Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Shinnen ❯ Jizen ( Chapter 1 )

“What on earth do you hope to achieve?”

“I want to obtain all the jutsu and gain a true understanding of everything in this world… the first person to mix blue and yellow named the new color that was created green… I only want to do the same thing. If blue is the chakra and yellow is the seal, and green is the jutsu… just as there is no end to the variety of colors, there are so many thousands… tens of thousands of jutsu in the world as well… but in order to obtain every possible jutsu and truth, it would require an eternity, you see… only the one who understands everything after spending such time on this can be fittingly called the ‘Ultimate Being’.” -Orochimaru

“Do you ever stop reading that?” Iruka asked Kakashi, eyeing his copy of Icha Icha Paradise. He had offered the group ramen in celebration of their return from the Water Country. Naruto had practically died on the spot, while Kakashi had just shrugged and said that he’d ‘think about it.’ Sasuke claimed he had better things to do, and since Sasuke wasn’t going, Sakura didn’t want to go. So it was just Iruka, Naruto, and Kakashi. The day had dawned beautiful, the sun rising in its lazy course above the earth and into the sky. The breeze was fresh and a little cold, which made lunches indoors all the more comfortable and welcome. So Iruka had shown up quite early, content to order warm tea to melt away the slight chill of the day.

Kakashi had shown up an hour late.

“…nope.” Kakashi answered lazily, one hand supporting his head and the other holding the book open on the counter.  There was a pleasant dull buzz of people and conversation behind them as citizens wandered up and down the streets. On this particular day, there was no one at Ichiraku, leaving them with a nice sense of privacy, while still being in an open area. Next to Kakashi was a bowl of ramen, still full and steaming. Iruka had previously been staring at him out of the corner of his eye, hoping to catch of glimpse of the Jounin’s face, but Kakashi had yet to make a move towards his lunch.

“What’s it about?” he asked curiously, staring over Kakashi’s shoulder and straining to get a look. He thought he had a fair idea, from what Naruto had told him. He caught a glimpse of the open page. His eyes stared down at the book for a moment, before what he was seeing sunk in.

“AGH!” He cried and withdrew, his cheeks burning and a look of mild shock on his face. Honestly, he hadn’t been expecting something different, but it didn’t fail to surprise him that Kakashi would read a novel like that out in public.

“… That was just the illustration.” Kakashi answered, not bothering to look up. He was staring at his book intensely. Underneath the mask, where no one could see, Kakashi had a small smile on his face. He choked down a laugh.

“Oh I wanna see! Can I see it Iruka-sensei??” Naruto asked excitedly, glancing up from his ramen.

Iruka’s expression quickly changed to scandalized. “NO! And if I catch you even thinking about that book I’ll--”

“Now Iruka, Naruto can’t help being curious.” Kakashi chided, finally glancing up at Iruka and raising his only visible eyebrow.

Iruka eyed him.

Kakashi eyed him back.

They held the gaze, then Iruka snorted and turned away. He picked up his chopsticks and began eating his ramen, pointedly ignoring his companions.

Naruto also turned happily back to his ramen but after a minute or two when he happened to look over, he noticed Kakashi gesturing frantically at him behind Iruka’s back.

Curious, Naruto leaned back from the counter and stared at Kakashi, making a ‘what?’ gesture with his hands. He watched as Kakashi glanced furtively around the room before brandishing the book he was holding in his hands. Naruto stared at the open page.

“WOAH!” Naruto shouted and grabbed frantically for the book. “Let me see that!”

Iruka choked on the noodles he was eating and whirled around. He took the grinning Kakashi, and Naruto’s wide eyes in with one glance.

Kakashi’s eyes widened slightly as Iruka stood up and rounded on him, glaring daggers. Perhaps I’ve overstepped some boundaries, Kakashi mused to himself as he stood up as well.

“Now now Iruka, lets talk about this…” he said, backing up and holding his hands up as a shield, his eyes deceptively merry.

