Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, and if I did, I'd be rich! (which I'm not)
Last time, Kaoru pranked Sasuke real bad, what's gonna happen to her now? Who will she meet?
The chapter below will show you!
The next day, Kaoru went out to find Naruto to have fun, when she found he was accompanied by a younger boy. Who's this kid? I guess I'll go over there and ask. She dived and flapped her wings as she landed, the two younger boys covering their eyes from the dust that was stirred. She began to write her question when the kid asked, "Who's this, Boss?"
"Kaoru-kun!" Naruto cried, running over. "You came to see me again!"
She smiled in greeting before turning her question to him. 'Who's this kid that's following you?'
"Oh, this is Konohamaru! He asked me to instruct him in one of my techniques that I made up. Wanna see?"
She shrugged. 'Sure, if you want my opinion.'
"Boss, is this kid mute?" Konohamaru asked.
"Yeah, Kaoru-kun has never spoken a word since I've met him, but he's my best bud! He's been my friend since before I graduated from the academy."
Kaoru bowed in greeting to the boy, her wings fluttering slightly at her movement.
"It's great to meet you, but whoa! Are those real?"
Kaoru nodded as she spread her wings and flapped them a bit before settling them against her back again. This kid is cute, I like him.
"What are you exactly?"
'I'm an angel.'
"An angel? So you're the one who fell from the sky that Jii-san's been talking about?"
She nodded.
"Wow! That's so cool!"
She then nodded to Naruto to show her.
He raised his hands in a sign. "Ninja Centerfold!"
Ninja…Centerfold?
With a poof of smoke, Naruto transformed into a naked girl. He asked in a high-pitched voice, "What do you think?"
In an honest scrutiny, she walked all around him, surveying all the curves and measurements, before clapping her approval.
"You like it?" Naruto asked, before transforming back. "Yay! It's a success!"
His celebrating was cut off when Konohamaru stated, "He didn't even blush, Boss. How old is he if he doesn't have any reaction to seeing a naked girl like your Ninja Centerfold?"
One thing, I doubt a boy my age would do so, plus I'm a girl, why would I blush at the sight of another girl?
Naruto shrugged. "How old are you, Kaoru-kun?"
'I'm fourteen.'
"Really?"
She nodded.
"But you're so skinny! Are you sure you're not anorexic?"
Kaoru rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Yeah, you don't need any more answer than that." He shook his head before perking up. "Oh! Do you want to come along while I help Konohamaru perfect his technique?"
'Sure, why not?'
She watched as Konohamaru failed into transforming into a young woman he saw on the street, then a visit to the drug store to look at a magazine, then to a women's locker room.
"All right, let's see what you got!"
"Ninja Centerfold!"
Kaoru almost began giggling inside at the poor transformation. Wow…even after all that observation! Uber fail!
"No, no! Thinner, taller! Big boobs, small waist, big butt!"
Is that what the ideal girl is supposed to be like? I do have a small waist, but that's it. It's no wonder everyone thinks I'm a boy save Otou-san and Itachi-onii-san. I'm getting taller all the time, but nothing else. I've seen the twelve-year-old girls, and all of them have hips and breasts! Am I some sort of freak?
"Kaoru-kun, what do you think?"
She blinked and gave Konohamaru just as a thorough inspection as she had with Naruto, before applauding. He sure did well for a first-timer. I'm sure Naruto-kun has had more time than this to practice.
"Yay! I'm a success!"
She listened as the two talked, and nodded when Naruto told the kid that there are no shortcuts to becoming Hokage. Then a sunglasses-wearing man appeared, insisting Konohamaru not associate with the likes of Naruto. That set her boiling over with rage.
This sucks! Everyone besides a few people hate Naruto-kun so much! I wanna pop him a good one! I don't care if he's an adult!
She stepped forward to do so, only for Naruto to hold her back. "I'll handle this, Kaoru-kun."
The instructor, named Ebisu, gave Kaoru a long look before pushing his sunglasses up. "Why are you socializing with that disgrace? I thought the illustrious and powerful Uchiha Clan was above such things!"
Kaoru felt like screaming. Don't label me so quickly, jerk! Just because I agreed to live under the clan's sigil doesn't make me the stereotypical Uchiha! I feel like using expletives that I've heard from my former parents!
Konohamaru gasped in awe. "He's one of the Uchiha Clan?"
Naruto glanced back at Kaoru, who looked like she wanted to kill Ebisu. He could feel the aura of fury radiating off of her that was growing the more she glared at the Jonin.
"It will cast a bad image on your clan if you—" Ebisu cut himself off as he stared at her.
Kaoru was flipping him off the same way she'd flipped off Sasuke. Bunches of foul words were going through her head as she did this, her eyes alight with rage.
