A/N

So i deceided to split the chapter in 2 because i was lazy and there are happening things. and i wanted to make one more chapter until we start at the gratuation chapter.

and AGAIN the chapter is longer if only by a few words, I think it is improvement!

this chapter is inspired by the episode 177 & 178: IRUKA'S ORDEAL and i dont own it, i am just using the episode for my chapter.

so here it is i hope you enjoy it! ^.^

IMPORTANT message: this story can also be found on under the same name and same author on wattpad and Archive of our own, where you can download the story

XOXOXOX

The days after the strange vision left Naruto pondering. As the days went on the memories of the visions about the blue haired girl slowly faded into hazy flashes and fragments, but one certain sentence from the girl kept lingering in his head.

A gentle wind blowed the hair gently around the blue haired girl, she closed her eyes for a moment and smiled softly, 'That is because….. I love you!'

It made him more and more confused the longer he thought about it. The only upside was that Naruto didn't know Hinata well enough to interact with her. That would be sooooooo awkward!

The days went on quickly and months passed until it was summer again. Naruto was wearing a sleeveless jacket with a blue shirt underneath and some green pants, this time his green goggles absent.

Naruto yawned loudly as he stretched, it was finally recess. He deserved that after the boring lectures of the scar nosed chunin. He walked outside and saw a group of boys from his class standing close to each other talking secretly about something.

'Hey guys, what are you all doing?' He called out putting his hands behind his head.

One of the boys turned around. 'What? Stay away, Naruto.'

The rejection mentally made Naruto sigh, but as always he putted his fake mask on as he grinned towards the boys, 'Why? Why can't I?' He asked, 'Let me play with you guys too!'

The other boy with glasses glared at Naruto, 'Why should we?' He looked away, 'No way you'll join us in tonight's test of courage!'

The mention of a test of courage grabbed Naruto's attention, 'Test of courage?' He asked excitedly.

The other boy hitted the boy who mentioned it hard on the head, 'OW!'

'What're you babbling about?' The boy asked the boy with glasses angry.

'Wow, sounds like fun!' Naruto answered grinning, 'I'm coming too!'

The leader glared at Naruto, 'We told you, you can't!' He started to walk away from the blonde. 'Get this!' He warned, 'Don't you dare to follow us!'

'Come on!' The other boys hurried after their leader.

The blonde's smile faded to a sad frown.

The streets of Konoha were crowded with people, Naruto was walking alone on the streets with the still sad frown on his face, he thought back at what the leader said to him.

The leader turned around as he faced Naruto, 'Get this! Don't you dare to follow us!' the leader glared at the blonde.

It made him smirk at the thought, 'Heh! When you say something like that, Naruto will follow no matter what it takes!' The blonde smirked to himself, thinking of a way how to scare them tonight. He stopped when he saw a shop with cool masks, he quickly rushed towards the masks stall and looked in wonder at the masks.

The owner turned around at the sound, 'How can I hel-' The man stopped talking when he recognized the boy. 'You brat!'

Naruto turned towards the owner, 'Huh?' When he was suddenly pushed hard out of the shop, landing on the ground.

'Go away!' The owner yelled at him.

The villagers stopped and looked wanting to know what the commotion was on the streets. 'What is the big deal?!' Naruto yelled at the man who answered angrily, 'What are you doing here!? You plague!'

'What? I was only…' The boy started talking softer as he looked down. 'I was only looking at the masks..'

Whispers started to form in the crowd 'Hey, is that the boy?' A woman softly whispered to another woman who nodded, 'Yeah…. That's the one.'

The owner took a certain fox mask of the displays and threw it angrily at the poor blonde, 'You want this!?' The masks clattered on the ground. 'Well you can have it! No get lost!' The show owner walked away back in his shop in disgust.

Naruto slowly stood up, the villagers backing away slowly, and picked the fox mask up. 'Jeez…' He saw the villagers looking at him, some in fear and some in disgust.

'Why are you all looking at me like that?' He asked loudly, looking at the villagers who kept staring at the blond. He turned away and started to run the opposite way back towards his home. the villagers just stared after him.

It was a clear night in Konoha, at the cemetery the boys were standing with lanterns waiting, when there was suddenly a scream.

The leader of the boys spoke up hiding his fear. 'Sheesh, you're all whimps.' One of the boys came running towards them he was scared. The boy that was screaming ran towards the group.

'No one is brave enough to go all the way in?' The leader of the boys asked.

The boy with glasses was panting, 'Don't say that…' He answered but he was interrupted by his leader.

'Well then, I'll go!' The leader answered putting up a brave face, while he walked towards the entrance of the cemetery.

He was walking between the headstones, it was quiet… very quiet….. The leader swallowed in fear as he looked around searching for unusual things. 'This is easy.' He encouraged himself, walking towards the monument.

'All I have to do is take that branch.' He looked at the small branch that was lying at the foot of the monument of Konoha. He hurried towards the big statue when he suddenly heard a noise, he looked around in fear. When he looked up he saw something standing on the big red stone. It has a mask on a fox mask.

'AAAAH! A FOX DEMON!' He started to scream and run away as fast as he could from the creature in fear. Dropping his lantern, that started to catch fire when it fell on the ground.

