Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Before he notices anything else, Umino Iruka notices the shoes. 

Or lack thereof. 

The kid’s short, tiny and wearing clothes just a bit too big for him. It's not uncommon for children in group care which he’s willing to bet he is from the state of him (he remembers that short period of time before he was in his own housing after being promoted to Genin). 

But the thing that’s really bothering Iruka is the fact he has no shoes on and those little feet are covered in dirt and scrapes. It’s not right, surely they’ve- oh.

He can sense it now that he’s trying, looking with something other than his eyes. He knows who this is- this is the Kyuubi container. This is the one that destroyed his home, killed his parents and sent his life spiraling. This is the reason he still wakes up in a cold sweat five years later with no one to comfort him. Iruka is going to turn and walk away, he swears it. 

He’s seventeen now. He's grown. He’s focused on missions and his studies and navigating working with the Hokage and this is by far not something he wants to be angry about anymore. His stomach still twists and he can feel his jaw tighten just being here and sensing that chakra. 

It’s the exact same as that day whether it's behind that tiny frame or the one that crushed half his village. 

Iruka is going to walk away. He’s already decided.

He goes to turn on his heel and he'll continue grocery shopping tomorrow despite this being one of his only free days this week; he’s almost in the clear when he catches something out of the corner of his eye. 

The container walks close to a stall entrance, hands twisting around each other and peering inside when the stall owner bats at him with the straw end of the broom. 

It isn’t hard, not enough to hurt him but enough to make it clear he’s not wanted there. 

It is enough to make Iruka mad. 

He doesn’t want to think about why, he knows it but won't address it. He’s just mad now- about everything. Heaven help this shop keeper because now his whole schedule is thrown off for the day and anyone in the village can speak to what happens if you mess up Umino Iruka’s schedule. 

“Oi! Where do you get off? A simple get out won’t do? You don’t hit kids asshole!” Iruka’s got his arms crossed, shoulders squared like it’ll make him look a bit bigger than he is. 

“I don’t want that thing around here! It’s bad for business. Do your duty to the village and remove him then!” The shopkeeper spares a glance at the forehead protector tied around his head, still visible proudly even with his hair down. 

“Your attitude is shit!” Iruka huffs and before he can think anything of it he grabs the kids hand in his and starts walking in the opposite direction towards the shinobi districts. The little thing doesn’t say a word, just lets himself get dragged along like a ragdoll.

“Who does he think he is? If people could mind their own business and keep their hands to themselves, maybe we wouldn’t even need shinobi anymore. He’ll be lucky if I come back that way! In fact, he’s lucky I don’t prank him. If I had the time anymore he’d get his ass handed to him, I'll tell you that kid!” Iruka huffs with the temperament of a teenager under the weight of adult responsibilities before he realizes what he’s done. 

He stops mid rant, tiny hand still loose on his own and looks down at him.

“What happened to your face?” Big blue eyes blink up at him, stubby finger pointing crudely at the large scar across his nose. Iruka knows what he wants to say, that it’s his fault. That every scar he's ever had was carved into him that night. That he’s always gonna remember it every time he catches his own reflection like a knife in his gut. 

Instead he lets his face go slack, flicks the kids finger and says-

“I kept pointing at people and one day I woke up with a giant scar on my nose.” He blinks hard and watches the kids face to see that one singular sentence ping around in his brain for a bit. 

His face screws up almost instantly, nose scrunched and let’s out a huff. 

“That’s crazy talk, ya know. Are you crazy?” He still hasn’t let go of that hand and Iruka doesn’t either. Umino considers his situation, stares down at this kid and tries to find it in himself to be angry. 

“I think I might be.” He admits, inhaling through his nose. 

It doesn’t seem to phase him one bit and a distantly familiar smile crosses his gapped tooth face.

“Okay. You want to see my place?” Naruto asks, louder now that they’ve apparently gotten whatever this kid considers introductions and Iruka is far too involved now to run in the opposite direction.

“Why not? Lead the way kid.” Iruka might be losing his mind in real time. He follows the kid without another word, biting his tongue and pushing down the anxiety in his gut. He can feel the eyes of Anbu on him too, watching him. 

