Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto T_T
Just kill me now: Chapter 2: Three bowls
The small pug appeared at his masters feet, looking up at the silver haired Jounin with a tight expression as the rest of his pack approached, "Did you find him?" Kakashi asked, looking down at Pakkun with a narrow stare. The pug shook his head "Sorry Boss, his scent's all over this village, we can't find him anywhere!" Pakkun shrugged, scratching his ear with his paw. Kakashi nodded tightly, an hour of scouring the village for Iruka with nothing to show for it.
"You're dismissed," he muttered to his pack of nin-ken who all disappeared into swirling smoke. Kakashi breathed a frustrated sigh, scratching the back of his head in confusion, 'If I were Iruka-sensei, where would I hide?...' he pondered as his uncovered eye scanned the floor. The scene in the mission office had been amusing to say the least, it's not every day you get to witness a fellow Jounin getting his nose broken by an angry Chuunin.
Kakashi chuckled, Iruka had a temper to be reckoned with, the masked Jounin had been impressed by the Chuunin's display, and Genma had definitely deserved the strike. Kakashi was even a little thankful that Iruka had gotten to the loud mouth Jounin before him, but now all he could think about was finding tempestuous shinobi, which was proving more difficult than he had originally thought.
Kakashi breathed an irritated groan, he had always admired the chocolate haired Chuunin from afar so as not to arouse suspicion from others, village gossip was rife enough without adding fuel to the fire, but now, Kakashi realised he and Iruka were going to be the hot topic of the week, not that he minded, he stopped caring what others thought or said about him a long time ago, but Iruka clearly wasn't as thick skinned.
Kakashi felt his cheeks colour hoping that maybe this would be an excuse of him to get closer to, Iruka, after all if what, Genma said was true then there was a chance his feelings for the Chuunin would be reciprocated, and judging from Iruka's reaction to Genma's taunting, it was a pretty big chance, because right now, Kakashi was realising that he knew almost nothing about the younger ninja or his habits.
"Iruka-Sensei! Wait up! Why are you runnin'?!" A familiar gruff voice perked Kakashi's ears, turning his head to see Iruka's shadow-clone skid into his eye line. His brow quirked curiously 'Maa! so that's why your scent's all over the village... clever,' Kakashi smiled to himself, flashing an irritated glare at the shadow-clone, the clone's eyes widened in fear, it gave an audible gulp before disappearing into a cloud of smoke. Kakashi released a defeated sigh, sidestepping as a flash of orange and yellow skidded past him before crashing into a wall with an "OOOOF!" and landing in a heap on the floor.
"Ah Man! Where'd he go?!" Naruto huffed looking around for his friend with a confused scratch of his head. His blue eyes settled on his new sensei, a broad smile widened his mouth, "Hey, Kakashi Sensei!" he greeted, launching himself to his feet and dusting off his backside.
"Yo," Kakashi acknowledged with a nod, "Um, Kakashi-Sensei?... Did you see which way Iruka-sensei went?... I've been tryin' to chase him down for a while now but he keeps rushin' off!" the blonde questioned, his big blue eyes searching the side streets. Kakashi rolled his lone blue eye, sighing at the boys naiivety. "That wasn't Iruka-sensei, Naruto... that was a shadow clone." he muttered, casually taking out his copy of Icha Icha, his lone eye scanning the page.
Naruto did a double take, "Huh! You serious, Kakashi-sensei?!" He gaped up at his teacher. Kakashi nodded silently pushing his free hand into his pocket with feigned disinterest. "Ah Man! Then where's the real, Iruka-sensei?... It's almost dinner time and he said he'd take me out for Ramen!" Naruto whined, pouting sadly as his stomach gave a loud growl.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, his eye narrowing down at the boy curiously 'I wonder...' Kakashi cleared his throat with a gentle cough, "Naruto?... Hypothetically... If Iruka-sensei were... Hiding, from someone... Where would he hide?..." Kakashi asked gently, taking extra care to keep his tone disinterested as he turned the page of his book.
"Hypa-huh?" Naruto sweatdropped, his eyes narrowing at his sensei in confusion.
Kakashi shook his head hopelessly, lowering his book to glare at his student, "Focus, Naruto!... If Iruka-sensei were hiding from someone... where would he go?" Kakashi urged, his patience beginning to wear thin. "Ummm," Naruto breathed, scratching his head as his other hand rested on his hip, his face grimacing as he thought hard. "Er... Well... I guess if he's really pissed off the only place he goes is-" Naruto's muttered pondering cut off, his mouth clamping shut as he straightened suddenly folding his arms and shaking his head "Nu-uh!.. No way Sensei! I can't tell ya that!" Naruto insisted adamantly planting his feet.
"So you do know where he'd be?..." Kakashi smirked as the blonde haired boy scowled up at him.
"I still can't tell ya, Sensei!" Naruto huffed lifting his nose to the sky stubbornly.
Kakashi cocked his head mischievously, "Not even for Ramen?" he questioned with a smile. Naruto gasped, his eyes widening up at the silver haired Jounin, "You tell me where to find Iruka-sensei and I'll buy you a bowl," Kakashi smiled watching the boy squirm.
Naruto scratched the back of his head, pouting at his dilemma "B-But... Iruka-sensei... He only goes there because he's upset and... well... He's not gonna be happy if I-"
"Two bowls," Kakashi interrupted with a gentle shrug.
Naruto moaned, biting his bottom lip he swallowed hard, "But Sensei!" he whined as his stomach grumbled loudly.
"Three bowls?" Kakashi grinned watching the Genin's resolve crumble. Naruto screwed his eyes shut shaking his head firmly. Kakashi let out an exaggerated sigh, lifting his book back to his eyeline, turning and slowly starting to walk away, "Alright Naruto... Have it your way... but Iruka-sensei could be hiding all night... and that means... No Ramen,"
"OK! OK! I'll tell you!" Naruto cried, falling to his knees in shame. Kakashi paused, looking over his shoulder at the boy's overdramatised gesture with a raised eyebrow. "The lake," Naruto winced, his face paling as the betrayal swirled within him.
"Don't lie to me, Naruto! I already looked there," Kakashi snarled feeling a flash of anger burst through him as he shoved his book back into his jacket pocket.
Naruto flinched, glaring up at his teacher in irritation, "Even the bottom of it?" he asked with an offended leer,
"What?" Kakashi blinked, shaking his head at his student.
"That's where Iruka-sensei hides! At the bottom of the lake! Go see! I ain't lyin'!" Naruto growled, his blue irises flashing angry red. Kakashi's eye narrowed at him "Show me," he ordered, watching as Naruto rolled his eyes before bolting towards the forest gate.
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Thank you for reading! hope you enjoyed! On to chapter 3! ^_^