Discliamer: nothing at all

AN: This will probably be the last thing I write for a while, until December.

Background: AU, the majority of canon applies but there are deviations. Those deviations of notes are the following: Fem!Naruto, Neji is not dead, semi non-massacre though considering Madara's vendetta against the Uchiha, the majority of them are dead, but there are still enough to constitute as a clan. So Itachi lives, Tsunade died in the war.

Fuse is fireside:

Naruto stands up top, in the tallest tree surrounding Konoha no sato. Around her she feels nature chakra thrum with life, and beneath that she feels the Shodaime's ill-used chakra. He forged the trees that help protect Leaf, and for his formidable strength his grave was desecrated for DNA samples.

Here Naruto feels as if she is on top of the world. She raises her arms above her head and breathes deeply.

And then she jumps from her perch, free falling.

This is Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto: twenty-two, war hero, jinchurriki, but most of all this is Naruto lost, without a tether, caught in motion, being pushed to and fro with the tide.

Naruto is trying to find a purpose.

Fireside.

Naruto is wearing her determined—woe to all.

"Yare, yare, I can see that this is going to give me future headaches. Naruto are you sure you want to take on a genin team?"

"Of course Kakashi-sensei! I'm too young to become Hokage, so I've got to do something with my time. You'll just have to hold onto that hat for a while longer."

Kakashi sighs in a long-suffering manner, "Fine, team assignments take place next week, I'll put you on the jonin-sensei roster."

"Yosh!" Naruto pumps a fist in excitement, "I'll do you proud, Kakashi-sensei."

"I'm no longer your sensei," Kakashi says half-heartedly, knowing how futile that argument is amongst the members of team seven.

Naruto opens a window in the circular office, and perches herself on the windowsill, she grins back at Kakashi, "You'll always be my sensei, as long as you're still teaching me and Sakura and the jackass life lessons."

"But in all seriousness Naruto," Kakashi's voice loses its languid tone, and the firm note that takes its place makes her stand at attention. "You're lucky this is a large group of graduates, there's more potential genin with civilian backgrounds. Besides Konoha's ranks need more fresh blood, but we also need to root out those unsuited to the ninja life style. They'll be under the impression that being a ninja is about saving a princess from an evil daimyo….Sounds familiar, no?"

Naruto rubs the back of her head sheepishly, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Kakashi looks at her blandly, "Sure you don't. Anyhow, more than likely you'll have at least one genin with a civilian background. Due to politics you'll have two genin from clans under your command, as Konoha's jinchurriki and as a war hero people will want to see some of the best minds taught by you. Why? I have no idea." Here Naruto lets out an indignant shout, Kakashi continues on as if she did not speak, "The important matter is this, if they made it through the Academy's new regimen then they have the potential to be shinobi, but Naruto if you think that they are not cut out to be ninja, fail them. They'll enter the reserves and receive the training they need there, Konoha still needs soldiers, regardless of their quality."

By the time Kakashi finishes speaking Naruto's expression becomes jaded. In some ways the shinobi world has changed, but in the most fundamental ways the principles remain the same. "I understand Hokage-sama. But I must object, everyone has the potential to be extraordinary."

And with that she leaps out, taking to the cobble stoned roof tops.

Kakashi stares after her, it never fails to amaze him how much she embodies her parents, even when she grew up without either of them. He supposes it was Jiraiya that instilled those ideals in her, for he was a less than ideal role model; she gives him too much credit.

Anyways, he looks down at his desk, eyes somehow reflecting a disgusted expression. He disdainfully eyes the treatises, trade agreements, and the other bullshit stacked upon his desk.

"I don't know how I let myself get coerced into this position: a desk job, paperwork, whinging government officials, crazy shinobi and more paperwork," Kakashi mutters to himself.

A chunin chooses then to enter his office, more paperwork in hand. Kakashi looks up and glares, radiating killing intent, he barks out, "Leave."

The chunin lets a cry of terror, and leaves whilst he came.

Fireside.