The kid’s “place” is more like a pile of rocks and leaves he’s collected a few feet from the riverbank. It’s a little too close to water for Iruka’s comfort. No way that little kid could swim and he certainly didn’t seem to have much supervision besides whatever the Hokage required by law. Not to mention he’s still barefoot and has no apparent instincts to not follow around anyone despite the fact most people treat him like crap.

“This one is green.” He says, passing the rocks one by one to Iruka who pretends to inspect them.

It’s definitely not green. 

“I think this is brown. See? It looks like this one.” He holds up the last rock, compares them side by side and shows him patiently. 

“I like green. I want a green one.” He twists his face up again like getting mad at the rock is going to change its color somehow. It’s almost cute. Almost. God he’s such a sap. He’s pathetic. He’s asking for trouble. It’s a terrible idea. 

“How about we go find a green one then?” Iruka stands up, brushing off his pants, pointing to the riverbank. It’s not too fast moving and it’s only about a foot deep where they are. If he keeps a hold on him they should be fine to be in the water a bit.

The kid follows him like a little duckling, tiny fist gripping his pant leg as they get closer to the water. He could easily stand on top, but it’s been a while since he did anything a little silly. He used to do this sort of thing a lot when he was little too. His dad had always held his hand and showed him different plants and fish. How long had it been since he’s been in water like this?

“It’s cold!” The kid shouts and giggles, crushing himself into Iruka’s leg and instinctively, he pulls him up on him, holding him firmly on his hip while they bend down and pick up random rocks they find. He’s got his pants rolled up to his knees, shoes discarded a few feet from the water’s edge. 

They find four more rocks of various sizes, one that can pass for green and three frogs. The kid is fascinated with them and squeals anytime Iruka manages to snatch one up gently. 

“Puppy!” He smiles and reaches for the frog only for Iruka to snort.

“Gentle! He’s delicate. And he’s not a puppy, he’s a frog.” Umino corrects, readjusting him on his hip before letting the little frog go. They watch him hop away, rocks secured in one of his pockets as they make their way back. 

“What’s your name, kid?” He finally asks because he really tried to hate him, but he’s too genuine. If there’s a demon in there (he knows there is, can feel it under the surface, can remember it like yesterday) then it’s not the kid he’s holding.

“I’m Naruto.” he lets out a big yawn and rests his head on Iruka’s shoulder softly. 

“I’m Umino Iruka.” he adds, making sure to deposit the rocks in Naruto’s little hiding spot so he can find them later. 

“You gotta promise not to go into the water without someone with you, okay? If you want to find more rocks you have to ask someone to help you. Water is dangerous when you’re big and when you're  small. Alright, Naruto?” He pats him on the back gently, making his way back into the main streets of the village. 

“Mhm.”

Iruka senses them before he can see them. It’s Anbu for sure, he’s interacted enough times to recognize even without his unique sensing. Despite how sleepy he’d been acting, Naruto sits up when Hound appears a few feet in front of them. He stands there silently, just watching. 

Iruka doesn’t move, holds Naruto just a bit tighter and waits.

“Puppy?” Naruto rubs his eyes and gives a chubby handed wave in the Anbu's direction. He doesn’t wave back. It’s a childish interpretation of the official Hound Anbu mask, but he supposed Naruto thinks anything with ears is a puppy at this point. 

“Have you seen this one before, Naruto?” Iruka asks gently. Naruto nods enthusiastically just before another yawn.

“Sometimes he carries me too if I fall asleep outside. He smells like dirt.” he mumbles, rubbing his hands over the fabric of Iruka’s vest absentmindedly. Iruka swallows thickly at the thought of little Naruto pretending to be asleep just so someone would carry him a bit. No wonder the kid practically melted into his side, he’s probably not been held much at all. 

Iruka also thinks “smells like dirt” is probably accurate but a very humbling comment coming from a toddler. If Hound is bothered, he doesn’t show it. 

He looks back at the mask across from him. 

Hound recognizes Umino Iruka immediately. It’s the only reason he doesn’t immediately attack at the sight of him holding Naruto. 

He wasn’t anything impressive on paper as far as stats go. He’s been painstakingly average in almost every regard. He’d been scouted for Anbu for a short amount of time and Hound had been the one to observe him. 

