A/N: I'm done! Phew...Yes this took like...10 times longer[maybe even more] than usual...yeah, I was updating almost every day and BAM 17 days passed since my last update ._. Sorry, I hate myself for doing this but oh well...better late than never c:" Well, this was a little longer than usual so, enjoy~
Konoha's streets were noisy and busy as usual. Gai, Raidō, Mizuki, Kurenai and Asuma were out for some dumplings, just like the old days.
"Oh! Gen!" Raidō saw the senbon sucker passing by the place.
"Why don't you join us for some dumplings, youthful one?" Gai suggested, energetic like always, his smile almost blinding.
"Hey, guys!"
"You look tired, what's up?" Asuma asked.
"I just came back from my first mission as a jōnin yesterday," Genma started, taking a seat next to Raidō. "after that, I went straight to the Hokage to report." He sighed. "By the way, I saw Iruka! I guess that he's fully healed now, since he isn't in the hospital anymore. But he didn't seem like he wanted to talk about it...At least we know that he's alright. I saw that the incident left a scar over the bridge of his nose though. Oi, Mizuki! You are his best friend, aren't you? You should talk with him. I mean, we don't even know what exactly happened, all we know is that he lost consciousness for a few days."
"Hm, you're right, maybe I'll pay him a visit tomorrow."
"Hoo! My eternal rival! Why don't you join us to enjoy some dumplings together!"
The others just watched, knowing that Gai's invitation was going to get ignored, like always. Or not...!?
"Ah, Gai, sorry, maybe another time, I'm kinda in a hurry right now." Kakashi said and Gai stared at his back while he was walking away.
"At least he didn't just walk away, ignoring you." Raidō tried to be positive.
"Woah, looks like someone is finally in the right mood!" Kurenai added.
"Nah, more like not in the wrong one!" The senbon sucker chuckled.
"I wonder what happened with him, I haven't seen him like that in ages..." Gai said with a surprisingly serious tone.
-the next day-
Iruka was lying on the couch in the living room, staring at the ceiling, which seemed really interesting right now. He looked at the clock. It was still 8:36 a.m. He had already had breakfast, showered and all. He couldn't really sleep well last night, no particular reason. His thoughts were off on a certain silverhaired ninja he met the day before yesterday.
'I wonder if I helped him. Hm, maybe I should ask Sandaime for some advice. I'll have to go there and ask him about something else anyways...But is it good to mess in Kakashi's life? What if he likes being an ANBU? No, he doesn't seem like a person who would like killing mercilessly anyone he's ordered to.' His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Who could it be?" He stood up and went to check who it is this early.
"Sorry, did I wake you up? I just came to see how you're doing."
"Oh, Mizuki! No, I woke up a while ago. Come in." Iruka opened the door wider to let the other in.
"No, well, I was thinking, why don't we go out and take a walk?"
"Hm, the weather is nice, so I'm okay with that!" Iruka smiled. "Just let me change into something more comfortable." Mizuki nodded and finally came in and followed Iruka. He sat on the couch that Iruka was relaxing on not so long ago. The brunette went into his bedroom and put on his shinobi outfit since his best friend was like that too. When he fastened his hitai-ate, he came out of the bedroom and found Mizuki in the same position he left him. They left the apartment after Iruka locked it and headed to the park.
"So?"
"Hm?" Iruka hummed, confused.
"Oh, come on!" You know what I'm talking about!"
"Haha, you're right." Iruka chuckled. "But what exactly do you want to know?"
"Um, like, everything? You can start with that scar of yours and give me proper reasons for making everyone worry like this, they wouldn't even let us visit you while you were hospitalized. Oh, and why did I have to learn about your condition from the Hokage?"
"Well, you see..." They found a wooden bench under a tree and sat down. A good fifteen minutes had passed while Iruka was telling his friend about the past events. "...and then I woke up in the hospital with a terrible headache and a permanent scar. It's not that I can blame Kakashi-san though, I was the one spacing out..."
"Clumsy as always" Mizuki muttered. "Hm, is it bad that I think that it suits you?" They both chuckled. "So much happened the past 3 months."
