Noogie noogies are performed by placing the victim in a headlock and using the middle knuckles of the fore and middle fingers to cause friction by rubbing them across the surface of the skull quickly and firmly

Koharu and Homura are the council members most often seen in Naruto. They are the old woman and man often seen arguing with Tsunade.

Gaki Informal term meaning "brat" or "young punk"

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A couple of months had gone by since Kakashi and Iruka had become Naruto's guardians and although a lot had happened in that time things were finally getting into some kind of a routine. Kakashi had quit Anbu and started training Naruto in advanced taijutsu and ninjutsu and the beginning of genjutsu in his spare time, focusing mainly on taijutsu and close range combat skills.

Iruka hadn't had to leave Anbu but did so anyway since his Anbu partner had quit, he promised the Hokage though that he would help out with seals and traps if they ever needed it. Instead Iruka was helping the Hokage more out in the office and taking on more mission desk duties along with teaching Naruto.

Naruto, being a genin already and having been taught by the hokage himself, had a pretty good knowledge and skill in the basics of ninja training but Iruka worked with him on them anyway. Iruka was a master in ninja basics, which was quickly making him one of the best teachers in the academy despite his young age and the short time he had worked there, and as such he knew that if you had excellent knowledge of the basics everything that followed after would be a lot easier to learn and master.

Along with the basics Iruka was also teaching Naruto about seals and traps, strategy, long range combat and increasing his knowledge. Iruka had at first found this to be pretty hopeless because Naruto more often than not behaved like the little kid that he was and didn't seem to pay attention, remember what he had learned or even understand what Iruka was talking about, the only time Naruto seemed to learn anything or pay attention was when Iruka was teaching him long range combat moves. But after observing him for a while Iruka had finally understood what the problem was.

It wasn't that Naruto was incapable of learning or understanding the complex things Iruka was teaching him, it was just that Iruka's way of teaching and Naruto's way of learning things weren't matching. Iruka had started of by just explaining things, reading and showing Naruto graphs and pictures while Naruto squirmed in his seat looking like his mind was miles away. It wasn't until Iruka observed Kakashi training Naruto that the problem hit him. Kakashi had been teaching Naruto to climb up the wall of their base house using chakra focused into his feet. He had explained it to him 2 times with little effort until Naruto asked him to show it to him. Kakashi had then shown him how he did it and then walked Naruto through the process, after which Naruto had managed to climb up half the wall before falling.

Despite being a prodigy Naruto was essentially a 5 year old boy and although he could understand the majority of what Iruka was teaching him there were still some vocabulary difficulties and he got easily distracted and restless by sitting still and listening for long periods of time. Naruto also learned things better by seeing them done and then repeating them rather than hearing an explanation on how to do them.

Iruka had therefore started training Naruto by having him actually do seals and setting and dismantling traps and to increase his knowledge Iruka plaid games with him and made him do puzzles.

Things had also gotten better between the two men and their little charge, although Kakashi and Naruto hadn't really had any difficulties to begin with. Kakashi mostly took care of Naruto when they were at home and not training. He would often play games with him and help him with the puzzles Iruka had given him, talk to him about things that didn't have anything to do with being a ninja or their training and simply just spend time with the child even if they weren't doing anything.

The Fourth had often done this with Kakashi after his father died and even more after Obito died but it wasn't until after his old Sensei was gone himself that Kakashi found out how important it had been to him and how much he had needed it despite how many times he had told his Sensei that he didn't need a babysitter. Simply knowing that someone was there for you if you ever needed it was the best gift anyone could get, he supposed it was the reason why he and Iruka were such good friends, they were always there if the other needed it and so he decided to do the same for Naruto.

And although the house now had more and more stuff for Naruto like extra pairs of clothes, various toys and, to Kakashi's immense frustration, more ramen than your average supermarket, one thing had not been purchased... Well Iruka had purchased it about a week after Naruto moved in and Kakashi had intended on having him use it, honestly he did, but after an hour had passed since they went to bed Kakashi had found himself cuddling a little bundle of soft pajamas and blond hair on a futon that was much to small for his tall frame and the new futon had been swiftly returned to the store the next day. Kakashi, being very good at lying, told himself it was only practical since the kid would be sleeping on his futon every night anyway and tried not to think of the fact that he had been the one to move to the boy's side during the night and not the other way around.

