Strange Rooms Chapter 2: Day 1: Part 2, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine and, alas, never will be.

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Language, violence, all the usual suspects.

Strange Rooms: Day 1 pt 2

"Naruto?"

Naruto didn't respond. He was lying curled up on his bed, gripping the blanket, with his back to the door.

"Naruto?" Iruka repeated, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Naruto, are you all right?"

"She didn't understand. No one does. They don't get me at all."

"Naruto…"

Naruto stiffened as Iruka put a hand on his shoulder. Neither of them moved nor spoke until, slowly, Naruto relaxed. "Sensei?"

"Yes?"

"I shouldn't have yelled at her. She was wrong but…I shouldn't have yelled."

"What did she say?"

"You didn't hear?"

"No. That nurse was busy warning me about everything I should watch for."

"Where?"

Iruka chuckled. "In you, silly."

"Eh? Why?"

"You're still sick, you know."

"Nah, I'm fine. I never get sick. For long. A good night's sleep heals everything."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Naruto, you were unconscious for an entire week."

"Huh?" Naruto uncoiled, looking over his shoulder. "Really?"

"Really. A week, since Jiraiya and Tsunade brought you back."

"But…That's…"

"You nearly died. You should have died. The doctor said you would. The nurse can't believe you're better already. You're the wonder of the hospital."

Naruto flopped back down onto the bed. "Great. I'm a freak in a new way now."

Iruka frowned. "Don't say that! You're alive, that's what matters. Who cares what they say, you're still here!"

"Sensei…"

"Are you going to let them tell you what to think about yourself? Are you going to listen to them?"

"Of course not!"

"Then don't talk like that."

"But, you said, that I should be-"

"People recover when they shouldn't all the time. It's part of the medical profession."

"But…" Naruto trailed off, then frowned. "Hey, what happened to the pervert anyway? I haven't seen him here and no one's said where he is." He looked over his shoulder as he heard movement and saw Iruka settling on the bed, back against the pillows.

"What're you doing?"

"Getting comfortable."

"On my bed?"

"Hospital chairs aren't comfortable at all."

Naruto wasn't pleased, but he let it slide. "So?"

"So?"

"The pervert! Where'd he go?"

"Pervert?"

"Jiraiya."

"You call Jiraiya-sama a pervert?"

"Yeah. He is one. Why?"

"Well…that's…I mean… Don't you know who he is?"

"'Course I know!"

"Then…"

"He's a pervert so I call him on it. How's that so bad?"

"It isn't normal. Jiraiya-sama is one of the three ninjas, you should show respect."

"Three ninjas. Bah. He's just an old pervert, Orochimaru is a snake-freak, and Tsunade's a witch."

"Naruto!" Iruka hit him on the shoulder. "You're a ninja, behave like one!"

"Ow! Hey!" Naruto scrambled up on his hands and knees, glaring at Iruka. "You aren't supposed to his sick people!"

"You said you were better."

"That doesn't mean you can hit me!"

"I can if you don't behave!"

"Who made that rule up? I bet that nurse said something different!"

Iruka froze. Before Naruto could speak he put a hand over his mouth. "I forgot about her. Shh! If she hears you yelling she come back and she'll be mad!"

Naruto looked like rebelling, as if he'd yell just to anger her.

"She said she'd kick me out if I upset you. And keep all your visitors away."

He didn't look nearly so pleased at that prospect.

"So just keep it down. You don't have to be so loud anyway, I'm right here."

Naruto looked vaguely annoyed at that. Then he yawned.

"Agh! Naruto!" Iruka pulled his hand away, angry again. "That's disgusting!"

Naruto laughed at him. "'S not my fault. You put your hand over my mouth."

"Still…"

Naruto blinked sleepily at him. "Ahh, I'm getting tired again. I just got up!"

"Well, you are still sick."

"So now you admit it!"

"You should probably take a nap. Konohamaru-kun will be by after class."

"After class? Isn't school out already?"

"Of course not. It's barely noon."

"Then why are you here?"

"Huh?"

"Shouldn't you be teaching?"

"Yes…well…you see…When Kakashi told me you were awake he said he'd watch my class, so…"

Naruto couldn't believe it. "You left Kakashi-sensei in charge of your class?"

