Hi! Many of you may be wondering why I'm posting another chapter to this, but a lot of people have been asking me to continue this story and I relented. At first I had absolutely no idea what to write about and this is just what I came up with so I hope you all enjoy it!
Oh yeah, reviewers! Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad I was able to give a few of you hope and I urge you not to lose it! cardcaptor eternity, catgirl9696, Zetsu's Other Half, Gravenimage, Moonfayth, showmethestars, ONeill-Fan14, pangasius, pamellka, Prescripto13, Lupanari, evanescenceangel18, Sakamoto Michiko, Whitecrest19, KakashiKrazed, Meira Evenstar, Uchiha Kumiko, Magestig20, AvatardsUnite MM, OokamiXHatake, Jumpingbeans480, Elaienar, Namikaze naruko14, and Uzumaki Naruko14.
I really hope this happens in canon. Oh, and I have one more word to say—NOOOOO! FUKASAKU!!!
Also, a big thank you to WhyMustIWrite and KakashiKrazed whose portrayals of Iruka inspired me to write him like this from now on! Go check out their stories! They have a great collection of Kakashi and Iruka friendship stories.
Iruka raced through what was left of Konoha, offhandedly identifying the remains of various buildings, such as where he bought his groceries, Anko's favorite dango shop, and the sign of the infamous ramen stand. The teacher frowned sadly as his thoughts were brought to Naruto.
Wonder what he'll do once he realizes he can't have ramen for a while, he sighed as he continued on his journey. Is Naruto all right? Did the Akatsuki leave to go and get him?
The chuunin channeled his worry into action as he traveled faster, doing his best to try and find the same spot. After Kakashi had interfered, Iruka quickly brought over his injured comrade to the hospital.
"Place him on the fifth bed on the right," Sakura ordered as she fervently worked on healing a man who seemed to have lost his right arm. Iruka immediately complied and turned back to his former student and watched her with pride.
He could hardly believed that the little girl who used to do nothing but fantasize about marrying Sasuke was capable of what she was doing now. According to things he had heard she now had Tsunade's strength and others speculated she would soon surpass the Sannin.
Before leaving the hospital Iruka paused to report what was happening to one of the ANBU in charge on what he had witnessed. Suddenly hundreds of slugs came out of nowhere and one attached itself to his leg and before he knew it he was completely engulfed in it.
"I have been sent to save you," the slug had said. "Please don't protest."
As soon as the slug had assured him Iruka felt a low rumble and then it was as if he were flying through the air. He felt no pain but he wondered what had happened.
"Please stay inside until I say it's safe."
"What happened?" Iruka demanded, unable to shake the feeling of nausea growing in his stomach.
The slug had said nothing and it wasn't until he had been allowed to leave did he understand why.
For a moment he thought he was seeing things—some sort of genjutsu by the Akatsuki. Over time however, he could not dismiss the fact.
Konoha was gone.
The surrounding walls appeared to be still intact and the mountain was still there, with the faces of the previous Hokage slightly marred. Everything else was completely destroyed and reduced to rubble.
It had taken him a couple minutes to process the fact as well as those beside him. After the shock wore off he decided to help the wounded who were saved by Tsunade's slugs, until Chouji arrived.
"Chouji, are you all right?" Iruka asked in concern when he saw that the teen had been crying.
"Y-yeah," the Akimichi chuckled nervously, wiping his eyes. "I'm just worried if my dad is okay."
Iruka smiled warmly. "Your dad is an excellent shinobi who can take care of himself. You have nothing to worry about."
"No, it's not that—I just hope that Tsunade's slugs get to him. He was barely alive when I left, in fact I thought he was d-d-dead after that attack from the Akatsuki—"
Iruka's eyes widened. "You went against the Akatsuki? Which one?"
Chouji scrunched his face together as he tried to remember. "Orange hair, six nose piercings, and seven in his ears."
Iruka frowned for a moment then cried, "That looks like the same one Kakashi was fighting!"
At the mention of the jounin Chouji looked away and new tears flowed down his face.
The chuunin teacher stepped back as the truth dawned on him.
