Edit: Fixed the inconsistencies in time. IE: Reference to the correct Hokage is being used.

AN: Ha! Bet you thought it would take me WEEKS to update, didn't ya? Well, surprise for you! It would've been sooner but I went spastic during exams. Ah, well.

An answer to a few reviews that I think deserved an answer. (Or rather, me defending myself…-cough-)

Tsugath: I'll be sure to add something in it about the bet later. I'm pretty sure Naruto brings it up again.

Anonymous: Nope! Naruto doesn't have long hair! You'll see!

Slytherin Prankster: Although I appreciate your comments, I thought I'd let you know this fic is rushed because it's a story condensed into 4 parts. It's RP based and RP's go fast. I tend to work for originality; with the exception of these latest two fics (Playing Hero being the other) my works go very slow. Playing Hero is also fast-paced for it's also an RP. Any other Naruto fic I have is very slow. Sorry, I just had to defend myself –cough-

Mrr. That's about all. But I thank the rest of you for your reviews!

Now, onward with part 2!

Disclaimer: It has been disclaimed.

Puberty Sucks

Part 2 of 4

Naruto ran desperately to Iruka's house, tripping and stumbling several times in the process. She nearly ran straight into the door, skidding to a stop and pounding heavily on the wood. "Iruka-sensei! Iruka-sensei!"

Her voice cracked as she repeated the action, "Iruka-sensei, open up!"

Iruka hurried to the door and opened it. His eyes widened at Naruto's frantic state and pulled her inside, shutting the door. Sasuke, who had followed her, watched as the boy-turned-girl all but flung herself at Iruka, wailing. The door was shut before he had a chance to see any more.

Naruto, a girl…? Sure, the orioke no jutsu was one of Naruto's favorite pranks… He touched his mouth, brain suddenly connected. The 'Sexy no jutsu' didn't exist; Naruto no jutsu existed.

He sunk to the stoop of the front door, staring at the space between his knees, unblinking as the voices seeped through the wood to his ears.

Naruto threw herself at Iruka, voice muffled by his shirt. "They know! They know! They're gonna tell and then the villagers will come after me again! What do I do, Iruka-sensei! Fix it!"

It was awful of Sasuke to feel so relieved when he could plainly hear Naruto's shaking voice crying plaintively.

Naruto was a girl.

Naruto had kissed him.

He wasn't gay for liking it.

The bird in his chest stilled, preening its feathers. What now, it asked. Standing up, he knocked softly at the door, hoping that it would be the "what now."

"Iruka-sensei, pleas-!" "Naruto." She looked up at him, eyes red from tears. "It's going to be OK. Now, you need to calm down. We need to go see the Hokage about this…" He stopped when he heard the knock. He frowned as Naruto began to shake again. "Look, go to my bedroom and stay in there, OK? Everything's going to be fine. You're a strong girl. You've gotten this far; you'll make it further, OK?"

She nodded, wiping her nose with her hand. "H-hai, Iruka-sensei…" Turning, she ran back into his bedroom, shutting the door and frowned when there was no lock. She ran around to the other side of the bed, sinking to the floor and leaning against the wall, completely hidden by Iruka's bed. She closed her eyes and tried to calm down. Maybe it was just another teacher…

Iruka opened the door slowly, looking out. He blinked in surprise. "Sasuke? Is there something I can help you with?"

Naruto's eyes shot open wide. Oh, God, no… Sasuke… Her heartbeat quickened again as she looked at the window, then at the door.

"I need to talk to the dobe," Sasuke muttered, forcing himself to sound disinterested, but in truth his voice wanted to jump a few notches higher.

"Um, Naruto's not here right now, Sasuke. Did you try checking his apartment?" Iruka inquired, frowning. Hey, he had to be decent at lying to put up with all those kids at the academy, right?

"I saw her come in here," Sasuke said flatly. "Now, get out of my way."

"I can't do that, Sasuke. Naruto's in my care and…her wellbeing comes first."

