Chapter Eleven

Disclaimer

I don't own Naruto nor any character connected. Someone else does.

A/N

I want to thank "clockright" for we are collaborated on many ideas for this story. The next two chapters were especially collaborated with him.

Deep in the forest, a huge carriage pulled by four horses was speeding thru along from the capital to a nearby town known for its huge bazaar. Every once in awhile, the carriage would hit a bump causing the carriage to rock and shack violently. However, the bumps in the road were not the direct cause of the mood inside the carriage itself, only a minor irritation.

Inside, Mari scowled as she looked across from her to see an orange clad ninja brat named Kaiko. Mari could not believe Naruto no correction Kaiko would insist on wearing those stinking orange rags on their outing. True Kaiko opened herself to a makeover and maybe a new outfit but wearing those disgusting rags was an insult to her especially since she made sure Kaiko had the finest clothes available.

Kaiko, for her part, was fidgeting, looking downward only raising her head ever so often to look very briefly at Mari then looking downward again. Once Mari caught her eyes Kaiko scowled back at her. "Now what, geez. First you complained bout me kidnapping you now this."

"I just don't see why we have to ride in this stinking carriage," complained Kaiko, "In Konoha, I walked everywhere."

Mari was now scowling, "Kaiko, it's for security. Have you forgotten I am a princess? If we are attacked, it be easier to defend me if I were in this carriage as well as getting away. Horses can outrun even the fastest of ninjas."

"Not my father plus there are some jutsus that can pulverize this carriage with you in it," pointed out Kaiko. "On foot you stand a better chance of dodging those attacks."

"Your father is a special case and the odds of anyone with that kind of strength attacking us are slim," replied Mari while raising her voice. Kaiko made a face that said point taken. After a few minutes of uneasy silence Mari added softly, "You're right. This carriage does stink." Mari raised her hand over her nose. Both girls started laughing hysterically.

"Kaiko, why are you wearing that orange monstrosity?"

Kaiko got irritated. "Have you forgotten I am a guy trapped in this body? In Konoha, I had to pretend to adjust to this body but the truth is it disgusts me. I wish now I never came up with that jutsu."

It was now Mari's turn to get angry, "Well excuse me for having a disgusting look."

Kaiko backtracked, "Mari, I did not mean it like that. You have to look at things from my perspective. I am in a very alien body than the one I had for so long. By everyone's best estimation, I would have to give birth before I can hope to go back to my real one. That thought scares the dickens out of me. That is … is so … feminine. I am really beginning to think getting back to my male body is just a fantasy now. How can I not look at what I have become with disgust?"

"Then why the sudden makeover, Kaiko? If you are disgusted by that body then why the makeover? Surely you can surgically alter it to give you the appearance of your former self."

"I already discussed that option with Tsunade. Yes, it can be done. However, it will come with a price. I will not be eligible to be a ninja. If I do fail the upcoming up genin exam then I will undergo the procedures. However, I will be a ninja primarily. My dad tells me a ninja is one who endures. This body is just another obstacle I will endure. As for the makeover, if I must endure this body then I want it on my terms. True this body is the female version of myself with a little you thrown in however I must learn to live in it now and the first step is to reshape its image to suit me."

A period silence commenced as Mari digested what Kaiko had said. Kaiko for her part was contemplating the possible future of living life as a girl, which was scaring the hell out of her. The silence ended when Mari asked, "So is there a boy you like?"

Kaiko looked straight at Mari as if questioning why she would ask such a thing. Suddenly Kaiko had a very brief vision of Shikamaru in her head then turn her head violently, breaking eye contact, then replied, "N … n … no, why would you think that?"

Mari was not stupid. Kaiko's reply was full of denial and she knew it. "So there is a boy you like. Tell me who it Kaiko or you will suffer the all terrible tickle torture," Mari threatened while getting to her feet with her fingers spread in a menacing way.

"No no the tickle torture… " said Kaiko too late as Mari started to tickle Kaiko mercilessly. In truth, Kaiko could easily defend herself but chose not to. What followed was Kaiko laughing hysterically as Mari tickled her.

As she tickled Kaiko Mari said, "Tell me who it is."

"No … hahahahah … never"

"Tell me or I will tell the driver to go around the countryside until I get the answer."

"Hahaha … Ok Ok its Shikamaru," replied Kaiko.

