Review-y things!

When love and death embrace: I'm sorry, but…I kinda had to kill him. And there will be a chapter entirely to Iruka and Kakashi. But, I cant say anything otherwise I'll ruin it.

Irn2: I'm sorry! (hides) don't hurt me, and I promise to continue the story! (Thanks for the review all the same!)

Mo de Aries: Thank you, so happy you like it.

Kirallie: You ask questions that I cant answer! It'll ruin my story…sort of! I'm glad you

like my story though!

Asato: O.O Long review…I like. Thanks for the constructive criticism. No, it was not the entire northern end of Konoha, that'd be to much. Remember, Iruka is only one person, no one (I hope) can destroy that much of that size of a village with one jutsu. And, about

Naruto…I apologize in advance. But don't worry, Kakashi will get his revenge…in one way or another.

Note to everyone!- What Iruka said to Sasuke will be told, soon. Maybe a chapter or two, but it will happen. Do not worry!

Chapter 6

Two days. It had been two days since the attack, and Kakashi couldn't stop hoping.

Hoping it was all just a really bad dream, hoping that Iruka was still there in the academy teaching those unruly children, hoping that the Hokage was still alive and the village wasn't in disarray.

Kakashi found himself at the roof of the stands, again. Standing in the same place Iruka had stood only a few days before, facing the destruction he had caused.

The entire area within a twenty foot radius north of where he stood, was gone.

"How could this happen?" he asked to no one. Everyone, mostly those who where there with him during the attack, learned yesterday that Kakashi wanted to be alone when he stood here.

This was his time to dwell upon the fact that he had no right being here. No right mourning over Iruka's leaving. For he learned, that he hardly knew anything about the young man. Occasionally he could feel Genma and Anko's presence only a few feet away, but he could say nothing. They had more reason to be there than he did.

"Kakashi…" Anko began as she leapt from her spot next to Genma, to stand next to the man. "We, that is me and Genma, we're starting a search party."

Kakashi was silent for a few minutes, before he sighed, and closed his eye, and asked, "Why?"

Anko turned her head to the side and folded her arms. "Kakashi…its called hope. Genma wont give up, and I know you wont either. Maybe we can find a trail or something."

Anko turned to face him, arms now hanging at her side. "Please, Kakashi."

Kakashi turned around to glance at Genma. He looked so utterly lost, it made Kakashi feel worse. "Alright. I'll go."

"Good." Anko nodded. "It's only us three, since the village needs people to rebuild, we cant get anyone else. Its better that the party is small, less noticeable when we're gone."

Anko made a motion with her head that apparently meant for Genma to come since he was quickly before the two.

"Okay. Its been two days, but nothing has gotten out. I made sure Asuma and the others that saw wouldn't say anything." Genma kicked a roof tile out of the strangeness of their conversation. "The students and Naruto are already taking the attack bad…what happened to Hokage isn't helping it either. If they found out about Iruka, it'd be a disaster."

Anko nodded. "They left it that direction." she pointed southwest of where they stood. "We'll head into the forest and look for any clue as to what direction they went."

The two men nodded, and follow Anko along the roof tops towards the western gate of Konoha.

Within five minutes, they had made it half-way to the gates, when a familiar presence and call, caused them to halt.

"KAAAAKAAASHHHIIII-SENSEI!" Said man skidded to a halt, the other two were also forced to stop, and turn back to stand with the copy nin, while Naruto came to join them at Kakashi's side.

"Oh…" Kakashi sighed. He really couldn't do this right now. "Hey Naruto…" he ran his hand through his unruly silver hair in attempts to seem as if nothing was bothering him.

Genma and Anko nodded in greeting to the young boy.

"Hey! I know you!" Naruto grinned, and pointed at the other two. "Anyway, Kakashi-sensei…I have a question."

Kakashi nodded. "Shoot."

Naruto took a deep breath as if getting ready for a speech and began. "Okay. Well, I'd been helping rebuild and stuff since yesterday, and I was bored so I want around town looking for people, and I noticed that Iruka-sensei wasn't anywhere." Anko flinched and turned away, clearly telling the man that he was on his own. "He wasn't at the academy, or the hospital, or anywhere. And no one else knows where he is…Kakashi-sensei…Iruka-san isn't…he isn't dead…is he?"

Genma had turned away as well, which only frightened Naruto more. Kakashi bit his lip, and rested a shaky hand on the boys shoulder.

"Genma…Anko…it isn't right to keep this from him." Kakashi said, hanging his head down so Naruto could not meet his gaze.

Genma nodded to Anko. "Yes, I believe so. Kakashi, may we use your apartment?"

Kakashi simply nodded, and lead the small group to his home.

XXXXXXXX

Iruka blinked, and opened his eyes, only to meet the dim flickering of candles.

He couldn't remember much, but he was beyond certain that this was not his home. The cool feeling of being beneath ground--which confused Iruka-- was somewhat calming to Iruka. The light, caused by the candles, on the other hand, cast eerie shadows upon the wall behind him.

It was then that he realized, that he was laying in a bed. It was slightly larger than his own, and comfortable. The comforter had odd little shapes of snakes and spirals. It was like some cruel joke being played on him.

"Ah, you have awoken?" The joke was only getting worse. "My med, had said you had woken up a few moments ago, but I was not sure." Orochimaru pulled a chair from the corner of the room, up to the side of the bed, and sat down. He crossed his legs, and propped his chin on his left hand. His right shoulder was thickly bandaged and had not moved since Iruka noticed him. "I must congratulate you, Iruka. You have kept your loyalty to me through much."

