A/N: Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, followed, and favorited! This chapter will give a little bit more of a feel for the story.
Warning: This story is rated 'T' so please move forward at your discretion. There will be little by way of swearing or graphic scenes, but there may be references or allusions to more serious topics.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor do I profit from the creation or distribution of this fanfiction.
"Reality depends upon your mind alone. If your mind is not at peace what use are riches?"
— Kamo no Chōmei, 1212 CE
Henge- Underneath the Underneath
Chapter 2: Theories and Contingencies
Iruka stared at the blond boy next to him, mouth agape, before the words finally registered.
"No. No, that's not it at all. And I don't hate you Naruto," Iruka struggled with the words. How could he explain to Naruto that the village's hate stemmed from the Kyūbi, not his body? He needed to speak with the Sandaime. Naruto couldn't go on with these misconceptions any longer; who knows how long the boy had thought there was something wrong with him.
Iruka was practically out of his chair when he forced himself to take a calming breath. It was late, Naruto was distressed, and they both had a genin exam to prepare for. He reached over and ruffled the blonde's hair.
"Tell you what. Wait for me after the exams tomorrow, and we'll go together to talk with Hokage-sama."
"Jii-chan!? Why does he have t' know!?"
"Well," Iruka fished about for a moment, "maybe he knows something. At the very least, he can help figure out why you feel like there is something 'wrong' with your body, right? He's the best of the best, after all."
"I suppose," Naruto began kicking his feet again, "but…but what if he gets angry, huh?"
"Naruto… He won't get angry with you. I promise."
Iruka made his way up the stairs to the Hokage Tower, his wallet significantly lighter, as well as Naruto's mood. After the unexpectedly heavy conversation with the village prankster, they spent another twenty minutes eating ramen and joking about on lighter subjects. After Naruto's final jovial attempt to try on Iruka's headband, the chūnin sent him home for a night of rest and last-minute cramming for the test.
He nodded to the shinobi he passed in the halls. A few nodded in return, but at this hour, most of those in the building were either hidden ANBU on guard duty or worn out chūnin returning from a late mission and neither of those were liable to return a friendly gesture.
He gave a friendly greeting to the Sandaime's secretary Akiko who had been in his graduating class and asked if he could go through to speak with the Hokage.
"Do you have an appointment?" Her brow furrowed as she immediately began to double check the papers on her desk for the non-existent memo, "I don't remember you getting any missions lately requiring oral debriefs…"
"Ah… no," Iruka gave his ponytail a scratch, "I wanted to speak with him briefly about Naruto…" Akiko's hands froze.
"I see. He's not meeting with anyone at the moment, at least not anyone who uses the door, so you should be fine entering after a knock." Anything to do with the jinchūriki went straight to the top.
"Thank you," Iruka smiled.
Once inside, Iruka stood uncomfortably in the middle of the room while the Hokage studied him through clouds of pipe smoke. After a final puff the aged leader stood and turned to look out his window.
"Its beautiful at night, is it not?"
"I-indeed sir!" Iruka agreed quickly. The Hokage gave a quick, barking laugh.
"I doubt you can see anything standing all the way back there, Iruka-kun. Come join me." Iruka scratched the back of his head in embarrassment as he walked over.
"Now tell me of this trouble with Naruto. It seems he properly scrubbed all the paint from the monument."
"Yes, sir, he did. I was treating him to ramen afterwards when something came up in conversation. For some reason Naruto thinks there is something wrong with his body, and that it is causing the villagers to hate him."
"What do you mean by 'wrong with his body'?" the Third looked over sharply.
"We were talking about his habit of using Henge to turn into a girl. He told me that everything 'fits' that way, and pointed to his… his genitals when I asked him to elaborate."
"Hm," the third chewed on the end of his pipe, "there was nothing off at his last physical, but injuries don't tend to leave lasting marks on that boy. Perhaps a trauma."
"A trauma, sir?" Iruka felt a moment of panic, and the scowl on the Hokage's face did nothing to reassure him.
