THE KUNOICHI'S HEART

Title: The Kunoichi's Heart

Rating: PG-15 (this chapter), R later on.

Disclaimer: The characters are NOT MINE.

Chapter: 6/?

Words : 5,151 words

Summary : What if Iruka was a female? Follow the Naruto story since the very beginning...

Pairing : KakaIru, SasuSaku, NaruHina (the others will ba canon-like hopefully)

A/N :

THIS 'S THE BETAED CHAPTER ALREADY THANKS TO MY DEAR BETA, FILLEYICE! Any grammar errors which are still there are mine alone, bcause I've added a few words again. Don't blame her but me instead!

I'm SO sorry for the very late update! –bows- I had my reason though : I had been facing 2-3 medic exams these weeks and it really cut my free time to manage this. Still, the good news? After those freaking exams, I finally get read back all those previous chapters and I decided to edit/rewrite some parts in ALL chapter (1-6) so the story will flow better. I recommend u to read from the very first chapter!

And thank u to IntrovertedAngel, WhisperElmWood, Azalie-Kauriu and Beasiesgal for their reviews! Thank u! I found it's a bit weird that there are 29 story alerts, 2,100+ hits, 9 favs, etc. but there are only few kind people who want to tell me their opinions about this story. o I don't want to beg too much, but it'll give me much more motivations to update this story if I can know people enjoy it and tell me what they thought about this story so I can make it better and better. So, please review.

For Beasiesgal : So sorry for the late update, dear! –hugs- hope this'll cheer u up!

Comments & Questions from U (I'll Try to Answer Here)

- Iruka is slightly too girly for my liking.

I'm aware of that. I've already edited some parts where it concerned about her 'too girly' problem but I couldn't change much because she got her reasons to act like that – which would be revealed in later chapters. For now, I hope u like the edited parts (I recommend u to read back from chapter 1 again).

- Your BETA hasn't picked up on as many of the problems as they should have - but then, your first language isn't english, right?

Yes, I'm not English speaker. I'm an Asian actually and I admit my English isn't perfect at all. And my beta said herself before that she isn't that good in English as well – still I accept her help. She has been very busy lately, so I don't want to press her. –smiles-

- Are you going to have Mizuki break out and kidnap Iruka? O! And have Kakashi rescue her! I really don't get that guy. I mean, most people hated Naruto because of the Kyuubi but they didn't take it to the lengths he did. In your version, did he have a crush on Iruka and was jealous because Naruto got more of her attention than he did? Heh, if that was the case, he'd probably say something like "It was disgust how that thing clung to her, trying to make her its mother!"

OMG….as interesting as ur prediction is, sadly I don't think I wanna include Mizuki that much in this story. Forgive me, but your version is very- … cliché and there're a lot of KakaIru/MizuIru fics out there with the nearly similar storyline. –sweatdrops- This's an unusual KakaIru fic, so expect the unexpectable please xD

- Are Iruka and Kakashi gonna get together?

Yes. Did I tell u before this's a KakaIru fic? LoL

- I think I know who her sensei is but I don't want to give it away, its too juicy.

You WILL know who her sensei is AFTER u finished reading this chapter. -grins-

- I like how you kept Haku and Zabuza alive, they were cool characters.

Thank u! Glad u like them here! –smiles-

Enjoy the story!

Chapter 06 - Her Sensei : 5,151 words

They were walking side by side on the now almost empty street. It was very late in the afternoon, and most people had already finished their jobs and gone home. Iruka, ignoring the growing warmth the jounin beside her provided, glanced back at the other side of street. "I wonder where Naruto and the others are now…."

Kakashi shrugged, eyes kept on his dear Icha-icha book as his feet automatically brought him to his destination. "Sakura usually loves shopping at the shops in the west side of village. It'll take them hours before they're done, sensei…"

Or before Sakura is satisfied with her choice of clothes.

"But….all of them looked pretty tired already. Shouldn't they a rest? You look tired as well, Kakashi-sensei…" Iruka voiced out her thought.

Kakashi shook his head slowly. "A dinner won't kill me. And…you're too nice sometimes, Iruka-sensei."

