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It took longer than usual for Iruka to wake up with the painkillers the healers gave him. He blinked blearily up at the white ceiling trying to put his thoughts and memories in order. He could feel the faint throbbing of his hands and arms, but he knew that his wounds were almost completely healed. He'd probably be sent home by the end of the day. Speaking of which, he turned his eyes to the window wondering if he could tell how long he slept. Seeing that it was getting dark he tried to sit up only to find he was pinned down with two little bodies.
He smiled bemusedly down at the two twins curled up on the bed with him. He was certain that they had been on the other bed in the room when he had drifted to sleep. He was glad they were okay, besides some burns on Naruto from his outburst. He was worried when he first saw the burns. It was heartbreaking to watch as Naruto clung to his twins with tears in his eyes despite the fact that every movement pained him.
A chuckled dragged him from his thoughts. He looked up and nearly jumped a mile when he realized the Hokage was sitting by his bedside. Embarrassed that he couldn't bow properly to his leader he stuttered out a formal greeting, hoping that he didn't have any drool on his face. "H-Hokage-sama! I'm honored by your presence here, um, I apologize if I kept you waiting."
He tried not to wince at his own awkwardness and rubbed Natsuki's back when the boy showed signs of waking due to the noise. The older man, thankfully, did not look offended and instead look amused.
"It's quite alright, Umino-san, I enjoyed the quiet after a full council meeting."
Iruka blushed slightly, wanting to ask why the man was here, but not knowing what to say. He had only met the Hokage a few times and it had always been with other people present. Instead of saying anything, he shifted himself into a sitting position, carefully, so he did not wake the other occupants of the bed.
"I want to thank you, Umino-san." The Hokage started quietly. "I know of your past and I am grateful that you were able to move past it and befriend these two. I'm not sure what would have happened if you had not been there today, but I can imagine that it would have been a lot worse."
Iruka ducked his head in embarrassment. "I-I didn't do much, really."
"Really?" The old man smiled in a grandfatherly way. "That's not what I heard. One of my most trusted Anbu said that you bravely tried to reason with Naruto and when he tried to attack another Anbu you held the boy to your chest until Natsuki woke despite the pain it caused you."
"Well, a-anyone would have…" He trailed off knowing that was a lie.
"Perhaps for a different child." The Hokage acknowledge. "But, despite Minato's and my best wishes no one treats these two like normal children. Except for you."
"I-I didn't always treat them well either. Well, I hadn't met them until the day after the massacre, but I-after I got to know them I realized that they are just kids and it was wrong to think of them as...well…" He trailed off again not wanted to break the law with the Hokage sitting right next to him.
"Jinchuuriki are not the bijuu they contain. That is an established fact, but it seems to be a hard concept for the average person to understand."
"To be fair, a lot of people died." Iruka's mind flashed to his parents. "Shinobi die in battle often, but that was more…personal, no, it was more seemingly impossible. A bijuu is-was scarier than being attacked by other shinobi, other humans."
"Yes, not to mention the fact that the Kyuubi is the most powerful." The Hokage agreed. "Before it was sealed the Nine-tails was often called the "age-old natural disaster" due to its insane strength. With the death of many family members and friends, it's understandable that people wanted a scapegoat, but it's saddening that two children had to bear the burden of a villages grief."
Iruka nodded as he stroked Naruto's hair. The burns on the boy's face were already fading. He was sure that he'd only have a light sunburn by tomorrow. He pulled Natsuki a little closer to him, still marveling over the fact that the child was completely healed now. He had been so worried when he saw the boy passed out in a pool of his own blood, but apparently, the Kyuubi was good for something if only because he kept the younger Uzumaki alive and well. He tightened his grip on both of them, ignoring the sharp pain that move caused his own wounds. Neither boy stirred from their slumber. He wasn't sure what he'd do if he had lost either of them.
Somehow the boys had become very dear to his heart over the course of the last few months. He was only just starting to realize how much he cared now that there had been a threat to their safety. He wondered, slightly, hysterically if this is what a parent felt like when their child was injured.
A shift from his left had his attention snapping sheepishly to the Hokage once more.
The elder man simply smiled at him. "I wanted to reward you Umino-san, for what you've done today. You will receive pay for an A rank mission on top of you hospital bill being paid for by the village council. I would also like to offer the now open teaching position for Naruto and Natsuki's class."
"I…" Iruka's eyes were wide and he tried to formulate a response. "I just finished my tests and paperwork…they haven't been graded yet and, and A rank? I-I'm grateful but I don't think that…"
The Hokage raised his hand cutting off Iruka's stuttered attempt at rejection. "You will receive the money and I would like you to consider the teaching position. The class won't start again for another two days giving the academy enough to grade and review your paperwork which I am sure is more than acceptable for you to be allowed to teach. Of course, you will be assigned an assistant for the first few month, but I think you'll be wonderful for the position even if it is your first time. Think on it Umino-san. I will admit that I believe this will not just beneficial for you."
He glanced meaningfully toward the now stirring twins. Iruka watched them blink blearily, rubbing their eyes tiredly as they tried to wake up fully.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama." He murmured quietly.
"Don't thank me Umino-san. You did a good dead today." The older man stood slowly. "I'll take my leave now. The paperwork for your release is on the table. I already filled out Naruto and Natsuki's forms."
Iruka nodded silently, his mind racing as he continued to run his hands through the twins' hair.
