so there was a bit of a wait before i was able to get this one out, just been stuck with life and work and stuff (that's a lie, i've just been lazy). Anywhooooo, let's just get going before i start rambling again.

minor disclaimer again: Naruto's figuring some stuff out, the pronouns will sort themselves out soon enough, sorry if it causes any confusion, but just imagine how confusing it must be for Naruto :p

Naruto lay down clumsily as he stared up at his rickety old fan that spun with slow, creaking revolutions.

The day had been… a long one to say the least, and his mind was a whirlwind of emotions. He didn't quite know how he should be feeling.

After everything with Ino, Iruka, Hiruzen and that other gray haired man with a friendly smile (assuming he was actually smiling under that mask of his, Naruto unfortunately forgot to ask for his name), Naruto found his thoughts running at a mile a minute.

He didn't know how to feel about his own body. He's never felt this way before, always so sure of himself, he always knew who he was, who he is and who he wanted to be. The blond got off his bed and looked in the mirror. The person staring back at Naruto was so familiar yet different.

He closed his eyes, brought up the familiar hand signs again and pumped chakra through his body, picturing himself as he looked earlier that day, or the day before, or the day before that.

He opened his eyes to see the same blond hair, same blue eyes, same whisker-like birthmark, but the new, softer, more delicate features remained. He could see the tiredness in his own eyes.

He wasn't even able to place a Henge over this new body, his body seemingly unable to form the chakra in the right way to transform again. He really needed to fix whatever had happened to him, he couldn't very well be a very decent ninja, let alone Hokage if he couldn't even perform a simple transformation.

There was also the clone jutsu that continued to elude him, being the reason he wasn't able to pass when he had begged Iruka to let him take the exam early. Now that was two of the basic academy jutsu he couldn't perform on himself, was there even a possibility of passing the academy at this rate?

The day had been a long one indeed…

Why couldn't he turn off this stupid jutsu? He couldn't help but feel alien in his own body, everything felt so new and different, yet frustratingly the similar.

He averted his gaze from the mirror, unable to bring himself to stare at his own reflection for much longer. He then stared down at his hands, soft and delicate like the rest of him now. Gone were the rough calluses that had defined his palms in the past.

Everything about this new body felt fake. Sure, he got treated a whole lot better when he looked like this, but was this really how he wanted to spend the rest of his life?

Was this who he wanted to be?

Absently, he ran a few fingers through his longer hair… His hair felt grimy and dirty after everything that happened that day. He really needed to take a bath…

Naruto's eyes widened and felt his face heat up at the realization, he hadn't even considered not being able to turn back into what he looked like, so he was really accurate when he had performed the first transformation.

He didn't really know how things worked… down there, but his body seemed to have just sorted itself out, almost fixing any errors in anatomy his misinformed brain might have come up with.

He didn't feel weird, just… felt like something was missing.

Refusing to think about it anymore, lest he actually faint from the blood rushing to his brain, he peeled the dirty clothes off his body, refusing to turn to the mirror and made a beeline to the bathroom.

It wasn't the easiest thing in the world, washing one's body, when too embarrassed to even look at it, but he made it work, somehow. He managed to find the soap while grasping blindly and also managed to scrub himself relatively clean without too much of an issue.

It was when he was reaching for the shampoo that he paused. He… really didn't know how to handle this new feminine form of his. He had so much hair now, he had no idea how much shampoo he should be using, he didn't know if he was even using the right kind, back when he looked like how he used to, he just used what he could get his hands on, from the handful of shops that let him browse their wares.

But now, he could probably do more for himself. He might not have the money at the moment, but he was due his stipend any day now. He let himself fantasize about how he would spend his money, now that the shopkeepers would no longer be able to recognize him. He would be able to buy fresh food, actually be able to try the fancy soaps and shampoos he had wanted to, but couldn't afford after the prices had been so artificially inflated for him.

At the same time, he wouldn't be himself when he got to enjoy those luxuries. He would be lying to not only the village, but also himself. And how could anyone make a liar like that, the Hokage. He had to also think about his dream. He didn't want to deceive anyone. He wanted the village to fall in love with Naruto, not this facsimile of himself.

