Ｕｃｈｉｈａ

XXIII

"M-Minato!" I heard Iruka sound troubled. Of course he sounded troubled— in all his years of working for my dad, never before had Iruka  had to hide something from the man and yet here we are: confronting the guy.

You guys just don't get it: Iruka dost not knoweth how to forswear.

"Iruka." Dad greeted and I could tell by the sound of his voice that he wasn't exactly having a great day so far. You know what that means? It means dad isn't looking for any funny business today and just wants to rest. However, add Iruka to the mix, and you get a slightly grumpy dad.

"What a coincidence— finding you here." Nice, Iruka, nice. Say that to the man that literally owns the place. Someone give this man a medal, such bravery, very astonishing. How Oscar worthy. Wait, this isn't the real world, this is Konoha... whatever.

"Of course it is," Dad answered, taken aback by the statement. "I live here."

"W-what?" Iruka sounded surprised. "No, you're lying!" He laughed nervously. Oh, this was going great.

"You mean... you've never noticed?" Gods, why was my dad so stupid?!

"Sir." Ibiki intervened. "Iruka, if you could please move." He said, using his deepest tone to seem more intimidating.

Looks like Ibiki wasn't in a good mood, either.

Great, here we are, trying to hide something big from dad and we put Iruka as the one to distract him? Whose idea was that? Why not Kakashi? We all know he's better at handling these things. No, actually, I take it back. Give dad any excuse and he'll buy it.

"Iruka, if you could step aside." Ibiki spoke once again, and by know, I could picture Iruka sweating from the towering giant that was Ibiki. Who wouldn't? Ibiki was like some human-demon hybrid thing. You can't help but to fear the man even if he were doing the most cutesy thing ever. Even Sasuke kept quiet around him; he knew Ibiki was much more sane than my father but, let's not go there.

"That's it." I threw my hands up, getting up from my seat to walk over. "Iruka, you suck." I said as I neared them. "And Dad, seriously? You fell for that?"

"Naruto, I tried my best." Iruka frowned. "And shouldn't we be keeping him from the secret?" He whispered towards me, making dad give me the suspicious eye, like a small puppy questioning his owner or something.

"Secret?" Dad's attention has been caught. You know, if he had to be a dog, he'd definitely be a golden retriever.

"Dad, please." I gave him a flat look.

"What's with all the secrecy?" He asked, sniffing the air. See? Dog. What did I tell you? "I don't smell Sasuke anywhere..." And you guys said I was creepy? "No, it's not Uchiha I smell... this one's a more extravagant aroma..."

I produced a smile because I knew that look on his face— he found out what the secret was.

"Naruto?" He looked at me, eyes glossy as they begun tearing up. He sniffled a little. "You're lying to me, this is a dream."

Ibiki, confused, looked me in the eye and I only gave him a lazy grin. Following Iruka, Ibiki walked over towards the kitchen, where he stood for a few seconds and suddenly, the man could not look my father in the eye.

"Ibiki?" Dad asked, though the man did not move.

Ibiki looked at me, his eyes wide either in shock or terror. Both were fascinating reactions to the surprise in the kitchen. Shock because he didn't know anything about this and terror because...

"Minato?" A voice called out from the kitchen where Ibiki stood. Dad, suddenly perking up to the voice, paid very close attention to Ibiki.

"Naruto, son, pinch me." He ordered me. "I think Ibiki's voice sounded like..." He gulped.