There was no doubt in Sarutobi's mind that things were getting colder. This was not simply a statement about the weather, while he muttered about age being responsible for the cold seeping into his bones. He brought a lighter up to his pipe and the corners of his mouth upturned a bit as the small blaze smoldered into a warm tobacco-laden balm for his fingertips which supported said pipe. He knew he shouldn't be smoking, but it was too late for him to try setting a good example for his son Asuma, and right now he felt like he needed some measure of release from the day to day strains. Yes, it was getting colder in Konoha, and it was not simply the time of year.
His eyes gazed sadly along the visage of Konohagakure and toward the Kage monument. It had only been about a month since the kyuubi's attack, but already its craftsmen had cleaned things up and there was something entirely too final about the handsome young face being on it next to Hiruzen. He sighed a bit and tapped the side of his pipe lightly, making sure the charred vegetation seated itself properly in the smoking apparatus. Outwardly, he should be pleased at the progress, but within he was very troubled.
"Sarutobi-sama?" a young ninja's voice called and snapped the old man to his senses.
"Ahh...." He paused and then looked down at the adolescent youth before him. If it hadn't been for the forehead protector, he would have sworn the kid was just some rowdy street brawler. His eyes screwed together in focus, trying to remember amid the jumble of recent events who had recently graduated from the Academy or not. Not that he'd been uninformed as a retired hokage, but he was still having to learn things over again. 'Minato, you're so much trouble.' The boy before him had a messy mop of brown hair, slack posture and a horizontal scar across his nose, which was still quite red as well as a few bruises and a generally shabby look. He was also tapping his foot somewhat impatiently. The Kage was embarrassed... he really didn't remember his name. "Ano... uh... Forgive me, but... your name, if you please?"
"Iruka, sir." He responded instantly, then after some hesitation he added, "Umino Iruka."
This, the ojii-san understood. 'Umino... Umino...' His expression darkened, 'Ahh...' "Yes... Umino... son of Umino Mamoru and Umino Kameyo, correct?" Iruka nodded at this and looked particularly somber. Hiruzen knit his brows together in concern, their names were undoubtedly on the memorial for the fallen. "They were good people child. Now tell me, what brings you to my office young one?"
Iruka kept his eyes toward the ground as long as he dared before taking in a breath and lifting his head to the Hokage. It was not looking into the eyes of anyone else who had offered him false compassion, for here he saw a man with a depth to his sorrow. If he were a tree, he would have spread his roots all over the village to draw out its sadness and solidify its people, he understood why he was the Hokage in the first place and smiled briefly. "I'm sorry Hokage-sama... it's nothing to trouble you with. I... I'll just go."
Sarutobi held up a hand, "You did not come all this way to see me only to be sent away." He raised a brow meaningfully at the boy, but briefly got distracted by a brown liver spot on the back of his hand that he hadn't noticed before. 'Damn, I'm getting old'. He sat, and motioned for Iruka to do the same across from him. He took a long draw on his pipe then sat with his fingertips touching, attempting to look as sagely as possible. "Now, tell me what troubles you."
As expected, the kid looked left then right, as if they would be overheard before turning to his leader. Truthfully, he did have ANBU around the place, and it was a ninja village, anyone could be listening. It was perhaps a childish gesture, but one that reminded Sarutobi that not all of his ninja were grown as a forehead protector might indicate. He wished for a moment he had his youth and wits aligned together and motioned for him to carry on.
"Hokage-sama... I.. I recently graduated to the rank of Genin, sir, Hokage-Sama, sir." His hands tightened into fists on his knees and he strained with his thoughts appearing so that the kage, if he were so inclined, might have suggested he go use the bathroom first, or get a laxative if he was going to strain like that.
"Congratulations," was his only reply however. The boy wasn't here for a joke, and the man respected him with all due seriousness.
"The thing is... I..." He paused and scratched the back of his neck, "I was beaten up by a couple chuunins today at the memorial monument..."
