Kushina sat on a chair next to Iruka. She turned to him and smiled happily. Iruka finished slurping up a few ramen noodles and returned the smile.

Kushina picked a nit off of Iruka's shirt and said, “I hope you don't mind that we had ramen at my house. At least if we're going to talk about 'that'.”

“Of course not, Naruto. I understand.” Iruka said, then paused to slurp up some more noodles.

Kushina nibbled on her ramen. She played with her chopsticks while thinking. She sighed, turned to Iruka and said, “Aren't you going to ask me anything?”

“Well, “ He replied, chewing his food, “the obvious question, I guess. I think your Oiroke no Jutsu came in somewhere, right?”

“I wish it were just a transformation.” Kushina said sadly. “Right now I would do anything to change back.”

Iruka looked sympathetic, then drained his soup bowl of broth eagerly. He set the bowl down and looked at her, “Well, you picked an attractive form. That does kind of worry me a little though. You never had much luck with women, and now... well...” He didn't want to finish his sentence.

She blushed with embarrassment. “Yeah.” She attempted to divert his attention from it by eating. She slurped up her ramen quickly and took a gulp of broth. She belched loud. “I still love Ramen, though it makes me gassy.” She looked at the bowl. It was still over half full.

Iruka laughed. “You just don't eat like you used to.”

Kushina's face twisted into a smirk. “I'm lady after all.”

Both of them busted up laughing. Iruka recovered and said, “I never in a million years thought I'd hear you say that. By the way, who knows about the truth? Either a lot of people were putting on a good act at the funeral or this really is a big secret.”

Kushina leaned on the table, rested her chin on her hand, and counted off names with her other hand. “Let's see, there's you, mom, Jiraiya, and Kakashi. I think there might be one or two others in ANBU, but I'm not aware who.”

Iruka looked at her seriously. “There's more to this that you're not telling me. I still don't know why you did this.”

Kushina rubbed her temples. “ROOT is involved in the equation, and I'm not very popular with them.”

“Is this about your possible nomination to Hokage?”

“Jiraiya told me that I wouldn't stand a chance otherwise.”

Iruka looked at her incredulously. “You mean to tell me that you were going to use your Oiroke no Jutsu to gain a foothold on a title to Hokage? What if that took years to do?”

Kushina folded her arms on the table and buried her face in them. Her voice was muffled, “It was stupid. But mom said I would die if I didn't find a new body eventually.”

Iruka's eyes widened, “So what they said at the funeral was right, about the chakra damage?”

Kushina nodded. She wanted some tea to settle her stomach. The stress of explaining her situation was making her feel ill.

“Do you still have it?”

“No, I'm very healthy.” Kushina smiled slightly. “But my head's all messed up about the change.”

“So are you upset about being a woman then?”

“I'm angry with myself for not being more upset, if that makes any sense.”

Iruka wrinkled his brows, “I'm a little confused.”

She stood up, started pacing and broke into a monologue, “Well, I always figured myself to be a pretty manly guy. I was a complete pig, and I was happy about it. I was completely comfortable being the way I was. So my manly pride should be hurt right now for being not only a woman, but a stereotype. I catch myself being so feminine sometimes, it scares me. When I don't become upset, I think there's something wrong with me. Don't you think I should be?”

Iruka shrugged, “I don't know, but isn't it good that you aren't freaking out? Why do you suppose you're so accepting of this?”

“Mom explained it to me somewhat. When my brain transferred to the new body, it only took my basic personality, not my mannerisms and reactions to things.” Kushina said, then gasped as she realized she gave away part of the secret.

“Whose body...?” Iruka asked nervously.

Kushina quickly replied, “A shadow clone.” She cursed herself for giving away something that important.

“You could be anyone and live forever...frightening. No wonder she wanted that to be kept secret.”

Kushina rolled her eyes, “Yeah, if you don't mind killing yourself in the process. I was not happy about finding out mom had my funeral planned before I even signed the papers to become Kushina.”

Iruka said, “The funeral did serve one good purpose...”

“I know.” Kushina smiled warmly, “I forgave Jiraiya for everything after I heard his speech. I was moved to tears over what he said about me. I couldn't stay mad at him anyways. He always has a way of making me laugh. I love him too much.”

“I love the old guy too.” Iruka smiled.

Kushina began to think. She sighed.

“What's wrong?”

“How do you feel about me? I mean, now that I'm .... this.” She pointed to herself. “I'm a woman now. Are you upset about it?”

