Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I own none of it.

Summary: A more rational Danzo takes on team 7. The world changes accordingly

Chapter 12 - The Maelstrom

Note: The chapter numbering is messed up, I'm not fixing it. Is what it is. Also sorry for not updating here, got a couple reviews that made me not really want to post to this site anymore, but I still see new followers coming in so I'll start keeping it up to date here as well. Enjoy!

The next morning Naruto didn't go with his team for physical training. It looked like he barely slept, nearly entombed in scrolls and books he had brought home from the temple. Two clones (about as many as could be in the apartment with everyone home) worked to sort everything even as Naruto read.

Sakura almost raised a hand to ask why he wasn't coming but Sasuke caught it before she could, his eyes telling her to leave it alone for now.

And so they left, and Naruto kept reading. Not jutsu scrolls, or fighting techniques. But the entire history of the Uzumaki clan as written by Uzumaki Mito. Realizing his team was gone and he didn't have to worry about letting them sleep, more clones filled the room.

If there had been anyone there to see it, they might have noticed his hands beginning to shake.

When Team 7 returned, Sasuke had to admit it was possible he'd made a mistake that morning. Because what they found when they got home that night was an empty apartment. Naruto and all his scrolls nowhere to be found.

He rubbed his shoulder sheepishly after Sakura hit him.

"Damnit Sasuke, I knew leaving him here was a bad idea." She wasn't mad at him, not really. Everything about her tone and posture said she was nothing but concerned.

"Hn. I know where he'll be. Come on." He slams the door a little harder than needed as he turned to leave.

Sakura might not actually be mad at him but he still should have known better.

It didn't take them long to get to the Uzumaki Temple, Naruto having left the security seals disabled behind him evidently. Sasuke hadn't bothered mentioning those to Sakura and was sure she wouldn't have been happy if she knew Sasuke had no plan on how to get through them if.

So everything was going okay so far.

But the moment they entered the Temple it was obvious that things were in fact, not okay. The muffled sound of crying mixed with the ocean of chakra from the floor below would probably set anyone off. But it wasn't Kyuubi's chakra so… It could be worse.

But when they entered the room they still weren't truly prepared to find Naruto on his hands and knees sobbing. To see the air pulse and shudder as he hit the ground again and again.

Sasuke's eyes were good enough to pick up the title of the book he had just been reading, and make out the details of the picture that had presumably fallen out. "Pregnancy Journal - Uzumaki Kushina." With a picture of a very pregnant Kushina with Minato. It was one of the happiest pictures you can imagine.

Sakura tried to run to his side but was blown back by the ocean of chakra Naruto was exuding.

Silver lining was that her cry of shock got Naruto to notice they were here. When he looked up at them Sasuke was able to see something else stashed under Naruto's body, a copy folder by the look of it. But realizing he wasn't alone Naruto threw the folder towards them and pulled himself into a corner to try and breath and get his chakra back under wraps.

As he pulls Sakura back to her feet (that steel beam really is heavy he also realizes), the two share a nervous glance, unsure of what they'd find that had upset him so. In a folder marked "Legal Papers - Copies" at that.

Only the question was answered almost as soon as it was opened. The two most recent documents being "The Joint Last Will and Testament of Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato" and "Marriage Certificate - Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina."

As they started reading the first one Naruto choked out a paraphrased version.

"If, in the event of our death Kushina's burden is passed to our yet unborn child. They are to be raised by their godfather, and hailed as a hero of the village. Both as my child, and the only one that can keep the village safe." The cracking sobbing voice turned angry as Naruto stood, throwing a random scroll across the room. "THEY KEPT IT ALL FROM ME!" A crack as his fist found the wall behind them. The chakra he was exuding began to turn malevolent as his eyes turned to red. "I WAS LOVED! I HAD A CLAN! I HAD A FAMILY! I HAD A LEGACY!" Sasuke's eyes began to widen in the beginnings of fear as Kyuubi began to stir, and yet Naruto's rage was turning cold. "A clan left to die, after we kept them safe since before the village was founded!" He rounds, making eye contact with them "Did you know that it was Mito that taught Hashirama how to make Jinchuriki? Uzumaki seals that gave every village their greatest "weapons"." The big air quotes were added dramatically. "Or how 'bout that only an Uzumaki can carry Kyuubi? That the only reason Kushina was even in Konoha was so it could be passed to her from Mito? So the Uzumaki are now providing both the jutsu used and the vessel? Do you know what Jinchuriki means? It means the power of human sacrifice!"

