Disclaimer - I don't own Naruto or any of the characters from the original series! Okami Etsu and the Onizuka's are mine however - so please ask nicely before borrowing! Any characters and situations herein are purely fictitious, and any similarity between those and persons living or dead is coincidental.

Pain

Over a month had passed since the night he'd sat drinking and laughing with Etsu and Anko. Iruka reckoned he'd give pretty much anything to go back to that evening instead of having to deal with his present problems. Lady Tsunade had sent him to investigate reports of unusual civilian activity a few miles south of the village. An open and shut mission, find out what was causing the disturbance, write a report and file it; further action to be taken if required. He'd not expected to run into enemy shinobi. The ensuing fight had been brief and bloody. How the hell he'd gotten out alive he did not know. Now all he had to do was make it back to the village. It'd taken him all day to get this far. Now night was gathering again.

He left the erratic path he'd been weaving through the trees and came to a standstill on the ground. His wounds hadn't seemed that serious, but they just wouldn't stop bleeding. A rustling behind him alerted him that he had, after all, been followed. Iruka knew he should move. Run. Anything, but stand still. With painful slowness the world spun into blackness as the enemy closed from behind.

Iruka became painfully aware of being shaken violently. The crowning insult was when his attacker slapped him soundly across the cheek.

'...ka!'

Nnnnn. who was that shouting at him?

'...-san!'

Iruka groaned.

'Iruka!'

Slowly his muddled brain caught on to who the voice belonged to. He opened his eyes a tiny crack. Sure enough, it was Etsu leaning over him. She was covered in blood herself. Iruka sleepily wondered what she was doing this far out. She'd said her mission wouldn't take her out of the village for some time. The first light of morning was just breaking through the forest canopy...

'Umino Iruka if you don't wake the bloody hell up this instance... I'll... I'll...'

'You'll what?' Iruka croaked. Etsu certainly was beautiful when she got annoyed...

'I don't know!' Etsu let out a sigh of relief. 'We need to move. Come on.'

Not, 'can you move' but 'come on'. Iruka groaned again and gratefully accepted the hand Etsu offered. Standing was not good, the world appeared to be spinning. Etsu slung his arm across her shoulders and then leapt straight up into the trees. Iruka was surprised by the pace she set considering she was pretty much having to carry him. Within an hour they'd reached the gates of the village. Iruka felt his cheeks colour slightly as Izumo and Kotetsu rushed over to meet them and he was lowered gently to the ground.

'Kami! What happened?' Kotetsu asked in panicked tones.

'Enemy ninja. I don't even know why he was alone!' Etsu snapped angrily.

'It was meant to be a C rank re-con mission.' Izumo explained hastily to the enraged kunoichi.

'We should... hospital... look bad...' Kotetsu's voice faded in and out as Iruka felt himself losing consciousness again. Kami, not this again! He groaned, he couldn't pass out again. He all but choked as liquid was poured into his mouth. He swallowed automatically, he had no clue what it was, but his comrades would never harm him, of that he was sure. He quickly questioned that opinion as he felt his limbs becoming heavy and the black abyss consumed him.

Iruka lay half-awake, it took him a painfully long time to realise he was in a hospital bed, an intravenous drip attached to his arm. Dark already; how long had he been out?! He groaned and shifted uncomfortably. There were people talking nearby, though Iruka couldn't make out the words. Everything beyond the bed seemed like it was miles away; it was most unnerving.

'Iruka-sensei?' Sakura's face appeared above him. He blinked sleepily, but couldn't find the strength or inclination to speak.

'Leave him be Sakura-kun.' That was Lady Tsunade's voice, now much closer. 'Etsu-san's potions are very effective. He'll be asleep again in under a minute.'

Etsu-san's potions? Iruka wondered sleepily what was meant by those words.

'...reverse it?' Sakura was talking to Lady Tsunade.

'No... awake...better...' Lady Tsunade's voice faded out. This time Iruka happily succumbed to the waiting blackness.

Iruka became hazily aware of pain, of sunshine streaming into the room where people were still talking.

'Good morning Iruka-sensei.' Lady Tsunade smiled warmly as she stepped into his line of sight. 'How do you feel?'

'I feel fine, apart from the pain.' Iruka mumbled sleepily.

'What was that Etsu-san gave him?' Izumo's voice drifted across the room.

'I have no idea...' Lady Tsunade frowned. 'She's very skilled with herbs, but I've never asked her about them. Her mother's family have worked as herbalists for generations... Though Etsu-san is very private about both her own knowledge and what herb-lore has been passed down through her family. Even so, there are some of her medicines that we use here in the hospital.'

'Should we ask for this one?' Shizune's voice seemed distant.

'Nnnn. I'll ask. But later, Shizune.' Lady Tsunade said firmly. 'Iruka-sensei, just try to rest up for now.'

With that footsteps left the room and the door closed. Iruka was alone. He groggily propped himself up on his elbows and reached for the water glass. Taking a long drink, he sighed. Whatever Etsu had given him, his wounds felt better than he had any right to expect at this juncture. He just wished he didn't feel so sleepy. The door opened again.

'Iruka?' Kotetsu called quietly.

'Yeah?' Iruka carefully slid back down into the bed..

'Heh, good to see you looking better.' Kotetsu grinned and waved an envelope. 'Your students wanted you to have this.'

'Oh.' Iruka eyed the bulging envelope groggily. 'Good wishes eh?'

'Reckon so...' Kotetsu placed the envelope within easy reach of the injured man.

'Have you seen Etsu-chan?' Iruka asked suddenly.

'No, why?' Kotetsu sounded surprised.

'She was injured as well. Didn't you bring her here?'

'Nnnn. She just... kind of... took off.' Kotetsu rubbed his neck thoughtfully. 'Didn't look like she was seriously injured though. And some of the blood may not have been hers. She had quite a fight on her hands rescuing you apparently.'

'She told you that?' It was Iruka's turn to look surprised.

'No, Kakashi and a couple of the other jonin went out to clean up yesterday after we'd gotten you to the hospital.' Kotetsu licked his lips nervously. 'She's one helluva kunoichi huh?'

'Yes, she is.' Iruka looked thoughtful. 'Kotetsu? Could I ask a favour?'

'Sure.'

'Could you and Izumo go over to Etsu-chan's and check on her?' Iruka blushed slightly. 'I'm a little worried.'

'Well we would, but we don't know where she lives.' Izumo appeared next to Kotetsu.

'Oh, Anko knows, or Naruto.' Iruka thought for a minute. 'Lady Tsunade or Shizune must know as well. I'm just worried.'

'Nnnnn. Ok, we'll find out and go over.' Izumo chuckled. 'As you're so worried.'

Iruka looked sharply at his two friends. There was a definite sparkle of amusement in both their eyes.

'It's not what you think...' Iruka began, his eyes already drifting shut.

'Uh-huh. You keep telling yourself that Iruka.' Kotetsu grinned impishly as he and Izumo watched Iruka slip gently back into sleep.

Here ends Chapter 7...

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