Chapter 2 – Iruka

Iruka walked home, with Naruto latched onto his hand, and he took note of all the venomous glares being shot their way, which he reciprocated.

He cuddled Naruto closer to his side as they approached his apartment building. His apartment looked like a five star hotel in comparison to the building Naruto had camped behind.

"You live here?!" Naruto all but yelled in amazement.

The landlord walked out of the apartment next to theirs and spotted Naruto.

"What is he doing here?"

Iruka had to stop himself from launching at the man as Naruto cowered behind him, away from the harsh glare.

"Naruto is going to be living with me", he said almost too calmly as if daring the man to protest. Which he did.

"That beast will not be staying in my building!"

"According to the Hokage he will!" With that he pulled out a note from the Hokage stating that Naruto was not to be rejected entrance from any place in Konoha. Or else.

After dealing with the now fuming landlord Iruka opened his apartment and guided Naruto into the living room, where he continued to gaze in awe.

"It's huge!" Naruto yelled.

Iruka looked around. It wasn't much. The apartment had a living room, a kitchen/dining room, a bathroom and two bedrooms, which he began to make his way towards.

"This is your room", he said as he guided Naruto into a decent sized room with a queen sized bed, a desk and a window with the view of Hokage Mountain.

"Wow!" With that he turned hopeful eyes to Iruka. "Is that... Is that bed really for me?"

Iruka gave Naruto an odd look. "Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be?"

Now it was Naruto's turn to adopt an odd look, "I haven't had a bed in years. Horrible beasts are supposed to sleep on the floor", he said the last bit in a mantra Iruka knew had been drilled into his head.

Iruka knelt down to Naruto's level and looked him in the eye. Naruto was shocked to see the tears in his eyes. "You are not a beast. You are a good boy and you deserve a big comfy bed".

Naruto rushed forward and threw his arms around Iruka and sobbed into his chunin vest.

It took Naruto a further ten minutes to calm down.

"Are you hungry?"

Naruto looked suddenly wary at the question. It's alright; he's different than the rest. I can trust him. With that Naruto timidly nodded his head then tensed expecting a blow.

Iruka smiled as he was afraid Naruto wouldn't answer. Maybe this showed he was beginning to trust him. Iruka grabbed Naruto's hand and lead him into the kitchen.

"Well now", he turned to the boy with a smile, "What do you like to eat?"

Naruto considered it for a moment and Iruka nearly laughed at the look of serious concentration on the boy's face. "Ramen?"

Iruka stood for a second not really sure if the boy had spoken as he said it so quietly. Naruto looked up at him with fear tearing at his eyes, "Was that the wrong answer?"

"Ramen?" Iruka repeated and Naruto backed up a little, "I love ramen!"

Naruto almost jumped out of his skin at his new guardian's exclamation. "What's your favourite type?"

"Well I could never afford much but ole man Ichiraku sometimes gave me stuff half price cuz I was so hungry, but I really like miso ramen".

"Ichiraku, eh? Change of plan!" Naruto's face fell. Great, now I'm not getting any food. Why didn't I just keep my mouth shut?

Tears began making their way down Naruto's face as he thought about the food he almost got whilst Iruka grabbed his jacket then looked back at Naruto.

I'll need to take him shopping for some clothes and toys. Yep, I'll do it tomorrow.

"Let's go Naruto", Naruto looked up at him curiously. "We're going to Ichiraku ramen for dinner".

The great smile that made its way onto Naruto's face filled Iruka's heart with a strange glow.

God how could anyone treat such an innocent child this way? If he is a monster he's doing a great job to hide it.

Iruka and Naruto left the apartment followed again by the glares of the landlord.

"NARUTO! DOWN!"

Naruto didn't know why but instinctively he listened to his sensei turned guardian and dropped just in time as several knives went flying past his head.

A woman in her early thirties came out wielding a knife and glaring at the scared boy cowering on the ground. She sneered at him.

"Oh yes!" She was shouting to draw attention from the passersby as they stopped to look at her and the cowering child, although few noticed the chunin making hand seals. "Look at the demon, pretending to be vulnerable and fragile when it could strike at any moment! I say we do what the fourth started and DESTROY THE DEMON!"

As she said the last bit she raised her arm to bring the knife down into the boy's back as the crowd cheered and others stepped forward to help her. Naruto closed his eyes and tensed for the oncoming blow Where is Iruka sensei? Did he leave me? However he stayed like that for several seconds before he realised all had gone quiet.

He felt arms wrap around him and instinctively started to struggle, tensing for what he was sure to be the first of many blows. However when the arms drew him into a hug, he opened his arms.

"Iruka-sensei?! You came back?!"

"I'm sorry Naruto but I saw the mob forming and knew we needed back up so I summoned Hokage, but I swear to you I would never leave you in a mob to take care of yourself. You're supposed to let adults protect you, and I haven't done that for you and I'm sorry, Naruto".

