Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

A/N: So I've read other Sl insert and none have ever had someone reborn as Iruka or as a female Iruka. I wanted to do something a little different than usual and this is what I got. Also Iruka is one of my favorite characters along with Kakashi and others.

Rate: K+ may change to T later on

Chapter 2: The circle of life

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give

-Winston Churchill

Tired, so utterly fucking tired… Someone please kill me! Maria thought, leaning into her chair, to stare at her computer blankly utterly defeated. Take me out of my suffering. Exhaustedly, sher rubbed her eyes, with the back of her hands. I need to figure out how to change the next assignments.. She thought, with a slight groan. These next assignments need to be perfect to fit the need of each student… Pausing, she bowed her head, in utter defeat. Remember it doesn't matter if each class hour are different assignments than the other, it's for them…

It's for them… She chanted in her head. Trying to regain her will to keep on moving.

Why did I choose to become a teacher, again? She suddenly, thought. I don't even get paid enough to deal with the load of crap my students give me… Pinching the bridge. Oh, yeah I'm pretty sure it had something to do with booze and a drunken bet with someone I can't remember.

"Miss. N?" Maira let out a sigh, before posturing herself to look professional, looking up she saw a redheaded girl peeking out the door timidly. Tiredly, she gestured for the girl to come in.

"Yes?" Maira said. "What is it?" Raising an eyebrow at her, watching as she shuffled uncomfortably. Making her frown, I'm not that scary am I? She thought, concerned that her students weren't approaching her because she was intimidating. Maybe I should tone it down..? Or have one on once conversations with my students..? Hmm...

"Miss. N, Jenny's not feeling well." The redhead said. Jenny...Maria thought, trying to see just exactly who the girl was talking about. I don't think I have a Jenny in class this year.. Giving her a long look searching her face to make sure she wasn't lying.

"Oh?" Maria asked. "How so?"

Why was she telling me this? Maria wondered. The office should have called me or marked Jenny off the attendance. Annoyance flashed in Maria's eyes, looking more closely to the girl. Jenny could have also just come to class and not skip like she's probably doing.

No, M think logically. Maria let go of a breath, she hadn't known she was holding, allowing her shoulders to relax. Which had stiffen up, when Angie came in without her noticing. Remember you're psychological advice, Maria. She scolded herself. Don't think bad about a student because your setting them up for failure at the point.

Angie, must not have taken the time to notice the sudden change in her teacher as she blurted out "She really, really loves your class! So she wanted to me to get her homework, for your class." Maria narrowing her eyes at her student. "Uh-huh." Maria said, humoring the girl. "She could have just emailed me."

Was it her or did Ange just wince? "S-she.. S-said that you helped her out a lot when she was younger, you know? She wanted to say thank you for being fair with the class and never showing favorites, or paying attention to others who learn faster."

Making Maria blink, stunned. Jenny's teacher ignore her? Or was there just oblivious favoritism in the school? I needed to check that soon. Taking out today's assignment, Maria handed it towards Angie. Who smiled in relief.

"Thank you!" Angie said, rushing out of the classroom in a hurry. "No problem." Maria said, her voice a bit hoarse for not being in use for today. Turning back to the computer, she looked at the screen blankly. She said you helped her out when she was a lot younger...Maria paused, suddenly Angie's words made no does she mean a lot younger..?

I haven't been to the elementary school, for over ten years now...Concerned that her student was lying, she wrote a note to look at Angie's file and visit her home.

What Maria was about to find out was shocking, more so when she was too late…

XXX

Blinking, I snapped out of one my day dreams, or more like a past did it have to be that one..? I thought, grimacing. Why not a different one other than the time I failed my own student..?

Sighing, I looked around slowly. Who ever said being reborn was a blessing, fucking lied. Especially, when you had a developed brain to boot, muscles become stiff and hard to control, emotions ran wild because babies don't have emotional control… like at all. Not to mention the teething...Shudders, now that is even more painful..Noticing the sun was rising out as sun rays peeked out of my curtain. Great, I thought. Just great.. I hate mornings, if I could've shut my brain off and sleep normal, I would, but having a brain that is both slowly developing to fit all my memories and un-developing to fit the Tabula Rasa, I couldn't help but stay up as my brain wouldn't stop coming up with theories and solutions to my situation.

Being here, observing the interactions of my family and the people outside, when I'm given the time to stroll around. I've realized a couple of things these past few months.

One: I was under no obligation to help anyone, I still wanted to anyway.

Two: I could finally make money by ripping off the books I've read, songs, and carving wood, I could also probably cheat on investing…. After all, I taught a few classes in business.

Three: Just because that stupid chicken that our neighbor has for a pet, doesn't mean I can set it on fire or throw rocks at it.