The only thing Iruka was known for being exceptional in was pranks and his ability to somehow finish three weeks worth of paperwork in one day (and redesign the entire Hokage tower filing system in the same night) . On paper it was ridiculous, but he’d come up and executed some of the most creative pranks in the village, avoided being caught and was able to land one on more than one Anbu before. 

It had been enough to get him on the radar besides the Hokage’s  insistence that his understanding and application of barrier seals was well into a Jounin rank. 

He’d failed the observation miserably. Iruka has the will of fire, undeniably so, but he’s got too much heart. The guy had a bleeding heart and that wasn’t something Anbu had before or after the mask.

He wouldn’t have lasted. 

He was interning at the mission desk, studying and running regular missions. He’d run into him several times outside of the mask, though they never really interacted more than what was rank appropriate in years.

But here he is, arms holding tightly onto the fourth’s son, stance wide like he’s ready to defend if necessary. 

Hound knows what Iruka knows- he wouldn’t stand a chance. 

And yet, he keeps one arm loose, stance wide and eyes vigilant. He’s afraid of hound right now- or more like what hound might be here to do. 

Hound takes one look at the way he speaks to Naruto, holds him tightly and waits. Umino Iruka has no idea the extent of what getting close to Naruto will do. 

Hound has been working for years now to make sure Naruto stays out of the hands of ROOT or anyone else who might attempt to manipulate him. 

He wasn’t allowed to get close, reveal anything or care for him. Not like he could- it hurt to even look at him. He wouldn’t have had the strength even if he’d had the option. 

Iruka is no older than him. Barely seventeen and yet- Hound thinks Iruka may be the only person in the whole village with the pull and position to do this. 

If Iruka has the strength to become someone who watches over Naruto and care for him where his parents never got the chance- Hound swears then and there to protect him too. 

Hound says nothing, motions for Iruka to follow. He does, hesitantly. He doesn’t ask questions either. Naruto is nearly asleep, resting peacefully in Iruka’s arms as Hound leads them across town. 

Iruka recognizes this district almost instantly, familiar with group homes and orphanages from his few years spent here after the attack. It seems they haven’t changed all that much. There’s still a log that he signs Naruto’s name into. It’s an archaic way to track when kids leave or not. A lot of them do small jobs to save money in the civilian district, but it’s not ever all that accurate. Regardless he signs the name quickly and after a disappointingly uneventful or interesting conversation with his assigned caretaker, he places Naruto on his cot, tucking him in. He doesn’t stir, doesn’t reach or turn to him. He simply curls into a blanket and snores softly.

Hound had known exactly where he lived and Iruka doesn’t quite know if he’s okay with that. The fact that so many Anbu seemed to rotate the supervising, but never interacting. He also doesn’t know what to do with the knowledge Naruto sees Anbu sometimes when he really shouldn’t be able to. 

Everything about this is screaming classified and despite the fact he can feel Hound's eyes on him through glass windows isn't helping put him at ease. Iruka watches his chest rise and fall for a second longer. His fingers twitch, wanting to brush overgrown bangs from his forehead gently, but he doesn't.

When he does leave, it’s quickly. He’d spent enough time in places like that. He didn’t need to ever truly be there again. If it makes his chest tight, he tries to ignore it.

Instead of disappearing, Hound follows and Iruka doesn’t even pretend not to notice.

They’re nearly to his apartment now, abandoning any plans for grocery shopping he’d started his day with. He’d have another day off in… almost a week. He could make do. Probably. 

“Did you need something Anbu-san or are you just trying to intimidate me?” he scrunches up his nose, huffs and turns with more attitude than Hound is expecting. He’s got his fists balled up at his sides and Hound just blinks behind his mask because it’s the same face Iruka wears when Kakashi turns in a shitty mission report at the desk. 

If he were someone else he would laugh-Kakashi definitely would. 

“You walk an interesting line between following orders and directly ignoring them.” Hounds voice is hollow, unrecognizable and standard Anbu. It’s a genjutsu and modulator. All Anbu have it in the mask, making it impossible to tell who they could be without it. 

The cadence sounds so familiar but also untraceable. It’s also a question, but not really. It’s not the kind of thing that the Hokage would instruct him to say. 