One day…I'm afraid it'll be your weakness, sensei…. People can take advantage from your kindness….

Iruka simply shrugged her shoulders, brown eyes stared far away to the end of the street. "I just state my thoughts, sensei… Is that a bad thing?"

It's not as if you're the first person who tell me that….

"Sometimes." Kakashi answered, turning his face slightly to glance down at her with a rather odd intensity inside that single eye. The female chuunin remained staring ahead, a strange expression on her face as she lost in the thought, oblivious to the stare she got from the jounin beside her.

It had been nearly a minute before Iruka was aware of his stare.

"Uh…Kakashi-sensei? Where will we go eat?" Iruka changed the subject, wanting to break the uncomfortable silence she felt.

"Ichiraku Ramen? I'm pretty hungry right now…" A second later, the jounin was already back into his Icha-icha book.

Iruka shook her head at the typical answer from the jounin. "You should eat more healthy foods, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi just blinked back, glancing at the chuunin beside him. "Huh? You don't like ramen?"

Iruka shook her head, sighing. "Well… I love ramen myself. But with Naruto often eats dinner at my place….well…let's say I'm a bit fed up with those bowls of ramen..."

"We can eat at another place then…" Kakashi chuckled.

Iruka wanted to answer back, but her attention shifted to a sudden presence of chakra a few feet away from where they were. Kakashi seemed to sense it as well.

Wait….this chakra….. Iruka blinked in realization.

It's…

….

…..

…. Is that you?"

Iruka's eyes widened even more at the sight of someone who she hadn't expected to meet that day.

The old man was standing no more than fifty metres away from her, walking casually along the now empty street. As he looked at her in surprise, a smile slowly appeared on his face.

"…Jiraiya….-sensei?"

He's….here…

His face looked a bit worn with lines of the years he'd been through. Rougher, if Iruka could find the word. The silver hair was longer by several inches. And instead of wearing black (or green jounin vest like she remembered a long time ago), a red sleeveless haori hung outside a grey-green kimono. The newest addition was a metal protector on his forehead, on which a single kanji was written. What the heck did 'Oil' mean anyway…?

Oh yes…. His favorite jutsus are -were- often using toad oil…

"Uh….Iruka-sensei…?" Kakashi glanced down at the sudden change in the female chuunin beside him. He had recognized Jiraiya's chakra since they'd turned to walk this block, so he wasn't much surprised to see the sannin. But, Iruka's response to the sannin's presence confused him.

Is there something wrong, sensei? You look as if you've seen a ghost or something…

Well… Jiraiya's hair is a bit white….but I doubt his is THAT white…

Iruka, on the other hand, kept staring at the figure before them. Forgetting for a moment any presences around her, Iruka hastened her steps until she was practically running toward the figure before her, and jumped into the automatically opened arms.

What the….

Kakashi blinked.

Now….THAT wasn't anything he would expect the adult (stressed the word here) chuunin to do to… anyone.

Much less to the pervert sannin…. I must be dreaming here… A woman practically throws herself into the SUPER pervert's arms?

"Jiraiya-sensei!" Iruka could feel her own tears against that hard chest, clutching the red haori, and burying herself deeper into the figure she had longed to see for many years. Long forgotten memories resurfaced at the familiar scent of sandalwood and waterfalls, tickling her nose with its familiarity.

"Wow…. It's not everyday a beautiful lady throws herself at me….Still, didn't expect to meet you here, girl." The chest rumbled as her sensei chuckled, tightening his arms around her smaller frame. He was practically lifting the much smaller female sensei in his arms as if she was a child –which in a way- she was.

"Mmm…." Iruka nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes as finally they broke apart. Jiraiya set her down carefully, a fond smile on his face as he stared down at her. Trying to compose her self, Iruka bowed slightly at the huge silver haired guy before her. "It has been a long time, Jiraiya-sensei."

"Yeah….and wow, look at you now. You have breasts." The leer was unmistakeable as his dark eyes stared unmistakably at the bulge on Iruka's vest.

Eer….he hasn't changed much apparently….

