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.

Grounded

Iruka watched sleepily as Etsu cleared the worktop of tools and chemicals. He couldn't believe she'd worked things out so quickly, but then she knew about the poison and how to detect it.

'I'm sorry Umino-san.' Etsu spoke steadily, her eyes locked with his.

'It's ok...' Iruka mumbled with a grin.

'No, really, it's not. I thought you'd been attacked - and injured - by the shinobi who were pursuing you. I should have realised from your symptoms that you'd received the injury elsewhere and they were just the cleanup crew... I really have been unforgivably stupid...' Etsu ran impatient fingers through her hair.

'Oh...' Iruka's eyes widened as he grasped what Etsu was saying. 'Look, you're not used to having to take care of someone else... You said yourself, you work alone...'

'Umino-san you should get some rest. I won't be gone more than a couple of hours.' Etsu cut him short with an apologetic look. Iruka jumped as a loud hail sounded from the front of the house.

'Etsu-san! Iruka!'

'That's Izumo-san...' Iruka stated unnecessarily .

'Better see what they want.' Etsu muttered as she left the room. Iruka sighed and trudged out to the hallway.

'Hey! Iruka!' Kotetsu waved as Iruka came in to view. Etsu was nowhere to be seen.

'Where's Etsu-chan?' Iruka blinked sleepily.

'Here.' Etsu appeared from the kitchen carrying a note. 'Kamizuki-san could you take this to Godaime-sama for me?'

'Of course.' Izumo took the missive, he nodded to Kotetsu. 'I'll be right back.'

'So, any chance of cake?' Kotetsu grinned cheekily as Izumo disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

'Nnnnn. Later, maybe... Hagane-san? Can you get Umino-san settled in upstairs? I have to make antidote and fast!' Etsu disappeared back towards her workroom.

'What is going on?' Kotetsu groaned as he slipped out of his sandals and motioned that Iruka should lead the way.

'Etsu-chan knows why I was bleeding so heavily despite the enemy not hitting any vital spots or even giving me very serious injuries.' Iruka explained over his shoulder. 'Lady Tsunade needs to know immediately and I guess Etsu-chan must have an antidote to the poison.'

'Er... the wounds were serious enough that you would have had to go to the hospital regardless...' Kotetsu pointed out.

'I know. What I'm saying Kotetsu, is that I wouldn't have lost so much blood.' Iruka sighed and stopped to catch his breath. He felt weak from tiredness... Was this a side effect of the poison?

'If Etsu-san is so knowledgeable why didn't she realise sooner?' Kotetsu asked drily.

'Hey! Etsu-chan was heading out on a mission when she found me! She already explained it to me just now... I'd say she's actually quite upset and embarrassed over it... I'll try and explain later when I'm not so damned tired.' Iruka groaned and sank to the floor, propping himself up against the wall.

'Hnnnn. If you say so.' Kotetsu didn't sound convinced.

'I trust Etsu-chan.' Iruka stated firmly.

'Yeah, so do the rest of us... Lady Tsunade did mention her family were herbalists once... or twice... well quite a few times actually. She also explained that they used a different system of poisons and medicine to the rest of the village.' Kotetsu shrugged.

'Which side of the family though?' Iruka muttered darkly.

'Huh? What do you mean which side of the family?' Kotetsu frowned. 'Etsu-san grew up with her mother didn't she?'

'Hm? Oh, yeah. Her mother's family...' Iruka agreed distantly.

'Come on... Let's go...' Kotetsu pulled Iruka to his feet and gave him a friendly shove in the direction of the stairs. Iruka sighed and hauled himself up the torturous staircase before walking the short way down the corridor to his room.

'Um, well this is me for now I guess.' Iruka sat down on the bed. It felt like the room was spinning...

'Nice room eh?' Kotetsu winked. 'Izumo and I were rather jealous when we dropped your stuff off. Anyway - want a hand off with your clothes?'

'What!?' Iruka shot backwards across the bed.

'Well, Etsu-san said to get you settled... Seeing as how tired you are, I think she meant sleep.' Kotetsu laughed.

'Well, I think she meant unpacking!' Iruka looked desperately about for the bags they must have bought over. 'Where's my stuff?'

'Already put away. Etsu-san had me and Izumo do that for you.' Kotetsu was still laughing.

'Fine. I'm in my room. I'm settled.' Iruka folded his arms and glared at his friend. Kotetsu burst into another fit of mirth.

'Eeeeh... Yeah. I guess you are. Still, you should get some sleep.' Kotetsu stepped into the doorway and reached for the handle. 'You're a lucky bastard Iruka.'

