Author's Note:I've only watched the first 10 or 15 episodes and then a couple of later episodes here and there. Therefore, if my story isn't in line with the animation, don't be upset. You may have noticed that everyone, and I do mean literally everyone, knows that Naruto is the carrier of the Nine Tails Demon Fox. This is one of the blatant differences in my story. There may be others, but I'm too lazy to type them out. (~_*)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

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Chapter 5: Finding Naruto

Sakura found a boy all right, but it wasn't Naruto. Oddly enough, for the first time in her life, she found herself wishing it had been Naruto instead. God, she must be losing her mind. Sasuke, however, had mistaken her perplexed expression for displeasure.

"I'm sorry, Sakura," he started to say, "I had personal matters to atten // "

"Forget about that!" Sakura cried in exasperation. "Have you seen Naruto?"

Sakura frowned as she saw Sasuke visibly stiffen.

"Why do you ask?" Sasuke demanded.

What was wrong with everyone today? First Naruto and now Sasuke? But this wasn't the time or place to ponder about everyone's abnormality. She had to find Naruto.

"Because he's in danger!" she finally cried, pushing past a shocked Sasuke. Turning around sharply she saw that Sasuke hadn't budged, seemingly rooted to the ground. Damn!

"Hurry!" she screamed in frustration, "We have to find him before it's too la // "

Sakura never got a chance to finish her sentence, because Sasuke had long since zipped by her at an alarming speed. If not for the flutter of her hair caused by his passing form, she would never have guessed that he'd moved. Collecting herself, Sakura whirled around and pursued Sasuke's disappearing form into the depths of the forest.

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Interlude

Naruto stirred, feeling the cold and yet comforting earth underneath his skin. How long had he lied here, oblivious to all things? Rising, he rubbed at his eyes wearily, as if waking from a long, long sleep. He felt so rested. In fact, more so than he ever did in his entire life. That was the most peaceful nap he had ever taken. Although completely void of dreams, it had brought him an indescribable sense of tranquility. If only it could have lasted just a little longer. If only I could have //

Naruto stopped thinking abruptly. When had he become so whiny? This wasn't like him at all. Getting all emotional over a nap! It was so silly! Lord, did he just use the word silly? He must be more tired than he actually thought. He was not thinking straight.

Stretching luxuriously like a cat, Naruto found himself purring with satisfaction. Damn! Purring? He was purring! What the hell was happening to him? I'm just hunger. That's right, hunger! No ramen makes Naruto crazy! No ramen makes Naruto do strange things like purr. It was all explainable, wasn't it?

He rose and became to run lithely in the direction of the village. As he made his way through the undergrowth, Naruto determinedly brush off the sense of foreboding that had descended over him. Like hell he was going to let a 'silly' nap upset him. Damn! He didn't just use that word again, did he?

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*Later that evening*

The two teenaged ninjas searched the woods for what felt like hours only to find // NOTHING. No signs of Naruto. In fact, no signs of life, period. Sasuke was greatly beginning to wonder if Naruto was in danger at all. Meanwhile, Sakura was greatly beginning to wonder if Sasuke had lied about seeing Naruto. If he were here, as Sasuke had claimed, they should have found him by now.

"So repeat to me again why we have to find the baka?" Sasuke demanded, as he cut down an intrusive branch with his kunai.

Sakura sighed. It was the fifth time he'd asked her that. But how was she suppose to explain without revealing the truth, without saying that she had attempted to drug him, only to fail by drugging the wrong person with the wrong drug. It was perplexing enough just to hear herself think about it, much less attempt to explain it. Even so, she could see that Sasuke was losing patience. She had to tell him something.

"He accidentally drank a // concoction. If we don't find him in the next twenty-four hours --well, I suppose, we only have eighteen left-- the seal of the Nine-Tails Demon Fox will disintegrate."

"Why? What does this // concoction do to Naruto?"

"It // makes him weak," Sakura said slowly.

"How?" Sasuke asked, infuriated with Sakura's slow explanation.

"It brings out his weaker, more feminine side so to speak," Sakura attempted.

She wasn't lying, that was true enough. A confused look from Sasuke, however, told her she had to elaborate.

"The wise sage," she began, opting for the politically more correct title than the village hag, "told me that when the fourth Hokage chose a recipient to house the spirit of the fox demon, he had to specifically choose a male child."

When Sasuke did not say anything, Sakura continued. "A female recipient would have been // too much of a distraction," she finished lamely.

Sasuke frowned. "A distraction?" he prompted.

Sakura sighed and bit her lips, wondering how she was going to phrase this delicately. Deciding that the blunt truth was best she blurted unceremoniously:

"In other words, she would have been too enticing. Her resistance would have succumbed to the greater will of the demon fox immediately. She would never stand a chance against the wild spirit. And he, or it, or whatever the creature is would simply have fed off her // feminine aura."

"You're telling me this fox likes to be in a body of a girl?" Sasuke asked. Sakura nodded.

"You're telling me he gets 'enticed' in a female host and becomes stronger this way?"

"Not literally stronger // Rather he feels more compelled to break free, so to speak."

"Shit," Sasuke hissed, "How long does it last?"

"What?"

"I asked: how long does it last?"

"I don't under // "

"The concoction, how long does its effects last?"

Sakura bit her lips once more. How foolish of her to think that she had gotten over the most difficult part of her explanation.

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Now that you I've made Naruto a 'permanent resident' of his female body, you may all boo and hiss at me. Do not refrain from throwing decaying vegetables either. I'll accept all harsh comments you may dish out! (*_~)