I am on a roll and I have lots of inspiration for this story grin guess I have to do this disclaimer thing again. I do not anything exept the Nishi family and the city that has no name yet and maybe them.. point at Orochimaru and Kabuto ok so I don't own them but I can dream ne? On with the story!

Against the Tide

Chapter 3 - And the winner is......

Tsunade leaned back in her chair, looking at photos of the available bachelor of the village and sighed wondering wich one would be the best choice for the girl. But first thing first, she needed to talk to the girl that has been left in her care.

"Ebisu could you show the girl in please?"

Ebisu nodded, pushing his glasses back up his nose and went to get the girl. Minute's later Kin stepped inside the Hokage office and bowed to Tsunade.

"Your name is Nishi Kin right?" Tsunade asked and leaned back in her seat.

"Yes, Hokage-sama" came the polite reply of the girl, whom was still standing infront of Tsunade.

"Please take a seat Kin-san" Tsunade offered.

Kin nodded and sat down, her hands folded on her laps. Tsunade glanced at Kin, fidding her a proper husband will be difficult and the girl did look rather young.

"How old are you Kin-san?" Tsunade might as well start at the beginning and ask the girl a few question.

"I'm nineteen but I'll be twenty in a month Hokage-sama" The girl replied politely.

"Please call me Tsunade..."

"Yes Tsunade-sama.." Tsunade looked at Kin, there was no mistake about it this girl was noble raised. She would stand out from the general crowd of the village.

"Kin-san, tell me do you know why you are here?" Tsunade hoped the girl knew.

"Father told me I was to marry someone here, for my own protection and the city because of my gift...." Kin was a very polite girl showing that the lady Hi had a hand in raising the girl.

"Does that bother you?"

"A little, arranged weddings happen all the times for noble families. Even if we don't like it I knew my turn would come sooner or later but I know my father never pressed the matter, he told me he wanted me to find someone precious like when he found mother." Kin smiled a little of course she was a bit sad. She wasn't given the opportunity do to like her father and search for such a person but she understood her father's reasons, and she knew this was hurting him as well.

Tsunade smiled, at least the girl had a good head on her shoulder. She wasn't like those giggling noble girls that would do anything for a pretty face or a higher status. This girl could think for herself.

"Tell me Kin-san, what is it you like to do, what are your goals, like and dislike?" These were the classic question to ask in Konoha when a person wanted to know someone.

"I like children and to help people. I don't like know it all people, and my gift. My hobbies are reading, singing and collecting books.As for my dream it's a bit silly but I would like to own a librairy." Kin blushed a little as she mentionned her dream.

Tsunade wasn't sure what to make of Kin, her gift was a blessing so why would she hate it? Maybe there was something about the gift that Kin was not telling her, but right now it didn't really matter there would plenty of time to find out what was the girl wasn't telling later.

"Thank you Kin-san, Ebisu will see you out and take you to your new home" Tsunade waved her hand and on cue Ebisu entered the office and led the girl out, leaving the fifth alone again to think.

The Hokage took a pen and a sheet of paper, she started to scribble down the names of the men available under thirty and above twenty. After spending a few minutes filtering the names she came up with a very short list.

Asuma

Ebisu

Gai

GenmaIruka

Kakashi

She looked at her list while chewing on a pen, again she started to cross out names the first one to go was Ebisu simply because that guy was creepy and had the same strange habits as Jayaira. Which was peeking at the women's bath house. The second name to be crossed out was Asuma because he was a smoker and also because that maybe him and Kurenai might hook up but that was a big if. Gai's name was also crossed, Tsunade didn't want Kin to be afraid of her husband and Gai had that special way of his to scare people out of their wits with his smiles and winks. Kakashi was also removed from the list because he was always late, was obsessed with a book called "Come come paradise" and also because Kakashi wouldn't even know what to do with a wife.

Two people remained on Tsunade list, Genma and Iruka and to tell the truth both had their for and their against. The Hokage sighed guess it was time to do this the old fashion way with the toss of a coin.

"Heads she'll marry Genma and tails she marry Iruka." Tsunade flipped the coin in the air and up, up then descended spinning before landing on her desk. She looked at the coin and it showed tails. well look like Iruka won himself a wife. Tsunade smiled mischivously thinking of the look on the teacher face when he would learn he was going to be out of the proverbial market.

"Ebisu, go and get me Iruka-sensei." Tsunade didn't have to walk out of her office, she knew in a sort of wierd way that he would be outside waiting for the next errand, sure enough she heard someone dissapear in the a puff of smoke.

Iruka as usual was at the school teaching the children about jutsu and chakra control when Ebisu appeared in front on the class next to the teacher.

"Iruka-sensei, The Hokage wants to see you." Ebisu told Iruka while pushing his glass up on his nose again.

