He ducked down, immediately stilling.

As he listened to the sudden quiet of the forest, blue eyes narrowed with apprehension, darting from side to side. Calloused fingertips traced soft feathers, twitching with tension. The tall trees around him whispered with the heavy wind, swaying as thunder rumbled overhead.

He turned. The shouting came again, from his far right.

Curiosity overrode caution and he slid the arrow back into its housing, straightening from a crouch. Carefully creeping along the dense green underbrush, he tracked the noise down an overgrown path, hearing it grow louder and splinter into several voices. He counted four.

Mud seeped into his shoes, washed off easily as he waded through several streams that snaked over the forest floor, sinking into mossy grounds that soon hardened to dry land.

It didn't take long to reach them.

Nestled amidst a thick clump of pine trees sat a large, two-story ranch house, complete with a huge, dilapidated horse stable out back. Over the fenced entrance hung a sign that read, "Hidden Pines Corral", adorned by a bloody symbol painted over the words.

He hesitated then, eyeing the group of men that emerged from the forest opposite him, brashly marching into the ranch and through the corralled entryway. Stumbling behind them was another man. This one had his hands tied in front of him, struggling against the binds. He stood out, dressed differently; a black figure among brown and green.

From the safety of the tree line, Naruto watched as three other men circled the man in black like vultures, spitting and cursing at him. Naruto briefly wondered if the man had anything valuable on him and if it would be worth the risk of looting his body.

"Serves the bastard right."

"Tell them to open the back. We've brought a friend."

"We should hang him as a warning."

A shorter man lashed out and kicked the bound stranger in the stomach hard, knocking him down to his knees and going until he was coughing and heaving on the floor. He didn't scream.

The tallest of the three held up his hands, stalling the violence. "Calm down, boys. Kidomaru was useless anyway. It'll be more fun to watch him in the pit. Take him out back."

A chorus of gleeful cheers followed as two bent down to pick up the injured man, each grabbing an arm and dragging him further onto the ranch, towards the back of the house. The third sharply jammed the butt of his gun into the man's ribs.

"That'll teach this piece of shit."

Naruto prepared to leave, uninterested and hoping to avoid the downpour of rain he knew was coming; he wasn't looking forward to spending the night wet and shivering. As he slunk back, he caught sight of the man's face, freezing when their eyes seemingly met for a second before he was forced away. His chapped lips parted in surprise and he inhaled sharply. No, it couldn't be.

Shit.

How could it be?

No.

A wet nose nudged his arm, drawing him back from his shock. He swallowed heavily. "Shh boy. We're going to follow. Remember, sneak." His fingers curled in Rasengan's warm fur, giving a light scratch.

Keeping a good distance behind, Naruto jumped the wooden fence and used the tall grass as cover. The German Shepard-Wolf mix crept up next to him, ears forward and poised to attack. Tiny drops of water began to fall, cold and clean, followed by another growl of thunder. Naruto pulled up the hood of his jacket and crept forward, shadowing the men carefully, keeping his gaze trained on the man in black, vying to catch another glimpse of his face. It was frustratingly hidden behind the curtain of his dark hair, strands stuck with blood.

He'd leave if he could just get another glance, just to make sure.

The side door of the ranch house creaked open and two more men came out, greeting the group. Naruto cursed softly, pausing. Nearly being spotted when one of the men turned around, he flattened himself to the side wall of the stable, out of sight. Rasengan darting up ahead, safely hidden by the mass of bushes choking the structure. Naruto tightened his grip on his bow, calculating his chances of survival. Iruka was going to be pissed when he found out he was acting risky again.

But he looked like him. Iruka would understand.

Kakashi didn't even enter his mind.

Waiting, he strained to hear what the men were saying, put-off by the pitter-patter of rain on leaves. It created a dull roar that blocked any other sound, growing louder with the rain. He shivered, on his way to being soaked. Deeming the coast sufficiently clear, Naruto peeked over the edge and spotted them disappearing into the woods. He hurried to make up lost ground, mentally mapping the area. It was a relatively safe area—if this group was the only one around, this would be a good place to set up as a temporary base. It appeared fairly cleaned out, judging by the pyre he passed by. The hard work was already done.

The convoy stopped a ways from the ranch, where several makeshift fences had been cobbled together in a small clearing. Constructed from actual fence portions, metal sheets, and bins, they crudely did their jobs.

