Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto series or any of its characters.
"Do you really think they're ready for this Kakashi-san?" Iruka questions the silver haired man with worry evident in his expression.
Kakashi chuckles and closes the X-rated book he had been reading.
"Why yes, Iruka-san, I do. Those kids are strong; this experience can only make them stronger and bump up their status as ninjas." He states, leisurely sitting on the surface of a desk.
Iruka slumps in his seat and rests his cheek on a hand, looking away from Kakashi with furrowed brows.
"You don't honestly doubt Naruto's abilities that much, do you?" Kakashi queries casually.
Iruka's eyes widen and he shakes his head.
"Of course not! I believe in Naruto completely!" Iruka exclaims.
"Then show it." Kakashi comments as he places the little orange book in his breast pocket and walks away.
As he watches the Jounin exit the classroom, Iruka sighs loudly and slumps in his seat.
"Show it…"
"Ba-nay-nay!"
"Bo-nah-nah!"
"Nay-no-no!"
"No-bo-yo!"
"Yo-to-nah!"
"Nah-bay-ko"
"Ko-rah-nay!"
"Nay-rah-na"
"Na-ru-to!"
Naruto slumps in his bench seat as 3 kids the same age as he, play with the word Banana until it morphs into Naruto. Which is, if not annoying, enough to make the blonde want to choke on his own soul. Oh how he regrets telling the trio his name.
They are at the place where the second part of Chunin exams is to take place, and there is no possible way this team in front of him is going to make it, unless their best strategy is bugging the hell out of their opponents until they commit suicide, how clever.
First is a girl named Rioi who has a classic sort of pretty face, fresh-faced but nothing elaborate with medium length brown hair that ends a bit past her shoulders, her bangs cascade across her forehead, and narrow dark brown eyes. She would actually look quite sophisticated if she would just keep her mouth shut.
Next is a girl named Heiya with long faded red hair that flares outwards at the bottom and light brown eyes. She is the one who started the whole damn Banana-Naruto name game.
Last there is a boy named Bokou who has chestnut brown hair that is styled to go in every direction in a loose curly sort of fashion and light green eyes, Bokou is flamboyantly and quite obviously gay in a way that reminds Naruto of the lady who owns the clothing store across town.
Every time you entered she would clasp her hands together and make baby noises at the costumers, saying "Oh ho ho, aren't you lovely?" in an overly cheery way. Naruto suspected this was her creepy way of getting people to hurry up, buy their clothes, and get the hell out so she could watch her soaps. It worked.
Anyways, Bokou was the one who inspired Heiya into starting the name game. Naruto mentally cursed Bokou.
"So Nah-roo-toh, where'd your teammates go?" Heiya queries loudly as she leans forward and turns her cheek, eying the nervous blonde.
Naruto slumps some more and sighs, both Sakura and Sasuke had been able to quietly escape from the fantastic freaks, leaving Naruto alone to suffer.
Naruto looks around for help and grimaces at what he sees. The entire other side of the room is crowded with people who are distancing themselves from the trio, pretending not to notice the blonde's desperate puppy dog eyes.
"They…had stuff to do."
Bokou clicks his tongue and pouts.
"Shame…the brunette was hot."
Naruto blushes heavily and looks away.
Noticing this, the brunette puts on a wide smirk and bends down to eye level with Naruto, fiddling with a curl.
"Is he asgood as he looks?" he whispers, putting emphases on the word "good."
Naruto's face burns up, making his blue eyes stand out even more.
"I…I wouldn't know." He stutters quickly.
Bokou stands and leans back with a coy grin.
"I'm so sure."
Rioi and Heiya give the two boys confused looks and become distracted as someone comes up behind them.
"Iruka-nii!"
Naruto springs up and gives Iruka a grateful embrace, staring up at him adoringly. Iruka flushes and grips the younger male's shoulders, pulling him away slightly.
"N-Naruto…er…I just came to tell you something." The older male forces out.
Naruto tilts his head back up to look Iruka in the eyes and gives a wide toothy grin.
"Well then say it, Iruka-nii!"
Iruka looks around himself and sees everyone in the room staring, what is bad enough is that some stares seem so…knowing. Enough to make a fidgety man like himself want to evaporate into the air.
"Th-this way!" Iruka exclaims and pulls the blonde with him across the room and out the blue double doors and down a hallway to the left.
Naruto is so distracted by his teacher he doesn't realize how he passes by Sasuke who has his back turned in another dark abandoned hallway, speaking angrily to a shadow.
Iruka pulls Naruto to the end of one of the few brightly lit hallway corners before a white, rusty door labeled as an emergency exit.
"What is it, Iruka-nii?" Naruto queries as he tilts his head, blonde locks swaying with the movement.
Iruka stares down at the blonde and finds himself smiling as a warm feeling engulfs him and he feels a tingling feeling in his chest.
"I…I just wanted to wish you the best of luck and to let you know…that I believe in you, Naruto." He says, breathing out the blonde's name.
Naruto stares up with wide blue eyes, chewing on his bottom lip slightly. It is quiet for a moment before a soft giggle erupts from the blonde's throat.
