New me, for you, but to me, old-new me

Not the fate

"True," Shikamaru said. "How long did you know that I'm a girl?" Naruko asks. "Since you appeared to the academy. And your looks have betrayed you." Shikamaru said. "I see, so, my feminine look made you realize that, huh?" Naruko said.

"That's also true," Shikamaru said as he sat on the stone. "What happened to you? You just vanished....." Shikamaru asks. "Have you not heard the rumor?" Naruko asks. "About you eating people? I knew they were fake. So, I didn't listen to them. Even others knew that." He said.

"Well, because of these rumors, I was banished!" Naruko said. "W-w-what?! Banished?! B-but Tsunade did not say a word about it to us!" Shikamaru said.

"That's because she just doesn't want to talk about a cannibal," Naruko said. "No, seriously. When I asked, she just turn around and looks sad." Naruko's widen slightly.

Hokage residence

"Come in," Tsunade said as she heard the door knocking. Soon came Naruko in. "Oh, Uzukage-sama. Something bothers you?" She asks. "You looked after someone asked you about 'Naruto'?" Tsunade was shocked to hear that. "How do you know that?" She asks with anger.

"Because I am Naruto. Long time no see granny?" Tsunade nearly falls out of her place. The only one who called her 'granny' was Naruto. But right now, it's a red-haired girl. "You serious are Naruto?" She asks. "Well, Naruto is a fake name, just for protection. My real name is Naruko." Naruko said.

"Why did you make a fake name?" Tsunade asks. "For protection. I already had been beaten, mentally abused, and physical abuse. But to be sexually abused, that's out of the question!" Naruko said as she sat on the desk.

"Who told you about me looking sad?" Tsunade asks. "Shikamaru." The only thing Naruko said. "I'm being honest, *Sigh* I never believed these rumors 2 years ago." Naruko just glared at her.

"And, I knew you weren't that type of a person. But, villagers complained, and, just asked me to banish you. And, one of such days, I overheard a few people saying to cut your head. And I didn't want your death, I, I only wanted you to live...." Tsunade said.

"Is that? Now I see." Naruko said. "So, you rebuilt the Uzushiogakure?" Tsunade asks. "Yea, I even have a fiance." Tsunade just choked. "Finace?! I mean, you are pretty young, and...." "It's an arrangement," Naruko said. "Were you forced?" Tsunade asks with worry.

"Nah, to be honest, I agree with that. Uzushiogakure has one immortal clan. And, they were against the idea to have me, the mortal, be the leader." Tsunade just struggled in shock.

"But one of the members, helped me, by the arrange, showing few of them are seriously making me the leader," Naruko said. "Even, if that means, you will get married at a very young age." Naruko was silent. "Yea, sometimes, you need to sacrifice something. And with that arrangement, I cannot say to my love, how I feel." Naruko said.

And behind the doors of the Hokages office, was Shikamaru listening to everything. 'Guess, not the fate....' He thought as he left.