He looked like a girl now, he sounded like a girl, and in all honesty, he was starting to grow more comfortable in his skin with each second. He took the risk and opened his eyes.

The room wasn't really as fogged up as would be if he had running hot water. He walked up to the mirror, and wiped away the moisture that had formed from when he was flailing around for the soap. Wet hair framed a refreshed looking face, a new glimmer of hope in his eyes. He could see himself getting used to this new body, he could see himself being… a girl. The thought no longer felt foreign now.

He would make this work. This was who he was, now. If what his grandfather-figure said was true, he was stuck like this. So, like it or not, this was Uzumaki Naruto now, and he was going to own it. Consequences be damned.

Naruto took a nervous breath, steeling her nerves. She had done a lot of soul searching the previous night in lieu of actually getting a good night's rest. She had grown to accept the fact that this is who she is, but that didn't mean she knew the first thing about being a girl. Her day had begun with her rushing to put on her clothes, still not quite comfortable with looking at herself in the mirror, but that would change with time.

She had briefly considered brushing her hair, but she didn't really own one, so that was out of the question. She settles for running her fingers through the golden locks in an attempt at making it look less frazzled from the run over. It was still early, the streets were mostly empty, so there wasn't anyone around to wonder why a random blond girl was standing nervously outside the Yamanaka Flower Shop.

A few more moments of letting her breathing calm down, she took a step into the store and took a look around.

Flowers of all colors and shapes decorated the walls, she couldn't identify or name even a third of them. While she dabbled with gardening herself, her level of knowledge ended with the succulent the Hokage had gifted her for her tenth birthday, and while she had managed to keep the thing alive for as long as she did, she wouldn't even dream of knowing how to care for so many at the same time.

No one stood behind the counter, boxes of nutrients and fertilizers were arranged neatly on the shelves behind.

Pots lay arranged with even more flowers she couldn't name, and at the back of the room, was a smaller enclosure made of glass, with even more delicate looking flowers trapped within. It was in this glass box that Naruto found the person she was looking for.

Yamanaka Ino had her back turned to Naruto, she wore a purple full sleeve t-shirt and trousers, a green apron tied around her front to keep the dirt from sticking to her clothing. She wore pink rubber gloves and seemed to be watering the flowers, watering can in hand.

She hummed a tune to herself, oblivious to the world. Naruto stood patiently, partially not wanting to startle the other blond, but also to give herself another moment to brace herself.

"You really should pay attention to your surroundings, Ino," A familiar voice came from the side, from a walkway hidden behind one of the larger plants. Ino flinched and turned around, first locking eyes with Naruto and then to the side, at her father, who walked into the main area, also wearing an apron.

"It's nice to see you again, Naruto," the older man smiled at her, one which she returned. It was nice, having an adult look at her with such a pleasant expression. She knew Inoichi had looked through her memories, and this was the first time she was meeting him since the Hokage had dismissed the jonin and his daughter.

"Hi, Inoichi-san," Naruto wanted to wince at how nervous she sounded. She was never one to show this kind of respect to a grown up, but she didn't want to jeopardize whatever kind of kindness the older blond was willing to show her. Ino stepped out of the glass enclosure and smiled at Naruto as well.

"Hey Naruto, didn't expect to see you till Monday, in the Academy," Naruto hadn't expected Ino's reaction to be quite as friendly as it was, she had never really liked Naruto a whole lot a few days ago. She came into the shop, expecting maybe a half-hearted greeting, or perhaps disappointment that she hadn't seen someone else, but what she got was genuine kindness from both father and daughter.

It made her heart flutter with joy, maybe things were starting to change for the better, after all.

"Hi Ino, I just wanted to ask you something…" She trailed off, cursing herself for not practicing what she was going to say before barging into their store unannounced.

Before she could get another word in though, a loud rumble interrupted her train of thought. Her face flushed pink. Right… she hadn't eaten since last night, having forgotten in her rush to get ready that morning.

"Hold that thought, Naruto," Inoichi said, "Why don't you join us for breakfast?"

Naruto's eyes widened, she really hadn't any experience being invited for food, she usually ate alone in her apartment or in Ichiraku's.

Mutely, she nodded her head, not knowing how to accept, and not trusting her tongue to not say something stupid, yet feeling extremely gracious.