Naruto looked around with tears in his eyes as he saw the entire mob that had been prepared to attack him be lead away by ANBU. The Hokage approached him looking slightly upset.

He knelt down in front of Naruto and drew him into a bone crushing hug.

"I'm so sorry, Naruto. This has gone on long enough". Naruto looked up at the Hokage questionably. The Saindaime reached into his pocket and pulled out a pendant. He put it around Naruto's neck. "If ever you are in trouble or people are treating you cruelly or unfairly just hold onto it and wish I was there and I'll be there to help".

The tears were now flowing freely down Naruto's face as he looked between Iruka and the Hokage. He hiccupped a few times before talking.

"Are you my family", seeing their confused looks he hurriedly continued, "We learnt in class that families take care of and love each other. I never thought I had a family but will you both be my family?"

He looked down scared they would reject him or be so angry at his request that they would send him away or call back the mobs to beat him. Oh, why did I have to say that? Of course they won't want me; they're so nice so they probably already have enough family.

Iruka and the Hokage both felt their hearts split in two as the little boy started to sob with fear of rejection. He reached out and ignored the flinch Naruto gave but picked him up and settled him in his arms.

"I would be honoured to be your family and I would also love if our family had a grandfather", he smiled looking sideways at the Hokage.

"Naruto, I would be happy to be your ojii-san".

Naruto jumped off Iruka's and into the Hokage's waiting arms,"Ji-san!"

Iruka laughed as the three the stood together simply happy with each other's company.

Naruto broke the contented silence, "Hey ji-san do you want to come with us?"

"Where to?"

Iruka who had forgotten his earlier promise was also wondering where they were going and gave Naruto a questioning look.

Naruto seeing Iruka's look got slightly afraid, "T. ..i..raku's f..for .". Then he realised Oh because I caused so much trouble I must not be allowed it anymore. Stupid Naruto, why can't I ever do anything right?

Iruka suddenly remembered and nearly shouted, "Oh yes, now I remember we were going to Ichiraku ramen to celebrate Naruto's adoption and now that you are a part of the family you should join us!"

"I would love to, however I have a lot of work to do and now I have to catalogue all these new arrests...so...I", he broke off as he realised how downtrodden Naruto looked. He remembered that face from every time when Naruto had come to his office because he needed to talk urgently and he had just brushed it aside as unimportant. Was he trying to tell me about all those who had been abusing him and I couldn't stop working for five minutes to listen to him.

"Actually... The paper work can wait", Naruto face brightened and his smile shone as bright as his hair, "I would love to join you for dinner".

The three spent several hours in Ichiraku talking and laughing and crying over the bill as Naruto eat twenty three bowels of ramen.

Once finished the Hokage left to return to his office and Iruka and Naruto began their trek home. Along the way Iruka noticed how nervous Naruto had become and as soon as they entered the apartment he was practically twitching with unease.

"Naruto what's wrong?"

Naruto looked at Iruka with tears in his eyes, "I'm so sorry Iruka sensei".

Iruka looked confused, "Sorry for what". He attempted to approach Naruto but he only backed away in fear.

"I.i.i didn't realise how much I was eating and didn't realise it cost so much so..." he reached into his pocket and pulled out a few meagre coins, "I'm sorry Iruka sensei but I don't have enough to pay you back. This is all I got".

He lay the small amount of money on the table for Iruka to take and continued, " I will pay you back, I'll work twice as hard to earn it just please don't kick me out!"

Work? What five year old works? He's too distraught but I think I should make a checklist of all the things he tells me to ask him about later.

Iruka bent down to Naruto's eye level and held up his hand, Naruto who had been in the middle of a thousand mumbled apologies stopped abruptly, "I'm taking care of you now, which means I buy you're clothes and food and toys", Naruto's ears perked up at the mention of toys, "And this money is your money to spend on whatever you want".

Naruto lunged into a hug with the older man and Iruka could feel his tears running down his vest. He picked Naruto up and carried him into the bedroom and began to change him. Naruto was cautious yet relaxed. I've been fed, he's changing my clothes and I get to sleep inside. This is such a wonderful dream I just hope I never wake up.

"It's been a long day so I think you should get a good sleep", Iruka smiled at Naruto who was now dressed in one of Iruka's old t-shirts which went down to his ankles.

Iruka picked Naruto up and tucked him into bed were even before the covers were pulled up him Naruto was almost asleep.

"Good night Naruto", he delivered a kiss to Naruto's forehead and turned off the light.

He had almost closed the bedroom door when he heard a mumble, "Nite nite daddy".

Sorry it took so long to update but I had swine flu and was in hospital but now I will make it up to you and the next post will happen soon. I will also be updating my other stories tomorrow.

P.S. Thanks for the 1 review but if we could multiply that by like ten that would be great.