"Nara, Shikamaru"
"Here"
"Uchiha, Sasuke"
"Present"
"Uzumaki, Naruto"
"Uzumaki Naruto?"
"He's late again Iruka-Sensei!"
"So he is Sakura." said the now identified Iruka.
"Has anyone seen Naruto this fine morning?" Iruka asked, before being met with silence and many shaking heads.
'Guess not huh.'
"Well then, since no one knows, I'm leaving to find Naruto. Mizuku will substitute for me while I'm away. DO NOT MISBEHAVE!"
"Yes Sensei." said the class in unison.
Raising a hand to his ear, Iruka began to call Mizuki over a small radio.
"Mizuki, take care of the class, I have a tardy student to find."
"Sure thing Iruka." Responded Mizuki.
Thanking him, Iruka took off into the village in search of Naruto.
'He's probably at home oversleeping again. It puzzles me sometimes how he desperately wants to pass yet doesn't even bother to show up for class.'
After a fair bit more internal ranting, Iruka reached his destination.
Arriving at a rundown apartment complex, he briefly made his way up the stairs before finding Naruto's apartment. A quick look into the window revealed some closed blinds
He knocked on the door.
. . . . . No answer.
He knocked again.
. . . . . Nothing.
Sighing, Iruka took a deep breath before shouting at the top of his lungs
"WAKE UP NARUTO!!"
Suddenly, every person within the apartment complex flung open their door, and Iruka was assaulted with a barrage of insults, kunai, and shoes.
"KEEP IT DOWN, I HAVE THE NIGHT SHIFT! ! !"
"MY BABY IS TRYING TO SLEEP!"
"KEEP YOUR DAMN MOUTH SHUT ASSHOLE! !"
Turning, Iruka began profusely apologizing to the pissed off neighbors.
"I'm sorry, I'm trying to find one of my students Naruto, have any of you seen him?"
"NO!" Was the consensus voice of the people, before multiple doors were slammed in his face.
'Well shit. I doubt even Naruto could sleep during that racket. He can't be home anyway, I can't sense his ungodly chakra anywhere near this place.'
Turning, Iruka began to think.
'Maybe he's with Lord Third. Naruto respects him far more than anyone, plus Lord Third enjoys his company.'
Quietly sneaking out of the building, Iruka began making his way towards the Hokage tower.
Entering the building, he was greeted by the monotonous voice of a secretary.
"Name and reason for today's visit." She droned.
"Iruka Umino, I'm wondering if Naruto has been here today."
"I don't have any scheduled meetings for a man named Naruto."
"I'd be surprised if you did. While he does respect Lord Third, I don't see him ever going through the proper regulations of bureaucracy. Besides, he's my student so he can't schedule a meeting."
The secretary put down her pencil and looked up at the chunin. Both stared at each other for a while, before the woman's eyes lit up with recognition.
"Are you referring to that errant blond brat who barges in here every other day of the week?"
"I would prefer if you didn't call him that, but yes, that's him."
"Then no. He has not been here these past two days. Is that all, Sir?" She flatly responded, returning to her oh so very interesting paperwork.
Sighing, he nodded "Unfortunately, yes, that's all."
"Then you're welcome. Have a nice day." Was his rude response.
Dejectedly, Iruka left the building.
'Well that's a bust. Where else would Naruto be? I could try the ramen stand, but they don't open for another hour or so.'
Aimlessly wandering. Iruka eventually figured he wouldn't lose anything just going.
'Maybe he's waiting outside? Wouldn't hurt to check.'
Breaking his leisure stroll, Iruka dashed towards the familiar restaurant he had found Naruto at so many times.
A brief run rewarded him with the sight of a closed shop on an empty street.
Annoyed, he read the wooden sign hanging from the stand.
"Ran out of Naruto, Off to buy more. Please come back during our scheduled business hours. 3"
He stared blankly at it.
'I feel like this sign is mocking me, but I can't tell why.'
Disappointed, Iruka turned around and started heading back towards the academy.
'I'll give him a piece of my mind when I find that boy. Just you wait Naruto!'
~ 3 Days Later ~
"Nara, Shikamaru"
"Here"
"Uchiha, Sasuke"
"Present"
"Uzumaki, Naruto"
"He's not here sensei."
