(Insert Standard Disclaimer saying I don't own Naruto)

Inspired by an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

The Godaime Hokage found herself in the midst of a two month dry spell from her two favorite vices; sake and gambling. Tsunade herself would have thought this impossible had it not been for a worthy cause; peace in the elemental nations. A peace both Dan and her younger brother would have done anything to achieve. And so she works, harder than she ever has before knowing she will have left the village in a far better position than when she first took office.

Currently she was assigning the best squad she could assemble to complete the ongoing peace talks. "You three are to meet up with Kakashi in Amegakure. I've sent him ahead to start the negotiations early. I'm sending you three to show our dedication towards this new peace movement-"

"With all due respect Tsunade-sama I don't see the point of sending me and Yamato on this mission. I mean Iruka I can understand but this isn't exactly our kind of mission." Normally the senbon chewing ninja wouldn't dare question the slug princess but with her sobriety came a slightly calmer demeanor towards her subordinates.

Her eyebrow twitched as she attempted to curb her temper. Let it go Tsunade, it's all for the sake of peace. Taking a deep breath she responded, all the while fighting her instincts telling her to inflict some pain on the brunette. "Like I was saying earlier, you have been chosen because each of you represent a major part of the hidden leaf. Genma represents our jonin, Yamato our anbu, and Iruka our academy system. The civilians have already sent their own ambassadors. Basically the mission calls for the three of you to assist Kakashi in whatever ways he sees fit during the meetings, so if he just wants you to just stand there and look pretty then you three had better do just that. You three may not like it but such is politics. Understood?"

The three aforementioned shinobi quickly responded in affirmation, sensing her anger rising as she spoke. "Good, you are to leave at once; the mission scroll has the rest of the details. Dismissed."

As the Godaime's faithful assistant began walking towards the trio to hand them the scroll she stumbled, just barely able to catch herself using the Hokage's desk. Iruka was quick to react, gently guiding her towards the nearest seat. "Are you alright Shizune, you don't look well."

After regaining her composure and upon seeing the worry in everyone's expressions Shizune couldn't help but blush in embarrassment. "I apologize. I'm alright now, just a little stressed." Offering a meek smile the trio of shinobi left the office leaving master and student alone in the office.

Despite her words to the contrary Tsunade couldn't help but worry about her aide. Knowing her better than most she knew firsthand how self-sacrificing Shizune could be. "We should get you to the hospital, I won't be comfortable until I check up on you myself." That appeared to have struck a chord, her student jumped upon hearing her suggestion. There was no doubt about it, she was definitely hiding something.

Shizune couldn't help but shift nervously as Tsunade studied her every move. "Please Tsunade-sama that isn't really necessary, I just-"

Tsunade quickly cut her off, mind set on helping her loyal student. "Last time I checked it was the Hokage who gave the orders to her aide not the other way around."

"But we have too much work left to do today, we still have to assign the missions for the genin teams, there's the meeting with the council-"

Waving her hand dismissively Tsunade quickly halted the rambling girl. "Alright have it your way, but first thing tomorrow morning I'm giving you a physical, and you'll take the rest of the day off, got it?"

Shizune gave another nervous smile upon hearing this, whether it was in gratitude or in anxiety Tsunade could not tell.

Genma, Yamato, and Iruka had spent the rest of the day trekking through the dense forests surrounding the fire country. Once the sun had set the trio decided to make camp for the night, less they exhaust too much chakra and run the risk of being ambushed by parties opposed to the peace. As they finished their meals huddled around the campfire Genma and Yamato talked animatedly about previous missions. Meanwhile the academy instructor was left to his own thoughts, his mind still pondering the events at the hokage's office.

A balled up paper thrown at his head finally broke him out of his reverie, a curious glint in the offender's eye as he stared at Iruka. "You all right there sensei? You spaced out for a second."

"I'm fine, just got lost in my thoughts is all."

