Teardrop of the Wolf

Chapter 17

We take a look in this chapter of how Iruka and Mori met. Thank you for voting for this story, and welcome to my new followers!
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Inari gave her a large smile, and Mori smiled in return. He then turned to Naruto, and the two exchanged words. Mori turned her red gaze towards the forest, eyes searching desperately for a glimpse of her older brother. Something inside her said that Hideo was still in there. A hand clasped her shoulder, and she looked back to see Kakashi giving her a one-eyed smile. Mori gave her friend a small smile in return.

After awhile, the team from Konoha bid the villagers from the Hidden Mist goodbye. Mori decided to travel in her wolf form, and in a blink of an eye stood on four legs instead of two. She shook out her white fur and paced in a circle, anxious to get back. With a wave, the team was finally off. Naruto continued chattering happily as the team continued walking. Even though her still-healing wounds throbbed with each step, Mori wouldn't whimper. Her mind continued to buzz and whirl with thoughts about Hideo.

Where was he now? Why was he with Gato? Where was her mother? Was her mother still alive? With an irritated growl, Mori shook her head. Of course her mother was still alive. One day Mori would return and rescue her mother and Hideo. 

Finally, the gates of Konoha appeared in the distance. The team entered through the open gates, and with a slight sigh Mori's furry haunches relaxed. She was safe here. She closed her eyes and shifted to human. She brushed some dirt off her pants and brushed a strand of hair away from her eye.

"I will see you later" Mori murmured to Kakashi before turning and walking down a side street.

She felt her friends visible eye on her back as she continued walking. She let her mind wander as she continued walking, the sound of the villagers talking and children laughing echoing in her ears. She smiled gently when a group of children ran across her path, laughing and playing with each other.

"Mori? Is that you?" a warm voice said from behind her.

She turned around and smiled when she saw Iruka standing there. A soft smile pulled at her lips when she looked at the Chunin who she had known as long as she had known Kakashi. He gave a short laugh and scratched the back of his head.

"I haven't seen you in a long time! Where have you been?" Iruka said with a smile.

Mori returned the smile.

"I was...away" she said, looking away from the young man standing in front of her.

Brief images of her being chained in one of Orochimaru's cells flashed through her mind, and Mori blinked them away quickly. She looked up at Iruka, red eyes meeting black as he gazed at her.

"Would you...would you like to go have some ramen with me?" Iruka asked, pink splashing across his cheeks as he scratched the back of his head.

Mori smiled and nodded.

"I would love to" she said, feeling heat racing across her nose.

Her heart began fluttering in her chest as she continued gazing at the Chunin. Why was she feeling like this? What was this feeling? She never felt these emotions before. She gave herself a mental shake before walking beside the young man. As they continued walking down the streets of Konoha, Mori began to feel more comfortable. Iruka become more and more animated when he talked about his students, making Mori laugh at his stories. She could tell he enjoyed teaching, and his animated actions gave him a caring and adorable look.

Another wave of heat raced over the bridge of her nose. She never thought of Iruka as adorable before. What was going on with her?

With an inaudible sigh, Mori followed the animated young man to the Ichiraku ramen restaurant. He indicated to an empty seat beside him, and she sat down with a small nod. Iruka glanced at her before giving a large smile. As Mori gave her order to the elderly man, Iruka took the time to cast a long look at her.

The last time he had seen Mori he was a bit older then Naruto. The nine tailed fox had attacked the village and his parents had been killed.

Iruka was a young boy sitting by himself and sobbing over his parents death. It had been some time since they had perished, but he still felt it. The bushes rustled nearby, and a young wolf stepped carefully out, ears and tail pricked with interest. Iruka stopped sobbing and stood still, eyes wide. He didn't know that wolves were here in Konoha. He watched as the small wolf raised its nose to the air to scent it. Its red eyes watched the young boy as Iruka hastily wiped his eyes.

"What do you want? Go away!" he shouted.

The wolf cocked it's head and sat on its haunches. Iruka sniffed and he continued wiping at his eyes.

"Why are you crying?" a young girls voice echoed, and Iruka's head shot up.

It was only him and the wolf in the clearing, and wolves couldn't talk. Where did that voice come from?

"Who...who's there?" Iruka shouted, looking around.

The wolf cocked its head again, red eyes staring at the confused boy. It opened its muzzle and a pink tongue rolled out.

"Why were you crying?" the voice said again, and Iruka's eyes widened when he realized it came from the wolf in front of him.

"You can talk?!" Iruka said, mouth agape.

The wolf blinked.

"Well...yeah. You've never heard a wolf talk before?" the wolf, obviously a female now, stood up on its four paws.

Iruka shook his head, and let out a gasp when chakra wrapped itself around the wolf. In no time a young girl stood in front of Iruka. She stood on wooden sandals and black shorts hugged her slim legs. She wore a green tunic and short, white hair bobbed in front of her face as she gazed at the shocked boy in front of her. A giggle sounded from the girl as she leaned down in front of Iruka.

Iruka shook his head as he came out of the memory. The day he met Mori was the day he learned to laugh again.