*Edit* Ok people, I have had a couple of my lovely reviewers (IdaAreIda, Inuyonas, Shiso no Kitsune) throwing me ideas as to what is going to happen to Naruto in the story. I do have something planned and I have been dropping hints as to what it is from about chapter 12. Because of this, I have decided to set a little challange! If you're interested, let me know what you think is happening and I'll be sure to respond and let you know if you're hot or cold. To anyone who guesses the ending, I'll write you a chapter of your very own! ... or, draw you your favourite character from your favourite series! ... or something. Anyway, it's time to get your sleuth on! *End Edit*
I just had one of the gnarliest crashes of my life last Friday night. Got taken to hospital and got given the green whistle. I gotta say, that green whistle is amazing. I was high as a kite and couldn't feel a thing. Morphine has got nothing on that little plastic pain-killer. Gotta be thankful for the little things.
Chapter 18
Naruto skipped down the road merrily. Not even changing into a girl right now could dampen his mood. Old Ero-Sennin was here, he was checking his seal and soon enough, he was gona be back training at full strength and to top it all off, he got a new training partner! He came ever so close to dancing down the street but managed to restrain himself. There were some levels of weird that only Gai and Gai-clone ventured into. Never the less, the public could tell the boy was happy and steered clear. Jumping into his favourite stall of all time, Naruto cleared the gap from the tent flap to the seat in a single bound and slapped a hearty hand down on the bench.
"Four beef ramen old man and keep 'em comin'!"
Looking over from his pot, Teuchi's eyes widened happily at the sight.
"Naruto-kun! Good to see you! Ayame, would you help this poor starving boy out?"
"Immediately, father!"
Instantly a flurry of action, Naruto had a bowl before him in less than ten seconds.
"Thanks Ayame-chan!"
Snapping his chop sticks, he cried out the usual pre-meal gesture and tucked into it energetically. Cleaning up that bowl and starting the next, Naruto didn't even look over when another figure entered the establishment.
"One soy ramen please."
Completely ignoring the person, Naruto continued to tuck into his food.
"Naruto-san."
Seriously, this had to be the greatest thing ever. Naruto quickly offered up thanks to the kind soul that guided him here. He would be lost without ramen.
"Naruto-san."
Licking his lips, Naruto grabbed the next bowl and started inhaling.
"Naruto-san."
Twitching, Naruto rubbed his neck were something seemed to be annoying him.
"Naruto-san."
Giving it a good scratch, Naruto tried to ignore it but itch wouldn't leave.
"Naruto-san."
Hearing someone say his name, Naruto looked over. Seeing a shrouded face focused on him, Naruto realised that was what the itch was.
"Oh, Shino! When did you get here? How are you?"
Even through the massive coat and thick, dark glasses, the boy seemed to retract into himself.
"It apparently does not concern you the slightest."
Naruto's eyes thinned as he looked at his acquaintance.
"What? I just asked how you were."
Shino sighed and pushed his glasses up. "I had requested your attention several times before you initiated contact. It was seemingly apparent you did not wish to engage with me."
"...Oh."
Not fully understanding the strange guy, Naruto just shrugged and went back to eating. "Well, what are you doing here? I didn't pick you to be one for ramen. You seemed too logical and stuff to like ramen."
Shino's hidden eyebrow twitched. "Just because I am of a logically based thinking pattern does not mean that I am without taste. I happen to find ramen a thoroughly enjoyable experience, despite its complete lack of nutrients."
Naruto paused for a second and tried to make heads and tails of the statement. Coming up a blank, he tried to be nice.
"Uh, yeah, I like ramen too!"
Sighing again, Shino knew it was too much to ask for a reasonable conversation with the irrational blond. Grabbing his steaming bowl, Shino methodically snapped his chopsticks and began spooning calculated mouthfuls into himself. The two boys sat in silence for a bit but for some reason which irked Shino, Naruto kept throwing him weird sidelong glances at odd intervals. Finally caving under the scrutiny, Shino set his food down and turned to face his blond companion.
"What is it that you need to keep looking at me for?"
Naruto sucked in the rest of his meal before burping and answering. "I duno. You're just like, so perfect with your mouthfuls. What's up with that? It's like you count each noodle in each bite."
Shino realised this could take some time to explain. "To sate your curiosity, yes, I do indeed count the noodles. Is that such an anomaly?"
Naruto looked at him strangely. "Uh, yeah? Why do you do that? How can you not just stuff your face with this amazing food?"
Shino held up a lecturing finger. "It is proven that a mouthful no bigger than two fingers is the most manageable for a bite. Digestion starts with the mouth and as such, I wish to begin the process as thoroughly as possible."
Naruto looked at him in silence, a few stray noodles sticking out of his mouth. "You count your chews too?"
"Twenty-six times per bite."
