Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine though I desperately wished it was
Relief
Although he had seen him a few times since the last, Iruka was too fueled with anger and worry to count them, and so it was after the attack on the village by Orochimaru that he saw Kakashi for the seventh time.
The sense of déjà vu was so incredibly strong Iruka had to concentrate to not be sick. The only difference was the smaller death count and the weather, which had been ironically sunny the last time. No matter the differences it was still the same feeling that populated the village as they stood mourning. The Sandaime was gone, dead in a matter that was so similar to Minato that it had made everyone shiver when they thought about it. As the funeral proceeded Iruka stood there in the exact same spot he stood at the last Hokage funeral and standing near him at the exact same angle and distance, was Hatake Kakashi standing stiff and looking deceptively calm. As the teacher looked upon him, Iruka noted another difference between that last service and this one. He now knew what the covered Sharingan eye looked like and now Iruka concentrated on the masked face.
What did the silver-haired man look like underneath that thin veil of cloth? Did he have scars? Was his skin smooth or rough with stubble? As the Chuunin pondered these questions he noticed the focus of his attention turn his way, and just like before connect their gaze. Iruka still saw the hurt and pain in that dark eye, but instead of jerking his face away from the other like a coward, he did something rather different. He smiled. Only Iruka could send a smile that said :"I'm sorry for the way I acted" and "It'll be okay, don't worry" all at once. A flash of something like surprise passed Kakashi's eye for a brief second before he nodded toward the Chuunin, acknowledging his apology, his sympathy, and his greeting.
As the two men broke their locked gaze Iruka kept smiling despite the seriousness of the event he was attending. That small nod Kakashi sent his way sent a flood of relief through Iruka and made the teacher realize that maybe it really will be alright.