Hound has said this out of his own curiosity and interests despite the fact Anbu are not supposed to have these. It’s a little bit of a give, a white flag in the smallest way possible. Iruka does admire this just a bit. (he’s always been a sucker for a bit of a rogue).

“He’s not what they think he is." Iruka starts. "He’s just a kid. He doesn’t understand.” Iruka rubs his thumb over his fingers methodically, taking care in how he speaks, but also soothing the wave of emotions this admittance brings. 

Hound tilts their head slightly, body still regardless. 

“We’ve been ordered to keep our distance. You are aware of this.” Hound notes. It’s as if he can’t believe Iruka would do something like this or maybe that anyone would be willing to recognize the difference between a child and what he contains. 

“Yes. I’m not breaking any real rules. I’m not mentioning anything, not insinuating anything. I’m just…,” he pauses, contemplating the safest way to navigate this, “-supervising.” He finishes, swallowing thickly. 

Hound knows this is a lie. He can see it on the younger man’s lips as it rolls off, almost visible it’s so thick. It’d be treason if it were anything truthful and anything more. 

Iruka is walking a fine line, but he’s also seemed to earn the Hokage’s favor over the past few years, so maybe he had an extra leg to stand on. 

“Besides,” Iruka interrupts his thoughts, “you know what they say- the child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.” He finishes, turning slightly away from Hound and reaching to twist his doorknob as familiar seals and wards welcome him in without the need for a key. 

“Hm.” Hound is gone by the time he turns to wave. 

Iruka exhales and steps into his apartment, locking the door behind him for good measure. 

Chapter Text

Once he’s calmed his heart and ensured he’s still breathing and the door is locked Iruka considers the interaction he just had with the ANBU Hound. Initially, the sight of an ANBU was alarming- simply because he felt like he’d been caught committing a crime against the village and was about to be killed right where he stood. 

But really, that had just been the anxiety getting to him. Most ninja, even those committing terrible crimes (of which he was certainly not) at least got interrogated before being killed so that was really a baseless train of thought. 

Iruka doesn’t find Hound all that intimidating the more he thinks about it. 

In fact, Hound had seemed curious, confused even by what Iruka considers average behavior. Maybe it was odd to be someone in the village who didn’t hate Naruto, but was it really so odd to see someone do what they thought was right?

At the end of the day all he did was listen to the kid and make sure he was safe for the night. It shouldn’t be strange enough for Hound to stare and question. 

Iruka wonders what kind of life Hound has led under that mask- or if he exists outside of it at all. 

At his core, Iruka is a protector of the village. He knows what the ANBU do are the things regular ninja can’t- the things the village needs done in the dark to keep it safe. He’s always had incredible respect and appreciation for what they do- for the sacrifice they make by executing missions in the shadow. There’s no glory in what they do (he’s seen some of the classified mission reports, the ones the Hokage shows him how to analyze and make during their lessons). 

But a part of him hates that they’ve spent years circling around the toddler, watching him be treated like that and doing nothing (hadn’t he done that too? Hadn’t almost everyone? On the orders and directives of the Hokage he drank tea and chatted with weekly?) 

It’s a confusing set of emotions to have. 

It may be the first time he’d ever outright disagreed with something the Hokage has directed everyone to do. It may also be the first time he’s going to so openly disregard the social expectation. (and potential legal one). 

“Oi- you’re home late. What gives?” Mizuki calls from behind the kitchen counter, finishing off whatever he’s made himself for dinner. 

“Mm. I ran into someone at the stalls and ended up losing track of time. Sorry.” Iruka rubs the back of his neck, trying not to stare at the pile of dishes in the sink he knows he didn’t put there. Mizuki adds his empty plate to the sink, neglecting to start running soapy water and Iruka inhales patiently through his nose. 

“You’re always running into someone you know. Must have been pretty interesting to be out until dark.” It’s not said with a negative intonation, but Mizuki has a way of digging without letting someone call him out on it. Iruka is far too familiar with how these conversations go if he doesn’t answer correctly. 

“Yeah- well, i’m finally home. Did you still want to go out to drinks tonight?” It’s later than he wants to be out and he’s honestly exhausted from the strange events of today. He’d much rather crawl in bed than go out and pretend he isn’t. 

