Disclaimer: I still don't own Naruto…..dammit…..

A/N: Holy Crap! This damn story is like nagging at me, and yes I am looking into beta programs. Sorry, the last chapter just flew out of my head and personally I didn't like how it was written…but I'm my own worst enemy. I'll never get my college course work done at this rate…..

Sorry for dragging the plot out…but my mind just won't let go of these little details. And thank you again for all the reviews!

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"Yes, I know I'm here early to visit…don't act so shocked. You know I can be on time and even early when I want to. The reason I'm here is because Tsunade forced a mission on me that has to deal with…small…children. Teaching at the academy to be exact. And yes I know what you're thinking… that I'm not capable and lack the ethics to handle this mission…and yes Obito, I promise it IS a mission…although it probably started out as a bet, knowing the Hokage….." Kakashi mumbled to the unmoving mass of stone that bore his deceased teammate's name. Talking to inanimate objects may be considered odd by some, but Kakashi found himself at ease with his one-sided discussions. This was the only place he felt that he could reach out and be heard by his fallen comrades. Obito was the one he spoke to the most. "You know that one teacher that I got into an argument with before the chunnin exams? The one named Umino Iruka? I know I told you this…." Kakashi paused, like he was expecting Obito to answer him through the dew that was beginning to settle on the memorial's surface. "Well, he's helping me tomorrow. I am grateful and all, maybe I can learn something useful." He paused once more, and scowled at the rock. "I'm not going to 'use' him for information….well…ok….maybe a little …damn you Obito….I know you don't like my tactics for this, but Iruka-sensei doesn't need to know…really…." His gaze darkened even more, his voice barely a whisper, "I'm trying, I really am. I don't want to be like this. I …." He sighed. Being able to admit your inner weaknesses to the dead was a lot easier than admitting them to another person or one's own self for that matter. "I know this is different, I know they are small impressionable children, and you know something…..I kind of want to be looked up to instead of feared this time. Is it too much of me to ask for that? I know I'm nowhere near what most people see as being a model shinobi, but that's not what I'm aiming to be. Well yes I know…being a genius combined with the ability to be a cold-blooded killer when necessary does have a tendency to strike fear into the hearts of…well…I suppose everyone….except Anko….that's more of a turn on in her opinion… and Ibiki probably shares her opinion as well." Another pause. " I just want to be accepted by the people that I know. I'm merely tolerated by others because Fire Country sees me as a valuable asset. There's more to me than that, and no one knows but you and Sensei."

Kakashi stopped his conversation with Obito to stare at the Fourth Hokage's engraved name. Forgive me Sensei, for my weakness…I…I can't even speak out loud to you. I know where I lack in my duties here as an academy sensei….just….grant me your wisdom on attaining the patience that I'm so going to desperately need. I failed with Naruto, Sauske, and Sakura, I cannot stomach the thought of failing again.

Kakashi shifted his eyes back to Obito's name as he covered back up his inner grief. He smirked at the engraving. "Maaaa, don't worry Obito. I promise you I won't read Icha Icha out loud to them….well at least not the x-rated parts….I wonder if the academy has a sex education class? I think that would be a much more…" He paused once again, "Oh now come on….like you wouldn't want to participate in THAT class…."

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7:30 in the morning can come awfully early for civilian adults that would rather stay inside their peaceful homes, and tucked away comfortably in their beds.

But for Umino Iruka and the 60+ jounin and chunnin that were tightly-packed into a single oak tree…7:30 in the morning couldn't come fast enough.

"Gaaah, dammit Anko! Get your hand off my butt!" Raidou whispered fiercely into the other jounin's ear.

"That isn't my hand, you ass clown! Maybe you should ask our other limb partner…." She looked around Raidou and shot a glare at Genma.

"It's not me! I swear!" Genma exclaimed innocently, promptly putting his hands in plain sight.

"Well it's SOMEONE!"

"Dammit just be quiet!" Tenzo looked down from his spot at the three jounin perched on a smaller branch below him. "Iruka-sensei said we had to be quiet!"

"Well then you need to shut up then, because at the moment you're being the loudest of all." Ibiki informed him. He was perched on the opposite side of the trunk, sharing a branch with Ebisu and Kotetsu.