"It's all my fault!" Chouji cried, burying his face in his hands. "If I hadn't spent so much time grieving over my father and left when Kakashi told me too, he wouldn't have had to s-save me with his Sharingan!"
"But . . . how do you know he's—dead?" Iruka just couldn't grasp the fact that Kakashi was gone! Kakashi just seemed like a person who couldn't die, like he had a sort of immunity to it.
The teacher recalled a time when he had just become a chuunin and was assigned to post duty. At the time he thought it was a complete misuse of his skills and so he spent the better part of his first day on the job groaning about it to his partner, Raidou.
"I mean, now that I'm a chuunin shouldn't I be going on more complex missions?" he complained.
Raidou rolled his eyes. "Listen kid—you need to learn that with each advancement in the shinobi world you start off with the 'lesser' of the missions attributed to the level. Remember those D Rank missions you went on as a genin?" Iruka nodded. "Well, now that you're a chuunin you start off with basic missions. It's how it's always been and I've heard the same thing happens once you become jounin."
Iruka frowned for a moment then sighed. "Guess you're right. I just hoped I'd be able to go on some more interesting missions once I passed the chuunin exams."
His partner chuckled. "Me too. You'll get some action soon enough."
"But, why are you here? Haven't you been a chuunin for some time already Raidou?"
"Yeah," he said as he stretched back in his chair. "It's just that I got back from a mission two days ago that sent me to the hospital and I'm under orders to rest because of a leg injury. Figured this would be the best way to do so." Iruka nodded because the reasoning made sense.
"So what kind of missions have you gone on?" Iruka asked excitedly, visions of perilous journeys running through his mind.
"Well," Raidou began, eager for the opportunity to brag in front of the greenie. "To start off I—" Suddenly he stopped and glanced towards the entrance of the village, prompting Iruka to do the same.
"What is it? Do you see anything?" Raidou motioned for silence and closed his eyes as if waiting for something.
"Follow me. Hurry!" Confused, Iruka immediately complied and followed the chuunin out of the booth and passed through the gates that led into the village.
They had barely gone four meters when Iruka understood what Raidou was so worried about. Suddenly and without warning a figure came out of the shadows, grabbed him from behind, and held a kunai to his neck. Iruka hadn't even detected his chakra signature!
"Don't move or he dies," his capture hissed. The voice sounded raspy, tired, and strained yet at the same time it sent a shiver down Iruka's spine and he gulped nervously.
Raidou placed his hands up in the air in a placating manner and slowly walked towards the pair. "It's all right," he said calmly. "We're both Konoha shinobi—like yourself." He pointed to his headband and then gestured to Iruka's.
A Konoha shinobi? Iruka wondered. Why would a fellow shinobi do this to me?
His question was answered by what Raidou said next. "Everything is all right, Kakashi. We are your friends and you need to get those wounds looked at. Please let Iruka go." For a moment nothing happened, but slowly Iruka felt the steel leave his throat and he was released.
As soon as he was free Iruka wrenched himself away and turned to face the man who had held him there and his eyes widened in shock and amazement.
It was just a kid! He looked to be a few years older than himself but it was obvious he was on quite a dangerous mission judging by the amount of blood he was covered in. His silver hair was matted with blood, his uniform torn and practically ripped to shreds, the left arm looked to be bent in an awkward position, and there was an ANBU mask on his face—or at least, half of it. The mask had obviously been broken somehow and there was only enough to cover most of the left side of his face.
"Kakashi?" Iruka had only seen the infamous copy nin on a few occasions and never like this. The jounin's eye was clouded over and judging by the way he was swaying he was barely staying conscious. Iruka's gaze was drawn to Kakashi's right hand and saw smeared blood, then reached up and touched his own neck, wincing slightly at the liquid that Kakashi had undoubtedly transferred to him. Iruka wondered if it was Kakashi's or someone else's.
"Did your mission go well?" Raidou continued, slowly inching towards Kakashi with such expertise that Iruka wondered if he had dealt with this type of situation before.
"I got the scroll," Kakashi wheezed, withdrawing a container from his weapon pouch, and Iruka saw that it too was covered in blood.
"Here, how about I bring that to the Hokage for you?" Raidou offered, holding his hand out.