Iruka was getting along better with the boy, although their relationship was still a bit strained. It had been decided that Naruto would accompany him on all his duties except when he was teaching at the academy, Naruto would spend that time training with Kakashi or spending it with the Hokage if Kakashi was on a missions. This had mainly been done for appearances since Iruka had been officially named Naruto's legal guardian and as a single guy caring for a 5 year old child it was only natural that he couldn't leave the child alone at home and no daycare center would accept him, but both Kakashi and the Hokage knew that this was also needed to strengthen the relationship between Iruka and Naruto. Despite this Kakashi could often be found in the mission room playing with Naruto or bugging Iruka since he had officially been appointed Naruto's protector.

And although Naruto still got on Iruka's nerves he had become incredibly protective of the boy. Iruka could do little about the bad looks the boy got but anyone who dared to lay a hand on the boy or speak badly about him while Iruka was around would quickly find themselves on the receiving end of Iruka's legendary temper and, if the offense had been especially bad, found themselves the victims of some nasty, although never harmful, accidents or pranks. Although none of them would ever be traceable back to Iruka.

Iruka had also been quite surprised to find that most of his friends and acquaintances didn't react badly to the kid. Kotetsu and Izumo had been a bit reluctant at first because they weren't sure how Iruka himself felt about the kid, but after seeing Iruka literally kick a Jounin out of the mission office for tripping the boy they warmed up to him and would often allow Naruto to help them carry some documents to the Hokage or other small tasks.

Genma had simply shrugged and commented offhandedly that he'd always known Iruka was the mothering type but he supposed Iruka could have found a better father figure than Kakashi. Iruka had shut him up by replying that Genma had actually been his first choice but he'd soon realized that the boy didn't actually need two mothers.

Anko had winked at Iruka and told him that if he ever needed some grown up time he knew were to find her and then went off to terrify Naruto.

Asuma's reaction wasn't really a surprise, he already knew the kid since his father, the Third, had spent so much time with him, and Asuma himself had looked after the kid from time to time. He'd told Iruka that he was happy that someone was finally going to give the kid a stable home.

Iruka wasn't sure about Mizuki, he knew the man hated the kid almost obsessively but he still treated the kid kindly, he supposed he should be happy about it but something in his mind told him to keep an eye on Mizuki.

And so things were finally looking up in Naruto's life. He had a home, two new friends who looked after him and fewer and fewer people were directly treating him badly because of them.

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Kakashi walked into the kitchen of their base house to find Iruka, who was sitting at the kitchen table polishing and going over his weapons. He was dressed only in his boxers and his hair was loose, his bare feet tapping along with the song he was humming while he systematically went over every weapon looking for flaws.

"Che, I still don't understand how, out of the two of us, people still think of me as the huge pervert and you as the blushing innocent schoolboy."

"It's quite simple, while I do enjoy wearing little clothing at home I don't go prancing around town like that. And since when is it perverted to sit at home in your underwear?"

"Since I found out that you also like to steal my books and read them while prancing around the house in your underwear, and really I know we're good friends but do I always have to see so much of you?"

"Oh quit complaining, you know you like it." Iruka smirked. "And doesn't it say in one of your books somewhere that if you have it you should flaunt it?"

"I really think that was referring to girls Iruka."

Kakashi easily dodged the kunai that came flying at his head.

"So if you're not here to admire me then what do you want, weren't you training Naruto?"

"He's outside doing some stamina building exercises, although Kami knows he probably doesn't need it at the moment with his chakra amount. I came here because I wanted to ask your opinion on something."

"Alright, fire away."

"I heard from the other Jounins that the Chuunin exams should be coming up soon, in about a month or two if what I heard is correct. They're in Suna this time and I think we should try to get permission for Naruto to take them. As best as I can see the Hokage was right and Naruto is easily at Chuunin level and I see no reason to have him wait to take them even if it won't go on a public record, plus it would be better for him to take the exam in another country because of that reason. I just wanted to know what you thought about it."

Iruka put down the kunai he was polishing and leaned back in his chair.

