Disclaimer: I don't claim to own Naruto, that's the job of the author.

Hope all of you like the story!

Birthday: Umino Iruka


Iruka awoke in a flash. There was someone or something in his house. He rolled over in bed, slowly grabbing a kunai he kept by the side of his bed just for this case. The man slowly slinked off his bed, struggling for a moment under his blankets, he silently stalked the noise, first he followed it to the living-room of his home, then he followed it to the backroom, where his ninja items were kept, then the noise trailed back to his room. Iruka briefly charged his chakra, ready for any use. He slowly walked to the room, his black eyes darted to and fro, his long chestnut hair spread down his shoulders; he hadn't the time to put it up. He sighed softly and turned, kunai at the ready. He stared about his room.

"You wouldn't be planning to use that on me now would you Iruka-sensei?"

A voice called, Iruka's heart sped faster, he turned and looked at the voice, he didn't see anyone in his room…casting out his chakra, the chuunin looked about, his eyes closed; ears listening for the faintest of sound. That voice sounded so familiar, yet it was different, why did it change? Who was it? The voice had struck a spot in Iruka's soul. He stopped dead in his tracks, his foot barely lifted from the ground, he blinked in confusion, why was he here? Hadn't he and Naruto defeated him? Why was he back? Iruka's gaze darkened, although that man HAD sworn vengeance upon Iruka and Naruto. But the Fifth said that he couldn't be a shinobi ever again…No more ninjutsu, or genjutsu, or even tiajutsu…Did he find some way around that? Has he come to kill me? Iruka was frozen, his voice worked, for now, he strangled out one word, one question,

"Mizuki-san…?"

A laugh rewarded the bright chuunin, Iruka looked around, still as of yet, unable to find the body of the voice. Iruka shivered, he'd nearly died the last time Mizuki had come. But Naruto had saved him, Iruka glanced at the roof of his room. He sighed, to the unaware eye; he was completely relaxed and calm, but to the trained eye; Iruka was tense and ready for any attack, whether it came from the front, or from the back. He'd be ready.

"You always were the brighter student, weren't you Iruka-sensei?"

Iruka's rage boiled, he hated that man, his next words made it clear, he hated Mizuki for what he'd done to him. For what kind of damage he'd done on Iruka's heart. Iruka's seldom-seen temper (Besides around Naruto it's seldom seen) flared up like an inferno. He looked around his room, it was clear that Mizuki was somewhere in his home. Iruka would have to find him, and get him out. Iruka angrily replied to Mizuki's taunting voice,

"What are you doing here Mizuki?"

He heard a laugh behind him, turning around, Iruka stumbled back in order to dodge a kunai thrust to his heart. He brought the kunai in his hand to block the deadly thrust. The sound of kunai-on-kunai rang through the still air of Iruka's room, the dull hum vibrated on the air, then stilled into nothing. Iruka stared at the blue-haired ex-shinobi and watched the half-crazy man. Iruka was on-guard, but Mizuki stood relaxed against Iruka's door, his eyes stilled with the look of insanity. Iruka's heart beat faster in his chest. Even though Mizuki was crazy, and wanted to kill Iruka, there was something about the man that made Iruka's heart beat faster, just as it had when he was a child. He wanted to go over to Mizuki and hug the man, hold him close. But Iruka stilled those needless wishes with an angry expression, Mizuki looked hurt. He spoke softly, walking towards Iruka,

"Iruka-sensei, I came here to talk. And to ask you something."

Iruka was instantly on guard, Mizuki laughed suddenly and rested his leg against Iruka's bed-frame, he looked at the bed-sheets and trailed a hand along the blanket with his fingertips, he glanced at Iruka, eyes half open. Iruka gulped slightly, feeling distinctly warmer. He braced and wondered why he was having this feeling again. Mizuki wasn't looking at Iruka now, he was sitting on Iruka's bed, a hand lovingly trailing over the bed. He spoke softly, voice lined with his craziness,

"Do you know what day it is Iruka-sensei?"

"Nani?"

Iruka countered, quite confused, he knew what day it was of course, but what did the day have to do with anything? It was only the 26 of May, what was so special about it that Mizuki would visit him? Mizuki's eyes turned to look at Iruka's black eyes, Iruka's heart, already speeding, raced faster in his chest as Mizuki turned his head, blue hair flicked over his face, shielding it from the chuunin. Iruka caught his words as the failed chuunin spoke to him.

