"But sensei,.."

Without any further delay, Iruka grabbed Naruto by his hand and pulled the boy behind him, only to be detained by the plaintive open refusal made by the boy towards him with planted feet in the ground.

At the fool-hearted act, Iruka felt his face start to flame but it quickly abated and instead he turned to his stubborn former student and positioned his hands out in a plea'n matter to acquire Naruto's cooperation, "Naruto, I wouldn't ask this of you if it wasn't important. Please, we must leave. I'll explain everything later. Just listen to what your sensei says this once." Although it was rather tempting to just grab Naruto by the scruff of his neck, Iruka waited as patient as he could for him to come around to his reasoning. He knew if they didn't escape the area before the authority squad came to investigate the fire, there would be no way around it and he would have to go into great detail in explaining why his student as well as himself were in these people's village without prior approval by the committee. And let's not leave out how both their covers will be completely blown if they were discovered. Naruto and himself may even be put into custody under suspicion of starting this fire that broke out.

Iruka knew their best bet was to leave the territory before they were further exposed to the enemy forces.

"It's not that I don't agree with you Iruka-sensei but--" replied Naruto, but faltered at the end of his explanation, using his eyes alone to display how he felt. He wanted to help.

Dropping his hands, Iruka clenched them to his side, feeling helpless. He surrendered, though, by the perplexed brow that knotted his former students golden brow; his own shoulders slumping. Defeated, Iruka asked the boy promoted-to-genin what it was that was on his young mind.

"Naruto, what's troubling you?" He waited edgy as his student continued to turn his neck from him and direct it back to the route they came. Naruto settled at last as the black smoke engulfed the cameo sky.

"I-," He watched as Naruto found the courage to say what was on his mind. The tip of his students tongue came down to wet his pink lips before he continued, "I heard a scream..." Young wide blue-cauliflower archaic eyes stared up at me, "There might still be a civilian inside,...shouldn't we-" Naruto cringed at the thought knowing and remembering the smoldering flames that erupted around them. He thought they were going to die but his teacher came through by taking on the wild fire; cradling his frightened form to his damp chest not caring that he was being eaten up from the vicious scarlet and amber flames that licked at his teacher's back. Black soot straddled what was left of his teachers olive-green patience vest and encased the charred surface of the deep blue shirt underneath. Desettling him.

Naruto didn't think Iruka was burned, for beforehand, his teacher had performed a technique to sop himself with the cool clear liquid to protect their bodies but Iruka-sensei's movements were offly too coerced and controlled for his comfort. He suspected his teacher was hurting badly but was covering it up to ease his terrified mind.




Iruka dropped his gaze to the ground. It was spongy under the soles of his sandals and he deeply thought over what his student informed him. When he lifted his head at last, there was a determined smile pasted on his usual stern face, eyes void of all fear, "How about this Naruto, I'll go back to check and see if anyone else is trapped in the fire."

"Um, I don't know. How about I accompany you too. Two personnel are better than one."

"True but I can perform Kage no Bunshin if needs to be. But what I want from you, little Mister, is to stay here," Iruka shuffled Naruto's hair with his fist, "Promise me that." he added in an afterthought knowing how the destined boy thinks.

"But sensei!" Naruto immediately objected straight out, "I can't just let you-" he broke off, eyes tearing, becoming unsettled that his former teacher, the same man who risked to save his life numerous times while receiving heavy damage he had to admit; wanted him, the future Hokage of the Hidden Leaf, to stay put out here while he alone went back to that hell hole.

It was plain ludicrous even to his own youthful ears.

Clasping his former sensei's sleeve with his own shaking hand, he refused to let go of the older man. As he did, the navy blue cuff bunched under his trembling fingers and the fabric threatened to rip by the charka he was setting forth.

But he didn't care. Instead, Naruto attached himself like a stubborn octopus refusing to let go, knowing that this method would work and keep his sensei from possibly dying.

If only he kept his big mouth shut! ...but what if that person who screamed was a child trapped in the mighty fire? Naruto just couldn't bare the thought of what that child would feel. Abandoned, afraid, alone..

Instead in his chest, he felt the lost impression take hold. Trapping him between a rock and a hard place.

But it was just inevitable and Naruto could only pray for the safe return of his former teacher.


As for Iruka, he went on as though the young fair-hair child said nothing, "Naruto, listen to me. This is very important and I want you to give me your full attention."

"Right, sensei."

"I want you to hide in these trees if you sense any danger approaching you. For now, you should be safe there," His former master's voice was strict and left no room for objections on his side.

Naruto watched, dazzled, as the deep black pupils of his former sensei squinted as instincts took control and Iruka-sensei studied their surroundings.

"We aren't really stationed in a open area, so you don't have to worry of being snuffed out. You do have some cover from a potential attacker if you are,"

Naruto thought it a little funny when he saw Iruka-sensei chew his nail between his teeth, thinking.

"This forest should conceal your chakra signature." said his sensei but Naruto didn't quite understand what Iruka-sensei meant by that.

"There's something about this area that makes me wonder..." explained Iruka, stroking his former students soft golden locks with his deft fingers. Smiling down, Iruka completed with what he wanted to instruct Naruto in case he didn't return, "So you don't need to distress yourself," he chuckled, being elusive, "I've got a good feeling about this forest. It'll protect you."