Trust Jiraiya to say THAT after years of not seeing each other.

"SENSEI!" Iruka blushed. HARD. She ignored her instinct to cover herself before him. After all, she was wearing a full uniform, right?

"Hey, take it as a compliment from me." Jiraiya winked down at her.

Really, after more than a few years of not seeing each other (the last time they meet was….five-six years ago?), Jiraiya was surprised at the huge difference between the chuunin before him and the small girl he'd trained years ago. The previous tomboy girl, the prankster, had grown up into a so soooo pretty young woman. And look at those breasts, damn…

Considering the rather tight chuunin vest she's wearing, she MUST use bandages to bind those boobs…. Damn… those must be HUGE now… The sannin smirked pervertedly.

You've grown up A LOT I see….

He eyed the kunoichi from head to toe, tying to find the similarities between the little girl from all those years ago and the female figure before him. His gaze grew a bit somber when reaching the scar that ran over the female's face. Something familiar tightened inside him at its sight. Still, he kept his feeling inside. He wasn't a sannin for nothing after all. His smirk never changed.

You never forget, don't you, Iruka-chan…?

Iruka sighed, chuckling at the behavior she'd often seen her sensei direct at older women when she was younger. And now, that behavior was directed at her. She should feel insulted. "Then does it mean that I'm old already, sensei? You used to peek at old women in the hot springs back then."

Her sensei looked scandalized. "Hey! I looked at woman over fifteen years old!"

Iruka just grinned, "Hai…hai…."

And maybe below sixty huh..? Like a certain…blonde….

"Uh...sorry to interrupt..." Staring at the closeness and the easeness that was shared between the female chuunin and the sannin, Kakashi couldn't help the curiosity that grew in matter of seconds inside him as he walked closer and closer to where the two stood.

Since when does Jiraiya know Iruka…? I didn't think they'd met each other before…. And a few minutes ago they practically hugged each other like a….

Feeling a sudden possessiveness inside him, he grasped the chuunin's shoulder slightly, cutting off whatever talking the two were sharing.

Both Iruka and Jiraiya stopped their conversation as Iruka felt a familiar large hand on her shoulder. She turned around only to find a confused dark grey eye staring down at hers. "Iruka-sensei…?"

"Ah…Kakashi-sensei!" A familiar blush rose slightly on her cheek whenever she felt those warm hands on her part as she just realized that she'd ignored his presence the seconds her eyes met the sight of Jiraiya five minutes ago.

"Hey, Kakashi! Long time no see you, huh!" Jiraiya grinned at the sudden appearance of the new person. He smirked, not missing how gentle the way Kakashi's hand gripped Iruka's shoulder was.

Well…well….now this's unexpected….

"Hnn…" Kakashi nodded back, his uncovered eye curved slightly at the sight of Jiraiya.

"Kakashi-sensei! I'm sorry! It's horrible for me to walk away from you like that." Iruka shouted worriedly, feeling guilty.

Oh my … I'm SO impolite….. I know I'm too happy to see sensei, but I should pay attention to Kakashi-sensei as well!

"Huh? Are you two together or something?" Jiraiya, a single-minded one he was, grinned mischievously. He was rewarded with the adorable sight of a blushing Iruka and a raised eyebrow of Kakashi's, as if challenging him 'What about it, old man?' Kakashi wasn't the most polite person after all.

Whoa….. you're so lucky, Kakashi.

"Jiraiya-sensei! Stop thinking like a pervert, okay?" she blushed, restraining herself from giving her sensei a good punch on his head, though he certainly deserved it.

"So…. What are you doing here, old man?" Kakashi raised his eyebrows, slightly pulling the oblivious Iruka closer to him. The possessive gesture made Jiraiya grin.

Possesive much, Kakashi…? Tehehe…. Years I've thought you married my Icha-icha book and here you're with my little Iruka-chan…?

Still… ten points for you, Iruka. You're getting Sharingan Kakashi as your man. Damn…. You have a good taste here, girl…

"Hey, don't call me 'old' , brat! I'm not fifty yet!" Jiraiya laughed at him.