Naruto glanced from Iruka and Kakashi to the ramen Iruka and Kakashi had left on the counter. He looked slyly around the room before grabbing the ramen and frantically eating it, completely ignoring the impending disaster. Ramen took precedent over dirty magazines.

“Really Iruka, it’s no big deal. It’s not like it’s anything we haven’t seen before! Naruto does that Sexy no Jutsu all the time! Think of this as practice!” Kakashi argued. He could tell his arguments weren’t going over very well, for Iruka merely snarled at him and advanced, a shuriken in hand that Kakashi had missed being drawn. Yet there, appearing and disappearing so quickly that for a moment he wasn’t sure he had seen it. But yes, there, the corners of his mouth had twitched, he was sure of it.

Kakashi caught the beginnings of the smile on Iruka’s face and nearly laughed, feeling an almost misplaced humor in seeing someone so obviously pissed, yet slightly amused at either themselves or everything else at the same time. Iruka was enjoying himself just as much as he was! A twisted humor, perhaps, but humor none the less. And that sort of humor never failed to earn Kakashi’s grudging respect. Especially coming from someone as… well, he couldn’t think of the proper word he wanted, since he hadn’t quite classified the man standing before him yet. He settled for thinking of him simultaneously as bother predictable yet unpredictable, despite the contradictions that caused.

He almost thought of this as a sort of game, a way to test out someone he knew nothing about. He didn’t make it a habit to rush headlong into things he didn’t fully understand. Stand back, take stock of the situation, gather information. That’s what a shinobi would do. So, naturally, Kakashi decided to do the exact opposite.

In a very obvious motion Kakashi slowly brought his hands in front, and, an almost impish gleam in his eye, with two fingers from each hand, formed a cross. There was a moment when Iruka stared at him, clearly puzzled, but realization soon dawned almost comically on his face. His features twisted in apprehension.

“Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!” Kakashi focused his chakra, his hands forming the seal, and created several dozen clones of himself. They filled the small area of Ichiraku and overflowed over the counter. The old man working there looked slightly miffed and waved his ladle at Kakashi angrily. All the Kakashi’s merely grinned at the old man and waved.

Iruka halted his advance and frowned at the clones.

“That’s hardly fair.” He complained, and his eyes searched those of the man standing before him, but found no response.

The Kakashi clones shrugged, as one.

“Catch me if you can.” They taunted lazily, all their voices combined gave the dare an almost ethereal quality to it. And as one, they all leapt from their positions and scrambled around the area faster than the eye could see, swiftly and deftly never touching anything, effectively shuffling themselves before coming to a halt, scattered around the ramen shop. However, in the flurry, the clones also knocked over Naruto’s bowl of ramen. That was mistake number one.

“Oi!” Naruto shrieked at the top of his lungs. The Kakashi’s visibly winced. Naruto rounded on Kakashi in anger, his eyes gaining a dangerous feral glint that made Kakashi realize that perhaps he had overstayed his welcome.

And now he was faced with two very offended shinobi, who made it a habit to carry sharp and dangerous objects, and at least one of them could probably throw shuriken almost as good as he could. The day was just getting brighter and brighter.

“Well,” the Kakashi’s said lightly, “I realize I’m late for a rather important thing I was supposed to be doing today. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll just take my leave…” he started to edge away.

“Oh no you don’t!” Naruto and Iruka yelled together and made a leap for the Jounin. Kakashi took that as a cue to start running, and all the clones dashed away.

“Damnit!” Iruka and Naruto snarled.

“I refuse to let him get away!” Naruto declared. “Nobody gets away with wasting free ramen while I’m around!” He struck a pose that he thought probably looked very cool. Iruka rolled his eyes.

“First of all, Naruto, that was my money that paid for the ramen, so it wasn’t free.”

Naruto waved his hand dismissively, as if he couldn’t be bothered with such minor details. “Same thing, Iruka-sensei.”