"That's such an obscene gesture! What would your parents have to say about you flashing your fist at your elder?"
I don't care about what my parents will say about this. They didn't raise me. You insulted Naruto-kun and my person and you're gonna pay.
"Kaoru-kun, don't!" Naruto shouted, pulling on her arm. "It doesn't matter if I get in trouble, but for you, it's a whole other thing entirely!"
Ebisu chuckled. "It seems that your little friend is so angry he's speechless. Let's see how skilled you are, Uchiha-chan. Come on."
In a burst of speed that had Naruto and Konohamaru blinking at how she disappeared, she ran up to Ebisu, kicking upwards at his chin, the metal on the underside of her shoe catching the skin of the Jonin's chin as he dodged. Blood dribbled from the cut as he stared at her in shock, but she was already coming at his side, hands flying through signs. She put her fingers to her lips and his eyes widened.
Fire Release: Grand Fireball Technique!
Instead of red fire coming from her mouth, it was a pure white flame that was unlike any of them had seen before. The attack was narrowly evaded by Ebisu, only for her to punch him straight in the kidney from behind. His eyes widened as he fell to his knees, clutching at the wound. She used one of his own kunai to point at his neck, and he turned his eyes on her still-seething expression.
"I see you've been trained well. I haven't seen such skill come from any Uchiha since I sparred with Itachi-sama. Your name is Kaoru, right? I think I'll recommend you for a Jonin post, since you don't have a ninja commission."
He disappeared, and Naruto stared at her in shock.
"You…you…your movements, style, even technique were so fast I couldn't even follow you! Five days ago, you couldn't even catch up to me at a full sprint! What's going on?"
She thought about the strange phenomenon and got a sudden revelation about what was happening. She wrote, 'It seems I have "imprinted" on Itachi. I watched him train last night, and it just came to me when I thought how to beat Ebisu-san. My speed, fighting style, reflexes, techniques…I've never used them before this, yet now, a whole myriad of things are now in my mind and body. I don't really get it, why did it happen now?' She held up her hands and stared at them. Why am I suddenly experiencing something only someone I explicitly trust would be able to do to me? Is it because I've accepted Itachi-onii-san to be my confidant? She ran her hands through her hair and pressed her lips together, writing, 'Naruto-kun, this changes nothing about our friendship.'
He nodded, grasping her hand. "Damn right it hasn't! I was just shocked by the sudden change! It isn't something you can control, so I don't blame you for it!"
She smiled and nodded.
Konohamaru recovered and grinned. "Your smile makes you look so gentle, Kaoru-kun! You should do it more often!"
She nodded again, her smile softening. I hope this doesn't get me in trouble.
Within ten minutes, Kaoru was picked up by a Chunin and brought to the Hokage's office. The elderly man looked her over and nodded. "The way he carries himself does remind me of Itachi-san. Kaoru-san, this gift should please your adopted father very much, and bring more honor to your clan." He put his fingers in a steeple before asking, "Is this something you want, Kaoru-san?"
She nodded. It's not like I want to be cooped up in the Uchiha Compound for the rest of my life. Being a ninja genius gives me the freedom I crave.
"Very well. Here is your hitae-ate and gear. Put them on as you please, do you have any requests before you're officially on duty?"
She nodded. 'I want to see Naruto-kun get assigned to his team under a Jonin-sensei.'
"Very well, in two days, report to the academy and you'll overlook the assignments of the new Genin with Iruka."
She bowed and left, tying on her hitae-ate like she would a headband in her hair, sliding on her vest on and zipping it up, strapping the shuriken holster to her left thigh, and buckling the gear pouch around her waist. She already wore black ninja sandals, which were easier to put on/take off in a pinch than her tennis shoes. I feel like I've integrated into this place well, now that I'm actually a ninja. I wonder how long this will last, or if it's permanent. Hopefully I don't find out the hard way.
She walked home and when she entered, she slid her sandals off, only to hear Sasuke drop a glass, it shattering on the floor. She turned to him as he stared in shock, anger beginning to burn beneath it. He turned when Mikoto called, "Sasuke? What happened? I heard something break!"
The woman came in, cradling her stomach as she did so. Her eyes were worried as she saw the scene in front of her. She put her hands on her hips and scolded, "Don't scare me like that, Sasuke! I thought you were hurt! Get the broom and a washcloth to clean that up right now!"
"Oka-san! Did you see Kaoru?"
"No shouting in the house, young man. Kaoru, welcome home. I see you have some new accessories to go with your commission."
Sasuke's eyes just about popped out of his head. "You know about this Oka-san?"
"Kaoru, come here and let me give you a hug! I'm so proud of you that you were able to do this on your own!"