"Hnn... That certainly is a concern... for what reason did this fight break out?" Sarutobi asked gently.
Iruka's eyes welled with tears which he desperately fought against. "I ... I couldn't stop crying."
Sarutobi stood and walked around the desk. He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder gently, "Umino Iruka... there is no shame in tears, particularly those of mourning for loved ones. There is a time and place for them, however." He paused until Iruka's tears were restrained, "Shed as many as you need for your grief, you have that right. You are also not alone in your grief. We all express it differently. An unfortunate number turn their grief into anger, which is far more trouble than any tears. It will be hard for you without parents to guide and teach you, but I have faith that you will find what you need when you are in need."
"...When is it not the time sensei?" Iruka asked after some quiet had passed between them.
Sarutobi smiled inwardly at his question, he had hoped he would ask. He kept a stern but fatherly look about him. "You are a ninja, a shinobi, and one day perhaps a great warrior. I do not pretend to know the future, but I know that you, as a ninja of the leaf, will have others who count on you. When you have someone who regards you, you must guard your tears for their sake. Have you considered your name Iruka? It means 'dolphin'. For what they are, they are known to defend those who cannot defend themselves. We need honest ninja who can stand by and support others, now more than ever."
"...After the Kyuubi attack you mean..? Sir?"
"Hnn... In a way." He glanced toward the window and the village, "The strength of the village is the people, and the heart of Konoha lies with them. If the shinobi who protect it are strong at heart, then it will embolden the people. The confident heart can shrug off the unknown and face it with courage." He kept a hand on Iruka's shoulder and led him to the door.
"Kage-sama?"
"Yes child?"
"Thank you."
A few stray rings of smoke circled the hokage's head. If it wasn't his imagination, it seemed a tad bit warmer in here now.
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The ninja of the village made money from the jobs they did, and most orphaned chuunin had used their share to buy some of the rebuilt apartments, but the younger genin were not eligible for missions that gave them more than food and clothing. In response, Sarutobi had raised incentives for some of the team leaders to directly or indirectly support their teams but it hadn't worked as well as he'd hoped, many preferring their students at arms length. Some even thought it would make them better ninja. Sarutobi had reason to worry about the children. A normal orphanage would have to worry about fist fights, a ninja orphanage could have a body count. It was a less than ideal situation.
Though the village had more or less been reconstructed, the Konoha orphanage was overflowing in numbers. The matrons were given extra financing by the authorization of the hokage, but extra help there wasn't. After the attack, much had been lost and it would be some time before the orphanage could go back to a more or less 'normal' routine. Babies and toddlers were always easy to relocate, but try adopting out a potentially mentally unstable, homicidal maniac who's proficient at throwing kunai and people are surprisingly unwilling to risk letting them into their homes. For this reason, the ninjas unable to find a home for one reason or another, were drafted into helping care for the others.
It was late night at Konoha O (as it was lovingly refered to) when several genin decided to make a break for the kitchen. As expected, Iruka was among them, whispering how they shouldn't be doing this, and should go back to bed now. He knew quite well that not all the workers here were civilians. Nana-Sasoru was a retired ninja for example, and he noted that at least two of the 'volunteers' that recently started coming around to help were in fact jounin. So far, it all seemed too easy. Iruka still had memories of the genjutsu placed on the fridge from his last late-night go, which ended up with him in a headlock... not that he would admit it. Who wanted to be beaten up by Nana-Sasoru? Besides, it was easier to say that the chuunin who liked bugging him had caused the bruises.
A small crying sound began down the hall, and all three genin froze and decided to practice their stealth jutsus immediately. Something about the cry made Iruka stiffen worse than the others and he almost didn't camouflage himself fast enough before an irate caretaker sped past them. Sighs of relief shot up from the genin as they dropped their guises, but Iruka looked troubled.
"Hey, you're not gonna rat on us are you?" A plain blond girl complained in a hushed whisper.