…

…

What?! I'm not a morning person! Never have been and probably never will. Not to mention I will have revenge on that stupid chicken for somehow getting into my room, standing on one of the legs o the crib and singed… LOUDLY! Startling me awake and making me burst out crying uncontrollable, after I thought I knew how to control my emotions in this body.

I do not take failure lightly… At all

Four: I also tried to set it on fire, when I realized they probably don't have coffee here or chocolate or Ice cream…

Someone was going to pay up there…

"ACHOO." The Kitsune sneezed,jumping off the ground, she glanced around, eyebrows furrowed.

""What's the matter now?" Her grumpy campaign Kitsune hummed, answering "I think someone's talking about me," Happily, ignoring. The fact, she left her companion to carry 90 stacks of books.

"I feel so loved." she said, smiling widely. Not knowing whoever was talking about her was planning her death…

Could she even be killed?

Her companion only stares at her, before turning to leave muttering.. "Why did I have to get stuck with the nut job." The dwarf scowled. "Maybe I should find her old partner in crime?" He asked, to himself, frowning even deeper, he shook his head. "Nah, they separated them for a reason.." Finally the Kitsune stopped humming and yelled. "Eh?! Wait for me!."

Bored.. So utterly bored..I thought, laying on the blanket defeated. Why couldn't I have remembered my past life when I was four or something..? At least my dilemma would be right away and I could move around and not be bored… "Ruka-chan!" Someone called out, Making me cringe at the loud sound. Looking to the side, I see Tou-san, when did he come in? I wondered. He didn't even make a sound!

Giving him a gummy smile, raising my hand. "Tou-chan!" He chuckled, swooping me out of the ground and into his arms."Your Kaa-chan is out for a mission, and your obaasan is currently out." He said, putting me into a stroller "Since it was just me and you for today, might as well spend our time outside." I smiled gummily at him, I want my teeth back and I can't wait to have them.

Ever since my grandmother had moved into the house, I had barely spent any time with my dad. My grandmother spent time taking care of me. When both of my parents were out on a month long mission. It was funny seeing their reactions when I was already crawling and starting to say words.

Especially dear old pops who continued to sob as I toddled away from him. Into my Kaa-san awaiting arms, who smiled and cooed at me, sending a smirk to Tou-san.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ikkaku was taking his daughter out to a friends house. Their child had recently been born a few months after Iruka, making Iruka a couple of months older than their child. He wanted to see Iruka interact with someone, around her age. She was almost turning one years old, within a couple of months.

The area he was taking her too was a bit more.. Fancier, than where they lived. Not that they had more money or anything. It was just that they weren't used to something more simple. His mother had drilled it into him from the day he was born that things were better of small and felt loved, than something large and felt empty. He was sure his mother had already started drilling it into Iruka, when they were away.

He looked at the house, grimacing a bit. Maybe this isn't such a good idea. He thought, taking a look at Iruka, he sighed. But it's better for her to start interacting, the earlier the better, right?

KNOCK… KNOCK

The door slid open to reveal silver grey hair, a youthful young man revealed to be the owner of silver grey hair. He was slightly shorter than Ikkaku."Ikkaku?" he questioned surprised to his long time friend.

"Ah, Hatsu!" Ikkaku greated. "How are you and Tsuki?" Hatsu, twitched at the mention of the Tsuki, opening the door wider. "Come on in." He said, not bothering to answer the question. Gripping to door frame just a bit tighter than usual, straining a smile to his old friend.

Ikkaku gave him a wide smile, despite feeling the cold air around his friend. Taking the stroller that had Iruka in it, into the house.

"Also, Tsuki and I..." Hatsu trailed, gaining a weird look in his eyes. "Are okay." He closed the door. Ikkaku glances at him, as he unstraps Iruka, from her stroller. Though doesn't take her out of the stroller much to her distress. "I see, is Tsuki taking time off," Ikkaku asks. "Or is she…" Trailing off, not looking at Hatsu, knowing if he did Hatsu would be glaring at him. Before spitting in rage, yells at him for even suggesting that his wife would be irresponsible to leave their child.

To his surprise Hatsu did no such thing. "No," He said, tired. "She isn't, for the first two months she did." Letting out a tired smiled, making him look much older than he was. "But she went back into mission no matter how persistent we are, she won't"

Ikkaku grimaced, sighing. "If you want you could let Iruka into the playpen." Hatsu said, looking at his disgruntled looking goddaughter. Ikkaku, blinked, modding slowly and thanking him quietly. He set iruka down into the playpen not realizing that someone was watching intently.

Hatsu, secretly grinned. While Ikkaku was Jounin, he was too dense to notice things when he was was one of the reason's he married Noriko instead of his teams Kunoichi. Hatsu thought, Though how Noriko got Ikkaku to understand still remains a mystery. His son had been rather lonely, might as well let him become friends with Ikkaku daughter, and if he played his cards right..

Well, it wouldn't hurt to plan ahead, right?

