Nup, still dun own Naruto. Nor do I own the characters in Iruka's old team. They already had small appearances in the anime. I'm not sure if the names are right, since I got them from an online source (and we all know that online sources aren't always correct), but still background characters, and thus, I don't own them.

Two things: Thankies to everyone who's reviewed thus far, and spellcheckers hate toddler speak. ^^;;

Japanese – English terms:

'Ka' – Naruto's word for 'daijoubuka', which translates roughly to 'are you okay?'

'Oka' – Naruto's word for 'okashii', which means 'funny/silly'

'Ai' – Naruto's word for 'wai' (which means 'yay') or 'hai' (which means 'yes')

'Ba' – Naruto's word for 'baka', which usually means 'idiot', but in the context of this story, means 'silly'

'Tada' – Naruto's word for 'tadashii', which means 'correct/right'

'Aso' – Naruto's word for 'asobi', which means 'play'

'Buro' – Naruto's word for 'buroku', which means 'blocks'

'Ya' – Naruto's word for 'iya', which means 'no'

Yame – Stop (Naruto's abridged version of 'yamete', which means 'stop')

Iya – No

Baka – Idiot

Dobe – Dead last

Chapter 4

Day…it was day six, wasn't it? Yes, day six. Day six, and still no answers. Kakashi had tried to come up with something…but the only thing he could figure out was that it might be related to the Kyuubi. 'Might', because they were rumors and nothing more. The only one that would know for sure was the Sandaime, and Kakashi was too proud to ask the Hokage about it.

One more day and he'd find out…saying that he decided to stick with the job.

The morning had been…interesting. It took Iruka a few moments to realize where he was and why, though Naruto seemed to enjoy waking up to the Genin being with him.

"Maybe we should see about moving in?" Iruka mused as he got Naruto changed after breakfast.

Kakashi would have spit his coffee out if he had been drinking it at the moment.

"What?" Iruka pouted at the reaction. "It's not like…well, I mean, it's sort of a solo mission for both of us…" Come to think of it, I wonder how the others are doing. We haven't had a team mission since this…am I holding everyone back?

Naruto tugged on Iruka's topknot. "Ru-Ru!"

Iruka smiled at the toddler. Ah…I think this time, it's forgivable.

"Hokage-sama said that we should take Naruto to play at the park or outside every day, since he enjoyed it so much and that he shouldn't be deprived of an outdoor playground, since others his age get it…" Kakashi trailed off. "…what?"

"When did you talk to Hokage-sama?"

"When you were sleeping."

Iruka flushed, then even more as he realized that Kakashi saw them. "Y-you were there the whole night?"

"Hmm…yep!" Kakashi grinned.

Iruka groaned and put his head in his hands to hide his red face.

Naruto poked him curiously. "Ru-Ru? Ka?"

Iruka seemed to compose himself, then moved his hands and playfully stuck out his tongue at Naruto.

Naruto squealed and laughed, which prompted the Genin to do it again.

Kakashi was actually grateful that Iruka was there…the kid was more touchy-feely than he was, so while he handled the chores of having to take care of a toddler, Iruka handled the relationship aspect.

Though, he couldn't help but feel a little inferior since he was obviously lacking in a department and Iruka had what he didn't.

"Peek-a-boo!" Iruka laughed as he made a funny face at Naruto after revealing himself.

"Ai!" Naruto cheered.

"Nyaa!" Iruka made another face, then covered himself again.

Naruto giggled, then poked at the hands that covered the face.

Iruka moved his hands again, and scrunched up his nose as he closed one eye and let his tongue loll out.

Naruto fell onto his back in laughter.

Kakashi watched in amusement. "I didn't realize that the human face could contain so many different expressions."

Iruka just grinned and made another face at Naruto, then spoke, "I already told you I was the class clown…it comes with the job."

"But you're not in the academy anymore."

Another face, and another happy laugh.

"I'm sure you do things to keep yourself sane…I guess this is part of what I do."

Kakashi nodded to that. "I take it you have the same 'class clown' position on your team? You don't do that on missions, do you?"

"You mean picking up trash and weeding gardens? I get the job done, if that's what you're asking…and I don't mess it up. I just act goofy while I do it. Otherwise, it's totally boring."