"Iruka-nii!"
The boy latches his self onto the brunette, sending the older male stumbling back against the small space between the wall and the door. He grunts as he feels the door's hinges snag at his shirt sleeve. Naruto buries his face into Iruka's side and wraps his orange clad arms around the brunette's waist the best he can.
"Thank you, Iruka-nii, you have no idea how much that means to me."
Iruka's eyes widen and he chuckles softly, patting the top of the blonde mop. He is about to say something else but the intercom above them interrupts his thoughts.
"All Genins participating in stage two of the Chunin exams must come to the main meeting area at this moment."
Iruka and Naruto lock eyes for a moment before the taller of the two grips the latter's shoulders and pulls the blonde from him.
"You heard him, Naruto, get going and show them exactly what Naruto Uzumaki can do."
Naruto gives his teacher a blinding grin and dashes down the hallways towards the meeting area outside the building.
Once the blonde is gone, Iruka lets his eyes dim and his arms fall limply to his sides. There is a tight feeling in his chest and all he wants to do is rip it out. Burn it, mangle it, stomp on it, and call it dirty names.
Yes, he knows very well what this feeling is. He is not a fool nor is he blind to his emotions.
Naruto Uzumaki. A bright ball of sunshine that recklessly yet affectionately lights up Iruka's day month after month, week after week, and minute after every precious second for the past two and a half years since he limped into the brunette's life and opened his eyes with those small, scratched up hands.
Iruka has felt the insistent urge to embrace the boy and if possible…never ever let him go. At first, he had let himself believe it was just the development of a fatherly role towards the boy who is a good nine years younger than himself.
But soon reality ripped away the thin blanket of film over his eyes to where he had no choice but to stare at the lucid fact that he was infatuated with the boy, in …dare say…love with him.
He couldn't make it go away. It is tearing him up inside and every time he sees that Uchiha or Hyuuga touch Naruto in the slightest way he feels bile rise in his throat and burn his tonsils.
It gets worse as Naruto continues to grow. Iruka feels dirty and sick for having so many… unnecessary feelings for the boy.
He swipes a tan hand through his dark brown locks, making the pony-tail become loose.
"Naruto deserves so much better."
"Sasuke?"
Naruto watches as the raven continues moving along in swift movements, never acknowledging the blonde's words.
They are on their way to turn the scroll in and complete the test. Sasuke has been distant for a long while now, never paying attention to his teammates. Usually, he would at least listen to Naruto, smile at Naruto, kiss Naruto. But that seems far from his mind now. And it is starting to get to the blonde in a bad way.
"Leave him alone, Naruto, he's trying to concentrate." Sakura lectures from behind the blonde.
Naruto turns, expecting a scowl from his pink-haired teammate only to see that she was just as concerned as he is. They land onto the stone steps of their destination and roll the scroll open.
A waving Iruka appears and Naruto leaps up and hugs the older male's waist.
"Iruka-nii!" the blonde cheers, his gloomy mood gone.
"Yes, yes Naruto." The Chunin smiles and pries said blonde from him "Congratulations you guys; you've completed the second part of the Chunin exams!"
Sakura squeals happily and Sasuke…does nothing. Naruto's face droops. Noticing this, Iruka frowns and turns around, swiping his fingertips lightly down the stone wall behind him.
"C'mon guys, let's get you cleaned up."
"Naruto-kun, I'm so glad you made it." Hinata whispers, handing the blonde a wet towel.
"Thanks, Hinata-chan, I'm really glad you managed too, it was tougher than I thought it would be." is the grinning response.
Hinata blushes and Naruto's eyes flicker behind the dark haired girl to where Sasuke sits alone on a bench, clutching above his shoulder blade.
"Excuse me." Naruto says, standing up and heading towards the raven.
"O-Of course!" the Hyuuga heiress squeaks and moves out of his way, watching with somber amethystine eyes as Naruto sits next to the ever silent Sasuke.
"Sasuke, what's wrong?" Naruto queries the raven with pleading eyes. "You're so quiet lately. More than usual! It worries me."
Sasuke turns to look into Naruto eyes and stands.
"Follow me."
Naruto watches in confusion as Sasuke turns down the hallway and then quickly goes to follow him in the dark, these hallways are not lit because nobody uses this side of the building.
"Sasuke, I..."
The blonde is interrupted as Sasuke's lips collide with his own. His eyelids droop and then finally close, his arms that had risen in alarm go to wrap gently over Sasuke shoulder blades, feather soft as to not harm whatever was sore there.
Naruto's thoughts are drenched with relief as he willingly allows Sasuke's tongue to dip into his mouth.
They kiss for a minute or two, parting here and there for air. A soft, affectionate kiss. That is until Naruto feels a bitter, coppery substance slide over his tongue and sink down his throat.
He pushes against Sasuke's chest so he can start the coughing fit that is coming, but the raven refuses to let him loose and instead holds the latter closer, almost harshly. Mumbling something that Naruto can not decipher over the sounds of his fitful coughing.
Azure eyes cloud over and Naruto's legs begin to give out. He slips to his knees with the assistance of Sasuke.
"I'm sorry, Naruto."