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Chapter Text

Uzumaki Naruto

Uzumaki Naruto - loud, obnoxious, rebellious. Those were what his peers and elders perceived the troublemaker to be. Those were what the child thought he wished to be too. It was better than to be called a fox, a demon, a monster, a murderer. None of those labels made sense to the blonde, and his attempts to find answers rarely if ever bore fruit.

Occasionally… there were promises. The old man in the funny hat had always put time aside from his busy schedule. Hokage-sama, everyone insisted, but to Naruto he was just grandpa. Whenever those words left Naruto, that leathery face exposed to many an element seemed to soften with paternal love. The old-man had a son, but Naruto never met him. He never gave an answer why, just like he never explained who the blond's parents were or why everyone hates him.

Well, that's not completely true. If Naruto became a Ninja, if he had proven his maturity…

Maybe it was true. It will be true if that stupid clone won't stop being lame.

"Unfair!" cried the brat, and laughter reverberated through the classroom.

Smack, smack, smack. Poof!

The laughter rose louder. Sounds of a raven scoffing and mumbling something in disapproval.

A shout.

"That's enough!" yelled Iruka-sensei.

Nothing, it continued.

"BEHAVE!" repeated the chunnin-instructor, his head growing disproportionate and finally the children settled down. That always seemed to work.

Shame. Fear. Desperation. Can't show them. Grandpa never shows them. The funny dog-masked ninja following Naruto around never shows them. So he started laughing, not even hearing Iruka's advice.

It's just a prank. I didn't fail. I meant for it to happen. Believe it!
Ninja arts are nothing but imposing your reality upon the world, right?

"Anyway. I hope you all took notes as in one month, there will be no second tries. You either make it and go on to form genin teams, or back to remedial for another year."

Shit.

It wasn't a prank. Try as he might, pump his chakra as he might, focus as he might. Nothing. It was a dud. A failure. A lame.

But he tried. For hours he tried. Moment class was out, Naruto Uzumaki ran to the public training grounds (ones near the Uchiha compound - nobody can see his weakness there as people avoided that haunted ground) and spent his efforts until the nearby lake turned a warm orange beneath the setting sun.

This wasn't going to work. Not even a child who forced smiles even as shopkeepers sneered at him could delude himself into such fantasies.

Think, Naruto, think! He could always find ways to best the villagers and even ninja. He could always get into places he shouldn't. He could escape, plot and pull impossible pranks. Why is this so diff-

It wasn't!

Yes!

There's rumours of a kid who graduated who couldn't even use kawarimi due to his skills with taijutsu!

This is it! Naruto you're a genius!

Uchiha Sasuke

Uchiha Sasuke. The prodigy. The Heir. Every academy and civilian girl's crush.
All meaningless though,
for it came from frivolous, pathetic mouths.
He missed his dad.
Would he have been proud? Would big br-. No. Don't think about him. He's not big bro anymore.
He's a monster.
Tears.
He can't be seen with tears.

The clown. Focus on the clown. What's he laughing about so much? Does he have no shame?!
Pathetic.
Loser.

But at least, useful.

The raven-haired boy didn't have it in himself to head home after class.
The demons skirted beneath the lake's surface, threatening to flood and wash away all that helped him
move on from one day to another and to taunt them was too dangerous.

One day, he will slay the demons. One day, he will avenge his family. One day… things will not be alright.
But there shall be peace.

The last uchiha did what he could to distract himself.
Of course, he justified it was all part of the greater goal.
To admit otherwise is to admit weakness,
and that weakness is why his family had to die.

Weapons. Pouches. Explosive tags. Chakra pills. Food pills.
Check, check, check. Oh, and check.

Did he need this many? Of course! He had to train hard to take revenge on Itachi.

He could also get some more clothes. He'll make genin, that much is a given.
Training will be harder, and with that he'll go through more garments than he can repair.

Could he afford all this?

. . .

He didn't need luxuries. Of course he could.

What's this noise? Poof. Poof. Poof. Was someone trying to break into his home?
Steal what little he had left?!
Had people no decency these days to rob from the dead?!

He ran.

… Naruto? What is he doing so far from the village?
Is he… practising?

Hrmf. Pointless. He should just keep going home. He should, yet he stayed and watched.
It was to avoid being noticed by the clown, he reasoned.
The useless idiot thought they were friends.

. . .

He can't afford to be friends with someone like this.
Yet he continued to watch.
Did he miss the imbecile?
Nonsense.

What? Genius?
What is that moron doing right now?
Ah. Henge.

Uzumaki Naruto

If Naruto wanted to pass by having special skills, he needed something special. Something to make even Jounin jealous! Something that would also help with his pranks! Henge is awesome, but it has one big problem. It fails when touched. Even if he can maintain it - which amazingly - he can! It remains obvious.

He needed something deeper. Something quasi-real! No! Semi-! No! Truly real. A true transformation, not an illusion.

Can he? What question is this? Of course! He'll be hokage, believe it!

Plus, he already did it before. Not intentionally. But it happened. Nights he wished for grandpa, he could feel his teeth sharpen. Nights he wished for his unknown parents, he occasionally clawed himself. The teeth and claws always disappeared once he calmed down. But they were real.

He could learn how to invoke these at will, and surely that will help him pass! But… Even the knucklehead ninja could recognise this was a bad idea. Occasionally, villagers did see the fangs and the claws when he was scared and afraid they'd hurt him - they manifested. It made them more scared. It made the dog-faced ninja show up and bring him home.

Even he could recognise it'd cause issues.

No. He needed something like the claws and teeth but without the whole… monster part. He wasn't a monster. He was Uzumaki Naruto - future Hokage!

Think. Think.

The claws and fangs always came when he was worked up. When he was overflowing with emotion.

He looked like a monster when he was sad, scared or angry.

He wondered…

He sat.

He dreamt. Sakura. Sakura always made him happy! Grandpa always made him happy! Duckbutt… He used to make him happy, but he's been acting strange these last few years.

Not enough.

There had to be something. He knew there was something. He could feel it.
Focus.
Focus.

Dog.
Boar…
Dog again? But thumb and pinkie splayed out, almost like whiskers. Where did that come from?
Ram.

Pain. White-hot, all-encompassing, overwhelming pain.

Uchiha Sasuke

A girlish scream. Hah, embarrass-

Wait.

That… That didn't look like a Henge. What did the clown do? Why is he laying on the ground? Fuck!
Reckless idiot!
He didn't need more people from his life disappearing!
Fuck!

What even was that? How could this moron make his chakra visible?! What was wrong with that chakra?
Were the villagers right? Orange?! It makes no sense.
Maybe he should stay away, if Naruto really is a mon-
No. No more people disappearing.

Doesn't matter. Wake up!

"Wake up you useless clown!" snarled Sasuke, not even realising he wasn't shaking Naruto.

…

"WAKE UP" he pleaded. Fuck this! Fuck this all!

Just before his breath escaped him like on oh so many nights, he heard his name.
He didn't recognise the voice, yet felt breathing.
The clown isn't dead.

Onyx eyes closed and stillness came over them.
Breathe.

Neither Uchiha nor Uzumaki moved.

Okay. He's alive. He owes me an explanation. Owes me? Never mind.
What even happened?

The answer is obvious, Sasuke had but to open his eyes.

It wasn't Naruto.
It was a girl. Hair red as Konoha's flames, or perhaps more like… a tomato?
If not for the shock and the demons beneath the lake, he'd snicker.
Tomato.

But if it wasn't Naruto, who was it?
… Nobody he had ever seen had hair this red. Not even Sakura.
… Nobody he had ever seen had… whiskers?
Wait, Naruto had whiskers.

But this felt real. He could feel the girl's hair.
It was… Nice. It felt different to the clown whenever he grabbed and yanked him by his locks.
He could feel her breathe.
There was no distortion, there was no sign of genjutsu!
(or if there was - it was far more advanced than the clown could ever conceive… especially after
that night.)

What's going on?

Uzumaki Naruto

Everything hurt. The claws and fangs hurt when he manifested them. Sasuke was holding him. What? Why was duckbutt here? Why was he… crying? What the hell happened? Sasuke never cried. At least, not in public. Naruto saw him by this lake but.. This is different.

"Sasuke?"

No response, no explanation. Just quiet. Fuck, it still ached. Fuck, if he passes out like this he'll never pass the academy. Fuck. Fuck. Ouch. Moving hurts. His voice sounded wrong.

No matter. This felt nice. Like grandpa or Teuchi. He has no idea what's happening, but he's going to enjoy it a while longer. The uchiha didn't seem to be in a hurry. He was exhausted.

Why did this feel so nice though? He used a transformation. The claws and fangs always felt… wrong. He always felt wrong. He should feel more wrong, not less! It didn't make sense.

He latched onto that which made him happy.

It feels nice. He wants to see. He needs to look strong, hokage are strong! Grandpa is strong!

He forced a victorious smile, trying to sound his usual self - "Did it work?" - it sounded weird again.

It looks like the Uchiha had shut down. Growling, "Hey, b-bastard! Let me go" and he wiggled out of his grasp. Maybe calling him bastard was too much but… Dammit! He wasn't gonna move otherwise and… Calling him a bastard made it feel less weird.

Naruto wiggled free and looked to the nearby lake. Its orange had given way to growing hints of silver. Ah well, it will work.

A girl looked back. Nothing unusual. Nothing weird, 'cept the whiskers and the hair.
Nothing weird.

It should be weird! They told him in the orphanage when he …

Nope.

This is a dream.

Nope. This is a nightmare, yup!

Nope.

"DON'T TELL ANYONE YOU BASTARD! I'll tan your hide if you do, believe it!" and he ran off, not even trying to dispel the transformation.

On the way home, not even crashing into crowds uncoordinated and clumsy could dispel the jutsu. Not even tears and mind racing a mile a minute. It worked. But why this? Why did it feel right?

Home. Empty. Desolate. Undecorated. Maybe he should've gone to the hokage's tower. He could use a hug. No. Can't have grandpa see him like this. Can't have a repeat of… that.

Nope.

He focused.

Pain. Searing, all-encompassing white hot pain.

A thud. Panting.

He was back to normal.

He felt wrong.

He was back to normal.

Chapter Text

Uzumaki Naruto

He should be in class, not standing in front of a mirror. He will fail. But he will fail if he doesn't find a way to pass by merit of special skills even more. The clone jutsu won't work.

This however? This will work. But it feels too. . . He didn't want to linger there. Lingering there made dispelling it feel worse. Nothing changed, yet it felt worse. Bit like how when he first tasted Ichiraku Ramen, all those discount groceries began to feel bland. He didn't want to linger there.

Once more, in the mirror stood the girl he discovered a few days ago. By kami, he hoped the bastard didn't tell anyone else in his truancy! It made the girl's cheeks red, just like her hair. Why must this feel so… right.

What was he thinking about when he created this jutsu… Ah! Sakura-chan.

It all makes sense! Mhm! He's happy to be near her. She has pink hair. He has red hair. Mhm! This girl in the mirror is just his imagination creating a cheap knock-off of Sakura, and obviously being in her body was the closest he could be to her! Yes!

But. She'll beat him up if he uses this jutsu in class. He'll never get close to her after this. Naruto had a questionable sense of privacy and boundaries - being a prankster and delinquent he was - but even he knew when too much was too much.

Mhm. Need a new form! Totally because sakura-chan will beat him up. Totally not because this form feels right.

There it was, the pain. He was getting used to it. It still knocked the wind out of him, but he could remain standing. He's improving. He felt wrong. Never mind! Work work work! He'll never be hokage if he gets distracted! He'll not even be a genin! Grandpa said he'll tell him things if he makes genin.

What to do. Maybe Duckbutt? He could try to turn into duckbutt. Sakura would want him. Mhm! That's a strong enough emotion.

Dog.
Boar.
Fox (dog with whiskers, it kinda looks like a fox!)
Ram.
Poof!

There in the mirror. That's sasuke. He looks a little softer though. Weird. Kinda lik-… Why is he a girl? What messed up jutsu is this?! Dispel dispel dispel! Gyah! The pain is worse when he does it so rapidly. Ignore the pain. Fourth ignored the pain when he beat the fox, believe it!

There in the mirror. That's Iruka sensei! Everyone turns into Iruka, and Iruka makes Naruto feel nice! Wait. That's… not iruka. Voice too high, chest…

Thud. Groan. Gyah!

This is not working.

Umino Iruka

Umino Iruka. Unfit for the front-lines, former delinquent and beacon of future generations. It is his solemn duty to instil the Will of Fire into prospective ninja, and at times… He failed. He feels guilt for those times, taking out his own loneliness on a poor orphan until Hokage-sama had enough. Until then, he never realised how similar they were - bastard fox killed his parent!

But that's the past. The Iruka of today worried for the knuckle-head idiot. He hadn't shown up to class for a while and that worried him. Was he too harsh in his critique? He just wanted the boy to pass - rumours say his dad's student is taking on genin this rota. He wanted them to meet.

He hadn't shown up today. His mind raced. Did Naruto get hurt? Surely not - boy's built like an Akamichi without the mass! Still, he worried. Still, he had his duty. Naruto wasn't the only kid he had to take care of. What a messed up few years these were…

He tried his best. He hoped it worked. He wouldn't be blamed if his little cadets failed, but.. He'd still feel terrible. That's it. He'll make a house-visit to Uzumaki-kun and get his mind back on the job.

Should he knock? No, bad idea. Naruto probably has the stairwell trapped with his silly pranks.
He'll take the high ground.

Eyes narrowing, the chunnin watched his student practice unbeknownst to the kid. So that's why he's been skipping classes! A pang of guilt mixed with fraternal pride warmed Iruka against the evening draft. Pride, and also confusion. Why is the boy wasting time on henge? He's amazing at it! A surprising talent, given how bad his other practicals were with the ninja arts.

The hand-signs seem weird though. And is that visible chakra? Did he "borrow" a jutsu from the library? No, that was henge. A girl. A girl that… could be his sister? What?

Window slammed open and a worried Iruka soon found himself inspecting the panting, glistening "sister" of his. This raised far too many questions, but a teacher's instincts took over and he checked for signs of chakra exhaustion. Surely the kyuubi's cont- No, Naruto wouldn't hit chakra exhaustion from a simple henge!

And he didn't. Also, "his sister" felt real. It wasn't dispelling, it wasn't distorting. Nothing. It felt real.

Wide eyes, trashing hands and feet and two twins stumbling apart led to a pained cry and the blonde taking place of one of them.

"H-hey, Naruto-kun" offered Iruka as if his mind wasn't racing with the possibilities of such a jutsu.

A blushing blonde. Bashful. That's not like his usual delinquent.

Uzumaki Naruto

Naruto was grateful that Iruka didn't ask too many questions, and those he did - he deflected. Okay, maybe slipped up here and there - but he'd want to see grandpa resist such bribery! Delicious ramen, oh so great! He can't remember what exactly he said last week. He hoped he didn't spoil the big surprise!

Today, after all, was exam day.

The blonde watched his classmates take their turn. Henge! Into iruka, just like he tried and (almost) succeeded. bunshin! Ahh, two Sakuras… he's in heaven! And aww, she's gone. When he heard she passed, he cheered as loud and obnoxious as he could. Please notice me Sakura-chan!

As it was Duckbutt's turn, he avoided looking at Naruto. What a bastard. Of course he passed! Of course Sakura-chan and Ino-chan wrestled for his attention. Hrmf! Nothing original. As if the world needed two Sasukes. Although, he can be nice. Maybe he'll allow it when he's hokage.

His turn. Show no fear. Show no doubt. Grandpa shows neither!

Stomping his way to the front, he went through the motions, with style of course. Logs? He doesn't need logs. He just hopes Mizuru-sensei won't be too angry. Of course, his bunshin was pitiful, but every great act needs suspense.

He heard laughter. He had their attention! He wasn't afraid of failing this year. Not one bit. Nope.
Not when he made a Jutsu that even Iruka was impressed by!

Dog
Boar
Fox
Ram

The familiar pain. Hide the pain.

There was a gasp from Mizuki's direction. Obviously, he was amazed at Uzumaki's greatness!

Silence. A thud and a splatter of blood.

It worked!

This form didn't feel weirdly nice. This form obviously felt nice because it's sexy, like in all those magazines! He's even naked! And look! It took out a chunnin! He's so good!

Dispel!

He stumbled, hiding the pain needs more work. Or maybe the pain came from Mizuki's fist?

He heard angry yelling from girls and Mizuki alike. Maybe he went overboard. Iruka seemed out cold.

It was unfair. He demonstrated such an amazing Jutsu, yet Mizuki sensei failed him. Unfair! Unfair! He's never going to be a ninja like this. Why did he have to overdo it? Dammit!

Sulking, Naruto didn't even notice Mizuki telling him to meet him after they finished. Thus, the blonde was very, very surprised at being dragged aside and told he had a second chance.

Eagerly he nodded. Of course! His amazing skills at infiltration were his taijutsu-exception!

All he had to do was but to steal a scroll form the hokage tower. Child's play!

Umino Iruka

By the time Iruka came to, he found himself in the infirmary. Blood-loss and concussion. Stupid brat… A physical henge, he was going to pass him but after that perverted display he wasn't sure anymore. Mizuki didn't know how far that Jutsu went, its potential. His colleague probably failed his charge.

He can't let that happen.

Excusing himself from the infirmary, he hurried to the hokage tower to offer his appeal to the report that has likely been submitted in his absence. To argue for Minato's sake. No, for Naruto's sake - he deserved it with that Jutsu! But it was not to be. It never would be. The tower was on lock-down, ANBU were scouring the streets and a growing panic had engulfed Konoha's shinobi.

The Kyuubi-kid stole the Scroll of Sealing.

Fuck.

He's taking a few days off after this. Everything hurts. But he was right. Naruto is innocent. Naruto somehow learned Bunshin. No, something better. Of course he learned something better. Solid transformation into solid clones. He was honestly jealous - damn Uzumaki blood, damn Kyuubi. But he was proud too.

If only Naruto woke up so that he could congratulate… him? Stupid solid transformation making it hard to think. It feels too real. He wonders if the hokage finally told the kid about his mother. It's quite ingenious, using her form to sneak around! As improbable as it was, nobody would stop the yondaime's wife snooping around the tower. Yes, she's dead but… that's part of its charm.

Idiot kid was smarter than sh- he let on. Should probably tell him that the whiskers are unique to him though sometime, with Hokage's permission of course.

Weird that he wasn't in a big hurry to dispel it but… Naruto did tell him it was painful to go back. He probably needs to sleep off his fight with Mizuki. God he needs sleep as well but… He'll handle it.

Naruto deserved … Naruto deserved Naruto's rest.

The smile and cheer (and the hugs! Though, kid could be a bit… gentler. It stings!) Iruka received upon Naruto realising he gave them his forehead protector felt like something never before.

He was proud. And confused.

But he was proud.

Chapter Text

Uzumaki Naruto

Things had got back to normal the past two weeks. It felt wrong. As normal as finally graduating and becoming a ninja at last can feel! Iruka took Naruto to Ichiraku (While in disguise) after their 'field-promotion' and it was awesome! The ramen, of course. Not that… it was awesome for any other reason. Okay! It was awesome because of how proud Iruka was. Believe it!

Naruto had also learnt, at long last, why people hated him. Apparently the nine-tails wasn't defeated. The Fourth could only contain the monster and for some weird reason decided Naruto could carry its burden. According to Grandpa and Iruka, the Fourth wanted him to be a hero.

Naruto thought - this would be his opportunity to learn about his parents but it was not to be. Grandpa insisted all will be revealed when he makes chunnin - becoming a genin only cleared him to learn of the bijuu and jinchuriki.

He did manage to learn something though. Thanks iruka-sensei! Apparently mom had red hair. Apparently that's why grandpa and Iruka looked at him so weirdly in his disguise. Was it why it felt right? It kinda made sense. Being near her would make Naruto happy after all. He also learnt she and her husband were accomplished ninja - jonin - and died defending the village against the nine tails.

But things went back to normal. Soon, Naruto will meet his new teammates and sensei. Soon, he'll take his first real steps towards becoming hokage!

Why did he go to the academy in disguise. He didn't need to hide from ninjas because of his prank. They caught him already…

He turned back to normal and entered. It felt wrong.

Uchiha Sasuke

Try as the Uchiha might to keep a stern, indifferent expression befit an avenger who can afford
no distractions, no weaknesses…
he could not hide the odd relief that washed over him seeing the clown class enter.
So he apparently passed. Why did it matter? Hrmf!

Still, something was off. Did the brat somehow tire himself?
His entrance was so quiet. No screaming. No big announcements.
Just a look of confusion, sulking steps to get seated.
That was it. No pranks. Nothing.

Sasuke did hear that apparently Mizuki and the moron ended up in a fight.
It had to be that. Yeah, it makes sense.
Apparently Mizuki gave in to the rumours and tried to kill Naruto.
Why did that make him angry?
He didn't want anymore people in his life to …

Stupid fool. A shake of head. Kneading temples. Breathing.
Today was an important day.
Today was the day he learnt what wastes of his time will be his teammates.
Today was the day he'll see who will teach him to take revenge.

He should have paid attention to the announcements….

Jonins arrived, students left. His name was never called.
The room grew more and more empty.
Nothing.
Great, his sensei was going to be useless.
Just like his prospective teammates…

Hatake Kakashi

Hatake Kakashi was a man of little words, little interests and many dislikes.
He wanted to keep it at that.It was going to be difficult.

Minato's child apparently took to mimicking his mother when she was his age
for no discernible reasons at the most unexpected of times.

It was going to be… interesting becoming his jonin-instructor.
He wished Minato-Sensei was still alive.
He wished obito was still alive.
He wished…

and promptly buried his face in that little orange book.
Ah, that's… pretty hot.

It would at least be one less secret to keep. These secrets were getting exhausting.
Pretending he didn't realise his genins' trap they set as punishment
for his tardiness
was one of the easier secrets.

Ah, who is he kidding. It was Naruto. That must have hurt. Children.
That pinkette is going to be troublesome if she keeps that up
He found himself thinking of a brunette.
Never mind.

Back to the little orange book.

Uchiha Sasuke

"In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum" paused Kakashi "But those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum."

He passed. The clown and the fangirl also passed.
One step closer to his vengeance.
And he guessed, they weren't that useless after all.
Solid clones…

Those who abandon the their comrades are worse than scum.
Of course. How could he have been so blind?
Itachi did just that. Of course he's scum.
He needed time alone.
Away.
Now.

Uzumaki Naruto

Naruto cheered as loudly as ever. He's a ninja! He made it! He gets to be with Sakura! He means, with her in a team! He also gets to be around duckbutt! Everything went perfectly! Mhm. He made absolutely no mistakes during the test. Mhm. It was all reconnaissance to let his teammates know their enemy's weakness. Mhm. He engaged in teamwork before Kakashi-sensei even prompted them to during lunch. Mhm!

Being fed by Sasuke and Sakura-chan was so nice!

Being punched by Sakura for hugging her in celebration was… not as nice. Ah well! He owes them dinner now. Teuchi will surely give him discount on ordering for three. Mhm.

He cried, "Hey, Sasuke! Join us on-" and found no response. The bastard evaporated, and with him Sakura-chan too! He's stuck with the scarecrow. He smelt familiar. But he's also a perv. He didn't want to be alone with someone who reads that near children!

A ninja always keeps their word and pays their debt. He has to go duck-hunting! Ducks, ducks.. Ah, by the lake. He was a genius! Of course he was. He invented such an amazing jutsu and could use forbidden clones like none other! Hrmf, calling it forbidden when it barely tired him.

Grunting. Thuds. Metal on wood. Ah~ there he is! He must be feeling embarrassed at being outdone by the great Uzumaki Naruto and is training to pick up slack! Aha!

"Hey, duckbutt!" taunted the Konoha's greatest ninja from his perch. "Did I embarrass you that much? Fear not, the great Uzumaki Naruto is here to help!"

After Sasuke started acting weirdly, sparring at the academy was the only time the two of them ever hung out. Knuckleheaded as Naruto was, this fact did not elude him. Why he felt driven to hang out with the bastard… did however.

Uchiha Sasuke

Insensitive clown! Why did he follow him here?!
He wanted time alone. He needed to keep the demons drowned beneath the lake!
Dammit!
If he wants a fight, then so be it!

He's clumsy, that's what he is - not "great."
If he keeps this up, he's going to get us killed.
Idiot! Why won't he listen to advice?
… He did listen to advice. Using those clones has to qualify as cheating!
Nonsense Sasuke. You're not an academy kid. There's no cheating in a fight!

Sasuke won, or at least… He thinks he won. How the hell is this idiot blonde so resilient?!
He was exhausted.
But he had the moron in his hold
On the ground.
He won.

It reminded him.
He did not want to be reminded.
Thinking the idiot killed himself made him weak.
But letting go made him look weak.
He was weak.
He hated this.
He hated the demons beneath the lake.

At least the clown knew when to shut up.
He didn't speak when he… did that thing.
Tomato. He wanted to tease him.
It made him feel less weak.
Not now though.
He knew Naruto won't speak of this.

Those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum.
Today was too much.

Chapter Text

Haruno Sakura

Haruno Sakura - top kunoichi of this year's rota when one goes by academics, average in every other sense of the word. Sasuke-crazy, distracted, useless. Useless. All things she learned she can afford to be no longer.

It had been a month since their sensei passed them on what felt like a technicality. His words, suffice to say, made no sense until today. It probably wouldn't have for many months more if not for that loud brat demanding Hokage-sama like he was his father for 'more excitement'. More excitement they got indeed! They were not ready for this!

Not even Naruto was for all his bluster! He froze and Sasuke had to carry his dead weight! Well.. She froze too, but at least she was useful! She defended Tazuna (or at least, tried to look like it. Isn't Sasuke proud of her?) Apparently he wasn't. He didn't even seem to give her the time of day! He didn't even check if she was okay! Self-indulgent raven was too busy goading Naruto.

Sure, the two worked well together! That diversion with the windmill shuriken was legit cool, befit Sasuke! But why with Naruto? He's dead last. Sure he has those solid clones, but hey! She was top kunoichi. She will prove it.

Today, she will prove it. Tomorrow, she will be useless no longer. Lucky for her, neither of the boys in her group seemed to pay nearly as much attention she did back then. As Kakashi-sensei repeated yet again how to use chakra to hold little objects to their bodies, she focused on her own network. Calling it meditation may have been a stretch, what-with her mind wandering yet again… but it was still more than those two.

One, two. One, two. One, two. Mhm, this will be easy. One foot onto the tree, then another. One foot, then another. Focus on the present, no distractions. No daydreaming. She'll prove herself worthy and not useless.

This was fun!

… But why is it Naruto congratulating her? Sure, it's good to be recognised for her talents - she climbed a tree first try after all!
But… Sasuke-kun…

Uzumaki Naruto

Stupid tree standing in his way to prove that disrespectful brat that heroes do exist, believe it! He tried again, and fell. A hundred times he tried, and a hundred times he fell. No matter! If a thousand tries he fails, then he will succeed on the next try! Giving up was not the hokage way! Not even the Chunin way, and he swore to become one believe it!

A little rest couldn't hurt though. Sakura was off with Kakashi and the drunk. Sasuke was resting as well. He won't fall behind if he just laid there for a few moments, would he? Ah, the grass felt so soft…

There was someone nearby. Kakashi said that Zabuza survived. Surely it's not him. Surely! Oh kami.

Fortunately, it was just a pretty girl. Long, black hair. A pink yukata. She noticed him. Ah! Act casu - no, act cool! But it was too late. He was laying lazily on the ground, and she peered at him curiously.

They ended up talking.

Apparently, she was collecting medicine for someone precious to her. Someone she wished to protect. Something Naruto could well relate to! He'll do whatever to protect his sensei and friends! That's what Hokage do after all - they protect the village, for the whole village is their friend!

Why did she have to be a he?!

"W-wait!" snapped Naruto before his brain reached his mouth, "Do you mean… you also… like… feel wrong?"

Uchiha Sasuke

He was worn out. Everything ached.
He was pushing himself.
But he needed sustenance, so he ate with the rest.
Except Naruto.
Wherever the clown was, he pretended not to care.
He was probably off training with his monstrous stamina anyway.

Still. He should eat.
He pretended not to care, but it was hard to hide it.
The clown did help him with the demons beneath the lake.
Fortunately, his team prompted him to check on the moron.
He pretended not to care.

Who was that strange woman?
She sounded strange. He could swear he had heard her before.
… The hunter-nin!
Naru-

. . .

What are they talking about?
Feel wrong?
She's a he?
That undispellable henge does what?

Shame. Fear.
So that's what was behind that mask.
Of course it was a mask.
He wore one himself!
He really shouldn't.
He should leave it be.

Naruto didn't leave him be during their trials either.
He grudged to admit, but he was grateful.
The hunter-nin left. He'll have to inform Kakashi.
But first, he had to think like a clown.

"Hey, Tomato!" he called out without fanfare.
Was that a blush? Heh, he was a tomato even without the disguise.
There was something beyond the blush.
Hurt.
Naruto knew he heard.
He heard everything.

The Uchiha wasn't equipped to deal with that.
Maybe later. Maybe when there was no risk of his people disappearing.
They'll train.
Naruto will hopefully forget he overheard him.

If not,
Training will prove that nothing had changed.
Training together always helped with the demons beneath the lake.

Haruno Saukra

She needed more time. They needed more time. This was too soon. Much too soon. She was not ready. She was- She had to breathe. The Shinobi rules commanded that she show no weakness, no fear, no emotion. … This was easier at the academy. She was shaking as mists rolled in around her. Her body refused to move as Sasuke had to save her once again.

Her academy self would've been overjoyed learning that. The hero saving the princess! She wanted to punch herself. How could she have been so childish?! She was going to die. They were all going to die. She shouldn't have stayed silent when that stupid clown insisted on a "more exciting mission." They were not ready.

But she had no choice. She had to do or die. Kakashi Sensei was off fighting the real Zabuza. Sasuke was off dealing with the hunter nin. And Naruto… She couldn't fault him. He was training and pushed himself too far while she was daydreaming despite her earlier resolution. She wanted to punch herself. But now was not the time.

More clones. Just like Naruto's - solid, tangible, lethal. She was the last line of defence. Smartest kunoichi. She wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all. She couldn't. She wanted to live. She'd never survive if she tried to take those clones on as Sasuke did.

Smartest Kunoichi. An idea. A memory. The clown. The clown's many pranks. That's it. She had their supplies, their weapons, their scrolls and time.

She will not be able to fight even just a single clone of Zabuza. She did not need to.

She just hoped she had enough traps to last until reinforcements arrived.

She never imagined she'd ever be so happy to hear Naruto's voice.

Hatake Kakashi

By some miracle, they won. By some miracle, the past did not come to pass again.
Today, those he cared for will still live tomorrow.
It was a strange feeling.
To feel hope.

They were children. He remembered being a child once. He remembered being denied his childhood.
These three were denied it as well. Death. Fact of life for shinobi, yes and yet…
He felt guilt. Would Minato have wanted Naruto to grow up so soon?
Would he have felt pride at the maturity of his son?
Would she have been touched at the boy's empathy?
Ah Kushina. If only they were still here.
If only he learnt earlier.

He was grateful at least. He was afraid of how similar Team Seven was to his own team.
It was like a mirror, and like mirrors always do - he expected it to shatter.
Maybe they took his words to heart.
Maybe.

But he felt there was something more. Something deeper than just good students heeding their sensei.
There was a trust. A kindred spirit between the two boys that made him pity them.
Both were orphans. Of course they stuck together.
Of course. Both were forced to grow up too early.
Perhaps, with the cruelty of this mission,
Sakura will join them.
Girl needs his presence.
Perhaps.

Chapter Text

"Haku…" murmured Uzumaki as he stared at the back of his hand. The wounds have healed, yet the ache remains. Was this really what it meant to be a shinobi? To have a friendship torn away so early, so fast, so violently? It hurt.

He wished to go back, and yet - knew he couldn't. World rolled ever onwards, ever changing, ever out of his control. He missed the orphanage. Even though it was torn from him, even though that . . . incident left him with even fewer friends than he already had as a jinchuriki. He missed the orphanage. Will Sakura-chan and Sasuke go the same fate? The same as his old home, the same as Haku even? He felt cold.

Sasuke. Duckbutt. The bastard. Was he really? He didn't act like his old friends. He didn't abandon him even though he overheard everything. Naruto never imagined to run into someone who felt the same. Naruto never imagined to run into someone who'd see beneath his facade and yet, act like nothing happened.

It wasn't because of Sakura-chan. It wasn't because of Mom. Naruto knew this even before the mission. He knew it each time things finally felt right. If only Haku were still alive. If only.

Naruto, uncharacteristically solemn and withdrawn, had refused to leave his home since they returned from the Land of Waves. Kakashi-Sensei didn't push. He was thankful for that. He wanted to be alone. Yet, he felt lonely. He was grateful for his team's sensitivity and yet, wouldn't it be better if they still insisted?

He felt lonely.

He wasn't alone. He knew that. The stupid fox made certain he knew that. He called upon the demon that stole his parents to protect his friends and it worked. The demon made sure he knew it worked. The demon made sure he knew he was weak. he was pathetic.

The mission was over. He was allowed to cry.

A knock.

. . .

It repeated, gently. Once more. And again. Whoever it was, by kami were they persistent. Drying his face, still clad in pyjamas, still clad in that silly hat from grandpa and he stared at the door. It was immature, he was supposed to have grown out of it. It made him happy. He didn't care. Should he get dressed?

Whatever.

"Hey, " came the voice from behind the sliver of outside world. It was Sasuke.

In another world, in another life he'd have accused the bastard of stalking him. In another world, he didn't lose someone who could have been his friend. And so, he stayed silent and stared at the onyx-eyed boy.

He stared back.

Was it pity? Was it an act of superiority? Did the bastard come to rub it in? To remind Naruto of how childish he used to be? He wanted to slam the door closed, he wanted to be left alone. He wanted to disappear.

Yet the door remained open.

. . .

"Idiot! Stop standing around and get dressed!" There it was, Sasuke snapped.

He was probably angry for almost getting killed. Naruto wanted to punch himself, to tear at his hair and whiskers. There was this one person who seemed fine with what he told Haku, and he almost killed them.

"You're making m-" and a pause, a hint of pink. Anger, probably. "You're making Kakashi and Sakura worried."

Still no response. Ah, so they were worried about him now? Probably because of the kyuubi. They were afraid. They saw the monster he is. They wanted to make him learn to control it. They were right. He'd get them killed otherwise. He didn't want to be lonely again.

A sigh. A deep breath. There it comes, the shouting Naruto was used to. It didn't come.

"Look, I. . ." stumbled Sasuke, "I know what it's like. Stop hiding, it solves nothing."

. . .

Despite his taunt, Sasuke sounded warm, "Tomato, I'll buy you ramen." That blush again. It wasn't anger.

. . .

"Look, I err-" It was something else. "I need you to be strong so that we can spar! Sakura is trying her best but she's not the same."

Being outside, showered and dressed helped. Maybe. Or maybe Naruto just didn't want the villagers to see him as anything less than the Great Uzumaki Naruto, future Hokage. Maybe. Maybe he was overdoing it but, could anyone tell? Surely not. Maybe Teuchi and Ayame. Old man and his daughter were like a father and sister to him after all. They fed him, they listened. They made him feel warm.

It was weird, having Sasuke along. Calling him duckbutt felt wrong for some reason. Bastard was wholly undeserved. He was anything but. Naruto didn't know how to address him, so he kept to just various intonations of "You!". It worked. He thought.

It felt like colour was returning as he went through his third, fourth and… sixth bowl of ramen. He was starving. He had long-expected the Uchiha to interrupt, to demand he stop spending his money. Even Iruka-sensei was stingy with him! Maybe at the seventh bowl? Eighth? No. He didn't want to risk it. He didn't want Sasuke's disapproval. The thought made him feel bad. It was confusing.

They sat over his last bowl, empty. He should feel full, satiated and yet he still felt empty. He wasn't hungry. Over the meal, they spoke of little things. The mission. How exciting it was to finally be trusted with a real, adult and respected shinobi task! How it all went wrong. How a C-rank mission quickly devolved into an A-rank one with missing-nin, jonin and death.

Teuchi seemed proud. Would his dad been proud? Mom? Grandpa said they were accomplished Ninja. Jonin of their own right. They did things like that last mission as routine trips, no different to the cat-walks and lawn-mowing he and his team were assigned before the escort job. He wanted them proud, yet the thought of so much death made him ill. It made him cold.

He wanted to go back home.

Sasuke however had other plans.