"Well he does certainly have the talent to become a chuunin, I agree with you on that. I'd like to be able to say that he's too young for the exam and, I'm not going to lie to you, a small part of me still resents the fact that he's allowed to be a ninja but no matter how I look at it having him take the exam now would be the smartest thing to do. He'll definitely have to take it in another country and you never seem to know just which country will be hosting the damn thing, Konoha hosted it for 5 years straight around the time I took it so having him wait might turn out to be a bad thing, plus you took the exam around his age even though it was different back then." Iruka's face became more serious. "It's not going to be easy though. We'll have to get the council to agree to it, finding two people to be on his team is going to be hard since they or their parents are more than likely to be against it, not to mention the fact that they would have to keep quiet about it afterwards, and since he is so young he is bound to attract a lot of attention during the exam, which isn't what we want. I guess what I'm saying is that I agree with you but we should talk it over with the Hokage before we proceed to the council with it."

Kakashi hmmed and nodded in agreement and was about to add something when an explosion could be heard from outside, making them both jump.

"What the hell was that." Iruka looked at Kakashi for an explanation.

"Maahh.." Kakashi rubbed his head sheepishly. "It's probably the exercise I gave Naruto. I had him holding a chakra thread connected to an exploding tag, he has to constantly pour chakra into it in an equal amount in order for it not to go off. It improves his chakra use and can build stamina."

"You had him do WHAT! He's 5 years old you moron." Iruka jumped out of his chair, grabbed Kakashi by the collar of his vest and dragged him behind himself while he ran outside, scolding him the whole way. "Are you INSANE, you don't give explosive notes to kids! Even I don't give them to him when we are practicing traps, you could have just used a chakra note or at the very least a wind seal or something.. something that doesn't BLOW UP. What if he got hurt? Did you think about that? Kami-sama what if he's out there in tiny little pieces."

When they got to the back yard Naruto was indeed perfectly fine. When Iruka burst out of the house, legs bruised from running into a coffee table, half of his hair standing on end where he had been pulling it with his free hand and face flushed from running, still holding onto a slightly blue Kakashi, Naruto looked up from the ground he'd been sitting on and smiled at them.

"Did the explosion worry you? I'm sorry but the exercise was so booooring, can I do something else? Ne, ne Iruka-sensei can I practice setting traps with those notes?" Naruto was almost jumping up and down with excitement.

"Naruto." Iruka finally let go of Kakashi and ran over, grabbed Naruto and nearly turned him upside down looking for injuries. "Are you ok? Are you hurt anywhere? Shit are you crying, why are you crying? Where does it hurt? Did I do something to you? Say something?"

Naruto had indeed started crying.

"N-no I'm not hurt, I-I'm fine."

"Then why are you crying, tell me what's wrong."

Little hands reached up and pulled Iruka down to a kneeling position before a tiny frame curled into his arms.

"It-it's just that.. no one's ever really cared if I was hurt before." Naruto mumbled into Iruka's neck. "The hokage used to get sad when I was hurt but I always felt that it wasn't because he cared but because he felt guilty. I know Iruka-sensei doesn't really like me all that much but you've been really kind to me lately and now I feel like Iruka-sensei cares for me at least a little bit."

Iruka tightened his hold of the boy and picked him up of the ground.

"Don't say silly things like that, I don't dislike Naruto-kun.. even though he can be really annoying in the mornings and eats most of my ramen." Iruka teased and tickled Naruto's side. "That's a sign that I like you right there, I don't just give anyone my ramen you know. Come on now, if you stop crying I'll take you to Ichiraku's for ramen, does that sound good?"

Naruto nodded his head while still nuzzling Iruka's neck. "O-ok."

Iruka hugged Naruto a little tighter. 'Naruto, my heart might not be ready to say it out loud. But I do care for you'

"Alright let's go then."

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Kakashi watched his best friend embrace the kid whole heartedly for the first time since they met. The two people he treasured most in his life now were finally getting along. It made him really happy, not only for Naruto but for Iruka too. The Kyuubi attack had greatly affected Iruka and even though his life had gradually become better and he had made a lot of friends along the way Kakashi knew that there was a small part of Iruka's heart that was still filled with the darkness and despair that the Kyuubi attack had caused. Seeing his friend worry and comfort the boy who contained the cause of Iruka's misfortune made Kakashi think that maybe the child's future wouldn't be so bad after all.

