Chapter 5: Trouble and a kiss

Iruka looked at the papers on his desk, reflecting on the month that had passed since the camping mission. He had heard numerous stories from Naruto about how amazing the experience had been. It seemed that Naruto was being positively influenced by the camaraderie of his classmates, as his mischievous antics had significantly decreased. Whether it was due to Anko's vigilant supervision or her encouragement to channel his energy into training sessions remained unclear. Anko's ability to anticipate and intercept Naruto's pranks was truly impressive, highlighting her keen intuition and rapport with him.

Indeed, Anko was a remarkable woman, and Iruka had grown to appreciate her even more since they began living together. She possessed a rare combination of beauty, strength, charisma, and maternal instinct, making her an exemplary mother figure for Naruto. Iruka had developed a deep fondness for her and recognized her invaluable role in their family dynamic. He had not thought of her as a person; he was simply raising Naruto with, for a good while, at least a couple of months. He felt that he might be falling for the purple haired woman.

He looked at the papers he was grading and glanced at Naruto's grades. They were not exceptional, but they had improved significantly compared to before. Naruto was making gradual progress, although he still wasn't competing for the top spot in the class. Sakura Haruno had long held that position securely, showing dedication and hard work. However, recent developments had shaken her confidence in maintaining her lead. Despite Naruto's persistent attempts to impress her and outshine Sasuke, his focus on Sakura had diminished somewhat.

Surprisingly, the real competition came from Kaza Togusa, a remarkably talented boy. Iruka had read the reports about him, noting his mastery of the Light Release, a kekkei genkai combining fire and lightning elements. This unique ability hinted at Kaza's exceptional potential and posed a challenge to Naruto's academic aspirations. It seemed that assisting Naruto with his studies had motivated him to apply himself more diligently. Unlike Shikamaru, who was often perceived as lazy due to his laid-back attitude, Naruto lacked focus, likely due to feeling ignored and undervalued.

Even Shino had undergone a subtle transformation since the camping mission. He had become slightly more sociable, occasionally spending time with Naruto at their home and joining Kaza on bug-hunting expeditions.

Iruka made notes about many students, intending to put more effort into each and every lesson. He wanted to ensure that they were as prepared as possible for the perilous life of a ninja, recognizing that his academy teaching played a crucial role in determining their success or failure in the future, alongside their teams and sensei. At least Naruto was in good shape in that regard.

As he flipped over his papers, he examined the results of various tests. It was going to be a long night for him. Leaning over, he took a sip of warm black tea, knowing he would need it to get through the night.

—-

At about that time, Naruto was sitting rather bored as Kaza and Shino were working in the gardens outside the Togusa Shrine. 'Sorry about this Naruto, I know working out in the gardens is boring, but I have to help my grandmother before I can go out and do anything,' Kaza said, letting out a sigh, feeling bad for the boring work they were going to have to do out here. He knew Shino was content; the large flower garden his grandmother kept had many rare and unique bugs brought in by the scent of his grandmother's unique flowers that were keeping Shino rather busy in his work.

"No worries, Kaza! I get it," Naruto replied with a grin, though he still seemed a bit restless. "Maybe we can find some cool bugs while we're at it! Or we could race to see who can finish first!" He looked around eagerly, trying to find some excitement in the task ahead.

Kaza's mind went over what he could do to keep this from being so boring. Kaza thought about using the idea of looking over the flower to convince Naruto to find one to give Sakura to impress her, but he wasn't sure his grandmother would approve. "How about some truth or dare while we work, Naruto, Shino?" he asked having nothing else he could think of and not thinking about how much trouble this could get him in.

Shino, ever stoic, simply nodded in agreement to Kaza's suggestion, while Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement at the idea.

"Yeah, let's do it! I dare you to climb that tree and touch the highest branch, Kaza!" Naruto exclaimed, pointing to a tall tree nearby. He was eager for the game to begin, hoping it would make the garden work more fun.

"Of course," Kaza said, a bit nervous as he looked at the tree. He took a deep breath as he contemplated how to climb it. Pressing his hand onto the tree, he began to work his way up, his hands pressing into the bark as he ascended. Despite his nerves, he proved to be quite nimble. Slowly but surely, he pushed himself upward, almost losing balance at times. When he reached the first large branch, he balanced himself with his hands out and jumped up to grab the next one. He continued this pattern, steadily making his way to the very top before looking down. It was then that he realized he hadn't thought about how to get back down.

With a nervous gulp, he slowly slid down and then dropped, grabbing onto a branch to prevent a fall. Breathing heavily, Kaza worked his way down, relieved when he finally reached the base. Giving a thumbs up to Naruto, he said, "Okay, do you want a truth or a dare?"

Naruto grinned eagerly, excited for the game. "Truth!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with anticipation as he awaited Kaza's question.

"Naruto, have you used shadow clones to wander around town while in class?" Kaza asked a fair question.