"Yes. It's only one afternoon, he can't be that bad."

"I dunno… Kakashi-sensei's kind of…"

"Hey, hey, don't you trust your own teacher?"
"No way." Naruto replied quickly and matter-of-factly. "He's always late and lectures and he hasn't taught me anything new and he makes fun of us and he reads porn all the time."

"Kakashi-sensei reads porn?"

"All the time. That Come, Come or Make-out Paradise or whatever it's called. That stuff that pervert Jiraiya writes."

You could practically see Iruka's illusions crumbling. "Jiraiya-sama writes porn?"

"Yeah. He says that's why he's always peeping on the women's baths."

Iruka got angry at that. "Naruto!"

"He does!" Naruto replied defensively.

"How do you know?"

"That's how I met him?"

"By peeping on the women's bath?"

"No! I was in the men's bath! Training!"

That sidetracked him. "Why did he start training you, anyway?"

"I made him. He knocked out the closet pervert so I needed a replacement."

"The closet pervert?"

"Yeah. That Ebisu guy."

Iruka was overwhelmed. "Is everyone a pervert?"

Naruto grinned. "All the Jounin seem to be."
"Don't look so happy about it!"

"Why not? It's funny. Plus, it makes my Sexy technique unbeatable."

"That stupid technique…"

"You fell for it." Naruto reminded him, and then laughed. "Wahh! Iruka-sensei's a perv!"

Iruka grabbed him before he could get away, pulling him back in a headlock. With his free hand he pinned both of Naruto's wrists, holding him despite his efforts to get free. "Better apologize, Naruto! It's not a good idea to talk bad about your teachers."

"Wahh, you can't bully me! I'm going to be a Chuunin, like you are!"

Iruka tensed, reminded of the disastrous end to Chuunin exam, and nearly gave Naruto a chance to break free. He tightened his grip. "You aren't yet, so don't get cocky."

Naruto began to speak, probably a very naughty pun on Iruka's choice of words to try and shock him into letting him free, when the door slammed open and the nurse returned. She glared at them, causing Iruka to release Naruto and hold his hands out, trying to seem harmless. Naruto simply froze.

"Iruka-sensei..." The nurse spoke in a low, dangerous voice.

"Y-Yes?"

"What do you think you're doing? Didn't I tell you that this patient needs rest?"

"Eheheh. Sorry."

"And you, Uzumaki-kun!"

"Geh! What'd I do?"

"You should be sleeping, not engaging in wrestling matches with others."

"Yes, ma'am!" Iruka and Naruto spoke at the same time.

"Are you going to behave now or do I have to keep Uzumaki-kun's visitors away?"

"I'll behave, I'll behave." Iruka protested, waving his arms to ward off the possibility.

Naruto nodded in agreement, slouching against Iruka's leg.

"Very well. I'll let him stay…for now." With that warning she left, closing the door behind her.

Iruka sighed. "Whew. Scary. What is she doing as a nurse?" He froze, realizing what he was saying. "Naruto, you're a bad influence."

No response.

"Naruto?" Iruka looked down at the boy. Somehow, during the brief tussle and conversation, Naruto had ended up half-laying in his lap, head resting on his stomach. "Are you all right?"

Naruto snored.

Iruka twitched. He was sleeping! Naruto had gone and fallen asleep on him! He shook him lightly. "Naruto, wake up!"

Naruto groaned, squirming to a more comfortable position. He ended up on his side, his head on Iruka's thigh, facing his stomach. One arm pillowed his head and the other rested on Iruka's lap. Iruka sighed, pushing at Naruto's shoulder once more. "Hey, get up." He sounded annoyed. "Couldn't wait for me to leave, huh?"

He adjusted the pillows, trying to get comfortable. He was still sitting back against the headboard and it seemed he wouldn't be leaving for a while. He looked out the window. "Kai's right, I am getting soft. He'd better not be doing anything to my class, though."

* * *

"Konohamaru-cha~n!"

"Hold on Moegi, you can do it!"

Moegi stood in front of the blackboard, shivering. A tangerine sat on her head. Kakashi sat on a front row desk with his forehead protector pulled down over both his eyes. He lazily tossed a kunai in one hand. All the students were watching him intently and the silence was taut. Without warning Kakashi flipped the kunai a final time, gripping the hilt and throwing it in one smooth motion. The kunai flew through the air and buried itself in the fruit with a wet, squishy noise. The class stared silently as Kakashi uncovered his right eye and nodded. "Not bad."