'Maybe we'll be able to make it alright, we'll do the best we can, hopefully that's enough... Sensei.'

Kakashi was yanked out of his thoughts when the ground suddenly disappeared from under his feet. He looked up at Iruka who was standing over him still holding Naruto.

"YOU! I'm not finished with you. We're going to take Naruto out for ramen now and then we'll go to talk to the Hokage. After that we're going to seriously rethink your training methods."

Kakashi leaned his head back again and looked up at the clouds lazily moving across the sky, smiling a little to himself. 'Overreacting like usual. Well at least it made Iruka loosen up a bit more.'

"Well are you coming or what." Iruka called to him from the back door.

"Yeah, yeah. Take it easy sensei, maybe I hit my head when I fell down and am feeling a bit dizzy, did you think about that?"

"Personally I think a hit on the head would be exactly what you need, it might fix what ever is wrong with it."

"Ouch, that hurt more than the fall you know... and remember to put some clothes on before you go outside you hentai"

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Naruto was having one of the best days of his life. He'd gotten as much ramen as he could eat at Ichiraku's and he was now waiting outside the Hokage office with Genma. The Hokage's secretary was supposed to take care of him but the woman had never liked him and he had been getting really bored sitting outside with nothing to do while the secretary gave him mean glances. Genma had come along wanting to talk to the Hokage and had decided to keep Naruto company when he found out he was busy.

"So Naru-chan, what's Mommy-Iruka and Kakashi doing with the Hokage that's so special that you have to sit outside?"

Naruto really liked Genma. After Kakashi he was the most fun to play with and he always took the time to play or talk to him when Naruto came to the mission room with Iruka, even if he was on duty.

"I can't tell you, it's a secret." Naruto whispered.

"Oh really." Genma whispered back. He made an exaggerated show of making sure no one was listening to them before he leaned down and continued. "Not even me, come on you can trust your friend Genma."

"Nope, not even Genma-san. Even though I trust Genma-san I promised I wouldn't tell anyone and I will never go back on my word."

"Is that right. Is that your nindo?"

Naruto looked up from the senbon needle Genma had given him "What's a nindo?"

"Your ninja way. It's like a promise you make to yourself in order to become a better ninja."

Naruto looked thoughtful for a moment "Do you have a nindo Genma-san?"

"Yeah I do. Always do my best so I will never have to look back with regret. Valuing your team is also important, Kakashi taught me that one."

"Kakashi taught you that?" Genma saw how Naruto's eyes lit up at the mention of the copy nin.

"Mmm, teamwork is very important to Kakashi. You could say that's his nindo in a way."

"Genma-san.."

"What?"

"Is it possible to have more than one nindo?"

"Sure, I can't see why not."

"Then I'm going to follow Genma-san's and Kakashi's nindo as well as my own. I'll always do my best and value my team, and I won't ever go back on my words" Naruto grinned.

Genma laughed. "Your a good kid. Always remember that, no matter what anyone else tells you." At those words Genma glared at the secretary who had been looking at them with disdain.

"Also when we're hanging out like this you can just call me Genma, no need to be so formal with me. Although I wouldn't think the guy who calls the Hokage Jijii and gets away with it would be able to be formal."

"Are you making fun of my manners? The Hokage taught me manners and I'm sure he wouldn't like for it to be implied that he's not a good teacher."

"Wha.." Genma actually dropped the senbon needle from his mouth in surprise. "Hey, hey. I didn't say that, don't you go telling him I said that you little brat." Genma grabbed Naruto in a headlock and gave him a noogie.

"Ow hey, stop that meanie." Naruto rubbed his head and glared half heartedly at Genma before he went back to playing with the senbon.

Genma took his own senbon from the floor and twirled in in his mouth while he watched Naruto.

'That kid sure is something else.' It wasn't the first time that Genma had noticed something different about Naruto, the kid sometimes said things and acted in a way that no other 5 year old would. Genma wasn't stupid, he knew that Iruka most likely knew something about it and Kakashi's presence around the kid also confirmed that something was going on. He didn't know if it was that Naruto was a gifted kid or if this had something to do with the Kyuubi, maybe the Hokage had finally given in to the councils wishes to have the kid watched. One thing Genma knew though was that what ever it was it was none of his business unless the people involved decided otherwise.

