Title : The New Hokage

Pairing : KakaIru

Rating : PG-15 or more

A/N : Sorry for the late update! Hope u like it! – Izky

WARNING : UNBETAED as usual.

I have a good news for you : I've finally got a beta, pointxblank in ff dot net (Thank you, dear!). She has already betaed chapter 1-3 so far and I will post them in a week (I can't do it now bcause I have a night shift today, sorry). Hopefully she can catch up until the newest chapters soon! –smiles-

Who is Wolf? Is there gonna be any actions? When does Iruka get to do ANBU missions? Any of your questions will be answered in the next chapters, I can't disclose it now, sorry. –winks-

For now, enjoy the story and Happy New Year!

-Izky

WARNING : UNBETAED as usual. BAD GRAMMAR AND SPELLINGS AHEAD! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK! (Any whines about my grammars will be ignored from now on. Go read others stories if you're blinded with it.)

Chapter 17 (Words : 2,226 words)

"Kakashi-sensei! Do you know where Iruka-sensei is? He is missing!" Naruto opened the office door with a loud Bang, disrupting the peaceful working atmosphere in the huge room as he soon raced before his silver haired sensei.

"Maa...Naruto, you should knock before giving me a heart attack you know." Kakashi sighed, stopping his writing as he responded to Naruto's question. "Missing? What do you mean?" He threw a silent glance at the silent ANBU next to him, who suddenly looked as if wanted to flee out the window any seconds.

Naruto, oblivious to the ANBU's reaction, nodded multiple times, panic in his blue eyes. "Yes! Yes! I've been busy these days training and doing missions with Sakura-chan and Sai and Yamato-sensei, and I think it would be nice to visit Iruka-sensei in his place and then when I open the door I only say the empty apartment and it's full of dust! Is he on mission and why the hell he isn't informing me of all people-"

"Naruto. Slow down or you'll choke on your own spit." Kakashi stopped his student amusedly. "And for your question, yes, he is in a mission."

"Then where is he now?"

"Maa- I thought you know the meaning of 'confindental'..."

"It's okay Rokudaime-sama. I don't mind him knowing." Came the sudden and unexpected response from the one next to him. Kakashi blinked as his ANBU assistant pulled down his Hawk mask, revealing a tired and experated face of one Umino Iruka.

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto screamed as he quickly glomped the sweatdropping ANBU, arms and legs clung like octopus' tentacles. Iruka simply sighed as he patted the blonde's head gently, too used to the blonde's behavior.

Kakashi's eyebrow twitched at the bonding moment between the two. No one could hug his ANBU without permission in his office, not even Naruto.

Before Iruka could take a breath, the door quickly closed off, locked with a silent-jutsu on place, and he was escaped from Naruto's clutch straight into Kakashi's lap. "Kakashi! What the HELL!"

Naruto's scream was enough to rattle the door. "AARGH! KAKASHI-SENSEI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO IRUKA-SENSEI! LET HIM GO, PERVERT KAGE! RED LIGHT BEHAVIOR! YOU-"

Kakashi sighed as he simply tightened his hold against his ANBU, ignoring Naruto's rants. "This is one of the reasons why I don't want Naruto to know, Iruka."

Iruka merely rolled his eyes before gently placing his hand over the other's arm, which refused to budge. "Kakashi. We're in your office. And let me go before Naruto lost his voice or the window broken, whichever comes first."

Reluctantly the silver haired shinobi relaxed his hold as Iruka get off his lap and stood before the still screaming Naruto, who proved he had the strongest pair of lungs in the whole Konoha.

"-AND WHY THE HELL HE IS ON YOUR LAP LIKE THAT! DON'T THINK THAT-"

"Naruto, stop that!" The ANBU reprimanded clearly. The effect was so spontaneous : Naruto closed his mouth in a milisecond later, body straigthened out. "Yes, Iruka-sensei!"

"If only he could be like that on my order." Kakashi blinked enviously.

Ignoring his lover's comment, Iruka shook his head as he stared down at Naruto (yes, Naruto had grown taller, but not THAT tall), "Naruto! You can't come in uninvitedly like that into the Hokage's office! He's your superior, your teacher, and your ROKUDAIME of all people! You should respect him! What if there are some important clients inside here? You will put a shame in our village!"

