Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, I would be able to read Japanese and then I could read all those doujinshis I bought. But I don't, so I can't, but I still buy them anyway.

Author's Note: This story takes place during the time-jump, before Naruto returns from his training.

Chapter 1: By the Riverbank

Umino Iruka was having a good day.

The sun was shining. The birds were singing. And he was currently on his way home to Konoha after his C-ranked mission had gone off without a hitch. All he had had to do was pick up a scroll from the Land of Rock and take it back home. He didn't even have to deliver it to his final destination of Suna; the Hokage would have someone else do that. That meant there was a very good chance he might have the next day off from work entirely. And there was also a very good chance Kakashi would also have the day off after his mission ended.

Just thinking about Hatake Kakashi was enough to make Iruka blush. To say that he was in love with the man was almost an understatement. He adored Kakashi, his lover, his partner, his dearest person in the world. He had been in love with Kakashi for years and it still amazed him even now that Kakashi loved him back. And how Kakashi loved him back-! Iruka immediately started blushing again. The man had amazing skills. There was a very good chance that on their mutual day off neither off them would end up leaving Kakashi's house (or even his bedroom).

Iruka shook his head and put these thoughts out of his mind. He needed to stay alert. True, his mission was almost over and he would be back in Konoha within a few hours, but that didn't mean he could afford to let his guard down. Like he told his students, a ninja was always aware of his surroundings, no matter what. With that in mind, he scanned the area looking for any foreign chakra signatures or any other signs that he wasn't alone. Nothing. He smiled and continued on his way.

Half an hour later, Iruka came upon the river that ran through the village. This meant that he was very close to home. Good; it had been a simple mission but not exactly an easy one. He had done a lot of walking in the past three days and he was starting to get tired. In fact, it wouldn't hurt to take a little break right now and maybe wash off a little in the river.

Taking off his shoes and easing into the cool river, Iruka smiled again. Water really was his element; he wasn't named Umino Iruka for nothing. Iruka rolled up his pant legs and stood in knee-high water, washing off his face. It was amazing how much dust one could accumulate on a mission. It was a good thing he wasn't taking the scroll all the way to Suna; that place was all dust, and very little water.

Feeling refreshed, Iruka turned back to the river bank and froze. There on the riverbank stood a tall man, his neck covered in gills, his teeth sharpened to vicious little points. A red and black cape was draped across his broad shoulders. He was smiling, but that only made him look more terrifying.

"Hello little Dolphin." Said Kisame of the Akatsuki.

Next Chapter: Shark vs. Dolphin