Disclaimer: see chapter 3


In Which Iruka Watches a Spy


Iruka stared at the Hokage in complete shock

Iruka stared at the Hokage in complete shock. While he had certainly questioned the man's sanity at times, what was being propositioned was completely insane.

"Could you repeat that?" Iruka asked, voice several octaves higher than normal. "My hearing seems to have malfunctioned"

"There will be three new students joining your graduating class as soon as possible," Saratobi repeated, as if this was quite a sensible idea.

"But that's insane!" Iruka exploded, jaw hanging open. "You can't do that! It doesn't make any sense!"

"I'm not expecting them to pass the exam on their first try Iruka," Saratobi interjected.

"And they wouldn't have any experience even if they-" Iruka stopped ranting and stared at the Hokage. "Say what?"

"You'd teach them as much as they could learn, and they'd test with the rest of their year. If they pass, wonderful. If not, then the try doesn't count, and they'd start at the bottom of the academy and work their way up again."

Iruka rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "How old are they?"

Saratobi hesitated. "I'm not quite sure. Not very old, I'd guess. The taller girl and the boy should be around twelve. The other one looks about ten."

"You didn't ask them?" he asked, eyebrows drawing down into a frown. "There's going to be issues enough with them joining the class itself without me having to deal with their supposed age impressed social status as well."

"They say they have amnesia," Saratobi explained. "Supposedly have for three months."

"Oh wonderful." Iruka sighed unhappily. "Well, at least I don't have to un-teach them any bad habits they might've learned."

"Will you take them?"

This time it was Iruka's turn to hesitate. "There's another reason you want ME in particular to teach them, isn't there?"

"I'm not entirely sure they're not spies, if that's what you're looking for," the Hokage admitted. "They seem to stick out to much to be able to be an effective spy."

"Well, then I accept the mission." Bowing once, Iruka turned and left.