Iruka sighed and watched the kids running pell-mell around the yard. It was good to get them out once and awhile, so they could work off their youthful energy.
Speaking of youth…Gai was leading the pack, laughing and shouting rather annoying words of encouragement as he did.
Iruka shook his head, grinning. He liked Guy. Guy was one of the few people in the village who didn't constantly hit on him, or stare or obviously fantasize. And with Guy, if he was even thinking it, you'd be able to tell. He wasn't good at hiding his emotions…
Asuma wandered over and gave Iruka a sideways glance. He was smoking, something that Iruka never ceased to chide him for. "Huh. Wonder who's going to collapse first-the kids, or Guy?"
"The kids." Iruka said promptly. Then, because he wouldn't be who he was without doing it, he sighed and gave Asuma a dirty look. "You shouldn't smoke in front of the kids. Sets a bad habit."
Asuma chuckled and carefully put the cig out.
Iruka shook his head. He liked Asuma a lot, too. Of course, Asuma occasionally got that look on his face. But Asuma never pushed him and never made Iruka too uncomfortable.
"We should call them in." Iruka said with a sigh.
"Give 'em a couple more minutes." Asuma said with a laugh. "They're too riled up to teach right now."
Iruka nodded. "Hey. I got the message about your leaving the academy again. What's up?"
Asuma grinned. "Well, I never really wanted to be a teacher. It was just something to do while we were slow. I put in an application for another genin team."
"Huh." Iruka said after a minute. "I think you make a very good sensei."
"Well, since I know you help the Hokage pick the teams, choose me a good one." Asuma grinned at the faint blush that appeared on Iruka's cheeks. "Just don't saddle me with that Konohamaru, ok? I'd probably end up killing him."
"Thought nothing would be bad after Shikamaru…" Iruka said after a minute.
Asuma blinked. "That kid? He was a piece of cake, once I figured out his weakness. No, that Konohamaru would end up tied, gagged and I'd be a missing-nin before three weeks were up."
Iruka nodded. "Hmm. We'll have to see who makes it through the graduation."
…
Iruka was hiding in Ibiki's office again.
This time, it was a group of female genin and they knew damn well where he was. None of them could overcome their absolute fear of Ibiki, though.
I wonder how long that will last, Iruka thought despairingly.
"More tea?" Ibiki asked. Iruka shook his head.
"I'm so tired of this!" Iruka groaned, laying his head on Ibiki's desk. "Why won't they leave me alone? I've tried talking to them nicely, yelling at them, screaming at them, embarrassing them, and ignoring them. They're incessant!"
Ibiki sighed.
"The worst part is I barely escaped Genma's questing fingers. I was fleeing the records room when I ran into them. I swear, between Genma, Kakashi, the fan-club and the KoIzu team, I'm going to go crazy!"
Ibiki crossed his arms over his chest, deep in thought.
Iruka needed a boyfriend. Not a real boyfriend, but someone who could stave off the ravening hordes for him. Someone safe.
He didn't consider himself; he knew himself very well, and he knew that, of all the people in the village, Iruka was the only one who could make Ibiki shatter his self-imposed vow of celibacy with no effort or regret.
His mind flicked through the options rapidly. And then he pulled one from the back of his mind and held it up for inspection.
The man in question wouldn't be happy about it. But he owed Ibiki big time. Life-debt owed Ibiki.
And he was definitely frightening enough to stop the fangirls in their tracks.