Iruka answered carefully, “It may have started out as an idiotic idea for all of the wrong reasons, but I think you turned out pretty well.”

Kushina sat down on Iruka's lap and leaned her head against his chest. She sighed, “I'm glad you don't hate me.” Her gentle embrace made Iruka feel happy.

He put his arms around her and squeezed. “I don't. I've always been proud of you, and always loved you. How could you even think that?”

Kushina looked up and said, “I don't know. I felt so alone after the change. I wasn't allowed to talk to anyone. I had horrible nightmares about people forgetting me. It was horrible.”

“I'm curious. Why did Tsunade want me to know?”

“She didn't at first. I told her it would kill me if I couldn't tell you, so she said I could make my own decisions.”

“That's good. I hope she doesn't think being your daughter will guarantee your acceptance into the position. If that were true, Konohamaru would be Hokage already.”

“I don't know. Hokage seems so far away right now. I am only a Genin now. All my status has been stripped.”

“I have another question.”

“Go ahead.”

“If you're going to pose as Tsunade's daughter, then how familiar are you and I in public? Technically I don't know you.”

Kushina sat up and looked at Iruka, “I'm on D ranked missions now. I wonder if mom can assign me to your squad.”

“Good idea!” Iruka exclaimed.

“I'd rather be around someone I know if I'm going to do all of that stuff over again. And, with all of my previous experience, I will kick ass and make Chuunin in no time.”

The door to the dining room opened and Shizune walked in. She noticed Kushina sitting on Iruka's lap and blanched. “Oh! I didn't mean to interrupt anything...you might be doing.”

Iruka suddenly realized what it looked like and became extremely nervous, “We're done. Um, it was nice chat with you Kushina.”

Iruka's face was turning pink. Kushina decided to have a little fun with him, so she kept sitting on his lap and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “It was nice chatting with you too, Iruka-kun.”

Iruka rolled his eyes and pushed her off his lap. He waved to Kushina and hastily retreated out the door.

Shizune felt a wave of depression and defeat overtake her. She thought back to her conversation with Tsunade in the bath that morning and sighed. Maybe she likes men afterall.

Kushina bowed to Shizune. “I'm sorry if I made a mess. I think I spilled some of my ramen on the tablecloth.” She noticed that Shizune stopped giving her eye contact.

“It's no bother, Kushina-dono.” Shizune pushed back a loch of raven hair and smiled demurely at her. “I can clean it up.”

“I'm a little embarrassed about the mess. Let me help.”

“Okay. Help me with the tablecloth after we clear the table.” Shizune said. She snuck glances at the silky skinned girl and bit her lip. Kami, she's beautiful, she thought with a warm flush to her face.

Kushina reached for her bowl, but Shizune's hand already grabbed it. She smiled and apologized and let go. Shizune blushed furiously. Kushina said, “Oops.” and grabbed another one and walked off to the hallway.

Shizune gathered up a few bowls and glanced out of one of the big windows. The sky looked blue and beautiful. Her mood lightened and she put the dishes away on the rolling tray in the hallway.

The two women grabbed the edges of the tablecloth and started to fold it.

Shizune nervously said, “I haven't talked to you much since you started living here.”

Kushina gave her a bright smile, “I know! I am really sorry about that. I really hope I haven't been a burden to you. You do so much for us, I feel guilty.”

“It really isn't any trouble, Kushina-dono. I enjoy serving your mother, and of course I have been really happy to meet her daughter. You are ... well... you are really beautiful and kind.” Shizune exhaled and felt her cheeks burn.

Kushina thought of Hinata and smiled, “You always blush when you talk to me. It's really cute.”

Shizune blushed furiously some more and took the tablecloth into the hallway.

Kushina looked at Shizune who was coming back from the hallway. She never acted like this when I was a man, Kushina thought quizzically, Why is she so nervous? She decided to talk with Shizune and get to know her a little better.

Shizune sat down on the windowsill. She wiped her hands on her apron and said sadly, “It gets lonely here sometimes.”

Kushina walked over to the sill and sat next to her. The window's glass and the sill were warm and comfortable due to the sun beam shining on it. The day couldn't be nicer.

She asked Shizune, “Do you need a friend?”

Shizune's eyes were lowered and directed towards the floor in front of her as she spoke, “I have a few friends around. They're mostly women. I have known Jiraiya too. Your mom... well, she's always busy lately, and I really miss the closeness we used to have when we traveled.”

