When Asuka returned to the land of the living, she balefully wonders if a truck had hit her, again. Her back felt like one giant bruise, and there was even a throbbing pain in her head. She tentatively touches her face, cringing when she felt damp cheeks and tenderness under the eyes.

Due to being mentally exhausted from the experience last night, she went to sleep in a vulnerable state and it allowed her mind to torment her with night-terrors. They were mostly about rockslides, Truck-kun, Riku disappearing, and Rin dying.

Funny enough, this body's brain won't let her forget about Rin despite having all the contents switched. It wouldn't even allow her a decent night of rest. Insomnia's a bitch. No wonder she kept oversleeping and got fired from her job. All she could say now was, "Jashin take the fucking wheel."

And take the fucking wheel he did. Asuka somehow found the strength to get out of bed and go through her routine. Still took her a long time to take a piss and shower, but she managed to cut her usual time down by half a minute. She made sure to give herself some kudos. Some positivity was needed for such a shitty day.

Body dysphoria? Hah. It ain't kicking downed ladies, no siree. That bastard's a gentleman.

Her morning routine completed, Asuka donned her usual attire and left the apartment. It was time to seek employment. Money was necessary to live in any world. Everything else could wait until she wasn't at the risk of being booted from her apartment in a fortnight, mental breakdown and depression included.

With Tora (the bakeneko ambushed her outside her apartment) in one hand and a popsicle in the other, Asuka walked down the streets of Konoha. She has her eyes peeled open in the lookout for any 'for hire' signs.

The morning passed by quickly. Asuka's luck wasn't great at all. Most shops and restaurants weren't hiring, and for the ones that were, they seemed to be in cohorts with her previous employer. The swine sure likes to hold grudges. Asuka wasn't even a bad employee! The only sin she committed was being tardy.

With how limited her options were, Asuka ponders on the benefits of enrolling as a nurse at the hospital. Surely they would be short staffed? Back on Earth, she had never lacked a job since healthcare providers were always needed. In addition to that, hadn't she planned on being a medic-nin whilst she was in this world? With her Nursing and Paramedic background, she should be able to slither her way into the system.

Even more of a plus, she had managed to borrow her neighbor's identification document and forge her own in her spare time.

Smirking, Asuka bites through her popsicle. It was decided. She would test her shitty luck and apply to be a nurse. Maybe she could even get to be a medic-nin in the future. And hey, if her documents were found to be fake, she could always Kamui the fuck out of Konoha.

She looks at the sky whilst inwardly praying, 'Jashin-sama, don't forsake me now! I swear I'll get you a big juicy sacrifice in the future. So big that even Hidan's won't be comparable to mine!'. Reassured that her prayers were heard, she gently dropped Tora to the ground and entered through the Hospital's automated entrance.

After fifteen minutes of waiting at the reception of Konoha Base Hospital, Asuka was led to an office. In the office was a busty woman whose hair was in a tight bun and was wearing clothes that office ladies tend to wear back on Earth. Her sharp eyes were semi hidden behind a pair of cat-eye glasses that reminded Asuka heavily of her high school teacher, and the woman's facial features were above average.

All in all, she was a woman with an aura that screams don't cross me!

"I am Matsumoto. Shall we forgo pleasantries and begin the interview?" She smoothly introduced herself and stood for a handshake.

Asuka quickly followed through. "Please. My name is Itsuaki Asuka. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Matsumoto-san."

"Take a seat. Itsuaki-san."

And sit she did.

The interview went well.

As for why they accepted her as a potential staff member and went their way to interview her almost immediately, well, Asuka's forged qualification documents must have impressed them. She would leave it at that as she wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Happy that she had acquired a job and would be starting in three days, Asuka found it gratifying enough to grant a couple of drinks as a congratulatory gift to herself. She had, at first, planned to drink her woes away if she bombed the interview today, but it seems that plans would remain despite the change of excuses.

She happily entered the first pub she found and sat obediently at the bar, waiting patiently for the bartender to turn to her. The place was empty since it was still early in the afternoon.

"What can I get for you?" The bartender asked politely after he noticed her presence. The lights were dim so she could only see a portion of his features. He has nicely shaped lips.

"Something that would suit celebrations, please," Asuka responded. Normally she would go for a Jack and Coke, but seeing that she wasn't from around here, she could only depend on the bartender to serve her something he deemed appropriate.

The bartender raised a brow, but didn't question her further. He took a bottle of something and began pouring her a glass. It was, weirdly enough, orange in colour.

"A celebration? Then, this is on the house," he slid the glass to her with a wink, or so she thought was a wink. The lighting in this place was appalling. "Is it your birthday?"

"Thank you," she smiled. "No, it isn't. This ain't February. I just got a gig at the Hospital so I'm keen to celebrate the end of job hunting."