"This tree is too fucking small…." Asuma mumbled. He was luckier than most of the others because he had gotten here early enough to reserve seats. By doing that, he got to share his branch with Kunerai and Izumo. But Genma's, Anko's and Raidou's legs were practically dangling in their faces.

"For fuck's sake Asuma…put that damn cigarette out before you catch the tree on fire!" Anko scolded.

"Anko…shut…up…"

"Tenzo, don't make me come up there…." Anko looked up and tried to glare at him but only succeeded in jabbing her own self in the eye with Shikamaru's foot. "Owww!" In a brief moment of pure frustration, she violently slapped the boy's foot out of her face…and into the side of Raidou's head.

"Gaaaah! Dammit Anko!" Raidou screamed as he turned to unleash some sort of ninja wrath upon her, but immediately stopped when he saw a semi-murderous gleam in her eyes and decided to let that whole thing slide…at least until they were out of this sardine can of a tree.

"Jaaa…were all supposed to be ninja here…can we at least act like were trying to conceal our chakra so we don't give our position away to Kakashi-sensei and the kids? I mean…..that is the whole point of this isn't it?" Shikamaru vocalized in an indifferent, lazy tone.

Everyone shot (or tried to shoot) the lazy boy an evil eye.

"So troublesome…"

From there on, the bickering amongst them still continued. The trivial arguments these elite ninja were engaging in could have easily outclassed any of Naruto's and Sasuke's old squabbles.

"Can everyone just be quiet!?" (Ebisu)

"Hey! Someone grabbed my ass again!" (Raidou)

"Would you move over?" (Izumo)

"You move over! I can barely move my arms!" (Kunerai)

"Someone needs to wash their flak jacket! It smells like ass up in here!" (Genma)

"That would be your upper lip Shiranui…" (Asuma)

"OUCH!" (Asuma again) (After Genma flicked his senbon in… as he later claimed… an 'innocent and playful' manner and it just so happened to connect with Asuma's shoulder.)

"So troublesome." (Shikamaru) (Who just so happened to witness Genma fling the slender weapon at a well-aimed angle…. and quite brutally for that matter….but he figured that no one wanted to hear his opinion at that moment.)

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Iruka stood at his classroom window and watched the oak tree sway back and forth from its current inhabitants and their juvenile actions. I hope they knock that shit off before I bring the kids out there.

Hmmmm. Maybe I should have picked a bigger tree for them to hide in.

He eyed the tree warily as it made a loud yelping noise. That sounded like Asuma. He cringed at the thought of what was actually happening within the tree's foliage.

Anko certainly did a nice job in enlightening the better half of Konoha's ninja to this little event. I'll need to thank her later by buying her alcohol. He shuddered at the thought of a drunken Anko. Ok I'll just give her the money to get drunk….. Much safer that way….

He left his position at the classroom window and made his way to Kakashi's classroom. He could hear the kids already trying to stir up trouble, and he hoped he could just get them to behave long enough to get them out to the training ground. Anything beyond that he would leave up to Kakashi. Dodging sharp objects while asking your students what their 'hopes for the future' are is going to be quite interesting. He glanced though the classroom door's window and got a good look at the occupants inside.

Well, at least all of them are inside the classroom. Lemme get a head count real quick… Iruka quickly did a mental count and smiled. No one's late at least. I guess I'd better go in and get things started.

As soon as Iruka slid open the door, he heard a string snap. Iruka quickly made the signs for a teleportation jutsu and appeared on the other side of the classroom just in time to see a barrage of paper shuriken on strings become undone from their place on the ceiling. They swung down with enough force that they almost made a full arc but stopped when they collided with the classroom outside wall above the doorframe.

That could have put an eye out, those things swung at face level. And it looks like they used quite a bit of paper in creating them, they were heavier than the normal paper shuriken I usually see in my classroom. Iruka glared at the children in front of him. Quite a bloodthirsty bunch, these kids make my class seem submissive, and I have Konohamaru's gang in my class. And that boy's shenanigans alone, without the added help of his friends, rival Naruto's mischief.

The kids whirled around and saw a fuming Iruka giving them his trademark 'Glare of Doom', complete with a vein protruding from his forehead and neck. The entire class made a gulping noise, virtually in unison, and a few of them began to laugh out of nervousness. They knew Iruka-sensei was a formidable teacher. He had come into their classroom before and seemed to be more than happy to bestow his wrath upon them when they became too out of control.

