DISCLAIMER: I own nothing from the Naruto universe but I do have an imagination of my own. I will end up using it, I promise!

Thinking

Emphasis

Biju, etc. speaking

"So you think our Naruto is in there somewhere," Iruka stated rather than questioned.

Kakashi nodded. "Hai, Naruto's in there somewhere."

"Naru's told me that she doesn't remember her old life, her friends, or her dreams. Hell, she didn't even remember her name. But she seemed to remember you just by looking at you, Iruka-kun." Kakashi sipped a bit of the tea that Iruka had finally offered him after he calmed down. Iruka was quite still, staring at his own tea. "We don't know if she'll get her memory back, but she really is very much the same person in so many ways," Kakashi finished.

Iruka finally looked up, the pain still showing on his face. He looked at the Hokage to see if there was any deception in his words. Seeing none, he finally glanced back at the blonde woman sitting in his living room. She looked over at him, seeming to sense his gaze. Her eyes got big and she quickly turned her head back to the TV, shrinking into the couch. Kakashi saw Iruka's mouth twitch. There was something else that he saw in Iruka's gaze, too: hope.

Iruka took a deep breath and looked up at Kakashi. "You're… you're absolutely fucking sure. Sure that this - this girl - is our Naruto…"

Oh no, you fucking didn't. Kakashi did not like how Iruka snarled the word "girl" as if it was the lowest form of an insult. His eyes narrowed at the man as he continued. He tried to reign in his temper, but it wasn't really working.

"You checked her chakra and blood to see if it matched Naruto's, and…" Iruka was stopped when Kakashi stood up from his chair. He must have looked menacing because he saw the chunin gulp down a lump in his throat. Good.

For one, the Hokage didn't like his intelligence being questioned this way. Of course, I had that done you dumb ass. Two, Iruka should open his damn eyes! Kakashi knew in his heart and soul that Naru was Naruto. How exactly she had been given life after the death of Naruto wasn't quite clear, but Naruto had a life unlike most anyone in history. There were some things that mankind didn't have explanations for yet, and like his predecessors, he could only seek answers. Still, he knew that his Naru was the same person inside, and he was going to protect her, no matter what.

He was not being conned, and being basically accused of it made something ugly and malicious rear up in the Hokage. He wanted to rip right through the chunin in front of him, or at least majorly damage the man. Staring at him, and allowing his killing intent to flare somewhat, he called out to the blue-eyed woman on the couch. "Naru, Iruka-san has classes in the morning, so we shouldn't take up any more of his time this evening." Both men heard the television set turn off and Kakashi followed Iruka into the living room.

"Thank you for having us, Iruka-sensei," Naru said, bowing slightly.

Iruka didn't like the way she said it. It felt weird, cold, and not at all like Naruto. He did his best to smile politely, hoping it reached his eyes. The whole thing made the chunin want to lash out at the faker that was pretending to be Naruto somehow. He noticed the look she gave him then: one so unlike his Naruto - his little brother. It was all Iruka could do not to attack. What the hell is Hatake thinking?

Then Iruka saw it: the way the Hokage pulled the blonde-haired woman into his side, placing his arm lovingly around her shoulders. No! He knew that for all his perverted and womanizing ways, Kakashi Hatake had somehow fallen for Naruto - that had been even more clear after Naruto's death. And now, here is Kakashi with a woman who looks so like Naruto that he had… Oh Kami, has the Hokage fallen into a trap?!

Kakashi had been the one unwilling to bury Naruto's body, trying to come up with anything to revive him. Did he manage something that worked? Even worse, did an enemy learn about such a thing and do it themselves, and now the village is in danger because this lovestruck fool is the damn Hokage?! If that had happened they could easily kill Kakashi and bring down the entire village!

A/N: Sorry it's so short! There have been a few problems with my formatting here on FF so I wanted to try again with a briefer update. I hope, one way or another, you can still read my story clearly enough.

Please review! I'll take any hints and criticism you give me gladly!