Meanwhile, Naruto was fumbling with the lock on Iruka's window, panic keeping her from focusing on the task at hand. Half of her attention was on the words being exchanged. Sasuke knew. Sasuke knew she had to get out she had to hide he knew they were all going to findherandtortureherandkillher…

"What, and my worries don't count for her either?" Sasuke snapped sharply, before biting his tongue. He never seemed to keep his cool when it came to Naruto.

Iruka was about to reply when he heard the sound of a lock coming undone. He turned his head back inside the house. "Naruto…? What are you doing?"

He gave Sasuke a strange look, and not wanting to shut the door in his face, turned and walked back toward the bedroom door. He grabbed the knob, hesitating to open the door. "Naruto…?"

Upon receiving no answer, he turned the knob and pushed the door open and was greeted by an empty room and an open window.

Iruka cursed. "Shit."

"Great," Sasuke muttered as he caught sight of the blonde heading off for the Hokage's tower. He darted after her, feeling stupidly like a certain love-struck skunk at higher speeds. He didn't even know why he was doing this.

Just like he didn't know why his arms were going around her waist, his body tackling her small weight off her feet and rolling them down the hill on the other side of the road. When they came to a stop, he was cradling her tightly, protecting her from the fall. He could feel her panic vibrating, almost making him shake.

"Calm down; calm down…" Sasuke whispered, trying to think of how to calm the blonde. He didn't have much experience in calming people down from hysteria. Normally, he was the one in need of calming down. His fingers stroked the spiked locks of hair hurriedly. He muttered the first things that came to mind. "I'm not going to hurt you; it's OK…"

She raised her arms and held them up in front of her face, shaking her head. She was like a wild animal caught in a snare. "Calm down and talk to me," Sasuke half pleaded, half growled.

"Let go, let go, let go, I have to hide, let go… LET GO!" She shrieked, struggling against him for all she was worth. She pulled back a fist and punched him in the face. "Let me go, bastard! I have to go before they find me!"

Sasuke surged, pinning her hands at the sides of her head. His nose was bleeding from the force of her blow and he was panting. His perfect hair was a mess of tangles and grass. He looked absolutely ridiculous.

"Who is going to find you?" He asked, spitting a dandelion fluff out.

She refused to answer, squirming with all her being. Her panic had put her lessons of self-control out of mind. She now had no use of her hands and she couldn't perform jutsus to get away. She couldn't overpower Sasuke in strength, especially in this position. She was caught.

She was running on pure instinct.

"Let go!" She shouted again, before she caught sight of people walking in the distance. Her eyes widened to the point that it was almost inhuman. "P-please…" She whispered; a shock to the Uchiha that she would resort to begging. "Please let me go. I have to go. Please, Sasuke. Please."

He covered her mouth with his hand, hunkering low in the grass, watching the civilians come closer. They didn't seem to see the pair who were hidden amongst the tall weeds and grass. Even if they had, Sasuke hid most of Naruto with his body anyway.

As soon as they had passed, he sat up, straddling her and glaring down at her. "Fine. You can hide."

Before she could protest, he hauled her up over his shoulder and took to the rooftops.

At first, Naruto was in too much of a state of shock to reply until he was actually airborne, to which she reacted by yelling obscenities at him. He ignored her, not stopping until he reached his apartment window. She was dropped on his bed as he yanked the curtains shut. Her knuckles were white from where she was gripping the sheets of his bed, staring up at him as if he had adapted Orochimaru's snake tongue. "What the fuck are you DOING!" She nearly screeched, clearly confused and expressing that through high volumes. Was he trying to kidnap her? Had he lost his mind? No, wait; he didn't have one in the first place.

"Hiding you; that's what you wanted, right dobe?" He turned to her scowling at her. "And who the hell would look here in my home? Of course, if you keep screaming that'll be moot point."

She bit her cheek, refusing to take his bait. "You don't want me here. What are you doing this for, anyway? So you have something to hang over my head—Scream? YOU DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY WARNING!" She yelled, waving her hands in the air.

