By the way, in this fic only Naruto knows Kurama's name. I think Kakashi learned it in the manga (?), but I kind of liked the idea of his name being a special privilege known only to those whom he trusts...

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor am I likely to in the future.

Rasengan

They were late, thanks to Sasuke, and Naruto was in a disgruntled mood at his continued bastardness. So when Naruto pushed open the door to a private room of their favorite barbecue restaurant, she made a conscious effort not to let him spoil her good time.

Fourteen heads turned as the sliding door was pulled open to reveal a bright-eyed blonde and a dark-haired avenger. Kiba's remonstration to Naruto for being late was stilled on his tongue. Gaara, who had begun to stand at Naruto's entrance, stopped midway as his green eyes narrowed at the sight of the girl-blonde from that morning. Several brows were drawn in confusion as they glanced from the grinning blonde to the bored-looking Uchiha. They had all seen Naruto's Oiroke no Jutsu, but why he had chosen to come to his birthday party in that form was beyond them. Sakura giggled silently at them all while Sai watched the proceedings with interest, quietly pleased to be in the know.

"Hey, guys! Sorry we're late! Gaara!" Naruto yelled at the redhead, bounding into the room and catching the Kazekage in a quick hug - the quick, backslapping kind that boys would allow. She nodded to Kankuro and sent a foxy grin to Temari who was already seated next to Shikamaru. Then she turned back to Gaara. "Thanks for the sand jump earlier. I needed the extra boost. My legs aren't as long as they used to be." She scowled vigorously at the offending appendages before regaining her former cheer. "So how long can you stay? We haven't sparred in a while and I was thinking -"

Gaara watched the girl-blonde closely as she rambled and answered her questions as normally as possible. He kept waiting for the punch line or at least some acknowledgement that Naruto wasn't quite himself, but the girl-blonde kept chattering incessantly, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind that the blonde was indeed Naruto - or at least, channeling their friend's spirit.

Sakura had to stuff her fist in her mouth to contain her laughter, which only made their friends look at her oddly, too.

"Naruto," said Neji, interrupting the blonde mid-sentence, "I think I speak for all of us when I ask... Why do you look like a girl?"

As though her bubble of happiness was popped, Naruto's wide grin quickly deflated, and she made the announcement to her friends that she was, in fact, a she with little fanfare.

A number of jaws dropped. Byakugans instantly activated, and several of Shino's kikaichus skittered towards Naruto. Gaara had already felt that it was no henge or genjutsu, so he tensed and ordered his thoughts to be calm and think through this logically. Choji rubbed his eyes a few times and even pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. When Naruto remained a girl, Choji glanced at Shikamaru who nodded. Then he shrugged and used the distraction to sneak a few extra pieces of meat from the grill.

"Great," said Naruto, sitting down in her seat, "now that that's out of the way -"

"Hold on!" shrieked Ino, still disbelieving even when Sakura confirmed that it was true. "I think you should explain again. More slowly this time."

Naruto rolled her blue eyes exaggeratedly and began again. Sasuke spared a glance at Sai, who did not appear to be surprised or troubled, which bothered Sasuke to no end.

When Naruto finished for the second time Sakura added, "We checked her hormone levels from a blood sample I took just before she changed. Her estrogen levels weren't quite as high as a typical girl's but far greater than a boy's, but those of the second blood sample taken from girl-Naruto were completely normal."

Kiba was lost. "So what does that mean?"

Hinata interpreted, "He - she's been a boy outwardly for eighteen years but a girl inwardly."

Kiba frowned. "Does that make her like, uh, a hermaphrodite or something?"

"That is a logical but incomplete conclusion," said Shino, pushing his sunglasses up. "She is not unlike a certain species of kikaichu that is born with eggs but develops as male until maturity when its eggs are ready to be fertilized. At that point, the kikaichu exhibits female behavior and seeks to mate with members of the immature, male population. Under certain conditions, the female may be able to self-fertilize with residual -"

"Eek!" shrieked Ino again, covering her ears. "Naruto will not be self-fertilizing like your disgusting bugs!" A glance around the table showed that several people, including the girl in question, were looking a bit green.

