Hello and welcome to the story.

First, yes this is a female Naruto story, where I replaced Naruto with a red haired girl by the name of Kazuko, I chose that name because of its meaning and I felt that Naruko was too used. I chose a female Naruto because I needed to get out of my comfort zone to continue my writing stuff.

Second, this is intended to be a tragedy even if the beginning doesn't looks like it. I do not know how it will turn out to be, I just have some ideas that will not die until I write them, but I do hope that this story doesn't became so pink and sweet that gives diabetes to my readers.

Third, about parings; I already have one in mind but I'm not going to tell you yet.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor the picture used as cover.

Chapter 1- Enter Uzumaki Kazuko

In a continent, divided into elemental nations, each one ruled by a Daimyo and the shinobi. In the land of fire, more precisely in the hidden village of Konoha, across the village, in this particular day, a certain teacher's scream could be heard:

-"UZUMAKI KAZUKO!"

-Minutes earlier-

In the academy of the hidden village of Konoha, the students were taking seat,one in particular, a red haired girl with whiskers like marks on each cheek, couldn't control her giggles knowing what will go on.

Then their teacher entered the classroom, Umino Iruka didn't miss the redhead's giggles, he wondered what was going on this time. He knew the girl was a genius; however ,that didn't exclude her reputation as a prankster, especially today that was the last day of normal classes and tomorrow was the graduation exam.

"Alright class, today we'll review the contents of tomorrow's exam, so if you open the scroll in front of you…" As soon as he opened his own scroll, he saw that the contents where replaced by a seal, not any seal, a storage seal, this one in particular was programed to realize its contents as soon as it was opened.

When the scrolls where opened, the entire class was bathed by the red hot paint that was stored behind the seal.

"Ha, who is the tomato now!?" The redhead laughed.

"Kazuko!" Iruka called the attention of the girl who keep laughing and with a tick of his eyebrow he added. "Do you have any idea in how much trouble you're right now?"

"Maybe." Kazuko said still smiling.

"Good, now start cleaning." Iruka said with an angry tone.

"Only if you catch me"

A 'poof' was heard and Kazuko was no longer in the classroom.

Iruka's eyebrow twitched again and then screamed at top of his lungs. "UZUMAKI KAZUKO!"

-Now-

Somewhere in the village, in her favorite restaurant, ramen Ichiraku, Kazuko couldn't stop laughing.

"What did you do now?" Ayame asked, the assistant and daughter of the chef and owner of the local saw her face and knew that the girl was at it once more.

"I painted the entire class in red." Kazuko declared with a fox like grin. "That's what they get for calling me tomato, non stop for years."

"You do know they're going to send that mission now, do you?" Ayame said.

"You're right, I better get going." Kazuko said as she handed some money to Ayame, made a hand seal and then dozen of clones of the redhead poofed into existence, all of them scattering in different directions.

"You know dad, from what I remember, she looks like her mother and has her father's intellect, but I can't figurate out from where do all the pranks come from." Ayame asked her father who came out of the back door.

"She only seeks attention, like any child do." Teuchi said aware of her circumstances. "Now Ayame get ready, you know this is the first place they look and you know what that means."

"Costumers." They both said at the same time. Somehow the pranks always brought some hungry and humiliated costumers to the restaurant after their search.

Meanwhile in the Hokage tower, in the mission delivery office, a large group of shinobi, consisting in genin, chunin and their jounin-senseis, were gathered.

The teams were handpicked by the Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, himself. That way he ensured that no 'accidents' happened.

"You are all here for the mission." Hiruzen said. "You all know the risks, there has never been a team that has come unscratched from this mission, if any of you want to save face and be saved for future humiliation, leave now."

None of the present ninja left.

"Good" Hiruzen said as he took a scroll from the B-rank mission's box.

"Over the years, each one of you has proven as the best candidates for this mission." Hiruzen continue. "You will be tested, not only physically, but also mentally."

Hiruzen handed the scroll to the highest ranked jounin-sensei present. "Over the years, as you all know, this mission has only increased in difficulty and so has the failure rate. This time I have increased it to B-rank."

All the ninja gulped at their future.

"As many of you suspect, today maybe the last day this mission will be granted, because tomorrow is the graduation exam and the future after that is uncertain." Hiruzen looked at each one in the eyes. "You all know the parameters, she must be returned to the academy unharmed before the last bell rings. The mission: Catch the Uzumaki stars now…"

All the shinobi bowed to the Hokage and prepared to leave, the closest one to the door opened, only to be welcome by a bucket of paint.

"Jiji, your speeches have only became more tiresome over the years." A red haired girl said.

The mission objective was right there in front of them.

Multiple ninjas tried to catch her only for a ´poof´ to be heard and she was no longer in the room, many cursed the idiot who taught her shadow clone jutsu.

Except the Hokage, who thought 'maybe I shouldn't have showed her that jutsu.'

-Hours and numerous pranks later-

Around one of the forest of Konoha, the original Kazuko stopped running, seeing that the time limit was over and she reached her destination. "Guess I won again."

"Is that what you think?" Iruka said as he jumped from a nearby tree.

"Well, I did escape from my pursuers after being the target of a B-rank mission." Kazuko said as she scratched the back of her head.

"But you did not escape me." Iruka said as he graved her by the back of her jacket and started to drag her back to the academy.

Back in the academy, Kazuko was 'convinced' to clean the red mess that became the classroom.

"Hurry up so you can go home." Iruka said.

"Why should I? Is not like there is anyone waiting for me at home." Kazuko questioned depressed.

Iruka saw this and thought for a moment. "If you hurry I'll buy you ramen, my treat."

Immediately Kazuko's face lit up and did a familiar hand seal and a dozen of clones appeared.

"You were just waiting for that, weren't you?" Iruka realized.

"Yup."

After finishing cleaning the classroom both of them went to Ichiraku restaurant.

"Kazuko, tell me, why you do it?"

"Do what?" Kazuko questioned.

"You know, all the pranks." Iruka said. "Ever since you discovered that the your problems in the academy were because you have too much chakra for normal jutsus and asked me for help, with the Hokage permission we give you the jutsu to make solid clones, your grades improved a great deal since then, but also the quantity of pranks."

"When my grades improved, so did the amount of abuse I receive from the villagers. Then I thought that if I pulled more pranks, people would see me as an annoying bratt instead of see me for what I contain." Kazuko said as she touched her stomach in the last part.

That surprised Iruka who was wide eyed at the realization. "You know!?"

"The clues are there, I just was smart enough to put two and two together, after I confronted Jiji, he told me that I was indeed a jinchuriki." Kazuko said as she looked at her bowl of ramen.

"I see…" Iruka said. "Did pulling all those pranks worked?"

"I like to think it did." Kazuko said. "The squad today didn't try to kill me once, just to capture me, it's good to know some people don't want me dead."

"Do you still have the same dream?" Iruka asked trying to change the topic.

"Yes." She declared with a smile. "One day I am going to be Hokage and the people will have no choice but to accept me for who I am and not for what I contain."

Iruka smiled at that and watched as the girl happily finished her dinner, much to the displeasure of his wallet.