But he’d already said he’d go and Mizuki had been the one to suggest they go out. Supposedly some of their friends were supposed to go out tonight and Mizuki had invited Iruka despite knowing his busy schedule. He’d agreed originally, but that had been a few days ago. 

“Nah. Later than expected. They’re probably already a few drinks ahead. I’m just going to turn in for the night.” His tone is clipped enough that Iruka has to bite back a sigh. He watches silently as Mizuki pads to his room, the door clicking shut softly behind him. 

Iruka stares at the state of the apartment. Dishes piled high in the sink, throw blankets falling off the end of a shared couch and a cup left out, half full. 

Iruka is tired- exhausted. Maybe Mizuki is too, he does more field missions than Iruka does and tends to train physically harder, but regardless of all that- at the end of the day Iruka can’t sleep in a dirty apartment. 

He pulls the hair-tie off his wrist, ties his hair back, rolls up his sleeves and gets to work. 

A few days later, Iruka takes a different route, passing through the district just behind his. 

He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t looking for Naruto. He’s not going to knock on doors or check alleys- but if he runs into him out and about he can say it was happenstance. He’s got a shift in a little over an hour and wants to grab something quick to eat on his way in. 

(He never did make it back to the market after running into Naruto that day).

Sure enough, Iruka comes across Naruto wandering around a grassy area just at the edge of the road. Some weeds between his fingers must be fascinating, because the kid is pulling them up and inspecting their roots closely. 

Naruto must hear him, because his head turns sharply at his approaching figure and tilts in confusion before he waves a tiny hand covered in dirt at him.

Iruka smiles at the sight of it and waves back.

“What are you up to today, Naruto?” Iruka asks genuinely, crouching down to inspect the pile of weeds Naruto has made on the ground in front of him. 

“Mm. I want to grow stuff like this. I have a pot for it.” Naruto holds out a handful of dandelions for Iruka to inspect and he does, turning them gently in his hand. It’s impressive actually- instead of yanking the weed out of the ground, he’s dug out the tiny root system, protecting its growth.

“That’s pretty neat. Do you like plants a lot, or just these?” Iruka asks, passing them back and watching as Naruto uses his shirt as a basket, collecting them all at once. 

Naruto holds his ‘basket’ with one hand and waves the other one around at Iruka, nodding enthusiastically. 

“Yeah! I really like them. One day I want to have a big garden! I’m going to grow lots of things. Do you have a garden?” Iruka stands, shaking his head.

“Not really. I’m actually really bad at taking care of plants, but I do think they’re really cool. I’m glad you enjoy them. I can tell you’re going to be a good gardener- l’m really impressed at how you saved their roots too.” Iruka admits, smiling down at Naruto’s excited grin, gap toothed and crooked. 

“Mmhm. That’s how they get their energy.” Naruto nods sagely and Iruka snorts at the expression. 

“I’m about to go get some early lunch- do you want to come with me?” Iruka offers, holding out a hand. Naruto stares at his hand and back up to his face, searching for something before shaking his head.

“I don’t have any money with me.” He admits, gripping his shirt a little bit tighter and taking a step back. Iruka shakes his head in response and leaves his hand extended.

“I can pay for you. I make money from my missions and work, so don’t worry about paying me back. Besides, I hate eating alone. Come on- you can even bring your dandelions with us.” 

Naruto pauses before ultimately taking Iruka's hand and agreeing to follow him. He sticks close to Iruka’s pant leg and Iruka’s stomach twists at the way Naruto’s eyes dart around the crowds, watching and listening. 

He wonders how many times Naruto has been yelled at or ignored on this very street. 

Iruka makes sure not to pay mind to the looks people are giving them. Not everyone notices, but some do a double take at the sight of the two of them. It’s mostly civilians and some standard chuunin who probably lost the same things Iruka did- or more. 

He can’t believe he used to wear that same expression. 

They settle into Ichiraku’s, an old favorite spot of Iruka’s (one he’s certain he’s been getting a discount at, but never been explicitly told). The palace isn’t too busy- it's a bit early for most people to be enjoying lunch and he’s thankful to take a break from peering eyes. 