Surprised at the closeness she saw between the two men before her, Iruka couldn't help but ask. "You two know each other..?"

Jiraiya nodded, grin in place as usual. "Yup. He's my student's student. And look what he's become today!"

Iruka grinned teasingly at that, "A pervert? Now I know where his pervertedness comes from…."

Jiraiya and Kakashi both looked offended at that, "HEY!" Iruka just laughed, "Sorry… but you can't deny the Icha-icha connection here, sensei. You still write that thing, right?"

"Hmmph… See if I want to give you one of my books ever again." Jiraiya pouted childishly.

"No thanks. I can live without that … trash, sensei." Iruka raised her eyebrows, obviously amused at the sight.

"Ouch….You wound me, Iruka-chan!" The sannin fake cried.

"That's the point, sensei." Iruka chuckled.

Kakashi just sighed, looking at her then turning back to Jiraiya again. A playful Iruka was a sight he had never seen before anyone but children under twelve, but here she was – joking and teasing with –God forbid- the SUPER pervert Jiraiya?

Don't tell me both of them are….. Auuursghjkssssisos….

I think I just break my brain…

"Okay, enough of joking. Iruka-sensei and I want to go to eat now. Are you coming, old man? We could talk there."

Then find out how you ended up being a student of my sensei's sensei, Iruka-sensei…

And HOW I've NEVER known about this before.

Jiraiya shook his head at the offer, grinning sheepishly. "Naah… Actually I just arrive in Konoha….As much as I want to…I need to meet someone first."

Iruka wanted to ask, but judging from the way Jiraiya said it, it would be the best if she kept silent.

Kakashi nodded, turning back to Iruka once more. "Okay then. Let's go sensei."

Oh well…I can ask Iruka instead…

"Before that, how long will you be staying in Konoha, sensei?" Iruka glanced up at the silver haired sannin. She really would like to talk more with him sometimes in the near future. Preferably less than a decade, unlike before…

Jiraiya grinned, ruffling her neat hair fondly, "Missing me already, huh? I think I'll stay for a while. Something needs my attention here."

Iruka frowned a bit at that.

Only something BIG would require a Sannin like him to come back here to Konoha…but it's not my place to ask….

I guess it's better not to ask….for now.

Eventually Iruka smiled, letting the man play with her hair. "Then maybe we can go have a drink together one day. Kotetsu and Izumo will be glad to see you again, sensei."

"I look forward to it, kid. Until then, I'm staying in my old apartment, you know where it is, right? Just visit me there, at night preferably, okay?" Jiraiya winked.

Iruka nodded, "Okay then. See you again, sensei!" Bowing slightly, Iruka then let the silver jounin pull her to walk ahead.

'See you later then, old man." Kakashi waved lazily.

"Yeah, you too, brat! And enjoy your date!"

"SENSEI!"

The sannin laughed out loud at her response.

Staring at the pair who walked away from him, Jiraiya grinned.

I wonder if Sarutobi-sensei knows this….

"I didn't know Jiraiya'd had students after Yondaime." Kakashi said casually.

They were eating in a small cozy restaurant. In Iruka's personal opinion, it was a bit much for a dinner, but she wouldn't complain. After all, when was the last time that she'd eaten out at someplace other than Ichiraku Ramen anyway?

"Huh? Oh… Jiraiya-sensei is not my sensei…officially." Iruka shrugged, enjoying eating the white noodle before her slowly. She tried not to stare at the jounin before her, respecting the fact that the Jounin had to eat without his mask. Although judging by his already empty plate she didn't need to do that anymore.

He eats SO fast….

"Officially…?"

Kakashi was, in fact, really interested to know more. He'd known Jiraiya practically since he was born, but he wasn't aware that the silver haired sannin decided to have another team to train after Yondaime, Kakashi's sensei.

And Minato-sensei had never told me about it….

Iruka nodded, sensing she'd perked the jounin's interest a bit.

Well…not many people know about it after all…

Grinning sheepishly, Iruka answered. "Hmm…how do I explain this… it's just that Jiraiya-sensei had taught us for a while…. It was unplanned though."

