askerian | teamwork -- a bit of chapter 3, last scene. unfinished.

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teamwork -- a bit of chapter 3, last scene. unfinished.

too lazy to link back, but it's a new scene anyway, so hnn.

i hate iruka. please tell me where he looks ooc or where naruto uses not-naruto words or where stuff isnt explained enough or where i dont make sense or where i'm babbling about background stuff and i shouldnt bother 'cause the reader should already know. i can't tell, since i'm braindead, the heat's killing me and the headache isn't helping. scene's unfinished, cause i need to sleep, like, NOW.

"Yo, Iruka-sensei!"

Naruto slipped in his usual seat at Ichiraku's, grinning. He had washed up quickly after the afternoon's three-way sparring session, and his hair was still dripping water over his shirt. He didn't like being late to their weekly meetings, though. It would dry on its own.

"Hello, Naruto. Did you lose track of the time again?" Iruka asked, giving his hair an amused glance.

The old man put a bowl down in front of him, not bothering to ask what he wanted since he always asked for the same, and Naruto gave him a grateful grin before starting to dig in. "Ehh, yeah, a little. We were sparring, with Sasuke and Sakura-chan."

Iruka blinked. "I wasn't aware that you sparred with Sakura-kun. She was a bright student, but not really in your league..."

"Well, usually I don't, but she needed it pretty bad. She was pissed. Besides, I think she's starting to really not like needing to be saved. Been a while since we fought anyone that strong, but -- eh." He knew it would happen anyway; Sasuke and him were freak magnets and she would get pulled along for a ride whether they wanted it or not.

"Yes, trouble does tend to find you, doesn't it?"

Naruto gave Iruka a suspicious look. "What does that mean?"

The man gave him an innocent look that seemed way too natural on his face. Naruto had known Iruka long enough to realize that appearing clueless and harmless was the best ninja technique in his old teacher's repertoire. "Merely that trouble tends to find you. What did you think I mean?"

"... right. Anyway -- how are you?"

They started chatting about Iruka's students, especially about a few of them that seemed to want to compete with Naruto for the title of most aggravating student ever, and that quickly slipped into reminiscing about the good old days. It was always amusing to Naruto ; he was seventeen and he talked of himself at eleven as if it had been decades ago. But he truly had changed in that time, and Iruka had been with him every step of the way.

And now Naruto was taking another step, and he hoped -- well he was pretty sure, but he was still a bit nervous -- that Iruka would stay by his side anyway.

"Say, Iruka-sensei... did you learn anything else about the incident the other day?"

The man blinked slowly, and shook his head, his expression turning more serious. "Not really. You look fine, you and your team, and I don't have the clearance to demand more information. Being in the right place at the right time to catch a few snippets of conversation is one thing, but actively trying to pry into an operation of that size... Well."

Naruto toyed with his chopsticks for a few seconds as he was reminded that despite the large number of people involved in the latest Kyuubi scare, only a handful of them had been briefed about the details. "... Wanna know?"

"If you want to tell me." The reply was cautious, tinged as always with a hint of worry.

"We should go elsewhere." Naruto finished his fourth bowl of ramen and put it down on the counter, paying the old man before Iruka could protest that he was buying and pulling his ex-teacher off his stool and down the street, until they were on one of the training grounds behind the academy. It was deserted this day of the week, especially at this hour.

Iruka listened with a worried frown on his face as Naruto summarized everything that had happened -- well not /everything/ everything, because his head would probably explode if Naruto gave too many details about the night itself -- but about the heat and the child and the sharing.

"Okay. So you are having a child. Together. And Kyuubi no Youko is involved. And the Council is watching you. God, you really know how to make your life interesting!"

"Hehe. Guess so," Naruto replied, grinning.

"In Snow country, they believe that 'may your life be interesting' is one of the most powerful curses ever thought up," Iruka snarked back.

"...Oi."

Iruka took a deep breath, then nodded, more to himself than to Naruto.

"Okay. You're... You talked about this? The three of you -- you thought about it? You're committed to the idea?"

Naruto sobered up, and nodded. "Yeah. We talked. We really want to make this work."

"It's important for you, isn't it?" Iruka asked, voice softening.

"Yes... it is. They are."

Iruka still seemed faintly worried, but he smiled anyway. "Then... if you need my help, I'll be here."

Naruto grinned, relieved, and grateful that his ex-teacher hadn't bothered to lecture him about how difficult and complicated the whole situation could get.

"So. Er."

