Tomoko doesn't know whether to cry or be happy for her little baby girl. There is nothing she can do to change it, she knows, she knows, but she still thinks it's not right. But then, little Rin-chan has wanted this her whole life, all seven and a half years of it, and it isn't right to just deny her precious daughter her freedom. A kunoichi is not freedom. A civilian is not freedom. But she has no other choice. Rin wants the Academy. Rin-chan gets what she wants, because Rin-chan is her little princess.
Besides, it isn't as if war is going to vanish, so might as well make sure that Rin-chan survives. Might as well make sure she's useful. Like Saku-kun before that mission two months ago, be the pride of the village, and make it out of the war not too messed up. Maybe. Hopefully.
But Tomoko is a kunoichi and she does not hope. She is a tool of the village, not a sentimental fool like Saku-kun who saved her life and who took a blade to his stomach because she was the one who spat smoky words, venomous words, into his face like it all meant nothing, like that night meant nothing, because no it didn't it absolutely did not mean anything and rin is akio's baby girl definitely not a traitor's child rin is perfect. Of course Rin-chan is perfect.
When Kimihiro Tomoko sees the picture of Rin's genin team, she wonders how long it will take before anybody realizes. Then, she fumbles for another cigarette and takes a deep breath, and she forgets because the smoke makes her feel fuzzy. She likes it when it's fuzzy, because the world of kunoichi is too sharp. It hurts when it's too sharp. Saku-kun knows; she's sure his tanto was sharp.