Training did help. Violence, at least free of consequence, did help. It was hard to be pitying himself when a foot snapped him out of it all. Quite literally. It hurt. He didn't mind the hurt. Sakura-chan and Kakashi-sensei weren't around - apparently it took so long for Sasuke to coax him out, they'd long since went home.

He felt a pang of regret. He was holding his team back.

Before he could resolve to do better a kick in the gut sent him flying into the nearby lake.
Oh the bastard was going to pay for that!

They sparred. Hours upon hours they sparred, an uneven match in favour of the Uchiha even without his funny eyes. A blood bath once he decided he wanted to practice the Sharingan. It hurt Naruto's pride, but he did not mind. He just stood up, tried again and stood up and tried again and stood up and tried agai-

Something clicked.

Evening struck and while Naruto could keep going, he could always keep going - Sasuke needed a breather and so they sat. It was almost like back in the academy. Back before Sasuke suddenly started avoiding him. He didn't understand why that happened. He thought it was because of the massacre but no, the massacre came later. Should he ask? Or should he let demons lie beneath the lake.

It was nice. He'll let it be. He didn't want to screw this up like so many other things. Naruto chose silence.

Two boys, one a garish orange and the other a brooding blue lay against a cold grassy hill. It was nice.
It was almost perfect. It felt wrong.

It felt wrong not because of that inexplicable warmth those onyx eyes brought. The warmth of having someone actually care about him that wasn't just Grandpa and Iruka-sensei. No. It felt weird, it confused him. But no, that didn't feel wrong.

And then the silence broke, "You keep calling me tomato."

"You look like one" came the amused reply.

"… Are you blind? I'm more like a… uh, lemon."

"Didn't you say being a tomato felt more right?" Perhaps Sasuke went too far. Perhaps. But he knew, and the clown knew he knew.

He knew better than Naruto it seemed.

Naruto wished Haku was still alive.

Silence returned and evening dew began to settle. Neither of them was in any hurry.

"Thanks" was what broke the silence before they split for the night.

There wasn't a need for anything more.

Chapter Text

Things have changed. It was undeniable and it made Naruto shudder to think things had changed for the better. Deaths don't lead to the world improving, and yet - and yet he felt closer to his team mates. There was something, something morbid and despicable in how it took almost losing each other to shed their petty, childish refusal to work together.

Oh, childishness still remained. Sakura-chan still seemed to favour Sasuke, still cheered for him over Naruto. However, she sparred without complaint regardless of whether it was Naruto, a shadow clone of Kakashi-sensei or Sasuke-kun. She wanted to be better.

It seems it wasn't only Naruto who had regrets.

Each morning after Sasuke's visit they met, some more on time than others. Each morning they drilled, they practised and reviewed the basics they missed at the academy for whatever childish, petty reasons they once had. Each noon, they beat one another colourful and sore. And like clockwork, they worked for pay and experience on D-rank missions.

None of them were eager for a repeat of the land of waves incident.

Naruto's only regret was after they finished their missions. They split, each genin heading home and their sensei did whatever that made him late in the morning. He wanted to dine together, watch the stars together, exist together. Life was short after all, too short. He thought of Haku, of both the boy wearing a pink yukata and of the grisly corpse that remained. Did Zabuza know? Did Haku want Zabuza to know?

At least Ramen was as filling and warming as ever. At least, even as things change - the important things stay the same. He wished his team was with him. Confusingly, he wished Sasuke was with him. Not Sakura-chan, Sasuke. His head hurt.

He wasn't ready yet to deal with that thought. He wasn't sure he'd ever be ready to deal with that so he did what always worked. He took ownership of his path just like old times - if villagers hated him, let them hate him because of his annoying pranks! If he was lonely, he was going to be more forceful!

With his beloved team in tow, Naruto marched with an all too self-satisfied grin. Kakashi followed, exasperated and out of options. Turns out, claiming you need to shower the hokage's cat was a lie that did not bite. The other two were harder to read. Did he finally convince sakura-chan to spend time with him? Or was it just to follow Sasuke? Why did that bother him less and less? Sasuke was sasuke.

Originally, it was going to be ramen. What else could it be? It was delicious, it was nutritious, it was warming. Alas, concessions had to be made - even if it was Naruto splurging all his money (recklessly) to bribe his team, Sakura-chan refused and Kakashi-sensei insisted it'd be a good lesson in teamwork if he learned to take one for the team. The blonde was confident Kakashi was just trying to get even for being dragged away from his pervy books. No matter, they'll eat together and that made Naruto happy even if it had to be weirdly grilled meat.

At first, it was heavenly. It must be how being in the pure lands must feel! At first.

They were in public. Strangers. Also not-strangers. Team ten was here.

Shit.

Naruto found Ino staring at him weirdly. What was up with that girl? Can't a shinobi be with their teammates and enjoy a meal together?

He could hear the anger in her voice, "Narutoooo!"
"What are you doing to Sasuke-kun?! Is this some sick joke to rub it in that you're on his team?!"

What. Oh. There's that heat again. What did Sasuke say during the mission? His body moved without thinking? Yep, that's what was going on. Mhm.

Wait. That made it worse. Fuck! Play along, play along!

With a lecherous grin, Naruto countered - "Nonsense Ino-chan! I don't care about you. " and grabbed at the duckbutt's shoulders. "You see, if I do this Sakura-chan gets all flustered! See? She's finally starting to notice me!"

That did it. Screaming followed, plates made shurikens jealous with how true they landed. It was a mess, they were going to get kicked out but Naruto did not care. He didn't want to think about things. Sakura-chan's fists may hurt. Ino's feet may hurt. However, shinobi must put the mission first and so he kept taunting them.

Night ruined, Naruto finally chose to flee and the two kunoichi chased that bloody pervert he pretended to be. Their jonin senseis and the boys stayed behind, angry and frustrated.

"Troublesome" was all Shikamaru could offer.

Today was going to be awkward and Naruto had an increasing allergy towards all things awkward. He could stay home. He could avoid Sakura-chan and Kakashi-sensei and they'd forget and things would get back to normal and then All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well… He promised.

He wasn't going to become a shinobi like Zabuza. He was going his own way and that meant keeping his word.

He promised, but he didn't promise being early. Normally he'd rush to the training grounds, eager to be with his team and feel the warmth of their presence. Normally he'd dash through rooftops, swing under and over the many pipes and skip the heavy crowd of students going to the academy, adults to their civilian lives. Today, Naruto walked with the civilians. Well, as much as one can call a crowd of sneering jerks parting like water did under Kakashi-sensei's command 'walking with'.

Things were, once he arrived, as expected. Awkward. Neither of his teammates seemed to acknowledge his arrival. Not that Sasuke offered any more consideration to Sakura-chan. Kakashi was late. Which means since naruto took the long way to the grounds, he was extra late.

Ten minutes passed. Nope. Nothing. No scarecrows, no acknowledgement.
Twenty minutes passed.
Still nothing.
Sixty minutes. A rustle in the trees? Naruto could swear he saw a shadow.
An hour and a half. It must've been his imagination.

He enjoyed the quiet after Sasuke dragged him out of his den.
This was different. This grated. This strained. This made his mind race and his fingers dance and his toes fidget. He wanted to do something. He needed to do something. It was too much.

"Hey, ahh… guys?" It was an attempt, and it bore no fruit. Not even a frown. Were they ignoring him? He hated being ignored. He felt anger rise but no. He can't be angry with them. If he got angry, he'd lose them and they were all he really had.

He tried again and nothing changed.

"I really fucked up." he thought aloud, and it seemed - they finally stirred.

It hurt, but he now saw a route forward. A route he never took as a kid. A route he never had to except with Iruka-sensei and grandpa and even then, it was through actions and not words. Clean the monument, clean the class room. Tidy up his messes.

Finally, the knucklehead managed, "Sorry for how I acted last night."
It felt fake. He meant it but it felt fake. Villagers said they were sorry too and he knew they didn't mean it.

No change. They thought it was fake. He was sure. Dammit all.

Whispers. They were conspiring against him. He lost them. He almost had a family and he lost them! His finger hurt. It throbbed and ached. He didn't care and kept digging his thumbnail into the flesh.

It was Sakura who finally spoke, "Why… did you do that?"

That didn't sound like her. Did he hurt her so much that she pretend to be someone else? He wouldn't blame her. His finger ached.

No more words, no elaboration. He could run away. He could wrest control and…

"I don't know." he slipped before his instincts, before the demon could goad him into more things he'd regret.

"You don't know?!"

Anger, she was angry at him. Hands rose instinctively to avoid getting pummelled and yet, the fists didn't come.

Whispers. Naruto was certain now that the shadow he had seen earlier was not a mirage. Instincts honed by skirting death stirred. He swallowed. Not now. He was in the village. He was safe.

Stillness.

He could run. He could hide.
He could lose them.

He resolved he wasn't going to lose them, "I… I got scared."

Just as he heard Sakura press the interrogation, he finally noticed Kakashi-sensei who shushed her. Just in time

Finally, they could go back to training. Finally he was safe. Finally his secrets were safe! Finally! Finally! Finally!

He didn't like that stare.

"Naruto, did you forget your first lesson?"

It was disappointment. He disappointed Kakashi.

The lack of answer made Kakashi press on, "Or did you forget why you're still alive?!"

That hurt.

The silence that followed hurt even more. Kakashi-sensei wasn't going to spell it out for him, was he?

Kakashi-sensei wasn't going to wait for him either. His team wasn't going to wait for him either. They had things to do, they had to get better. They had to get even better if their own friend would betray them for such a little thing.

While Naruto sat out the drills and the sparring, his body was not without aches. Fingers kept digging, teeth kept clamping down on tongue and cheek alike. It hurt, but it kept his mind from digesting itself. It kept the demon from taunting him. It kept the memories at bay. It gave him peace. He wasn't proud of it.

All he wanted was to be closer with them, and he almost had it! He almost had it, and he definitely had his Sensei's approval and then it slipped from his fingers. All because, as Sasuke had put it during the mission, he was a "scaredy cat." A pansy. A wimp.

They didn't understand though. Sasuke knew, sure. And Sasuke was an orphan like him, sure. But he didn't understand. But he knew. He knew, and called him tomato. It was confusing. Why did this have to be so confusing? Why did things to have to be like this? It was unfair.

Would Dad and Mom have understood? He'll never know. He did know though, from what little Grandpa told him, they'd be very disappointed with what he did. What was it that Kakashi taught them? That Ninja that break rules are scum? Was he scum? He was going to break the rules, he was not going to live like Zabuza did. No. No. Focus.

It was time for them to get their daily missions. Were they going to leave without him? He didn't want to know. No, he knew. He knew and he knew it because he was going to fix things! If he's going to be Hokage, he'll fix many things! But let's start small. He felt his throat constrict.

"Can we talk?" he pleaded. "I learnt my lesson, y'know! I will prove it to you!"

Maybe he shouldn't have raised his voice but it seemed to do the job. They listened.

Could he tell them? What was there to tell them when he couldn't even tell himself.

He'll stall. He stalled and began with the mission. With what happened in that cage of mirrors. The demon's chakra. They listened. This should work and so, he continued. Just like Grandpa instructed, he asked them for a promise and while reluctant - he got it on Kakashi-sensei's urging. Of course, Naruto realised, his sensei knew.

And so Naruto told them about being the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails fox. The very fox that killed so many people, the very fox that killed the hokage! It was difficult. It was one thing to be hated, another to admit it and open up and share. But they listened.

Naruto was pretty sure Kakashi had seen through him, his wrist twirling and moving as if to urge him onwards.

"And like, uhh." ever eloquent, the future hokage finally stopped stalling, "There's a… thing that has been happening to me lately."

"Not lately, for a long time. But… it's getting harder to ignore, especially since the mission and uh…" they were listening. They haven't kicked him out yet.

"I… don't know what it is. Honest! I'll tell you if I know but I… well -"

Finally, it seems Kakashi-sensei had had enough, "You were afraid we'd find out before you were ready?"

The knuckle-head ninja, ever the sunshine, ever cheerful just meekly nodded.

"Trust us. If nobody else, trust your team. Nothing you're going through will ever compare to abandoning your teammates."

Naruto Uzumaki was grateful for growing up wearing a mask. Shinobi must not show tears during a mission, after all!

"You'll look like a tomato if you keep scrunching your face like that."

It sounded like an insult. It sounded like Sasuke was mocking him. He knew otherwise. Sasuke knew too he knew.

His team wasn't going to abandon him.

Things change, and they don't change back. And that's okay. But what's truly important will always be there - Team seven was back to training again!

Chapter Text

Making decisions on limited information was a skill all shinobi had to develop. Naruto knew this. The fact he knew however helped little to quell his frustrations - he wanted, no, needed to know how his parents would've handled all this. This. . . reality of being shinobi, this . . . gnawing truth he still refused to admit. He sought Grandpa's help, but it was all the same: in due time, in due time when he makes Chunin.

Naruto wasn't satisfied and he was pretty damn certain old man hokage knew it.

Maybe it was insensitive, knuckle-headed, forceful. Maybe he should be more empathetic to the hokage's office (those stacks of paper were terrifying!), but dammit he needed to know. Would they have expected him to kill with as little remorse as Zabuza did? As Kakashi did? Would they understand his aversion to death? Did they have a way to reconcile this? Would they accept him either way?

There it was, things he already knew in a voice that was apologetic and full of warmth, regret. They were jonin. They were heroes. They gave their lives to save Konoha. He knew all this dammit, he knew and he wanted more! There were many jonin in the village like that. Were they like Kakashi-sensei? Were they like Asuma-sensei? Or were they like that creepy Anko woman? He needed to know, and the questions will not stop until he knew.

A crack. Naruto Uzumaki did prove himself capable against the missing-nin, the demon of the mist. A concession? Ever so small, ever so insignificant to any other ninja - but a concession none the less.

"Do you ever wonder why Kakashi-sensei acts the way he does?"

Of course he does! Why is he late all the time? Why is he always reading that stupid book of his? It was honestly creepy! The scarecrow would often look at them train, stare off in the distance and promptly bury his face in that pervy thing.

"It's not really my place to tell you, it really is not."

Then why mention it? Why get him worked up like this? A concession offered and then reneged? What kind of Shinobi is that? What kind?!

"But I think he'd understand. He does regret your father dying so soon, you know. He was his student after all, and they seemed like such good friends."

His…student?! Wait, with that Naruto could break into the archives, go through the records of old shinobi teams and find out who his parents were! Oh yes! Now he sees what grandpa is playing at. Smart old coot! Yes!

"Hey now, Naruto-kun. Breathe!"

Oh, he was ranting out loud. Dammit. He broadcast his meticulous shinobi plan to the whole world! This is going to be so much harder like this!

"I'd wait for your sensei to tell you anyway. Your father always insisted that a shinobi-cell work together, to trust one another more than they trust themselves. You want to make him proud?"

Grandpa did not finish. They both knew what he needed to do to make him proud.

If only it was just his life that he had to trust his teammates with. Such comes easily, as Sasuke said back then - body moves on its own and he could ask others in the village for help and there'd be plenty of answers. After all, they all went through the same fire, which they embraced and made it into their will. However, nobody else had to lie on top of it, lie to not only their team but themselves as well. Not anybody alive that Naruto knew of at least, Haku was dead.

Sasuke knew. He didn't seem to care. Or did he? Naruto didn't know. Didn't understand. Didn't understand himself to begin with so how could he understand another? The more team seven spent together, the less things made sense even as their skill improved. He thought he shaped that disguise to be closer to Sakura-chan and now he wondered - did he want to be close to sakura-chan because he liked her or because . . .

He wasn't ready to admit that, even if he knew. He was not ready.

Kakashi-sense arrived early the next morning and looked pretty excited. It was honestly almost unnerving. Did his father really teach this scarecrow to be a ninja? Did his perversions come from his father? Naruto shuddered to think. It would make sense though - they called him a pervert in the orphanage so he must have inherited it from somewhere. No, he mustn't dwell on that.

The day's training seemed a little over the top. It wasn't another bell-test, no but Kakashi was working them to the bone and casting judgemental glares whenever they gave him a window of opportunity. Three against one, yet he was beating them handily. They tried to split up - it didn't work. They tried to fight back-to-back and it didn't work. They tried formations A through Z and it didn't work. Okay, they didn't try that many formations but dammit, they tried a lot! They tried to improvise and it almost worked - using shadow clones and Sakura's traps almost lined up for a submission but that damned sharingan had seen all.

Wait what?

Team seven sprawled across the training site, neither side making any ground towards their goals and even Naruto's monstrous Stamina could not keep up. It was absurd. Luckily, those stupid eyes didn't last nearly as long as Sasuke could maintain his own so they agreed on a tie. He'll accept that. He could barely breathe after all.

"We're skipping missions today" forced Kakashi past his mask, clearly still gasping for air.

Of course they were. Even he could barely walk, the others couldn't even stand.

"And tomorrow and the day after and for the foreseeable future."

Did they screw up? Damn the scarecrow and his dramatic pauses. Who even uses genjutsu to make his announcements be accompanied by lightning storms?! Did his father teach him that? Was his father an idiot too?

"Because you need to train, you have to train and also rest. You need to train because the exams start in two weeks on the seventh day of the seventh moon, and I want you to give them a try."

Exams? What exams? Wait, he couldn't mean-

"What? Why are you all staring at me like that? Thought the 'Avenger' wanted to prove himself! Thought you wanted to be hokage! Thought you wanted to show the world you changed!"

'Thought you wanted to know who your parents were', thought Naruto. If Kakashi was indeed his father's student, then he knew of his talks with Grandpa. Did Grandpa put him up to this? No, he couldn't have.

Was every day of training going to be like this now? What did they even sign up for…

He was hungry.

Apparently the exams come with a serving of death. Not guaranteed, but pretty likely. Apparently most genin trying out for being a chunin come with at most a C-rank mission as experience, very rarely - B. They had the advantage of experience despite the little time that passed since they graduated. Still, it was going to be dangerous. What was it? Half a year? No, it had to be shorter. Less than half a year since they stopped being treated like children. Maybe four months or less since Naruto was reminded of something he thought buried.

It was going to involve a survival section. Days alone, with nobody but his team and enemies to keep him company. Days alone when his ability to wear a mask might strain and his body might once more act on its own. Days alone where their enemies might repeat Ino's then-innocent inquiry and…

No, he can't let that happen again. He can't prevent it happening but he can control how it will play out. He couldn't control when he was caught doing his pranks, but he always had an escape route, traps and preparations in place so that when things went wrong - he was still the one in control. It was also how they sparred - contingencies for contingencies for contingencies. The answer for an experienced shinobi was obvious. It didn't mean he had to like it.

Contingencies wrapped in contingencies. He didn't know how Sakura-chan would react. He didn't know how Kakashi-sensei could react. They were a team. If they saw how Sasuke handled it, the others will surely follow. Sakura chan will at least, she always followed Sasuke even after saying she wanted to change. Kakashi-sensei… His father wouldn't have minded, would he? Kakashi was his father's student, like a brother maybe? Way he admonished him for his actions made Naruto wonder if his sensei did suspect something.

It was hard not to with how Ino found him leaning against Sasuke.

It wasn't the full story but it was still an indication of how things could play out and plus. It can't be as bad as being the demon-fox, can it? They accepted his fangs and claws and even his atavistic display against Haku did not phase them.

One, two, three. He'll deal with things one at a time. Normally, that means deal with himself first and then work his way out. Shinobi, however, should trust their team more than they trust themselves. While Naruto was certain his father didn't mean burdening others with the baggage of figuring out who they were, surely he'd be proud of his ingenuity! Nope. It wasn't cowardice. Nope. Future hokages can't be cowardly.

It was frustrating how having his wish from earlier fulfilled - after-training dinner together as if they were family - now interfered with his plotting. He needed a way to isolate Sasuke and it needed to look natural. Yes, he should trust the others but - one thing at a time. Coming up with this plan led to the opportunity slipping past his fingers day after day day after… and the exams loomed ever closer.

Today was his last chance. Now or never.

"You" intoned Naruto just like that day Sasuke invited him for ramen. He hoped the duckbutt picked up on it. "I've read that the sharingan could control the Nine-tails."

Even now that they took their training seriously, it still earned an exasperated jab from Sakura chan, "You read?"

It was tempting to parry and riposte but. No. Not today. It was now or never.

"I know there's a … lot of clan secrets about the Sharingan and I don't want to pry! Believe it! But, y'know - we're a team and I think you could help? Maybe? I don't want our enemies exploiting a weakness…"

It was a lie. A straight, bold-faced lie. Oh it was based in truth alright, and of course from a certain point of view Naruto said exactly what he really wanted to do but it was a lie. He was sure Kakashi caught him in the act and he wondered if he was disappointed in him for lying, or proud of him for his tact.

The lack of scolding made him hope it was the second.

Naruto did not want to admit, but the Uchiha estate was a little bit creepy. So many empty rooms, sheds and side-houses. It felt wrong. He knew it was wrong. Everyone knew. That is why it was the perfect place for their talk - not even Sasuke's fangirls dared approach this wretched place.

Naruto found a question escape him, "Will you be okay?"

Sasuke shrugged, "Of course, I live here. Why wouldn't I be?"

Why wouldn't he be. Why wouldn't he indeed. How did he do it? Learning that Kakashi knew his parents was enough for Naruto to struggle the next few nights. It made his mind race and wonder just how different things would have been if his parents stayed alive. Surely Sasuke felt the same, he just hid it better.

Naruto was selfish, loud, obnoxious and insensitive, yet he felt compelled to keep asking, "It's just I don't want to… add to your burdens. I understand if you'd prefer we talk elsewhere…"

A scoff, "Talk?" and then a chuckle, "So it wasn't about preparing for the exams, was it?"

Foxes had good ears. For a moment, Naruto wished he was a fox so he could tell what lay beneath those words. Was Sasuke angry with him? Was he disappointed? He needed to know. A gesture: follow. And so Naruto followed out of the estate and to that familiar lake.

It can work, guessed Naruto. It can work. Nobody ever came here either, it was safe. Well, almost safe - Sasuke did come out here and doing so did reveal his secret but. That's what Naruto wanted, no? That what he, no.. She? It was confusing.

Sasuke saw his teammate's face shift through a million patterns far too fast and he didn't like that. He cut it off with a question, "So what's the deal? We already forgave you for the incident with team ten."

"Grandpa says a shinobi should trust their teammates."

Blue eyes flit to the growing silver of the lake, unwilling and unable to face the Uchiha.

"I meant it when I said I wanted to patch up a weakness. I really meant it! And that's what this is about, y'know it! Just. . ."

Sasuke's voice would've sounded cold to anyone else, "Just what?" and he gave no quarter, "Idiot. Keep making that face and you'll turn into a tomato."

It was like when they sparred, Naruto couldn't not react, "And what if I did, huh?"

A lie, "Nothing would change. You'd still be an idiot. An idiot-tomato." It was a lie, but what about?

Despite him- no, herself, Naruto glanced to the raven-boy and saw a blush. It was pale, but it was there. It was a lie, and the truth earned a blush of her own. Eyes averted back to the still-water of the lake and just stared. Silence returned, just like that night after the mission.

Neither shinobi was in a rush to break it. There was no comment when a grunt of pain accompanied a poof. There was no comment as the once-blonde comedically struggled with the long hair she caught in an armpit when she laid back down. There was no comment when her body moved on its own and commandeered the boy's shoulder for pillow duty.

It was nice.

They should talk about Sakura-chan and Kakashi-sensei. Sakura-chan is going to be mad. They should make plans for the impeding exams. They should be making plans for the rest of the village. They should restock on ninja tools for the survival section. They should actually go and actually take care of the Kyuubi's weaknesses.

There was far too many things they should be doing.

Naruto chose laziness. And Sasuke - for perhaps the first time since that horrific night - was happy for the weight upon his shoulders.

Chapter Text

Hatake Kakashi

It was his decision. Pride overcame his good judgement and he insisted to the Hokage.
Regret filled him now as he had learnt of just who the proctors were this year.
Ibiki of the Interrogation squad, Orochimaru's student: Anko.
He should have delayed them. They needed more training.
It was too late now, their fate out of his hand.
All he had was hope.

How did Asuma and Kurenai hold it together so well? Or was it a mask like his own?
He should be the one so confident, it was his students who did an A-rank mission.
Perhaps that's why he worried so much. They were spared of certain burdens.
He saw what the reality of being shinobi did to his ducklings.
It was not pretty. It scared him. It was a mirror.
And all mirrors shatter.
They were fragile.

Did he do enough? Could he have done enough? Even Minato-sensei couldn't do enough.
He didn't blame the fourth hokage. It wasn't his fault. It was wartime.
Still, if his mentor failed then what hope did he have?
By what right did he think himself superior?
Even the books stopped helping.
Not that he'd admit.

It did not help that there were rumours afoot. Rumours of the Sannin. Rumours of mirrors.
Lord Jiraiya had long since left the village, tasked by duty and guilt alike
to track down that traitor Orochimaru.
If he was here,
He dared not think further.

Haruno Sakura

They passed! By some miracle they passed! She never thought she'd live the day to be grateful for that clown's warped sense of reality but she couldn't deny it - without him, she'd have given up. It was honestly wicked! What monster puts children through an exam like that?! Like, sure - they were going to be Chunin but to be forced to make such a choice?

She thought back to their fateful mission, the decisions they made. When it was revealed the scope of it all far out-scales the promised C-rank escort mission, even her sensei thought it may be best to turn back. If not for Naruto and Sasuke-kun - if not for them, that little boy, Inari, would be dead. In this moment she understood. She did not like it.

Naruto and Sasuke-kun. What were those two boys up to anyway? Did they have a fight right before exams? Sounds likely, the two seemed to be constantly at each other's throats in sparring after all. Moment they met at the exam hall, the two seemed to avoid each other's gaze. That is until that creepy green guy with the stupid haircut showed up.

Sakura was certain Naruto went too far with his taunts towards dear Sasuke-kun and yet, they didn't start brawling. It was confusing. It was as if the blonde woke him up?

It felt familiar, yet she couldn't place it. Like it was all way over the top - Naruto screams all the time sure but it didn't feel right. It felt like . . . It felt like that time with Ino at Yakiniku Q. Her head hurt trying to connect the dots but none of the answers made any sense. Kakashi-sensei said something about Naruto hiding something but he already told them about the Kyuubi, didn't he?

Why did she have to be teammates with these two weirdos?!

Uchiha Sasuke

That woman was downright creepy.
By what right did she cut Naruto?
By what right did she lick Naruto?
He didn't like her.

He didn't like most of the competitors. Even those he was familiar with were a danger.
His people will not disappear. Not again. Not Naruto. Not Sakura.
That grass-nin in particular gave him the creeps.
She reminded him too much.
Of him.

Five days, get one scroll and protect their own. Premise was easy.
Could they trust the other rookies? Sakura was friends with some.
And Naruto did seem to get along with Kiba and Shikamaru.
Maybe they could work together? No,
too dangerous.

He just hoped his team would behave.
He'll carry them if need be, that wasn't his worry.
Why did that loser have to wait until last moment?!
They will be fighting for survival, it shouldn't matter
Tomayto, Tomahto.
They'll work together just fine.

Hatake Kakashi

Three dead genin. Not of Konoha, yet they could have been his genin.
He was former ANBU, he'd seen worse and yet -
It made him sick.

Lord Jiraiya was back. He went where reports of that traitor took him.
Lord Jiraiya was in Konoha. Three genin dead.
A forest, too wide and dense.

Mitarashi shared his suspicions and yet - she refused to pause the exams.
The last Uchiha, the Jinchuriki. It's obvious, isn't it?
The exams came first.

He hoped at least Jiraiya will listen.

Haruno Sakura

She was alone. She was their only hope. She was alone. Neither of her teammates, friends seemed awake, much less able to move. They were too heavy. They were too heavy even with all this training this past month. She should've bailed. They would've been angry at her but at least they'd be alive. It's her fault. She couldn't do anything. She tried, but it was all for nothing. That snake saw through her like she was a stupid brat trying to prank an ANBU. It made no sense. It couldn't have been a genin could it?

Orochimaru. Orochimaru. Where did she hear that name before. The academy? But Orochimaru served in the Third Great Shinobi War. He was too young to be him and yet, the snake. It didn't make sense and yet it didn't. A second face. A disguise maybe? But why? Why would a missing-nin come to participate in the exams?

Naruto maybe? He did say that him being the host of the Kyuubi was an S-class secret and she did see that snake do. . . something to his seal. Did he steal the demon fox? Was it possible? Where's Kakashi sense when you need him?! She could carry them out, get them to leave. They'd understand but… She can't carry both. They're too heavy. She'd be too slow. If it was only one of them…

No. Kakashi-sensei would never approve. It was all three or none of them. But if she can't carry her teammates, then what? Wait? Yes, that's it! She'll make camp, lay traps and keep them steady and stable. She wasn't sure how, but she had to try. The traps were the easy part - they held off Jonin-clones well enough after all so genin should be no issue. Keeping them alive though…

Sasuke was burning up. Was it poison? She had some antidote with herself against common poisons but it didn't seem to do anything. Wet rags, that's her next best bet. It was pitiful. She hoped it was enough. At least his groans of pain reassured her he was alive. Naruto… She regretted wishing that clown to shut up earlier at the exam hall. This is not like him. This is so wrong.

Hatake Kakashi

He could understand. He really did. It did nothing to lighten his anger and disappointment.
Personal vendettas, huh? Were they worth endangering children? His Genin?
Sure, she was his student but she was no match for one of the sannin.
Such recklessness.

At least she was still alive. At least she could answer his and the toad-sage's questions.
He'll have a talk with her later. Make sure she learnt her lesson.
But not now. He was different. He'll do better than Minato-sensei.
He hoped he didn't delude himself.
Two can cover more ground.

Uchiha Sasuke

The burning. The anger. The Hatred.
Was this the power his brother spoke of?
Was this the path to his cursed dream?
It felt good. Addicting. Exhilarating.

They hurt his friends. He'll hurt them more.
For each wound, he'll inflict two!
For each bruise, he'll break a bone!
How dare anyone stand in his way?!
How dare anyone take what belonged to him?!

It hurt. He did not care. It was too late to care.
They will die.
Their despair an appetiser for his sweet Brother.
A sickening crack. He could get used to this.

A touch. Familiar. Gentle. Desperate.
He was scaring them.
He was hurting them.
He felt cold.
Was this how Naruto felt?

Darkness.
Poor girl.

Hatake Kakashi

His ducklings made it. All three of them, together. Stumbling, ambling and war-torn.
But alive.
He should have been overjoyed, he should have been proud like no other
and yet, knowing that Orochimaru was out there made it a bitter victory.
Something was wrong and Sakura, only one still standing
He was proud, she advanced the most
Focus.

The wretched snake. Anko had the same scar, no … it wasn't a scar.
It was a curse. He'll have to ask her and Jiraiya what to do.
They had time, it was a full month until the finals.
What do you mean not this time?
Wretched forest.

He watched helplessly as genin pushed themselves beyond their limit. He should feel proud.
Had the pairings been different, had she time to rest - he was certain Sakura could've won.
Alas. Maybe next time.
He was proud.

Naruto's fighting was weird. Where were his clones? His Jutsu?
He was clumsy sure, but he was improving. Where did it all go?
Was it exhaustion? It can't be. He made sure to push them just for this.
He Still won but…
No. Something was wrong. The snake! Of course!
He was Jiraiya's teammate after all.
He'll need help.

Oh Sasuke. He worried him the most. That mark must be sealed but there was no time.
Stupid pride. Foolish kid. He understood, but he did not have to approve.
Still, he managed even without. Weird, he knew that style.
Gai? More mirrors. More chance of shattering
Of tragedy.

He had to intervene. He can't afford to wait for Jiraiya, sealing master or not.
No more regrets. No more what ifs. No more.
So what if he had to face Orochimaru alone?
Give up his precious students?
He'd sooner die.

Chapter Text

Naruto hated the smell of bleach. Or was it peroxide? Kakashi-sensei did mention weird words like that when he had them practice first aid before the exams. Whatever it was, she couldn't understand how it didn't bother Kakashi-sensei or Sakura-chan. Maybe it wasn't the smell she hated after all.

Poor Hinata, poor Sasuke. Neither deserved to be trapped in these ugly rooms with these neglectful nurses. At least they allowed her to bring Sasuke something to eat; poor Hinata was only allowed fluids. Sure, she knew of the monster that was Sasuke's brother; sure - her heart went out for her teammate
but . . . But it's different to see it first hand, to see what was meant to be the strongest bond, the bond of blood, violated without a hint of mercy.

One month. One month and she'll tear that bastard Neji apart. One month. Will it be enough? Sasuke was to face that creepy sleep-deprived weirdo who crippled poor bushy-brows. How? One month. To say Naruto was worried was an understatement. He was awake yes, but it seemed any movement brought Sasuke intense pain.

Kakashi finally spoke, "I'll have to leave you kids. There's something I must do."

Someone he must find. It took some urging, appeals to the team-spirit and the fact they were in this together, but Kakashi admitted that the creepy snake-guy came back during the preliminaries. Kakashi also admitted that a "legendary ninja" hunting the creepy snake-guy was spotted nearby. Supposedly this "legendary ninja" was was their only hope.

Why not Grandpa? Grandpa knew a lot, he helped with her own curse after all! Helped with the aches and pains the claws left whenever her emotions got the better of her. Helped make it happen less often. He could help! Naruto didn't understand, and it made her angry. What was so important that he didn't have time for them?!

At least they had each other.

It wasn't like when Kakashi-sensei or Sasuke overused their Sharingan. It wasn't even like when the nine-tails took over. With those - time helped, each hour there was improvement. Each hour the pain became but memory. In the morning, Sasuke was awake and readily accepted the onigiri she and Sakura packed. In the morning, he spoke and seemed awfully grateful to Sakura. That made Naruto feel a sense of jealousy but she tried to choke it down the drain. They were a team. Things were confusing. Being alive was more important than whatever those feelings were.

Now the fever came back, and with it pained grunts and frightening stillness. Nurses came and went, needles in one hand and notes in another. At first, they ignored the two shinobi but as night drew close their presence became a problem. Neither wanted to leave.

They had no choice.

Naruto stuck to Sakura and much to her surprise, the pinkette did not mind. Was it because she finally accepted even if she still looked like a boy? Nonsense - it didn't matter. Sasuke was more important

Occasionally, one of them spoke up on the way to training ground three. A question with no answer. A platitude more to help the speaker than solve problems. A concern about the nurses, a revelation that Naruto's awful experience was unique. Of course it was. Well, at least they won't forget to feed 'the Last Uchiha' and the 'Hyuuga heir'. She should've been angry at such favouritism and yet, she was grateful.

Going home, alone, was out of the question. They needed rest but when silence filled the void of the other's company too many questions rushed their minds and it turned out even platitudes were better than nothing. Going home, together . . . They were beyond such childish notions. They were a team. They should be above rumours and yet neither had the energy to justify themselves.

What's another night beneath the stars?

The two of them were going to address the rest of the team together. Reveal the big secret, live unmasked at last and maybe use it to get Kakashi to reveal his teeth in exchange. It was the perfect plan, lighter and unburdened than the reality they now had the live. Should she even bring it up anymore? Did it even matter? Naruto loved attention after all and yet, the thought of monopolising it once more when the survival of her friend was on the line filled her with disgust.

Sleeping in her pretend-form also made her sick. Each time she reverted the transformation - reverted, not dispelled as Sasuke explained the difference - it felt worse and worse and worse and worse and…

It was night. Separate tents and Sakura wasn't going to peek. Was it selfish to transform?

The answer will never come. The Jutsu failed. It failed on the second try. Third time's the charm?

Shinobi rules don't apply once the mission was done.

A routine had developed over the coming days. Wake up, split to head home for hygiene and supplies and then spend their day until the night by Sasuke's bed and then sleep once more where it had all began. Kakashi was nowhere to be seen. The Hokage's office wasn't taking any visitors, not even Naruto was allowed entry. The village itself felt as if it changed - as if the streets too were drained of life.

One month until the finals. One month, and while grief and despair hijacked team seven's lives they felt the world around them crawled ever onwards, preparing for something big. Time was running out and there was no progress to be seen. Each time hope filled the hearts, each time it seemed their teammate was ready to walk he collapsed right back into the bed. He insisted they don't give up their training for his sake, but - what was there to give up? Sakura flunked out and while Naruto had Neji to look forward to . . .

She didn't dare tell Sasuke that the snake left its fangs inside her as well. Anger seemed to worsen his condition and she was certain half her jutsu just fizzled into futile smoke. Part of Naruto had wondered if that creep had tied their chakra together - she could hardly access hers and something was infiltrating Sasuke's system. It was stupid. She read too much of Kakashi's stupid books.