After all Hatsu was sure that Haru-kaa-san would be overjoyed of having her granddaughter marry his son after all. Keep bond close and tight for the years to come right?

Ikkaku was oblivious to his grinning and planning friend and his daughter shooting him looks that should not be on a normal babies face. Left Iruka in the play pen and dragged his friend to the kitchen table. "You have any drinks?" Ikkaku asks.

Did he have to basically put me in prison..? I thought, pouting at the colorful cell. Of all things, tou-san could do! Sulkingly, I stared at the prison ce- uhmm I mean playpen. It was stupidly colorful.

Scowling, looking at the two stupid men who were talking and perhaps gossiping like old women, with beers in their hand. Mentally, I sighed. Way to be resposible… For some reason, the old man Hatsu was grinning.

…

Why was he grinning!? Narrowing my eyes, looking around to see toys on the floor, stuffed toys and teething rings. Shuddering at the sight of teething rings, remembering the feeling of my teeth wanting out. I cried until something cold was put in my mouth for the pain.

Perhaps, Freud was right about the whole baby pleasure theory… Let's not get into that just yet.

So busy in thought and observing the near surrounding of mine, I didn't see anyone, or anything heading my way. Until I felt something hit the back of the head.

Blink..

It was a blue plastic toy block, blinking at it with a blank thought. Slowly, looking up towards where it was thrown at me,or to where I believed it was thrown at me. Only to meet blue-green eyes giving me the most creepy/adorable glare. He had silver grey hair like his father… I think Hatsu was his father, right…?

The kid had a healthy pale skin, and blue-green eyes. Why does he seem familiar?

THAWK.

Looking at the red block he threw at me, lying right next to the blue block. Oh, that's it. Grabbing the red block, throwing it back at him, hoping it hit his nose..Was it mean to hit a kid, when you had a body of a kid? Or was that unfair because mentally I'm an adult?

THAWK.

Screw it.

Morals are overrated, right now. This meant war.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was a warzone, the kids throwing plastic blocks at each other. Increasing speed and accuracy There father oblivious to what was going on, were talking and having tea, to Ikkaku dismay, but agreed nonetheless after Hatsu pointed out they needed to be responsible adults for their children.

"I hear you were nominated to become Jounin sensei." Hatsu said, smiling as Ikkaku, who halfway choked on his tea.

"N-no, not going to happen." Ikkaku stated. Shaking his head. "I remember all too well with how we acted as genin, I'm not willing to go through what we put our poor sensei through." Not to mention, I already know who would be my genin team. Ikkaku thought. "Oh?" Hatsu questioned. " I thought, you'd… Ya' know train some genin, so when Iruka grow up and began dating, she'd have two overprotective brothers and one older sister."

Ikkaku froze, How could I forget about that! He thought, having not looked at his daughters, misty and tabgled clothes yet. Not to mention the horrors his daughter was to take in the future ahead. Little devils in disguise. Imagining his precious baby girl being corrupted my some devil boys, popping into his head.

"Maybe I should." Ikkaku muttered, screw the cloth, he was sure he'd do just fine training some brats under his command.

Meanwhile…

They hadn't anticipated for them to throw the blocks high or in extreme speed. The green and yellow block had clashed with each other making them go back to the previous owner who threw them.

THAWK. THAWK.

The kids were hit with the blocks, leaving big red marks on their forehead, as they looked at offending blocks, lips begin to wibble. The pain shooting to the place where they got hit. They looked eac other, tears pilling to their eyes and lips wobbling. "Wa!" The boy began to wail first, while the girl sniffed quietly, refusing to react like the opposing boy/enemy.

Iruka, looked at the silver grey haired kid, who wailed his little heart out, making her heart clench and guilt pooling into her stomach. Glancing towards their oblivious fathers, a bit disgruntled she wobbled towards the kid, Who cried his heart out, slowly she lifting her arms. Giving him a hesitant hug, the kid sniffed into the hug. Making Iruka grimace at the ruined dress her grandmother made. But made no move to push the kid off.

Hatsu who turned around to look at them after the commotion was settled, seemed to be amused. As he nudges his friend to look at the direction of their kids. Ikkaku, raising an eyebrow turns, only to freeze at the adorable sight of his daughter hugging a boy. Ikkaku pales, twitching ever so slightly at the sight.

Hatsu never said his child was a boy nor did he say his kid was asleep. He should have known..

He really, really should have known…

Looking at the little creepy baby, yes. He thought, he was creepy, what father wouldn't? When a boy was hugging his little girl! He knows he's being unreasonable, After all, the kid was adorable to other people, but not him. Though it might be because his daughter is hugging the brat.

He didn't care if the kid, was his best friend's kid. He was a boy and hugging his daughter. Noriko wouldn't see it, niether would his kaa-an. No one would! No one would believe him that an innocent baby, was a pervert. But he knew one when he saw one.