Sakura interrupted to keep Shino from arguing his point. "I don't think we can say that Naruto was a hermaphrodite. It was just the seal's effects, not her true body."

"Weird," concluded Kiba intelligently. "And does she still like girls or does she switch to -?"

Naruto, unable to stomach anymore, interrupted with a yell, "Would you all quit talking about me like I'm not here?!"

Ignoring Naruto's outburst, Tenten said, "Speaking of liking girls, I find it interesting that Naruto lived and trained for three years with the biggest pervert in Konoha history, not mention Kakashi, and never showed much inclination to follow in their footsteps."

"Are you kidding me?" said Kiba with a raised voice. "Naruto's the creator of Oiroke no Jutsu!"

"But that's just it," said Sakura, agreeing with Tenten. "She treated it like a joke and used it against perverts, but she herself was never affected by it. Those awful books, too -" Several of the young men shifted their gazes guiltily. "- Jiraiya-san made her read and edit them, but even as a boy, she never enjoyed them." Sakura's eyes darted to Naruto as her lips tightened in warning. "Right, Naruto?" Her tone made it clear what Naruto's answer was supposed to be.

"Er, right!" exclaimed Naruto. It was only a half-lie. She certainly had not been obsessed with the books like Kakashi and Ero-sennin, but it wasn't quite true that she hadn't sometimes, well -

"Maybe on some subconscious level, you just weren't interested in girls because you are one."

"But Naruto's had a crush on you for years!" protested Kiba.

Naruto's cheeks were tinted pink though she lifted her chin defiantly. "And? There's nothing wrong with that. Though I gotta tell you, Sakura, my crush started fading after that fake confession."

Sai chimed in, "That was rather heartbreaking and cruel."

"I wasn't trying to hurt him!" roared Sakura, angered that she could never live that down. "I was trying to free him from the burden of kill-" She cut herself short.

All eyes turned to Sasuke who sat unmoving at the end of the table. Of killing Sasuke, was what she was going to say. As a general rule, the group tried to avoid mentioning Sasuke's descent to madness and their subsequent pledge to kill him. They weren't scared of him by any means, just wary, and even after two years, they didn't quite know how he fit into their little group.

"Yeah, yeah," said Naruto breaking the silence as her friends turned to her gratefully, "and that turned out well. Sakura indirectly poisoned me - after I saved her life, I should add - and Sasuke tried to shove a damn Chidori through my heart!"

Sasuke wasn't sure why he said it. Maybe because Naruto's friends looked at him as though he were a thousand exploding tags waiting to go off. Maybe because Naruto could talk about it so easily, and he refused to be taken frivolously. Maybe because he wanted to force Naruto back into that safe realm of rival instead of whatever she was becoming.

Whatever the case, Sasuke allowed a derisive smirk to stain his lips and said, "And later, I succeeded."

A sudden and terrible coldness filled the room. Muscles tensed, and hands itched for their kunai. Several of them had witnessed Naruto and Sasuke's battle, and the memory of Sasuke's hand emerging from Naruto's back was forever etched into their memories. Though Sasuke had restarted Naruto's heart as the Kyuubi pieced the blonde back together, no one in Konoha could quite forgive the traitor for almost robbing them of their hero and friend. Especially when Sasuke looked completely at ease with the thought of Naruto's death, his eyes holding a hint of subtle mockery and smugness.

What they forgot was that Naruto was a forgiving idiot and turned everything with Sasuke into part of their rivalry.

"Teme," warned Naruto, ignoring her other friends. "One time you got past my defenses. One. Damn. Time. Quit harping on it like some batty, old councilwoman."

"I remember a considerable number of times."

"I kicked your ass last week!"

"Hn." It was a clear dismissal of her skills.

Naruto jumped up, banging her knees on the table as she did. "Want a rematch, bastard?! Right now!"

"What a stunning display of youth!" yelled Lee in ecstasy. "Neji my Eternal Rival, we shall not be outdone! I challenge you to a spar! If I should loose, I will scale the sheerest cliff using only my pinkie fingers! And I will sprint from Konoha to Kumo one hundred - no! Two hundred times! Do you accept this youthful challenge, my Eternal -"

"No," said Neji flatly. "You would damage relations with Kumo for all time."

