Naruto
Naruto did not have the best day today.
For starters, he’s stuck with the pervy sage to train him for the exams—which he did not want—and now, Iruka sensei isn’t even home! What the hell is going on? First he can’t summon a frog and now this? Why can’t things go easy for him? Isn’t he already being punished by not having Sasuke around to vent about this to?
He would have sat around feeling mopey had it not been for the distinctive voices out of his apartment door.
“I had a great time tonight. I hope you have a safe trip back to your place.”
“Don’t worry about me, Iruka! I can take care of myself just fine!”
…Guy sensei?
Wait, whenever Iruka sensei comes home and he hears things like this, it’s usually because he went out on a date…that means…he must have been on a date this whole time with Guy sensei!
Naruto could feel the joy coursing through his veins as he realized something finally went right in his crappy day!
“Hey Iruka sensei! Did you do anything special tonight?” he greeted him with a big smile, his hands clasped together as he tries to contain his excitement.
His adoptive father ponders this over, a hand underneath his chin when doing so, “Not really. All I did was have dinner with Guy. Why would you think that was anything special?”
“Because you two were so obviously on a date and you’re trying to hide it from me for some reason!” Naruto cheers with an accusatory finger pointing in his direction, “Seriously sensei, how could you lie to me about something so obvious? What, do you think I’m stupid or something?”
“No, not at all! Naruto, it wasn’t a date a between us. All we did was hang out as friends and talked about our old missions.”
He has a hard time buying it, “Uh huh, sure…then tell me why you were being so lovey-dovey out there if there isn’t something else going on here.”
Iruka prepares himself to have a talk with Naruto he feels he needs to hear now before he gets any more wrong ideas about the situation, “We weren’t being lovey-dovey; we were being nice to each other. Guy wanted to walk me home so we could talk more about something relating to Lee, that’s it.”
“Ah ha! I was right then! You two are getting together and he’s going to adopt Lee and save him from his horrible family! This is so great, I’m gonna have a brother and a cool dad to train with too!”
Now he feels horrible for breaking the hard news to him, “Naruto, Guy is asexual. He’s not sexually attracted to anyone, not betas or omegas. Him and I could never work out because I need somebody to share a heat with, someone I can be…physically intimate with and he told me he couldn’t be that person for me.”
“Oh.” watching his son deflate to the news and slump downwards onto the couch in defeat broke his heart more than being rejected by Guy ever could, “Well, that sucks…I didn’t know it was possible to not be attracted to anyone at all. Are you sure that’s really a thing? Couldn’t you have tried to seduce him or something? Maybe he hasn’t found the right person to be intimate with yet…sensei? Why do you look angry?”
His hands are clenched into fists at his sides as he snarls, “Because I am angry! Don’t you realize how wrong you sound right now? How would you like it if someone told you your attraction to Sakura wasn’t possible because it’s impossible for omega boys to like alpha girls because it’s not a real thing?”
Naruto thinks this over and comes back with the quick conclusion of, “I’d be pissed off if someone said that to me.”
“Now, think about if that same person said to someone you weren’t in at all to try to do more to seduce you and to ignore your rejections of them because you haven’t been with them to know if they’re the right person for you or not.”
“I’d really hate that.”
“Why?”
“Because it’d be someone telling my crush on Sakura wasn’t real or possible.”
“Then why would you say Guy’s lack of attraction to anyone isn’t real or possible?” he doesn’t give Naruto any time to counter this, being firm with him on the matter at hand, “Guy really struggled to come to terms with himself over this. We spoke about it tonight when reminiscing over our missions and it’s honestly amazing he hasn’t caved to the societal pressure to get a mate and have pups already. All of his life, he’s been told he’s weird, he’s been mocked openly for not lusting over omegas and betas and for not wanting to have sex with anyone. He’s gone through so many struggles in dating people in the past who only wanted him to have sex with him to ‘fix’ him when there’s nothing broken about him that I have nothing but respect for him for being able to stand tall through everything he has. Guy is in a better place with himself now, but talk like that is what had him feeling like he had to date despite how uncomfortable it made him in order to be a ‘real alpha’. Next time someone tells you they aren’t attracted to anybody, don’t interrogate them on it. Accept it as is and leave them be on it.”
He nods, taking the lesson as is, “I’ll be sure not to judge people on that ever again, Iruka sensei, I promise.”
“Good.” Iruka asks him then, “Have you eaten? If not, I can make some ramen for you.”
“Actually, I haven’t.” he confesses with a nervous smile, “I was too busy training today with the pervy sage.”
“Pervy sage?”
