Title:The First Hello
Prompt: Working through the holidays
Author: kita_the_spaz
Rating: Still PG

Iruka tapped politely on the Hokage's door, schooling his features to display none of his irritation. He had a thousand and one things still to do and this summons to attend the Hokage was not helping him get them done any faster. He managed a polite smile as Shizune opened the door. "Shizune-san? The Hokage sent for me?"

Tsunade's voice rang out from behind the petite, dark-haired woman. "Got it in one. Get in here, Iruka-sensei."

Iruka stepped into the office, smiling pleasantly at Tsunade. The smile froze when he caught sight of the copy-nin sitting sullenly in front of her desk. Kakashi was radiating anger and a very large portion of it was directed squarely at him. The door closing behind him sounded very much like a death knell.

"I have a solution to the problem you brought to me last week, Iruka-sensei." Tsunade said cheerfully – like there wasn't a lethal ninja practically glowing with deadly intent sitting in front of her desk.

Iruka's mood instantly lightened. "You've found some help then?"

Tsunade's smile was impish and a shard of unease made itself known. "Yep. Meet your personal assistant for the holidays. I believe you know Hatake Kakashi?"

His stomach was suddenly a leaden lump and all Iruka could do was gape at his Hokage.

"P-pardon?" He managed through numb lips.

Tsunade's voice turned chiding. "Now, now, sensei. You heard me. Kakashi-san is going to be your assistant until the New Years. Didn't you ask me for help?"

Iruka tried to ignore the thought that Kakashi looked like he'd sooner ram a kunai through Iruka's throat than pick up a single paper to help him. "I did. However…" He straightened his spine, feeling that single grayish eye glaring murderously at him. "I wasn't expecting an elite Jounin. Isn't helping me with preparations for the holiday celebrations a little below his skill level?"

Tsunade tipped her head, hazel eyes bright with mischief. "Do you doubt me, Iruka-sensei? I specifically chose Kakashi here to help you."

Iruka swallowed and shook his head. "No. I just…" He trailed off helplessly with the distinct feeling that Tsunade was plotting his death. "As my Hokage commands."

He bowed and dared to glance at the jounin. Kakashi was motionless, but his chakra still flared in sharp, angry spikes. Iruka thought a little crazily that he might get impaled if he got too close.

Kakashi stood up, his movements jerky and controlled. His bow to Tsunade was perfunctory and he made no effort to disguise the anger that practically exuded from every pore. Iruka had to force himself not to flinch as that stormy gray eye landed on him.

Kakashi opened the door and gestured for Iruka to precede him. It took every ounce of courage and iron control of the instincts that were screaming that he was showing his undefended back to an enemy for Iruka to walk out that door.

As soon as they were out of the tower Iruka turned to the jounin. "While you are obviously no more happy about this than I am, please stop. Your killing rage is scaring people." Iruka waved a hand to indicate several people hurrying away, all in the hunched position of a prey animal desperately trying not to be noticed by a predator.

As quickly as that, the rage was gone. Iruka swallowed, his throat dry. "Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi snorted and pulled out his infamous orange book.

Iruka sighed, more confident now that the jounin wasn't radiating fury. "So… what the hell did you do?"

"Hnn?" The single exposed eye regarded him lazily over the edge of that damned book.

"To royally piss Tsunade-sama off? I really can't see her assigning an elite to assist at the academy in preparation for the holidays, unless you managed to annoy her beyond reason." Iruka watched him, lips curved in an amused smile.

"Nothing…"

"Your lies didn't even work on your genin team." Iruka rolled his eyes. "What makes you think I'll buy them?"

Kakashi just stared at him… long enough for the chuunin to start feeling distinctly uncomfortable. Then he turned his regard back to his book. "So what exactly am I supposed to be helping you with?"

Iruka grinned, shaking off his uneasiness. "Well, this is the last week before the academy students are let out for winter break. There's a lot to do. The production is still only half ready and it's really hard to keep the student's minds on what they are doing. Plus we have to finish the decorating and the planning of both parties…"

"Both?"

Iruka nodded, scratching at the base of his ponytail as he got into the narrative. "Of course. There's the party in the daytime for all the underage students and later in the evening there's one for the jounin and chuunin academy instructors. The party the kids all challenge each other to sneak into without being caught…"

Kakashi snorted under his breath as he followed the younger sensei's rapid pace. He'd graduated and gone on his first mission before ever seeing any of these celebrations. He'd spent his first winter after graduation out in the field training with his sensei and Morino Ibiki, who had just been promoted to special jounin when he graduated. "Sounds like a lot of wasted effort for little gain."

"Boy, whoever was passing out the holiday spirit bypassed you completely, didn't they?"

Kakashi stared at the chuunin, as Iruka led him into the Academy. It still smelled the same as it had when he was a child, chalk and finger paint, paper and dust. Iruka opened a door and Kakashi stared with dawning horror at the room filled to the brim with pre-genin terrorists.

He knew then that it wasn't the world that hated him, it was the whole damned universe.