Chapter 3

"Today you are the first graduating group of Konoha's advanced curriculum, there isn't much left for me so say to you except for this; starting now you are real shinobi, this means you will be facing potential death everyday from now on out, and there won't always be someone to rescue you. You must now rely on yourself and you comrades in order to survive this world. Some of you may die and some will not, some may reach jounin some may not etcetera. Regardless you must focus on your goal and keeping working towards it and towards being the best you can be and become a shinobi worthy of bringing pride to Konoha." It was with a heavy breath that Iruka finished his opening speech, after one last look at his students he began the team assignments. "...Team Six, Ami, Sai and Yakumo. Team Seven, Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto. Team Eight, Hinata, Kiba, Shino. Team Nine is still in circulation. Team Ten, Ino, Shikamaru, Choji..." Once he finished he let out a breath, looking at each group separately he informed them that, "Your jounin sensei will arrive to pick you up after lunch, I will be staying here until you've all left, is that understood?"

A chorus of 'Yes sir' rang through the classroom before the genin left to eat and acclimate to their new team-mates. They had all changed drastically since they had entered the academy doors at age six, twelve in particular stood out, those being team six through ten, all advancing and changing at tremendous levels(Deviantart link on my profile for appearances).


Three hours later, two hours after the end of lunch, Iruka was prepared to kill, team seven's jounin sensei was beyond late, the last team having left over an hour ago. Team seven were already losing respect for the man and they hadn't even met the pompous ass yet. Iruka rued the day Hatake Kakashi adopted his not-so-dead team mate's attitude on tardiness, the stoic prick having changed drastically since Iruka had met him during his two months of being babysitted by the fourth Hokage's team. If only he could have told the guy Obito was alive without causing a whole slew of other problems. Feeling Hatake's approach Iruka quickly activated the seal on the classroom door, effectively covering the jounin in flour the second he opened the door.

As the genin sat in shock, and the jounin gaped inconspicuously Iruka laughed out loud, enjoying his chance of one-upping the man.

"Is there any reason for the greeting Iruka-kun?" Hatake asked nonchalantly, hiding a glare far too obvious to Iruka's senses. "Just that it is very disrespectful to show up this late to a meeting, Hatake-sensei." The chunin master of death retorted, green eyes glaring while his face fell into a practice smile of innocence. "Good to see you old habits haven't been affected by you settling down..." Hatake murmured causing Iruka to choke, "What-What the hell do you mean by THAT! Hatake!" he half-stuttered, half-yelled, face flushing red due to the jounin's choice of words.

"I meant the fact that you are still a chunin after six years, effectively settling as a chunin, Academy or not." The one-eyed menace said with a shrug, "Just say it normally then..." Iruka sighed, then turned to the genin, "This is your sensei, good luck with him, I'll be handing my report in to the Hokage." with one final glare to Kakashi, Iruka left the room.


Unbeknownst to Iruka, three identical glares turned on Kakashi upon his exit, "Yes?" Kakashi asked after a slow blink, 'if looks could kill I would be ash' he mused to himself, and Naruto stepped forwards. "Stay away from Iruka-sensei," the boy snarled, "A pervert like you doesn't deserve to be in his presence, you'll only sully it." The snarl was copied by his team-mates and it took all of Kakashi's effort to not blatantly drop his jaw at them. All three genin sent a pointed look at the orange book in his hand and Kakashi realised he should run to Iwa begging for a mercy killing the second the Hokage suggested he take a genin team.


Iruka sighed, it had been only a day yet he already worried for his kids, especially seeing how much he had changed the timeline of this world, he had little knowledge of how his presence had changed things long term, already was it vastly different to how it was originally when he had met his follower and entered this world, Iruka had to force down a pout when he realised it would be another three years at minimum before he could seek out his devoted follower, he did not believe the timeline had changed enough for that. Twisting out of bed Iruka stretched whilst being careful not to wake his bedmate.

His appreciating eyes trailed down what was visible of the lean, tall, and muscular male body that lay on the bed, silver hair loose and untidy, Iruka could still feel the pleasant tingle in his body in reminder of last nights activities. Iruka smiled as the would-be traitor slumbered peacefully, not a thought of betraying Konoha to Orochimaru having ever passed through his mind since Iruka had found out about the later contacting him. Iruka was after all loyal to the village – or at least his students and they were loyal to the village so... Of course Mizuki could be frustrating, seeing as how he has been absolutely terrified of Iruka ever since, it could be amusing until people questioned his behaviour around the lithe Headteacher, luckily most concluded that Mizuki must be in love with Iruka. Not that there was much love, Mizuki simply treated him like the God he was, a being worthy of awe and worship.

