Errands and snowball fights [open!]

[puppypile]

Who: Hana and anyone
When: January 12th
Where: Training fields, then various parts of Konoha

Hana was dressed much more warmly than usual, her arms and legs fully covered and flak jacket zipped all the way up. She leapt from treetop to treetop, the Haimaru brothers trailing after her. Most of the training fields showed evidence of already being used that day. When she finally found what she was looking for, Hana laughed gleefully and dove for the ground, rolling and hopping back to her feet in the training field full of previously untouched snow. Mikai and Haru landed to either side of her, but Baishi, coming down last, tackled Hana to the ground again, licking her with a wet tongue.

She flung him off, laughing again, and quickly gathered a couple of snowballs before returning to standing. This snow was much too nice to waste on spars with weapons. Her dogs' thick fur kept them warm. They panted happily as all three of them began circling her.

Hana wouldn't say no to company, on her side or as an opponent.

--

After a stop at home to get dry clothes, it was Hana's turn to spend her afternoon off errand-running, since Tsume's usual victim was otherwise occupied. A visit to the Hokage's office, a trip to the Academy to drop off lunch for Kiba, and assorted other small tasks took her all over Konoha.

Hana was too friendly to be the ideal errand runner. She'd gladly stop to visit with anyone she ran into along the way.

Comments

[senseiofthesea]

"And with him at the Academy lately it's been you more than him recently?" He gave her a wry smile and shook his head. "I'll make sure to give him a day so he can run errands for Tsume-sama next week sometime. He can handle helping the kids with flower arranging when he gets back."

The wry smile grew into one just a touch deeper and more impish before smoothing out into something more serene. "Would you like to take him his lunch yourself? I left him to break up a brawl."

[puppypile]

Hana didn't know what was funniest. The idea of Kiba doing flower arranging, the fact that Iruka was offering to help her out at Kiba's expense, or being invited to witness Kiba dealing with Academy mayhem. For a moment, she just laughed, doubled over and unable to address anything Iruka had said.

When she finally got herself under control, she managed a straight face, mirroring his calm smile. "Of course. He never leaves my lunch at the desk. It's only fair that I return the favor."

The false tranquility didn't last long, though, and Hana grinned toothily at Iruka as she asked with no pretense of innocence, "What other interesting things have you had my brother doing here?" This could be a very entertaining errand.

[senseiofthesea]

He waved a hand with an air that made it seem like nothing important. "He's been doing this and that. Hs last task before this one was giving a broad overview on what kind of distractions were unexpected. I had to remind him about Naruto's jutsu as he seemed to conveniently forget."

He shook his head, smile never fading. "He seemed flustered."

[puppypile]

"It's always fun getting Kiba flustered," Hana agreed with a nod of her head, noting the continued smile. "And unexpected distractions are more effective than the usual predictable sort."

Still grinning, Hana admitted that in spite of her willingness to enjoy her brother's embarrassing situations, "I suppose I had it easy, since I've always worked with our clan kids rather than Academy students. No one to poke fun at me or set me disagreeable tasks besides my mother." Iruka would know well enough just how much trouble Inuzuka children could be, but Hana had also grown up as one. She had a distinct advantage when it came to handling her own clan. Plus, it was always a smaller group than a full Academy class. Less potential for chaos, if only slightly.

[senseiofthesea]

"Oh, I don't know. Thee's more arguments and disputes, but I think I have the better end of it. I don't know what I'd do if everyone was the same kind of personality. Sometimes having Aburame or Hyuuga kids in the mix can temper things." He paused, then cast a wry glance toward the indoors. "Though I'm not so sure about my Sarutobis and Uchiha sometimes."

[puppypile]

Hana shook her head, chuckling. "At least they're predictable that way, and they all respect me in between the mischief! Besides, how often do you have to deal with parents? The kids are one thing, but no one ever bothers me about their precious babies' progress or behavior." Progress was easy, usually, when it came to clan techniques and tracking, or silly hand clap games to teach seals to the youngest. She got to train them in their strong suits. And if Hana had behavior problems from any of the clan children, she was expected to manage them herself. No parent would ever come to her about it; it would be a blatant statement that they didn't think she could handle the situation on her own. If she went to them? Well, that would be an admission of failure from someone who was supposed to lead them all later. Hana wouldn't do it unless she needed to.

Besides, she very strongly suspected that the clan's parents took great amusement from witnessing or hearing about the ingenious ways their children caused trouble for whoever was taking a day's shift training or watching them. Heavens knew Hana did, when she wasn't the one in charge. They'd done their own share of it at one point or another, so they'd earned the laughs. Other clans seemed to have different philosophies on the matter.