"Why, Iruka-sensei, it's your birthday."

"Nani!"

Iruka said, quite confused now, it was his birthday? He remembered something Naruto asking what he'd wanted, but Iruka had asked him the reason and Naruto had given him a look, as if a look told Naruto all! Even the Fifth had laid off with the missions; he'd had a break. Iruka had wondered what as going on them, even Kakashi had been nicer to him (Which also made Iruka blush, he still had a major crush on Kakashi). Iruka blushed slightly. He was a fool! He should have known that something was up; he glanced at Mizuki,

"Wait, then why are you here?"

Mizuki looked at him, he had a smile on his lips, Iruka inched closer to the man, Iruka was within a few feet of him when Mizuki leaned forward and whispered in Iruka's ear,

"Meet me in the forest tonight to get your present Iruka-sensei."

"Nani!"

Without another word or sound, the man stood up and winked at Iruka, then smiled and walked out of Iruka's room, leaving a VERY shocked and confused Iruka. Iruka was blushing heavily and really couldn't move until he heard the door close gently. He fell forward on his bed, he sighed and huffed slightly, his cheeks a rosy color, seen even over his tanned skin. He sighed and closed his eyes. Oh man, I'm still in love with him aren't I? He thought to himself silently.

He'd always liked Mizuki, in a way, Mizuki was Iruka first love; he'd known him since childhood. Mizuki had been Iruka's first real friend. Or, at least, Iruka had thought of him as his first real friend. Mizuki had always been there for him, looking out for the chuunin even after the exams they had taken. Iruka had always loved Mizuki, and he'd known that Mizuki had loved him. Or, at least, he'd thought he'd known that Mizuki had loved him.

But recently, Iruka had found out about Mizuki's true feelings.

Mizuki had loved to see him in pain, see him cry, see him hurt.

He opened his eyes slowly, he'd thought he got over Mizuki when he'd found out that the ex-chuunin had told Naruto to steal the scroll, and that Iruka would pass him if he could master the techniques inside of the scroll, luckily, Iruka had found Naruto when the boy had barely practiced (and later showed Iruka that he'd mastered) the first technique in the scroll Iruka sighed, that betrayal had hurt worse than anything else, not the large shurkien that Mizuki had thrown into his back when he'd tired to protect Naruto, nor the various kunai wounds Mizuki had given him. But the betrayal. That feeling of utter despair and loneliness when on knew that their love was one-sided. His hope had been crushed.

But after what Mizuki had just said, Iruka wasn't so sure that the man didn't love him.

Iruka closed his eyes again. He still loved Mizuki, he wondered what the ex-chunin was up to right now, what he had planned. Iruka wanted to badly to refuse the man but he couldn't, not if he tried his hardest, could he refuse the man. Iruka was still helplessly in love. A loud knocking on the door brought Iruka to his senses, or what senses he had left after Mizuki's surprise visit. He sat up on his bed, not even noticing that his hair was still down and he wore no shirt, just some boxers he'd fallen asleep in the night before.

He got up off the bed and walked towards the door. He opened it slowly, looking at the person who was knocking on his door. He poked his head around the door. He sighed and smiled, his face still held a blush, the boy's face was shocked.

"Um…Miss, is Iruka-sensei home?"

Iruka's eyes snapped open. He glared down at the genin, the boy stepped back under that hateful gaze. Iruka opened the door fully and stood before the genin.

"NANI?"

The boy shouted suddenly, taking more steps backwards, on Iruka's head there pulsed an anger mark. He looked at Naruto and glared at the him,

"Miss?"

He questioned, his voice dangerous,

"Do I look like a girl to you Naruto-kun?"

"No!"

"Good. What do you want?"

"Iruka-sensei…"

"Hai?"

"Gomen, but I thought you were a girl!"

Iruka lunched at the boy, throttling him with his bare hands, Naruto gasped for air. Iruka grinned evilly,

"Why is that Naruto-chan?"

"Ack! You're hair, it's – Ack! – down, Iruka-sensei!"

Iruka paused, he flicked it back over his shoulder and looked at Naruto, the genin was sweating with fear, Iruka snorted and fingered the scar on his nose. An Idea came to him,

"Naruto,"

"Nani…?"

The boy responded warily, looking at his ex-teacher with his blue eyes slightly narrowed,

"Do you know anyone else with a scar like mine?"