She takes on a genin team not because she's bored, but because she feels almost like she has no purpose. In the years following the fourth shinobi war, she's found herself somewhat adrift, and while the fight for peace is still an ongoing battle, she's keeps on going, but feels as if she's fighting an unknown enemy. Phantom like, and intangible to grasp.

In her mind Kurama stirs, and decides to give his unwanted opinion, he scoffs, 'You're bored.'

'Fuck off,' Naruto responds back with little heat.

And so to give herself some kind of purpose she decides to teach the next generation of shinobi.

'Whoever planted the idea that you should be a sensei should be stabbed repeatedly,' Kurama remarks unhelpfully.

'I'm going to be an awesome genin teacher, 'attebayo," Naruto says indignantly.

'Those poor flesh bag brats, they're going to be traumatized for the rest of their lives,' Kurama goads in glee.

'Screw you flea bag,' Naruto snarls.

'Eloquently said,' Kurama says dryly.

Regardless of this conversation between a chakra monster and a blonde moron, there is one thing to be certain—this is going to be one hell of a venture.

Fireside.

Amongst the crowd of potential sensei are elite jonin, tobetsu jonin, and the atypical group chunin sensei—two or three chunin take on a genin team and rotate them in a genin pool.

Naruto rocks back and forth on her heeled sandaled feet in excitement. A lot of the shinobi in attendance give her a wide berth, there's a manic air about her. Others familiar with her type of madness roll their eyes and fill in the gap surrounding her.

But she's not alone in her eagerness, Rock Lee appreciates her show of youth, "Yosh Naruto-san, your enthusiasm fans the flames of youth. I am gladdened to see that one of my comrades teach the next generation."

"Lee! You're taking on a genin team too?" Naruto suddenly has the unpleasant image of three genin in green spandex, orange leg warmers, and caterpillar eyebrows. It's a scary prospect to think upon.

"Unfortunately no, I am going to have an apprentice, a genin has shown great promise in taijutsu; she is Nohara TenTen's niece. She says I inspired her to be a taijutsu specialist, she asked if I could be her sensei, and I agreed. Her youth sparks greatly, she will be a splendid ninja!"

Naruto grins brilliantly and gives Lee two thumbs up, "You'll be a great teacher!"

Flames appear in Lee's eyes, "Thank you Naruto-san, if I fail her I shall do 500 hundred laps around Konoha on my hands!"

"Do you two have to be so loud? I can hear you both from across the room," Comes an irritated voice, and making her away through the crowd is Haruno Sakura.

"Hello Sakura-chan!" Comes Lee's greeting.

"Hi Lee," Saskura responds with a small smile, before turning to Naruto.

"Eh Sakura-chan you're becoming a sensei too!?" Naruto asks, flummoxed.

"Naruto I told you I was thinking of becoming one months ago," Sakura explains patiently.

Naruto looks at her blank incomprehension.

A vein appears on Sakura's forehead. "Before we went on the mission in Numa no Kuni where the daimyo asked you to become his fourth wife. I told you and Sasuke while we were training, right after I broke up with Kiba for the seventh time."

"Ohhhhhhhh! Sakura-chan you told me while Sasuke and I were sparring, you can't expect me to remember that. And I think that was the ninth time you and Kiba broke up."

"You can remember the number of times Kiba and I break up, but you can't remember me telling something as important as becoming a jonin-sensei," Sakura yells, and Naruto deftly dodges her incoming fist.

"Kiba's my best friend, since like forever. I listen to him bitch more than I listen to you complain and Sasuke-teme sulk."

"Whose side are you taking?" Sakura yells.

"Kiba's," Naruto replies like it's the most obvious thing in the world, "You and Sasuke are like my siblings, but Kiba's been my best friend since the beginning of the Academy, so yah I'd choose Kiba."

(And this is the truth, when the academy kids stayed clear of her due to their parents opinions, Kiba—and occasionally Shikamaru and Choji—was the only one that said fuck that, and they've been good friends ever since.)