Moegi reached up gingerly, pulling the tangerine off her head. The kunai had pierced it through the center. The class exploded, cheering and calling out suggestions.

"Do it again!"

"Use something smaller!"

"Two kunai!"

"No, three!"

"Use a plum!"

Kakashi stood, moving back to the teacher's desk. "That enough, I think. Thanks, Moegi."

She sniffled and ran back to her seat. "Konohamaru-chan! It was so scary!"

Konohamaru patted her head, trying to calm her. "Hey, it's all right now. You did good."

Kakashi sighed. Kids. "All right everyone, settle down."

"C'mon sensei! Just one more!" Aki called encouragingly.

"Are you volunteering?"

"Sure!"

He sighed. "All right. But this is the last time. Stand up. Anyone have any more fruit they don't need?"

"I have an orange!" A boy whose name Kakashi couldn't remember offered.

"Good. Toss it to him." He leaned back, arms at his side.

The boy tossed the fruit rather poorly, and Aki jumped to catch it. He landed and put a hand on his desk to steady himself before looking over the edge at the substitute. "Should I put it on my head or what?"

"That's fine."

"Really?" Aki blinked as Kakashi, moving too fast for him to really see, threw a pair of shuriken. As he turned back to gape at the wounded fruit several more shuriken hit his desk between his splayed fingers. Everyone stared, stunned, as Kakashi picked up Iruka's handbook from the desk. "Well… The day's almost over so we should probably actually do what we were told to."

Aki pulled his hand back and tugged the shuriken from the table. He sat, still silent, and set them by the orange. "That…that was so cool! Do it again!"

Kakashi groaned as the class echoed the boy. Little kids were such brats.

"Tell us stories about leader!" Moegi called out.

Kakashi blinked. Leader? Hokage-sama?

"Yeah!" Konohamaru backed her up. "Tell us stuff about Naruto-niichan!"

Oh. Naruto. Well… It was his fault Kakashi was stuck here babysitting the brats. And children were so easily entertained with embarrassing stories. "Very well. Stories about my genin then."

"Tell us the embarrassing stuff!"

"Konohamaru-chan!"

Kakashi chuckled, suddenly in a very good mood. Nothing could lighten his day like messing with the genin. "Very well. The embarrassing stuff then." He pretended to think about what story he'd tell first. "Hmm…no, I can't tell you that. Or…no, not that either. You'll freak."

"Tell us! Tell us!" The others were getting into the act now.

"You sure?"

"Yeah!"

"Tell us!"

All right then. "Let's see, it must've been a month after I started teaching them when…"

* * *

Sasuke stood over Naruto's bed, frowning. Naruto was asleep and, while that was hardly different from the rest of the week, the situation was. He lay sprawled across Iruka-sensei and held onto his old teacher's shirt with one hand. Iruka had gone to sleep as well, resting with one hand lightly tangled in Naruto's hair and the other on his hip.

How annoying. He'd come to check on Naruto since it was too early for classes to be over and he'd seen Hinata out with her teacher. But here Iruka was. Skipping out on class? Wait, he was the teacher; he'd probably just dismissed them. He turned away, shaking his head. It was for the best, really. If someone else were here he wouldn't have to worry about the idiot. Not that he was worried! He just knew how distressing it was to wake up alone in a strange room. That's all. Plus, this was a good place to hide from the girls. They never seemed to think he might be visiting Naruto. Sakura had seen him, of course, but she'd been strangely sobered by Naruto's condition and hadn't said much. The last time he'd seen her she'd been staring at some flowers as Ino hovered over her, trying to pick a fight. But now he'd have to deal with them again. He couldn't stay here; it would be like worrying over the idiot, which he was most definitely not. So…

After a moments hesitation he walked to the door and, without looking over his shoulder, left.

* * *

"I~ru~ka~se~n~sei!"

Iruka made a face, trying to wish the intruding, sing-songing voice away. He was sleeping!

"Sensei~!"

"G'way."

The voice chuckled. "Sleepy?"

"Yes!"

"Now, now, you're too old for naps."