"You can ask questions, you know," Naruto offered. "I won't get angry. I mean -- you have the right to know. Anything."

"Anything?" his ex-teacher replied, arching an eyebrow. He looked surprised and embarrassed and touched and amused, all at once, and Naruto wondered how complex his brain had to be to handle so many different feelings at once. It was always amusing to try to figure out which side was going to take over, though.

Naruto grinned. "Yeah, anything, 'cause I'm pretty sure you'll die before you ask anything about my sex life and it's the only thing Sakura and Sasuke would have a problem with me babbling out."

Iruka grumbled. "I should ask, just to show you how stupid it is to promise so much."

Naruto snickered. "Do you want to start with Sasuke's kinks or Sakura's interesting physical attributes?"

"MOVING ON. There's one thing I've been thinking about... It's -- well, Kyuubi no Youko is male, right?"

"Iruka-sensei, you filthy pervert!" Naruto gasped out between two giggles.

Okay, he had deserved that bonk over the head. But it was a small price to pay to see Iruka torn between embarrassment, anger and mad laughter.

"So, is he?" Iruka asked when he managed to regain his composure, crossing his arms sternly.

The use of the teacher-voice prompted Naruto to actually think about it. "Well, uh. Yeah. I always assumed he was, anyway. I mean he definitely knows what to do with my -- I mean. Yeah."

"So then how did he get into heat?!" Iruka retorted, and started pacing in frustration. "Females are supposed to go into heat, not males -- it's not different for foxes, I know that -- maybe it's different for kitsune but I don't see why it would, the biological imperatives are probably the same -- damn these idiots who thought burning all the information available on kitsune might negate everything the Kyuubi ever did... Anyway how would he come into actual mating drive? Mammalian males don't go through any sort of reproductive cycle..."

"Uh." Naruto stared at his teacher, bemused. THAT was his all-important question? "I dunno. Maybe he was just getting blue balls or something."

Iruka gave him a frustrated look. "But that's --"

"Look, I'm not waking him up just so I can ask him if his balls always existed only in his imagination. You're just gonna have to live with the mystery."

"But don't you even care?" Iruka asked. Naruto wondered how his ex-teacher could have forgotten how little like a scholar he was.

Naruto shrugged. "Biologically possible or not, I know what happened. Wanted it bad, managed to make them want it too. Lots of kinky sex. Baby. None of that's going to change if it happened 'cause kitsune are weirdly fucked up like that or if it happened 'cause Kyuubi's actually a transsexual. So no, I don't really care."

Iruka rolled his eyes and sighed with exasperated fondness. "Right. Well, that's certainly a very practical attitude."

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

I LOVE YOU.

MALES DO NOT GO INTO HEAT. YES. FINALLY SAW A REFERENCE TO THAT. YES.

"Yes, trouble does tend to find you, doesn't it?"

Naruto gave Iruka a suspicious look. "What does that mean?"

I didn't get it. ^^; What DID he mean?

And everything else looks good.

I LOVE YOU FOR USING REAL, ACTUAL FACTS ABOUT HEAT. Gawd.

|Meduza|

::is jealous:: Iruka is talking to you. He won't talk to me! I feel like writing, but I can't hear him.

I've been wading through dreck on ff.net all day. It's such a relief to read something well-written again. ^_^ Especially if it's Iruka and Naruto being familial.

EEE!! Iruka-sensei would ask that question, wouldn't he?

And there is no child that could ever take Naruto's place as the most aggravating ever. Unless baby grows up and takes after Naruto.

Does the baby have a name yet?

that was so totally Iruka. ^^ yee! <3 he's just right here, i think. a balance of worried father figure and sneaky ninja that makes Iruka, Iruka.

^.^ lovely, cherie.

"...'cause Kyuubi's actually a transsexual." *imagines* *laughs like a mad man* That was beautiful :P

oh, and btw, how's your GW muse? needs some poking? because I have something... *shows machete* just in cause you have troubles, you know, nothing to worry about... really... ^__~

Bwehehehe. I love Iruka. LOVE. People tend to forget that he wasa big prankster before he got all respectable. XD!

... and males go into rut, don't they?

Okay, first of all *glomps + kisses you* I LOVE YOU AND YOUR WORK SOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!

*coughs* Moving on.

Iruka blinked. "I wasn't aware that you sparred with Sakura-kun. She was a bright student, but not really in your league..."

This was probably a result of tiredness or something but.... last time I checked, Sakura isn't a boy, so, the proper 'title' for her would be Sakura-chan *wonders if she's the only one to notice this* Again, I chalk this up to either tirdness or something.