One held a larger pyre, still smoking, and one held protected goods.

Another held Infected.

Two Clickers stood in the middle of the ring, twitching and jerking in tight movements. Each was at a different stage of infection, but both were undeniably Clickers. Yellow and pink fungal plates sprouted from their mutilated faces, splitting skin and bone to flower into thick coral-like masses. One had its neck bent from the weight of fungus, body further riddled with oozing, grey-ish veins and sores, revealed by the rips in its meager clothing. The other Clicker was younger, with smaller amounts of fungal growth and rot that sprung from it's stomach. Naruto noted they were both female.

With them were three Runners, two males and one female. The woman was despondent as her companions groaned and cried out, very much in pain from the infection and transformation. Little shoots of the insidious fungus forcibly rose from inside their skulls, pushing out their eyes. Naruto could tell they were a few days turned, while the corpses strewn in the muddy ground had no signs of Infection.

Hearing the men approach, the Clickers lunged from their hunched positions, zeroing in on them. Sharp clicks snapped into the air as they flailed, clawing at the edges of their enclosure with dangerous strength and determination. The three Runners erupted into action and howled, hurdling towards them and slamming against the walls with the Clickers.

Naruto gritted his teeth as he watched the men antagonize the Infected further, rattling the fences and laughing loudly. He blinked stinging rain and sweat from his eyes, keeping them trained on the Clickers, reflexively gripping his bow tighter. The scars on his face itched.

His stare broke as the men dragged the stranger closer to the Infected, moving to throw him in. The Runners shrieked louder, tearing at their heads while the Clickers uselessly reached through the openings.

Naruto's heart rate jumped into a gallop, his body tense. Six men in total, and he only had a few arrows. This was a lost cause, but he wouldn't leave him.

The man was calm despite looking death in the face. He turned slightly and their eyes met once more, sending excitement and fear through Naruto. It was him. With a dry throat, Naruto pressed a finger to his lips. He was an ally, not a foe.

The stranger's eyed him with silent suspicion but did nothing.

One of the men in green approached him, knife in hand. He snatched a pale wrist, smirking. "They love the smell." The tip of the blade pressed into flesh.

Naruto nocked and aimed in one smooth motion, lining his shot to the man with the knife. The men's taunts and the rumbling of the rain became muted as he exhaled slowly, eyes seeing only his target. He released. The arrow flew, the head cutting through air before burrowing deep into bone and brain, sending the body reeling.

A moment passed before anyone reacted.

As if it were planned, the stranger dropped forward, grabbing the blade in a quick roll. He sliced through his binds, jamming the knife into the neck of one of his attackers and ripping his gun away to use it on the third. The fourth shot back in a spray of bullets, forcing the stranger to take cover by a metal sheet and return fire.

He didn't spare Naruto a glance as he landed a kill shot.

Astonished, Naruto leapt into the clearing and ducked behind the metal plating of another fence, wincing at the stray shots whizzing by. He equipped another arrow, cursing at his low supply and the overall handicap of bringing a bow and arrow into a gun fight. Though, judging by the kill ratio of the stranger, he wasn't needed. A Runner lurched into his view, free and angry.

On instinct, Naruto fired his last arrow, planting it right between the Runner's eyes. Its head snapped back, arrow sticking out like a beacon as he fell. Without hesitation, Naruto grabbed and pulled it out of the now-limp body, re-slotting. Fuck, the Infected are free. He turned to see one of the members surrounded by Clickers, boxed in. With wet, vicious rips, the Clickers tore the man to pieces, filthy spore-ridden teeth biting with ease. They were in his stomach in seconds, pulling out pink entrails in their rage. His screams abruptly cut off.

The last member stood shaking in the middle of the clearing, gun dangling in his hand. "No, please!" He screamed as two Runners spotted him, whirling around to run away. He didn't get very far, tripping over the body of his compatriots.

Glancing away from the grisly scene, Naruto watched as the stranger began to finish off the Infected, rinsing through the Runners. Fingering his arrow, Naruto started as the Clickers left their quarry and veered towards the sound, clicking furiously

As calm as ever, the man took aim and pulled the trigger. A chill ran through Naruto as the gun clicked uselessly, empty.

"Shit. RUN!" Naruto shouted, taking off into the safety of the pine trees, a Clicker suddenly hot on his heels. Fast!