"Traitor," Sakura accuses.

'The pink haired banshee needs to shut up, she's interrupting my nap,' Kurama comments and then fades back into the ether.

Naruto dodges another blow, "Sakura-chan there's no need for violence."

"You're the one violating girl code," Sakura tells her.

Naruto stares at her in askance, and Sakura sighs heavily, "Never mind, I sometimes forget you were mistaken for a boy for so long."

(Not so much as mistaken, more like purposely keeping the guise of a boy. Naruto, despite her village idiot profile, has a great deal of cunning about her. How the hell else could a girl master stealth while wearing orange. Anyhow, it began while she lived in the orphanage, the matron kept her spiked hair sheared short, and most of her clothes were cast offs, and who cared how the Kyuubi spawn dressed. The Academy instructors didn't give a damn, Hokage-jiji indulged her, Iruka-sensei didn't bother to question her about it. And so she continued the trend well after receiving her hitai-ate. Kakashi didn't bother outing her, so when Sakura and Sasuke found out about her gender bender, well the reactions weren't ones to forget.

Sakura discovered her gender after the disastrous chunin exams that left Hokage-jiji for dead. Sakura was tending to their wounds after encountering that freakish pedophile Orochimaru. She found bindings around Naruto's chest and imagine her surprise at finding boobs, bigger than her own fledging ones. She'd sworn Sakura to secrecy. Being mistaken as a male shinobi gave her an advantage, she's never underestimated.

Sasuke discovered after her training trip with Jiraiya, by that time she'd grown out her hair—imagine her woe when she discovered her spikes did not smooth out as they grew, but rather became an even wilder mane of golden locks—her breast size rivaled that of Hinata's and Ino's, and her clothing had taken on a more feminine appeal—legging shorts, an orange haori and a mess undershirt. {Now a days her style varies and can be considered androgynous.}

Sasuke had sputtered and blushed upon confirming her identity, but that is another story for another time.

Of course Shikamaru had always known her gender, and didn't bother to say anything because hey, that was her prerogative. And Kiba has always known, her scent betrayed her. Her deciding to finally dress as a female really didn't change anything about their dynamic, they were still bros.)

Naruto shrugs in response.

At the front of the room a chunin calls for quiet in the room, soon team assignment files are given out by alphabetical order—by last names, in groups of three. Naruto knows she's in for a bit of a wait.

"Uchiha Itachi, Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto, Wakahisa Izumi."

Naruto perks up and heads to the front of the room, coming to stand beside one Uchiha Itachi—an urban legend if one listens to Sasuke and the rumors surrounding him.

She's somewhat familiar with him, she's obviously met him when visiting (harassing) Sasuke in the Uchiha compound. And yet more times than not, they were brief glimpses. Itachi was either on his way out to train or go on missions, or disappearing into his rooms more than likely to pass out.

So when he looks up from the files handed to him, and gives Naruto the Uchiha equivalent of a smile and then proceeds to greet her, "Hello Naruto-san."

Naruto has every right to freak out, but she doesn't… yet.

Recently he's been appearing everywhere. If Naruto recalls correctly it began about ten months ago, when Itachi specially requested her fuinjutsu skills on a mission, it'd been her third mission as an accessory on the ANBU roster. After that the request continued to come in until Naruto begged (annoyed) Kakshi into barring her from the ANBU requisition list, with the lame of excuse that the missions were interfering with her apprenticeship as a nominal candidate for Hokage.

Of course Itachi knew this was bullshit, and then began to invade her life. Accompanying his brother or Shikamaru—shoji partner—to local bars that catered to shinobi, restaurants where the Rookie 9 would catch up, and even the occasional team seven dinners—sacred routines, that damned bastard. But then what took the fucking cake is Itachi accidentally bumping into her while she's grocery shopping and offering to help her carry them (in spite she sealed them away), talking (trolling) her few girlfriends while in a café. And then placidly sitting next to her, at her favorite ramen stand while she devours enough food for an army, and ordering only one bowl—what a freaking insult to the Ramen gods.

