October 10th- 14 years since the attack of Kyuubi in Konohagakure. Fox hunts were almost forgotten, but Naruto was yet to be loved and accepted by the entire village. Two thirds of the populace had either forgiven her or found her innocent of the crime. The remaining were impassive or neutral. A batch of drunks had tried to force themselves on the blonde before they were stopped by the other villagers. The positive interference of the villagers caused this birthday to be Naruto's best birthday ever.
She paid her respect to her parents and stayed in the Namikaze estate for a while, trying to familiarize with the house she would've grown up in, had things gone differently. That night, she threw a party, only for the closest of the people, in the most secluded part of Barbe-Q- one of Konoha's most popular restaurants. She had invited Hiruzen, Tsunade, Itachi and Shisui. She contemplated on inviting Kakashi. The man had been a brother sometimes, also he was like a son to her parents, but he didn't place much faith in her- it was clear during the chunin exams, and there was little difference after that. Her musings were put to a rest when Tsunade informed that he had gone out of the village for a mission.
The five of them were sitting in their reserved spot. They were having fun. Conversations went as childish as possible, with Itachi being the most mature of all and Shisui being the least. Naruto warned Shisui beforehand not to tease her as she would inform something.
Shisui brought a birthday cake, few Katon scrolls and an offer to teach a jutsu as his present. Itachi gave a tanto; Tsunade gave some scrolls of Hashirama she personally had access to as his granddaughter; Hiruzen gave her Minato's Hokage cloak, repaired and good as new, and his belongings in the vault behind his portrait in the Hokage office.
Naruto teared up. "You didn't have to." she choked on her words. "Oh please! You deserve it. Birthday boys need their presents." Tsunade ruffled. Naruto bowed as much as one could when seated, "Thank you. Thank you very much." Shisui lifted her head only to smack it down. "Don't bother Naruto. You would've done the same for us, right?" Itachi said. "Yeah." Naruto nodded. "Tsunade-sama, when is your birthday?"
Tsunade put a hand on her chin, as if remembering a forgotten subject, which it had been. "August the second." "Oh no! It's already over, and I didn't bring anything for you!" Naruto blurted. Tsunade flicked her forehead, "Don't worry Gaki. I don't celebrate it." "You will, from now." Naruto jumped. "If you don't want public parties, it shall be only occasional private parties, but a gift every year."
Tsunade protested, "Naruto-" "Nee-san?" Naruto pouted widening her eyes cutely pleading. The others there knew Tsunade was fighting a battle already lost. She relented. "Alright, but rare parties. We need shinobi ready for any kind of emergencies." "Hai!" Naruto and Shisui mock-saluted. Itachi shook his head while Hiruzen laughed.
Naruto flashed home with her gifts and returned after storing them away. The five of them enjoyed moments that were rare in the dangerous life of a shinobi, before dispersing. Shisui went after Naruto to a stream in the better part of the training ground 44. It was a natural beauty that was exactly opposite to the rest of the dangerous training ground.
Naruto turned to Shisui. "Nii-san, I've told Sasuke the other day to face his problems and not run away from it. I would be a hypocrite if I didn't do so with you. I might not be able to say this one more time, so please listen to me carefully the first time." Shisui nodded.
"You know I'm the jinchuuriki of the village. My situation is different from the previous Jinchuuriki of Konoha. Either they were famous and revered like the wife of Shodai Hokage, or their identities were unknown like those after Mito-sama. In my case, the village was attacked moments after I was born. Everyone saw me as the Bijuu himself that destroyed the village. To keep the violence to a minimum, many measures were taken- some by the Sandaime and Yondaime, some by me. The little Mito you met all those years ago was a result of that. In fact, the me you all see is another disguise. The truth of my self is known only by the Sandaime, and an orphanage matron who died long ago. Now you shall know.
