I'm really sorry this chapter took so long to come out. I didn't know if it would ever be finished...

This is Where I Came In

Chapter 2

ZzZ

Iruka was halfway to the gate the next morning before he remembered that he hadn't warned Naruto that he would be gone for a while. He sighed regretfully when he realized that it was still too early for the blond to be awake and aware. He supposed he would just have to explain himself later.

A flash of blond hair caught the brunette's attention and he focused on the movement in front of him. If he looked close enough he could see a little orange in the middle of the early morning shoppers. Iruka quickened his pace in hopes of reaching the blond before he had gotten too far ahead.

A wide grin met him when Iruka tapped the other man on the shoulder. "Hey, Iruka-sensei. Come to buy me ramen?"

The older man smiled at him before shaking his head. "Not today, Naruto. I have a mission."

"Really? I've got a mission too," Naruto replied, his smile seeming to split his face in half.

Iruka looked at him carefully, wondering about the possible coincidence of them both having a mission that began at the same time but headed to different places. He mentally shook his head knowing that it was highly unlikely that he and Naruto would ever be paired on a mission. And besides that, he already had a partner. The chunin suppressed a shudder.

It was straight up 6:00 when they both arrived at the gate and settled down to wait for their teammates. It wasn't until 6:30 that they began getting impatient.

"I can't believe Kakashi is late," Naruto griped.

"I know… You'd think he would have grown out of that a long time ago," Iruka replied.

"Yeah, really… Hey, you're waiting for him too?" The blond looked at him in confusion before digging into a vest pocket for his mission scroll. He would have to discard it before they left but Naruto had brought it along for last minute reviewing.

Iruka pulled his out and skimmed the information he had already committed to memory. "What kind of mission are you going on, Naruto?"

Naruto looked like he wanted to tell the chunin that it was confidential but the expression on Iruka's face convinced him otherwise. "Information gathering, Iruka-sensei."

"To Lightning Country," Iruka asked, mildly surprised at the blond's stiff nod. "I guess that means we're only waiting on Hatake-san before we can move out."

"You mean we're partnered on this mission? That's so cool!" Naruto smiled and slung an arm around his shoulder causing his former sensei to slightly blush.

He pushed the blond's arm off before admonishing him. "Really now, Naruto, aren't you a little too old to still be acting like a twelve-year old," Iruka asked with a laugh.

"Nope," Naruto replied with a grin. "I won't be too old for that until I'm as old as Iruka-sensei is." He peered closely at the brunette. "How old are you anyway?"

Iruka snorted and shook his head. "I'm twenty-nine and going to stay there, Naruto. You'd know that if you had remembered my birthday this year." He planted his hands on his hips and gave a reprimanding glare to the younger man.

Naruto at least had the decency to look contrite. "Well you see, Sensei…. It wasn't my fault… er, yeah…"

"Well isn't this a touching reunion," a calm voice broke in, efficiently catching their attention and saving Naruto from having to think of an excuse.

"Ah, Hatake-senpai…"

"You're late, Kakashi-sensei!!!"

"Oh, that… Well, I was on my way here when I found a hungry kitten in the middle of the road. Now what kind of person would I be if I left it there?"

"A liar," Iruka guessed quietly.

"A big, fat liar," Naruto followed and Kakashi shook his head in dismay.

"One of these days I'll be telling that truth and when no one believes me something bad will happen." He smiled behind his mask as he pulled out his own mission scroll and notes.

"One of these days is not today, Kakashi," Iruka whispered, knowing full well that the jounin would hear him. He smiled innocently when the silver-haired man gave him a sharp look.

Kakashi cleared his throat loudly. "Yes…" he observed the comfortable way his teammates sat beside each other on the bridge's hand rail and wondered if he would have to keep an eye on the two of them.

"There are two ways we can do this," he began, waiting until he had their full attention. "We can go on foot through Swamp and Marsh Country to get to Lightning," Kakashi paused again to allow them a minute to think about this option before continuing. "Or we head toward Wave Country and take a boat to Lightning."

Iruka was the first to voice the questions that were on all of their minds. "How long would each trip take? Which would help our cover better?" He flushed slightly at the mention of their cover before getting himself back under control to wait for the answer.

"If we get a good tail wind, the boat will get us there faster and save our energy in case something comes up. If we get head winds then we'll be slowed down." He looked back and forth between the brunette and the blond.

"As to it affecting our covers," he watched the brunette flush again and almost smiled despite himself. "Taking the boat might be the best. It'll stop in more than one port allowing an influx and mingling of passengers. It would be harder for someone to keep track of where everyone gets on and off."

Naruto nodded in consideration before cracking a wide smile at their leader. "If we go through Wave, I can show Iruka-sensei my bridge and we can check on Inari. And maybe we could visit…" he trailed off and his eyes took on a far away look. It was as though he was seeing a distant memory.

Iruka nodded his acceptance of this plan before returning his gaze to the silent copy-ninja. "Wave it is then?"

Kakashi stood gracefully and carefully set fire to their scrolls. Now that their route had been decided there was no reason to linger. They just had to discuss their cover story and they had plenty of time to figure it out on the way.

ZzZ

Well at least it's longer than chapter one. I'm so sorry that this chapter seemed to have taken forever to get out. I really thought I'd churn them out like crazy. I hope this lives up to chapter one. ; )