disCLAIMER: While I do not own Naruto nor any affiliated subjects therein, Kishimoto-sama does and therefore he owns my soul.

Chapter 4: Greying and Gifts

Iruka waited until Kaori had reseated herself, though all manner of comfort had fled the room when Naruto left earlier. She stared at Iruka expectantly; he wouldn't have found and brought her back if he didn't have something to tell her.

"I spoke with Hokage-sama," Iruka began, rubbing the back of his neck tiredly. "I explained the...situation to her. She agreed that one month wasn't nearly enough time to prepare you adequately for Kakashi-sempai's test. So we've extended the time to four months, which still isn't enough in my opinion, but she doesn't want to keep me on this mission any longer than that."

"Mission?" Kaori asked curiously.

"Well, I'm getting paid, and I have specific goals and instructions, so it's pretty much a mission." Iruka held his hands up and shrugged his shoulders at Kaori's expression. "Don't worry, I'm not doing this because I have to. I was asked and decided on my own. After your demonstration of course."

"Kakashi-sensei didn't like it," Kaori muttered.

Iruka pondered a moment. "I don't know Kakashi very well, and most of what I've heard of him has came from Naruto. He was praising and awed at how cool his sensei was. I admit, I was jealous. But even though they're good friends now, Naruto said the first thing Kakashi had said to his team when they met was that he hated them."

"He takes some getting used to, huh?"

"I suppose." Iruka grabbed a few scrolls and sat next to Kaori. "Okay, we have only three months to do this, and we want your second impression to better, right?"

"Aye, Sensei!" Kaori saluted smartly.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

September quickly faded into the fall season with glorious golden and amber leaves in Konohagakure. Kaori spent all time and energy training in literacy. Naruto had helped her move out of the guest suite in the apartment building and into cozier living quarters in another building. Kaori didn't have much in the way of personal items, and she refused to start collecting until she knew she'd be a permanent resident. Naruto argued that there's no way she couldn't be, but Kaori clammed up when it came to Kakashi. Naruto suspected she didn't like him very much, but he reminded himself that he thought Kakashi was a big idiot at first too. Eager to teach her tricks and jutsus, Naruto helped with her training so that she might soon move past the reading and onto the basic techniques.

Iruka was startled to discover how intellectual Kaori was. He assumed sailors to be dimwitted and illiterate, and he was partially correct. Kaori said there was no need to read or write when one was a sailor; only the captain and first mate needed those skills. But she encountered all sorts of people from all over, though she'd never officially met a ninja. She learned much from them, and while most of the knowledge couldn't be applied to everyday life as a sailor, she would surprise Iruka with strange tidbits one wouldn't think an uneducated sailor would know. Her grammar was well-developed as well. Iruka would watch her and Naruto when they left for the day, Kaori speaking animatedly to her friend. He would shake his head and wonder how Naruto could make friends so easily.

Kaori didn't see Sakura again before the tenth of October. Her focus was on reading and studying, while Sakura kept busy with missions. Kaori suspected Naruto was slacking off in order to be around to teach her "cool new jutsus". When asked why he wasn't doing missions like Sakura and Kakashi, his face would screw up and he'd go train. Iruka's echoed her thoughts on the matter.

"He won't have to wait around any longer," Iruka shook his head. "Kaori, I think you're ready to move past the history. Reading and writing isn't something you can just learn. Like techniques, they take time to develop to their full potential. You will be required to hone your skills as homework, but there's not much else I can teach you now. I think it's time we move our lessons outdoors while it's still warm."

Kaori perked at the suggestion, being much more comfortable in the open air. Iruka held up his hand to stop her.

"We'll start tomorrow."

She sighed and sat back down, not bothering to conceal her disappointment. Iruka hid a smile.

"However, today is a special day that requires a bit of...celebration. It's Naruto's seventeenth birthday. He officially comes-of-age today."

"Oh, that's why I didn't see him this morning!"

"Yes, I imagine he's sulking," Iruka admitted. "He's never had an actual birthday celebration, and I think he even passes through the day without realizing he's a year older."