"Well, neither did you." He held his ears shut at her screeching while one eye closed. "Shinobi improvise. I did what I was trained to do. Now stop screaming already…"

"Give you warning for what? That I was a girl? Well, news flash for ya! I didn't exactly plan on telling anyone! I just happened to hit puberty," she scowled, folding her arms and turning away.

"Didn't ask for your help…" she mumbled, still shaken and pride still wounded. She let the genjutsu up, her body thinner, face less boyish. Her hair was the same length, lips a little fuller, and of course, the slight curve of her chest. Her hands were small, almost bony.

Sasuke stared at her. She looked so different yet so much the same. He took a deep breath before regaining himself. "All I want to know is why hide it?" He asked bluntly, tone seeking. "Who cares if you've got a dick or not?"

"That's none of your business," She snapped, not looking at him. She took a deep breath, still trying to calm down. "I really should go…"

"Hmph… I think it is." He leaned down, forcing her eye to his. "And you aren't going anywhere until you tell me."

She hissed at his demands. "Like you can stop me!" She snarled, pushing him away, rolling off the bed and making a beeline for the door. Before she could make it, he skidded in front of her as he rebounded off the floor, sharingan spinning.

"Like you doubted?" Her legs were swept from beneath her and she found herself staring up at the ceiling then into Sasuke's face as he pinned her, knee holding her thigh, the other pressed tight against her groin for balance. His hands resembled shackles as they held her wrists to the floor, deftly immobilizing her.

"So why?" He asked again, pressing further when she struggled. The movement rocked him, sending warmth to spark throughout her hips. Unaware of it, he glared down at her, expecting an answer.

She gulped, still managing to glare at her. She was good at masking things like this, since she was a girl had had grown up as a boy and around boys. She didn't answer him, merely glaring back at him. "Get off."

"No." He leaned down, anger beginning to burn in the blood red of his irises. "I want to know."

"It's none of your business!" She yelled her face red in frustration. "Get off me your bastard!" She pushed up against him with the strength she was known for, but she was at a disadvantage, being pinned.

He pressed forward again, shoving back down. The process repeated. Again and again, until they were both panting. Sasuke's face was slightly flushed from the effort of riding a bucking Naruto, sweat trickling down his temple to drip on the dip of her collarbone, mouth slightly slack to breathe. She, herself, was in no better condition, red-faced and glaring.

"It is my business!" He all but huffed. "You lied to me and tricked me! For God sakes, you took baths with me, took leaks in the bushes and even went fucking skinny-dipping with me! I think I should know, for my own piece of mind, that you aren't some damn perverted girl that is part of the Sasuke Fan Club watching my every move and taking creepy stalker pictures to sell to the highest bidder on eBay!"

Her eyes widened in pure shock before they narrowed angrily. "How dare you!" She snarled, face turning almost purple from pure anger. "How dare you accuse me of that! I knew you hated me but I didn't think you hated me that fucking much!" Feeling her anger, Kyuubi fueled his chakra into her system and she used the pure force of the boost to throw Sasuke off of her as she scrambled onto her feet, her wet clothes sticking to her body, making her feel icky. "You… God, you're not even worth insulting. I can't believe I…" She shook her head, the chakra dying down some. "I'm leaving. I have things I need to do. Thanks for nothing, bastard."

Her actions stiff, she turned and walked to the door.

"I don't hate you!" Sasuke shouted, not thinking. "You decided that all on your own!"

"What else am I supposed to think when you're all up in my face!" She turned back around, tears brimming in her eyes. She would not cry. She would not cry. Not over him. "I don't want anyone to know and you're included. It would only make things more fucked up than I've already made them." She turned back around, opening the door.

