*Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters in it. I simply borrow them for my own musings and fantasies and do not get paid for their use in said musings or fantasies. –Nira

Chapter 24

Yuriko had had a few weeks to study and train for the Jounin exam with Kakashi as her mentor when he had the time. He'd been called into the office to meet with the Hokage where he'd been told about the first three-man squad that he would soon be the leader of so he spent a lot of time with the elder man in discussion. When Kakashi was busy, Yuriko spent her time training with Kurenai or in the library reading about field medicine and medical ninjutsu. She devoted everything into preparing for her very first- and possibly the only- test she would ever take and occasionally Iruka would see her poring over a book or scroll on her non-training days as she wandered through the village, usually with a snack of some sort poked between the folds of whatever scarf she was wearing at the time if she wasn't wearing her mask. He often wanted to stop her and ask what she was doing or reading but he'd get caught up with admiring her from a distance and completely forget what it was that he'd wanted to ask and give up, embarrassed.

Yuriko, on the other hand, often caught glimpses of Iruka just as he was leaving the area and she wondered if their paths often crossed by coincidence or if he'd intentionally been observing her. About two days before she was scheduled to take the exam she was buying a book when she caught sight of him again. Curious as to why she'd been seeing him around so much, she pursued him and tapped his shoulder when she'd caught up to him. Iruka jumped, not expecting anyone to be looking for him, specifically, and blushed profusely when he saw that it was Yuriko.

"Y-Yuriko-san! Hi! You scared me."

"Have you been following me?" she demanded and Iruka's expression darkened.

"Not intentionally. I have been seeing you around a lot lately and I've wanted to say hello or ask what you're up to, but you always look really busy so I've left you alone."

"It's fine. You could have asked. I wouldn't have minded. Maybe you can actually help me."

Iruka's face twisted in confusion and surprise, wondering what she could possibly want his help for, and the smile on Yuriko's face as she analyzed his reaction brightened her face and she couldn't help but chuckle.

"You're a teacher, right? You teach Konoha's youngest before they become Genin?"

"That's correct. Why do you ask?" he requested.

"I gave up my ANBU mask and have been studying for the Jounin exam. Hokage-sama wants me to become a Team Leader for three man squads of Genin, but I've never taken an exam or gone to school. If I'm honest, I have no idea what I'm doing."

"This is a lot of information to take in at once," Iruka stated, astounded. He had learned only recently from overhearing the conversation between Anko, Izumo, Kotetsu, and Genma at the odango shop that she was ANBU, for one, for two, he was amazed that she was placed in such an elite rank despite being new to the village, and three, he had no idea that she'd never gone to school even though she was so skilled in the ninja arts. "Do you have time for lunch? I'll buy."

Confused by his reaction, but hungry nonetheless, Yuriko agreed with a smile and the pair made their way to Ichiraku for their favorite ramen and a well overdue introductory conversation.

The day had come and Kurenai, Kakashi, Iruka, Yamato, Asuma, Guy, Genma, Anko, Izumo, and Kotetsu had all taken time out of their day and gathered outside of the Hokage's office, awaiting the news. They all knew that she had been studying and training and putting her all into it. She had hardly had time to spare on leisure or just hanging out. Her focus and determination were beyond words, and the day had finally come. The word had spread that Konoha's newest refugee kunoichi was taking her first exam ever and that the results had come out, so they all waited with bated breath for her to leave the double doors and announce whether she would join the Jounin ranks and be assigned a squad of her own.

After what felt like an eternity, Yuriko exited the Hokage's office with the elder man following her to the door and was greeted by her group of friends. She was shocked that they were there at all since the only ones that she'd told that she was taking the exam were Kakashi and Iruka. She knew neither of them was the type to tell someone else's business so she wondered how it got out to the rest of them, forgetting that Izumo, Kotetsu, and Genma all often worked in the Hokage's building. Embarrassed that there were so many people there just to show their support for her, a bright pink blush arose across her cheeks and she hung her head, shadowing her eyes with her bangs. Sandaime stood behind her with his pipe between his lips, pulling a deep drag from the burning tobacco with a stoic expression.

"So? How did it go?" Genma asked, breaking the awkward silence and looking between Yuriko and the Hokage.

"I… passed… spectacularly, apparently."

It was silent for a moment before everyone broke out into cheers and applause, Sandaime finally breaking his stern visage by cracking a smile and chuckling. As the group continued cheering and shouting words of congratulations and encouragement, Yuriko's cheeks grew redder and she shrank into herself, though she couldn't help the proud smile that spread across her face.

"We knew you could do it!" Kurenai cheered, hugging Yuriko and jumping in excitement. "I'm so proud of you!"

"Congratulations, Yuriko-san. You'll make an excellent Team Captain," Iruka smiled, a blush on his own cheeks.

His gaze kept meeting hers before he turned it away as if there was more he wanted to say or do, but with so many people around, he felt extremely self-conscious and couldn't bring himself to say it. The gesture didn't go unnoticed by Yuriko, however, and she made a mental note to ask him about it in a more private setting later. Kakashi simply nodded with a grin and his hands comfortably in his pockets when Yuriko's eyes met his and it was enough of an acknowledgement for Yuriko to feel her heart skip.

"We have to celebrate!" Guy shouted in his boisterous, booming voice as he wrapped his arm around Yuriko's shoulders.

