Author's note: Personally, I thought that this chapter was a bit lacking in the descriptions, but I was told by my 'editor' that it was fine. I may go back and change it if I am still in satisfied with it though. Enjoy it for yourselfs! Dont let my nitpicky-ness get in the way!

Crimson droplets hit against the rounded cheeks of the young Umino. His pupils dilated as his eyes widened, the corners filling up with tears. He yanked his fading comrade off the battle ground and to the side, where he hid behind a rock. He cradled the woman in his arms, looking down at her as the tears poured from his cheeks.

Today had started out just fine. He had been sent out with two others from the village on a mission to collect information on an enemy, and Iruka had been so excited. It was going to be his first mission that involved protecting the village against a possible threat. He had run it out over and over in his head, only able to come to positive outcomes.

But this was beyond what he could have even dreamed. He gripped the fellow ninja closer, and brushed her now blood matted hair from her face. "H-hey, Shiio, It'll be okay, don't worry!" He whispered out in a cracked voice, trying to sound positive. The girl gave a cough, blood dripping out with it. She smiled up at Iruka though. "No...They hit a vital...I'm not going to make it, 'Ruka..." She let out heavy breaths, trying to make what was best of the last ones she had.

"No, no no!" His grip tightened on Shiio as the light from her eyes faded away. Iruka couldn't stop the tears that ran down his dirt ridden face as they fell harder. "Shiio!" He placed his hand over her eyes, closing them. He wiped his eyes, and set her down, grabbing a kunai with his right hand, and stood up. He narrowed his still crying eyes, and jumped up over the rock.

The enemy was still busy fighting against the other member of his team, and he rushed at them, intent to kill. Determination flooded through his whole body as he pulled back his arm, throwing the kunai as hard as he could. It felt like time had stopped as he watched the metal fly through the air towards its victim. But it missed and stuck into a tree instead.

"Ack!"

Iruka's eyes widened as he was kicked in the stomach and sent flying a few feet away. He pulled himself up a little weakly, and vomited onto the ground. The acid burnt his throat, and he coughed, snot dripping from his nose and tears from his eyes. He glared up at the approaching ninja who had a sword out at the ready to kill him. He closed his eyes tightly as he waited for the blow, knowing that he was too weak to stop it.

But it never came.

Peaking one chocolate brown orb open, Iruka saw a flash of blue light and the piercing sound of a Chidori. Both his eyes snapped open, and he gave a hoarse shout of "Kakashi!"

The silver haired male turned his head to look at Iruka, and the younger could tell that he was smiling. A cough left his lips as he staggered up to his feet, wobbling a bit before falling back down on his knees with a curse. He had sprained his ankle.

"Don't over do it!" Another voice came as Gai bounced over to the injured Chūnin. Iruka looked up at him, and he gave a grateful smile. He stood up with Gai's help, holding his injured foot on the toes. He grit his teeth together, trying to get used to the feeling of walking on it.

"How did you guys get here?" He asked, looking up at Gai. He never would have thought that it would be these two to save him! But, they were high ranking ninja from his village. He wondered why the Third sent them out, though.

"Ahah! Don't worry about how or why! All that matters is that we're here my young friend!" Gai replied, and hoisted Iruka up onto his back, making him wince in pain from his wounds. "I'm going to take you back home while Kakashi cleans up here!" Gai started to run back the way he had originally come.

The next thing Iruka could remember was waking up in a hospital bed, cleaned up and bandaged. His ankle had been wrapped up tightly to keep from more damage, and a large slash on his thigh had been stitched up. He heaved a sigh, and rested his head back against the pillow, looking up at the ceiling.

"You know, you don't quite have to go out on missions like that anymore." The voice of the Third Hokage startled the young boy. Iruka looked over to the old man so fast that he hurt his neck. As he rubbed the pained spot, he raised a brow.

"What do you mean?" Worry shot through him as he wondered what the Hokage meant. Did he want Iruka to stop being a ninja?!

"Wipe your worries away, boy. I'm not here to relieve you of your Chūnin status!" The old man laughed, and clasped his hands behind his back as he approached the boy. "I was coming here to offer you something that might be tough to pass up." Iruka sat up a little straighter, looking at the Hokage seriously and listened.

"I want you to pass on the will of fire to the new generations of Ninja. I want you to teach them what it means to be a part of the Hidden Leaf."

That shocked the brunette. "You want me to become a school teacher?" He asked, pressing his index finger to his chest. Why him? What did he have that would make a good teacher?

"Exactly. What do you think, Iruka?"

Iruka gazed down at his lap for a moment, staying silent as he thought hard. Slowly, a determined smile found its way across his lips, and he looked up at the Hokage. Something in his eyes made the man grin in return.

"Once you get out of the hospital, I want you to officially start." The Third chuckled out, and he turned to leave.

"I believe in you, Iruka. You'll be a fine teacher."