Hatsu walked having gotten the kids, and carrying them with both arms, said. "Ikkaku, I would like you to meet my son Mizuki." Ikkaku twitched ,as the brat took one glance at him and stuck out his tongue. Tucking his head into his daughter's shoulder, while Iruka just stared at him with wide naive eyes. This child was his enemy, he just knew it!

Oh how wrong he would be later on in life. As he hadn't noticed the slight twitched his daughter gave when she heard the name.

Mizuki, his name was Mizuki. The same Mizuki that betrayed Iruka on the first episode and in the manga plot… The very one that sabotaged all the students in Naruto class just to make him fail.. Along with him making Iruka miserable, because everyone paid more attention to Iruka, after he lost his parents rather than him…

Staring at the little monster,I had always wondered how in the world the two became friends and stayed in such a toxic friendship. You shouldn't be judging. A whisper said. You were in a toxic friendship once too. Ignoring the whisper, so that's how they were friends! Their parents were friends and were forced to hang out with each other. Making them childhood friends… Did Iruka have any other friends? Any other acquaintances at all, that he interacted other than Mizuki, Naruto and the Hokage?

Well, shoot me. I can't remember.

Stupid brain function, already taking out the important thing I need to know about Umino Iruka! But how did Iruka become close to the Hokage in the first place, for the third trying to cheer Iruka up, anyway..? It didn't make sense, especially since Hokage was a busy man with many ninjas coming in and out, there's now way the Hokage would choose someone random to become close with.

Although, I can worry about that later…. Bangs covering my face as a smile grew. Mizuki was going to pay, even if he hasn't done it yet. He was going to pay for sabotaging a student and I.e sabotaging the other studetns as well. His punishment until further notice was to become my minion! I will make him suffer the wrath of a teacher scorn, before he even knows it. He won't think twice about doing the same thing he did in the plot!

It was times like these I loved having had a degree in psychology.

Oh, this was going to be fun!

"Look at the time it seems like we need to go." Tou-chan says, putting me back into the stroller. I looked at Hatsu, before closing my eyes and giving a hand out.

"Ah, look at Iruka-chan , waving goodbye to Mizuki!" Hatsu said, cooing at the adorable scene, ignoring Tou-san sputtering.

Giggling at my tou-chan reaction. For some reason "Your obedient servant" was running through my head and I couldn't help, but look at Mizuki. Well it seems like we'll be fighting a lot in the near future,as well. I'm sure though he'll come around an accept that he's my serv-ahem Minion.

They always do..

"Your daughter's birthday is coming up soon, right?" Hatsu asked, looking at Ikkaku, who nodded happpily, eyeing Mizuki with narrowed eyes. Knowing that Iruka was looking at the stupid brat with interest.

"Hai, she'll be turning one soon." Ikkaku said, strapping his daughter to make sure she wouldn't fall out of the stroller.

"Don't both Noriki and you have a mission a week, before Iruka's birthday?" Freezing, as I heard this, they'll both be going on missions on my birthday? I thought, a cold shiver passed through my spine. Guess they were busy busy parent, huh? Looking wide eyed at Hatsu and Tou-chan who were both ignoring Mizuki and I.

I didn't know why, but with a gut feeling, I should be expecting missing parents throughout my childhood… again. This time though it was bothering me more than last time.

Maybe because this time both parents were showing affection rather than expectations?

A lump formed in my throat, I couldn't have gotten attached that fast, right? I've only lived on the timeline for what barely a year? Perhaps, it wasn't affection or expectation, perhaps it was the bond that was formed between them and I. The bond between parents and newborns during the first few or life which would make the baby either feeling secure or ambivalent. For the first time in my life I couldn't answer a question as simple as that and it scared me.

Who was I?

Was I still me? Was I becoming someone new?

More Importantly, why was I dreading something?

I didn't hear the goodbyes Tou-chan said too Hatsu and Mizuki, nor did I hear tou-chan talking to me as we headed home. I could only watch as families pass by and try to ignore the heart wrenching scenes.

Babies can't hold back emotion, that goes against the Id… It always gets what it wants at this stage.

Wobbling my lower lip and instinctively raising my arm. "Wahh~" Oh god this is embarrassing! Ikkaku stopped strolling, taking me out of the stroller, trying to comfort me without looking awkward in public.

"Sh… Sh.. It's okay, Ruka-chan." He whispered, soothingly. "We'll be getting home to Kaa-chan soon, so you'll be getting feed and be able to snuggle up in your crib, with that gigantic stuffed bear obaasan got you."

"Hic." My baby body just snuggled up and with droopy eyes, I closed my eyes won

The mission that uncle Hatsu mentioned never happened.

I

Review! Thank you for waiting for this update and many more to come! Since I am re-working on this story to make it better, than the last time!