“You know, an old man who summons toads and writes those trashy porno books Kakashi sensei always reads! That guy, pervy sage!”
Iruka has a feeling he knows who this person is, “Does he have bushy white hair and the most annoying scent a beta can have?”
He beams at him when he recognizes it, “Yep! That’s him, my latest sensei, pervy sage!”
His first reaction to the news of Jiraiya training his son is simple enough: “Did he ever try to touch you inappropriately?”
Seeing the young omega shake his head leaves him feeling hopeful, “No, he didn’t when I was in my normal form. If of anything, he didn’t want to train me at first until I bothered him into it. Then he saw me in my sexy jutsu and he was all for it!”
Iruka feels his skin crawl and yet, he doesn’t want to interfere with Naruto’s training, “How about I watch him for a day to be sure he’s not trying anything perverted on you? I wouldn’t want you to be left alone with someone you call ‘pervy sage’ unless if I know he’s going to keep it in his pants.”
“Eh, he’s a beta, he won’t do anything.”
“…Betas have sex drives too, Naruto, and I don’t trust him to not use his on you if that’s how he is acting now.”
Naruto was about to object when Iruka took a seat next to him on the couch, “I know I sound crazy now, but it’s only because I want to be sure you won’t be taken advantage of by some pervert. You can understand, right? You may not be my pup by blood, but I will protect you like you are no matter what the situation may be. Even if you think he is harmless, I still need to see for myself that he is before I trust you with him.”
The young omega doesn’t argue with his adoptive father, finding his concern to be sweet instead of annoying like he would have in the past thanks to everything he’s learned about Lee’s clan recently.
At least he has a parent that cares about him, unlike his friend whose own clan doesn’t seem to even like him from what he can tell, “Something bothering you? Did he do something to upset you?”
Naruto shakes his head, “No, it’s not that at all. I’m not upset, mad, or annoyed by your wanting to meet pervy sage. I would’ve been if this happened a long time ago, before I met Lee and I learned what his clan is like. I actually feel grateful to have someone in my life who cares about me, but it annoys me because I think he should have someone in his life like that too.”
Iruka pauses to this, watching as Naruto sighs, “Why can’t anyone do anything to get him out of there? Shouldn’t his happiness and safety come first in the eyes of this village or does that not matter because he’s an omega?”
He had a feeling this would come up, and he knows as hard as it will be for him to swallow, it will be something he will learn someday when he takes on cases like runaway omegas from clans like Lee’s as a Chunin, “You’re right; Lee should be living with Guy because Guy actually loves him like a father would: he worries over him, he wants what’s best for him, and he does all that he can to keep healthy and happy. However, our laws were written by alphas and betas who placed the value of clan tradition over that of an omega’s wellbeing. Under the current laws, there is no way to get Lee out of his clan and into Guy’s custody. For as much progress as Konoha has made over the years, this is the one area we falter in. As a Chunin, you will go on missions where you will have to retrieve runaway omega children at the request of their clans and you will have to bring them home. Even if they are being abused, there’s nothing you can do about it because it would violate the clan’s right to practice their tradition, which matters more to the elders of this village than the actual safety and wellbeing of omega children.”
Naruto growls, his fists clenched tightly now whereas Iruka’s hands are folded neatly on his lap, “That’s so stupid! If a tradition causes someone else to suffer, then the tradition needs to go if you ask me! No one should be allowed to get away with what Lee’s clan does to him just because it’s in their tradition to treat omegas like garbage; that’s allowing abuse to happen and who knows what else knowing them! No clan should be allowed to get away with abusing their omegas under the whole ‘tradition’ crap anyway—omegas matter just as much as alphas and betas who are never held up to the same strict tradition rules. Why is it so hard for those bastards to understand that they are allowing abuse to happen by pulling crap like this? How can they be okay with it?”
“Because they are moderately conservative and arrogant. They believe because their clans are more lax in certain areas despite being conservative then other conservative clans are this way or if they’re not, then they’re justified somehow in what they do and everyone else has to respect it, despite the fact they themselves refuse to respect the traditions of the progressive clans such as the Yamanakas and Naras. It’s hypocrisy and sexism done to maintain the current social hierarchy of alphas and betas at the top, omegas on the bottom.”
“Oh, like what Ino’s been telling me about for years then.”
“Yeah, like that.”
Naruto is quiet for a moment before meeting his sensei’s eyes in nothing but pure determination and will power, “I will fix it all when I become hokage someday… No one will ever have to suffer through what Lee is going through ever again after I get in and change the system for the better for omegas everywhere!”
