Naruto was a strange boy. Sakura and Ino, and quite frankly everyone in class all agreed. One minute he was so loud and boisterous you just wanted to punch his mouth closed, but the moment one of the girls in class threatened to do just that, he promptly did as they asked. So noticeable was this, and often, that most of the class teased him mercilessly about it. Domesticated male was about the nicest of the nicknames, while and others, well. They didn't want to remember those. It was no wonder despite the paranoia of Naruto brought upon by the elder members of the village, most younger females had a soft spot for the little blonde mystery. One fact, however, far surpassed the rest. No matter how nice Naruto acted to women, he always, ALWAYS, flinched away from contact with them. Once he had been thrown out in to the hall because he had jerked away so hard he had disrupted class, the sheer panic in his face brought both worry and hurt the poor Hyuuga girl. The teacher had announced then, when the whiskered blond was out of hearing, his reasons for reacting so.

'Naruto suffers from a bloodline that is negatively affected by contact from the other sex. I myself have no idea what happens but I have been told under no circumstances can a female touch him. These were told to me specifically by the Sandaime, so treat that as a warning.' Iruka had intoned before letting Naruto return inside. The blonde frowned at the looks following him, mostly the pity from the women and the odd looks other guys had watched him. In the days and months that followed Naruto remained oddly aloof, only talking as he normally did to Sakura and Ino, occasionally the others, while ignoring the comments from the boys about him being useless.

'What kind of ninja can you be if all that needs screw you over is the touch of a girl, dobe?' Sasuke, the highest and most desirable male in the class had commented on after he and a few other bloodline wielding boys (AN: No, not all of them) had scuffled with him. 'You'll be nothing more than dead weight, you should stop now and let us with superior blood fight. Just go back to being those 'oh so scary' girl's bitch.' Even Kiba who had struggled against joining in such rabble had allowed Akamaru to pee upon the beaten figure in his disgust. Hinata, the only girl to witness it had struggled both with dealing with watching him suffer like that and the fact she could do nothing to help him. She regaled them in tears how afterward, he rose, wiped his face free of the excrement, and shuffled home. Hinata had gained a crush at his determination when the next day he had returned to school, as if nothing had happened in spite of the bloodliner's beatings.

The girls in the class had learned of this through Hinata and even diehards in his fan club like Ino and Sakura, their feelings for the Uchiha waned. Sure, Sasuke was dark, pretty, and mysterious; but if he was ultra violent like that, the image of him unfettered by human frailties was shattered. It was like this, that the changes that come of one person could irrevocably alter the mind set and life of so many in the world around them. Had Naruto not been afflicted by his condition, summarily Ino and Sakura might have been forever tainted by Sasuke's allure and missed seeing the short blond who offered a relaxed relationship providing nothing more than a sympathetic ear or a comforting word to them. It was highly likely the boy would have grown up completely alone, and probably shunned by the two girls and the others. As it was, Naruto was forever unapproachable, yet infinitely interesting, both in his mysterious 'cursed' bloodline, and the warning their parent's and family friends issued about him. So as the school years went by he remained that boy who was out of their reach, like the 'prized' brass ring at an old fashioned merry-go-round. You wanted it, but you knew no matter how hard you reached for the ring, it would always be out of your reach.

Meaning to almost any teen girl, he was really cute. Despite being a dork in almost every other sense.

Naruto-kun no Change

Chapter Two: Trouble with Teacher/A new friend.

By

Hibiki

All Characters are copyrighted by Masashi Kishimoto, I'm just tweaking them for kicks and giggles.

Trouble with Teacher:

Iruka and a student were sick at home today, leaving the short handed Mizuki in control of the class. With the fast approaching third round testing there wasn't enough time left in the school year for a break. Revision, they deemed, was necessary or so they were told by Mizuki. 'Practical use training of their abilities' he called it. Naruto called it fighting 1 on 1 so he didn't have to teach anything. Lazy sensei. So off they went outside, to the smallish chalked out circle behind the academy. Surrounding them was a few large trees used for tree hopping exercises that allowed them to learn to use their chakra, it was here in the shade of those trees the class sat as Mizuki lazily called out names as he rested up in one of the tree's limbs, idly reading a small orange book and watching over them half assedly. Kiba and Akamaru tore through their opponent's defenses in moments, Sasuke overpowered one of his ex-fan girls with brute force, and the new Ino-Shika-Chou used their family techniques to pass, knocking out the normal classmates with almost apparent ease. Naruto watched from his lonely position opposite of the rest of the class, as it seemed normal students with no special techniques were sorely behind those with them. It wasn't fair, he summarized as a katana based bloodliner took out another kenjutsu user in minutes, it was as if Mizuki was forcing them all to see just how strong the bloodliners were compared to everyone else. His thoughts were paused, and almost thrown away as Sakura blew away her competition by pure skill and brain power. He watched proudly, his hand reaching into his jumpsuit's neck to finger the small worn charm upon a collar resting there.

