*Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters in it. I simply borrow them for my own musings and fantasies and do not get paid for their use in said musings or fantasies. –Nira

Please don't forget to review and let me know what you think of the changes if you've read the original, and if you're new to the series, please let me know what you think about the story in general since you'd have no way of knowing what the original was like anyway. Thanks a million, and please enjoy this latest chapter. ^_^ - Nira

Chapter 14

Yuriko awoke the next morning to sunlight streaming through her window and warming her body through. She blinked her eyes open, adjusting slowly to the brightness and sat up with a yawn, stretching. It was still early, she could tell from the birds chirping and the faint sounds of the village coming alive in the distance. She moseyed her way to her closet, retrieving an outfit of a pair of light blue cut-off jean shorts, a white tank top, and a baggy, deep purple loose-knit sweater that hung past her hands and to her knees. After a quick shower, she dressed, replacing her usual mask with a lavender sash and was stopped on her way to the kitchen by loud knocking at her door. She wasn't expecting anyone but she was glad to see a pair of big blue eyes, a mess of spiky blond hair, and an ear-to-ear smile greeting her from the other side of the door when she'd opened it.

"Morning Yuriko nee-chan! I came by yesterday, but you were gone and there were people doing something with your door. What happened? Is everything okay?" Naruto inquired.

"Yeah, everything's fine. The door was just poorly installed before I moved in and had a terrible draft, so they fixed it for me. What's up?" She knew it was a lie, but she didn't think it necessary to worry him by telling him the truth.

"Can we hang out? Or do some training? You don't really look dressed for it, but I'm sure you could still teach me some awesome ninjutsu."

"Why not ask Iruka-san to train you? He is your teacher, isn't he?"

"Yeah, but you outrank him and you're a lot more fun," he chuckled, a slight blush rising to his cheeks and he scratched his cheek nervously.

Yuriko couldn't help but laugh. She couldn't argue when he put it that way. She hadn't eaten yet, so she invited him in and offered to share her breakfast of leftovers from the night before with him which he gladly accepted. They talked and laughed and after breakfast, Naruto offered to clean up while Yuriko changed into training gear.

The pair made their way through town in no rush to get to the training grounds, just enjoying each other's company. Naruto went on and on about all the pranks he'd pulled, what he'd gotten away with, what he'd gotten caught doing and how he'd been caught, and all the mischief he'd gotten into. Yuriko laughed and laughed, remembering when she was younger and got into similar trouble and situations with Eichi. She was in the middle of telling Naruto about the time she brought down a giant boar that had been chasing Eichi when she turned a corner and bumped into someone.

"Sorry about that. I wasn't—" came a male's voice in unison with Yuriko's as they bowed, but they both stopped mid-sentence as they looked up and recognized each other.

"Oh, Yuriko-san. Good morning," Iruka greeted with a nervous smile.

"Good morning, Iruka-san," she responded, her eyes downcast remembering that their last encounter had been extremely uncomfortable.

The awkward silence hung in the air until Iruka spoke up to break it; "You seem to be having a good time so I don't want to keep you. I just want to apologize for what happened the other day. It was rude of me to pry, and I'm sorry for overstepping any boundaries." He bowed low and Yuriko noticed the embarrassed blush across his cheeks. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. It's just…"

Iruka's blush deepened as he righted himself and he made it a point to avoid eye contact. Yuriko had never seen a man have that kind of expression before. She was surprised by how vulnerable he seemed in that moment. He was almost like a child who was ashamed and embarrassed about something they were being reprimanded for. It was kind of endearing, she thought. She'd seen the same expression on Eichi's and Naruto's faces, as well.

"It's just what? What happened? What did you do, Sensei?" Naruto badgered, clueless as to what was going on between the adults but glaring and ready to reprimand his teacher for Yuriko's honor and she giggled.

"It's okay, Naruto-kun. Can you give us a minute?"

Naruto glared for a moment longer before walking ahead a bit to give Yuriko and Iruka space.

"You were saying?" Yuriko prodded.

"I really am sorry. It's just that you know what it's like… you've been in my shoes. I should have been more sensitive because we've both lost people. I was just so excited to have someone else who understands."

Yuriko examined his body language and facial expressions and took note of his quickened breathing and speech cadence. He reminded her so much of her childhood best friend that she felt a pang in her heart as a faint smile forced its way across her lips beneath her mask.

"Do you always wear your heart on your sleeve, Iruka-san?" she asked after a moment that seemed to last too long to Iruka.

He hadn't expected his winded explanation to be answered with a question, and her silent and blank-faced scrutiny had made him question if he should have said anything at all. He was taken for a loop and his confusion showed even before he'd questioned her, wondering if he'd heard her correctly.

"Sorry, what?"

"Never mind," she laughed. "You've already answered the question. Thank you, Iruka-san. It was very kind of you to apologize. I also apologize. I'm not very good at dealing with people and emotions, so I tend to remove myself from uncomfortable situations."

"It's okay. I understand," he smiled, a huge weight lifted from his shoulders now that he'd apologized and it had been accepted. "Well, you two seemed busy, so I'll take my leave. Thank you for listening, Yuriko-san," Iruka bowed with a smile and nodded to Naruto who had made his way over.

As Iruka was about to walk away, Yuriko made a split decision to inform him of hers and Naruto's plan for the day. Naruto and Iruka both looked at her in confusion but she smiled anyway.