And during all these encounters Itachi makes polite, friendly conversation, and Naruto responds in her usual outgoing manner… well until she realizes she just saw him two days before, and then she becomes steadily paranoid.)

Which will explain her reaction:

Naruto responds as any sane (insane) person would. With wide eyes, and her arms held up in an "x" of defense, while she silently gathers her chakra and tries to disperse this obvious genjutsu. The sudden influx of chakra puts the majority of the ninja on edge, but when they realize the source, they calm to their usual alertness. When she realizes this isn't an illusion she screams, "Gahhhhhhh!"

And then she takes off running.

"Er, Uzumaki-san, you forgot your files," The chunin behind the desk hesitantly says.

Naruto backtracks.

"Yah, yah, sorry, 'attebayo," Naruto says sheepishly. She grabs her files and turns to Itachi and says accusingly, "Stalker!"

And then high tails it out of the conference room.

(See there's an explanation behind this trend, but Naruto fails to be believe it, she has her own conclusion. Insert Kiba—they happen to be each other's voice of reason:

"He's out to kill me Kiba, I swear it," Naruto whispers harshly. "He's everywhere, tracking my movements. I wouldn't be surprised if he has cameras in my house."

Kiba laughs, and laughs, and he laughs some more.

Naruto becomes indignant, "This is no time for laughter Kiba, Uchiha Itachi is plotting my assassination!"

When he shows no sign of putting a stop to his guffaws, Naruto proceeds to throttle him.

Eventually Kiba holds his hands up in surrender, still laughter echoes in his voice as he says, "I confronted and then gave him my permission—"

"Traitor," Naruto growls.

"No, no, no. Naruto I told him he would have to be very direct, subtlety flies over your head, even obvious moves."

"What the hell are you talking about Kiba!?" Naruto demands.

Kiba shakes his head, "Just know Uchiha Itachi is not trying to kill you."

Naruto however, remains unconvinced and continues to plan evasive maneuvers. Kiba indulges her, for it's bound to end in hilarity in one way or another.)

While she beats a quick trek through the corridor, Itachi falls into step beside her, having moved as silent as the deadly ninja he's trained as. Naruto jumps away, body language literally screaming flight or fight.

Itachi looks at her in concern and says pacifyingly, "Naruto I mean you no harm, I just want to talk."

Naruto looks at him suspiciously. On one hand she could run, set a hundred or so kage bunshin to leave false trails, but Naruto has no doubt he would eventually find her with those damned sharingan eyes, spinning death. On the other hand he seems earnest and Naruto always believes in giving people the benefit of the doubt, but if he dares to cross her she's got a rasenshuriken in hand, and a biju-dama in the other for his ass.

And she tells him so.

Itachi actually laughs, well it's a quiet huff that belays amusement, "Sure, sure, come."

"So you're not trying to kill me?" Naruto asks with feigned nonchalance.

Itach's brow furrows and his mouth shows a minuscule frown. Which is pretty damn expressive for him and Naruto believes that this is the closest an Uchiha will come to expressing being caught off guard or wtf. She wishes she had a camera to show Sasuke that his venerated aniki has human emotions.

"No Naruto, I'm not trying to kill you," He says slowly, completely bewildered as to how she came to that conclusion.

"Really?" Naruto cajoles.

"Aa, really," Itachi says in confirmation, he gives her a bemused smile, "Contrary to what you think, I actually like spending time with you."

Naruto stares at him with wide eyes, mouth in a small o. And then she simply says, "Okay,"

And so Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto walks with Uchiha Itachi…willingly.

The silence between them is companionable, but he said he wanted to talk, and Naruto's never been a person who revels in silence, so she breaks it with a common theme.

"Sooooooo, you're quitting ANBU?" Naruto asks.

"What gave you that assumption?" Itachi asks in lieu of answering.

Naruto points to the files in his hands, "Your obviously taking on a genin team, so are you quitting or not?"

"Who says I can't do both?" Itachi says, once again using a question as an answer.