Team seven had lost track of time by the time Kakashi finally came back with an old man in tow who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. One hell of a legendary ninja indeed, beaten and bruised by hospital staff for wandering hands. If he was going to cause nurses to avoid Sasuke's room out of fear… Legendary ninja or not, Naruto is going to kick his ass!

With the room finally cleared of 'distractions', the old man seemed to change. He seemed taller, more serious, more committed. He spoke in a language not even Sakura-chan could follow and yet it seemed Kakashi-sensei understood everything. Sakura translated what she could to Naruto's level - something about nature, something about hosts and something about that creepy protctor Anko?

"We'll have to wait, no guard the room from outside while Jiraiya-sama does his work" instructed Kakashi-sensei

Guard? Why would he need guarding? They were in the heart of Konoha - safest of all the shinobi world! Plus, why did he need to be alone with Sasuke? Suffice to say it took some physical argumentation to get Naruto to comply.

What was another day spent waiting?

Everything.

Inspecting his students with a unreadable gaze, Kakashi finally spoke "Guess we'll need to have him inspect you as well then, Naruto-kun."

Him? Her?! No way. Naruto saw how that weirdo looks at women and sure, she didn't look like one and sure nobody but Sasuke knew but she wasn't going to take any risks!

Kakashi had no idea why his students were so averse to Jiraiya-sama. Shouldn't they be excited? More coaxing was needed, "Maa, he's not that bad is he? Am I as bad as you thought I will be?"

That didn't work. Almost in perfect unison Sakura and Naruto agreed, "Yes you are!"

Playing up his hurt, Kakashi lamented "You break my little heart" and let out a dramatic sigh.
"If I told you he taught the Fourth his Fuinjutsu, will you relent?"

Confusion. A memory. A whisper, "Sakura-chan . . . Didn't Kakashi-sensei say. . ."

A sigh, "Yes Naruto, Fuinjutsu is how you got it." she didn't let Naruto finish. S-class secret, and the clown was about to reveal it in the middle of a hospital wing.

Naruto didn't care anymore. Sasuke was walking! Never in her academy days did she imagine she'd miss that stupid self-absorbed bastard's panicked protests. Never in her academy days did she imagine to share an embrace with Sakura-chan and feel more warmth from 'the last Uchiha' shyly returning the gesture than she did from 'the love of his life'. She didn't care.

"So," started Kakashi interrupting their moment. "This is all very adorable but we have a problem."

The only problem was the scarecrow using them as a impromptu hand-rest.

"I imagine neither of you plan to drop out."

Drop out? Nonsense. Neji had to be taught a lesson!

"You have two weeks to prepare."

Fuck.

Chapter Text

Two weeks Naruto repeated to herself. Two weeks. Two weeks to get ready to beat the snot out of Neji; two weeks for Sasuke to prepare to fight the creepy redhead; two weeks until the two of them can impress each other with their growth. Two weeks to focus.

A task that proved frustratingly difficult.

Why did she have to get the pervert as her mentor? No, not that pervert - the old man! Sure he might know about how the Kyuubi-seal works. Sure he fixed her issues with being unable to mould chakra into jutsu. Sure, she felt delighted to stop using that itchy, stale, spoiled, and otherwise all kinds of uncomfortable form she wore all her life.

But was feeling right worth dealing with a weirdo like this?! In her excitement, without thinking (why would she?), she tested the transformation after the kyuubi's seal was fixed and. . . Kami! That old pervert was resilient - she's confident she hit him everywhere that should make a man keel over and he still stared and still made those disgusting grabby hands like it was appropriate around a girl her age! No, around any woman! It made her skin crawl.

"C'mooooon Naruto-chaan! Let me see inspect your seal again!" croaked that lecherous toad.

It earned another punch, right in the nose. Heh. That swell suited him. Should she feel a pang of guilt for those pained grunts and groans? After all, she knew just how much a kunoichi's foot hurt when applied at the right speed and the right angle… No. He deserved it and Sakura-chan deserved some overdue apologies.

A defeated sigh. Did she win? Were they finally going to start training now? Oh no, the toad was back to croaking and she did. not. want. to. hear it.

The perv was getting desperate, "I give up! Turn back into a man! I still need to inspect that seal!"

A defiant huff. She's got weeks of anguish to make up for. Crossing her arms still sent butterflies through her stomach after all - was she also a pervert? Would Sasuke call her one? Sakura-chan? Kaka-

The perverted toad had gone back to croaking and Naruto couldn't help but wonder if she had hit him too hard. Brain damage maybe? His speech definitely sounded slurred. Some words she did make out, and she wondered who this Kushina and Princess Tsunade were. From the sounds of it - people who'd approve of Naruto's actions.

Why couldn't she too have lightning chakra…

Not a single inch of progress. Nada. Nothing. Night had long since reached its zenith and Uzumaki stood proudly in defiance of the perverted sage' questionable motivations. Days would have passed at an impasse if not for the unfortunate realities of being human and the even more unfortunately reality that Kakashi-sensei had betrayed her.

That stupid scarecrow leaked valuable intel of his precious comrades! What foul treachery was this? Did the perverted toad bribe him with those stupid books he always read? He had to. It was the only explanation Naruto was willing to accept - after all, if Kakashi succumbed to bribery she wouldn't have to feel bad for falling for the evil ploy herself. Whether wearing a mask or being herself, Ramen ruled the future Konoha of the Hoka- future hokage of Konoha! Damn she was starving.

She could feel the perverted sage's eyes bore into her head as they walked. She didn't care. She had to make up for her plans being interrupted and also, didn't they say one must be honest when visiting a holy shrine? Naruto was pretty sure Ichiraku's qualified as such.

What she didn't account for was one tiny little detail. One very important point of contention. One absolutely inconsequential matter of no significance.

Neither Teuchi nor Ayame recognised her.

Weren't the whiskers tell-tale enough? The orange jacket? Sure, she had to wrap it around her waist to avoid drowning but it was still there! Visible! Sure her hair was a different colour and sure it wasn't spiky anymore but still! She was Uzumaki Naruto - it felt unfair! Did they already forget about the night with Iruka-sensei?!

Well. She didn't plan on letting this weirdo know this much about her and she had this whole reveal - make up, yukata and all - planned for Sakura-chan and Kakashi but such is the life of a shinobi. Improvise, adapt, overcome. And did she overcame in a way no other ninja ever could!

"Oh, hey! Teuchi-san! Ayame-chan!" there they were, all attention on her. A smirk grew from ear to ear and if anyone took issue with her dramatic pause - well, they could take it up with Kakashi-sensei. He was bad influence.

A whole minute passed before the new Naruto spoke with self-satisfied amusement, "What? Your favourite customer got into the chunin exam finals and you don't even welcome," the tiniest of pauses, a gulp audible only to dogs and foxes, "her with her favourite meal? I'm hurt, Teuchi-san, I'm hurt!"

It was different to call herself a girl out loud. Butterflies and a hint of guilt.

Stunned silence. Did it work? Maybe she should have kept her hair blonde, it would have made introductions easier. On one hand, mom had red hair. On the other, Sasuke kept making fun of her for it. Come on, someone speak up! All this waiting was going to make her look like Kakashi-sensei…

Teuchi finally spoke "N-Naruto?"

Despite trying to sound casual, Naruto was beaming "Took you long enough old man!" and without missing a beat, "So about that ramen? I haven't eaten all day and I'm starving!"

There were some whispers. They thought she didn't hear but they forgot she was a chunin-candidate. Oh, none of it came from the old man or Ayame-chan, their doubts vanished the moment they saw her dig in and slurp and devour bowl after bowl after bowl. If they didn't mind, she won't mind the villagers either.

And many a bowl it was! If the weird pervert was offering to pay, you bet Naruto Uzumaki was going to fully exploit that opportunity! She was a ninja after all! A shinobi, a kunoichi! Whatever! A ninja always took the opportunity presented.

In her rapture, Naruto didn't realise that Ayame-chan had crept past the counter until she heard whispers tickle her ears, "So? What happened?"

A non-committal shrug, and much to the world's surprise at Konoha's loudest ninja, Naruto replied in kind, "Honestly dunno. It just. . . Feels right? Feels like ramen compared to frozen veggies? Y'know?"

That earned a confused tilt of a head and then a shrug to mirror hers. Naruto could swear she saw conspiracy brewing behind those black eyes but had her inquiries interrupted by a pat atop her head.

"We'll have to close up soon. Do come again, mhm? You'll always be welcome here."

A sentiment which the old man echoed. Smiles were exchanged and with heavy steps Naruto and her awful rent-a-master departed the restaurant.

It went better than expected.

Then the toad croaked, "You're going to work with me now, right Naru-chan? We have a lot of work to catch up on after all…"

It could have gone better.

The next day, the pervy sage demanded Naruto demonstrate the transformation Jutsu back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Each time the pain got worse and worse and by the fourth attempt she just collapsed, panting and holding her stomach. She was pretty sure her cheeks were wet.

She'd have loved quiet, and yet the old man robbed her with his croaks "That's a very interesting technique you got there." Taking her groans as prompt to continue, he went on "Now, solid transformations aren't that unusual - ANBU know it for their infiltrations after all and I've developed a few variants for my own subterfuge myself."

Subterfuge. They'd only spent a day together but Naruto was certain that said subterfuge was not to the benefit of Konoha or the Land of Fire. Disgusting old man. Moving hurt, so she'll punch him for that later.

Oh devious bastard.

The lectures continued with a self-satisfied grin as Naruto lay there helpless to resist, "However, none I've seen caused anywhere near the amount of pain you felt. In fact, the mere presence of pain makes it all the more intriguing."

She didn't like how he was staring at her.

"Say Naru-chan, how exactly did you discover this technique?"

An embarrassing and rather uncomfortable explanation later Naruto was back on her feet moulding chakra just like she did for the transformation. However, she wasn't going to turn back into the form everyone knew her as - thankfully, the pervy sage seemed satisfied with her staying a girl - she just forced it to flush through her system like when they practised water-walking with Kakashi-sensei.

Was this…?

"Aha! I see you are catching on! This makes my life oh-so-much easier!"

How dare he touch her hair! She was going to- No. Focus! Focus on the molding. She's not going to lose control, not like against Haku. Never again.

"Use your shadow clones."

She did. It was just like when she feared for Iruka-sensei's life - oh so many clones. Oh kami. Oh - did the toad-bastard pass out?! What the hell?!

Why did she have to be the one to get the pervert?! She already missed Sasuke and Sakura-chan. Two weeks could not pass fast enough.

Chapter Text

Even if there may have been a few misadventures getting to the Colosseum, even if the pervy-sage convinced her to 'show up without producing additional paperwork', Naruto was excited to run into her classmates, comrades again! She'll show them how far she's come since the academy! She'll beat that scum into the ground and impress Sasuke! Yes!

All that weird staring confused her though. She was back in her boy form and she was pretty sure she put on the right size pants and jacket. Weirdos. Oh, Shika- What is he doing?!

Shikamaru tugged at Naruto's arms, yanking her to stand in line, all orderly like while whispering to her ear, "Where'd you leave the other idiot? Thought we were gonna start without you and the roster's troublesome enough."

Other idiot? Huh? Where's Sasuke? What? She stared at Shikamaru then threw her hands up, "How should I know? I'm not his minder!"

Judging by the glares of the other finalists, she may have gotten a bit too loud. Nothing a little laugh can't defuse! Still, if Sasuke hasn't shown up yet then who was she going to show off her new techniques?!

Since nobody was going to ask, she stepped forward, "Hey toothpick guy! If we're starting now, what happens to those who are late?"

All she got was a shrug and that he had until it was his round.

Well, on the bright side that means she didn't have to hold back against her opponent, no need to save her tricks to surprise Sasuke.

And boy was she not going to hold back! Just looking at the guy made her blood boil. So smug, so self-absorbed! He was like Sasuke with none of the redeeming qualities! He was like an academy kid that forgot to grow up! No! Worse than an academy kid - at least they don't mutilate their own comrades.

She had prepared for this moment. She made a whole dramatic speech and yet all that came out was a low growl and a threat, "Hey, smarty-pants. Think yourself a genius? I think you're nothing but scum and I'ma pound you until you apologise, y'know!"

"Apologise? To who? You?" . . . "I guess I'll apologise to your sensei in your stead for wasting their precious time!"

"You really got no idea? To your cousin you scum! You call yourself Konoha Shinobi and almost cripple your own comrade?!"

"So the trash feels kinship with sewage. Touching, and oh so predictable."

Her body moved on its own and the world felt it had stopped moving. One more moment. One more and she'll claw out his eyes like the undeserving bastard he was! One moment. A sharp pain and a dull impact. Her ears rang as she rose to her feet again.

Toothpicks was staring at her in disapproval, "Attacking before the mark is grounds for disqualification."

Fuck.

"Let him fight. He will not learn his place if you let the brat off so lightly."

Right, Naruto. Calm down. Focus. The opponent she cared about was not in the stands, she had no reason to hold back. On the other hand- ask anyone about Kakashi-sensei and he was a tardy, distracted pervert. Ask anyone about the pervert-sage and he was an old man who drank too much booze and was a menace to all women. Not entirely false and yet…

Only a fool would try the same thing again and expect another outcome. Lucky for Neji - he was fighting a fool and Naruto lunged at the scum just like before. This time there were no Toothpicks to break them up. This time the Hyuuga parried and no counter came. He was reading her and she was eager to help him flip the pages. Strikes followed a well-practised pattern and each were blocked without any chance to connect.

There it was - the counter going right for her heart. It hurt, but her left arm wasn't critical for any of her little show. It hurt, and it made the act all the easier as she slapped a bloodied palm onto Neji's right shoulder-blade in an attempt to create distance.

"Ready to give up? All your flailing will achieve is making a clown of yourself."

He tried to kill her and now he was concerned for her reputation? It was touching, and surprisingly insightful! She really should've kept her mouth shut, but the temptation was too great as her shadow clones surrounded the Hyuuga, ready to pounce!

"Sorry! You're a little late about that for the circus is in town!"

What followed was the Chunin exams' most pathetic display of human wave tactics. Clone after clone jumped endlessly at Neji, occasionally displaying what may have been an inkling of teamwork but it was clear that Naruto stood no chance at victory. The two shinobi continued their fight both verbally and with hands, levying greater and greater insults at the other without an ounce of shame.

At least, that's what Naruto wanted people to think. She may be unable to perform genjutsu despite she had gone to with both Kakashi-sensei and Jiraiya, but that didn't mean she was a stranger to deception. After all, did she not live a lie her whole life? A lie that for a time had even convinced herself? Convincing scum like Neji was child's play in comparison!

Each clone she sacrificed - and did she sacrifice many - played a pivotal role. Most were simply to maintain the illusion of incompetence or to find angles of neglect but a select few - following no rhyme or reason, no greater strategy, no coordination that her opponent could pick up on - kept touching the Hyuuga's blood-drenched shoulder. A stroke here, a smear there, a swirl she was certain the scum would pick up on but fortunately didn't and many, many variations and combinations thereof.

One final step - fresh blood to inconspicuously seal the contract. One last misdirection, a bait of an exhausted Naruto. A temporary solid henge for the right tools, a clone with too much chakra to be one to bait the byakugan and a swipe of a fox's claws from behind across the bastard's cheeks.

Kuchiyose: Yatai Kuzushi no Jutsu!

It didn't come without consequence. Her ears were ringing, vision was blurred. Legs only barely answered her demands to stand and for a moment she feared she lost.

Moments stretched into forever as words once more started to make sense. Blobs of colour finally took shape of an orange toad with blue markings clad in bandages - easily the weight of a horse - sitting with an unimpressed expression fit for a cat atop the Hyuuga's right arm.

Through the ringing, she heard her name.

Did she win? If she did, collapsing right now was sure to disqualify her so she went on to mumble to her captive audience until medic nins arrived to take him away.

Sakura-chan in the stands slapped her, gave her a hug and forced a bunch of awful tasting pills into her hands in that order. After the first pill, she refused to eat any more under pain of death. That resistance broke rapidly as her precious teammate offered fates worse than death.

Honestly, in hindsight she should've taken suffering and to make matters worse, the only answers she got as to their origin were 'kunoichi's secret', a raspberry and a begrudging promise of 'later'. Naruto didn't even realise that during all that, Sakura had bandaged the cut on her palm she used for the contract.

An announcement silenced the bickering pair. Good news: Sasuke and Gaara were delayed to be the last match-up. Bad news: Pyjama-boy chickened out and Shikamaru looked like he was about to do the same. Like any good friend, Naruto stood up and hurled that lazy pineapple into the arena. Damn, she was proud of herself today!

Naruto was tempted to shift back to her more comfortable form. She planned to do so - brought extra belts, wore some bandages under her shirt to be safe since she'd have to discard her jacket to be able to fight Sasuke without drowning. She was tempted but the likes of Kiba and Ino sapped her courage. She reasoned she's putting it off only for dramatic effect.

Luckily, before she could spiral into an internal brawl Sakura-chan spoke up"So where's your new sensei, anyway?"

"He's not my new sensei! Just a… temporary solution to make up for having less time, y'know!"

"Uhuh, still - you'd think he'd show up to see your fight. That jutsu was his, wasn't it?"

A slight blush, "Well… he did teach me a few neat tricks but uhhh… I honestly dunno what he's up to."

"Being nasty I guess."

Didn't he say something about the creepy snake? "Yeah…"

Naruto noticed Sakura stare at her hands. What did Sasuke teach them? Think, think. In a crude attempt, Naruto tried her best to mimic Uchiha police hand-signs - Secret, Important. Given she earned a nod and a serious expression, it probably worked.

The two quickly changed subject to complain about petty things, gossip about Kakashi-sensei and the pervy-sage and invent wild theories about how the two must have met. Oh, and of course whenever the resident sloth made a move - they cheered a genuine support even if they had zero clue what he was up to.

It looked like he was winning.

Chapter Text

Uzumaki Naruto

Just like it was the mark of a good friend to kick the other's butt over the railing as encouragement, so was hopping off into the arena to yell at Shikamaru for being a lazy dumbass - or so Naruto told herself. It was too late, of course, for motivation to change the outcome but damn if she wouldn't feel guilty if she let Shikamaru off so easily! How could he let a suna-nin get into the semi finals?! It should have been the three of them - her, Sasuke and Shikamaru! Pride of Konoha! Talent, endurance and brains!

For some reason, she had a feeling Shikamaru wasn't paying any attention and that just made her rant at him some more until Toothpicks had had enough and split them apart.

Tick. Tock.

Tick. Tock.

Shit. She needs to distract Toothpicks until Sasuke arrives! But how? And why? Was Kakashi-sensei rubbing off on him? Did Kakashi forget the hour again? Was she going to become like the perverted-sage too?! The mere idea horrified Naruto and froze her in her tracks.

Nara Shikamaru

Somehow, Naruto became even more troublesome than he could have ever imagined. What even was up with the boy? Did Sakura drug him? Did he even care? He just wanted a good afternoon's sleep and instead he had to peel a hyperactive blonde away from Sasuke before Genma had him disqualified for interference.

Ah sweet silence, he'll just. . . stop and rest right here. A little uncomfortable, these stairs, but quiet and far from troublesome crowds. Shikamaru closed his eyes, ready to return to the nap that idiot oh-so-rudely forced him up from. It was a nice dream too, of an uneventful life in a quiet corner of Konoha. Mhmm, if he focused a little he could bring it right back. Why were there loud blondes yelling at him in his dream?

What a drag. No, he was not going to go up to the stands. No, he was not going to cheer for Sasuke. Why would he even do that? Did Naruto hit his head a bit too hard in that fight against Neji? Or maybe did it use up too much of his brain cells coming up with that diversion? Where even did the class clown even learn to fight like that?

Sannin sounded like trouble. Hm. Trouble. That sand nin, Gaara also smelled like trouble. What was it he told him and Naruto yesterday? What a creep. Dangerous too, trying to assassinate Lee at the hospital.

…

Fuck.

Haruno Sakura

So that's where Naruto has been all along. He seemed pretty worked up about something. Did his cut get infected? Was he feverish? She wanted to watch Sasuke fight, but. . . She made her resolution, she'll take care of Naruto first. Her approach seemed to calm her comrade down and that sent a flare of suspicious through her spine. Was he trying to steal her attention away for something childish?! No, stop thinking like that. He's changed, she's no idea how or why but she was certain he wouldn't do that anymore.

Were those… Uchiha symbols again? Danger? Discuss? They'll need Kakashi for this. Getting him over was easy enough and nobody would bat an eye at her doing so either. At best, she was his student; at worst, she was known to be love-struck with Sasuke and she wanted answers. Either way, it worked on all fronts.

Involving Shikamaru in their little discussion felt weird though. Sure, he's Naruto's friend but he's not exactly part of the team. Ah well, he's still a Konoha-nin.

Sasuke-kun. She barely maintained the facade of genin reunion when Shikamaru told them that Sasuke's competitor tried to murder bushy-brows. Sure, he was annoying but he didn't deserve that! If he did that to his opponents, then. . .

She was going to faint. There was more? A Jinchuriki?!

Hatake Kakashi

Playing bait with his own genin made his stomach turn. It was too much of a mirror.
He wanted to refuse, to demand genin be left out of this, to use him instead,
But the council did not budge. This was their best bet to spring the trap
their enemies thought they were unaware of.
A year ago, he'd have seen reason in the plan
He had changed.
But was it
enough?

To his surprise, they caught on. He imagined Jiraiya-sama had informed Naruto
But as Sakura wasn't deemed vital, the council spared her innocence.
It was her who had come to him.
Not alone of course, with Naruto and Shikamaru in tow. Teamwork.
Were it but a C-rank mission, his heart would have swollen with pride.
With what Naruto told him though,
things were escalating to a solid S.
A nightmare.

Of all his students, it wasn't Naruto he expected to demand he intervene, to back out.
Something stirred between the two boys, he saw it. It was a weakness
that would compromise missions according to old wisdom,
but Minato-sensei would've approved it.
Bonds are where strength lie
But still, even if he was from a new generation of Shinobi there were certain truths
that he had yet to pass down to his precious students. Trust in your comrades.
Trust their power. Trust their competence. Over-eager protectiveness
may just be what may tear them
away.

There wasn't a single day he lived without regret.

Haruno Sakura

She did not like it. She hated it. She joined to be Shinobi to be near Sasuke, to do some simple missions and make her parents proud. Oh, she will surely achieve the last goal if they didn't die of a heart-attack first. Counter-insurgency?! Them? Genin?! What was wrong with this village's leadership? They knew an attack was imminent and they kept on with the exams?!

It all made sense now. It all made sense why Kakashi-sensei had assigned her to Kurenai-sense's instruction. Why she was driven like an ox to learn mass genjutsu to calm crowds of people. Why her temporary mentor had instructed her to bring so many medical supplies. She thought it was in case Naruto's demon got out of control. She thought it was to help her teammates after their fights.

She didn't feel ready. Not now. Not later. Not ever. She wanted to punch someone, to blame someone. But it wasn't Naruto's fault this time and Kakashi-sense was clearly hurting when he told them it was the council's decision. Surely Naruto learning Gaara was a Jinchuriki like him was reason enough to call for evacuation!

But in the end, it didn't matter.

A shrill cry echoed through the stadium that left her paralysed with fear. Was this genjutsu? Her chakra network was unaffected other than the adrenaline making things fuzzier.

Blood.

An explosion. Dust. Chaos.

A sign - go!

More of that monstrous howl - what was happening down in the stadium?! She had to go and help her teammates!

A cry of terror. The audience!

A shinobi must make choices without regrets.
A shinobi must trust their teammates more than they trust themselves.

She had her duty to evacuate the civilians.
To protect them no matter the cost.
It didn't matter if she was ready.
Such was the life of a shinobi.

Nara Shikamaru

Why must everyone tell him things last minute?! Why can't they just leave him be,
take their crazy bullshit, pick it up and dunno, do it somewhere else?! He was tired. He was spent.
He dealt with troublesome blondes from morning through day through evening. It was unfair.
It was a drag.
And yet he followed orders, yet he risked his life for reasons he didn't understand.
Why the fuck was there a giant raccoon made of sand?! And what the hell was up with the giant frog?!
Didn't Naruto summon one to beat Neji? Was that his? Now he understood why Asuma-sensei smoked.
Right. Naruto and Sasuke got things handled. He hoped.
Best help Sakura. Poor girl, was just like him. If she wasn't so crazy and crushing on Sasuke.. .
Behind her. A grasp of shadow and a kunai from the pinkette to finish the job.
Could have probably spared that kid that sight but no matter. Better alive than otherwise.
Why must crowds of people fail to listen to basic orders?! He didn't want to raise his voice.
He did. Sakura helped. Where even were the ANBU? Wasn't this their job?
Ah. That explains. Whatever the hokage was up to with that weird wall of his, they'd better hurry.
He was getting tired. Even with the pills Sakura gave him, he was getting tired.
But they were making progress, into the under-ways. Into the underpass.
Away from those giant snakes and giant toads. Away from the giant sand-raccoon.
Soon they'll be able to rest.

Haruno Sakura

She had taken a life.
and unlike when
she was protecting Naruto and Sasuke in the forest,
she couldn't deny it no matter how hard she tried.
A cry of pain following her traps being sprung could never compare to the impact her kunai made.

She wanted to cry, to collapse in a heap and give in to blissful sleep.
She wanted to live. These people, children relied on her to live.
On her, Shikamaru and she was certain, on the rest of her comrades.
She had to appear calm. The genjutsu won't work if she too were panicking.

They found shelter. It was safe.
She saved her tears.
The pain was far away now.
She could cry at last.

Uchiha Sasuke

"Leave everything to me: Naruto uzumaki!"

She did it. Where his will faltered, where temptation
to give in and break his word to Kakashi-sensei,
Naruto stepped up and saved his humanity.
She did that, and oh so much more.
From where did she gain such power?
Was it the Kyuubi, or was it something else?

A giant toad the size of a mountain.
It followed her commands, no
worked with her as a team.
Never in his life could he imagine such.
Could together they finally stand a chance against his bastard-brother?

Another time. Another day.
His team was more important. She was too important.
Idiot, she pushed herself too far to protect them all.
Clown, making him carry her like a princess.
If she were awake, would she protest?
The thought gave him pause, a pang of disappointment.
She stank of blood and sweat, of dirt and leaves.
Bruises all across her body, that ugly jacket ripped.
Tomahto, Tomayto.
She made him happy either way.

Hatake Kakashi

The village, his comrades dead. It had been some time Sarutobi-sama had him leave the ANBU,
and yet he still remembered their faces. He still remembered their missions together.
If not for these bonds he shouldn't have formed,
victory would have tasted all the sweeter.
All those lives sacrificed,
for the snake to slither
away.

Sarutobi-Sama too gave his life. Even with his ANBU, the Sannin proved too much.
It was a disaster. Were the risks his genin took worth this prize?
Were the risks the stadium attendees faced worth it?
To think the Hokage's word meant so little,
To think the council could interfere. ..
He'd rather not
dwell.

Underneath the underneath he wandered, winding tunnels, false starts.
No news of his precious children, no ill nor good reached his ears.
Oh he had heard of Naruto - it was hard not to with that display,
But few gave due credit. Jiraiya? Nonsense. It was his student
that summoned Gamabunta and saved the day.
He wondered, will he find them all together?
Or were they scattered, bruised and beaten?
Or did mirrors shatter
And once more,
He was alone.

There they were, in the shelter.
Naruto still passed out in Sasuke's arms,
Sakura pale, eyes puffy and red,
Shikamaru with a cigarette he forgot to light.
Huddled in a heap, bruised and beaten
But victorious.

Hatake Kakashi, man of little likes and many dislikes,
embraced his children in a hug long overdue.

Chapter Text

Uzumaki Naruto

Naruto hated the smell of bleach. For Sasuke, Sakura-chan or Kakashi-sensei she would have been willing to endure; even for bushy-brow or Hinata-chan, she'd suck it up to be there for them. However, when it came to her health? Hell no! It's not like it made any difference if she was home or at the hospital - those nurses never lifted a hand unless Grandpa was there to yell at them. Plus, she was fine! Kyuubi had already closed all her wounds and she can sort out chakra exhaustion herself, thank you very much!

In hindsight, she should have just left through the front door.

"H-hi Iruka-sensei."

Iruka sensei looked angry. Worried, angry and confused. He looked like he cared.

"Just needed some fresh air and slipped. Don't worry about it!"

Iruka raised his voice, "Don't worry about it?!" then promptly moderated himself as a bedroom light came on. The admonishments turned to a hiss, "You just flew two stories with crutches in hand! What if you broke something?!"

"I'm a shino-"

"A shinobi as dry as a prune! You need chakra to soften the fall, idiot!"

Naruto just groaned. She was fine! Sure, her knees wobbled when she stood and her vision may have been a little blurry but that's more because of it was in the middle of the night, trust her. She didn't need Iruka-sensei's arms propping her up. She still welcomed it without protests.

Iruka-sensei's voice softened, "Just promise me you won't do that again."

"You know I can't."

Before her sensei could argue, she interrupted with less resolution than she had hoped, "If I'm gonna be Hokage, I gotta act the way."

. . . Why did that make Iruka-sensei cry?

"Idiot" said Sasuke the next morning as he hoisted her arm over his shoulder despite her protests. "You made us worry enough as is."

"You know I hate hospitals."

At that, Sasuke stared off into the distance with a sigh, "Should have told us."

And Sakura interjected, "Yeah! Worst case one of us could have taken you home ourselves! I'm sure Kakashi-sensei had a spare room, or if not my parents wouldn't have minded."

The warmth from their words felt distant, as if an oven had separated them. Still, it was there and it made talking easy despite the aches, "Where even is Kakashi-sensei?"

Iruka-sensei, her impromptu caretaker for the night, replied, "He left before it started raining. Guess he needed some time alone before the masses arrived."

She felt a tickle of hair on her cheeks. Warmth in the frigid down pour, a whisper, "What's with that look?"

Blonde brows furrowed and the only answer Sasuke got as they hobbled their way to the memorial was an elegantly concise, "huh?"

"Kakashi will met us there, don't worry - he won't disappear on us."

"It's not that. It's when Iruka sensei said…"

A look of understanding, and a nod, "The memorial won't go anywhere. We can visit tomorrow again."

A one armed hug, undeniable.

Sasuke did not pull away. Granted, to do so would have meant dropping her.

Iruka had left them. She understood - Konohamaru needed him more than she did. She knew, she emphatized and she felt ashamed. He was like family! No, he was family! He was supposed to stay with her, to see her grow. To congratulate her for passing the exams. To congratulate her for making jonin. To be the one who passed the seat onto her with a proud smile. And she wanted to be by his side when he had no more paperwork as an excuse. To go fishing like old times without stupid ANBU and stupid elders stepping in to drag him away for their stupid frivolous meetings and reports. She wanted him to see her as she really was.

It was dumb! It was unbecoming! She was being selfish again! Why was she like this? Why did everything have to be around her? If grandpa knew of these thoughts he'd be disappointed.

She couldn't stop them.

A familiar pain throbbed from her ring finger.
An acrid taste in her mouth.

Haruno Sakura

After she waved down Kakashi-sensei, they promptly left the ceremony and retreated to his place. It was . . . humble, cosy if she were being generous. She watched Sasuke sit Naruto down on their sensei's bed while the two of them to hunt for stools to sit on and whatever leftovers they could re-heat.

After the invasion, dinner with her parents had helped. Not as much as when she was a little girl and had gotten into fights with Ino and ran home in tears. It was not for the lack of trying but something was different. She spoke of what happened - at least that which she was allowed to tell them - and they listened. They listened, they nodded but . . . they did not understand.

Upon realising the awful diet her sensei had followed, she insisted they make something fresh. Together. To her surprise, he eagerly agreed and the two of them got to work. Somehow between their preparations they got to talking. Innocent things at first like the first exam with under Ibiki-sama. It was trite, they'd already given their report on the exams yet Kakashi-sensei urged her to continue.

So she did, chopping leeks and tomato with uncanny precision as more and more words were exchanged. Did it matter that the veggie cubes were exactly one centimetre across exactly? She wasn't sure exactly. She wasn't sure either when their conversation had wandered to their impromptu mission. It came easily, too easily.

Before she could dwell on things too long, the topic had changed once more. It was absurd, it was bizarre and yet talking about all the new pranks Naruto will be doing with his army of toads earnt her sensei a fit of giggles. Her tomato slices were all misshapen. Kakashi-sensei insisted it was fine.

Uchiha Sasuke

Naruto finally moved, finally spoke, finally smiled
It was but a moment and then like a spark
trying to catch upon wet kindling
it vanished.

Seeing it fade, Sasuke felt something shift within him.
With reluctance, he let go of her with a promise to return and stepped to assist his comrades with the dinner. A salad of some sort with thick dressing he was almost certain had too much sugar added.
An urge to protest
No, he'll be fine. Naruto liked it when things were sweet. It was the only way she'd ever eat vegetables anyway.

For the longest time, Team seven wished to see what lay beneath Kakashi's mask.
When it finally happened there was no fanfare, no screaming clowns or giggling fangirls.
It was no less meaningful.

At first, they ate in silence.
Their first meal together since
the exams started. Since his own hospitalisation. Since the invasion.
However, sounds that reminded him of a gentler time soon filled the room and upon hearing Naruto begin to share tales of her time with the Hokage, Sasuke found himself join in.

He had few tales with the old man. By the time Sasuke joined fates with Naruto he was too old to ever see him as anything but a stranger. A kind stranger whose attempts at friendship he rejected with anger.
Like he rejected everything since that day
But he had other tales to share under some gentle prompting from their sensei. Talk of his own parents? He didn't understand why but if it helped his comrades, his tomato then so be it even if it hurt.
He avoided speaking of the scum. He wasn't family. He wasn't worth the pain.

However, the others? His father he could share little about. Mostly regrets, mostly laments that he'll never see his approval. Mom though came easier, she always spoke fondly of her days as a kunoichi before retirement and those tales he gladly shared.

Come think of it, wasn't there a girl on his mom's team with hair like Naruto's when she transformed? He'll have to ask her when they're alone.

Despite knowing his comrade's deepest secrets, despite her trusting him over and over again, despite fighting side by side for so long now - she remained confusing. What was it about this clown whose company he tried to burn back in the academy that made him act like this? She didn't need his protection. Nobody who could stand toe to toe with a tailed beast needed protection from the likes of him.

Why was it that touching her shoulder even when she appeared a boy didn't make him recoil in memory of his brother doing the same? Why did the smell of wet hair not dissuade him from leaning in to whisper?

Shinobi should trust their teammates more than themselves, yet he kept his voice low and words vague, "Is it regret?"

A nod ever so subtle, he'd have missed it if he wasn't looking.

Perhaps it was because they were so alike.

Without her, he feared who he'd have become. It was time to pay his debts.

"Kakashi? Sakura?"

He had their attention. He felt Naruto tense beside him.

"When we go back tomorrow, I need you to promise me something." a pause, "Especially you, Sakura - please be patient, look beneath the underneath."

Of course, they were confused. It was not his place to elaborate and he felt awkward enough already as is.

Those sky blue eyes made all discomfort worth bearing.

Chapter Text

It was with being awoken by gentle prodding that the next day started. Still early, still no sunlight through curtains over the lonely window. It looked like a kitchen, and for some reason she was sharing room with Sakura-chan? But why the kitchen then? Everything about yesterday felt like a distant blur, as if someone else had lived it in her stead.

Sakura-chan's brows furrowed. Was something worrying her? She looked sad, then frustrated before reaching out. Instinctively, Naruto raised her arms to protect from one of her comrade's iconic pummelings but her limbs felt sluggish, as if she were underwater.

Her words finally stopped being a weird buzz, "Naruto?! I know it's early but we need to go."

Through the fog, she began to slowly piece things together. The invasion, black clothes on Sakura-chan and herself and… Kakashi-sensei? If he's here then. . .

Her words came out slurred, "'ming! Zhust… Needh a mhoment."

She hated how she sounded.

Trying to stand was a challenge on its own even with her Sensei and Sakura-chan stepping in to offer support until she could gather her crutches. At least the world stopped spinning once she gulped down the ration pill Kakashi-sensei offered.

Sasuke joined their private procession once outside, casting an unreadable glance her way before taking vanguard a fair distance ahead. There was no need for formations in their village, it was safe - right? Wordlessly, she looked towards Kakashi-sensei who just gave a shrug and took up position on her left flank on the rear. In case she fell, probably.

They would have marched quietly to the memorial if not for Naruto speaking up, "You know Kakashi sensei?"

"Mh?"

"Now that our roles are reversed, I should have you three compete to show which of you can learn uh…."

"Mhhhhh?"

"Uhhhhh."

"Mhhhhhhhhhh?"

