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Marked

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Iruka could run along the top of a picket fence barefoot and drink a gallon of milk in a minute. He once snuck into Crazy Kyou-san's house, stole a katana wrapped in the old man's boxers and replaced it the next day without a hitch. He'd be late to class rescuing forest critters in need. Iruka told a lot of lies when he was younger. And they always called his bluffs.

But no one ever teased Iruka when he said the angry mark across his nose was from the Kyuubi.

He smiles at his reflection years later.

It's too late now to tell them it's a birthmark.

-'-

Posted 12.1.2006