Kaoru did so, not watching where she was going. Her foot landed right in the pile of glass shards. Mikoto cried out, ordering, "Kaoru, lift your foot and carefully get over here! Sasuke! What did I tell you?"
Sasuke scrambled to get what he'd been asked while his mother cried, "Itachi! Itachi, come quick!"
The steel-haired young man came running, eyes alarmed. "Yes Oka-san, what is it?"
"Lift up Kaoru and bring him to the table, he just stepped on a large shard of glass!"
He did as told, before looking at her face. "Kaoru-san doesn't look like Kaoru-san's in pain."
"He's probably in shock! Sit him on the table and take a look at his foot!"
He did as asked and looked at his sister's foot, even probing for possible shards embedded in the skin. He patted Kaoru's shoulder and stated, "There's nothing wrong with Kaoru-san's foot."
"Then you're looking at the wrong one! It should be cut deep and bleeding!"
"Look for yourself, Oka-san. It's just wet."
Mikoto came over and looked at Kaoru's feet, both to make sure. "What? But I was sure he did—"
"Kaoru-san is fine. Now relax and let's congratulate Kaoru-san on making Jonin."
"Yes, we should! Congratulations, Kaoru! I haven't been so proud since Itachi made ANBU!"
Itachi hugged Kaoru and grinned. "Otou-san will be proud, too."
Sasuke returned to the kitchen with a rag full of glass and the broom, seething with jealousy. "Am I the only one who sees that this is unnatural? It's only been two days since that kid came here and now he's an accomplished ninja? It took me since I was seven to graduate and suddenly he's elevated from civilian to Jonin? He must have something affecting us! A genjutsu, a drug, something of the sort!"
Kaoru turned to him, giving him a poisonous glare. You little punk. I told everyone I was an angel, so of course I have supernatural abilities! I can't help if I have them! You are so gonna pay for spoiling my moment of happiness!
Itachi shook his head. "Otouto, Kaoru-san is special. Do not group Kaoru-san in with the rest of us."
"Sasuke, I told you not to be rude to your new brother," Mikoto added in reprimand. "Apologize to him at once."
"You've turned my own mom and brother against me!" Sasuke accused. "Are you some kind of demon in an angel's guise? I'll kill you!"
Mikoto slapped him across the face, a frown of disapproval on her own. "You might be my flesh and blood, but you, you've humiliated me in your lack of manners, Uchiha Sasuke. Where is the respectful boy I've raised gone?"
You mean he wasn't always a conceited jerk? I doubt that very much.
Sasuke held his cheek and stared at his mother in shock. "Oka-san…you've never struck me before…"
"This time you've gone too far with disliking your brother, my son. If this goes on any longer, I'll have your father revoke your rights as a ninja and you'll stay home until you correct your attitude. Now go to your room and stay there until dinner."
The wide-eyed boy turned and did as told, hand still to his cheek.
Wow, she really shell-shocked him with that one. I can tell he can read me pretty well but doesn't know much beyond what I choose to show him. Sasuke, how will you handle this new threat to your pride? Will you apologize to me again, even more humbly than before, just to make Oka-san happy? Or will you do it from the heart, willing to turn over a new leaf with me? I guess I'll find out at dinnertime.
She went to her room and meditated while waiting for the evening meal. A while passed before there was a knock then the shoji slid open. She opened her eyes and saw Itachi there.
"May I come in?"
She nodded and gestured for him to sit in front of her. He did so, closing the door behind him.
"Kaoru-san, your sudden promotion to Jonin, how did it happen?"
She took out a fresh pad of paper for this conversation. 'It seems that I've "imprinted" on your fighting style, techniques, intelligence, and such when I watched you train last night.'
"I don't understand. How is this possible?"
'You're the first person I've ever trusted like this in my life, so my body and soul have done you the sincerest form of flattery: imitation.'
At that, he hugged her. "Thank you, Kaoru-san. But why me?"
She lowered her head. 'You are the first I've ever opened myself to, telling you my pains and hopes. I won't do that with just anyone. You know in my first life I couldn't trust anyone because they betrayed me, broke me. With you, it's different. I wasn't afraid to bare my soul and put myself in your hands.
'Onii-san, will you allow me to be your confidant?'
He smiled and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Of course, I would be glad to have someone I can tell everything to. Sasuke's just too young and immature to understand how I feel about my life. Now I'll bare my soul to you." He placed his mouth next to her ear and breathed, "As the heir of the clan, I've never been truly happy, even as a child."
Her eyes widened. Itachi-onii-san…never? Is he like me?
