A/N: This chapter is somewhat of a prologue. It introduced the idea for this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor do I profit from the creation or distribution of this fanfiction.


Henge- Underneath the Underneath

Chapter 1: Dialogue

The conversation started with a lecture on why vandalizing monuments wasn't acceptable behavior. Naruto responded with his usual complaints, but then became very serious, and the conversation fell off in favor of slurping noodles and mulling thoughts. So after a few more bites of ramen, Iruka decided to bring up a point that had been bugging him for a while.

"Naruto… Why are you always using that ridiculous Sexy Jutsu? Why is it you're always using Henge to turn into a girl?" Iruka ran is fingers through his bangs, fixing his eyes on the squirming boy next to him. The blonde fingered the green goggles he'd placed on the bar but didn't say anything.

"I mean," Iruka continued, "you have some of the highest marks for Henge, and you could be so versatile with it if you branched out from that female form you've developed."

Naruto kicked his feet for a minute before mumbling into his bowl of ramen.

"Naruto… Highly tuned hearing wont do me any good if you don't annunciate…"

Just as quietly, although this time with better diction, Naruto repeated, "B'cause I like turning into a girl…"

Iruka's thoughts froze.

Of all the things he'd expected the boy to say that was not one of them. Was his favorite student a pervert? A deviant? Legends said foxes liked to turn into sexy women to seduce men; could it be the Kyūbi's influence? Iruka took a deep breath. A new thought surfaced. Maybe Naruto liked turning into a girl because then people weren't as fast to recognize and subsequently shun him. There was only one way to find out, but his thoughts took too long and before he could get his question out Naruto blurted:

"I knew it! You think I'm weird don't you!?"

"No, no I don't Naruto. I was simply lost in thought," Iruka hummed for a moment as proof that he really was thinking, "can you tell me why you like to Henge into a girl?" As soon as he spoke Naruto's head whipped around to check his surroundings for eavesdroppers. Iruka was growing more concerned. There were very few things that could embarrass the blond knucklehead.

"Shhh Iruka-sensei! Not so loud!"

"Okay, okay," the chunin quickly agreed, "so? Will you answer the question?"

"I don't know…" Naruto's face was turned down again and Iruka had to lean forward to hear, "It just feels right somehow…" This was normally the point where Iruka would bop Naruto over the head and call him a moron, but something in the boy's demeanor stayed his hand.

"Can you explain it to me a little more?" Iruka asked quietly, gently.

"Its just… more comfortable?"

"Okay. Can you tell me what about it is more comfortable?" Iruka was nodding internally with his theory that Naruto was disguising himself to avoid harassment, but he still managed to catch Naruto's sudden flushed cheeks and further lowering of the head.

"'Cause… 'cause then everything fits."

"…What do you mean 'everything fits'?" His place in the village? Nauto's head lowered further. If he hunches any more, Iruka idly thought, his hair is going to take a bath in ramen broth.

"Ergh! What do you think I mean! Why do you care so much anyway, huh!?" Naruto's head suddenly shot up as he turned heatedly towards his teacher.

"Relax," Iruka waved his hands in a placating way, "I'm just curious, that's all. I want to understand you better. I was just wondering, Naruto," Iruka's tone drew serious, "if you're using your Henge around the village in order to talk to people."

"To talk to people?" The blonde's face scrunched up, "not really. Not unless I'm pranking someone." Iruka rubbed his temples. It wasn't like he could simply ask the boy to explain his mind's inner functions or ask if he was being subconsciously influenced by the giant demon fox sealed in his gut that no one had felt the need to mention during the last twelve years of his life.

"So what is it that 'fits' when you use your Henge? Or, what isn't fitting when you don't?" Iruka tried. Naruto looked around quickly, double checking their surroundings, then turned bright red and mumbled incoherently.

"Naruto…" Iruka warned, "If you're going to answer you might as well do so properly." The blonde shook his head, then discreetly pointed down with his hand pulled in close to his stomach. Iruka looked at the ground. Nothing but the paper wrapper from some previous customer's warabashi. Naruto jabbed his finger a second time. Iruka looked at his sandals. As blue and dusty as ever.

Finally Naruto gave a quiet, frustrated groan and the angle of his finger changed slightly so that it was pointing right at his…..oh. OH.

Iruka felt his face heat up. His gaze shifted to meet Naruto's eyes. They were big and frightened.

"Are you goin' to hate me now to Iruka-sensei?" Naruto whispered, "do you not want to be near me anymore? That's why everyone hates me, isn't it? 'Cause they know my body is all wrong. You've always been really nice to me, Iruka-sensei, but you hadn't noticed yet, huh. Everyone else seems to have noticed it right away…"

This conversation had not gone the way Iruka had anticipated. Not in the slightest.


So what did you think? The good, the bad, and the ugly; please hold no reservations beyond rating-appropriate language!

Published: March 12, 2014

Updated: September 2016

Words: 948