Kakashi pulled it towards himself quickly and Iruka saw hatred and anger flash in his visible eye.
"It's all right—I promise nothing will happen to it," Raidou tried to assure him, holding his hand out once more. When Kakashi would not relent and even started to walk backwards Raidou sighed. "Kakashi—how many people did you fight to get the scroll?"
It seemed like the ANBU was not expecting that question and he blinked his eye in confusion for a moment, then seemed to ponder over the question, mentally counting off unseen enemies.
"Twenty-one."
Iruka gasped and took a step back. He took on twenty-one enemies and survived?! No wonder he didn't want to give up the scroll!
"Kakashi, I swear on my life that I will not let anything happen to that scroll." When it was obvious he wouldn't relent Raidou tried again. "Listen, you can't manage to bring the scroll to the Sandaime in your present condition. By giving it to me your mission will be complete and you can go to the hospital and get those wounds taken care of."
Kakashi bristled. "They aren't that serious," he mumbled while trying to take a step forward, yet he stumbled and would have fallen if Raidou hadn't stepped forward.
"All right," Raidou said happily. "I'll take this," (he grabbed the container) "and Iruka will bring you to the hospital."
"Eh?! Me?" Iruka exclaimed. "Why not you?!"
"Baka! I can't carry him with my bad leg! You'll have to do it! Besides, I can't trust you with this scroll anyway," Raidou teased. "Take him."
Iruka sighed but relented, walking forward to take the nearly unconscious shinobi from Raidou's hands and nodded him off. The chuunin watched as Raidou took off and then he turned his attention to the boy beside him.
"Lot of trouble you are, you know that?" he sighed as he began walking towards the village, worried about jostling his wounds.
"U—urus-sei," Kakashi growled.
He had a hard time bringing him to the hospital because Kakashi protested all the way, trying to walk himself but it was obvious he had a difficult time just staying awake. The moment he entered the hospital a long-haired woman came rushing towards him.
"Somebody help me!" Iruka yelled, struggling with Kakashi's weight. The young jounin had finally collapsed a few moments before they came upon the hospital.
The woman sighed. "Kakashi, right? I had hoped I wouldn't see him for a while. Poor dear always comes here after every mission so cut up it breaks my heart. It's a wonder he doesn't fall apart."
"Just help him!" Iruka said in frustration.
Once the nurse took him Iruka stayed in the hospital waiting room, eager for news on Kakashi's condition. It puzzled him why he should be so concerned over someone he barely even knew, but all the same he was worried. Despite the fact that he was a newly instigated chuunin and had seen his share of battle—Kakashi's condition had unnerved him and Iruka couldn't help but see himself in Kakashi's place all covered in blood and so weary and broken he could barely stand.
Raidou had come into the hospital about ten minutes after Iruka arrived.
"You all right, kid?" the chuunin asked as he sat down beside him.
Iruka sighed and stretched in the chair. "Yeah—I guess." He turned to face Raidou. "How . . . how can he . . . "
Raidou placed his hand on Iruka's shoulder. "Kakashi . . . well—he's a genius. Became a genin at age five, then a chuunin at six, and then a jounin a few years after that."
"Yeah, I know," Iruka said. Everyone in the leaf village knew of the genius Hatake, the last of the clan.
"He also fought in the war against Iwagakure and was quite close to the Yondaime, and all of his original squad are dead," Raidou said sadly. "Most people don't know about that, or don't care."
"How do you know then?"
"Well . . . " Raidou began slowly. "After their team member Uchiha Obito was killed in the war I was assigned to their team a couple times to make the number three—though, with his and Rin's abilities as well as the Yellow Flash, there were times that I felt quite inferior."
"You got to work alongside the Yellow Flash?!"
Raidou chuckled. "Just a mission or two, right before he became the Yondaime. He was the greatest man I've ever known, and his death was truly one of the darkest days of Konoha." The two fell silent as they recalled the horrible Kyuubi attack, with Iruka clenching his fists as his parents' death came to his mind vividly.
"Well—I'm going to return to the village entrance," Raidou said, standing up quickly and rubbed his hands on his pants. "Come as soon as you can."
