A/N: Just for the record, the last three or so will probably be fairly long, and will take place around the Chuunin Exam arc. I'm trying to not technically violate canon in any large way – please note the word technically.
Also, I'm considering eventually starting a sequel eventually that would significantly deviate from canon as of...someplace toward the end of part one of the manga, slightly before the fillers in the anime. When this story ends, I'd appreciate feedback in the form of final reviews or PMs as to whether anyone would actually read such a story. Thanks.
Please note that in the timeline of things, we are now about...three years before the start of the series? Naruto and his year-mates are in the general vicinity of ten, and our lovely crazy couple are both roughly twenty, I think. This is why I try not to pick an exact point for things here...it doesn't work so well to calculate.
13. A Big Mess
It was Iruka's first day of teaching, and Murphy's Law seemed to be in full effect. Everying on a small scale level that could go wrong, had.
Anko's mission had run over the night before. She had moved in with him a few months before, and while they were far from a couple who had trouble keeping their hands off each other, both had enough demons in their past that they enjoyed just being able to sleep in each other's arms when neither was gone on a mission. Iruka just couldn't feel comfortable in the big bed in their room alone, so he'd ended up falling asleep in the guest bedroom that had been his as a child. It had no alarm clock. Not anymore, at any rate.
In the end, Iruka had woken up with barely enough time to get ready and Anko sprawled across him in full mission gear – khaki skirt with shorts built in, body glove with attached bra, she hadn't even removed her trench coat or shoes.
They'd been very nearly out of coffee, though Anko had somehow managed to make a pot while Iruka searched for his standard issue bodysuit. He'd gotten too into the habit of wearing trousers and net shirt, with makeup over the seal, to feel comfortable in the standard teacher garb for some time, though he could at least use the same flak jackets.
Not to mention that he felt quite bad about accidentally waking Anko up as he crept out of bed, since she had the day off after her mission. Though, being a bit of a morning person and wanting to see him off to his first day teaching, she didn't particularly care.
Mizuki was still sulking about not having been made an Academy instructor. He and Iruka had shared a tentative friendship since the memorable feather prank with Anko to make Mizuki recognize him as an individual and not just somewhere to direct pity.
He was upset that Iruka hadn't recommended him for the new leader of the chuunin squad Iruka had previously led in four and five man missions. Iruka had told him he'd picked his replacement before learning the Mizuki hadn't been given a teaching postition, but the truth was that he didn't trust him. Not enough to led him lead a team, at least.
Iruka had offered to make him his assistant teacher once Mizuki had completed remedial training, so that he could try again at a later date, preferably once he'd shown himself to be responsible enough to be entrusted with a room full of children, though he kept the second part to himself. Mizuki still sulked and brooded.
Not to mention that the class he was taking over apparently had several pranksters in it.
Iruka opened the classroom door, and caught the bucket of who-knows-what open-handed by the bottom as it fell from the doorframe. Amateurs. Looking up at the bunch of little scamps he'd be trying to turn into ninjas, he saw...
Naruto. I remember he was ranting in the Hokage's office a few weeks ago about his teacher retiring, but I never imagined she was the same teacher I'm replacing.
He probably doesn't even remember Anko and I helping Sarutobi raise him when he was little. I wonder if he'll remember my name when he recognizes me as the one of the Hokage's assistants who keeps reminding him to do his laundry, and bringing him bento boxes and coupons for free ramen when he runs low on groceries...
"Whaaaaaa-? Iruka, you're our new teacher?!" Apparently, Naruto had a very good memory for the names of those who were particularly nice to him.
Iruka smiled. He'd had a soft spot in his heart for the little blonde demon container ever since meeting him years ago when he was just a toddler, seeing him as the little brother he could never have. Maybe this day was starting to look up after all...
Meanwhile, in the Umino/Mitarashi household, Anko had fallen back asleep sprawled across the couch, dolphin-patterned throw tossed haphazardly over her mission clothes and a little fox plushie from Iruka's childhood clasped loosely in one hand.
Her muddy footprints tracked into the house, to the guest room, and through the kitchen to the couch, where her dirty shoes remained on her feet.
The cooling coffee lay forgotten on the table...
O
...I can't write things as short as I mean them to be to save my life, can I? Regardless, I hope you all still like the story. It will not be abandoned, even if it isn't done in time to be a contest entry. Maybe there will be a sequel... Hm...