Wow! I'm back! My first chapter two ever! Thank you to all of you who reviewed :-
Isolde1, Diamond, Kakiru, dk-joy, mini-kero, ruka-kun, Remembrancer Hex, shi-chan, Blue Tajiri, Indiana-Jones-fan. That you took the time to review means alot. Especially as there are some names I recognise and admire in there!

Well, without further ado...


Chapter 2

Iruka woke to an insistent hammering sound which seemed to be coming from the direction of his front door. Groaning he turned to look at his alarm clock beside his bed. About one minute to go before his alarm went off and…

Beep beep beep beep beep…

Yup there it went. It was 4.30 in the morning and the sun wasn't even up yet. Who could be knocking at his door at this time in the morning? Sitting up, Iruka stretched and yawned, not being in any particular hurry to answer the door to who ever was making such a nuisance of themselves. He rose from his bed grabbing the yukata he used as a dressing gown and wrapping it around himself covering the loose trousers in which he slept. Upon opening the front door he found himself face to face with probably the last person he wanted to see that early in the morning. Kakashi. Why did his name always seem to demand a sentence all of it's own?

"Iruka-sensei!" Now that wasn't Kakashi's voice. Peering around the silent but grinning jounin Iruka caught a glimpse of bright orange before he was forcibly thrown backwards into his apartment by the sudden addition to his midriff of the weight of a teenage ninja.

"Omph! Naruto, you're getting too heavy for this!" Iruka exclaimed as he managed to regain his balance. A beaming Naruto looked up and gave one of his typical cheesy laughs.

Iruka noticed, over the top of Naruto's head, Kakashi enter the small apartment. "Ojama shimasu. Look who I found on the way here."

"Naruto! You got up this early?" exclaimed Iruka looking again at his former student who was now standing in front of him hand raised sheepishly to the back of his head.

"Well," he replied, "It's more that I haven't actually gone to bed to have to get up. I was kinda training in the forest."

"All night!"

"E-heh, yeah."

"This your influence is it Kakashi-sensei?" Iruka asked wryly, head turning towards the older man. Kakashi gave a shrug as if to say 'don't look at me' and apparently decided he'd go wait in the kitchen as he turned and left the room.

As Kakashi left the two, Iruka turned to former pupil who appeared to be studying his feet. "It's nothing to do with Kakashi-sensei" Naruto said quietly to the floor.

"But everything to do with Sasuke-kun hmm?"

Naruto looked up. "I have to get him back Iruka-sensei," he said with a hint of pleading in his voice, eyes echoing the need to be understood by this man who meant so much to him, but scared of the answer.

"I know." Naruto's eyes widened and Iruka smiled sadly. "Just don't do anything unnecessarily stupid okay?"

Naruto regarded his former teacher for a moment, his eyes shining. "It's a promise," he said.

A silence, in which the two only stood and looked at each other, nothing more needing to be said on the issue, the two understanding each other perfectly. "So why are you here this morning?" Iruka asked with a smile, ending the moment.

"I came to say goodbye to Iruka-sensei!" Naruto exclaimed indignantly. "I got your message that you were off on a mission but didn't have time to meet me for ramen so I thought I'd come to you!"

Iruka couldn't help but laugh at this outburst. "Thank you Naruto," he said still grinning, "That means a lot. I'll treat you to ramen when I get back okay?"

"Alright! Thanks Iruka-sensei! See you later!" Throwing his arms around his old sensei one last time (Iruka wondered how long it would be before he stopped doing that) Naruto bounded for the door. "I may even have brought Sasuke back by the time you get home! Good luck, Iruka-sensei!" Then he was gone, leaving Iruka hoping that he wouldn't be gone from home that long.

Sighing, Iruka decided he had better deal with the more unwelcome of his sudden guests who seemed to be making himself very much at home if the smell of brewing tea was anything to go by.

As he walked into the kitchen he saw his suspicions confirmed. Kakashi now sat at his kitchen with two cups of tea in front of him. As Iruka entered he slid one of these over to the other side of the table. After considering the cup thoughtfully for a second as if he wasn't entirely sure it was safe, Iruka sat down. "Thanks," he murmured.

"No problem," his companion replied, his eye a happy arch.

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Iruka sipped his tea; Kakashi remained masked. Then Iruka stood up. "Well, I'd better go and get ready," he said chirpily, "I won't be long; just got to…"

"Iruka-sensei," interrupted Kakashi, "Do you have something you want to ask?"

Iruka turned Kakashi an expressionless face. "I don't mean to be blunt but what are you doing here Kakashi-sensei?" he asked after a pause, "I'm supposed to meet you at the village gates. Nothing was said about you coming to my apartment."

"I just wanted to see if everything was ok," Kakashi replied his face, as always, very difficult to read. Though Iruka believed he would have found it difficult even without the mask.

Iruka's expression remained impassive for a moment then it hardened. "Everything is fine, thank you for your concern Kakashi-sensei," he said with stiff formality, "I have everything organised and I'll be with you and ready to go in about ten minutes. Please make yourself at home," this last said with a touch of sarcasm. Turning, Iruka left the kitchen and made his way back to his room to dress. Alone in the kitchen, Kakashi remained looking at the spot where Iruka had stood, then with a sigh, looked quietly down at the table top.

In his room, Iruka considered his own actions while changing into his ninja gear. Sarcasm, he had actually used sarcasm. Towards a superior no less and to Kakashi which made it even worse. The man would think he had no control whatsoever over his tongue. And Iruka had to agree that around Kakashi at least, this seemed to be true. But really, wasn't he justified? The man comes over to his apartment in the early hours of the morning, makes tea unasked, then questions Iruka's ability as a ninja. What made Kakashi think he wouldn't be ok, that he wouldn't have everything under control. He was as organised as any other ninja who had left the academy and if Naruto's reports were accurate, a lot more so than some, namely, the silver-haired ninja currently in his kitchen. Iruka brushed his teeth vigorously and spit forcefully. Then stared at his reflection in the mirror above the sink making himself calm down as he rested his hands either side of the basin. This was not going to be an easy mission.


The two ninjas made their way together to the gates, though Kakashi seemed to find it necessary to walk a pace behind Iruka which was fine with him as he had nothing to say to Kakashi at this time. There was no-one waiting at the gates, no farewell committee. This was one mission among many; if people waved off everyone who left the city gates no-one would get any work done. Iruka, was surprised therefore when he heard a shout from above.

"Hoi! Up here Iruka-sensei!"

Looking up, Iruka saw a waving figure on one of the lookout towers above the gate.

"Genma-san!" Iruka waved back, "On gate duty?"

"Yeah, good luck on your mission!"

"Thank you! Maybe see you when I get back!"

Genma waved once in acknowledgement then disappeared from view behind the wall of the tower.

Iruka smiled as he and Kakashi passed through the gates. That was an unexpected though welcome goodbye. Iruka realised again how unused he had become to leaving the village on a mission – it was nice of Genma to remember he had a mission today. Beside him, unnoticed, Kakashi looked at Iruka's smile then looked away towards the forest and the path they were to take. Now taking the lead, Kakashi moved off in their instructed direction, Iruka following behind, smile gone and face grim, preparing himself for what was to come.