Gen Summary: Dorea picks Naruto world to fall into, tries to seamlessly ingrate herself in Konoha and end causing trouble. The good sort.
Warnings: Kiss cannon goodbye. Fem!Minato and male!Kushina. Mentions of genderbent HP characters like Susan Bones (who is now Dave Bones). Shifting POVs. Dorea/male!Kushina (because why the heck not?). Meddling Mikoto.
Notes: This was made purely to help me grasp conversation flows… I suck at those, so if you have any pointers, feel free to add!
Intro
Red Heads
A little what if story.
Or the story in which Namikaze Minato is actually Namikaze Minako and Uzumaki Kushina is actually Uzumaki Shinaku and he meets Dorea Potter who is addicted to red heads.
Part: The Eleventh.
Gain
Kisses, Mikoto decided, were the best thing ever invented by mankind – Memories of the first kiss she traded with Fugaku was the only thing keeping her slightly sane right then.
She stared thoughtfully at her clasped hands, demurely sitting in front of the entirety council of her clan's Elders, her knee touching Fugaku's and spreading warmth through her.
This meeting would take a while like a lot of important things took time to be decided on – this was the marriage of the clan heir, the old coots had to make sure her bloodline was impeccable and that her family had history of awakened sharingans (Mikoto herself never woke hers, content in staying a chunin and serving inside the village rather than opting for a more active – dangerous – ninjna career).
Just the fact they agreed to have this meeting in the first place was good.
Fugaku's father didn't care that his son felt affections for Mikoto, that was certain. All he cared about was that she'd be able to give Fugaku strong children to carry forth the Sharingan.
Her lover, for all that she wanted to believe he didn't mind those things, felt the same as his father – even though he did love her – he'd let her go in a heartbeat and take a more suitable wife should her branch of the family be found lacking.
It hurt.
Somewhat.
But Mikoto was a strong woman, and before allowing herself to fall in love, she made certain to investigate if her family would be approved, she spent time catering allies in the clan who would speak for her when the time came.
Now was the time. Everything was falling according to her plans. She could already hear the sound of the Naka-river when their shrine priest declared them man and wife.
Her stomach still fluttered nervously though.
Fukagu, noticing her stiffening muscles, inclined his head to whisper in her ear "It will be alright, they will approve of us" he comforted.
Mikoto leaned into him for a moment or two, then fell back into her original position before some dust clogged Elder could send her a stink eye for 'inappropriate behavior'.. Fuck them, her Shinaku side whispered maliciously – she quelled that side quite quickly before answering her fiancé.
"I know. I'm not worried about it" And she wasn't.
In the end, when they approved, she made sure to appear as carefree and giddy as possible.
A couple of hours later found Mikoto, still riding a happy high, swinging by Shinaku's apartment. She had to share the good news while there was time for her to socialize. Soon her free time would belong to Fugaku, and she'd have more duties piled on her (being clan head wife was a full time job) – not even mentioning the eventual child!
Poor Shinaku would be left all alone with his love troubles. Mikoto felt she had to help him (while getting a kick out of it) while she still could.
She knocked on the door.
Waited five seconds.
And when the door opened, she had the sudden urge to pound into Shinaku's thick skull with (Preferably) a spiked baton.
"Good evening Uchiha-san. I hope you don't mind me opening the door, Shinaku is busy at the moment" Answered the unwaveringly polite form of Namikaze Minako. Mikoto could see Shinaku sprawled over piles of seals scattered all over his low table, fingers all ink stained and his hair in disarray.
"No, It's fine, I know how he gets" The Uchiha woman waved off handedly, faking an air of disinterest so thick the air vibrated around her in a particularly blank vibe.
"Would you like to come in?" Minako invited, and wasn't that like an eye opener? What had Shinaku been doing in a week that Minako felt comfortable enough in his home to invite people in? He must be spending inordinately large amounts of time with the blonde in this very apartment.
"Yes, excuse me" the raven haired chunin stepped inside Shinaku's den, removed her shoes and found a paper free spot on the couch to sit on, right in front of her red haired friend who didn't even notice she was there yet.
Minako hovered a bit behind them for a second. Mikoto must have taken her seat then, she realized with a small guilty pang that went away quickly enough - the Uchiha was beyond caring at this point. She cleared her throat very pointedly.
