Himawari Uzumaki sat on a park bench kicking her legs back and forth, a dour expression on her face. She watched as all the other kids played on the playground, but didn’t try to join them due to her not wanting to accidentally hurt the other kids with her jutsu. “Himawari; what’re you doing by yourself?” Himawari looked up to see Mimi Inuzuka standing next to her, her puppy Kikuchiyo sitting atop her head wagging his tail. Taking a sigh, Himawari said, “It’s nothing, Mimi; just…thinking about something.” “What about?” Mimi asked as she sat down next to Himawari. “Well…do you think my mother’s beautiful?” “Where’d that come from?” “I’ve been looking through old photos of my mom and her friends, and I couldn’t help but notice that Mom didn’t feel like showing off her body as much as the other girls did, especially Mrs. Uchiha and Mrs. Yamanaka.” “Maybe she didn’t just want to be seen as a trophy or something,” Mimi said nonchalantly. “I certainly don’t want to be.” “But now all

“I hope you’re ready, Hinata; you’re about to get some real training!” Anko Mitarashi said as she stood in front of Hinata Hyuga in the middle of a more secluded training ground than others in the village. “Um…what kind of training, exactly?” Hinata asked, clearly nervous about being with one of the more outgoing and brutally honest people she’s ever known. “Listen up, ‘cause I’m only gonna say this once! I’ve been tasked with a mission; to toughen you up!” Anko said as she raised her fist in the air. Hinata gulped as she asked, “And h…how do you plan t–” “I’m gonna beat some confidence into you!” “A…Actually, I appreciate the concern, but I think I’m doing just fine,” Hinata said with a nervous laugh, unnerved by Anko’s use of the word “beat.” “Oh, ninja training’s only half the story; there’s other areas of your life I’m gonna be focusing on.” “O…Oh? What did you have in mind?” “First, we’re gonna get rid of that stutter,” Anko said with a grin. “It’s cute, but if you keep

Hinata Hyuga gulped nervously as she entered the abandoned laboratory underneath the Leaf Village. As she threw aside the dusty piles of wood that were impeding her path, she thought about her meeting with Tsunade when she was assigned the mission. *FLASHBACK* “Hinata, I’ve just received word that Orochimaru was killed…by Sasuke’s hand.” “S…Sasuke…Naruto will be hurt to hear this…” “I’m more concerned about Orochimaru at the moment. He was obsessed with immortality, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he had any number of ways to revive himself after he died. Which leads me to your assignment: I want you to canvas Orochimaru’s old lab here in Konoha and confiscate any documents it may have concerning revival.” “All by myself? But…I’m not sure if I–” “All the other Hyuga Clan members are out on assignments of their own, and your teammates are busy training with their clans; you’re the only option at the moment. Nothing’s happened in that lab for years, so I’m sure it’ll be fine. All the

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* “Ugh…five more minutes…” Kay grumbled as she heard the alarm clock ring for the fifth time that morning. Finally having enough of the device, she hit the snooze button and stretched to get herself ready for the day. Looking out the window, she saw a couple birds happily chirping at each other while clouds drifted through the sky above. Something tells me this is going to be a good day, Kay thought as she got up and walked toward the bathroom, her eyes still barely open. After completing her shower routine, she dried herself off and threw on a bathrobe to get dressed for the day. As she was about to leave the bathroom, however, she noticed something strange in the mirror. Blue? I don’t have anything blue on me right now! Kay thought as she took another look in the mirror. As she focused on her reflection, she was amazed at what she saw. Her teenage body had changed overnight, becoming someone who seemed to be in her mid thirties. Blue hair sat atop her head

Hinata Hyūga sighed as she sat on a park bench in Konoha. She watched the other couples walking past as she thought of her own situation. She felt tears threaten to fall out her eyes as she remembered all the times she’d thought about confessing to Naruto but couldn’t find the courage to do so. I’m so pathetic! Why can’t the words come out when I want them to?! I wish I knew what to do!! “What’s up with these weird fliers all over the place?” Hinata looked up to see a couple walking by holding a black flier with a strange circle on it. “Do you know what this is about?” the man asked his partner as they walked past “Don’t know, don’t care,” the woman said, taking the flier and tossing it aside. “You’re the only one I want to focus on.” “Oh, come on; you’re not the least bit curious?” “Forget it; it’s probably just some Academy student’s stupid idea of a prank.” As the couple walked away, Hinata picked up the discarded flier and looked it over. This looks too complicated to be a