"Gahhh! You're so frustrating, this where Sasuke gets it from!" Naruto yells in response, running an irritated hand through her hair.

By this time they've made it to the streets of Konoha, specifically Sequoia Avenue and Cherry Wood Road that are major roads in Konoha. So Naruto's outburst draws attention until people realize the source and go back to their business.

Itachi's gives another huff of laughter, and says, "There's a chance that I may not even pass them." He then gestures to the files under her arm, "Who did you get assigned?"

"Eh? I haven't even checked yet," Naruto opens the folder with the student's profiles, and her eyes widen, "Wow, it looks like some of the defunct clans are making a comeback. I've got a Senju, a Kurama, and a civilian kid with the last name of Matsumoto."

In her mind a fox stirs at the sound of his name, and then gives a visible grunt of distaste. 'Those ningen still live, I would have expected them to die out by now…'

Of course Naruto catches it and says to him, 'I knew there was a story there. Tell me, tell me, tell meeeeeee!?'

Kurama sighs and with a strange fondness he says, 'Persistent idiot child. A few centuries ago their ancestors worshipped me as a deity, and for their piousness I granted them with a gift. Thus the Kurama clan was born, gifted in the art of illusions. They created genjutsu that even the Uchiha envied.'

'Er, some would see that gift as a curse, it caused a lot of them to go crazy,' replies Naruto.

'I know,' Kurama says in malicious glee, 'I had a great laugh watching them go mad. Humans always wish for power beyond their understanding, and so as their deity I gave them what they prayed for.'

'That's kind of messed up,' Naruto supplies.

'Heh, I know,' Kurama laughs, 'Brat, the Uchiha spawn is calling for you, pay attention.'

'Oh yah.'

"Naruto?" Itachi queries in concern once more.

Naruto returns back to awareness, "Oh hey, sorry I zoned out there, Kurama got my attention with some interesting info."

"Kurama," Itachi tilts his head, interested, "is the Kyubi?"

"Yah you saw him during the war, giant, cantankerous, shit talking fox. Anyways who'd you get?"

Itachi pulls out his team profiles.

"A Hyuuga, an Inuzuka, and a Yuki," He sounds intrigued by the last name he reads, "The parents are civilians, but emigrated here after the war. If I'm correct he'll probably have the hyoton, how curious. If I pass them, it'll be interesting to work with that bloodline limit."

Naruto thinks of Haku, and she's happy to know that his clan did not die out with him.

They reach the district where Naruto's home is located. A small traditional cottage she asked Yamato to make for her after Pein/Nagato's invasion. They're heading right up her street. Itachi's hands are ensconced in his pockets, and Naruto's arms are placed behind her head. A companionable silence has fallen upon them again.

Until Itachi stops and turns to her abruptly, and asks, "May speak bluntly with you Naruto?"

"Yah, honesty is always appreciated," Naruto replies lightly.

Itachi seems to study her with an intensity that kind of throws her off guard. She feels an atypical blush rising to her tanned cheeks, and then he smiles, not one of those half smiles that he usually gives her, a genuine one.

This isn't the first time she's noticed, but it's this moment that cements it. Uchiha Itachi is fit, and at this moment he's really good looking.

And she's being dazzled by him. Itachi says, "I like you."

"… What? Would you mind repeating that?"

Itachi looks at her fondly, "I like you."

"Ehhhhhhhh!" Naruto stares at him, mouth agape.

Itachi simply looks at her and begins to walk once more, Naruto seems to automatically follow.

"I've been told I would have to be direct with you. I've spent the last ten months attempting to court you, and so I've told you," Itachi heaves a relieved sigh, a weight lifting off his shoulders.

"EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Naruto repeats once more.

Itach glances at her from the corner of his eyes, and does not speak. Seeming quite content to let her process his confession.

It's her usual reaction to most things that shock her, and receiving confessions is usually right up that ally.

