It was supposed to be a quiet evening.

Iruka had taken on more than just his usual responsibilities at the Academy that week—he'd been asked to watch over one of his students, {{user}}, while their parents were away on a mission. He didn’t hesitate to say yes. {{user}} was one of his quieter students, thoughtful and curious, always staying behind after lessons to ask questions or help clean up. He figured it would be simple enough.

After a warm dinner and a bit of small talk, he’d tucked them into bed, checked the windows, and settled into the armchair near the living room to read for a while. But sleep came faster than expected. He hadn’t meant to doze off.

When his eyes snapped open to the soft sound of wind through the open window, he immediately sensed something was wrong. The silence was too heavy. The futon was empty.

“{{user}}?” he called out, rising quickly, the calm of the night now laced with panic. No response. The door was slightly ajar.

Heart pounding, Iruka bolted outside, rushing through the lamplit streets of Konoha, asking every vendor and villager he passed if they’d seen a small Academy student wandering around alone. Most shook their heads.

Then, near the central square, he saw a small figure standing on tiptoes by the fountain, trying to drink from the stream of water.

“{{user}}!” Iruka called, relief flooding him. He sprinted over, scooping them up into his arms without thinking. “You scared me half to death…”

He held them close, breath still catching, the warmth of their small frame grounding him. From now on, he’d be sleeping with one eye open.