Upon hearing Shikamaru's name, Mari was so shocked she jumped back a few feet and stood firmly before Kaiko, "SHIKAMARU, that jerk who orchestrated your rape. That Shikamaru? Why?"

There was so much venom in Mari's words that Kaiko visibly shrinked away while looking for a place to hide in the wide open carriage. There was no possible way of hiding or any possible way to escape. Mari say Kaiko's distress and instantly knew she was the cause of it so she calmed down and sat down opposite her. "Kaiko, I am sorry. I really am. Why Shikamaru though?" she asked in a calm voice barely louder than a whisper.

"First it was not Shika's purpose to get me raped but to prank me as payback. He had no idea it would go horribly wrong. While Kiba was busy with me, Shika broke three fingers trying to bust the door down to stop it. When he finally did get in Kiba was already thru with me. He then attacked Kiba for payback but Kiba was excessively strong. Kiba gave two broken ribs for his trouble. Later, after we woke up in the alley where we were thrown like yesterdays garbage, Shikamaru convinced me to seek medical assistance, which eventually led to my rape counseling session. Ever since then he has been there for me and constantly apologizing for what he inadvertently caused. I don't think I could have withstood any of that without his support." Kaiko said with a smile.

Mari mouth was open in shock. She had no clue Shikamaru did all that for Kaiko. Now Mari had a new respect for the shadow ninja. However, she made a mental note to see about upgrading her information gathering skills so she will know those things in the future.

Kaiko was in shock too. She just admitted to liking a boy right after stating she thought of nothing else but how to get back to being a boy again. Why would she like a boy if she were thinking about being a boy again? She knew she was not gay despite agreeing to have sex with Kiba. Having sex with Kiba was just another thing Naruto agreed to endure to pay him back a little for what he done to Akamaru which led to his death. Kaiko was now more confused now than ever.

Thankfully for both girls, the carriage driver stopped the carriage for they were at the first destination, the hairdresser shop. Kaiko was never in a hairdresser shop even though there were about four of them in Konoha. This one was very rustic compared to the ones in Konoha. The outside looked like a shack in the woods that no one has lived in for at least fifty years.

The inside is a completely different story. The whole back wall was nothing but windows overseeing a pond with a waterfall. The side walls were rustic painted white brick. Along the walls was what looked like bottom wooden kitchen cabinets with colonial rose granite countertops. Above the cabinets hung 3 - 4x5 framed mirrors. The finish of the cabinets and the frames were stained colonial maple.

In front of each mirror sat a white barber chair. These chairs looked like they fit in the ancient days of barber salons when they doubled as hospitals too. Instead of the traditional square seats and backs, they were round. The chairs even have wooden accent pieces also stained colonial maple.

The ceiling was open so you can see the rafters plainly. Thankfully they were stained to match the wood in the other parts of the room. Traditional round Japanese lanterns hung from the rafters providing the room with plenty of light.

Mari saw her favorite beautician. "Konnichiwa Michiko-san. I hope you have time for me today."

"Mari, you know I don't dig the formal stuff. Of course, I have time for you so get your ass to my chair girl. Who is your twin?" asked the raven-haired woman.

"Her name is Kaiko and she is visiting from Konoha. She is the reason we are here. She decided she wanted a complete makeover so we are starting here. I was thinking…"

Mari never completed what she was saying for Kaiko interrupted. "I have my own ideas of what I want Mari, if her royal highness does not mind." Just another beautician entered the room; she was a petit red head. Mari ran to her instantly, "Excuse me, but can you help me." Kaiko then whispered into her ear.

The beautician, Narumi carefully looked Kaiko over before replying, "I think you do have enough hair to pull that off from what I see in those twin tails. Are you sure? Once we are done, there will be no going back. Your current style seems to suit you so much."

Kaiko pointed directly at Mari who sported the exact same style as her, "Yes I am sure."

Mari was not amused, "Narumi what has she asked you to do?"

"I am sorry Mari but you have to wait and see. Kaiko is it?" Kaiko nodded. "Follow me into the other room which is more private. With your permission of course Michiko."

The raven beauty gazed over Kaiko and read her facial expression perfectly. Normally she would not let Narumi use of her private salon room but the reason Kaiko wanted to use was suited for the occasion. She nodded to Narumi her permission.

After the two left, Mari was not amused. "What is going on? Why you letting them use your private room?"

