Innocence
"I'm not exactly sure what you're asking of me Lady Tsunade.", Kakashi states as he stood in the Hokage's Office. Shizune walks in, sets a stack of flies on the desk & leaves quietly, giving Kakashi the slightest of nods. "I want you to tutor Naruko. It has been close to a month now, & she is still unable to recall any detail about her life as Naruto Uzumaki.", Tsunade replies firmly. Kakashi sighs & fires back, "Yes, & isn't that because of Tsachi? Why does the task of teaching...whatever Naruto is now, why does that fall on me? Better yet, why doesn't he undo the sealing jutsu he used on Naruto?". Tsunade searches through the stack of files & pulls 1 out, opening it & setting it on the desk between them.
"According to Tsachi, the 9-Tails & the Diamond Tortoise spirits will continue to fight if he does. The seal he placed keeps the spirits locked away, separate from each other. Conversely though, it also locked away Naruto's spirit. We're lucky he is even awake, much less moving. I'm hoping that if we can get Naruko to remember, that Naruto will come back without releasing the spirits inside him.", she answers with a bit of sadness in her voice. Tsunade clears her throat & composes herself before adding, "The reason you're teaching Naruko is because you are Naruto's teacher. I can't very well send her to the Academy, so it'll be up to you to help her.".
Kakashi's eye gazes into 1 of Tsunade's eyes as he says, "Even if this does work, Naruto won't be the same. Everybody needs to realize that, including you. Get Tsachi to figure something out, because it seems like we could lose Naruto forever.". Kakashi is obviously upset, & Tsunade knows it. As she looks at the man known throughout the world of shinobi as "The Copy Ninja", Tsunade sees that he truly cares for his student. Lots of people care about Naruto now, something that only a few years ago seemed so impossible. "He is, Kakashi. Tsachi stayed behind, working like crazy to find a way to fix what he did.", Tsunade states reassuringly.
"Where are the others then?", he inquires back, asking about the others known as "The Sacred Shinobi". Tsunade grabs the mission ledger & flips to the last full page, examining it for a moment before answering, "Shikamaru is with Jiraiya, helping him gather intel. Ino is on a mission with Choji, guarding a merchant. Sasuke & Sakura have taken personal leave, along with Hinata Hyuga.". Kakashi takes a breath & responds, "I'll go find Naruko then.".
After Ino discovered what happened to Naruto, she had Naruko take her place at the Yamanaka Flower Shop. While Naruko doesn't have Ino's skills at floral arrangements or knowledge of what the plants can be used for, she does what she can. Kakashi walks in & sees Naruko sweeping up loose petals. She smiles at him & says, "Hello, if you're looking for Ms. Yamanaka...", Kakashi interjects, "I'm here for you Naruko. There's something I need to talk to you about.". She finishes sweeping up the petals & looks at him, puzzled by his request. "Well I'm sorry, but I have to finish here & I certainly can't leave the store empty.". Kakashi sighs & replies, "After you're finished here, come find me at the training grounds. You do know where they are, don't you?". Naruko nods to answer & Kakashi leaves.
Later in the day, Naruko travels up to the training grounds, & sees Kiba & Shino training. Akamaru's head perks up & runs at Naruko, the massive dog pouncing on her. She laughs loudly as Akamaru licks her, "Hey, calm down buddy! HAHA, it tickles!". Finally Kiba manages to push Akamaru back & Naruko smiles at him, "Wow, that's a huge dog. I thought he might eat me for a moment.". Kiba chuckles as he replies, "Nah, Akamaru doesn't eat people, usually.". She looks at him, then the dog, then the boy again; feeling more than just a little awkward.
"Anyway... I'm looking for Kakashi Hatake. Have you seen him around here recently?", Naruko asks softly as she tries to change the subject. Kiba starts to speak, but Shino appears beside him. "Yes, he walked to the 8th Training Ground 22 minutes ago.", he states. As she looks at him, she can't help but wonder if he ever gets feverish training in all those clothes. She says nothing though, opting to just smile before walking off toward the 8th Training Ground. "Look what you did Shino, you scared her off!", Kiba exclaims. Naruko grins to herself, trying not to laugh as she continues walking. Once she's out of earshot, Shino replies, "Kiba, that was Naruto.". Kiba looks about he's about to vomit before shouting in disbelief, "WHAT?".
Naruko sees a sign that reads, "8th Training Ground. Please remember to train carefully.". Any eagerness she had left her, & she cautiously walked into the training ground. It appeared to be a normal meadow, surrounded by trees that formed a thin canopy with their leaves hundreds of feet above ground. There was a lot of rocks, & near 1 of the edges there was a pool of clear water. She looked around, wondering how a place so simple & beautiful could be a ninja training ground when she heard a voice bellow...
Earth Style: Mud Wall Jutsu!
Suddenly the path that made the entrance to the training ground was blocked off by a giant wall. She turned to look at it, & saw Kakashi standing right in front of it, the lines in his mask giving away a faint smile. "Hello Naruko. Glad you could make it.", he states softly, a dark aura exuding from him. Naruko looks at Kakashi fearfully, wondering what is going on but unable to speak. A kunai slides out of Kakashi's sleeve & he charges at Naruko, who quickly flinches & drops down while covering her head. Kakashi looks at the child who was once his student sadly before kicking Naruko, watching her tumble over & fall down.
Naruko glares up at him, about to say something when she sees the deadly gleam in Kakashi's eye. "I can't hold back, the only chance I have is if I go all out. I have to make Naruto remember who he is.", he thinks to himself with determination.
Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu
Naruko barely dodges the fireball, looking fearfully at Kakashi as she backs up into a tree. He charges at her, Naruko moving at the last second. Kakashi just barely stops himself from crashing into the tree, looking to see Naruko running around while trying to find a hiding place. "What the hell is going on? What did I do? There's no way I did something to deserve this!", she says as she hurries around to find a hiding place that will protect her from Kakashi. "That sealing jutsu really did a number on Naruto. Even his ninja training has become non-existent.", he remarks to himself.
He releases the Mud Wall Jutsu & sighs, "Already Naruko, it's over. I'm sorry if I upset you.". As she steps out from behind a rock, she wants to slap Kakashi but is too frightened to do so. Naruko can barely even say anything as she looks at the Jonin. "I was trying to test your ninja abilities. It seems however that you need a lot more training than I could possibly give you. Please, come with me. I promise you won't get attacked again while you're with me.", Kakashi states with a warm smile. Naruko noticed that last part, 'while you're with me', but as she looked up at his smiling face she believed him; she believed that she would be safe with him.
As they walked together, Naruko's fear subsided & soon she was asking all kinds of questions about the Leaf Village; from how the Hokage is decided & ninjas are ranked, to what chakra is & how it works. When they got close to their destination though, Naruko asked a question Kakashi couldn't answer. "Who am I?", Naruko inquires curiously. As Kakashi looked down at her, he wanted to tell the truth. That about a month ago she was a great ninja that had tons of potential, that she was his student at 1 point, that she was really a boy. He wanted to tell her everything, but in the end Kakashi knew it would do no good to anybody. Instead, he simply stated, "I don't know, but here is our destination.".
Together they walked up to a large house & Kakashi knocked on the door. A man with wild black hair answered, a dark scar on his left cheek, right below his empty white eyes. Naruko had seen them around in the Leaf Village, it was easy to assume he was related to the others. "Tokuma, I heard Neji was here. I need to speak to him.", states Kakashi. The man known as Tokuma nods & responds, "Neji has been looking after Lady Hinata. She's been inconsolable recently, for some reason.". He nods, taking Naruko with him as they head toward Hinata Hyuga's room. All the while, Kakashi can't help but think how out of touch Tokuma is with his clan. Even Hinata's father, who wouldn't be considered a great father by anyone, knows why Hinata is depressed.
Kakashi knocks on the door to Hinata's room, telling Naruko to stand away from the door. She looks at him in confusion & complies, especially when she hears a male voice growing angry from the other side of the door. The door flies open & Neji looks at Kakashi with a bit of surprise, "Kakashi, I'm sorry, is there something I can help you with?", he asks politely. He nudges his head ever so slightly toward Naruko & he nods knowingly before looking back toward Hinata, "I'll be right back. I won't go too far, in case you need me.". She smiles softly at her cousin, glad that for once he isn't being so cold to her.
As Neji & Kakashi step away, they close the door & head away from Naruko. "I'll make this quick Neji, I just went through some... I suppose you could call it training exercises. Naruto, he...or she, however you choose to look at it. Naruto is pretty much gone, doesn't remember any real ninja training, none of it. It's like whatever Naruko is, it's like a blank slate.", he remarks while trying to hide the disappointment he feels. Neji looks at Kakashi curiously, "So why did you come here? I doubt it was simply to tell me this.", Neji inquires. Kakashi looks back at Naruko for a split second before answering, "I was hoping you could look at her, or him, whatever. See if there's something I'm missing, something that can be done.".
Without another word, Neji walks over to Naruko. She smiles at the tall, teenage boy with the long raven hair. Naruko can't help but find him somewhat attractive, even with that stern look on his face. "Naruko, could you please close your eyes for a moment?", he asks calmly. Naruko did find Neji somewhat attractive, but those eyes, the Hyuga eyes were just too noticeable. Regardless though, she was appalled by his request, thinking he wanted to kiss her. She turns red & declares, "I don't know what you think of me, but I'm not that kind of girl! You're not even that good looking anyway! You...", Kakashi is struggling to keep his laughter in while Neji is desperately trying to keep from blushing.
Naruko calms down, realizing that maybe a kiss isn't what he was after. "It...it's not like that Naruko, I promise.", he remarks, obviously flustered. "I just need to look at something using my Byakugan, & I can tell you're uneasy when it comes to my eyes. I'd figure it would be easier if you for you if you didn't have to see them.". Naruko starts to feel bad, she totally had the wrong idea & Neji was right about his eyes. They do make Naruko uneasy. "Oh. I'm sorry, thank you for that.", she says quietly before she closing her eyes.
Neji activates his Byakugan, studying Naruko's inner workings carefully. After a moment he finally speaks, "Hm. Interesting. Thank you Naruko, that's all.". Neji turns around & walks back to Kakashi as if nothing happened & nothing was wrong. Before Kakashi can say a word, Neji states, "She has a sealing jutsu on her, probably the most intricate I've ever seen on anybody.", Kakashi replies calmly, "I know that, anything else you can tell me?". Neji uses his Byakugan to continue to study Naruko from afar, "It's incredibly strange. It starts at the chakra core & divides it into 3 pieces, but each one is a different color; almost like it's 3 separate chakras. Then it extends up to the heart, then a tiny point in the brain.".
"So what does that mean exactly?", Kakashi inquires while attempting not to sound worried. Neji deactivates his Byakugan & answers, "It means that her body is unable to use chakra, & apparently the seal is keeping Naruto in the female form. I have no clue why though.". Kakashi turns, smiling at Naruko before thanking Neji. As they leave, Kakashi knows what he has to do next. He just wishes he could do more to help Naruto.