A/N: I know! I know! I have so many unfinished stories and I should definitely be working on them instead of writing a new one, but this plot bunny just wouldn't leave me alone! I tried guys, I swear I did, but I just had to write things down. I blame it on all the great Naruto fanfictions there are out there. So, well, here is my first SI/OC story! Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Prologue

"Umino Iruka." The voice is low and steady, and Iruka nearly jumps out of his seat from where he was grading papers, as he does every morning before class, pen scratching an ugly black line over the test in front of him. He'll have to make a note to apologize to – he looks at the name at the top corner of the page – Kenichirou Rei when he returns it.

When Iruka turns around, he is not surprised to find a man in a white rabbit mask and standard grey and black ANBU uniform standing in his living room. Although Iruka is only a chuunin, he is still a fairly competent ninja, and he likes to think that anyone other than ANBU and certain jounin cannot simply invade his home without his detecting them.

Frowning in slight concern – Had something happened to one of his students? Was Naruto in trouble again? – Iruka waits for the ANBU to speak.

"The Hokage requests your immediate presence in his office." And with that, the ANBU promptly disappears into the darkness, only the faintest wind betraying his movements.

Iruka sighs. While he appreciates the ANBU and their incredible skill, he sometimes thinks that their jobs make them forget any sort of social skills. Take Kakashi for example. ANBU Captain for years, and completely and utterly lacking in common courtesy. A more reclusive and anti-social man he has yet to meet. Iruka suspects it is due to trauma. The missions they go on… it would warp anyone, especially someone who started as young as Kakashi, and if a little strangeness allows him to cope, then Iruka thinks he is quite allowed.

Frankly, further thinking of Gai, the Sannin, and even the Hokage, it seems all the best ninja have some sort of strange quirk or other.

Iruka does not waste time in heading to the Hokage's office after the ANBU leaves. When the Hokage requests your immediate presence, then you immediately go to him, no questions asked.

Yet even as he speeds past the Konoha buildings over to the Hokage Tower, he cannot help the questions running through his head. Iruka has no illusions about his skill as a ninja or about his place in the ninja hierarchy. He possesses no particular skill, is of no clan, and is not in possession of much money. The only thing that marks him as different is his position as instructor at the Academy, admittedly an instructor more carefully watched than others since his class is composed of six clan heirs, one clan second son, and the Kyuubi jinchuuriki, but an instructor nonetheless.

It is not all too uncommon for him to be summoned to the Hokage's office exactly because of whom he teaches, but it is uncommon for him to be summoned in the early hours of the morning, and requested to appear immediately.

Iruka cannot help the anxiety that grips him, for this is undoubtedly about one of his students, and he cares for each and every one of them.

An odd thing for a ninja instructor, truth be told, but he can't help it. Perhaps it is why he remains a chuunin after all this time. He has too much heart.

Worrying won't do anything, however, and as he watches the entrance doors of the Hokage Tower open, he knows that his questions will be answered soon regardless.

When he finally arrives at the Hokage's office, he calms down. The Hokage is sitting behind his desk, smoking his pipe and looking out over Konoha from the large windows in his office. Iruka thinks he looks very tired, his wrinkles more pronounced, eyes weary and sunken, and with a look about him as though the weight of the world is bearing down on him. Iruka is abruptly reminded that the Hokage had resigned before, but was forced back into the post due to his successor's death.

"Hokage-sama," Iruka bows. Although he has a closer relationship to the Hokage compared to other chuunin because of their shared love of Naruto, Iruka is a bit of a stickler for formality and would never dream of addressing the leader of the village hidden in the leaves with anything less than utmost respect.

"Sit down, Iruka," The Hokage commands, and Iruka obeys silently.

Tearing his gaze away from the scene of the village waking up, the Hokage takes out a paper from one of his desk's drawers and places it between them. Iruka peers over at the paper, and his eyes widen at the picture he finds.

"Iruka, you will be taking in a new student today," The Hokage informs, and his voice, like his appearance, is incredibly tired.

"Hokage-sama?" Iruka questions confusedly, "It's still the middle of the school year. Wouldn't it be better to wait till the year is over? A new student will have a difficult time adjusting should they enter now, not only academically, but socially as well." It is true. Bringing in a student this late into the year is almost cruel. Not only will they have a difficult time catching up on the material – a half a year's worth – but also integrating into the class, where cliques have not only been formed, but also tested and proven solid.

"It does not matter, Iruka. You will be taking her in," The weight of the Hokage's gaze wears on Iruka, "this afternoon." At Iruka's still questioning look, he offers magnanimously, "There are extenuating circumstances."

