.:Turning the Pages:.

"Kakashi-sensei? How did you meet Iruka-sensei...?" Naruto asked Kakashi while at the Ichiraku ramen stand. It was around nine at night. The older nin looked at him.

"Well... actually..." He seemed slightly embarrassed, Naruto noticed. Sasuke was sitting silently on the other side of Naruto, watching Kakashi intently. "Here."

"What's this...?" Naruto asked, taking the book from his sensei's hand.

"I wrote it... to never forget..." Kakashi said slowly and dropped his gaze from the two younger nin. Sasuke, being the smart one, knew there was something up, but Naruto was clueless.

"You wrote it?... is this anything like that pervy book you read 24/7?" The blonde questioned, looking disgusted.

"You'd have to read it to find out... but... I have a feeling you won't understand..." Kakashi said slowly. Sasuke and Naruto exchanged glances, then looked to the book, then back to Kakashi, who didn't meet their gaze, but, instead, avoided it with every means possible. "I think I'll go now... You can give that back tomorrow..." The older nin got up, a little unsteadily, and headed for home without another look at the two. Sasuke and Naruto immediately opened the book and began to read, curious about what was causing their sensei to act so distant. It was written in long-hand and slightly hard to read. Some of the kanji was smudged, but they figured it out best they could.

How I Met Iruka-Sensei
By: Hatake Kakashi

For the first time in my life, I was having problems with my love life, which usually never blossomed! But... I went to the wrong person for help...

"Now... who is she? C'mon, Kakashi! Tell me!" Obito pursued me, shaking me lightly by the arm, which was really annoying. In fact, it was so annoying that I yelled at him.

"I! Don't! KNOW!" Could you blame me? I mean, that's all he'd been bugging me about for the past five minutes of class.

"Okay... well, tell me this much! Eyes, hair, age, and what sensei she has." Would the questions never stop? God... this is so unnecessary. I should have never gone to my rival for help! It's not like HE'D understand! Besides... he was straight... I wasn't...

Naruto and Sasuke both looked up and at each other with wide eyes at this.

"What does he mean 'I wasn't'...?" Naruto asked.

"I-... I don't know... C'mon... let's keep reading..." Sasuke looked back to the black kanji scrawled on the page. Naruto followed suit.

"Well... Let's see... first off... Eyes... I think brown... hair, I think was brown also... and age and sensei, I have no clue!" I was telling the truth! There. I did my good deed for today. Now, I could tell Obito to fuck off and leave me alone.

"Ooo! Is she hott? Big-"

I couldn't take anymore of this.

"Obito-chan... I gotta go..." So, I got up and walked away. Simple, ne? Yeah, I suppose I shouldn't have ignored him when he kept calling out my name and throwing kunai at me, but I didn't want to tell him who I was in love with. It would be a shock and if Obito knew, then the entire village knew. At least, that's my theory.

"Heya, Kakashi-kun!" Who could that be? Duh... who else? It was my other annoying teammate, Rin. She was bounding up to me and I could've sworn I saw a striking resemblance between her anda shaggy dog for a second.

"Hn?"

"Kakashi-kun! I heard from Obito that you like somebody!" Told you. Once Obito knew, the entire village knew. He couldn't keep a secret. Ever. And now Rin knew? Oh, this was a mess.

"No, Rin. You know I don't... it's probably another one of Obito's little jokes..." I lied. I usually didn't feel bad about lying to the girl that obviously was in love with me. It had never bothered me before... but this subject seemed to be slightly touchy to me... strange...

"Oh, really? Hm... You're lying! Kakashi-kun! Who is it? Is it me?" You? Rin? Haha! I could have burst out laughing in front of her right there, but, obviously, I didn't and remained somber. But, I didn't want to tell her. Besides... I didn't even know his name! Then again... I could just imagine the face on Rin if I told her I was in love with another boy.

Sasuke and Naruto stopped there.

"Sasuke... do you think..."

"That Kakashi-sensei is..." The two genin stared at each other, eyes wide, breath shallow. No one spoke for a second, then the two ever-so slowly looked back to the page. It was shocking enough to think about their own sensei being in a cell...

She'd totally freak out! I guess it'd be funny, but I decided to keep her, and everyone else in Konoha, guessing.

"It's someone..." See? I didn't lie! I'm a good person! Really! Then again... walking off and leaving her completely dumbfounded wasn't the best idea, either...

I lost all train of thought when I saw him, the love of my life,again five minutes later. He was so small and fragile! I couldn't believe HE was a genin! Then again... no one would've guess that I, a Hatake, would be a jounin already, either. Hmph... oh well.

