Chapter 3: Vulnerability

Tsunade POV

I can't believe what I'm seeing. Sasuke Uchiha crying in Naruto Uzumaki's arm's. I wonder what Sasuke's fan girl's would think if I told them about this.

Either way when they hear the truth they're gonna need CPR. Sasuke's cries start to grow quieter, so I guess now is a good time for an explanation. Though, it's gonna kill me ending such a sweet scene, I won't see the brat this quiet for a while. "Alright love birds, I think it's time for a proper explanation." Sasuke immediately stops crying and, along with Naruto, glare daggers at me.

"Oh calm down, or maybe you liked each other before this, I did hear some people saying you two kissed." "What! H-how did they know about that?" "Oh so you two did kiss." Those two faces turned completely red, haha, I know I should be more sensitive here but I'm never gonna get this chance again.

Sasuke jumped off of Naruto as quickly as she could, leaning her back against the bed. "That was an accident, the dope slipped and we just fell into each other." "Yeah, that's right!" HAHA better than I imagined, now if I had some sake and video camera this would be perfect. I look over and see that Sakura is staring at Sasuke in disbelief, not in the same sad way that she was earlier, more like she learned a big secret about her. Can't be that, Ino told me that her and Sakura beat Naruto to a pulp right after that.

Sakura POV

Is this really Sasuke? She acts so different than the Sasuke that I know. She's blushing...and before that crying...Sasuke would never do any of that unless he was beaten half to death first. And that's been proven a couple of times. "Are you...are you really Sasuke-kun?"

Everyone looked at me like I had said something crazy, I understand why though. But I need to say this, I need to understand why. "You act so differently...than the Sasuke I know. Crying...and blushing..." "Sakura-chan-" "That's because I'm not the Sasuke that you know...me and him...we're very...different."

No kidding, your so- "don't give yourself that much credit." Me and 'Sasuke' look at Naruto, What does he mean? "A teme's still a teme no matter what gender he or she is." Kick Sasuke kicked Naruto in the head making him fall over sideways, "Arrgg what was that for?" "For being a dope, dope."

"Careful Sasuke-chan! I don't wanna have to give him that talk just yet!" Sasuke didn't respond with anything more than his, I mean her, usual response "Hmp". Sasuke was holding down the part of her gown and blanket that was above her...ummm..women hood. "Lady Tsunade don't bother trying to protect the baka's innocent's.

That's long gone, I mean, haven't you seen his sexy jutsu?" Lady Tsunade sweat dropped, she was probably remembering the last time she saw the baka use that stupid jutsu of his. "What does it matter anyway if I see Sasuke-chan's shorts?" That is true, we've been to see Sasuke in the hospital a lot of other times, so why is...wait...she couldn't be!

Third POV

Sasuke blushed again as she informed Naruto of her current situation "I'm naked under this dope." And Naruto face goes from confused to ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Then Naruto thought of when she had climbed off the bed, now he knew why she was wearing a gown in recovery and why her curbs were so clear through it. "Oh, well that explains the blanket." "Lady Tsunade Why didn't you get her some cloths?"

"Couldn't be helped, we have a lot of injured ninja, even all the anbu are out on missions so I couldn't send anybody out, and besides that she was in recovery all this time so I couldn't take her measurements." "What about her, I don't know, normal cloths?" "They fell right off her body. I would have thought you noticed she didn't have any cloths on by the way your eyes were glued to her." And now we welcome the return of the blush to the two ninja's faces.

"Um lady Tsunade I think we're getting off track." "Hmm, I suppose your right."Tsunade turned serious, "Alright listen up you three!" The genin turned their attention to their Hokage, "Since Sasuke-chan has political status, being an Uchiha, and his, er her, recent encounter's with Orochimaru and Itachi the council has agreed to reduce her punishment to house arrest. That also means that you'll have to have somebody with you at all times.

And that person will be you Naruto-kun."

Naruto looked confused for a moment before his usual grin spread across his face, "Alright." "Hmp, that's rare, not gonna fight me on this?" "No, while we're together we can train." "I don't think you understand Naruto-kun, your gonna have to be with her twenty four seven. That also means that she's gonna be staying with you for a while."

"What, how come?" "Because watching a ninja on house arrest is a difficult job, despite what you might think, and since we need our Jonin and Chunin level ninja for missions you'll have to do. " Naruto crossed his arms and legs "Fine but don't blame me when we end up killing each other. I mean, no offense baa-chan, but having me and the teme live together sounds as safe as teaching the sexy jutsu to the Pervy Sage." Tsunade shuddered at the thought, "Naruto don't ever joke like that.

That would be more damaging to the village than the sands and sounds attack." Naruto smirked making Tsunade eyeball him questioningly. "Hey Sasuke-chan!" Sasuke looked at him questioningly "Hope you don't mind a little dirt, my place isn't exactly clean." Sasuke was surprised, he was actually going along with it?