Sakura was and had been, his biggest crush since the start of their academy life. The month he had spent as her pet, had been the closest he had ever been to another person, let alone a girl. Even from his position, he could smell her book and cherry blossoms scent, and the longing that he felt to return to her arms bubbled up from wherever he had shoved it last time. Being Naruto was so much harder compared to being K-kun. At first, when he had started the academy there were days when he wanted nothing more than to jump back into Sakura's arms and let life continue without Uzumaki Naruto, but as they grew older the urge lessened with time but strengthened in desire when it did come about. The day after Sasuke made Kiba throw away their friendship he thought about it the most. But his own stubborn pride refused, and he appeared in class, smiling at them. The pity the girls looked at him since Iruka-sensei had doubled then, someone had seen what had happened.

He hated it, but he couldn't deny anything. Not only would he be exposed to Sakura-chan and Ino as K-kun, the chances the class would abuse him as K-kun for being the animal most hated in Konoha were very high, then there was the risk of him being exposed as the Kyuubi Jinchuriki. Shikamaru and Sakura-chan certainly had the brains for it, Hinata and Sasuke too. There was simply too much risk in exposing his change, but he couldn't return to being a civilian. The underlings under Sandaime Jiji had given him the ultimatum, become a ninja to allow use of the Kyuubi for the military and protecting Konoha's residents, or allow them to put it in someone else who would. He very much resented them for declaring it so candidly, but Jiji had put a stop to that at once. The meaning was still plainly understood to him, despite that threat being dropped. He was Konoha's ace in the hole. If anything happened to her, he would be called upon to fight for her. Protecting people who had mostly ignored him or treated him like he was a plague. Ayame, Teuchi, Jiji, Sakura-chan and her family, a few others like Ino-chan Shikamaru, and Chouji. Even Hinata, those who had taken time to get to know him as Naruto, he would gladly fight for, but the rest of this village, those who pushed him away. He would rather let them perish, and hated himself for feeling like that. No... He would prove them wrong about everything, he would become a ninja, and even Hokage. He wouldn't just be their secret weapon, he would become their hero!

"Dattebayo!"

Most of the class turned to him as he shouted out that last word. Blushing red from their stares he shuffled nervously.

"Well, I guess you're so excited Uzumaki you can go next. Now let's have Omura-kun go against you." Mizuki called out. There was a casual murmur before Sakura raised her hand.

"Sensei, Omura-san is absent from the flu." Mizuki looked out at the crowd before turning to the only other person who hadn't had a turn, a smirk growing on his face. Perfect.

"Oh dear, that too bad, everyone HAS to practice. This means I'll have to insist Hyuuga-sama and Uzumaki spar." The class grew as everyone reacted, not nearly as much as his friends, Hinata and himself however. Naruto was up in a flash, pointing at Mizuki, snarling.

"OI! You know I can't fight a girl! I can't do this!" Mizuki's smile never dropped form it's almost sneer.

"You HAVE to spar, otherwise I will be forced to disqualify you from the genin Exams for a third time for being unprepared." Mizuki would have laughed at the confused look Kyuubi's face was giving at hearing that little lie. "Besides didn't you want to prove you could fight despite your problem? Think of this as advanced dodging training. Or are you just so domesticated you can't bear the thought of fighting the young lady that you would insult her honor?" Hinata tried to stutter out she wouldn't take offense but Naruto striding into the circle brought her up short.

Naruto felt obligated now, not only was a teacher pushing what the guys had said, insulting his pride, but also as not to insult Hinata. It wasn't fair she had to deal with his problems holding her back. He would do it. So long as he kept from hitting her or him being hit by her, he would be okay. With kunai he could do it, as much as he hated the thought of using blades on both a fellow classmate and a nice person like her. After all, if it looked like she would get too close he could always forfeit, after all Shikamaru had done so and gotten away with it once he had captured his opponent, why couldn't he do the same! He grinned now. He could do this. It wasn't like Hinata was mean enough to attack him afterward. Hinata made no movement towards the ring.