Naruto's complete indifference to her almost-death had eased the tension in the room, and Lee's outburst had brought exasperated smiles to several faces. The storm safely blew over as Sakura yanked Naruto back into her chair and demanded that the blonde quite being a spar-hungry lunatic for the evening.

Kiba cleared his throat. "Still weird though. Naruto being a girl and all. I mean, we've gone to the hot springs together a hundred times."

Naruto's face suddenly lit in a grin. "Don't worry, Kiba-kun. I won't tell anyone about that weird -"

Kiba growled, cutting her short, while Sakura, Ino, and Tenten watched Naruto with interest. Here was a new source of previously unattainable information. Even Hinata sneaked a few extra glances at Naruto, wondering just what weird thing Kiba had.

"So, are pigtails your new look?" asked Ino.

"Eh, I guess. Teme fixed my hair like this the other day, and it keeps the hair outta my face."

"Sasuke-kun put your hair in pigtails?"

"Yeah, I was hungover - I totally wiped the floor with Gamabunta, by the way - and he was trying to get me out the door. Well, first he threw me in the shower -"

"Man, Uchiha's getting all the action!" yelled Kiba.

"Nuh uh," said Naruto with a grin. "Before all that, Shikamaru grabbed my boobs."

Said Nara jerked from his slouched position and whipped his head around to a certain female at the table while Temari spit out her drink, spewing the contents over the shinobis closest to her.

"Excuse me?" she asked in a shocked tone, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Yep!" said Naruto happily. "He had to make sure I wasn't in a henge so he lifted his hand and squeezed -"

"Forced," interrupted Shikamaru, sensing imminent danger and probable death, "I was forced to grab -"

"For a genius," said Temari as she stood up from the table, a wild glint beaming in her eyes, "that is a pathetic excuse." Then she grabbed Shikamaru by the collar of his vest, muttering threats and curses under her breath.

Naruto, Kiba, and Kankuro howled with laughter as Temari dragged off the poor pineapple head. Gaara appeared to be faintly amused, and Choji wondered for a brief moment if he should intervene. Sasuke thought it was ridiculous that Nara would allow a woman who was less intelligent and less skilled drag him off in such an undignified manner. An Uchiha would never be caught pandering to the caprices of a woman -

"It really was funny though," laughed Naruto. "You should've seen Shika's face when I made him grab my boobs -"

On second thought, Sasuke was glad that the Sand girl was so short-tempered and violent. Sasuke wasn't sure where this sudden dislike for Nara had come from, but there it was - a small, burning ember of resentment in the pit of his stomach.

"- he actually blushed a little. Can't blame him though. These," she said indicating her chest, "do feel pretty different from anything boys have -"

"Naruto-ku - ah, Naruto-chan," interrupted Hinata abruptly, "since you're a girl now, you really can't mention things like that. Look." She waved her hands at the seated males who were studiously avoiding Naruto's figure. Lee's face was tinted pink, and his eyes were pinched shut. Kankuro seemed very willing to look, but the sharp sting of sand against his cheeks forced him to turn his head away.

Naruto sighed impatiently and tugged on her hair in annoyance. "That's what Shikamaru said, but I'm used to having to mind my words around girls. It's gonna take a while to remember these new rules."

"Have you noticed any other differences?" asked Hinata, trying to change the subject. "Differences in thinking, I mean?"

"Eh, well," she blushed a little, and her friends watched in amazement as Naruto even giggled, albeit nervously. "Well, you know that I got to meet my mom since her chakra was placed inside Kyuubi's seal? She had the prettiest long, red hair. I just loved it! And even though my hair isn't red, it's still long and silky and -" Naruto's blush deepened "- I really like it."

A long pause followed her words as vastly different thoughts teased the minds of her audience.

"Your hair is very pretty, Naruto," Hinata smiled.

"Heheh, even fuzzball admitted that he likes it!"

