A/N Hello, here's another chapter. It's come about much sooner than anticipated because, well, life has a habit of chucking the totally unexpected at you. So it goes...

Big thanks to everyone who reviewed/alerted/favourited etc, I really appreciate it.

Usual disclaimer about not inventing Naruto and this being unbeta'd applies. Apols for any mistakes.

Chapter 7

Iruka remained static for two solid minutes, eyes wide open and hand clamped across his mouth. His body was immobile but his mind was spinning. He'd just talked about Danzou and his motives – the seal he had received from the Hokage was supposed to paralyse him. And after he was paralysed he'd die a long and protracted death from asphyxiation, suffocation or starvation, unable to move and incapable of finding any means to sustain himself.

He exhaled.

What? He could still breathe. How long would it take for the seal to take effect?

Kakashi just stood there observing him, head quirked and with a slightly bemused expression. Iruka panicked far too quickly.

"Kakashi, I've spoken out about Danzou to you. I just didn't think. I am likely to be paralysed at any minute. Please kiss me before I lose all feeling."

Kakashi leaned in and kissed the chuunin on the lips. It was brief but tender and his full lips felt warm against Iruka's mouth.

"'Kashi, I want more. I want to feel you before I have no feelings left."

Kakashi leaned in again, grabbed Iruka's shoulders and kissed the chuunin harder. He closed his eyes and opened his mouth, pressing his tongue against the chuunin's lips, as though demanding access. Iruka opened his mouth to allow Kakashi in and their tongues danced together, probing, exploring and tasting each other. It felt so good.

Eventually Kakashi broke the kiss and looked at his boyfriend, who still appeared extremely flustered.

"Relax, my love," the jounin said and pulled Iruka in tight to hold him, gently caressing the short fluffy hairs at the nape of his neck with the tips of his fingers. Iruka pulled back and frowned.

"But you don't understand. This is really serious. I've just received a seal from Danzou that will paralyse me if I talk about him. Don't you realise that I'm going to die?"

"You seem vigorous enough to me, you know. Do you have any idea how long the curse takes to be activated?" Kakashi had a rather smug grin on his face.

"But, but, but…"

"Iruka. Calm down. Do you remember that seal that we did a few days ago? The one where you had to lie very still but you got so outrageously horny that you jumped me right after we'd completed it?"

"You said it didn't work!"

"No, I said that I wasn't sure if it had worked. I am certain now though."

"What?"

"That seal was designed to protect you from Danzou's curse. I learned it from the rogue shinobi I spied on when I was on that last mission." Kakashi looked extremely pleased with himself.

"But I have this mark on my tongue! I will be paralysed!"

"Yes, but you have also been raving about Danzou and his evil plots for about ten minutes now and I still don't see any signs of paralysis."

Iruka took a deep breath and relaxed. He looked sheepishly at his boyfriend and grinned. Kakashi was right. As usual.

The jounin's eye arched into a smile. The barrier seal had worked. Iruka was able to talk about his experiences with Danzou without any ill-effects. Kakashi pulled Iruka to him and held him tight. He wasn't going to let his boyfriend know, but he was secretly very, very relieved.


Kakashi still wasn't healing to Iruka's satisfaction and the teacher was particularly concerned about the gash on the Copy-nin's arm which had refused to close properly. He was worried that is was going to get infected. Iruka decided that the only thing to do was to go to the medical centre and get hold of some proper supplies. He was sure that he could nip along to the hospital and make up some excuse about grabbing medicine somehow.

As he walked through Konoha towards the hospital he couldn't help noticing the Root ANBU who were always present patrolling the streets these days. Danzou had decided that the village would feel safer with a constant shinobi presence in Konoha and the visibility of the Root ninja would reassure the civilians that the new Hokage had their safety and security at heart. The villagers had been impressed with the way that Root had not only helped deal with the attack but also how willing they had been to help with the clear up and reconstruction of civilian property. It was an obvious public relations exercise, but Danzou was a smart politician.

Iruka couldn't help suspecting that the Root ANBU were also keeping a high profile so that they could check on Tsunade's shinobi and were in a good position to report unusual behaviour or any form of dissent to their boss.

When Iruka arrived at the hospital he wasn't really sure what to do. He went to the reception desk and asked to see Sakura. He knew he could trust her.

