Chapter 5
Revenge
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Stratching, Genma grimaced. He should have known better. He never should have went to sleep last night.
Raidou had left on a mission early the day after Iruka's warning so hadn't been home for three days. Fearing for his life, Genma had stayed awake as long as possible. Three nights of sleepless worry had finally taken a toll on his body. After a light dinner, he had dozed off on the couch. A few hours later, he woke to a horrible itching. Eyes going wide, he looked to the clock. He'd slept for five hours, enough time for Iruka to break in and plant the itching powder on him.
Itching like mad now, Genma ran to the shower. Relieved somewhat of the itching, he shampooed his hair. As he watched the suds run off his body he noticed red mixed with the suds. Pulling his hands away, he blinked at the red dye staining his hands and no doubt his hair and face. Groaning, Genma grabbed his soap and scrubbed. Getting most of it off, except for an unsightly blood red tint to his hair and the pink sunburn gracing his face, he looked normal. His hands...he would have to wear gloves for the next week.
Drying off, he found his clothes and slipped them on. He was going to be late for work if he didn't hurry. Gaining the stairs of the mission office, he started to itch again. God damn that Iruka! He'd put itching powder in his clothes! He had to be at work today, but maybe he could get Kotetsu to cover for him. He had to get rid of the itching before it drove him insane. It didn't take long to find him, in fact he ran right into him.
Kotetsu excused himself, stopped and raised an eyebrow. "What's the matter, Genma?" He knew, he just wanted to hear Genma say it. The man had been on pins and needles the last three days.
Genma moaned and stratched harder at his hip. "He got me. He's been waiting for his chance and he got it." He rubbed harder and winced, sure he had worn the skin off by now. "I fell asleep and he put itching powder in my clothes."
Kotets snickered, pointing at Genma's hair. "And he got to your shampoo too. Lovely shade, by the way."
Genma slapped his hand away. "Just cover for me until I get back. I need to take a bath again and buy some new clothes. I'm not chancing any of my clothes at home until I get them to the laundry." With the last said in a pitiful whine, Genma ran for the nearest clothing store.
Kotetsu couldn't hold it back anymore. He laughed until tears came to his eyes. If he were Genma, he wouldn't come back in until he rid himself of the ridiculous red hair. Still laughing, he climbed the stairs to the mission office and went about handing out missions.
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Iruka was happy. He'd had his revenge. Genma was suffering and would continue to suffer for a couple of more days. It was nothing compared to what he had put him through. He frowned. As it happened, he hadn't seen hide nor hair of Kakashi since the night at the mission office. Not that he cared, it was just strange that he hadn't come by to torment him. Still wondering, Iruka spotted Gai on the training field. Calling out, Iruka hurried over.
"Are you ready to train today, Gai-sensei?" Iruka asked with a smile. When he didn't get an answer, he looked to Gai again. Was he crying? Why was he crying? "Gai-sensei?"
Gai sniffed and blinked his teary eyes at Iruka. "Iruka-san, how could you? You've started a rivalry with my Eternal Rival, Hatake Kakashi! Already you've won against that esteemed shinobi." Wiping his eyes, he placed a hand on Iruka's shoulder. He stared into his eyes intently. "You must tell me how you thought of such a strategy to defeat him."
Iruka laughed nervously. "Well, he came in through my window and was dripping water on the floor, so I just tossed my hairdryer into the water."
Gai gushed. "Ingenious! To think that a Chuunin of your level could defeat such a one as my Eternal Rival and with such a simple thing!" Gai slapped his back, staggering the smaller man. "You are definitely a devious man, Iruka-sensei."
Iruka blushed, not sure how whether to take the last as an insult or a compliment. Not wanting to ruin his good mood, he chose to take it as a compliment. "Thanks, I think. What are we going to work on today, Gai-sensei?"