He was not waking up. Not for this rude person who interrupted his rest. The bed was far too comfortable and the person on his lap was very warm. The feel of their breath on his hip was actually quite pleasant as well. Wait… The person on his lap?

He opened his eyes, despite his earlier resolve, and started. "K-Kakashi-sensei!"

Kakashi looked amused, pulling back to put some distance between them. "Had a good rest?"

"I did." He couldn't keep the irritation from his voice.

"Good."

He must be trying. No one could be so irritating by accident. "What time is it?"

"Classes have been over for awhile." Kakashi gestured to the window. "About five, I'd say."

"Five!" Iruka looked out the window. Kakashi wasn't lying. "Why so late?"

"Your kids are brats."

Iruka bristled. "Pardon me?"

"You spoil them. Took me hours to sneak away. They kept demanding stories."

"You told them stories?" Iruka was incredulous, trying to picture that. Hatake Kakashi, the sedate, slightly sadistic, possible-future-Hokage, sitting surrounded by the kids, telling them stories. Daddy Kakashi… He snickered.

"What's so funny?"

Iruka watched him, still laughing. He looked rather intimidating with only one eye visible and his fierce reputation. 'Once upon a time a beautiful princess…'

Kakashi stared at Iruka as he laughed hysterically, nearly doubling over. Not an easy feat with someone in his lap. "What?"

"Just…" Iruka tried to contain his laughter enough to speak clearly. "You…telling stories…"

"What's so odd about that?"

"I can't…believe you know…something like the Three Ninjas and the Blossom Princess."

"Know what?"

"Fairy tales."

"Fairy tales?" He tried to remember. "Don't know any."

That stopped Iruka cold. "Wait…What were you telling them then?"

"Oh…this and that…" Kakashi looked at him and frowned. Iruka looked horrified. "Naruto's been spreading stories, hasn't he?"

"Well…Yes." Iruka admitted.

"Hmm… I'll punish him later."

"Don't sound so happy about it." Iruka muttered, trying to move. "Ngh, forgot about him."

Naruto was now firmly occupying his lap. He shook his shoulder firmly. If he couldn't sleep Naruto couldn't either. "Hey, wake up."

Naruto grumbled, clinging tighter. Iruka kept shaking. "That isn't going to work this time. Up!"

"No way."

"If you can talk you can sit. Up!"

A few more minutes of shaking and commands, with no help from Kakashi, preceded Naruto actually sitting up and blinking sleepily. He looked around. "Where am I?"

"The hospital."

"Really? Why?"

His teachers stared.

"What? Oh yeah! I got hurt, didn't I?"

Kakashi shook his head and spoke quietly. "Moron."

Iruka sighed. "Naruto…"

Naruto grinned at Iruka, not hearing Kakashi. "Hey, sensei!"

"What?" Iruka and Kakashi responded at the same time, making Naruto laugh.

"Iruka-sensei." He clarified.

"What do you want, Naruto?"

"What're you doing in my bed?"

Iruka froze. "Pardon?"

"Why were you sleeping with me?"

Kakashi started laughing silently as Iruka stared at Naruto, trying to think of a good response. "Well…uh…I just…"

"Ah! I knew it, Iruka-sensei's a pervert!"

"Naruto! You're the one who fell asleep on me!"

"Wahh, Iruka-sensei's a perv!" Naruto jumped off the bed and smirked. "A boy-loving pervert!"

"Oh?" Kakashi turned to Iruka. "Something you want to share?"

Iruka blushed. "No! Naruto's just…" He stood, straightening his clothes. "It was accidental."

"Why were you in his bed, anyway?"

"I was just sitting! He's the one who fell asleep in my lap."

Naruto smirked, obviously pleased to have riled his teachers. "So you say."

"Naruto, you-!"

"Hey, hey, Kakashi-sensei."

"Hmm?"

"Why're you here? Shouldn't you be teaching Iruka-sensei's class?"

"Classes are over, you know."

"Eh?" Naruto stared out the window. "Oh! So why're you back here then?"

"Came to pick something up."

"What?"

He held up a book. "Left it on my chair."

"How careless, leaving your porn behind."

"Heh." Kakashi sounded more amused than offended. "I guess it was."