"By 'us'…do you mean Kotetsu and Izumo as well..? And what do you mean by 'unplanned, sensei?" Kakashi asked.

Iruka nodded; eyes down at her bowl, staring in remembrance. "Yeah. We were taught by our sensei before, but 'something' came up and sensei left. Sandaime didn't want us to waste all our training time without any jounins guiding us. That's why he asked Jiraiya-sensei to be our jounin teacher for a while. That was a long time ago though…"

I missed those training times….

"Hmm…" The silver haired jounin was just silent, not asking anything more. Iruka smiled, not knowing why.

"You don't need to look away you know – but thanks." Kakashi suddenly said.

Iruka immediately glanced up, meeting the familiar curved eye. She grinned sheepishly, "Ah….sorry. I just didn't think you'd be comfortable eating before people like this."

"You're too nice, sensei." The jounin shake his head, but judging from his tone – Iruka realized that he meant it as compliment…this time.

Iruka smiled, "You seem to say that a lot to me. Now, do you want to talk about something, Kakashi-sensei?"

He wouldn't ask me for a dinner without having some things to ask or tell me…. And I need to ask about Zabuza-san and Haku-san's living in Konoha anyway…

Kakashi stared up at the ceiling as if he was thinking of something, "Well… Actually it's the other way around. Do you want to ask me something, sensei?" He glanced back at Iruka, who blinked back at the question.

He curved his visible eye again at the sudden blush that appeared slightly on Iruka's cheeks. It was a rather relaxing late afternoon (or night), Kakashi had to admit. After a week filled with the adrenalin rush and tension from a C-turned-A mission, the adorable blush on the chuunin's face was a rather welcoming sight for him.

Full stomach and an adorable chuunin before me...The only way to make it better is to add a new Icha-icha book to read on my lap.

Still, Kakashi realized that it wasn't the best time to read his dear novel at the moment. He was aware that Iruka had many questions regarding the mission and the sudden appearances of Zabuza and Haku, and he knew the chuunin needed his seriousness for once. So, no Icha-icha this time. Too bad.

Iruka blushed, feeling suddenly like an open book before the jounin.

Sometimes I feel like he can read me better than myself…. I wonder why… He's just so perceptive…

"Well..now that you mention it…. Do you mind explaining about Haku-san and Zabuza-san coming to Konoha, Kakashi-sensei?" She asked. She already suspected some of the answers. She just needed to confirm them.

The new nins come to Konoha, followed by ANBUs for safety reasons…. Are they…missing nins or former enemies? There are only two ways missing nin can be 'accepted' into a hidden village that I know...

Kakashi shrugged, leaning back in his seat. "Hmm….promise not to kill me first, sensei?"

Iruka blinked, "Huh? Why?"

Kakashi brushed his untamed hair slowly, somehow a bit nervous to explain it.

Well…she's sometimes a bit too mother hen….and I don't know how she'll react knowing the C-turned-A mission was thanks to Zabuza and Haku's being our enemies…. And the mission is SUPPOSED to be confidential…..but she'll find it later anyway….she's one of the staff in the mission room after all….

Glancing back at the confused brown eyes before him, Kakashi sighed.

Still…she deserves to know the truth… She's practically the mother of team 7…

Kakashi just shook his head, trying to wipe the slight blush that came after the last thought of his. He was soooo grateful for the mask.

Not now Hatake….

"Kakashi-sensei?" Now Iruka was really curious. The jounin has been silent for quite a few seconds.

"Promise me first, sensei?" The jounin asked again. As kind as Iruka was, Kakashi didn't want to take any chances though.

Iruka smiled at the rather childish way the jounin asked her. She nodded, "Alright, I promise."

And so he explained.

Gatou was dead.

The crazy businessman was finished by Zabuza's blows while he couldn't move anywhere because the kunais thrown by Kakashi pierceing his blazer. They finally had a silent agreement to finish the crazy businessman, who had decided to destroy ALL the shinobis on his way with his gatling gun. That bastard met his end, very painfully.