"What is it Minako-chan?" Shinaku looked up, his cheeks endearingly stained with finger shaped ink smudges "Oh, Mikoto! What are you doing here tebane!?" She ought to be insulted at his tactlessness if she wasn't so used to his blatant dismissal of her (humble) importance.
"It is I who has to ask… what are you doing?" Plain, direct and non-avoidable. Her dark gaze was piercing Minako as she asked the question. Shinako would have to be the owner of a very thick skull if he didn't get her meaning.
"Huh? Looking at some seals with Minako-chan. She found this really awesome seal jutsu left by the second hokage and asked for help deciphering it tebane!" but at the un-amused stare Mikoto flattened at him, his cheeks swelled in a bright pink color contrasting terribly with the ink smudges. He understood her point though. "Ahh… I don't… I haven't… but Minako-chan is…"
His eyes were begging for Mikoto to understand, and she did, in a way. So she kept quiet, stood from her seat and nodded back to Minako when she passed the blond on her way to the door.
Minako had a cup of tea in her hands.
Without looking back, Mikoto left.
She had some investigating and a bit of meddling to do.
Part: The Twelfth
Tea
"There you are" Dorea jumped when a voice called out from behind her out of nowhere. Thankfully she wasn't as trigger happy as she was a couple of years before her 'imprisonment', but it took physical effort not to react violently at the surprise call. "I've been looking for you, you're a hard one to track down" She twirled on the balls of her feet and met the amused eyes of Shinaku's friend, Uchiha Mikoto.
Dorea remembered the older looking girl from the time she had to pass through the security gate inspection and from odd, funny little tales, courtesy of Shinaku.
"Uchiha-san, to what do I own the pleasure?" The green eyed girl asked, feeling bewildered. What could the Uchiha girl want with her? She's been on her way to her new apartment after a tough day minding her very own business.
The Uchiha smiled thinly, a veiled thing that belied a greater motive. "I come in behalf of our mutual friend. Come with me for some snacks?" that picked up Dorea's interest. She's been quite lonely lately, what with Shinaku blowing her up for the entire week.
Not that she felt lonely or anything.
"That'd be lovely. There is this tea house I've been meaning to go but…" But she understood he has his own life aside from her. She shouldn't be selfish.
"Your usual escort has made himself scarce?" Uchiha Mikoto went for the bull's eye "That's what I want to talk about, come on, we can walk together, I quite like tea-houses myself!" Dorea's fellow raven haired girl offered an arm just like Shinaku would have done – making her giggle at the irony – Mikoto was the one who taught him how to do it.
Maybe it was just a shinobi thing, though.
"Alright. Oh, I heard about your engagement from some of my shop's patrons, congratulations" Her mind went to a couple of Uchiha children who made a point of coming around at least once per week ever since she opened a shop (there was only so long she'd be able to endure working for someone else without flipping a new one) – One of them was Obito.
"Thank you" Mikoto accepted primly, with a large smile splitting her face and flushed cheeks in pleasure "Yes, you have opened a shop, haven't you? I remember hearing about it now, Siriusu-pranks, really?" the Uchiha conversed lightly.
Dorea nodded slowly "Someone very dear to me used to love pranks, I thought this would be a nice way to remember them by, plus it makes me happy to see the children having fun" Sirius, the Twins, even Teddy once he was old enough – she missed her family something fierce and has found herself breaking down more than once in grief.
If only she had fought harder when the ministry arrested her…
Shaking her head, Dorea snapped once more to attention when Mikoto asked something, clearing her face from remembered misery and doing her best to mask the now dark feelings chasing her heart "I'm sorry I never asked before, but how are you settling in?" the other girl seemed genuinely interested in the answer.
What a nice thing. It wasn't the same, but it make Dorea feel a bit better.
"Just fine. Shinaku has been of great help. I understand it was you who sent him my way?" And wasn't that amusing? Though not enough to really clear the melancholy that settled on Dorea now, it did lift her mood a bit more to look into Mikoto's eyes and see the mischief shining there.
"Yes I did. I apologize, but I confess that at first it was to teach him a lesson in humility" The other raven haired girl confessed, making Dorea finally crack an honest smile, small as it was. They both knew Shinaku and his prickly (tsundere) moods.