Sakura looked bright as she invited Iruka into the consulting room. She gave him a brief but warm hug and was clearly pleased to see him.

"Hello, Iruka sensei, it's so good to see you. How are you doing?"

"Hello Sakura chan, it's lovely to see you too. I'm fine but I'm afraid I have a rather unusual request. One of Kakashi's dogs – Buru - seems to have got his paw injured and, well, I know you're not a vet, but, er, I wondered whether you had any medical supplies that I might take so that I can prevent the wound from getting infected?" Iruka had carefully chosen Buru's name because he felt that that the bulldog would normally need medicine of a higher dosage than a human, ensuring that Iruka could procure plentiful supplies for Kakashi.

Sakura smiled. "Of course, I'm sure I can find something." She packed up some bandages and a hypodermic kit into a bag. "Come on then, let's go have a look."

"Oh, really, I don't want you to have to leave your shift. I'd be quite happy to take the things and administer them myself. Really. It's fine."

Sakura smiled. "Okay then. As you wish, Iruka sensei."

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

Iruka suddenly realised that it had been some time that he had managed to chat with his former pupil. In fact the last time they had spoken for any real length of time was at Kakashi's funeral. He sat back. "Sakura, it's so good to see you again. We haven't had a chance to talk in a while - I hadn't realised quite how long it had been."

"I'm so sorry Iruka sensei, I can't believe how quickly the time flies, I've been very busy here. And, well, times have been changing. I felt it would be better to keep my head down at the hospital, especially being Tsunade's apprentice. Were you in town when the village was attacked?"

"Yes, I was," Iruka replied. "I was out there with a number of our friends, defending the village. I guess you had a very busy shift that night. How is the Hokage?"

Sakura looked sad. She had learned so much from her shishou and was terribly upset that someone had come that close to assassinating the Godaime. "She's stable and that's about all I can say at the moment, Iruka sensei. I keep hopeful that she may come around, but her injuries were appalling. She is lucky to be alive."

Iruka sighed. He desperately wanted Tsunade to recover.

"Things are very busy here though. The missions the shinobi are being sent on seem to be resulting in many more injuries, and it's keeping me occupied," she smiled a wistful smile.

Iruka smiled too. He suddenly felt nostalgic. "Sakura, when I think about teaching you at the Academy, you were one of my brightest pupils. I remember how you and Ino were constantly getting into spats over the boys but..."

Sakura pulled a face and poked out her tongue.

"Woah! Hold on! I was just about to say how proud I am of you, of what you have achieved. When I remember that twelve year old girl who graduated my class as a genin, I would never have thought you would have become one of the best medics and most powerful kunoichi in Konoha. You have done so well, Sakura, you really are a credit to this village."

Sakura's eyes lit up and her expression brightened. "Thank you, Iruka sensei." She briefly cast her eyes slightly downwards, in what she hoped was an indication of modesty, and then looked up at her former sensei. "Well, I had some good teachers, you know."

Iruka smiled. And then thought for a moment. "Sakura, do that again."

"What?"

"Poke your tongue out."

"Why?"

"Please, just do it. I'll start teasing you again if you don't..."

She poked out her tongue. It was pink and healthy and most importantly there were no black bars scored across it. Sakura hadn't yet received the curse seal.

"Sakura, have you been to see Danzou yet? You know that he's meeting all shinobi to get to know them, right?"

"Yes, I knew he was doing that but, well, as I said, I've been keeping my head down. I'm not sure he's so keen to see chuunin kunoichi or medics yet. In all honesty, and don't repeat this, he's a bit of a sexist old bastard. Still, I'm sure my turn will come though and that he'll introduce himself and explain that we should all pull together at this difficult time for the sake of Konoha. Have you seen him?"

Iruka paused. He had to make a decision.

"Sakura, I'm not sure that I am able to deal with that hound's injury myself after all. Can I take you up on your offer to help? Would you come to Kakashi's old apartment with me right now please?"

Sakura laughed. "Of course, Iruka sensei."


