AN; Um, people asked what kind of animals Naruto and Sasuke were...well, they're kind of not any animal. I imagined them as nekos, Sasuke with kitty ears and tail and Naruto with fox, obviously. The question is, what am I going to do with Shino when he comes in? Little antenna?
Iruka's whole face softened as he spotted the dark bundle curled up in a corner. It had pushed it's self up off the cushion to hide from them, and had already begun to shiver on the cold tiles. Two large black eyes peered out from behind equally dark bangs and Iruka caught sight of white fangs as the animal hissed. Kakashi was right, it was smaller than Naruto. Kakashi raised an eyebrow at his frown.
Naruto darted forward, snarling at the animal. The darker animal hissed, fur standing on end as the Uzumaki jumped for him.
"NARUTO!" Iruka yelled, one hand snapping out to grab the back of his pet's pelt.
Naruto choked in surprise as the rest of his body continued forward while his neck was stopped. He wriggled against his owner's hand, still yapping at the smaller creature. Iruka shook his head at the pup's antics.
"What?" Kakashi asked as Iruka knelt down, one hand keeping Naruto from attacking the animal and the other bracing his weight.
"Nothing. Well, it looks like he's pretty young." He looked up at Kakashi. "Has he eaten anything?"
"Nope."
"Kakashi..." Iruka groaned. He held out a struggling Naruto for Kakashi to hold before trying to pick up the other. "Well, do you at least have a name for him?"
"A name? Damn Iruka, I'm no good at that stuff...Blackie?"
"Kakashi that's terrible! Try to think of something original would you!" Iruka gently caught the little bundle and cradled it against his chest, trying to soothe the trembling. "Come on little one, it's alright." He cooed, scratching it's ears. "We'll have to feed him first, he feels a little bony."
Kakashi hissed himself as Naruto dug claws into his arm as he tried to escape once again. "How do we do that?"
"Well...I guess a bottle would be best because he's so little." Iruka pointed out, one hand smoothing the small animal's ebony fur. "I've still got some of the ones Naruto used."
Naruto yipped again, trying desperately to reach Iruka. The pup squirmed in Kakashi's arms, glaring at the little one.
"Name Kakashi!" Iruka reminded.
"Oh man Iruka...I don't know..." Kakashi looked down at the ball of black fur with a frown. "He looks like the one my sensei used to keep, Obito."
"Obito? The Uchiha?" Iruka glanced down at the animal's face. "He's too young for the sharingan to show through yet, but he could be an Uchiha kit. The colouring's right." He continued to scratch the kit's ears. "What's a good name for an Uchiha?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I don't know!" He snapped, grabbing Naruto's paw with a glare at the orange creature. Naruto glared back and bared his teeth.
Iruka rolled his eyes. "Well I'll think up a name for him then." The brunet pulled Kakashi toward the couch, ignoring the grumbling.
"Iruka, it doesn't need a name. I'm taking it to the pound."
Now, many people forgot that under Iruka's calm, scarred exterior beat the heart of an atom bomb. Kakashi had witnessed an Iruka-explosion before, but had never expected to be on the receiving end.
"Hitake Kakashi do you have any idea how many animals are put down every year because no one wants them?! You find this beautiful little kit and you want to send him to the gas chamber?! I won't let you do it!" Iruka's fist suddenly became acquainted with Kakashi's face. "You are keeping the poor thing !"
"Alright! Alright!" Kakashi tried desperately to calm Iruka down. "Alright, I'll keep him."
"Good!" Iruka hugged the kit tightly. "Now, a good name for an Uchiha...your name will be Sasuke. Do you like your name Sasuke?"
"Iruka..." Kakashi whined. "Can you take the Uzumaki now? He's kinda clawing me!"
"You're such a wimp Kakashi. And I can't take him because he doesn't like Sasuke."
Naruto decided to get his owner's attention by launching himself out of Kakashi's arms. He fell with a thump on the couch, scampering over to Iruka's side and trying to climb up his owner's shirt. Iruka couldn't help but smile.
"Alright Naruto. But if I sit down you have to be careful of Sasuke. He's little." Iruka warned.
Naruto nodded, his red gold tail swishing out behind him. Iruka sat, turning Sasuke so he could look at the pup. Naruto squinted, trying to edge forward without moving his back legs from their 'ready to run away' position. Sasuke's whole body went tense and still, ready to leap away if the pup so much as breathed wrong.
Suddenly, Naruto launched an attack. He jumped forward and licked a long line up the middle of the Uchiha's face, yipping as he sat back. Sasuke looked somewhere between puzzled and mortified.
Sasuke decided it was the latter and leaped out of Iruka's arms, landing square on Naruto's back. He grabbed a gold ear in his sharp teeth, shaking his head back and forth with a growl. Naruto squeaked in pain before rolling over, trapping Sasuke under his body. The Uchiha still refused to let go, only sinking his claws into the Uzumaki's back.
"Hey, I think I like him." Kakashi laughed. "Beat that orange blob up Sasuke!"
"Kakashi, you shouldn't be encouraging him to fight. They're just playing." Iruka mumbled, smiling himself. "Maybe you should take Sasuke down to the park I go to with Naruto. You have to socialise him. And yourself of corse...But I forgot about the food!" Iruka stood up. "I'll go home to grab one of Naruto's bottles and then you will feed him, alright?"
"Do I have any choice in this?"
"No, of corse not."