Iruka’s eyebrow twitched, but he decided to save the argument for later. “Secondly, Naruto, if we’re going to catch him, we have to do this logically.”

Scratching his head, Naruto asked, “Logically? You mean like making a plan? That takes too long.”

A sigh escaped from Iruka’s mouth. In a patient voice, Iruka explained. “Yes, Naruto, we need a plan, despite your obviously misplaced misgivings. You can’t wander around the village and expect to find Kakashi just walking down the street. He’s going to go somewhere to lay low. Now what I need to find out is, where would he go to avoid being found?

 “Sakura says she usually finds him in a tree reading his books.”

With a long-suffering sigh, Iruka sat down on one of the stools. “We just HAVE to live in a village completely surrounded by endless trees, don’t we? Look, Naruto, just tell me where you would go to buy a dirty magazine.”

Naruto instantly perked up. “Oh, I know where that is!” He grinned triumphantly. Faster than lightning, Iruka came up behind him and gave him a solid whack upside the head.

“And how would you know where that is?!” Iruka yelled at him.

Naruto clutched at his bruised head. “Ai, I just heard about it! I’ve never been there before!”

“Liked I’d believe something as stupid as that.” said Iruka. “But for now…” Iruka inwardly winced, “take me there.”

Naruto, sulking, obeyed.

And that was mistake number two.

They left Ichiraku, Iruka throwing down some money on the counter to avoid talking to the irate cook. They took off down the streets, Iruka trailing behind a reluctant Naruto, who kept glancing back at him as if he half hoped Iruka would disappear if he kept looking. Iruka, for the most part, remained silent. He was thinking over the morning, recalling how wonderful it had felt to be outside. The day had cooled off a bit, sending chilling breezes wafting down the streets, but when Iruka stared up at the sky, he was met with a clear vibrant blue. Iruka found himself smiling.

The pair soon arrived at a darker run-down part of town, where the less respectable businesses resided. It was a part of the city characterized by clogged gutters and bars over the windows. At least two of the buildings they passed were burned down; most of the buildings had vulgar graffiti on the walls. The streets were littered with trash and refuse, and there were dark and narrow alleys a-plenty. Naruto and Iruka quietly walked down the street, their footsteps the only sound that echoed down the road. Iruka felt his hands straying towards his shuriken holder on his leg. Naruto was looking in the store windows with wide eyes.

And there, standing across the street in front of a brothel crudely disguised as a massage parlor, was a hooker whose job it obviously was to catch business. Upon spotting Iruka, she fairly squealed with delight and raced across the street, her long luxurious black hair fanning out behind her. The wind caught her scant clothes as she ran, blowing them aside to reveal her bare chest. She jumped up onto the sidewalk, where she promptly latched onto Iruka’s arm.

“Hey gorgeous, are you looking for a good time tonight?” she asked in a velvety voice. Her eyes flitted up to his face, where she took in his dropped jaw without missing a beat. “I’ll give you a discount for that pretty face of yours.” She purred. Iruka looked shocked into inaction, and stood there while the woman traced a finger along the scar across his nose.

“N-No thanks, I’m not here for- for that…” Iruka stammered, feeling the woman press herself up against him, feeling a blush rise in his cheeks.

Naruto, however, saw this as an opportunity to weasel his way out of his punishment for knowing where the dirty shop was. Nonplussed by the sight of a beautiful woman pressed against the less than willing Chuunin, Naruto thought this would be the best time to undermine Iruka’s concentration. Not that Iruka would ever fall for that, but it was always worth a shot.

He tugged on the translucent fabric of the lady’s shirt. “Excuse me, perverted woman, but where can we find a place to buy dirty books?”