"There have been cases of… abuse where the victim's self-image was changed after a combination of physical and psychological abuse. The worst cases result in the abused being spiritually broken. Gender… I would only expect to see for a male in cases of sexual abuse." The Third's voice was grim. Iruka felt his insides hollow out and suddenly felt the need to empty out all the ramen he'd consumed.
"Are you certain, Hokage-sama?"
"No. It could be trauma, it could be the influence of his burden, or it could be a phase. Twelve is the age where hormones start raging, after all. Perhaps he likes another boy, and thinks he needs to be a girl in order to have a relationship with him," the Samdaime's tone lightened as he continued listing ideas.
"There is really no way to tell from that one conversation you relayed to me, but there was something else that stood out to these old ears. You said he blamed his maltreatment on this body-confusion."
"Yes. I took the liberty to tell him we would visit you together after the genin exam. I wasn't entirely sure how much or what you would want me to say to him, but Naruto can't go on thinking there is something wrong with him."
"A smart choice. It has long been my intention to speak with him about his burden should he ever become a shinobi. What would you say his chances are for tomorrow?" The Sandaime turned from the window and made his way back to the old chair behind his desk. Iruka stood across from him, more comfortably than before.
"Honestly, not the greatest. He's already failed twice, but his written scores remain subpar and he still hasn't gotten the clone jutsu down," an exasperated sigh escaped Iruka.
"The Bunshin, you say? No, I suppose he wouldn't, and he may never. The Yondaime's seal is so strong I assumed he would have no more difficulties than his year mates, but perhaps that was simply wishful thinking on my part."
"But he has absolutely no issues with the Kawarimi and his Henge is exceptional?" Iruka tried. The Third rubbed his forehead before his hand traveled down to pinch the bridge of his nose.
"True, but those two techniques have one essential difference from the Bunshin: They do not require a set amount of chakra, instead impacting the users entire state of being. We may have to find Naruto an alternative. I'll think on it and get back to you tomorrow."
Mizuki made his way around the crowd of fresh genin and proud parents so he could approach the blonde from behind. Everything was going as he had planned. He'd already informed the contact he'd be coming tonight with the Scroll of Sealing, and had already begun his nice-guy act. Now he just had to cement the relation and point the demon-boy towards the target.
He was smoothing out his smile when Iruka cut through the crowd and put his hand on the blonde's shoulder. Mizuki couldn't catch everything from his position halfway across the courtyard, but heard enough to understand they were heading to the Hokage Tower to meet with the Samdaime after a quick bowl of ramen. Mizuki cursed. It would seem he would have to go with plan B in order to meet the deadline.
"So Naruto," the Third began, "I hear you have an exceptional Henge, is that right?"
"Yeah. Wait, does this mean you'll let me pass!? 'Cause my Henge is so supper awesome?"
"Ah… no, not quite," The Sandaime quickly backtracked, "I hear you use your Henge to turn into a girl… and that you feel more comfortable that way," he continued when Naruto didn't respond. As soon as the sentence was out, the boy flushed and his face dropped so that he was watching his toes wiggle in his sandals. Offhandedly, Sarutobi noted how bright Naruto looked with the orange light from the sunset pouring into the window on his yellow hair and orange jumpsuit. Such a vibrant child… in so many different senses of the word.
"Can you tell me why?" He asked.
"…"
"Iruka told me you felt more comfortable because then 'everything fits' when you are turned into a girl. That you meant your body?" Naruto gave a single, sharp nod, raising his head only enough to be able to drop it down again.
"Did someone tell you that, Naruto?" a quick shake, "Do you think that because of someone you like?" an even quicker shake, accompanied by a brief look that could only be translated as 'ew gross, what are you thinking?' "How long have you felt this way?" a pause. A shrug.
Iruka knelt down so that he could see the knuckleheads face, but when his eyes began to search the blondes, Naruto looked away.
"Naruto," Iruka's soft voice pleaded for the boy to look at him, "can you give us an age? Do you know?" Naruto shook his head again. "Do you remember when you started to feel this way?"
"No." The response was so quiet Iruka wasn't certain he'd heard it, but he saw the boy's lips move.
