Iruka's Family

Chapter 6

Naruto had been ecstatic when he heard he would be living with Iruka. He had packed up so quickly they were barely at his house (if you could call it that) for a minute. That might have been because Naruto owned so little, Iruka would have to do something about that. No child should have only one pair of clothes.

"Do I really get to live with you Sensei?"

"Yes, now let's go and get you set up."

They walked into the apartment that Iruka had called home for the last 6 years. It was small, but it had 2 bedrooms, one which Iruka had originally used as an office. He had cleaned it out prior and with all of Naruto's stuff it was quite bare. The boy only owned one pair of clothes, a night cap, a stuffed fox (ironically), and a tea set. Naruto had been eating ramen out of the cups and using the saucers as plates.

"Have you only been eating ramen?"

"It's cheap!" Iruka was surprised, he thought the boy just loved ramen, he never thought to question if there was more to the story. Still they needed to pick some things up for the boy.

Iruka did not have much money, his apartment was given to him after the loss of his parents and house in the attack, and being a teacher did not pay as well as a normal shinobi. He had enough for food, some new clothes, and maybe some sheets. When he got his next pay he promised himself to get the blond some new toys.

The boy ran from shop to shop eyeing the goods they had to offer. Iruka was surprised how Naruto never asked for something before checking the price. This made Iruka feel bad for not having unlimited cash, he wanted to spoil the boy. A feeling he had developed in the last 2 weeks, to his surprise, but he still kept himself distant. He felt he had no right to enter in the boys life anymore than he already had.

They successfully got Naruto 3 new outfits, one with a bright orange shirt, another with the Leaf village symbol resting in the center. The third had been an orange and blue jacket, which if you stared at it too long your eyes started to hurt. But Naruto loved it.

"I can't believe I've never been there!" The blond chatted.

"To the thrift store?"

"Yeah! The lady would always kick me out, saying kids were not allowed." Iruka almost marched back in there and attacked the lady. He stopped himself, realizing how out of character that was. Plus, that type of reputation would get both him and Naruto in trouble.

Naruto then stopped walking and stared at a shop window. Iruka turned around and saw he was staring at a frog plush. It was orange with yellow eyes, about the size of a small dog. The blond just stared at it, Iruka, already knowing the answer, looked at the price through the window.

"40 yen..." That was all the money for food, they couldn't buy it if they didn't want to stare the next week. And Naruto was still too thin for a boy his age. Iruka sighed, then felt a chill down his spine. He knelt down next to Naruto. The boy was quick to respond.

"Don't worry, I already know."

"What if," Iruka said, "We get it my next paycheck?" The boy's eyes lit up, but then dimmed after a moment.

"It's a waste of money, plus I got cool clothes, and I have Kurama at home..." Iruka made a mental note to buy the toy next week.

They shopped for food and made their way back to the apartment, up the stairs, through the door. They dropped the food in the kitchen and Iruka began to put them away. Naruto hesitated for a moment, like he wanted to help, but then scurried to his room. When Iruka heard a cry of glee, Naruto rushed back into the kitchen holding the frog they had seen earlier that day.

"THEY GOT IT FOR ME!!!" Naruto practically yelled.

"Who?"

"My Shadows!"