Iruka looked at the book. "Kakashi-sensei…"

"Hmm?"
"What stories were you telling my class?"

"This and that…" Kakashi hedged.

"What this and that?"

"Well…" Kakashi looked to Naruto, who was watching them, frankly curious. "I can't tell you. You'd freak."

"Wh-What?" Iruka gaped as Naruto laughed again.

"Don't worry. It wasn't anything bad, really. It seemed better than throwing more kunai at them."

Iruka looked ready to faint. "You threw kunai at them?"

He shrugged. "Yes?"

"Oh god!"

"Hey, hey, Kakashi-sensei, don't you think that's a bit extreme?"

"They thought it was fun."

Iruka sat heavily on the edge of the bed. "Please tell me you at least taught them something."

"Of course. But they thought it was dull."

"So you threw kunai at them." Iruka spoke sarcastically.

"And read them porn!"

"Hey, Naruto, don't spread stories."

"Hee, hee! I warned Iruka-sensei you'd mess it up!"

"Hey!"

"Am I going to get a horde of angry parents in my office tomorrow?"
Kakashi leaned back in his chair, looking annoyed. "No one trusts me." He mourned.

Naruto flopped on the bed, laying on his stomach. "So, what did you tell them?"

"If I tell you, you'll freak."

"Hmph, how can we trust you if you won't even tell us what you were telling Iruka-sensei's class?"

"Trust means I don't have to tell you, stupid."

The ensuing argument, one sided as it may have been, was cut off as the door opened and Konohamaru entered with his friends. "Naruto-niichan…"

"Konohamaru? What are you doing here?"

They ran up to him then hesitated, looking unhappy. Konohamaru spoke first. "Did Sasuke really have to save you from the Hidden Mist ninjas?"

"And the waterfall." Moegi added.

"And the cockatiel?" Udon chimed in.

Naruto stared at them then glared at Kakashi. "You…!"

"Told you you'd freak."

* * *

"Must you always be so…?" Iruka trailed off, looking determinedly at the back wall of the Ichiraku Ramen and not at the man sitting to his left.

"Hmm?" Kakashi looked away from the menu. "So…?"

Iruka's mother had always told him not to speak badly of Jounin. It was bad manners and they could kill you. And they heard everything, eventually. "Nothing."

"Ho? I can't remember having been nothing before."

Iruka blushed slightly. "For…never mind. What'll you have?"

'Hmm…" Kakashi looked over the menu again. "Not sure."

Iruka gave him another minute before waving the owner over. "I'll have my usual."

Kakashi shrugged. "I'll have his usual too."

With a nod the owner was off. Kakashi turned to Iruka. "I hope you don't have strange tastes."

"I don't…probably…"

"You come here often?"

He looked embarrassed. "Yeah. Naruto likes to eat here and it isn't too expensive. Where do you usually eat?"

"Here and there. I prefer cooking."

"You cook?"

Kakashi looked sideways at him. "That's a surprise?"

Iruka laughed. "Kind of. You don't seem like the cooking type."

Kakashi shook his head. "I don't see why it's so odd. People accept that Gai bakes, why can't I cook?"

"You're just jealous!" A booming voice called from behind them. Iruka turned to see a man, presumably Gai, standing behind them with three genin behind him.

"Gai-sensei…" The first began. Iruka recognized him as Neji, Naruto's opponent in the Chuunin exam.

"Bakes?" The girl finished.

"That's so cool, Gai-sensei!" The third, a bandaged boy with crutches, was excited. A direct contrast to his companions.

"Isn't it though, Lee-kun?" Gai turned, sweeping his hair back with one hand and smiling broadly. "When you return home I shall teach you to make the ultimate batch of sugar cookies!"

"Yes!"

"Guaranteed to win you the heart of any woman!"

"Yeah!"

The first two genin shook their heads, resigned to their teacher's personality. Kakashi nudged Iruka's shoulder lightly. "Hey, Iruka…" Iruka didn't respond. "Iruka?"

Iruka was staring at Gai, who was ranting about the wonders of fresh baked cookies and cakes. It was…captivating. Like an accident. Kakashi sighed and turned. "Gai? Sorry, sorry, didn't see you back there. Something wrong?"