I was planning to take this secret to my grave, or was simply waiting for a miracle in rainbows. I don't want anyone to know yet, because one, I am not strong enough to protect myself from all threats; and two, I am a secretive idiot." She chuckled. "You get the point, Nii-san. I am telling this not simply because you asked me, but because I trust you, a lot. And also because you pestered me to death." She joked as she smirked. "I am a female." [A/N: Lame, you guys say?]
Shisui looked solemn. Everything was silent except the occasional hoots of owls and the chirps of crickets. The flowing stream hardly made any noise. Shisui hugged her. "I understand Imouto (little sister). Thank you for trusting. If I weren't an Uchiha, I would've been crying." "My dear Uchiha Nii-san," Naruto said as she pulled back, "You have been an Uchiha since two decades. That certainly didn't stop you from goofing around."
"She is right, Shisui."
Naruto froze before turning to see a very familiar Uchiha with a ponytail smirking at Shisui. She asked slowly, "How long... How long have you be listening?" "Long enough, Naru-chan." Itachi smirked at her. "I should never let my guard down. Not even in my own home, not without a barrier." She grumbled before turning to her best friend and brother. "And just because you now know I am girl doesn't mean you treat me any different. And that goes with the nicknames too, Ita-chan." Naruto smirked and glared at Itachi, who glared back.
Shisui, oblivious to the glaring contest, piped up, "I should pester you often." "No way! Jiji tried to do the same, and let's just say the results were not pretty. I suggest you back off while you can, else Konoha's Number One Prankster shall take care of you." Naruto gave a dark smile that sent shivers down the spine of the two Uchihas.
"Alright Naruto. Can you... show us your true appearance?" Shisui asked with a mixture of hesitance and eagerness. "Sure." was the curt reply given before she flashed them to her home. She prepared tea for the two of them and went to change. She put up a barrier since Itachi had proven her one could never be more careful.
The two Uchihas were met with the sight of a blonde beauty. The golden yellow hair reached her waist, a little spiky. The body was well developed for a 14 year old. Her face was similar to her male disguise, but more refined.
Shisui broke out the stupor first. "That's it! Don't show your true appearance to anyone out there. I fear your innocence will be stolen!" He put an arm around her protectively. Naruto chuckled, "Nii-san, you are exaggerating." "No Imouto, you are so cute when you are barely 14, God knows how beautiful you would be when you grow up." Shisui protested. "I don't know why, but Shisui seems to be rubbing off on me." Itachi's low mumble was heard by the other two. They knew it was his way of telling what Shisui had said without hesitance.
"Oh God, You need to lighten up, Itachi-kun. Your clan can't have a grumpy leader. You are supposed to change it, or help Sasuke change it. If you continue to be like this, you will be worse than your father." Naruto smirked
"Hold up! So, you, Mito-chan, are Naruto, the male prankster, who is actually Naruto, the female Jinchuuriki?" Shisui's question met an affirmative deadpan.
"Now, I do hope I am right in trusting you guys will keep this in the dark. I don't think I need to emphasize more on that. It was a good thing Itachi-kun heard me. I don't know if I could've gone through all the stress of revealing another time. Speaking of which, why did you follow us?" She asked Itachi. He simply gave a look of nonchalance. "Well, my mother invited Shisui for dinner."
"And we are late!" Shisui shrieked. "True Uchiha indeed." Naruto snickered, only to be whacked by Shisui. "You are supposed to support me! Anyway, See you later Naruto! Come on Itachi." They left.
Naruto sighed happily as she settled in the couch. It had been a long day and an even longer night.
I'm planning to change the cover page of my book...
What do you guys say? Do you prefer the old cover page?
Or the one I've made:
Do let me know your thoughts.
Also say if you want any pictures in the above poster changed...
Best wishes to the Smartest Shinobi (As well as the most Troublesome!!)!!!
✨🎉🎁🎂!!!Happy Birthday Nara Shikamaru!!!🎂🎁🎉✨
(September 22)
I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
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