So. Here's the next chapter.
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"Wait!" Iruka called out. "Aren't you going to help us pack?"(Iruka to Kakashi, chapter 3)
Naruto inhaled his third bowl of ramen. He was released from the hospital and Iruka had promised to treat to a bowl or ten of his favorite food after they've taken Naruto's things home. Kakashi met them at the stand, successfully avoiding the task of helping Naruto and Iruka pack. "Ahhh, that feels really good! I can't believe I haven't gone without fresh ramen from Ichiraku's for a week now!"
"Ten days," Iruka corrected.
"Right! I should really make up for it. Jii-san, another bowl please!"
"You are going the share the cost, right?" Iruka looked at Kakashi, who was hunched over a bowl of ramen.
The jounin looked up, mask on, and shrugged. "It's only the third bowl."
"Oh believe me, he's only getting started." Iruka sighed and glanced at his young charge.
An ANBU suddenly appeared in front of the ramen stall. "Umino Iruka?" He asked no one in particular.
"Uh, yes?" Iruka turned his head and was surprised to see an ANBU member looking for him.
The ANBU looked at Iruka and decided that he was the right man. "The Hokage wants to see you."
"What would the Hokage-sama want with me?" Iruka wondered aloud. "And why would she send an ANBU to deliver a message to me?"
"Yeah! What would that old hag want with Iruka-sensei?" Naruto said.
"Please refrain from calling the Hokage-sama names, fox." The ANBU spat the last word with disdain.
"Hokage-sama lets him do it, you don't have the right to tell him what not to do. And I believe you almost violated the most important law in the Sandaime's lawbook, you hypocrite." Kakashi spoke, not turning.
Iruka looked at Kakashi and Naruto stayed silent, tears in his eyes.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto sniffed loudly started to hug Kakashi. He was so used to the subtle and not-so-subtle insults that a simple one like the ANBU's was nothing to him.
Kakashi pushed his face away. "I'm not going to turn into Gai. You should really stop hanging out with Lee."
Iruka chuckled as he ruffled a pouting Naruto's hair. "Well, I better get going. I'll see you later Naruto." He put down a bill. "Don't eat too much ramen."
"Arigatou Sensei!" Naruto looked at the bill and noticed that it was enough for about 5 more bowls. Iruka may be a teacher who doesn't earn much, but ramen is pretty much the only thing he buys after the necessary things like food, clothing and paying for utilities. After all, Naruto is like his son. Besides, he received quite a large amount of money as retribution for his parents' death. .
Kakashi grabbed his arm and whispered,"Don't forget to mention this to Tsunade-sama."
"Of course," Iruka said, silent rage evident in his eyes.
The ANBU disappeared in a puff of smoke followed quickly by Iruka's own. (A/N I dunno if Iruka can do that yet in the series, but in here he can.)
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Iruka entered the Hokage's office and shut the door quietly. "You called for me, Hokage-sama?"
Tsunade was waiting at here desk, surprisingly sober. "Have a seat, Iruka."
Iruka did as he was told and Tsunade immediately got down to business. "I called for you here because I have a favor to ask of you."
"What is it?" Iruka asked.
"I was wondering if you could take Naruto in with you."
Iruka stayed silent and continued listening.
"I'll give you an allowance, and Naruto will still get his monthly allowance. Is this okay? I was hoping he could move in with you by the end of the week." Tsunade said, waiting for an answer.
"I'll be happy to do it. Naruto is like my son. But…may I ask why?"
"Iruka, I'm not stupid. I know you are a jounin-level ninja, although I don't understand why you never participate in the jounin exams. Naruto's emotional state is not very stable right now and the Akatsuki is after him. I think he will be safer with you, knowing that you will give you life up for him. Besides, it's about time the kid got treated like a son. I know you will do it."
"Of course, but can't ANBU follow him around instead? What will I tell him?"
"Look, even though ANBU are more practical, they still have a grudge against the boy. Things can happen."
"Speaking of which…"
"I know, Kurenai was passing by and told me about the ramen stall incident. That's why I can't risk Naruto being followed by people who doesn't like him much."
"I'll tell Naruto right away. Arigatou, Hokage-sama."
"No, I should thank you."
Iruka left the room as Shizune entered. "I feel a little sorry for him. His house is going to go through chaos."
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"Really? Awesome! I'll pack right now!" Naruto beamed after finding out what Tsunade had told Iruka during their meeting.
A smile of endearment tugged at Iruka's lips. "Good. Do you want me to help you pack, or should I just go prepare your room?"
"I'll do it. Besides, I can just ask Kakashi-sensei. He's probably somewhere being perverted again."