Gai turned back to them and glared at Kakashi. "Ah! Very cool, Kakashi. However! I know that, deep inside, you are burning with jealousy over my cookies. My rich, moist cakes, my ever-so-slightly crispy-"

"Iruka-sensei?" Kakashi interrupted.

"Ah! Yes?" Iruka finally responded, looking a bit dazed.

"Your ramen's getting cold."

"Eh? Eh! When did that get here?"

"A minute ago, while you were distracted."

"Sorry." Iruka began to eat, keeping half an eye on Gai and his students.

"Kakashi!" Gai protested.

"Sorry, were you talking to me?"

Neji, Tenten and Lee backed away as the two Jounin stared at each other. It was shaping up to be yet another match in their eternal rivalry when Kakashi looked to Lee. "Shouldn't you be returning him?"

"What?"

"To the hospital." Kakashi's voice was patient, like he was talking to a child. "He's still not checked out, has he?"

"No. But I have taken him out for dinner and-"

"Visiting hours are over."

Gai hesitated. "They are?"

Kakashi shook his head and leaned back on his stool. "You still need to learn to keep an eye on the time."

"You're in no position to talk about being on time!" Gai protested.

Kakashi ignored him. "Visiting hours have been over for a while now."

Gai looked to Iruka, who nodded. "How do you know?"

"We were visiting."

"Who?"

"Uchiha is still in the hospital, correct?" Neji asked.

"Nope. Got out just after I did."

"Who then?"

Kakashi shrugged. "Naruto, of course."

Neji frowned. "Naruto's in the hospital?"

"Yeah. Tsunade-sama brought him in, all beat up. He just woke up today."

"He's been there a whole week?"

"About."

Lee spoke. "I haven't seen or heard about him at all."

"They probably weren't saying anything, at least, where you'd hear it. After all, they didn't expect him to live."

That surprised them all. Gai, looking for a less uncomfortable topic, looking at Iruka. "And who's your companion?"

"This is Iruka-sensei. Naruto's old teacher."

Iruka finished his bite of ramen and set his chopsticks down. "Nice to meet you."

"Why are you out eating together?" Gai was suspicious.

"We were hungry, of course." Kakashi responded. "Shouldn't you be getting back? Since you'll have to walk."

Gai glanced back at Lee then nodded. "Very well, we shall be off. But beware, Kakashi! For, next time, I shall-"

"Yes, yes. You better go before the nurses come and hunt you down."

"Is…" Gai asked hesitantly. "Is that nurse on duty?"

"That nurse?"

"You mean nurse Irukawa?" Iruka asked when Kakashi didn't catch the reference.

Gai nodded. "Unless they have another she-dragon terrorizing the guests."

"That sounds like her. I don't think there's any other. She was on earlier, she came in to yell at us when I was visiting Naruto."

Gai considered then nodded. "We're leaving. Now."

Iruka and Kakashi watched as he and the genin left. Iruka coughed. "That was…interesting."

"Gai usually is."

"How do you know him?" Iruka couldn't imagine a more differing pair.

"Mmm… He's kind of a rival, I suppose. Likes to challenge me."

"Eh?" Iruka looked outside, though Gai was gone. "He's that strong?"

Kakashi eyed him. "I suppose…"

"What happened to that genin, Lee?"

"He was hurt in the Chuunin exam."

"Really? That badly? I don't remember seeing him."

"It was in the prelim for the third test."

"Oh."

Kakashi raised a hand. "Another serving, please."

Iruka looked. Sure enough, Kakashi's bowl was empty. Surprising, since he'd spent much of the time facing and talking to Gai. Iruka wasn't even half done. "I must've been more out of it than I thought."

"Hmm?"

"If you're done already."

"No, no." Kakashi waved it off. "I just eat a bit quickly."

"I see."

"This is pretty good, actually. I don't eat ramen often, but it's nice."

"Yeah. I've been eating here for a few years."

"Naruto seems to like it too. And if he knows about anything, it'd be ramen."

Iruka laughed. "That's true. He's trying to eat his way through the menu."

"You come here often?"

"Seems like it. After all, it's the only way we really see each other now." He spoke sadly. "I'm busy with my class and he's usually training. Though it's easy to get him out with the promise of ramen."

"He trains that often?"

"You didn't know? He trains all the time. Rarely does anything else."