It was about half a day until the nurse came back with news on Kakashi.
"My, my . . . not many people wait here for little Kakashi," she said happily. "I'm glad he finally has someone here to care for him, now with everyone gone," she finished sadly.
"Is he all right?" Iruka asked, trying to disguise his concern.
"Is he ever all right?" the woman sighed. "He suffered from a broken arm, blood loss, chakra exhaustion, and multiple stab wounds as well as a few damaged left ribs." At Iruka's shocked glance she continued, "But he's all better now—though it was a difficult operation, as usual. He won't be able to leave this hospital for at least a week but the more difficult task will be keeping him here." She glanced at Iruka quizzically.
"Would it be too much to ask for you to request he stays here? He might listen to one of his friends."
"Oh, b-but I'm not—I don't really know . . . " Iruka began but the nurse had already started walking down the hall.
"Well, are you coming?" she asked in confusion.
"I . . . never mind," Iruka sighed as he started to follow the nurse. I'm betting part of the reason he always leaves the hospital early is just to get away from you, he thought grimly.
"Well, here's his room," she said happily. "I'll let you two boys chat."
Iruka cautiously pulled the door open and walked in. Kakashi was lying on the hospital cot, covered in bandages and was breathing deeply, beads of sweat gathered on his forehead.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded angrily, turned his attention to Iruka. The chuunin raised an eyebrow at his brash manner and tried to shift his gaze from the jagged scar across his left eye.
They say that he has the Sharingan in that eye, Iruka recalled in fascination.
"I said," Kakashi continued. "What are you doing here?!" At this point he tried to sit up to prove his point but he grunted in pain and fell back down, panting heavily.
"Seeing if you're all right," Iruka said angrily as he folded his arms and walked over to the bed. "Guess I shouldn't have wasted my breath."
"You're right," Kakashi grunted. "Everything is fine so you can just leave."
"Hey, you held a kunai to my neck and I carried you all the way over here despite how difficult you made it for me," Iruka bristled, "so it's my duty to make sure you're okay!"
Kakashi looked taken back at that and blinked in confusion, his anger temporarily abated. "W-why do you care?" he asked though more gently.
Iruka shrugged and leaned against the cot nearby Kakashi's bed, folding his arms as he did so. "You're a fellow Konoha shinobi—what other reason do I have?"
The jounin made a noise similar to a chuckle but winced as the action cost him.
"You're a new chuunin—correct?" Iruka nodded.
"I oversaw the tournament you participated in for security purposes. Your solution for the fight against the Rain Village shinobi was quite ingenious."
Iruka smiled. "Really? You think so?" He was rather proud of his idea and had received a lot of praise from those who had seen it, but to be praised by an elite such as Kakashi was quite different. If he hadn't thought to use that jutsu while his opponent was momentarily blinded by his previous attack, he would have lost the match for sure.
"So uh . . . how bad was that mission you were on, ne?" Iruka asked. "I mean, when Raidou and I found you, you were ready to kill me."
Kakashi appeared embarrassed. "Sorry about that. I . . . wasn't in my right mind."
"Well—what happened?" the chuunin asked again, unable to dissuade his curiosity.
There was silence for a few moments while Kakashi stared off into space, seemingly lost in his thoughts.
"Umino Iruka," he said slowly.
"What?"
"Don't . . . don't ever join ANBU," he whispered.
The chuunin took that advice to heart and swore he would never join ANBU, seeing the type of results being in that unit would bring. He was content to be a teacher but wished he could go on more missions from time to time.
Iruka ceased running and took a look around him. Because of the explosion he was having a difficult time finding the place where he left Kakashi to the Akatsuki—but he had to! There was no way he was going to let the jounin's body be left carelessly under some rubble!
However, if Tsunade's slugs didn't get to him in time then there was the possibility that there wasn't much left of his body—if at all. He clenched his fists angrily but then his eyes settled on a peculiar group.
Aren't those Jiraiya's summons? he wondered. That's right! They must be Naruto's now though—does that mean he came back?!
Iruka rushed towards the figures but once he was a few feet away stopped right in his tracks as he saw the scene before him. Kakashi was lying on the ground, Tsunade was resting against some debris, Sakura was sitting in between them, staring off into space, and there were two ANBU keeping guard. His former student's shoulders were shaking, which could only mean one thing.