Iruka has always had the utmost respect for his Hokage, and he wouldn't dream of contesting any decision of his, but when it comes to his students – past, present, and future – he can be uncharacteristically insistent. Already, he feels protective of this new girl who is coming in unprepared, and it is only for this reason that he presses.

"Would it not be best to send her to a civilian school for the rest of the year? They are generally more accepting of transfer students, and the curriculum is less… overwhelming." The Academy is certainly not known for coddling.

"She will be going to the Academy to train to be a ninja, Iruka. There is no other acceptable option," The Hokage looks sternly at the brown-haired instructor, and Iruka feels as though he is five again and he's been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "I suggest you start preparing for her arrival."

And that is that.

A million questions run through Iruka's mind.

What extenuating circumstances are you talking about? Who is this girl? Why are you having her join in the middle of the school year? Is she from a clan? Is she from outside Konoha? Why are you personally seeing to it that she attends the Academy?

Is she the reason you look so very tired?

Iruka voices none of these questions, not only because he sticks to protocol, but because there is a look in the Hokage's eyes that says that asking would not bode well for the brown-haired instructor.

Instead, Iruka bows, "Yes, Hokage-sama."

Iruka takes the paper from the Hokage's desk, the profile of his future student he guesses, and moves to leave the office.

"Oh, and Iruka?" Iruka is stopped by the Hokage's voice before he can leave.

"Yes, Hokage-sama?"

"Keep an eye on the girl, won't you?" The Hokage asks, and though the question seems casual, his face is uncommonly grave.

"Of course, Hokage-sama." Iruka shunshins out.

.

.

.

"Class, you have a new student today! Treat her well!" The teacher, Iruka, announces. He's a plain-looking man, average height and average build, with average brown hair tied in a ponytail and average brown eyes. The only thing that makes him the slightest bit interesting physically is the horizontal scar set just under his eyes, crossing his nose.

It is perhaps due in part to the teacher's very average-ness that the small girl who comes in through the door after him seems even more unique to the students.

The girl coming in is beautiful, competing with the popular aristocratic Sasuke in looks. She is not the "cute" so often found in those their age, nor the slightly rarer "pretty" that some of the girls and more delicate-looking boys can boast. No, the girl is beautiful, with the potential to rival even the great beauties of the Uchiha and Hyuuga clans in the future. But many of the students have seen beautiful people before, for they are not all that uncommon among ninja, and it is not this that has them so very taken aback. Instead, it is the oddness of the girl's beauty, the ethereality of her appearance, some strange, exotic element to her that surprises them.

The girl's coloring is all soft creams and soothing lilac, as though an artist had decided to paint while forgetting to bring all his colors with him. Certainly, the girl is akin to a work of art. More than one person has compared her to a doll before, and the class can only do the same. The girl is blessed with flawless porcelain skin as pure as the very snow, silky white hair that falls delicately around her face, and long eyelashes framing eyes the loveliest shade of purple they have ever seen. The inevitable gangly awkwardness inherent to all children that are still growing into their bodies does not seem to exist in her, and she moves with quiet grace and confidence, as though perfectly aware of exactly what people think of her looks.

Immediately upon laying eyes upon her, all the boys, and quite a few girls, flush.

"Please welcome-" Here Iruka pauses, turns to the young girl by his side again, as though realizing he does not know what to call her, "What did you say your name was again, dear?"

The girl, picture of loveliness that she is, smiles brightly at Iruka and whispers something to him, unheard by the rest of the class, despite the utter silence that has befallen them since the appearance of the girl.

"Sorry, what did you say your name was?" The teacher's eyes are wide and tinted with disbelief, unknowingly fanning the flames of curiosity of the class.

The young girl shoots Iruka an amused look, as though she finds his flustered state cute, akin to a puppy that has lost his favorite toy even though it is right behind him, before presumably repeating what she had previously said.

"A-Ah, I see. Are you sure-" The girl looks even more amused, and Iruka flushes, muttering, "What am I saying? It's your name, of course you're sure." Then, in a louder voice now addressing the rest of the class, who are now all brimming with curiosity as to the reason for the bizarre exchange, he says, "Class, please welcome Maggot. She will be your classmate from now on."

The class doesn't quite react at first. Who is the unfortunately named Maggot and where is this person? And why is Iruka-sensei introducing this Maggot when there is a pretty girl standing beside him?

The girl in question, smiling and insouciant, steps forward and bows prettily to the class, "Hello. I'm Maggot. Please treat me well."

A/N: Couldn't get my mind off this character that is charming and beautiful, but who is named Maggot. Anyway, leave a review if you like it! Thanks for reading!