Naruto slowly sucked up the stray food. He nearly said something but paused. Shrugging, he just ignored it and decided to get on with his own meal. Who was he to question someone else's eccentricities? Lifting the bowl high, Naruto began drinking the broth until a very unfortunate event occurred. In a puff of smoke, Shino waved his hands in front of his startled face. He heard Ayame scream in surprise and some serious gagging. Summoning his kikaichū to blow away the cloud, he looked down. And there before him on her hands and knees was a violently gagging blond girl. Instantly reacting, Shino picked her up and placed one arm around her middle, just under her breasts and then gave her a mighty thump in the middle of her back. In a loud "HUCK", the blond heaved up the still warm broth all over the dirt. Coughing, she wiped her mouth and glared at herself.
"Stupid freakin' fox just had to pick now didn't he."
The girl looked at the spoiled broth forlornly. "I'm sorry ramen! I didn't mean it!"
Sighing, she slipped into her chair and held her head with her hands. "Just wait until Ero-Sennin works it out. Not long now. Not long at all."
Remembering her saviour, she then turned to face Shino. "Hey, thanks for that! I could have died. You're a real good friend, you know that?"
Noticing an even stiffer than usual boy, Naruto raised an eyebrow and waved a hand in front of his face. "Hello, earth to Shino? You there?"
Coughing slightly, Shino stepped back and bowed slightly. "I'm sorry... but where did you come from?"
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. Shino didn't realise? Well, she supposed even the most attentive ninja was prone to lacks of concentration every now and then. Dropping back into her seat, Naruto motioned for him to sit.
"Oh, don't worry about that Shino. It's just me, Naruto."
"Naruto?"
Sitting beside her, Naruto didn't fail to notice the straighter back. "Yeah, me. This is just a jutsu gone haywire. Don't worry about it hey, it'll all be fixed soon."
"Ah... ah."
Looking up at the boy, Naruto thought she noticed something. Leaning in, she tried to see what it was. Shino started leaning back but Naruto grabbed his arm.
"Hold still."
Peering at the boy's face, Naruto felt a grin tug at her lips. This was awesome.
"Shino... are... are you blushing?"
Sitting up even a bit straighter, he said nothing. Liking the reaction, Naruto's grin widened even more.
"You ARE, aren't you!"
Shino remained silent and tried to continue with his meal. But Naruto wasn't having any of that. Oh, ho-ho no, definitely not. Slipping out of the stool, Naruto slid up beside Shino and 'accidentally' rubbed up against him.
"Shino-kun... why are you blushing?"
Watching him bring a shaking hand up, Naruto's grin turned positively evil. Sliding around to his other side, she casually rested her head on his shoulder and watched the boy struggle to eat.
"Is it because of little me?"
Watching the food reach his mouth, Naruto giggled as he smeared a little bit across his cheek.
"Oh Shino-kun would you look at that? You missed a bit!"
Reaching out, Naruto grabbed the single noodle and slipped it between her lips before sucking it in demurely. Shino's reaction was immediate. Clamping his hands over his mouth, the boy managed to stop the food from being forcibly blown from his face but failed to hide the significant dribble of blood that chose that moment to trickle from his nose. Turning, he dashed out of the tent and disappeared down the road. That just left Naruto holding her side in pain as the gasps of laughter wracked the girl's body. An unamused Teuchi looked over his shoulder at the girl and waved his ladle at her.
"Oi! Quit flirting with the customers! It's not good for business you know?"
Still laughing, Naruto pulled herself back into her seat and began eating her food at a much more manageable rate. Seeing that usually stoic boy react in such a way was more than Naruto could have hoped for. What she did to get that reaction was totally fine too. Nothing she hadn't done before. So why did she seem to like it in a different way?
XxXxXxX
Tsunade sat at her chair, enduring the man before her. It was only her respect for him as a master sealer that kept her from grabbing him by the hair and throwing him to Suna. But it was quickly wearing thin. Slapping away yet another attempt to grab her bosom, she changed her mind and caught the offending hand.
"Alright bub. How about we make a deal. What hand are you dominant with?"
Jiraiya leered at her. This could be it. "Right handed Hime."
Tsunade nodded. "And what hand am I holding?"
Jiraiya wriggled his captive fingers invitingly. "My right hand dear."
Tsunade smirked and then layered on the pressure. The mighty Jiraiya let out a girly squeal as his hand quickly disfigured and let out a few unhappy cracks under the force.
"Right, here's my deal. You stop trying to grope me and I'll let your hand go. Keep it up and you'll be giving yourself lefties for the next six months. I'm sure you know how awkward that is and for someone of your 'nature', it would prove rather frustrating, yes?"
Jiraiya just whimpered as he held his arm.
"So, do we have a deal?"