Gaara leaned forward with a small smile and said, "I've never gotten used to you being able to talk to the Kyuubi. I could never have talked to Shukaku of the Sand."

"That one-tailed tanuki was always the most ill-tempered of the lot of us," sneered Kurama, Naruto's eyes suddenly flashing red. "He has an inferiority complex and for good reason. I have nine times his power." Kurama laughed in primal superiority, even if the claim was likely untrue.

"Kyuubi-sama," said Gaara in greeting, hiding his surprise. He knew that Naruto gave the demon fox free reign, but it was rare that the Kyuubi chose to speak to anyone besides Naruto. And hearing a rough, bestial voice come out of Naruto's mouth was the slightest bit unnerving.

"Sand-brat," Kurama responded. "And where is my brother, the Ichibi, these days? Still got his head stuck in a sand dune?"

"The latest report placed him many miles outside the village."

Naruto lips tugged into a bloodthirsty grin, revealing enlarged and rather pointy canines. "Good. Naruto and I have been needing an opponent to see if her recent changes have affected our synchronization. We haven't gone all out in some time."

Kankuro gulped, hoping that his brother would find a way to...diplomatically dissuade the bijuu. He could just picture a wayward Tailed Beast Bomb obliterating his home village. Instead, Gaara nodded, "Suna would appreciate advance warning, and we hope that you would move a considerable distance from the village."

"Naruto will insist on it. She may be female now, but she is the same idiot as always. And on that note -" Red eyes surveyed the shinobis around the table, particularly the male ones, and Kurama's voice darkened in warning. "- I trust that none of you forget that I am here, watching your every interaction with Naruto through her eyes, and should your actions...displease me, you may find yourselves less than pleased as well."

It was both an explicit threat and a chilling reminder. With Naruto being bubbly and cheerful all the time, it was surprisingly easy to forget that such a powerful entity dwelled within her, but the Kyuubi made sure they didn't grow complacent. He had chosen to partner up with his vessel; that did not mean he was their friend. What's more, he had grown unmistakably protective of the blonde, and anyone who wished to have a...more intimate relationship with her would always have the greatest of the bijuu to contend with.

The Kyuubi seemed to be done talking, so the shinobis - particularly the male ones - relaxed their tense postures as red eyes took on a bluish hue.

Kiba, feeling intimidated and annoyed that he was intimidated, muttered under his breath, "But a damn leash your damn pet, Naruto." And before he could blink, a burning red foxtail wrapped around his throat and smashed him into the wall. The girls shrieked in surprise but soon caught themselves. Akamaru barked and made to bite the tail until a second red tail whipped out and caught the dog, too.

Choji looked with wide eyes from Naruto to Kiba while Lee stiffened but remained in his seat. The Suna boys and Neji were unfazed. Sasuke retained his impassive aspect.

Okay, okay, said Naruto inside her head, you've had your fun.

You should remind your idiot friend just who I am.

Will do.

Slitted, red eyes faded to blue, and Naruto pulled the tails back in. Kiba and Akamaru fell to the floor with two loud thumps.

"What the hell, Naruto!" yelled Kiba, running to check on Akamaru who bounded up without a trace of injury.

"You deserved it, dog breath."

"That was your own damn fault, Kiba," said Kankuro. "If I'd ever called Shukaku a pet, hell, I'd have been dead faster than I could blink."

"Naruto has better control than Gaara did!"

Naruto crossed her arms and scowled. "What if I called Akamaru a pet and threatened to chain him up, eh?"

"The hell I'd let you get away with it!"

"Damn right. Me and Kyuubi are partners now. You should understand that bond better than anybody. And besides he saved the entire freaking world! Show some respect, baka."

Kiba looked slightly abashed and refrained from muttering further.

"That was rather foolish of you, Kiba," commented Shino as his teammate sat back down. "Though I admit to being startled as well. My kikaichus even retreated."

Hinata patted Kiba's arm lightly, and he turned to her with a sheepish grin.

"So, Naruto," asked Neji with interest, "what do you make of this intruder?"