"Maybe that I'm actually worried because the one person I thought who understood me is acting like… like… someone I don't even know!" He stood up, stepping toward her, one hand outstretched. Don't go out that door, he thought subconsciously. If you walk out now, I don't know if it'll ever be alright again…

Her hand dropped from the doorknob, hanging limply at her side. Her shoulders were shaking. She was crying. She told herself she wouldn't cry and there she was, tears rolling down her cheeks. You don't know me at all, Sasuke… That's the thing… but I understand more than you think… much more. "But I'm scared…" She murmured the last of her thoughts aloud, softly, softly. "And I can't afford to lose you…"

"Dobe… I'm not going anywhere." Sasuke was behind her, hesitantly touching her back. "You're the one walking out."

"Because I don't want you to know what I am," she replied softly, her eyes closed, head bowed. "Of all the people… I fear your reaction the most."

"That you're a girl who pretended to be a guy?" He asked, turning her around. "I'm not letting you go till I get an answer." His fingers stroked her arm before he held her biceps lightly.

"I'm a monster…" She whispered, looking down at the floor. "I'm not a girl… I'm a monster."

"How?" He inquired, eye ticking.

She lowered her head, not replying.

"The only monster that…" He stopped, "I know of is… oh…"

Naruto shook, jerking out of Sasuke's grasp and stumbled backwards into the semi-open door, losing her balance and falling. She sat up, staring up at him with wide eyes like a deer in headlights.

Without a word, he slid his hands under her arms, lifting her from the floor. He pulled her against his shoulder, shutting the door at the same time, nose to her ear. "I'm not an idiot who sleeps during class. I know the hokage sealed that monster in a baby, not turned that monster into a human."

Naruto's reply was to lean against him heavily, eyes staring dully ahead. "I hide my gender to lessen the torture I endure. If the villagers knew… that I was a girl… it would make it that much more tempting and easier for them to try to kill me… my chakra control is so bad because I constantly have to keep that genjutsu up…"

"Dobe…" He muttered. "No one's going to kill you. The Hokage wouldn't let them. Iruka wouldn't, Kakashi wouldn't… I wouldn't…" He stopped, biting his tongue. "I think you're overreacting about this. Aside from older people being aloof to you, have they ever tried to harm you? From what I've seen, they just ignore you or talk trash… They're too much of sheep brains to do anything physical."

She gave a small, sad smile. "From what you've seen…" she echoed.

He pulled away to look down at her. "You mean they actually tried?" He frowned.

"Yeah… hence the henge; it deters them a little bit." She sighed, leaning against him again. "I'm scared, Sasuke. You have no idea how much it hurts to admit that. They all know now…" She half closed her eyes.

"They may not and even if they do, hiding's not going to help it." He completely held her finally, pretense of being aloof faded. At least he knew why now… the attraction he felt but wasn't quite sure what to make of it…

Why he had liked that kiss.

Why he wanted another one, despite the situation.

"If you don't face them head on, they'll think you're an easy target. There are plenty of women who scare people shitless. Like Anko, remember?"

Naruto hesitantly clung back, her hands fisting in the back of his shirt, sighing. "Yeah, but I don't wanna be a psycho bitch, I mean, that's like you as a woman…" She teased slightly, resting her chin on his shoulder. "I'm getting you wet, you know…"

"I don't care," he muttered. And he didn't. The sensation was too pleasant.

Burying his nose in her hair, he inhaled, collecting his thoughts. In return, Naruto turned red at his actions but made no move to stop him.

"I mean it. I don't hate you." He said at last, the hand on the small of her back twitching slightly. "You irritate the hell out of me, and cause trouble for me, and I really hate when you screech like a banshee and get fidgety...but I don't hate you."

Why was he acting so different? It confused Naruto. "Yeah…? I don't hate you either, even if you're an arrogant, pompous asshole who is obviously full of himself and has a fan-club the size of Kakashi's porn collection," she paused. "Which I am still appalled by the fact you even suggested I was part of that… that… hideous organization. Who the hell would wanna stalk you?"

"Try every girl in our class, some upperclassmen and a few married women," he scowled, lips moving on her ear. "I've caught Ino hanging around my windows a few times and Sakura is forever 'passing by'…"

Naruto snickered, "And you said I wouldn't be found here… liar. And just think if they walked in and saw us like this. They would wail and cling to you and I would be dead in a matter of seconds. Plus, Kiba's bet that you're gay would be completely shattered and he'd lose a lot of money."