"Yes, Ebisu-san can you teach the children while I'm gone?"

"Of course" On that Iruka disapeared in a puff of smoke.

A few minutes later Iruka appeared into the hokage's office, at first he thought that Tsunade had a mission for him. However seeing the smile on the woman's face, Iruka's heart started to beat very fast. Maybe there had been some amelioration with Naruto's condition, maybe he would see the old Naruto back he could only hope.

"Iruka-sensei, I have some very good news for you.." Tsunade told him still keeping her smile.

"It's Naruto, he's back to his old self right?" Iruka asked hopefully.

"No"

Iruka frowned a little, if Naruto wasn't better why would Tsunade be smiling like that? Maybe she's was simply playing a prank on him? it had to be a stupid joke, any second now Naruto would burst into the office and give Iruka a good scare. Of course Iruka would pretend to be angry at first but later they would have a good laugh about it. Iruka waited but that second never came as they became minutes. Iruka swallowed before asking the question that would end his wait.

"If it's not about Naruto, how can it be good news?" He asked somehow feeling a little hesitant.

"I wanted to be the first to congratulate you on your upcoming wedding.." She replied smiling broadly at him.

"Wha... What? But..but I don't h..have a fiance..." Iruka was slowly loosing his composure, surely this was a joke.

"Actually you do now such a lovely girl and quite the looker too." The old woman was starting to enjoy seeing Iruka's reaction to the whole thing.

"But..but you can't I'm to young..to....to have a wife....I mean...er......" Iruka really needed to find something quick to get out of this mess.

"I'm sorry Iruka, but look I know this will make you change a few things but look at this in a different perspective, now you won't have to make any effort finding a date for the next festival..." Tsunade said with good humor.

"I can find dates with any effort you know." The teacher replied with an hurt tone of voice.

"Oh really, when was the last time you actually went on a date?" She asked smirking at Iruka.

"..........." Iruka's face turned red a little and he averted his eyes his from Tsunade instead finding the floor more interesting at the moment.

"Look you don't have to marry her now, I'll leave you to two to know each other better before setting a date for the wedding. This may come as a shock, but I don't have a choice in the matter I already gave my word to Kin's father that I would see to her wellfare and beside this wedding will be good for the village..." The woman smiled softly at Iruka.

Iruka sighed and started to pace in the office. This was not something he had planned for his future. He knew sooner or later he would tie the knot but not this soon. He trusted the hokage wisdom in this wheter he liked it or not He had been duty bound to obey his leader and Tsunade had ordered him to marry a complete stanger. He would obey it was his duty to do so after all. Iruka stopped pacing and turned to Tsunade and bowed to her.

"I will do as you ask Hokage-sama but I have one favor to ask."

"Yes what is it?"

"For the wedding....the date..can ..we wait.....until Naruto is feeling better?" This was his favor, Naruto was family to him and a wedding was shared between family and friend.

"Yes we can set the date after Naruto's feeling better..." Tsunade understood Iruka's reasons for asking this and this was one favor she would not think of refusing the teacher, she too was very attached to the boy.

"Thank you, I have to go now Hokage-sama I have a class to teach."

"All right, make sure to introduce yourself to Kin after your class.." Tsunade gave him a peice of paper with Kin's address on it.

Iruka nodded, and after taking the slip of paper he disapeared in a puff of smoke. Tsunade leaned back thinking that things will certainly be interesting in the village for a while. Now back to more pressing manners, the 5th yawned and using the paperwork as a pillow she took her afternoon nap.

There the end of chapter 3 and see it's longer than the first two!!! I hope you all liked it. I'm sorry if there still spelling or ponctuation mistake english is not my maternal tongue french is so i'm making efforts to correct that.

Thank you to all the people who had read my fanfic.

Evil Kasumi: I'm glad I didn't let you down as for Iruka's wish...giggle sorry but that would be telling

Kitsune: you will soon enought..in a gasp flashback that will take atleast one chapter..when will this happen I do not know but soon hopefully.

Xoni Newcomer: Hehehe..yeah two plots...and this chapter was written so that you people could know a little more about Kin and yes Iruka's wish plays a good part in this :p. As for Itachi and Orochimaru can't tell you yet but expect a big surprise as to who is after the Hi bloodline.

shake-it-buddy: sorry as much as I enjoy reading yaoi, i'm not very good at writing them hug her Orochimaru plushie and thank you for the compliment and your right Kakashi/Iruka fic are so fun to read and some of them are really good. Now all there is left is to see a Oro/Iru fic and yeah i'll shut up before I scare potential readers.

Crow-sensei: Darn I knew I should have given her the cookies after she corrected my fic. Thank you, yeah I like this story as well and i'm the one writing it!!!! XD