And without fighting with the Hokage like he normally would. "Like we all didn't know that dope, it's not exactly a big secret." Naruto glared at Sasuke before yelling "Hey-!" "All right you too calm down." Kakashi knew he had to cut in before this turned into another argument.

"Now than, Kakashi-kun, Naruto-kun, would you mind stepping out so we can take Sasuke-chan's measurements?" The two nodded as they got up and left the room, closing the door behind them.

Sasuke POV

Me and Sakura stood up as Naruto left. Looks like me and Naruto are gonna be spending a lot of time together from here on out. But I don't think I really mind. "Are you blushing?" "No."

I turned my head away from the Hokage, I really hope I'm not really blushing. "Hmm well whatever, let's hurry up so you don't have to walk home in your birthday suit." Why does the Hokage have to be so blunt, it's already embarrassing enough that I had to talk to my entire squad dressed like this. She pull's my blanket away from me making me move my hands to pull my gown down. Why the hell do they make these things so dame short.

"Oh don't be so embarrassed, we're all girls here. Your gonna have to get used to being naked around other girls sooner or later." "Hmp." I hate to admit that she's right, though I really don't care that much since I've been around Naruto and Kakashi-sensei in the hot springs so much. Then why did my hands shoot to cover myself like that?

Maybe I care more than I think, or maybe I'm more comfortable with Naruto and Kakashi-sensei since I've been a guy for so long. While lost in my thoughts Tsunade grabs my hands and moves them to the side, and before I can react she ties a measuring tape around my chest. "Hmm about 34C, not bad." I have no idea what that mean's, I've never learned about bust size measurements. "Oh great...not only are you a girl Sasuke-kun but your measurements are even better than mine.

This is just depressing." Sakura sinks to the floor in a dead faint, now on the ground on her hands and knee's, you could actually see her depressed black aura. But what she said just now... "Sakura-chan?" She got up and looked at me, her eyes showed how sad she was, she looked like she was going to cry again. "It's alright, I know now that it was impossible from the beginning for you to like me.

Besides crying won't make anything better." She wipes a loose tear from her eye, "Now come on let's finish your measurements, I'll go buy you something to wear so I hope you don't mind my choices." I'm glad she understands but I know it's still gonna be awkward for a while. "Yeah, thanks, and whatever you pick will be fine. I don't really care."

Sakura giggled? "Alright Sasuke-chan-"and now she's using chan too?" You know your gonna have a while before you start going on missions again, so why not experiment with your look?" "I don't think so." "Why not, you can't wear the same kinda cloths as before."

Sakura POV

"I've worn boys cloths for the last 5 years. I don't like the idea of dressing girly." Even though she say's that I can see that she is blushing. I guess as a girl Sasuke isn't as good at hiding her emotions. That's why I can also tell that she is confused by my sudden change in mood.

Well even if you are a girl I'll still go on as your friend. We finish up Sasuke's measurement's, even though she objected to us measuring her hips, waist and legs. Wait why are we measuring her legs? I think lady Tsunade is just having fun with her now. I leave telling Naruto and Kakashi-sensei they can go back in.

"Hey Sakura-chan instead of picking out cloths for her why doesn't Sasuke-chan just go with you?" "You baka, she can't go shopping in her gown. It doesn't have a back to it." This guy never thinks things through. "No, what I mean is why don't you just lend her some of your cloth's and just take her with you so you don't have to end up returning them later."

Well I've been wrong before "Actually that sounds like a good...HEY WAIT A MINUTE! WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'RETURN IT LATER' HUH!" DOES HE THINK I'D PICK OUT SOMETHING UGLY! GRRRR NARUTO! I grab the baka by the color and start shaking him until he starts losing consciousness.

"Calm down Sakura, Naruto was just cleared for release not even an hour ago." "It's his own fault, the idiot." I hear Kakashi-sensei chuckle so I turn towards him to see him walking towards me. "Lady Tsunade is right Sakura. Naruto may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but he does have a point.

Besides I think he meant in case Sasuke-chan doesn't like them." Oh! So that's what he meant. I feel kinda bad for shaking him like that now. "Now why don't you go and get some cloths for Sasuke-chan.

Speaking of, you should get ready too Sasuke-chan after all it should be good for you to get out and do something normal for your gender." "Hmp, fine."

Third POV

Everyone but Naruto left so that Sasuke could get ready, though she really couldn't do much until Sakura get's back with some cloths. There was an awkward silence for a while, neither one of them knowing what to say. They sat on the bed trying to think of what to say. Once in a while they would look over but looked away when the other tried to look at the other. Naruto was thinking about what Sasuke was saying at the final valley, about not being able to understand how he, well now she, felt since he never had anybody.