Iruka turned away from him, but found out quickly, that only his head could move. "Wh-what?"

Orochimaru chuckled. "You out strained yourself, Iru-kun. You are still recovering your Chakra."

Iruka drew his eyebrows together in concentration. He couldn't remember much…except…he remembered being in the shelter, with Anko. Where was he now?

"Where?"

"Where else? You are in my home. I told you I would come back, and take you with me." he leaned in, and made a show of unfolding the sheet that was tucked underneath Iruka's chin, to pull it down to his chest, and smiled at Iruka. The whole process reminded Iruka of his mother, only, the smile wasn't sweet and sincere. "You are important to me, Iru-kun."

Iruka suddenly felt sick with himself, and turned his head away, and stared intently at the wall.

Orochimaru scowled, and stood up abruptly. "Just remember, you are here now. Konoha will not welcome you back with open arms." he paused in the doorway, and glanced at Iruka. "Might as well treat this as your new home. It will be." the door closed with a soft click, that echoed throughout the room.

The candles flickered out, leaving Iruka alone in the darkness, with nothing but his thoughts of Kakashi. And how badly he screwed up.

XXXXXXXX

Kakashi leaned back, letting the cushioning of his chair draw him in.

Naruto sat on the couch in front of him, collapsed onto Anko's shoulder, sobbing. Genma had tried to help at one point, but Anko waved him off, saying it was better for her to do this. Although neither Kakashi or Genma knew what that meant

"How?" Naruto cried out. "How could he d-do this to me? To the village!?"

"Shh, Shh Naruto." Anko cooed. Kakashi would have been more surprised by that, but since he just had to tell the student, that was the closest to Iruka, that had would be considered a missing nin if they still had a Hokage, he was in no mood to feel anything. Naruto was doing just what he felt like doing.

"But how?" Naruto balling his fists into Anko's jacket, and buried his face deeper into her shoulder.

"Naruto…it may seem stupid what happened. But Iruka never does anything without a reason." Genma tried his way at soothing the upset boy.

"Stupid!?" Naruto screamed, releasing Anko, and practically throwing her off the couch as he jumped to his feet, tears coming to a halt. "Of course it was stupid! What reason could there be to kill the Hokage? To destroy almost the entire northern part of Konoha?"

Naruto clenched his teeth together, and glared at Genma. "Tell me, what reason did Iruka have for doing any of that?"

"Naruto, please. Calm down." Kakashi said, turning away.

"Calm down? Kakashi-sensei, you know better than anyone! Iruka will be killed if he even tries to come close to this village!"

"Ah, but Naruto…" Anko chimed in, placing a hand on his shoulder. "That is only if people find out."

"Of course they'll know!" Naruto yelled. "How can they not? This is not something that you can hide from the entire village forever!"

"Naruto!" Genma shouted, finally getting agitated. "I swear you tell anyone that Iruka has left, I will personally make it possible that you have no chance of taking your future anywhere." Genma glared at the boy heatedly. "I don't care if Iruka will kill me when he comes back, but I will not let you harm Iruka in the only place he has to go to."

Naruto returned Genma's glare for a little while longer, before turning away, and walking to the door. "I wont tell anyone what Iruka has done." Naruto opened the door, and stopped to throw Genma one last glare. "But if he ever does come back like you all say he will. I cannot forgive him. He is nothing to me now."

Kakashi sunk further into his chair, and filched as the door was slammed shut.

"I-I though, that out of anyone….he'd understand." Anko lowered her eyes, and brought her knees up to her chest.

Kakashi brought a hand to his face, shielding his eye from everything.

"I…wish I could believe half the stuff I've said." Genma admitted, leaning against the wall, chewing frantically at the tip of his senbon.

Kakashi couldn't stand it any longer.

A strangled sob startled Anko and Genma out of their thoughts.

Kakashi, finally allowed himself to cry.

XXXXXXX

Genma stood outside Iruka's apartment door. He continued to stare at it, as if his gaze could melt the wood.

"Genma..." said boy turned to see Hayate climb up the stairs towards him. "Glaring at the door will do nothing to help Iruka."

Genma crossed his arm over his chest, and began chewing on the nail of his other hand. "The door is locked. He wont come out, and he wont answer."

Hayate sighed. "If he doesn't want to talk to us, then there's nothing we can do."

"But that just it! He needs t talk about it. We're all Anko's friend. It isn't like its his fault that teme took her!" Genma seethed.

Hayate swatted Genma's nail away from his teeth, gave him a senbon, and continued his side of the argument. "Think about how Iruka must feel. We saw him run into her tent. We know he told her what their Sensei was doing." Hayate leaned on the wall across from Iruka's door. "We know Iruka better than anyone. We know...that he is going to believe its his fault."

Genma began to chew heatedly on the end of the offered senbon. "That man...I wont let him harm Iruka."

Hayate gave a weak smile. "Again?"

Genma nodded. "I wont let him hurt Iruka again."

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A/N- GAH! So short. Makes me sad how short I allowed this chapter to be.

Review please! Next chapter will but up as soon as I can get it. Promise! But, I have no free time Saturday, and next week I'm going on a little vacation for a few days so...late Next week, hopefully.