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Kakashi and Iruka were discussing their options with the Hokage. The Thirds old teammates, Koharu and Homura, had been called in and of course an argument had ensued where the council members refused and the Hokage, Kakashi and Iruka pushed. Kakashi had even threatened to quit being a ninja, he'd been slightly offended that the council members hadn't agreed until Iruka threatened to quit as both a ninja and a teacher if they didn't allow it. Their victory was an empty one though because the condition for Naruto to take part in the exam had been that they had to find him a team and that they wouldn't attract attention.

"That's basically the same as if they had said no" Kakashi growled while pacing back and forth in the Hokage's office. "Discriminating bastards, did you see their faces when they went, if I didn't know that they were too stuck up on the stick in their asses I would say they were smirking"

"Calm down Kakashi, I'm sure we'll think of something" The Hokage decided to play deaf against the insults directed at his old teammates. Sarutobi would take this secret to his grave but sometimes he did wonder what had crawled up their asses and died.

Iruka who had been quietly thinking in a chair in front of the Hokage's desk finally spoke up. "So basically Naruto can't be noticed at the exam and he needs two teammates to go with him... that shouldn't be so hard."

"Not hard! Are you loosing that overactive brain of yours Iruka? Of course people are going to notice him, he's going to be the only 5 year old there! And it's extremely rare that two kids are going to be free to be with him on a team, genin teams have 3 people in them and they usually take the exams together these days." Kakashi stopped pacing and was now standing to the side of the desk, between the Hokage and Iruka, fuming.

"Sarutobi-sensei, are there any teams going to the exams this time?"

"There's only one team going this time and I'm afraid it's not the best team to be going at the same time as Naruto."

"What do you mean"

"It contains Uchiha Itachi. The name Uchiha is enough to attract attention but Itachi-kun is also a very gifted child. Sending Naruto and him to the test at the same time will no doubt cause an even bigger commotion since we will be sending not one but two child prodigies to the test."

"Ah, I see. Well it can't be helped then, we'll just have to play a little dirty."

"What?" Kakashi looked at his friend in shock. "Mr. Rules and Regulations is suggesting we play dirty? Did I really hit my head this bad earlier?"

Iruka glared at Kakashi. The Hokage regarded Iruka thoughtfully before he spoke.

"So what do you suggest."

"Well I think I have a plan that solves all our problems but it's going to require some false documents and what might be considered actual cheating on the exam themselves."

Kakashi stared at his partner. Not only had the guy argued with the council and threatened to leave his job but he was actually talking about forging documents and cheating on an international event, all for a kid he had seriously hated only a few months ago.

"First of all we have to change Naruto's appearance and name slightly. Since I am his legal guardian it wouldn't be against any rules for him to enter the competition as Umino Naruto and I can make a seal that would turn his hair and eye color brown so if anyone asked we could pass him off as a relative of mine. That way, even if people pay a lot of attention to him, he won't be recognized afterwards."

"Hmm, that's acceptable." The Hokage smiled. "So what's the rule breaking crime you want to do?"

"Well since there really is no one who could possibly be on his team we'll just have to make one. Me and Kakashi can henge into teenagers and go with him through the first two parts of the exam. We would make sure not to help him more than a regular team would and then drop out in the final. But in order to do that we would have to forge new documents for our identities.. and somehow trick the council if they decide to look into the team that's going with Naruto."

"I see." The Third leaned back in his chair and took a long drag of his pipe. "Well that doesn't sound so bad. If anything ever comes up I'll just tell them it was a mistake of a senile old fool."

Iruka laughed. "I guess we'll accept that, if we ever get caught we'll of course say that we tricked you into it." He knew that people would be shocked to know that the Hokage would actually go along with a plan like that but it had been a long time since Iruka had gotten to know this side of the Hokage. It had come as quite a shock to the 12 year old Iruka, who was at that time busy trying to fill water balloons with paint, when the Hokage had walked by and commented that it would be much easier to put a little ink in them and then fill them with water. It would be less sticky but still guaranteed to ruin the victims clothes.

