AUTHOR'S NOTE If you don't like these, that's what the scroll button is for.

To everyone; I'm so happy you reviewed. This is the first story I've gotten a lot of feedback for, and it makes me feel like a real author. As for the kunai… you'll just have to wait and see. This is one of the pieces of info that I'm definitely planning to explain later, though I haven't actually written that part yet or decided on the details.

To MarmaladeCat and Bite: I'm glad you like my 'punchlines' I never feel right about a story until I've got a good ending. Just wait for the last story in the series; I'm still smug thinking about it.

To ChibiRisu-chan; I just have to say it's an honour that the author of my absolute favorite Naruto fic has chosen to review mine. I've loved all of your stories, even the Count Cain, which I've never seen the show for. I'm so glad you like it. Your review totally made my night.

I'm sure avid readers will be pleased to know I have written and typed the last chapter of the story, so even if I don't finish all of the middle, there will be an end. But you can't see it yet. Hah!.

Title: Hold Fast by hercat

Summary: People will surprise you every time.

Umino Iruka sighed as he sorted the morning's reports. In another few minutes he'd be finished, and for once no one had bothered him.

Because Naruto wasn't there and wouldn't be there again for a long time. 'About two years' was what the Genin had said in his brief goodbye. Well, 'about two years' was a long time. Possibly a lifetime for a ninja, even one as sheltered as Iruka. And how much of Naruto's life would he miss? How would the boy change without him there to watch?

He wasn't foolish enough to imagine Naruto would still turn to him the way he used to. By the time he returned, Iruka would just be a memory to him. Someone who took an interest in him, but not anyone needed. He shoved the next file in a little harder than necessary. He supposed it was to be expected. You couldn't hold back a river. Natural on his part too to mourn the loss of something he'd cherished.

Iruka had learned years ago that trying to keep himself from moping was a lost cause. Of course moping had to be carefully monitored to prevent it from turning into a full blown fit of hysterical self-pity. Something he disliked in other people and hated in himself. Look on the bright side. Whatever his faults, Jiraiya-sama is a skilled ninja. What's more, his fighting style matches Naruto's. They both rely heavily on large chakra reserves, the complete opposite of me. Chances are he'll learn a lot. And no matter what, he knows I care about him. That's really all I could have done. The list of reasons why this was a good thing helped. The problem was, it was helping less than the first 48 times through it.

Fortunately the monotony of the missions desk was mind-numbing. Take report, check, stamp and sort. Next and next and so on until…Take report, check, st…Wait.

"Katsura-san, there are several sections here that still need to be filled in."

"Look Chuunin, I've got better things to do. They're pretty basic, I'm sure you can get them yourself."

"Katsura-san…" the Jounin was already walking out of the room. Everyone had gone silent, staring at Iruka. Waiting to see what he would do. Don't everyone jump in at once Iruka thought bitterly. This was what he hated about being a ninja. No one helped anyone else, because needing help meant you were weak, and the weak dragged down the rest.

Like a pack of wolves. Goddamn macho BULLSHIT. That had been his mother's phrase, but then she'd been tough as nails to most, gentle only to a few. His mother had had power, a sure route to respect (at least in public) in a ninja village. All he had was his wits. So far they had been enough.

Half-blank folder in hand, he walked quickly after the irritating Jounin. He didn't bother to mask his footsteps. 'Sometimes the best camouflage is none at all' his father had told him. He kept his chakra calm and didn't let any intent slip through. He was just another office worker using the hallway. Until he caught up, walked into the supply closet as the Jounin passed, and kawarimi-no-jutsu'd his ass.

The door latched a fraction of a second later, seals locking into place. Fortune favours the prepared. The door wasn't shaking and no noise was coming through.

"Katsura-san, you may be interested to know there's a one-way sound Jutsu on the door. I sincerely hope you'll have your report finished when I come by to pick it up at five. It would be awful if you had to spend the whole night in there." He turned to walk away. "Oh, and I don't recommend any high level jutsu in there – the force will have no where to go." It was a fairly standard technique for containing high level ninja. Iruka doubted his work would be up to Ibiki-san's standards, but it was good enough for this. He stuck a note to the door.

Advanced Student
Supplies
Don't Disturb
Iruka

The funny thing was, if you took each line separately it was actually true.

Of course the story got around. In a village like this, gossip was a major hobby, and as amusing as it was sometimes to imagine some of the deadliest people in the world gossiping like grannies over tea, it could be dammed inconvenient.

Part of Iruka was glowing with the feeling of besting a Jounin, no matter how temporarily. The rest of him was sensible enough to be very worried about what the pissed off ninja after his ass was going to do. And he wasn't nearly arrogant enough to think he could take such a high level fighter fairly. Or rather in an open fight. Iruka never fought fairly, he was after all a ninja.

So when Katsura stood over him in the teacher's lounge, spewing out some pretty nasty words he tried to ignore them, pretending to mark papers. But there were some remarks that couldn't pass uncontested.