The conversation turned from Naruto's femininity to typical shinobi talk. Naruto related all she had heard from Tsunade-obaa-chan, and when she mentioned the snake bastard, several eyes flicked almost subconsciously toward the Uchiha.

And Sasuke was suddenly deathly tired of this. All of this.

They accepted Naruto's transformation so easily, and the blonde had slipped right back into the loud and joking familiarity she had always had with them. A light sparked in Ino's eyes, surely imagining the fun they would have on a shopping spree as she forced Naruto into outfit after outfit. Lee thought the transformation was a great testament to youth. Sai looked like his usual dipshit self. After his initial inspection with his Byakugan, Neji was seemingly as calm as always.

But those were just the obvious signs. Sasuke disliked the subtle looks that the Hyuuga and Sabaku were giving her. Even Akamichi of all people had taken a moment to look away from his plate and eye Naruto appreciatively. Then, at one point, Naruto had looked at Sai and motioned him to do something - some subtle gesture that Sasuke couldn't interpret. It was like they had their own personal codes, and Sai had glanced around the table and blushed. It was faint and unnoticeable by anyone who wasn't looking closely, but it was there.

God damn it! She was Naruto, for goodness sakes! So what if her hair was long and friggin' silky?! Why should they look at her differently? Sure, she had switched genders, but that didn't give them the right to ogle -

Sasuke stopped that irrational line of thought. The boys were not ogling her; they were merely inspecting her. And they had every right to look her over and readjust to her changes, even if it did give Sasuke the urge to strangle -

No. Strangling was bad, particularly in a village that didn't trust him.

The group piled around Naruto while Sasuke sat alone at the head of the table as they delved into the discussion on the snake-bastard and how they would be ready for him when he came. They didn't ask for Sasuke's input, and he didn't volunteer it.

There was no place for him here. Sasuke's hour was up.

... ... ...

Sasuke left the party without a word to anyone and wandered to the training grounds - the only place he could actually be at peace in this damn village. The sky was dark, but menacing clouds were outlined by the lights of Konoha, and not too distant thunder rumbled.

Sensing a presence nearby, he stopped and spoke without turning his head. "You should get back to your party."

Naruto jumped deftly from a tree. "I left a clone," she said nonchalantly.

"They've probably recognized that already. Your friends will be hurt." Not that he actually cared, but if guilt would get Naruto away from him, then he'd use it for all it was worth.

"It's a blood clone," said Naruto dismissively.

"Why can't you just let me be?"

"Cause my best friend keeps acting like he did when he first came back. Mad and bitchy."

"Then maybe you shouldn't have brought me back."

She grabbed Sasuke by the shirt so hard that fabric ripped. "Why are you acting so different around me?!"

He flung her hands away, suddenly burning with fury. Why didn't she get it?! Why did she demand an explanation?! "Because you have become a different person! What part of you are a female don't you get?!"

"The part that means you get to act like a jerk because of it! Things were getting better! You were loosening up! You even told a joke, damn it!"

"I will behave however I see fit," he said coldly.

"The hell you will!"

Sasuke had begun to stride away but turned back at the sound of cracking knuckles. A feral grin lit Naruto's face. "I just decided to defeat all the male shinobis in our year, starting with you."

"Oh, really?" he said disdainfully. "Since your limbs are shorter now, your taijutsu will be wrecked. You'll overreach and leave openings."

"Kyuubi," said Naruto aloud, "block most of my chakra. Match the level with Sasuke's, and don't interfere if he tries to put me under a genjutsu."

Sasuke hissed in displeasure. "I don't need any favors."

"I know, but this way, you can't whine when I kick your ass. And, Sasuke, I will kick your ass." Naruto raised her right hand, and as easily as she would draw a breath, she formed a glowing, spinning sphere in her palm. Rasengan. "If you want to live, you better not get hit with this, asshole."

Overhead, lightening crackled, and thunder rumbled. Soon, a downpour of rain swept over Konoha, enveloping the training ground and the two shinobis poised to fight.

The next update will take at least two weeks because I want to do the chapter justice (plus I'll be traveling in NYC for a week!). Sorry! But even if you hate me, please review!