Naruto shook his head to disperse the heat from his cheeks and tried to maintain composure before his new "big sister," but his attention drifted when he noticed Anko starting to move strangely as she pulled at her trench coat fabric and adjusted her mesh suit with a frown of discomfort. The snake woman rolled her shoulders and let out a snort as she felt how the clothes that fit perfectly seconds ago were now fighting to contain her and pressing against her skin in an unusually restrictive way, making her stop dead in her tracks while a strange sensation of vitality coursed through her limbs.
"Anko-san," Hinata said softly with slightly flushed cheeks, "you should... look at yourself."
"Look at myself?" Anko asked looking down at her body, and her eyes widened in disbelief as she noticed her mesh uniform stretching noticeably over her chest and hips.
"What the hell...?" she murmured touching her face and then her hair, noticing that her skin felt softer and her unruly hair now fell with a silky and vibrant shine.
"Oh wow," Ino whistled impressed, "yours was fast."
"Fast?" Anko asked looking at the girls, "is this normal?"
"Completely normal," Sakura nodded, "the Falna optimizes your body immediately after the ritual."
"The changes are instant," Hinata explained, "once the Falna activates your body transforms in a matter of seconds."
"Seconds," Anko repeated still processing while she looked down again, "my uniform barely fits me now."
"Yes, that happens," Ino said with understanding, "I had to buy new clothes after my update."
"Me too," Sakura added, "the Falna adjusts your entire body structure."
Tsunade, who had observed everything with growing medical fascination, approached to scan Anko from top to bottom with clinical precision and her golden eyes shone with interest.
"Extraordinary," Tsunade murmured walking around Anko as if examining a patient, "absolutely extraordinary."
"Tsunade?" Anko asked uncomfortable with the scrutiny.
"Your facial structure refined itself," Tsunade observed lightly touching the woman's cheek, "the expression lines around your eyes disappeared and your skin has a more youthful texture."
"More youthful?" Anko blinked.
"You look at least three or four years younger," Tsunade continued examining her hair, "you have more volume, more shine, and the texture changed completely."
Her eyes moved down and her medical expression became even more intrigued as she said in a professional tone, "Your body structure changed significantly since your hips widened probably two or three centimeters, your waist slimmed down, and your bust..."
She paused to study with a critical eye and stated, "I would say it increased at least a full cup size, possibly more."
The silence that followed was absolute until Anko shouted looking down with renewed surprise, "A FULL CUP? In SECONDS?"
"The Falna optimizes body proportions," Sakura explained quickly with red cheeks, "it adjusts everything to what it considers your 'ideal form'."
"My ideal form includes bigger breasts," Anko said slowly, "well... I guess I'm not complaining."
"And wider hips," Tsunade added still in analysis mode, "more defined bone structure and denser muscle mass but not bulky, it is as if your body rebuilt itself from scratch."
She stepped back and crossed her arms while studying Anko with a thoughtful expression to conclude, "This power doesn't just make you stronger, it makes you more... physically attractive."
"Yes," Ino confirmed with a smile, "that is one of the Falna's side effects."
"Side effect," Tsunade repeated looking at Sakura, Ino, and Hinata in a new light, "a very notable side effect since all of you went through this. Ino, your skin is too perfect, Sakura, your hair has an unusual shine, and Hinata, your facial structure is too symmetrical."
"The Falna optimizes us," Hinata explained shyly, "it makes us... better versions of ourselves."
"Better," Tsunade repeated thoughtfully, "interesting choice of words."
Naruto, who had observed everything with growing interest, finally spoke with enthusiasm, "It's amazing, right baachan! The Falna not only makes them stronger but also makes them healthier and prettier! It's like the ultimate power!"
"It is definitely... something," Tsunade agreed.
Anko turned to Naruto with a dangerous smile and playful tone, "So, brat, what do you think of my new look?"
Naruto looked directly at her to evaluate her with critical but honest eyes and said with total sincerity, "You look great, Anko-san! Your hair is super shiny now and your skin looks very healthy and your..."