Further on the streets Iruka was taking a night walk on the quiet streets of Konoha when he suddenly saw some boys from his homeroom class running away from the cemetery screaming and yelling in fear about some kind of demon fox that would eat them.

He started to run towards the empty cemetery to investigate, drawing his kunai to be sure. He saw something standing on the monument, it jumped down making the scar nosed man jump backwards holding his kunai before him in defense. The creature was not very big, in fact it was rather small. It started to chuckle softly, as it took his mask off.

'Serves them right!' The person laughed, it was Naruto. 'Everyone got scared and ran off!' The blonde laughed, 'You better hurry and run sensei! Or else, I'll eat you to death!' He taunted, amused at his prank.

Iruka looked at Naruto, thinking back at his parents on the night the Kyuubi attacked, that was the last time he saw them. He clenched his kunai slightly, startling the young boy. 'Huh? What's up, sensei?'

The sudden question threw him out of his thoughts, 'Naruto… Do you realize what you are doing?' He started, looking down in disapproval to Naruto.

Naruto's expression began to falter, 'Why? Why?!' The boy cried out in anger and desperation. 'Why does everyone, even my homeroom teacher…. Why do you all look at me like that!?' The boy cried out demanding, startling the teacher, who was standing before him.

'I'm not a nuisance and I'm not some kind of germ!' He yelled angry. 'I'm….. I'm Uzumaki Naruto!' Those words broke Iruka's heart, he thought back about how he used to be, without parents to care for him, or to praise him. 'Naruto…..' He softly said, the blonde did not hear the chunin.

'I'll never…. Return to academy again!' Naruto declared angry, running away from the now shocked man.

'Hey!' Iruka called Naruto after, but the boy kept on running ignoring his teachers shouts. Iruka wanted to reach out for the boy but he was already gone off somewhere else.

'Damm it!' The man cursed to himself.

The next day Naruto was not in class when Iruka came to the academy, even when he asked the kids, they did not see him or talked to him since the incident. In fact, most of the kids from his homeroom class didn't even wanted to associate with the blonde. The man sighed worried and started the lesson, thinking to visit the hokage to discuss the matter after school was over.

After the classes ended Iruka tried to see the hokage, but sadly no avail. Of course he knew the hokage was a busy man but Naruto was an important matter to the hokage. Iruka who was still thinking why the hokage's assistance prevented him from seeing the hokage.

He sighed as he sat down on a nearby bench, still drowned in his thoughts when there was suddenly an unfamiliar voice that plunged him out of his thoughts.

'Oi! Oi!' someone called out, making the chunin look up where the voice came from. 'You know, this is my special seat.' The man said continuing, 'I can't concentrate on my reading!' He held up a small orange book (guess who that is ^.^) 'When someone's making such a loud sigh next to me!'

'Oh… I'm sorry. I'll move away right now!' Iruka apologized to Kakashi, who replied, 'No, wait I was just about to leave.' The grey haired man interrupted closing his beloved orange Icha Icha book before stuffing it into his kunai pouch.

'Well, I'll be seeing you..' He said as he started to walk away from the chunin. He stopped when he saw the young man sitting down with a deep sigh.

'What's wrong?' He asked showing concern in his voice, 'You look depressed. If you feel like talking I'll listen.' He walked back to Iruka and sat down next to him.

'Kakashi…' Iruka started.

'Hmmm…?'

'Is your name, right?' The Chunin asked, 'Well, I happen to be Naruto's… You know the one… Uzumaki Naruto's homeroom teacher.'

'I see..' The scarecrow said, leaning with his upper arm on the bench.

'But I went to ask the Third hokage to relieve me from being his homeroom teacher.' Iruka continued slowly, 'Lord hokage wouldn't see me.. I just don't know how… I don't know how to deal with Naruto!' He finished. 'I am not qualified to teach Naruto!' He said bringing his hands to his head in desperation.

'I see. So that is why you look so dead.' Stated Kakashi bluntly, making Iruka look up in confusion. 'I'm talking about your eyes.' He explained, thinking back on what the Sandaime said to him.

'Your eyes were full of life back then. Now they are dead.' Kakashi eyed Iruka who was still confused. 'Perhaps you've forgotten a basic rule of teaching.' The grey-haired man continued.

"You cannot open the mind of another unless you yourself have an open mind." Kakashi quoted looking up to the sky, 'Or perhaps you're trying to forget..' He dully noted.

Iruka bowed over leaning his arms on his knees and sighed, 'The Kyuubi sealed inside of Naruto is responsible for the death of my parents. I'm fully aware that Naruto is not to blame. But every time I see him, I can't stop remembering the Nine-Tails is hiding deep inside of him.' The image of the Kyuubi appearing inside of his head. 'I don't think Naruto would open up to someone like me.'

Kakashi bowed to the same level as Iruka was sitting, 'You are the only one who can reach Naruto's heart.' He stood up and turned toward Iruka who was still sitting, 'That…. That is you own ordeal.'

Iruka look up, 'Ordeal?!' Kakashi nodded.

'Yes, the one Lord Hokage has given to you. Just hang in there a little longer, and you'll find the way.' He advised. 'Rise up to his expectations.' Kakashi turned to Iruka once more and waved, 'See you!' He smiled and started to walk away leaving Iruka thinking once more.

'Hokage-sama sure made a bold choice..' Kakashi thought.