Rasengan erupted into view, tackling the Clicker and knocking it away before it could reach him. The canine violently snarled and rolled with the fall, positioning himself between Naruto and the Infected. Ears back and tail bristled, he snapped at the Clicker, keeping it at bay as Naruto aimed, struggling to get a clear shot.

The other man bolted by, his own Infected nearly catching him.

Naruto turned, worry clawing at him. "Rasengan, fetch!"

The wolf-dog didn't hesitate, darting away and sinking his teeth into the Clicker's leg, yanking her away from the other man. The Clicker screamed, reaching for the dog.

Naruto fired off his last arrow, striking the Clicker where its ear would have been. It stumbled off, Rasengan attacking on his level.

Telltale guttural clicking drew him back just in time to block a swipe from the last Clicker as she grabbed at him. Terrified of the jaw snapping at his neck, Naruto jammed his forearm underneath the Clicker's chin as it lunged at him, pulling at him to bring them closer.

Grunting, Naruto threw her off and fled, foot catching on a half-buried log that sent him tumbling down a small hill, bow flying from his hand.

Blood welling in his mouth from a split lip and mind hazy from knocking into something hard, Naruto rolled to a stop and got to all fours, dizzy and off-balance. The Clicker bore down on him, hungry and relentless.

Before it she reached him, the Infected was hauled away, a shiv stuck into its throat. She struggled and clicked feverishly, broken teeth gnashing as her feet kicked, but the stranger forcibly pushed the blade deeper and across. The Clicker ceased moving, sinking into a puddle as the man let her go and took a step back.

Breathing heavily, Naruto slowly got to his feet, taking quick inventory of his injuries as he retrieved his bow. All superficial. "Rasengan, search." He rasped, mouth suddenly dry as he glanced at his savior. Rasengan, victorious, took off with a short bark, scouting the perimeter for more Infected. Naruto hawked out a wad of blood, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

There was no doubt. He was the spitting image of Itachi, complete with pale skin and jet-black hair. The only difference were the eyes; Itachi's had always seemed full, rather than the cold emptiness of….

Naruto knew him.

Knew his favorite snack was tomatoes. Knew his favorite color was grey. Knew he had a scar on his knee from falling off his bike. Knew he was frighteningly smart. Knew Itachi had died never seeing his brother again.

It was Sasuke.

Naruto's mouth open and closed wordlessly, unable to speak. What was he even supposed to say? His mind drew blanks. Gritting his teeth and fighting his nervousness, Naruto squared his shoulders.

"Hey."

He nearly flinched as bottomless eyes darted to him pinned him in place, framed with black, dripping bangs. Blood seeped into the white sclera of one eye, probably from one of the hits he took. Coupled with the red steadily dribbling from his forehead and chin, and the dirt smudges on his cheeks, it made him fearsome. But he didn't respond, dispassionately observing and unsettlingly quiet. His face betrayed nothing, a disturbing mask of emptiness.

Naruto felt naked under the weight of Sasuke's gaze. He tried again, a part of him amazed at how truly similar he was to Itachi. An ache settled in his chest, familiar and strong. "I'm Naruto. You alright? I saw what they did."

Again, Sasuke said nothing and Naruto briefly wondered if he could, unable to read Sasuke as he had Itachi.

A tense silence stretched on, broken only by the increasing roar of the rain and Naruto's third attempt that drifted into more silence.

A mud-coated Rasengan came back then, tail wagging and stance relaxed. He wandered over to Sasuke, sniffing him brusquely before obediently sitting down at Naruto's side, signaling they were clear.

Relieved at the distraction, Naruto withdrew a bone from his pack, tossing it to Rasengan. "Good boy, Rasengan." He scratched the dog's head as he plopped down in the mud and gnawed on his bone.

Naruto bit his bottom lip lightly, glancing down. Remembering how much Itachi talked about Sasuke and how shattered he was after being separated from him…Naruto had felt the same after Itachi died. He could only imagine how much that would have affected Sasuke. But now Sasuke was here, safe and alive.

He offhandedly noted the sky was darkening, fading to deep greys as the storm worsened. Itachi had liked thunderstorms, always taking the time to listen and rest to its unchanging lullaby; did Sasuke? How similar and different were they? He felt strange, desperate to know but completely confused. In any case, he'd need to leave to find shelter soon, unless…He jerked back to Sasuke eagerly. "We worked together pretty we—". He stopped.