Naruto jumped back, what kind of question was that, he studied the chuunin a moment, then shook his head. Iruka smiled, leaving Naruto more confused then ever. All Naruto had wanted to do today was treat Iruka out to Ramen, and then wish him happy birthday! What was with the twenty-questions!

"If you know no one else has a scar like me, didn't you see it when the door opened?"

Iruka gave Naruto a sly look, the genin (who had forgotten to look, he'd just seen one of the most beautiful young ladies ever when the door had opened), had forgotten to look. Naruto backed up a little, he stood up, looking at Naruto.

Iruka also stood up, he towered (Still) over the boy. His hands planted on his hips, one eye closed and the other glaring at the genin.

"Well?"

He asked at last, looking at the boy. Naruto gulped slightly,

"No, I didn't look Iruka-sensei."

"Hai, I thought so."

"Iruka-sensei?"

"Nani Naruto?"

"You're … um … Not wearing a shirt or pants."

Iruka turned to look down at himself, much to his great embarrassment; he found that the genin was right. His face quickly changed to a look of shock, then he glared at Naruto as the boy proceeded to howl with laughter. Iruka growled and tossed the kunai he still had in his hand at the boy, it stopped, coming to a rest just at the side of Naruto's head. The genin was shocked, his face frozen as he looked at the kunai. He burst up right,

"Nani was that for Iruka-sensei."

"I don't have to answer that."

Iruka waved slightly and walked back into his home slowly, the sunlight felt good on his tanned body. His chestnut hair lifted a bit as a small, very small breeze picked it up. Iruka smiled slightly and ran a hand through the soft strands.

"Iruka-sensei!"

"Hai, Naruto-kun?"

The chuunin turned and looked at the genin again, he wondered what the boy wanted this time. Iruka turned fully around, watching the boy through his black eyes, his strong gaze met the sapphire blue eyes of his former-student. The boy looked slightly nervous, which brought Iruka's attention to the boy even quicker.

"Iruka-sensei…"

"Hai Naruto?"

"Um…would you like to go and get some Ramen with me? My treat!"

The boy suddenly blurted out. Iruka nodded his head, smiling slightly,

"Hai Naruto, let me get dressed first though. Come on it."

He said, beckoning the boy into his home, then closed the door after him. Iruka slowly navigated his home, back to his room, where he had a flash-back of Mizuki's unexpected arrival. Iruka's hand trailed on the sheets, just as Mizuki's had. He smiled slightly.

"I promise I'll come, Mizuki-san."

He turned as Naruto's voice drifted up from the kitchen, asking Iruka whom he was talking to. Iruka smiled and shook his head, he said that he wasn't talking to anyone at all. Naruto told him it was stupid to talk to himself and Iruka laughed.

He quickly slipped on a black top and then slipped into his chuunin vest. He smiled after he fixed it to close. He turned and looked in the mirror. He quickly dragged a brush through his hair and tied it back, letting a few of the finer strands hang in front of his face. He smiled and gently touched the scar over his nose.

He turned and walked out of the room, he grabbed a few kunai on his way to the main room, where Naruto waited. Iruka smiled and looked at the blonde-genin. Iruka ruffled his head slightly and Naruto shot him a look. Iruka moved on with a laugh, today was turning out better and better than he'd ever expected.

The chuunin escorted the blonde genin out the door and onto the street, Iruka quickly locked the door behind in and grinned at Naruto, playfully, he poked the boy and said,

"Race you!"

Iruka sped off without a second look over his shoulder, he jumped over rooftops and people, hurrying to the stand. When he got there, he'd had to stop and have people tell him happy birthday. He was beaming by the time he got there. He looked around and spotted Naruto huffing along slightly.

Apparently the boy had taken the longer route: the On-Foot Route and had gotten lost running at top speed. Iruka gave him a look,

"I hope you didn't run into anyone Naruto."

"Of course not Iruka-sensei! Nani do you think I am? A Baka?"

"Hai!"

Naruto glared at the chuunin and they both laughed suddenly, enjoying the time they had together. To Iruka, Naruto was like a son, to Naruto, Iruka was like the Father he'd never had. Even though they lived apart, they were so similar that they had a bond stronger than any other ninja in the village had.

