12Iruka: Hey! What happened to the part about me dying for goodness or something?
Ermm…aaa…yeah…
Iruka: You forgot didn't you!? *points accusing finger at author *
No! Of course not! How could I forget about you?
Iruka: But I'm ignored! *Throws himself on the floor and cries his eyes out *
Author: *sigh * You're gonna come up in this chapter, kay? Now let me get on with the story!
Iruka: *stops crying * Okie! Wait…you forgot to do the disclaimer…AGAIN!
Author: Damn…I keep forgetting the stupid disclaimer…*sigh * here it goes…AGAIN!
I DO NOT OWN ANY OF NARUTO
There! In huge block letters too! And that's it! That disclaimer applies to the WHOLE story…I'm too tired (and lazy ^_^) to write the disclaimer again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and - *OW! * Iruka! You know I can make you disappear from the story? PERMANENTLY!
Iruka: You were stalling! Stop stalling! Just get on with the stupid story! No one's reading this anyways!
No one's reading this? *looks disappointed * Damn. Fine…on with the story
Iruka: ~_~
Kakashi bowed. "Hokage-sama."
"Kakashi, you were always renowned for your punctuality" smirked Gai.
"Eh? Oh hi Gai. I didn't see you there."
*Damn. Another point for him…now I look like a fool… *
The Hokage acknowledge him with a small nod. "Alright. Now that we have all gathered again, I have something to say."
Kakashi, like the other Jounins there, were standing. The atmosphere was tense. After Iruka was murdered, little else was known.
"Ahem. We have inspected Iruka's body, at least, what was left of it."
Everyone tensed. Although Iruka was young, he was strong and powerful enough to earn the title of a Chuunin.
"I'm afraid his death wasn't a easy one. His insides were liquefied. Also, as some of you already know, Iruka was given a mission before his death. The scroll he was sent to retrieve was not found on him."
"But Iruka's a teacher! How can he be given a mission?" asked Gai.
The Hokage sighed. "The mission was supposed to be easy. Go and get the scroll from the holder at the inn. Then come back."
"Could it be that the holder of the scroll was the one who killed Iruka?"
"If only the ends were that easy to tie up. The holder of the scroll died a few minutes after Iruka left the inn. And the innkeeper and about a dozen tourists insist that they saw Iruka."
"Was the scroll important?" asked Kureni.
"Even I wasn't told that information. I was just simply sent a request to send a ninja to pick a scroll from the dying owner."
"With all due respect, Hokage, Iruka would never break his promise to the Leaf."
"Kakashi, I know that this is hard on you as it is with everyone else, but we cannot forget that Iruka was carrying the scroll that night and the fact that now it is missing. Added to that is that we have no idea what the scroll contains or where it is."
Kakashi regarded the Hokage with a stoic face.
Gai spoke up, "Hokage, you said that his insides were liquefied. How is that possible? To do that would require much chakra and power. This would mean that we are up against a powerful enemy."
"Could it be Orochimaru?" asked Kureni.
"It can't be him."
Everyone looked at Anko.
Anko shook her head. "It's just not his style. He kills with snakes and curses. I don't think that he even knows how to liquefy human insides."
"There is always a possibility Anko."
"I know Kakashi, but it's a very slim possibility."
"Everyone please."
Everyone turned to look back at the Hokage.
"No one is to say how Iruka died. It does not get past this door. If anyone speaks about the way he died, I will personally see to it that he or she is properly punished. Be on guard for anyone suspicious looking or for any questionable events. Inform me at once for any information. Remember that the foe is dangerous. That is all. You are all dismissed."
The Jounins quickly left, at least, all but one of them. The one who had stayed behind had a certain mask over his face and a crooked hit-tae over one eye.
"Hokage."
"What is it, Kakashi?"
"What happened to Iruka's body?"
The Hokage sighed. "I know that you and Iruka had a…close relationship. He is buried on the outskirts of the village on a hill looking onto the village. The view there is beautiful. Iruka would have loved it. If that is all, then you are dismissed."
The shinobi bowed in respect, then turned and–
"Kakashi, watch over Naruto. The emotional damage might release the Kyubi."
Kakashi sighed. His job was never easy.
-At the training grounds-
"Eh, Eh, that's all for now," said Kakashi, nodding his head in approval.
Naruto threw himself onto the ground, panting. Nearby, Sakura and Sasuke were leaning against a tree. They had been training for 8 hours straight. It seemed to everyone that ever since Iruka died that training had gotten more intense.
"Finally!" Naruto panted.
It also seemed that Naruto had finally gotten over Iruka's death.
"Eh, since you all trained so well today, lets go to Ichiraku Ramen. It'll be my treat."