"NARUTO!" Sakura shouted appearing like lightning to cover his mouth with both hands before he could finish the sentence.
"Mmph! Mmmph!" Naruto tried to speak but Sakura's hands silenced him effectively.
"No!" Sakura said firmly with red cheeks, "you are not going to make the same comment you made with Kurenai-sensei!"
"The same comment?" Tsunade asked raising an amused eyebrow.
"He asked Kurenai-sensei if her chest had grown," Hinata added shyly.
"Really?" Tsunade blinked and looked at Naruto with new amusement, "and how did Kurenai react?"
"She punished him," Sakura said still covering Naruto's mouth, "and put him on double guard duty."
"She should have put him on quadruple duty," Anko laughed, "although I must admit I appreciate the brat's honesty."
"Don't appreciate that!" Sakura protested, "he needs to learn social filters!"
"Mmph mmph!" Naruto tried to defend himself.
"No," Sakura kept her hands firmly in place, "I'm not letting you speak until you promise not to make inappropriate comments about Anko-san's body."
Naruto rolled his eyes but finally nodded, so Sakura removed her hands slowly staying ready to cover him again.
"I was just going to say that Anko-san looks stronger now," Naruto said with a slightly offended tone, "that's all! I wasn't going to say anything perverted!"
"Your eyes literally moved to her chest," Ino pointed out.
"Because it's obvious it changed!" Naruto defended himself, "it's part of the Falna's effects and I was making a medical observation!"
"Medical observation," Sakura repeated with a flat tone, "sure."
"It's true!" insisted Naruto while Inner Sakura roared internally, THAT IDIOT! FIRST KURENAI-SENSEI AND NOW ANKO! WHY DOES HE KEEP NOTICING THOSE THINGS?! AND WHY DOES IT BOTHER ME SO MUCH THAT HE NOTICES!
"Let me see if I understand correctly," Tsunade interrupted taking back control, "the Falna not only increases physical capabilities and grants special abilities, it also transforms the body towards what it considers its 'optimal form'."
"Exactly," Naruto confirmed happy to change the subject.
"And these transformations are instant and permanent," Tsunade observed.
"Yes, well, more changes can occur with later updates," Naruto clarified.
"Fascinating," Tsunade murmured, "and all these changes happen immediately after the ritual?"
"Yes, the moment the Falna fully activates the body transforms," Sakura explained.
"There is no transition period or gradual changes," Ino added, "it is instant."
Tsunade walked back to Anko to study her again and asked with a professional tone, "How do you feel?"
"Weird," Anko admitted, "my center of gravity changed and my movements feel different, as if my body were new."
"Because technically it is," Tsunade observed, "your body rebuilt itself at a cellular level."
"Great," Anko said sarcastically, "anything else I should know?"
"You'll probably feel some minor side effects like intense hunger, thirst, or possible fatigue," Sakura warned.
"Your body spent a lot of energy on the transformation," Hinata explained, "you'll need to replenish it."
"And you'll need new clothes," Ino added with a smile, "you'll definitely need new clothes."
Anko looked at her stretched uniform and sighed, "Yes, that is obvious."
"I can lend you something temporarily," Tsunade offered, "although you'll probably need adjustments."
"Why adjustments?" Anko asked.
Tsunade smiled slightly and replied, "Because your new figure is considerable."
"Considerable," Anko repeated, "that is a polite way of saying it."
"Welcome to the club," Ino said with amusement, "we all went through the initial shock."
"And does it get easier?" Anko asked.
"You get used to it," Sakura assured, "after a few days it feels completely normal."
"Although people definitely notice," Hinata added shyly, "my father made comments and asked if I had been training differently or if I had done something with my hair."
"My father thought I had gone to a secret spa," Ino laughed.
"People notice something changed," Sakura said, "but no one can identify exactly what, it's as if you look 'better' but in a way they can't explain."
"Interesting," Tsunade murmured, "the changes are obvious but subtle at the same time."
