A/N: Wow, I really set the bar high for myself, didn't I? Hope I don't disappoint you all with this story. I'm going to do my best to exceed expectations, whatever they may be, so wish me luck!
Kingdom of Secrets
Chapter 2: Navigating Tight Corners
"Somebody," Tsunade growled, sitting down behind her rather imposing desk, "had better have one hell of a good reason why this man with no papers is standing in my office claiming he needs to take one of my shinobi away right this very instant."
Kakashi silently agreed with her, choosing to ignore that he was probably the one she expected answers from, as he slouched against the far wall. The messenger was standing erect and proud in front of Tsunade's desk, apparently impervious to her big chest no jutsu or else too 'proper' to spare it a glance, while Naruto and Sakura stood a little off to the side and watched curiously. Iruka was standing just off to the left on the messenger's other side, but he wasn't looking at anybody and still had his lips pressed in a firm line like they had been since the group had reached the Hokage tower.
The foreigner glanced at Iruka, as if hoping he'd explain, but when none was forth coming he stepped forward himself and bowed. "My name is Iwase Kan. I was sent by the high King of the Blue Isles to find the prince who went missing from the palace nearly sixteen years ago."
"You've been looking for him for sixteen years?" Sakura asked, looking torn between being disbelieving and impressed. She was ignored.
"Shortly after the death of the crowned prince, his son was taken from the castle by…"
Iruka opened his mouth, apparently ready to protest that statement—which Kakashi found rather curious, and he wished he could have heard what the younger man had to say, but Naruto was faster.
"You must have the wrong guy then, because Iruka-sensei told me his parents died in the Kyuubi attack," the twelve-year-old blond said confidently, grinning at Iruka like he'd just saved the chuunin somehow. Everyone else in the room followed his lead and looked at the Academy sensei.
Iruka pulled his bottom lip into his mouth, biting down on it hard enough to leave marks, before taking a deep breath. "I didn't lie to you, Naruto. My mother and…and my step-father, who's the only father I have any clear memories of…were killed in the attack. I don't remember my birth father, but…"
"So he's right?" Tsunade asked sharply, glancing up at the young man with a suddenly suspicious look in her eyes.
Iruka's bottom lip disappeared into his mouth again as he slowly nodded.
Naruto stared at his former sensei, looking deeply hurt. Kakashi couldn't blame him. He didn't know much about the man, but from what he did know Naruto had every right to feel betrayed by the other man. What Kakashi couldn't figure out was why he felt betrayed too.
Iruka must have thought Naruto had every right to feel the way his face betrayed as well, because he just looked sadly at the genin. "Naruto, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kept it a secret from you. I just…I wanted to protect you, somehow, that's all."
"I-Iruka-sensei?" Sakura stammered, staring at him with wide eyes. "You're a prince? And you never told anybody?"
"Sandaime-sama knew," Iruka answered quietly. "My mother fled the islands shortly after my father…died. I was seven at the time, and I can honestly say I don't remember much about the islands. My mother had no intention of ever returning there, and worked hard to keep who we were secret. I never thought to tell anyone, because it didn't seem important. The whole story is in my file, if you wish to read it, Tsunade-sama."
'How are you going to get more important than a prince of a foreign country?' Kakashi wondered, not sure whether someone obviously so questionably sane should be teaching future generations of Konoha. 'Is it even possible for personal information to get more important than that?'
Tsunade signed, seeming to resign herself to the choices made by her former sensei. If he knew that Iruka was a prince and still allowed him to become a ninja, he must have had good reason. She just wished she could ask him about it instead of digging through the dusty records room to find out about it. "Well, you've found your prince. Now, the problem is, he is also one of my ninja."
Kan made a motion with his hand like he was discarding that information. "The King has requested that anyone who may find the Prince is to bring him back immediately, regardless of the circumstances."
