
Smiling seductively at some random Jounin, Iruka shook a couple strands of dark hair out of his eyes. Hey, he could never do this as Umino-the-school-teacher. The Jounin stopped dead in his tracks, completely enthralled by the 'gorgeous foreigner.'
Iruka held out his apple, a full bottom lip pushed up in the most adorable pout as the regular traffic split around them. He summoned his best husky, I'm-a-foreigner-help-me voice.
Poor guy never had a chance.
"Is my apple Jounin sir, is not sweet like the appurrs at home! Do you think is sweet?"
Iruka let his eyes wonder up to the Jounin's face and almost dropped his fruit in shock. He felt his insides spasm hotly. Okay, how in the hell had he picked Naruto's teacher of all people?! Please, don't let the guy know it was him - if anything up there loved him, pleased don't let the guy know it was him!
Iruka went to retract his hand, just as another, maddeningly stronger, hand wrapped around his wrist and stopped him. He looked up, glad the paint and shadow of his bangs covered his eyes.
In one swift movement he didn't even attempt to follow, Kakashi Hatake had taken a bite out of his apple. Iruka felt his face heat. Why the hell did that sound so dirty? And how the hell did Kakashi do that without showing his mouth? Or anything else for that matter!
Che, and Iruka had been dead curious too...
Feeling the carefully aloof and arrogant persona begin to slip - another phenomenon he would examine later - Iruka quickly snatched back his apple. Then he began edging towards traffic again.
"Taste sweet enough to me...but then maybe I'm biased."
Iruka took another quick bite before turning sharply and muttering something as he hurried down the road.
"Ehh, Kakashi sir...is sweeter now..."