"EH?" Naruto and Sakura looked at him in shock. It was rare that their sensei would treat them to lunch.
Sasuke, being a genius and all, knew right away what Kakashi had in mind. A week had passed since Iruka's death, and ever since then, Naruto had been closely followed. Of course, Naruto did not know that he was being watched. At least, Kakashi hoped not.
"Nah. I think I'll head on home."
"What? Are you feeling all right? Are you sick or something? Do you have a fever? That's probably it! The fever burned some damage into your brain." Sakura exclaimed. Although Naruto acted as if everything was all right, weird things had been happening. Like the time she was told to watch Naruto. Or the other time when she thought she had seen someone following him. A quick glance at Kakashi and Sasuke told her all she needed to know. They wanted to watch Naruto so that he would not do something stupid. Mentally making a note to herself that Kakashi and Sasuke owed her, she plastered on her biggest smile (which also happened to be her fakest) and sighed. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm hungry. If you don't want to go, fine. I'll go with Sasuke and Kakashi."
Naruto got up and, not wanting to lose his biggest crush to his rival, screamed, "What do you mean? I love ramen!" Pointing a finger at himself, he said, "I'll be the next Hokage so just you watch! I'll order ramen every day! Muhahahaha"
Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura anime sweat dropped. ~_~|||
Sakura sighed. "Oh come on baka."
-Later at a ramen booth -
Sakura looked at Naruto in disgust. His barbaric eating habits were just the thing to make her stop eating.
"Ne, Sakura, aren't you hungry?"
"Um…not anymore."
Naruto looked hungrily at her bowl. Feeling exasperated, Sakura sighed and pushed it across the table to Naruto.
"Take it."
"Are you sure?"
"I don't want it anymore."
"Then I'm taking your bowl!"
Sakura sighed again. She and Kakashi were the only ones not eating. Sasuke-kun was sitting next to her, eating politely, almost…mechanically…Sakura mentally frowned as that word popped up. Sakura sighed again. Why was everyone so…out of balance? Suddenly, Sasuke stopped eating. He raised his head and his eyes looked around the booth, searching methodically. Kakashi was doing the same thing. Naruto…was too busy eating to notice.
"What is it?" asked Sakura on alert.
"Sssshh," hissed Sasuke.
"Bhat?" asked Naruto, spewing noodles to whoever was sitting in front of him. Unfortunately for him, that was Sakura.
"Naruto!" Sakura screamed.
"Be quiet." Kakashi ordered.
Naruto and Sakura instantly became quiet. It was rare for their sensei to be so serious.
Suddenly, Sasuke whispered, "Do you notice it Sakura?"
Sakura concentrated. A few minutes later, she nodded her head.
"What is it?" whispered Naruto.
"There's a smell in the air…its faint…but its there."
Sakura nodded her head in agreement. "Its familiar, yet I can't tell what it is."
Naruto just nodded in confused agreement and returned to his noodles.
"Eh, I'll be right back. Stay here." Kakashi got up and left the booth.
Sasuke and Sakura were alert. Their hands were on their kunai just in case…
Kakashi looked around the street. There was no one suspicious. They were all normal everyday customers. A farmer, marketers, tailors… Sighing to himself he turned to rejoin his comrades. Suddenly, his eyes caught a cloaked figure. He wore a huge straw hat and an even bigger straw cloak. No weapons could be seen on him. To non-shinobis, he was just a normal poor man who could only afford a straw cloak and hat. However, Kakashi was a shinobi. The ease at which the man held himself told that he was no ordinary man. After all, Kakashi used the same easy-going shield to hide his true power. And the smell, although very faint, came from him! The man looked up and Kakashi looked away, trying to look inconspicuous. But Kakashi knew he did not fool the man for he quickly turned away. Kakashi rushed back to the booth and grabbed his subordinates, ignoring Naruto's cries of despair. He paid on his way out, hoping it was enough.
Thanks for all those reviews! I'm soooo sorry I didn't update soon. Stupid exams! Argh! They're finally over! OVER I TELL YOU!
*Takes textbooks and throws them in the trash can. *
Hah!
*Turns around…and sees the math textbook. *
What on earth? *Takes textbook and throws it in the trash. Turns around and…. sees the textbook, again! *
ARGH!
*Leaps onto the textbook and stabs it viciously. *
Iruka's spirit: ~_~||||
ANYWAYS…That's all for now! I hope it's good enough. I'll try putting up chapter 5 quicker. OOOHHH! There will be blood next chapter! Muhahahahaha. So if you can't stand blood, run! RRUUUNNNN!
RUN I TELL YOU!
Iruka's spirit: ~_~|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||