"Mari, for whatever the style Kaiko has chosen, she wants to leave it as a surprise until you see after they are done. Come and let me do the usual for your hair then you can take a soak in my hot spring out back."

Later as Mari was soaking in the hot spring she began to reflect on things and realized Kaiko was being more independent than her sources told her she was being. In Konoha, she was just going with the flow barely making any decisions for herself. Giving the puppy to Kiba was perhaps the only true decision she made but Mari fears that decision will someday come back to haunt her. Kiba is not in the best frame of mind right now. He lost it when he heard his beloved friend constantly yelp out of fear and pain on top of his head.

Suddenly Mari heard the door open and shut. She looked up and her mouth dropped open in shock. There was Kaiko in her new hairdo. Gone was the extra long thick twin tails, now she sported a full head of hair falling just to the middle of her back. She still sported twin tails on top of that but they were small in comparison of what they once were. In her left hand tail, she had a streak of red and in her right tail, she sported a streak of green. The tails were tied together with colored ribbon the same color of the corresponding color streak.

Kaiko noticed Mari's expression, "I take it I totally shocked you."

"Girl, you look simply fabulous but how do you feel?"

"To be honest I feel better. If I were stuck like this then I would want a style better suit to me. I chosen the twin tail originally for more guys think that style is simply cute. However, I found it tedious these past few weeks to put up with that style all the time. I didn't wish to do away with the tails altogether though for it became a signature of this form. I hope this is a compromise."

Kaiko relaxed a bit, slipped off her robe, and went naked into the hot spring. This action perplexed Kaiko. Before the horrible prank, she would have done anything to be able to take a bath with a gorgeous woman such as Princess Mari. Now however, it does nothing for her. It is as if her sex drive was not geared for women anymore. She wondered if it was geared for boys now … on second thought she pushed that horrible thought to the furthest portion of her brain. She was scared to go there period. She gazed at mari and could not bring herself to blush in embarrassment.

Later that afternoon, the pair found themselves in a clothing store. The store caters to young adult teens such as themselves. There was a huge assortment of blouses, skirts, and pants in the trendiest colors and patterns imaginable. Kaiko noticed the huge price tags and searched for her wallet.

Mari noticed, "You don't have to worry about money, Kaiko."

"Yes, I do. I may be the Hokage's child but he restricted my access to funds. If he or mom does not buy me the clothes which is hardly ever then I have to buy them myself. I am not made of money Mari and neither is my allowance."

Mari giggled then whispered in a way only Kaiko can hear being close to her, "There is a huge difference from being the Hokage's son to being his daughter." Kaiko's eye popped open largely as if wanting to believe her but finding it hard to. Mari giggled again, "Just watch this." Mari walked to the counter, "Excuse me, but do you perhaps recognize me?"

The teller who happened to be the manager/owner of the shop said, "Yes your highness. Is this the Yondaime's daughter?"

Mari looked briefly at Kaiko then back at the owner, "Yes she is. Her name is Kaiko. I trust the Yondaime's account has been fully set up here and Kaiko has full access to it."

The owner immediately answered, "Yes it has. I must say he is being very generous concerning his daughter. With this much credit, Kaiko can literally buy out the store three times over. His other accounts at the other stores are just as generous."

Kaiko eyes were glazed over in shock, "What does she mean by this?"

"I told you there was a difference between how sons are treated and daughter's. Daughter's have certain obligations and duties different from sons. Sons can get away with murder while daughters cannot however, we get other liberties different from sons such as we can buy and buy clothes until we drop as long as they fit within certain parameters. Speaking of which, why Kaiko are you still wearing that disgusting orange outfit? The only different thing about it is the shorts. I thought you, Kushina-sama , and Hinata-san got rid of it when they did not fit you anymore. Where did that outfit come from?"

Kaiko grinned, "I had it made for me when they were not looking. I wanted something to remain of Naruto. After all, I am hoping to be Naruto once again. As for the color well it's my clan colors."

"No it's not Kaiko. Your mother's clan being the late Uzumaki clan official color is red. Your father's clan is yellow hence his nickname of the yellow flash. Now why ORANGE of all colors?"

"As I said, my clan color is orange," added Kaiko, "the combination of both my father's and mother's clan colors."

Mari thought carefully before responding, "I am not talking about getting rid of the orange completely but rather tone it down a little. I get that it's important to you family wise. I am suggesting making another color your own personal color though. You can still use the orange to honor your parents."