"Not a bad habit for a ninja. It explains why he's improved so much." He sighed. "I wish Sakura would practice more."

"She's young, I'm sure she'll do well in the future. She's got the basic skills down, she just needs some determination. Besides, Sasuke and Naruto have more reason than most to be strong."

"I suppose."
"Have you always been so serious?"

"About?"

"Being a ninja."

"Of course. It's my job."

"But work should be fun."

"What about you? Are you planning to be a Jounin?"

"No. I'm happy where I am. I like teaching at the school."

'You don't want to teach genin?"

"Not really. It isn't the same. I like having so many people in my class, it makes it interesting. And I get to stay with them longer."

"Sorry to keep you waiting! Here's your food!" The owner returned, giving Kakashi his second serving. They ate for a while in silence, till Iruka finished.

"Why are you teaching?"

"Hokage-sama asked me to."

There was another silence.

"Why are you teaching Naruto and the others? Hokage-sama told me that you failed all your previous genin."

"You were that worried?"

"What?"

"To ask Hokage-sama about me."

Iruka blushed. "Well…I mean… It's only natural, isn't it? Sasuke and Sakura were my top students and Naruto…"

"Was the worst." Kakashi finished for him.

"Yeah."

"I told you, Hokage-sama asked. And they passed my test."

"But why them?"

"Because they can think for themselves. Although, Sakura needs to work on that too."

"I thought it was a test about acting as a team?"

"They didn't do so well on that part. But I was more interested in their ability to think for themselves. Learning to be part of a team is easy, thinking is hard. Of course, they probably had an advantage. Naruto and Sasuke. Since they don't have parents they aren't always being told what to do, so they are used to having to do things by themselves. It's hard to be a good ninja when you still have a bedtime. It makes them bad at teamwork though. Sakura's pretty good at that. The boys are able to get their act together in a pinch, but they're bad at working together otherwise. Still, for genin, they aren't so bad. They have along way to go before they ever become Jounin, however. Wouldn't you say?"

Iruka gaped at him.

"What?" Kakashi looked over his shoulder. "Is Gai back already?"

"You…"

"Huh?"

"You…You actually sounded responsible."

"I am responsible." Kakashi sounded hurt.

"Maybe, but you don't act like it."

"Really?"

"And I don't think I've heard you speak that much before.

Kakashi suddenly stood. "Are you done?"

Iruka looked down at his empty bowl, then at Kakashi's. He hadn't noticed him finishing it. "I guess."

"Let's go then."

"All right."

They paid and left. Outside, Kakashi walked in the general direction of Iruka's apartment, so he followed him. They were down the street before Kakashi spoke. "Do you want me to watch Naruto tomorrow?"

"Pardon?"

"You have class, right?" Do you want me to watch him while you're teaching?"

"I hadn't thought about that. What would happen when Naruto woke up. You don't have to, since he's awake now and it looks like he'll recover completely."

"But?"

"But, it would be nice. So he isn't alone all day."

"I'd think it would be harder on him being with others all day."

"Why?"

Kakashi ignored the question. "Want a drink?"

"A drink?"

"Yes. We've just eaten, so it's as good a time as any to get drunk."

"Maybe. It probably isn't a good idea though. I have to teach."

"Those brats will give you a headache regardless."

Iruka was going to protest the characterization of his students but Kakashi cut him off. "That's a good place."

"Underneath the table? That's a strange name."

Kakashi shrugged. "Part of a saying the owner uses. When looking for a man, a female ninja must look underneath the table."

"That's an unusual twist to the old saying."

"Bar owners know many drunkards. So, do you want to drink? To celebrate Naruto finally waking up and all."

"Maybe… one or two drinks should be fine."

"Great." Kakashi grabbed his arm. "Let's go."

"Wahh! Kakashi-sensei! Wait!"

And so they entered the bar, Kakashi pulling Iruka after him, and began the serious business of getting totally wasted.

End of day 1

AN: All right, to answer a question that popped up in the reviews. As for Kakashi and Iruka calling each other –sensei, I just thought they'd use that because, well, they are teachers. It's an acknowledgement of their position rather than saying they teach each other. I must have picked it up from some anime, one teacher calling another sensei, but I can't remember where. Maybe Azumanga. That's what they use in my head, anyways. And…um…I think that's it. _