They arrived back at Kakashi's apartment, Iruka making sure that they were chatting loudly enough on the stairwell as they approached the flat to warn the jounin that he was bringing someone to visit. It was really good to be able to catch up on Sakura's news anyway. He let her in and, sure enough, Kakashi was nowhere to be seen. Iruka invited Sakura into the living room where she sat down and started to admire Kakashi's book collection, noting with some surprise that it didn't consist entirely of porn, while Iruka went off to the kitchen to prepare some tea. Kakashi appeared behind him. The chuunin started briefly, but he was used to Kakashi's teleport ability and didn't make a sound.

"What is she doing here?" the Copy-nin hissed.

"I went to the hospital to get some supplies for you because I'm worried about that damned injury on your arm and we got chatting. It turns out that she hasn't met with Danzou yet or received the curse seal. We need to help her. And she can help heal you too, you stubborn shinobi."

Kakashi considered this for a moment. Iruka was right. He knew that they could absolutely trust Sakura and if there was any way in the world that he could prevent her from receiving the curse seal, he had to try.

"You did the right thing. I guess you'd better go out to the other room and prepare her for a shock." Iruka grinned and kissed Kakashi briefly on the nose before walking back to the lounge with two cups of green tea. He handed one to the kunoichi and sat down beside her.

"Sakura, I'm afraid I've lured you here under false pretences." The young medic raised a quizzical eyebrow. Iruka continued. "But I've done it because I trust you. I want you to meet someone. Please prepare yourself for a shock."

"Yo!" A familiar voice exclaimed as the silver haired jounin materialised inside the room.

Sakura sat back in the chair, eyes wide as she took in the sight of her former sensei. His eye was arched into its usual smile as he slouched against the wall. He was wearing what amounted to civvies, baggy trouser bottoms and his sleeveless top, which allowed his wounded arm to breathe. He was, of course, wearing his mask, his silver hair flopping over the sharingan eye which was covered with an eyepatch. After a brief moment's silence to take in what she had just seen, Sakura addressed the jounin.

"Well you may not be dead, but you look terrible!"

"It's nice to see you too, Sakura." Kakashi grinned. "I guess it's time to tell you what's been going on over the last few months."

"No, absolutely not. First of all you are going to let me examine you. How long have you been back? Have you eaten anything in the last 4 months? That wound on your arm looks awful, what happened and why on earth didn't you come to see me before?"

Both Kakashi and Iruka looked somewhat shamefaced as the young medic chastised her former teachers.

"Huh, men! Why will they always do the macho 'I'm OK, it's only a scratch' thing and never get medical help when they need it?"

Sakura attended to Kakashi's wounds, fussing and muttering as she did so, telling him off for not having trusted her earlier and for not getting himself back to full health. The blue glow of the chakra emanating from her hands had an instant healing effect and Kakashi could feel a significant amount of strength returning to him, particularly in that injured arm. The gash was clear of infection and starting to mend.

"Thank you, Sakura. I'm grateful. I'm sorry that I didn't come to you earlier but I insisted to Iruka that my presence in Konoha remain a secret."

So they sat down together and, over another cup of green tea, Kakashi told his tale – of the mission and the set up and how he was in danger should his presence in Konoha be revealed. He explained the circumstances of Danzou's ascension and also told Iruka's story, of how Danzou had applied the seal at each individual meeting with his ninja. Sakura's eyes widened with shock at each new revelation.

"It would appear that all Konoha shinobi are obliged to be loyal to Danzou whether they like it or not. Sakura, we cannot allow this situation to continue. Iruka believes that you haven't yet seen Danzou and therefore have not received the curse seal."

"That's right. I've been keeping a low profile at the hospital and I haven't yet had my one to one with the Rokudaime. I'm sure it won't be long before I am summoned though."

"When I was on that mission I learned a barrier seal to counter the effects of Danzou's curse. I have applied it to Iruka and it has worked. If you will let me, I will go through the same process and it will protect you too."

"OK, Kakashi sensei, I trust you."

"Now you're really not going to like this," the jounin scratched the back of his head and looked somewhat embarrassed before continuing, "But I need you to take your clothes off."

"Perveeerrrt!" Kakashi ducked as a knuckle sandwich on the end of an extremely angry kunoichi headed in his direction. Kakashi dodged her blow as her fist landed in the wall opposite, denting it. The surrounding plaster cracked slightly but the wall remained intact. She'd clearly held back.