"Never had a birthday celebration?" Kaori said thoughtfully. "I don't even know my actual birth date but my 'mates picked one so we could have an excuse to get drunk. We came up with lots of reasons to get drunk." Kaori cleared her throat. "Anyway, you were saying?"

Iruka's eye twitched slightly in irritation. "Naruto's birthday. I made arrangements to have his former teammates in town for the party. Actually, it's not much of a party, since I'm not very good at that sort of thing."

"I'm sure it'll mean a lot to Naruto," Kaori said quietly. "I don't know him extremely well, but what I gather is he's been alone for most of his life?"

Iruka nodded, glancing absent-mindedly at his hands. "Do you know why?"

"Not exactly, but I'll sail that bar when I get to it." Kaori began staring at her own hands. "I get the feeling that he's a lot like me. Alone most of my life. Even though I live with a couple dozen other people, none of them are really friends. 'Mates is what we are. There are different rules with 'mates. Naruto and I, we're the same. Except Naruto's confident and noisy and it's so...so..."

"Attractive?" Iruka suggested.

Kaori smiled in amusement, then shook her head. "Endearing. I find him endearing."

"So will you come to my party?"

"Will there be sake?"

Iruka's eye twitched again. Kaori laughed.

"I'm kidding, Sensei. You should lighten up."

"I'm throwing Naruto a surprise party! What more do you want?"

"When's your birthday?"

Kaori's question caught Iruka off-guard. He blinked, then tilted his head.

"Why?"

"Enlighten me, Sensei. Isn't that what you're supposed to do?"

"May 26."

Kaori smiled sweetly. "Expect a surprise party."

"If you tell me it's not much of a surprise, is it?"

"Well, the actual events would be a surprise. Maybe some female dancers, a fountain of sake, lots of gambling machines...the works." The sweet smile turned mischievous. Iruka's eyes widened with each event named, then shook his finger at her.

"I'm too old for that sort of thing."

"Jiraiya-sama's not."

Iruka started. "You've met Jiraiya?"

"No, but I've heard a lot from Naruto. Hey, what should I get him?"

"Well, he really likes ramen. And ramen. And Sakura. And ramen."

"That's a load of help. Thanks, Sensei," Kaori snorted.

"Do me a favour," Iruka said. "Call me Iruka. I'm not that much older than you, and calling me sensei makes me feel...old."

"Enough reminders from the morning aches and pops, eh?"

Iruka swung at Kaori, who hopped away and flipped out the doorway.

"Oh, and Naruto's already taught me a few things, Iruka-sensei," Kaori called back. "Better get the old bones into gear and catch up before he takes your student away!"

Iruka's eye began twitching, but he touched his brow to stop the spasm. He really did need to lighten up. A few more hours and he'd prove to Kaori (and everyone for that matter) that he wasn't the board-stiff Chuunin he was five years ago. He was still Chuunin though.

Iruka sighed. He'd kept putting the Jounin exam off, thinking he'd get around to it. Now he was nearly thirty and he doubted his talents against younger, more energetic Jounin-hopefuls. He'd found two grey hairs a month ago and had proceeded to rip them out. Premature greying was not what he needed; what he needed was a break from youngsters and their endless energy. At any rate, he told himself two hairs was nothing compared to Kakashi's entire head. If greying became a problem (which it wouldn't, couldn't!), he could always use henge no jutsu to cover up. If Tsunade used the technique and didn't get any flak for it, surely he wouldn't.

He sighed again. If anything, it would give people more things to gossip about, and already he'd heard that his new student was a foreigner brought in to train to be Hokage when Tsunade was done.

Iruka glanced at the door, where Kaori had been a moment earlier. She hardly cared for her own life, much less anyone else's. She was the next to last Hokage contender.

He was the last.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Iruka smiled at the developments of Naruto's party. It had been easier than he thought, and much easier than teaching. Perhaps he'd found his calling after all. Who needed to be Jounin when parties were begging to be planned all around Konoha?

He was holding the party at the Ninja Academy, his own apartment hardly being large enough for several people. Sometimes he wondered if it was large enough for himself. He was paid reasonably, but time was an issue and his home would never be clean or organized. Which just would not do.