He's on the swings playing with a blue-haired kid. I think I know that kid... Mizuki, was it? Hmm... oh well. It didn't matter. What DID matter was finding out my love's name. So, I did what any reasonable person would do: waltz right up and ask him. Well... not exactlyTHAT directly.

"Yo..." I said slowly. My voice didn't sound quite right, a bit misplaced and disoriented. The kid with the blue hair looked up, as did the kid I liked.

"I know you... You're Hatake Kakashi!" Mizuki said, pointing at me. I decided I didn't like this kid very much.

"Yeah... and you're Mizuki, I believe?" I didn't really care, honestly, but it was conversation.

"Yeah. You're a jounin?" He was obviously noticing my vest. I turned slightly. I wasn't comfortable with being looked at...

"What of it?" I think I intimidated them...

"Er... nothing, it's just... you're our age, aren't you?" How the hell would I know Mizuki's age? Ugh... I detested their naivety.

"I don't know. How old are you?"

"Twelve." Twelve? Okay... progress... I now knew my love's age... and Mizuki's... but most importantly my loves'. And... what a perfect age! One year younger than me!

"Hn. I'm thirteen," I think that intimidated them even more, because my little frail boy with the brown hair shrunk closer to Mizuki.

"Cool. Oh! Sorry for the late intro, but this is Iruka! Umino Iruka," Dolphin of the ocean: what a beautiful name... if I were someone else right now, I would've blushed deeply and sighed dreamily, but, unfortunately, I was me.

"WHAT?" Naruto shouted, getting everyone's attention in Konoha. Sasuke was about ready to yell the same thing.

"Naruto... is Kakashi-sensei..."

"No! No, no, NO! There's gotta be some catch to this or something! I mean... Kakashi-sensei and Iruka-sensei?" Naruto shook his head angrily, denying it.

"Naruto... now that you mention it... Iruka WAS always slightly uncomfortable-looking around Kakashi..." Sasuke thought back to all the times the chuunin and jounin were together. Naruto choked on his own saliva.

"But! But!"

"C'mon, dobe... keep reading..." Sasuke sighed and continued. 'There must be some misunderstanding...' He thought silently.

"Hn. Iruka, eh?" The little kid nodded. He was the most adorable thing I had ever seen in my life!

"Y-... yes..." Oh my gosh! He just spoke! To me! Normally, my feelings for others were slightly distant, unless they were people like Obito, Rin, or sensei, but I just can't help myself right now! There's something wrong with me, I swear! But... his voice. So gentle... so subtle... so... so... smooth and relaxed...

"KAKASHI-KUN!" Damn! Perfect timing! No... I'm totally being sarcastic. I spun around.

"What, Rin?" I think I was glaring at her, but I couldn't really tell.

"Oh! Hey, Mizuki, Iruka!" She knew MY Iruka-kun? How was that possible? I wish I could have slapped her right then and there.

"Hey, Rin-chan!" That was Mizuki.

"Nee-chan...!" Iruka's voice was so silent... but... nee-chan? Ugh... I hated this. What I hated even more was what happened next...

"Aiya! Iruka-chan! You are SO adorable!" Yes... she hugged him and he was blushing. WHY CAN'T HE BE BLUSHING AT ME? I'm sorry I'm acting very out of character right now, but it's really annoying me. I cleared my throat to get her attention.

"What did you want, Rin?" I asked again, my voice firm and aggravated. She stared at me strangely.

"Well... are you okay, Kakashi-kun?" Am I... okay?

"Why the hell wouldn't I be?" I sounded like Obito... only... Obito always yelled instead of calmly sorted things out. That's why I was the lead and he wasn't. At least I was efficient, because Rin backed off.

"Oh... nothing..." She let it drop, to my pleasure.

"Hn." My normal response.

"Um... are you free tomorrow... Kakashi-kun...?" She stuttered romantically.

"No. And not because I have something to do. It's because I don't like you..." That's when I learned that I needed to work on thinking before acting. I regretted every word of it after what she did to me.

Rin calmly approached me, showing no signs of anger or hatred, until she, literally, pulled down my mask, slapped me as hard as she possibly could, and ran off crying. That left me stunned. Iruka and Mizuki were now staring at me as if I were a cyclops. I felt embarrassed, but, instead of showing it, shoved my fists and in pockets, not bothering to pull my mask back up, and glowered at the ground with a growl.

"Keh..." I bitched annoyedly. There was a bleeding red mark on my left cheek now and it hurt. Badly. That was mycue to go home. I turned on my heels and left the two genin staring after me. I wished I could've said goodbye to my beloved Iruka... but, apparently, I barely knew him at all... at least... that's what sensei said the next day...