*looks around nerviously* PS: think you can send some of the creative energy of yours over to Mako-chan and her muses? *hits Neko with her bat* Or if you could save some up in a jar and send some over to her every once and while, that'd be good too. Just.... don't tell her I said this ^ _ ^;;;

*runs into hiding*

~Rainy

As far as I know, there are some situations in which it wouldn't be inappropriate to suffix a female name with "-kun." And "-chan" is basically a diminutive, not an female-specific honorific (e.g. you could suffix a little boy's name with "-chan").

I'm not an expert or anything, so I'll defer to anyone who actually speaks Japanese, but I'm under the impression it's neither unusual nor inappropriate for a teacher to refer his female former student as "Sakura-kun."

I can't recall whether he actually does in the series, though.

*shrugs* I'm not an expert either. I know that you can use it for a little boy's name (or your boyfriend too), but.... it just looks ODD seeing 'Sakura-kun'

According to all the references to "males in rut" that turned up when I typed "rut males" into Google, yes they do.

...my research skillz are very pathetic. >_> Can you believe I actually graduated college?

the fact that you hate iruka but can still write him believably as iruka says a lot about your skill(z). (i am one of those who loves iruka beyond all reason. ^^;)

*snortdies* Gee, someone's enthusiastic, Netta. :P

I love your icon. Where'd you get it?! @_@

Yes! Wonderful as usual, only I don't have anything specific to say. ;_; Just that it's wonderful and funny and I'm too tired to think of anything better. ^-^;

I'm just glad you're continuing this :)

Nice interaction. One comment: Iruka's only 30 in this fic. Does that qualify him as 'old'? That makes him sound like he's 60. (Granted, the fast-paced exiting lifestyle of the Shinobi probably means that 30 is over the hill, but as a more *cough* mature reader, that made me blink). I guess this is through Naruto's POV, and he's 17, so Iruka's got one foot in the grave already in his opinion *sigh*

Naruto, all practical, and Iruka, more curious and scholarly, works well. Also Iruka's reaction. If Naruto had done something bone-headed and not too serious, Iruka would have yelled at him and lectured him, I imagine. But something like this, Iruka would be attentive, then supportive.

I wouldn't call myself an expert on this either but Japanese is my major so I'll throw in my two cents.

kun is a perfectly acceptable suffix for a teacher to call a student(male or female) and there is precedence in Naruto for it to be used for Sakura specifically(Kakashi calls her Sakura-kun at least once). I can't recall if Iruka uses kun though. I'd have to go back and watch some of the older episodes to find out for sure. When in doubt though it's probably best to use san. It's also appropriate AND more polite.

Kyubi THE TANSSEXUAL!!! MWAHAHABWAHAHAHA! Gods, I love this chapter, you know I obsissively read your (and rayemars) lj every chance I get to see if thet wo of you have written anything. Good grasp of Naruto and Iruka's relationship, love how you didn't forget about Iruka's lack of clearance level, love it more that Naruto don't give a shit ^___^ LOVE!! *SPARKLES at you*

. . . Good question!

|Meduza|

Kitsune are horndogs, one and all.

Still scholar!Iruka is funny.

That was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo great! I mean you have the characters down to an art form, heheh especially since you can draw them too! *so jealous* Anywho, i particularly like this part:

/Besides, I think she's starting to really not like needing to be saved. Been a while since we fought anyone that strong, but -- eh." He knew it would happen anyway; Sasuke and him were freak magnets and she would get pulled along for a ride whether they wanted it or not./

They really do attract freaks, maybe some sort of messed up talent or something. HHEHEH Me loves you lots! Please write more! It helps me ignore homework...maybe not such a good reason... anywho, much love!

yay fo Iruka and Naruto! And Iruka actually looking at the inconsistancies in stuff, that male animals don't go into heat...

Excellent.

Hehehehe. Poor Iruka, trying to make it all make sense!

One thing: I think Naruto would say "go somewhere else" rather than "go elsewhere." Elsewhere just sounds a bit too formal.