"Knock off the pranks and get in your seats NOW!" Iruka bellowed.

As they scurried to their seats, Iruka made his way to the weapons cabinet. He opened it up and did a quick inventory to make sure the kids would be well-prepared for today's 'lesson'. After he confirmed that there were more than enough shuriken to go around, he turned to the kids and began to explain the day's activities.

"As I'm sure you already know a new sensei has been assigned to take over your class beginning today. Until he arrives, you will file out into a straight line outside the hallway and wait for my instructions. Besides meeting your new sensei, you will be starting your practice with shuriken today. You will also be joining my class outside at the training grounds for this practice. I suggest that you all listen to mine and Kakashi-sensei's instruction so that you do not injure your fellow classmates or anyone else." Iruka tuned and made his way to the door. "Oh and one more thing…." He stopped and gave the children a serious face. "If any of you are even thinking about misbehaving out there today, I'll make sure that you guys will be scrubbing the outside walls of the academy for the next three months. IS THAT CLEAR?"

"Hai Iruka-sensei!" the class answered, knowing full well that he'd make them do it regardless of what anyone else would have to say about the punishment.

"Start forming a line in an orderly fashion and wait for my instruction." Iruka walked out of the classroom and into his own. He quickly caught everyone's attention and began to give them a run down of today's plans.

"The first-year academy students will be joining us in our practice today." The room became very quiet and many of the kids looked back at him with a confused gaze. "I will be assisting their new teacher, who will also be our 'target' for today. I expect every one of you to be on your best behavior." He looked at the first row of students. "I need you guys to go to the other class's weapons cabinet and retrieve all the boxes of shuriken that are in there. They are located on the bottom shelf. Should be three boxes in all."

"Hai, Iruka-sensei." The kids took off towards the other classroom, while the others waited for instruction.

"Start to form a line outside the classroom next to the other class. I expect you all to keep your hands to yourself and not bully the others around. Is that understood?"

"Hai, Iruka-sensei!" With that, the kids made their way out into the hallway. Iruka stood at the doorway keeping an eye on Kakashi's students and making sure both classes were behaving. He turned away from the doorway, stopping a small girl from joining the lines in the hallway. She looked up at her teacher with her wide, pearl-like eyes, obviously wondering if she had done something wrong.

Iruka gave her a reassuring smile that told her that she wasn't in trouble. "Hannabi-chan, I am going to need some help today, an extra set of eyes to help me watch everyone. Will you be willing to help me out?"

"Of course Iruka-sensei," The young Hyuuga girl blushed at the thought of getting to help her favorite teacher. "I just hope I won't let you down."

"Oh I'm sure you won't. And actually, I only need for you to watch one certain person……"

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The jounin and chunnin stopped their antics long enough to watch Iruka march the students onto the training field and organize them into groups. They were partly in shock of seeing that many students clustered on the field.

"How many of them are Kakashi's?" Kotetsu asked no one in particular.

"His are on the right over there," Genma pointed to the right side of the training field. "Over forty of them in all I believe."

"That many? When did wanting to turn into a ninja become so popular?" Kunerai wondered out loud.

"The Third's death had quite an impact, on everyone, including the children. People began to realize that keeping Konoha safe from intruders should be a priority. That may be the reason for the increase in applicants to the ninja academy." Ibiki reasoned.

"Well I'm glad that I'm not in charge of that class this year, I'd pull my hair out." Anko whispered to Raidou. He bobbed his head up and down in agreement.

"What time is it? My left ass cheek is starting to go numb." Genma asked while trying to shift his position on the branch.

"8:00," Shikamaru said. "On the dot…..of course Kakashi probably won't be here for another hour…."

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Further down field, the children could have sworn they heard that tree off to the left let out a miserable groan…..

Iruka looked down at his watch. Its 8:00 you bastard. Where the hell are you? I told you not to be late……

Bah who was I kidding, I knew he would be. Iruka fought the urge to pace in front of his students. Get it together Umino, you can't lose it in front of the kids. You won't be able to control the whole group if they see you getting impatient or breaking out into maniacal laughter for that matter…..ok ok, concentrate and breathe…..

Iruka and the kids stared out into the field. It was all they could do until the other sensei arrived.

Iruka's inner self raged internally. Dammit you bastard…..where the fuck are you?!?!?!