While Kurama was grateful that everything worked out, in the end, he wasn't sure about the effect that it had on his twin. He eyed his brother out of the corner of his eye. The blond was sitting next to him, practically touching him, fidgeting in his boredom. Kurama had been trying to read on the couch for the past twenty minutes. Naruto had insisted on sitting with him but had very quickly grown bored.
"If you're bored why don't you do something else? Like, draw?" He asked dryly, already knowing the answer.
Just like he had expected Naruto striated up and gave him a blinding smile. "Nah, I'm okay! I'm not bored at all!"
Iruka glanced over at them in amusement from the kitchen. Kurama barely reframed from pinching his nose in frustration. Naruto had stuck to him like a leech ever since they had left the hospital yesterday and didn't show any signs of stopping. Kurama did want to snap at his brother, but he was already trying to reign in his frustration over being so weak during the whole incident.
"Naruto," Iruka interjected. "Why don't you come over her and help stir the soup as I cut the vegetables."
The blonds' reluctance was obvious, but he eventually trudged over to the kitchen to help the man. Kurama shook his head and shot Iruka a grateful look. Taking a deep breath he tried to go back to his book but found he still couldn't concentrate. It felt like his anger was boiling in his blood as his mind kept going back to his one-sided fight with the instructor. The injuries he received had long healed, but the sting of defeat had not.
He was Kurama. The Kyuubi; the most powerful bijuu and he was defeated so easily by a human.
He had known he was weak in this form but have that fact thrown in his face in such a way made him grind his teeth. If the other bijuu ever heard of this, they would mock him. After all the years he had held his power over their heads they would not hesitate to take their revenge.
He closed his eyes in frustration.
He had thought he accepted his current state of being. He had known that he was weak as a human, a human child no less, but to have it thrown in his face in such a manner was enraging. He took a deep breath to try and calm his anger.
If he couldn't even protect himself…who would protect Naruto?
Calloused hand removed the book from his own and held his hand gently. He opened his eyes and looked warily into Iruka's brown orbs. The man smiled softly.
"The strongest people fail, then use that failure to become better." Iruka murmured. "You should have never been put in that situation, but since you were you can learn this lesson early and grow from it."
Kurama smiled faintly at the advice. Iruka was a really nice man. "Thank you Iruka-sensei. I…I will try to keep that in mind."
The man nodded and grinned. "That's good. Now, it's time for dinner and I think your brother is getting very impatient."
Kurama nodded and followed the man to the table.
Even if he was weaker than his former self, there were positive things. He met Naruto and Iruka after all. If he had continued his existence as a bijuu he would still be in his seal. He would have never known how interesting and good humans could be. He would have probably even hated Naruto for being his host.
He was weak now, but he could get stronger.
He had to believe in that.
The next day went by just as quickly as the last and before Kurama knew it his brother and he were heading back to class. He glanced around the room noting the tense atmosphere. It seemed as though everyone was avoiding them. He grimaced slightly, having expected this reaction but wishing it wouldn't have to be this way for Naruto sake, at least.
He tightened his grip on Naruto's' hand as they settled in their usual spot. He wanted to turn around at check with Shikamaru and Choji to see where they stood with them after the incident, but Iruka was walking into class, so he turned his attention to their new teacher.
Class went smoothly as it could, after what happened, but Iruka was very good at keeping the student's attention and engaging them. His easy attitude towards the two of them also helped Naruto relaxed enough to start asking questions and participating more, which made Kurama happy.
That was the problem with the other instructor. His hatred of the two of them made Naruto hesitant in learning.
He hoped that without the influence of their instructor that the rest of the class would warm up to them as well. He knew Naruto really wanted to make lots of friends and considering they would definitely be working with most of their classmates in the future Kurama thought it prudent to build relationships now. He also liked Shikamaru and Choji well enough, so he figured that he wouldn't mind meeting the other students and seeing how well he got along with them.
After class, he turned around only to meet the searching eyes on one Shikamaru Nara. He blinked, slightly taken back by the intensity of the stare. Naruto shrunk back a little when turned around and smile uncertainty at the silent boy. Shikamaru's eyes flicked to him and assessed him as well. Choji looked between the three of them, obviously not filled in on the reason Shikamaru was acting strangely.
They stared at one another for a minute before Shikamaru finally sighed.
"You two are too troublesome." He rolled his eyes in mock annoyance. "I can't believe I'm friends with you. So, troublesome…"
Natsuki smiled in bemusement, while Naruto burst into a huge grin. He had a sneaking suspicion that Shikamaru had put some pieces together, but if the boy wasn't going to let it affect their friendship Kurama found that he didn't mind much.
Later that night Kurama sighed softly as Naruto continued to clutch him as if he would disappear. He ran his hands through his twins blond hair before forcing the stubborn boy to look him in the eye.
"That's not going to happen again." He said firmly. "Do you know why?"
Naruto shook his head his eyes glinting with frustrated fear over almost losing his twin.
Kurama smiled softly, recalling Iruka's words. "It's not going to happen again because we are going to get stronger. Strong enough to defend ourselves and beat anyone who tries to hurt us."
"When I become Hokage…" Naruto whispered back. "I'll protect you from all the bad guys."
Kurama laughed quietly. "No, Naruto, we'll protect each other."
The smile he received was smaller than usual but somehow more heartfelt.
Alright, childhood arc is officially done. The next chapter will begin where the anime/manga did. Also, it's like 2 in the morning and I should probably go to bed. If there are more glaring mistakes than usual then that's why. I'll check it more thoroughly tomorrow.
Also, fifty review for five chapters! That's insane guys! Thank you so much!