The cold was seeping in him again and his heart beat in desperation. Gods, his heart was fluttering like a trapped bird in a cage, and he couldn't seem to calm his pulse down! The first important person in his life was in danger and he didn't know about it until a complete stranger told him! Why had no one informed him sooner? He couldn't stop shaking, not knowing whether it was due to cold or fear. While she continued speaking, he stayed rooted on the spot.
What am I…doing here? Why can't I move? Move. Move! This is your chance to save your precious person! Move damn it!
Aiko finished speaking, lost in nostalgia. She realized that the boy must have become bored with her stories so she turned her attention back to him. However, the there was nothing more than an empty clearing. The boy had disappeared! Her mouth was gaping open rather unattractively, but her face slowly contorted with rage.
No good brat! Wasting my time like this!
She had wasted enough time explaining her past. Slightly ticked, she stalked off out of the forest to look for a job to support herself. Matters concerning Iruka could wait until later. No longer concerned about the blonde youth, she continued on, not realizing all the while how much her words affected the boy. She could not guess that her words would provoke such a strong response. However, Naruto moved swiftly as if even a second wasted would mean a precious moment lost.
Ahead, he saw the robed figure of the Hokage gazing across Konoha. Before he could move closer, the figure turned to face him. He stopped, knowing there was no reason to continue; his voice could carry across and be heard just fine.
"What brings you here?"
"Old-hag, you already know why!" Naruto shouted in his customary lack of respect.
Tsunade ignored the blatant insult, knowing full well that no matter what she did, his manners would still remain unchanged. What troubled her at the moment was the intensity of his eyes. She knew the young child was capable of just about anything, especially since he suspected one of his precious people was in trouble.
"Nothing has been confirmed yet, so shut up. I know you're worried, but until we know where he is, what has happened to him, and how serious the situation is, we won't be able to take any action! Wait one week before coming back again. Got it, brat?"
"But…but there's a chance that Iruka-sensei could be in trouble!"
"We'll find him. Be patient." she said, trying to soften her harsh voice.
But it's so hard to wait. Why should I waste time doing nothing when I can go look for him? For all you know, he could be in serious trouble. Don't you know that? I…I don't want anyone precious to me get hurt. And if I wait like this…then I can't help them. I can't protect them like this! Why can't you understand that?
Instead, Naruto chose to remain silent. There was no use in voicing his opinions; from past experience, all the women tended to knock him out the moment he questioned their decision. For once, he wisely kept his mouth shut.
If Tsunade would not help him, then he'd find another way. Clenching his fists, he darted off towards his team. Since Sakura and Sasuke were once students under his care, they would try something. Kakashi-sensei's sense of teamwork and the need to protect comrades would also be of great help. If anything, he could convince them to join his cause.
Panic began to set in as he felt like a caged animal. Sweat collected and ran across his forehead and down his neck like thin rivulets. The palm of his hands had become cold; it wouldn't stop shaking, almost as if they were actually freezing. Most of all, his heart couldn't stop beating so rapidly, hammering against his chest as if it were wishing to escape. His eyes darted wildly across the room and his breathing slowly increased. He realized that full hysteria would settle in once his client appeared.
A slight twist of the doorknob was enough for him to freeze. His eyes widened and he felt very faint. It was starting.
The door opened to reveal a pudgy man. Despite the rather classy suit he wore, no scrap of clothing could disguise his weight. His oily hair was slicked back in what was supposed to be a suave style, but it only heightened the fact that his hair was thinning. Beady eyes, set too close together, squinted while an overtly large, bulbous nose that seemed smashed up like a pig's snout and small, misshapen lips completed the face. It was only fitting that the man's name was Hakkai*.
"Are you ready?" he asked, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Iruka couldn't say anything, his mouth suddenly gone dry. He was going to…he was going to give himself to that man? Gods, fate was laughing at him and his predicament! Three days had passed since the first time he entered the damnable cage with Ichi, and now he was going to do such a despicable act! Why was he not warned that he would have to sell his body so soon?
"Ano…perhaps we should drink tea and calm ourselves…" Iruka asked in a small voice. He mentally cringed as he noted how weak he sounded. That was bound to turn the fat pig on even more!
"Ah, your voice is so sweet…like music to my ears!" Hakkai said, trying to make his words sound smooth and rich. He only succeeded in sounding like metal grating against one another.
Iruka had to stop himself from openly cringing at such a horrible voice. He almost choked at how obscenely stupid those words sounded. The man before him wasn't smooth at all!
"We can drink tea later. Now why don't we cut the chase. Foreplay isn't my thing!"
Foreplay? Iruka had no intention of doing such a thing at all. The man's perverted mind absolutely disgusted Iruka. He didn't have time to dwell on his thoughts as he noticed Hakkai inching closer, clearly intruding his personal space. That man was only becoming a nuisance.
"Oh, but I'm not very experienced in this. If we take it slowly, I can quickly adjust to the situation." Iruka hoped his voice sounded low and seductive enough to get the idiot before him to comply. He knew he was using dirty tactics, acting so sweet and innocent, but he was willing to do just about anything to postpone, and eventually stop the client from touching him in such a gross manner.
