Disclaimer: God I wish I had Iruka all for myself... Anyway! I own nothing. Except the katana! I'm basing it off the one I own.

Notes: Erm, this is my first Naruto fic and it is kinda my own thing so bare with me.

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Light...light glinting off the keen edge of a sword lying dormant in the air, steady and sure as the owner bares no tremor in his hands. There is but a lone figure within the shield of the sakura trees as the blossoms float to the ground, a few petals taking peace on the statue of a man known real only by the rise and fall of the chest.

No warning is given as the being strikes out with the katana, the hiss of metal far behind the swoop of the blade as it cleaves through the air. The hurricane of soft pink petals diminishes in the wake of the attack, there is but one delicate blossom among many that has been separated into four equal shares. And yet none would ever think the silhouette in the trees had ever moved, the form yet again standing still with sword held straight out to the left in an experienced grip.

The silence is broken by the high call of a youngster, snapping the man back into reality it seemed with a jerk of the head. "Iruka-sensei! Iruuuuuka-senseeeeei!"

Using the same shock of speed Iruka slid the deadly weapon back into the sheath held within his right hand, carelessly throwing the covered weapon into the air where it became lodged about the flowering branches. A smile of both relief and happiness appeared on his face as Iruka called out to his used-to-be student. "Oi! Naruto-kun! I'm over here!"

A blur of orange and blonde hair sped past a hulk of a tree to tackle the teacher to the ground, mouth moving non-stop in attempt to recall what had happened on the latest mission of the newly formed Team 7. Except there was a pause with an "Oh, and can you buy me Ramen?" ending the boy's speech.

The stunned Iruka blinked a few times before nodding dumbly, having not picked up any of what had been said besides the ever-constant phrase "Can you buy me Ramen?" from the hyperactive Naruto. He heaved himself off the ground with the blonde still gripped about his waist and smiling up at him. "Let's go then."

"YES!" Naruto dropped his hold on Iruka to instead jump from foot to foot steadily moving back the way he came into the collection of sakura trees. "Come on Iruka-sensei! I have to eat lots and lots of Ramen if I want to be Hokage!"

Laughing softly Iruka walked up beside the new Genin and together they headed to the direction of the village, Naruto's voice telling their path as he loudly foretold what he would get to eat first, second, third... Only once did Iruka look over his shoulder to see the katana resting in the tree, taking note to retrieve it later that night.

As the pair were out of range for all senses did a dark figure separate from the shadows of a far-off tree, walking slowly to where Iruka had stood before being barreled over by an exuberant Naruto. The only evidence of an identity lay within the shock of silver hair held by a slanted nin over one eye.

Idly the one and only Kakashi leapt up to take hold of the sword's branch in one hand, his weight pulling the branch down enough so as to drop its hidden bundle to the ground below. The Copy Ninja dropped himself to a crouch and took up the sheathed katana; a smile playing across mask covered lips.

"What other secrets do you hide, my elusive dolphin?"

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Ah-heh, rocky start but the reason for this is that I'm tired of everyone thinking Iruka's weak. Sure we haven't seen him fight-fight but why else would he be such a great teacher if he didn't have some kick-ass know-how? As for the KakaIru, I'm working on it.