Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 7

"Iruka?" Kakashi called sleepily in confusion as he saw him in his doorway. Iruka moved closer quietly.

"I…I can't…."

Kakashi pulled back the blankets and Iruka was soon curled against him, trembling. "It's alright, just sleep." He soothed, wrapping an arm around him.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Just try and sleep. I've got you, you're safe." He whispered and gradually the trembling stopped and Iruka fell asleep. Kakashi stayed awake to just hold him, soothing him whenever it appeared a nightmare was starting. Maybe it would have been better if they'd just stayed on the couch to sleep, kept Iruka from waking up and thinking about the upcoming proceedings. But what was done was done. It felt more than a little strange to be sharing his bed with someone. Yes he had had sex before but never in his own bed, he never brought anyone to his apartment for that. And he never cuddled. But with Iruka it felt natural to offer comfort. He'd been the one to bring him to Konoha and in a way he felt responsible for whatever happened to him. It was silly, Iruka had been coming to Konoha on his own after all but that didn't change how he felt. Iruka shifted in his sleep and Kakashi ran his fingers through his hair, it was softer than he'd imagined it would and felt nice. Iruka settled back into a deep sleep and Kakashi smiled before tugging his mask down since the room was dark and Iruka was asleep.


Iruka stood before the combined Council's and the Hokage dressed once again in his uniform, for the first time since coming to Konoha. Thankfully it had been washed and mended at some point. He stood painfully at attention as the various Council members snapped at each other. Some of the suggestions as to his fate had him wanting to curl up in a little ball somewhere from fear. He hadn't seen Kakashi since they arrived at the Tower earlier that morning. He knew the older man had already spoken on his behalf and now there was nothing anyone could do for him.

Finally the Sandaime addressed him and Iruka could see the sadness in his eyes, just from that look Iruka knew it was going to be bad. "Umino Iruka it is the decision of this joint Council that your chakra be permanently sealed and for you to be incarcerated for life in the salt mines of Wind Country." The elderly man announced and Iruka nearly passed out. The mines…..they may have well executed him, it was the same in the end. With no chakra he'd last a year at most. Mining salt in the deserts of Wind Country was usually a punishment for the worst civilian criminals. How many lives had his actions saved? He fought down tears of fear and depression, it wasn't fair. He saw the tiniest shift behind the Sandaime and then he locked eyes with a familiar ANBU.

Hound stood frozen behind the Hokage. No! They could not do this to Umino. Normally vibrant brown eyes met his and he shuddered at the look in them, he would not last long in such a place. He would not let him die like that. Such a brave shinobi would die a shinobi's death; he would make sure of that. He would do that for him.

The members of Suna's Council suddenly tensed as the wind picked up, grains of sand moving in the air and Iruka's eyes went wide as the door suddenly burst open to reveal the Sand siblings, Gaara in the middle, all three looking very mad. "Gaara-kun." Iruka whispered and green eyes locked on him as the young demon container strode into the room until he stood in front of the young special jounin.

"Thank you Iruka-san." Gaara whispered and Iruka's eyes widened before he knelt down and smiled at him.

"No thanks are needed Gaara-sama." He replied more formally than his first greeting. "I have always done what I believed to be right." Gaara nodded, placing a hand on the kneeling man's shoulder before glaring at the gathered Councils. Most shifted uncomfortable under his cold gaze.

"Umino Iruka is a hero. If not for him my actions would have been far worse all these years. Not only that but he risked his life to confront me in the forest and save this village. He knew what he was risking when he came here and yet he did so not for his own good but for that of our two villages. And this is how you would repay him? Fools." Gaara snarled; the sand shifting ominously around him.

"For his services to our family Umino Iruka has our protection. For this sentence to be carried out you will have to get through us." Kankurō added firmly.

"The Wind Daimyo happens to agree with us." Temari added with a smirk. Suna's Council stared at them in shock and disbelief. Iruka stared at them in shock and wonder, a little bit of hope beginning to bloom.

At the back of the room Hound relaxed as the children Iruka had saved came to his rescue in return, their physical threat backed up by a very real political one. Perhaps he would not have to keep his silent promise to give Iruka a good death.

"We will not allow that traitor back." One suicidally brave Councillor announced and Gaara turned to the Hokage.

"With your permission Hokage-sama Umino-san will remain in Konoha, an exchange-ninja if you'd like. Better communication between our two villages could help stop something like this happening again."

The Hokage puffed on his pipe in thought. He had no problem with the idea; he had observed the young man as had many others. His actions proved that he was a good man, guided by a strong sense of right and wrong. "I see no problem with that. There will be restrictions obviously, as with any foreign ninja, but I believe he would make a good addition to our ranks in Suna's name." The glare he sent his own Council kept them silent, that and the threatening sand still floating around. "Welcome to Konoha Umino-san." With that the Council members left and Iruka collapsed. Familiar arms caught him and he slumped in Hounds hold.

"I….." Iruka looked up at him, utterly bewildered.

"I will take you back to the apartment; Hatake-san will be worrying about you." Hound stated, nodding to the siblings before bowing to the Hokage and then the two of them vanished. As soon as they were safely in the apartment Hound ripped his mask off revealing Kakashi. "Iruka? Are you alright?" He called to the stunned man and Iruka stared at him dazedly.

"Staying?" He asked and Kakashi nodded.

"You're staying here." He promised and then ended up taking Iruka's weight as he passed out. He gently lifted him and carried him to his own bedroom, gently stripping off most of his uniform before lying down beside him, figuring he'd have nightmares of what almost was. Kakashi held him gently, mentally shuddering as he remembered what he had been considering earlier. Could he really have killed Iruka to give him a quick gentle death? Hound could have and he knew it. Maybe it was time for him to leave ANBU. If he could consider killing a friend so easily he was obviously suffering psychological issues.

TBC…