He seems to pause at that, before he continues with wiping the cup he has in his hands. "Nice. A doctor?"

"Nurse," she corrected as she took a tentative sip. "My knowledge's too lacking to be a doctor." Blinking in surprise at the taste, she narrows her eyes suspiciously at the orange coloured liquid. Why did it taste like orange juice?

"Why a nurse?"

"... Why not?" Asuka turns her gaze to the bartender, lips down turned. "Are you one of them idiots who think nursing is only a woman's job?"

"Maa, don't take what I said in a bad way. I only wanted to prolong our conversation."

With the way he said it, Asuka was beginning to wonder if he was coming onto her. She lowers her head so that her hair would firmly cover the ugly side of her face. It didn't feel bad, but she was a woman despite this body. If the bartender was flirting with her because he was gay, boy was he gonna be disappointed big time.

Hn. Let's pretend to be straight (though technically she was straight? This body was straight. Obito loved Rin, who's a female. So she technically wasn't lying?).

"Look, you're a nice bloke and all, and I don't discriminate based on sexual orientation. But I ain't gay." Technically.

Rather unexpectedly, the bartender started flailing and sputtering. "No! I wasn't- no! You're misunderstanding!" He suddenly cleared his throat and held out his hand for a greeting. "Let's start over? My name's Sukea. I'm a freelance reporter who works as a bartender part ti-... wait!"

Asuka was out of her seat and almost at the door when her elbow was grabbed. Her shoulders were tensed and her hands were trembling. She clenches them into fists and took a deep breath before looking over her shoulder.

As expected, the lighting near the door was better. It allowed her to clearly identify the bartender. A familiar face was staring back at her, grey eyes wavering. Despite Kakashi's attempt at masking his features using vertical purple marks on his eyes and cheeks, Asuka would never mistaken the Hatake even if he wore his ANBU mask. Especially when he was using this particular disguise. Any Naruto fan could see through his attempt.

The disguised Kakashi had his lips pursed and eyebrows pinched. Any other day, Asuka would've squealed at witnessing Kakashi's bare face emoting. Now, however, she felt like she was swallowing shards of glass.

"... what?" Asuka settled to ask when the silence continued. Kakashi was clearly hesitating, which made alarm bells go off in her head. So she quickly tried to find a way out. "You're hurting me," she murmured. It was a despicable method. But it worked.

Kakashi released her as if he was burnt. The second he did, she left the building and entered Kamui. What awaited her left her choking, however.

Obito, clearly in the midst of changing into his Akatsuki uniform, had his eyes narrowed as he continues to gaze at her dumbfounded form. He has the same face as her current self, his scars more grotesque, yet something about him exuded a certain sex appeal, very much unlike her.

Asuka violently slaps a palm over her eyes as she wildly waves the other hand in front of her, flustered. "I'm sorry!" She squeaked, cheeks aflame. "I didn't mean to intrude! It wasn't on purpose! I swear I'm not a pervert!"

Whilst she was forcefully telling him she wasn't a pervert on the outside, inside, however, she was going kya kya.

Those abs were amazing. The sight of Obito half-naked has been burned straight into her memory. Thank you, Sharingan eyes, for having such a glorious ability. 10 out of 10, no bad reviews.

"What are you doing here?"

Asuka dropped her hands, ready to respond but the words never left her lips. She was wholly distracted by the Uchiha, who was placing his shirt into her wardrobe. She idly tilted her head sideways as she eyed his body slowly. He was already clothed. Too bad. Still hot though.

Wait, he asked something, didn't he?

"What? Uh, I mean, ahem! Was on my way home and decided to take a shortcut. You... uh, what are you doing here?"

"Changing."

Asuka couldn't help it. She blushed from the tip of her hair to the soles of her feet. Her rotten pit of a brain kept pushing the image of Obito half-naked to the forefront of her mind. She somehow had a feeling that he was laughing at her flustered state, but that couldn't be, right? He was as stone-faced as yesterday.

"Have you had lunch?" Asuka blurted out. Ah, she wanted to badly to slap herself silly! She should have made small talk first before asking!

Just as she was contemplating about braining herself, Obito gave a slow shake of his head. "No."

"Oh," was all she could think of at that moment, too relieved that he didn't just kill her for being annoying.

Come on, brain, be a smart arse and think of some way to invite him to lunch. This way, she could try to get him to like her enough to not kill her. Like any other animal, humans let their guard down the most when they eat. If she could find a way to make him have a soft spot for her, he might even help her in her quest to go home!

"Do you- ...never mind."

Asuka pouted. Obito had already left.

Ah, forget it!

She really needed some booze in her system.

A/N:

It's been ages hey ( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/!

I hope this chapter didn't seem rushed. Asuka's pretty all over the place and currently reckless due to her poor mental state. At least she won't get tattoos or whatever... right? Maybe? Haha d(-_^).