Sasuke was gone.

Naruto spun around, amazed that Sasuke had been able to leave without drawing attention. Nothing but green met his frantic gaze as he jogged a few feet, searching. "No, nonono. Shit, Rasengan, fetch."

Rasengan whined, pawing the ground next to his bone. His head tilted to the side as he licked his chops.

"Rasengan, fetch!" Naruto insisted.

The canine whimpered, letting loose a short howl before placing his head on the ground, burying his nose with his paws.

"Dammit, the rain," Naruto realized, "you can't follow his scent in the rain. Fuck."

Disappointed and frustrated, Naruto resisted the urge to go chasing ghosts. If Rasengan couldn't find him, there was no way in hell he could. He had taken enough risks as it was— it was time to settle in. He could look another day.

Securing his bow to his pack, Naruto trudged back to the ranch house, patting down the bodies on his way. He pocketed a neat shiv and a few handgun bullets he could hand off to Iruka. As he rummaged, a feeble hand latched onto his ankle. Glancing down curiously, Naruto watched as a survivor gurgled and spit out blood and rainwater, trying to speak. Naruto shook its grip and went inside.

Starting with the bottom floor, Naruto methodically picked through the rooms, sticking anything useful into his pack. There was a first aid kit in the bathroom, along with a bottle of alcohol. The living room was empty, bereft of furniture, but a side room revealed a few rags that could be repurposed. Finding a can of pinto beans in one of the kitchen cabinets, Naruto stuck a knife into the top, cutting it open. After a cautious sniff, he ate them, grimacing at the cold, slimy texture but happy with his findings. Having his fill and giving the rest to Rasengan, he continued to search, marching up the stairway. He ignored the urge to check every nook and cranny for dark eyes and black hair, knowing it was pointless.

Although the group had resided in the ranch house, there wasn't anything to indicate they had been there long. Was that part of Sasuke's doing? Is that why they had tried to kill him?

Naruto contemplated checking one of the fenced off piles outside, but the dying light and the strength of the rain changed his mind. It would have to wait until morning.

In the chilly atmosphere of a small bedroom bathroom, Naruto stripped off his wet clothes, replacing them with a mostly damp shirt and pants. Laying them out to dry, he blocked the door with a hamper that was unfortunately only filled with clothes that were too small for him. His knife was positioned for easy reach on the sink. Stepping into the large claw-foot bathtub, Naruto curled into a tight ball, Rasengan at his side. Bow in hand, Naruto let himself drift off to sleep.

"It doesn't feel broken. Might be sprained." Kakashi's cool fingers prodded at the swollen ankle, pressing down hard enough to make Iruka hiss in pain and unsuccessfully jerk his foot away. The silver-haired bastard was doing it on purpose.

"I told you it wasn't broken." Iruka gritted his teeth, gazing to the side. "God-damn-it." He emphasized each word by lightly hitting his head on the wall, wincing at the renewed round of pain at the back of his skull. Dust and paint chips fluttered down, landing in his hair.

Kakashi steadily wrapped the limb with ancient bandages, eyes cast downward. Iruka already knew what he was thinking; this was going to set them back, a lot. He would be a burden to Kakashi, doubling his work load since Iruka wouldn't be able to scout for supplies or help set up camp. Worse, he was now a liability.

It was maddening.

"No, you're not." Kakashi said abruptly, grabbing Iruka's chin and forcing their eyes to meet. "Better it you than me, if we're being honest, but this shit happens. We'll deal with it, you'll get better, and we'll move on."

Stubbornly, Iruka scoffed. "Don't pretend this won't be a problem. Naruto can't take on that much, and neither can you. It's hard enough as it is."

Kakashi smirked and Iruka wanted to hit him. "On the contrary, this makes everything easier. I'll know exactly where you are, and know you're safe and sound. If anything, we still haven't tried the chain thing. This is a prime opportunity. I get back from a long day's work, and you'll be there, right where I left you and prepared, and then—"

"Kakashi be serious." Iruka cut in sharply, ignoring the other's leer and the rush of blood that never failed to darken his own cheeks.

"I am. Iruka, you could have broken it, and then where would we be? Arguably more fucked, which is why I'm happy this is only a sprain." He stood, adjusting the strap of his rifle and tossing the rest of the rope away, useless now that it had been cut. He held out a hand, bracing for Iruka's weight. "We're almost there, so hold off on the anger and blame until we find somewhere to rest and recover."