“You really love her don't you?”

Shizune held her breath for a second and said, “There's something I want to tell about myself... well...since you'll be living with us, but it's really hard.” She looked at Kushina with worried eyes then said, “I've lost a few friends over it, and I want more than anything to be your friend because you seem like the kind of girl I could grow to care about.”

Kushina's heart went out to Shizune and she said, “You are a kind person, Shizune. Whatever it is, it can't be that bad.”

Shizune felt ashamed of herself and humiliated. Her lip quivered and her eyes grew very sad.

Kushina put her arm around Shizune and said softly, “I won't hate you. No matter what. I promise, okay? A ninja never breaks their promises.”

Shizune pushed Kushina away and wiped her eye, “I've been told that before.”

Kushina looked down. “I'm sorry.”

The raven haired woman's face was sad beyond belief, “I am not upset at you. I just don't want you to regret touching me.”

“I wouldn't...” Kushina started to say.

Shizune faced her fears and raised her voice, “I am a lesbian! And I really like you.” Suddenly, thoughts of Tsunade's warnings came to her mind.

Kushina was speechless.

Shizune turned her body and face away in shame. Her face was red and sad she blurted angrily, “I knew it. I should have just kept my mouth shut.”

“Shizune...” Kushina wasn't sure what to say, so she stood up and leaned over in front of Shizune. Her cleavage provided a distraction to the sapphic attendant. The blond woman looked her in the eye and said, “I don't hate you. I am the one to blame here. And I don't regret anything.”

“That's bullshit. I can tell that you don't feel the same about me.” Shizune said, on the verge of tears. “I felt this way about your mom too, until she told me she was sorry. She took pity on me, but could never feel the same about me. Now I've completely screwed everything up.”

The comment about her mom gave Kushina pause. Kushina said sternly, “Look at me, Shizune.”

Shizune sighed and wiped her eyes again and looked at the radiant blond. She expected to see scorn written there or pity, but there was only support and understanding radiating from her beautiful face.

“I have been in love with a woman before.” Kushina confessed. She smoothed her skirt nervously. She didn't want to give away her secret, but she had to face Shizune with some truth or her conscience would eat her up.

Shizune was shocked. Kushina noticed but continued, “She was in love with a boy from my team. I hated the boy at first, but we grew to be good friends. I guess you could say that I loved him in my own way too. In the end, the boy left the team and never returned. Both of us were torn up by it. I realized that my friendship to her became more important than my love for her. I eventually got over my feelings for her and enjoyed the friendship.”

“Did you ever tell her that you liked her?”

“No, I didn't. I did sort of go on a date with her, but it was more like dating a sister.”

Shizune was surprised and somewhat hopeful, “So you actually got her to go on a date with you?” She thought about all of the gambling casinos she went to with Tsunade; in her worst case of loneliness, she called those “dates”. Sometimes, Tsunade would get a room with her and lay next to her in bed, drunk. She would hold Tsunade in her sleep on those nights and cry sometimes over how pathetic she was for loving a woman who didn't love her back. Kushina is probably a lot like her mom, she thought sadly.

Kushina nodded, then said, “Since that happened, I don't know who or what I love anymore. I guess you can't exactly call me a lesbian. I care about people on the inside. I don't see gender the same way as I used to.”

Shizune sighed, “I wish you were.” The pain of false hope turning into disillusionment came crashing down on her and she felt depressed again.

Kushina half-smiled and said, “I think you're really beautiful, Shizune. I want to be attracted to you. I remember what it feels like to look at a woman and feel those things. For some reason lately, I don't feel any reaction to women. I don't know if it's a mental block or what.”

Shizune hid her disappointment and said, “I'll take that as a compliment.”

Kushina smiled and gave Shizune a kiss on the lips. It was chaste and short, but sweet. “Don't doubt yourself anymore. I can't say I'd see you as more than a friend, but if you ever need to be held, I would be happy to.”

Shizune smiled, “Okay, Ku-chan.”

Kushina folded her arms and pouted, “I don't have any nickname for you. It's not fair.”

“You can call me Shi-chan.” Shizune giggled.

Kushina looked out the window and realized time was slipping away from her. “I really enjoyed talking to you, Shi-chan.”

Shizune and Kushina hugged each other. To Kushina's chagrin, Shizune was not-so-discretely sniffing her hair while hugging her. She wanted to laugh as she realized that she made friends with another kind of pervert.