And with that Kotetsu was gone, closing the door as he left. Iruka relaxed slowly as Kotetsu's footsteps died away. He yawned. Sleep was probably the best idea right now.

Some hours later Iruka was startled awake by the sound of loud voices. He listened drowsily for a time before deciding to find out what was going on. He straightened his clothes and padded downstairs warily.

'Absolutely out of the question!' Lady Tsunade snarled as Iruka entered the hall. Kotetsu waved cheerily to him from his position in the doorway. Izumo stood looking like he'd rather be anywhere than where he was.

'I'm the only person who knows how to fight them!' Etsu howled in annoyance. Iruka shivered at the menacing atmosphere that seemed to shadow Etsu's anger...

'You're also the only person in this village with any knowledge of the poisons they use! The only person who knows how to treat any wounded effectively!' Tsunade was furious. 'Be reasonable and see sense!'

'And who the hell else do you think can tackle them?!' Etsu stamped her foot impatiently.

'ANBU!' Tsunade roared. 'I already have teams watching the border - and I will recall the jonin and chunin I just despatched! The jonin can head out again after they're equipped with antidote... the chunin I'll keep back.'

'What about the antidote for the ANBU watching the border?' Etsu frowned.

'I'm despatching another ANBU team now. They'll carry it.' Lady Tsunade snapped before sighing heavily. 'Please, Etsu-san. I'm not unmindful of how dangerous this is... But seriously, it's ok to let others handle it. Trust your comrades.'

'Huh.' Etsu grunted. She sounded thoroughly unconvinced.

'Alright. Now, could you draw up that report I asked for?' Lady Tsunade growled in annoyance as Etsu looked obstinate. 'Etsu-san! Can you just try and understand how important you are to this village right now?'

'Fine, fine. I understand.' Etsu's growled. 'But at least allow me the right to dislike being made to stay here...'

'Dislike it all you like.' Lady Tsunade smiled tiredly. 'I can understand your feelings Etsu-san, but as Hokage I must look at the bigger picture. Which is why I'm assigning a team to guard you. And I'm setting ANBU agents to watch the house... And YOU.'

'Marvellous.' Etsu muttered darkly.

'But won't that make the rest of the village think Etsu-chan has done something wrong?' Iruka cut in.

'At this juncture, what the village thinks of me is immaterial. As Godaime-sama says, there is "the bigger picture" to consider.' Etsu growl was almost feral. 'Besides, my reputation can't get much worse.'

'Lady Tsunade...' Izumo tentatively attracted the Hokage's attention. 'Could Kotetsu and I...'

'Way ahead of you.' Lady Tsunade beamed. 'You two and Genma are all available currently. I'll give some thought to the other member of the squad.'

'Perhaps an ANBU?' Etsu suggested sarcastically.

'Not a bad idea... But no, I don't think that's necessary, Anko will be back in the village tomorrow. So I'll send her over as soon as she gets back.' Lady Tsunade looked thoughtful.

'Oh marvellous. What difference is there between an ANBU and that sadistic tokujo?' Etsu snorted. 'I'm going to go and make bread.'

'Huh?' Kotetsu and Izumo looked curiously at the annoyed kunoichi as she stamped down the hallway.

'Well, that ought to calm her down a little.' Lady Tsunade looked wearily on as Etsu disappeared into the kitchen.

'How?' Iruka frowned. 'She's mad as hell right now.'

'Bread dough needs to be kneaded... Or in Etsu-san's case beaten up.' Lady Tsunade smiled faintly. 'Izumo, tell Shizune I need the first available ANBU members in my office now. Kotetsu, go and inform Genma I want to see him regarding a mission.'

'Very good, Lady Tsunade.' Izumo and Kotetsu acknowledged the order quietly before disappearing in identical clouds of smoke.

'Iruka-sensei, just make sure you get plenty of rest. Etsu-san has explained the poison to me. She'll give you an antidote to clear the last of it out of your system. She doesn't think there'll be any lasting damage, but she wants to run more tests and I'd also like Shizune to give you a full medical to be on the safe side.'

'Ok.' Iruka blushed. 'I understand. Could the poison be the reason I keep getting so tired?'

'Nnnnn. I'm not sure... You'd best ask Etsu-san. She would probably be able to answer that better than I.' Lady Tsunade gave him an appraising look. 'Just get plenty of rest. I'll review your return to the academy after Etsu-san and Shizune have filed their reports.'

Iruka nodded wearily. It sounded like it was going to be longer than two weeks before he could go back to the academy. That was just great.

And that's chapter 11 folks...

*As noted by Iruka, Etsu is NOT used to working with people... She's also not used to having to negotiate or take orders - hence her attitude with Tsunade.

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