DAY ONE- American McGee's Alice and Naruto

Iruka wasn't sure what to make out of this student. She looked normal enough but her eyes were haunting. Considering her file it wasn't surprising but it still unnerved him. Her big green eyes seemed too big and too bright. They didn't fit the person that was standing in front of him.

She was too old to enter the academy but her test showed she had a notable grasp on genjutsu. She was by no stretch of the imagination strong but she had enough stamina that they could train her to be an acceptable physical fighter in a short amount of time. She had a sharp tongue (her test handlers would attest to that) but she was a curious child so training her would not be too much of a trouble.

"Why don't you take a seat. I'll explain your course track after class is over," Iruka said as she continued to stare at him with those big eyes.

The girl simply nodded and head to seat in the corner, all the while Iruka suppressed the ache to shiver at her doll like eyes. Why did he always get the problem kids?

.

.

Iruka had stepped out to get some papers but had taken a lot longer than planned. Truthfully he wasn't expecting Alice to stick around but he resolved to talk to her before class tomorrow. He was picking up something from the classroom when some noise caught his attention.

There was Alice sitting on a table, swinging her legs as she continued to wait for Iruka's arrival. Her sleeveless Prussian blue yugata-jacket cut dress pooled at her knees and met the end of her black ninja pants. The entire outfit was such a contrast to her morbid personality that for a moment Iruka forgot that Alice was a potential ninja and all he saw was a little girl. That was until she opened her mouth.

"If this meeting was of such importance I would think I would be more of a priority than some school room gossip," Alice informed him.

"We never had such an old student starting," Iruka said. He was too old to be chastised by an eleven year old.

"If I'm too old then why am I still being forced to enter?"

"Your genjutsu abilities are too great to ignore. And it's not like you're not able to become a ninja. You have a quick mind so I'm sure you'll catch up academic wise. We'll just have to place you in supplementary physical classes," said Iruka as he shuffled for some papers.

"The orphan fund is covering your schooling. Just take this list to the bookstore and they'll give you all you need," Iruka said with a smile.

Alice stared at him before asking, "But where is the bookstore, Iruka-sensei?"

Iruka only sighed as he turned toward the door and beckoned Alice to follow him. Just when he thought he was free, they reined him back in.

.

.

It was three months after Alice first arrived that Iruka asked Alice to once again stay after class. Alice was progressing at an acceptable level but she still was very much an outsider. They had moved her from the younger class after the first five weeks (as she was deemed sufficient enough to join her peers) but she had yet to reach out to any of her classmates. Not that it was unusual, there had been plenty of loners throughout his teaching regime, but she treated all her classmates with aloofness.

"Are you going to make me wait for hours," said Alice as she approached him.

"Ah," Iruka started off sheepishly, "No, that's not what I want to talk about. I just wanted to give you a report on your progress."

Alice nodded and Iruka continued, "Academically you're progress is well and you're physical classes have similar reports. Though there is some worry on your mode of fighting," here Iruka frowned, "But the biggest worry is more…social."

"We get graded on that?" Alice said in surprise.

"No but it is a bit strange that you've made no effort to make friends," Iruka said gently.

"Strange?"

"Well they are your fellow ninjas. It is a bit peculiar that you don't associate with them," said Iruka. But as soon as the words left his mouth, Alice's face was marred by a stern frown.

"It's hard to consider them future ninjas when they're so child-like," Alice said bluntly.

Iruka wasn't too sure as to how to counter her remark. In the eyes of seasoned ninjas the academy brats were seen as, well brats. Most grew out of it after their first few weeks on a genin team and as they were in a time of peace they could afford these lax attitudes.

"They aren't used to the harsher aspects of the occupation," admitted Iruka.

"Yet they are quick to make remarks of violence and treat death like some great adventure," scoffed Alice, "I can't be friends with them Iruka-sensei. They make fun of my sloppy taijutsu but they're no better at fighting in a real world situation."

Iruka could only sigh and said, "Just give them time."

.

.

"Oi! Iruka, isn't that one of your academy brats."

Iruka turned towards the door and sure enough there was Alice. She wasn't looking at him or even attempting to hide her presence but she was searching for someone. Her too big eyes scanned around the room in a frantic pace but Alice seemed rooted to her spot besides the door.

It didn't bode well with him to leave his student so he stood from his table and ignored Izumo's teasing as he made his way to his student.

She was such a small thing, he mused as he loomed over her. It took a few seconds before Alice abandoned her search and met her teacher's eye. Iruka stared at her impassively, he didn't want to frighten her but she was at a shinobi bar.

"Alice, you do know you're not allowed in here. How did you get in?"

Alice shuffled around a bit before giving an answer, "I'm only looking for a rabbit. He ran away and I followed it, that's all."

Well she answered the implied question but he was still curious as to how she even got into the bar. The bar was in two sections and the door she had placed herself was the connecting door from the first chamber of the bar to the second. Iruka tilted his head as he urged her to answer his question.

Alice only darted her gaze around his face before attempting to look around his side. He could tell she was nervous but he couldn't figure out why. He was about to school his expression to a more friendly gaze when Alice finally blurted out a response.

"I used my butterflies. But they're a secret, he said so," she said desperately.

"Butterflies?"

"I didn't mean to but I really wanted to follow the rabbit," Alice said.

"What do you mean by butterflies," Iruka said as he ignored her last remark.

Alice shook her head. "I told you it's a secret Iruka-sensei."

"Secrets are frowned upon when they are politically sensitive," said Iruka as he signaled his friends. He might have to take Alice to the Hokage.

"But it's a personal secret," Alice insisted.

"Even so you're going to tell me. You might think it's a small thing but it may be important," Iruka said as she leaned over to grab Alice by the hand.

To say he was surprised when all he got was air was a bit of an understatement. In fact the entire bar turned silent as Alice burst into hundreds of butterflies before reappearing a few feet away from her original position.

Only Alice's fearful gaze snapped him back to attention as he crouched down to meet her eyes.

"Well that was a bit of a surprise," a scatter of snorts and barking laughs went around, "But it's nothing too terrible."

"You mean you won't take me to the asylum?"

Iruka froze as he took in his statement before plastering on a reassuring smile.

"No but we're going to have to tell the Hokage. It might speed up your training," said Iruka as he held out his hand.

Alice stared at him with her chilling eyes. It was more than just uncomfortable but Iruka knew he couldn't spook her now. After what seemed like a stretch of hours Alice finally nodded and allowed him to take her away.

Why did he always get the problem kids?