Author's Note:
Almost all my exams are over. The admission tests were really crazy. Regardless, I am trying to get 'English Literature'. Is there anybody among you who belongs to the 'Department of English' one way or another? Let me know! Anyways, I really hope I can get this. Please, please, pray for me!
I have tons of other interesting stories. Check them out in my profile. Just in case this site dies: I have an AO3 account— same username and profile picture.
Humanizing: II
Naruto sat atop the rooftop, her legs swinging idly over the edge as the night wind played with her snow-white hair. Her sapphire eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight, fixed on the stars above. The village below was quiet, save for the occasional distant bark of a dog or the rustle of leaves. This was her usual routine—watching the world while everyone else rested.
After all, 2B didn't sleep.
But tonight was... different.
"Naruto feels... strange. Dattebayo," she muttered to herself, her robotic tone laced with uncharacteristic confusion. She shook her head, as if to clear the fog that seemed to settle over her mind.
The feeling didn't go away.
Naruto blinked. Her legs stopped swinging, and she placed a gloved hand on her chest. "Naruto feels... tired?"
She tilted her head, processing the unfamiliar sensation. Tiredness wasn't something she experienced. Ever.
"Impossible. Naruto does not... sleep. Dattebayo," she insisted, but her voice lacked its usual conviction.
Her eyelids drooped. She shook her head more vigorously this time, nearly toppling off the rooftop.
"Naruto's systems must be malfunctioning," she reasoned, tapping the side of her head with stiff fingers.
Still, the heaviness didn't relent. It was as though an invisible force was pressing down on her, making her limbs feel sluggish.
"Naruto must investigate this anomaly. Dattebayo," she decided, leaping down from the rooftop with far less precision than usual. She landed awkwardly, stumbling slightly before straightening herself.
Her apartment was quiet and dim when she entered. The mess Karin had left earlier was mostly cleaned, though a few stray socks still littered the floor. Naruto didn't pay them any mind as she headed straight for her bed.
The bed that had gone unused for over a year.
She sat down gingerly on the edge, her hands resting in her lap as her glowing eyes scanned the room. "Naruto's eyelids are heavy. Dattebayo," she murmured, her head dipping slightly before she jerked it back up.
Her lips pursed in a stubborn pout. "Naruto does not sleep!" she declared, though her voice lacked its usual robotic certainty.
She sat up straighter, crossing her arms as if to ward off the strange sensation. But the more she resisted, the heavier her body felt. Her shoulders slumped, her head tilted to one side, and a small yawn escaped her lips.
Naruto blinked, startled. "Naruto... yawned?"
She shook her head again, her movements slower now. She pinched her cheeks, tapped her face, and even muttered her catchphrase repeatedly in an attempt to stay awake.
"Naruto will not—dattebayo—not... fall... asleep..."
Her words trailed off as she swayed to the side, her eyes half-lidded. She caught herself just before toppling over, straightening up once more.
"Naruto... is strong. Dattebayo," she whispered, her voice soft and drowsy. Her head bobbed forward, then back, her posture drooping further with each passing second.
Eventually, her resistance crumbled. With a quiet sigh, Naruto flopped backward onto the bed, her glowing eyes flickering briefly before dimming entirely.
She lay there, her frilly black dress crumpled beneath her, her boots still on, and one arm hanging off the side of the bed. Her chest rose and fell in slow, steady breaths as a soft, almost imperceptible snore escaped her lips.
It was a sight both endearing and surreal.
Hours later, Karin returned from her shift at the hospital. She entered the apartment with a tired sigh, her hand running through her disheveled red hair. She kicked off her shoes, tossed her bag onto the couch, and stretched, wincing as her muscles protested.
She froze when her gaze landed on the bed.
Naruto was there.
Sleeping.
Karin blinked, certain she was imagining things. She stepped closer, her brows furrowed in confusion.
Naruto's boots were still on, her gloves awkwardly twisted, and her frilly black dress was wrinkled beyond repair. Her white bob-cut hair was splayed messily across the pillow, and her peaceful expression was completely at odds with her usual robotic demeanor.
Karin frowned, muttering to herself. "What the hell happened to you?"
She leaned over the bed, carefully reaching out to adjust Naruto's awkward position. "You're gonna wake up with a stiff neck if you keep sleeping like that, dummy."
Naruto didn't stir, her soft snores continuing uninterrupted. Karin shook her head, a small, exasperated smile tugging at her lips.
"Guess even robots need rest sometimes," she said softly.
Karin moved with practiced care, removing Naruto's boots and setting them neatly by the bed. She slid off the elbow-length gloves and smoothed out the wrinkled dress before deciding it wouldn't do.