"I'm so sorry, Sakura!" Iruka cried out in anguish, coming to her side. "If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't have gone up against Pein!"
Sakura turned around sharply and was amazed to see her old sensei before her.
"You're alive!" she said happily, jumping up to hug him. Iruka was so taken back he just stood there, then smiled warmly and returned the hug.
"All thanks to the Hokage," he chuckled. He saw the tears in Sakura's eyes and glanced at the copy nin sadly. Wait!
"He's alive?" the chuunin asked in surprise, looking back and forth between the jounin and Sakura, who nodded. "But . . . Chouji said that Tsunade-sama said he was dead? How did she—"
He glanced over at the Hokage, and just then realized that her chakra signature was gone and she was not breathing.
"No!" he wailed, taking a small step back. "Not again! Did Pein do this?" Why was it that all the Hokage have to die whenever our village comes under attack?
Sakura shook her head. "She used the forbidden jutsu Chiyo-basama used on Gaara to bring him back to life."
"She did?" Iruka was amazed that she had done that. Yes, Kakashi was invaluable to the village, but the Hokage was the leader and the one everyone looked up to. There had to be another reason for her to just throw away her life like that.
"She was dying . . . wasn't she?" the chuunin asked softly as he slowly understood. Sakura sniffed and nodded furiously, unable to stop the new tears.
"So who's going to be—" here Iruka stopped and glanced around, staring at the two visible ANBU as he started to figure out what was going on.
"Kakashi's the new Hokage, isn't he?" The closest ANBU to him glanced up at Iruka sharply.
"On what basis are you making that assumption?" he growled.
"By the fact that Tsunade-sama gave up her life for him, and because five ANBU are more than enough to protect the body of a dead Hokage," Iruka defended.
Sakura frowned. She could only see two.
The ANBU who addressed Iruka before quickly walked over to Iruka and grasped him by his chuunin jacket while bringing him close.
"How did you know that there are five of us here?" he demanded angrily, causing Iruka to gulp nervously.
"I-I—I . . . do undercover work for the village from time to time, using my status as a chuunin to deflect suspicion, and as such have some knowledge of the basic ANBU formations for various situations. When a Hokage is in danger there are five of you who station yourself accordingly, making two visible and three hidden. It is an unspoken rule to follow the same pattern of where to hide and once I focused on those spots I could tell there were people there," Iruka quickly explained.
"You are much more than you seem," the ANBU said as he released Iruka, soundly slightly impressed.
"It is true—Tsunade-sama's last orders to me were to ensure the safety of the next Hokage of Konoha, and that means Kakashi's well being is top priority."
Sakura smiled as she contemplated her sensei being Hokage. He won't be able to make those lame excuses anymore! she thought with a small chuckle.
"IRUKA-SENSEI!!" The chuunin was suddenly assaulted by a nearly bone-crushing hug from behind and it took a few moments for him to get free.
"What the—" he paused, then shouted with relief, "Naruto?!"
Said blonde grinned at him eagerly while rubbing the back of his neck. "Sure is!" Iruka took a moment to look the boy over. In the short time he hadn't seen him it seemed like the boy had matured greatly. He was wearing a cloak similar to the Yondaime and carried the scroll Jiraiya was usually seen carrying around.
"What happened to your eyes?!" Iruka exclaimed.
"Hmm? Oh this?" Naruto said while pointing to the orange part around his eye. "It's the mark of a true Toad Sage!" It was evident that he was quite proud of this.
"So you completed it? You're just like Jiraiya?"
"Not exactly." Iruka's eyes widened in surprise as a green frog jumped onto Naruto's shoulders. He was larger than a normal frog, yet not as big as the ones Iruka had seen Jiraiya summon. This frog was green, wore a black cloak, and judging by the white beard and hair it was obvious that he was quite old.
"I am Fukasaku, one of the Two Great Sage Frogs of Myobokuzan," the toad explained as Iruka opened his mouth. "Naruto here was unable to complete his training fully due to the attack on Konoha, but he is the 'Child of the Prophecy' and has been able to learn an incredible amount in such a short span of time."