And now, after a few hours finishing the deals between Gatou's henchmen and cleaning the piles of broken buildings after the fierce battles between the two sides, it was time to go. Wave County would build their great bridge together without any disturbances from Gatou or his men anymore.

"Where are you two going to go after this?" Kakashi asked them.

Missing nins -like Zabuza was- were considered traitors and were hunted down because of the secrets they might hold. Other Hidden Villages would be interested in purchasing this information because it could be useful in gaining an upper hand in battle or obtaining possession of a Bloodline Limit technique, like Haku's for example. Anyone would try to get hold of him and his special ability.

"Tch….we're going anywhere as long as Hunter-nins can't catch up with us." Zabuza grunted, staring ahead at the huge path spread before them.

"Then…this's where we part. I'm glad to meet you all." Haku bowed slightly, a sad smile on his face. The two missing nins agreed that leaving early was the best for all. They didn't miss the way civilians (even Tazuna and his family) stared at them in slight curiousity, wariness and fear, before and after Gatou's death.

All of them were silent until the sudden voice of Naruto's broke in.

"Hey! Then why don't Haku and Zabuza come with us, to Konoha?" Naruto asked. "Yeah! You guys won't have people on your trail that will want to kill you anymore, and you'll get to work in the same village as us!" He continued.

The rest of them blinked at Naruto's words.

There had been silence for a full minute before someone broke it. Kakashi.

"Hmm… It can work. There are only two ways a missing nin can be relinquished of his status after all." Kakashi said, holding up two fingers. "One, they are killed. Two, they are accepted into a hidden village that is either allied with the village the nin is from, or the village the nin is from doesn't want to mess with the hidden village the nin is accepted into. The second option seems possible for you and Haku, Zabuza. Konoha doesn't take Mist kindly after all…"

Sakura grinned at the explanation her sensei provided them, "Then it's okay! Konoha will accept you two!"

"Still…there will be some tests that the ex-missing nins must take to prove their loyalty to the village they wished to join to. And not to mention the security that would keep them in place…" Sasuke frowned.

Naruto grinned cheekily at his team's answers. "We can discuss the bits later… But more importantly….. what's your answer?" He asked the two nins before him.

Zabuza smirked as he saw a smile grow on Haku's gentle face.

Nearly an hour later, Kakashi found himself surprised that he was still alive after telling Iruka what had happened with team 7, Zabuza, Haku, Tazuna's family and Gatou. (He left the parts of Naruto's changing into a kyuubi mode caused by the rage of losing Sasuke's life - it was after all … a really confidental data that only Hokage deserved to know and no, he didn't want Iruka to castrate him….literally.)

The chuunin-sensei, much to Kakashi's surprise, didn't blame him for anything. She was simply silent, staring at Kakashi's side after the long explanation the jounin gave her.

"So…are you angry, Iruka-sensei?" Kakashi couldn't help but ask.

Iruka just sighed, shaking her head and smiling slightly at him. "It was a mission. We can't predict what can or will happen there. I'm just relieved that all of you come back alive and safe, Kakashi-san… "

Kakashi curved his eye in return as relief filled inside him. "Me too, sensei."

"….And what do you think of Haku and Zabuza?" Kakashi asked again.

Iruka nodded back, a smile kept on her face. A hidden steel could be felt behind her soft words "As long as they have no intention of destroying Konoha in any way and proving their worth and honesty, I'll treat them the way they treat me. As Konoha shinobi."

Kakashi could feel himself crack a smile at the sudden change in Iruka's posture and chakra at those words. Judging from the hard brown eyes against his grey one, the previously shy and polite sensei was turning into another person entirely.

This must be her in her shinobi mode or teacher mode…

He nodded back at those brown eyes.

"Still…Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura…. They're growing up so much….It is thanks to you, Kakashi-sensei." Iruka softened her eyes, slowly but surely giving him her full smile. The hard sensei was no more as the gentle persona appeared back.

No – it wasn't her usual polite self – Kakashi concluded as his own eyes widened at the sight before them.

This's…

The massage was crystal clear on those –now- warm brown eyes and gentle smile.

Thank you, Kakashi-sensei….