"You can't sleep in this," Karin muttered, rummaging through the dresser for something more suitable. She found a simple nightie and quickly changed Naruto into it, grumbling under her breath the entire time.
Once Naruto was properly dressed, Karin pulled the blanket over her and gave her a final once-over.
Satisfied, she grabbed her own futon and laid it out on the floor. She stretched out, her head resting on the pillow as she glanced over at the peacefully sleeping Naruto.
"Goodnight, weirdo," she whispered, a faint smile on her lips.
And for the first time in a long while, the apartment felt warm and quiet, the kind of peace that only family could bring.
Naruto yawned, stretching her arms above her head as her eyes fluttered open. It was such a nice, warm sleep—wait, what the dattebayo?!
Her body jerked upright, her glowing sapphire eyes wide with confusion. Sleeping? Sleeping?! She was Naruto, the Synthetic Shinobi! She wasn't supposed to sleep!
Naruto's robotic mind spiraled into a flurry of calculations, trying to make sense of what had happened. She patted herself down, her movements jerky and stiff. Then she froze, staring at the soft, pastel nightie she was wearing.
"Why is Naruto in... this?" she muttered, her voice unusually high-pitched. "Who changed Naruto's clothes?!"
Her mechanical thought processes were working overtime, verging on what could only be described as a robotic panic attack. Her hands grabbed at the hem of the nightie, and she examined the fabric as though it might hold the answers to her existential crisis.
Across the room, Karin stirred in her futon, groaning softly as she rubbed her eyes. "Oi, Naruto," she mumbled, her voice groggy, "you awake already?"
Naruto snapped her head toward Karin, her expression a mixture of horror and bewilderment. "Naruto is not even supposed to sleep—!" She paused mid-sentence as a yawn escaped her lips, completely undermining her point.
Karin blinked, sitting up and stretching. She stared at Naruto, her sleep-addled brain slowly processing the scene before her. Then, a grin spread across her face. "Well, would you look at that. You're finally humanizing."
Naruto tilted her head, her confusion deepening. "Huh? What does Karin mean?"
"You're becoming... human," Karin explained, crossing her arms and giving Naruto a smug look. "I mean, you slept. You yawned. And you're freaking out about wearing a cute nightie. If that's not human, I don't know what is."
Naruto blinked, her glowing eyes dimming slightly as she processed Karin's words. "Naruto is... human?"
"Not fully, but you're getting there," Karin said with a shrug. "You're evolving or something. I don't know. Ask someone smarter."
Naruto frowned, still unsure how to feel about this revelation. "Oh... well... Naruto will dwell on it later. Dattebayo."
Karin raised an eyebrow. "Later? You're just gonna—"
"Got to look for Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto interrupted, her voice chipper as she leaped to her feet.
Karin blinked, her jaw dropping as Naruto darted toward the window, still clad in the cute nightie. "Oi! At least put some clothes on first!"
But Naruto was already gone, her short white hair tousled from sleep, her bare feet disappearing as she leaped out of the window with her usual ninja grace.
Karin sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Well, that's embarrassing. For both of us." She stood up, stretching once more. "Guess I've got my own job to do. Patients aren't gonna nurse themselves."
She shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips as she grabbed her clothes. "At least she's finally acting less like a robot and more like a person. Progress, I guess."
Û~Û
Kakashi yawned, stretching lazily as he burrowed deeper into his blankets. The weekend was a sacred time, a blissful period of uninterrupted sleep, free from missions, annoying colleagues, and hyperactive students—finally, some peace.
His relaxation was shattered by a knock on the door.
He frowned, deciding to ignore it. Whoever it was could come back later. Or never. Never worked too.
Another knock.
Kakashi remained motionless, his mind resolute. Just pretend you're dead.
"Kakashi-sensei," a familiar voice called from the other side of the door.
Before he could process the growing sense of dread, his finely honed ninja instincts screamed at him. Someone was inside the room. Worse, they were standing over him.
Kakashi bolted upright, his maskless face on full display as he prepared to fend off an attack—only to find himself face-to-face with Naruto Uzumaki.
But this wasn't the Naruto he was used to. This Naruto was barefoot, her short white hair a disheveled mess, and she was wearing the most innocent, pastel-colored nightie he'd ever seen. In her hand, she clutched her signature white kunai.
"What the fuck, Naruto?!" Kakashi sputtered, his face a mix of shock and mortification.
Naruto blinked at him, tilting her head slightly like an inquisitive puppy. "Naruto thought you were dead, dattebayo," she said matter-of-factly. "That's why Naruto teleported."
She paused, examining his now-exposed face with her glowing sapphire eyes. Then, she gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up. "Nice face. Naruto approves."
