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Chapter 10: From Now On

Iruka woke up and got ready for work. The weekend was over and it was time to get back. Iruka made toast and quietly ate it in his house. It was really quiet. Which was fine. He got dressed, the sunlight pouring into the room. The sun had finally come back for a bright and sunny day.

But it seemed really dull.

In a horrible way, Iruka wanted things to be like they were before. That he could live with the occasional nightmares and sleepless nights and be done with it.

But that wasn't even a possibility anymore.

One of his own students had tried to kill themselves because of his indecisiveness and neglect.

Iruka had been stopping by every day to see Naruto. He'd asked for the make up he'd have to do while he was gone.

Iruka hadn't been planning on giving him any, but he seemed eager for things to do. Couldn't blame him, especially since hospitals are infuriating. There's barely anything you can do with them.

If Iruka didn't know any better, he would've sworn that Naruto liked having him around. But that probably wasn't true. He probably hated him.

Iruka had been signed up for counseling and other things like that. Though he wasn't sure how that'd help. The sound would never go away. It was just as permanent of a scar as the one across his face.

And now he had to teach a class.

One of his colleagues offered to cover for him but Iruka wanted to do this.

He needed a good enough distraction.

…

"I heard it took a swan dive off the old water tower."

Iruka's heart almost stopped as he entered class. The first thing he'd heard. It still echoed in his ears, like a second voice taunting him in his head.

Iruka fought every urge in his body telling him to slap whoever said that across the face, hard.

But he didn't.

He shook himself and made his way to the front of the class, waiting there to address everyone. Kids were snickering or sitting in their seats. Sasuke was sitting down in his usual place, unflinched by any of the spreading rumors. Shikamaru and Choji seemed content to just talk to each other, about what, Iruka couldn't tell. It seemed like any normal day.

Except for all the rumors.

And the fact that someone was missing.

He took attendance and made a mental note that Hinata was not as school today, probably sick.

Iruka cleared his throat and explained what they'd be doing today.

"Today, we'll be practicing some simple substitution jutsus. They're fairly simple but it's really important to hone the basics."

"Substitution? Such a drag…"

"Oh come on! We're past that already! Give us something challenging!" Kiba said, cracking his knuckles.

"Do you want to teach the lesson? I'd love to have the day off."

"Err… well… nevermind."

Iruka smiled and rolled his eyes. Class felt a little more normal.

He could do this.

This was fine.

"Iruka Sensei, are you okay?" Sakura asked.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking."

"You look pale and nervous." Shino said. The entire class, including Iruka turned to Shino. He was incredibly quiet and barely ever said a word. He had an edge to his voice and attitude not usually found in kids.

" So you're lying. Is it because of Naruto?"

The elephant in the room. He couldn't avoid it any longer. He had to address this.

"The demon brat's alive, at least from what I heard." Sota mumbled, leaning back into the bench, rolling his dark purple eyes.

Iruka swore he heard his mind snap in half like a twig someone had broken right in half.

He'd had enough. He couldn't take it. He really didn't want to blow up in front of his class but this had to stop; now.

"The next person who says anything about Naruto gets detention for the next two weeks," Iruka said, his voice cold, harsh and unfathomably angry.

The entire class silenced. No one had expected that kind of reaction. But Iruka was in no mood to think calm and rationally about what to say next.

"I am so sick and tired of you guys treating this sort of stuff like a joke! Losing loved ones is NOT funny. None of this is funny! If you think I can't hear you whispering, then you're dead wrong! I know exactly what some of you are talking about so I'd try to not get my attention!"

The sharpness in his words reopened the wounds he'd previously been trying to hard to shove down, at least for today.

"We have school work to attend to. Get out your notebooks and review the substitution jutsu because we'll be practicing it in a couple of minutes. Get to work."

Iruka sighed as everyone in the room, except Sasuke, got out their notebooks. Iruka sighed, grabbing his neck to avoid any further confrontation. It was kinda like a comfort. Something to remind him, that yes, everything is going to be alright.