"You must call me Gai, Iruka-san," Gai boomed. "We are going to train your upper body today. Your quick enough on your feet, you just need to work that nearly unflexible upper frame. Then you will be able to dodge and move through anything. Not to mention you'll be able to catch those skillful little ninjas-in-training faster."
Laughing, both men did warm up stretches and jogged around the training field a few times to get the blood pumping. Flushed and energized, Iruka listened as Gai explained a simple exercise called the Cobra Rising. He went flat on his stomach and placed his hands just under his shoulders. Keeping his legs together, he lifted, stretching forward and up bringing his hips to his planted hands. With his back arched and his head held back, Gai told him to hold that position for a beat of ten and then slowly lower himself back to his original position. They did this exercise until Iruka's arms started to shake. Just as he was about to collapse, Gai called a break.
After a short lunch break, Gai pulling out some rice balls and green tea, they started on push-ups. After fifty, Iruka was sweating. After sixty he was panting. At seventy-five, he couldn't lift himself anymore. He lay there as he watched Gai finish off two hundred without breaking a sweat. Another break and they were on stomach crunches. And then a few dozen pull-ups. Finally, they ended with backward stretches. Iruka marveled at Gai's ability to nearly fold double. He couldn't get past his head past his hips.
"And we are finished for the day," Gai said, watching as Iruka slowly leaned forward again. "I want you to practice these exercises for the next three days. I have a mission and I won't be here to supervise your training. By the fourth day, I want you able to do twenty more of each exercise."
Iruka gasped. "I...I can't do that!"
Gai posed with his arms akimbo and smiled. Iruka could swear his teeth glinted in the afternoon light. "You will or you will do 30 laps around the village in the middle of the night with no light to guide you."
"You're insane," Iruka whispered, not able to believe this turn of events.
Gai grinned. "If I don't set a condition, would you be able to do get stronger?"
Iruka groaned, lifting a bottle of water to his lips. "I guess not. Is this how you trained your Genins?" Iruka watched him from the corner of his eye.
Laughing loudly, the Jounin clapped Iruka on the shoulder, sending him to a knee and the water bottle flying. "Sorry. I trained my Lee that way. Neji is a genius so things came easier to him. Ten-Ten is a wonderful kuniochi and is strong. She knows her limits. It was Lee that I had to work with. With him not able to do genjitsu, he was perfect for my group. A lot like Kakashi's Genins," Gai said, taking up their trash and disposing of it in a nearby trash can.
Wishing Gai a good mission, Iruka dragged his tired body back home. It had been a long day and he just wanted to soak in a hot bath to ease the screaming muscles in his arms and shoulders. Opening his apartment door, Iruka noticed two things. One, someone was in his apartment and second, he smelled something good. No one in their right mind would break into a nin's place of residence, unless they wanted to do them bodily harm, but they wouldn't be cooking for them. Slipping his sandals off, Iruka turned the corner.
"Yo."
"You're the only one that would break into my house and cook me dinner. I'm so lucky," Iruka remarked sarcastically, sniffing at the air. "Do I have 'Jounin Bait' written on my forehead?"
Kakashi chuckled. "Not that I can see. Would you like it written there?"
Glaring, Iruka pushed past his intruder and wandered into the kitchen. "Curry and rice. I haven't had this in a while." Iruka looked for a spoon to try the curry. Before he could dip into it, Kakashi was shoving him out of his kitchen. "Hey!"
"Not until you've bathed. You smell," Kakashi said, pushing him into the bedroom. "And I promise not to peek this time." He ducked a fist and closed the door in Iruka's face.
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Just a short chapter this time. I writing this really late at night and I'm just a little fuzzy. I do think my revenge scheme fit with the old Iruka. Things will get even more hilarious as the next few chapters come along. More Genma abuse and I might even throw in some more Chuunin vs. Jounin since the score stands at 2-1. I can already see what I'm going to do to those two. XD
And neji, I can't remember anymore. I'm currently addlepated. Ask me again later. XP