Three days.
Three days of him running around the village like a fool. Three days of getting screamed at by ill-tempered neighbors. Three days of being patronized by a bored secretary. Three days of reading that accursed sign.
"Sensei?"
As he began his internal rant, the class watched as a blank-faced Iruka ignored Sakura and continued staring off into space.
When Naruto was gone the first day, Iruka was annoyed. The second day he was more disappointed by his inability to lecture the young man. By the third day, he was beginning to express his doubts.
But FOUR days!? With graduation being only two days away? This wasn't normal, not even for an unpredictable boy like Naruto.
Making up his mind, Iruka turned to the tired faces of his class.
"Alright, I know you guys are used to hearing this, but this is the last time. I need to go make a report to Lord Third. I'll be back later. Now Mizuki told me last time that you guys were being a bit too rowdy. If I hear that again, I'll personally make sure to include an essay on how to properly run a classroom for your graduation exam. Got it?"
"Yes Sensei." was the response of the handful of students awake enough to answer
"Good. Now keep your promises like good future genin." Finishing his mini-lecture, Iruka left for Hokage Tower.
"Man I don't see why we have to suffer for that idiot's own problems. This sucks." A boy in a large fur coat hoodie exclaimed after Iruka left the room. A similarly toned dog bark followed soon after.
"What if he finally ran away? He's always so alone. Maybe he finally got the point and gave up?"
"Your hypothesis does have some merit Ino. With graduation being so close, he may not have been able to bear another heartbreaking year."
"Of course I'm right Shino! Don't you know a lady is always right."
"Hn" Was her only reply.
"Maybe Hinata has seen him."
"Why do you say that forehead?"
"Because INOOO, I noticed her tailing him the day before he disappeared. Plus, in case you haven't noticed -"
"Not that you could with your damn ego in the way " Sakura hastily added under her breath.
"- Hinata hasn't come to class either."
"Now that you mention it, I heard that she's been caged up in her room lately, refusing to come out. My daddy was talking to her dad about it. Apparently she's a wreck, bawling non-stop about something she refuses to talk about. They're considering some extreme therapy."
"Man some weird stuff is happening lately"
"It seems so Kiba, let's just hope it's all over now." Responded Shino.
Sakura was about to say something before the door slid open and a white-haired man walked in.
"Alrighty guys, you know the drill. Take this worksheet and pretend to look busy for the next few hours. I'm off on my break. If Iruka comes back, tell him I went to the bathroom."
As he dropped a stack of papers on the desk and turned around to leave, Sakura raised her hand and spoke.
"Mizuki-Sensei. How come you said we were rowdy last time when you weren't even with us any longer than a minute?"
Mizuki turned and glared at her.
"Because Sakura you people do shit like raising your hands and talking anyways even though no one called on you!" He snapped before leaving.
The class just stared at a dumbfounded Sakura who had her mouth agape.
"-ast three days I've not been able to find any sign of Naruto at all. I would have reported this sooner but the sudden load of work I've had to manage due to graduation has taken longer than intended. Not to mention all the applications for next year that I have to review. However, with it being day four of his disappearance, I cannot in good conscience let this continue."
Since Iruka was kneeling over, he didn't notice the relieved smile the Hokage showed.
'At least I'm not the only one who has to suffer this damn hell.'
Taking a long breath from his pipe, the aging Hokage wearily responded. "You seem to express a lot of concern for young Naruto. Tell me, what is he to you? Why not show such concern for young Hinata, another one of your fellow students who has taken an extended break from class?"
Briefly taking a pause, Iruka responded.
"Naruto has been my student for many years. While he may not have been the most studious boy, I have seen him grow. His perseverance is unmatched. I truly believe he can graduate this year."
Taking a quick breath under the Hokage's inquisitive stare, Iruka continued.
"Regarding Hinata, I'm afraid I am no help to her. Hiashi has told me she has been under extreme mental trauma for the past few days and I am no expert in child psychology. For all I know it could have been a bad dream that caused her to react this way."
'A bad dream huh?'
"A peculiar theory you have there Iruka. Of course, I know young Naruto trusts you. He has talked about you on more than one occasion. I simply wanted to see with my own eyes if that feeling was reciprocated."
"So you know where he is then?" Iruka asked hopefully.
