A/N: Thanks to all who have been reviewing this story. The next chapter is underway and should be up soon. Thanks again and enjoy!
Chapter 8: Getting Closer
Three weeks, six more dinners, four more dates and a few sessions of unplanned meetings later, Iruka found himself staring blankly out of his classroom window, watching his students play outside.
Well, he wasn't really watching. He was more into musing about his recent encounters with a certain silver-haired jounin. The same jounin who had appeared at the window he was looking out now some four days ago, with a box of lunch in his hands for the academy teacher, who had been too busy to get his own.
The same jounin who had appeared on the streets unexpectedly while Iruka was struggling to balance essays, books and groceries in two hands, and had helped the chunin brought home all the stuff with ease.
And the same jounin whom Iruka had been seeing more than anyone else in the village for the last few weeks. Naruto included. And that itself, is a major achievement on the jounin's part.
Iruka tapped his pen on the table absent-mindedly, as he wondered what it was about Kakashi that got him so out of sorts. The silver-haired man, it seems, has been occupying eighty percent of the thoughts of the academy teacher. Iruka found himself thinking about Kakashi at all the strangest moments.
Like when he was preparing dinner at home, he would think about what should be the next dish that he would cook for the jounin. Or when he was grading his assignments in the comfort of his own home, he would wonder if Kakashi was lounging in his own couch, reading his book. At night, when he was getting ready for bed, he would muse if Kakashi is on some rooftop, enjoying the night breeze and the moonlight.
And when Kakashi is out for missions, like now, he would find himself worrying for the jounin, even if it is the simplest D-rank mission.
He continued staring out of the window, as if hoping that something like four days ago would happen again and Kakashi would appear with a lunch in his hands. But the chunin knew that was impossible. Kakashi had been away on an S-rank mission for the last three days.
And so lost he was in his thoughts, that he did not realize that his students were back in the classroom and looking at him strangely.
Konohamaru stalked up to his teacher quietly and peered into his face. A mischievous grin broke out when he realized that Iruka is already lost to the reality of the world. He sneaked up behind the chunin's chair and was about to put his prank into action when a voice made him froze mid-action.
"Konohamaru, if you don't want to stay back after class to clean up the academy and then the Hokage's monument, I would advice that you go back to your seat this very minute."
Konohamaru looked up and laughed nervously when his teacher's face hovered over him.
"Now!"
The poor boy all but scrambled back to his seat.
Iruka stood from his chair with a deathly glare which made all his students squirmed in their seats. All of them were wise enough to know that the teacher's gaze is not one to be messed around with, and so, none of them dared to make a noise.
"Good. Now turn to page thirty-eight of your textbook. We are going to talk about the different types of chakra elements."
Kakashi perched on a tree and looked around. When he was sure that all was clear, he leapt from the branch and landed on the ground below.
"I've never gone on such an easy S-rank before." Genma yawned and leaned against the tree.
"Well, what did you expect? It's just information-gathering. The mission is ranked as S-class because of all the missing nins spotted in the area." Asuma snorted. "But truth be told, it is indeed a little too effortless. So much so that, I can't help but feel something is wrong."
"Yeah." Kakashi stretched himself. "We haven't come across any enemies and the information gathering process was a little too easy. It's almost as if they do not want to alarm us and just waiting for us to walk right into the trap."
"Hmm……" Genma looked thoughtful. "We just have to be more careful now. Anyway, another day and we will be back on Konoha grounds."
His two companions nodded.
"The two of you get some rest. I will keep watch." Kakashi leapt back up on a branch and started propelling himself upwards, until he reached the highest point, which gave him a good overview of the entire terrain. He thought for a moment before he nicked his thumb and summoned his nin-dogs.
"What is it, boss?" A gruff voice asked when the smoke cleared.
"Keep a watch out in the surroundings. I can't help but feel something is off. Let me know if you detect any forms of threats or traps."
The dogs sniffed a bit before they dispersed in different directions, except for one.
"What is it, Pakkun?" The copy nin raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing. Just wanted to find out how you are getting along with that chunin."
Kakashi snorted. "We are in the midst of a mission now, Pakkun. Can we talk about this some other time?"
"Glad you know we are in the midst of a mission. Because it smells to me that your brain is clogged with nothing but Iruka. Keep fantasizing and you will get yourself killed in no time."
Kakashi glared. But the pug merely shrugged and took off in one of the directions. Kakashi scowled. Pakkun had just severely underestimated his dedication to Konoha. What did his nin-dog thought of him to be? A lovelorn idiot who would put personal issues above the importance of his mission and teammates? He leaned back against the trunk, making himself comfortable, before he divided his brain into two equal portions.
One part of his senses goes to watching the surroundings, detecting any forms of threats that may be nearing.
The other part of it, he dedicated it to thinking about a certain academy teacher, who had excellent cooking skills and a quirky attitude.
See, he would never jeopardize the success of the mission. Hell, he even sacrificed half of his brain power, just so he can ensure the safety of his teammates.