Quickly dressing Iruka left to the Hokage's office, the man having asked him to return when he had handed in the reports. "Ah, just on time Iruka-kun," the aged man spoke and and the gathered jounin jumped, not having noticed Iruka's entrance, almost cringing at the fact they had not noticed a mere chunin enter. "It has been discussed by me and the council that it is about time for you to take the jounin exam and become a jounin," The hokage began but was interrupted, "But what about the Academy-!" Iruka started but stopped when motioned to. "You may choose your successor, we recently learned from a reliable source that Orochimaru is planning to attack the village and we need as many competent active jounin in place to prepare for this." Orochimaru's name made whispers break out throughout the room. "It is plainly obvious that you have more than enough potential to become a jounin, and while I do not know the reason for why you never took the exam of your own volition, a promotion is more than long overdue." The Hokage's words were followed by a murmur of agreement throughout the room. Iruka however clenched his fist in a mixture of shock and annoyance, this was not going according to plan, he had envisioned another three years before he needed to seriously act, he hadn't expected for the timeline to change enough for the Hokage to learn about Orochimaru, if this had changed who knows what else. And worst of all he had obviously grown lax in hiding his skills while running the academy (or maybe it was the academy that made them realise). The only platitude of this situation is that he could appoint Mizuki as his replacement, the man would follow his word as law so would still hold effective control over the place. "Understood Hokage-sama, I will do as you say." Iruka replied with a bow.

To be honest Iruka had been growing more bored since the first generation had reached their final year, it was about time for him to begin another project to amuse himself, the Hokage may have just given him the opportunity to create one.


Iruka hid a scowl as he entered the large arena, he did not recall consenting to such a large spectacle of an exam, normally the jounin exam's were small and private, but it was likely meant as a show of strength, considering the number of foreigners in the stands. A smile did come onto his face however upon recognising his students in the stands, obviously there to cheer him on, some even carrying smalls banners with his name. "Here goes nothing," he muttered, joining the line of other jounin hopefuls, looking the least excited of the lot, which was impressive considering an Aburame was present. By cheer luck his fight was first so he had to spend the least amount of time sitting around. Unlike for the chunin exams there wasn't a tournament system where you battled multiple times, you simple battled once in the arena and moved on to a more private secondary test, after all can't show the foreigners all our cards.

Moving into place Iruka recognised his former academy classmate, Inuzuka Hana, the woman and her three ninken had been much like her brother and mother before, but it appears she had calmed down significantly since their academy days. Less than a second after the call to start did his opponents begin their attack, surrounding Iruka on all sides. Hana barely had the chance to blink before Iruka smirked and a flash bomb went off.

– POV Change –

I remembered Umino Iruka somewhat from the academy but he was more well known due to his revamp of the academy, and from before even then when the male had torn victoriously through the chunin exams. I had been defeated by someone else so never had the opportunity to face him in battle, despite us being promoted together. He was known as a dangerous opponent, many had expected him to succeed the jounin exam as easily as he had the chunin but the male had seemingly settled into being a chunin academy teacher, he honestly seemed to believe he was quite average.

Knowing he was a dangerous opponent I decided to strike as quickly as possible, pouncing the second we were told to begin, however before I could do much more my sight was blinded by a bright light, and less than a second later I was being thrown across the arena, quickly regaining my bearings my ninken surrounded me as looked around for the slightest hint of Iruka's presence, he was nowhere to be seen, I couldn't even smell him.

A pain erupted in my gut before I noticed the air ripple around me, Iruka emerging as if from water, one fist in my gut the other holding a paper seal, I tried to fight back but the seal was placed on my head and I blacked out.

– POV Change –

Iruka was almost disappointed by how easy that had been, his flash bomb allowing him to use a combination of his magic and wind jutsu to blow Hana away, followed by a mild genjutsu along with his power of invisibility he snuck up on her to punch her in the gut and place the sealing tag on her head to knock her out. As boring as it was, all his fights went like this, he had yet to find someone in this world to challenge him, but equally he had only really fought with bandits, genin and chunin up to this point. Yes, this may have inflated his ego a bit but it is difficult not to feel confident after such easy wins, maybe that was one of the factors leading to people realising he was stronger than he wanted them to know...