The room was silent aside from Naruto's panting. There really wasn't anything to say that hadn't been already… Eventually the silence breaks as Naruto turns to look away from them, letting out a frustrated shout, as he stomped and threw off the still forming Kyuubi cloak. His energy drained as he forced the beast back down, he slumped back onto the floor, crying silently. A moment later Sasuke and Sakura are on either side of him, a hand on each of his shoulders.

They didn't say anything because they didn't need to, Naruto pulled them both into a group hug as he started to cry again. "I don't understand why Sarutobi would do this to me… I called him Jiji for most of my life." He sniffled loudly. "Would they even have told me any of it if not for Danzo?"

Sakura rubbed little circles in his back as she spoke softly. "There's no way to know hun… We just gotta do our best from here."

Once Sakura had said her piece Sasuke finished. "And we will make it right Naruto. Anything we can."

Naruto just clung to his teammates as he sobbed, nodding into their embrace. But he couldn't help but harbor the thought that it could never be made right.

But.. with his Team here. And maybe Jiraiya someday… Maybe they could make it better.

The next day Naruto went with them for morning training. Quiet but he was there putting in the work. In fact he didn't say a word until they broke for lunch. After a quick trip home to shower the silence was broken.

"I was thinking I might go have lunch with Iruka-sensei before I finally met up with this Tanzo guy."

Sakura actually brightened up at this. "That sounds like a great idea! You'll tell Sensei we say hi right?"

Naruto nodded shyly and silently exited the apartment.

For Iruka it had been a pretty normal day so far. Konohamaru and his crew causing a fuss, Hanabi getting snappy with them, Iruka calming them all down. It was kind of sweet really, but even still he was grateful for the lunch break. Without Naruto around he didn't need to worry about his food being pranked or anything and he could just enjoy his-

"Hey Sensei, was that offer for lunch still available?" And while Naruto spoke softly, the fact that it came from right behind the seated teacher who had no idea anyone was there caused the diligent chunin to jump right onto his desk. And while Naruto's ensuing giggles certainly brought a smile to his face he couldn't help but get in a little good natured ribbing.

"Well, seeing as the lunch I brought is all over my shoes now you're not leaving me many options." He got off the desk before he pulled Naruto into a hug, ruffling his hair as he did so.

"Hey-Hey stop that!" Naruto protested weakly through his giggles.

"Oh fine," Iruka pulled back enough to move his hands to Naruto's shoulders as he looked him over. "You changed your look! Kept the orange of course, but where'd you learn how to braid your hair?" He runs a hand across the braided length of Naruto's hair. "And it's so soft! Someone's learning how to take care of themselves."

Naruto is bright red as he brushes Iruka's hands off him and steps back. "Come on Sensei, I'm not some little kid anymore!"

But Naruto's somewhat faux outrage just had Iruka bent over laughing. "Oh I've missed you Naruto. Come on, let's get that lunch." His arm finds its way around Naruto's shoulders again as they head out together.

"Sure, can we maybe get takeout and eat at your place though? There's some stuff I can't really talk about in public…" He got kinda quiet as he finished, not really looking at Iruka directly.

For his part Iruka, while a little taken aback by Naruto's unexpected shyness had nothing against the idea. It is Naruto after all and he's just been traumatized by a sannin. He had no idea how far off the mark he was.

"Yeah that's fine, I'll get someone to cover my next class so we can take our time. Why don't you tell me where you learned to do your hair like this on the way?" He figured that would be a nice light topic to get started with.

Naruto smiled a little as he recalled the day. "Well it's actually a longer story then you might think. So Sakura and I were running some errands on a very rare day off while Sasuke spent some time at the Uchiha compound, and things just sort of kept going wrong-"

Skip forward to entering Iruka's apartment, arms laden with ramen.

"- and so by the time we get out of there Ino's done both of our hair, given us basically new wardrobes, and tons of hair and skin care stuff." Iruka can't help but laugh as Naruto finishes his story, almost not able to believe his ears that Ino was apparently having a girls night with her apparently former rival and Uzumaki Naruto of all people.