"We're here, let's find a table" The green eyed girl said, pointing to a quaint little tea-house that she couldn't visit before. It was a lovely and private place, if not a little expensive "For two, please" Dorea asked the waitress, motioning for Mikoto and herself.
"I've never been here before, let's hope the tea is good" The Uchiha quipped, following Dorea into the shop.
"Good tea is hard to find if it's not imported from Tea-Country. The fees are staggering" The green eyed witch added, just to fill the space between conversations.
They settled comfortably in place, their table on the far end of the room and close to a window, enough for a warm afternoon light to slitter through – they ordered a pot of tea and some sweet cakes to go with it.
"Now… let us go directly to business. How do you feel about Shinaku?" That caught Dorea by surprise. She turned wide eyes to Shinaku's friend in wonder that she had the courage to be this prompt. Not even Ron had balls this big or a mouth as big.
"That's a very direct question" What had her feelings for Shinaku to do with anything? Dorea mulled on her feelings, the moronic darkness that filled her abashed somehow by her surprise.
But Mikoto wasn't to be stopped. "Just answer it honestly" the other girl ordered imperiously, with an impish glint in her dark eyes.
Dorea sat back on her soft seat with a sigh, crossing her arms over her chest and just thinking – she could lie, omit or simply ignore Mikoto's question… but the other girl felt genuine affection for their red haired mutual friend – acting rash or not.
The least Dorea could do was be honest "I… like him, but I understand he has someone else he likes, so I've braced myself for rejection" And wasn't that another surprise that caught Dorea unprepared? When she least expected, her heart was beating rapidly and her palms sweating and she a bundle of nerves, every time Shinaku held her hand or was just his stupid self.
She understood herself enough to know when she had a crush. A big one… was it love? Well, not yet. The more she spent time with the red head, the more she found herself falling deeper.
"Why?" Mikoto demanded softly "I mean, why not fight for him?" Minako – the other girl – was certainly fighting in her own way! Dorea deflated, once more cut between telling the truth or blowing Mikoto off completely.
Trust, Dorea found during her vastly changing life, was a two way street. If she didn't extend it first, the more paranoid between the two of them would never do it (Mikoto, it comes with being a ninja).
"Hm… I think it's best if you know, after all, this is something I haven't said to Shinaku yet… I am the last survivor of my people… there was a war, and I was the only one left, so I thought to start again somewhere else" Dorea's voice failed her at some points, and she took time to edit her story and still make it the honest truth… Mikoto's face was turning whiter as she kept speaking "I don't want to burden him with everything that comes with me, sometimes I even think I don't deserve the happiness I feel here in Konoha… If Shinaku likes someone else, I won't stand in the way and I will be happy for him"
And wasn't that a perfect example of Survivor's Guilt?
Maybe even self esteem problems… how can she be worthy to someone if she couldn't even save her world? (not that she had a chance, that's why she's here, making a second chance for herself).
"I'm really sorry about your people, and I'm glad Konoha has helped you heal… But you should have spoken about this to Shinaku already" Her companion's voice was gentle, compassion and a little pity in her black eyes.
Dorea flinched.
"Perhaps, but I don't want pity" She made that clear, and the ninja understood for her face relaxed again, Mikoto propping her chin on her hand as she leaned forward.
"I think you will find Shinaku would have found more in common with you than I, I still have my clan, Shinaku lost his and is one of the only survivors from his birth land" the Uchiha confided. It wasn't a secret – and Dorea was privy to that happening since it was a fixed point in time – but maybe she hasn't associated Shinaku with the fall of Uzushio yet.
It hurt, Dorea fet her chest clenching, imagining Shunaku suffering even if just a portion of the pain she felt at the loss of her world. "Oh…" she breathed out, a bit stunned and wrong footed.
Mikoto waited until Dorea absorbed all that before continuing mercilessly "If you really care for him, don't give up on him yet. None of you deserve half heartedness" she spoke firmly, daring Dorea to deny.
Dorea didn't deny, but said instead. "You're right, but… Shinaku likes another girl, not me, how can I fight against his very feelings? It's not my place to dictate how he should feel" All this subject changes were making her head spin – but Mikoto seemed bent on going somewhere with this conversation.