He plops Naruto down in the seat next him, tugging the chair a bit closer to himself (Naruto isn’t a baby, but he is small and a fall from a stall chair at that height could still hurt and- and Iruka isn’t really sure where all these thoughts and anxieties are coming from).

He’s seventeen. In no way shape or form is he having baby-proofing thoughts and anxieties. Absolutely not. He refuses. 

“Well- look at that Iruka! Seems like you’ve brought a new friend. He’s much shorter than the dark haired one!” Teuchi laughs and hands Naruto a menu in such a casual way Iruka does snort with laughter. 

“I’m not telling Anko you described her by the dark hair. She’d much prefer something along the lines of “effervescent” or “charming”.” he rolls his eyes at the thought, because truly Anko is not charming at all and her table manners are absolutely terrible. 

“I’m Naruto U-zu-ma-ki!” His volume control needs a little work, but his pronunciation is good. Iruka is getting a little bit worried in the back of his mind that Naruto’s education may be a bit behind regular milestones and - nope. No baby proofing, child development thoughts. Just ramen. A lunch. Get the kid a lunch. 

“Wow! Alright Naruto Uzumaki! I love your energy. Since today is your first time here, your bowl is on the house.” Teuchi smiles at Naruto and sends a wink to Iruka. 

Iruka thinks Teuchi is one of the best people in the entire village. He’d been genuine and nothing else for years. He’d come to Ichiraku’s a few times with his parents before the attack, but the stall had been destroyed during it. 

Two days after the attack, Teuchi had started cooking again in his actual home that had thankfully made it through unscathed and brought it all the way out to the districts they had pulled together as safety zones every day for a month to feed anyone who was helping clean up the area. 

He’d reopened his shop six months later when most of the debris had been cleared and some of the buildings were coming back up. Iruka had been a frequent customer throughout his youth. Teuchi had seen Iruka at his worst and always managed to see the best in him. If he’d been hungry, he’d been fed. Simple as that. He comes by at least once a week now ( he always tips double his meal when he has the funds).

This is what “village” and “home” means to Iruka. It’s the sense of community, the kindness. He knew without a doubt that Teuchi wouldn’t treat Naruto any differently than any other kid, regardless of the details. He’s glad he brought Naruto here- he’ll know there is at least one place in the village he can rely on. He’s also sure Teuchi would kick anyone out that treated Naruto unkindly. 

“This is really really good!” Naruto squeals, fumbling with his chopsticks a bit before copying Iruka’s form to eat the rest of his lunch. It’s almost time for him to make his way into his shift. Which- he normally enjoys going to work. It’s still work, but he loves being a part of a team that keeps the village running smoothly.

And yet, when he drops Naruto back off towards the group home he finds it a bit hard to say goodbye. Naruto looks disappointed when he does. Gets all quiet and waves him off like he’s not sure he’s going to come back. 

It makes his stomach twist, but he watches him enter the home safely before heading off. 

He finds himself wondering what he’ll be making for dinner and if he can find that old bento he’d saved in a cupboard somewhere to bring Naruto. He hates leftovers anyway and tends to make big portions. Mizuki might not even be home to eat tonight if his attitude was still lingering a bit. In fact, he’d be doing himself a favor by bringing it to Naruto if that’s the case. 

He’s halfway down the street before he pauses and looks back at the shared house. Did Naruto get full meals there? Are his sheets soft? Does someone check on him every night, or is he left there all alone in the dark until the sun comes back up?

For a moment, the house changes shape and color. It’s overcrowded with kids, crying and fighting. It’s two to a cot and they pass around a load of bread to break apart while the staff try to get a headcount from all the new additions. He’s hungry and cold and the sheets are rough and itchy- emergency military blankets he finds out years later when he puts on a headband. 

The first couple years after the attack, every center had been overcrowded and underfunded. They hadn’t been prepared for anything like what happened. Supposedly it’s better now. A lot of those kids ended up joining the academy and were able to move into group apartments once they joined the roster. Things in the village had gotten better too- they’d restructured a lot of the civilian district and there were a lot more options for placement and resources than there had been.

Still- he remembers being alone. Hungry and tired. He can’t help but worry about Naruto being there and feeling like that. 

He’ll be late if lingers here too much longer- lingers in the past. 

He turns on his heel and makes his way to the Hokage tower. 

