Disclaimer: Although I wish I did, I do not own Naruto. –tears-

Now...Let it begin!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Well if you ask me, this sucks!"

"No one asked you Naruto-kun. So pipe down!"

"Say what! Do I not get a choice in this?"

"No. Not really."

Naruto glowered at his sensei. He sighed angrily and crossed his arms in front of his chest in anger. He heard Kakashi sigh; he puffed out his cheeks. He inhaled, the genin angrily looked at Kakashi and hissed softly. This was dumb! Insane! It made little sense! Why did they have to do this anyway! It was insane! He was sure there was some jutsu that would make this easier! Why couldn't here just be a simple jutsu! Buuuuuut noooo! Always 'No' or 'You'll see when we get there.' Why couldn't he know now!

What did riding horses have to do with chakra control anyway?

"Oh! I love riding horses!" Sakura said happily, clapping her hands together in front of her chest. Her emerald eyes shifted over to her love, her heart! Her soul he mind, her feelings – She could go on and on about how wonderful Sasuke was! But she quickly stilled her flash of emotions when he shot her a cold, bored look. That look chilled, and warmed her. In the end, she was only lukewarm anyway. She blushed gently and calmed down.

"Not to agree with Naruto-kun, but really sensei, what does horseback riding have to do with building our chakra?" Sasuke said darkly, his black eyes shifted over to Kakashi, whose single eye turned upwards with joy. He sighed angrily. Kakashi waggled a finger at him.

"Maaa, you'll find out later!"

Kakashi taunted them. He smiled and watched them as they all glowered at him. They'll find out son enough. Oh! I do hope that Iruka comes along. It has been ages since I saw him last! Kakashi thought without a bat of his eye. He flicked the piercing eye at the students, who were now actively engaged in ignoring him. Ah well, what to do now? I know! Reaching his gloved hand back, the jounin swiftly pulled out a book from his back-pouch.

He held the book in his hand and actively read the book he knew and loved. Flipping the page as he read on, he glanced at his students from time to time. He casually glanced up and spotted something he knew was right. He swiftly placed the book away and smiled through his mask.

"Iruka-sensei!"

Kakashi walked over, his excitement to see the chuunin was barely contained in himself. He struggled and his body jerked swiftly as he choked down laughter when Iruka was tackled by the blond-maverick of his team. Iruka's face contorted into a face of pain,

"Ow Naruto-kun, what are you trying to do? Kill me!"

The blond-maverick quickly let go of his former teacher and smiled broadly. Then his face darkened into suspicion and he glanced at Kakashi, who quickly avoided the look. He sighed and pointed accusingly at Kakashi,

"What is Iruka-sensei doing here?"

"I invited him Naruto-kun."

"Why!"

"A little fun, he's been working too hard, haven't you my Dolphin-chan?"

"Your Dolphin-chan!"

"Kakashi!"

"Yes Iruka-sensei?"

Kakashi said, his eye curved in a happy expression, his face seemed, seemed so…boyish! Iruka felt another blush coming along and looked at Kakashi's handsome figure and face. He felt a blush coming on, harder this time. He frowned and placed a finger on Kakashi's forehead, neatly in the center of his face protector. He leaned in and pushed the jounin away from him. He heard Naruto gasp and felt a flush of happiness. He grinned, looking at Kakashi's black eye, which had widened in shock and surprise, then narrowed into clever playfulness.

"Um, Kakashi-sensei?"

"Yes Sakura-kun?" He said, rather annoyed that she'd made him stop this rather playful game with Iruka.

"We are going to be late if we don't hurry…" She muttered softly, looking at Sasuke for support. Of course, the raven-haired Uchiha-clan member turned and looked down the road. She huffed softly. Kakashi smiled,

"So we are Sakura-kun! We should be moving Iruka-sensei" He said, his tone soft. Iruka nodded and took his finger away from Kakashi's head-band and smiled. "Don't forget, I can still kick your ass." He whispered softly, Kakashi's smiled, his silver hair flicked back and forth as he laughed happily, "You really think so?" He dared the chuunin pleasantly. Iruka amused him to no end.

"I do!"

Kakashi gave a soft chuckle and looked at his team, they were all staring at him with shock and annoyance. Kakashi grinned at them threw his mask and walked forwards, pulling Iruka behind him. The chuunin had no chance to escape now! Iruka struggled vainly against his grasp, but the silver-haired man turned and looked at him pleasantly. His hand, glowed, thankfully gloved, tightened on his hand. He felt another blush creep up. Trust Kakashi to make me blush! He thought silently, and angrily, Dumb, handsome jounin...why me? What did I do!

"Kakashi-sensei."

"Yes Iruka-sensei?"

"You can let go on my hand now!"

"Are you blushing yet?"

"No…well, yes I am! But that is besides the point!"

"No it's not."