XD j'aime ton Iruka. Il se pose les questions que personne se pose...(parce que pervers que nous sommes, on se demande comment était la nuit, pas pourquoi elle a eu lieu :p)
Et le tout me semble cohérent.^__^ (maintenant, la suite)(*pokes*)

^^;; this is true. but we don't know for sure that Sakura was Iruka's student. we were only intro'd to her in the part after Naruto graduated from Iruka's class.

but again, it's still appropriate for Iruka to use -kun, since she's so much younger than him.

i think i sprained something laughing at ceratin parts of this scene. case it point, Iruka: "MOVING ON!" *sniggers*

and i like how you've got Naruto really not caring - it happened, it's done, and there's nothing to do that will change it, so he just moves on.

and telling what Iruka what happened even though Naruto really shouldn't be sharing that - Iruka, as a teacher, would have a rather low security clearance, IMHO - is something that i can really see our favorite ninja doing. Iruka, after all, has always seemed to me to be the closest thing Naruto has for a father figure.

anyway, loving it, can't wait til you have the chance to post the completed chapter, but will contain myself and not whine anymore than you're already seeing in this little note. 'sides, the wait makes it all the better, doesn't it? *sends parting hopeful look and vanishes into the 'net*

I followed you here from your link at ff.net profile. I hope you don't mind if I friend you? I've been reading your Teamwork series for a while now -- I know, I'm naughty for never commenting *blush* -- and it's rather convenient that you have a livejournal since I'm much more apt to check my friends list than I am to check ff.net. You might also recognize me from deviantart. Wow, now that I think about it I really am a stalker. O__o Completely by chance, really; I stalked your fics before I stalked your art and only later did I realize you were the same person.

Anyway, I love NaruSasuSaku. They are my OT3, all the way. Your teamwork series makes me squeal and giggle and grin. :D

I also like your Iruka. I don't see him in many fics but when I do it's usually a minor or stupid role. You always seem to write very in character to me -- with everyone. It makes me jealous. <.< Can't wait to see more!

P.S. Cute icon. ;)

OMG OMG your icon. *dies* I'm having a Jiraiya-lurve moment now.

Beautiful...as always.
I thought both characters were IC and it is just lovely seeing Naruto going to Iruka, a bit worried that he might not understand/support the situation. Bravo!

*shoves teamwork!iruka at you* here. You can have it. x_x

... write? *hopehope* *____*

heh. yes, the baby has a name. I am not sharing it. Anyway i might end up changing it, but when i think of the baby, it's under that name, so probably not ^^;

eeee thank you ^^

... my GW muses have gone on to greener pastures. They are frolicking freely and happily, finally liberated from my slave driving. I do not have the heart to catch them again. :p

good suggestion. ^__^ thank you. *edits own copy* *too lazy to edit lj's* XD

*does yay!friended... hop. since too lazy for the complete yay!friended dance*

deer and hares do. Dogs and other predators usually just get worked up from a female's heat, it doesn't start within themselves. I figure it's the same for foxes.

##._.## i don't really hate him, i just hate to write him. also, unless handled by a writer i love, he just bores me as a central character. ^^;

#^_____^# thank you!!

yay!! friended!! *happy* ... do I even have a yay!stalked dance? *ponders*

*blushblush* thank you! *cuddlelovehugsquish*

oooh. random english language factoid i didn't know!! *steals knowledge and runs off with it*

It rather annoys me that I have almost no concept of what's normal and what's familiar language. *sigh*

Kitsune are horndogs

*nods* *laughs* *loves on*

heh ^^; I forgot to use the disclaimer for japanese stuff again. you already got the explanation, so...

I don't know if iruka uses -kun in canon, but i think he does, and even if he doesn't i've decided that in teamwork he does. because that sounds like something he'd say. I've used ino-kun from him in the baby drabbles, so i figure i may as well continue the trend. :P

*loves on you gently* :3 thank you for pointing stuff out, though! i'd never know if anything might be wrong if no one ever said anything ^^

*lovelove*

*snickers* from naruto's point of view, 30 is ancient. Mostly, though, when i referred to "the old man" it was the ramen grandpa, not iruka (should edit that). And seeing as iruka is a lot more mature than naruto will ever be, if it /felt/ like he's older, well, that was the goal, so it's not that much of a problem.

I'm very glad you think the characterization works. ^^ *loves on*

Hah. >_> I promised to write a couple of short stories for Sera, and ever since then, I've had writer's block.

Pbth! Meanie. *sulks* Not even a hint?

You know, if Kyuubi really is a male and not a transsexual (*snicker*), it gave me an interesting thought...I wonder if *Sakura* was the one in heat and he just got worked up over it. I mean, she'd have to be at that fertile time of month to get pregnant immediately like that. I'd just love to see her reaction if someone told her it was really all her fault. ^_^

This was definitely a very amusing snippet.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

teamwork -- a bit of chapter 3, last scene. unfinished.

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!!!!!

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absolutely hilariously naruto

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