The ANBU leader got out a kunai, "Kakashi Hatake stand down." Kakashi didn't move an inch,
Iruka was peering from behind his leg utterly confused. The ANBU readied to make a move, a
smoke bomb exploded covering the area. Kotetsu and Izumo leapt to Kakashi's side, Kotetsu spoke
fast, "Kakashi get to Lord Hokage and clear this mess up as fast as you can, we'll keep these ANBU
distracted for as long as possible." Kotetsu transformed into a replica of Kakashi, whilst Izumo
changed into a copy of Iruka. Kakashi scooped up Iruka masking their chakra signatures running for
the Hokage tower, he could feel more chakra signatures following them, he growled in frustration.
Iruka yelped "I know those three!" Kakashi looked at where Iruka was pointing, Sakura, Naruto and
Sasuke were walking down the street. Kakashi rushed to them, "Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura take Iruka
to the Hokage's tower now!" he vanished again in an instant five ANBU on his tail. They blinked in
shock, Naruto looked at Iruka "Iruka sensei...?" Sakura smacked Naruto "IDIOT!WE DON'T
HAVE TIME TO SPARE! WE HAVE TO GO!" They sat Iruka on Naruto's back and ran off, Sasuke
said "Why didn't he go straight to the tower, the academy is right next to the Hokage tower." Sakura
answered, "Well maybe because Kakashi sensei knew they'd be waiting for him there and created a
diversion so we could get to Lord Hokage."
In a matter of moments they broke into the Hokage's
office, "Hey old man what's going on! Why is Iruka sensei a kid! And what the heck do you want
with him!" The Hokage looked at the unceremonious entry of the three genin and sighed in relief
that Iruka was safe with them, the situation hadn't gotten beyond ridiculous and he suspected that
Kakashi was probably fighting against the ANBU right now, that was all he needed. The Hokage
rubbed his temples "Naruto there is no time for explanations, I want you and Sakura to escort Iruka
to the land of tea, Sasuke I want you to track down Kakashi and then catch up with Naruto and
Sakura. What I will tell you about this incident is that it has gotten out of my control, which is why
I need you five safe whilst I sort this mess out." They didn't really get it but followed his orders,
Iruka squirmed "Why are we leaving?" Naruto picked up pace, "I don't really know Iruka-sensei, I
really don't." They travelled in silence, they arrived at the gate surprised to see Izumo and Kotetsu
waiting for them, looking a bit beat up but more or less fine. "Lord Hokage asked us to escort you
guys, so lets move." Sakura kept pace with the guys, "Sensei why are they after Iruka sensei?"
Kotetsu didn't even look back, "They believe he's a threat of some kind because of some weird
formula that was injected into his blood stream turning him into a kid, and he doesn't remember
anything." Iruka blinked "I am still here you know! What do you mean turn me into a kid? What are
you talking about!" Izumo yelled "There's the border for the land of tea, can you guys handle it
from here?" Sakura and Naruto nodded.
They didn't slow their pace until they reached boss
Jirocho's house. He let them in without hesitation as a favour for the Hokage, "Well kids your
Hokage passed on the message your welcome to stay until everything is sorted out, and I know your
other team-mates will be here later on." Iruka wriggled jumping off Naruto's back to point at him
angrily, "What the heck is going on!" Sakura smiled "Nothing Iruka-se-KUN! Iruka-kun nothings
going on." He yelled louder "SEE! There's something not right! You nearly called me sensei again!"
Naruto stepped towards him, "Hey chill there's nothing wrong." Iruka stepped back, "Stay away!"
Sasuke's voice echoed in the hall "Can't you guys even watch a kid?" They turned to the door
"Sasuke! Kakashi sensei!" Kakashi looked passed them at Iruka and sighed in relief, Kakashi had
numerous bruises, a couple of scorch marks but wasn't that bad off. He walked up to Iruka and
ruffled his hair "Glad your safe." Iruka in response threw his arms around him, "Dad what's going
on!" Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura all had a visible question mark above their heads at the 'dad'
comment. Kakashi scratched the back of his head "Well.... I thought we could use a short holiday.."
Iruka had a very adult Iruka 'I don't believe you face' "Dad you still suck at lying." Kakashi
coughed "Anyway isn't it past your bed time?"
"AW Five more minutes!" Kakashi picked him up,
"Nope."
"Two more minutes."
"Nu-uh."
"One more minute."
"Sorry."
"10 seconds."
"OK, that way you'll have time to brush your teeth."
"That's not fair!"
"Excuse me Jirocho is there a bed I can put him down to sleep?" Jirocho nodded "Of course, I
haven't shown you your rooms yet. Follow me." As he showed where the rooms were Iruka was still
begging, "Can I at least have a short story before bed, please?" Kakashi looked at his pleading face
with the puppy eyes, "OK a quick story, then you sleep, got it?"