Well, Iruka thought as he munched on some pork-ramen, almost no other ninja has. I still love Mizuki, but it's different than my love for Naruto-kun. Naruto is like a son to me and I could never imagine – Iruka's train of thought was cut off when he heard Naruto call his name. The chuunin looked at the genin and smiled slightly,

"Naruto-kun, take those chopsticks out of you ears."

"Hai Iruka-sensei!"

Iruka smiled and ruffled the light blonde hair of the genin. He grinned and went back to eating his Ramen, which was especially tasty today. He looked at the man who ran the shop,

"Arigatou!"

The man smiled, he laughed spoke,

"Don't thank me Iruka-sensei, it's all on Naruto. Happy birthday by the way Iruka."

Iruka smiled and glanced over at Naruto, who was nearly done with his first bowl of Ramen. Iruka smiled and slowly inched his chopsticks over to Naruto's bowl, the boy was suddenly caught in a fit of coughing when Iruka made his strike, quickly snatching one of Naruto's meat slices, the man chuckled, drawing the attention of the boy onto him in a flash.

"NANI!"

Naruto called out as Iruka downed the last of Naruto's meat. The chuunin laughed and went back to eating his own ramen once more, not minding that Naruto was staring at him with the utmost hatred. He grinned at the boy, who glared at him for a few more moments, then Iruka finished his ramen. The chuunin looked at the boy and grinned.

"Nani was that for Iruka-sensei?"

"You said I looked like a girl."

"Ya, but you got me back already. My neck still kinda hurts."

"Really? You can fall off a cliff and get a few bruises and still train in one day and not really feel it. But I can throttle you for a few moments and you feel it for more than a few moments?"

Once again, Naruto threw Iruka a darkened look. The boy pouted slightly, the Ramen Stand man smiled as he cleaned a bowl. Ayame walked out from the back and smiled, looking at the two,

"Iruka-sensei! It's been awhile since you last visited; the Fifth been keeping you busy I grant?"

"Hai Ayame-chan. How have you been?"

"Good, good Iruka-sensei. Happy birthday!"

"Arigatou Ayame-chan."

Ayame blushed and fled back into the back of the shop, her face as red as a red rose. Iruka was puzzled, why did that happen? He sighed and shook his head he wouldn't ever understand women at this rate. He grinned and turned away from the shop owner and looked at Naruto.

Naruto looked at Iruka and grinned slightly, he held up a small box towards the chuunin, Iruka was surprised, he looked at Naruto and wondered what the boy was doing,

"Nani is this Naruto?"

Iruka asked, puzzled by his former-students behavior. Naruto blushed slightly and looked at Iruka. He muttered something, Iruka didn't catch it, he looked at Naruto,

"Speak up Naruto-kun! I can't hear you."

"It's your birthday present."

"Nani? You didn't have to get me one Naruto-kun."

"I know. But here."

"Arigatou Naruto-kun."

Iruka took the package from the boy and smiled as he slowly opened it, he slide the ramen bowl off to the side and looked at Naruto carefully, then opened the present. He wondered what on earth Naruto had gotten him. Iruka really didn't need anything, really, he was a happy man, with everything he'd ever wanted.

Well, that wasn't quite true.

He didn't have Mizuki.

But he would soon. Iruka's heart sped faster as he slowly opened the box. He look over at Naruto, the boy seemed so scared, why was he scared? Was he afraid that Iruka wouldn't like the present? Iruka smiled, the genin visibly relaxed himself, sensing that Iruka knew his worry. Iruka finished unwrapping the box and slowly lifted off the lid.

He gasped slightly and a blush crept up on his face.

"Nani is this Naruto-kun?"

"Ahhh…ah…ero-sennin said to get it for you!"

"…Naruto-kun…"

"Hai?"

"Arigatou. I've always wanted this."

"NANI?"

"Hai, it's prefect."

Iruka smiled as he held up a package full of new hair-ties. The chuunin had needed to buy more, but, so like him, Iruka was scared and didn't venture into the store, often, much less the 'women's department' where he'd find the hair-ties he needed to keep his chestnut brown hair from his face. He turned and looked a Naruto, who was blushing. Pleased that Iruka had liked the gift.

Iruka stood up, thanking the Ramen man, he smiled and walked out of the shop, Naruto quickly followed,

"Nani are you doing later Iruka-sensei?"

"Eh?"

"I said, 'Nani are you doing later Iruka-sensei'!"

"Oh. I'm meeting someone."