She didn't think that far, "How to make the best ramen, y'know!".
She could swear she got a chuckle out of Kakashi

"You hurt me Naruto-kun, equating my teachings to petty cooking…"

"It's not petty y'know! You always go on and on about teamwork. Knowing how to cook for your comrades is a skill that Grandpa would have approved of, y'know!"

"Is this how children say thanks these days? My…."

After puffing up her cheeks, Naruto could swear she had heard her precious teammates laugh at her mockery.

The barest hint of orange licked at the memorial by the time they had arrived. It was covered in white flowers, still glistening with dew and perhaps yesterday's storm. Like Naruto, team Seven stood at a distance. Were they also struggling? They seemed to handle things so much better yesterday. Was it because it wasn't raining today, because there was nothing to hide their own grief?

Sakura broke off at last, returning not long after with the customary flowers they would have laid had Naruto not drew them away so selfishly. She really couldn't help making everything be about herself, could she? Always the attention-seeker. Always the….

She felt pressure all around. Blue eyes with the barest hint of a predator's slit flit about and try as they might, they found no danger. Pressure was safety. It smelled familiar. A sharp pain in her left hand, throbbing and slick. Gentle breeze? Words?

Right. One breath, another. She was a shinobi, this was unbecoming. One breath, another. Exhale. Pressure, breeze and sound. Pain, fading. Her chakra felt unusual. Wait, chakra?

She was being hugged. She was at the memorial. Sakura-chan was hugging her. Sakura-chan looked worried. Kakashi-sensei was looking at Sakura-chan. Sasuke was looking away. It all looked as if behind frosted glass. It felt like there was cotton in her ears.

Word. She recognised them "We're here for you" and the world suddenly became louder, her comrades' features sharper.

As if on cue, her sensei left them and moved to the memorial and lingered there. Was he speaking? Just barely, Naruto could make out smatterings of words. Apologies. Names. She wasn't sure if they were names, she wasn't sure if she was supposed to over-hear it all.

After exchanging a look with Sasuke following Kakashi moving over to the side, Sakura left as well. There were no words spoken, at least none she could make out and yet she lingered just as long.

There she was, a selfish bitch again. Why should Sakura-chan justify how long she took? Why-

Sasuke hugged her all of a sudden, his words soft "Don't blame yourself."

She moved to protest but a finger silenced her, "No." and he left it at that with a grimace, his eyes looking away. Was he ashamed of her?"

When he finally spoke, it was pain "I'm not good at this, Naruto. I don't know what to say to you. I don't know what's on your mind and I don't have a solution."

"I just know…" and it was her turn to shush him, wrapping the Last Uchiha in a hug that buried her head in his neck. It felt right. She expected others to laugh, to mock but nothing came.

"We've lost everyone" admitted Naruto at last.

"Not everyone. We still have each other. The team, you."

"Force you all to come again. Forced you all to-"

"No. We're a team."

"But I'm-"

"Am I selfish?"

She held on a while longer. He smelled nice.

"Ask me any other day and I'll say yes."

"Idiot."

Her team was waiting on her.

It was time.

It was too late.

"Hey, old-man hokage." . . . "Grandpa."

"I hope . . . I hope Mom and Dad will make you something delicious when you join them. You told me of grandma sometimes. She must have missed you."

A laugh escaped her mouth, nervous. Inappropriate, "I'm really a brat trying to keep you two apart for my sake, huh? Am I… selfish for thinking you'd worry about me? Because you don't need to, y'know."

It was difficult to breathe. She continued, "I promised you after all! I'll wear your silly hat, and not just because twas raining y'know! I'll make everyone like you made me feel, y'know! I'll protect them, y'know! I'll… Y'know."

"I just… Wish you'd be there, y'know. Was a lot I wanted to tell you, y'know. Was gonna tell you, y'know but they didn't let me. I know why. War. Keeping your family safe. Keeping me safe. I understand, y'know."

"Still hurts. I knew you, but you never knew me. Not fully. Like - you did know me but y'know. Not the same."

"Feels so stupid, making this… be all about myself. I'm… really a selfish brat, y'know."

"But… I dunno how it all works. Will you see me always? Will you see us all? Will you be watching? Don't want to risk it y'know."

"Don't want you think I got hurt, died or something y'know. Want you to know. To know it's still me. Just… happy, y'know?"

It was stupid. It was reckless. Kakashi was going to yell at her for using Jutsu when so near exhaustion. It didn't matter - she's the jinchuriki and it's the demon fox's chakra that she used. Mangy bastard owed her this for taking her parents away. For not making her strong enough to save Grandpa.

It never stopped her before.

It felt worse than ever before. She tasted blood on her lips - it was the only way not to scream in pain. The only way to not make the others worry.

"It's still me, Grandpa."

Standing felt so much harder.

"Same name."

Everything was shaking.She'll still make them worry.

"Same dreams. "

They'll understand.

When did it become night?

Idiot.

Chapter Text

A sharp smell. Disgusting. She couldn't breathe. A coughing fit. Get it away! Naruto began to wave her arms around ineffectively, trying to slap whatever offending material was making her feel so awful. Finally, she could breathe. It hurt to breathe. A thousand senbon in her arms protested against further movement.

Flesh. Meat. Fabric. It tasted awful! A finger? It was tempting to bite, she was starving. Hands on her throat. An urge to cough and she swallowed. Immediately, the strange blur ahead of her took the shape of Kakashi-sensei looking at her. His mouth moved beneath that stupid mask, but like last time it was nothing but a distant whine.

It felt like an eternity.

Laughing hurt. It still felt appropriate, "H-hey." her throat burned, her voice hoarse. It will not stop her - a ninja's life is to endure, "Sorry for making you worry."

Kakashi-sensei relaxed at last, "See? Naruto's fine."

She followed her sensei's gaze. It didn't look like a hospital. Looked like his home, bowls off to the side. Sakura-chan and Sasuke in the doorway. Scared. They seemed to relax when she met their gaze, Sasuke more than Sakura-chan.

More pills. Moving felt easier, so she fed herself. Invisible senbon tingled with each movement. It tasted like spinach.

Her sensei sighed, "Don't make that face, it's just field rations." After a few moments, "How do you feel?"

It still hurt to speak, "Like Choji caught me with his ball jutsu."

"Imagine so. The Nine tails?"

Confused, Naruto asked "What about that mutt?"

All she got was a deadpan look.

She wanted to cross her arms under her chest. She decided to let the arms hang after the tingling turned into fire. "The seal is fine. I just needed a little boost, y'know."

Kakashi's voice turned serious, "I'm putting you on leave starting today. No chakra use until you're fully recovered." His expression however was impossible to read, "That includes transformation jutsu."

Red brows knit together. It hurt to move, but she needed to see. Hair? Check. There weren't any- she grabbed Kakashi's hand and stared at the metal plate on the back of his glove. Satisfied, she dropped the arm and took a few moments to let the burning settle.

"Wasn't planning on using it again, y'know."

He looked concerned, "Sure about that?"

"Like I love Ramen sure, believe-" she coughed, it wasn't any easier and she could taste saltwater on her lips. She could feel a hand atop her head and a familiar sigh,

"I believe you." Almost like a switch was flipped, Kakashi-sensei stood and whine, "My…. My ducklings really are the worst. Please promise me Sakura-chan you'll behave at least?"

Sasuke snapped, "What? Sakura? What about me? I don't do anything weird either!"

Kakashi-sensei was clearly having too much fun,"Really now? Weren't you the one who was encouraging her? Or was it something else you whispered in her ears~"

But Naruto didn't mind. It hurt like fuck and she wasn't sure if the rations gave her indigestion, but she didn't mind.

Sasuke was turning into a tomato as well by now, "That's… None of your business! I mean I just… I told her what you told us! Teamwork and trust and all that!"

"Uhuh."

"Fuck you mean uhuh?!"

Sakura-chan just kept repeating 'her?'. It made the freshly-minted girl's shoulders tense until she noticed Kakashi had kept up his verbal sparring with Sasuke. The two continued back and forth in more and more childish exchanges until they left the room, leaving the newly minted girl giggling. It hurt.

While Kakashi-sensei's behaviour confused poor Naruto, Sakura just made her feel awkward. It wasn't the good kind of awkward that Sasuke caused, more one that made her question if. . .

She opted to take after Kakashi-sensei, "Think Gai-sensei took part in their training?"

It snapped Sakura-chan out of it at least, "Huh?"

"Like - Kakashi-sensei's acting just like he did when bushy-brow's sensei showed up and. . .

"And they ran off shouting about youth."

"Mhm! Think Sasuke will start wearing green next week?"

It earned a passing smile before her comrade tensed again, "Feels like anything could happen nowadays…"

"Imagine that, a duck's butt for hair and a garden for eyebrows!"

There it was, the smile but it faded again,

Naruto just took a deep breath and sunk into her chair. How could Kakashi-sensei keep this up? It's exhausting.

Still in the doorway, Sakura-chan just stood and kept on staring.

"It's still me y'know."

"But you're-"

"A girl?"

Sakura recoiled a little. Naruto didn't mean to let her frustration show. Sasuke did overhear her talk with Haku. Oh kami, was she going to have to explain everything from scratch again?!

"Sakura-chan?"

"So it's…"

"No, it's not a prank."

"But you'd-"

She didn't let Sakura finish, she felt ashamed enough, "I was afraid."

"Of what?"

"This."

That shut her up.

Anger swelled,it eased the pain. "You'd punch me. You'd call me a pervert. You'd-"

"I wouldn't!"

"Because Sasuke made you promise!"

"No!"

"Then why?"

"I didn't know."

"And if you knew? What would you have done?"

Naruto felt her throat constrict. Tears. She made Sakura-chan cry.

Despite that, the Sakura-chan wrapped her in a hug. The same hug she offered at dawn. The same hug when she woke up on the bridge, in the forest, the same hug when she proved her survival in the shelter. "I was an idiot okay! You saw… "

She felt herself return the gesture, her hands struggling to reach past her oversized sleeves to rub along her comrade's spine, "You and Ino."

Between sobs, she sounded her agreement.

"You're… not gonna…"

"Only if you steal Sasuke."

. . . Why did that make her stiffen.

"Just kidding. Idiot."

She didn't mean it, "I hate you"

That earned a punch to her shoulder, if you could call it that, "Hate you too."
After a pause, Sakura finally let her curiosity show, "So why the new hair?"

"Well, you see I thought it was because of my mom and then…"

It was well into noon when the other half of their team returned. It gave plenty of time for the two kunoichi to talk. Mostly Naruto, Sakura listened. Tales of of orphanage, of a misplaced dress and cruel children; tales of a distant pain she grew used to until her little invention for the exams; Sasuke catching her and Haku and being there. Sakura listened despite everything Naruto had imagined. Oh she showed hints of fury before restraining herself over learning just how much earlier Sasuke knew of it all.

All this talk reminded Naruto of something. Channelling her fox chakra always brought with it changes - a sharper nose, better ears, claws to render and kill, fangs to consume. She never realised, at least not consciously.

She had to ask, "Kakashi-sensei?"

His face was flushed. As was Sasukes, "Yes, Naru-chan~?"

That took Naruto out of her plotting, "Pervy-sage put you up to it?"

That same old sly smile, "I just thought it sounds fitting."

Naruto remained sceptical, two can play this game! "You really do love dogs, right Kakashi-sensei?"

Waffling his hands, he just laughed, "My-my, is it that obvious? I only summon Pakkun when the occasion calls for it. Maybe I should do it more often. You seem like a dog-type of girl."

Sakura intervened, "What even is that supposed to mean?"

Their sensei remained jovial, "Just feel like foxes and cats, devious as both are, wouldn't get along nearly as well."

Sakura-chan was unconvinced. Of course she would catch on, she's pretty smart!

Soon, their sensei returned to his normal demeanour and not-so-gently yanked Sasuke into his dining room as well. "Now that's settled - I have an announcement to make."

In perfect unison, the three just sounded confused "Huh?"

Clearing his throat, he explained "Due to your stalwart service in defence of the village, Team seven is exempt from being drafted to aid in reconstruction efforts despite being ranked genin. Given what transpired, I'm extending Naruto's status to all of you - no training, no missions for at least a week. Rest. You did well."

Before they could relax, he promptly added "Oh and Naru-chan~? Get yourself some new clothes. I won't stand my genin dressed like you did while training with Jiraiya-sama!"

Chapter Text

Naruto couldn't understand Kakashi-sensei's problem. Sure, the pants were baggy and she needed ninja wire to avoid them falling off. Sure, the pants legs kept rolling free but now that she has time, she'll just sew it back on like when she was smaller and first bought the outfit. Maybe a new jacket? It was annoying to have it dangling uselessly at her waist like that.

Shikamaru snapped through the closed door, "Can you hurry it up loser? I got things to do."

Yeah, staring at clouds, thought Naruto as she grabbed her crutches just in case and ambled over open the door.

Shikamaru stopped himself from tossing the package at the redhead, "where… The fuck is Naruto?" He stared for a few moments before suddenly looking more official and respectable, "I'm sorry miss, but this package is meant only for Naruto's hands only."

Even though she knew it wasn't Shikamaru's fault, Naruto snapped back, "Dumbass, I was having a nice dream so gimme already!"

Parrying the weirdo's attempts at snatching the package, Shikamaru just sighed and mumbled and grumbled and stared. He stared until he finally noted the awful, ill-fitting orange pants and jacket, those ridiculous whiskers and the worn out forehead protector on verge of falling apart from abuse. His voice sharpened in annoyance as he tossed the package at the girl "Idiot, everyone knows you don't have a girlfriend so drop that ridiculous illusion."

The building shuddered as Naruto slammed the door in Shikamaru's face, "Piss off loser!" Right. Package! Forgetting her whiny friend immediately, Naruto tore at the delivery. Aha! Money! Wait, money? She pinched herself, she wasn't dreaming.

The doorbell rang again. She wasn't in the mood to deal with it. It rang again, and again, and again.

"What do you want?"

"I want to get on with my day. Just sign this."

She nodded, taking the clipboard and just before she signed it her head ached under the phantom pains of the pervy-sage whacking her. Right. Read things. Payment for mission? A rank? When did she go on an A-rank mission? Well, it didn't look like anything suspicious so she left her scrawl on the bottom.

Handing it back, she couldn't help but inquire, "What's with the postman gig? Being ninja was too troublesome?"

"It's a D-rank. Rather this than construction work."

"Didn't you get a week off?"

"huh?"

"Guess Kakashi-sensei isn't so bad after all" laughed Naruto, wrapping fingers behind her head. "Team Seven got Leave for our service during the invasion. Although, weren't you with us? Could swear you were with Sakura-chan in the tunnels…"

"Yeah, and so were Choji and Ino." Naruto didn't like that smirk, "I think your Kakashi-sensei is just sparing your feelings because of that."

She followed his gaze. Ah, the crutches! "Nonsense! He would never go easy on us for my sake, y'know! We did an A-rank before the exams after all, believe it!"

"Whatever."

"Thanks for keeping her safe y'know."

"Just did my job, troublesome as it was. Not like I did a lot."

"Moral support, heh."

"Could say that."

Going back to sleep was not working. For one, Shikamaru's antics had made her forget what her dream was about. For two, that fat lump of cash she received meant she could replace those stupid ration pills she was prescribed with delicious, fresh premium ramen. Now, getting up these stairs with her comrades help was much easier than descending but such trivialities never stopped Naruto. Grandpa definitely wouldn't approve of her shirking away from challenges, after all.

It was the first time she used her chosen form to wander through the streets and Naruto could not help but feel strangers staring at her. She was no stranger to the disgust and hatred in her fellow villagers' eyes yet that familiarity did nothing to ease her discomfort. She made no effort to hide who she was, in fact she was just about screaming it to the whole world with her outfit! For a moment, she wondered if that was a mistake - what if they thought it was a prank? What if they thought she was a pervert?

If there was one upside to critical chakra-exhaustion, it was that the pain made it difficult to think. On the flip-side, stopping what felt like every hundred steps so that she could feel her feet again made her doubt if it was worth it. She shouldn't have skipped the ration pill after all…

A familiar, high pitched voice accompanied a hand on Naruto's shoulders, "E-excuse me, miss. Are you feeling unwell? Sho-should I. . ."

Following a violent shake of her head that whipped her hair around unexpectedly, Naruto snapped from her reverie. Spitting hair from her mouth, she forced a chuckle, "No-no! I'm fine Hinata-chan, believe it! Just a little . . . tired, is all, y'know?"

Pale white eyes widened in shock and for a moment Naruto felt Hinata might end up needing these crutches more than she does. She waved a hand in front of the bluenette's face and when that had no effect she proceeded to grab her shoulders and begin giving her a gentle shake, "Hinata-chan? Are you okay? You're scaring me."

Kiba soon joined them, "What's happening here?" and of course, Akamaru yapped in unison.

Okay. This is bad. Demon fox is manhandling the Hyuga-heiress. Fuck. Naruto had to run or find an excuse or-

"N-naruto-kun?"

She chose to play it all casual, "That's me! No need to worry Hinata-chan! I just went a little too far, y'know."

Hinata just went back to her stunned silence, just staring and blinking. Naruto could swear she saw veins bulge by her eyes.

She could also swear a mutt was smelling her, "Hey! Personal space, idiot!"

Kiba rubbed his nose after Naruto hit him, growling and flashing his teeth before looking over at Hinata and relaxing, "You do smell like Naruto. You also smell-"

Naruto threw her hands up, "Like a girl, duh!" and promptly regretted it.

Fortunately, Hinata snapped out of it just in time to catch the collapsing shinobi. Stupid crutches.

Shoving her supports back under her armpits, Naruto offered Hinata a grateful smile, "Thanks Hinata-chan." and after a moment's impulsivity, added "You really shouldn't wear that jacket in the summer. You're going to get a heat-stroke! You're looking all red."

"N-no! It's okay! I'm okay! But Uhm. Tha-thanks for your uhm… For your errr…"

"… I think you broke her."

"Eh? How?"

"Just look at her."

Right. Heat-stroke. Naruto began digging beneath her jacket, producing a small canteen and offered it to Hinata like Kakashi-sensei instructed, "Here. Should cool you down Hinata-chan!"

That earned some obnoxious snickers from Kiba which Naruto promptly rewarded by whacking him in the knee with her crutch.

That turned the snickers into an annoyed growl, "You're lucky you're wounded!"

Sticking her tongue out, Naruto taunted "Not like I couldn't beat you like this, dead-last!"

Before Naruto's hands could leave her crutch for round two with the mutt, she felt Hinata grab her arm and place a hand on Kiba's chest, "Stop it you two!"

Seeing Kiba back-off, Naruto promptly followed. "Ahem."

"Hrmf."

Then they stood there until loud growls and an accompanying vertigo reminded Naruto of her initial goal, "R-Right! It's been fun catching up with y'all but I gotta go, y'know?"

"I… I don't think you should be walking around like this, N-naruto-kun!"

"What? I'll be fine! I'm just getting ramen, y'know? Just haven't eaten yet, that's all."

"But… it's almost lunchtime. Did you sleep in, loser?"

"N-naruto-kun's injured! She… He.."

"She." quipped Naruto, trying to her best to sound casual.

"She must have been prescribed bed-rest, kiba-kun!"

Staring at her, Kiba finally relented, "Fine. What's another idiot to babysit."

"Hey, I don't need your-"

"Naruto-kun!"

It took all of her restraint to not smack Kiba again after he started laughing.

Walking and talking at the same time proved too challenging. Rather, Naruto pushed herself to the limit and didn't stop a single time on the way to Ichiraku Ramen to prevent giving Kiba any more opportunities to mock her. Climbing onto her favourite stool, she slumped and then collapsed entirely onto the counter.

The clatter of crutches prompted Teuchi to fill a bowl without question and shove it in front of his changed, but still favourite customer, "Eat up Naruto! This one's on the house!"

Condensed field Ration pills? Chakra Stimulants? Why did anyone bother with those disgusting balls of medicine? Ramen could do it all, and do it better! The redhead rose from her torpor, reanimated and vigorous and immediately dug right into the bowl. It wasn't lady like. She didn't care. She's a ninja, after all!

After some time, Kiba admitted,"You really are Naruto, huh?"

"Duh. What did you think?"

Rubbing his neck, he looked away and mumbled "Was hoping you were his sister"

Naruto just sighed and went to order her second bowl, "Hey, Hinata-chan. How's your recovery going?"

Hinata looked around, as if she'd have forgotten where she was or how she got there before turning a shade of pink once more, "Oh! I'm almost good to go! Tha-thank you for asking uh…, is Naruto-chan okay?"

It did feel okay. More than okay! "You're the best, Hinata-chan!" naruto declared a little too loudly, a little too eagerly judging by the other patrons staring daggers at her. Screw them.

"Wh-what about you? I uhm. What happened to you? Like - is it from the exams? I uhm, heard you had a fight with Neji-Sama."

"Oh, yeah. Gave his ass a beating, believe it!" . . . "But nah, it's from the invasion."

"Invasion? I didn't see you helping in the evacuations. Did rubble fall on top of you?"

She stared at Kiba. She wanted to wipe the smirk off his face but she couldn't do that to Old man Teuchi, nor Ayame-chan, nor Hinata-chan. Taking a moment to calm down with help from her second bowl, she finally responded, "No, Sasuke and I were assigned to deal with Gaara."

Kiba soon sputtered, turning as pale as Hinata "That… monster? You? Why?"

Naruto shrugged, "We're similar. Plus, you saw me beat Neji, right?"

"Some kind of… summoning jutsu?"

"Mhm! Chief-toad helped big time with the fight, y'know."

"But that's the summoning of one of the sannin!"

"I know! Pervy-sage taught me, believe it!"

"What?!"

"Jealous?"

"Is that why you look like that?"

Naruto, of course, knew what Kiba was referring to. She chose to keep playing casual, "Of course, such a giant toad took all my chakra to summon and I've hit exhaustion." there were more to it of course, but S-class secret remains an S-class secret.

Kiba's hands shot to his chest, fingers cupping what may have been breasts if he were a woman. It honestly looked ridiculous, "No, like - are you bribing him? How did you… Like.. Do you have to-"

At that, two things happened simultaneously. Behind her, Naruto heard a soft thud and clatter of a precious bowl of ramen being wasted as Hinata-chan departed from this world. Ahead, Ayame-chan's ladle smacked Kiba across the face with a loud metallic gong. She just sat there, shocked and stunned in utter silence.

Kiba tried to protest,"It's Naruto! Why would I ne-" but Ayame-chan grabbing his ear soon, pulling, tugging and whispering into it with a terrifying expression Naruto would have expected to find on someone like Anko, not sweet Ayame made her increasingly concerned for Kiba's fate.

Finally let go, the mutt moved to nurse his ear and mutter annoyedly. After some time, he mumbled an apology, "Sorry for that but… I still don't get it. Why?"

She really wasn't going to avoid it despite her sensei's advice, will she? Why can't everyone be cool like Hinata-chan or Sasuke? Shikamaru didn't pry either. Well, she's not going to repeat herself so she poked and prodded the unconscious Hinata until she rose from her comfortable ramen-pillow. Did she hit herself? Her nose seemed bloody. . .

Naruto took her time dabbing her friend's face clean of blood, noodles and broth before sighing at Kiba, "Because it feels right, y'know? Feels like me. Like I know it should feel wrong, heard it all, believe it! Don't care. Tired of lying. Don't wanna run out of time like with…"

She inhaled. She's a ninja. Just because she's officially a girl (right, she has to take care of paperwork), crying in public was shameful. Thumb into the side of her palm. It stung, but it worked like always, "Don't wanna run out of time like with Grandpa-Hokage."

She felt Hinata-chan hug her. She welcomed the gesture. Kiba also spoke, his apology sounding actually genuine this time. If he could understand, sky's the limit, right?

After some more bowls consumed in companionable silence, Kiba finally spoke, "Don't think I'll treat you any different just because you're a girl."

"Don't want it any different. I can still kick your ass after all!"

"Heh."

Chapter Text

Naruto had lived a good life. She saved her friends, protected her home as a Hokage should and will die as her real self rather than a lie. Ever since their mission to the Land of Waves, she understood this will be one day her grim reality. What she never expected though was for it to happen in her apartment, while wearing pyjamas and pushed into the corner with nowhere to run.

Sakura-chan was pissed, "So let me get this straight. Not only did you run away from the hospital and make us all worry about you needlessly; not only did you mould chakra despite the doctors' recommendations and make Sasuke freak out; but the moment we take our eyes off you, you refuse to take your medicine and go outside dressed in rags despite Kakashi-sensei being very clear about what you were going to do first thing!"

"What's the big deal, anyway? It's just field rations! Isn't a hot meal better than a disgusting food pill, y'know? It's delicious and nutritious, I'm telling you!"

Sakura already knew the answer, "Were you not listening at the Academy? To Kakashi-sensei?!" and let out a frustrated groan, "Like, fine! I won't expect you to know everything because you didn't attend as a kunoichi but Kakashi-sensei has been drilling us day and night on basic first aid for the exams. You could have paid attention to him at least!"

Blue eyes flit about the tiny bedroom, looking for any avenue, any possibility of escape. No, that won't work - that needed chakra. Nope, not the mop either. Dammit, civilians had it hard!

Despite herself, Sakura-chan resisted the urge to smack Naruto, "Are you listening, dumbass?!"

"Oh, uh… yeah! A combat-ready shinobi must maintain a healthy, varied diet to keep their physical chakra in balance, mhm!"

"No! The body seeks equilibrium, and for someone like you" she said, roughly poking Naruto in the belly right where her seal was, "with monstrous chakra reserves, reaching equilibrium means your body is going to eat itself!"

"Uhuh."

"Just eat the stupid pill and stop complaining. I don't care if you're eating ten bowls of ramen for breakfast, you're also taking the pill."

"Uhuh."

"Am I clear?!"

Terrified, Naruto conceded meekly, "Y-yes ma'am!"

Sakura finally retreated, "Good girl" before burying her head in her hands with a muffled scream.

It looks like her survival hinged on consuming poison. It was bitter, it was awful. It tasted like dried moths crushed into a ball of mouldy cheese. As overwhelming as the urge was to spit it out, Naruto couldn't deny that it did make her limbs stop tingling immediately.

It seemed the coast was clear at long last so Naruto tried to softly pad her way off to the kitchen to wash that awful taste down. Much to her gratitude, Sakura-chan did not stop her. These near-death experiences were getting far too much!

Despite taking her sweet time in the kitchen, Naruto found that Sakura-chan still remained in her home filing through bottles, wrappings and pill boxes. She really wasn't taking any chances, was she? Perhaps if Naruto stayed quiet, perhaps if she had capitalised on her now ever so slightly smaller size, perhaps if she were not Naruto - she could have snuck past, out into the streets and avoided all else that was to come.

Unfortunately, despite all that had changed - she was Naruto alright. Unable to stifle her curiosity, she blurted out, "Sakura-chan, what'cha doing?"

Sakura-chan didn't break concentration as she replied, "Making sure even someone with the attention span of a goldfish will not get confused in how to administer their own medicine. I can-"

"I'm not a goldfish!

"You dress like one. Oh! And don't think you're off-the-hook."

Perhaps if she played dumb, she can still salvage the situation, "Eh?"

"Kakashi-sensei's words. Orders." with one last click to secure the final pill box, Sakura turned to Naruto expectantly, "Did you hit your head that hard fighting Gaara? Get dressed already, tch!"

Despite her academy days, despite the way she graduated using that stupid variation of this jutsu, despite using it to defeat Grandpa . . . Naruto just stood there, cheeks soon matching her new hair colour and eyes rapidly swapping between Sakura-chan and a nearby doorway.

"Look, Naruto-", Sakura softened her voice. Much as she could, at least, "We're going to be going on missions together. You're a kunoichi-in-body now, that means you and I will be sticking together; standing guard and all that. Think of me like you did Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke-kun, mhrm?"

Naruto knew Sakura was right, even if her advice could have used a better example. Luckily, she couldn't be blushing any deeper as is so she had hoped Sakura-chan wouldn't pick up on it. And yet, changing from her pyjamas to the familiar boaty sandals, baggy pants, shirt and jacket around her waist she couldn't shake the feeling that her teammate was giving her some very disapproving looks.

"See Sakura-chan? It's fine, y'know! I even sewed the cuffs back last night so I don't step on them, I'm telling you!"

"We'll really need to start at the beginning, won't we?" sighed Sakura, dropping her head in defeat, "Right, let's get going."

"Sakura-chan, you… don't have to do this, y'know? I can take care of myself, believe it!"

She didn't answer and just wordlessly went and grabbed Naruto by her wrist. When she turned away, perhaps thinking Naruto couldn't see, annoyed expression melted away into melancholy. It reminded her of Sasuke after the bell-test.

In the commercial districts, it was easy to forget that a mere few days ago there were giant snakes, toads and shinobi battling out it to the death. While academy students - including Naruto and Sakura back in the day - lamented the long walk for new tools, supplies, they couldn't help but appreciate the clean separation of civilian and ninja housing and facilities. They, Team Seven, Grandpa and the others have made a real difference.

Their journey began with a visit to the pharmacy whose purpose and extent Sakura had refused to elaborate on, merely instructing the new girl to see about attending the academy one of these days and request the nurses to provide the 'mandatory remedial lessons for kunoichi'. Any and all attempts to inspect the backpack after they'd left were promptly rebuffed with scolding, raised voices and far too vague explanations citing 'decency' and other similarly pointless things.

Fortunately, things soon transitioned to more familiar territory. At least, if you could call shops you'd only seen in magazines you'd scavenged from inconspicuous places familiar. Oh, Naruto did try to visit on the rare occasions she had free time with Kakashi-sensei's training regiment after she had made her choice, but having been afraid to transform without confirmation yet . . . suffice to say operation: undergarment had led to a disaster of traumatic proportions.

Luckily, Sakura-chan agreed to avoid using Naruto's name during the visits to the different stores, not even showing a hint of anger upon learning the cause of such an unusual request given the knucklehead ninja's normally loud nature. She definitely wasn't going to escort Naruto for such needs in the future, but she could live with handling the shop staff for the poor girl's first legitimate visit.

While Naruto's recovery had progressed at an exceptional rate, there were still times the pair had to stop and pause or bring out the crutches to make the final leg of a particular visit. As such, time passed quickly and although the two had shared lunch Sakura-chan had prepared, with shadows growing longer came the loud growls of hunger. Dutifully, Naruto popped one of those disgusting pills and looked pleadingly to her teammate.

"There's a dumpling stall I used to visit. . ." Sakura conceded before trailing off wistfully, "But I'm not showing up there with you looking like that."

"Eh? Already got new shoes, see-y'know?"

"You look like a vagrant!" she snapped before calming back down, "People don't say anything because you're injured and there was a big fight. However, surely you've been noticing their stares?"

"They always stare at me, Sakura-chan." replied Naruto without her usual fire, "Y'know it."

She fumbled, "Yes, but uh - they… Erm." barely stopping, frowning and reaching over to give Naruto's shoulder a hug, "You know how I told you how everyone made fun of me for my forehead, yes?"

"Your forehead is fine! It's kinda pretty, y'know - I mean, don'-"

"Calm down naruto! I'm not going to hit you, tch." Inhaling loudly, Sakura paused for effect, "Not anymore. At least, not unless you do something stupid and it's the only way to stop you from…"

"Right, right I get it! Sorry." Naruto forced her smile to seem larger than it was, she didn't like the look of pity her teammate was giving her. Stupid crutches!

It seemed to work as Sakura returned the smile and poked Naruto in the chest "Anyway, just because people stare at you is no reason to hide!"

Cheeks red as her hair, Naruto crossed her arms protectively over her torso, "Wh-what are you talking about?!"

"You're a girl, right?"

"Y-yes?"

"You were afraid I was going to call you a pervert, right?"

"Yes…"

"Look around you. Look at me! You don't have to dress like Ino or that sand girl but like-" she gestured vaguely, "Don't hide for others' sake. It's not like you."

Before Naruto could protest or invent justifications for her baggy clothes, she found herself scrambling to protect her poor hair from that evil woman. Why couldn't she have kept her old height?! Kakashi-sensei really was bad influence!

The pair had settled on going all-in after a little convincing. They were off-duty, Naruto especially, and while Shinobi must always be ready to answer musters - hiding a few kunai and shuriken under civilian clothes was a basic kunoichi skill. On the flip-side, Naruto had a lot to catch up on. Solution - yukata!

Anyone who met Naruto knew she wasn't much for formal wear. She had funeral clothes, alright, but for everything else she showed up in the same old ragged orange outfit ever-since she had the independence to buy her own clothes. Anyone who met Naruto outside of her precious teammates also thought she was a boy.

With how quickly she hopped between displays and racks, one would have thought she had made full recovery already.

It was only on Sakura-chan's advice she slowed down and resorted to a more methodical, logic-driven approach. Ignore the garish colours, ignore the patterns and decorations, grab a set of plain white kimono and yukata and try them on until she found her size.

Even with that, it would have taken forever if not for Sakura's intervention, "Here - try this Naruto. You just about come up to my forehead so-"

Sakura-chan couldn't finish as a very annoyed looking old hag ambushed them in an instant staring daggers at the two kunoichi. Naruto could feel her inspect her orange outfit and whiskers with a familiar hatred in her gaze.

"What is that wretched demon doing in my shop?! Good miss, you should know foxes are tricksters and trying to trick you! It's a boy, see?" crowed the old bat, her hand shooting for Naruto's hair, not even stopping to heed the crutches tumbling to the floor as she began to pull violently.

It hurt. It really h-

As quickly as the pain came, it faded as blood splattered across the displays and the shocked Naruto. She looked to its source - Sakura-chan's fist planted firmly in the hag's nose, flattening it rather terribly.

Without speaking a word, Sakura grabbed her teammate, making sure not to forget the crutches, and evacuated the premises. It was technically assault, after all.

They did not stop until the two had almost crossed whole the district in silence.

Still huffing, guilt in her voice, Sakura explained, "Sorry about that. We'll go somewhere else. I'll pay. Won't accept no. Can trust them, shop often."

True to her word, things had gone far smoother upon their second visit even if it meant trading formal wear for something a bit more… A bit too…

From outside the changing room, Sakura cheered "C'mon Naruto. This place's safe plus didn't you beat Neji and Gaara? Just be yourself!"

Well, be herself she was. She'd never worn something so short outside of an onsen and at home. No, Oiroke No Jutsu doesn't count - that was not her. This however? The girl with the frazzled red hair kept out of her blue eyes by Iruka's worn forehead protector standing in the mirror, wearing a mini-yukata stopping just above her knees with the barest hint of safety-shorts peeking out from beneath the hem? It was her in flesh and blood and the stark orange no sensible teenage girl would be caught dead wearing made it all the harder to deny. She didn't hate it.

She liked it. Sakura-chan's words rang in her ears, her encouragement and assurance and yet each time she looked to the curtains the all-too-fresh memory of the hag filled her with an all-too-familiar doubt.

"Hey, girl! Stop stalling, I called your name and nothing bad happened so come on out, lemme see you, tch!"

It . . . went alright. Sakura-chan just smiled her approval, didn't hit her, the shopkeeper didn't demand she dispel the trickery either. She just stood there awkwardly, wobbling in absence of her crutches.

"There you go. I'll never excuse your taste in colours, but I like the little swirls. You look cute."

Perhaps it was her lingering infirmity making her light-headed, but in truth - Naruto was not used to such emotions.

It was no different to Kakashi-sensei making them train on top of a steaming hot spring to incentivize faster development. It was no different to braving an A-rank mission. It was in fact pitiful, inconsequential, childish, selfish spoiled and oh-so many things compared to the fact that they were almost guaranteed to be chunin after their service during the invasion. That however made no difference to Naruto right now sitting at a dango shop picking at her dumplings like a scared little girl trying her best to disappear, her knees pressed together for fear of the short yukata failing her.

Perhaps to encourage her, or just to indulge in being a normal girl for one short afternoon, Sakura-chan had bought a similar (but dark pink!) mini-yukata for herself as well and sat there with nary a concern or worry in the world. She really seemed to enjoy these dumplings, it was honestly infectious!

Alas, Ino's voice interrupted Naruto's attempts at gratitude, "Hey, billboard-brows! What's the occasion?"

Anxiety over the skin she was showing, the girlish patterns and more and more things promptly resurfaced and the redhead did her best to avoid drawing attention. She was used to being a demon but this was different.

"Hey, ino-pig. Just enjoying my week off, that's all."

"Week off? Whatfor? Unfair!"

That whining piqued Naruto's curiosity and she leant back a little to see past Sakura-chan. Mortar, dust, and small debris covered Ino's usual purple outfit.

"Exemplary service in protection of the village", recited Sakura tapping her forehead protector hanging off her neck, tongue teasing the blonde with a raspberry.