Rising up from his seat the brown haired shinobi took a seat right next to the chunin, his smirk never leaving his face. "You being distracted while on a mission could prove to be a danger to all of us, isn't that right Yamato?" The man in question nodded his head in agreement as the jonin continued. "It's probably best if you talk about what's on your mind. You know, for our own safety."

Looking between the two shinobi the academy instructor felt forced to comply. "I guess I was just worried about Shizune is all. She-"

"Ha, I knew it. What did I tell you Yamato, I've got an innate sense when it comes to a man in love. Yamato could only roll his eyes at the statement as Genma turned towards Iruka without saying a word, looking for the chunin to elaborate.

The academy instructor couldn't help the blush that creeped across his face as he scratched the back of his head looking to diffuse Genma's theory. "N-no, it's nothing like that. We're only friends; we got to know each other while working at the hokage's office." Seeing Genma's grin grow in amusement Iruka continued to deny any amorous intentions towards Shizune.

Before Genma could continue grilling the chunin Yamato stepped into the conversation, recognizing the scene before him all too well given his friendship with Kakashi. "Relax Iruka, there's nothing to be ashamed of, she has a lot of fine qualities a guy looks for in a woman. You'd have to be careful though, the main reason she's been single so long is because of Lady Tsunade. She's either busy looking after the Godaime or Tsunade's temper scares away any guy that tries to get too close."

Frustration building as his words fell on death ears the academy instructor could no longer keep his emotions in check. Rising to his feet Iruka turned towards the two men as a vein on his forehead looked to be ready to burst. "I'm gay, as in homesexual, as in attracted to other men, alright. So when I say that Shizune and I are strictly friends, that's all there is to it. Nothing more, got it?"

Genma and Yamato sat there, eyes wide and mouths gaping upon hearing Iruka's revelation. As soon as the words left Iruka's mouth his irritation had vanished, replaced with anxiety as he awaited their reaction. For a few moments it appeared there would be none as the pair could only gaze at the chunin, eventually after a few awkward moments Genma was the first to react.

"T-that's, good. Yeah, good for you Iruka, nothing to be ashamed of, right Yamato?"

Hearing his name snapped the anbu captain snapped out of his trance, his eyes narrowing in anger. "What's that supposed to mean, I'll have you know I'm very much into women. You on the other hand…"

"That's nice to know, funny how I never see you without Kakashi, must be a coincidence then huh?"

And with that the senbon user and last mokuton user began bickering with one another, leaving Iruka to breathe a sigh in both relief and annoyance. It's as if he had just come out to a bunch of his academy students. Turning away from the bickering shinobis the academy instructor made his back towards his tent with one overarching thought on his mind. This was going to be one long mission.

Daylight slowly started to creep into Shizune's apartment, revealing Tsunade's loyal assistant sitting on the bed, eyes wide open. In truth she had woken up nearly an hour earlier; her nausea forcing her to spend her waking moments in the bathroom. Once recovered she found herself unable to go back to sleep, knowing that in a few hours the woman she looked at as her mother figure would know her secret.

She was pregnant, approximately two months in. And to make matters worse no one else knew she was expecting a child. Not even the father of her unborn child knew about it, her pregnancy being the result of a drunken encounter with the man during the victory celebration following the end of the Fourth war. He probably didn't even remember any of it and in truth Shizune was far too scared to be upfront with him. Scared of his rejection, not only of her but of her unborn child, and when she finally mustered the courage to actually tell him the news Tsunade decided to send him off on a diplomatic mission to Amegakure.

In a few hours Lady Tsunade would find out about her pregnancy and demand to know the identity of the father, if only to beat the man half to death with her bare fists. But not before berating Shizune for not taking the necessary precautions any amateur kunoichi would take. In the end Shizune is a kunoichi, and a damned good one at that. She would endure whatever yelling or lectures Tsunade would throw at her, and she'd keep the identity of her baby's daddy a secret. At least until she could tell him herself, and warn him of Lady Tsunade's ire, less she gives birth to a fatherless child.