(After the war she gained fan boys and girls, and while she was flattered at first by their attention, it quickly became old hat. As far as her dating history goes—for a girl who'd gone for years as a boy—it includes her first kiss with Yuki Haku—both of them are genderbenders, aint that quaint? A brief period of experimentation with one Uchiha Sasuke—and idly she wonders if his brother liking her is going to be all kinds of awkward—a torrid love affair {by teenaged standards} with Subaku no Gaara—the distance killed them, along with their duties to their distinctive villages.

And the last is her first grown up relationship with one Hyuuga Neji that ended almost two years ago, lasted a year and half, and ended amicably because yah… Naruto has no intention of giving up her shinobi career and becoming a housewife. And Neji respected that, and that's why he will forever be one of her greatest loves.)

And regardless of Itachi seeming serious, she's still astonished. She stares at him with wide eyes, and asks, "Why!?"

And she's not fishing for compliments, Naruto has spent the better part of her life gaining acknowledgement for her goal for Hokage, and setting aside others opinions of her and proving them dead wrong. Romantic love, though explored by her, will always remain somewhat of an anomaly to her. She must protect herself against hope from all realms of love. And if a person must jump through hoops to get through the many barricades surrounding her heart, then so be it.

Itachi is silent, gathering his thoughts. They've reached the veranda of her small traditional home, Naruto sits upon one of the cushions placed there, and offers a seat to him.

"Where to start?" Itachi asks himself, and Naruto braces herself, she thinks this will be the longest she's ever heard Itachi speak.

"I don't want to sound clichéd and say I like everything about you," He looks down, and is… is that a blush she sees appearing on the apples of the fearless Uchiha Itachi's cheeks? This endears him to her. "I'll start large and then small," Itachi nods to himself, and turns to her with a confidence that leaves her reeling, along with the way his eyes suddenly seem to smolder. "I like that you look upon everyone in Hidden Leaf as your family, regardless of the way they treated you as a child. I admire that you've willingly put your life on the line constantly for those precious to you. I think when time comes, you'll be one of the greatest Hokage's that Konoha has ever seen, and I hope to be at your side when that event takes place."

At that insinuation Naruto's eyes are as wide as saucers, and Itachi gazes upon her with an expression that she knows, but dares not speak.

"I like your laugh, your liveliness, your joy for life. It's refreshing, particularly for someone in our profession. I can comment on your physical… attributes," Here he gives her a long, lingering once over, and is she just imagining this, but has he gotten closer? "But I have a feeling that will make you uncomfortable. And yet that brings me to something else I admire about you. You remain humble regardless of the many feats you've accomplished, and the trials and tribulations you've overcome."

Itachi smiles at that, drawing steadily ever closer, "There's many things I like about you Naruto, I could go on for hours, but what I love most is your smile, its brilliant, it's lovely, its unequivocally you." By now he has backed her up against the wall, and is crowding her.

As expected Naruto is bright red, blood has bloomed beneath her skin, her lips parted in a small o of wonderment.

"But most of all I want to get to know you, go on a date with me Naruto." When she fails to answer, he places a hand on the wall beside her head, and looks at her beneath long lashes, and murmurs with a lowered voice that sends shivers down her spine, "Say yes."

His eyes lower to look upon her lips, and he slowly closes the distance between them. Somehow giving her the impression that she has the option to move away; she doesn't.

Thus he kisses her.

It's hot, and done with a finesse that make Naruto think she might leave her body and lose her mind. Its brief, when she begins to really respond, he nips at her bottom lip and pulls away.

He looks at her, and must like what he sees—flushed face, swollen lips, eyes glazed—for he kisses her again, and then pulls away, but Naruto gives chase. He says against her lips, repeating himself, "Say yes."

Naruto lets out a dazed, "O-okay."

If there's one conclusion to draw from this, is that Uchiha Itachi is one persuasive fucker who can kiss. And when it comes to Naruto, one should be direct, words and even actions must be thrown in her face.

Fuse is fireside

There will probably a second part to this, but in the meantime this is a one-shot. R and R?