"N-no.." Iruka shook his head, his hair was almost long as hers and pulled into a messy ponytail in the back that flared out with a mind of its own.
"Come on." a redhead added, motioning down the hall toward their goal.
Somehow, the crying seemed louder to Iruka, and he suddenly lost his appetite. "No."
"What?!" Both said in a hushed but urgent whisper.
"Whatever... just don't get caught." The girl sighed and slipped toward the kitchen.
In the absence of his companions, Iruka was free to think. His eyes were starting to water, like when he was at the monument. The tears were those of loss, of longing. He turned on his heel and headed for the source of the crying. He couldn't let another person feel the way he did.
"You're more trouble than you're worth, demon brat,"Iruka recognized the prematurely gray caretaker as Kiyoko, who he'd considered snobbish and rude. She was the niece of the head matron, Nana-Sasoru. He grimaced, but also felt infuriated somehow that she'd talk to a child like that, especially this one since it was a baby. The way she was holding the bundle made Iruka frown as well, it was a tight tense grip and he could tell there was a tonal difference in the child's cries now, possibly pain. "I should just tie you in a bag and dump you in the river, you know?" The crying worsened and Iruka stood shocked that she'd suggest something so... spiteful and cruel! Wasn't her job to protect babies like him? "Little demon, boy, cry all you like. You got no parents and nobody's here to protect you, so shut the hell up!" she hissed. Kiyoko began pacing, her walk anything but relaxing as she visibly rattled the boy.
Iruka had seen enough and stepped out, "Kiyoko-dono?" His eyes set on her like two sharp stones.
"What? Can't you see I'm busy?" she replied in a barely controlled tone, but she relented her harsh grip on the boy who just sounded miserable now for even living.
"...Hai... Kiyoko-dono but... Umm... I think... that is."
"What? You don't think I can take care of this gakiI?" she scowled.
"...You don't seem to like him so I think you... you're being hard on him."
Kiyoko thought on that a minute then laughed. Didn't like him? That was understatement of the year. She laughed cruelly, "No shit. Hmph. Do you even know what this is?" Iruka frowned as she held the bundle precariously in one hand, the boy in it had not stopped crying, but he could now see messy yellow hair. "This is the nine-tailed demon fox."
Iruka's frown worsened, "No... Sarutobi said.."
"I don't care what that old geezer said." she cut in and snorted, "If the Sarutobi would only let the council do their job, we'd never have to worry about the demon again. The Hokage says a lot of things." She shrugged, but to Iruka's relief, she set him on a changing table. "He'll get out, you know? I can tell... Bloody mark's still on his stomach, bright as ever. Nobody's going to take this bastard-child and that's the truth. Can't adopt him out, can't give him to the damned ninja council... what the hell good is he? Just a damned obnoxious freak. Bastard's gonna' get us killed... fuc--"
"Shut up!" Iruka commanded, tears in the young genin's eyes. He heard enough, he heard too much. He shook with rage to think that anyone could think that this... this bitch was supposed to take care of Konoha's hero?! The Hokages, the third and fourth, would have thought about it, all of it! He was sure they would.
Kiyoko looked to the sobbing bundle then smiled a slow cruel smile, "You take him."
"What?"
"If you think so highly of him... you take him. But if he cries one bit..." she laughed a little, "I don't know. I'll think of something. Hmph. Gaki..." she hissed the word and let it roll around her tongue. There may not have been an S in brat or gaki, but she managed to hiss it out all the same.
"Fine." Iruka said in a tone of ice and the caregiver left the room, slamming the door behind her, leaving Naruto to cry out once more. The genin walked over to the table where Naruto had been abandoned. "Oi. Stop crying. Baka-chan's gone, ok?" He attempted a smile until he caught Naruto's helpless eyes. The brilliant blue just screamed at him with purity, and reminded him immensely of their lost Hokage. "M-minato-sama?" He shook his head, but the boy had stopped crying. "Phew... now I can put you to.. crap." He could now smell the reason Naruto was making a fuss.