"Well it's good to hear you're making friends. I'll be honest I was pretty worried when you got Danzo-sama for a sensei and just sort of vanished. It's wonderful to see you and the rest of your team doing so well." He finished setting out all the food and took a seat before continuing. "How are they doing anyways? I know you all made it through the prelims but you were all pretty beat up coming out of the forest." That was sort of putting it lightly, but Naruto appreciated him not bringing up Kyuubi, or the fear Naruto had been able to sense from his former sensei in the tower.

Even still it took him a moment to answer, as they started steering into trickier waters. "Uh, well they recovered from the exam stuff pretty quickly. Danzo-sensei was able to modify Orochimaru's curse seal to make it less… Well less awful." Naruto twirled his noodles around in the broth as he continued. "But… Lately, there's just more and more getting piled on…" He trailed off as he started to feel his voice catch in his throat, staring into his soup as he struggled to hold back tears.

It didn't take a genius to figure out something was very wrong, and Iruka reached out to take one of Naruto's hands from across the table to try and comfort his old student. "Hey, hey now I know the exams are stressful, but you held off a sannin, do you know how many shinobi can say that? You guys will have the tournament in the bag!"

Naruto smiled a little at the attempt to cheer him up. His choked laughter came out almost as a sob though as he pressed on. "It's not that… I… I found out who my parents are."

Iruka hesitated for a moment, unsure of why Naruto would be so shaken up by this. "But that's great news! What's wrong?" Naruto started to cry into his soup as a lot of the emotions he was still struggling to process came to the surface.

"The Hokage lied to me." That dam was starting to crumble as Naruto's voice was choked in between sobs. "He lied about Kyuubi, and he lied about my family, and he went against my parents last wishes in a bunch of ways-" Naruto's voice was breaking as he started to hyperventilate. "And he made me believe he cared about me the whole time! I called him Jiji my whole life and he smiled and hugged me as if he hadn't stolen my whole life from me!"

Naruto's on his feet now, beginning to pace as one hand gestured with his points and the other tugged on his braid. Iruka was so stunned by the outburst that he wasn't even able to form anything to say before Naruto continued. "And I can't even tell you who they are! We got "special clearance" as a fucking reward for doing well in the exams." Iruka started to raise a hand as if to try talking but Naruto wasn't done. "And I know he means well but Sasuke's so mad about it all that I didn't even really get a chance to decide how I want to handle it! And he's not wrong but it's not his Jiji that he's planning to-" Naruto cuts himself off. "No it's better you don't know actually." He falls back to sit with Iruka again, burrowing his face into his arms on the table with a groan.

"My whole life is a lie." Could just barely be heard, muffled by the sleeve of the distressed shinobi's sleeve.

"Naruto… Come on not everything's a lie." Leave it to Iruka to be an optimist. "You're like my little brother, I'm here for you." Iruka made his way around the table to put his arms around his emotional friend. "And it sounds like your team will have your back no matter what, it sounds like you've got something really special. And if Ino told you and Sakura that you have the backing of her clan that's a serious show of support from a major clan power. All the relationships you're building, the reputation you're developing, those are all real. Learning about where you came from doesn't change who you are."

Iruka's calming presence and words of reassurance managed to get Naruto's head back up off the table, but now it seemed as if Naruto had been drained of energy as he responded flatly. "Iruka-sensei… I don't think I know who I am anymore…" He sat back up properly with a sniffle and gestured for Iruka to sit back down as he collected himself. "It all started in Wave Country."

And Naruto told Iruka the story of a kind hearted young person that fought to protect their master. A beautiful soul that made Naruto question a lot of his preconceptions about the world.

The first person Naruto killed.

"After that I had a lot of trouble. Danzo helps. He's surprisingly good with emotions. He taught me to start thinking through why I do things and what things really make me happy. But… The more I do that the more confused I get. The things that have really been making me happy lately are all things that boys aren't supposed to like. I like gossiping with Sakura, and Ino's makeover was great and I really like the battle kimono and I know it's a girls one and I know my sweater is a girls sweater but I actually like them. And I never realized before that I never actually got to pick what I liked, I just got what I could get and made myself happy to have those things. I didn't want that jumpsuit or to live off ramen. I was just poor and had to be happy because no one was gonna do anything about it even if I wasn't. I wanted plants and nicer soap!" Naruto threw his arms in the air as he let himself fall back onto the carpet so he wouldn't be looking at Iruka for the next part as his face started to flush.