"NANI?"

"Hai."

"Who?"

"Someone."

Now Iruka recognized his mistake, but telling Naruto he was meeting someone, the boy would pester him all day long. Indeed, it was starting right now. Naruto looked at him, and suddenly started this un-fair redition of 'twenty-questions':

"Who?"

"Someone."

"Granny Tsunade?"

"No!"

"Shizune?"

"No."

"Kurenai?"

"No."

"Who then?"

Iruka heaved a sigh.

"No one you need to know about Naruto."

"Awww…fine."

The genin, much to Iruka's surprize, relented. They walked side-by-side of each other, enjoying the peacful company they provided with one another. Iruka heaved a soft sigh, which was mimicked by Naruto a second later, they both looked at each other and laughed together. Iruka smiled and placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. The genin paused for half a step, then regained his stride, walking easily near Iruka like they were father and son.

The rest of the day past by quickly for Iruka, he met people who were always meaner to him. They didn't hate him, he just got the easiest missions because he was a great teacher and had turned out many different students, each equally good. He smiled as he relfected. Then Mizuki's words floated infront of him. He smiled and looked at the genin. He smiled, remebering the last time they had fought together.

Naruto's words jarred Iruka out of his near bliss state.

"Have you hear about Mizuki?"

Iruka tried not to panic, he managed to keep a straight face as he asked what Naruto meant,

"Of course I have, I mean, we both sent him back to the correction facility didn't we? That's that last I've heard though…"

"Well, apperently, he got out a few days ago."

"Again?"

Naruto glanced at Iruka, his former-sensei didn't sound very shocked, a sweatdrop lingered on the back of Iruka's head,

"I mean, we knew he was smart! So of course he got out!"

"Hmpf!"

"Nani? Don't you believe me?"

"Not really Iruka-sensei."

Iruka sighed, where was the love? He bent over slightly, and half-considered telling Naruto that he was meeting Mizuki later that night, but he decided against it.

The day past by faster after that, they met Kakashi, who wished Iruka a happy birthday, then made up some small escuse about having to go and get a 'kitten' out of a 'tree.' Which were, of course, Kakashi's words for 'I'm going to go and read my book.' Iruka smiled.

The evening fell fast and Iruka was getting more and more nervious as the day went on. He sighed and turned at the sound of foot-steps. It was only Naruto. The chuunin heaved a sigh, he looked at Naruto.

"Go home Naruto-kun."

"Awww…do I have to Iruka-sensei?"

"Hai."

"Why?"

"Because, I'm going to go and meet someone."

"I still think it's Kurenai!"

"It's not."

"Is it a girl?"

"That's none of your business!"

Iruka turned and glared down at the genin,

"Go home Naruto. Please?"

"Fine. I'll be here first-thing in the morning though, believe it!"

"Ha ha, I do Naruto. I will be here."

"Hai! See you then Iruka-sensei!"

"Alright, good night Naruto."

Iruka's blood quickened as he raced through the forest. He looked for where Mizuki would be, then stopped near the shack where Naruto had been training the night he stole the forbiden scroll. Iruka figured this place would be the best place to be.

"I was afraid you weren't coming."

Iruka turned and looked at the blue-haired man. Mizuki had tied his hair back on his face, revealing the clean-cut face that Made Iruka's heart pound. The man jumped down from the tree and smiled slightly, looking at Iruka. Iruka boldly stood straighter.

"I always make my promises Mizuki."

"I noticed."

He said, slinking towards Iruka like a feline towards his prey. Iruka's skin rippled with goosbumbs as he looked at Mizuki, then found himself stepping closer to him. He closed the gap and they both met in the middle.

"What did you want to give me Mizuki."

"This."

Without another hint of a motion, Mizuki leaned forward and kissed Iruka square on the mouth. Iruka instantly melted, his hands crept up and lay on Mizuki's shoulders. They broke apart. Each breathing harder now.

"That was a nice present."

"I'm glad you liked it, but it was just the start Iruka."

Iruka smiled and they melted together in another kiss.

Iruka's last thought before he fell into complete bliss was:

Sorry Naruto, I don't think I'll be back home by morning.


Pansk: I hope ya'll enjoyed it! I enjoyed writing it, I thought that Iruka and Mizuki were together. It's loveable. –grins- R&R please!

Next on the list is:

Yūhi Kurenai – June 11