"Alright. I'll take care of paperwork, you two just prepare Naruto for the exams. After your new mission that is." Sarutobi sighed. "I'm sorry but the Akutenshi will have to go on a week long mission out of fire country and due to Naruto taking the chuunin exams I'll be busy with the council for some time now so I probably won't be able to look after him while you are gone."

Kakashi and Iruka didn't object even though they strongly wanted to. Akutenshi duty was not to be taken lightly and they knew the council would make the Hokage's life difficult for a while.

"I guess that can't be helped." Kakashi looked at Iruka who had started to rub the scar on his nose, a pure sign that he was stressed in some way. "We'll think of something, don't worry about it."

"Yeah, I guess it can't be helped." Iruka sighed. He glanced at the clock on the wall. "Well if everything is decided I have to leave for the mission office. When will the mission briefing be?"

"Come to my office tomorrow night at 11pm. That should give you time to find a place for Naruto to stay, or someone to look in on him if you can leave him at one of your apartments."

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Genma looked up when the door to the Hokage's office opened and the two council members stepped out. He looked at Naruto who was still busy with the senbon he'd given him, hopefully the council being there didn't mean anything bad for the kid. Genma actually quite liked Naruto, he also quite liked Iruka and didn't want anything bad to happen to either Iruka or the boy.

"Genma?"

"Yeah Naru-chan."

"Will you teach me how to use this?" Naruto held up the senbon he'd been analyzing.

"Sure kid, If Mommy-Iruka allows it that is."

Naruto giggled. "Why do you call Iruka-sensei mommy?"

"Well he's protecting you like a mother would protect it's child."

Naruto looked down at the floor. "Do you really think so?"

Genma smiled warmly at the boy, something he very rarely did, Genma was more of a smirking type. "I know so, I've known Iruka for some time now and I've never seen him fight for anything as much as he fights for you. He has a strong will that man, I'm sure he would never have agreed to be your guardian if he didn't want to. Kakashi really likes you too. He's not much of a people person, he actually works very hard to push people away, but he hangs out with you a lot doesn't he?"

"Yeah." Naruto looked at Genma and smiled. The sad glint behind the smile didn't go unnoticed to him how ever. "I really am lucky to have them, Genma-san too, even though you are a bunch of old perverts."

"OLD! I'm 23 gaki, that's not old."

"So you aren't denying the pervert part?"

"Why you." Genma was about to give Naruto another noogie when the door to the Hokage's office opened again, Iruka walking out this time looking slightly hassled.

"Hey Genma-san, were you looking after Naruto? Thank you so much for that."

"Nahh, don't mention it, I like hanging out with Naru-chan." This time Genma did grab Naruto but instead of giving him a noogie he ruffled his hair. "You heading to the mission office? We have a shift in 10 minutes right?"

"Ah, Yeah we do. We better get going shouldn't we."

"Alright Naru-chan I'll race you to the mission office, last one there has to wear a paper clip in his hair for the rest of the day. Deal?"

"Ok." And with that Naruto raced off towards the mission room. Genma just watched him go before he turned back to Iruka.

"Look, I won't ask what the meeting was about but is everything alright? Naruto isn't in any trouble is he?"

"No, nothing serious at least. It's going to be a little hard but the problem will work itself out so it's nothing to worry about too much. Thank you for asking Genma-san"

"Che, how many times must I tell you guy's to just call me Genma. All this San stuff makes me feel old."

"Yeah, I guess I know how you feel. I'm still getting used to being called sensei. Although Kakashi has decided to make it even harder by embarrassing me with it."

"So you and Kakashi have become good friends?"

Iruka mentally kicked himself, even though he and Kakashi were slowly making their friendship public they had to be careful not to reveal anything strange and Iruka hadn't really been thinking straight after he got out of the meeting, not only had he been calling Kakashi by his first name but he'd actually talked like they were best friends.

"Ah, yeah we've been spending quite some time together since we are both looking after Naruto."

"So I've got a rival for your cute ass do I?"

"No you don't have to worry about that... I-I mean." Iruka blushed furiously 'Shit did I really imply what I think I did.' "I mean me and Kakashi are just friends and.. Kami I'm just not thinking straight, please just forget what I said."

"Well of course your not thinking straight Ruka-kun." Genma laughed and ran the rest of the way to the mission room with a fuming Iruka chasing him. He was glad though, maybe he did have a chance after all.