"The pressure laid on me to be the best coupled with being a genius is something I remember even from my early childhood. Being the firstborn son of the head of the clan forced me to work much harder than any other child my age has ever had to. I'm grateful that I'm powerful enough to please Otou-san, yet my retirement from my career early on like I have has made him disappointed. Even though I'm the most powerful in the clan, he wants me to become unstoppable. He's tried pushing me to marry early so I would father superior children and have an heir of my own. So far I've delayed that because the Council of Elders doesn't deem me old enough to be the head of the clan yet so I mustn't let my youth choose a bride prematurely.
"My retirement has also allowed Sasuke to shine, but he relies too much on others' opinions as his strength. The hatred of enemies and the pressure to surpass me will break him if he doesn't grow up. I fear for him but if I try to protect him, he'll think I'm babying him out of pity and develop an even deeper animosity for me. I'm also concerned for Oka-san, having a third child when she's nearing forty years old. She has the stress of supporting her two younger kids who are in conflict. I don't want anything to snap and all hell to break loose.
"Kaoru-san, what should I do?"
The great love he has for his family, he sets aside his own wants to try and support them in the shadows. She placed a finger to her lips as she thought about what she could say. Do I know enough to give any advice to him? He looks so desperate, like how I felt when I first opened up to him. She considered hard and nodded. 'Love and support them, as a brother and son should, Onii-san.'
He read it and a grateful smile came to his lips. "That's just what I needed, Kaoru-san. Thank you so much."
She smiled in return, hugging him tight. I'm glad to see that smile, Itachi-onii-san. It brings warmth to my heart to see you feel relieved over my simple advice.
"Itachi, Kaoru, it's time for dinner!" Mikoto called. "Sasuke, you too!"
Itachi stood and held out a hand. "Shall we?"
The angel girl nodded and put her hand in his, letting him help her up as he slid the shoji open. They went to the dinner table together, kneeling in their places. Fugaku noticed this and questioned, "Were you two doing something together?"
Kaoru tilted her head in confusion while Itachi confessed, "We were talking, Otou-san. We hardly know each other, so what better way of doing so?"
"I see. It doesn't seem that Sasuke is improving relations with his new brother by joining in."
Mikoto nodded. "Fugaku, Sasuke hasn't tried at all. In fact, he's been lashing out, speaking to Kaoru very rudely, even falsely accusing him of things and threatening him. I had to punish him because he refused to apologize."
Fugaku gave Sasuke a stern look. "Son, what is causing this continued, if not worsening, hostile actions towards your adopted brother? Never mind, I don't need to know. Apologize and never do it again."
Sasuke flinched, frowning at Kaoru. She gave him a neutral look, although she was gloating on the inside. Come on, be a good boy, apologize to your older sister. Do what Otou-san says. Grovel, for being such a stuck-up, jealous baby.
The twelve-year-old bowed his head and stated, "I'm sorry, Kaoru. I was wrong for being such a jerk."
Good words, but does he mean them?
"I promise I won't do it again."
Let's see if you don't. I'll call you on it if you go back on your word. Despite all this going on in her head, she nodded and smiled.
Mikoto beamed and then announced, "Dear, Kaoru has been given the rank of Jonin today."
"Hmmm. Serve the clan well, Kaoru. You are indeed my child."
Kaoru spotted the look of pain on Sasuke's face. What about that pains him so? If I asked, would he—nope. I really doubt he would spill his guts to anyone, let alone his family. She then remembered who she could turn to to get answers, but not until dinner was over. I'm sure Itachi-onii-san will know the root of all this.
"When do you begin your duties?" Fugaku asked.
She wrote, 'Two days from now.'
"Why the delay?"
Nibbling her lip, she worded her answer carefully. 'A personal request.'
"I see. Whatever you do, do not miss a single clan meeting."
She nodded, even though she didn't get it. What's so important about attending the clan meetings? They're about as exciting as watching paint dry.
She took her last bite and bowed to Mikoto in thanks before heading for the roof, sitting down on the wood roof beam and looking up at the sky. The stars reflected on her eyes, and she tilted her head as she wondered, Where up there did I fall from? Have there been any others like me, fallen to Earth for a second life?
Oh, snap! Sasuke's gonna be even more jealous, now that Kaoru's drawn out the phrase that he's always wanted! I know I'm being outright cruel to Sasuke, but I think it's good for the kid. Seriously, he had it made in the village before he left! He was their darling, and all he could think about was getting stronger to exact revenge! Does anyone else find that even the tiniest bit strange?
Forgive my tirade about Sasuke, I just hate his guts and it only gets worse the further into Shippuden I read.
Oh, and questions about this strange ability Kaoru's displayed, yes I know it's making her into a Mary-Sue, but it's all part of her being in this world. Trust me, she could've imitated someone much worse than Itachi, you all know that!
Please review!