Summary:
'"What human would leave a cutie like you all alone this far into the forest?" she asked the very happy baby. She should be wondering why the babe was out here without an adult, but all she could think was how precious the little one was. She moved the blanket out of the way and touched her wet nose to the pudgy belly she found, making the little one squeal in delight.' Rewriting and still in progress! Sasu/Naru main pairing.
Characters/Pairings:
The main pairing is going to be Sasu/Naru. There will be many other side characters and side pairings as the story progresses.
Disclaimer
Firstly, I do not own anything pertaining to the storyline of Naruto or Naruto Shippuden, nor do I own any recognizable characters from the shows. I only own this story and any characters I have made up for it.
Secondly, if you do not like male/male pairings or any of the pairings in specific, I respect that but please don't read this fanfic and say mean things about it. As it is fanfiction, it is my personal opinions and likes and I would ask that you respect that.
Thirdly, If you like this sort of thingˌ please do read and review if you wish.
Enjoy! Or not. It's entirely up to you.
Chapter 7
"Why do I let myself get talked into these situations?" a voice asked dejectedly.
The voice came from Iruka Umino, a teacher from Konoha's ninja academy. His best friend, the Jonin Kakashi Hatake, had convinced him to go on a camping trip out in the forest surrounding the village. Usually he loved to go on camping trips, being a teacher, he rarely got the opportunity to leave the village, so he came out to the forest any time he was given a long enough break. Sometimes Kakashi would tag along if he wasn't on a mission, and other times he would come out alone. Iruka had always found camping to be a very calm and relaxing activity to relieve the stress of busy school life.
Well, that was usually.
This time, he wished he had refused the offer and stayed home; read a book perhaps or maybe take a relaxing visit to the hot springs.
Instead he had let Kakashi talk him into going camping. In. The. Winter!
Don't get him wrong, he loved this time of year…from the warmth of his home. And just because the academy was closed for the week because Christmas was in a couple of days, does not mean he wants to freeze out in the forest.
"Why did I say yes?" he shivered and began rubbing his arms for warmth.
He was currently sitting upon a large rock and covered in all the blankets that had been brought along with them. He had on his thickest shirt and pants, his fuzzy earmuffs, padded gloves, and wool scarf; all of which were the color black in the hopes some of the sunlight would be absorbed into his clothes and help warm him up. He was trying to avoid the use of his chakra, because he didn't want to exhaust himself.
He turned his head to the side when he heard the crunch of the snow and glared at the figure approaching, arms full of wood. Iruka couldn't understand how Kakashi could walk around in the snow without extra layers.
"Where have you been? I was about ready to send out a shadow clone to collect wood! You were taking way too long." His glare deepened when a thought came to him. "Please tell me you weren't wasting time reading that perverted book of yours."
"I don't know what you mean." he said innocently with a masked smile.
"Just get a fire going." Iruka huffed back.
Kakashi dropped his gathered wood next to the rock circle he had made at the center of their camp before he had left. He began to arrange the smaller twigs and branches before he grabbed a box of matches from one of his pockets. He lit one and gently placed it on one of the twigs. When the blaze caught, it spread relatively fast. He grabbed a bigger branch and placed it on top, making the fire grow to a decent size. The snow around the circle instantly began to melt.
He scooted away and grabbed a longer stick to poke the fire with.
Iruka tried his best to move his rock even a little bit closer to the flames and felt relief at the warmth the flames provided.
"Next time you ask me to go camping in the winter, I'm going to punch you in the face."
"Noted."
They stayed in relative silence for a while before Iruka spoke up again.
"I hope you realize we're going back to the village tomorrow." He shifted his blankets around a bit for continuing. "I am not staying out here for Christmas. I still haven't even decorated yet and I know some of my students will happen by on Christmas."
"Got it."
Silence fell over them again, Kakashi poking at the fire and once in a while adding another stick. They didn't speak for a while, until Iruka's stomach ached slightly.
"What do we have to eat anyways, or did you forget to bring food like last time?"
Kakashi shrugged and rubbed his head sheepishly. Iruka sighed and shook his head.
"It's a good thing I'm always prepared then…" he reluctantly left the cocoon of blankets and walked over to his pack laying against a tree. He rummaged through it and produced two bento boxes he had prepared before meeting his friend at the main gate. He walked back over to his rock, handing Kakashi a box as he passed, and sat himself down. He removed the top and sighed happily at the still warm food. He also had a thermos of cocoa to drink as well.
"Itadakimasu." They both said with clasped hands and a small bow, before they both began to eat. Iruka had also packed two other boxes for tomorrow. They were of cold food so they wouldn't go bad or need reheating.
Iruka was bringing another bite to his mouth when he heard a voice from his right. He looked to Kakashi, who was on his left, and he nodded, confirming he had heard it to. It was too soft for them to have heard what it said the first time and Iruka jumped when the voice spoke again, but this time right next to him.
"That looks good. What is it?" Iruka's head whipped to the side and he was confused when he found no one there.
"Wha…?"
"I'm down he'e!" he felt a tug on his pant leg and looked down. His eyes widened in shock when he found a large wolf pup sitting there. She was tan with a stripe of black running down her back, a collar wrapped loosely around her neck. He stared at her blankly; Kakashi was as well, but he had an amused look upon his face. She smiled, the best she could, up at him and repeated her question.
"What a'e you eating?"
"Uh…well…it's…um…" he wasn't really surprised at the fact she was talking, but more that she had snuck up on him and Kakashi. He jumped again when he heard another voice, this one slightly angry, coming from the left.
"Sun-Dance! I told you not to run off like that!" they both looked towards the sound, the pup flinching in light guilt, and Iruka's eyes widened again. A very large wolf was walking towards him. She was completely black, with white paws, and burning golden eyes. She too was wearing a collar, though a considerably older looking one. Even still, she was a rather intimidating sight. She grabbed the pup by the scruff of her neck and set her down a couple of feet away.
"What did I tell you about talking to strangers?"
"Uh…not to?"
"That's right. Next time don't go running off at the smell of food, okay?"
"Okay Mommy. I'm sorry."
"You don't need to apologize, I just don't want you to get hurt." She leaned down and licked the top of the little one's head, then wrapped a paw around her for a make-shift hug. She let go and the pup trotted off behind a bush where two more quiet voices started whispering at her. The mother wolf huffed amusedly before walking back over to Iruka. She sat herself down a foot away and bowed her head.
"I would like to apologize for my daughter interrupting your meal. We were making our way back to the den for dinner when she smelt your food."
"Uh…I-It's no t-trouble really. Children are always hungry." He smiled at her uncertainly. At Kakashi's amused chuckle, he turned at glared at the white-head.
"Oh, don't I know it." the wolf chuckled wistfully.
Iruka let a more certain smile cross his lips and chuckled along with her. She calmed down a moment later and lifted a paw towards him.
"By the way, my name is Shadow Ookami."
Author's Note
I tried to keep this scene somewhat the same but I felt how Iruka and Kakashi meet Shadow could have gone differently, so I just had Sun-Dance jump right in and talk to them. :D
I gave Shadow a last name for pretty much the only purpose of Naruto having a last name for when he takes the ninja tests. It may be subject to change though. Ookami, for those who don't know, actually means wolf in Japanese; I thought it was fitting.
That's pretty much it, so later!
TTFN
Taric
