2.
Title: Paradise Lost
Character(s): Iruka, Naruto
Word Count: 422
Summary: Iruka's inclination towards young Naruto's nature
A/N: This was based on the early arc of Naruto, when all were fleeting genin.
Iruka mused to himself when it neared closer to The End, that he was an oasis for Naruto-kun. He knew that every time Naruto-kun boomed "Iruka-sensei!", he knew it was because in the depths of Naruto-kun's subconscious, he acknowledged Iruka's presence as a paradise and he knew how much it would cost him to accept that Iruka was the only one who would even touch or brush by him without flinching anymore.
He found Naruto-kun evolving and getting more jaded as he was introduced to the reality of what Iruka had been vainly trying to keep veiled. Gradually, he came to know and ignore that those few years he had repeatedly failed Naruto--with the full consent of those unmentionable who were wary of having Naruto prowl around Konohagakure--in the exams to keep him at his side, he saw that he was stealthily isolating himself in a way to prepare for what he did have to endure.
Iruka absorbed how easy it was to rationalize how what he offered was more than enough for him. This respite that was bestowed upon Naruto-kun was something he would never fail to be unthankful for.
Iruka was a good person and good people were kind to others; not out of pity of course, because you were kind for the same sensible and plausible reason you could look past that this mere child had killed your family and persists--years after without a hint of shame or audacity to grace those ever expressive baby-blues--to smile at you and expect to be coddled.
Iruka was nice and therefore good because he had an extraordinary sense of self-preservation and was able to block things out easily. So the next time Naruto-kun would invade his class and sit all calm and peaceful like, he could block out the descending grey cloud in his head that whispered for him to leap over and force his thumbnails into the eyes of this squealing, harshly breathing, bane of a monster in the deceiving solidified state of a shadow of a child and watch as the membranes, ruptured vessels, clear liquid and coagulating blood tried to keep up with his train of thought.
But no, nice people didn't imagine that. Good people wouldn't listen to the inner shadows.
So Iruka-sensei taught and patiently paused for the squeals to intensify and berate him.