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It was almost midnight and Sarutobi had gone home many hours ago, but that hadn't stopped him from having two late night visitors. Somehow, he was less than pleased to see them as he knocked the contents of his pipe out, snuffing the ember and heading inside not quite fast enough.
"Sarutobi-san." A female voice called in mock warmth.
"Ahh... Koharu... Homura. I was just heading inside." He said genially. He held his expression amazingly neutral. 'This is going o be a long night... I think I'll need an extra smoke...' "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Nothing terribly important, I think." The one called Homura replied airily.
Despite the three of them having once been a team, politics had pushed them in vastly different directions. It seemed to the old man, that they were now after their own interests and parties to clan interests, rather than the people. Sad really. "Come in." Hiruzen said, motioning them in.
Asuma was sitting on the couch, making no attempt to hide the cigarette in his mouth. He and blew a few smoke rings in the air. Koharu's nose wrinkled in disapproval. Sarutobi Asuma smiled.
"Upstairs please." The elder ninja requested cordially. With a defiant look from Asuma, he left the room. 'Thank heavens.' He took a seat and motioned for the others. "I would appreciate if you would get right to business old friends." He gave a knowing smile. He could tell when they wanted something.
"It's about the boy." Homura started.
"Yes.. I'm afraid, Sarutobi-san, that the people are having a rather negative reaction to him." Koharu slipped in.
A sigh escaped the hokage. He knew this would become an issue. "It's because of the seal, I'm sure."
"Indeed. The ninja council is worried that it will be broken." Mitokado Homura said darkly.
"There is also the matter of the Uchihas..." Utatane Koharu's sweet voice added. "They've been wanting power for a while, and with their genjutsu abilities, I'd be afraid about the welfare of the child."
"I'm sure you are." Hiruzen grabbed for a box of tobacco he had on hand and refilled his pipe. "But the boy is a ward of the village. He is a member of this village and as soon as he is fit enough he will be given opportunity to persue his own path."
"Hiruzen..." His friend Homura twitched a little, "A boy with the kind of power locked inside him is not going to be a simple baker or flower peddler..."
"I don't see why not."
"...And what if he did want to be a ninja? Imagine the risks, that's what we're saying here." he finished, adjusting his green framed glasses.
"I would think any well-adjusted-" Sarutobi began but Koharu cut in, earrings dangling.
"Anyone can defect, Hiruzen. I would hope your judgement isn't clouded just because the Fourth said it was okay. This child may be a ward of the village, but he is not in anything resembling a stable home, which is essential for mental well-being. Already off to a bad start I say."
The hokage shifted uncomfortably inside. He had no choice but to remain optomistic until he saw reason not to. Homura and Koharu were challenging his optomism. His smile strained. "Your concerns are well noted. Still, it is not fair to write off the boy until he has proved himself. Everyone deserves a chance to sink or swim."
The two council members exchanged looks and stood in tandem, "Well said," Koharu conceded, "We will be watching young Naruto, you can count on that. Perhaps you should consider making him the ward of a trusted clan member to mold his impressionable mind... Something to think about old friend."
After Koharu had left, Mitokado turned to his old friend with a more compassionate look, "I know you wished to pass the mantle of Hokage on, but while Naruto lives in our village, you had best keep it. As a favor to you, I'm letting you know... The council is not pleased. The longer you wait to decide on what is to be done about Uzumaki Kushina's child, the more they say he is the demon rather than its cage. For the sake of the village, you may have to decide between the two."
As if he didn't know that? All the same, Sarutobi nodded gravely. "Thank you... Homura."
"That went well." Asuma drawled, standing at the top stair when the two had left.
"You should be more subtle, son. I could tell you were there the whole time." Sarutobi sighed.
"Hnnnf. So what are you going to do, Otousan?"
The old man stroked his beard lightly and thought about it. "I think I'll have another smoke."