Orange and black was the base for the decorations, following Naruto's preferred colours. There was the fake cake, and then a real one was hidden in his office. He'd used detention students as helpers to move the tables and chairs out of his old classroom.

"Your stage is ready to go," Hagane Kotetsu said proudly, using his forehead protector's band to wipe his face. "I'm going home to change before people see me like this."

"The cake is ready too," Kamizuki Izumo chimed in. "Just a little turn of the icing here and the little door opens. The top is soft enough for fingernails to slice open. Who's going to be inside?"

"That's a surprise, guys. Thanks for your help. Stop by for some cake later."

"No thanks," Kotetsu yawned. "But the only parties we crash have barrels of sake. Remember you promised us one for helping?"

"Only when you've helped clean up, too," Iruka warned. "I'm not doing this by myself."

"Sure you are, Iruka-amai," Izumo grinned wickedly.

"What out, he'll give you the Twitching Eye," Kotetsu gasped.

Iruka's eye twitched as he aimed a sandaled foot at Kotetsu, who danced away laughing maniacally.

"Don't you have some filing to do?" he asked, irritated by their jesting.

"C'mon, Izumo-kun, let's find our own barrel. Iruka-amai probably doesn't even know where to find sake."

"Have fun with the kids, Iruka-amai!" Izumo waggled his hand and pranced after Kotetsu.

Iruka tapped his forehead, willing himself calm. His character flaw was his tendency to overreact, but he had to deal with so many idiots in his life that he assumed everyone was an idiot. Whether he meant to or not. But while Izumo and Kotetsu were talented ninjas, they were idiots. They'd been that way since he graduated the Ninja Academy with them.

A short boy with spiky black hair drew the picture, his only obvious talents were art and trickery. Another boy with long brown hair twisted atop his head smeared the gelatin all over the floor behind the desk. An innocent-looking youngster took his seat, black hair over one eye as he hid a camera in his lap. It wasn't the first time they'd shown up to class early. And unless they were kicked out for their pranks, they'd keep showing up and tormenting their sensei.

They'd finished by the time the first student arrived. The camera-hider had no need for feigned innocence; his wide-eyed look could deter any blame even if he was guilty. The pony-tailed boy had mastered his own innocent look, while the spike-haired kid couldn't hide his mischievous expression even if he screwed his eyes closed.

Their sensei suspected nothing until he faced his class and saw nearly every student choking with silent laughter. Everything happened in slow motion: Sensei turning to see a detailed drawing of him and a voluptuous young lady guzzling tankards of sake; his ears turned bright red, and as he strode forward to erase the offensive drawing, he slipped on the clear gelatin; the camera flashed.

The picture was on each of the trio's refrigerators. Iruka's was right next to a picture of his parents. Shortly after that last incident, the Kyuubi Fox Demon had attacked Konoha and killed his parents. After that he lost all interest in pranks and devoted his life to the way of the Shonobi.

Besides overreacting, Iruka had a bad habit of coming down hard on his more lax students. Deep inside he was afraid they'd turn out like him. He'd managed to soften the foolish edges on most of his students, but he'd utterly failed on one. And now he was throwing him a surprise birthday party. And though he didn't like to play favourites, Naruto would always be his favourite student.

"Because he's like me," Iruka mused, running his hand over the chalkboard. He eyed the clock; it read 5:30. Naruto had been sent a message by Tsunade that there was an important Jounin meeting in Room 108 at the Ninja Academy. Utmost secrecy was required. Or course, it failed to mention that Naruto was the only told to show up at six o'clock. The rest of the surprisers would arrive now.

Everyone Iruka had approached about the celebration showed up within next ten minutes, with the exception of Uchiha Sasuke, Tsunade, Kakashi (though that was expected) and Kaori. The stage was piled with presents, with a space in the middle for Naruto to enjoy the spotlight.

Being as large as a horse, Akamaru was stationed outside the building to warn them of Naruto's approach. When the dog yiped as quietly as his monstrous vocal chords would allow, Inuzuka Kiba shouted above the din that the guest of honour was on the premises. There was a mad scramble for lights, spots to wait, and a place to hide bottles that had been snuck in under Iruka's nose.

There was a sound outside the door, it slid open, a tall silhouette inside the frame. A hand flipped on the lights.

