Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Faint ❯ Part 3 - Amused ( Chapter 3 )

This has been beta-read by b4k4_girl. I'd like to give this great person a nice big hug and a whole box of cookies!

Thank you for all your reviews minna! I'm so grateful!

Enjoy!

FAINT 3

The next windy night, Genma and Raido, along with a group chuunins, were heading back to the village after a long and tiring assassination mission. It was a mild one and fairly easy and both Genma and Raido along with the chuunins behind them were not entirely in a clean state. The stars above them twinkled and it was at approximately two in the morning they entered the gates of Konoha and dispersed. Genma would write the report the next morning and give it to the Hokage's assistants.

"I've been meaning to ask." Raido said, just before they parted. "Did you give Iruka the pepper back?"

"That damn pepper!" Genma hissed and caused Raido to burst out laughing. "It's not funny Raido."

"Yeah, yeah, you're telling me!" Raido mocked and laughed some more. "I swear Genma, you're getting worked up because of a small green pepper!" Genma gave him a dark look. "Or maybe it's just Iruka, hmm?" Genma got confused and blinked, and this added more humor to the whole situation, making Raido wheeze from laughter.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Genma asked, glaring at his friend.

"See? I just say Iruka's name and you're all worked up again!" Raido said, wiping the tears from his eyes, a grin on his face.

"Is there something funny about Iruka? Because, really, Raido, I think I can use a laugh myself." Genma said, getting annoyed.

"Nothing, nothing." Raido said, waving his hand. "Get some rest! And take a bath. You stink."

"Speak for yourself." Genma said, and they both parted ways.

*

Iruka felt horrible when he woke up, with his head pounding and vision a bit blurry. He slept and stayed at home the other day and cleaned his house a bit. But he felt like he had been jumped on by a thousand of Narutos clones. As he passed by the dressers mirror on his way to the bathroom to get ready for classes, he caught sight of his slightly red-tinged cheeks and worried that he might be coming down with something. Once he showered and dressed, he swallowed two aspirins with his breakfast and made his way to the academy.

As the day progressed, Iruka felt worst and worst. He glanced at the wall clock, the children in front of him copying notes down from the board, somewhat a bit more well behaved than normal. Whatever the reason, he was thankful. He gave a shaky sigh, brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose, willing the headache to go away. He swallowed another aspirin just after lunch break and the headache still hadn't left him from that morning. A few minutes passed and the kids stopped writing, a sign that they were done.

"All right class. You're free to go." He said, smiling at them.

A hand shot up in the air and he nodded for Konohamaru to speak his mind. "But the bell hasn't rang yet, sensei."

"It's all right. You've been well behaved today, so go on home and play." He said and as soon as he did, the kids packed their scrolls and equipment excitedly, rusheing out the door calling goodbyes to their sensei. Iruka watched them all leave and when the last student was gone, he stood up and randomly began to pick up fallen papers on the ground and toss them into wastebasket. Although there was someone who came at night to clean the classrooms, he still did it himself.

Once he sorted the classroom, he began to arrange his papers and lesson plans when his vision span wildly that he grasped the edge of the table tightly to steady himself and prevent himself from collapsing in a heap on the wooden floor. "Dear god." He said shakily and sat on his chair and dropped his head on his folded arms on the table.

"IRUKA-SENSEI!" A voice called from the doorway.

Iruka lifted his head up when he heard that familiar voice and looked at the door, forgetting about his dizzy spell for a moment and smiling happily at Naruto. "Naruto!"

"Are you okay, sensei? You look a little under the weather." Naruto said and peered at the elder man with genuine concern.

"I'm all right, Naruto. Don't worry." Iruka smiled widely and patted Naruto's head, ruffling his hair. "So how was your day?"

"I got paid today!" Naruto said gleefully showing Iruka a wad of paper bills. "I said I'd treat myself to ramen. But then I remembered Iruka-sensei and how I haven't seen him in a while and said, well, I'll treat Iruka-sensei too! Ne? Ne? Can you come now, Iruka-sensei? I'm hungry!" Iruka felt something in him melt in to a pile of mush at what Naruto just said. He was so touched by the fact that the boy remembered him that he stared at Naruto with such a soft expression that Naruto's happiness was quickly replaced with concern and sadness. "Ne? Sensei? Are you going to cry? Don't cry! Did I do something bad?"

Iruka laughed lightly at Naruto and patted his back. "No Naruto. You didn't do anything bad. But thank you for your offer to treat me. I'll tell you what. You keep your pay, and I'll treat you to ramen, what do you say?"