"Eh? You? I haven't even seen you until the end huddled up with that lazy idiot, the loser and Sasuke-kun."

Pride gave way to a certain annoyed edge, "That's because we were busy top-side, tch."

To Naruto's surprise, Ino didn't keep taunting, "Ah, evacuation top-side? That sounds…"

"Dangerous, yeah." Sakura quickly finished for Ino, inhaling sharply, "I'd… rather not go into detail, please."

Like the blonde had heard that before, she glanced away and nodded, "I'll buy you a bowl of Anmitsu, unless your new girlfriend has you covered already?"

Shit! Her curiosity got her spotted. She was just about ready to sound tactical retreat when she felt Sakura tug on her oversized sleeves with a smile.

"Actually I'm buying for her today. Got really beat up and could use a little pampering."

Realisation dawned on Ino seeing the crutches and the headband, "Oh! Huh! Right! I'll err, I'll invite her too then."

Cleaning her skewer of the last syrupy dumpling, Naruto offered a nervous smile, "'preciate it, y'kn-" catching herself last minute, she corrected "Thanks."

Suspicious blue eyes stared past Sakura before returning to the restaurant staff and flagging down three orders of sweet fruity jelly goodness.

"So where'd you leave the fatty and the sloth?"

Ino snorted with a giggle, "You know he'd kill you if he heard you say that" before staring past Sakura again, "Could ask the same about you. You three really stick together like glue these days, so what gives?"

"Kakashi-sensei didn't get the leave-of-duty we were given and is busy taking care of security in light of the recent breach; Sasuke-kun is being a weirdo like usual and. . . "

"Naruto's playing dress-up?"

In unison, the two kunoichi just let out a confused gasp

"… You really didn't expect to hide your chakra from a Yamanaka, did you?" she admonished, even wagging her finger for extra effect, "Honestly pretty impressive, but it's kinda hard not to recognise Naruto with her…. y'know."

Well, seeing as she had nowhere to hide now Naruto piped up, "Not like I'm trying to hide exactly."

"You looked like you were trying to disappear to me!"

"It's these stupid clothes! Feels like they're gonna fall off if I'm not careful, y'know."

As Naruto had expected, there was all of a sudden plenty of room for the whole rookie nine to come and dine. At least the staff didn't seem to mind. They were paying well after all.

"Psh, first-timer. Why wear them then?"

Sakura interjected, "Ino! Leave her be! If you undo our progress I'm sending you to the moon, tch!"

"Sakura-chan! There's no need to risk you-"

"Shut up, dumbass. Are you and Sasuke any less friends for beating each other bloody?"

"No, but y'know-"

"No buts."

Ino was looking far too amused, "So it's her now?"

"Technically always been y'know just-"

"Ah," Ino just shrugged, "So you're like them. You still go by Naruto?"

Rather than answer, Naruto just gaped in shock, "J-just like that?"

"I'll take that as a yes." seeing she wasn't getting any further reactions, she snorted, "Close your mouths unless you want Shino to get angry at you for eating his precious bugs. Twice you forget you're dealing with a Yamanaka! Sheesh!"

Fortunately, Ino left them alone after they finished their afternoon meal. It was a blessing because with those two witches, getting reasonable outfits for training and missions may well have been impossible. Even with just Sakura-chan, it took some heart-to-heart convincing that no, Naruto will not give up her beloved orange jackets and no, it wasn't because she was afraid of being called a pervert or was shy about her modest curves.

It was just because it was her signature style, and becoming Hokage requires being well-known and easily recognised by her fellow shinobi and villagers even if, for now, that meant hate. Sakura had no way to deny that, but she still forced some concessions from the new girl - loose black pants with an orange stripe ending just below the knees, a form-fitting undershirt with fishnet sleeves and neckline and an orange jacket that had too much black with a sleek collar that reached just past her hips.. Like before, Naruto didn't hate it. Okay, maybe she did like it. In a way, it reminded her of Hinata-chan.

"Sakura-chan, " Naruto called before her comrade could slip away down the stairwell, "Really appreciate your help, y'know. You're the best, believe it!"

To her surprise, a hint of guilt flashed before Sakura returned her smile, "Don't worry about it, Naru-chan. See you around?"

Naruto chose not to press the issue and yet, "Mhm! If you ever need me, I'll be there, I'm telling you."

A quick, firm hug was Sakura's response before tentatively letting go and wordlessly retreating. Using a shunshin was overkill, sheesh!

Closing her front door behind herself, Naruto dumping the scrolls containing their cargo carelessly, and flopped onto her bed with a sigh of contentment and a little bit of exhaustion.

Chapter Text

Paperwork, Naruto found herself forced to concede, was still better than sitting around at home unable to practice. Sure, spending time with her friends was fun but even Sakura-chan had resumed training by now. It would be selfish to demand entertainment day after day after day. It was surprisingly tough deciding how she was going to go about her visit to the Hokage's office, the yukata barely winning out. If she was to be barred from training, she might as well benefit!

Habit had the girl try and stomp her way into the Hokage's personal office, any hints at decorum or protocol quite far from her mind.

Huh? Who was this weird bandaged weirdo? Before she could get any answers, a kunai pointed at her throat by a strangely familiar jonin soon snapped her right back into reality.

"Toothpicks?!" she shrieked in surprise as she dodged back and away.

Genma raised a brow and shot one glance to his fellow guardsman before peering intently at the strange whiskered redhead with a worn and torn Konoha protector hanging off her neck. Like he didn't just try to stab someone, he casually warned, "My apologies miss, but strangers are not permitted on this floor."

"I ain't a stranger, y'know!" snapped Naruto, crossing her arms with a scowl, "I'm here on official shinobi business, I'm telling you!"

She could swear the bastard was hiding a smirk as he replied, "If that's the case then you would know basic protocol."

"You know Gran- Hokage-sama never forced me to abide by 'protocol', dam-" and like a kick from Bushy-brows, it hit her. Silence followed her loud outburst and to her gratitude neither of her interrogators forced her to hurry up. She wasn't crying - shinobi do not let their emotions show on a mission after all - but she still appreciated the gesture.

After some time and a deep breath, she straightened herself and thumbed to her backpack silently. Once she received a nod from Toothpicks, she took it off and began to dig inside to produce a far too thick folder for something so trivial. If not for Sakura-chan and Ino, she'd have never got it done.

Presenting it to Genma, she quietly let slip "Hard to believe he's gone, y'know."

His reply as he took it with a sigh surprised her, "Been through it before kid. Doesn't make it any easier." Rather respectfully, he made no comment to its contents beyond a few sounds of acknowledgement. Only after he returned it, assured that it wasn't a sealed explosive, did he remark, "And here I thought this was gonna be another of your stupid pranks, kid. Guess you did mature somewhat, if in strange directions."

"Mhrm" mumbled Naruto as she stowed it under her armpit, the weird compliment helped little to return her fire, "I was planning to leave it on his desk, but I'm guessing things are different?"

"For now, at least. Lord Third's advisors are convening on appointing his worthy successor but it's a pretty slow and involved process you understand." Chewing on his senbon for a while, he finally suggested, "With the Jonin Commander preoccupied, given the nature of your request, I advise you to seek out the clan council hall and leave your file for consideration by Yamanaka Inoichi under appeals to the intelligence division and as Nara Shikaku's team member."

After some pleasantries, Naruto hurriedly departed to get this needlessly convoluted business done before evening. If Ino's dad can handle this, why did she have to come to the tower? It's not even like she were changing her name, just crossing one box instead of the other and submitting a new photo! When she becomes hokage, this will be one of the first things she'll revolutionise!

Drained from standing many long hours in line and inane clerks and paperwork, Naruto barely noticed the wooden clacks growing louder and more excited behind her as she left the tower. In sharp contrast, her ears rang from pervy-sage yelling her name for all to hear, his grubby hands making a mess of her morning efforts. Perhaps, if she remained still and ignored him…

"Oh come now, Naru-chan, is this the way t treat your dear old mentor? Mhrm? Mhrm?"

Finally, distracted by his own theatrics, Naruto took the opportunity and slipped out from his grasp and shot the giant toad of a man one sharp glare, "If you behaved like a normal person, maybe I would treat you better old man, y'know?!"

As if it didn't even stick, "Oh come now! I'm just happy you're up and walking again, and my - not just walking, but like this!"

In hindsight, she should've just ran, "Yes-yes, made my decision. Made it official." Instead, she planted one firm kick right on top of the pervy-sage's toes as he tried to give her hug. For a moment, she wished she listened to Ino's advice to try heeled sandals. Oh well, it still worked!

Jiraiya began hopping on one foot, mumbling and crying deliriously, "Why did she have to take after you, oh Kushi-chan…"

Naruto promptly forgot about her attempts to look cool and proud for defeating a sannin and asked all-too-quickly and from far too close for comfort, "Whatdidyousay?"

The toad sage stared at her blue eyes in what seemed like genuine confusion that turned blatantly fake with exaggerated waffling, "Oh Naru-chan, nothing at all! Just force of habit, y'know?"

Her eyes twitched and she grabbed his haori threateningly, "Oi, geezer! Don't think me stupid!" Wait, was it working? Was she actually making him feel terrified? What's with his eyes? What is this pervert plotting this time? Wait, is he smiling now?

He kept on laughing and wafting air in her face with his right hand wobbling up and down, "Oh, Naru-chan! You know how it is! I'm tired and old. Now, it's not the first time I called a lady by the wrong name. She reacted much like you did, mhm!"

That gave her pause. He wasn't terrified of her after all, but she couldn't see anyone else nearby beyond the crowd of onlookers. Her curiosity piqued, she gave him one nod that could be easily misinterpreted for a death-glare. Raising her fist, "Stay put or Kakashi-sensei won't be happy with you!" she sent the geezer into Konoha's pavement.

Maybe she over did it. Well, gotta sell the act, no?

Kakashi-sensei told her no training for a week. He never defined whether that included the weekend and after a few hours waiting, she was bored and maybe a little annoyed. Plus, it'd be a waste of perfectly good training grounds to just sit there all alone like some sunflower. At worst, It was good practice to try and find ways to quickly draw her weapons while in a dress. Surely he'd understand.

"A bit sloppy", croaked a nearby tree

Naruto went to collect her weapons and stow them on her convenient shorts, "Just like your timing, y'know."

Even in the soft grass of the third training ground, those geta made Jiraiya's landing loud as ever, "Oh come now, have you ever had to deal with a flock of angry villagers full of misguided vengeance?"

"Told you that if you stopped acting like a geezer, it wouldn't happen."

"Psh. Forgetting my lessons so soon?" his smile faded ever so slightly to something more genuine.

Naruto just sighed and went to sit down against the old memorial. Now was not the time for lessons, and angrily she snapped at Jiraiya "Does everyone in this stupid village except me know about them?"

To his credit, he stopped posing like an idiot and eased down to her level, "Hopefully only those of us who wish you the best."

Naruto noticed the smallest crease in his features, a slight hesitation. She frowned, tucking her knees to her chest, "Sounds like your hope was misplaced."

For a moment, he looked just like Kakashi-sensei when she and Sasuke sparred, a sort of concerned pride. "There are a few people who would prefer you never learn." he sounded it, too.

"Grandpa promised me the records would be unsealed when I'm chunin."

"Things have changed, kid. Sarutobi-sensei did his best -"

This time, Naruto did not reject the pervy-sage's hand upon her head.

"Trust me, I wish I could tell you. There's a lot of things you deserve to know, but it's much too dangerous. Can't until things settle down somewhat, can't until some . . . relics of the first great war are put back where they belong."

"Were these… few people near us when you said-"

"-Careful with questions, kid."

That about confirms it. She pursed her lips, glancing down. How did the pervy-sage come up with all this so easily? "Now that I've submitted a request to make things official, think people will… uh… stop throwing me out of shops when I'm . . . Uhm … visiting on my own?" she asked in an awkward, uncertain voice.

After flashing only the briefest of smiles at her, her sensei's expression turned concerned and distant. "Imagine not much will change. Not like you show off your I.D all the time? Although, some people might see it during processing and start spreading rumours and…" he wobbled his palm in the air.

With a sigh, Naruto dropped her chin onto her knees "Sounds like Sakura-chan has to be my escort until people get used to it."

The two of them remained by the memorial for some time, sharing stories of the exam - of how Naruto used an appearance of clumsiness and clones to fool the Hyuga in plain sight and mark him for Gama to break his arm, of how Gamabunta helped against Gaara after he almost caught Sasuke after a missed chidori. Tales were soon accompanied by a pair of cold cups of ramen as the toad sage took over to speak of his own battles against the giant snakes that flattened the academy during the invasion.

Even with summer still at its peak, growing shadows called Jiraiya away leaving Naruto on her own. With no reason to linger, worries filled his absence on her way home. She took a different path and even that did not make that strange itch at the back of her mind stop annoying her so she opted to keep going, have some dinner at Ichiraku's. She was probably hungry after all, it was a long day.

As she approached her home once again, uneased washed over her. She was surely imagining things, but has she ever been wrong? Sakura-chan and Sasuke made fun of her for the rabbit and…

It took some effort to go against her gut and keep walking as if she hadn't noticed. Entering did not necessarily meant staying. Old pranks, escape routes she set up welcomed her with open arms. Amateurish, but also unexpected. If only she knew of shadow clones when ANBU chased her for the monument…

She wondered where to go - Kakashi-sense was the obvious choice but he was away on a mission. Pervy-sage too was busy with his old war relics, whatever those were. Sakura-chan's parents were civilians and while Naruto had hoped she was just over-reacting, the fact that she and Sasuke were used as bait during the Exams gave her conviction to leave them out of this. Whatever this was.

Sasuke lived alone and for whatever reason she recalled even Kakashi-sensei avoided the place when he followed her as a Hound. She couldn't understand why - did they really believe this place was haunted? This place, this lake, these dummies had always made her feel at ease despite the eerie rumours. Even now, that gnawing feeling faded into memory as she trudged through ancient paths, rough and broken by gnarled roots seeking sunlight that had long faded.

As she crossed the outer gates into the compound, she heard rustle amongst the leaves. In a smooth motion, she drew and launched one of her kunai at its source and promptly sighed in awkward relief. It was a poor birdie, cawing even more loudly as it fled from the canopy. She called for the crow to come back, apologising but it rightfully had none of it as it flew off to the west.

Forging onward, she traced a winding path between the smaller buildings that Sasuke showed her when she first visited, its purpose finally clicking in her mind after he refused her questions. There was something about the obvious main walkway at night that made even her skin crawl despite her familiarity with the place. Traps, perhaps?

At last, she reached the manor, smacked a bell and hurried on over hoping her comrade was a light sleeper. Following an unsettling surge of chakra beneath her feet after she crossed the steps, the manor's door finally slid ever so slightly ajar and then . . . nothing.

Try as she might to peer within the estate, all that welcomed Naruto was an oppressive inky darkness.

Frustrated, she called out while waving her fist at the dark crevice, "Come on you bastard, you're not Kakashi-sensei to be acting all dramatic-like on me!"

The door promptly slid shut. A moment later and the queer feeling beneath her feet returned before it too faded, leaving her all alone on the porch. It was cold and the day had strained her still recovering body. Still, she had to remain alert on the off-chance superstitions failed. Footsteps. She beat Neji, she can do thi-

"Wrong door, tomato" greeted Sasuke with a snort, "What even are you doing out here this late? I'm trying to sleep."

With a sharp breath she held too long, Naruto relaxed, letting the hem of her yukata drop to cover her holster again. As she crossed her arms, she made sure her left hand never disappeared from view as she wiggled her fingers like a pair of running feet before resting her palm flatly over her heart. "Idiot, don't go sneaking up on me like that!" she yelled at him while doing all this, "I almost threw a kunai at you."

"As if." Sasuke's eyes followed her hands thankfully as he bickered in turn, "Were you out training way too late again? Kakashi said you should be taking it easy."

"And let you get a head-start on me? Never!" the wobble that followed was not too difficult to fake, given her condition.

Sasuke turned, motioning for her to follow him, "Whatever."

After what felt like a pointless circle around the servants' shed, Naruto was pretty confident she had the right door after all and Sasuke was just pulling her leg, but for once she chose not to air her frustrations.

Tracing his fingers along unseen patterns on sliding door behind them, Sasuke failed to stifle a yawn, "So what's going on? You said you've got pursuers but there's no sign of anyone anywhere near the compound."

"People avoid this place, y'know" explained Naruto as she went to rest atop the shelf of a nearby hatstand, the burning in her muscles finally too much to ignore.

Sasuke made no comment on her misuse of his clan's furniture and just nodded in understanding. After scanning her methodically from afar, he prompted, "Any numbers, identities?"

Naruto crossed her arms over her stomach, "Nothing certain. Just that . . ." and bit her lips.

"It's just the two of us." he reassured gently.

Glancing to the sealed doorway, she almost whispered, "Something to do with my parents."

"Did you break into the archives again?" for a moment, Sasuke relaxed until her eyes told him otherwise.

Averting his gaze, Naruto just pleaded "Can I just… stay the night? On your couch or something?"

"We're a team," and pressed on after she nodded in understanding, "But if you tell me what's going on maybe I could help?"

"Whole reason I'm in this stupid mess is my mouth… I don't want you to get dragged into things any more than you already are."

Scoffing, Sasuke approached her, "Naruto," and after grabbing her shoulder with firm reassurance, "My body moved on its own, remember?"

She did remember, his touch making her smile despite the mess her day had turned into, "Just so you know, I don't want to lose you either, y'know." Finally, she met his black eyes and just lingered, swallowing.

With an awkward cough, Sasuke let go and motioned for her to follow. Once she couldn't see his face, he promised, "I'm not dying until I've avenged my family. Don't worry about me."

His voice was far too abrupt.

As she stood and ambled after him, she wanted to ask - and after? - but instead chose to bite her tongue.

"Here", Sasuke finally broke the awkward silence that followed by gently laying a boxed meal in front of Naruto.

For all the wealth one would expect of a major clan in Konoha, even considering the Massacre, Sasuke's estate was functional in the same gentle way Naruto heard her home described - that is to say, severely lacking in comfort. As such, it made sense they convened in the kitchen where neutral seating was a given and Naruto was very grateful to finally stop straining.

She was less grateful about the food. Sure, it was nutritious - can't argue with that - but it could've used more flavour, more variety than dry chicken, rice and salad. She supposed the occasional tomato made it look just a bit more cheerful with its tart sweetness.

After Sasuke saw her finish, he joined her across the table. "Hope it was enjoyable." he asked, his gaze still avoiding hers.

"It was filling, but a bit more spice wouldn't hurt, y'know." and after a beat, she quickly added, "Thank you all the same."

He just waved dismissively at her, "Back on track, how acute is the situation?"

Naruto began, "Don't exactly got a lot to work with." and frowned, looking down to her lap and watcher her fingers play and dance, "During daytime, it seemed fine. I learnt my mom's name and despite the old geezer's worries, I didn't notice anyone following me to our meeting later that day. Only after our meeting as it got dark did I notice people following me."

"Could it have been him? Making sure you're safe?"

Naruto shook her head, "No, it's different. Remember when I chatted with Kakashi-sensei about dogs?" following his nod, she continued, "When ANBU used to follow me around as a kid, I felt a little weird after I started noticing them but never afraid. This time, it felt like when we ran into Orochimaru."

"Him, then?"

"No, someone that was afraid of Grandpa."

"And now that he's gone…"

"Yeah."

"And also, for some reason, afraid of the Uchiha despite it being just me and some old traps that barely work."

"Lucky us."

"It's something to work with" Sasuke finally looked at her, and just as quickly averted his gaze. What was up with him? "Right, we should get some sleep. I'll loan you some camping supplies and you can uh, pick any of the rooms that aren't sealed away. Couch would just hinder your recovery"

Despite the severity of it all, Sasuke's awkwardness brought a smile to her lips "You really should be more careful how you word things, I'm telling you." Was she a bad guest? She could always blame sleep deprivation.

It just made him stand with a clatter and march purposefully out and away"I'm getting the, uhm, things." once outside the kitchen, he snapped "Idiot, I expect you to use common sense!"

Chapter Text

Joining Sasuke for breakfast, first thing Naruto saw upon entering was her teammate huddled over yet another boxed meal which he picked at with lethargic urgency. Casually making herself at home, she scanned the fridge for anything edible and was met with nothing but rows upon rows of empty boxes with labels corresponding to three meals for each day of the week. That is, each day sans this morning and lunch. With her choice already made for her, she grabbed dinner.

Sasuke followed her around with baggy eyes, wincing as she closed the cupboard and once more when she joined him on the same side of the table. Wordlessly, he went back to his 'lunchfast'.

Naruto hadn't seen him like this ever before. Even on survival exercises and their mission to the Land of the Waves, he seemed far more alert in the mornings. She did recall a few times he seemed especially distant at the academy, but that was six years ago Ever diplomatic, she bluntly stated, "You look like shit."

He winced again, this time due to her voice. For a moment, it looked as if he tried to ignore her before sighing, "I'm fine."

Naruto rolled her eyes and started her own meal. To her surprise, it was not dry chicken but instead an understated sauce of red beans with a pungent garlicky flavour fried with onions and peppers into a large serving of rice. With how pitiful and green her teammate's box looked like, she pushed it towards him with an unspoken offer to switch.

"It's morning." he refused, as if that had explained anything. Noticing her confusion, he continued in a groggy voice, "It would make me sluggish. Eat it, you need to recover and I need to be ready."

With a shrug, she resumed her portion and by some miracle emptied the box despite starting later and eating more. Need to be ready, he said. More quietly than her first attempt, she gently nudged Sasuke, "You're already pretty sluggish y'know. Did you stay up all night standing watch?"

Sasuke snapped at her, "Don't-" then sighed, rubbing his eyes into his palms, "No, I slept. Place is trapped, remember?"

Although she was anything but convinced, she decided to be useful and gave Sasuke some space by taking care of last night's and this morning's dishes as he finished up. Maybe her presence was making him eat so slowly? Surely not. He did seem unusually jumpy, could it be the curse mark? Can't be. Much as the pervy-sage gave her the creeps, she had to admit he knew what he was doing with Fuinjutsu.

He finally joined her by the sink, focusing on his hands and the dirt and grime beneath the water. "If you're worried, no - I'm not like this usually."

That confirmed it. It was risky, even if he did the same for her and so, after he cut the tap off, she offered her comrade but a single arm whose touch he could reject without effort. When she felt him petrify in a flash, Naruto gently let go and mumbled apologetically, "Sorry, I just-"

To her surprise, Sasuke buckled against her, "I promise you, I- I'm not like this-" his tired voice repeating like a mantra.

"I know" Naruto said and reinforced her previous hug, ignoring the jolt he made at her touch. After it seemed he wasn't going to collapse any further, she gently pressed on, "I don't mind - I mean, I'm- I mean, I am not angry at you, y'know. I'm just worried and want to help."

Sasuke gave no reply. Either he was content to just lean against her, or judging by his erratic breathing - the idiot still clung to his mask.

She didn't accuse him, "It's the curse we share" and yet she felt his breath catch like a liar caught bluffing. "You trust Kakashi-sensei, right?"

He slumped further against her to the point she could feel him nod immediately.

"You trust Sakura-chan, right?"

This time, Sasuke hesitated for a while before relenting.

"And you trust me. We've sparred too much for you to deny that."

Finally, he spoke with a distant fire to his voice "What are you getting at?"

"This time", she emphasised, "we are aware, and because we are aware we'll be ready."

"I-"

She didn't wait for him to reply, "When I thought you died protecting me from Haku, I've…" she felt his nose make a mess of her hair. She had his attention, "I've kept waking up like you just did. Sleepless, worried next time it will happen for real."

He returned the hug at last.

"And then Orochimaru came for you and then Sakura-chan and I thought our nightmares had become reality." She needed to pause, to put on the mask her friend dropped and wear it for his sake. She soldiered on, her voice quaking, "You lived, because we were ready. And because of our training - despite facing Gaara together - we both survived the impossible. Scarred, we're still here - I'm telling you."

His voice finally cracked, "It's just - if they're… If they fear the Uchiha -"

"Then it might be connected." Feeling Sasuke stir, she quickly added, "One of the sannin is working on it. If he is at all Orochimaru's equal-"

With a grimace, Sasuke stopped her, touching her lips with a finger still bitter with dish-soap, "Thank you." and after a few moments of precious silence he admitted, "Don't mind your voice just…"

Naruto dropped back to a whisper after he let her go, "Don't worry, I get it."

Later that day, Naruto left the estate. Sasuke had tried to stop her at first, and when that failed, join her. Given his sorry state, she wanted none of that. She's just about recovered in full, and thanks to his tool closet being so cosy, she was quite well rested thank you very much- in other words, she can defend herself just fine.

The journey to her flat had been as uneventful as she had expected. Once inside, she finally learnt the value of tidiness as she struggled to make sense of the various objects strewn about. Was this the doing of her unknown assailants, or did she leave things like this? While confirmation would have been nice, her primary objective was a change of clothes and to stuff her travel bag full of spares, medicine and whatever else she couldn't easily scavenge at the compound.

Before moving on, she found herself lingering on the threshold. It's not like she was going to be away for long - once Kakashi-sensei comes back, he'll probably have some tricks to improve security - and yet, sentimentality bound her much as she tried to deny it. Stubbornly, she stepped back inside and got to work. She wasn't stalling, she was just setting up pranks, traps and breadcrumbs to confirm if anyone were to break in.

"Hey, Naruto!" Sakura called as she stepped out into the streets.

"Hey-"

Naruto had barely had time to respond before Sakura-chan caught her in a tight hug before letting go with a wide grin, "No crutches?"

Naruto returned the grin, "Nope! Second day in fact."

"And you didn't tell me!?"

Shrinking away from her friend's question, Naruto offered an awkward little chuckle, "The tower took forever before they let me submit the files, and then I ran into the old geezer-"

"He didn't do anything stupid, did he?"

Raising her palms, Naruto protested, "No! No! We just uh, caught up on everything that happened, that's all." When that didn't seem to catch, she added, "He's a creep, but he does seem to care for me in his own weird way, y'know."

That did nothing to quench her fire, "Hard to believe that with how he acted in the hospital."

"You saw him when he tended Sasuke's injury. Was like a whole different person and plus, I think he may have been pretty close to Grandpa, y'know."

Finally, Sakura relented even if her voice still sounded worried, "Well, they do say the Professor taught the Sannin. Not that it made a difference with Orochimaru…"

Naruto just blinked her, stunned, "Wait - what?!"

Even though Sakura should have been used to it by now, she still couldn't hide her disappointment "You really didn't pay attention to history at the academy, did you?"

"Well uh, I know they were big heroes in the wars like the Fourth Hokage and that they were teammates but uh…."

"You should ask him sometime. Might help with…"

"Yeah." Naruto admitted, recalling their dinner a week ago.

Sakura offered Naruto a sombre smile and joined her by the wall she inadvertently pushed her against earlier. After some time, occasionally stealing glances at her bursting travel bag, she finally asked "So how's it feel?"

"Huh?"

Sakura looked at the crowd passing them down the street and just gestured vaguely, "Making it official. Being recognised, all that."

Naruto found herself laughing a little, "Oh! Well - I still gotta wait for the request to be actually approved, y'know…"

Her friend's smile brightened with infectious confidence"Requests for new identities aren't anything new." Once she saw it wasn't catching, she gently punched Naruto in the shoulder. "It's good as accepted, tch"

She played up the injury before returning her smile "Guess it doesn't change much? Like - people who matter never asked, and I doubt it will change how those witches treat me." Finally, she stuck her tongue out at Sakura, "Sorry Sakura-chan, gotta squash your hopes for freedom there. You're still tagging along, mhm!"

Sakura laughed with her, slapping the air between them, "Oh, the horror." Once she calmed down, she gave Naruto a look she didn't know what to do with, "And I guess even your body didn't make much of a difference where it matters. Sasuke knew for a while, didn't he?"

As easily as their shared mirth came, it faded and Naruto averted her gaze "By complete accident." , her cheeks flushing to mimic her hair "Caught me when I first developed the jutsu and overheard me…. talk things through with someone like me."

Pink brows furrowed, "When did that happen?"

She barely whispered, "Remember Haku?"

Sakura looked away, frowning and clearly in thought. After at least a good minute, she cautiously offered "So that's why you were so worked up over their death."

"Yes - but… It's not just that. They deserved a better life. Even if things had been different, I like to think I'd have done the same, I'm telling you." Naruto found herself tense, her tone oddly defensive.

"You don't have to." Sakura said with a warm smile.

Naruto felt herself relax and let her shoulder slump for a moment or two before smiling back, "You seem to be doing better yourself Sakura-chan, y'know."

Despite the compliment, her teammate looked away, staring at the crowd. Patting her kunai pouch, she admitted, "Being around you guys makes it easy to forget" then looked down to her feet. "It's not as easy back home. Feels like things aren't coming back."

"Surely they still love you?"

"It's just - I don't know. It feels like we're talking past each other. Like words changed meaning overnight.."

"And touch, actions? You remember duckbutt running off thinking we didn't notice some days from training?

Sakura sounded amused, "You still call him that?"

"His fault for making his hair look like that." Naruto shrugged, "Anyway - talking to him like that never worked, yet he never refused me when I followed him for sparring."

"And whenever I got hurt sparring with him, he'd always shove lunch into my hands."

"Now you get it." Although Naruto's voice had no judgement, a hint of bitterness still snuck past.

Sakura did not seem to mind, her eagerness apparent and infectious "Might offer Mom to help with dinner."

Naruto gave Sakura a thumbs up, "Sounds fun, y'know."

The two often stood together in companionable silence after that. They watched the crowds meander through the street, humans living their lives unaware of the two kunoichi by the rickety old door.

At long last, Sakura finally asked about the bag, "So you're heading out?"

With a nervous laugh, Naruto tried to explain, "Ah? Don't worry about it - I'll still be around! Just uh-"

"More training with the geezer?"

Sakura-chan had offered her an easy out, and if she had listened to the pervy-sage, Naruto would have taken it. It was becoming easier to lie, to deceive and yet - was it not betrayal? Did Kakashi-sensei not say that those who did so were scum? She closed her eyes in thought, hoping she'd find a cheat sheet taped to her eye lids. Lips and brows danced a silent conversation searching for an answer that kept eluding her.

Her comrade, her friend, waited in silence. Naruto wondered if she looked angry, if she looked concerned or maybe even happy. She didn't dare look for she wasn't ready for any of the outcomes. She didn't trust herself.

"Sakura-chan," she didn't have to trust herself, "you can keep a secret, right? Not for me - but for others."

Even if her voice was uncertain, Sakura echoed their sensei's old adage, "We are a team."

Naruto raised her hand and rolled her wrist to catch Sakura's attention before letting it drop back to rest across her stomach. She then made a misshapen fist resembling a lightbulb to then splay her pinky and thumb wide apart and shoot her middle finger out like a bow casting an arrow. In the meanwhile, she cautiously spoke "Old Geezer said I should spend some time with the Uchiha to work on chakra control in a safe environment". As she finished, her fingers transitioned to running in the air before forming a shield over her heart.

Sakura-chan's response was hard to follow, almost a blur of nonsense. A misshapen fist echoed Naruto's before splitting in the middle in crude approximation of an hourglass before her fingers ran up her own arm. She whined loudly, "Oh come on! That's unfair! Since when did that perverted old geezer play matchmaker?" Her intonation was over the top, and frankly - obviously fake - but maybe gossip and reputation would cover for them.

Naruto matched Sakura's hourglass before twisting her wrist to offer her a thumbs down. Shaking her head in an exaggerated manner, she stabbed herself in the neck with two fingers that one could, with plenty of imagination, mistake for a snake. "Unfair! I'm not a fan of having to sleep over in weird haunted sheds. Bastard won't even let me inside proper except for breakfast… Once Kakashi sense comes back, I'll have him sort things out." And with that, Naruto finished with a theatrical sigh.

With a snort, Sakura gave Naruto a grin, "Let me know if the bastard makes you uncomfortable and I'll swap places with you."

"Heh. Will do, Sakura-chan. See you at the training ground tomorrow?"

"Mhm, If I'm late, don't worry - I'll join you!" Sakura-chan's smile was genuine by every metric "Just uh, don't wait for me."

Yet, as they parted Naruto couldn't help but feel if her friend was hurting.

Naruto took the long road back to the estate. While her first visit had nothing untoward happen, she wasn't sure if her host disabled everything properly given the state she left him in. Even if she had trusted Sasuke - and she did - she hoped the idiot went back to bed and caught up on much needed sleep. Just in case he took her advice, Naruto snuck inside without announcing her presence using one of those 'key-scrolls' Sasuke had lent her.

Maybe she shouldn't intrude upon his room. Surely he'd yell at her and lock her in the shed just to be safe. Surely he wouldn't kick her out for a bit of curiosity. To her disappointment, Sasuke was nowhere to be found. Of course the bastard didn't listen to her - not like she listened to Sakura-chan until she threatened to skin her but that was something else entirely.

Naruto had settled back inside her tool closet-turned-bedroom, and before she knew it hours had passed and she neither felt nor heard any other presence within the large manor. Much as she wanted to wonder how her team mate put up with such, the answer was all too clear and she wasn't too eager to humour it. At least it explained his present absence.

She might as well make some food.

Footsteps. A distant clatter. A characteristically flat voice, "So you've came back." Sasuke called from the doorway.

Naruto had long since got used to Sasuke's quirks as her teammate, and yet the question still made her muscles tense. She stared down at the cup of ramen on the table before cautiously asking, "I hope you don't mind."

Sasuke surprised her with a hug from behind, stinking of sweat and soil, "I'm glad."

Much as she wanted to scold him, to interrogate his sudden touchiness - now was not the time. Instead, Naruto just smiled with a question, "Want some ramen?"

Chapter Text

Old man Teuchi looked at Naruto with a crooked eye brow as he went about setting up the counter for the day, "Rare to see you up this early, Naruto. Something the matter, or just turning a new leaf now that you-"

Naruto, despite her excitement to finally get back to training, just slumped onto the bar with a yawn that more than debunked any notions the old man may have had, "Could say that. Was gonna sleep in when the bastard woke me up being too noisy"

Teuchi worked around Naruto in a rather leisurely manner, tutting when he needed the girl to slide a bit here and there. His amused questions continued when setting up moved to preheating the many appliances, "Bastard? Stupid whatever? Did that Sakura-chan break in on you again?"

That woke Naruto up, opening the counter in front of her for an empty bowl to take its rightful place. She raised her hands in a fervent protest, "What?! No! She only did that once, believe me! I don't need no babysitter, hrmf!" Hearing the old man snicker at her antics, she just crossed her arms with a small pout, "No, I'm uh… Sleeping over at uhm, my other teammate's place due to uh… a teamwork project and… uh, bastard wakes up too early to start preparing for training and cooking."

Naruto didn't like the glint in Teuchi's eyes, "He now? What could the Uchiha be doing that causes such racket?"

"He's a weirdo! I woke up to him pouring all his shuriken on the floor to redo the wires around them one by one! And," she gestured around dramatically, "when I decided to try and ignore him and make myself some delicious breakfast he kicked me out of the kitchen and well. . . here I am!"

The old man just laughed heartily and seemed content to return to cooking. Other than Naruto, nobody else showed up for soup so she did not have to wait too long. Not that she ever needed to, perks of being the owner's favourite customer!

Following a quick detour to check up on her apartment which seemed undisturbed beyond footsteps on the terrace, which even she had to admit was insufficient to make any conclusion, Naruto finally caught up with the rest of her team out at the training grounds. Wait, rest of her team?

Kakashi-sensei's early presence alone was unsettling. His smile and cheerful greeting? "Nice of you to finally join us, Naruto-chan!"

With a stunned and rather dumbfounded expression, Naruto looked at Sakura-chan and Sasuke for answers. Both of them looked out of it, as if they were already put through a gauntlet of horrific training in her absence. Pointing a finger towards the masked jonin, Naruto barely stammered her question, "H-hey. What did you do to Kakashi-sensei?! He's never this early!"

The scarecrow kept on smiling, "Aw, can't I be excited to see my genin after so long?"

Finally, Naruto dropped her guard. She did miss her weirdo sensei too, after all.

That turned out to be her mistake. With one fell swoop, she found herself rather violently manhandled and squished against her fellow victims as the cheerful voice gave way to bittersweet pride, "After all, our team might become more of a formality than a strict formation if the rumours are true."

Finally released, Sakura was the first to inquire, "Rumours, what rumours?"

Like he hadn't just exploded with almost suffocating affection, Kakashi retreated back to his familiar nonchalant pose. "Did you forget about the exams already?"

Rubbing her neck, Naruto had to admit, "Well-"

Only to have Sasuke interject, "With the invasion and rebuilding efforts, I'd imagined any decisions would be delayed until we have a new hokage."