Kakashi snickered. He had, as a protégé, completely forgotten how bad D-Rank missions were. Though, come to think of it…babysitting is a D-Rank mission. Hmm…another piece to the puzzle. If Hokage-sama asked for a Genin team, there can't be anything big about the toddler. On the other hand, only Iruka showed up…wouldn't Hokage-sama have predicted that? He didn't look too disappointed when he showed up that day with Iruka in tow…

"Spacing out again? You know, they say that you can hurt yourself if you think too hard."

Kakashi shook his head, then rolled his visible eye. "Hn."

"Sorry…I don't speak caveman," Iruka replied cheekily, then ruffled Naruto's hair.

Naruto giggled both at the action, and the 'fish out of water' expression on Kakashi's face. "Kaka oka!"

"Yep! He is funny!" Iruka glanced over at the Jounin.

Kakashi did not like that sly look and impish grin…it seemed to scream 'new prank victim'. "Don't even think about it."

"Think about what?" Iruka asked innocently.

Naruto clapped his hands. His Kaka and Ru-Ru were learning…they still argued, but it was a lot more fun. There was no shouting, and the atmosphere wasn't heavy. They were amusing, actually.

"You know very well 'what'."

"No, sorry, I don't." Iruka looked back at the blond boy. "Right, Naru-chan? Kakashi-san is being silly!"

"Kaka ba! Ai!" Naruto echoed.

Kakashi knelt down in front of the child. "Why do you agree with everything he says?"

Naruto seemed to think about that, then giggled and pulled Kakashi's cheek. "Kaka oka! Ru-Ru tada!"

"I'm right, huh? You're a smart kid, Naru-chan!" Iruka chuckled.

Kakashi mock glared at the two. "The both of you are conspiring against me. I just know it."

"Well, we haven't, yet, but that's a great idea. Thanks, Kakashi-san!" Iruka, once again, had his 'oh so innocent' look on his face.

"…that's the face you make before your classmates check their desks to see who got the glue-filled chair, isn't it…" Kakashi muttered.

"Hmm?" Iruka blinked at the older teen's muttering.

"Nothing, nothing…"

"If it's nothing, how about actually playing with us this time? We don't bite too hard."

Kakashi scoffed.

"Say, Naru-chan! You want 'Kaka' to play with us?" Iruka smiled at the blond.

Kakashi's eye bugged out. "That's not fair!"

"Of course it's fair…it's Naru-chan's playtime!" Iruka hummed with a grin.

"But nobody can say 'no' to puppy dog eyes! Especially his puppy dog eyes!" Kakashi inwardly cursed the blond for being so cute. He had given into the trembling blue eyes dozens of times within the past six days…

Next, he cursed himself for saying that aloud. Honestly, what was it about the Genin that got under his skin like that?

"Kaka aso!" Naruto chirped.

"Your fate has been sealed," Iruka said to Kakashi, then turned to Naruto. "Good choice, Naru-chan! So, what do you want us to play?"

"Buro!" Naruto hurried over to the bin that had his foam blocks in it, and pulled it out. He eagerly dumped the contents on the ground.

"You heard him, Kakashi-san!" Iruka smiled.

"I swear, you're enjoying this…" Kakashi muttered.

"Of course!" Iruka laughed.

The Jounin sighed in defeat when Naruto turned his blue puppy dog look on him.

"Kaka! Aso!" Naruto held out a red block.

"You promised! A ninja doesn't go back on his word!" Iruka chirped.

"You are enjoying this entirely too much…" Kakashi said thus, but relented and sat on the ground.

Naruto all but bounced in excitement as he divvied up the blocks. Today, both his Kaka and his Ru-Ru were playing with him! What more could he ask for?

A walk in the park, maybe.

Naruto opted to walk on his own, which made the journey a slow one, but his Kaka and Ru-Ru let him.

"We should be at the playground in…fifteen minutes at this pace…" Kakashi groaned as they walked along.

"It was your decision."

"I let you handle it, too."

"Just admit it…you lost to his puppy dog eyes. Again."

"And you didn't?"

"Nope. I'm immune."

"Oh?"

"Yup. Because I do it so often, myself."

"You're saying he knows how to manipulate us already?"

Iruka paused at that, then shrugged. "Dunno."