Once Iruka was sound asleep in his
room Kakashi made his way to the living room to his students, and host. "I suppose you all want an
explanation." Sakura and Naruto shouted "NO KIDDING!" After he filled them in on the details he
waited patiently for them to absorb the information, Sasuke spoke first "So that's why you didn't
show up for two days." Naruto finished "AND WHY WE GOT STUCK WITH THAT CLOSET
PERV!" Sakura smacked him "Naruto don't be so disrespectful of Ebisu sensei!" Kakashi sat back,
"So are you guys satisfied know that you know what's happening." Sakura looked shy, "Well there
is one thing sensei.. why does Iruka sensei call you dad?" Kakashi momentarily froze, "Uh... well
he's only little so he wouldn't understand that I'm not really..."
"Not really what?"
They looked at the doorway to see Iruka in a borrowed t-shirt and boxers rubbing his sleepy eyes,
"Iruka why are you up?" he walked over and sat on Kakashi's lap "I had another nightmare."
Kakashi paused for a moment examined Iruka's body, like his height, weight "Iruka your seven
right?" Iruka nodded and blushed slightly, and said in a voice only Kakashi could hear "Yeah I
know I'm old enough to stop getting scared over a few dreams... but I couldn't help it. There was
this huge battle, ninja fighting a giant nine tailed fox, and they were being killed, no... slaughtered
by the beast." he looked at the floor feeling silly for bothering his dad over a dream. Kakashi stood
up sitting him on the chair, "I'll make you a cup of cocoa OK, you just wait here with Sasuke,
Sakura, Naruto and Jirocho." Iruka seemed to shrink under there gaze, Sakura attempted
conversation first "So Iruka-kun... what do you and Kakashi sensei do?" he blinked at her,
"Who?..." Sakura tried again "You're 'dad'." Iruka smiled, "Oh why didn't you say so. Well we get
ramen, go to the park and play games. I'm still an academy student right now though so I've gotta
train to become a strong ninja like my dad!" Sakura found it cute that Iruka was looking at Kakashi
as a role model. Kakashi returned with Iruka's cocoa shortly after sitting himself on a chair, Iruka
fidgeted, "Dad can I sit on your knee...?" Kakashi scratched his chin thoughtfully "I dunno. Can
you sit on knee?" Iruka sighed dramatically "May I sit on your knee?" Kakashi eye-smiled "Sure
you can." Iruka parked himself quite comfortably on Kakashi's lap looking wide awake. "Whirl
wind you should finish that drink and get back to bed you know."
"I know. I wanna talk to Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura some more. So Sakura are you any good at
chakra control?" Sakura smiled "Actually out of the three of us Iruka-kun I have the best chakra
control." Naruto yelled, "YEAH! Well believe it I'm a super awesome ninja all by self, I could be
Sasuke any day, I was better than him in the academy." Iruka's eye twitched, "Naruto you were
assigned to squad seven because your grades were the worst, and to balance out of the team you
were put with Sasuke because his scores were the best." They gasped at his announcement, Iruka
cocked his head to one side "Was it something I said?" Squad seven fell back anime style, "OK
Iruka lets put you back to bed."
"AW DAD! At least say your gonna fall asleep to!"
"OK. If I go to bed will you go?"
"Yep."
"No ramen for breakfast tomorrow though."
"Lunch then."
"Supper."
"Deal!"
"Night guys I'm going to bed with Iruka now."
They said there good nights, Kakashi carried Iruka backed to their shared bedroom. "Iruka was
there anything else bad about your 'dream'?" Iruka thought hard, "There were faces, so many blurry
faces, but... I just couldn't quite see." Kakashi nodded, "Right, night little guy." He was gonna put
Iruka in his bed when Iruka blushed and latched on to him harder, "I... can't sleep in bed...."
Kakashi raised an eye brow, "Oh? Why is that?" Iruka blushed harder and whispered, "I...wet the
bed..." then buried his face into Kakashi's shoulders and sobbed slightly, "I'm sorry!" Kakashi
blinked in surprise, "That must have been some nightmare." "How come your shorts are dry then?"
Iruka whimpered "I changed them once I got outta bed, please don't be mad!" Kakashi shook his
head sighing, "Whirlwind look at me." Iruka's eyes were guilt ridden and slightly red, "I'm not mad
at you, you can just bunk in with me tonight OK?" Iruka sniffed, "Promise you won't tell anyone?"
Kakashi held up his hand, "Pinky swear." Then the two settled down for the night, Iruka having
better dreams of eating ramen with Naruto, and teaching academy students, and giving out missions
to newly graduated squads.