Kakashi held up his hands. "Woah! Hold up Sakura. I'm not being pervy. I'm gay, remember?"

Sakura paused for a moment. "Oh yeah," then blushed, waved her hand in front of her face and sat back down on the sofa, demurely.

Iruka burst out laughing. He'd forgotten about Sakura's legendary temper, probably because it was something akin to his own on occasion. Kakashi grinned and even Sakura saw the funny side. She bowed gracefully to her former sensei and bid him proceed.

They worked out a means of recreating the seal whilst maintaining some degree of modesty for the young medic – it was possible for her to lie on her front with her head on its side, so that Kakashi could generate the seal on her back whilst protecting the focal point of her small mouth.

When the seal was complete, Sakura sat up and dressed herself. Like Iruka before, she didn't really know how she felt after the seal's application, but Kakashi was confident that it would work. He was pleased to find that he had expended far less chakra this time around and was not feeling particularly tired.

They invited their former pupil to stay for a while and Iruka suggested that they all eat together, so he prepared some ochazuke, a rice dish that was so simple and yet so tasty. He and Sakura ate the nori variety while Kakashi chose umeboshi; he liked the salty zingy taste of the pickled plums. Ahhh, comfort food.

All three shinobi sat together for the evening. They talked about Konoha and shared the news of their friends. Iruka was dying to tell Sakura that Kurenai had asked him to be present at the birth of her baby. She was delighted for him and pointed out that the baby was due any day now.

"Of course, it's such a shame that Tsunade shishou can't be present to deliver him or her. She was really looking forward to it. Not many people know this, but the Godaime could be a real softy every once in a while."

"What's going to happen now then?" Iruka asked.

"Shizune was the first to volunteer her midwifery services and Kurenai was pleased to accept. Ino and I will also be there. I can't wait, it'll be so exciting!"

Iruka laughed. He was looking forward to being there too. Kakashi rolled his eye. He really wasn't interested in baby talk, although, of course, he was pleased for Kurenai that she had so much support from her close friends. His thoughts turned to Asuma, who he missed very much; he had been a good pal. Kakashi had only realised in retrospect that all those times he had been trying to catch Kakashi for a talk, he had wanted his friend to know about his future prospects as a father. They had never had the opportunity to discuss it before Asuma was killed by the Akatsuki, but Kakashi knew that he would have been happy and scared and excited about fatherhood.

The conversation later turned to Konoha and its future. Sakura couldn't quite believe how dastardly Danzou's plan had been. And its sheer genius.

Kakashi had another concern. "Sakura, I'm still worried about Tsunade. It wouldn't surprise me if Danzou somehow orchestrated another attempt on her life, try to finish her off."

"Do you think we could get her out of Konoha?" Iruka asked.

"I don't know. It might not be safe to move her at the moment bearing in mind her coma. She's in the hospital under constant guard but I could ask Shizune what she thinks. "

"I think that would be a very good idea, Sakura," replied Kakashi. "And do you know if Shizune has had her individual meeting with Danzou yet?"

"I'm afraid I think she may have done. She has seemed depressed over the last couple of days but I thought it might be a delayed reaction to the assassination attempt. It wouldn't surprise me if she had received Danzou's seal and couldn't talk about it."

Kakashi pondered the best course of action. "OK. At the moment I don't know if it's safe to talk to anyone who has received the seal, whether they end up being forced to betray themselves or others to Danzou. Sakura, I need you to make enquiries but be discreet. Report back to me when you can."

Sakura nodded, her expression firm with resolve. "Hai, sensei."

Eventually it was time for Sakura to leave. She needed to get some sleep as her shift started early the following day. All three shinobi had thoroughly enjoyed the evening, chatting with each other and catching up. Iruka and Kakashi were grateful to Sakura for her medical assistance and both felt that letting the young kunoichi in on the secret had been the right thing to do. They would need to have contacts they could trust. Sakura promised to keep in touch. Iruka saw her to the door and waved goodbye.

As he returned to the living room he found an extremely frisky jounin waiting for him. Sakura's medical skills had clearly worked wonders and Kakashi found himself with more energy than he'd had in a long time. He knew exactly how to put that energy to use as he picked up his willing boyfriend, threw him over his shoulder and carried him to the bedroom...