"Maa….I've done nothing but torture them, Iruka-sensei." Kakashi chuckled, feeling warmth grow and fill him inside at the sight of that smile.

I will do anything to get you smile like that, sensei…

Iruka chuckled in return, "If you say so, sensei."

Their talk was stopped by a sudden whistle coming from behind him. Kakashi could feel himself twitch at the familiar chakra.

"Well…well…let's see what we have here…. Kakashi? Iruka-sensei?" A grinning Genma was a sight that Kakashi would rather have not seen that night.

Damn it…. Genma….your timing can't be better than this, huh?

"Genma-san. Good evening." Iruka, suddenly back into her polite mode, bowed lightly at the senbon-sucking jounin who was standing beside their table.

"What are you two doing here…? Having a date, huh?" Genma winked at him as he patted Iruka's shoulder in a friendly manner.

Kakashi simply raised his eyebrows when Iruka blushed HARD and sputtered, "We're NOT! We're just talking about team 7's last mission!"

Genma raised his eyebrows in return, "Is that what they call it these days?"

Kakashi simply curved his visible eye, keeping his mouth shut as Iruka's blush became redder and redder by the second, clearly embarrassment, anger, and expiration mixed together at the senbon sucking jounin's words. As mad as he was at the other jounin's interruption, he rather enjoyed the adorable sight before him thanks to the senbon sucking jounin himself. An angry Iruka was a rare yet very welcoming sight to him and Kakashi intended to enjoy it for long as he could.

"Genma-san! Stop joking around! We're only having a dinner!" The chunin groaned, blush filling her face.

Why does everyone ALWAYS think THAT way!

"Sooo…..our innocent Iruka-chan is having a dinner alone with our lazy Kakashi. I can't wait until I tell Izumo and Kotetsu. They will be soooo…happy!" Genma leered at her.

Iruka started hyperventilating. "Don't call me that!"

"So…. How many children do you want, Kakashi?" Genma joked more, winking at the amused silver haired jounin.

I can hear the wedding bells already….. Fufufu….

"Maa…Genma. That's enough." Finally Kakashi said, wondering if would burst if she got any redder.

I'm not going to follow that thought….

Genma chuckled, "Sorry. I know…you two want to be left alone, huh? I'll leave you two loverbirds for now." With a wink, he left their table.

"Should we leave now, Iruka-sensei? It's rather late already." Kakashi stood, glancing at the chuunin who was currently trying to calm herself down.

"Aah…sorry for that, Kakashi-sensei.…" Iruka stood as well, getting out her wallet. She refused to think of anything in the passed five minutes or she feared she would have serious brain damage. "And I should pay for myself as well…"

Kakashi simply shook his head, grasping the smaller hand in his. "No need for that. I'm paying this time, sensei."

Iruka tried to protest, but Kakashi simply pulled her by the hand. The chuunin had no choice but follow him out the restaurant.

It was never occurred to Iruka that they had been holding hands until Kakashi dropped off at her home.

"It's very rare to see you in Konoha, Jiraiya." Sandaime smiled at the sight of his student crouching on the bark of tree outside the Hokage's room.

"Hello to you too, old man." Jiraiya chuckled, waving slightly.

Sandaime nodded, opening the window so the sannin could enter his office. Jiraiya accepted the silent invitation, jumping into the dark room with an ability even jounins would envy.

"So….any news?" The Hokage closed the window. The moonlight shone vividly, creating a soft silver hue around the dark room as Sandaime returned to his seat.

Jiraiya nodded, leaning on the other side of the desk. "I believe Orochimaru has begun his plan."

"Do continue."

"My sources believe that he'll infiltrate Konoha soon….in the next Chuunin exam, which will be….a month from now on." Jiraiya continued, staring at the empty wall before him.

Sandaime raised his eyebrows, "Do you believe it…?"

Jiraiya laughed, irony filled his next words. "Believe it, sensei? I can not believe he's taken this long to invade Konoha…"

Sandaime nodded, "We'll need to tighten the security for the exam later then…"

"It'll be difficult. So many people -mostly civilians- will enter Konoha to see our gennins' performance and we can't inspect every person there….it'll be far too many." Jiraiya mused.

