Kushina stops what she was doing and looks at Iruka.
Iruka, the boy that always has a glint of mischief in his eyes, the brat that likes to play pranks on everyone, the kid that she taught sealing jutsu.
She sighs and walks toward Iruka, where his face is lying down on the table.
This is one of those days where Iruka gets in deep thoughts again.
She sits next to him and brushes his head. She remembers when Kohari introduced her boy, Kushina actually thought Iruka was a girl, with the yukata, the slight makeup on him and the red bow tie on his ponytail.
Kushina had wondered if Iruka noticed his appearance was different from other boys or if he was forced to dress up like a girl.
So she couldn't help but ask, worried for him and hoping the issue wasn't as bad as she thought nor cause Iruka to be confused.
Instead, Iruka shrugged and said, "Yes, I know I dress up like a girl but my mom didn't force me to do it... I dressed up for her."
That wasn't the answer she expected.
"My mom wished that I was born as a girl, not because she hates boys or wants a girl but because if I was born as a girl, I wouldn't well, got noticed? Or get through into ninja academy I guess, girls in my old village have the privilege not to become a ninja but a housewife or a medic nin or any jobs that are less dangerous if they choose to, of course that is only apply for lesser ninja, the commoner, not for a big famous clan."
Iruka looked at his drawing uh sealing drawing, it was still messy and didn't line up well, a bit croaked. He pulled up another scroll, started to draw again while continuing his speech.
"Mom didn't tell me about it but my dad noticed when mom bought a bunch of girl's outfits for me unconsciously, she was anguished when she realised it. She was scared that her desire for a baby girl could ruin my life as a boy, but well, I don't really care, I look really pretty in a girl dress, like a beautiful doll and still keeping my mom happy. Also, it was the time my dad give me explains about the privilege not becoming a ninja, born as a girl eh."
Kushina had heard how the education system works in Kirigakure, she hadn't heard about this until now, but from the way Kohari desperated want a girl...
Iruka stopped his brush on the paper and looked up at Kushina, a smile drawn on his face with the mischief glint in his eyes.
"Besides, I get to prank people with this, don't you remember Obito's look!? He looked so pissed!!!"
That was when Kushina knew Iruka wasn't just a normal kid.
"Well Iruka." Kushina begins, "Sometimes, dreams are what kids do, kids love what they dream when they grow up, mine too. But when we are at a certain age, dreams fade and we will have other dreams to keep on going, dreams do change when time moves on."
"Not with him, huh..." Iruka mumbles and Kushina ignores it, knowing very well who that person is.
For some reason, Iruka thought it was Minato that stole her dream to become Hokage. Iruka didn't tell her that but she knows, it was hilarious at first but then she realised with those thoughts in his mind, Iruka grew to hate Minato and blamed him and the councils for it.
She should never think Iruka as a normal child no matter how much he looks like one.
"Hush now, you are still young, maybe one day when you grow up and mature, you will realise your dreams may change too. Now come help me prepare lunch."
With that, the conversation is over.
"I'm pregnant." Kushina smiles, holding her husband's hands and looks at the kids.
It's a perfect day to break the news, everyone is already here, gathering at her house.
Minato's smile is so big, it nearly stretches to his ears. "W-what!? REALLY!?"
"Congratulation, sensei, Kushina-sama." Still the stoic Kakashi.
"Omg! Does that mean I can be an uncle!?" Obito happily exclaimed.
"Hehe, congratulation!" Rin cheers.
Both three walk toward Kushina, wanting to ask more questions but her eyes dart to Iruka who is still standing there alone. Her smile slips when she sees his face.
Shocked, anger, hate, disgust and sadness.
He doesn't say anything and leaves without a single word.
Iruka...
"Iruka, you haven't visited me often, is there something wrong?"
It has been a month since her pregnancy, and Iruka has stopped visiting her but at least, he's still learning Fūinjutsu from what she has taught him.
Right now, the only reason he is here is because of Kohari's request. Obito was busy so Kohari asked her to look after him just for today. Knowing carrying a baby may stress her out, so Kohari warned Iruka to be nice and don't play any pranks. He nodded and sat in front of the garden, pulling out his tools and scrolls and started drawing.
He hasn't spoken to her since he came here.
Iruka stops and looks up at her, turns his gaze to the flowers in the garden and down to his drawing.
The motions are slowed as he carefully thinks what to respond.
His hand moves again and speaks out, voice steady and void of emotions.
"Kushina-sama, you are currently pregnant with Yondaime-sama, my mom did say having a baby may stress you out and you need a lot of time to rest and relax so having me here with you all week will become a nuisance to you."
He referred to me as sama and not sensei...
"Iruka, you are still welcome in my home, your presence isn't a nuisance at all, you-"
"But the living creature inside you is a nuisance to me." He spats out and immediately regrets but he holds his lips tight, refuses to apologize.
Kushina sighs, she doesn't feel angry at all.
No, if it was anyone that said it, she would throw a fit but Iruka? Iruka is different, Iruka is... not a normal child.