"Okay. I'll meet you there for dinner. You know where I live, right?"
"Of course! See ya later, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto waved happily as his new housemate set off to prepare his new room. "I'm so excited! I gotta find Kakashi-sensei to help me pack." He took a deep breath and yelled as loud as he could, "Kakashi-senseeeeei!!!!!"
Kakashi immediately appeared from out of nowhere.
"Kakahi-sensei, guess what?!" Naruto was positively bursting with news.
"What." The jounin asked nonchalantly.
"I get to live with Iruka-sensei!"
"WHAT?!"
"Old hag told him he can take me in with him. I'm not going to be alone anymore."
"What-"
Naruto interrupted his teacher before he could get two words in edgewise. "I'm going home to pack now. Wanna come and help me?"
"Wait-"
"I knew I could count on you Kakashi-sensei! Thanks!"
Kakashi heaved a big sigh. "Oy." He sighed and reluctantly followed the hyperactive ninja.
Upon reaching Naruto's apartment, Kakashi stared in disbelief. Clothes were strewn haphazardly around the place and boxes of different sizes littered his surroundings. He spotted Naruto randomly throwing clothes into a box.
The blonde looked up. "Sensei!"
Kakashi tried to stop himself from yelling out in repulsion. Contrary to most beliefs, Kakashi was actually an organized man. In fact, he had a slight obsessive-compulsive disorder. He tried to stop himself from telling his student what to do, but miserably failed.
"What do you think you're doing?!" He asked in a non-very-nice-or-quiet way.
Naruto stared at him with his big blue eyes. "Packing?"
"You're supposed to fold your clothes properly! And you can't just throw in silverware with scrolls! You have to separate them!"
Again, Naruto met him with a blank look.
Kakashi sighed for the umpteenth time that day. "I'll show you." He emptied all the boxes and started with clothes. He started folding a jumpsuit and beckoned at Naruto to follow what he was doing.
"Like this, Sensei?" Naruto held up a poorly-folded jumpsuit proudly for his mentor to see.
"No. I'll do it."
"Really Sensei? Thanks!" Naruto was about to jump out his window when Kakashi pulled him back in.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Home." Naruto pointed to the general direction of Iruka's, and soon to be his, home. "You told me you'll do it for me. Thanks a lot Sensei!"
"No, no, no. You need to stay here. I'm doing you a favor so you better keep me company." Kakashi refused to let go of Naruto.
"Fine, fine."
Naruto took a seat beside Kakashi when he spotted a picture of team 7 on the floor. "Hey, I remember when we took that! Remember Sakura was trying to come closer to Sasuke then I tripped because she pushed me so I ended up being beside the bastard instead?" Whew, all this he said in one breath.
The white-haired jounin chuckled at the memory. He picked up another picture and showed it to Naruto. "Remember this one…"
And that was how the two of them spent the whole day together, reminiscing as they went through Naruto's stuff and other memorabilia.
all this time I can't believe I couldn't see
kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
got to open my eyes to everything
without a thought without a voice without a soul
don't let me die here
there must be something more
bring me to life
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Iruka was beginning to worry. Naruto said he was going to show up for dinner. It was now 6:30 pm, 30 minutes late. Iruka knew that it wasn't like Naruto to be late for dinner so he decided to pay his student a visit in his apartment for the last time.
Naruto gave him a spare key a long time ago, so he decided to go through the front door. What met his eyes surprised him.
The usually messy and cluttered living space was now empty save for some boxes lying neatly in a corner and a dingy couch facing away from the front door. . Iruka checked everywhere and found that absolutely nothing was left behind. And imagine his surprise after realizing that the boxes were all organized. Finally he noticed something shift on the couch and went over to check.
On the couch were two very exhausted ninjas, a blonde one and a masked one. Naruto was sleeping on Kakashi's shoulder and the jounin was sleeping on one of the armrests, his arms wrapped warmly around his student.
It almost looked…domestic.
Iruka was going to be mad at Naruto for being late, but seeing his student's angelic sleeping face quickly melted the anger away. He didn't want to wake either of them so he decided to leave them be. He grabbed two pillows from a pile by the boxes and a quilt lying on top of them. He put the two sleeping figures into more comfortable positions and left the apartment, closing the door quietly after him.
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First off, I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed the fic so far. I really like reading what you guys think about it.
I'd also like to thank evanescenceangel18 for pointing out that Bring Me to Life was an appropriate song for Kakashi's actions towards Naruto. It really was.
Also, I would like to apologize for failing to update for so long. Blame Laziness. she distracted me.
Well, I hope you liked this chapter. I'll try to update sooner next.
--CoCo
