Thanks for checking out my story, and as always read and enjoy! A quick note for a reviewer from last time, I addressed your review completely on the bottom of the chapter. Other people nervous about Iruka being in the body of a boy may want to check it out as well.
"He came into the world like a delivery that no one knew what to do with, and nobody wanted to sign for."
― Obert Skye
So, a disembodied voice offers to bring me back to life. And I said yes. Barely even considering the price it would take, or what kind of dark magic it would require.
Not my best moment.
But in my defense, I had just died. So I think I am a little entitled to some more emotional decisions.
Speaking of emotions, I was not feeling some very pleasant ones right now. I suppose being born will do that to you.
And no, I don't want to talk about it. Let's just say it involved a lot of pain, screaming, and more mentally scarring events than I care to think about.
Yeah, not touching that one with a ten-foot pole. Just… no.
But speaking of my new life, I felt… strange. I figured that I would, since I would be in the body of a baby with the mind of a young woman. But this was a whole other type of strange, like there was something just completely different from my previous form besides the typical uselessness and squishy limbs that come from being a baby. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I managed to shove it away from my mind when I heard someone's voice.
The person holding me was speaking in soft tones, in a tongue I vaguely recognized. The pretty lilt of the Japanese language was drifting around me, and to my surprise I could understand. It reminded me of how I had known Spanish in my previous life. I could go to Spain and understand what was being said, but it still took an effort to filter it through my mind.
"Isn't he beautiful?" The woman gazed at me, eyes filled with adoration. I could only see fuzzy images, my weak baby eyes not quite up to snuff yet, but even I could tell that I probably looked anything but 'beautiful'. The woman, well, my 'mother' I suppose, was certainly beautiful. Even with dark circles under her eyes from the many sleepless nights I have no doubt been causing her and my new 'father', her hair was still a silky brown curtain, and her dark eyes seemed to sparkle every time they hit the light.
"Most boys wouldn't find being called beautiful as much of a compliment." The man, 'father', chastised with a small smile. His dark hair was up in a high ponytail, a thin mustache on his face.
Despite his harsh words, he seemed nice enough-
Wait a second…
He? Boys?
That better not mean what I think it means.
Am I a… boy?
"What should we name him?" 'Mother' whispered softly.
"How about… Iruka. Umino Iruka."
Oh. Oh.
I'm not gonna be reborn as a termite or something, am I?
The presence seemed to chuckle.
No, nothing quite as drastic. It gained an almost mischievous feel. In fact, I believe you are quite familiar with the world in question.
Hell no. I am not in the world of Naruto, I am not in the world of Naruto, I am not-
Okay, who am I trying to kid.
Upon finally realizing just where I was, finally realized I would grow up in a world full of fear and death, that I would be Umino Iruka, a guy at the central point of the story, I did the only thing that seemed logical at the time.
I cried.
We went home from the hospital soon enough, though I spent most of my time asleep. Sleep seemed to be my only comfort at the moment, as I wasn't quite ready to face reality yet.
I mean, a boy?
I'm not a boy, I'm a girl.
I'm a girl I'm a girl I'm a girl I'm a girl I'm a girl-
I AM A GIRL!
(If I keep repeating it, eventually it will be true-)
I'm a girl I'm a girl I'm a girl I'm a girl I'm a girl-
The little time I didn't spend sleeping, was spent crying. To be honest, I'm probably the worst baby in existence. Towards the end of my first month in my new body the crying was less out of grief like it had been before, and more out of spite.
My first impression of my new parents had actually been rather nice, and I'd felt pretty good about this whole thing until I had realized my new gender predicament.
Because of that, over the time I'd been in Konoha, I convinced myself that it was their fault I was like this. They were the ones who had a baby, they were the ones who lived in a village full of Shinobi (depression-deception-destruction), and they were the ones who had to exist-
That is, until I realized just how stupid I was being. Was I really going to blame them for wanting a family? I mean, they gave me life for Kami's sake, how could I ever hate them for that? If it was anyone's fault, it was that damn voice. Taking advantage of my fragile emotional state in order to coerce me into saving his stupid planet! Things like that are the reasons I hate helping people.
(Well, that and my nearly incurable laziness.)
So two months into my new life I decided to push my gender issues aside for the moment, and just focus on what I already had instead of what I didn't.
Hideo was my father. I found that he was a stern man, but never hesitated to give me an abundance of praise when I deserved it. I never doubted that he loved me, or that he cared for my well-being. He was the one out of my new set of parents that I spent the most time with. Though they were both shinobi, Tou-san was pretty much what I had deemed to be a secretary. He never outright told me what department he worked with, but I had my suspicions.
