Note: I do not own Naruto, or any of the characters mentioned in this story. All rights are reserved for the creator of Naruto: Masashi Kishimoto.

It's been a while since I've written a fan fiction it seems to be going well, I've had no bad reviews from anyone who's read the hard copy, so bear with me and enjoy.

This chapter is mostly based on Iruka's new-found feelings for Kakashi, and figuring out whether his feelings are merely feelings of friendship and gratitude, based on the events in the hidden sand village, or do they go beyond that.

Chapter 1: The Beginning.

I wonder how Naruto's mission is going; they went off to escort some lady to the Land of Snow. They've been gone nearly a month. Sakura, Sai and Kakashi… Kakashi, I haven't stopped thinking about him since our mission two months ago… We've never really been close; we've always just been friendly comrades. The only time we ever really talked was when it involved Sakura, Sasuke, Naruto, or Sai, sometimes we spoke of the other young Shinobi or Academy students… yet lately… I find myself thinking about him… Constantly.

xXx Two months ago xXx

"Shizune!" Tsunade called.

"Yes my lady?" Shizune ran into the Hokage's office.

"I need you to assemble the people I've listed." Tsunade said handing her a slip of paper. "Immediately."

"Yes ma'am, right away!" she replied leaving the office hurriedly.

xXx An hour later xXx

"Iruka, sorry to disturb your class." Shizune apologized. "But the Hokage needs to see you right away."

"Alright then, I'll be there shortly." He replied. "Well it looks like you guys get the afternoon off!" He frowned as his students cheered.

Iruka walked into the Hokage's office to find Asuma, Jiraiya, guy and Kakashi there, along with several Anbu black ops guys. He wondered what was going on.

"I've received word from the Anbu black ops as well as the Sand village's Kazekage, that the Akatsuki are planning another attack on the village hidden in the sand. " Tsunade began. "They have requested immediate back up. I've selected the lot of you as the primary backup squad. We want to prevent a full scale war between us and the Akatsuki, it would be disastrous. We also need to stay in alliance with the Suna. There will be three other squads stationed nearby, just in case it gets out of hand. You leave immediately."

xXx In Suna xXx

Finally we're here. It's been three days since we left the Leaf, three long days of travel. Oh a soak sounds so nice right now, Iruka thought to himself.

"Lord Kazekage?" Kankurou poked his head into his brother's office, "the squad from the Leaf is here."

"Come in." Gaara said waving them inside. "Welcome."

Kankurou ushered them inside Gaara's office.

"Might Guy's team at your service!" Guy smiled with way to much confidence. "The power of youth is here!"

"This is our back up?" Gaara asked flatly.

Guy's face fell.

"Yes, we've been sent as the backup you've." Kakashi looked to Gaara seriously. "If the Akatsuki is to attack, you'll surely need some help, we want to avoid what happened the last time they attacked your village. The Hokage has also stationed three more squads around the surrounding areas of the village, as well as ordered the Anbu to stay close by as extra precaution."

"Extra precaution?" Gaara stared at him blankly. "Do you really think all that is necessary?"

"Yes." Kakashi replied. "As I said earlier, we'd like to avoid what happened last time, therefore, if a battle between us and the Akatsuki were to break out and get out of hand, we'll have the assistance of the other squads if needed."

"I'd like to avoid a battle with them all together, remembering all the damage they caused last time they attacked my village." Gaara said firmly. "And I'm sure you Hokage already mentioned this, but a full scale war isn't an option, we'd lose; with the new found powers they posses with the tailed beasts they've been harnessing, it would be complete chaos."

"I understand. But if the Akatsuki show up, a battle will most likely be unavoidable, as I'm sure you already know, and if what Jiraiya has told me is correct they have seven of six of them." Kakashi stated.

"All the same." Gaara nodded. "If and when the battle breaks out, please let us try and lead it away from my village."

"understood." Kakashi nodded.

"I've had rooms set up for you, and food at your disposal, please make yourselves at home in the meantime." Gaara attempted at a friendly smile, but failed.

xXx Later that night xXx

Oh, this feels great, Iruka thought to himself as his lowered himself into the hot spring, oblivious to the man sitting on the other side of the spring.