Working at the missions desk had been exciting for him at first. Then he’d started doing more clerical work for the Hokage himself and helping organize some of their lesser funded departments and well- now it was a bit mundane. 

Mundane, but necessary. He reminds himself of this- the importance of such boring work. If not, then who will?

The mission desk isn’t too difficult. What’s difficult is getting jounin to properly write mission reports before expecting him to approve and take them. Most jounin write a decent report, but tend to turn in late. Or leave out a key component- or in some cases they leave off their name completely. It’s annoying, but what’s more annoying is that it seems they’ve been getting away with turning them in like that for quite some time. 

Needless to say, Iruka is in the process of teaching adults how to follow instructions and write. The state and future of the mission records for the village depend on it. Umino Iruka on the case!

The shift is going fine, really- but there are a handful of ninja that have a way of irritating the hell of him. 

“Irukaaaa. Made sure to get this to you pronto!” Anko Mitarashi slides her mission report across the desk, grinning ear to ear at him. 

He’s not really all that amused, despite the fact he does enjoy seeing her smiling at him. 

She’d had a rough couple of years and a lot of them were spent in a borderline state of psychosis and trauma- so the fact she’s here to annoy him at all does make him grateful, but he does have a reputation to uphold if he wants anyone to take him seriously. 

“While this is right on time, Anko. I do need to ask that you turn in mission reports without blood on them.” He slides it back across the desk, intentionally avoiding the dark corner, still damp and definitely blood. 

“You drive a hard bargain, kid-” his eye twitches at that, only a year younger but she loves to throw that phrase around at him, “I just want to say, the blood isn’t mine this time and I think that deserves some appreciation.” She shrugs, grabbing a new form he keeps stacked on the edge of the desk. 

“Somehow that makes me feel even worse.” He groans, grabbing a wipe from inside his desk drawer (he’s always prepared) to clean up whatever had potentially gotten there. 

Anko mutters something to herself over in the corner, obviously taking more care to copy over her report onto the clean sheet. 

His next unhappy patron is a chuunin who neglected to fill out two subsections he needs to properly organize the mission report so of course he tells him he needs to fill those out as well. 

“They always take it without them. Can’t you just take it like that? There’s plenty of information and the mission was a C-rank anyway.” The chuunin is disgruntled and pushy and it’s just enough to piss Iruka off. 

“Well im not they am I? I don’t care who you are or what mission you opted to take. Every section is filled out or you haven’t turned it in properly.” He holds his ground, pushing the report back across the table, unblinking stare at the chuunin who’s now red in the face. 

“Tch. Look man I don’t have all day. It’s fine- can’t you just fill it out for me? Since it’s just-,” The chuunin starts shoving his paper back across the table when Anko pops back up beside the desk immediately. 

“Oi- this guy giving you shit, Iruka?” Anko grins, all teeth at the guy before sparing a glance back at her friend. Said Chuunin takes a bit of a step back, but his face twists in anger instead of annoyance now. 

“I’m turning in a mission report. That’s all. No need to call an attack dog on me.” He grumbles and iruka sighs heavily. Anko really doesn’t like being implied that she's an attack dog or a weapon. That’s one of her triggers. 

“OH. This one, yeah?” She grins, picking it up before setting it on fire right in front of both of them, smoldering ash destroys whatever report he’d attempted and Iruka has to fight to keep a grin off his face. 

“Best start a new one. The right way.” She shoves a clean sheet at his chest, pushing him back a step and Iruka fights to keep a straight face, arms crossed over his chest in solidarity.

“God, whatever.” With a roll of his eyes the chuunin steps to the side to fill it out properly and Anko slides him her corrected form, eyes still shining like she’d wanted more of a fight than she got. Which Iruka figures is true- Anko does love to start a fight. It used to piss him off, but he’s grown kind of fond of it over the past couple years.

Anko was weird- but she’d been weird before Orochimaru had tried to scramble her brain too, so it’s not all that intimidating to him. 

“Take your lunch break, Iru. We need to chat.” she taps his headband and spins on her heel, leaving him staring at the empty doorway as she disappears. 

They take a seat on one of the benches a ways down the street overlooking part of the cemetery. His eyes avoid a specific direction, intentionally focusing on the ones he doesn’t recognize. 