Kakashi just sighed again, and looked at the blond that looked around in wonder while they walked. "Hey, Naruto…pay attention where you're going or you'll…"

Naruto yelped as his foot struck a rock which topped him over.

"…trip."

Naruto sniffled as tears rolled down his cheeks, but seemed to refuse to burst into sobs.

"Tough little guy, huh?" Iruka knelt down and looked at the scrape on Naruto's elbow.

Kakashi checked Naruto's knees by rolling up his pants, and was relieved to find no marks from the fall.

Naruto quietly cried.

"You bring any bandages with you?"

"As a Jounin, it's typical to do so…don't tell me you don't have any with you."

"I have a roll of bandages, yes…"

"Use it."

Iruka rolled his eyes, then pulled out the gauze and cut some off. He carefully wrapped the injury, then hugged the blond. "There you go!"

Naruto hiccupped, then wiped his eyes and looked at the bandage. He sniffled again, then smiled a bit and hugged Iruka back. "Ru-Ru! Ai!"

Iruka beamed at the small child.

"What…I don't get a hug?" Kakashi whined.

"You didn't do anything." Iruka glared at him.

"Sure I did! I checked his knees and issued orders."

Iruka's rolling of his eyes showed Kakashi what he thought of that.

Kakashi was about to continue, when he noticed that Iruka was no longer looking at them. Rather, his gaze was on three people in the clearing that were picking up litter.

"Ru-Ru?" Naruto noticed the boy's gaze as well.

"Sorry…one second." Iruka handed Naruto off to Kakashi, then headed towards the three in the clearing.

Kakashi blinked in confusion, and looked down at Naruto. "I don't suppose you know what's going on?"

Naruto looked up with an equally confused expression. "Ya. Ru-Ru?"

Kakashi sighed, then headed towards where Iruka had gone. The two could hear Iruka talking to the people.

There was another boy there around Iruka's age, as well as a girl. A man stood not too far from them, but didn't participate in the trash pick-up.

"Hijiri-kun! Ibara-san! Bekkou-sensei…" Iruka looked at the three in confusion. "What are you doing here?"

The boy, Hijiri, pointed to the basket he had with him. "Cleaning the park. Part of our mission. Duh."

Ibara rolled her eyes. "I knew you weren't bright, Iruka, but to ask the obvious?"

"No, I mean…" Iruka frowned a bit. "…why didn't you call for me?"

"You have your own mission…we have ours. No reason the team has to stop because you're watching some demon kid." Hijiri grunted.

Iruka looked at their Jounin instructor that stood nearby. "Bekkou-sensei…? I don't understand…"

Bekkou sighed. "It's like this…I can't put the rest of my team on standby because we're missing a member. As long as we get the jobs done, the rest of the team can continue to train and do missions."

"But, wait…what about me?" Iruka protested.

"I'd imagine you're getting fine training in babysitting a demon…"

"But, Bekkou-sensei, that's not training! It's babysitting! I'm not getting any stronger as a ninja by doing that! Why not let me join the training, too?" Iruka raised his voice to hide his hurt.

Ibara gave him a whack over the head. "Like we need the help of the class dobe?"

Iruka rubbed the spot as he pushed back tears of pain and frustration.

Hijiri agreed with his teammate. "You'd just slow us down, Iruka. It's been four days. If we hope to enter the Chuunin exams ever, we have to get a certain amount of missions under our belt."

Bekkou nodded. "There you have it, Iruka. You chose to return for the babysitting mission the next day…so, we chose to continue our activities. Just don't let yourself get too slack in what skills you do have. Then again, with babysitting like what you're doing, it might be permanent…I suppose I'll have to file for a new member…"

Iruka stared in shock and disbelief. "You're…replacing me?"

Hijiri rolled his eyes. "Not like we've ever been a 'team', anyway. Even Ibara can't pull her own weight around missions…"

"What was that, Hiro-baka?" Ibara glared at the boy. "You're no better! Average the entire way through!"

"Pfft…" Hijiri snorted.

"Knock it off, you two…" Bekkou grumbled.

"Ru-Ru?"

The four turned to see Kakashi standing there with Naruto in his arms.

"Let's go clean the other side of the park…can't take care of all the trash here, anyway…"

Ibara hit Hijiri again. "You're not the leader, moron! But, I think we should clean the other side!"