"That's alright," the Third smiled. Naruto couldn't see it, but Iruka could tell the Sandaime was more relaxed. "There is a private walkway through that door there—" the Third used his pipe to point to a door on the side of the room adjacent to the entrance, "—which leads to my private chambers. What I would like is for you to go into it and try out different Henge until you find one you feel the most comfortable in. There is no mirror, and I would like for you not to turn on any lights so that you can't see yourself. Try out whatever you like. You could even try using Henge to turn into a turtle, or a cat, a fox—" he looked at Naruto from the corner of his eye, "—or even a chair," the Third laughed:
"And when you find a form that makes you feel the most comfortable, I would like for you to come out and show Iruka and me. Take your time to move around in each Henge to see how it feels, and try out as many different ones as you like. Neither Iruka nor I have any other plans for the night." Iruka felt his heart sink. Just because he was a bit of an introvert didn't mean he wanted to spend his evening sitting in the Hokage Tower making small talk with the Sandaime. Naruto nodded and went through the door, closing it in an uncharacteristically quiet manner.
"…Mizu Bunshin, and finally Doton Bunshin. Each of these requires a set amount of chakra, although larger than that of a simple clone. It would be a good way to train chakra control and work towards finer jutsu. The issue, however, is that they each require a basic understanding of elemental manipulation; something most genin lack."
"It would take him another year to study and master any of those techniques," Iruka intuited, "that could be both good and bad. He would come out better prepared, and there would be a whole year to review what he struggles with academically… but to be separated from his year group…" Shouting could be heard from down the hall, drawing closer, interrupting Iruka's train of thought.
There was a dark flash and a sudden breeze as one of the hidden ANBU darted out to analyze the situation. A moment later he returned to kneel before the Hokage and alerted him that a chūnin was caught in possession of the Scroll of Sealing and was being brought to the office by ANBU to hear what the Hokage had to say on the matter. Mizuki's entrance was marked by his shouting and flailing in the arms of his ANBU captors.
It didn't take long for Sarutobi to send the raving chūnin instructor to T&I for a date with Anko. Iruka watched as his once friend was dragged off, his hateful words still stinging. When his gaze shifted back to the Hokage, the elder had opened the scroll to check for damages, fingering the edges.
"Tajū Kage Bunshin…" he heard the Third quietly muse, "it may just work."
"Isn't that technique dangerous, Hokage-sama?"
"Yes, because it functions on the same principles as Kawarimi and Henge; impacting the entire chakra system. The danger comes because unlike the other two it pulls chakra from the body and may lead to chakra exhaustion or in worse cases death. But for Naruto? It may just be the perfect fit."
"Still," Iruka nodded reluctantly, "I've heard that is an advanced technique for shape-manipulation. There is no way he could master such a high-level clone in a week, let alone in time to be fit for team assignments."
"Hm. He's a surprising boy. Perhaps we should give it to him and see."
The door gave a creak, and a few blond locks stuck out.
"Please Jii-chan! Iruka-sensei! I'll have that jutsu down in no time! Believe it!"
"Naruto!?" the Sandaime sputtered into his pipe, he hadn't noticed when the poof sound indicating jutsu had ceased, "Have you been listening in?" The room was fairly well soundproofed for those on the outside. Beyond shouting, Naruto would have had to have his ear pressed right up against it to hear anything.
"Just since that shouting guy came through. Please let me learn that jutsu! I'll have it down in one night! Believe it!"
"First tell me why you're hiding behind that door," Iruka didn't think he'd ever seen the Hokage looking so baffled. Blond spikes whipped against the edge of the door while Naruto must have been shaking his head. "Well why not?" the Third pressed.
"'Cause I'm in a Henge."
"That's fine. If you're trying it out you can come out to talk in it or drop it altogether."
"…But I like this one." There was a beat of silence before Sarutobi replied:
"Would you like to show us? How long have you been trying that one out for?"
"Since before Mizuki-sensei came."
"Naruto," Iruka tried, "I don't care if you have three wooden legs and a pig's tail. You're my precious student, and nothing can change that." The door began to swing outwards towards the waiting shinobi.