Kakashi froze, feeling a cold sweat drip down his back. With lightning speed, he grabbed his mask and pulled it over his face. He stared at her incredulously. "Naruto... what are you doing here? And why are you dressed like that?!"
Naruto cocked her head the other way, seemingly confused by his reaction. "Naruto is humanizing, dattebayo."
Kakashi blinked. "What."
"Humanizing," Naruto repeated. "Naruto was sleeping. And yawning."
Kakashi stared at her for a moment, trying to process the absurdity of the situation. Then, a rare, genuine smile spread across his face beneath the mask. "That's good, Naruto!"
Naruto tilted her head further, almost like a bird. "Really?"
"Yeah, really," Kakashi said, nodding. "It means you're finally experiencing human things. That's a nice update. You're improving."
Naruto's eyes brightened, glowing just a bit more than usual. "Naruto is... improving?"
"Absolutely," Kakashi said with a firm nod, hoping to put this bizarre situation to rest quickly.
Encouraged by his words, Naruto stood up straighter, her nightie swaying slightly. "Naruto is happy, dattebayo!"
"That's great," Kakashi said with a weak smile. "Now, as much as I'd love to keep talking about this, I need my sleep. So, uh..." He motioned toward the door. "Why don't you go see Sakura? She's better at handling, uh, human stuff."
Naruto blinked, processing his suggestion. Then, she nodded vigorously. "Sakura it is, dattebayo!"
Before Kakashi could say another word, she leaped out of the window, still barefoot and nightie-clad, disappearing into the distance with a faint "Dattebayo!" echoing in her wake.
Kakashi sat there for a long moment, staring at the now-empty room. He sighed deeply, lying back down and pulling the blankets over his head. "Why me?" he muttered. "Why is it always me?"
Naruto landed in front of Sakura's house with the quiet grace of a shinobi, though the timing was far from considerate. The moon was still high in the sky, and the village was dead silent—until the sharp, incessant knock of her kunai handle shattered the peace.
"Sakura," she called, her tone robotic but insistent. "Naruto requires assistance."
Inside, Sakura groaned, her head buried under her blanket. She peeked at the clock on her nightstand. 2:37 AM.
"Of course it's her," Sakura muttered, dragging herself out of bed. Stumbling to the door, she swung it open, fully prepared to yell—only to pause in disbelief.
There stood Naruto Uzumaki, barefoot, messy-haired, wearing a pastel nightie, and holding her signature white kunai. Her stiff posture and deadpan expression made the outfit even more surreal.
"What... are you doing here?" Sakura asked, rubbing her temples.
Naruto tilted her head, her glowing sapphire eyes blank. "Naruto needs human advice. Kakashi-sensei suggested Sakura is capable of providing it."
"Human advice?" Sakura blinked, her brain still trying to catch up. "It's six in the morning!"
"Time was not specified as an obstacle," Naruto replied, stepping inside uninvited.
Sakura shut the door with a sigh, gesturing for her to sit down. "Fine. What's the problem?"
Naruto sat stiffly on the couch, her hands neatly folded in her lap. "Naruto experienced something unusual. Sleep. Yawning. A sensation of fatigue. It is unprecedented."
Sakura blinked at her, waiting for more. When nothing came, she raised an eyebrow. "...And?"
"Naruto suspects this may indicate a malfunction or a system update. Kakashi-sensei referred to it as 'humanizing.' Clarification is required."
Sakura leaned back, crossing her arms. "So, you're saying you slept for the first time? And now you're tired and yawning?"
Naruto nodded sharply. "Correct."
"That's not a malfunction, Naruto," Sakura said, shaking her head. "It means you're becoming more... normal. Like the rest of us."
Naruto blinked. "Define 'normal.'"
"You know, human," Sakura said, softening her tone. "It's a good thing. It means you're starting to experience life the way we do."
Naruto processed this for a moment, her expression unreadable. "...Naruto finds this acceptable. If Sakura believes it is beneficial, Naruto will adapt."
"Good to hear," Sakura said with a small smile. Then her eyes narrowed. "But next time, maybe don't show up in the middle of the night?"
Naruto blinked, tilting her head. "Understood."
Sakura sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Well, you're here now. And since you've already ruined my sleep, you can stay for breakfast. It's the least I can do to keep you from waking anyone else up."
Naruto nodded once, as if she'd been given a mission. "Acknowledged. Naruto will participate."
Sakura led her to the kitchen, pulling out ingredients while Naruto watched with the intensity of someone observing a high-stakes operation.
"What is Sakura preparing?" Naruto asked, her voice still flat but tinged with curiosity.
"Pancakes," Sakura replied, grabbing a bowl and whisk.
"Explain," Naruto demanded, leaning closer.
Sakura froze mid-whisk, giving her a skeptical look. "You don't know what pancakes are?"