Naruto's grin faltered for a moment, his expression shifting to one of sheepishness. "Uh, yeah, sometimes," he admitted reluctantly, scratching the back of his head. "But only when Iruka-sensei's lecture gets boring, and I just wanna explore a bit."

"I am not a teacher, but that does sound fun," Kaza replied with a smile.

"Yeah, it is!" Naruto exclaimed with renewed enthusiasm, relieved that Kaza didn't seem to judge him for his antics. "Okay, my turn," he said, thinking for a moment. "Shino, truth or dare?"

Shino nodded in agreement. "Dare," he responded stoically, knowing that he could handle whatever challenge came his way.

Naruto grinned mischievously. "I dare you to eat a bug!" he declared, pointing to a nearby beetle crawling on the ground.

Shino didn't hesitate. Without showing any signs of disgust or hesitation, he calmly picked up the beetle and popped it into his mouth, chewing it thoughtfully before swallowing.

Naruto's eyes widened in amazement. "Whoa, Shino! You're awesome!" he exclaimed, impressed by Shino's bravery.

Kaza blinked impressed as well as he looked at Shino thinking he could never ever do what Shino had just done.

After the spectacle, Shino turned to Kaza. "Truth or dare?" he inquired, his expression unreadable as always.

Kaza thought for a moment before responding, "Truth."

Shino nodded, considering his question carefully. "Do you have a crush on anyone in our class?" he asked, his tone neutral as he awaited Kaza's response.

Kaza's eyes looked at the flower before him as his face turned a bright crimson, as he took a moment and let out a sigh, "Yes, yes I do," he said weakly as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

Naruto and Shino exchanged glances, surprised by Kaza's confession. Naruto grinned mischievously. "Who is it, Kaza?" he asked eagerly, eager to uncover his friend's secret crush.

"Don't laugh okay," Kaza said, slapping himself in the face as the kid tried to keep himself focused. "Ino," Kaza said blushing, still looking away. He had a crush on Ino from the moment he saw her on the first day of school, and he had never even had a conversation with the blonde.

Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement. "Ino, huh?" he exclaimed, unable to contain his amusement. "That's so cool, Kaza! You gotta talk to her someday!"

Shino nodded in agreement, his expression remaining neutral. "It is not uncommon to develop feelings for someone from a distance," he remarked calmly.

"Maybe someday," Kaza mused to himself quietly, "Okay, Naruto, um, lets try a prank, how about we do one today, we have some flowers um, how about we wait. I know," Kaza said thinking for a moment. "The cafe downtown, um Shino would you be up for pranking them? Say we gather some pollen and then release it in the cafe and then you release some of your bugs to cause a panic?"

Naruto's eyes widened with excitement at the prospect of a prank. "That sounds awesome, Kaza! Count me in!" he exclaimed eagerly.

Shino considered the suggestion for a moment before nodding. "I am capable of executing such a plan," he replied calmly. "It may serve as an interesting experiment."

—-

Anko was on the other side of town, occupied with some basic tasks. She hadn't taken on many missions for the village recently, so she had to work hard to stay in shape and ensure she didn't put on excess weight. The idea of becoming lazy and gaining weight seemed foolish to her. Additionally, she needed to maintain her training to stay at the top of her game, especially since she would soon be responsible for teaching and training a team of genin.

Aside from her personal upkeep, Anko also had to gather some information from Inoichi Yamanaka. She slipped into the flower shop, scanning the area until she spotted the older ninja at the counter. Knowing that Inoichi was acquainted with Ryota Togusa, Kaza's late father, she hoped he could provide insights into Kaza's lineage and abilities.

"Good morning, Inoichi, sir," Anko greeted politely. "I was wondering if you could share any information you have about Ryota Togusa."

Inoichi blinked in surprise at the question. "Oh, Ryota," he began, his tone nostalgic. "He was a good man, a hero even. Fought in the Third Shinobi War and emerged victorious from many battles. Ryota was skilled in traps and tricks, a formidable taijutsu fighter, and his ninjutsu was nothing to scoff at. Despite possessing jounin-level abilities, he never held the rank. He was kind, laid back, and caring. His wife, she was a sweet woman. Ryota took her in after she was forced out of her village for being clumsy, and they were married a year later."

"In battle, Ryota was legendary. There's a tale of him single-handedly defeating seventeen Iwa ninja. He met his end as a hero, but the circumstances surrounding his death are shrouded in secrecy," Inoichi explained, his expression somber. "His wife tragically passed away in childbirth, and as far as I know, the child didn't survive either."

Anko corrected Inoichi gently. "Actually, sir, Ryota's son is very much alive. Kaza Togusa is now nine years old and currently lives with his grandmother," she clarified, her tone calm yet firm. "Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to speak with the boy sometime and share stories about his father and mother. I'm sure he would appreciate hearing about them."

