Rating: K

Beta: Sincynati. I know she said these would be unbeta'd but she was tehre and I wrote this in half an hour. I needed SOMETHING

Disclaimer: I only own this idea. Which, the more I think about it, might actually be doable in canon...

Notes: Mito is 139. Naruto is cute. NOT Iruka/Mito

Tremor: Uzumaki Mito was alive during the Kyuubi Attack

Nex·us

1. a means of connection; tie; link.

2. a connected series or group.

3. the core or center, as of a matter or situation.

Vortex

She was old now. Her once radiant beauty had long ago faded away, her love for this village as dead as the only man who had ever understood her.

Alone she sat on the porch, rocking her only reason to live gently in her arms. The Kyuubi child, the nexus who would be her revenge against Konoha.

She smiled to herself. She was old, no denying that. She was bereft of her legendary beauty and influence, her home village long ago razed to the ground. But even Sarutobi, the Third Hokage himself, had dared not cross her when she demanded to be the caretaker for the new jinchuuriki.

She stroked Naruto's hair, gently. Such a good boy, just like his mother...

Gentle footsteps echoed in the shadows outside the porch. A figure moved in the dark. She sat up, suddenly alert as she held Naruto closer. "Who's there?"

The figure stepped into the light, and she half-rose, mouth opening in shock. The young boy with nervous eyes before her revived old memories, memories of pranks and laughter in the night at Uzushiogakure, and for a moment she really believed that Harashima had come back to her from the dead.

But then she saw the difference in their stances- Harashima had always been brazen, this lad was more reserved- the deep sorrow that Harashima had never carried in his eyes until his late adulthood and the softer, rounder contours of his face. Not Harashima.

But very like him.

He spoke, and she couldn't help but notice that this boy had a higher voice than Harashima. "My name's Iruka. Umino Iruka. I heard you fired your last babysitter... helper... and I need money..."

"How old are you, Iruka?"

"Eleven. I'm graduating this year."

She approached him, watching his expression. That face... he could easily be one of her many descendants. And he wore white. White. Of all things he could have chosen, it was the one most likely to kill you. It was also the color of preference in Uzushiogakure. It was a common saying that Uzumaki enjoyed suicidal challenges. In her youth, Mito had tried her best to prove it. She had stood among the best of the best. And now... now she, Uzumaki Mito of the Devil's Luck, needed help to take care of a ten-month-old baby.

"Why do you want to work for me, child?"

"I need the money... and I'm good with kids. Sort of. I noticed that no one really talks about you or even knows who you are... and I wanted to help..."

She stood directly across from him now, staring him in the eyes. He was intimidated, but he didn't back down. Oh yes, this one was interesting...

Naruto giggled and reached for the newcomer. Iruka smiled, a smile that tore her heart in half as she remembered that rougish grin, and let Naruto snatch his finger. After a second, Naruto got bored with the finger and let go, eyes wandering for a new treasure. He espied a pendant around Iruka's neck he wanted to taste and with a giggle he grabbed at it.

Her eyes widened as she realized the pendant was carved into the symbol of the Uzumaki Clan. Exactly like the pendants she had given each of her children.

Umino was his surname. The sea, of which whirlpools were made. Naruto liked him, and he did not follow the crowd. He had shown determination and though he was bad at negotiation, that could easily be taught. A potential student.

"Mito, what are you thinking? You don't need a student. Have you forgotten what this village has done to you? You teach him and it will all collapse."

She ignored her inner voice and turned towards the door. "Come inside, young man. We have much to discuss."

Next Chapter: He's been gone for a long time. But now, Kakashi needs him. He should have been there a long time ago, he's not leaving his son alone again.