When night falls, Shikaku calls a halt. Iruka is still unconscious, and if Shikaku is right he will stay that way for another day or two. Izumo and Kotestu are glad to stop and promptly start securing the area and making camp so they can fall on the grass and moan about how tired they are.

While they are doing that, Shikaku searches Iruka's clothing and finds a letter in his shirt. However, when he tries to open it, a seal appears on the back. Shikaku examines the seal, discovering that it his beyond his skill level. He is no fuuinjutsu master.

Kotetsu and Izumo fall to the ground and start moaning about how tired they are. It seems they are finished setting up camp.

Shikaku tucks the envelope safely into one of the pockets of his Jounin vest. He'll need to show it to Lord Third.

Shisui finds Sasuke at one of the training grounds watching Itachi practice her kunai throwing. "Hey, girls!" Shisui calls, deciding not to sneak up on Itachi this time in case he scares Sasuke.

Itachi throws a kunai at Shisui's head, which he deftly catches.

"What do you want?" asks Sasuke, scowling. It seems that she is too annoyed with him to be shy.

"Hello Shisui," says Itachi politely.

Shisui grins and pats Sasuke on the head. "How would you like some new friends?" he asks. "I met some nice kids yesterday who asked if they could meet you. What do you say I introduce you to them?"

Sasuke stares at Shisui for a few seconds. Then she shakes her head so violently her ponytail whacks her in the face. "No!" she refuses.

"Are you sure?" asks Itachi. "I doubt many kids your age will ask to be your friend since you never go anywhere."

Sasuke continues to shake her head. "Don't want to."

"Okay," says Shisui. "But when you start the Academy remember that Naruto and Hinata wouldn't mind being your friends."

There is nothing like a bit of paperwork to put you to sleep first thing in the morning, Hiruzen thinks. There is less of it today because Fugaku decided not to press charges for Naruto's latest prank. According to Fugaku, Naruto did him and the clan a huge favour by showing them how good they would all look with mustaches. Fugaku is growing one now, much to the amusement of Mikoto.

However, Hiruzen can't help thinking Fugaku didn't tell him everything he knew about the prank. No matter. Hiruzen is sure it is not important.

Shikaku Nara enters the Hoakge's office. It would appear he is back from his mission. "Lord Hokage," he says. "There is a matter that needs your attention."

"Oh, and what might it be?" asks Hiruzen.

"That mission was a trap," says Shikaku. "And the target was Iruka."

"What?" Hiruzen sits up a lot straighter than he ever thought possible. "Why would anybody want that boy dead? Is he alright?"

"Iruka will live," says Shikaku grimly. "But he will be in the hospital for a few days. This," he holds up an envelope, "holds the answers we need. Unfortunately the seal used on it is above my level."

Hiruzen takes the envelope and examines the seal on it. It is beyond his level too. "The Fourth might have been able to undo this," he tells Shikaku. "But I cannot." Hiruzen folds his hands under his chin, deep in thought. Finally he realizes they have only one choice. "We had better show this to young Iruka and see what he makes of it. I understand he is quite proficient in fuuinjutsu."

Shikaku sighs. "I suppose that whoever sealed this knew that."

"Precisely," says Hiruzen. "Now go and write me a full report. I will take this to Iruka."

"Yes Lord Hokage." Shikaku bows and exits the room.

Hiruzen sighs and almost quits being hokage right then. Why did everything go back to being a complete fiasco as soon as Minato died?

And speaking of Minato…

"HEY! GRANDPA HOKAGE!" yells Naruto, crashing into Hiruzen's office. "I'M HERE FOR MY CHECK UP!"

It sounds like Naruto is here for his weekly check in. And just when Hiruzen really wanted some time alone. Just great.

"Hello Naruto," says Hiruzen very patiently. "What's this I hear about you drawing mustaches on the policemen?"

Naruto scratches the back of his head and says, "Well, we thought they needed some excitement and Hinata thought they would look better with mustaches and Shisui helped because he has a vendetta against some of them and I accidently put too much sleeping powder in the chief's tea and-"

"Stop!" Hiruzen holds up a hand. "What do you mean Shisui helped?"

"Shisui helped after he caught us," explains Naruto.

"Us?"

"Me and Hinata."

Hiruzen sighs heavily. Fugaku did not mention that Shisui and Hinata helped. "Naruto," he says patiently. "You are lucky that Fugaku did not press charges."