Pursing his lips but acquiescing, Iruka held onto Kakashi's hands but mainly used his good leg to stand. Kakashi's lips twitched, but he said nothing, choosing to slide beneath Iruka's arm and tug it around his shoulders, wrapping his other arm around Iruka's torso.

Fighting between his own sense of pride and affection for Kakashi, Iruka let the other take some of his weight, snatching his back pack up when Kakashi reached for it. As they plodded out of the store and onto the street, Iruka silently brewed.

It was his fault, really. He should've been more careful, especially with the allure of supplies hanging over his head. The trap in the shop had been laid out for Infected, but he'd walked right into it, triggering the rope, spraining his ankle as he was hauled into the air. His head throbbed from the solid whack it sustained as he dangled. Kakashi did always say he had a hard head, which he attributed his lack of suffering a concussion.

At least he felt fine enough.

Each step sent a wave of pain radiating through his leg, but he stomached it, not wanting to alert Kakashi. Glancing over at his partner, Iruka noted that Kakashi's cheeks were slightly sunken in, highlighting his jaw and cheek bones, but reminding Iruka of his previous days spent hungry.

They were suffering wear and tear from traveling nonstop, always on the hunt for food and shelter. Kakashi had learned the hard way that this world did not favor the nomads. Kakashi's home had been Eden, but all that had come to an end. Iruka's fault, really. If he hadn't intruded on Kakash's life, the man wouldn't be here, having to haul his ass to shelter or ration out his food.

"There's a storm coming." Kakashi remarked, drawing Iruka from his thoughts. A hand pressed into Iruka's ribs as the taller man sped up. "A big one."

Iruka did his best to help, managing a weird hop. "What are the options?" He grunted, sucking in a breath as his ankle was jostled.

"I found a barn." Kakashi said bluntly, sticking two fingers in his mouth and whistling. "Not too shabby, and it should be fairly cleaned out by now." Immediately, their wild pack of wolf-dogs erupted into view, charging out of the overgrown grass some had been hiding in, and others swooping in from further down the street.

Iruka wrinkled his nose, but kept quiet. The countryside was less forgiving than the cities. Raikiri broke from his pack, coming over to inspect Iruka, sniffing his shoes and pants before rejoining his cluster.

Farmland surrounded them, yellow and dry. Unkempt houses appeared every few miles, but offered very little in both shelter and supplies, having already been raided time and time again.

The long stretch of road was fringed with dying grass, snagging their pants as they trudged off-road, heading straight for a rustic barn that rose imposingly from a hill of what might have been wheat. Red, two-stories high and still standing, it made for shelter from the oncoming rain, welcoming them with the sweet smell of hay. The doors hung open, creaking with the wind.

They shuffled inside, taking in the haystacks lining the walls, and the rusted farm gear that lay abandoned on the floor. Iruka chose to ignore the obvious bloodstains on the equipment, looking instead for a clean spot to rest in. He found it amidst a pile of dry haystacks that created a makeshift bed.

Plopping down onto the hay, begrudgingly with Kakashi's help, Iruka lifted his leg, inspecting his ankle. Around Kakash's wrapping, it was darkening, morphing into a strange purple undertone that seemed almost black. The skin was taunt and hot beneath his fingers. Gingerly pulling off his shoe, he bit his bottom lip. He would certainly be out for a couple of days to let it heal properly. Stupid trap.

Testing his mobility, Iruka eyed the bloodied farm paraphernalia, looking up to see Kakashi gazing at them too. Their eyes met. "I'd say a day, maybe a day and a half if we're lucky."

Kakashi scratched the scruff lining his jaw. "They'll be back sooner. That trap was hours old."

Iruka nodded, "What's your guess?"

"No more than four. They couldn't afford to leave anyone behind." The taller man dropped his pack next to Iruka as he ambled over to the built-in ladder that lead to the upper loft. They creaked noisily as he ascended. "…and couldn't afford to take anything with them." Disappearing from Iruka's sight, Kakashi was hidden by barrels before popping back up, dirty backpacks in both hands. "They're full."