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Genma was getting strange looks from people when they handed in their reports, he supposed it had something to do with the fact that his hair was filled with paper clips but he didn't mind. If people were looking at him funny they weren't glaring at Iruka or Naruto.

It was nearing the end of their shift when disaster walked in. Genma was really glad that Izumo and Kotetsu had decided to take Naruto with them on an errand to the Hokage because he sure didn't need to see what was about to happen. He was filling out some forms when it did, a big burly ninja walked up to the desk, stopped in front of Iruka, reached over the desk and yanked Iruka up by the collar of his vest.

"Well, well if it isn't the demon lover. How does it feel to betray the village? Surely taking care of that thing that attacked us can only be called that."

'Crap' Iruka thought. 'He's too big for me to overpower him without acting out of character' Iruka was getting ready to take the beating that was sure to follow when Genma stepped in, he'd forgotten he was there. Genma stabbed his senbon through the guy's wrist, causing him to lose his grip of Iruka. He then grabbed the mans hand, yanked the senbon out again and pulled the guy closer, positioning the senbon inches away from one of the man's eyes.

"You have just assaulted a fellow shinobi, this is your first and only warning. If you don't leave immediately I can promise you you won't like it."

"Oh yeah, what are you going to do about it."

"Well first of all I might just go through with stabbing you in the eye, I'm sure they'll believe two ninjas on government duty rather than a brute like you when we tell them that it was done in self defense. Besides that I will have you taken into custody, which means interrogation with my good friend Ibiki who happens to owe me a favor, and if that's not enough for you then I'm sure you would like to be free in order to get to the hospital to get treatment for the poison that's now running through your body after I stabbed you in the wrist." Genma was in full battle mode by then and the guy swiftly decided not to push his luck and when Genma let him go he almost ran out of there.

"Jeez, look at the coward run eh Iruka. Iruka!"

Genma had turned around to find Iruka slumped on the mission desk, hands covering his head and yanking at his hair.

"Iruka, man are you alright? Did he hurt your head or neck?"

Iruka sat up, a grave look on his face.

"No, I'm fine."

"You don't look fine, come on you can tell me I swear I'll take it seriously. I know I can be a jackass but you can trust me you know that."

Iruka's smile nearly melted Genma's insides before it was again replaced by a look of despair.

"I know that, Genma. I'm just.. a mess. Did you know I used to be like that guy."

"I'm sure that was a long time ago."

"No... no it wasn't... it wasn't at all. Two months ago I was calling Naruto the exact same thing. Demon. Monster. I haven't been treating him badly since I started taking care of him but I haven't exactly been treating him well either. Just this morning he said that he knew I didn't like him."

"Hey don't think like that." Genma sat down in his seat again and put his arm around Iruka. "Do you know what he told me while you were in the meeting? He said he was lucky to have you, and he's right. Don't think so poorly of yourself, anyone who sees you with that kid can see that you take good care of him."

"No I don't." Iruka turned so that Genma was now holding him and put his head on his shoulder. "Kakashi mostly takes care of him when we're not here, they have a much better relationship and I'm really glad for that because it's good for both of them but I can't help but feel jealous as well. On one hand I feel like I'm gaining a family of a sort and on the other hand I feel like I'm losing my best friend to a kid."

Genma was sure that there was much more meaning to what Iruka just said than he should know about so he decided to not mention it in case it made Iruka feel even worse for possibly revealing something he wasn't ready to talk about.

"Now, now. I'm sure it's not as bad as you say, and if it is it's no use crying about it. You just work harder and fix it, you're not the type of guy to just give up without a fight."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I'm rather pathetic now aren't I?"

"Not at all, I quite like the helpless little Ruka-kun who cuddles me when he's upset."

Iruka nearly fell over in his chair when he pushed himself away, blushing so badly that he thought his head would surely explode from all the blood rushing to his head.

"Shit, I'm so sorry.. I-I-I..." Iruka covered his face with his hands. 'Get a grip Iruka.. how on earth can it be that I, one of the Hokage's greatest assassins, have to blush like a school girl when ever I'm around this guy'

"Hey, hey don't hide like that. You're too cute when you blush for me to miss it."

"Shut UP Genma!" Iruka glared at him. Genma just smiled his all knowing smile.