"Not as of this moment" Turning towards his left, the Hokage wearily smiled and spoke, "Bring me the Anbu tasked with watching Naruto this week."
"I believe it was Hawk's turn this week, sir" replied a voice from the left.
"No it wasn't, it was Cat's turn." Responded Hawk from across the room.
"It wasn't me, I was watching him last week."
Came a voice from above.
While the three bodiless voices bickered, the Hokage stood up, visibly concerned.
"So you're telling me for the duration of Naruto's disappearance, not a SINGLE Anbu was guarding him?"
The silence was his only answer.
"Fan out! I want anyone who's chunin or higher to begin the search. Look anywhere and everywhere, he must be found by day's end!"
"Yes Lord Hokage!" Exclaimed the voices, before dashing out of the room to deliver his message.
"Lord Hokage, I -" began Iruka.
"It's alright Iruka, you've done well enough informing me of Naruto's disappearance. Had you not done so who knows how long it would have been before I found out. You do not need to partake in the search, you're dismissed."
Iruka looked like he wanted to reply, but held his tongue.
"Yes Lord Hokage."
The aging leader looked down at his kneeling soldier.
"Don't worry Iruka, I know you're concerned. I'll send someone to inform you when naruto has been found."
"I'd like that. Thank you."
"No need to, take the rest of the day off Iruka, I know you work hard."
Iruka stood up and, patting his knees, replied.
"With all due respect, the paperwork won't finish itself Lord Hokage."
Chuckling, the Hokage responded, "It won't. Will it?" Peering over to the pile he had yet to finish.
"That would be a blessing," he said to himself as Iruka left the room, looking out upon his village and people.
Returning to his desk, he noticed a strange creature that sat upon it.
Picking up the small green insect, he opened a window to let it fly away.
'Lucy must have left a window open while cleaning my office.' He thought, before returning to his desk.
Applying a fair amount of chakra, he unlocked the lowest drawer and pulled out a crystal ball.
Pulling out a small parchment of paper labeled "Nine-Tails", he applied it to the ball.
Darkness was all that was shown. The Hokage tried moving it around, but it was all for naught.
"That can't be good.'
He applied a second parchment, this one labeled "Naruto".
No change.
"Could it be linked to the sudden appearance of the Rosa infection, Lord Hokage?" Asked a voice behind him.
"Only time will tell Tenzo. We'll just have to be patient"
Sighing before wearily returning the ball to its confines, he turned to his work.
'Damn, did it multiply?' He wondered, staring at what he could have sworn was one pile of papers.'
Deep within the earth of Konoha laid a series of tunnels and pipes that made up the entirety of her underground.
A makeshift room bored into the earth served as the main base to the comings and goings of a secret organization, Root. One of its agents knelt before its leader.
"-ould be a blessing" repeated the voice of a masked man.
"He has found the bug and released it, shall I go place another one, Lord Danzo?" Asked the kneeling man.
"No need to waste your time, Torune. Hiruzen may be a fool, but he is still an attentive fool. He will suspect something if he keeps finding bugs sprinkled about his office."
"Yes Lord Danzo"
"However, the news that our jinchuriki is missing is very troubling. It could spell trouble for the leaf should one of our rival villages get ahold of him."
The lord in question was a heavily crippled man. With a single-arm lifelessly strung around a cast, the rest of his body was no better. Littered with scars of experience, battle, and age, he looked through a single eye, for the other had been lost.
"Tell me Torune, do you have the tracking seal with you?" Inquired Danzo, who sat upon a wooden throne.
"Yes Lord Danzo, I've had it with me ever since you placed it on him. Do you wish for me to bring him to you?"
"No, send one of the grunts, I need you here in case one of Hiruzen's dogs sticks their nose in where they don't belong."
"Yes Lord Danzo, shall I alert all of our agents to be ready for battle?"
"No need to, they will find out soon enough. Send our fastest agent. Time may not be on our side."
"Yes my Lord!" Exclaimed the masked man, Torune.
With his final command, Torune took off, leaving his aging leader to his own devices.
'These are very troubling times' pondered Danzo.
'First the skirmish with the hidden cloud, then the Hyuga heiress going mad, and now a missing jinchuriki.'
'Very troubling times indeed.'