"I don't even think I like girls."

"What!?" Iruka sputtered in surprise, but quickly recollected himself. "Are- Are you sure? I thought you liked Sakura?"

Naruto nodded. "I do like Sakura, I think she's great. I just thought there was only one way a boy could like a girl. I didn't even understand what it meant the first time I "asked her out", I just wanted her to be my friend." Naruto gave a little giggle at this. "I'm not always the brightest."

"Well, what about your sexy jutsu then? There had to have been research to make that."

"Yeah you know I thought about that for a bit too. But you have to promise not to reveal my jutsu secrets here for a second."

Iruka crosses his heart "Of course, we're fellow leaf shinobi."

"Alright cool. My transformation jutsu is a real transformation, I really become whatever I turn into and while I always knew that I didn't understand that that's not how it works for most people. So I thought "Why not try being a girl?". But then… You know… Maybe I liked it. And I just sort of decided it had to be funny, that I liked it because it was funny."

"But that's not it, is it?" Iruka asked gently, hoping his tone would carry the support he was trying to convey.

Naruto sighed. "No. No it's not. I liked it because… Because I just did. Because when I got the jutsu right it was more comfortable for me then my normal body. But I never thought… I didn't know people could be like that. That's not something people talk about. And even though Haku never talked about it, just seeing someone else that maybe felt something similar? Someone that maybe didn't have a jutsu like mine but had figured out they wanted to be… different and be making the changes for them to be happy? Well after… After I started getting over what happened in Wave I decided to let myself live in a way that made me happy… And the more things that I find that make me happy… Starting to figure out that I'm not into girls… The more I think that maybe… Maybe I want to be a girl." Naruto finished beet red and staring at the wall so he couldn't see Iruka's face.

The room was silent for a moment before Iruka stood up and went to the kitchen quickly, before returning and standing over Naruto with his hands behind his back and a grin spread across his face. "Okay Naruto don't be so dramatic, get up and look at me I've got something for you."

Naruto stands nervously, still pink in the face as he meets Iruka's kind and caring gaze. Once he does he's further surprised to find Iruka pulling out a small cluster of flowers from behind his back. White daffodils to be precise.

"Know matter how much of the rest of your life changes I'll be here for you. It doesn't matter who you like, or who you think you need to be to be happy. The Naruto I want in my life is the Naruto that smiles okay?"

Naruto sniffles a little as her eyes fill with tears once more before she jumps into her sensei's arms. He made sure to maneuver to keep the flowers safe as he caught her in a sort of flying hug. It was hard to make out if Naruto was laughing or crying but she settled back down quickly and Iruka could hear a muffled voice from his flak jacket that made him join in on the laughter. "I hope everyone I tell gives me flowers."

"Well don't get too upset if they don't." Iruka manages between giggles. "Not all your friends will have a ready supply of them from students like me."

Naruto wipes her face as she pulls back from Iruka, still giggling and sniffling a little. "Ino might."

Iruka smiles as he tucks the flowers he'd offered into Naruto's hair. "Yes Ino might, probably much nicer flowers then these though."

"No way! These are perfect sensei!" Naruto's smile was infectious and before long the two of them were back to laughing and finishing their now slightly cold ramen.

Eventually it became time for the two to head out, Iruka did of course need to get back to class. But Naruto hesitated at the door before they headed out. "And um, I haven't told anyone else yet. And I don't really know how I'm going to… I probably won't make a big deal out of it. Once I tell my team Sasuke will probably just genjutsu everyone into thinking it was always that way or something."

And while she giggled at the thought… Well it might not be far from the truth.

After leaving Iruka's Naruto finally tracked down this "Tenzo" character that was supposed to be training her. It wasn't all that hard, as it turned out they lived in the same building. Which would be more surprising if their building wasn't almost exclusively high level shinobi. Naruto figured that tidbit out a while after moving in.

When she knocked at the door in question it was answered promptly by a man with short brown hair and black, almond-shaped eyes and a happuri style forehead protector. His gaze landed on her for just a second before an eyebrow quirked in askance.

"Oh! Um, right. I'm Uzumaki Naruto! My sensei told me I could meet up with you whenever I wanted to train?"