"Hey Sasuke-chan..." Sasuke looked at Naruto with curiosity in her eyes. "You know...even if we don't know each others exact pain, we can still meet somewhere in the middle..." Sasuke's eyes grew wider "...Cause it's impossible to know someone's exact feeling or how bad they're hurting. So if you ever need someone to talk to I'll be right here! So don't you dare think that your alone!"

Sasuke looked at Naruto with wide eyes. She couldn't believe what he just said. She could feel her heart melt as tears began to form in her eyes. She had never imagined that anybody could make her feel like this, happy, sad, and warm, all at the same time. "Naruto-kun."

Sasuke fell into Naruto's arm's, she didn't need to cry like last time, she just wanted to be closer to him. Naruto smiled as he wrapped his arm's around her, happy to have his friend back. They stayed like this for a while, each unwilling to let go of the other because they simply enjoyed being like this, even though they were both unwilling to admit this to themselves. They could feel each others heart beat's as they sped up. "Naruto...you always go so far...not just for me but for everyone.

You know what it's like to be alone...is that why your always there for everyone? Is that why you refuse to give up, even when you can't completely understand their pain. Or maybe it's because of that, that you go so far. Either way...I almost made a horrible mistake and you nearly died trying to help me...to get me on the correct path.

If I had won than who knows what kind of a monster I would have turned into." Sasuke moved her arm's from Naruto's chest, wrapped them around him, making Naruto blush. "I guess I know what Sakura and Ino were talking about. If Sasuke had been like this from the start I would probably have..." Naruto's thought's trailed off as he stared down at the Uchiha heiress. A knock on the door broke them both out of their thought's.

"Sasuke-chan can I come in?" They both immediately realized their position and jumped off each other, sitting on opposite sides of the bed. "Y-yeah, come on in Sakura-chan!" Sakura walked in with some cloths in her arm's,"Alright Naruto-kun get out so that Sasuke-chan can change." Naruto gave Sasuke one last glance before getting up and leaving.

Sakura walked over to Sasuke and imminently noticed her flushed expression, "Hey what's wrong Sasuke-chan?" "Nothing." Sasuke looked away giving an angry pout. Even though Sakura decided she wasn't going to be in love with Sasuke as a girl, that didn't stop her from thinking that, that pout she was making was adorable. "Giggle here Sasuke-chan, these ought to fight.

Sakura held out a pair of black short sort's and a matching t-shirt with a pink heart on the chest. "Um...Sakura-chan...there's no way I'm wearing that." "What? Oh come on Sasuke-chan, even if you don't like it it's only for a little while. Besides you can't walk around in that."

Sasuke knew she was right, she hated it, but she was right. So she took the cloths, placing them on the bed, and pushed Sakura back until she was able to pull the curtain shut. Sakura let it go knowing that Sasuke was still unconformable changing in front of her. Sasuke unwrapped the blanket, letting it fall to the ground, and slipped off her gown letting it join the blanket. She stood there, naked as the day she was born, staring at the short short's in her hands.

"I guess it could be worse. At least she didn't bring me some sort of pink dress or anything. Because then I'd have to have her...help me...with my other situation..." While Sasuke was busy thinking about her new wardrobe and her lack of underwear Sakura could see exactly what she was doing because of the shadow on the screen. "Why does she have to have such a better figure than me.

I mean was it an after effect of the transformation or is it just her? Either way my pride as a women is shot." True, not only were her breast bigger but she was as curvy as Naruto's sexy jutsu form. Although still strong her body looked incredibly nimble and frail. Sasuke slipped on the short's and shirt and pulled the curtain back to show Sakura.

"Wow you look so cute Sasuke-chan!" Sasuke just scuffed at this and after she slipped on her ninja sandals, that Sakura also brought over, they opened the door to find Naruto sitting upside down against the wall with a board expression on his face. "Naruto-kun what are you doing?" Flipping upside right he answered "Waiting for you two." "Naruto-kun stop being so impatient."

Meanwhile: In the village hidden in the sound(Orochimaru POV)

How the Hell could this happen? I still can't figure it out. Sasuke...the sound ninja four...kimmimaru...ALL BEATEN BY THOSE LOUSY LITTLE GENIN! That nine-tailed brat...I should have killed him when I had the chance! But how could Sasuke have lost to him? Was it the Kyuubi?

No, the curse mark should have evened out that part or at least for the amount of control that the brat had over it. Still with his raw talent he should have easily killed him. Perhaps I should change targets...he did beat Kabuto, and he does have great vitality. No, I must get my hand's on the sharingon quickly! Before Itachi and Sasuke kill one another!

But how?...(Lick's his lip's) I guess I'll have to wait until we are able to meet face to face again Sasuke...it's not like I need your permission to take your body. The curse mark is in place. I just have to wait for you to get a little stronger, just enough for you to surpass Kakashi.