"That's what I just said, you bi…"

"Move along, then." Bekkou pushed the two before they started another fight. He gave a respective nod to Kakashi, and a glare to Naruto, then dragged his team out of sight.

Silence reigned over the remaining three in the clearing for a few moments, not including Naruto's whimpers.

"Let's move on. We've still got another fourteen minutes to the playground," Kakashi stated.

"You aren't going to say anything?" Iruka didn't look up as he spoke in a low tone.

"You know the answer to that. Of course I want to say something. I want to say a lot of things…"

"Then say them!"

Kakashi narrowed his visible eye. "Need I remind you that you're a Genin…you can't order me around."

"I don't care!" Iruka shouted.

"This is why I didn't want to say anything, now. No matter what I said, you're too emotional to listen clearly. Anything I do say, you'll twist."

"Shut up!" Iruka snapped. "Why are you talking, then!?"

"Maybe in hopes you'll understand? But I guess I overestimated you…"

"Of course you did! Everyone did! It's not like I was popular anyway, but my own team just…!"

"That's not a 'team'…it's trash. I don't see why your 'team' was passed as true Genin to begin with," Kakashi interrupted.

Naruto squirmed in the teen's arms. He wanted to be put down…he didn't like the vibes in the area…

"Okay, maybe we were dysfunctional…but we were still a team! And then…"

"Are you saying you regret getting the mission to watch Naruto?"

"No! But…well, maybe…"

Naruto whined and struggled again.

Kakashi got the hint and put the child down, then looked back at Iruka. "Then, those pieces of trash are more important to you than this boy?"

"How can you compare them!?" Iruka looked up, brown eyes swimming with grief.

"Easily. Trash like your 'teammates'…I refuse to acknowledge as ninja. Should they ever make it up to my rank…well, but that isn't going to happen. They should quit before a real mission gets them killed."

Iruka flinched. "Do you think the same about me?"

"Partially. Seeing you interact with them tells me your standing on the team. The fact that you wanted to fit in with that trash is appalling. But if you return to those pieces of trash and abandon Naruto…you're even worse."

Iruka lunged forward and grabbed Kakashi by his flak jacket. "Then, what am I supposed to do!? You can be all 'elite', but have you ever been betrayed by people you thought were your friends!?"

Naruto whimpered, but the two didn't seem to notice.

Kakashi sighed. "You're still as disillusioned as when we first met. People like that aren't your 'friends'."

"It's not being disillusioned!"

"Then should I call it believing in a false hope?"

"Shut your mouth!" Iruka went to punch the older teen, but his fist was caught by said teen.

Naruto looked back and forth between them with tears in his eyes. This was the worst fight he had ever seen his Kaka and Ru-Ru have.

"…and let you believe in something false, is that what you want?" Kakashi was demanding with a glare.

"Maybe I do!"

"Then you're a disillusioned idiot!"

Naruto wiped his eyes. "Ru-Ru…Kaka…"

"Beats being an icicle with the emotional capacity of a rock!"

"An icicle can't have emotions."

"You know what I mean, you jerk!"

Naruto squeaked when the two landed on the ground, wrestling. It looked like his Kaka was winning, but his Ru-Ru kept surprising his Kaka. Either way, he didn't want them to be fighting. "Ru-Ru! Kaka! Ya!"

The two didn't hear him as they continued to get under each other's skin with verbal barbs. If anyone had walked by then, they might think they were under a Genjutsu to see the cool, composed Kakashi in a heated argument and grapple with a Genin.

"A good friend once told me… 'Those that disobey orders are trash. But those that abandon their teammates are worse than trash.'. Your 'teammates' fall into the latter category."

Naruto stared at the two, sadly. "Kaka…"

"Then, why not call me trash? Didn't I choose this mission over them!?"

"Ru-Ru…" Naruto sniffled.

"I didn't say they were just 'trash'. I said they were lower than trash. I haven't a tiniest bit of respect for Bekkou, either. In my opinion, he shouldn't have been allowed to pass to Jounin."

Another sniffle from the child. "Ya…"

"So, Bekkou-sensei was new…and I sort of already knew the others didn't think much of me, but that's why I had to prove them wrong!"

"Then, you'd be willing to abandon Naruto to go train with them? Who was it that said that kids need punctuality in their caretakers?"