She just feels very sad right now.
"Iruka, you can tell me anything and I'll listen. Maybe I can't help solving your problems but keeping it down and bottle it up won't do you any good." She brushes his hair and he flinches but doesn't move away.
He stays silent all day and lets her brush his hair.
She has a feeling he will visit her again.
"Hmm, you have improved since I last saw you, have you been practicing at home?"
Iruka blushes and looks away. Yes he did but he won't tell her that and also because he didn't want to disappoint her as her pupil so even he didn't visit her, he was still practicing.
Though, his sensei's chuckle is enough for him to make him squirms in his seat.
Suddenly, Kushina speaks. "Iruka, can you promise me something?"
Iruka looks back at her, confused written all over his face.
"That's debatable, you won't make me promise not to eat ramen or play pranks, right?"
Kushina laughs out loud, shaking her head.
"No... Can you promise me that, after Naruto is born, will you take care of him? Will you be his brother? His family?"
A dark look crossed on his face.
That creature already has a name.
"Kushina-sama, I think it's time for me to go home now."
"Iruka, wait!"
He leaves without another word.
That was the last time he saw her, he didn't visit her again.
Then the kyuubi attacked.
It took his parents away and his sensei.
His sensei... he shouldn't had left like that because he was selfish.
"Did you hear, that the demon fox is-"
"It still alive!?"
Rumors, bad rumors.
The demon fox is still alive and currently is hosted under a living human.
...
Revenge.
...
Cold night air carries the chilly wind around, leaking to every corner possible, temperatures drop more as days pass, a sign of winter is about to come and nothing can stop it.
The Konoha's orphan where the numbers of kids has been increased since the kyuubi attack.
Silently, Iruka climbs into the room that contains the host and walks toward the crib, the rumors.
Iruka looks down and instantly the wrath he has been holding down comes back full force.
This thing, this living creature has been living inside Kushina-sama, has been causing her cramps, back pain and has taken her and his parent's life.
And now, his skin dresses up as a copycat of that yellow piss. Not a single trace of his sensei on it.
Holding tightly on a kunai, Iruka holds it up his chest, aiming for the creature's heart and ready to impales it.
Nobody is here to stops him, nobody will miss this thing, nobody will ever love it.
Iruka pushes the kunai down.
Only to stop abruptly when it opens its eyes. Crystal disgusting righteous blue looks right back at him, he hates the color of blue.
...
Yet, it does not look like, those eyes, blue as they are, burnt a fierce soul under it and so kind, so soft and warm.
It reminds him of..
The baby coos when something cold hit on his face, babbles some nonsense.
...
Kushina-sensei.
...
How can you be so cruel yet gentle?
...
I can't promise you that, I can't.
...
But I will try, one way or another.
...
...
...
Iruka looked at the sight before him, the crumbling house with fire still burning so bright, leaving ash as it went. The sky was so red in the morning almost like blood, not like the warm orange, soft purple and sometimes pinkish color like he remembers. Everyone was running back and forth, helping to put out the fire, children were crying for their (dead) parents. It wasn't like any morning he wakes up to.
His parents are gone, his house is burned down, nothing is left for him anymore.
A sudden cry wakes him up, he looks down at the bundle in his arms. A baby with blond hair, three marks on each of his cheeks. Iruka caresses the baby, whispering to him. "It's alright, shhh, everything is alright, Naruto."
Naruto, son of Uzumaki Kushina - someone he loves deeply. After the Kyuubi was sealed inside Naruto; he knows what the seal means. And from what he heard, Naruto was placed in an orphan household.
Naruro has Kushina's face and the hair belongs to a man he hates.
Iruka knows Kushina was going to give birth sooner or later, he didn't know it would be the last time he see her again.
He has volunteered to take care of Naruto at the orphan since that place was overwhelmed with other hungry kids, crying for their parents.
The fact they were willingly giving him a baby to be taken away, the fact that Anbu on last night was giving a duty to protect Naruto, didn't bat an eye at him when he was trying to kill the son of the Fourth.
...
He will take care of Naruto for Kushina-sama even if he is the spawn of a man he hates and a woman he loves. He will look after Naruto on his own and if time allows him, he will grow to love Naruto as time passes and make him forget the hate inside him.
That doesn't mean he will look Naruto as Kushina-sama, they are not the same.
Iruka is not gonna compare them at all, one thing he knows about is that people hate being compared to someone else, much less see them not as themselves but a clone of another dead person.
The last thing Naruto needs is him growing up and then people having high expectations of him like he is The Fourth's reincarnation or some shit.
Iruka is not going to let it happen to Naruto.
Iruka gently rocks Naruto back and forth but the cries continue.
"You must be hungry then? Don't worry, I will find some food for you."
Standing in the middle of ruins, he notices an Anbu with silver hair in the corner of his eye.
Iruka ignores him and holds Naruto closer.
"Oni-chan will protect you." He whispers the words.
He doesn't know what awaits him and Naruto in the future but for now, it will be a new beginning for him and his brother.