"'Child of the Prophecy' huh?" Iruka chuckled. "That title might help you in your quest for Hokage, eh Naruto?" The boy laughed.
"It wouldn't hurt," he joked.
"So what happened? Where's Pein? Did you defeat him? Is the village safe?"
"Well, what happened is—" Naruto began.
"There's no time!" Fukasaku interrupted. "We're going to have to go after the real Pein before he creates any more bodies! You'll be fully rested in a few minutes and then we've got to go."
"We'll take care of the bodies here and make sure that they can't come to his aid," the ANBU that addressed Iruka before cut in. "There's no more need for you to stay here."
"And I'll come with you!" Sakura declared, walked to Naruto's side.
"But, Sakura-chan—" Naruto protested.
"Oh, I know I won't be able to fight," she said quickly. "I just need to be there to patch up your sorry a—"
"You can't," the Frog Sage cut in.
"Why not?!" the kunoichi growled.
"He's right, Sakura-chan," Naruto said quietly.
"But I—"
"Since Tsunade is . . . g-gone," (Naruto's voice broke slightly) "there is no one here with skills as great as yours, and you need to protect and heal the members of this village," he smiled, then glanced at Kakashi who was still lying on the ground. "And besides—you need to look after the new Hokage." Sakura opened her mouth to protest then thought better of it, nodding her understanding.
She looked at Kakashi fondly, then at Tsunade, and bit her lip, as if hesitant about something.
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked in concern, turned back around to face her. "Wha—" Whatever he was about to say next was cut off as Sakura spun around, grabbed Naruto's cloak and pulled him into a passionate kiss.
All those standing around stared at the peculiar spectacle with their mouth hanging open and their eyes wide. Fukasaku had been knocked off of Naruto's shoulders by Sakura's abrupt actions and sat there on the ground, dusting himself off while shaking his head as if trying to clear it.
When the kiss prolonged to kissing as both teens desperately held on to each other Iruka cleared his throat, and then cleared it again much louder.
"AHEM!" At his raised voice the two instantly broke off, looking slightly dazed, then glanced at each other and quickly stepped back, a furious blush on both their faces.
"Well . . . ah—good luck, Naruto," Sakura coughed.
Naruto just stared at her in shock and with a dreamy look on his face while he muttered incoherent words. Iruka moved forward to snap him out of it but someone beat him to it.
"Pull yourself together!" Fukasaku demanded as he slapped Naruto across the face. He took the opportunity when they ceased kissing to jump back onto Naruto's shoulder and was intent to remind him of his duties.
"Wha—oh yeah!" Naruto exclaimed, his blush deepening. The boy cleared his throat and brought himself back to business, yet the blush was still on his face.
"It's time to go after Pein, and I swear I'll drag his dead body back to Konoha," he declared through clenched teeth.
"Good luck, Naruto," Iruka said happily as he embraced his former student, who returned it gratefully.
"Thanks, Iruka-sensei," Naruto beamed. "I'm counting on you guys to settle things here." With that, the blonde took off towards the three giant toad summons that were a few kilometers off to the right.
Iruka watched as they spoke for a few moments, and then vanished to who knows where. The chuunin prayed that all would go well. He sighed and then made his way back to Sakura who was busy attending to Kakashi's other wounds, and was keeping her face hidden. Iruka could practically feel her smile from where he was though.
"So uh . . . about what happened a few moments ago . . . " Iruka began, crouching down on Kakashi's opposite side so he was facing the girl.
"I was just wishing him good luck," Sakura said simply, still averting her eyes. Suddenly she glanced up and cocked an eyebrow at the chuunin. "Well? Are you going to help me or not?" she asked angrily.
"R-right! Y-yes . . . of course," Iruka stammered as Sakura began to bark out instructions to him.
If Naruto can survive her then taking on Pein should be simple enough!
Weird. Don't know how that turned out longer than the previous one. Oh well! Hope you enjoyed it and the format wasn't too confusing. Guess I had a lot of flashbacks.
This was a Kakashi and Iruka friendship piece, and the only romance in it was Sakura's kiss!! ;-)