Tears rolled down whiskered cheeks. "Iya…"

"How else am I going to get better!? It would only be for a little while! But it doesn't matter since he told me 'no'!"

"More disillusioned thinking! How dense can you be?!"

"That's the last thing I want to hear from you, of all people!"

"What's that supposed to mean!?"

"Exactly as it sounds, mister 'I don't give a crap about other people's feelings'!"

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Yame…"

"You don't want to go there, Iruka-chan. You know next to nothing about me that fame hasn't already spoken about!"

"The same can be said about me! You don't know about me, either!"

"I've heard plenty between your conversation with your 'pal' the other day and your 'team' today…better to surround yourself with false friends than none? Is that what you think?"

"Go to hell!"

"Make me!"

Naruto had enough.

If the two had been paying attention, they would have seen the steady increase of chakra around the boy, as well as slight ripples in the air from the very fiber of the chakra being disturbed.

The two didn't find out about that, however, until the blond screamed and unleashed that chakra.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

Iruka and Kakashi were nearly blown away, then pushed into the ground by the sheer force of the air pressure created from the billowing chakra that expanded from the small child.

The two could only stare in shocked silence…because it wasn't ordinary chakra, either.

The chakra changed Naruto's appearance…his whisker marks grew even deeper, his teeth extended into sharp canines, his nails grew into claws…and surprisingly, two fox-like ears and a tail sprouted from his head and backside respectively.

The grass rippled and was all but flattened, and a couple trees that weren't as steady were uprooted or cracked from the force.

"What the hell…!?" Iruka exclaimed.

"Good question!" Kakashi's visible eye was wide as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing.

Naruto seemed to be in a full blown temper tantrum as he cried, shouted, kicked, and screamed.

The scariest thing was that he didn't even seem aware of the immense chakra that rolled off of him and was thick enough to cause physical damage to the surrounding area.

Kakashi pushed his hitai-ate up to reveal his Sharingan eye…which widened in surprise.

Iruka stared at the ninja for a moment, then looked back at Naruto as he coughed from the wind pressure. He couldn't move from the force pushing him into the ground…and it was starting to get to more of a painful level than just 'uncomfortable'.

Kakashi didn't understand what he was seeing. The chakra from the boy…it wasn't like any he had ever seen before.

No…that wasn't true.

The older teen's red eye widened. It was the same type of chakra that the Kyuubi displayed a month ago.

"N-Naru-chan!" Iruka called over the winds and force.

"Naruto! Stop!" Kakashi shouted as well. But he couldn't move. It didn't have the killer intent that the chakra from the Kyuubi during the battle did, but it was still the same type of chakra. Was Naruto some sort of beast? A monster? Were the rumors true? What would happen…?

The Copy Nin blanched when he saw Iruka crawl towards the toddler. "Stop, you idiot!"

Iruka frowned as he continued to pull himself along by his arms. I can't. Kakashi-san was right…Naruto means a lot to me! I'm not regretful in the least that I took that mission! I hadn't smiled like I did around Naruto for two years…and those people really weren't my friends. They tolerated me so we could be a team…

The Genin winced, but continued. …now that they've been allowed to continue missions until they get a new member, they don't have to tolerate me. But…even Kakashi-san tolerates me. He gives me chance after chance. And Naruto…I can't abandon him! I'm scared, but…I have to keep moving!

"Iruka! Don't get close to him!" Kakashi was afraid. Afraid of what was going to happen, and afraid that the Genin was going to go and get himself killed. Again…it seems like, again, I can't save someone! I can't get my body to move…not with what I'm seeing. Move! Move, dammit!

Iruka could barely breathe as he reached the center of the maelstrom of chakra that was the child. He didn't care about the changes the boy had undergone…instead, he pushed himself to his knees with much effort, then reached out and pulled Naruto into a tight embrace.

"Naru-chan…it's okay…" Iruka winced when the toddler's clawed hands dug into his arms, but he didn't pull out. He didn't pull back when the air itself seemed to be razor sharp, and tore paper-cut deep slices into him.

Kakashi watched in astonishment. He's putting himself out for the kid…

What was even more surprising was that the red chakra was receding.

The winds were dying down.

The storm was ending.