Tenzo blinked owlishly before responding. "Ah, yes. Sorry I was expecting you a couple days ago so I assumed you weren't coming."

Naruto flinched a little before laughing nervously and scratching the back of her head. "Ah-yeah. Sorry about that! There's just been... Some stuff I had to take care of."

Tenzo nods stiffly. "Understood." But then Naruto was shocked for just a moment as the door was shut in her face, only for it to be swiftly reopened with a redressed Tenzo, now in a standard Jounin outfit. "Lets go."

When they eventually arrived at a very private training ground Naruto thought to ask the question. "So what are we doing all the way out here, where is here anyways?"

"This is one of the training grounds Danzo sets aside for training hidden jutsu. I learned to use mine here, and hopefully we can start to develop yours." Tenzo replied, he doesn't blink much apparently.

"Um, but the Uzumaki don't have a formal bloodline. Just a tendency for potent chakra."

Tenzo nods again. "And yet Uzumaki Kushina was able to develop her "Adamantine Sealing Chains" from her Chakra. The same Chakra that I believe lets you truly transform with your transformation jutsu, and gives you such an affinity for your clones." Tenzo displays a folder with Naruto's name on it. "And while we work on that, you will have clones working on wind manipulation. Danzo has committed to teaching you his Vacuum style and that will require the very highest level of skill. Questions?"

"Um, yeah I have a lot of chakra but even I can't keep up with that kind of load for long."

But Naruto was left catching her breath when four wooden pillars rose up around her, adorned with dog heads.

"Then use Kyuubi's, with me present it's safe for you to push your limits."

Naruto's grin couldn't get any wider as they started the first day of her training.

After she had finished up with Tenzo she found her apartment still empty. With it not being terribly late and her chakra network still in high gear she decided to go back out. She didn't really have much of a destination in mind as she walked through the village, though some of the restaurants she'd walked by smelled pretty good-

"Hey Naruto!" Oh, that was actually not who she'd expected.

"Hey Choji-kun!" She replied as she turned. "And Shikamaru too! It's good to see you both, sorry about the prelims and all." She scratched the back of her head awkwardly, not really sure what to say to the two.

Luckily they seemed to take it well enough, Shikamaru waving it off as he spoke. "Ma-ma, the exams were troublesome anyways."

"And besides, we can always take the next one!" Choji continues.

Naruto can't help but giggle a little at the boys. "Oh, well in that case I'm glad you're both taking it so well! From what Sakura had said Ino was kind of upset."

"Ino is the definition of troublesome." The Nara heir drawled, head rolling back just slightly as he did so.

"Anyways, Naruto. We were just about to head in for some barbeque, care to join?" Leave it to Choji to bring it back to food.

But well… She had been thinking about getting a bite to eat and it was always better not to eat alone. And she'd be lying if she said she didn't kind of like watching Shikamaru try to "figure her out". The puzzled interest the normally disinterested genin was showing her. Not that she could blame him, she was just starting to figure herself out never mind other people knowing.

"I'd love to join! Do you guys come here often?"

"Ugh, only every chance Choji gets to drag us here."

"Hey it's good food! And I watch clouds with you whenever you want." Naruto giggled a little at that.

"Oh good, we've traded one troublesome blond for another." Shikamaru jokes with a smirk as the trio heads into the restaurant.

"Oh please, like Ino could keep up with me if we really got into it." Naruto did a kinda snooty voice and flicker her braid of her shoulder as she said it, in a comedic impression of Ino.

While Choji burst out laughing Shikamaru managed to get a comeback out around a snort. "Forgive me, we got the troublesome blond with extra batteries my mistake." Which had Naruto almost bent over laughing as they got to a table, Shikamaru and Choji sitting on one side and her on the other.

"So what's new with you guys anyways?" She asks after Choji placed an order for the whole table.

"Oh not much really. Since you guys knocked us out of the exams we've mostly just been taking it easy. Ino was pretty bummed but Shika said you guys did your best to keep us in the competition so I figure we just need to get stronger. Once we've all had some time to recharge I'm sure Asuma-Sensei will up our training so we'll be ready!"

"Hey! That's a great way to look at it! What about you Shikamaru?"