Rescued from embarrassment, Naruto slumped her shoulders and sighed with relief.

"Hence, rumours." Their sensei nodded in agreement before musing, "Still, I can't imagine any of you staying behind."

Sakura was about to protest, "But I lost to-"

"Yes, and?" Kakashi paused for effect, "Did you forget who Shikamaru's father is?"

Stepping on her teammate, Naruto asked in a rather shocked voice, "Wait?! That lazy-bum's father is gonna be hokage now?!"

"I err-," Kakashi wafted air towards Naruto in an attempt to calm her down "wouldn't go so far. Council is still in a deadlock, but it shouldn't matter for sake of chunin selection."

"Surely they'll keep us together," Sasuke remarked flatly. To Naruto's ears, it was anything but. He shot her a lingering glance, then a quicker one towards Sakura-chan, "Given our team's unique capabilities and synergies, it would be too risky to have Naruto operate without a sharingan user- . . . And we need Sakura to provide us with cover after we exhaust our abilities, and to guide our recovery."

Kakashi-sensei just smiled in response, ignoring the mutual shock of the two kunoichi.

Training began earnestly after that. Despite all that had changed since the last time they went through these familiar joint drills, the trio kept pace without issue for the first few hours. It seems this satisfied their sensei as the scenarios rapidly escalated from routine to increasingly hectic and covering larger and larger ground with a rather blatant emphasis on splitting the team with physical traps at first.

When that didn't work, Kakashi once more upped the ante once again. Despite trying their best, to the point of calling upon the sharingan and keeping a tight formation, Team Seven could not match a jonin's genjutsu. Forced to scatter to evade yet another explosive, the twisting woods finally isolated the three shinobi.

After far too long running in circles looking to regroup, Naruto finally had to concede that she was all alone with unfamiliar woods all around her. If she tried to focus particularly hard, if she called upon the Fox like the pervy-sage had instructed her the branches and roots twisted to reveal a known path back to their staging ground but it all quickly dissolved into a brand new landscape the moment she was no longer grounded.

Perhaps her best bet would be to stay put and wait for rescue. After all, both Sakura and Sasuke were better equipped to deal with such and certainly Kakashi-sensei would commend mutual trust in teammates. However, what if her sensei had deemed such cowardice and abandonment? What if they too were put into situations beyond their capabilities? What if-

Naruto felt an itch at the back of her mind and leapt behind what she hoped to be a real tree. Somewhere, both too close and too far, she heard a tag detonate. It happened again, and again and again to the point impatience took over and Naruto had a squad of clones back her up in a circle, carpeting the twisting images around her with dozens of blunted kunai.

Seeing Kakashi-sensei walk up to her with a lazy wave made Naruto almost drop her guard, thinking she passed this dumb exercise. It was only for a moment and that moment alone was almost too long as she barely dropped under a hand trying to choke her from behind.

Dodging her sweep, Kakashi commended, "My-my, and here I thought you'd end up slowing down becoming a girl."

Still on the ground, Naruto wove her newest shadow clone subtly into the act of springing back to her feet. She then stood tall, all alone and with arms crossed beneath her chest, "Seriously!? You were worried I'd become weaker just because of this? I was trai-"

Kakashi interrupted her annoyed boast by ambushing her from behind once again, this time successfully grabbing her by her now long hair, "Maybe not weaker, but not used to-"

The shadow clone had barely exploded into smoke as a rain of practice shuriken nicked the ducking form of Kakashi across his arms and legs.

Despite the superficial cuts, Naruto observed her sensei limp and try to withdraw from the encounter. Naruto had thought nothing of it, after all - it was all part of mock-battle to play up injuries and sent in a swarm of decoy clones to press the assault and try to force a surrender while she hid within the ever shifting canopy. Although still trapped, a self-indulgent grin made itself home across her face.

As expected, even with pretend injuries Kakashi kept up with her clones and held his ground. As much emotion as his single eye normally conveyed, his expression remained inscrutable.

The lack of progress was wearing on Naruto, and the lack of a counter-strike was making her increasingly jumpy. She wanted to move on, to rejoin her teammates but given her last attempt at regrouping left her increasingly lost - she stuck to the actionable solution of getting her sensei to submit. At one point, she even brought her thumb to her teeth as temptation took her but decided against flaunting her summons.

Finally, having had enough, Naruto decided to try and trick the master of the scenario. The next group of clones she sent in were under guise of a solid transformation into Sakura-chan and Sasuke. After so many decoys, it left Naruto panting and leaning back against her roost for support.

"Cheater!" Kakashi admonished as he leapt from the shifting canopies, his meteoric kick only blocked thanks to doppelgangers' demise warning Naruto not a moment too soon.

The two of them found themselves devolving into basic Taijutsu as they hopped amongst shifting branches. With how fluid her sensei's movements were, Naruto was pretty sure he stopped pretending to be injured as she barely redirected a jab on the inside-line to close off Kakashi's follow up only for him to spin with the added momentum and sweep her off the tree with an ankle chop to the back of her knees.

It hurt. Even with the added care and precision to not stress the joint too much by turning the strike more into a pull- all Naruto could do was prop herself against the trunk she fell off of and try to centre herself.

Given the lack of follow-up attacks, she assumed her own knees and elbows did their jobs even with the padded flak jacket protecting her sensei from serious upper body injury. A few moments later, she saw a metal-plated glove reach past the trunk before assuming half of a reconciliation seal.

Naruto was wary, but once she saw the trees become solid with reality, she offered her bruised fingers to accept it.

Master and student sat in silence for a good while following their spar, both struggling to catch their breath. After what had easily felt like half an hour, the feeling in Naruto's joints transitioned from feeling like she fell into a pile of broken glass towards a much more pleasant senbon treatment. It was enough to make talking feel possible, "Hey, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi looked up from his little book, "Hmmm?"

"Where's Sakura-chan and Sasuke?"

"Ah, they should be off by the dummies sparring."

"But I thought-"

"That I was going to have you all do the same thing? Think of Sasuke's fireballs and your mass shurikens - it would have been far too dangerous."

Sitting in with her feet extended hurt. Bringing her knees up to her chest earned a painful whimper before it felt marginally better. Naruto found her shoulders slumping, "Were they in on it, again?"

Kakashi sighed, "That was only one time, trust me."

Naruto did not respond beyond a small nod.

"If it helps, I'll put them through the same gauntlet to see if you've picked up anything while I was away."

"Why'd you need that with Sasuke? Wasn't he with you until the finals? Like, doesn't make sense y'know."

Kakashi cheerfully redirected, "Oh it doesn't matter! I'm sure you all will be full of surprises - like you! Unlike our first spar, you didn't fall for my taunts. Very impressive growth, Naruto!"

Despite hearing the crack and occasional stutter in her sensei's compliment, Naruto couldn't help but smile widely, "Oh? Is that so? What do you think of my diversion-"

Her sensei snickered, "My-my, already fishing for more compliments." Hearing his pupil groan at that comment, Kakashi just laughed even more.

After a few moments to calm down, the two of them stood and slowly limped their way back to the dummies and the lake. Suddenly, Kakashi asked nonchalantly, "So what's the deal with you sleeping over at your teammate's house?"

Naruto stopped, froze and exploded at her sensei, "Wait?! What? How do you know that? Who told you?!"

Kakashi's single eye blinked in confusion and waited for the storm to subside, "I just asked why you were so late and Sasuke said he thought you left without breakfast to start training again."

"I left without breakfast because that bastard didn't let me cook so I had to go to town to get breakfast!"

"Oh~"

"Oi, don't make that sound! It's nothing like that! I'm just staying over because-," Naruto suddenly paused, looking around with a sigh. "Kakashi-sensei, you're pretty good with making seals and alarms, right?"

Kakashi's headband twitched as his brows furrowed, "I think Jiraiya-sama is a better person to ask about such, Naruto."

"I can't, he's busy and I'm telling you it'd ruin their purpose."

"Their purpose? Thought you were looking to learn some family techniques?"

This time when Naruto shut down, she just remained very still and even the concerned expression of her sensei wouldn't prompt her further.

Pity mixed with warmth as he gave her a one-armed hug, "They still didn't tell you? I supp-"

"Stop!" Naruto hissed. "Geezer said it's too dangerous, and I know he wasn't just being lazy when I asked."

Kakashi didn't let go of her and just looked up to the skies, "Well-well, sounds like I missed something big. How convenient…"

"Can you help then? With the seals?"

"Is it connected?" Kakashi asked. When Naruto nodded, he shook his head, "Best if you keep at your training as is. Sudden changes might make it harder for me to catch up on things."

Team seven was dismissed without a mission - and looking at Kakashi and Naruto - neither Sakura or Sasuke questioned it. Their sensei ditched them with a lazy wave, leaving the trio to try and fill their afternoon productively. Naturally, they chose to honour their new post-mission tradition and go share their dinner. Unfortunately for Sasuke, today was Sakura-chan's turn to treat.

Sasuke at first tried to sulk off to Naruto's left, hoping the serving staff wouldn't notice him brooding over his box of dry chicken and rice. That endeavour failed before it launched as an angry waitress slammed the table in front of him, pointing at a sign prohibiting outside drinks and food. His cheeks burned as he relented and ordered the closest thing to a savoury dish while his precious comrades betrayed him with far too loud giggles.

Once Sasuke's suffering proved insufficient to sate their hunger, Naruto and Sakura went to share a matching meal consisting of sweet red bean soup, a bowl of pickled vegetables and a finisher of anko dumplings. While it wasn't ramen, Naruto found a newfound appreciation for all this sweet stuff the past week whenever Sakura-chan came to hang out with her.

Between their meals, the trio found themselves talking freely about their first training since the exams until they got to Naruto and Kakashi's one on one session. Waiting for a serving of dango Sasuke finally relented to try, Naruto found herself finally elaborating, "Hey, you guys remember the face Kakashi gave us?"

"You mean gave Sasuke," Sakura interrupted and gave the one guy in their team an amused look, "Think he was just surprised by him speaking up, is all."

With a cough, Sasuke protested trying his best to appear disinterested "Why would he be surprised at me making a sound strategic and tactical observation?"

Naruto paid him no mind and went on, "Anyway! Then he split us up, mhm?"

Sakura tilted her head, "Something smells funny?"

"Sure does!" Naruto exclaimed proudly, "Insisted he picked me by accident, y'know. Just took the chance. Said he wants to test all of us individually."

"Knowing you," Sasuke didn't elaborate "he probably picked you first to make you yap and mislead us by feeding you false information."

Joining in on the conspiracy, Sakura suggested, "And given he said Naruto and I will be going on a two-person mission all day tomorrow"

"Leaves you last in his trials, Sakura-chan."

"Mhrm," Sasuke echoed. "Think our best course of action is for me to pretend I disregarded everything Naruto told me to make him think we fell for his first misdirection. Then Sakura will finish the job with our combined intel" Making air quotes, almost as if to mock the adage, "Prove that we can see underneath the underneath."

"Don't you think it's a little. . . Reckless spelling it out like that, Sasuke-kun? Like - What if he's listening?"

Sasuke just shrugged, "Let him. He can join the army of losers following us around.."

Once the two of them returned to the estate, Sasuke gave Naruto a curious look after watching her follow him in silence on the way back. As before, he failed at sounding flat and neutral, "Guessing Kakashi can't help then?"

"He can," Naruto began and let it hang as she disarmed herself in the foyer. "However, if I understood it right he wants to try and turn his convenient mission timing to his advantage."

Sasuke just shook his head with a snort, "Hmm. So he's doing what we are doing." He then looked over at Naruto, covered in bruises and dirt, twigs sticking out from the unlikeliest of places. After staring for a few moments too long, he declared with the barest hint of a smile, "Guess you'll be staying for a while then."

Crossing her arms, Naruto rocked on the balls of her feet to lean in, "You don't sound too annoyed~" before retreating with an amused smirk. Not that she had any right pointing that out, but that was just boring details. And maybe she shouldn't annoy her teammate when he decides her housing, but watching his face twist through a myriad expressions will be worth it even if she was condemned to sleep in the basement or something like that!

To her surprise, Sasuke did not snap at her nor call her names like he always did before the exams. Instead, he just looked away with his pale skin finally having some colour and stiffly marched off, "I'm going to bed. You look like a mess. Make yourself at ho- I mean, go get cleaned up. "

Chapter Text

For the first time in almost half a week, Naruto woke up to an empty house. At first, she thought by some miracle her teammate had overslept and so she barged into his room eager for vengeance for yesterday's interruption, shouting and calling for him to wake up. Of course, contrary to her fantasies Sasuke would never oversleep and instead it seemed he had just left early without as much as a single word.

At first, Naruto just shrugged and went on with her morning. After all, being alone meant nobody was going to berate her for still wearing baggy pyjamas as she groggily boiled water for her cup of ramen. There was nobody to swipe at her hands when she buried herself in the fridge trying to look for some frozen vegetables to spice up her meal. Things were also much more convenient when it came to getting cleaned up, even if the awkward logistics gave her fuzzy reminders that she was a girl now.

Naruto flit about the manor, scavenging kunai and shuriken to compensate for her excessive usage against Kakashi. For whatever reason, her satchel and holster remained empty despite repeat trips to the armoury. That reason totally wasn't because of her hopeful glances towards the lump of unmade bedding in her comrade's bedroom kept distracting her. Nope. Not at all.

Once outside, Naruto went to seal up the main entrance with a key-scroll. Right beside the receptacle, situated quite conspicuously on the windowsill, a pair of striking red bento boxes greeted her, their labels prompting the girl to close her eyes with a melancholic sigh as she stowed them and departed to get the day over with.

Naruto found Sakura-chan waving quite energetically in her direction the moment she spotted her at the Hokage tower. Although her eyes were drawn elsewhere, the trees and rooftops a blur to her unfocused gaze, she made sure to return her friend's gesture in kind.

"Don't tell me you stayed up all-night," Sakura scolded with a friendly punch to Naruto's shoulder once she was within reach.

"Huh?" Naruto asked groggily, her untamed hair falling in her face as she tilted her head trying to catch up.

Sakura reached over to fuss with the tangled red locks as she mused in disappointment,"You look like you just woke up, sheesh…"

In response, Naruto shook her head violently trying to snap out of it. With an awkward chuckle, she rubbed the back of her head trying to smooth out the little horns under her fingers, "I'm awake, I'm awake, I'm telling you! S'just I got… stuff on my mind."

Green eyes scanned her, lingering upon her features with an equal helping of curiosity and concern. Before Sakura could pry further Naruto fled inside with an all-too sudden burst of punctuality, prompting her to make a dash after her to keep up.

After quite a few floors, Sakura finally caught up only to have her inquiries awkwardly fizzle out when a rough-looking chunin stared down at her crashing into Naruto. After a series of awkward smiles, the two girls stood silently as more and more adults joined them in the increasingly long queue.

After what had easily felt like an hour, Genma finally urged them inside with a far too amused grin once he saw Naruto.

Nara Shikaku sat behind the Hokage's desk, his exhausted demeanour fading upon seeing the two genin and warmly invited them over. Fortunately, Naruto internally remarked, he was still dressed in the Jonin Commander's uniform. Collecting their registration cards, exhaustion gave way to frustration as he regarded the redhead. "Uzumaki Naruto," he addressed her intently.

Naruto raised a thumb and pointed it towards herself, hoping the nervous tremors were masked by her bold movement and loud voice, "That's me! Team seven, under command of Kakashi-sensei, I'm telling you! Mhm, mhm!"

Shikaku's scars twisted into unsightly patterns as he frowned looking towards the blonde boy's image on his desk and what the uninitiated would have assumed was his twin sister across his desk. "What a drag…" he sighed, mumbling quietly beneath his breath as he began a futile effort to sort through a pile of reports sitting in his drawers.

"We have submitted paperwork regarding the matter, Sir." Sakura stepped up unprompted, a move that earned her a few glares from assistants around the office. Unbothered, she continued, "Yamanaka Inoichi of the Intelligence Division was informed as of last week using the appropriate, standardised protocols."

Small, black eyes squinted up at the two kunoichi, "I see. As I have no reason to doubt Uzumaki Naruto's identity, I will look past the discrepancies." Naruto could swear she heard gratitude in his gruff voice as he slammed the drawers shut. "Now, based on your record…" Shikaku paused, shooting a glance behind them at a scraggly-looking old man entering the office. After a moment, the Jonin Commander bowed his head respectfully, "Shimura-sama."

Naruto of course followed his gaze, her eagerness to demand Shikaku to tell them their mission suddenly caught in her throat as the old man looked back at her with barely concealed disdain in his single visible eye.

Shikaku's movements had a sudden alacrity to them as he quickly produced a stack of papers and hurriedly tapped his desk to demand the genin's attention. "In light of your sensei's recommendations," he began with barely concealed anxiety in his voice "I will be assigning you to assist team Eight under Yuhi Kurenai's command with sentry duty. You are to meet them at noon proper by the south-western gate."

"Understood, Sir." Sakura declared, taking point and grabbing Naruto who seemed far too preoccupied with double and triple checking her holsters to realise they had to go.

On the way out, Shimura Danzo offered the two kunoichi a smile that failed to reach his eyes.

The two of them arrived slightly before team Kurenai, silently sharing the lunch Sasuke had packed for the pair. Sakura was surprised at first when Naruto produced the boxed meal before recalling the little tradition she had them begin what felt like a lifetime ago. Not that she could forget it in the first place as it seemed their precious teammate took his sweet revenge for yesterday - cubes of weird, marble-mold clad and offensively pungent cheese welcomed the pair as they tried to dig in. Of course, that was not all that Sasuke had packed for them but the salty greens, sweet cherry tomatoes or the leafy pasta did absolutely nothing to make the strange cheese any more palatable.

"You shouldn't worry," Sakura guessed wildly in an effort to distract Naruto from her efforts to scrape the cheese off her meal. "Ino's dad will get it done, just uh - I'm sure you can understand he's busy."

"I know." Food was food and Naruto saw right through Sakura-chan's ploy. Rather than berate her for wasting free food, she just reached over and began to scavenge any and all cheese she could add to her own meal. It was free food, she insisted in a futile effort to shake the melancholic feelings that still lingered. "What you did was pretty cool tho', y'know?"

All Naruto got in response was a small smile, for whatever questions her friend had for her were rudely interrupted by Kiba barging in on them, "The fuck are y'all two doing here?!"

Naruto gave the boy a sharp glare and helpfully offered, "What's it look like, eh? Eating, dog-breath."

Whatever it was that Kiba found so offensive about the pair of kunoichi was promptly forgotten as he pounced at Naruto's lunch with ravenous glee. To his surprise, he stole the box with little resistance - an act worthy of celebration and fanfare "Psh, you really did become a push over."

To Naruto's credit however, the Inuzaka did not notice the foxy grin shared between the two girls and was none the wiser to what horrors awaited him.

Kiba reacted exactly as they had expected, face turning green with disgust from the overwhelming smell and threw the box into the air in hopes to escape its brutal odours.

Forcing an all too innocent smile, Naruto caught her meal without spilling a crumb of Sasuke's gift. She was not satisfied with just that however, oh no! Enacting step two of her impromptu plan, she began to chase after Kiba and Akamaru with the box held out in polite offering, and the pair bolted screaming apologies to no avail.

After a few turns and a fair few annoyed workers the trio almost bowled over, Kurenai finally decided she had had enough and grabbed her student by the scruff of his neck. That was when it became far too much for Naruto and she broke down in a fit of giggles only to be interrupted by Sakura pinching her ears with a disapproving glare to match Iruka-sensei's.

"Come on out, it's safe now," sighed Kurenai and the rest of team Eight gathered just outside the gates. Red eyes suddenly flicked between a blushing Hinata and a pouting, whisker-pocked redhead in a far too loud orange outfit. Her brows furrowed in annoyance as she quietly ordered, "You did your stupid prank on Kiba. It worked. Now, please drop the transformation. Please, for Hinata-chan's sake."

Naruto tilted her head, confusion winning over whatever annoyance she may have had, "Eh? But-"

"It's okay!" interrupted Hinata, her stutter fading in light of her sudden burst of conviction. She laced her fingers before her lap and offered a small smile to Kurenai, "I wouldn't- I uhm… - I wouldn't want Naruto-chan to hurt for my sake."

Although Hinata's initial words made Naruto smile in return, she found herself looking at Sakura with confusion. To her surprise, Sakura averted her gaze with brows gathering much the same way when she told her not to worry about her being late. For all the training the pervy-sage had Naruto go through observing people, she had no idea why the two other kunoichi exchanged such a weird look.

At least Kurenai looked just as confused and out of the loop and gave Hinata a pleading look for answers.

For how much she dreaded such conversations a few months back, Naruto easily interjected, "'snot a prank. I mean - the food bit was, but that was just taking the opportunity, mhm! mhm!" Seeing she got Kurenai's attention, she accompanied her words with a lazy shrug trying her best to make it not look like a big deal - just like Kakashi-sensei instructed, "Used to feel wrong, now it feels right. Sakura-chan helped make it all official, too!"

Kurenai looked between Hinata and Sakura, then Kiba and even Shino who was trying to disappear into the background. It was clear she struggled to believe Naruto.

Kiba added without any difficulty or thought, "She's actually serious. Ran into her like this right after the invasion. Still eats like a pig, too."

Unable to swipe at Kiba thanks to Sakura still keeping her at bay, Naruto just whined, "You didn't need to add the last bit!"

Kurenai was looking increasingly exhausted before finally muttering something about Kakashi. "Alright, pay attention the lot of you," she called far too loudly in hopes of getting it over already. "Hatake-san recommended the two of you for your creativity. My team had been assigned with long-term sentry duty to ensure the workers from the lumberyard are left alone and building material for the walls doesn't get misplaced."

Snapping out of her reverie, Sakura spoke up "Our assignment is only for one day though, and we have tomorrow already blocked in."

Their temporary commander nodded, "That won't be a problem. As I said, you were assigned for your creativity - in other words: 'knack for security' as your sensei put it. Given the reports I've read about what happened in the Forest, and Naruto's history I'm trusting you two to set up defences and alarms for our campsite."

Grinning proudly, Naruto waved her fingers towards Kiba, "See? My 'dead-last' behaviour was actually super useful, believe it!"

Kiba, still in Kurenai's clutches, just snarled in response.

Knack for security. It was definitely a nicer way to put Naruto's pranks than the words Kakashi-sensei had for her back in the day after he caught her after one too many prank gone too far back in the academy. Such nice words deserved good work, plus keeping busy kept her mind off of uncomfortable realisations. As such, Naruto immediately began surveying the campsite for whatever alarms and traps she could fashion with Sakura-chan's help.

Of course, all this would be much easier had the pervy-sage been around to show her how to recreate Sasuke's shuriken summoning seals. Now, don't ask her why his summoning seals and not Tenten's - she has work to do, mhm! Fortunately, it's nothing creative use of shadow clones and transformation jutsu couldn't replicate at cost of some extra chakra. Oh, and duration. Right, these were supposed to hold at least until next weekend. Frustrating as it were, it was back to square one.

Fortunately Sakura-chan came prepared with a rather excessive amount of scrolls. Expensive, but more than sufficient stand-ins until either of them could learn how to set up wards of their own, or more importantly learn to key specific chakra signatures in as friendly. The two worked with little pause, plastering trees, bushes and undergrowth with various simple jutsu-seals ready to make awful noise at best, excessive explosions at worst should anyone uninvited intrude upon the camp.

Occasionally, the pair saw one of Team Eight pass by but nothing came of it beyond handing out identity-scrolls, as even without Naruto's wasted effort earlier, it was difficult work and left little room for chatter and distractions if the pair had any hope to finish by dinner. Kurenai of course stayed longest whenever they crossed paths, inspecting their handiwork with the occasional criticism and advice.

The joint genin team convened once the last worker made their way back to the village, the setting sun painting their little encampment in a faint red glow. Despite the lack of excitement, nobody could deny that the group did honest work and such honest work deserved rest. Shino, ever the loner, volunteered to take care of dinner and setting up the camp. Hinata and Sakura found themselves off in the distance, well out of earshot clearly conspiring about something.

Something Naruto would have loved to intrude upon if not for Kiba deciding to kill his boredom by invading her personal space instead, sniffing at her hair like the mutt he was. One swift slap that turned the idiot's cheeks as red as his markings later, Naruto snapped at Kiba, "What the hell is up with you sneaking up on me, weirdo?!"

Half by choice, half by momentum carrying him to the ground, Kiba found himself sitting beside Naruto nursing his face with a scowl. "You smell weird," he finally observed as if that had explained anything.

Naruto just rolled her eyes, "Duh. Didn't you say the same when we first met?"

Kiba actually looked up at the sky at that, seemingly in deep thought. He shook his head, "Even if I did, it's different. Like it reminds me of-"

Naruto crossed her arms over her stomach, leaning in with a stupid-looking squint to try and translate her idiotic friend's words. Thoughts began to race in her already weary head, thoughts jumping to conclusions she was not ready to accept. And so, her mind betrayed her - she smelled different. That's a fact. She's a girl in body and all that matters. That's another fact. Sakura gave her a backpack with very scary and embarrassing contents that contained pamphlets. That's the third fact. These pamphlets included warnings regarding possible difficulties being recognised by ninken for girls her age dealing with so-called 'milestones'.

Having the loud brat so close to his face, Kiba's face lit up with embarrassment and he stumbled backwards before finishing his thought.

Naturally, rather than accept the obvious Naruto focused down this embarrassing possibility and began to turn deeper and deeper shades of red. It all made sense, facts stacked up in ways she could not deny! She wasn't ready one way or another and found her world rapidly begin to collapse in on itself. She needed Sakura-chan!

In his eternal wisdom, Kiba saw all this and began to howl with laughter, "I knew it! I fucking knew it!"

Naruto fled, hands over her ears and threw herself at Sakura-chan in an effort to save her embarrassment.

With just Hinata and Sakura as her company a fair distance from the campsite, unfulfilled anger, exhaustion and significant helping of humiliation led to Naruto clinging to her friend at the verge of tears. She wasn't going to give in, no matter how easily they came for the stupidest of reasons. She was a shinobi after all and she was on a mission!

"Kiba is your teammate. Does he ever act like this towards…" Sakura gestured to Naruto, looking at Hinata.

Hinata's face was a deep shade of red and she soldiered on to the best of her ability despite her knees visibly turning into jello, "N-no. He'd… Uhm. He'd never do that. Like uhm - he did tease me but uhm-"

Just barely, Naruto kept herself together but she couldn't hide the hurt from her voice, "He smelled me! Snuck up on me and then said I smelled weird!"

Although sympathetic, Sakura looked confused at Naruto, "Doesn't he always do that? You know how the inuzaka are-"

Naruto would sooner fight Gaara on her own again than talk about this, so she just made some rude gestures about her stomach while explaining, "Those things you bought me! Like - he said that I smell different and-"

It was Sakura's turn to turn into a tomato, finally fitting right in with the Naruto and Hinata. She just sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, "… You didn't actually hear what he said?"

"No...", Naruto admitted shyly.

"And you havn't gone to the academy despite me telling you over a week ago?"

"No…"

"… Do it by the end of the week," Sakura urged before adding "… I understand it's a lot but I'm not your mo-, caretaker. Once Naruto gave a nod of affirmation, Sakura looked to Hinata and softened her voice as she chose her words somewhat carefully, "Plus, the dumbass said it's because 'Sasuke is giving you shelter'."

With a thud, Hinata sat far too quickly and slumped over. Sakura leaned in to check the blue haired girl and just shook her head in disbelief.

Naruto was genuinely concerned for Hinata, "Is she… okay?" The fact that it helped avoid acknowledging Sakura's words was a boon.

"She will be," Sakura softly assured then looked to Naruto. She sighed, shaking her head with a distant smile, "You're a weird one."

Naruto squinted her eyes suspiciously. "What's that supposed to mean, huh?"

Her friend rolled her eyes before canting her head towards Hinata passed out cold. Cautiously, she began "It's not my place to say anthing. I'm just saying you should uh… listen the advice you gave me, mhm?"

Bringing her knees to her chest, Naruto reached a hand over to make sure Hinata wasn't going to eat her own hair with a frown on her face. Naruto had no reason to be loud around Sakura-chan, not anymore, "I don't want to hurt anyone, y'know."

Sakura's hand found itself tracing Naruto's spine, "And Hinata said you shouldn't be hurting either."

"But… you're my friend and…"

Sakura suddenly interjected, "So is Ino."

To which, Naruto had no retort.

With darkness fast approaching, it was time for Team Seven to head home, but not before Kurenai dragged Kiba in front of Naruto and stared expectantly.

To his credit, Kiba's apology sounded genuine despite its rehearsed nature, "I went too far, and I'd like to apologise. I thought it would be something you could laugh about like back in the academy."

Naruto, not keen to let Kiba privy to her jumbled mental state practically shouted her response, "Apology accepted!"

Satisfied, Kurenai wove the hand signs for both a shadow clone and gave Sakura a knowing smile.

Naruto just looked between her teammate and the jonin before she affectionately declared, "Thanks, Aunt Mummy!"

'Aunt Mummy' forced a smile at her new nickname and sent them off before Kiba ruined things once more with his loose mouth.

The three of them stuck together until they returned to the Haruno residence, dropping off Sakura-chan who curiously collected a sealed letter from Sasuke. Much as Naruto wanted to linger and find out what it was, the Kurenai clone urged her to keep going and she begrudgingly complied.

Although it was tempting to break the awkward silence and interrogate the Kurenai-clone why she suddenly decided to escort the two of them home, the fact that the clone seemed to step lightly even within the safety of their village and scanned the rooftops expecting an ambush told her enough. Naruto joined her temporary sensei in their impromptu infiltration mission, her blue eyes drawn to every shadow and flicker of light with a fear she could not shake.

Just as Naruto and her makeshift escort finished rounding the corner to the clan head's manor at the Estate, footsteps alerted them to one anxious looking Uchiha Sasuke who went through an entire range of emotions trying to very quickly hide his apparent concern and relief with a cool look of annoyance and disinterest. Not helping one bit, the Kurenai-clone let out an amused giggle before dispelling herself with a little finger wave.

Before Naruto could process what just happened, she felt a pair of strong hands grab her by the arms, their grip tight and almost desperate. Her eyes travelled from chin along a tense jaw to meet a pair of worried black eyes. "You were waiting-," she sheepishly began.

Sasuke finished, "You were late."

Despite just eating, Naruto felt hungry. Or at least, her stomach felt funny. Averting her gaze, whipping her messy hair over her eyes, she awkwardly retorted, "Not like you said good bye-"

"Did that… bother you? I thought -"

Did it? She felt far too much spit in her mouth despite swallowing over, and over again. She might as well admit it, surely Sasuke would understand? "It . . . felt a little lonely, y'know." It wasn't a lie, per se.

It shouldn't have surprised her when Sasuke let go of her only to wrap her in his arms. It felt natural to return his embrace, to rest her forehead against his chin. It was warm, much like when she first woke in his arms all those months back by the river. It was comforting, much like when she was freaking out thinking he died at the Bridge and after Grandpa had passed. It's not like she didn't do the same for him just a few days ago, right?

It was late. Naruto had left the campsite when stars began to twinkle and the Uchiha estate was at pretty much the opposite end of the village at the north-eastern wall. It was late, but there was no training waiting for them tomorrow. Not officially at least, and no missions until noon either. She wasn't in a hurry break the moment and neither was Sasuke.

They did relocate to the steps to sit beneath starlight with a bunch of discarded fire-style scrolls at their feet. Aches and pains from sparring with Kakashi do that to any genin or chunin-hopeful - even if that shinobi was the Jinchuriki of the Nine Tails, much less one without her ability to shrug off broken bones as an inconvenience.

Not one moment they let go of the other, not one word they exchanged acknowledged their embrace. No comments were given when rough hands fussed with tangled locks. No retreat sounded even as their hips practically joined at the sides, even as kunai dug into their thighs through their holster. They spoke at length of the day's events, of Kakashi-sensei's trials and the intelligence Sasuke left Sakura-chan to hopefully beat the old dog; of Naruto's mission and newfound ally in Aunt Mummy. Naruto made sure to avoid mentioning Kiba beyond her little prank with the disgusting cheese.

"It's not disgusting", retorted Sasuke with indignity, "It is rich in calcium encouraging fractures to heal without lingering pain and also boosts your immune system - both of which are vital for any shinobi's life if they wish to be the strongest - say, become Hokage or take down a particularly vile piece of scum."

Hearing that over-the-top retort made Naruto giggle. She wanted more, and so she whined playfully, "Doesn't change their awful taste, I'm telling you."

Sasuke scoffed, "Weren't you complaining my chicken was bland?"

"Well! Well- that's why you add spices and dressing! Maybe a bit of miso paste?"

Sasuke looked away, staring down at the pile of scrolls he had been studying before Naruto arrived, "Tomatoes make it flavourful enough while actually having a physiological benefit towards self improvement." If they were still in the academy, whatever reputation the ''coolest boy' may have had would've been in tatters with how awkward he sounded.

Naruto, having already suffered from drawing the wrong conclusion once today still turned a healthy shade of red as she elegantly asked Sasuke to elaborate, "Eh?!"

"Dumbass," observed Sasuke as he flicked his index finger across whisker-pocked cheeks with a reserved smile.

Chapter Text

Umino Iruka halted in his tracks with an armful of books and scrolls, his eyes blank with shock and confusion even as his lips slowly curled into a tentative, confused smile. There he was, in the dusty old Konoha Library, witnessing not just one improbable event come true, but a whole chain of unlikely coincidences that verged on what might as well be impossible.

The girl sitting beside Sasuke and making bored expressions jumped the moment she saw him, dashing across the hall and tackling him with enough force to send all his precious documents he collected over the day flying in just about every direction possible. With how gleefully she called his name, "Iruka-sensei!" and wrapped him in an almost suffocating hug, he felt he really should have recognized her.

And so, Iruka just stood there, still frozen, still processing the moment. Cautiously he returned the gesture, his mind struggling to accept the clear evidence before his eyes. His tattered old forehead protector, unmistakable blue eyes, whisker-marked cheeks that brought Naruto no end of grief from his peers and Sasuke's company all made a solid argument.

However, what if he was wrong? What if it was just an elaborate prank? After all, while still a shade of bright orange, that short yukata looked much too tasteful, much too appropriate and that was before he even acknowledged the all-too-physical reality of a kunoichi pressing herself into his unarmoured chest.

Even so, he recalled only one shinobi with such a shock of red hair who was born to Konoha and was still alive - Naruto when he practised that infiltration jutsu, Naruto when he stole the scroll of sealing and beat Mizuki. Come think of it, most likely he was protecting his reputation - studying? Naruto? In the library with Sasuke of all people? It all made sense, and respecting his privacy he quietly greeted, "Been a while, Naruto."

When his disguised student finally broke away with a rather proud grin on his borrowed face, Iruka was all the more certain it had to be him. Just as animated, just as vigorous and just as careless as he remembered. After all, if this was a disguise, then Naruto thumbing to his all-too-real mask happily proclaiming, "Yes! Yes! You recognised me! And here I was preparing a whole speech of being the one and only Uzumaki Naruto," was quite contradictory to his goals.

And yet, familiar as the movements and tone and everything were - there was a certain uncanny character to them all that he just could not shake. While tomboyish, they were far too natural for a genin merely practising the art of blending in. Far too second nature even for Konoha's brat who could trick even annoyed ANBU with his pranks, even accounting for Hatake-san's reputation as an assassin.

It gnawed at him, and Iruka had to dig deeper. "Say, Naruto," he addressed after collecting his jumbled pile of scrolls and books, "How about you join me as I sort out my research and we catch up?"

It took Sasuke only a few minutes to confirm that a certain knucklehead had absolutely no sense of responsibility, and so he stood and followed her to one of the secluded booths of the library. According to Kakashi, it was perfectly suited for tackling archive research as a team and it just so happened to be also quite functional for a pair of old friends to reminisce about private matters.

On one hand, he could not fault or blame Naruto given what he had seen of their relationship back at the academy. On the other, he was much too exhausted to deal with her lackadaisical behaviour and gross disregard of his concerns.

Slipping in beside her, Sasuke felt his annoyance settle into cooling embers the moment she cheerfully beamed in recognition of his arrival. Ignoring the feeling to the best of his ability, he frowned and stared right into her eyes hoping it would awaken the slightest hint of discipline and responsibility.

Her smile faded, a necessary sacrifice if it meant they got back to work. Instead, she crossed her arms under her chest, put on a childish pout and leaned in with a disapproving glare.