The woman turned her head towards Naruto, as if just noticing him for the first time. “Oh, I know just the place!” Her voice, if possible, grew even more soft, velvety, and seductive. Her hands began to travel down Iruka’s chest as she spoke. Iruka looked very nervous, because it didn’t look like the woman’s hands were going to have any regard for decency. “I’m sure you boys will love it, it’s got everything a dirty-minded individual could ever want. And they have a back room for couples who want some… alone time.” The hands continued their way down slowly. Iruka yelped and wiggled out of the woman’s grasp.

“If you could take us there, we’d appreciate it.” Iruka said firmly, his cheeks still burning.

The hooker frowned at Iruka’s apparent disregard for her offer, but after a moment beckoned them to follow her. She led the way to a small shop two blocks away. It displayed bright neon letters that christened the store as ‘Ero Paradise’. Iruka groaned, and reluctantly opened the door to the shop to peek inside. He took one glance inside, then quickly and firmly slammed the door shut.

“Naruto, I forbid you to enter. Wait outside.” Iruka ordered.

Naruto, for his part, looked absolutely devastated. “Aw, come on Iruka-sensei!”

There would be no budging Iruka. With a dangerous look, Naruto quieted, and sat down with his back against the front window, his arms folded across his chest, his lip in a pout. Iruka, making sure that Naruto wasn’t going to follow him, opened the door to the shop, and made sure to slam the door shut in the hookers face. Miffed, but not willing to give up, the hooker sat down next to Naruto to wait.

Naruto eyed the hooker.

The hooker eyed Naruto.

Meanwhile, in the shop, Iruka had no trouble at all spotting Kakashi browsing through the perverted books along one of the walls. It seemed like Lady Luck was smiling down on Iruka today… for the most part. When the bell above the door rang, Kakashi looked up and his heart sank.

“Oh, hi Iruka.” He said nonchalantly.

“Don’t ‘hi, Iruka’ me!” Iruka yelled. “I’ve come to settle this!”

“Why, whatever could you be referring to, dear Iruka?”

“I’m talking about your rampant disregard for decency, especially around Naruto.”

Is that really what it’s about, Iruka? A small voice in the back of his mind asked.

Kakashi cocked an eyebrow. “I didn’t know you’ve been appointed as Naruto’s guardian. In my opinion, he’s old enough to decide for himself what he opens himself up to.”

Iruka could feel his ears burning and he felt a familiar anger stir in his chest. He had met people before who regarded his interest in Naruto with scorn. He had seen it in the eyes of his fellow teachers, of the parents of his students. He had seen it in the eyes he saw in the mirror.

“Naruto doesn’t have a guardian, Kakashi-sempai. I think I’m as close to being his guardian as anyone is going to get. And until he tells me otherwise, I don’t see where you get off telling me to stop.”

Kakashi seemed to stare at him thoughtfully. But in reality Iruka could see that eye of his searching him, as if he didn’t believe in Iruka’s honesty. And for some reason, this seemed to stir a deep anger within Iruka. But he also felt at odds with it when he gazed back into Kakashi’s eyes.

When his eyes met those of Kakashi, there wasn’t any trace of the scorn he was used to. Instead, there seemed to be something else, something like kinship, or even understanding. This didn’t meet with what he had expected. His original anger at Kakashi was evening out into something a lot more calmer and rational.

“But that’s why we’re here, isn’t it.” Kakashi said. It wasn’t a question.

Iruka wanted to say no, but found that he couldn’t remember the original reason he gotten angry at Kakashi at Ichiraku. He had a fair idea it had less to do with the book than it did with Kakashi himself.

And now, standing in the middle of a dirty, shoddy store in a part of town only drunks and perverts frequented, there was a feeling of why the hell not? that prompted him to say something in response. Something he wouldn’t normally say. He felt words wanting to be spoken. He had been keeping them pent up, hidden inside of himself. He had his rationale all worded out, had decided long ago how he would explain himself. Faced with Kakashi in a situation as ridiculous as it was serious, he felt those words loosening, and his voice lowered, becoming more serious, firm.  The words came, and nothing Iruka had originally planned to say emerged. Instead, new words flowed out, ones that had been hidden in some part of his heart. Even he was a bit surprised at what came out.