But it seemed the lighter conversation was coming to a close, as Shikamaru took a drink of water before locking eyes with her. "Just trying to figure out how a team of people we went to school with could disappear for a few months and come back able to rig the chunin exams." He took another drink calmly as their food arrived and Naruto and Choji both sputtered at his sudden directness.

"Shika! You can't just-" Choji tries to diffuse but Naruto waves him down.

"No no, it's okay. Honestly we just had a dedicated Sensei that really really didn't use the kid gloves…" Naruto got out kind of lamely before continuing. "Like, when we were training, we all had to see the medic at the end of the day. Every day. And we had specially tailored meal plans and supplements to help us develop. And training was all we did for months, and then when we did go on a mission, it ended up being A-Rank and we encountered Momochi Zabuza. It's as much bad luck that we're as strong as we are as it is good really."

The whole time Naruto was speaking Choji's eyes got wider and wider but Shikamaru tried to stay impassive. "There's more you're not saying." He pressed gentle as he dished up a plate and handed it to her, before starting to get himself one as Choji realized people were getting food and scrambled to get his own.

"I mean, yeah Shika. There is more. But a lot of it's not mine to say-" Which meant stuff about Sasuke and Sakura. "And some of it I can't say-" Village secrets, would need to be careful around those. "And you know what Shikamaru? Maybe some of it is personal and I'd tell you if I felt like it!" And that would be his que to back off.

"Sorry, sorry." He waved her down. "You're right of course. You'll need to forgive my curiosity." He leaned in to start eating his food, before making a quick side glance and finishing. "I just find you interesting."

Both Naruto and Choji were bright red and stammering as Shikamaru dug into his food.

Eventually they all managed to get back to having a normal dinner. It turned out Choji was a decent gossip just from being in proximity to Ino.

"No kidding, you're sure it was Sasuke?"

"I'm telling you it was! I saw him walking with Hinata last night."

"Well that just doesn't seem like him."

"I'm just telling you what I saw! I swear on this delicious delicious cheesecake."

Okay, Naruto admitted to herself. Choji would never swear on cheesecake if it was a lie. Especially stuff this good.

"Fine fine, I guess I know what he'll be doing with his evenings. That reminds me, Shikamaru I need to talk to your Dad. My Sensei says I need to learn how to play Shogi and that your clan is the best."

"Hm. Sounds troublesome. Seems to me like you should just learn from me. We already know each other, and besides my Dad is busy."

Naruto tries to play into it and call his bluff, with a foxy grin on her face. "Oh I bet you'd like that wouldn't you."

Only to have it blow up on her as Shikamaru outplays her, making eye contact before getting up to leave. "I would actually, my place at 1930 hours." He stops just after walking past her to call over his shoulder. "I picked up the bill already, don't be late."

Choji and Naruto were left staring at each other in shock, both bright red and wide eyed.

Naruto did end up going to Shikamaru's after dinner. However unlike at dinner he kept it pretty much about the game. Naruto was a fast learner as long as you kept it pretty hands on and Shikamaru realized that so they sat across from each other and started playing before long.

And before long they were having fun. Shika was shocked to find that once Naruto knew the rules they played fast and very well. Even still he won every game and it wasn't too long before it got dark and Naruto decided it was time to head home.

"This was fun though Shika. Mind if I come back on nights when my Sensei isn't available?"

"For sure. See you tomorrow Naruto." He waved as she started to head out.

"Goodnight Shika! See you tomorrow!"

And for the rest of the month she was there almost every night.

When Naruto got home she could hear somebody in the shower, the chakra presence and the neatness of the shoes by the door told Naruto it was Sasuke. So Naruto just took her shoes off and started watering her plants.

When Naruto hears the front door open and close she takes a steadying breath before turning to greet Sakura, trying to muster some of the classic Naruto cheer. "Heya Sakura-chan! How was training today?"

"Oh god don't even get me started." A loud clanking noise that could only be her leaning her steel beam against the wall. "And Jiraiya? Bless his heart does not understand human limitation. Lots of enthusiasm but as cautious as we're being, I still end every day feeling like my chakra network is full of molten lead." The sound of a door announced Sasuke's return from the shower. "And of course he's fine, he's not even breaking a sweat! Meanwhile I could turn into a literal statue at any point." Realizing she was rambling she all but through herself into the back of her chair with a groan. "What about you Sasuke? What's this Kakashi guy like?"