"What if he cares for you as well?" The Uchiha urged "He likes Minako, but he likes you too, he's just confused right now. If you give up, he will pick Minako by default and it won't be a fair fight" she still sounded subdued, most likely due to Dorea's past, but she felt strongly about this, the witch noticed with no small amount of bewilderment.
Hooding her eyes, she asked. "Are you sure?" it was half hearted at best, a lame hope at the end of the line of so much heartbreak. She didn't want any more of that.
The other girl nodded, a wan smile tugging half her lips up "I'm sure. I will even help you out since Minako had a head start"
"Why would you do that?" What were her reasons for setting Dorea like this? Mikoto really thought about how to answer. It showed on the way her thin dark eyebrows furrowed up and her lips puckered in wonder.
"You're good to him, and I like you better than Minako" She said after a few seconds with honesty oozing from every pore, and Dorea didn't regret her decision to be truthful at the very beginning of their talk.
The road was indeed two way.
Plus, Mikoto's reasons were good enough, she found. Wanting your best friend's wellbeing was usually a good reason – even if Dorea disdained the whole 'greater good' crap, she had her own, very selfish reasons for wanting to believe Mikoto.
"What can I do?" Dorea leaned forward as well.
The Uchiha smiled again, this time with more life and motioned with a hand "Listen here…"
They stayed in that tea-house for a long hour.
The tea ended up being imported from Tea-Country anyway.
Part: The Thirteenth.
Visit
His body was lounged comfortably on his knotty sofa. Maybe comfortably wasn't exactly the situation's word, but he finally found a position that made use of the lumps in the blasted thing to somewhat massage his aching back.
Sitting for hours hunched over papers was a definite back killer.
Minako-chan just left his apartment in favor of her own, she spent the day and together they finally managed a break through the seals for the jutsu she was working on. It was a legacy of the Second Hokage entrusted to Minako-chan by Jiraiya-sama, who was the Third Hokage's apprentice.
Shinaku shifted slightly, feeling a bit cold.
He was not allowed to see the entirety of the jutsu' seals.
That made him feel like crap, he'd admit to himself. Minako-chan brought pieces and layers of the seals of the Hiraishin for them to study, and he'd apply his knowledge on the subject to help the blond break through the pieces, never seeing the entire picture.
It hurt. Being used like that.
The Red head was not to be underestimated though, he grinned humorlessly.
He was quite able to reverse engineer Minako-chan's jutsu, even if she seemed to believe him unable to do so – or maybe she knew he knew how to work the seals by himself, but trusted him enough not to? If that was the case, she could bring the entire thing! He would not tell a soul nor use the technique himself dammit.
It also hurt, that dismissal, as silent as it was. Minako-chan was leaving him behind in terms of skill by leagues if the state of things were taken into account, and she didn't care about what he felt.
Shinaku curled his hand into fists and raised it above his eyes, barely needing to concentrate on his chakra to form a dense, glowing chain that dangled from his closed hand and snaked around his neck like a ghostly snake. He remembered the words granny Mito said once, about what being a Jinshuriki meant.
'You were kidnapped once, Shinaku, don't give them the opportunity to try a second time. You have two choices… you can become revered and feared throughout the Elemental Nations, so much that no one will dare approach you again – Or you can erase yourself and fall into obscurity in Konoha and let the village' silent strength protect you'
He was trained by granny Mito in the Uzumaki clan techniques. He was a powerful shinobi and the Kyuubi lived in his gut… So why did he feel so helpless?
Wallowing in self pity – Shinaku sighed – what more could go wrong?
His doorbell sounded. The red head bit his knuckles to keep himself from cursing up a storm - his charka sense telling him exactly who was behind that door.
"Go away" His words were muffled by his fist, but they echoed well enough.
But she was not one to be deterred. Guilt started to bloom in his chest… He kind of missed Dorea and her easy presence "It's me, Dorea. I come bearing dinner"
Shinaku couldn't ignore her now, could he? To hell with his brooding. He could sulk more later.
