Leaves drifted in lazy arcs around the memorial stone. There a lone figure stood, paying his respects to the dead.

Hatake Kakashi had been a frequent visitor of this site since the death of his friend and teammate one year prior. Being a soldier meant being away from the village for long stretches of time, but as often as the copy ninja was in the village, he kept vigil at the memorial.

The months immediately after Obito's death, his other teammate, Rin, would often join him in his watch. Eventually, however, her visits became less frequent. She said one shouldn't live buried in the past, and eventually needs to move on.

Kakashi had no desire to "move on."

Uchiha Obito had traded his life for Kakashi's, and the day he ceased to pause and reflect, the day he stopped feeling that pain, was the day he truly became lower than scum.

Rin had been convinced that, with time, Kakashi's need to frequent the memorial would lessen. On the contrary- with time, his reasons for coming only increased. There were more people he cared about among the dead than among the living. And when he'd failed in his promise to protect Rin, when she also fell in combat, his list of regrets became longer, along with the amount of time he spent reflecting.

With Minato's death came a new development. The copy ninja's time couldn't always be spent in silent rumination. He wasn't a social person, but when he felt the need to confide in someone, his former sensei was always the prime candidate. Not inclined to seek a new confidante, Kakashi could see no reason to stop now.

"Well, sensei, I've decided to teach that Umino brat," the jounin sighed. "Seeing as how I won't be sent out of the village for at least a few more days anyway."

A wry smile pulled his features, "Obito, if you were here, you'd be laughing it up about now. You know I haven't the patience for teaching."

The wind picked up, bringing a chill with it. Kakashi stuck his hands in his pockets and continued. "I wouldn't have even bothered, but you should see this kid. Don't get me wrong…he's no genius. After months of constant training on his own, he still couldn't learned this straight-forward technique. But he also hasn't given up, even after everything I put him through, and after, well, the Fox attack."

Kakashi paused in consideration. "The boy's about as intimidating as a terrier, but tenacious as a pitbull. Once he sinks his teeth into something, he won't let go.

"So, Minato-sensei, looks like you were right after all. Iruka-kun's a good kid. And he's not really that annoying... once you get used to him. He'll probably be an asset to this village when he gets older."

Kakashi looked up and took note of the position of the sun. "Anyway, guys, it's time for me to go. I told the kid that I'd meet him for a training session and I shouldn't keep him waiting too long. He's already been there an hour."

A dark haired boy half-carried, half-dragged a bucket of water toward the memorial stone.

Setting it down, his brown eyes scanned the list of names until he found the ones he was searching for: Umino Kajiki and Umino Koeda.

Iruka brushed his fingers across the engraved kanji. He wasn't used to locating those names on the stone, but over time he would probably be able to find the exact spot with his eyes closed.

An involuntary shudder wracked his body as the memory of the last time he saw his parents rose unbidden in his mind. Forcing the image away, he cleared his throat and addressed them.

"Hey, mom, dad," he began quietly. "Happy anniversary."

The pre-genin shifted his feet nervously. "I'm not sure if you can hear me but I thought, if you could, this would maybe be the place with the best reception. I don't know."

When his parents used to come home on furlough, they always took care to set their affairs in order and get the business done that they could not get to while on the field. So naturally, Iruka began the conversation with the practical.

"Just so you know, I talked to the landlord last night, and the money you guys set aside should be good for the next few months of rent. Also, Sarutobi-sama- he's the Hokage again, you know- he says that I'm entitled to the unpaid allowances that Konoha owes you, but that right now the village can't afford to pay death benefits." Iruka scratched his scar thoughtfully, "So it'll be tight, but don't worry, because I should be able to graduate really soon, and then I can earn my own money."

With those matters aside, he moved on to the main reason behind this visit. "So, anyway, I have a surprise for you, for your anniversary, and I worked really, really hard on it, so I hope you like it." Iruka tapped the bucket sheepishly. "Only, I had to bring my own water, because I can't get it to work without an outside source. Maybe later I'll learn how to do that."

Iruka widened his stance and grinned at the stone. "All right, you ready? Here goes: Water Style, Water Cannon Jutsu!"

Small jets of water rose from the bucket, snaking around the boy's body, moving up to encircled his arms, and spiraling towards the palms of his hands. There, the liquid collected into a ball before exploding forward in a highly pressurized stream.

Of course, being limited to only the water in the bucket, his jutsu resembled the jet of a garden hose more than that of a water cannon. Pressurized water hit a tree trunk and splintered some of the bark, but otherwise did little damage.

"Did you see?" Iruka exclaimed. "It's not that strong yet, but Kakashi-san says that it'll get better as my chakra coils develop more fully… And don't get angry, dad, I promise I didn't show him the scroll. He already knew how to do the Water Cannon. Says he learned it from a Mist ninja."

After a thoughtful pause, the pre-genin sighed, "Minato-ojisan… you were right about him, after all. Kakashi-san helped me, and I never would have learned this jutsu in time if he hadn't.

As an afterthought, the boy added, "He's a little annoying. He's always late to training sessions…and he enjoyed hitting me with the Water Cannon way too much..."

Iruka grinned. "But you know what? He's still a good kid."

Now that the story's over, I'll give you some insight into the guidelines that helped build it. (In case you're actually interested in that sort of thing):

1. An Iruka in cranky-desperate mode because of a problem.

2. A request for help to Kakashi, which the jounin responds to by causing Iruka more misery and frustration.

3. Kakashi finally helping Iruka, possibly, but not necessarily, out of guilt.

I toyed with various amusing responses to this challenge, and was almost certain that it would lend itself to a humorous and lighthearted fic.

With that in mind, I decided to make them both children, thinking it would be even cuter. Then I reflected on their childhood, and how they both grew surrounded by, or in the thick of, war…and this story is the result of those reflections.

Thank you so much to every one who reviewed. Such a response seems astonishing and undeserved. ^^; However, far be it from me to complain.

A big thanks to iNsAnE nO bAkA, Reidluver, InARealPickle, Auphora66, XcrazyXookamiX, Ir1s, Antimatterannihilation, umino-gaara, DarkAuroran, jumpingbeans480, yure-chan, Prescripto13, Victoria Levi, andLurkingNin for the latest reviews. Quite a few of you have reviewed every chapter individually, and for that I am most grateful. I wish I could write you gift "one-shots", but, alas, it would require me to spend the rest of my days chained to my laptop, and I rather enjoy involving myself in Real Life.

And, of course, a great thank-you to Ally Plz, for her inspiration and support.