“I know that I’m not Naruto’s parent, or even his guardian.” He began. And he knew his words to be true even as he said them. “I’m just his teacher, and I’ve taught him all he needs to learn to move on. I’m a past part of his life.” Here, he spread his arms to add feeling to his words. “Slowly, little by little, he’ll loose all need for me. He’ll come to me less often; he’ll consult others with his problems. He’ll become more independent, he will loose all need for the precious person of his childhood, just as I have long since discarded my teachers.”

Iruka’s body shifted, and he stood straighter, firmer, and his lips were an even line. “But before those days come, I’m trying like hell to give him memories of what it’s like to be governed by a parent. I want him to remember that when he was a child, there was someone there to tell him what’s bad and what’s good, what’s allowed and what isn’t.”

Kakashi was quiet.

“I know it’s probably not my place, but I know what it’s like to look back and know you missed out on some essential part of living. I know what’s it’s like to be given a beginning, but not an ending. All I’m doing is giving Naruto that ending, that memory of someone he could compare with, rebel against, someone to gain wisdom and advice from, to use and cast away, as all children do. You can have him when I’m done, Kakashi, but for now, I’m the only parent he has. All I’m asking is that you respect that.” Iruka fell silent.

How had the conversation come to this? he wondered briefly.

There was a moment of silence. Iruka waited for the comeback. And then it came. Kakashi’s voice was cold, curt, and his eye betrayed nothing of what he felt.

“You are correct, it is not your place to decide what Naruto does with his life. It’s no one’s place. This village has forfeited all rights it ever had over that child, you included. I don’t know why you’ve grown attached to Naruto. My best guess is you’re trying to prove to yourself that you’re strong enough to live with the thing that murdered your parents, that your will is firm enough to push aside your hatred and be a friend, a parent to the one child that everyone shuns.”

Iruka stiffened. He opened his mouth to reply, but nothing emerged. He wanted to deny it, but the words seemed to sink to his core, and he could find no denial. The words rang horribly true.

“But I’m not cold-hearted, Iruka. I realize Naruto’s need for a governing figure in his life. And I suppose this is the time where you and I fight for the right to be that governing figure. For now, I’ll let your rule be his law. However, both you and I realize that won’t last for long. You’re no longer his teacher. I am.”

Iruka bowed his head, feeling a vast emptiness at those words, but he found himself nodding. “Fine.” He whispered softly.

“Well, now that everything is decided on, I’ve got a large number of educating magazines to impart on to our young energetic Genin, since you won’t mind now.” Kakashi declared cheerfully, and scooped up a huge pile of magazines off the rack.

Iruka’s head shot up, his eyes dangerous. The serious mood hanging in the air lessened a degree.

“Oh dear, there’s too many for me to take! Looks like I’ll need some extra hands. Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!” Gleefully, a dozen Kakashi clones appeared and picked up some more magazines. A few from the group separated to pick up a few more items from around the store.

Fists clenched, Iruka stood there, wanting desperately to act, but finding himself unable—or unwilling—to move to stop him. “Hey, Iruka, is that a hooker I see outside with Naruto?” came a curious query from one of the clones standing by the front window.

And that was the third and final mistake.

Kakashi leaned back as a kunai sped past his face. Iruka rushed at him, but didn’t look as pissed off as Kakashi would expect him to be. On the contrary, Iruka looked remarkable calm.

“I’ll teach you not to mock me!” Iruka growled at him.

“Well then, I suppose this is the part where you and I fight and I—“ His words were cut off as a kunai imbedded itself in his chest, and the Kakashi clone exploded into smoke.

Quick as lightning, the Kakashi clones shuffled themselves around the shop, this time taking care not to knock over anything else. Iruka tried to follow them with his eyes, but realized the futileness of it when he didn’t know which one was the original anyway.