"He didn't?" Naruto's eyes go very wide. "He must be a nice man too!"

Curious, Hiruzen asks, "What do you mean 'too'?"

"Well, Hinata's dad is a nice man, and the chief of police is a nice man too!" Naruto grins happily.

Hiruzen considers this statement. Yes, he realizes, Fugaku is in fact a nice man. He's just been so grumpy lately people seem to have forgotten that. "You know," Hiruzen says to Naruto. "Fugaku mentioned that he liked the look of the mustache you gave him and he is going to grow a real one."

"Really?" Naruto's face explodes in happiness. "He liked the mustache?"

"Yes," says Hiruzen patronizingly. "He's going to grow a mustache."

"Hinata will be so happy!" Naruto says, jumping up and down in excitement. "She thinks the Uchihas will look better with mustaches!" Then he runs up to Hiruzen's desk and picks up the envelope Shikaku left. "What's this?"

Hiruzen is starting to understand why Fugaku thought Naruto has ADHD. Perhaps they need to test Naruto again - they tested him about a year ago but the test was negative. "That's a letter for Iruka." says Hiruzen. "Would you like to help me deliver it to him?"

"Is Iruka niisan back from his mission?" asks Naruto, all wide eyed.

"Yes," says Hiruzen getting up from his chair. Time to fob Naruto off on Iruka. Again. "But he got hurt so he is in the hospital."

Naruto's face crumples up and he starts crying. "But...but...but...is he gonna die?"

"No, Naruto," says Hiruzen, taking Naruto's hand. "Iruka will be fine. Let's go visit him and give him his letter, shall we?"

"Okay," says Naruto, wiping his eyes and nose on his sleeve. He trots happily along beside Hiruzen while Hiruzen leads him to the hospital to see Iruka.

Iruka wakes up in hospital to see Naruto's face floating above him. Naruto smiles happily and hugs Iruka. "You're awake!" he says joyously.

"Ow!" Iruka groans as Naruto accidently touches one of his burns. Well, the bandage covering the burn, but it still hurt.

"Sorry," says Naruto. "I didn't mean to! Are you hurting a lot?"

"Not much," says Iruka, who hadn't noticed the burn until Naruto touched it. "I'm fine, really."

"That's good," says The Third Hokage, whom Iruka had not noticed until he spoke. "If you are feeling up to it, I would like you to take a look at this." Lord Third pulls out the envelope that Mei had stuffed down Iruka's shirt during their fight.

"Haven't you opened it yet?" asks Iruka, sitting up painfully.

"We cannot open it," says Lord Third. "It is sealed shut quite thoroughly."

Iruka takes the envelope and examines the seal. Naruto peers over his arm in fascination. Iruka is surprised that Lord Third cannot undo the seal; it is a basic seal after all. Well, basic by Hidden Whirlpool standards - not so much by Hidden Leaf standards. By Hidden Leaf standards, it is actually a very difficult piece of fuuinjutsu. Iruka sighs. To him fuuinjtsu is as second nature as walking and talking, but then he was born in the Hidden Whirlpool, as were his parents. He was raised on fuuinjutsu like most children were raised on sweets.

Respectfully deciding not to call out the Third Hokage's incompetency, Iruka unseals the envelope.

"You unsealed that pretty easily," comments Lord Third.

"Well, um, it's actually a very basic seal," says Iruka, trying not to sound boastful.

"Wow," Naruto stares at the envelope in awe, then looks up at Iruka, awe written all over his face. "Can you teach me how to do that?"

Iruka is so surprised he almost falls off his hospital bed. He had naturally assumed he should teach Naruto fuuinjutsu as part of his upbringing - it has been the sacred duty of the Umino clan for generations to teach the arts of fuuinjutsu. "Of course I will!" says Iruka. "I was going to anyway."

Naruto grins so happily that Iruka starts to wonder if the kid's face will split in half. Then Naruto makes his I-just-remembered-something-important face and asks, "Will you teach me about being all polite too?"

Iruka just stares at Naruto in surprise.

Lord Third smiles and asks, "Well are you going to teach Naruto about manners?"

Iruka nods slowly.

"Yay!" Naruto throws his hands up in the air. Then he turns his attention back to the envelope. "So what's in there?"

Iruka opens the envelope and pulls out its contents.