"Pretty intense huh?"

"Huh?" Iruka jumped. "Oh Kakashi, I didn't realize anyone was here..." He blushed. "But yeah, it was. And did you see him smile at us as we left? So strange."

"Ha-ha, yeah I did. I don't think I've ever seen him smile before. But then again, I never expected him to become Kazekage either, kinda like Naruto; the way he exceeds my expectations all the time, I'd imagine him to be the next Hokage of the Leaf, in fact, I look forward to it?" Kakashi laughed.

"Yeah he's come along way hasn't he?" Iruka asked rhetorically."Though hopefully not for a long time, long enough for Tsunade to die of old age." He laughed.

Kakashi laughed, nodding in agreement.

"Do you hear that?" Kakashi asked as they both stopped laughing to listen.

"Yeah let's go check it out." Iruka said as they both left the spring to dress.

As they left the spring people were running and ducking into their houses to hide. The Akatsuki were here. The two ninja ran to the Kazekage's office where the rest of their team was preparing for the upcoming battle.

"Gaara! They're at the main gate!" Temari barged in, in a panic. "We need to move now! Before they infiltrate the village!"

They all nodded and headed for the main gate.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Kakashi Hatake; the copy ninja. And Gaara, I thought we killed you, hmm… Well I guess I'll have to do a better job this time." Itachi smirked as he shoved his hands in his pockets, looking over to Kisame.

Itachi put them in a gen-jutsu.

"Release!" Iruka made a hand sign, releasing himself from the gen-jutsu, managing to free Gaara, and Guy, from it as well before Kisame swept his giant sword towards them. "I'll lead the fish away from here; you guys can take care or Itachi and release the others?"

"Yes." Gaara said, looking towards Guy, as Iruka ran off, Kisame following closely behind him. "Release!" Gaara released Temari from the gen-jutsu. "Guy, help Temari release the others, protect her, while i deal with him Itachi."

"Where do you think you're going?" Kisame smirked, as he swung his sword, hitting Iruka in the back sending him flying into a wall, breaking the wall to the ground. Pinning Iruka's leg. "You're finished! Water burial jutsu! Now you'll die slowly. Wish I could stick around, but I have to go help Itachi" He turned and left.

"Uhg, out witted by that fish!" Iruka mumbled to himself as he tried to free his leg from under the debris of the wall. The water rising faster than he can move the rocks. He took a deep breath as the water rose above his head.

I can't breathe he thought to himself, my leg is stuck, my lungs feel like they're about to explode, and everything is fading, I'm fucked… he felt the pressure lift off of his leg, and someone grabbed his arm pulling him up out of the water.

"Iruka!" Kakashi yelled. "Wake up! Iruka!"

Who's voice is that. Iruka thought as he gasped air filling his lungs, opening his eyes, everything a bright blur. "K-Kakashi?"

"Good you're alive" Kakashi sighed with relief. "Get him to the hospital right away. We'll transport him back to the leaf once he's stable."

I feel so tired Iruka thought to himself as everything went black again.

xXx Back in the Leaf xXx

Iruka opened his eyes, wincing as his eyes adjust to the bright light of what he assumed to be the sun.

"Iruka, you're finally awake" Tsunade smiled. "how are you feeling?"

"A little sore, but fine thank you." He replied his voice sounding raw and unused. "where is everybody? What happened in Suna? How'd I get here? What's going on?" he asked in a panic.

"Slow down, I can only answer one question at a time." Tsunade ordered. "the battle in Suna is over. Itachi and Kisame were defeated. The Leaf village and the Sand village are still in alliance, you're team is still alive, a little beat up, but alive. And you're squad carried you back to the leaf once you were stable enough to be transported.

"What happened? All I remember is my leg was trapped and there was a lot of water. Then there was Kakashi's face and then everything is a haze." He looked over to Tsunade.

"you nearly drowned." Tsunade explained. "If Kakashi hadn't of spotted you and freed you when he did, you probably would have. Kakashi saved your life."

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto walked into the room. "You're okay! You gave me quite a scare!"

"Ha-ha, hey Naruto." Iruka smiled.