Of course, he would not concede to such juvenile displays. Never mind that he had copied her antic before he even realized it. Sensing that the dumbass would not budge, he drew out her name intently, "Naruto…"

It looked like it worked. Brows furrowing, Naruto seemed to be about to retort when all of a sudden Iruka stepped on her, "Did I… interrupt something?"

Much to his annoyance, she innocently replied, "Nope!"

Which, predictable as she was, he easily met with a chorus of, "Yes."

Sasuke watched Iruka stare at them with an exaggerated sigh. He had hoped that meant he would move on and let them get back to work so that they would be ready for when the time inevitably comes. Alas, even though the chunin-instructor looked towards him, he just presented more and more questions, "Are you two on a mission?"

Come think of it. . . he was a teacher after all, maybe he could lend him some help? As such, Sasuke saw no harm in letting him know their purpose especially as it presented an opportunity to hopefully shame Naruto into finally paying attention.

"Training," he began letting the word hang for measured effect, "At least, we would be if this loser here could go five minutes without getting distracted."

Of course, Naruto immediately began protesting, her arms flailing around as if she needed any more effort to be noticed, "I'm not getting distracted! I just wanted to say hi, y'know!"

There it was, that same cold sensation in his stomach that he had come to appreciate looking at her and her antics. However, Sasuke decided, it was no good to experience it at such a time when his dreams had told him of what awaited Naruto if she stuck around him if she did not prepare.

Death.

Much as Iruka had hoped sitting down in this isolated little corner would bring answers, reassure Naruto that nobody would see him and thus make him drop that strange jutsu, he quickly learned whatever higher powers there were that they revelled in bringing chaos wherever his student went. He really should have learnt his lessons when he placed his desperate faith in the Uchiha's arrival to finally clear things up.

Instead, just like Naruto eagerly telling him about the exercises Hatake-san had them go through and not even acknowledging the transformation or their last encounter, Sasuke had turned out equally useless as he had seemingly shut down just staring at Naruto with an inscrutable expression.

In a desperate effort, he tried to snap the pair out of it by trying to steer the conversation to more productive waters, "What about Sakura-chan and Hatake-sensei?"

Naruto finally looked at him instead. "Oh, uh… They're off sparring," she(?) began, prompting a headache as he tried to keep imagining his student's voice and shape despite the physical reality he was experiencing. The fact that she sounded barely any different, maybe a little softer and a little lighter, but still well within what his brain would expect did not make things any easier. Couldn't he have picked a more distinct disguise?!

How could Naruto be so casual about this?! When he practised such jutsu before retiring from fieldwork, it itched and stabbed and gnawed at the back of his mind and whenever he spoke, his very own voice made him uneasy. He could never understand how ANBU could use it for days on end. Was Kakashi training him for ANBU after all? After what she told him…

Wholly unbothered, Naruto laced her fingers behind their head, "Honestly dunno what gives. Like, I know Kakashi-sensei is wanting to test us individually and all that but like - y'know? Why kick me and Sakura-chan out yesterday? Why kick Sasuke out too when it was her turn?

Didn't he tell her already?! How could she be like this? How could someone who learnt such impossible jutsu be so short-sighted? He didn't mean to let his frustrations show, yet his stern voice disobeyed him and instead it formed a growl as he chastised, "Are you this slow-witted?! Unlike you, Sakura and I wouldn't be caught dead in his convenient little genjutsu trickery. And you?! You-"

"It's not my fault, you bastard!" she snapped back at him as if they weren't in a library. So close to her, he could almost feel the anger in her chakra. Or perhaps, it was just that agonizing fire throbbing against his neck.

"Ask the pervy-sage if you don't believe me you jerk! I'm trying, damn you better believe it!"

Even though most people, even Naruto with her unabashed honesty, had became an increasingly obtuse puzzle to Sasuke as he found himself growing older, he still recognized that familiar lilt. He still could match its patterns with the voice she had used when she had first told him of her issue. It wasn't anger. Shame? That did not feel entirely correct either-

Realisation made the world fade into indistinct shapes. Hurt. He desperately sought to apologise, to fix things before they were too late and so he quickly insisted, "I know."

His own words sounded distant.

How could she believe them if they felt like someone else's words? He tried to recall last night, to hell with Iruka, and reassure her with the voice only she knew of, "That is why I am here! That is why we are training together."

He had hoped it would be sufficient.

Touch. Rough, calloused. Covered in cuts that made the skin uneven, torn and imperfect. He welcomed it with all its flaws. Even as the pain persisted, he felt the heat fade as his heart finally settled. He did not screw up. At least, not beyond recovery. Why else would he feel her hands upon his forearm?

To Iruka's surprise, the two seemed to calm down as quickly as their tempers flared. They must have matured significantly since he last saw them; that was the only reasonable explanation his mind could accept. They were comrades, after all.

It was wrong of him to blame Kakashi. He was good influence after all.

Shaking his head, he resolved to not linger on such silly matters. After all, these two orphans were his responsibility and he could plainly see the suffering in the Uchiha's distant eyes. Was it an echo of Sunagakure's invasion? He did recall Sasuke carrying Naruto into the shelter hours after the fighting had started.

Given Naruto's childish fantasy still gnawed at Iruka since the funeral, it made sense a younger orphan would suffer more greatly. As such, being the eldest, he decided had a duty to fulfil.

"Hey, so - how long have you two been at it then?" he asked beginning his gamble.

Naruto looked away from Sasuke, 'his' body language increasingly uncanny as 'he' brought her index finger to her lips. Was that chap-stick? It looked messy- focus! "Since uhhh, breakfast I think? Like obviously we had to get here but-"

Sasuke followed the redhead as she looked away from him before suddenly and almost violently, he flicked his head away to watch the distant bookshelves. He made one, single exaggerated nod as he confirmed, "That sounds roughly correct."

It was perfect! He could not have hoped for better inspiration as Iruka found laughter escape him without even having to try.

Two voices spoke, incredulous and in perfect embarrassed unison, "What's so funny?!"

That did it! Iruka was certain they had snapped out of it and yet he had to keep going. He told himself it was for the kids' sake and yet a distant memory of his own childhood pranks made him feel a little bit guilty. Just a tiny bit. Wiping tears from his eyes to better sell the act, he smirked looking towards his class's broodiest student and poured oil onto the fire, "It's just that I had never imagined anyone ever succeeding in getting Naruto to sit still."

He had the Uchiha hooked, it was time to reel it in and watch his handiwork.

"Say, Sasuke-kun," he began, earning a look of ire from the boy for the honorific, "Have you ever thought of a career at the academy? You have some amazing talent!"

Whatever dark thoughts must have haunted the poor kid, Iruka believed his suggestion did its job and completely short-circuited his brain. A blank look, gaping mouth. Sasuke tried to speak, paused. He tried to speak again and paused as he clearly struggled to find words to even begin to respond to the absurd image. Finally, he looked down and awkwardly stammered, "I mean - I.. I uh - it's not like we made that much progress."

"Hey! C'mon guys! I'm here, y'know!"

He did throw Naruto to the wolves there, but beyond making his sensibilities cry as they tried to make sense of what was happening, his favourite student seemed to be doing just fine beyond looking like a tomato.

Still, maybe he could finally get answers and maybe even reassurance that his painful words after the idiot escaped the hospital were just a juvenile slip of tongue that the reality of the funeral hopefully corrected. "Of course you are, Naruto, and I am ever glad to see you. Especially after what you said at-"

Oh, so that's how it is, Naruto thought as she recognised that tone. She knew it all too well and shot Sasuke a sharp look before stepping on Iruka-sensei's words, "Oi! I'm fine damnit! Stop worrying about me, I'm asking ya"

Maybe she worded it a little too harshly, but frankly her patience had been wearing thin ever-since Sasuke had barged into her room this morning and decided she must learn to resist genjutsu.

"Well, you knoow -," Iruka began, dragging the word out. She waited patiently for him to finish, "Remember what you said after getting hurt? It's a little hard to forget you know, right? It's not something for a genin to even think about!"

She was a shinobi, dammit. Sure, she chose to dress a little nicer after learning there would be no missions or physical drills today. Sure, she appreciated being acknowledged as existing and sure, it made her feel fuzzy when people were happy to see her healthy and about. Still, she was a ninja and she gave an answer she hoped would be enough, "If I'm gonna be Hokage, I gotta act the way, y'know."

Clearly, Iruka-sensei did not want to hear those words. He frowned, and his voice carried a certain desperation, "But - after all that happened . . . Yes, Lord Third would be very proud to learn how brightly the Will of Fire burns in the new generation - . . . - Sarutobi-Sama would not want youth to be wasted, especially not of his favourite prankster."

Naruto cast her eyes down, almost in an attempt to block out the weight of those words. Of course she understood. Perhaps, some could say she understood it too well. After all, the Fourth had given his life to trap the monster she was entrusted to carry. A monster that mocked her at moments of her weakness, taunting and threatening to break free should she ever falter.

A part of her felt angry that Iruka-sensei hid behind Grandpa's made up words like that. At least Sasuke was direct, in his weird-refuses-to-explain kind of direct. She just wanted this to be over with, she wanted them to stop staring. She just wanted to get on with her day without having to lie to placate them. And so, she slipped into a caricature of her cheerful self with wide theatrical motions pointing at herself, "Yeah, yeah! I get it! I get it! But don't you worry about me Iruka-sensei because Uzumaki Naruto does not fail, mhm! Mhm! Believe it!"

"No you don't!" Sasuke yelled, drawing untoward attention to the booth. He did not care. The fire returned. While he could contain the blaze, the inferno consumed Sasuke and before he realised he had her wrist in his hands, applying too much force. Too much? No, not enough. This way the idiot can't run off and get herself killed out of childish fantasies of invincibility. This way his scum of a brother can't come and take her away.

The wince, the furrowed brows. Anger? Pain? Whatever it was, it told him he had gone too far. Again. For the third damn this day, he went too far. He wanted to stop but he his burning muscles told him otherwise. Even as he had tried to focus, to snap out of it all he felt was his jaw aching with far too much tension yearning to break free and act. He wanted to stop, but he was too weak. Just barely, he contained his roar to a low growl as he begged her, "Stop being so damn reckless you stupid loser!"

Despite Sasuke's vice grip, Naruto broke free with one firm movement. Seeing the shock on his face, Naruto took her chance and retreated deeper into the booth and began to rub her arm. Were she civilian, or even a normal shinobi, she was certain that would have left an ugly bruise. As unacceptable as it was, she understood. It wasn't him. And yet, she kept her distance even as she found pity in her heart.

She reasoned it was to let the curse settle, to avoid feeding into the same demons that urged her to rip those who hurt Iruka and Sasuke to ribbons. More likely, even if she refused to admit it out loud, she was spiteful. She kept silent after all when the bastard let those senbon pierce his neck to save her. She kept silent after all when he thought to play hero and tell her to run when Gaara's curse turned his body into a monster. She decided, not anymore.

She could almost taste the venom in her own words as she replied, "You are one to talk."

Miraculously, that got through his head and with a hiss he relented, his shoulders collapsing. His eyes stared down at the distance that rose between them. "That's . . . different", he muttered quietly in a broken voice.

Naruto made sure to emphasize each word clear as day, "It is not."

Dammit, if just his absence one morning pained her so much how could he not realise throwing his life away would not devastate her?

One deep breath, and another.

"Iruka-sensei," Naruto began after managing to calm down somewhat. "D'you remember what happened with Mizuki?"

Her sensei frowned, looking down to his fingers in his lap. There was a sigh before he answered, "I could not bear to lose you."

It was her turn to sigh. "I don't wanna lose my precious people either, y'know!?"

"You're still a genin! You should have hid with the others!"

"I'm gonna be Chunin!" Naruto countered without a hint of doubt. Grinning, she added, "Plus y'know - I got big ol' Chief Toady as my buddy!"

"Chief… toady?"

She was right, Sasuke assured himself as his mind raced trying to recall the countless exercises Mitarashi had him learn before the exams. Beneath the table, he joined his fingers to aid with meditation to regain control over his body. Fear. He finally recognized what his body had been screaming into his deaf ears. He could not afford to feel fear, lest the whispers tempt him too much. He closed his eyes and tried to block out the conversation between the two.

It wasn't too successful.

Something about Jiraiya. A retelling of their fight he wished was just exaggeration. For a moment, he almost felt jealous even if she made sure to embellish his pitiful performance against the sand monster that forced his seal to loosen.

Time felt like it had slipped sideways for a moment, both still and scrambling ever onwards.

He did not know how long had passed when he heard the girl go on about legacies. It sounded like Naruto, alright. He latched onto that thought. Naruto, Hokage. A memory of her hands, of the many days and nights they spent sparring and drilling and practising and competing since becoming a team. She was his equal, so why was he so afraid for her? Stupid dead-last somehow even managed to learn a jutsu only the Sannin could pull off on their own.

Sure, it had nearly ruined her. Sure, he had to carry her limp body afterwards all the way to shelter and then watch her stumble and struggle in her broken body. A sight, he shamefully admitted, he wanted to avoid seeing during her recovery. He owed Sakura his gratitude.

Whenever Sasuke had began to feel hopeful, something had always gone terribly wrong.

Uncle Shisui and his scum of a brother, Zabuza, Orochimaru, Gaara.

And yet, when she returned to his side, when he felt her familiar fingers slip between his, when he felt her gentle strength hold his hands - when he felt himself collapse against her shoulder, what other emotion was there to feel?

"Not well," Iruka observed and paused to watch the strange movement between his two students. Averting his gaze to deny his ridiculous conclusions he returned to the matter at hand, "He is . . . young and while he intellectually understands he's not coming back. . . Moving on is proving to be . . . rather . . . difficult."

Her voice brought his eyes back to the girl that was meant to be Uzumaki Naruto. Ever helpful, she offered, "Do you think it'd help if I-"

If the growing evidence was indeed correct, it would just complicate things. It was not his place to say as such though, and instead Iruka tried to assure his student with known truths, "Don't worry - I've… been there. I'm helping as much as I can so that he's ready for academy come autumn. Plus, it's not like he didn't stop seeing you as his rival and with how much maturity you've shown in dealing with his grandfather's sacrifice - he might even think you weren't 'grieving appropriately'."

Iruka hoped his smile helped sell the idea.

With uncharacteristic humility, Naruto insisted in reply as she(?) looked towards Sasuke, "Only thanks to my comrades." Those blue eyes lingered far too long for Iruka to keep lying to himself. The girl continued on without acknowledgement of his stare, "And I imagine having to explain to him that it's still me would just complicate things too much."

Iruka felt too much spit in his mouth, so he swallowed. Even after it felt dry, he kept on swallowing. Forcing another smile, he began to apologise, "I err - I… I wasn't going to uhm-"

With her one free hand, Naruto shrugged, "You get used to it pretty quickly, y'know."

Whether his head will split from this headache, his face burn from shame or the answer shatter his world, it was time to finally get his answers. Taking the opportunity, he pressed Naruto, "So uh - in that case. What's going on? I thought you were in disguise and yet…"

"Nope! All me! Say, say - you remember the graduation exam?" she(?) began, watching him intently and waiting until he nodded. Of course he did, stupid brat gave him concussion with that indecent, scandalous transformation. Once he gave his affirmation, she continued, "Pervy-Sa- Jiraiya-Sensei helped me… uh, figure out the jutsu."

The old pervert? If he did anything to Naruto - Iruka swore he'd kill him, Sannin or not. However, if that was the case, why was Naruto so comfortable? He needed answers, and perhaps if he worded things just right he might get them. "It's quite the impressive Jutsu, but I'm not sure I understand why you'd need the Seal-Master though? Plenty of Ninja specialising in infiltration have learnt ways to create True Transformations."

Naruto smiled brightly as she asked in turn. "They need constant focus though, don't they?"

Iruka nodded. The fact that Naruto could hold it for so long even as a Genin was quite impressive! However, why was he even surprised? Kid could cast forbidden Jutsu that would kill most jonin without breaking a sweat!

As he was about to praise her(?), the girl raised a finger and as if reading his mind she cheerfully exclaimed, "It's permanent."

Permanent? That made no sense! Sure, he knows of medical ninjutsu and sure he's read of the First Hokage manipulating trees into buildings but reshaping one's own body like that?

"But - you changed back when you were practising it, no? You… uh… even turned into what might as well have been my sister-"

"Mizuki," she quickly added.

Mizuki - so, something about the Nine Tails?

Without waiting for him, Naruto went on, "Using special chakra and uhm… 'endurance', I can keep changing."

"That… doesn't… That doesn't explain anything, I'm afraid."

"Well uh… It's easiest when I'm feeling strong emotions. Old geezer taught me to summon the Chief Toady by tossing me off a cliff, y'know."

Sasuke snapped out of his reverie, joining Iruka in their united cry of disbelief, "He did what?!"

"Hey, it worked! And I'm sure he'd have saved me if I couldn't do it, I'm sure of it!" With an awkward chuckle, Naruto waited for the two to settle back down before continuing, "Anyhow - turns out… I felt pretty strongly about my body and uh-"

Strongly about his body, her body? "Like, uh - like your voice belonged to someone else?" Iruka asked. Could Naruto have felt the way infiltrators do while disguised?

She blinked in surprise, her voice bending with misplaced emotion as she suddenly asked, "Wait? Do you also feel-"

Oh no, he had to nip that in the bud. Rubbing his neck, he quickly cut her off, "Oh? No - it's… It's just I've tried learning for bodyguard assignments. Could never… get used to it, even if I had had only changed little things. Just half a day, and the fact my hands felt too small drove me up the wall."

"Aaaaah," she looked at him in a way that almost made Iruka regret bringing this all up. Too foxy, too mischievous. "You're the best, Iruka-sensei! I'll steal that, eheh."

"St-steal what?"

"Saying my old body felt like I was on a too long infiltration mission, duh!"

He did not trust her to keep it at that, but he did not dare pry any further. He'd rather move on and so he asked cautiously, "So you'd… live as a kunoichi?" Despite his uncertainty, that bright smile and all-too-animated nod that sent her hair flying all over made it impossible not to smile in turn. Little brother, little sister. Same deal.

However, if she was so certain … He had to make sure, "I can understand it… having strong emotions. At least, I can imagine. I probably can't understand. Anyway. If that's the case, how'd you turn back so easily? You still looked like you were uhh… Like the way you were born at the exams."

He went too far, and he felt his tongue hiss as he braced for consequences. Cheer faded and Naruto looked down to her lap, mumbling, "Fear's a … pretty strong emotion too. It should have felt wrong, y'know? Like, think of how-"

Before Iruka could pitch in to shut down that line of thought, to fulfil his duty as the brother he should have been, Sasuke moved faster and began poking her whiskered cheeks. "Idiot," he began in a tired, yet far-too-affectionate voice. "Being a tomato suits you too damn well for it to be wrong."

He had to admit, she did look like one especially when she was blushing so deeply. Reassured, Iruka tried to relax and yet found an incessant need to move, to shuffle and to adjust his pose. Was he sitting too long? Surely not, it could not have been longer than an hour, maybe two. As false silence lingered after the last exchange, whispers exchanged he could not decipher, realisation had struck Iruka.

"I should get back to work," he addressed the pair with a small smile watching their faces. Disappointment when it came to Naruto, relief quickly masked by hiding his mouth behind his fingers in case of Sasuke.

With how excited the former boy was to see him, Iruka could not bear to be the cause of such a frown. After collecting his things, he offered in a warm voice he had hoped didn't show his awkwardness, "You should come visit me when the academy year starts, Naruto."

That worked. Not even realising she shoved Sasuke aside as she whipped an arm towards him, Naruto declared, "You bet I will, mhm!"

With one thoroughly annoyed Uchiha as his sign, Iruka made his retreat.

Naruto slumped onto the table with a fake yawn once Iruka was out of earshot. So much for catching up - she barely even had time to tell him all about Gamakichi and Gamatasu and their silly little antics. Hmm, maybe when she visits him in the academy. That sounded like a pretty cool plan - those kids would be pretty damn impressed! It was the perfect plan in fact, figure out when it's Konohamaru's class and—

Sasuke poked her again. Right, focus on the present. "Fine, fine!" she groaned, reaching over to grab a random scroll without getting up from the table, "I'll get back to work dammit."

The proud part of her winced reading the label, 'Preparatory exercises for your first C-rank mission: Genjutsu Threats." Frustratingly, it seemed even showing initiative did nothing to sate her annoying comrade so she looked up at him and met his stare, "I'm on it, okay? Sheesh!"

The bastard rolled his dark eyes at her. Surely he had to be doing that intentionally, right? His words snapped her right out of her misguided reverie, "We should head home. We drew too many nosy idiots."

He sounded hurried, yet Naruto could sense no harm or danger amidst their onlookers. Plus, she did want to get this stupid exercise over-with so she can get back to more practical matters. "Does it matter? Didn't you just snap at me for getting distracted, eh~?"

Sasuke sighed, tugging at her sleeves as he elaborated, "We'll borrow the books and scrolls and continue back home. Now, come on you dolt."

Working on these scrolls in her borrowed bedroom sounded like a decent enough argument. Boring as they were, they were an acceptable substitute for her radio back home.

However, Naruto realised she had had the initiative. Smiling ever so sweetly, she replied, "Buy me some ramen first if you're gonna be like that."

"I'll buy you a premium cup."

"Ichiraku."

"… We'll ask for them prepare take out."

"You'll assemble it."

"You're awful."

Chapter Text

Naruto had long thought Hinata-chan was weird and confusing. However, compared to Sasuke, her mousey friend was as simple as a kunai hitting its target. After all, when they'd gone out with Kiba to have some ramen she looked quite happy throughout their day together if you ignored her falling asleep - which frankly - made sense given the hell Neji had put her through.

However, her teammate had had no such excuse beyond the thorough beating Kakashi-sensei had given him yesterday.

She'd thought to show him that she cared by ordering ramen rich in fish and crabs and soy and all that fancy stuff Sasuke loved to fill his fridge with, and yet rather than thank her for being considerate he had just stopped talking and stared down at his bowl like it had insulted him. To make it worse, he'd abandoned her for the rest of the day to suffer chakra theory on her own and without anything to distract her!

And so, what if he was going to be mad that she took an afternoon stroll through the district rather than keep on melting her brain with books written by stuffy old nobodies who talked down on her? So be it! Still, just to be safe she took one of the books with her to at least look busy should he catch her.

On second thought however, she'll be a good student and go back-

"Heeey, Naru-chan~!" Jiraiya called as she faced the outer gates of the Uchiha compound.

Dammit, she was too slow! Nowhere to run, she hung her shoulders and turned to face Jiraiya with a sigh. "Pervy sage! I'd told you not to call me that!"

Her master had crossed his arms and laughed at her, his theatrics almost making her miss the rocky tile he had slipped back into a conveniently-shaped gap with his stupidly tall geta. Still grinning, Jiraiya said, "Only if you stop calling me Pervy-sage, hrmf!"

In his dreams.

"Someone's being quiet~! Weren't you supposed to be off on a mission? Sneaking off with the Uchiha like this, oh my~"

Whatever thoughts Naruto may have had of the old hermit's suspicious behaviour immediately evaporated thanks to his words as she felt her cheeks catch on fire. Bursting with embarrassment, and anger at her privacy being invaded, she launched the thick book right at the ugly toad's oversized nose.

Amidst angry huffs and puffs, she demanded answers, "None of your damn business, dammit! . . . But we're training, I'm telling you! . . . What are you even doing here?!"

It was difficult to believe that this man was supposed to have trained the Fourth Hokage and was a student of the Third as the book had smacked him straight in the face without any resistance, knocking him flat on his back with a loud thump.

Naruto had almost felt bad watching him roll around nursing his nose. Almost. If anything, he got off lucky.

With one final groan, Jiraiya sat back up with his legs crossed and looked up at Naruto with a squint. It lingered only for a moment before he rubbed the back of his head and lazily explained, "Oh! Me? Well - I heard that there was a bird of rather unusual feathers in the area and I had to check it out."

Amidst her embarrassment, Naruto found her mind still race with her master's response and her expression turned more thoughtful. Bird of unusual feathers? Is this meant to be code? They'd never agreed on such code. However, don't birds eat snakes? And snakes represent treachery…

As if reading her mind, Jiraiya presented Naruto with what might pass for a proud smile.

At a loss, Naruto finally shrugged and tapped her lips as she mused out loud, "There was one little birdy when I'd first arrived." Seeing the pervy sage nod, she moved to elaborate by pointing towards the dirt road transitioning into the tiled walkway as she continued, "Almost tripped and uh… woke up a little birdy. Poor thing was going all 'caw caw' as it flew away, y'know."

Concern flashed, however briefly, on Jiraiya's features as he listened and followed along. "Did Sakura-chan and Kakashi-kun ever come along, or has it been just the two of you out here?"

"Just the two of us. Well - Aunt Bandages had come to escort me home last night, but it was just a shadow clone and I-"

Jiraiya interrupted, "Aunt… bandages?"

"Oh! Kurenai-sensei!" Ignoring the pervy sage's sigh, she finished, "And I'm pretty sure nobody dared follow us beyond the lake."

Her sensei had fallen silent, and sat there still like a piece of rock.

"… Uh, pervy-sage? Is something the matter?"

"I gotta go." Jiraiya suddenly jumped to his feet and dug into one of his many pockets, presenting her with a set of scrolls, explaining, "But before I forget, have these mhm? Show them to Kakashi-kun."

"Should we uh…-"

"Study them, yes! But - no, don't worry about it. We still got time."

"Time for what?" Sasuke asked from between the open wooden gates.

Naruto, of course startled by Sasuke's arrival, threw the armful of scrolls into the air and began to juggle them in a frenetic attempt to avoid ruining whatever cool jutsu awaited them. By the time things calmed down and the chance to catch her teammate up presented itself, Jiraya had long since vanished like the bastard he was.

Sasuke just rolled his eyes at her antics and walked over to pick up the abused, dust-covered and somewhat dented book on genjutsu with a frustrated grumble before proceeding to try and swat it clean. To Naruto's surprise, he didn't berate her and just idly remarked, "… Why couldn't any of our sensei behave like normal people."

"Is snake lady just as bad?" asked Naruto.

Sasuke just gave her a look of disbelief and then sighed. "You met her at the exams," he began and paused for dramatic effect with a little shudder ,"That wasn't an act."

"Sheesh. Sakura-chan got it lucky with Kurenai-sensei. She's nice."

Sasuke made a sound somewhere between a chuckle and a scoff and began to idly page through the beaten little book. "How's your training coming along anyhow? Did the weirdo come here about that?"

It took Naruto a moment to process Sasuke's question and shrugged, "Naaaah. Just ran into him staring at the floor while getting some fresh air."

"… That does not suspicious at all."

Suspicious? Oh! The tile! Naruto dashed past Sasuke to where Jiraiya was standing and begun to try and pry up the little stone tiles making up the walkway. Which one was it? Ugh, she really should've paid more attention!

"Naruto…?" Sasuke asked as he walked over to stare at her in confusion before snatching one of the tiles from her hand to look at it curiously.

"Ooh! Do that again."

"Do what again?"

"Wiggle it quickly into the sun!"

And so, Sasuke did and Naruto was now confident she wasn't just imagining things! Each time the shadows shifted and rolled, it was almost like there was something written on the underside of the rocky thing but it faded far too quickly before she had a chance to read it.

"See? See?"

"I don't see anything, although…," Sasuke trailed off with a frown before closing his eyes. With his Sharingan activated a small smile fought its way onto his lips as he remarked, "…Good job, Naruto. "

Naruto tried to squash the urge to wiggle hearing the praise and tried to focus on the task at hand. With some success, she asked, "What's it say?"

"I. . . I don't know," Sasuke admitted after staring at it for a good five minutes. "The chakra signature is very faint, barely enough to sustain the cipher genjutsu and the seal does not look anything like an explosive tag or a weapon summon."

"Could you draw it for me?"

The two had retreated to the meditation hall and sat upon the floor amidst a careless pile of far too many books and scrolls. Naruto's handiwork, of course; proof of her diligent hard work! But that was not important, not any more beyond a frustrated sigh when they had entered from Sasuke as he wondered out loud how he was going to explain the creases and smudges to the librarian. What was important instead was Sasuke painstakingly painting diagrams onto a few spare parchments in repeat attempts to replicate the seal his Sharingan had witnessed.

"You're the Seal-Master's student. Do any of these look familiar to you?" Sasuke asked after his third attempt, finally looking somewhat satisfied with his handiwork.

Naruto grabbed the still drying parchment and carefully shifted it around, trying her best not to cause the ink to smear or flow in unwanted directions. While most of it she struggled to recognize, there were undeniable patterns she had become intimately familiar with during her preparation for the exams.

"Looks like a… summoning jutsu with a…," Naruto began, tapping her lips searching for the word, "moved..? destination?"

Sasuke looked up at her, tilting his head in confusion. He asked, "What do you mean 'moved' destination?"

"Oh, right! You weren't there during the exams," Naruto puffed slightly. "Like, when you normally summon an animal it appears over the scroll or wherever you did the formula, mhm?"

A single, albeit uncertain nod.

"Pervy-Sage taught me a modification where I can like… mark a specific spot so that I can drop toads on people without them realizing it!"

"And it works in the same way?"

"Sorta! There's stuff that doesn't make any sense to me, but I'm sure of these two components, believe me!"

"I believe you but - I do not recall my father's documents mentioning any sort of wards outside the district proper. It's impossible to avoid and quite useless after all…"

"Someone else must've put it there?"

"Your master, maybe? Or Kakashi-sensei?"

"Maaaybe, but - wait! The old hermit asked me if I had seen any weird birds and like…"

"Not a lot of animals if any since…" Sasuke did not finish, his red eyes fading back to their natural black as he stared off behind Naruto.

"… So the birdy I saw was a summoning contract that was made to appear in the canopy?"

"Your master is toads, Kakashi is dogs and Mitarashi is snakes…"

"And pervy sage looked pretty worried after I told him I am the only person to visit this place other than you."

Sasuke almost hissed as he took a sudden breath and joined his fingers over his lap. Naruto let him be.

Instead, she went to inspect the three scrolls Jiraiya gave her, probably one for each of them. Inside one, she'd found familiar patterns of a summoning jutsu but without any sentences to indicate what, much less a contract for her to sign to begin with. Within the other two, she found herself lost from the get-go beyond recognizing the call for a blood component.

There was also that familiar shimmer of a cipher in all of them, but Sasuke interrupted her before she could even begin to try and figure it out, "Anything interesting?"

"Some sort of summoning jutsu for me. Dunno what yours and Sakura-chan's are supposed to be though, feels like there's a genjutsu hiding a bunch of text."

Sasuke once again closed his eyes before touching his temples with a pained expression. Through his teeth, he conceded,"Let's leave it to Kakashi to figure it out. I'd rather… not aggravate the seal again."

"Does Kakashi-sensei know?"

"Mhrm. Don't worry about it, I had just pushed myself too far yesterday. It is good exercise." After a few moments, Sasuke's shoulders drooped with a sigh, "I do wish to apologize for lashing out at you."

Naruto shrugged it off, "I know how it is." In fact, she offered Sasuke a grin that made the boy pull away instinctively, "Heeeey… didn't you say you were training me for Genjutsu?"

"Yes, that is… That is correct," he answered suspiciously. "However, after witnessing your-"

"I could show you some of the tricks the geezer taught me to keep the stupid fox under control as payment!"

"It's different-"

"Is it? I suppose we both were kinda… out of it back on the Bridge."

"What do you mean?"

"You remember when Kakashi-sensei made the two of you act all weird and stuff?"

"You told us of the Nine-Tails."

"Mrhm! You're worried over the stupid creeps stalking me, so you lose control when low on chakra! I'd thought you had died and well -"

Sasuke nodded, his frown still lingering as he fortunately interrupted. "I suppose it makes sense." Hands planted on his ankles he looked up at the ceiling and mumbled something under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Just funny to think it's the kyuubi showing an Uchiha how to keep things under control."

Despite the implications, Naruto found herself laughing as she said, "Bet the weirdos would have a field day with it!" Seeing the hint of a frown on Sasuke's face try and get him moping again, Naruto continued unabashed, "Although, given how quickly you wanted to get away from the library I'm pretty sure there's already a bunch of stupid rumours~."

It worked. At least, she hoped it worked as the look of shock and embarrassment had swiftly replaced that frown as a finger rose to point at her in shaky accusation.

Maybe she had spent far too long around the pervy sage, but she had to admit it worked like a charm when he used it on her. Maybe her motivations weren't as pure as Jiraiya's, but she continued to press the matter, "Come now, is it that bad?"

"I mean no! I mean - just-," Sasuke took a deep breath in one desperate attempt to keep his composure. "I just do not want to deal with people. It was bad enough back in the academy and that was when they were harmless."

Naruto found herself smiling at the reply, shaking her head as she replied, "If so, why the funny face over the ramen? Was just the two of us, I thought you'd like it."

"I did like it," Sasuke quickly replied. Too quickly in fact. His movements weren't too subtle either as he pushed away from Naruto and brought his knees over his chest. There it was, that same frown when he spoke of his father earlier.

"You'd prefer if you were the one that got me and Sakura food?" Naruto asked in a soft, quiet voice.

"Please. Or at least, when it's just the two of us at home."

Naruto made one firm nod before promising, "Won't pry."

"Thank you."

Chapter Text

"Hey! Hey! What is it? C'mon, don't be like this Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto demanded impatiently as she bounced around Kakashi-sensei in hopes of stealing a glance at whatever cool jutsu or secret message the pervy-sage hid from her yesterday.

Sakura-chan, covered in a whole rainbow of green, purple and blue bruises, was rather irritable this morning. As such, on top of rather rudely brushing off Naruto's far too many questions when they met up, she practically growled when she grabbed her jacket's collar and yanked her back down to Earth.

Sounding utterly exasperated, Sakura begged, "Naruto! Just calm down already, dammit!"

Rather than take Naruto's side as he was supposed to, Sasuke just scoffed and crossed his arms as he leant back against his tree. "She has a point, you know. It's not like the scrolls will run away you idiot," he said sounding more amused than annoyed.

Didn't this bastard decide she must learn to resist Sharingan-empowered genjutsu overnight? Oh he better watch out! Nightmares or not; curse seal or not - she will rub his own words right back into his face! The only reason he was safe from her at the moment is because Naruto was gracious and would not flaunt her teammate's vulnerabilities out in the open.

Seeing the face Naruto was making, Sasuke responded with a smirk before pointedly ignoring her and asked instead, "So, Sakura. Did everything work out as we've planned, then?"

Not keen to let Naruto go, Sakura just pulled her along as she turned to Sasuke with a wince that screamed 'please let me rest'.

With a sigh, Sasuke nodded and glanced up at the clouds.

"Now, now Sakura-chan," Kakashi looked up after frowning at whatever he had just read. "Don't be such a spoil-sport. A shinobi must endure whatever it takes to support their teammates, or had Naruto and Sasuke not tell you everything they had learned?"

With a groan, Sakura found herself admitting in a tiny voice, "It was quite helpful, yes," before looking to Kakashi with a vengeful frown. With newfound strength, she yanked Naruto around to face him head on making wide gestures before pointing her finger right at Kakashi, "Actually, how about I tell them all about the face you made when you walked right into that-"

Seeing Kakashi protectively check his satchel for his copy of those pervy novels, Naruto looked to Sakura who gave her a mischievous little wink.

"My, my - remember it is quite the sin to betray your comrades, Sakura-chan," Kakashi-sensei interrupted in a voice that sounded far too sweet and friendly. Smiling with his single eye, he continued, "After all I'm quite certain you wouldn't like me telling Sasuke-kun about what happened during the bell test, do you?"

Finally, Sakura let go of Naruto then dramatically crossed her arms with a huff, "That's different! It was my first day out of the academy!"

"Wait, what happened?" Naruto asked, rubbing her neck now that the collar wasn't choking her ever so slightly.

"None of your business!" Sakura responded, her blush overpowering her colourful bruises to turn her a solid pink blob.

Sasuke looked at Naruto, then Kakashi, then Sakura, then back to Naruto before settling on Kakashi. "Don't I get a say in what my likeness gets used for?" he whined quietly.

Entirely unfazed, Kakashi just kept smiling before deciding to apparently pour oil all over his genin. Looking over to Naruto, he mused out loud, "My, such a shame your Sharingan makes you immune to most of my genjutsu. . . Maybe I should ask Jiraiya-sama to help next time we're sparring."

Gulping audibly, Sasuke quickly joined Sakura-chan in staring off into the distance with an awkward expression. Sounding uncharacteristically meek he said, "Let us just move on…"

"Agreed!" Kakashi declared sounding far too satisfied. He folded up the scrolls at last and wove a complex set of far too many seals over them for Naruto to follow. Without explanation, he promptly handed them out.

Naturally, Naruto got the summoning scroll. One quick glance prompted an equally quick and disturbed question, "…Human?!"