"I know, right! Oh, I still haven't congratulated Genma and Raidō about their promotion to jōnin."
"Well, they were both busy while you were unconscious anyways, so don't worry about it. Are you sure you don't want to become a jōnin? I mean, you have the skills so..."
The chunin nodded. "I already decided. I'm going to teach at the academy!" He beamed.
"Eh!? You too?"
"What do you mean?"
"I had the same idea in my mind." Mizuki lightly chuckled.
"Heh, not that it's the first time we think the same!" Iruka laughed softly. "Say, do you think that it's a good idea to suggest to the Third to make Kakashi-san a jōnin-sensei?"
"Why would he do that? Kakashi is their best ANBU."
"That's true but...I don't think that it's good for him, it's too much pressure...killing like that isn't easily taken emotionally. He seemed really sad for his actions. I think that teaching genin will lighten his look on life. Right now, there barely is any positive emotion left in him. He's also been having nightmares and...hey, what's with that face?"
"You care a lot for him, I see. Neh, Iruka?" Mizuki started with a teasing voice, the other not liking a bit where this was going.."Do you, by any chance, have a crush on a certain someone?"
"Huh?" It took him some time to take the hint the other threw. "E-eh!?" Iruka felt all of the blood in his body rush into his face, blushing furiously, trying to glare at Mizuki's amused grin.
"A-haa~Gotcha!"
"What! N-no, I didn't say a word!"
"No need, your face says it all~"
"It's not like a person like him would be interested in me!"
"Yeah, yeah, just so you know, I'll support you, whatever you choose, that's what best friends are for, after all."Mizuki said, "And about your question, giving it a try wouldn't hurt. Well, I have to go, got some errands to run, see you around!"
"Bye!"
"Good afternoon, Hokage-sama."
"Iruka? What brings you here?"
"Sandaime-sama, remember when you asked me why I don't want to be promoted to jōnin? I gave it a last thought and came here to ask you...Could you, please, assign me as a teacher at the academy? I want to make sure that the new generation will carry the "Will of Fire" and watch them grow into strong shinobi."
"Ah, so you finally said it, took you long enough."
"You knew?" the chunin asked.
"I noticed that you can take care of children. You are also very kind but strict too. So I think that this kind of job suits you perfectly. Take care!" Iruka nodded, smiling happily. "Oh and also.." the younger one remembered. "I met Kakashi-san at the Memorial Stone. We talked with him and I gave him some positive views of what happened but...Hokage-sama, I think that keeping him in ANBU is wrong, it only keeps him away from being a human being. He'll soon turn into a heartless weapon, if he hasn't already, that is. I know it's not my bussiness but I can't help but be worried. This may be sudden but...wouldn't it be better if he becomes a jōnin-sensei?" A second of silence followed, the older man thinking.
"You may be right. The purpose of him being assigned as an ANBU was to distract him and take away the guilt and pain after everything that had happened to him. But, now when you think about it, it only ended up darkening his heart even more...It's hard to believe that he endured so much, without showing any emotion when killing, normally, anyone would lose his sanity."
"Thank you for understanding, Hokage-sama!"
"Did he tell you anything else?"
"Um...He said that he had a nightmare and didn't feel like sleeping anymore so he went to the Stone."
"Nothing new then,hm...Okay, Iruka, you're free to go, thank you."
"That's my line." He smiled softly and left the office, heading to his place before it got dark.
-one day later-
Iruka decided to enjoy his last week before starting to teach at the academy. He left his place and his feet took him to the old training grounds.
-(Kakashi's P.O.V.)-
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu" I said, summoning my pack of nin-ken with a puff of smoke.
"Boss!" the grumpy pug said with a bored tone, looking at me. 'He never changes, does he?' I mentally frowned.
"It's rare for you to summon all of us," he said observing the surrounding area, "did something serious happen?"
"Yes, it is rare, so be grateful that I'm taking you guys out when I'm ordered to rest."
"Oh? So we can play around freely?"
"Yes, and don't ask me to play with you, I'm too old for that."
"If you say so. Thank you Boss!"
