Kei-Kei Yuki:I know a lot of is shocked to see yet another update from me! But while I'm in the Naruto mood, I'm trying to update as many chapters as I can~! Hope you liked this chapter as I really love Iruka and Naruko relationship, which is different from canon!
Making You Proud
The village began repairing itself after suffering from Pain's assault. The first to rebuild was the hospital where Kakashi and Naruko rested. Sakura and Hinata had just entered the room, only to see a fuming Iruka scolding Kakashi and Naruko.
"But, Ruka-nee!"
"Don't you Ruka-nee me, Naruko! You've depleted all your chakra, energy, and mental energy fighting against Pain! So now you need rest!" Having raised Naruko since she was five, dealing with the ball of hyperactive energy was a usual routine for Iruka.
When she turned her glaring eyes on Kakashi, the jounin gulped and turned his head away. "And don't even get me started on you, Mr. Hatake! While I'm thankful for what you did and happy to see you alive and well, rest is needed unless you want to sleep on the couch for the next three months?"
"I'll stay here and read." Faced with Iruka's threat, ignoring the snickering from the three kunoichis, Kakashi pulled out his favorite Ich Icha Paradise and began to read. Happy that Kakashi agreed to her demands, Iruka decided not to scold him for reading those smutty books in public.
Satisfied, Iruka turned around to greet her former Academy students. "Happy to see you two here! You two can keep Naru company while I go out and help with the assist." Walking towards the door, Iruka paused and shot Naruko a threatening look that made the blonde pale.
"Naru, if I see even a dot of orange outside these hospital walls, don't even think about getting any ramen for the next three months. See ya~!" A cheery smile graced Iruka face as she walked out of the room.
Back inside, Naruko shuddered. "Ruka-nee can be so scary!" Words Kakashi full-heartedly agreed with, nodding his head, only to blush when his eyes read a passage that made his imagination go wild. 'Hmm, maybe Ruka-chan and I should try this position.'
Wandering the village, Iruka stumbled upon the destroyed ground where the Academy once stood. A pain of remorse shot through her heart when her ears picked up voices talking. "Isn't that Umion Iruka? Naruko's guardian?"
"Ah, so she's our little hero's guardian. No wonder why Naruko became such a sweet and kind girl."
"Mmm, she did a wonderful job raising our hero!"
"I'm so a Naruko-chan fan now!"
"If it weren't for her, our village would not be here now!"
"Ha, always knew she could do it! That girl's got a good head on her shoulders!"
Quickly running away before anyone else could spot her, Iruka ducked behind the wall of a destroyed building and cried. The praise from the villagers brought upon conflicting emotions. She felt the proudness of a mother seeing her child's long-time wish and dream come true.
But at the same time, there was discomfort in recalling memories of having watched a group of adults chase out a little girl who wandered into their stores for clothes and food, barely reaching their kneecaps, that replayed in her head. The words 'monster' or 'demon' was viciously yelled at Naruko, who would come crying into her arms. The same man who said he always had trust in Naruko once ran them out of his restaurant, glaring venomously at the two of them, but not before calling Iruka a 'demon lover.'
Naruko's mental state had been on the verge of collapsing due to the repeated deaths of two people Naruko considered precious to her, added with Sasuke's actions that kept getting worse.
Yet it took her precious Naruko, whose heart was already hurt enough, fighting tooth and nail, body on the brink of exhaustion, for them to see her in the same light Iruka had always seen Naruko. Iruka may have had a hand in raising Naruko, but her selfless and kind nature was something she had already embodied.
Iruka muffled a hand over her mouth to not draw attention to herself. But the pang in her heart ached profoundly. Not to mention the scary thought that she had almost lost Kakashi forever if it weren't for Naruko's heroic deed. Unable to imagine a life without the copycat ninja in her life.
"Ruka-nee?"
Iruka froze, brown eyes clashing with Naruko's cerulean ones. By all rights, Iruka should've scolded Naruko for disobeying her orders. But she couldn't find the words to say anything as Naruko bent down and drew the brunette into a tight hug.
"It's okay, Ruka-nee! Everything is okay!" Naruko softly reassured her.
"But how can everything be okay? The nerve of those people! It took all of this for them to see what a great person you are! Sprouting a bunch of lies while forgetting the past! I hate them!" Iruka couldn't stop the words that slipped from her mouth. A mirth of laughter escaped Naruko's lips as she wiped away Iruka's tears.
"I may forgive, but never will I forget the past. Besides, why worry about those fake people? All I did was save their lives, and while I'm grateful that they finally gave me their recognition, there was one person who all along believed in me. Even when others scorned you and called you a 'traitor' or 'demon lover,' you were determined to give me a healthy childhood. All I ever wanted was to make you proud of me. To become someone that wouldn't bring you ridicule or disgust. That's why I wanted the village's recognition so bad. There's no telling how I would've turned out if you didn't take the role of a parent. You told me bedtime stories, combed my hair, fed and clothed me. Talked to me about the birds and bees, and was there for me when I got my first period."
Naruko sheepishly scratched her flushed cheeks, recalling the embarrassing scene of when she first got her period. The first thought that appeared in her head was that a ninja somehow invaded her room and injured her. Only for Iruka to laugh, helping her change clothes before explaining what it symbolized.
"Most of the village hated the date of my birth because of what happened. I know the day of my birth was the day you lost your parents."
"How do you...?"
"I once overheard it from the Old Man. Never will I forget the days, arriving home, only to see the entire apartment decked out with party gear with you holding a cake wishing me happy birthday." Stray tears ran down Naruko's cheeks.
"You saved me from my loneliness and filled it with warmth and love. So thank you, Ruka-nee, for raising me~!" Naruko flashed the stunned brunette a blinding smile. Overfilled with emotions, Iruka burst into a tearful cry, pulling Naruko into a tight hug.
"No, thank you, Naruko, for coming into my life. If anyone is lucky, it's me." Iruka sincerely meant each word she said. Hearing this, Naruko's smile widened as more hot wet tears ran down her cheeks.
From afar, having overheard the scene, Kakashi could do nothing but smile. The jounin recalled the scene of a young brunette holding the hand of a tiny blonde child. The two walked off into the moonlit night. The road before them was laced with various traps and bumps, but whatever hardship awaited them, they were ready to face it together, and if it ever got too bad, Kakashi was prepared to swoop in. After all, they were both his responsibility, and both of them deserved true happiness.
End of Making You Proud