Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this innocuous interlude. Oodles of respect for Masashi Kishimoto, the creative force behind Naruto. Please do have patience with me and with the ninja who's emotionally invested.

SEVENTEEN: HEATED EXCHANGE

Every part of Iruka knew that the order was the worst kind of mistake.

Getting Kakashi to agree was his first priority. If Iruka could find him.

Stealing away from the inn, he aimed for the lone pine where he'd found an injured Hound. Which gave Iruka qualms. Even if they were the same person, Hound was a lot harder to confront than Kakashi. It had to be the growling.

He reached the spot and wracked his brain for some kind of signal.

The festival was still in full swing, and its noise would likely cover any sound he made. But it might also prevent the ANBU from hearing any of the calls and cries that were part of Konoha's signal syllabary.

Should he use chakra? A flare might catch Kisame's attention, even if Sukea was keeping him thoroughly drunk. But this was urgent.

Before Iruka could make up his mind, a kunai thudded into the ground before him, a mere handsbreadth from relieving him of a toe. Arming himself, Iruka crouched and waited to see if he was found or if he was dead.

Hound stepped out of the shadows, and Iruka's heart sank. There was something pitiless about the empty eye holes of an ANBU mask. Still, he had to try.

"Not tonight," Iruka begged, his voice hoarse. "I can't leave yet."

"You are carrying a message. The Hokage wants it." Hound's voice was flat. Emotionless.

Iruka stood his ground. "One more day. Twenty-four hours."

"Why?"

He took a step forward. "If I disappear, there will be questions."

That inscrutable mask tipped to one side. "If you remain, you might disappear. This is Akatsuki. They're ruthless."

Iruka took another step. "Haven't you been watching?"

Hound stood silent.

"Tell her!" urged Iruka.

"It isn't my job to tell her anything. I obey her. So should you."

Throwing caution aside, Iruka pushed into Hound's personal space—chest to chest, face to face. "If I am to fulfill this ongoing mission, it will be with Kisame's approval. Not the Hokage's."

"I'm listening."

"If I disappear without any kind of goodbye, then reappear the next time the Hokage wants an update, Kisame will be suspicious. This whole thing. These meetings. They have to be his idea."

The voice behind the mask grew soft. "They are members of Akatsuki."

"I haven't forgotten." Iruka could only plead, "Don't force me to betray what tiny germ of trust I've earned. In his own way, Kisame is protective of Itachi."

"And possessive."

Iruka nodded. "Which is why I can't abandon Sukea, either. I don't think I could do this without him. I need time to secure his cooperation."

"Are you certain you can keep up this charade?"

"No." Iruka's hands tightened along with his voice. "It's no charade."

"You think those Akatsuki care about you?"

"I know they do." Heat crept into his face, but he spoke his mind. "The only reason this works is because we're becoming friends."

"They will betray you," Hound warned.

"Friendship is always risky." He stubbornly reminded, "He asked for me. I'm what he needs for his mission to succeed. He's my mission."

The mask was Hound's, but the voice was Kakashi's. "Twenty-four hours, Sensei. Make them count."

He was gone, and Iruka let his shoulders sag. Kakashi would cover for him.

Now … what would he tell Sukea? What could he?

Sukea was already back in their room when Iruka returned, and his heart leapt into his throat. The photographer was fiddling with a wooden tag. For a moment, he thought he'd left Kakashi's message out in the open. But no. It was safe in the folds of his sash.

Waving the tag, Sukea suggested, "Show me yours?"

"I haven't written on mine yet."

"Will it be about me?" Sukea twirled his from its hanger. "Mine's about you."

Curious, Iruka joined him on the futon.

In a childish scrawl that might have been the handiwork of a genin, Sukea had marked his regret in black.

I feel bad for lying to Sensei.

Despite the subtext, Iruka couldn't help smiling. "What's your wish?"

Sukea flipped the tag, displaying a blank side. "Ask me tomorrow. So what will you put on yours?"

"I haven't given it much thought."

"I showed you mine." Sukea stretched out, hands behind his neck. "It's a matter of honor, now. You have to show me yours."

Iruka nodded. "Any chance you have one of those markers?"

With a smirk, he produced two markers—one black, one red.

Retrieving his tag, Iruka wrote the first thing that came to mind. Regrets were surprisingly easy to come by.

I have to leave tomorrow.

"I know," Sukea said softly.

That made this easier. "Can we do this again? Arrange to meet up. Get a room in an out-of-the-way place and stay for a while?"

"I'm not opposed to future friendliness."

Iruka toyed with the marker. "There's a catch."

"Consider me caught."

He smiled. This is why he liked Sukea so much. And why he hated feeling like he was using him. "Us … and them. I need Kisame and Itachi to be there."

"I see what you're doing, you know." He wagged a scolding finger. "Using them to keep me."

Iruka snorted.

"Admit it. You find me irresistible."

"I'll grant you irreplaceable." Iruka rubbed the back of his neck. "I can't think of anyone else I'd rather rely on. But … can you spare the time?"

"For you? Anything."

"Anything? Okay. It needs to be Kisame's idea."

Sukea sat up and leaned in. His smile had a rakish quality. "I like a challenge."

"You know how dangerous this will be."

"I do. Do you?"

Iruka lowered his gaze. "I know it's necessary."

"Have you taken our little ruse into account?" Sukea sounded concerned. "We would be traveling together because we're together."

"Well aware." He glanced across the room. "Maybe we should find an inn with thicker walls."

"That's the way." Sukea's fingertips grazed Iruka's cheek. "Tell me what you need, and I'll give it to you."

"You'll help me, then?"

Sukea gravely said, "All you need."

End Note: originally posted on January 5, 2021. 1,015 words.