"Take that back" said Iruka quietly, putting his pen down. Delighted to have found a tender spot, Katsura renewed his efforts.

"But he is a little monster. Feral as an alley cat and about as smart. His lack of brains is going to get someone killed, maybe himself if we're lucky. Best thing for Konoha that he left, better still if he never comes back."

"That is a very….ill thing to say of a comrade." Mizuki would have noticed the quiet voice and the formal phrasing and gotten the hell out of there. But Mizuki was dead now, disgraced and all Iruka had was a roomful of higher level ninja silently watching him defend the closest thing he had to a family.

"A comrade? Not one of mine. You feel soft for him sensei? Feel sweet for the brat? Heh, or maybe you've been feeling the brat more than you should, special after class…"

Much later Iruka would take a certain grim satisfaction from the fact it had taken three Jounin to pry him off.

Iruka woke up slowly. At first he couldn't understand why the ceiling looked so different or why he had a hangover. Then he remembered. He rubbed at his shoulder which was throbbing. He thought he could remember Anko stabbing him with something just before he passed out. Probably a sedative. She always did love her chemicals.

"If it's any comfort, you were clearly winning when she did that. Katsura has a number of bald patches."

Pathetic Iruka thought as he closed his eyes. Like a pair of kunoichi squabbling over a boy.

"Maa, what bad luck. The most interesting thing to happen all month, and I'm away for it." Somehow, picturing Kakashi watching as he brawled with what was technically his superiour like an academy student didn't help. "I'm quite impressed actually. Who would have known you had such a vicious streak? Of course, you put Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke on the same team so obviously you have some sadistic tendencies at least."

Iruka sighed. He just couldn't. Couldn't think couldn't care couldn't feel. Couldn't anything.

He was saved from Kakashi's monologue by Ibiki entering the room and a suspicious part of him wondered if that had been deliberate. Torture by inane chatter. Make people actually glad to see Ibiki when he comes in. It would suit his sense of humor.

"Ibiki-san." Iruka didn't have to turn to make the identification. Ibiki's chakra had a harsh grating buzz that matched his personality perfectly.

"Iruka-sensei. How are you feeling?" Empty.

"Fine Ibiki-san. Can we please get this over with?" Ibiki held out a board covered with an intricate three pointed seal. Iruka sat up and put a hand in the middle of it, wrist over the first point. "The only person I have ever had sex with is dead." Ibiki turned the board to the next point. "I have never made or accepted sexual advances of any kind with anyone younger than myself." Iruka looked questioningly at Ibiki as the board was rotated to the final point.

"Just finish it Umino-san." Iruka opened his mouth to make some random statement when Kakashi spoke up from across the room.

"Tell us you're not going to take this out on yourself." Iruka smiled bitterly. It was shaming to hear that Kakashi, the second closest person he had left to a friend, thought he was so weak. He wasn't worried about Ibiki. Ibiki-san thought everyone was weak. There was really only one proper reply to that statement.

"My body and my life are the property of Konohagakure no sato. I will not steal or damage them." A stillness seemed to fill the room for a second before the seal began to vanish into chakra smoke, leaving a perfectly blank page. Ibiki nodded, satisfied, and left with an unreadable look at Kakashi.

"Thank you for your cooperation Umino-san." Iruka lay back down and let those words ring through his head until he fell asleep again.

"He's been like this all week" hissed Anko, standing behind Kakashi in the line. "It's damn creepy seeing him blanker than Ibiki. This is Iruka for Hokage's sake. It's driving me nuts." Kakashi just grunted quietly in agreement. He watched the Chuunin methodically work his way through Genma's folder, fingers gracefully moving through the sheets, sure and certain. That was nothing unusual. The blank mask on Iruka's face was though, and he was surprised again at how much it hurt seeing it, here and at the hospital. Anko was right. Umino Iruka shouldn't look empty like that. Empty like some of the nin were permanently. Empty like he felt on the bad days.

Genma walked off, shoulders a fraction more slumped than usual, and Kakashi wondered how feelings could be so easily spread. It wasn't fair he decided abruptly, for Iruka to take away any joy from the lives of people who needed it so badly.

So when Iruka reached for his folder, Kakashi jerked it back, and again the second time. Naruto must be rubbing off on me he thought. Seated in front of him, Iruka gave off a sigh that seemed to come from the depths of his soul.

"Stop being such a jackass" hissed Anko, poking him hard in the kidneys. Good thing he'd reinforced that area, her fingers were sharp. So we're poking people now? Okay.

"Poke" he said, pushing the end of the folder into Iruka's shoulder while the Chuunin stared at him with a bewildered look. At least it's an expression. Anko kicked his ankle. He ignored her. "Poke, poke" he said again, suiting action to words. He saw a smile flicker at the edges of Iruka's mouth, fanned it with one of his own and watched it settle in place. Sadder than usual, but still there.

"I knew you were in there somewhere" said Kakashi.

"Well, I guess you've found me then" said Iruka as he took the folder.