Now it was Kaiko's time to ponder what Mari has said. "What do you have in mind?" wondered Kaiko aloud finally.

Mari grinned, "Well how do you feel about purple. Being sorda royalty yourself, it might just suit you."

Kaiko chuckled but agreed to try it. They tried many different outfits on that day. A few were obvious no goes but some were considered keepers. They still have not come up with the look that will define Kaiko from that time on however. That is until they came to one shop Mari suggested. Upon seeing the top Mari had chosen for Kaiko to wear she almost bolted. She would have too had it not been the color of the top, a soft almost pale orange. Still, after trying on the top, Kaiko was uncomfortable with the look. After all, it showed so much being a Bandage Bandeau Crop Top. There were no sleeves or straps and her belly was on full display. It is a good thing the seal for Kurama was not visible until she makes it visible or this look would never work for her. Still Kaiko loved the color.

"Mari, it's rather a bit showy don't you think?"

Mari just grinned while gritting her teeth. She knew she was pushing the envelope with such a revealing top but that is not all she had in mind. What Mari produced next made Kaiko scream excitedly. She snatched the garments out of her hands quickly and went into the changing room. When a pair of orange shorts dropped onto the ground Mari had another inspired plan. Quickly she grabbed the offending orange items from beneath the changing room door and went into the other changing room.

When Kaiko came out of changing room 1 and back into changing rooms' private suite space, she did not see Mari. "Mari?" she called out.

"Oh sorry Kaiko," she called out from changing room 2, "I just saw this outfit I just had to try on."

"Ah," replied Kaiko who had not noticed her orange outfit was missing yet. Kaiko went over the mirror to look at herself. What she saw she liked very much. He Jacket was short sleeve barely coming past her elbows and it was short in the midsection, which left most of her belly exposed. However, it did cover her shoulders as well as provided cover for her other assets, which she did not wish to be put on display for the rest of the world particularly perverted boys. It worried her, a little, that she started to think this way. The rest of the outfit was pants and black boots. The jacket and pants was glittery soft purple. This outfit combined with her new hairstyle was screaming gorgeous to her.

When Mari came out of the changing room, Kaiko looking at a duplicate of herself as she looked like just before leaving the Palace this morning. Mari evidently stole her orange clothes so she could try them on. Kaiko was not amused one bit. With Mari looks, it is almost looked like looking into a mirror. "Mari, what the hell? You look ridiculous. Take that off this instance."

"So it's alright for you to look ridiculous but not me. Isn't that being hypocritical of yourself? After all with our looks we could be sisters."

"OK point taken. I looked like a clown back then. I will get rid of that outfit in favor of a more modest colored one. I do like this one though."

Mari went in to change back into her normal clothes. "Good because they are yours as a gift from me. However, the rest will be placed on your dad's accounts. Let's do some damage." As Mari smiled menacingly, Kaiko's eyes went as big as saucers as if she was looking at the biggest bowl of ramen she ever seen in her life.

Back In Konoha, Minato Namikaze was having second thoughts about the accounts he had set up for Kaiko in capital. His thoughts kept going back to when he made chunnin level and he wanted to celebrate with his girlfriend. He made the mistake of taking Kushina to newly established Ramen shop. By the end of the evening, all his bank accounts were empty after paying for the bill.

Minato Namikaze also had one other problem plaguing him besides his impending poverty. Mari was no doubt doing wonders for Kaiko in the capital but she was not a ninja nor was she a figure within Konoha. Of Kaiko's usual female friends none were able to keep Kaiko in check long enough for her to listen to her. Kaiko was the alpha of them. She needed someone with a strong personality but could be kind when the situation called for it. He had someone in mind for the job but unfortunately that person shown huge disdain for Kaiko recently. Minato had to have a talk with this perspective person before Kaiko comes back from the capital. He sent the anbu known simply as Dog to go fetch her.

Back at the capital, Mari and Kaiko had just come out of their twelve store with four more bags of clothes. Truthfully, Kaiko wanted to stop after they found the first outfit. It was her favorite and she kept it on all during the shopping. However Mari pointed out while the outfit was versatile she would be asked to attend a host of different functions and needed an outfit for each one, plus the shoes to go with them, and all the other accessories befitting each garment. It was beginning to overwhelm Kaiko but after a small discussion with Mari, she calmed down as well. However, as time went on something else entirely was beginning to bother her still.