Antsy from just sitting, Iruka struggled to his feet, ignoring Kakashi's reproachful scowl. "Rivals?" He hopped over, reaching Kakashi as he touched back down. "Or Infected?" Leaning on a wooden column, Iruka peeked into the bag, eyebrows raising at the goods inside.

"Must've been Infected. Any other scavenger would have taken this with them." Kakashi whistled lowly as he pulled a firearm from his pack, dropping the bag to handle the pistol reverently with both hands. "She's heavy, but she's a beauty. I'm in love."

Iruka gave a small smile. "Careful, I might just end up using it on you."

A single grey eye peered at him through the mounted scope. "I'd be begging you to. Shame it only holds a single shot."

"Is there at least ammo in there?"

"There's a mix, I'll have to sort it out. I saw some .38s, maybe some .45s." Slinging the bag over his shoulder, Kakashi smoothly grabbed Iruka's waist, carefully hauling him back to the haystack bed.

"Brute." Iruka muttered under his breath, clutching Kakashi's back as he fought a wide grin.

Kakashi smirked. "The patient shall remain in bed until they're healed. I will tie you down, sensei." Pushing Iruka on his back, he pulled the other pack away, crawling over the brunet to hover above him.

"Barbarian." Iruka retorted, furrowing his brows to appear mad, knowing the heat on his cheeks gave him away. "Neanderthal."

"If we ever find a cave, we can add caveman to the list."

Iruka reached up and cupped Kakashi's cheeks, feeling the grey stubble and the cut of Kakashi's cheekbones. He met Kakashi's amused gaze and rolled his eyes. "It still surprises me how perverted you can be, especially at the most inopportune times."

Kakashi leaned down, resting his forehead onto Iruka's. "I've lulled you into a false sense of security. You haven't seen anything yet."

"I shudder at the thought." Iruka glanced away, suddenly unnerved by the intensity of Kakashi's direct stare. The ex-militant was always digging deeper than he should. Iruka poked Kakashi's side. "Off."

With an exaggerated sigh, Kakashi rolled off Iruka, grabbing the shotgun he had set aside. Iruka sat up, moving to join him on instinct before pain flared in his ankle. "Ah, fuck."

"You, stay." Kakashi ordered, voice adopting the steely edge that served as a warning against disobedience. He grabbed his own pack, gearing up. "I'll stay close by, but the markers need to be spread out."

Iruka's lightened mood vanished, once again faced with the reality of his injury. He'd normally set up the markers for Naruto while Kakashi scouted with the wolves, but now Kakashi would need to do both jobs.

It would take him hours.

"I'm sorry." He whispered.

"Oi, don't."

Iruka winced at Kakashi's tone. "If I'd been more careful…if I had seen the trap…" If he hadn't let Itachi in, none of this would be happening.

"Iruka, stop. You're starting to piss me off." Kakashi snapped.

Iruka licked his chapped lips, biting down his words. He didn't want to fight, not right now. He bowed his head, letting his hair fall forward and hide his face. Thunder rumbled overhead, sending the barn into a series of creaks and groans.

Iruka searched for something to alleviate the atmosphere. "Naruto is due back by the full moon." Through the oily strands he saw Kakashi's body turn to him. The other was silent for a moment before responding.

"Two days. You're worried."

"You know I'm always worried. He's reckless."

Kakashi grunted in agreement. "He's getting better. At least he listens to you."

The brunet's head shot up, heart beating painfully. "He's a kid, he doesn't mean to blame you—"

"He's not the only one with blame issues." Kakashi cut in, sharpened eyes piercing through Iruka.

Iruka froze, blindsided. "...you know I'm right."

"Iruka, there's no point in thinking like this. It's a waste of time and energy, and you know it. Look, you're not being fair to yourself."

"…"

He did know it. He knew Kakashi was right, and yet he still felt at fault, even years later. It came and went, creeping up unexpectedly to wrack him with guilt. He should have known Kakashi could tell. "I feel like I've dragged you into my world." He admitted softly, fingers tracing the scar that cut across the bridge of his nose.

Kakashi let out a short chuckle. "I got here on my own. But I appreciate the company."

Iruka's lips curled slightly. "Go," he murmured, "I'll be here."

The silver-haired man gave a short nod, immediately heading out. Iruka didn't look as Kakashi sealed the barn doors, effectively locking him in.

Suddenly aware of the strength of the rain on the roof, Iruka began to wait.

A/N: Let me know what you think! Comments are appreciated!