Inoichi nodded, his expression softening with understanding. "I see, I'll make sure to do that. It's important for Kaza to know about his parents and the legacy they left behind," he responded, grateful for Anko's insight. "Thank you for letting me know, Anko-san."

As she stood there, she heard the screams of people nearby. She blinked as her gut told her this was Naruto doing some stupid prank. She walked out quickly to find people running from the cafe that was across the street as they were covered in bugs that caused the massive freakout, the air was filled with pollen too, stuff that attracted bugs most likely. Anko looked to find three boys standing in the middle of it all, Naruto, Kaza, and Shino.

Anko's expression turned stern as she approached the trio, her eyes narrowing at the chaos they had caused. "Naruto, Kaza, Shino, what do you think you're doing?" she demanded, her voice firm and authoritative. "This is not the way to have fun. You've caused panic and chaos in the village. Explain yourselves, now."

Naruto shifted nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Um, well, we thought it would be funny," he admitted, his voice tinged with guilt. "But maybe we went a bit too far..."

Kaza bowed his head, looking contrite. "I'm sorry, Anko-san," he apologized, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "It was my idea, and I shouldn't have suggested it."

Shino remained stoic; his expression unreadable as always. "I merely followed the plan," he stated matter-of-factly. "But I understand if our actions were inappropriate."

Anko sighed, a mix of frustration and disappointment evident on her face as she looked at the three boys. "You could have caused a serious panic or even harmed someone with that prank," she scolded gently, her tone firm but not overly harsh. "Pranks are one thing, but this went too far."

She took a moment to compose herself before continuing, "You need to understand the consequences of your actions and think before you act. People could have been seriously hurt, and that's not something to take lightly."

Naruto and Kaza nodded, their expressions remorseful. Shino remained silent, but his nod indicated his understanding as well.

"We'll clean up this mess," Anko said, gesturing towards the chaos around them. "And then we're going to have a serious talk about responsibility and the impact of your actions."

—-

Later that night Anko was sitting with Iruka on the couch after an interesting day as they were both reading. "So you heard what happened right, Iruka," Anko said calmly then as she had let the three have it earlier. "I am not sure if I am surprised that it happened or that Naruto really didn't do anything as part of the so-called prank. That it was mostly Kaza and Shino acting out."

Iruka nodded, setting his book down on the coffee table and turning to face Anko. "Yes, I heard about it. I'm glad you talked to Naruto about it. He needs to understand the seriousness of his actions and the impact they can have on others," he replied, his tone serious.

"I'm also relieved to hear that Kaza's grandmother and Shino's father are addressing the situation," Iruka continued, his expression thoughtful. "It's important that they learn from this experience and take responsibility for their actions."

Anko nodded in agreement, a slight frown on her face. "Definitely. We need to ensure they understand the consequences and make better choices in the future," she said firmly. "We'll keep an eye on them and offer guidance as needed."

"Perhaps we can give him a bit of a carrot too," Iruka said after thinking, "If the boys can act good for a week or so, they can all have some type of stay over together. I guess here because I don't think poor old lady Togusa would handle it well, and I don't think the Aburame would want to host that either."

Anko nodded in agreement, considering Iruka's suggestion. "That sounds like a good idea. A little incentive might encourage them to behave better," she replied, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "And hosting it here would be more manageable for everyone involved."

She glanced over at Iruka with a grin. "We'll have to make sure they understand it's a reward for good behavior, not just a free pass to cause more trouble," she added, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Iruka chuckled and nodded. "Absolutely. We'll lay down some ground rules and make sure they know what's expected of them," he agreed, already thinking about how to organize the stay-over.

Iruka had one more topic on his mind, "Anko, I wanted to tell you thanks for being here with me, for um supporting Naruto and myself," he said as he looked at her, "I have to say I don't think I can see my life anymore without you in it. You're like just part of my everyday life and I love that fact."

Anko smiled warmly at Iruka's heartfelt words, feeling a rush of affection for him. "Iruka, you're welcome, and thank you for saying that," she replied sincerely, reaching out to gently squeeze his hand. "I feel the same way. It's been wonderful having you and Naruto in my life. You both mean so much to me, and I can't imagine my life without you either."

She paused, her expression softening with emotion. "We make a great team, don't we?" she added, a fondness evident in her voice as she looked into Iruka's eyes.

Iruka told himself to be brave and bold, to act, stuff he would want Naruto to do when the time was right. Iruka then was both of those things as he leaned in and kissed Anko on her lips.

Anko's eyes widened in surprise at Iruka's sudden boldness, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned into the kiss, returning it with a mixture of tenderness and passion. It was a moment she hadn't expected, but one that felt undeniably right.

When they eventually parted, Anko couldn't suppress the grin that spread across her face. "Well, that was unexpected," she remarked with a chuckle, her voice tinged with amusement. "But I have to say, Iruka, I liked it."