"Kaiko, what is it? If it's the sheer mass of clothes you are getting I thought we've been over this. With you position as the Hokage's daughter you…"

"It's not that," Kaiko interrupted.

Mari gazed over at Kaiko with concern and asked, "Then what is it?"

"Well I am the Hokage's daughter, but before that I am also a perspective ninja candidate making her way thru the academy. While these clothes are good they will not hold up to the rigorous exertions ninja does on a daily basis nor are they able to protect me should the need the arises."

Mari looked at her and began to laugh. "What is so funny?" asked Kaiko.

"I was thinking the same thing which brings to the last store you are to visit which right in front of us," Mari said while waving at the store in front of them.

Kaiko looked up and could not believe her eyes. The store was a weapons shop. Not just any weapons shop though. It contains everything a warrior needed from clothing to paper bombs. Stores like these were located in every town and some were well hidden from the public eye since many customers tended to need their identities a secret. This shop was in the open though. Only visiting ninja from Konoha shopped there.

As Kaiko went towards the store door, she noticed that Mari was not walking beside her. She looking back at Mari with a questioning look.

Mari looked at the ground. "I can't go with you into this store Kaiko. Only you can enter it."

"Why Mari? I would not have been able to do any of this without you. You must go in with me."

"Kaiko there are several reasons why I cannot go in with you. I am a princess thus cannot be seen in there. In addition, I am not a ninja candidate thus unable to purchase anything, and mostly it is because I have no interest in being there to begin with. That type of thing is just not my cup of tea. Listen Kaiko, you are strong, strong enough I'm sure to be able go in there on your own. If you are to be a ninja someday you must reach inside yourself and find the strength to move on by yourself and not have to rely upon the strength of others."

Kaiko gulped and headed into the shop not knowing what to expect. In there she saw multiple amounts of weaponry and loads of other hardware. She went over to the racks of clothing and started to look them over. She noticed many were geared to males. This angered her, as she was not able to find anything.

"May I help you miss?" Kaiko nearly jumped out of her skin. She was not able to sense the man as he approached her. In addition, she was looking at a huge man with bulging muscles.

"I … am Kaiko …"

"Oh, you must be Kaiko Uzumaki. I have your order nearly finished. Your mom called it in early this morning and paid for a rush job. It was a chore to go off measurements given to me over the phone but seeing you now I must make a couple adjustments. If you go looking over there for you other gear I will get to work finishing your order."

"What order?" Kaiko asked the man with wide surprised eyes.

The man laughed, "You will see in time. Your mom is well known and promised to hurt me if I told you before you saw them first hand."

Kaiko felt happy. Her own mother knew this would happen so she had an outfit ordered just for her. That was a very good thing since finding just the right outfit would be impossible otherwise. However, she had on concern, "Color?"

The man looked back at her and laughed again, "Judging from that outfit you are wearing you have nothing to worry about. Now go on and look for at the gear over there while I finish will you."

Kaiko smiled wearily. She wanted to trust him but she was not yet ready for that yet and wanted to protest. However, Kaiko decided to try to trust in her mother instead. An hour and half later, Kaiko had chosen all her equipment. Now she was waiting for her outfit to be finished. When the man came out with it, her eyes went wide in surprise and excitement. It was perfect. Kaiko smiled as the man bagged everything up after checking her out using the account her father had set up there earlier for her.

With her bags in her hands, Kaiko laughed as she left the store smiling. However, the smile was short lived as she saw the horror before her as she left the store. Kaiko saw the dead bodies of Mari's bodyguards lying in their own blood. Suddenly she felt a jerking pain went thru her chest.

"KAIKO!" screamed Mari. Kaiko looked down to see mask men shoving Mari into a coach before noticing the foot of blade poking thru the front of her chest. As the blade withdrew from behind, her eyes closed as darkness closed all around her. Her own body fell upon a pool created of her own blood.

A/N

I will leave it here. I know it's a cliffhanger but most would say it's a welcome cliffhanger. This chapter was a pain for me to write and I had a lot of help from Clockright. Thanks for helping thru this by bouncing ideas off.

As for the rest of the story, we have it somewhat mapped out and it will be explosive. Can't and will not tell you much as We wish it to be a surprise. See you soon.