"Oi Hinata! Come on, I don't want to see you disqualified from becoming a genin. I'll be fine! Dattebayo!" His smile, so utterly confident, soon had her across from him, her stance however was completely opposite of ready. Mizuki merely sighed in relief as his plan would have been shot and himself exposed had she not entered the ring. Cursing his stupidity he soon called for them to get prepare, and when they were in position for them to go. Outwardly he remained the same, but truthfully he was waiting, his master had wanted to know exactly what was Uzumaki's bloodline, and was it viable for him as a possible candidate for after Sasuke.

Hinata's eyes after a small set of seals bulged outward, the veins around them distending. Two of Naruto's kunai were dodged as the other two were swatted down like flies as Hinata moved forward. Inwardly Naruto cursed himself for never watching Hinata's matches from before, so he had no idea she was a close range fighter. He dodged several swipes, and somehow kept away form her despite him pulling out last second many times from retaliating against her. Both Hinata and Naruto both danced against one another, fearful of touching, until Mizuki grew tired of waiting.

"Have you two forgotten the academy jutsu? WAKE UP!" Instantly the game changed as they switched themselves with object scattered in the field. Back and forth they clashed, it had been the most showy fight until something happened none could expect.

She tripped on a kunai that had landed before her. So focused everyone was upon the fight, Mizuki was able to slip her up with one of his own thrown kunai. Naruto acted like a perfect gentleman... and caught her bridal style. Hinata and Naruto stared at one another with paling faces as the class all waited to see what would happen.

[POOF!]

The circle was enveloped in grey smoke as two smoke bombs covered Naruto's tell tale pinkish orange.

To Hinata, it was as if Naruto's chakra paths suddenly shrunk and changed position and she was weightless again. Blinking Hinata's eyes relaxed allowing her to see the animal before her in the smokey obscurity. A resigned looking fox, also falling, stared back.

"Naru...to-kun?" Her eyes rolled back into her head as she fainted from shock.

A hand grabbed the fox by the neck, and in a swirl of leaves only Hinata's fallen form lay in the circle as the smoke cleared. her head laying upon Naruto's clothes. The other classmates stood looking for Naruto.

Mizuki eyed with much disgust the form of the Kyuubi-brat's bloodline. With everything he learned of Uzumaki, the more he resented being forced to teach the thing. The fox curled up into the corner of the roof, looking at the anger in Mizuki's eyes with fear. He had been exposed, not only to Hinata but to Mizuki as well. The man's scent radiated violence. Suddenly the anger turned into laughter. The kind of laughter that didn't speak of humor.

"You really are some domesticated pet, aren't you, Uzumaki?" A hand grabbed K-kun's collar roughly, examining the license. "What's this? Oh does you dear friend Sakura-'chan' know of this? Hmm, K-kun?" K-kun growled, his anger at being rough handled and belittled by this man overpowering his fear at discovery at the moment.

When suddenly Mizuki's face went from humor to calculating, then finally something akin to understanding.

"I apologize. I imagine that the fear of her knowing has prompted many of those fight or flights you have. I understand now why the Sandaime was worried about those girls touching you. I understand, Naruto. Your secret is safe with me." The smile wasn't so much friendly as it was predator, and K-kun knew his 'understanding' wasn't as nice as this all sounded. "It'll just be our... and Hyuuga-sama's little secret. Well I need to take Hinata-sama to the medics, so meet me there for your clothes." and he was gone in a swirl of leaves.

A new Friend:

Hinata awoke with a start. The last thing she saw on her mind. A fox. A blue eyed fox at that. She turned at the sound of cloth rustling and found Naruto slipping his shirt back on over his torso, she blushed at catching a hint of his skin. Mizuki gave a false laugh then turned for the exit.

"I'll let you two work it out, but remember Hinata..." The sama was dropped, as was all pretenses of his good humor. "This is our secret. Easily broken if something doesn't go our way." With that said, he ambled out the door closing it behind him, leaving the two teens alone. Naruto kept slipping on his clothes, not looking at her. The silence was unnerving. Finally she could take no more.

"I'm sorry... Naruto-k-kun. I didn't meant to... to..." She trailed off as her nerve failed her.

"Nothing to be sorry about Hinata. It was my doing." He sighed. "Now Mizuki has something over my head, just great. I knew he wasn't as nice as he acted. Damn."