A few minutes later, and the three were seated at the table, the Yamanakas' flower shop was apparently attached to their residence, something Naruto didn't realize when she stepped into the building. Ino's mother placed a decently sized portion of rice in front of Naruto, before placing a decidedly smaller bowl in front of her daughter.

Naruto stared wide eyed at the freshly prepared, home cooked meal in front of her, she managed to let out a quick thank you to the brown haired woman, who simply smiled in return, before sitting down herself, next to her husband.

Placed in front of Naruto, was a steaming hot bowl of rice, an egg fried over-easy placed atop it, with an assortment of boiled vegetables and some kind of meat, coated with a fragrant curry to the side.

"Ino's told me a lot about you, you know," The older woman said. Naruto was surprised, she hadn't really expected Ino to speak about her in her home.

"I absolutely adored that time you covered Momoko-san's garden with glitter, the poor woman couldn't get the stuff off her fruit for days!"

She chuckled softly, gesturing at Naruto to begin eating, which Naruto did with gusto. The food was, of course, delicious, but what made it even more special was the fact that she wasn't eating alone for once. She had a joyful family around her, and while she did somewhat feel like she was an outsider, none of them made her feel as though she didn't belong.

Ino's mother didn't once address the elephant in the room, being that she knew about Naruto's whole… situation. She clearly recognised that the girl in front of her was Naruto, yet spoke to her like nothing was different.

Naruto liked the feeling, a lot.

Naruto felt no shame in accepting a second helping when the older woman insisted, but held herself back from asking for a third. She did notice, however, that Ino had only eaten half her serving, but she stared wistfully at the rice cooker placed in the center of the table.

"Ya know, you really should eat more if you want to, Ino." Naruto hoped he hadn't spoken out of turn, and Ino turned red.

"N-no, I'm full!" she patted her tummy in a mock attempt to prove it, but she wasn't fooling Naruto. "Besides, I'm on a diet so that Sasuke can notice me!"

Inoichi rolled his eyes, "You should listen to Naruto, dear."

"Yeah, besides, Sasuke's way more likely to notice you if you become a strong kunoichi," Naruto added, "And you can't do that if you faint halfway through the day from hunger."

Ino turned a deeper shade of red, from anger instead of embarrassment this time, "Nobody asked you, idiot!"

Naruto froze, had she crossed a line? Maybe coming over here was a mistake, she should have refused when Inoici offered her breakfast, she should've-

"Ino…"

The older Yamanaka's voice was deep and menacing, not in a threatening way, but more paternal, scolding.

Ino gulped, "Sorry daddy!"

She turned back to Naruto, "I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry…" she trailed off for a bit, "You're right, maybe, probably, I don't know, it's just that…"

Naruto waited for Ino to finish, but she said nothing, simply grabbed her half-eaten bowl and continued eating.

Inoichi smiled and leaned over and said in a whisper, "Sorry about her, she's trying her best."

Naruto tilted her head in confusion, trying her best at what? She chose to keep the question to herself.

A few moments later, and Ino's mother had taken the bowls into the kitchen, refusing profusely when Naruto offered to help with the dishes, she ushered Naruto to go with Ino to her room and not to worry about the dishes.

"Sorry about earlier, at the table," Ino said, as she entered the other blonde's room.

"It's okay…"

Ino shook her head, "No, it's not. I promised myself that I would be a better friend to you, and I intend to keep that promise."

Ino's words were resolute. Naruto wasn't sure how to feel. A few days ago, Ino could stand her, yet here she was now. So much had changed in so little time.

Changing the topic, Ino asked, "So you wanted to talk to me?"

Naruto took a deep breath, this was the whole reason she came here, after all.

"I want you to teach me how to be a girl."

well that's that, I hope Naruto's change in mindset wasn't too abrupt or jarring to take anyone out of the story, but I did the best I could.

and yeah, might seem like the whole dysphoria thing was wrapped up way too quickly in a neat little bow, but this won't be the last of that. i hope I can handle the situation in a fairly realistic way.

well I do hope you enjoy and make sure to tell me how you feel about this chapter because I'd love reading y'all's thoughts on the matter.

that's it from me, ciao!