"Surprise!" the crowd roared, only to diminish pitifully as they saw it was Kakashi.

"Oh, sorry about being late," Kakashi's eye grinned sheepishly. He scratched the back of his head. "I needed a present but every shop in town was closed."

"Liar!" Sakura growled, pointing a finger accusingly. Kakashi stepped forward, aloof to all the irritated looks he was getting for ruining the mood.

Iruka shook his head, then began calming people down to prepare for Naruto's actual arrival.

"Hey, hey, what's going on? Am I that late?"

Everyone froze staring back at a squint-eyed Naruto. He glanced at the people and the decorations, then at Kakashi, who was obviously the centre of attention.

"Is this the right room?" Naruto spotted Iruka. "Hey! You're not a Jounin, Iruka-sensei!"

So I've been told, Iruka sighed to himself, hanging his head in his hands. The surprise was an utter failure.

"Oh, Happy Birthday Naruto!" Kakashi said cheerfully, as if that was what was supposed to happen. With that, the rest of the room erupted with hollers and whoops. Naruto was so shocked he jumped back out the door. But he bounded back in with so much energy he bowled over Kakashi. Naruto headed for his presents immediately, his face elated at the attention.

Iruka sat to the side, enjoying Naruto's reaction to the party, but also highly disappointed. The surprise was the biggest element after all, and Kakashi had spoiled it.

"Lighten up, Iruka-sensei," teased a voice. Kaori stood over him, tilting her head in question. "Not having a good time?"

Iruka sighed. "Things aren't going as planned."

"Naruto looks like he's having a good time," Kaori observed. "Sorry I was late. It too longer than expected to get my present for him, but I wanted to do something special. Especially since this is his first party."

A large cake was wheeled out, and Naruto's blue eyes sparkled at its immenseness. He held his hands out to it, like he was going to take a chunk then and there, when suddenly the top popped off and out flew a frosting-clad woman with long brown hair and big brown eyes. Kaori's jaw dropped at the spectacle, which was also the expression on nearly every other face around her. The woman giggled and blew kisses at the audience, and two guys dropped to their knees with nosebleeds. Naruto was laughing hysterically.

"You've gotten better at the Oiroke no Jutsu...Konohamaru!" he jeered.

The woman winked, then grinned toothily, and with a puff turned into a gangly kid with brown hair and brown eyes. He pointed dramatically at Naruto.

"Just what I'd expect for my rival for the title of Hokage!"

The two guys who had fainted with nosebleeds felt quite foolish when they came to. Kaori turned back to Iruka, who was shaking his head and smiling.

"Feeling better now, Sensei?" she grinned.

"Kaori!"

She turned to be attacked with a hug from Naruto.

"I didn't see you here and thought maybe you weren't going to come!"

"Well, Iruka-sensei asked me to come. Otherwise, I don't know if I would have. It's kind of a private celebration, don't you think? With your friends?"

"Kaori-baka," Naruto snorted, "you are my friend too! Besides, I saw Tsunade-baachan's assistants drinking in the corner and flirting with the girls. One has a piece of cloth over his face."

Iruka stood suddenly. "Excuse me. I have a couple slackers to talk to."

"Hey, hey, I was opening presents. Come watch!"

"Oh, I have one too." Kaori held out small card.

Naruto peered at it. "Akumako Kaori. Employee. What is this?"

"You don't recognize the company name?"

"Ichiraku Ramen. Ichiraku Ramen! You work there! Since when?"

"Today," Kaori said proudly. "Teuchi-sama's daughter is on her honeymoon for two weeks, and he said he could use help. If I work out, he'll keep me around after she gets back. And I arranged things with him so that whenever I'm working I'll make you a free bowl of ramen!"

Kaori's last few words were the best news Naruto had ever heard. With a hearty cheer he leapt upon her, nearly knocking her over. Kaori struggled to remain standing during the hug, but she found herself teetering backwards, right into a hard body.

"S-sorry, sir. He's a little heavy for..." Kaori trailed off when she saw Naruto's expression. He'd lost his joyfulness and looked peeved. He let go of her and nodded past her.

"Sasuke," he said quietly.