“I’ve heard some rumors you’re hanging around that little brat.” Anko starts, avoiding his gaze and instead choosing to stare out into the trees. Normally, hearing someone call Naruto a brat wouldn’t sit right with him, but Anko calls all kids brats. That’s just her thing. Besides, if anyone understands getting treated with prejudice, it’s Anko. 

“Mmm. Where did you hear that from?” He asks, testing the waters and kicking at the dirt in front of him. She pulls out a cigarette and lights it, ignoring the way his nose scrunches up at the sight of it. 

“A few places. Some jounin, an Anbu or two. A few strangers too, on the street. Maybe they don’t know your name, but there is word going around that someone is watching over the brat.” She inhales and exhales rhythmically. 

“What if I were?” He asks honestly, turning to her and searching her face for a reaction. Tell me I'm crazy. Tell me I'm not. 

“It’s about time someone else committed some light treason. I was getting lonely in the 'put everyone on edge by my mere presence' club.” She grins at him honestly, chipped canine showing through a busted lip she’s probably very deserving of. 

“I wouldn’t say i’m all that surprised though.” she admits, softer this time, grin replaced by an almost sad look and Iruka studies the wrinkle of her nose and turn of her lip like it will absolve him of something, “you’ve always been better than the rest of us.” She takes another hit of her cigarette, staring off somewhere Iruka knows he wouldn’t be able to see if he tried. 

“I don’t know about all that,” he admits, “but sometimes all I can think about is how we all felt right after everything. Those cots we shared, that first apartment we had- me you and mizuki right out of the academy. The water damage, the broken AC unit. Tch- the time we all split one can of rations and pretended it was dango with our eyes closed. I don’t-” he sighs heavily, “I think- I made it through all of that because I had you and Mizuki and Asuma and Lord Third-and this kid’s got none of that.” he admits, staring up at the clouds, letting his body sag back into the bend in mental and physical exhaustion. 

“It’s not going to make you all that popular. You’re going to come under some heavy speculation. You might think it’s not that big a deal- that you’re just doing what’s right, but not everyone is going to see it that way. You’re going to have to get sharper, Iruka. You're going to need to play it smart and play it with the cards close to your chest.” She looks him right in his eyes, sincere and concerned and he doesn’t know what to say to all that, not really. 

She grins now, setting a hand on his shoulder as she puts the cigarette out on the iron handle of the bench before putting it back in her pocket. 

“Mizuki is going to hate me when he finds out.” Iruka admits, rubbing the back of his neck. Anko rolls her eyes and huffs. 

“He might. If he wants to throw away years of friendship over something like this, than that’s his loss isn’t it? Besides, maybe it’ll be good for you two to separate a bit.” She shrugs.

Anko had moved out of their shared apartment after she got out of the hospital and Mizuki and Iruka had ended up staying simply to save money. Neither of them had made chuunin yet at the time and it had made sense. 

But he does have to admit it would be nice to get some space. They had been arguing more than hanging out or getting along lately and the proximity was probably part of that issue. He’s certain that if he says he wants to take care of Naruto, Mizuki will be furious; he’d feel betrayed for sure. 

Iruka has come to terms with a lot of things about his parents death and the night they’d lost everything. He’s long since traded the anger in for a drive to protect a few years back, but Mizuki has never stopped harbouring anger above all else, no matter how hard Iruka tries to get him to see otherwise. 

“Maybe you’re right.” he admits, tiddling his thumbs in though. 

“Well-” Anko interrupts the swell of anxiety he’s having about it all. 

“-whatever you decide to do, I've got your back.”  She flicks the scarred spot on his nose, dodging as he tries to grab her hand playfully in retaliation.

A lot of people don’t care for Anko Mitarashi. She’s loud, impulsive and all around atypical. Her past connections to Orochimaru left a lot of people unsettled by her continued use of snake summons and jutsu she’d been taught at the hands of a rogue S-rank ninja. She had her quirks and then some, but Anko was a dedicated Kunoichi through and through. Loyal and honest adn resilient. 

“You know I’ve got yours too.” he grins at her, shoving her off the bench, laughing at the squawking sound she lets out. 

Whatever he decides to do, Iruka will be just fine.