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Iruka wasn't one to miss a beat in his classroom. As a seasoned teacher at the Hidden Leaf Village's Ninja Academy, he knew each of his students like the back of his hand.
So when Sakura, usually bright-eyed and eager, slumped over her desk, her head thudding against the wooden surface, Iruka's gaze sharpened.
He couldn't help but furrow his brow. The room buzzed with excitement as team formations were read out, but she remained unmoved, her head resting on her folded arms.
"Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno," Iruka announced, scanning the room for any signs of discontent or surprise. But Sakura's reaction was unlike any he had seen before. Her eyes remained closed, and she barely stirred at the mention of her name.
Naruto and Sakuse on the other hand, were anything but unresponsive.
"Naruto, sit down," Iruka said firmly, his voice cutting through the murmurs like a hot knife through butter. The blond whirlwind of energy froze mid-leap. He complied, albeit reluctantly, plopping back into his seat with a thud that echoed through the room.
Turning his attention to Sakura, Iruka called out her name again, this time with more urgency. "Sakura!" His voice was a gentle prod, yet it seemed to resonate through the very air. Still, she didn't react.
The room fell into a tense silence, the only sound the rustling of papers and the occasional cough. Concerned whispers grew louder until Iruka raised a hand for quiet.
Sakura remained unresponsive, her breathing shallow and her cheeks flushed. Several of his students begane exchanging worried glances. This wasn't like her. Even on the most tedious of days, she was a bastion of energy and determination.
Iruka approached her desk, his heart racing. He gently shook her shoulder. "Sakura?" He whispered, his voice filled with genuine concern.
Her eyes remained closed, and she didn't wake up. Not even the touch of his hand, usually enough to stir even the deepest of sleepers, could rouse her. Iruka's eyes searched her face for any sign of consciousness, but she was lost in a slumber so deep it seemed almost unnatural.
"Sakura," he tried again, his voice a mix of concern and confusion. This time, there was a flicker of movement beneath her eyelids, but she didn't open them. He knelt beside her, his hand still on her shoulder, and leaned in closer.
Her eyes shot open with a gasp, and she bolted upright, her voice a jumble of words that didn't quite form coherent sentences. The words she spoke were unfamiliar to Iruka's ears, and her eyes were glazed over, as if she was looking through him rather than at him.
The class stared in astonishment as Sakura continued to babble in this unknown tongue, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for something or someone. Her hands trembled, and she clutched at her desk for support.
Iruka's grip tightened on her shoulder, his eyes searching hers for any hint of recognition. "Sakura," he said, his voice a gentle yet firm attempt to ground her. "What's wrong?"
Her gaze remained unfocused, and she spoke again, this time in a faint, unfamiliar accent that sent a shiver down Iruka's spine. "Iruka?" she murmured, the word barely a question, as if she was lost in a distant memory and trying to find her way back.
The class watched with a mix of bewilderment and fear. Even the ever-cool Sasuke couldn't hide the furrow in his brow. Iruka's heart pounded in his chest as he realized she had dropped the honorific 'sensei' from his name, something she had never done before.
Then, as if a switch had been flipped, her eyes focused and she blinked rapidly, the glaze fading away. "Iruka-sensei, I'm so sorry," she said, her voice clear and familiar once more. She took a deep breath, as if coming out of a trance, and looked around the room, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
The class remained still, their whispers hushed as they awaited Iruka's reaction. He studied her carefully, trying to discern if she was truly okay or if there was something deeper at play. Her eyes met his, and she offered a small, shaky smile.
"It's alright, Sakura," he said, his voice measured and calm. "But perhaps you should go see the nurse and get checked out." He didn't want to alarm her, but the suspicion was there, nagging at the back of his mind. Could this be some form of jutsu, a subtle attack from an enemy village? It was his duty to report such occurrences to the Hokage.
Sakura nodded, her eyes wide and a little too bright. "Yes, sensei," she murmured, gathering her things. As she stood, she wavered on her feet, and Iruka shot out a hand to steady her.
"Don't forget to be back after lunch to meet your jonin sensei," Iruka reminded her as she gathered her things. Sakura nodded again, a little more vigorously this time, as if trying to convince him she was okay.
As she left the room, the whispers grew into a crescendo, and Iruka felt his own curiosity piqued. He had seen a lot in his years as a shinobi and teacher, but this was uncharted territory. He watched her go, his eyes lingering on the door long after it had closed behind her.
The rest of the class remained in a tense silence, the excitement of the team formations forgotten in the wake of Sakura's strange behavior. Iruka took a deep breath and tried to regain his composure. He couldn't let his personal concerns bleed into his professional demeanor.
He swears he could hear shikamaru's 'troublesome' murmur under his breath as he went back to calling out the rest of the teams. His eyes lingered on the door for a brief moment before he turned back to the class. "Team 8: Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga," he announced, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Your jonin sensei will be Kurenai Yuhi," Iruka continued, his voice steady despite his racing thoughts.
As he called out the remaining team formations, his mind raced with questions. What had just happened to Sakura? Was she okay?
After the last student had left the room, Iruka took a moment to gather his thoughts. He knew he had to inform the Hokage about this. It was his duty to report any potential threats to the village, especially if they involved his own students.