Iruka's first thought was He looks exactly the same. The Sandaime studied the blonde before him for a long moment before addressing him.
"Would you mind removing the jacket so that I can see you better?"
Naruto hesitated and clutched at the front of his jacket, but ultimately it came off without complaint. The difference remained subtle, but both adults could see where the black shirt pulled slightly more on the blonde's chest. Naruto's hands rose to grab at his shirt in front of the chest.
"Naruto, you don't have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable, okay?" the Third reassured. Naruto nodded in understanding, but had a look of dread on his face. One of his hands drifted down to clutch at the crotch of his pants uncomfortably in anticipation of what the Third would ask next. Sandaime continued:
"Would you describe your current form as female?" Naruto flinched back, but opened his mouth to respond. After a moment where no sound came out, the mouth closed again. Naruto's brow furrowed. He shuffled back and forth a few times.
"…I guess so?"
Iruka held back a groan. What did he mean, he guessed!? It had always seemed clear to Iruka that people were either boys or girls. But Naruto looked so insecure he felt the need to comfort him, and he really didn't care much in the end if Naruto was a girl or a guy. Naruto had too unique and strong of a personality to pay much attention to that in Iruka's book anyway.
"Well whatever the form, you're still my knuckleheaded student," Iruka walked over with a sigh and a smile to drape his arm over the blonde's shoulders and give a gentle squeeze. In return he got a watery smile.
"Yes," the Third smiled, "that is a beautiful form. As is your own body. And now that you are out here, we can discuss the Kage Bunshin from before." Naruto snapped to attention under Iruka's arm.
"Please give it to me Jii-chan! I'll master it in a day! Believe it! Then you can put me on a team, right? Right!?"
"Calm down! Ninja must always be in control of themselves!" Iruka began, but before he could switch into full-out lecture mode the Hokage cut in.
"I'll copy the jutsu into a separate scroll now. See if you can't master it in the next few days, but know I wont be disappointed if you are unable."
"I'll have it down tonight! I'll be a ninja before you've even fallen asleep!"
Iruka let out a sigh as the office finally drew quiet. He began straightening to deliver his parting salutations when the aged Hokage spoke.
"I can say with relative certainty that our earlier theories were incorrect," he assured Iruka with a smile, "Perhaps I shall look up his old caretakers and see if any of them noticed anything. For now, we'll watch and see what Naruto does with that jutsu scroll."
A loud banging woke him with a start. Iruka rolled over to grab his hitai-ate and saw his clock reading 3:38AM. The only people he could see knocking on his door at this hour were other shinobi with emergency information. Mind instantly awake he quickly made his way to the door.
When the door was opened Iruka couldn't decide if he was more relieved or perturbed. A battered, sweaty Naruto stood huffing before him with an inordinately large grin on his face. Without a word he put his hands together in a cross and took a deep breath. A cry of 'Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!' rang through the quiet street and suddenly Iruka was looking at what must have been over one hundred grinning Naruto's. With a cheer that made dogs bark and lights turn on across the village the clones gave a jumping fist pump, high fived, and dispelled themselves.
The original stood before his rubbing the back of his head and grinning. With a grin of his own Iruka bopped him on the head.
"You idiot! You've woken up the entire village!" — Not that Iruka was helping them to fall back asleep — "Come here and close your eyes."
Naruto moved closer and obediently shut his eyes. Iruka gently pulled the clashing green goggles from his forehead and hung them on the door handle for the moment. Reaching back he swiftly tugged the knot on his headband. It slipped off his forehead and into his waiting hand. Iruka gave it a final look. There were scratches spider-webbing across the metal plate and random bits of loose weaving that had escaped from behind the seam to peak out like nicked thread. There was a brown spot along the left tassel where he hadn't noticed blood swiftly enough for it to wash out. He ran his fingers over it, and with a fond smile turned it to tie around Naruto's forehead.
"Congratulations. From this day forth, you are a genin of Konohagakure no Sato."
Thank you everyone for reading! Please let me know what you think of it so far! If there are mistakes or something seems incorrect please let me know!
Published: March 12, 2014
Updated: September 16, 2016
Words: 3,480