But could he honestly say that? Iruka wasn't sure anymore.

He wasn't sure about anything.

…

Naruto decided that he liked Iruka. He couldn't place it but being around him wasn't as awkward as before. It was more…

Nice? That the word you're looking for. You're a lost cause, you know. If you can forget the easiest word in the history of ever, you might as well quit.

He tested his legs on the floor. Technically, he shouldn't have been moving at all but he could finally move his legs after so long that he just sorta had to.

Naruto pushed weight onto his feet, the tensing pressure springing up his body, making him incredibly grateful he was still sitting on the bed. Naruto tried to press more weight but his legs stubbornly refused to.

After about thirty minutes of trying, Naruto got caught by one of the nurses. She scolded him and put him back in the bed. It was annoying but he couldn't really argue.

They weren't healed yet. Maybe with crutches, he'd be able to attend class.

When did you ever want to go to class?

Naruto shuffled and picked up stack of books Iruka had let him borrow. Naruto read through them, which wasn't the easiest but he sorta understood.

He mimicked the hand signs in the book and mumbled the words as a sort of practice. Wasn't the most efficient way to train but it'd have to do.

All right, what's with you? You never cared about any of this before. What's up?

"Nothing," Naruto mumbled, focusing on the content, trying to piece together everything he'd missed.

Technically, he hadn't missed anything yet but he would obviously be staying for a few more days. He hated the hospital.

He didn't like the attention; he was very used to being floral in a background.

Useless and meaningless.

Naruto was itching to get out of here. Literally. Kurama was just as grumpy, or even more so, than he was.

Can't do it here, too many people.

Kurama hated company, which became much more evident when Iruka was there. He constantly mocked every single thing he said which was a tad hard to hear. Sometimes Naruto could barely focus on what his sensei was saying so he'd just nod. Naruto was certain he'd apparently agreed with two or three things he shouldn't have.

He didn't even like the nurses, often making comments about their hesitance to help a child.

But he could tell he hated Iruka the most. Naruto wasn't quite sure why.

He continued completing the homework with the vigor of a child ripping open a gift. The sunset glistened off the flowers and water, reminding him that the day was coming to a close.

You're hopeless.

"Guess so."

So you're going for the ninja thing?

"Yes."

Why? Not that I'm against it. I like the idea of stretching once and a while.

"Iruka's hands are big."

Uhhh, what?

"I want mine to be that big."

That's the only reason?!

"I also want to be Hokage."

Why?

"I said I did."

Whatever… you won't be one.

"Aim high, right?"

I don't like what this guy's doing to you. You do understand that he hates you and is only pretending to be nice. We did kill his parents.

Naruto put the book down and laid his head on the bed.

"I don't care."

The End

:)

of Act 1

YOOOOOO, I got U! This is ACT 1 of possibly FIVE. You thought this was over? NO! More sadness is to come! Stay tuned!

But in all seriousness, Act 2 will take a lot longer. Partly because I have rewrite the entire series to fit changes and revelations. And partly because I want it to be better than Act 1. But I also really don't wanna stop writing mi depressed bean. So I've come up with a solution. 5 Q and A sessions with our lovely duo, Kurama and Naruto. I've got two rules tho. No asking about stuff that might be considered spoilers (to elaborate, stick to stuff that happened in the OG, not SHIPPUDEN). And two, no asking about stuff that might end up happening in the story (ex. 'Are you going to try again?' or 'Will you ever stand up to Kurama?'). I say that cuz I want to keep this story fresh with surprises and twists around each corner. And….. I still haven't finished SHIPPUDEN. Don't kill meh, okay?! I'm only fifteen!

So PM me (nu commenting cuz then peeps can see that) all the questions ya got and I'll try to hit as many of them as physically possible. you will get credit for the question unless u dont want it. (Btw, u CAN ask about ships and their opinions, but keep in mind, they will most likely not be as open to certain ones as peeps might like. Keep in mind that this does not take place in the 21st century. He's also 9 so PLEASE do not be that ONE person).