"A virgin? I'm sure I can teach you a few…lessons." Hakkai said, his brows lifting in a comic manner.
Would you just shut up! I don't want to learn anything from a lecher like you! Gods, I need to get away.
Without warning, Hakkai jumped and latched onto Iruka. He brought his face close to the surprised chuunin, cupping the man beneath with pudgy fingers. Iruka could only freeze, suddenly aware of the close proximity and the awkward situation.
"You're beautiful. It's hard to believe you're a man when I look at your face." Hakkai murmured.
Iruka had to hold his breath, realizing the man on top of him had a bad case of halitosis. His breath reeked of fish and alcohol. Unfortunately, the man began spouting flowered words. Iruka turned his face away, hoping for decent air. Instead, Hakkai planted his lips fully onto Iruka, thrusting his tongue in. Iruka could only struggle against, his mind not fully registering the intrusion.
He…is…trying…to…choke…me…with…his…TONGUE! Snap out of it!
His eyes narrowed as his instincts kicked in. With full force, he kneed Hakkai's lower torso, fully aiming for the groin. Hakkai's eyes bulged out almost comically as his hands groped and cupped his sensitive area. A small whimper escaped his lips as he tried to convey his pain. Iruka turned quickly and kicked the client's side, satisfied to see Hakkai crumble in a heap. Thank goodness he was a ninja! Strangely refreshed and relieved, he reclined on the bed.
Footsteps pounded on the wooden floor outside and the door burst open to reveal the owner. He could only burst out laughing, leaving Iruka clearly confused.
"Quick and effective I see. Poor man, you tired him out."
Iruka could feel his face heat up. He was glad the owner misunderstood, thinking Iruka was a feisty and fast lover. Hakkai was dragged away, presumably in a different room to regain his consciousness.
Alone in his room, Iruka breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't have to give up much of himself at all. Hopefully, he knocked his client in the head hard enough that he'd forget what happened altogether. Somehow, Iruka doubted such fortune to occur. In any likely event, Hakkai would complain, demand a refund, and Iruka would be severely punished.
Cold fear reached sharply at him, its hard talons digging into him. He'd be lucky if he came out unscathed the next time. Next time, he wouldn't be so lucky to use his hard-earned skills. If anything, a handicap would be used against him, making sure he did his job properly. He couldn't help but shudder to think of what the future held for him.
The doors slid open and Iruka immediately looked up. His tense expression immediately relaxed when he noticed Ichi strolling in.
"I figured you'd be a wreck afterwards. Wouldn't blame you. The bastard leaves you sore for about a week or so." Ichi said crudely.
"Ano…nothing explicit happened." Iruka muttered.
Ichi narrowed his eyes, immediately suspecting something. "What do you mean nothing happened?"
"I…kind of…knocked him out."
There was a piercing silent wafting throughout the room. Ichi's eyes were wide in disbelief and Iruka could only shift uncomfortably. Why was the boy looking at him with such intensity? Suddenly, Ichi let out a hearty laugh. "You mean…you actually…knocked him…unconscious?" he asked between sniggers. Ichi held onto his stomach, trying to contain his laughter; he hardly succeeded as tears streamed down his cheeks from laughing too much.
The laughter was contagious as both gave in. Now that he thought about it, after the event occurred, everything seemed funnier somehow. Who'd believe the innocent newcomer could pack a punch?
"Well…I guess there's nothing to worry about. The prick will probably give you a rest considering you went through that pig. I'm off. Tell me if anything else interesting happens."
Just as quickly as his fear had come, it disappeared with Ichi's presence. Iruka couldn't help but smile after the evening's events. Perhaps everything would right itself in the end…
Tsunade paced the room, awaiting the reports of the men she sent to investigate the situation. She didn't know why she was so anxious. Perhaps it was because four days had passed since the fateful meeting with the distraught woman, and Iruka had yet to reveal himself. Doubt began to creep in, and suddenly, she began regretting her actions. What if the poor girl had been correct? The idea was preposterous, surely, but there could be some sort of logical reasoning behind Iruka's visit.
Shaking her head, Tsunade continued to resolutely pace the floors, avoiding areas that creaked. Thankfully, it didn't take long for her men to arrive and give her detailed accounts of what they saw.
"Ah…Hokage-sama…we're…we're not sure how to say this…" The man shifted uneasily under her gaze.
"I think that wretched girl was right. We saw someone who looked like Iruka there, prancing like a whore." another spat.
So…the girl had been correct. Everything seemed to spiral out of control. One of her most trusted professors at the Academy was selling his body. It seemed like a tasteless joke. The idea was simply too much to handle.
"Find that girl and bring her here. I fear we've made a grave mistake."
It was odd hearing her admit to having made an error. It was even odder to see worry crease her face. Without any further replies, the two men quickly set out to find the girl. Their quick absence left Tsunade time to ponder the situation.
