A/N: This chapter has been slightly re-written.
"conversation"
thoughts
emphasis
"Now Naruto. Are you ready to tell me what you were doing up in the tree?"
Iruka had led Naruto to his favourite restaurant, the Ichiraku, but had yet to order ramen for the boy. He knew Naruto couldn't resist a bowl of ramen or ten.
"You won't get any ramen until you tell me." He valiantly tried to resist the pouting boy sitting next to him.Be stern, Iruka. There's something going on.
"Sure sensei!" Naruto perked up. "I'm on a mission. Kakashi-sensei sent us; Team 7, to spy on various people. Kakashi thought we should start spying on you. Ramen now?"
So it was Kakashi-sensei's idea? What is the old scarecrow up too? Iruka focused on Naruto again.
"What were you supposed to do with the information?"
"We're to tell him everything 'note-worthy', especially 'juicy tidbits'. What are tidbits? Ramen now?" Big blue eyes stared pleadingly at Iruka.
"You know… if this was a test or heaven forbid a real mission you'd have failed it. You're not supposed to tell the enemy what you are doing." Iruka frowned displeased at the boy.
"But Iruka-sensei…! It's raaamen!" Naruto was somewhat shocked.
"I see your point." Iruka sighed.
Note to self: Do not send Naruto on intelligence-gathering missions without proper back up.
Iruka finally allowed the young shinobi to order his precious ramen. Between shouts of 'More ramen, please!' the only sound heard was Naruto's slurping and the buzz of surrounding conversations from other patrons.
Now why would Kakashi-san send his team to spy on me? Training? Or a real mission? That part about 'tidbits', that sounds almost like collecting info for blackmail. He rubbed his frowning forehead. And what of the other two students? Are they around here somewhere?
Iruka took a quick look around. Just because he couldn't sense their chakra didn't mean anything. Sakura and Sasuke had been some of his best students. With Kakashi teaching them they were bound to be better by now. Iruka turned back to look at Naruto. Now if only their knowledge would rub off on him too…