"I..." She sighed. All she had was apologies. What else could she say. All she could think about was "You were really cute, Naruto-k-!" She slammed her hands over her mouth in embarrassment. Naruto had stiffened, sitting ramrod straight on his cot. "G-gomen." She squeaked out. He was silent for a moment. Then his shoulders shook. She thought she had made him cry. "P-please don't c-cr..." She trailed off as his laughter reached her ears. Soon he was laughing so hard he was even crying from it, he turned to look at her reddened face, smiling through his laughing.

"Haha! You... think K-kun's cute?" He laughed a bit more, wiping the tears from his eyes as he calmed down. "I would'a thought you'd hate him. Most people do."

"NEVER! I couldn't imagine hurting something so cute like that!" Naruto turned away from her, scratching at his reddened cheeks. "Besides... it's... N-Naruto-kun. I couldn't bear thinking of hurting you."

"Hinata-chan." She blushed at his adding of chan. "You're amazing."

"I'm... I'm really not!" She squeaked. Naruto shook his head decisively.

"You are. Who better to learn of my curse." Hinata paused at the praise, but also the term 'curse'. "I'm sure your wondering what it is." She nodded. He sighed, moving over to talk to her easier, so his voice wouldn't carry. "Well it all started before I was born, before my father and his father. Way back almost to the time of the Rikudo Sennin."

It was a lot to take in, Hinata noted, slightly saddened by what she had learned, once Naruto finished his tale and sat beside her, awaiting her judgment. He had mentioned all of it. He figured, if he was sunk, he might as well go all the way. At least about his bloodline, that was. Kyuubi was not really his to mention, and he wasn't certain if Jiji had any rules that might hurt Hinata, so discretion he thought was needed for that big a secret. So Hinata had learned of K-kun, his month with Sakura as a pet, his reasoning for it, his weakness. She also learned, to her previously mentioned sadness, that if one wasn't his true love, she would transform him into K-kun. Given it had happened, she naturally assumed she and Naruto, for all her crush on him, were not compatible.

"I know it's a lot, and some of it may be uncomfortable or weird. But... This hasn't been easy for me, given everything. So if you don't want to talk to me anymore, I'd understand." Now it was Hinata's turn to laugh. Did he really think she was going to let something weird like turning into a fox deter her from being friends with her crush?

"Just because you become a cute fox doesn't mean I don't like you Naruto-kun. Far from it." Naruto laughed a little nervously. "I'll admit, living as Sakura-san's pet was a little odd." But from all her years learning to read people from the Hyuuga arts, she realized he was desperate for human contact. "But I still want to be there for Naruto-kun, like he was for me. I will gladly be Naruto's friend, no matter what."

Tears, only a few before he man'ed up to wipe them away angrily, but tears none the less appeared in his eyes.

"Hai. Friends forever!" He remarked. So happy his words made her, she couldn't resist hugging him.

[POOF!]

"Oops. Gomen, Naruto-kun." The fox only sighed, then laid down and let the girl pet him. All in all it had been a good day. Hinata's friendship had all but thrown Mizuki's barely hidden threat from his mind. He'd deal with it one day, but with a new friend, he was already looking ahead, the genin test was only a week away, after all.

Next Chapter: Mizuki's Betrayal/Team ?

Well this came together rather easily. And don't worry too much Naru/hina Naru/Saku and Naru/Ino fans, just because he's touched them and changed doesn't put them out of the running yet. I still haven't firmed up on my romantic interests for Naruto yet. This was more of a filler chapter, but one that brought us up to the painting the Hokage monument, not that I see this Naruto doing that but I will use this as a jumping off point to align with the canon storyline. If only a little.

We see that this Naruto isn't so much hated by some, but more dislike by others. No Shikamaru and Chouji were not among those with bloodlines to attack him, I just wanted to bring Sasuke down from his high horse with the Naruto generation, and given his feelings towards other bloodlines than the Sharingan I felt he would be the one leading the blood supremacists, and given how proud Kiba can be, he might see Naruto sucking up to the girls (So they don't hit him and make Sakura kill him) as a betrayal to his pack (the guys). He's not a bad character, in fact I made him the last to join in on such actions, but he is easily swayed by the pack. He hasn't reached his alpha state yet like he has (I assume that though pattern came from him gaining his hitai-ate). Frankly other than Naruto, if you read my other stories I have no real gumption against writing a character any way I feel like. SO long as I can see that character going down that path realistically.

I'm odd like that.

Anyways Same old same old: Please read, and review, the more I get, the more I wish to write, and constructive criticism... While stings will make me pause and go over some plot points again to try and get better.

Till next time: See ya!