"You know Naruto, it's one thing to fight for Sasuke and die trying, and another thing to simply die for him."

They're sitting at the Ichiraku Ramen Bar, Iruka having offered to treat his favorite former pupil to lunch. Naruto is noisily slurping his miso ramen while Iruka holds a steaming cup of tea in his hands.

Naruto looks up from his ramen and wipes the back of a hand across his mouth. He tilts his head to the side and gives an odd, half smile.

"I don't understand, Master Iruka."

Iruka pauses, clenching his fingernails into the porcelain cup and half expecting it to shatter. He closes his eyes.

"I know, Naruto, I know."