Naruto's head hung low, mumbling. "Sorry, Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei. I'll knock from now on."

Iruka nodded satisfiedly, "Good. Anyway, you've known me joined ANBU for months, Naruto. You should have thought I'm in a long-term confidental mission first you know."

Naruto looked up, blinking as the knowledge dawned on his face. "You-The Hawk-You're HIM? You're working under KAKASHI-SENSEI! Aren't you in fight or something, Sensei?"

Iruka could feel his cheeks reddened as Kakashi took that chance to slip his arm around the ANBU's waist. "We were. But we talked of it and now is happily back in a relationship, Naruto."

"Iruka-sensei? Is he right?"

"He's right, Naruto. I ... love him." Iruka couldn't help but softening his gaze at the silver haired man.

Naruto glared daggers at the Rokudaime and Iruka was surprised at the touch of protectiveness inside those blue eyes. "You better treat him right, Kakashi-sensei. You're lucky he likes you or I would beat you senseless for making moves on my favorite sensei!"

The silver haired Rokudaime nodded as he said in a clear and serious tone toward the blonde, arm tightening on Iruka's waist, "I promise to protect him and his happiness, Naruto."

Iruka gawked, blush came back full force at their exchange. What am I? A bride being given from his father to the would be husband? I'm a capable shinobi damnit!

Naruto, ignoring Iruka's squeak, smiled satisfiedly. "That will do."

"I'm glad you approve," Kakashi sighed, "By the way, you must keep this a secret, okay?"

Now Naruto narrowed his eyes at the order, "And why is that, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi sighed, knowing he must spell it out to the most hyperactive student of his (who wasn't the brightest of his generation, he was sure). "As Rokudaime, there are many threats could be sent for me or my family or anyone I'm in relationship with. No one must know this for safety reasons."

It was enough reason for Naruto, who frowned a little before finally grinned at them. "Makes sense. Alright! I'll keep it a secret, sensei! But you must treat me FIVE bowls of ramen for this!"

Iruka sweatdropped at how easily Naruto changed his attention, but managed to smile back. "I wish I could, Naruto, but it isn't easy as it sounds-"

"What do you mean, Iruka-sensei?"

"It means that he must help me in this office in a day and guard me ALL the time, 24/7, Naruto. In other words : he's too busy at the moment. " Kakashi explained, knowing this was still a sensitive topic that he and Iruka hadn't had a chance to discuss yet. He hoped Naruto would simply accept it like that.

And of course, he can't be seen outside without his ANBU uniform and mask... Can't be seen with the academy students he has grown fond of... But that's not for Naruto to worry about...

And of course, Naruto, being Naruto, blinked once, twice, processing in a slow thirty seconds, before finally settled his much simpler conclusion : Iruka-sensei was busy. "Oh, too bad! Oh well, I can wait until you're not busy, Iruka-sensei! By the way, can I tell about you two to Sakura-chan? She will bit me if I keep this from her, but if you don't want to, well...I can do it!" He flashed a bright smile on his two sensei.

Iruka gave him a small smile before patting his head. "It's okay. You and Sakura-chan can know about us, but no one else, got it?"

Naruto grinned before hugged his sensei once more. "Alright! I must go training again now! See you again later, sensei! And Kakashi-sensei, take care of him, alright? If you hurt him, I'll personally beat you into a pulp myself, Rokudaime or not! Bye!" And a few seconds later the bright blonde haired boy already vanished behind the door.

Iruka shook his head, "Naruto... he's so loud."

Kakashi grinned before walked back to his desk, "It's a good thing I put a soundproof jutsu here, don't you think?"

His lover was busy thinking of something, and judging from those silver furrowed brows, it would be a while until he would notice him, Iruka mused.

Deciding that he could use this advantage to do anything useful (Kakashi always made it his life goal to make him moan as soon as they got inside the mansion), Iruka turned to the (huge) kitchen to made dinner first.

He was in the middle of stirring up the chicken soup when a pair of familiar equally pale (he should really go sunbathing soon) arms encircled his waist from behind. The brunette simply smiled as his lover nuzzling his ponytail. "The soup will be ready in a few minutes. You can wait until then."

"Hn."

Looking up to face his lover, Iruka frowned a bit at the serious and silent face of Kakashi. "Something's wrong?"