Iruka knows he will, but in order to do that, he will have to pass the Chunin exams first.
He’s not too nervous about it. Knowing Naruto, he will improve this month and he will defeat Neji in battle not only for Hinata or himself; he’ll do it for Lee, who was wronged by Neji in every single way.
“I know you will, Naruto, and that alone will make you the best hokage to have ever ruled this village.” Iruka then gets off of the couch and asks, “It’s getting pretty late. Do you want some instant ramen?”
“You know I do!”
For now, he can relax with his adoptive son and enjoy their time together. Tomorrow, on the other hand, he’s going to have some choice words for this ‘pervy sage’ he brought up.
Imagine Jiraiya’s surprise the following morning when he was met with not only Naruto, but his father as well, standing there with crossed arms and a critical eye on him, “Hello, pervy sage.”
He couldn’t help his first reaction when he saw him, “Hello to you too, Iruka. It’s been a while since I’ve last seen you…you actually grew into your natural omega curves by a good bit. Good for you! Most omega men can’t do that if they tried, it’s why I’ll take the ladies any time over them!”
He already feels the need to backhand the man, yet he doesn’t. He chooses to keep his cool for Naruto’s sake, “Let’s get something out of the way right now—are you sexually attracted to my son?”
Naruto paled in horror as Jiraiya deadpanned in a show of his, “Wha? Are you kidding me! I’m not into him! Just because I’m a beta doesn’t mean I have no taste in omegas! In case if you haven’t noticed I prefer the curvier omega women over the straight bodied men with their flat chests and asses. I would never go for your son; he’s not only a guy, but he’s way too young and annoying for me to be into.”
“Fine, I’ll give you that one: you are pretty damn consistent in being attracted to omega women only, but what about his sexy jutsu? You don’t try to touch him inappropriately then, do you?”
“I mean, I do lose my mind a bit, but the kid kicks my ass or cuts off the jutsu right away before I can do anything. Even then, I still wouldn’t touch him because I know it’s a jutsu and not the real thing.”
Iruka looks over the man, trying to find any sign of deceit only to come up empty. In the end, all he can do is reluctantly leave Naruto with the man before he has to head off to work at the academy.
(His next day off will be when Naruto’s fight against Neji takes place at the third round of the exams. He wanted nothing more than to be there for Naruto during such a momentous event in his life, but he knows insisting on this day off meant he wouldn’t be able to take another off until then, which he’s fine with. As long as he gets to watch Naruto make history, then he’s fine with having to work everyday before the match happens.)
He doesn’t leave without at least making one thing known to the notorious pervert, “Okay, I’ll believe you, but if you ever dare try to touch my son, then I will castrate you myself. Got it, pervy sage?”
“Loud and clear, sir!” he is able to answer with a gesture of his one hand while the other covers the area where his dick is.
Iruka then turns to Naruto, suddenly relieved of all threatening and harsh demeanor as he hugs him, “Goodbye, Naruto. Have a good day at training.”
“Goodbye, Iruka sensei. I hope you find someone like Guy sensei to mate. If I’m gonna have a dad, I want a cool one like him.”
He giggles to this, finding it a bit odd Naruto would make such a request, “I’ll be sure to in the future, but I have to work for now so I can go to your match against Neji and cheer you on. Finding someone like Guy to mate will have to wait for now.”
“Fine…” Naruto mumbles as they end their hug and the older omega leaves him be, “I’ll see you later at home, if you can’t make it, be sure to send me a letter, okay?”
“I will!” he calls back as Iruka leaves him in the hands of his new sensei, who finds their relationship to be endearing in a way he didn’t think would pluck at his heart strings so.
Of course, he would never voice such a thing out loud to Naruto or Iruka. What he does say is, “Okay, let’s get started on your training, kid.”
As Naruto grins to this, Iruka is left feeling kind of old.
He knows he’s not that old, but still, leaving Naruto with Jiraiya to train for the third part of the Chunin exams…that was something he didn’t think would make him feel pride and sorrow simultaneously. Now he’s stuck wanting nothing more than to rush over to his son’s side, watch him train, and give him pointers even though he knows he can’t do such a thing.
All he can do is allow Naruto to grow as a ninja in his own way. All he can do is leave him in the capable hands of a legendary Sanin and hope for the best when his match against Neji does happen.
…Hope for the best? What is he thinking?
There’s no need to hope for the best. Naruto may have his flaws, but he’s nowhere near as bad of a person as Neji is towards Lee and while he may not have the natural genius Neji possesses, he knows his hard work will surpass that, giving him the victory he deserves over such a cocky alpha.