Kakashi grinned as Iruka glared at him. He let go of the chestnut-haired man and smiled through his mask. Not one of his smiles he gave his students, the one that was only saved for Iruka, the only one who got his love. He smiled and his eye curved up again. He turned and looked at his students as a huffy sigh from Naruto brought the jounin out of his thoughts. He sighed and racked a hand through his platinum hair.

"Alright Naruto-kun, let's go."

Kakashi settled into a pace that matched the chuunin who walked beside him. Kakashi nearly pulled out his book, but for Iruka's sake, he didn't. He sighed and looked as Naruto challenged Sasuke again. He walked up as the blond-student raised his fist, his hand mashed into the boy's hair,

"Leave it be Naruto-kun."

"What? He insulted me!"

"I didn't insult you, you big chicken."

"Why you--!"

"I just voiced aloud the thoughts of others. Why waste my words on the weak?"

Iruka sighed as Naruto started to boil with anger. He frowned and looked at Naruto warningly, the genin paid no attention to the chuunin, which mad Iruka angry with the stubborn boy.

"Naruto-kun!"

Naruto flinched and looked at Iruka, he flinched again, his blue eyes stinging with sadness. His shoulder's drooped as he relaxed. Naruto heaved a sigh, it was only for Iruka's sake. That was it!

"You really must tell me your method Iruka."

The teacher looked at Kakashi. His eyes widened in shock.

"What do you mean?"

"How do you make Naruto-kun shut up like that?"

"…What do you mean?"

"Well, apart from nearly killing him or giving him what he wants, he never really is quiet like that."

"Oh."

Iruka blushed again, the chuunin-chestnut-haired-handsome-younger man sighed and lifted a hand to the back of his hair in a reluctant, and embarrassed pose. He sighed and glanced at Kakashi as they walked onwards, his hand sliding through the ponytail that stuck out of his head. His other hand hanging down comfortably at his side. Iruka laughed suddenly, startling almost all of them, Naruto was, of course, the fastest one to recover from the shock of hearing his former-sensei laugh. His face tilted into a frown and he glared over at Iruka,

"Hey, hey! What's so funny here!"

Iruka was still laughing, by this time of course; Kakashi had stopped glancing at him and turned away from the chuunin. He sighed and looked ahead; silver hair fell over his single eye a moment. Idly he brushed away the strands back into his hair. He sighed suddenly and noticed a sign ahead. Ah, another test for my students. He thought playfully. They were his favorite team, well, the only team ever to pass his test. He sighed softly and looked about. He wondered who would notice the stables first…?

Sakura, rather glad she'd be able to ride a horse again. The last time she had ridden was…she couldn't ever remember! The pink-haired girl looked over at Sasuke, she blushed, her large, and noticeable forehead colored a soft blush. She glanced up and looked about suddenly, I can't have him thinking that I'm a blind-genin as well! He already thinks I'm worse than Naruto! She stared out and looked for the stable sign. Spotting it on the edge, she smiled slightly. The corners of her mouth lifted and she wanted to tell him. But he would have to ask!

"Hey, Sakura-kun!"

She turned, what was Naruto asking her now? She sighed in exasperation,

"Yes Naruto-kun?"

"Why're you smiling that that?"

"Oh, no reason."

Sakura fumed angrily inside. How dare he notice before Sasuke! She nearly hissed at him just then. She sighed angrily and turned away from the yellow-haired maverick and watched Saskue, who ignored her, as always. She looked back over her shoulder and spotted her Sensei and Iruka, she caught Kakashi's eye and indicated with a flick of her head, the stables. She felt happy when his single eye curved upwards and he nodded to her.

"Well, well!"

He said suddenly, jarring Iruka, Sasuke, and Naruto from their thoughts of who-knows-what with his words. He grinned through his mask,

"Our Sakura-kun has noticed the stables first!"

"What!"

Naruto jumped around and stared at Sakura, was that what she'd been smiling about? He should have guessed! But why didn't she tell him? She could have passed the good-luck along! Ah well. He turned as Kakashi started to speak again,

"Well, I guess now that we're all here I should tell you why we're here."

"Kakashi-sensei I don't think you shou-"

The index finger of the silver-haired jounin's left hand found it's way onto Iruka's soft lips. He smiled gently, his mask moving and muffling his words as he spoke gently. Iruka shivered with suppressed joy.

"It's alright Iruka, they can know. Or are you suddenly ashamed?"

"Hey! What's going on here?"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pansk – Well! What do you guys think of my story so far! I think I left it at a Cliff-hanger! Tee hee!

Naruto – What are we doing at the freaking stables anyway?

Kakashi – Easy Fox-boy, you'll find out soon!

Naruto – But I wanna know NOW!

Iruka – Naruto! Relax! Trust Kakashi-sensei!

Naruto – Nani! Why should I?

Pasnk – Because I said so and I control your life! Muhahahahahaha! Stop by for the next one!