Naruto gave him a puzzled look. "But I want to treat you to ramen!"

"And I want to treat you to ramen too!" Iruka said, smiling at Naruto.

"Ne, ne? You're always so nice to me. You always pay for me. I want to pay for you too!" Naruto said, pouting.

"Because Iruka-sensei loves Naruto, that's why he likes to give Naruto everything." Iruka said, taking out his keys and wallet from his drawer. He turned to find Naruto staring at him with misting eyes and a blush on his cheeks. "Iruka-sensei thinks of Naruto as his little son."

Iruka gave out a very loud `oomph' as he suddenly found Naruto hugging him so tight. Naruto gave him a wide smile and then began to drag him out of the classroom and towards the streets until they reached the Ichiraku, continuously babbling about how he cared for him and how he was going to beat Sasuke one day and how he was going to be a Hokage and so on. Iruka was glad that he only had to file reports that day and he could stay as long as he needed to without worrying.

For now, he just wanted to spend some time with Naruto.

*

The loud and rather annoying voice was known to all the jounins and chuunins there was in Konoha. After all, that voice could only belong to one orange cannonball of a human who used to pull the most notorious pranks. Genma looked up from the team of genins he had to substitute-duty for that day while they completed their task of painting a building and stared as a short blonde boy dragged a rather flustered and smiling familiar chuunin.

"What have we here?" He said with amusement as the two entered the warm confines of the Ichiraku. He was bored and he was hungry. The genins he was escorting were also tired and were hurrying up to finish. Half an hour later, they approached him, paint splattered on their clothes and waited for their orders. "Well, you're done for the day. Don't worry; your Jounin instructor will be present tomorrow. Meet him at the usual place you gather at the same time." They nodded, gave him their thanks and bid him a good day as they went their separate ways.

Genma gave a little stretch before making his way to the Ichiraku to have something to eat. As he entered, he found Naruto patting his stomach, five empty bowls before him, and Iruka setting his empty bowl down. "Thank you, Iruka-sensei." Naruto said, smiling from ear to ear.

"Anytime, Naruto." Iruka said, smiled at him just as happily.

Genma took the time to admire the sight before him. The exchange between the two was very endearing. Iruka was very good with children and the children themselves seemed to love him too. He watched as Iruka brought up a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose while Naruto stared at him with concern.

"Sensei?" The boy queried.

"It's nothing Naruto. Just a migraine I woke up with." Iruka gave Naruto a smile.

"You should go home, Iruka-sensei." Naruto said. "Get some sleep. I knew you weren't feeling well when I came to you today! You really did look unwell!"

Iruka merely smiled. "Not to worry Naruto. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" Naruto said, giving him a doubtful look. Iruka merely nodded and laughed good naturedly as he left the bills on the counter top.

Genma approached the counter as Iruka and Naruto stood up to leave. "Two chicken ramen to go." He said, lifting two fingers up as the man nodded and started preparing his order. "Hello, Iruka-san, Naruto."

Naruto looked at him with confusion and then he remembered. "Ah! You're the referee!"

Genma felt his eye twitch at that comment. "Yes, I was the referee."

"Are you a chuunin?" Naruto asked, looking at him with his eyes scrunched up and head tilted to one side.

"I'm a Jounin." Genma said and gave Naruto a bored look. He turned to look at Iruka, who indeed did seem a bit pale and tired looking.

"Good afternoon, Shiranui-san." He greeted.

Genma gave him a smirk and paid for his order. "So what you two up to?" He asked.

"I'm going to train!" Naruto said.

"But you just ate five bowls!" Iruka said, quickly disapproving of Naruto training after eating so much.

"After I go home and take a nap." Naruto corrected and grinned sheepishly at Iruka.

"Fine, fine. Come on, let's get you home." Iruka said. Genma felt worry creep in him as he looked at Iruka. Iruka shivered a little bit as a mild breeze blew against him. "Good day Shiranui-san." Iruka said, as he patted Naruto's back, who waved at Genma and proceeded to talk to Iruka about his goals with renewed vigor.

As Genma sat on the stool waiting for his order to be cooked, the old man running the place arranged the things on the countertop. "Nice pair those two." Genma looked up at him. "Loyal customers and very friendly."

"Yeah?" Genma said, interest piqued. "You know Iruka?"

"I knew his father." The man said. "Came here often after missions." A sad look came to man's face. "Died in the fight with the fox along with his wife. Left Iruka on his own when he was about eleven years old. Funny those two get along though." He said, wiping the counter top.