"I'm not going back," Iruka said decisively, looking truly confident for the first time since the man had revealed his identity. "I barely remember anything about the islands themselves, never mind the government. I couldn't possibly lead your country, so you can tell my Grandfather thanks, but no thanks. He can give the throne to my uncle if he wants, I don't care."
"You have an uncle?" Naruto asked, seeming to revive from his shock enough to look at Iruka curiously. Iruka merely shrugged at him.
"And I don't simply allow one of my ninja to be taken from me that easily. He has sworn to remain loyal to and protect Konoha with his life. That would seem to be a conflict of interest," Tsunade finished, steepling her fingers in front of her face and looking at the young man.
Kan remained firm and erect, holding his head high with a great deal of pride. "I understand that this is an unusual situation, and seems to be the failing of Konoha to return the Prince to his true home if his identity was in deed known. The King of the Blue Isles is willing to go to war to see his grandson returned home safely."
The room fell suddenly very still. They weren't about to admit it before this stranger, but all five of them knew that Konoha didn't have the man power to fight off an invasion at the moment. Kakashi knew, instinctually, that if it came to war, they would lose, and from the way Iruka's face swiftly lost all color he knew it too.
"But," Naruto offered weakly, stepping close enough to his mentor now that he could almost touch the Chuunin's side if he wanted to, "you don't have a hidden village. So, we could protect Iruka-sensei, if we had to!"
"What they lack in ninja, they make up for in technology," Tsunade said, hazel eyes narrowed at the intruder, and now apparent threat to her village. "I've heard rumors that the Blue Islands possess weapons that create their own fire like a jutsu."
"And much more than that," Kan affirmed with confidence.
"We can still keep Iruka-sensei here," Naruto argued.
The chuunin sighed, kneeling down so he was closer to Naruto's level. "I couldn't let you do that. Not for me. You remember the rules, Naruto. The safety of the village is more important than any one of us individually."
"But…" the blond whispered, tears coming to his blue eyes before he could stop them though they didn't fall. "Iruka-sensei…"
Iruka smiled at him fondly, gently ruffling his hair, before standing and turning to speak to the messenger for the first time. "Alright, I'll come with you to speak to my Grandfather. However, I do not guarantee that I will stay and be the heir. I'm just coming until I can convince him that there are better candidates for the job."
Kan nodded, "I am certain, your highness, that you will change your mind once you are home again."
"I'm certain to get home again, that I will not," Iruka whispered, so quietly Kakashi was fairly certain he and Tsunade were the only ones that heard it.
Behind her desk, the Hokage nodded slowly. "I will allow you to leave and get this sorted out, Iruka. However, I will be sending a team to escort you."
"What?" The brunette exploded momentarily, before seeming to calm himself. "With all due respect, Tsunade-sama, my past does not change the fact that I am a highly competent ninja. I think I could get myself there safely."
"It's not there I am worried about, so much as getting yourself back," Tsunade said slowly, eyeing Kan with her darkest and most intimidating look. "I am certain that you can protect yourself from outside forces, but the Blue Islands have already shown to what lengths they are willing to go to get you. Once they have you, they may not be willing to release you again. In essence, this is sending you into enemy territory and I do not send my ninja alone unless absolutely necessary."
Iruka looked ready to protest further, but bit it back and bowed low. "I understand, Hokage-sama."
"I feel it is best that as few people as possible know about this, so that when you return things will not have drastically changed. That is why I'm sending Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura with you," she continued, allowing her mouth just the smallest of twitches.
Kakashi stared at her, exposed eye wide, as Sakura gasped.
"Tsunade-sama, this has to be at least a B rank mission! We couldn't possibly…"
"Don't worry, Iruka-sensei," Naruto said loudly, drowning out his teammate's protest, "I'll protect you!"
"And while you're at it," the blonde woman continued with a wicked grin on her face as she looked at Kakashi, "take the Inuzuka brat with you. If he doesn't have anything better to do than spy on his Hokage, then maybe a dangerous mission will help him to be more productive with his time in the future."
From under her desk, Kiba cursed.