Naruto shook her head. "Naruto's diet consists primarily of ramen. Other foods are secondary."
Sakura stared at her for a moment before sighing deeply. "Alright, sit down. You're about to experience something life-changing."
Naruto obeyed, sitting at the table with her hands folded neatly in front of her. She watched as Sakura mixed the batter, her glowing eyes tracking every movement. When Sakura started flipping the pancakes, Naruto's expression didn't change, but her posture stiffened slightly, as if she were witnessing something profound.
"Impressive," Naruto finally said.
"It's just pancakes," Sakura said, though she couldn't help the faint blush creeping up her cheeks.
When the pancakes were ready, Sakura set a plate in front of Naruto and handed her a fork. "Alright, give it a try."
Naruto hesitated for a moment before cutting into the stack with precise movements. She took a bite, chewing slowly. Then she paused, her eyes widening just a fraction.
"Sakura. Naruto can taste this."
Sakura blinked. "Wait, you can taste it? Like, actually taste it?"
Naruto nodded, her tone still flat but slightly perplexed. "Affirmative. The flavor is distinct. Sweet. Pleasing."
Sakura leaned forward, studying her. "That's... new. How does it compare to ramen?"
Naruto considered this for a moment before replying. "Different. Both are acceptable. Further analysis required."
Sakura chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, I'm glad you like it."
They ate in companionable silence, the early morning light starting to filter through the windows. Naruto stared out at the rising sun, her expression unreadable.
"Sakura."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
Sakura glanced at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. "Anytime, Naruto."
Naruto nodded, finishing the last bite of her pancakes with mechanical precision. For a moment, the world seemed still, peaceful.
And though Naruto didn't fully understand it yet, something about the experience felt... significant. Almost human.
Naruto, still wearing her nightie but now with a pair of sandals Sakura insisted she take, made her way to Sasuke's house. She didn't even bother knocking—boundaries were not a concept she fully grasped yet. Instead, she materialized in his living room in a flash of white light, startling the lone Uchiha as he sipped his morning tea.
Sasuke froze mid-sip, his eyes narrowing at the sudden intrusion. "Naruto."
Naruto stood there stiffly, her glowing sapphire eyes locked on him. "Naruto has good news to share with Sasuke."
Sasuke frowned, setting his tea down. "Good news?" He studied her appearance—messy bobbed white hair, nightie, and her ever-present robotic demeanor—and his mind jumped to the worst (or best, depending on perspective) conclusion.
"Wait." His voice dropped, sharp and serious. "Are you... pregnant?"
Naruto blinked, her head tilting in that robotic way that always unsettled him. "Pregnant?"
"You said 'good news,'" Sasuke snapped, crossing his arms. "What else could it be? You've been hanging out with people more, you're... Did someone—"
"Sasuke is being illogical," Naruto interrupted flatly. "Naruto cannot become pregnant. Naruto's body is synthetic."
Sasuke's face darkened. "Then what kind of good news—"
"Sleeping," Naruto declared, interrupting him again.
Sasuke blinked. "...Sleeping?"
Naruto nodded, her expression completely serious. "Naruto has experienced sleep for the first time. Sakura confirmed it as a positive development. Naruto is 'humanizing,' as Kakashi-sensei phrased it."
For a moment, Sasuke just stared at her, his face completely blank. Then he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply. "You barged into my house at seven in the morning to tell me you've started sleeping?"
"Affirmative."
He looked at her, his irritation fading into something closer to resignation. "Naruto... I'm happy for you. Really. But was this important enough to break in?"
Naruto blinked, tilting her head. "Sasuke was already aware. Tea consumption indicates consciousness."
"That's not the point!" he snapped, though there was no real heat in his voice. "Next time, at least knock. Or wait until a reasonable time."
Naruto considered this for a moment, then nodded. "Acknowledged. Naruto will recalibrate her timing for future updates."
Sasuke sighed again, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable."
Naruto, oblivious to his exasperation, walked over to the table and sat down across from him. "Naruto seeks additional advice. Sasuke has experience with human emotions."
He raised an eyebrow. "I do?"
"Yes," Naruto replied, as if it were an obvious fact. "Sasuke is broody and emotional. Naruto requires guidance on integrating similar human behaviors."
Sasuke groaned, rubbing his temples. "This is going to be a long morning."
Û~Û
Author Note: Naruto has received a major update! Do you think Minato made the right call?
Spoilers: Also, some of you are talking about her third person POV. Unfortunately, that's not gonna change. I have already completed writing the story, that's why I publish it on a regular basis. And throughout the story, she becomes more and more human until she is 100% human.
I hope you liked this chapter.
Drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words inspire me to write faster, better and with more depth.
Till next time!