“Catch me if you can.” The clones taunted once again when they stopped moving.

Iruka snorted. “If it’s a game you want, then it’s a game you’ll get. Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!” With a burst of chakra, Iruka created his own real-body clones.

Looks like Iruka is a little more knowledgeable then what I predicted, Kakashi mused to himself. His battle-oriented mind worked over this new source of information. Not surprising, really. Kage Bunshin is relatively easy for someone who has mastered the Bunshin. No, no surprise at all. But Iruka only created three, as compared to my dozen.

The four Iruka dashed away around the shop. Kakashi, who was not paying attention, cursed when he missed which one was the real one. He didn’t want to use the Sharingan, because it was an unneeded stress on his chakra. He relaxed, however, when one of the Iruka’s darted forward, kunai in hand, and slashed at one of the Kakashi clones. It disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The Iruka clone stared, chagrined, then turned on the nearest clone, which also disappeared. Kakashi watched gleefully as the Iruka clone looked frustrated. The other Iruka clones were moving around the room, cornering the Kakashi clones and slashing with kunai or throwing shuriken, only to have the Kakashi clones dart out of the way, laughing.

A clone came at him and, laughing, Kakashi shifted out of the way. At his laugh, the other Iruka clones paused for a moment, their heads tilted to the side like a dog that had just heard a sharp whistle. As one, the three clones turned towards Kakashi, a grin on their faces.

“You.” They said together.

Kakashi had a second to feel confused when, suddenly, ice cold steel pressed up against his vulnerable neck. He stiffened, cursing his carelessness. He felt someone press up against his back, and a low voice whispered in his ear, “You were careless.” He froze as the kunai increased its pressure. The three Iruka clones had no problem finishing up the Kakashi clones, as each clone had stopped moving, all their attention fixed on the kunai at his neck.

“I suppose this makes me the winner then.” Iruka whispered, and the kunai moved away. The Iruka clones disappeared in a plume of smoke. Kakashi turned around, his eyes locking with Iruka’s.

He thought he caught a glint of something in those eyes then, like he was caught in a vast well of images, that the pupils he were staring at were pulling at him. But the impression was gone as soon as it appeared, and Kakashi gave it no thought.

He bent over in a mock bow, his arm sweeping wide dramatically. “Alas, Iruka, you have proved to be my better this day. Naruto’s innocence is untainted. At least, as untainted as Naruto’s innocence can be. I fear whatever innocence Naruto previously had is, by now, quite… shattered.” Kakashi held up his hands defensively. “Sorry, just pointing out the obvious.”

Iruka laughed and all traces of anger vanished as if they had never been. “A part of me knows that you’re right. I guess it’s rather pointless of me to try and keep him away, huh?”

“Well, I wouldn’t call it pointless. It strikes me more as futile than anything else.”

Iruka’s eyes fixated on him. “Kakashi, are you always so… so…”

“Charming? Daring? Handsome? Wise? Omni-potent?”

“Well, I was going for infuriating, but if it makes you feel better…”

“Please, don’t humor me. You think I’m annoying, don’t you?” Kakashi’s shoulders slumped. He looked the picture of dejected.

Iruka laughed, and a hand set itself on Kakashi’s shoulder. A consoling smile spread across Iruka’s face. But before he could say anything, Kakashi pointed out the front window.

“Uh, I hate to ask, but is that Naruto I see walking away with that hooker?”

Iruka leapt to his feet and was out the front door in the time it took Kakashi to blink. Kakashi sat there, staring at the door that was still swinging wildly on its hinges. The clerk at the front counter had long since abandoned his post for the safety of the back room. With a satisfied smile, Kakashi stood, grabbed a copy of Icha Icha Violence, and darted out the front door after Iruka.

~*~ (Delas, using a dramatic booming voice) “And so it begins.”