Seeing the old perve nod, she let him go and saw him jump back, holding his burning hand. Quickly standing up straight, he stuffed the hand into his pocket and continued with his mission report. She smirked because she knew it hurt, no matter how well he hid it. Leaning back, she crossed her fingers and smirked happily. Sometimes, she loved her job. Rarely, but sometime.
Hearing a knock at the window, the two Sannin turned to see Naruto looking in through the pane. The reactions varied though as one sighed while one started panting. Standing quickly, Tsunade looked up at the taller man and pointed a finger at him.
"Jiraiya, down."
He made no motion to indicate he heard her. Clapping her hands once, she tried again.
"No, bad Jiraiya! I said down!"
Her response was for the old lecher to move toward the window slowly. Growling, she thumped him hard enough to send him into the back wall of the room where he crumpled into a heap.
"Good! Now play dead and stay."
Turning, the busty blond opened the window and Naruto hopped in, happy that she didn't have to deal with Jiraiya just yet.
"So how'd the seal checky thing go? Did Ero-Sennin find out what's wrong with me?"
Tsunade shrugged. "Duno. The last five minutes has just involved him giving his mission report and failed attempts at boob grabs."
Scowling at the memory, Tsunade then did something very out of character. Spinning around, she grabbed her chest and shook it at the unconscious man.
"Yeah, you want this? Yeah? Well tough luck you old fart 'cause these are MINE."
Turning back, she sighed and looked down at Naruto. The girl didn't really know what to say so they fell into an uncomfortable silence for a few moments.
"You really needed to get that out of your system hey."
The faintest tinge of red coated the Hokage's cheeks and she scratched her eyebrow awkwardly. "Uh, yeah. All good now but."
Hearing a groan, the two of them looked over and saw the sage pull himself to his feet. Quickly grabbing him, Tsunade marched him over to a spare chair and tossed him into it.
"Ok Jiraiya. Naruto here wants to know what you found out about the seal. Now spill before I have to make you."
Holding his head, Jiraiya held up a hand. "Yeah, yeah. Just hold the threats for a moment babe. Still getting over that last one."
Reaching into his coat with his other hand, Jiraiya pulled out a bunch of papers and laid them out in front of them.
"Alright. What I managed to work out was that essentially the seal is changing. I'm not sure how, or why, or even if the Forth meant for it to do this, but it is."
Naruto and Tsunade looked at him, unamused. "You didn't tell us anything we didn't already know."
Jiraiya hummed an answer and pulled out the replica of Naruto's current seal and the way it should have looked. "Ok, well, you can see here that there are these small, weird swirls starting to form off to the left hand side. I can kinda understand what they are but they make no sense..."
Looking up at Naruto seriously, he motioned at her shirt. "Show me the seal now."
Naruto gripped the hem of her shirt and pulled it down while Tsunade glared at him. Sighing, he rubbed his head.
"Look, while a flash of boob would be fantastic, I actually need to check to see if the seal has changed when you have transformed into a girl. Ok? I promise that I won't touch anything."
Naruto's eyes thinned but she nodded never the less. Slowly lifting her shirt, she stopped it just beneath her breasts. Jiraiya let out a small sigh of disappointment but continued on with his work.
"Ok, mould some chakra..."
Seeing the seal come into focus, Jiraiya held up the two sketches either side of Naruto's tummy and frowned.
"Well, this is weird."
"What?"
He pointed at Naruto's belly button. "That's the center of your stomach yeah? Well have a look, the seal has moved ever so slightly to the right. Those swirlies have also extended a bit."
Pressing the paper down over Naruto's stomach, Jiraiya carefully kept his face neutral to hide the joy he was getting from touching her soft skin. "It's definitely a very strange occurrence indeed."
Frowning again, he traced the seal with a finger, poker mask still firmly in place. "It's almost like the whole seal itself is growing."
Groaning, he pushed himself to his feet and cracked his back. "In any case, I need to find out more about this. While I don't know what it is exactly, what I can definitely say though is that the seal is not compromised in any way."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Naruto lowered her shirt and looked up at the taller adults happily.
"However..."
Naruto's stomach dropped with the word.
"...With how the seal is progressing, I'm going to have to follow you around to see how it's changing. Looks like you're gona be having some good fun times with your uncle Jiraiya! Aren't you excited, Naruto-chan?"
Unable to hold his mask any longer, the perve face broke through in full force, fingers waving lecherously and everything. While Tsunade proceeded to redeposit Jiraiya back into the wall, Naruto groaned and dropped her head into her hands. This was the last thing she wanted.
XxXxXxX
A/N – Woo! Good chapter! I had alot of fun writing that one and I really think it's one of the funniest chapters I have written so far. Atleast, I hope so. It better be or else! *Shakes fist menacingly* It also has plot progression too so that's all fronts covered. *Smiles proudly* Anyway, I'll be seeing you fine people next chapter!
Lanky Nathan