"Yeah, yeah." I waved my hand "Now go." I said and sat on the soft, fresh grass, spacing out, almost falling asleep.
"I see you trust them a lot, letting your guard down like this." I almost jumped when I heard a familiar voice. How come I didn't sense him?
"Hi, Kakashi-san." The person greeted me with his always smiling face.
"Hey there, Iruka."
"Hm,you look like you are enjoying yourself." he sat next to me, "I haven't seen you like this, did something good happen?"
"You should know."
"Huh?" Iruka tilted his head, much like a confused dog would.
"Today the Hokage called me. I'm free of my position as an ANBU and assigned as a jōnin-sensei."
"Oh, that's great, congratulations then!" he said, smiling innocently.
''I know, right...I think that you did well, changing a Kage's opinion about someone's position isn't an easy task."
"Eh? H-how did you...?"
"Iruka, I don't share my sadness with everyone." I admitted. "Thought, Hokage-sama alrealy knew about my nightmares and all...I just had a feeling that a certain chunin had changed his mind."
"Sorry, I shouldn't have-"
"No, that's now what I meant! Actually...Thank you. For...caring." I smiled.
-(Iruka's P.O.V.)-
Kakashi smiled. Wait. Kakashi? Smiled? Eh!? I blinked. Or at least I think so, he's wearing that mask of his and I can't really tell for sure. But I'm happy that he's not sad anymore. Wait, why the hell am I blushing! I blushed even more when I realized it. I hope it went unnoticed, even though I highly doubt that.
"Well, I thought that it's quite the distraction. The kids can change you entirely and easily, no matter who you are. I was also assigned as a teacher at the academy. I've always wanted to, since I became a chunin. Somehow, when I see children, my heart warms up, no matter what happened before that."
"Hmm, you are right. Though, just because they are children doesn't mean I'll go easy on them."
"You've got a point there! You should be a bit strict too so they would know who's the one who rules."
"Boss, when are we going home? All of us got hungry from all this running around." A little pug came closer to us. "Is this a friend of yours? I barely see you talking with anyone."
"Oh, is this a ninja dog?" I asked, petting the grumpy dog. "What's his name?"
"Yes, he is a friend of mine, Pakkun. Iruka, this is Pakkun, one of my hounds."
"Iruka, nice to meet you, I'm glad that Boss has finally found someone to socialize with, take care of him, please." I chuckled and continued to pet him, the creature leaning to the touch. "Boss, I like him."
"You make me sound like some anti-social guy, Pakkun!" Kakashi frowned.
"Aren't you?" the dog talked back.
"Ugh, just go and play a little more, we'll be going back in five minutes." The other shooed, obviously annoyed, which I found amusing. The dog muttered something inaudible and walked back to the others.
"Hmm, there must be something in you, Pakkun doesn't like just anyone." Kakashi stated, surprised.
"Really?"
"Didn't you see how grumpy he is? Even to me, his owner and so-called 'Boss'..."
"Reminds me of a certain silverhead." We both chuckled.
"Well, I guess I'll have to go now," he said, looking at the dogs that approached them slowly. "I have a whole pack of dogs to feed, after all."
"Mhm, I should go home too, it was nice to talk with you, Kakashi-san, we'll see eachother later!" I said and and stood up from the grass, starting to walk away while he was counting the dogs to check if everyone is there.
"Ah, Iruka...do you mind going out...for a walk tomorrow?"
"S-sure. What time?" I smiled. Oh God, for a second I thought he was talking about a date. Ugh, what am I thinking, I mentally kicked myself, it's not like an elite well-known ninja like him would fall for an unskilled chunin like me. That Mizuki! It's his fault... making me think about this kind of thing! I shook all my thoughts away when I heard Kakashi-san's voice.
"Hmm, how about...7 p.m.?"
"That's alright and shall we meet here?"
"Yes. See you tomorrow then."
I simply nodded. I need to take a shower so I can clear my thoughts off, I thought and headed straight home.
A/N: Yes, yes, I know. I said that I will add the shōnen-ai but things didn't go as planned and yeah...but there are some hints already, at least it's something~
R&R and cya in the next chapter!