"He's an orphan then." Genma stated, thinking of how Iruka must have led a difficult life, just like Naruto. Maybe that was why they got along so well. And Iruka seemed to love the blonde boy to bits.

"But one hell of a hard worker. A family man, if you know what I mean. Though with his attitude, he won't get no family just yet."

"What do you mean?" Genma asked, looking at the man with serious honey-colored eyes and chewing on his needle.

"The guy has been single for as long as I can remember." The old man turned around and stirred the broth he was making before putting them in styrofoam containers and wrapping them up nicely. "He seems to have no luck at all."

"I see." Genma said, taking his order. "Thank you."

"Come back again!" The man said, smiling at him as Genma left the warm threshold. He headed back to the Jounin office located next to academy to have his lunch with Raido. All the while, his mind was occupied by thoughts of a certain chuunin. As he took a turn towards the office, he saw Iruka enter the academy gates and disappear in to the building.

He shook his head and made his way to the lounge where he and Raido would play some poker while eating ramen.

*

"Hello!" Raido snapped, and Genma dropped the cards he was holding from the surprise.

"What was that for?" Genma snapped, picking up his cards.

"That's the third time you've spaced out in the past hour! What is wrong with you?" Raido asked, taking the cards off Genma to shuffle and deal them again.

"Nothing's wrong with me! You're the one yelling like an idiot." Genma said.

"Well, if you heard me call your name the first dozen times, I wouldn't have yelled, and you're an idiot too!" Raido said, shuffling in a flashy manner. "Besides, you're calling me an idiot? You're the one who got so worked up because of a green bell pepper!" Genma gave him a dirty look and this made Raido laugh real hard. "Oh, ok! I get it! You're thinking about that chuunin aren't you?"

"W-What?" Genma asked, blinking in surprise. He nearly dropped the needle he was chewing on.

"You're thinking about him." Raido said, laughter subsided and voice now serious. "You've been doing that since you got burned by a pitcher full of coffee." Genma said nothing because Raido was telling the truth. He was thinking of Iruka.

"He's an orphan." Genma said.

"So?" Raido asked, setting his cards down to lift the container of ramen to finish its contents.

"He lost his parents to the demon. And he loves Naruto to bits." Genma said, leaning against the comfortable chair. "He's really good with children."

"That's not what's bothering you." Raido said dully and lifted the styrofoam container to his lips to drink the tangy-chicken broth. "I can tell. You have never acted this way in all the years I've known you."

"Whatever." Genma mumbled and lifted his ramen container and started eating the noodles.

Silence reigned between the two until Raido spoke again. "You like him don't you?"

Genma choked on the noodles he was in the middle of swallowing, dropped the container all over his lap and managed to get rid of the choking sensation and curse at the same time. "Damnit Raido! I most definitely do not need another fucking burn!"

"That's not an answer." Raido said in a singsong voice. "I was right then! You do like him!" Genma's face visibly colored as he struggled to wipe off the chicken broth stain on his crotch area and thighs while Raido just laughed. "Besides, the broth ain't too hot. I'm sure little Willy won't mind a little bit of warm sensation."

"You piece of -" Genma gave out a growl instead of continuing his curse and did the next best thing. He kicked Raido on the shins.

"Ow! Ow! Yup, you're in denial already!" Raido said in between his laughs. "Oh I swear Genma! You really have it hard for him don't you?"

"We'll continue this later!" Genma hissed dangerously and stalked off towards the men's restroom.

Genma pushed the swinging door with so much force that it nearly fell off its hinges. He grabbed several pieces of tissue paper and stood over the sink, turning the cold tap on full blast and wiping his pants with wet tissue papers, in hopes to get some of the stain and smell off.

"That damn bastard!" Genma cursed as he scrubbed at his pants furiously. "What the hell was he thinking? Making stupid comments like that!" He hissed and let out another colorful string of curses and didn't stop until he heard the familiar creaking noise the door made when it opened and closed. He stopped cursing and looked up to find a very flustered Iruka-sensei who looked utterly scandalized at the curses he was saying. Somehow, the chuunin didn't expect someone like Genma to say things like, `that mother fucking turd', `ass ramming nutcase', `dickless call boy' and `fucking son of a bitch'.

Genma just wished he could crawl under the sink and hide. He watched with his cheeks coloring with each passing second as Iruka turned away stiffly, all intents of emptying his tank gone and left the bathroom without another word.

"Shit!" Genma cursed and banged his head on the white tile walls of the bathroom, tap still running and pants looking as if he peed on himself.

TBC