An image of a large, fat man with a booming voice and the overpowering stench of sake on his breath flashed through Yuriko's mind and Iruka, Genma and Kakashi's eyes widened in shock and concern as Yuriko instantly tensed up. Her hand darted for a kunai from her leg pouch with the intention of plunging it into his chest, but she hesitated as a brief moment of clarity overtook her and instead ducked, taking a few steps backwards in a crouching, defensive position to get out of his reach. The gesture and posturing hadn't gone unnoticed and the festivities were brought to a screeching halt when everyone saw the panic in her eyes and her hands and legs shaking.

"S-Sorry… I, uh… Thank you. All of you. Really. It's a little strange and kind of overwhelming that you all came here just for me. It's all just… a bit much for me to take in at once, so if you'll please excuse me..."

With a puff of smoke and a loud "poof," Yuriko was gone leaving everyone in stunned silence, looking around at each other and silently asking "what just happened?" The Hokage's wizened face was contorted in concern as he drew a long pull from his pipe and both Iruka and Kakashi's faces fell in saddened understanding.

"Alright, everyone. That'll be all. Kakashi, a word…" the gruff elder dismissed.

While everyone else meandered off, Iruka looked Kakashi once over, putting a face to the name he'd heard so much about from the others. Slowly he, too, left in the hopes of finding Yuriko. Kakashi followed the elder into his office and stood in the center of the room while Sandaime gazed out the window.

"How much have you gotten to know Yuriko-san in your time together?" the elder man inquired.

"Quite a bit, sir, but there is still more that I don't know about her."

"Tell me honestly, Kakashi. Do you think I have made the right decisions in regards to her?"

"Which decisions are you asking about in particular, Hokage-sama?"

"Accepting her into our ranks, making her ANBU, and now allowing her to teach."

"She is definitely a highly skilled asset. I believe accepting her into our shinobi ranks was wise. I do wonder about putting her in ANBU, however. Since our very first mission, I had an inkling of a feeling that she was too kind-hearted for the types of missions that ANBU is sent on. After the others, the feeling was solidified, but I worry that it was discovered too late. Like me, she is plagued by demons of the past, and there are several things that trigger those demons. Unfortunately, I have yet to decipher what all of them are, why they are triggers, or what it is exactly that they trigger in her mind. I have noticed a significant improvement in her sociability and openness, however."

"I see… Very well. I know what I must do. In the meantime, please continue to keep an eye on her. I am concerned for her wellbeing."

"Yes, sir."

When Yuriko disappeared from the Hokage's office, she'd gone to the top of the Hokage monument to get some fresh air and try not to think about the looks on everyone's faces when she'd almost broken down into a panic attack. She'd lost track of time in her dazed state of staring at everything and nothing in particular as the village began to wind down for the evening. It wasn't until she heard a set of footsteps approaching that she came back to reality.

"Here you are, Yuriko-san. I knew I'd find you eventually," came a familiar, sympathetic voice and when she looked up to acknowledge them, her gaze was met by a pair of warm, brown eyes above a scarred nose and cheeks. "Do you mind if I join you?"

Yuriko nodded to the spot next to her without a word and her blank gaze returned to look out over the village as he sat beside her. It was silent between them for a while until Iruka spoke up again.

"Here," he said, offering something to her with a blush across his cheeks and a cute, innocent grin on his lips. "A gift to congratulate you on passing the exam. It's not much, but when I saw it, I thought that it would look really good on you."

When she looked to see what it was, Yuriko's own cheeks burned. She hesitantly reached out to take it and examined it in detail. It was a lavish golden hair comb decorated in sakura branches with pearl stamens and jeweled butterflies and Yuriko was dumbfounded. She hadn't owned something so pretty since she was a small child when she and her family would take trips to Konoha in the spring for the cherry blossom festival. They would all dress up in their nicest yukata and her mom would do her hair up into an elaborate style with beautiful combs and pins that had beaded chains hanging from them. They sounded like tiny wind chimes jingling in the slightest breeze, and the three would sit under the trees, enjoying a picnic during the day, and once the sun set, they would light lanterns and catch fireflies. Tears welled in her eyes and a bright smile spread across her lips as she held the comb to her heart.

"Iruka-san, it's beautiful," she breathed. "It reminds me of combs that I had when I was a young girl. I only ever got to wear them in the spring for the cherry blossom festival but I loved them dearly. They were the best thing about spring, even prettier than the blossoms on the trees, I thought. Thank you so much."

Iruka's blush deepened seeing the bright smile and glistening of her eyes. She'd been sullen when he'd first arrived, but seeing the comb turned it all around and it was a gorgeous sight to see. He hated that he had to ask her about what happened to bring her back down again. He was too worried about her not to ask in the hopes that maybe he could prevent it from happening again if he knew what the issue was.

"Everyone is worried about you, you know," he started, hoping to ease into the conversation.

Instantly her face fell and eyes darkened and the sudden change was almost painful for Iruka to witness after the glory of her innocent joy at having received the comb.

"I panicked…" she replied, her voice monotonous and emotionless.

"Why? Did Guy-san do something wrong?"

Yuriko shook her head "no" and another stretch of time went by without her or Iruka saying anything while he allowed her time to think and gather her thoughts and she stared at the comb, aimlessly running her fingers around the jewels and metal flowers. It was Yuriko to break the silence this time as she shifted to a cross-legged position with a sigh and a pained expression as her mind played the scene that had caused her so much grief originally.