PSA: So i've recently heard that writing/drawing genderbend stories are offensive and I wanna know what you guys think. Cause i've written one other genderbend story in my life, and people that read it seemed to enjoy it and want it to be continued, but I've seen people (mainly artists) get cancelled because they drew genderbent characters. So please let me know what you think and enjoy this story too.
Authors Note: This is a genderbend story between one of my favourite ships SakuIno. Sakura's name will stay the same and watch out for some offensive terms. I want you to know that I don't condone any of these things and at no point agree with them, but it's got something to do with Sakura's state of mind in this specific story and how people treat him because of it so I wanted to warn you.
Things to know before reading: Sakura is a boy, has the same name, is very insecure, he doesn't have a linear personality, he hates Sasuke, He is in love with Ino but has a crush on Hinata, He is best friends with Naruto and the only one who doesn't see him as a bad person for just living.
Sakura Haruno has always been a shy kid. Never spoke unless spoken to, kept to himself, sat alone away from the other and kept his head down at all times. Because of this, he became very perceptive, noticing many things about his classmates like how Ami had an almost unnoticeable limp, Sasuke was hurt behind his aloof personality, and Naruto had lonely eyes even though he continuously hid it behind his excitement and pranks. Sakura was also severely bullied by a lot of the other children at the Academy for his abnormally large forehead and his feminine name and personality. He ended up being quite the cry baby from this outcome no matter how proud he was of who he was and where he got his name from (He had been born when the cherry blossoms began blooming. He was also named after an ancestor.) many kids didn't have the same sentiment as him.
So you can imagine his parents surprise (and joy) when their shy son brought a young blonde with blue pupil less eyes (Ino Yamanaka they figured out from the flower behind her ear) both of them covered in dirt, bruises, and cuts.
"Sakura, what happened?!" His mom, Mebuki Haruno, asked ushering the two into the Haruno Household. Sakura stood in the middle of the kitchen with his cut hands folded in front of him, Ino stood next to him, her own hands limp at her sides both of them beginning to feel the adrenaline wear off and the pain of their injuries begin to kick in.
"I got in a fight," He tells his parents, his father Kizashi had just walked in). "But I lost." He looked down at his shoes ashamed. Mebuki waved Ino towards her helping her up onto the counter so she can begin catering to her wounds. Kizashi crouched in front of his shy son, smiling lightly.
"Saku?" The pink haired boy looked at his dad with tear filled eyes. Kizashi put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Did you put your all into helping your friend?" Sakura nodded sharply making Kizashi chuckle. His son was really resembling Mebuki at that moment. "Then you did well kid. You didn't lose at all because you realised you weren't as strong as the person you and Ino were fighting. But you need to remember that to get stronger, you need to realise where your faults are and that there will always be someone stronger than you and someone to fight for. Do you understand?"
Before Sakura could answer, Ino spoke up from where Mebuki was cleaning the dirt and grime off her face.
"Your daddy's right you know. 'Cause my daddy always tells me 'when you know you're infrerior to someone, you're a lot stronger than you think. Because those that think they're super-rerior to everyone, they're weak minded.'" She said proudly. Kizashi and Mebuki chuckled when she struggled to pronounce certain words quietly correcting her.
"Your father is a wise man, Ino." Ino's proud smile grew wide as she nodded cockily, looking at Sakura.
"Don't worry Sakura. When we get stronger, we'll beat them with a sixteen move combo!" She exclaimed almost hitting Mebuki when she fist pumped earning herself a scolding from the ash blonde woman. Ino smiled sheepishly apologising to her and sitting stock still.
Later on, after having just dropped Ino back home, Sakura and Mebuki had stopped for groceries on their way back to their home, the pink haired boy holding a single yellow alstroemeria that he had gotten from a bashful Ino ("If we're gonna get stronger, we're gonna do it together so you're gonna be my best friend from now on."). Mebuki had noticed he had been walking slowly behind her with a slight blush on his face and a small smile but she could tell that something was still bothering him.
"Sakura? You okay?" She asked slowing down so they were walking besides each other. They had a while before Kizashi would start whining about how hungry he was. Sakura himself didn't answer for a while instead opting to play with the feather of the flower in his hand. She waited patiently for him to gather his thoughts knowing how hard it can be for him to express himself. A trait he unfortunately got from her.
"Am I really a big headed, cry baby, pink haired tranny like everyone says?" He asked quietly. Mebuki frowned angrily. She never understood why the teachers allowed the students to bully others because that is not a part of ninja training. She knows that for a fact, that bullying is not training to become a ninja. Now her boy was completely insecure. Way too insecure for his age.
"Now you listen to me Sakura. There is nothing wrong with being feminine you here me? Anyone who tells you otherwise, are insecure in their masculinity you understand?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Good. Don't you ever worry about what people think about you. Only worry about how you can better yourself. And I don't ever wanna hear the words 'tranny' come outta your mouth again. Ya got that?"
"Got it!" Sakura exclaimed. Mebuki grinned ruffling his shaggy pink hair that covered his emerald eyes.
"Alright! Let's get home before your dad destroys the place." Sakura giggled jumping on his mom's back. Squealing excitedly when she speeds towards their house.
Sakura had confusion written on his face as he stared at his blushing friend's stretched out hand. In it was a red bandana. He looked between her and the bandana, completely bewildered having no clue as to why she's gifting her with it.
"A bandana..?" He tilted his, looking more and more lost as the seconds went by. Ino huffed shoving the red cloth into his hand crossing her arms in annoyed embarrassment.
"I-it's nothing special! Ju… Just something to hold your hair back. You can't become stronger if you can't see!" Sakura looked back down and the expertly folded cloth then back at the blonde girl in front of him, pushing his hair out of his eyes and tying it in place with the bandana. He looked at his blonde companion nervously wringing his hands together.
"I, um, thank you. D-does it look nice?" He asked anxiously. Ino nodded dazed unable to look away from his vibrant, hypnotising eyes. Sakura blushed in embarrassment looking away from his new friend. "I-Ino?" He stammered snapping her back to the present frowning slightly.
"I don't see why you'd ever wanna hide your eyes from people. They're so pretty." She complimented him. By now, Sakura's face matched his hair.
"T-thank you Ino." He stuttered bashfully. Ino grinned grabbing his hand and pulling him along. Sakura tripped over his feet in an attempt to keep up with her, but he couldn't keep the smile off his face and the thought of why his heart was hammering the way it was.