"I just thought you'd like to know," she added and gestured for Naruto to come with her as she continued their original path toward the training grounds.

Naruto paused and looked back at Iruka before catching up to Yuriko who continued her story; "So there it was, this ginormous boar with tusks as big as my arms and…"

Iruka watched them for a moment as they walked out of earshot, bewildered by what her intention was in telling him where they were going, and then it dawned on him. A smile spread across his face and he jogged to catch up to them, taking her up on the unspoken offer to join them.

Kakashi had heard the knocking at Yuriko's door, waking him with a start. He'd been having a dream about his childhood—the good times before the war took everything, took Rin and Obito away from him—and for once, it wasn't a nightmare. He yawned, rubbing the sleep from his bleary eyes and stretching, deciding that he'd might as well get up and get on with his day, all the while listening in to Yuriko's apartment. It was hard not to, with Naruto's loud voice, but he was in a good mood and it sounded like Yuriko was also in good spirits to see him. Shortly after the two left her apartment, Kakashi followed from a distance. Despite everything, he was still under orders to tail her, but now, after having talked with and gotten to know her a little more, it didn't seem like such a chore anymore.

As they walked, Kakashi was drawn in—almost mesmerized by Yuriko's laughter and bright smile. Naruto really did seem to bring out the best in her, and she glowed with the pride of an older sister in his presence. Kakashi couldn't keep his own smile from crawling across his lips, casually walking behind them. When they suddenly stopped and the air seemed to change around them, Kakashi took to the rooftops to get a closer look.

She'd bumped into Iruka, and the uneasy look on their faces was hard to miss. Knowing Iruka, Kakashi presumed that he intended to apologize to her for the awkward encounter they'd had the other day that Genma had told him about, but it was difficult, still, with Naruto there as witness to such an intimate thing as a heartfelt apology. As the conversation went on, Kakashi noticed that Yuriko was paying close attention to him, examining everything about him, and the look in her eyes as she did seemed… almost nostalgic, Kakashi thought. He'd only seen her have that expression when she talked about Naruto. Kakashi wondered what it was that she saw in Iruka, what it was that she was thinking about as she watched him apologize and squirm under her scrutiny like a giddy schoolboy. And Iruka… why was he so nervous around her? Did he see the light and warmth in Yuriko that had only just been revealed to Kakashi the night before as having always been there behind the shadows of her past—behind the hardened exterior that she displayed to the rest of the world?

"Naruto-kun and I were just on our way to the training grounds," Yuriko stated, the kind look in her eyes toward him never fading, though Kakashi saw the almost unrecognizable flash of something. Fear? Pleading? Hope? Kakashi couldn't quite pinpoint it, but whatever it was, he saw it. "I just thought you'd like to know."

The bewildered expressions on both Iruka's and Naruto's faces mirrored Kakashi's own. Why would she have said that? Why would she have casually given away such information if she—. Just as Kakashi had his moment of "Eureka," so did Iruka, and his face lit up with innocent joy as he ran to catch up to her and Naruto. She'd extended an invitation without ever saying the words, leaving Kakashi even more confused. Yuriko hated men. What was it about Iruka that made him different?

Kakashi continued his surveillance, a new sense of determination and an uneasiness in the pit of his stomach that he couldn't shake that gnawed at him. Was it really for the mission that he wanted to know so badly so that he could report his findings to the Hokage? Or was it something else? Something more… personal, maybe? Regardless of the reasoning, he thought, it was valuable information and he needed to know.

Training had gone well past the sunset and by the end, Yuriko, Iruka, and Naruto were all tired but still had smiles on their faces. Naruto's shadow clones had improved greatly and the three were famished from the exertion.

On their way back into the village, Iruka spoke up. "Is anyone else hungry? I'll buy," he stated, his eyes finding Yuriko's specifically as a kind smile alighted his face.

Yuriko stiffened, looking down and breaking eye contact. She had a lot of fun, and it was great hanging out with Naruto and Iruka. They really did remind her of Eiichi, each in their own way, Naruto with his mischievousness, and Iruka because she imagined that Eiichi would have grown up to be like him—innocent and fun-loving but not entirely naïve to the world.

Yuriko was torn by her desire to go with them and by the fear that something would go wrong if she pushed her luck any further than she already had. She'd invited Iruka on a whim simply because of his innocence and how he reminded her of Eiichi. She'd exposed herself to him more than she'd ever intended to. He knew too much about her already. She'd let her guard down around him and she feared that she may soon regret it for one reason or other. She'd only opened up to one other man that fast or that much and her teacher's lesson rang through her mind.

"Men can never be trusted. The second you let them in is the second you lose yourself."

"Nee-chan?" Naruto called, snapping her out of her ever-darkening thoughts.

She forced a smile and ruffled his hair. "Thank you, but I should head home. I have a long day tomorrow."

"Oh… well, sleep well, Yuriko-san." Iruka's smile was strained and flat. They'd been having such a wonderful time, so he wondered what had happened to make her suddenly withdraw. The switch was almost instantaneous from happy to guarded, throwing Iruka for a loop. Where had the bright, playful Yuriko from just hours ago gone?

Naruto had noticed the change, as well but had decided not to say anything and to let it go. When Yuriko bowed to Iruka, she turned to Naruto and told him to stay out of trouble with a forced half-smile before she walked away.