"Jiraiya-sama never tell you how he met the toads?"

Tapping her bottom lip in thought, Naruto shook her head. Nope. Nothing. "Prolly got confused for one while doing his research and they adopted him?"

With a chuckle teetering on a giggle, Kakashi shook his head and explained, "He messed up and accidentally summoned himself at the mythical land of toads, Mount Myoboku." Once Sakura and Sasuke finished inspecting their own set, he continued, "This scroll is a formalized means of executing the same mistake. A reverse summoning jutsu."

Naruto grinned down at her at what had to be her new jutsu. Summoning humans? She could already see the fancy tricks she could pull off with her clones! No more firewalls to hide behind for Sasuke, nope!

Kakashi cleared his throat, staring down at Naruto until she looked back at him. "Normally, only humans of exceptional skill can summon others, and in exceptional cases, themselves across great distances intentionally," he went on to explain his gaze lingering upon her before suddenly looking away with a wistful expression. "Lord Fourth, Namikaze Minato was known for such feats. For the rest of us, we will have to make do with our contracted partners smuggling us through the dimensional void."

"If only the fourth could summon another human directly, am I supposed to like - call Gama-san and have him read this scroll? That seems a little too much… hard to do while fighting, y'know? "

"Good thinking!" Kakashi-sensei declared with almost far too much excitement in his voice. "But no, thankfully not in this case. I'm sure you have noticed that these scrolls seem quite rich in chakra, right Sakura-chan?"

"It's. . . quite overwhelming to hold them," Sakura meekly admitted, keeping hers bound and closed after her initial inspection.

"As you have surely learnt during the academy and witnessed at the Chunin Exams," Kakashi now looked to Sasuke as he kept going. "It is possible to seal weapons, fire and sound within papyrus made of specially grown tress. With a drop of blood-"

"You can seal a summoning jutsu so that anyone can use it without a contract!" Naruto proudly interrupted, crossing her arms in an effort to look wise and accomplished. With an image of Jiraiya standing on his toads coming to her mind, she very quickly dropped her arms and shoved them behind her back before shuffling awkwardly to distance herself from that image. Gross!

Well, no matter - she wasn't gonna let the geezer ruin her moment of greatness, "Say, say! Who does this scroll summon, huh?"

"Jiraiya-sama."

Never mind! Naruto desperately ran up to her teammate, trying to shove the scroll into his hands. She didn't care how pathetic she sounded as she begged,"… Sasukeeeee! Can we trade scrolls? Please? Please?"

Sasuke looked equally horrified and began pushing Naruto as far as his arms could reach before replacing himself with a very disappointed squirrel. It took a few moments for Naruto to realize Sasuke wasn't supposed to be covered in fur or biting her hands.

It was just enough time for her useless comrade to hide above her in the canopy. Safe and sound, he made absolutely sure she knew she couldn't rely on him for anything! He said,"Nope! No thanks! It's your master, you deal with it!"

Kakashi looked to Sakura for help, and after finding none he slumped over before clearing his throat. "You are to keep these scrolls on your person at all times. I will take no 'buts'."

"… But why? I don't want to accidentally summon the pervy sage! What if I am-"

"Have some self-respect" Sakura cried, running over to gag Naruto with her palm. Glaring through her aching limbs, she quietly chided, "Girls aren't supposed to talk about such loudly!"

Tilting her head, Naruto whispered in turn, "I can't talk about taking a shower?"

. . .

"Sakura-chan? What did you think I-"

"Shh!"

At this point, Kakashi buried his face into his palm looking absolutely done with everything.

Still hiding in his tree, Sasuke cleared his throat sounding just as desperate for them to move on. "So, Naruto gets a personal one-time Jiraiya summon. What am I supposed to do with this jolt of lightning? Why don't I get a 'Summon Anko' scroll, if I understand these scrolls' purpose correctly?"

With a grateful sigh, Kakashi took the opportunity, "As I've said - keep these scrolls on hand at all times. While sealed jutsu are far easier to release than weaving the chakra yourself, it still requires a baseline expertise and teaching you and Sakura-chan summoning Jutsu would undermine their utility as a call for help."

"What utility is there in a pocket pervert?" Naruto asked, staring at her scroll suspiciously. Like sure, it'd be nice to be able to reliably get a hold of the old geezer when she got stuck on the intricacies of summoning jutsu, but still!

Forcing a bunch of very loud coughs, Kakashi waited patiently for the three of them to stop exchanging confused looks and non-committal shrugs. Without a hint of levity, he finally explained, "If you get attacked or in trouble, these ensure you have a friend on your side as fast as possible in event that I am… incapacitated."

"Isn't there a clear flaw to this? From what I understand, Sasuke-kun and I don't get to do anything beyond just notifying what I assume is Jiraiya-sama and Naruto can just… summon him outright?"

"And that is why you should try and stick together whenever possible outside the walls or once night falls. Either that, or have a trusted Jonin Sensei as company. Recall that Naruto complained that it's a little too much to use in combat, yes? For once she was spot on."

"So it is like Ino-Shika-Cho?" Sakura asked. After Kakashi gestured, she elaborated, "Ours are quick to cast, and then we have to ensure Naruto has time to perform the summoning?"

"Exactly. Should you fail to buy time for the summoning ritual, help will still be on the way. Hopefully, before things get really ugly."

Naruto really should have bought more outfits last week. Sure, she was quite handy with the thread to the point that Sasuke even let her patch the holes her shuriken left in his shirt but there was a pretty big difference between little nicks and tears… and a gaping, charred hole where her elbows should have been.

No matter, Sakura-chan paid for dinner once more and by the Gods was it delicious! She never imagined she'd be sitting there wiggling in unison with her former crush slurping dango off of long skewers like it was nothing! If only Sasuke could learn to appreciate their amazing flavour.

"Say, say - Sasuke!" Naruto piped up as she watched him painstakingly pick away at his plate of dumplings.

Kakashi, almost prescient of the chaos on her mind by this point, took cover behind his perverted book's pages.

"Does the snake-lady like these things?"

"Mitarashi?" Sasuke raised a brow and shrugged. "Why?"

Setting down her skewer, Naruto rubbed the back of her head. Surely, they'll bow before her wits! And if not, maybe it would help Sasuke appreciate the sweet flavours? After all, he did sound quite grateful for her help with the cursed seal. Grinning, she finally explained, "Well, she is called Anko."

"… Naruto that's quite low even for you," Sakura groaned, hanging her head.

"What! I love ramen, y'know. If she is anything like me, then she must absolutely love dango!"

With a sullen expression, Sasuke whispered in her direction, "… Please never imply you two are at all similar."

Mischief replaced concern for their sensei and as such, Kakashi offered Sasuke a smile as he spoke, "Yup. Like Naruto loves her fishcake-laden ramen, Anko-san spends quite the fortune at this fine establishment whenever I see her return from a mission!" Seemingly satisfied with Sasuke finally getting some healthy colour to his cheeks, he cleared his throat and promptly addressed Sakura, "Speaking of Mitarashi-sensei. I think it's about time you branch out from using only genjutsu, Sakura-chan."

"Hah!" Naruto said, poking her tongue out at Kakashi before continuing, "I knew it! She caught you in a genjutsu!"

And just like that, whatever warmth Kakashi had radiated throughout the day towards Naruto evaporated in a singular instant. Was that killer-intent she felt as he spoke? "… Don't make me assign you to Might Gai's team for additional training."

With a gulp, Naruto said. "Aye, sensei."

Despite the terror that overtook Naruto, Sakura gave her a proud little wink that had made it all worth it! Once Naruto returned a smile, she went on to looking at Kakashi, "Bukijutsu?"

"I was thinking of some elemental releases instead for a flexible mid-long range option."

Sakura then glanced between Naruto and Sasuke, dropping her head, "Elemental jutsu? But I am not part of a clan like Sasuke here."

"That doesn't matter. Are you saying your parents never tested your affinity?"

"Uh… no?"

"Didn't they attend the academy?"

"Technically," Sakura said before rolling her eyes. With a sigh, she continued glancing over at Naruto, "Dad never graduated from the academy and mom has… a rather skewed view of what it means to be Shinobi."

Kakashi crossed his arms, staring down at his lap. "We'll have to get you tested then. I suppose this means we'll have to start with C-rank jutsu. How troublesome…"

All of a sudden, Naruto lost interest in watching Sasuke stare at his food in disbelief and said, "Oi! Oi! Elemental releases? Can you teach me too, Kakashi-sensei? Please-please?"

"Naruto, don't you already have too much on your plate with space-time Ninjutsu?"

"I just finished my serving!" Naruto declared, and realizing she was still hungry she called over the counter, "Hey! Hey! Hana-chan! Can I please have a bowl of Anmitsu?" Satisfied with the attendant smile of acknowledgement, she looked back to Kakashi-sensei, "Also, what do you mean space-time Ninjutsu?"

Her sensei pinched his nose as if she'd just said something very stupid, "Jiraiya-sama, your methods are truly worthy of a sage…" Looking back to Naruto, he explained, "Summoning Jutsu, and means to modify summoning formula to do whatever you did to beat Neji."

"Wait you saw?!"

"Gai filled me in." Somehow, Kakashi both sounded awfully proud and frustrated at the same time. "As I said, you already have plenty of advanced techniques to work on and I'd prefer if you didn't dilute your efforts too much."

"Nonsense! I can manage just fine. I'm a quick-learner, remember?" Seeing no change in her sensei's expression, Naruto pouted before an idea struck her before continuing, "Say! You're teaching Sakura-chan elemental ninjutsu to make sure she isn't vulnerable without my taijutsu or Sasuke's ninjutsu, right? Right?"

Kakashi squinted down at Naruto, his voice dangerously sharp as he confirmed, "Yes, that is correct."

"Well! I have a big flaw too, y'know! See?" Naruto gestured to her scorched outfit. "Damn bastard's plate here is overflowing."

Shaking his head to dispel whatever images gave him such a harrowed expression, Sasuke finally joined the fray, "What even is that supposed to mean?"

"Fire and lightning! It's pretty unfair, y'know! I can hardly close the distance, dammit!"

"As if you need anything beyond that stupid mountain-sized toad of yours! It's practically cheating!"

"Oi! I don't get to use Chief Toady against you! He'd be all pissed and might eat me, y'know! " Acting as if she had a pipe in her hands, Naruto imitated in a gruff voice, "What is this you stupid brat, huh! huh! Such insolence and insubordination!"

Ever her trusty friend, Sakura-chan stepped up to protect her, "Naruto does have a point, Kakashi-sensei. Other than her Shurikenjutsu, she does lack proper long-range options that are… actually viable for everyday use. And plus! We could study together if we're lucky and thus reduce your workload!"

Sakura then nudged Naruto and smiled ever so sweetly at Kakashi. At first, Naruto just looked at her in confusion before a swift kick to he shin told her all she needed to know. She joined Sakura-chan in their united siege.

Kakashi looked at their eyes and reached a hand to adjust his forehead protector. "Lord Third, I didn't sign up for two kunoichi…," he whined in an over the top, theatrical voice. "Fine! I concede but only on one condition."

"Whassit?" Naruto slurred eagerly, to hell with not speaking with her mouth full!

"Promise me you will not neglect your current regiment just because it's 'cooler' and whatnot."

To Naruto's surprise, Sakura joined her in a chorus of, "I promise!"

"… Have you two no self-respect?" Sasuke finally asked in disbelief.

"You're a handful," Sasuke remarked once the pair was finally out of earshot and within the privacy of the Uchiha outskirts.

"Psh," was all Naruto had to say as she offered a smile up at her comrade. Even with the insults and bickering, she much preferred today's Sasuke to yesterday's sorry wet rag.

"Should I be afraid?"

"Of what?"

"You are plotting something. "

"Me? Never~." Naruto did not lie when she said that, at least, not at first. However, if her teammate offered her such an amazing opportunity for mischief, then by the river spirit's name she was gonna take it! Hm, if nightmares had such a big effect on whether she had a raven-headed idiot to babysit or a comrade who could match her energy and be the perfect sparring partner, then obviously she had to take matters into her own hands.

"Naruto…?"

But how? Iruka-sensei had told Naruto about dream-catchers when she showed up to class with less sleep than if she had actually stayed up all night. Could she make one for Sasuke? Would it even work? Given the curse they shared, it would probably just make it worse. It definitely made the fox all uppity when she tried.

Maybe those teas Grandpa used to drink? Surely nobody would deny Sasuke access to alcohol - he'd just have to say it's for medicine or something. Technically-

"Oi! Dumbass, watch your step!" Sasuke shouted as he grabbed Naruto's scorched sleeves and yanked her towards himself.

Pulled right out of dreamland, Naruto found herself sprawled all over Sasuke as he barely held her upright in his arms. All in all, if she disregarded the rather violent whiplash she experienced when her head landed against his chest, Naruto decided it was quite the comfortable position and offered her saviour an innocent little smile.

Rolling his eyes with a hint of colour to his cheeks, Sasuke let go of her after making sure she wasn't going to trip over herself and let out a deep sigh. "… Why the hell did Kakashi assign you as our vanguard when you're such a loser that you don't even notice you're about to walk face-first into a tree?"

"The patrols took forever y'know! I'm tired. We're off-duty. . .," whined Naruto as if that justified everything. "And 'underneath the underneath' and whatever else Kakashi-sensei says. More importantly! I got you to watch out for me, don't I?"

"I -"

With a smirk, Naruto continued, "I was thinking."

"Okay. I should be afraid."

"Oh c'mon! You'll like it! Remember the night before the written exams?"

"Mh?" Sasuke tilted his head before admitting, "It was nice."

"Yep! Now, I know the lake is too dangerous with the weirdos and all that, but yesterday I found this little pond inside the walls with wards and stuff and I was wondering-"

"That's Naka-sama's shrine," Sasuke interrupted with a disappointed expression.

"You got supplies to make Shinsen, don't you?"

For the briefest moments, Sasuke frowned before looking up at the setting sun. Seemingly satisfied with whatever he'd seen, he finally conceded, "I suppose it is about time I introduced you to my clan's patron. Promise me you'll behave?"

"I'm telling you it will be fine!"

"Please."

"… Okay! I promise I won't do anything I haven't done already."

"That is far too broad and you know it. We are talking about the Divine Spirit who has offered my clan its precious protection throughout the ages."

"You really want me to say it?"

". . ."

"I promise I will not do more than watch the stars with my gracious host, and find creative substitutions for pillows to fall asleep on."

Sasuke looked away, shoving his hands into his pockets and sighed. Even as he offered Naruto a smile, "Yeah, that is okay," she couldn't shake the feeling that he was disappointed with her answer.

Chapter Text

Rice and beans. A side of bitter-tasting, soapy greens and an oddly sweet green paste. And of course, diced tomatoes. Can never forget about them. Try as she might, Naruto could not deny that it did have flavour and spice - just not the right kind. Still, after a long day of training including encouragement to bring out her warty friends of all sizes except chief toady following a surprise visit by the Pervy Sage delivering a letter to Kakashi, Naruto was willing to eat just about anything

Kakashi-sensei was far less receptive to Sasuke's 'cooking' and between his frustrating insistence at hiding his face for no reason at all and his enthusiasm, the team found themselves seated around him in a semi-circle without anything to do but stare at the ground and make the occasional noise.

Okay, the last part of that was mostly Naruto but after she did it enough her teammates started replying!

Forcing a smile, Kakashi slapped his hands together and offered his gratitude for Sasuke's hospitality. With the formalities done with, he shoved the empty box back across the dirt and produced the long-awaited test. A pair of boring old strips of paper. Cards, if Naruto was feeling particularly generous.

"If there was any consolation to your delayed education," Kakashi began as he handed one out for each of the trio. Even Sasuke. "It's that unlike when you were little children you should actually be able to channel your chakra without incident and we can skip the laborious blood work. The medical corps got enough on their hands treating the wounded as is."

". . . Yeah, less we gotta interact with nurses the better."

Sakura looked over at Naruto, tilting her head with an unspoken question.

Naruto's answer was to return an awkward little smile and rub the back of her head, to which her friend sighed in frustration.

"Ahem," Kakashi cleared his throat with a frown. Once he had their attention, he went on to explain, "These strips of paper will demonstrate the element you have the greatest affinity for. This is not to say it is your sole chakra nature to manage, and indeed there are some who instead posses great potential in non-elemental ninjutsu like the Nara and Akimichi clans. As such, please don't make a scene if nothing happens, alright?"

"I'd never make a scene, y'know," Naruto countered, crossing her arms. She tried to ignore Sasuke scoffing at at her, but a little glare sent his way couldn't hurt.

Kakashi did not look one bit convinced, but he thankfully went on without comment, "As I was saying, today's results are not binding and you can learn things outside of your inherent affinity. For example, my natural affinity is for lightning but I also have proficiency with Earth despite their inherent conflict."

For a moment, Sasuke tilted his head when he noticed Kakashi-sensei looking at him. "Right, I am demonstrating," he muttered and held up the sheet between his fingers like some self-assured street magician and within moments it crumpled into a ball.

"I trust that is not a surprise to any of you, and I trust you will be able to replicate what happened without further explanation? After all, you aren't little genin anymore, are you?" Kakashi said with clear challenge in his voice.

A frown found its way very, very quickly to Naruto's face. That had to be revenge for yesterday, had it not? Well no matter, nobody said she should be the first to make her attempt after Sasuke. Sure, she sat in the middle but who said it had to go clockwise? Why not counter clockwise through Kakashi-sensei?

Sakura thankfully noticed Naruto looking at her and smiled confidently holding up the strip of paper, "Isn't this made of that special tree Lord First left us?"

Kakashi tilted his head in turn, eyes squinting with suspicion in his voice as he replied, "At first, yes. However, these days we take cuttings and cultivate them with careful applications of raw chakra, and perhaps a bit of yang release. Why?"

Didn't the pervy-sage talk about yin yang stuff back before the exams? Wait, never mind that - Application of chakra?

"Oh, nothing. Just wondered if it was really as rare as the shopkeeper insisted last night," Sakura explained with a very, very still expression.

Kakashi leaned back and crossed his arms, nodding a few times before replying, "I see, I see. Merchant-folk really do their best to skin you of your hard-earned money. No, it's nothing like that." Even with his mask, Naruto swore her sensei was beaming with pride!

Without further questions, Sakura planted the slip of paper on the back of her hand and angled it just enough that it should have fallen off. After a few moments, it got soggy.

"Well I'll be, that's quite convenient-" Kakashi began in a cheerful voice that quickly softened, "Sakura-chan, is everything alright?"

Sakura-chan looked anything but alright. She was staring down at her lap with her lips contorted into a disgusted sneer and a blank expression to her eyes. No, it wasn't to her lap, it was her right hand. "It's the same affinity Zabuza had, is it not?"

Unsure what to say, Naruto reached a hand to touch her friend's shoulder in an effort to show her support, but to her shock a shudder ran through Sakura until her hand slipped off. Dammit.

"Hey it's a-" Kakashi began.

But Sasuke interrupted in a voice that Naruto could not place, "Sakura, look at me."

Sakura looked up from her hand but did not meet Sasuke's eyes. With a hard edge to her voice, she asked, "Yeah?"

His voice matched hers as he asked in turn, "What elemental release are Uchiha known for?"

Sakura replied without hesitation,"Fire. I don't know-" Was that a growl?

Unfazed, Sasuke went on with his voice turning unsettlingly cold, "Do you remember the scum I talked about?"

"The…", Sakura's voice broke, "The one you swore to take revenge on?"

"The one I promised to kill," Sasuke corrected, his fingers lacing in front of his mouth. "He and I both have fire affinity. Are you saying we are the same?"

Naruto blinked, looking between her two friends and then to Kakashi.

Kakashi just gave her a reassuring smile with his one eye and he raised a single index finger from his knees, circling it in the air before letting it settle.

Okay, she'll wait, even if she wanted to step in between the two. She really didn't want her friends to hurt each other!

"N-, No. I would- I…-" Sakura muttered, gasping once as if drowning. She took another breath, and another, and some more before digging her nails into her knee. "I didn't,- I did not mean to-"

"I don't care what you meant," Sasuke frowned, his gaze unbreaking. "If I am not the same as that waste of oxygen, and I assure you - I am not - then why would an affinity for water make you similar as that monster?!"

"Because I-"

"Because you protected that woman?"

"It's still murder!"

With a sigh, Sasuke rubbed his brows and looked at Naruto before continuing, "Didn't you say there was a child?"

". . . Yes."

Finally realizing what Sasuke was going for, Naruto gave him a single nod of approval to go ahead before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath of her own.

She imagined Sasuke must have returned the nod as his voice finally lost its edge, only to have it replaced with his pitch rising unexpectedly as he said, "You saved that kid from living like Naruto. From living like me. You are not a murderer."

And then, there was silence.

Kakashi finally spoke, "He's right you know. And I know it is not easy. If not for my Sensei and his Wife, I'm not sure I would be here with you after the Third Great War."

For once, Naruto did not feel the need to make little noises as they sat there for goodness knows how long.

. . .

. . .

. . .

Sakura finally broke the silence with a question, "Can I… come over if-…"

"If you feel dirty after missions, or in general?" Kakashi finished for her. "Of course. That goes for you two as well, just in case it even has to be said."

'Can't ask you about my parents though, can I?', Naruto wanted to say. Aren't they strong enough to risk it, dammit?

Naruto felt a familiar hand pat her shoulder from the right and she offered Sasuke a far too small smile.

"Are we good to keep going?" asked Kakashi.

If she proved herself capable, maybe her sensei and master will trust her with the truth? It wasn't hard to pretend to be excited as Naruto replied, "Sure am!"

Her sensei smiled softly in response.

Naruto made a firm nod and pinched her chakra paper between her fingers, not trusting herself to avoid dropping it however much she was used to these feelings by now. Right, they feed these things with chakra, right? Sakura-chan surely didn't mimic what they did with leaves back at the academy for no reason, did she?

And so, she channelled her chakra unlike how Jiraiya had taught her. After all, it wouldn't do to mix the stupid fox into her own this time, would it? After all, it would surely lead to unexpected behaviour.

Unfortunately, this meant the paper made no response.

Sure, she could be like the Nara or Akimichi but couldn't Kakashi-sensei have picked better examples? Choji was nice but - the image was hard quite hard to ignore and the Naras were their own weird thing. Frustrated, she sent more and more of her chakra into the slip of paper until-

A low buzzing sound warned her as the paper began to tear. Not one to fall behind her teammates with their flashy demonstrations, Naruto kept going. A high pitched whine soon followed as the cut accelerated and suddenly -

A frightened yelp as everyone ducked for cover.

Kakashi was the first to get back up, picking at a deep slice across his flak vest's collar before he noticed Naruto and shook his head with a frustrated expression. "Is everyone alright?" he asked.

"A little scared but fine!" Sakura called, checking herself for wounds once she sat back up. Fortunately, other than her sour expression, Sakura-chan looked good as ever!

Deactivating his sharingan, Sasuke agreed, "All good." He must have done a somersault or something with how far he was sitting.

Kakashi nodded and planted his palms back over his knee and gave Naruto a look that reminded her far, far too much of Iruka back in the academy and not in a good way. "Right, Naruto. I know you hate nurses, and I know you have completely valid reasons but - first things first, before you proceed with any more training you must visit either the clinic or the hospital proper and update your records."

"They're updated!" Naruto answered looking down at her hand and bringing her index finger up to her lips once she realized it was bleeding. Strange, it didn't hurt.

"Not with your elemental affinity," Kakashi explained. "Between your monstrous chakra, the added challenge of chakra control given your unique circumstances and your elemental affinity; you will need specialized treatment should things go wrong."

"Huh?"

"It's like lightning release," Sasuke answered in a soft voice. "While there's visible marks, the true danger lies under the skin. When one is struck by electricity, there's a visible burn mark but the true damage to the nervous system remains hidden beyond the twitching. And with wind release, you won't even get a visible burn as a telltale."

"W-why do you know this?"

"Because that sunagakure girl at the exams," Sasuke explained with a small frown. "Wind naturally counters lightning chakra, Kakashi wanted to make sure I didn't make a fool of myself."

"Both are excellent assassin's tools," Kakashi explained, crossing his arms. "A true master of wind release can cut through vitals with a razor-thin slice leaving none the wiser from a great distance, and you have seen chidori."

"I don't wanna be an assassin," Naruto murmured looking down at her lap. She may have come to terms with what happened back at the Waves, and she may have been ready to shove an exploding kunai where the sun doesn't shine if it means she stopped Gaara, but she wasn't gonna take away people's chance to surrender. "I wanna protect my home and friends!"

Kakashi sighed, looking to Sakura as he explained, "Sometimes the two are the same. Fortunately for you though, there are other ways to use Wind Release. As Sasuke had said, elements can quench each other but so can they fan the flames, too. With training, you will be able to empower Sasuke's fire jutsu to incredible levels."

Glancing over to Sakura, he smiled and continued, "On the other hand, Jiraiya-sama's cooperation jutsu with his toads' water and oil bullets is the stuff of legends. You will also be able to empower Sakura-chan's ninjutsu."

Adjusting her forehead protector, Naruto found herself grinning quite widely, "That sounds awesome! You know what it sounds like, Kakashi-sensei?"

"What, Naruto?"

"Like a Hokage's element, believe it!" Seeing the stares her declaration brought, she began to gesture about rather wildly. This time, she didn't smack Sasuke. "Like, y'know? The Hokage is the foundation that brings the village strength and you two are like my village and y'know it's-"

Sasuke reached over to pat her head, offering her a tiny smile. "Yeah, we get it," he said before adding with a noise between a snort and a chuckle, "Just… calm down, okay?"

To Naruto's combined horror and joy, Sakura-chan broke out in a fit of giggles after she scrunched her face in disapproval of her comrade's patronizing touch.

Unfortunately for Naruto, despite her routine saying today was a day of rest, she found herself dealing with matters most unpleasant. Rather than have fun catching up with Ino-chan and get some replacement jackets and ask Hinata-chan all about her sentry mission, she was stuck sitting on an uncomfortable bench, smelling awful scents and even the light had this unnatural blinding, vibrating quality to it.

She hated hospitals.

Sasuke offered to accompany her as an excuse to get out of training with the crazy snake lady. Much as Naruto sympathized with him when it came to disturbing sensei behaviour, she had to turn him down. After all, she hated every second around nurses and if she could try and sort everything out at once, you damn bet she will! It's not like he needed to know everything about her, did he?

… Did Neji know everything about Hinata? They did live together after all. Did he even get out of the hospital yet? What happens if she runs into him? What about Bushy-brows?

The thought of Bushy-brows fawning over her like he did Sakura-chan made Naruto feel queasy.

"Uzumaki Naruto", called an old hag sounding just as enthusiastic about their appointment as Naruto was.

Looking down at her Ninja registration reminding her of her old self, the old hag's very punchable expression as she took it, Naruto decided she's going to take a detour to her apartment to see if Inoichi-san finally got around to her petition.

She heard an office chair scrape against the table as a young woman whose voice she didn't recognize called in her direction from behind, "Sakura-chan? Didn't realize you grew out your hair again. Where'd-"

Huh? Sakura-chan? Naruto looked around in vain to find her friend and doing so apparently cut the medinin by the door short.

"S-sorry miss," the blonde stammered and stared back down at her paperwork. "I thought you were someone else."

Naruto shrugged and looked back to the hag.

The hag looked back at her.

Naruto wasn't budging.

The hag's lips twisted into a sneer.

Naruto crossed her arms and stuck out her tongue, "Y'know I can't read minds, lady?"

"You know I cannot perform a medical exam under transformation, brat?"

"Ain't here for an exam, hag."

"Then why waste my time? I got enough mess on my hands to deal with your stupid pranks, squeak."

She really did look like the perfect definition punchable. Maybe it'd have been a good idea to ask Sasuke to come along after all, "I am not here to be examined. I am here to update my medical records."

"Whatfor?"

"My Jonin-Instructor's orders. Kakashi-sensei said so! I need you to record my Wind Affinity in case I need treatment, dammit! Is that so hard, huh?"

"That so? You hear this, Luka-kun?" the hag called over to the blonde like she'd just heard the most hilarious joke in the world. "The mangy fox finally learnt to be useful! What do you think his element is? Dirt sounds just fitting, pah!"

Luka, as she was apparently called, just sighed in response, "Can we just get on with this, Tomiko-sensei? If we're really that overwhelmed, I don't see the point of wasting time at. . ." she paused, kicking over to grab the registration card with a raised brow, "Uzumaki-kun's expense. "

"It's Hino-sensei to you," the hag corrected glaring at Luka. "Right, what do you have to report, brat?"

Naruto gulped as Luka looked her over. Right, faster she gets this over with the better and so she said, "I told you already you deaf old woman! Wind release!"

"Luka, get me the box for Umino-sensei's class," the hag ordered, and Luka thankfully stopped staring to not only retrieve the box, but also drop a folder in front of her supervisor. That earned her an even deeper glare, but no words were exchanged.

Luka just shrugged at Naruto when she noticed her tilt her head.

What a lovely sensei.

Like she just bit into a bunch of lemons, the hag made an awful face before snorting looking over Naruto's papers. "You think this is funny, you brat?"

"What?"

So Inoichi-san did pull through! With a grin, Naruto slowly replied, "Nope~!"

The hag tossed a pen at Naruto and shoved the carton into her face, "Do it yourself. I am not touching this yokai filth."

Where was Sakura when you need her? Probably having fun. Naruto hoped Sakura-chan was having fun. How did she even put up with hospital staff?! Ah well, it's just a few strokes here, a signature there and an explanation over there.

"Get out," the hag ordered. "Luka, clean up."

"But sensei, wasn't the appointment also-"

"Do it yourself if you care so much," the hag declared standing up with violent urgency. "I need a drink. Luka, clean up after that fucking kitsune after you're done."

"Any more questions?" asked Luka with an amused little smile.

Naruto shook her head with a grimace. For good measure, she shook her head again. "Nope! Nope! Thank you! That's enough!"

The blonde rolled her eyes, "Whatever you say. Still, if anything weird comes up don't be afraid to ask for me, yeah?"

"… No offence, but I hope I never have to come back."

"Shame! I'd pay to see Tomiko make that face again, though…"

Between confirmation that Inoichi got things sorted out at last and feeling absolutely averse to the idea of Sasuke even seeing her at the moment - in fact, anyone seeing her - Naruto decided against tracking down her friends or heading back to the Estate in favour of visiting her apartment at long last.

She hoped the succulents were still okay. Ino-chan would tear her head off if the poor thing died. Maybe she should take it with her to the estate. It could definitely use a little colour after all, but would it be appropriate? It's a temporary arrangement after all, pleasant as it turned out to be and something about moving her new-found plants over with herself felt like it probably meant something.

Or maybe she's stolen far too many glances at Kakashi's stupid book.

Don't blame her! Sakura-chan apparently used the threat of spoilers to great effect apparently, so what Naruto was doing qualified as information gathering. Naruto refused to entertain the idea that she sounded just like the Pervy Sage. Nope. Never.

Approaching her apartment proper, a strange homeless man caught her eye making the noise within her head finally screech to a halt.

There were quite a few homeless people around the district she normally lived in and the recent reconstruction efforts seem to have oddly led to a rise in their numbers. There was no reason for that man to catch her eye and yet, his presence filled her with dread.

She wasn't going to stare at him, that would be rude. However through occasional glances as she searched her satchels for her keys told her just enough. There was no way for someone living on the streets to have such pale skin. Even Sasuke had some colour thanks to their patrols and training and this man, no, boy must definitely spend more time in the sun.

If Naruto didn't know better, she'd have thought she was staring at Orochimaru. He was unsettling, yes and there was the sort of intensity she'd come to recognize in fellow shinobi, but there was no oppressive killer intent.

Just the usual amount you'd expect from a weirdo stalking her for simply hearing the words Kushi-chan from her master.

Maybe, it was a bad idea to come home.

Maybe.

But with the sun still high in the sky, surely they wouldn't dare start trouble? She was well-rested and fully recovered. It wouldn't do well for Leaf shinobi to attack each other in broad daylight.

Still, it wouldn't hurt to unlatch her holsters and keep a kunai hidden in her sleeves.

Nothing happened.

Nothing as she opened the door, nothing as she scaled the complex and nothing as she checked inside her mailbox.

Nothing other than far too many letters to sort through while on high alert. Maybe they'll get a little creased rolled up into her scrolls, maybe the post office will complain when she inevitably has to visit to presumably redeem her mission pay and receive her new registration. Maybe.

It didn't matter.

After watering her succulents, Naruto was back out as fast as she'd entered only to hear a voice squeeze its way through a cheese-grater address her from behind. With a subtle motion, she readied her kunai into her left hand.

"Uzumaki-kun, do you have a moment?"

Doing her best to swallow her fear, Naruto turned around slowly to witness a tall old man wearing mismatched robes that left him looking like he only had a single arm with which he leaned against a knobby old cane. Deep scars on his chin twisted into disturbing patterns as he smiled down at her through his many bandages.

"Sure thing, old man," she responded perhaps a little too eagerly.

The strange man made no effort to hide his efforts to size Naruto up, his uncanny smile somehow looking more pleasant once he caught sight of the black metal in her hands.

It didn't take long for the silence to become oppressive, and Naruto found herself blurting out, "So, what d'you want Old Man?"

"Just a few questions. It has been brought to my attention that you are blessed with a quite valuable asset to Konohagakure. It is not often that someone is born with a natural affinity to Wind."

Resisting the urge to blink and keep a straight face, Naruto tilted her head in an exaggerated motion, "Did Kakashi-sensei you?"

The man's fingers drummed silently upon his cane. "You could say that, if that makes you happier. However, such pretty lies get us nowhere, do they? No, I know as a consequence of my Duty to the village."

"You're. . .", Naruto began with a frown, "You're one of Nara-san's advisors?"

The old man matched her frown for a few moments, "It is more appropriate to say he is mine, but yes - at the moment we are colleagues."

"Shimura… " Something about him made Naruto correct herself, "Shimura-sama?"

"Perceptive." Shimura observed with a muted approximation of a smile. "And polite, too. Quite different from the rumours I hear. But then, rumours and gossip rarely carry the truth, do they Uzumaki-kun?"

In an effort to keep her hands from talking in her stead, Naruto hooked her thumbs into her pockets as she replied, "I… I guess."

The beggar relaxed once the kunai too disappeared.

Shimura remained deathly still except for a slight nod of acknowledgement.

Wanting to just get on with it, to quiet the unease at the back of her mind, Naruto forced out, "It is an honour to meet you but I. . .," she gulped when he looked her in the eyes. "I. . . I'm telling you I still do not understand why you need me."

With a scoff, Shimura tilted his head. "Me? I do not need you Uzumaki-kun. I am just here to offer you a chance to better serve our beloved Konohagakure."

Averting her gaze, Naruto did her best to mimic the tone Kakashi-sensei had used, "Is it a mission, Sir?" Talking like this made her feel filthy, but safe.

Safe was good.

"Another time, Uzumaki-kun. For now, I had just thought since you and I are kindred spirits, it would benefit us all if I had had helped you avoid my mistakes back in the day."

Try as Naruto might, she could not wash the lump in her throat as much as she tried to swallow.

Shimura took a step back, offering Naruto much needed space.

She couldn't have been more grateful.

"Please do consider my offer, it would be a shame if Konohagakure found itself vulnerable all because I failed to consider the consequences of my advanced age. If it is commitment you fear, Uzumaki-san then I assure you that nothing will come between you and your teammates."

Mimicking her seniors seemed to put the mummy at ease, and so Naruto swallowed her pride as she continued, "What is it you wish to teach me? I would rather not assume."

"Wind ninjutsu, was I not clear? While I am sure Hatake-san could show you what his Sharingan stole, there is a wisdom in true experience."

"I will. . . consider it, Sir." Resisting the urge, Naruto added in her mind, 'Just let me go already.'

"That is all I ask, Uzumaki-san. That is all I ask. However, do try and be punctual. I am sure Lord Third would be most disappointed if you never got to learn his techniques."

Despite the terror the old man's mere presence brought, despite her very bones screaming at her to run - Naruto felt her throat burn with a bitter taste and she growled in response, "Who are you to talk about grandpa like that?!"

The beggar shifted.

She readied her kunai in turn, its sharp tip digging into her index finger.

The old man stood as he always did, unfazed, and replied with what almost felt like genuine remorse, "His friend." Despite his efforts to hide it, Naruto caught Shimura sucking on his teeth in disdain after saying that.

Naruto took a deep breath and tried to ignore the frigid cold in her stomach. Not letting go of the kunai even as she stood at attention, she murmured in a tight voice "By your leave, Shimura-sama?"

"Of course, Uzumaki-san. You are dismissed."