The fact that I'd seen him talking in low voices with people I remembered to be part of the T&I division was a bit of a hint. At first I was reluctant to connect my sweet, caring father with the faint memories I had of Ibiki and Anko. They were the only real examples that I had of T&I, and that wasn't exactly a promising indicator.
My mother was Ayano. Witty, clever, and a dirty mind to match her silver tongue. I have no doubt that she'd be able to charm the stripes off a zebra if she needed to. Kaa-chan is the more active ninja in the family, as she often left the village on missions that would sometimes extend to over a week. She seems to delight in making Tou-San as uncomfortable as possible, which is really my only source of entertainment these days. Well that, and ramen.
(Kaa-chan had snuck me some behind Tou-san's back, and dear Kami was it delicious. I can totally tell why Naruto was so addicted now.)
And it was hilarious to watch the two's interaction with each other. Kaa-chan has absolutely no shame while Tou-san is a complete prude. Sometimes I swear he blushes more than Hinata. It's a wonder they even managed to have me.
And now I'm imagining them having sex…
Oh kami, why?
Clenching my chubby baby hands by my head, I whined, attracting Tou-san's attention. He knelt down to pick me up, all gentle hands and kind words.
"Are you alright Iruka-chan?" He questioned softly, rubbing my back. I gurgled in response, feeling myself begin to drift away to sleep.
I think I could get used to this.
So... Apparently the Umino's are an actual clan. Who knew? I mean, we've got a compound and everything. The place is fairly big, but it seems even bigger since we are the only people living there. I can't exactly talk yet, so I couldn't ask why the place was so empty, but Tou-san must have noticed my confusion.
"This compound was once a happy and prosperous place, full of laughter and joy." He explained, taking me into his arms. Settling me comfortably in his lap, he sighed before continuing on. "The Umino's were brought to Konoha by the Shodai Hokage. We have served all the Hokage's since then. Often, we were even in their personal guard! But around fifty years ago in the second Shinobi world war, Konoha's enemies realized just how much information our clan had acquired over time. We had the Kage's favor after all, and we often worked with the Uchiha's police force as well. The Uchiha's have come to owe us many favors over the years, and vice versa. So slowly, carefully, we were picked off. Many of our clansmen were captured by the opposing force, but instead committed Seppuku rather than be forced to give away any information. Eventually, we dwindled down into what we are now." He looked at me solemnly, running a rough hand through the few brown strands of hair on my head. There was a glint of sadness in his eyes, so I reached a chubby hand to his cheek. I patted it softly, cooing in an attempt to convey my condolences.
It truly was a sad tale, and I felt a burst of anger for my ancestors. Because that's what they were, my ancestors.
This was my life now, and these people were my family. I don't even know if I felt such a connection with my family in my earlier life. And I've really only known these people for a couple months! But with my Tou-san holding me gently and a blinding smile on his face as Kaa-chan came up behind him to grin brightly, I can honestly say I have never felt so loved.
One day, I'd like to see this place filled up again. I want my family to run through the halls, their laughter to float through the hallways. It'll be a little difficult, since I couldn't exactly have kids as a guy, but that's what adoption is for, right? Besides, having kids with someone else would open up a whole slew of phobias I have no interest in getting into right now. I'm having way too much fun.
(No one expects a six-month-old baby's drawings to be of elaborate pulley systems and traps instead of just random lines. What can I say, with Kaa-chan away on missions out of the village a lot and Tou-san always doing paperwork, I have a lot of time on my hands.)
There's ramen to be eaten, and people to harass. For now, life is good. And really, isn't that all anyone could ask for?
And to my reluctant reviewer: I'm afraid that it's already a little too late to make this a fem! Iruka fic. I already have the first twenty chapters planned out, and gender identity is going to be a big theme in the upcoming parts. But rest assured, Iruka does not see herself as a boy. For characters that know that, they will refer to her as a girl, but characters that don't know will refer to her as a boy. If this really makes you uncomfortable, I will soon be uploading the other parts of this series. Two of those will be centered on a completely female character. One of them may be more to your liking than this. But I urge you to at least give it a try. Thanks for the review by the way!
To everyone else, thanks again for viewing and I hope you enjoyed! I will repeat my warning from last chapter this one last time:
IMPORTANT NOTE: Though the main character of this fic is a girl she is in the body of a boy. She is still attracted to men, no matter what her gender is. So depending on how you look at it, this fic will contain trace elements of SLASH, SHOUNEN-AI, or YAOI, whatever you wish to call it. There are also some other characters that will engage in homosexual relations, either GAY, or LESBIAN. It won't be in explicit detail by any means (that's what cut-offs are for) but it will still exist. If you are offended by such content, please remember that I gave you a fair warning. And to those of you who are groaning, wondering if this story will be only gay pairings, rest assured it will be mostly cannon couples, thus mostly het.
See you next time!
Lot's of Love, From MasteringMagic.