Huh? Blinked Naruto, puzzled further. What did Iruka-sensei really mean. This forest will protect me. Was that possible? This forest didn't seem any different from all the rest... but seeing the weird cheerful smile on Iruka-sensei's face, he made a silent deal with himself. Sighing noisily, Naruto spoke, "I concave. I'll stay behind, Iruka-sensei," promised Naruto, "I'll even stay right here unless I pick up any enemy's signatures, then I'll hide in the trees as you've instructed."

"Good," thanked Iruka, proud of his former student, "I'll see you then, Naruto." he waved, untangling the boys limp hand from his sleeve. Taking a few measure breaths to gain his bearings, Iruka performed a few hand signs and set his face in a determined mask, "Good luck!"

"You too..." murmured Naruto, but Iruka-sensei was already gone, disappearing in a puff of smoke. He sighed, sat and waited for his former sensei's return. Praying all the while as he sat alone. His only company, the vast trees around him.



* * *************************
Following scene after missing scene
****************************



Losing his footing, Iruka slipped from the stone hinge high off the mountain front. His hand reached out and grasped the jutted ledge, desperately, but all that was lost, when he found himself soaring back in the open air. As he free fell to the earth below, several hundred feet up off the ground, in the last few seconds to spare, Iruka caught himself, and spun into a circle until he saw the ground approach. He then shot his palm out and touched the ground, regretting immediately as a bone in his arm snapped from the immense velocity he was traveling at and fell awkwardly to the grassy earth. Protecting his arm, and yet clutching the wounded limb to his chest as he tapped down, Iruka landed hard on his knees.

Greatful to be alive but still in pain.

He tumbled the rest of the way, and his body suffered from it until he skidded to a stop. Looking up under tangled bangs, Iruka was surprised to see Naruto, yards away.

"Iruka sensei?!!!" cried the boy, shocked at the condition of his sensei was in and by his entrance. It reminded him of the time pervy-sennin threw him off the cliff but he didn't receive any injuries like his former teach did.

Standing up on each knee at a time, until both his feet were under him, Iruka crouched low on the wet blades of grass and rounded his back in pain. His strength left him and he sagged backward; his damaged back hitting hard against the trunk of the tree that was fortunately behind him.

Just then, a fit of coughing hit him. Iruka quickly covered his mouth with his fist but he was too late, as blood showered his fist, painting it red. He knew the wound on his head was worse from before, as it now trickled into his eyes. He could feel as the crimson liquid spilled from his cheek and freely down the crook of his neck; pooling in where his collarbone and neck connected.

As his fit passed, more blood in different areas continued to trail down in rivulets from his lips and onto the earth. Iruka looked, almost sightlessly ahead, even though he knew Naruto was feet's in front of him.

A crumpled piece of paper fell from his listless hand.
A clue of what was going on.

"Iruka..." started Naruto as he stood there, fearing for his former sensei.

No answer was given and Naruto bit his lip.

"I-Iruka-sensei... are are you alright?" asked the boy, worriedly, creeping forward.






Blood continued to spill.






In quantum's.






Dyeing the blades of grass into a murky black-red color.





He's been poisoned.




"S-S Sensei?" Naruto's voice cracked, unable to continue. Tightening his fist, he directed his anger to himself.

This was all his fault.

There was a rustle of leaves that joggled his senses and Naruto swiftly turned around; kunai gripped tightly in the palm of his hand. Crouching in a offensive posture, Naruto readied for an attack.

A tall figure with the familiar navy blue oral cloth covering half his face and with silver-grey hair, stepped out from within the bushes.

Nimbly, the weapon uncurled from his fingers and fell.
Thudding, noiselessly by his feet.

"Master Kakashi!!" wailed the boy happily, leaping and clinging to the rear of his sensei. All ideas of attack wiped from his mind with the presence of the other older man. Naruto selfishly buried his face in the soft cloth, hiding the salty evidence of his fear and confusion of the recent ordeal he and his former sensei were forced to face. His tears were soaked up by the fabric of his teachers dark blue platoon pants, allowing him to feel a little at rest.

The older ninja dropped his hand on the blond hair boys head; his gloved hand ruffling the genin's locks. His one eye narrowed as he searched the surrounding area, using all his senses. Power started to roll off his form as he felt the aura's of foreign ninja. Some of medium patience, the rest of upper. A combination of both chuunin and elite.

"Is... is he--"asked Naruto, uncertain, giving a sidelong glance to his Iruka-sensei. His small body trembled as he let go of his jounin instructor.

Kakashi shoved his hand into his pant pocket, looking down at his student, "...dead?" he inquired, eye bland.

Naruto startled at his teacher's bluntness.

"No, Naruto... But if Iruka doesn't receive the remedy to the poison in his system, he will be," spoke the silver-haired man, seriously, blue-grey eye sagging as he dropped his hand onto the young genin's golden spikes.

Naruto jerked back in alarm, the hand atop his head moving with him. Stopping him.

Kakashi sighed tiredly and stroked the soft locks of the boy. His first priority was to take care of the ninjas surrounding them then attend to Iruka. He only hoped he'll be able to do it in all this time.






End of Snippet #3 for Naruto

12.29.03