"Actually, I think I'd kill them first," Sasuke replied, choosing to ignore the bit about Kiba. He could kill him later.

"Aww," she teased, looking up at him with a much-exaggerated expression of gratitude on her face. "You'd do that for lil' ol' me? I'm touched Sasuke-kun."

He poked her forehead, scowling. "I'm sure you are. I just can't stand being clung to and being wailed at in my ear."

"And what exactly was I doing a moment ago?" she inquired, both embarrassed and teasing. She was still holding onto him, her hands fisted in the back of his shirt, scrunching up his clan symbol.

"You weren't trying to squeeze my ass," He told her with all seriousness.

She looked up at him for a moment and with a completely straight face, reached down and groped him with one hand.

The expression on Sasuke's face was priceless. Morphing from annoyance to sheer shock then red-faced embarrassment, he jerked, yanking her hand forcibly from his backside. "What the hell was that for!" He demanded, staring at her.

"To see the look on her face," she replied, snickering.

He scowled, darkening the room two shades, before a sharp slap came down on her backside, the wet cloth only making it more of a shock.

Naruto yelped, jumping, eyes wide and staring at him. Her mouth opened and closed for a moment, just comprehending what he did and that it was he who did it. "You... you..." her face was bright red, stumbling over her words. Finally, her face broke out in a grin. "OK, you're not as gay as I thought you were."

He shook his head, before walking back to his bed, sitting down on it heavily. "Shut up..." He muttered. "You're a brat and you deserved it."

"You're a brat, too, and you deserved it and more," She replied haughtily, putting her hands on her hips. She paused for a moment before frowning. "You got any spare clothes? Like a huge shirt? I hate wet clothes," She scowled, walking back into the center of the apartment a bit as she peeled the shirt off of her, revealing a very thin frame and a chest wrapped in bandages, small curves showing that she was definitely not a boy.

"I don't own anything huge..." Sasuke told her, as he headed after her to pull some clothes out for her. He held up a t-shirt, black and plain, tugging it over her head, much to her protest. "As for pants, you'll have to go without; none of mine will fit you."

"I can dress myself," she replied dryly, chucking her pants but leaving her boxers. "But... thanks." She sighed, kicking away her clothes and flopped on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

He sat beside her, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"What the hell now?"

"Dunno..." She replied. "Iruka-sensei's probably already told 'Baa-chan... and she probably knows I'm with you. Of all the places I'd end up with, it'd just have to be you." She glanced over at him, giving a small smile. "Kinda glad. ...Kinda."

"Well I'm kinda glad too." He looked over at her. "For a lot of things," he muttered, not thinking she'd hear. He looked at the closed window, thinking.

Thank God, you're a girl. I was worried shitless for a while...

"Care to elaborate?" She inquired, rolling onto her side to look at him; pushing him with two fingers, making him fall back onto the bed.

"No, I don't." He looked at her, tiredly.

"Well, unlike you, I won't push. Cuz I'm cool like that," She bragged, sitting up. "You look tired. I'll stay up and you can sleep. Keep watch or something for ya." She yawned, scooting to the edge of the bed.

"Who's tired, and who's yawning?" He asked, yanking her back. She fell against him, the palm of his hand cradling her head. "Go to sleep dobe. No one's going to bother us."

"You're the one who looks like he ain't had a good night's sleep in days," She replied, face tinted pink.

"I haven't." He admitted. "But I will now." He confirmed, cradling her like a mere stuffed animal, relaxing. "So shut up."

She stiffened eyes wide. "Sasuke... we've shared a bed before but you've never been this cuddly. Something you wanna tell me?" Although as she said this, she found herself snuggling against his side, pressing her body close against his.

He looked down at her, as though to speak, but he froze as her thigh brushed his. Flushing, he shook his head, not meeting her eye.

"Mm. be stubborn. I don't care." She mumbled, burying her face against him. "You'd better not grope me in my sleep."