[senseiofthesea]

"I send letters to parents all the time. I like to keep them apprised of how their children are coming along, and parents learn quick enough that while I'll listen to their concerns, I'll only act on them if it's what's best for my student." He shook hs head once, sighing. "Can you believe I once had a mother come to me complaining about the kind of snacks I handed out being too fatty? I wanted to shake the woman."

[puppypile]

Hana smiled. That attitude was why she liked an respected Iruka. He had a lot more patience than she did for dealing with people, and excellent judgement with regard to when he should be stubborn. Hana always appreciated well-placed stubbornness. Her immediate response to the anecdote he finished with, though, was an eyeroll, as even the dogs snorted in disdain. "Of course," she half-growled with sarcasm dripping from her voice, "children who're training physically and with chakra all day couldn't possibly burn calories."

Medics, even veterinary medics, had opinions when it came to nutrition. "You should clearly be putting them on diets rather than providing enough nutrients to help make up for what they exert." After a pause, she admitted, "I probably would've shaken her, which I think proves my point about not being so good with the parents."

[senseiofthesea]

He gave a low chuckle and inclined his head. "I politely informed her that unless there was an allergy involved, she was no medic to be telling me how to handle my students and snacks. I understand her husband was furious when he came home and found out about her diet plan from her daughter."

[puppypile]

Hana snorted. "Well, good! I'm glad she has one parent sensible enough to take care of her properly." Even if she didn't, though, it was nice to know that Iruka was as adamant as ever about the well-being of his students. He had been when he was Kiba's teacher too, which had predisposed Hana to like him. The patience and restraint demonstrated by Iruka's politeness were also impressive as usual, and probably much more effective than her own brash remonstrations would be.

Hana's stomach growled. She huffed in annoyance, rolling her eyes. "We never time this right. Kiba's always starving by the time he delivers my lunch, then he stands there with puppydog eyes till I share. And yet I didn't learn from his mistakes." Hanna shrugged and grinned. "Looks like it's my turn to beg a share today!" Beg or bully, whichever works. ...Or she could just leave it and go buy her own lunch, but Hana is enjoying her visit to the Academy. It seems a shame to cut that short, especially when she'll be out of the village more often soon.

[senseiofthesea]

The look he gave her was amused. "I have extra for kids who don't remember or don't get given lunch, I'm sure if he won't share that I have something for you."

[puppypile]

Hana caught the amusement, chuckling herself. Still, it was further proof of just how far above and beyond Iruka went for his students. "Only if you let me repay the favor later. Buy you drinks?"

[senseiofthesea]

He blinked, then nodded amicably. "If you want to, though it's not as though you'll owe me anything, really."

[puppypile]

"It's not as if getting drinks with a friend is a hardship for me, Iruka," Hana insisted with a grin. "I didn't offer because I felt like I'd owe you otherwise." She offered because it would be fun.

[senseiofthesea]

"In that case I wouldn't mind a bit." He waved toward the door. "I'm going to see if Kiba has been subdued by the crowd."

[puppypile]

Hana had never been close to Iruka in spite of always liking him. She was glad he didn't seem to mind the invitation.

"That still sounds like something worth seeing," Hana agreed, starting toward the door herself, Kiba's lunch in hand as a very handy excuse.

[senseiofthesea]

"Sadly, unlikely unless Konohamaru got it into his head to throw a coup." He shook his head, then slipped inside, heading deeper into the building to hs classroom with an easy stride.

[puppypile]

"Does he decide to stage those often?" Hana asked curiously as she followed. "Or is it just that he's the most successful of your students when it comes to Academy takeovers?"

[senseiofthesea]

"Oh, he only ever does it to my aides. If they can't hold their own int he face of his rebellions they usually don't last the month." He laughed then, grinning over his shoulder at her.

[puppypile]

"Trial by fire, then. Testing your aides as well as your students." Hana smirked. She wouldn't criticize the tactic. It was probably good for most of the people involved, besides being entertaining for her and Iruka.

[senseiofthesea]

"I have no idea what you mean." He lifted his hands as though lost. "It's just somethng Konohamaru likes to do."

[puppypile]

Hana burst out laughing, though she kept it quiet in an effort to avoid alerting the classroom's occupants of their approach. "Sure you don't," Hana quipped. "I think I know why you're such an effective Academy teacher."

[senseiofthesea]

"Really? May I ask what that is then?" He turned, walking backward and pausing with his hand on the door. He could hear inside that there was definitely chaos within. Not bad enough t need to rush though.

[puppypile]

"You don't just lecture, and you're a very good judge of people." Hana hoped he wouldn't take it as an insult when she added, "Manipulative, but in a good way. You know how to make them teach themselves, which is a lot more likely to stick long-term."

And it was a lot more interesting, for students as well as teacher and spectators.

[senseiofthesea]

"Ahhh." He laughed, dipping his head in an agreeable nod. "It's a careful balance, but really, it's worth the trouble to make sure they survive out there after they leave my hands."