"Sensei... have you ever... ever... er... been in... love?" I asked Konoha's Yellow Flash with a slight break in my voice. My blonde sensei looked awkwardly at me. I think I made him feel a bit uneasy... but, then again, who else could I talk to? I tried Obito... and... well, you know the outcome of that disaster! And Rin? I'd rather die than try to get within ten feet of her without having multiple kunai, shuriken, and senbon thrown at me. So, obviously, my elder should've been my first choice. I may be smart, but I have to admit that I have no common sense...

"Kakashi-kun... What're you trying to get at? Are you finally having those feelings towards some girl?" He was so casual! I couldn't stand it! Here I am, trying to ask for needed advice, and my advisor isn't advising! Ugh... I suppose I'll have to go through the psychiatrical way, then... But, he asked me if it was towards some girl... what was I supposed to say? I couldn't lie to my own sensei. He was the closest thing I've ever had to a relative since father comitted suicide.

"Well... not a 'girl' per say... more along the lines of... erm..." Why am I so nervous around him all of a sudden? I can't get myself to finish that sentence! Wait... is he... laughing? What? This is serious and sensei's laughing! "Er... sensei?"

"Oh, Kakashi... you never fail to surprise me... So, you like another guy, huh?" The way he said it... it sounded so.. so normal! So casual! Like something you'd hear every day! I have to admit it made me feel awkward, nonetheless.

"You can't tell anyone," I made him promise, and, as I knew he would, he did.

"Don't worry. I'm not Obito!" He joked. I smirked behind my mask at this. It was so true. "So, who is it, Kakashi-kun?"

"Hn? Well... he's a genin at the academy... His name is Iruka... found that out yesterday. I have to admit that I don't know anything about him accept his name, hair color, eye color, rank, and age, but ever since I first laid my eyes on him..." I didn't know what to say next. I was in love? I fell into a deep abyss of fondness and passion? I'm really lost right now... though, I'm truly happy to have asked sensei about this! I kind of envy him... the way he seems to know everything, no matter what the topic.

"Iruka? Umino Iruka?"

I nodded.

"Ah, yes... I do know him. Not that well, but well enough to say that he's very innocent, shy, and lonely. Normally, Kakashi-kun, I'd be protesting against you doing anything to harm yourself or him in any way."

I knew what he was talking about... how nin weren't supposed to show their feelings and how love and attachment only brings sadness in the end... but, still.

"What do you mean by 'normally', sensei?" I asked, completely missing the implied.

"I mean... that, if anything, Iruka-chan needs love moreso than any other nin at this academy. His parents have been fighting quite a bit, so I've heard, and his father has even put a knife to Iruka, himself, threatening his wife with his own child's life. Iruka has run away many a times and I know Sarutobi-sama has caught him crying alone in high places. During the days, around his friends, Sarutobi-sama told me of how he tries to get noticed by making a fool out of himself. He tries to stand out so others can see him for who he is, not for who his parents are. It seems that all of the villagers turned on him a while back."

Naruto stopped reading for a second, never having heard this before. 'So that's what Iruka-sensei meant when he said... that he... understood...' The blonde could've cried right there, noticing that this whole time, Iruka was just like him.

How come I had never heard any of this...? That was... so sad! Now I loved the kid even more! Dammit, sensei! You aren't solving my problem at all! You're just making it worse!... but... I waskinda glad he was...

"Kakashi-kun. It'd be a good deed if you could help him through his life. I don't think he'll be able to stand much more if this continues." Sensei finished and I realized what I had to do. I knew Rin would kill me if she found out and Obito would spread it to the world if he knew, so I'm guessing I'll have to act stealthily for this relationship. I'll think of it as a mission... a mission for true love.

Later on, I reminisced on all that sensei had told me. It felt depressing to know another's current life being that terrible. He was only twelve years old, after all. I decided to watch him for a while, see what his current life was thoroughly like. So, I dashed off to the training grounds, assuming he'd be with his team. And, predictably, he was there. Not alone. There were four others, one I recognized to be Mizuki and another, Rin. Why Rin of all people? Oh well... I was here now. I might as well see what was going on.


A/N: I was originally never going to post this. I still don't know why I am... but, I guess I'll let you guys be the judge. If you don't like it, I'll take it off... I promise... But, yeah. Oh! And this fic, if you've noticed, is slightly (coughverycough) deranged from the Kakashi Gaiden and all the facts about Iruka's past, seeing as he didn't really become like that until after his parents were killed by the kyuubi and all that jazz. (ahem) yeah. Review please! (P.S. I've already pretty much written chapter two and there is Kaka/Iruness in that chappie! ;) AND! I'm COMPLETELY erasing the whole 'Orochimaru' thing from the plot line... gomen...

Disclaimer: Forgot to add this.. er... I don't own Naruto (woohoo?)