Broken Mask

Iruka smiled as he handed out another D-rank mission. The genin were whining about it and Iruka had to fight the twitch in his eye from giving his aggravation away. 'If you don't want D-ranks you should have passed the Chunnin exams shouldn't you?' Iruka snarled mentally. The quality of genin seemed to be going down as the years past.

"Iruka run this up to the Hokage for me? Thanks," Iruka bit his lip to stop from shouting after the Jounin that left not even waiting for a response from Iruka. Iruka wasn't even sure which Jounin it was! 'Stupid, lazy, useless Jounin.' He snarled mentally not aware that some of his words were slipping out of his mouth.


"Having Jounin issues Iruka?" Iruka spun around shocked; he knew that voice! And sure enough standing behind him was Haru single eye lit up in amusement. He was wearing a cerulean blue band over his other eye this time and matching pants that Iruka swore were painted on. They clung to every inch of his skin though Iruka was sad to find that the white and black stripped sweater he wore on top was baggy. Why did he have to choose today, they day they saw each other again after a whole week, to wear a non-see through shirt?

Blinking his eyes and pulling himself back to the present, because he should not be staring like that at a relative stranger, Iruka answered Haru's question with one of his own. "How would you know?"

Haru snickered slightly. "You were mumbling under your breath about useless Jounins and lazy stuck up superiors."

Iruka blushed brightly at that. He hoped no one else had overheard his words; it would not do well for his reputation. "Let's keep that between us ne?" Haru grinned amenable to the suggestion. "So what are you doing in the Hokage Tower?" Iruka questioned curiously. Haru had said he was a friend to the Hokage but was he close enough to the man to just randomly drop in on him?

"I was going to drop off some left over pastries." Haru explained holding up a simple white box that Iruka had failed to notice with all his ogling of the man. Mentally berating himself for his slip up, ninjas should always pay attention, he nodded his understanding. "Would you like one?" Haru questioned flipping open the box and offering the chocolate éclairs to Iruka.

Iruka looked into the box and twitched, chocolate was Iruka's one weakness. "They're freshly made and still warm." Haru cajoled pushing the box further into his face. "No cost what so ever and filled with the most decadent and silky chocolate you will…" Haru stopped speaking instead deciding to grin triumphantly as Iruka broke and took one of the éclairs.

Iruka couldn't have stopped his moan if he wanted to when he bit into the éclair, it was heavenly. "Told you it was good." Haru bragged smugly. Iruka sent him a small glare which didn't faze Haru in the least.

"The only problem is that I have to make them myself every day. Between the baking and the customers and the cleaning I have no free time. I wish I'd have someone to help." Briefly Haru wondered if he was making this too obvious. He had wanted to find a way to spend more time with Iruka and decided that having extra hands around the shop would be a good idea. Besides it killed to birds with one stone; he would get to spend more time with Iruka and he wouldn't have to do so much work himself! The only problem he had had was that he didn't know how to find Iruka but now that was solved, and quiet nicely too.

"I could help out." Iruka offered and Haru mentally did a little tap dance that he would never do in real life. He really did suck at dancing.

"Would you?" Haru asked trying to keep the enthusiasm he felt bubbling in his chest at bay. "I'll pay you 76,000 Ryo an hour!" Haru chirped happily not noticing the dumb founded look on Iruka's face.

"Ah Haru-san umm that's a bit…" Iruka stumbled over his words trying to find a polite way to lower the amount Haru had offered. That was far too much money in an hour.

"Ah Haru-kun did you bring me some treats?" Iruka spun around only to come face-to-face with the Hokage.
"Tousan," Haru grinned holding out the box in his hands. "They're still warm but I gave one to Iruka 'cause he hadn't tried any of my sweets before! He didn't even recognize me for my sweet shop!" Haru almost whined bottom lip pushing out in a pout.