"Feeling better?"

"What?.. uhm yeah actually a little bit."

"Anything else bothering you?" You were acting a bit down even before that moron came in."

"Ah, I have to leave on a mission tomorrow that could last up to a week and I have no one to leave Naruto with. Kakashi is leaving on a mission tonight and I don't know how long he will be."

"Is that all, Iruka you ass why didn't you just say so. I'll take care of him."

"What! You will?" Iruka looked at Genma like he'd actually just realized that he was there. Iruka would say that they were friends, Iruka did have a lot of friends, but it was always hard to feel a deep connection with anyone because he always felt like he was lying to his friends even though he didn't really look at his day to day life as just a cover. He really didn't act all that different from what he would normally other than hiding his abilities and he'd never been one to flaunt how smart he really was.

"Of course I will, I'm still on mission leave because of that stupid injury I got on my last mission, not to mention that Raidou is still in the hospital so our group won't be doing anything for a while."

"Oh yeah I'd been meaning to ask you about him, I tried visiting but when I went they said he didn't want any visitors and I've been too busy to try again. How is he?"

Genma sighed. "He got hit pretty badly and it left a big scar on his face, that's why he's not taking any visitors. I feel like shit about it, that blast was meant for me and he just jumped right in there like the fucking best friend that he is and took it right in the face." Genma took his senbon out of his mouth and twirled it in his hands, a sure sign that he wasn't feeling well. "Kami, Iruka there was so much blood I thought for sure he had died."

"Hey, who's the mess now." It was Iruka's turn to put his hand around Genma. "He'll be fine, remember the time when you were attacked in the middle of the night and he got that head wound?"

"Don't remind me of that! He was in a coma for a month of course I remember that."

"Well he woke up, and remember the first thing he said after we told him he'd been out for a month?"

"Genma you bastard I told you to wake me up for breakfast."

"He'll be fine, just give him some time, and stop blaming yourself. I thought your motto was never to regret anything."

"My nindo! Nindo man. Don't say motto, sounds like something from a girl magazine."

"Ah, I'm sorry. I guess I should stop reading those in my weekly tea party with all the other mommies in the village." Iruka changed his hold on Genma into a headlock and started pulling the paper clips out of his hair.

"Oh come on, don't be offended by that.. ow stop that, your ripping my hair out."

"I'll do more than that if Naruto ever starts following your example and starts calling me mommy."

"Maahh.. Iruka stop molesting Genma while you're on duty." Iruka startled so badly he lost his grip on Genma which resulted in Genma toppling forwards and falling face first into Iruka's lap.

"Tsk. Tsk. See that's what happens when you make Genma too excited. You really should behave you two what if Naruto walked in on that?"

"KAKASHI! Shut the hell up" Iruka himself thought it wouldn't be humanly possible to blush more than he was doing at the moment. Genma quickly pushed himself out of Iruka's lap and even blushed scarlet himself.

Kakashi couldn't help but laugh at the horrified looks he was seeing. Iruka and Genma were both blushing like teenagers caught in the act and were looking anywhere else but at each other.

"I just came to pick up Naruto, I promised I'd show him a few tricks... And no it's nothing dangerous sensei don't get your panties all twisted.. I'm sure it would make Genma's job a little more difficult.. or should I say it would make it hard for him?"

Kakashi quickly dodge the senbon and the kunai that came flying at him and ducked out of the office before Iruka decided to go creative on his ass. He supposed Naruto must be with the Hokage since he wasn't in the mission room.

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I wanted to pair Iruka off with someone and I think Genma will be great for it. Also I know Iruka might seem a bit (or a lot) out of character but he is a really strong guy in this story and I also just don't really think of Iruka as the innocent, prude and often slightly bitchy character that he is usually displayed as.. even though I do write him like that as well myself.

Not that it matters but according to my calculations (and I'm horrible at math so this might be wrong) Itachi should actually have taken his chuunin exam around the time that Naruto was 5. I was originally looking for characters to put in the team with Naruto when I found this out but then decided to go with the Kakashi, Iruka team idea.

Well hope you enjoyed the chapter, I don't know when I will have time to write more since my finals will be coming up soon but you can expect more frequent updates as soon as that's finished.

As always thanks for reading :)