Dorea stepped into his apartment, tiptoeing around scattered papers and jumping over an upturned pile of magazines (he should get into cleaning, sometime), she reached his sofa just as he jumped to his feet to greet her on equal grounds "Ah… right, come in… don't mind the mess tebane!" he greeted enthusiastically, chest tightening with every breath that brought him Dorea's scent. He still cared for her for all he wanted to deny his conflict. "What brings you here with offerings of dinner?"
His green eyed friend sighed once, before smiling a bit sadly. "You've been avoiding me" she pointed out, making him feel worse since it dawned for him that in helping Minako-chan this entire time, he's been blowing Dorea off "It's been a week since we last spoke, I was wondering if I did or said something to offend you"
No, No, No. No way. Why did she think that?
"No way! I mean, no. I just been busy, you know? All these seals won't decipher themselves" His voice almost quivered, nervousness crawling up his spine only to disperse when Dorea sent him a bright smile in response – though still unsure deep down.
"Are you sure? I've missed you Shinaku, you're my first friend here in Konoha and you mean a lot to me" she said, and for some reason that made him feel better about himself, just like his beaming, face splitting grin seemed to cheer Dorea up some (someone cared about him for him, and not because they had to like Mikoto, or because he was useful like Minako).
"Y-yeah?" He smiled in relief that he's not succeeded in pushing her away "I didn't realize, I'm sorry for ignoring you" that was from the bottom of his heart. He silently promised himself not to do it again.
Dorea nodded happily, accepting his apologies easily (this time), and pushing the pile of plastic containers onto his arms "Just don't do it again and we will be alright" and since he's already agreed to that in his head, he nodded with what seemed like cheer. The scent of ramen assaulted his nose, making it irrevocably easier to ignore Dorea's own scent that was mercilessly teasing him with her close proximity.
He was too aware of her, it was dangerous. He had to remember Minako-chan's face every time his heart faltered and filled with thoughts of Dorea. It became harder when he noticed she was wearing orange again – this time a deep, dark orange dress with forest green details that made her eyes more obvious.
"Thanks…" He grumbled half about the ramen, and half about her forgiveness of him being a jerk (again).
"What?" Her brows furrowed, drawing his eyes to the faded lightning bolt scar sitting on her temple. Shinaku blinked, repeating himself when Dorea made clear she hasn't heard his grumble.
"I mean, thanks for the dinner datebane!" He swallowed, holding the pile of ramen containers with one hand and reaching out with the other to pull Dorea to his Kitchen table.
As the both of them sat down (After Shinaku tossed all the littering notes from the table to the floor), Dorea spoke again "Oh, you're welcome. I was meaning to invite you out, but I had a feeling you'd be holed up here with your work" She said lightly, unconcernedly, accepting the pair of chopsticks he gave her along with one of the containers.
"I would have gone out if you invited me" Shinaku admitted, surprising himself at the easy of it, and also having thinking that he would also not oppose if she'd mean a date. "Though since you already brought ramen I see no reason to go out now" he grinned playfully over his plastic cup, catching Dorea's eyes on his darker ones and smirking.
His friend tilted her head in that endearing manner of hers and blinked large, doe green eyes up at him (His heart gave a mighty thump and his throat dried) "Can you meet me tomorrow for lunch?" She asked, and suddenly his earlier thought of how it wouldn't be so bad if they went on a date returned. "I don't mean as a casual meeting between friends, I mean as a date" Her face was so serious it was cute.
Shinaku stopped himself from accepting outright though. His mouth felt stuffed with cotton balls.
Heart beating happily before seemingly turned to lead in a few seconds as he realized something important.
As far an innocent as her request was, it was loaded of consequences for him. What if Minako-chan saw them? He couldn't just say yes… his mind drifted to that very afternoon, just before Dorea arrived and he was caught thinking gloomy thoughts.
"Uh…" He grunted, avoiding her eyes.
Dorea's face fell, though she tried to hide it with a small brave smile. "It's alright… I know you like Minako-chan. I just want to let you know that I like you too, and if you want to continue being friends, I'm…" Her voice choked. She blinked rapidly, shaking her head "I'm leaving. Excuse me…"
And before he could comprehend what was going on, Dorea was out his door faster than academy kids during recess.
What a mess… Shinaku slumped down his table, ignoring the now cooling ramen.
Time to go back to that brooding.
…
TBC~