Kakashi simply tightened his arms as he forced a smile, knowing Iruka could read through his anxiousness. "We need to talk about something, love."

Iruka nodded, giving the silver haired guy a nuzzle on his neck to ease him. "Let me prepare our dinner in five minute then. We can talk after dinner if you want to."

"Agreed."

.

.

As they were finished their dinner, Kakashi waited until Iruka finished drying the dishes. He gently took the paler hand into his as he guided them into the living room. Taking a seat next to each other, Kakashi began what had been plaguing him for hours or even days before.

"Iruka, you know I love you, right?" He asked, pulling Iruka's left hand into his gentle grip.

Iruka pushed the urge to roll his eyes at the ridiculous question, but he knew Kakashi was serious, this time. "Of course."

Kakashi brushed the back of his head for a second, before sighing and finally staring straight at his smaller lover. "I want you to quit ANBU, Iruka."

The response was as Kakashi expected. The hurt and anger instantly appeared inside those beautiful dark brown orbs as the ANBU pulled his hand out of his grip. "What do you mean!"

Kakashi didn't let him, gripping the hand firmly yet gently. "Please let me explain first Iruka."

Iruka bit back a growl before forcing his temper down as he stilled, sharp eyes staring back against the dark blue one. "Explain then."

Kakashi sighed, knowing his fiery lover's temper wasn't one to play with. He must explain it as careful and clear as possible. He didn't want Iruka to misunderstand and run off again for the second time. Once was enough in a life time, thank you very much.

"I know you work hard to become what you are today, Iruka. And I know you really worth your status, and I'm proud of it. I know you want to help me and our people in the front-line, but... I don't think I can survive watching you being in full ANBU mode every day, love. I'm not that strong."

The fierce glare was slowly diminishing as confusion and understanding began filling those dark brown orbs. "Kakashi, I had been watching you going on piles of S or A missions since forever. I want to help you and Konoha. And I can't do that if I remain in background, in the Academy. You know that."

Kakashi smiled sadly before pulling the lighter man's hand gently. Iruka didn't resist as he was pulled into the older man's side and put his face into Kakashi's shoulder. "You're stronger than I am, Iruka. You always stand straight and smile to me whenever I go to those dangerous missions, knowing it might be my last day." The arms tightened around the ANBU as its owner whispered brokenly into the brown locks. "I can't do that. After sensei, Obito, Rin... I can't, Iruka. I can't lose you too."

Iruka sighed, finally realizing what had been plaguing Kakashi's mind these recent days. He knew –after Kakashi's confession that night they made up – that Kakashi feared the dangerousity of his job much more than their difference in status. He feared for his life.

But what should he do?

He knew he joined ANBU to help Kakashi and his students in missions, to aide them in the battles. He wanted to run together with them, instead of waiting anxiously each time in his apartment, waiting and praying for their safety.

But most of all, he wanted to stay close to his silver haired jounin.

Sighing, Iruka pulled his face away from his lover's side and stared at that single dark blue eye. "Kakashi, I joined ANBU because I know that way I can stay close to you in battles, helping you in your missions. And here you are, being far away from the dangerous missions and the target of those said missions at the same time. Your safety is what I want to protect and I can't do that if I returned to be the Academy sensei."

Kakashi shook his head, "And you're my most important person, Iruka. I'll let you protect me all the way you want, but without risking your life like this."

"Then what do you suggest I do? Going back to my students? I can't go back now, Kakashi! I've finally got to help you and I refused to go back! I don't want to feel like that again!" Tears began filling the edge of Iruka's eyes, but he refused to let them fall.

Kakashi looked down as he asked softly, already knowing the answer of his question. "Like what?"

Iruka refused to see his eyes, looking down at his own suddenly limp hands. "..."

"Iruka..."

"Like you leave me behind..." He finally managed to whisper his answer.

Damn it.

And Iruka only closed his eyes as Kakashi gathered him into his arms, leaving those tears fell into the familiar dark green vest.

.

.

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Tbc...

A/N : Alright, both of them are stubborn, I admit that. So...what will they do? The answer will be held in the next EXTRA LONG chapter (which –hopefully- come out 1-2 weeks from now, depending on the amount of my free time and your reviews). So... review please! =D

- Izky