"Idiot!" He hissed, letting go of her and wriggling back to the wall. "You're the one doing that...!" His knee drew up, pressing her stomach. "Stop pushing me there!"

"Wha...?" She inquired, her eyes peeking open. "Did I get a tickle spot? Where?" She propped herself up on her elbow some, a wide grin spreading across her whiskered face.

"Dobe!" He all but yelped, eyes wide with embarrassment.

It took her a moment but her eyes widened in realization as she flushed red. After a moment, she began to giggle before falling onto her back, muffling her laughter in her hands. "O-OK, I'm c-convinced you're not gay." She snorted in laughter.

He glowered at her, rolling to his stomach, pillow sliding under his chest. Bright red, he muttered. "Happy?"

"Maaaaybe," She replied, eyes sparkling. She rolled to her side again and her hand crept down his backside, resting on his ass purposely, a very smug smirk on her lips.

"If you even think of whipping me, I'll..." He growled.

"You'll what?" She inquired, amused as she squeezed a bit. "Aww, tense?"

"That's it." He sat up, whapping her over the head with his pillow, not realizing the view it gave her, head on…

…Of a hard-on.

Triumphant that the pillow had lost a few feathers, he sat back on his heels, smirking smugly.

Her eyes widened some, a couple of feathers fluttering as she stared at him, not meeting his eyes, but looking lower. Much lower. Her cheeks flushed darkly, "Wow, didn't know I had that much influence over you..."

His smugness died, and the pillow was all but slammed over his lap, his face bright red.

And her smugness returned tenfold as she sat up some. Her eyes sparkled. "Do I have the magic touch, Sasuke?" She was enjoying this too much.

He looked away, muttering. "Maybe… Or maybe I just like dumb blondes."

"Hey!" She sat up indignantly. "Then why aren't you all over Ino!"

"She's a nasty blonde." He looked annoyed. "And not real; that's BLEACH."

She snarled pointing a finger at him. "I'm not dumb! I've been doing genjutsu since before you knew what chakra was, teme!"

"Alright then. Ditzy." He compromised. "I've never seen such a klutz."

"All right, that's it you asshole," She lunged at him, tackling him with the intent to punch him shitless. "I'll show you klutz!"

They landed backwards on Sasuke's bed; his head pressed uncomfortably to the wall while her case wasn't helping at all with her arms about his waist and face right on his lap… he stared down at her, swallowing hard as he shifted, sitting up some. "I take it you meant to do that?" He nearly squeaked, willing the ache between his legs to die.

She flushed, sitting up rigidly, "No...I was going to hit you! A-And I still am!" She shouted, trying to force her embarrassment into anger. It wasn't working.

"Heh. Right." He grinned.

She stifled a yell as she punched, throwing her weight into her fist.

His hand caught hers as she came forward, deflecting it to hit air at the side of his head. But she still got him. Kinda.

With a start, her mouth crushed against his, miscalculation on both their parts resulting into another 'kiss'.

Naruto froze, eyes wide, as she stared at him for a split moment before pulling away in embarrassment.

He let her, before growling. "Dobe..."

Naruto gulped.

She was in big trouble.

End of Part 2

AN: Ugh, this may end up being 4 parts. I didn't realize this part was so long… and that's not even where I wanted to end it. For those who don't know "dobe" means something akin to "dead last" and though I didn't use it, usuratonkachi is roughly translated to "clumsy idiot." I put this because I only recently made a point to go back and watch the episodes to figure it out because no one bothers to put a note to what it means when they use it. If you're going to use Japanese, people, give some damn translations. Kage Bushin is one thing. "Kore wa atashi no chiyuu to sensei, Umino Iruka," is another thing. Give a damn translation instead of letting people try to guess what the hell you're saying. Chances are, you're saying it wrong anyway. Like I probably am, since I'm not fluent in Japanese.

Sorry, that's my rant for the night.

Next part: Oh, c'mon. I can't spoil it for you.

Comments appreciated.

Sekushi Shigure and Phoe-chan