"Naruto!" Tsunade glared at him. "Didn't I ask you to clean the face mountain?!"

"But grandma Tsunade!" Naruto whined.

"Go!" she demanded. "Now!"

"Fine!" Naruto pouted. "see you later, Iruka-sensei!"

"And you." Tsunade said looking over towards Iruka. "Get some rest."

xXx a week later xXx

"Hey." Kakashi said walking into the room. "How you feeling? Sorry I haven't come by sooner."

"I'm fine thanks." Iruka smiled. "Hey thanks for saving me, back in Suna. I owe you one."

"Don't sweat it." Kakashi smiled under his mask. "Just think, maybe someday I might need you to return the favour."

"Ha-ha, perhaps. Hopefully not if you know what I mean, I'd rather avoid having to save your life." Iruka laughed.

"I can agree with that." Kakashi chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind next time I run into trouble." The two men laughed. "Iruka you look tired, I'll let you get some sleep, and I'll see you later." Kakashi said as he walked toward the door.

Iruka nodded.

xXx Present Day xXx

Ever since that mission I can't seem to get him out of my head. And what did he mean when he said maybe one day I'll get to return the favour. He was probably just being nice. All the same it's been bugging me ever since he said it that day in the hospital… some reason I feel obli…

"Iruka-sensei!" a student called dragging him from his thoughts. "Iruka-sensei!"

"Huh?" Iruka looked up. "Oh, yes Konohamaru?"

"It's time for us to leave." Konohamaru said matter of factly.

'Oh, right, I'd like you to finish your assignments as homework for tomorrow." Iruka instructed. "Class dismissed."

What a day, he thought to himself, I think I'll head over to Ichiraku's for some ramen. Is that Naruto sitting over there in Ichiraku's? Yes, of course it is. "Hey Naruto!"

"Iruka-sensei! You're out of the hospital!" Naruto said excitedly. "You look much better than the last time I saw you."

"yeah, I feel much better too!" Iruka said with a smile. "One large miso ramen, with extra pork please. How'd your mission go?"

"Eh, it went fine." Naruto replied boredly. "we ran into a few low life bandits but that's it, Kakashi's giving the mission report to grandma Tsunade. He should be back here any minute now."

"So there wasn't any problems then, that's great!" Iruka responded happily.

"That's right!" Naruto smiled.

"Naruto, lady Tsunade would like to see you in her office." Kakashi said walking into Ichiraku's. "Right away."

"Alright then." Naruto replied taking his leave. "Bye Iruka-sensei!"

"See you later Naruto!" Iruka waved. "So I hear the mission went well?"

"Yeah." Kakashi sighed taking the seat next to Iruka. "That knucklehead sure has grown during his time with Jiraiya. Can I get a large miso ramen please?"

How is he doing that?... Iruka thought to himself. How is he eating his ramen through his mask… though he does look really good doing it… what am I thinking…? He's really good looking… I can only imagine what he'd look like with his mask off… his eye is so captivating… what the hell why do I keep thinking these things…? It's like he's invaded my brain… he's always reading those stupid Icha Icha books… but I don't think I've ever actually seen him with a women… hmmm I wonder if he's…

"Do I have something on my face?" Kakashi put his hand to his face looking at Iruka slightly concerned.

"Huh?" Iruka looked at him puzzled.

"Do… I… Have… Something… On… My… Face…?" Kakashi repeated. "You're staring at me."

"Oh, uh." Iruka blushed. "No, s-sorry."

"Then why are you staring at me?" He asked curiously.

"Honestly." Iruka said trying to act bored. "I was just thinking."

"Of?" Kakashi pressed.

"Well." Iruka said a little too curiously. "I was thinking of what you might look like without your mask on. I've always been a little curious."

"Well, really it's none of your business." He replied sharply. "If I wanted people to know what I look like without my mask on then I wouldn't wear a mask now would it?!"

"I'm sorry." Iruka looked at him. "I didn't mean to upset you or anything. It was just curiosity…"

"Well you did!" Kakashi said as he got up and began towards the door…

There was a distant look in his eyes… almost as if he wasn't even there anymore.

Then he was gone. Iruka sitting there clueless as to what had just happened.