"Not everyone knows of your sweet shop Haru-kun." The Hokage chided gently before turning to smile genially at Iruka. Iruka's jaw was hanging open in shock. Had Haru just called the Hokage Tousan? As in father?

"Are you okay Iruka?" Haru questioned brows furrowed in worry as he pressed a hand to Iruka's forehead. "You don't have a fever." He hummed and Iruka blushed crimson red.

"Ah I'm," Iruka coughed clearing his throat when his voice came out squeaky. "I'm just fine."

"Good I wouldn't want you sick while you're working with me." Haru grinned.

The Hokage raised an eyebrow in question even as his eyes glittered knowingly. He had already caught onto the fact that Iruka was this mystery man that had Haru all confused. The Hokage was glad that Haru had chosen a truly kind person to take interest in even as he was shocked at the offer Haru had given to Iruka. Even the Hokage was not allowed into Haru's kitchens when he was cooking and for Haru to ask Iruka to actually help him was an incredible step. "Really?" The Hokage questioned fighting back a smile as Haru practically vibrated with excitement.

"Yup and I'm gonna pay him 76,000 Ryo an hour. He'll help me with costumers and in the kitchens." Haru stated nodding his head up and down excessively quickly so that it was barely more than a blur.

"Err about the Ryo Haru it's a bit…" Iruka trailed off as he caught the Hokage's gaze. The Hokage was glaring at him and Iruka was suddenly reminded exactly why this man was the Hokage. He was the most powerful ninja in the village and right now he looked the part. Swallowing convulsively Iruka began again, "Wh-when do you need me there?"

Haru grinned happily at the question bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet; who knew a man could look so childlike and extremely hot at the same time? "Be there at eight tomorrow. You'll work weekends with me since you still have to teach and you can take any leftovers home!"

Iruka nodded his agreement and Haru went racing out the doors shouting something about his oven being on as he went. Iruka turned around to head back to the mission's desk, the file in his hand completely forgotten, when the Hokage grabbed his arm. "Hokage-sama?" Iruka questioned.

The Hokage gave him a feral grin. "Why don't we talk in my office for a little while Umino-san."

Iruka gulped eyes wide as he walked with the Hokage to his office mentally wondering if he would ever return.

~~~~~LINE BREAK~~~~~

Danzo watched as Haru moved in the kitchen like water, each move was fluid and graceful. After watching his nephew for a few moments Danzo began to look around the kitchen, picking up the flour bin he opened it and looked inside before dropping a clear liquid onto the flour and watched as it turned clear.

Danzo sighed and was internally relieved the flour was flour and not some sort of poison in powered form, looking over at Haru he noticed that his nephew was looking at him with an amused yet exasperated look on his face

"You do know that I have already done that?"

Danzo shrugged his shoulder and looked at Haru with a grim expression

"Even the best of us can make mistakes."

Haru nodded his head a calm smile on his face as he responded

"True, but then again no one has a family like mine."

Danzo looked at Haru one eyebrow was raised, Haru had turned his back so he couldn't see the look as Danzo questioned

"What does that mean?"

Haru turned to face Danzo and looked him dead in the eye as he replied

"We are all paranoid to the extreme, I have to walk at least three different routes just to come here, even then I never walk the same route home just in case someone follows me."

Danzo nodded his head, he could see the reason and sense in taking more than one route. Looking at Haru he sat down on a rather large and comfortable stool that was in the kitchen. The stool had been placed there when Danzo had said his knee was acting up and Haru, not wanting his uncle to be in pain, had a stool installed in the kitchen. Now if Danzo felt his knee hurting he could sit down, and it was situated in a place from where Danzo could see the whole kitchen and every entrance and exit from the kitchen and to the bakery.

Haru watched as Danzo looked around the kitchen for any threats, when his uncle didn't find any he watched as his shoulder relaxed. Haru feeling happy decided that he would bake some of Danzo's favorites. Haru was feeling generous; it had been a good day.