Naruto stopped screaming as the pressure from the chakra and the wind slowed to a stop. He looked up with animalistic red eyes at Iruka.

Iruka felt a chill go down his spine at those slitted eyes, but could still see that it was Naruto. So, he smiled and just hugged the boy again. "I'm sorry for fighting, Naru-chan. It's okay, though. It's okay…"

Slowly, the ears and tail retracted as if they had never been there. The claws pulled back into normal length finger nails, which Naruto pulled out of Iruka's arms. His teeth became human-like again instead of like an animal's. Finally, the whisker marks faded back to their normal status, and red slitted eyes slowly faded to wide baby blue ones that leaked tears.

Naruto hiccupped, then looked at the Genin that had so readily accepted him. He had been warned by his Mama and Papa that not all humans would accept his fox side, but that he'd learn to control it.

At least, his Mama had been alive, then. She wasn't on this plane of existence anymore, and couldn't show him…he'd have to learn on his own. But…maybe he wasn't so alone. His Ru-Ru wasn't afraid, and his Kaka didn't run, either.

He remembered that his Mama had told him that humans were sometimes cruel, but not to hate them. To try to understand.

At the moment, he felt warm…and he felt loved, like when he was with his Mama and-or Papa. And…it was the one that was holding him that caused it. His Ru-Ru.

Naruto whimpered, then wailed and clung to Iruka's shirt tightly while his small body shook with sobs.

Iruka sat back with a small smile as he closed his eyes and rocked the boy back and forth with his own body. "There, there…it's okay. It's okay."

Kakashi pulled himself up, then stumbled over. He pulled his hitai-ate down over his Sharingan eye once more as he watched with his other eye. He heard Naruto's sobs die down, and Iruka continue to whisper nonsense words. He saw the cuts on Iruka's frame, and how the toddler slowly stopped trembling.

Iruka fell silent when Naruto passed into sleep.

Kakashi then held out his hand to the Genin.

Iruka looked up at him in surprise. He had expected to be scolded, or for the argument to continue.

Instead, Kakashi looked at him softly and smiled. "Need a hand up?"

"Ah…" Iruka hesitated.

"I take it back…not what I said about your 'teammates', but about you. I'm actually glad you aren't on that team anymore. I wouldn't recognize any of those brats you once worked with as ninja…but the way you put yourself out for Naruto just now…"

Iruka was shocked by Kakashi's speech.

"…protecting what's precious to you, just like you once said you'd do…that's true strength. That's what a ninja's strength is. Iruka…you're a true shinobi."

Iruka's eyes widened, then he looked away as his shoulders shook. But he didn't feel hurt, this time…and actually, he felt better. Since the betrayal of his teammates…to have someone acknowledge me like that…it made him feel good.

Kakashi chuckled softly, and hefted the boy to his feet. "Perhaps we should try again for the playground tomorrow. It seems as if this afternoon's events tired Naruto out."

"Un."

Kakashi put a hand on Iruka's shoulder, then gave said shoulder a gentle pat. "Let's go back."

Iruka shifted Naruto into one arm so he could wipe his eyes with his other arm.

"We have to get your cuts cleaned out. Geez…talk about suicidal. I mean, just running into an attack…we'll have to work on that."

Iruka made a small noise as he tried to clean the tears off his face.

"You know…we usually get an hour or two of boredom when Naruto goes down for a nap. I don't know about you, but babysitting doesn't exactly hone ninja skills. I don't want to be called for a mission and get killed because I'm rusty…"

Iruka glanced sideways at the teen as they walked.

"Hmm…what I'm saying is…I need to stay in shape, and you need to work on other ninja skills besides the 'save my precious people even if I have to sacrifice myself' ability."

Iruka chuckled, then wiped his eyes a final time. A large smile adorned his face as he looked at the older teen. "Thanks, Kakashi-san."

Kakashi waved his hand dismissively. "Mutual benefits to training with each other and all…"

"Whatever you say." Iruka smiled.

Kakashi felt his mouth close at the bright smile on Iruka's face. So, he settled for a smile of his own. Even though he still didn't know why his teacher requested him personally, and the display of power just added to the questions, he'd find out the next day…because he wasn't about to quit this mission.

How could he, after all…when he was just reminded of what it's like to have precious people to protect.

TO BE CONTINUED…