She recalled what the young girl had said, aware of every detail of the tale the girl had been spouting the first time they'd met. At the time, Tsunade listened patiently, but had dismissed the tale, safely shuffling the details in the back of her mind. Now, after hearing the reports of what had transpired since their investigation, she could not help but recall all the details of the story surfacing in her mind.
She wondered why Iruka would risk himself, venturing out of the safe fortress walls of Konoha. Surely he realized he would be sentenced as a missing-nin? Somehow, she didn't think the young professor was that stupid. There was an important ulterior motive for his sudden departure. And the girl was part of it. She was the vital piece.
Looking over the entire village, she hoped those two found the girl. If the gods were generous, Iruka would return safely and this incident would quickly fade with time. Tsunade pursed her lips, knowing full well she was thinking such frivolous thoughts. This incident, if ever leaked, would harm Iruka and the girl. Shaking her head, she could only wait.
Time was of absolute essence in this situation. She only hoped the gods were willing to grant her a few more precious moments. She knew that something horrible could happen to Iruka, something that could damage his stable, mental state. Furthermore, she knew that she needed precious time else Naruto would react drastically.
Gods be willing, she needed time. Just like she needed time to save Nawaki and Dan, she needed it to save another. However, time had never been fair to her.
When Naruto first explained the dire situation Iruka was trapped in, his two teammates and sensei could only stare at him blankly. Iruka as a prostitute at the Black Lotus sounded absolutely preposterous to them; Naruto really couldn't blame them for thinking that way. However, what truly irked him was the fact that his entire team had merely ignored him or called him names.
Sasuke coolly regarded Naruto before concluding his decision by using the self-appointed nickname, "dobe." Sakura had reacted similarly, except with more violence, ending their conversation by giving him a painful bruise on his head. Kakashi-sensei looked at him seriously before going back to his perverted book. All in all, he only wasted his breath.
His team was reacted far too calmly in Naruto's eyes. He had just explained to him that his beloved sensei was in trouble somewhere and instead, they merely nodded, going back to their daily routines.
Naruto couldn't help but feel rage sweeping throughout his body; it was a burning rage that smoldered slowly before fully erupting in violence. Angry red chakra enveloped him, his eyes immediately turning into slits. How could they just stand there, ignoring his pleas. They knew that he never joked about matters that concerned people close to him. The chakra immediately dissipated.
"If you can't help me…then fine. I just hope you guys come to your senses." His voice was absolutely calm; that meant trouble. Usually, when angered, he'd shout with gusto. However, to hear such calm, cold words escaping his mouth was unheard of. In fact, the team had only witnessed such a tone when Naruto was seriously angered; usually, it was because people close to him were injured by another.
"I think he's going to do something stupid again." Sasuke remarked afterwards.
"I don't think he fully understands the situation. Always acting first before giving it some thought." Kakashi said before disappearing as well.
How could they? They think I'm joking or something. But they know better than that! They know I'd never joke about something like this. What if Iruka needs help right now and I can't because those three won't…won't help me? Fine. It's a lone savior. It's not like I've never been in this situation before anyway.
Naruto raged silently to himself. He had grown accustomed to having his team help him during desperate situations. However, under such circumstances, he knew he'd be going at it alone. Alone. He was used to it. He'd get by. But that didn't mean he had to like it. In fact, he couldn't help but feel hollow, an overwhelming sense of sorrow washing over him in waves.
Naruto promptly disappeared into the haven of his room. Alone, he could sort out his thoughts. Curling into a vulnerable fetal position, he couldn't stop absolute sorrow from claiming him. He'd never felt so helpless. His body was shaking and his throat was burning as he tried to muffle his cries. He drifted into sleep as exhaustion overtook his body; tears slipped by unnoticed.
It was nightfall when Naruto woke up. His bleary vision cleared and adjusted to the dark. Now was the perfect time to act out! If he didn't, he knew he'd regret not doing so. He yawned and stretched, hoping to erase all traces of sleep. For this mission, he had to be on absolute alert.
Quickly, he ran off into the night and into the forests. The thick branches would provide him much-needed cover. He stopped, listening for any sounds as his sharp eyes looked for any signs of others. The coast was clear. All he had to do was escape the fortress. He knew it was a big risk; it was big enough to get hunter-nins sent after him. However, such trivial things had never stopped him before. He started climbing the wooden walls, ready to escape towards the forbidden world beyond the gates.
The fine hairs on his neck rose and a prickling sensation ran across his body. Someone was behind him! He scrambled to escape, but a calm voice stopped him.
"Go any further and you'll be considered a missing-nin. Ever think of that?"
*Hakkai - Someone corrected me on the fact that the name does not mean fat or pig. Unfortunately, I'm too lazy to change it so the name will have to do. Thank you to Ling for correcting me on the mistake I made. Also, thank you to Rasberry Jam for finding an appropriate word! Darkblade, thank you for explaining the meaning of the name! Gosh, you guys are so darn nice! ^^
Author's Note: Yes! Now it's after this chapter that the readers will start to notice the difference! For those KakaIru shippers out there, the next chapter is the one you guys have been waiting for. So read on!