"Exactly," Naruto confirmed, "the Falna makes them prettier but in a natural way."
"Prettier," Tsunade repeated looking at all the girls, "yes, that is definitely one way to describe it."
She turned to Naruto with a calculating expression and said slowly, "This power of yours is more complex than I initially thought."
"In what sense?"
"It doesn't just create stronger kunoichi," Tsunade explained, "it creates more attractive, healthier, and more desirable kunoichi."
"Desirable?" Naruto blinked confused.
"Forget it," Tsunade waved a hand, "the point is that this power has implications beyond simple combat, think about it: stronger, more attractive, and more capable kunoichi. What do you think will happen when other villagers or other ninja start noticing the pattern?"
There was a moment of silence while everyone processed the implications until Ino said slowly, "They are going to want to know how we did it."
"And when they discover it all comes from Naruto," Hinata continued with growing worry, "he will become an even bigger target."
Naruto looked at the worried faces and smiled with confidence, "Then we'll just have to become so strong that no one can touch us, that's the plan anyway!"
"A very optimistic plan," Tsunade observed.
"It's the only one we have!" Naruto replied with energy, "so we're going to make it work!"
Anko, who had watched the interaction, spoke with approval, "Brat, you have guts. You are literally creating a personal army of super powerful kunoichi and you don't even realize the implications."
"What implications?" Naruto asked genuinely confused.
Anko looked at the other women, who shook their heads quickly, so she said with a smile, "Nothing, forget it. Just enjoy your innocence while it lasts."
"You guys are so weird," Naruto complained.
"And you are very dense," Sakura replied.
"I'm not dense!"
"Naruto-kun," Hinata said softly, "you are many wonderful things but aware of certain dynamics... is not one of them."
"What dynamics?" Naruto asked, to which the girls replied in unison, "Exactly."
Tsunade observed everything with a mix of amusement and concern noticing that the boy really had no idea of the kind of situation he was creating with a group of powerful and beautiful kunoichi connected to him, viewing it simply as "creating a strong family." Tsunade concluded that his sincerity was dangerously genuine, which was both his greatest strength and his weakness.
"Alright," Tsunade said taking back control, "Anko, come with me because I am going to monitor you for the rest of the night."
"Monitor me?" Anko asked, "why? The transformation is already over."
"There might be delayed side effects," Tsunade explained, "and I want to be present if they occur, plus you need new clothes and I have some things that might fit you... more or less."
"More or less," Anko looked at her stretched uniform, "yes, I definitely need something that doesn't cut off my circulation."
She turned to Naruto with a genuine smile and said sincerely, "Thanks, brat, for trusting me with this power."
"No problem, Anko-san!" Naruto replied with a big smile, "now you are part of the family!"
"Family," Anko repeated softly, "yes, I guess I am."
Tsunade took Anko by the arm to guide her toward the door and ordered pointing at the girls, "You three go home and rest, tomorrow we start training."
"What kind of training?" Sakura asked.
"The kind that will prepare you for what's coming," Tsunade replied cryptically, "now out, everyone."
The group said goodbye and left the basement, and as they walked through the hospital corridors Naruto noticed that Sakura was staying very close to him.
"Are you okay, Sakura-chan?" he asked.
"I'm fine," she replied quickly, "just making sure you don't say something stupid if we run into someone."
"I'm not that bad!"
"You asked Kurenai-sensei about her chest," Ino reminded him.
"That was ONE TIME!"
"And you were about to do it again with Anko," Sakura added.
"I wasn't going to...!" Naruto stopped, "well, maybe I was going to mention that she looked different."
"Different," Sakura repeated with a flat tone, "sure."
"It's the truth! She looks very different!"
"Naruto-kun," Hinata intervened softly, "maybe it is better if you don't mention specific physical changes of the girls."
"Why not? It's relevant to the Falna!"
"Because no," the three said in unison.
Naruto sighed defeated and murmured, "You women are very complicated."
"And you are very simple," Sakura replied, although there was evident affection in her voice.
*****
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