Sasuke of course had just finished making them all some tea, and was pouring it as he replied. "Kakashi's fine. We're working on trying to unlock whatever ability my Sharingan is trying to manifest. Lightning training, speed training. I like his dogs." Naruto giggled a little at this.

"And what about the time you spent with Hinata? How was that?" Naruto asked as she put down her watering pail and took her seat.

Sasuke didn't even get a chance to reply as Sakura stopped leaning back into her chair and fell to full attentive and alertness. "Whaaaaat? Since when are you and Hinata friends? Where'd you hear about that? I was with Ino and she didn't even know."

Naruto's smile only got bigger as she continued. "Oh apparently while Choji and Shikamaru were having dinner last night they saw the two of you walking by."

Sasuke's face hit the table with a groan. "It's just like the academy. I can't even go on a walk without being gossiped about." He picked his face up before continuing. "I was just worried after seeing stuff with her and Neji play out. And I have evenings free so I offered to start training with her." Suddenly there was a flash of light as a previously hidden Naruto clone appeared with a camera.

While Naruto giggled as Sasuke's head hit the table and Sakura cheered. "Yay! Sasuke! You did it! You made a friend!" She all but jumps on his back. "This is so exciting!"

"Oh can it I'm not that bad. Not like Naruto here deflecting everything to buy time for whatever he wants to talk about."

Now with two sets of eyes on her Naruto shrinks down a little before their eyes, cheeks tinged slightly pink. "Whaaat, I mean. I just wanted to check in with you guys… But, um, yeah. I did have something I wanted to talk about um…" Her eyes flicked back and forth between the two of them. "So I had lunch with Iruka today and we were talking about some things. And I think I've sorta figured some stuff out about myself that I haven't really talked about yet but I think you guys-" She got cut off by both of them at once.

"You like boys!" From Sakura, and "You're a girl." from Sasuke. They immediately shared a look between each other and gestured as if to say "What?"

But Naruto is bright red and trying not to make eye contact with anyone as she confirms it. "Uhhh, actually… You're both right, I think." And just like that Naruto was suddenly hoisted out of her chair and was being twirled around like a toddler by Sakura

"Oh my god Naruto! I'm so happy for you! I've known there was something going on for so long but I just thought you were gay but this is so much better!" You can hear Sasuke groan and hit the table again. "Ino's going to be so excited, you're gonna get to learn to do makeup from the very best. Oooh maybe we should see if Hinata would want to have a girls night with the three of us! Wouldn't that be fun she always liked you." Her face suddenly turns agasp as she continues. "Oh no! Hinata always liked you, ugh well she can't be mad that you're not interested in girls that's not your fault-"

"Sakura put Naruto down, she's turning blue." A quick glance up reveals that Sasuke's right, and she quickly deposits her teammate back in her chair before sitting back down and smoothing out her outfit.

"Sorry, sorry. Just got excited there for a second." She gestures for the two of them to talk now that she's "done".

Naruto was still catching his breath so Sasuke decided to take his chance at speaking. "It's good you figured it out Naruto, I'm sure you already know your team will accept you no matter what." He paused briefly, measuring his next words. "How do you want to handle it with other people though?"

"Oh um… I kinda thought I would just… I mean people already mistake me for a girl with the hair and everything so I thought I'd just you know…" A quick hand seal later and Naruto's features feminize ever so slightly. "And stop correcting people. And the people in our life will probably just go with it right?"

Sasuke thought it over for a second, but it was Sakura that actually had an idea first. "I mean we can do that. But for like, officials and government stuff it would be better if we could address it more officially. Sasuke you were planning on bringing Naruto's real birth certificate to the clan council after all this right?"

"Hn."

"Right, so couldn't we just make this one more "hidden detail" about Naruto's life? I bet sensei could make a good enough fake that "The Fourth Hokage's Hidden Son" could become "The Fourth Hokage's Hidden Daughter" right? Just make it one more part of the protection lie."

Sasuke nodded along. "The timing would be perfect, we already know we're getting promoted so we'll have to update our ninja registry. And Naruto's transformation is perfect so we won't have to deal with anyone's political stance. Just treat it like more hidden information."

The three of them nod, agreeing on their plan.

"I guess I should tell Sensei then eh?"

"Yeah that would probably help."

But that could happen tomorrow, tonight they could get some sleep.