"But it must be done. I'll arrange for jounins and some chuunins to be on their guard during the exam later."

"You do that, old man."

"Hnn…"

"Speaking of chuunins….. I just meet Iruka-chan." Jiraiya grinned, standing up from his position.

"Well….it has been a long time since you last see her. How is it?" Sandaime smiled at the mention of one of his favourite nins.

Jiraiya chuckled, brushing the spiky silver hair of his. It had grown longer than the last time Sandaime saw him. It nearly reached the sannin's knees now. "She's grown up to be a beautiful kunoichi…. And I can't believe she has a boyfriend now! Ah…young love…." Jiraiya grinned at the baffled expression of his sensei.

"Wha…! I thought Iruka was still single? Are you sure, Jiraiya?" Sandaime shook his head in disbelief.

Iruka? Boyfriend? I never suspected…

"Oh yes, I'm sooo sure of it. And she's got herself a real catch too. The copy nin himself no less." Jiraiya chuckled.

Sandaime blinked for a few seconds, trying to digest the new info into his tired brain (those damn piles of reports were starting to kill him). Finally he let out a chuckle. "Ah…I see…. Kakashi has shown his interest in her for quite a while. But I'm afraid you're wrong here, Jiraiya… They're not dating, I'm sure."

"Huh..?" It was Jiraiya's turn to blink. He realized that Kakashi was one of the male jounins that had more than a few females (and maybe a few males) trailing behind him. Too bad the silver haired jounin was too focused on Jiraiya's Icha-icha to answer his admirers' wishes (Well..not that Jiraiya would complain, but still..)

Don't tell me Iruka does NOT like Kakashi at all? The Hell! They're practically MARRIED the way they talk and act around each other!

"Are they in denial then?"

Sandaime grinned, "Let's say….it's like….. Kurenai and Asuma's situation."

Jiraiya blinked again, before he got the meaning. He groaned, "Damn…. It'll take them years to get together if you're right, old man!"

The classic fear of every elite jounins like Kakashi has…..and his past…

Not to mention about Iruka's past as well….

But I want to see some of my grandchildren before I turn sixty, damn it!

And I'm not even fifty yet…..

Sandaime merely sighed at his comment, "Well…Iruka isn't the brightest woman in the relationship department. She's one of the best chuunins we have, yet….she's practically oblivious of everything related to her own relationships. I don't know how she could do that in a shinobi village like this…"

Jiraiya gazed at the window, enjoying the calming moonlight against his face. "Well….if you ask me…I would say she inherits it from her sensei…." His previously happy eyes turned a bit somber in remembrance.

Sandaime nodded, smiling sadly. "Yes…. You're right…"

"So….have you heard any news from that sensei of hers, old man?"

"Our ANBUs reported her presence at Cloud Country two months ago. She was still gambling her money off as usual. Shizune was with her." Sandaime pulled his dear pipe out from his desk. He needed to smoke.

Jiraiya merely sighed.

Tsunade…. When the hell will you get your ass back here, you woman….

Your students are still waiting for you, damn it….

Tbc….

A/N :

Yes, Tsunade is Iruka's REAL jounin sensei…. Do u guess it right? P And in this fic, I decide the Sannin aren't fifty yet! Ah…the joy being the fic writer… I practically own ALL of them… xD evil laughs

And the plot thickens… I don't think I've ever read a fic where Tsunade AND Jiraiya go as Iruka's sensei before (I wanna a change from the usual 'Orochimaru as Iruka's teacher' things xP)… so pardon me if it's not your usual KakaIru fics…. ;

- Izky

The next chapter – The Broken Mask

Preview :

Kotetsu snorted, gulping his sake. "You're just biased because Kakashi is your student's student."

Tsunade…Iruka…you two are far too much alike, aren't you?

When will you forgive yourself?

"Don't explain yourself, Naruto. You're responsible for three academy teachers fainted due to blood loss today. So…just shut up until I'm done with Jiraiya-sensei here. And then it WILL be YOUR turn." Iruka growled at her student, daring him to talk more.