A/N: Someone has a change of heart.

Aoi stared at the bottom of their empty cup, mind whirling a mile a minute.

After their troop's triumphant return to Konoha, their superior officer had commended their spywork and had promoted them because of it.

They should've felt happy. Why did they still feel so empty inside?

When they tried to think of a reason why they still felt unhappy, a familiar face came to mind, framed in navy hair and sporting a kind, nurturing smile.

Her. Aika.

Their frown deepened, and the grip on their cup tightened. Ever since they returned to the capital, she'd been a constant on their mind. Her parting expression, so betrayed and sad, flashed in their mind's eye every time they closed their eyes.

A heavy guilt settled in their chest, and their heart ached when they recalled her.

"She spoke," they recalled with a heavy sigh. "Even though it causes her agonizing pain, she spoke to me. Why would she put herself through that pain? Did she love him that much?"

Upon remembering their former colleague, their mood soured and a tight feeling of jealousy welled up in their heart. "That coward… even though he was weak, he managed to get so far by himself."

And apparently Aika had loved him so much that she immediately latched onto them in his absence, believing them to be her deceased lover. That made the envious anger worsen, and they stood from their chair to get some fresh air.

As they left their apartment, they headed for the gates. A little forest walk would do wonders right now.

"Why can't I stop thinking of her?" Aoi thought as they flashed their ID to the guards. As they exited the gates, they continued. "Why… why does the memory of what happened bring me so much pain?"

"Could it be that I…?"

As they went, they hardly paid attention as they crossed paths with someone.

"Hey, you there!" A cloaked woman called, snapping them out of their thoughts. As they looked up, they noticed an angry brunette a couple of feet away.

"You were at Morino, I remember you," she hissed as she stomped up to them. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I… just went for a walk," Aoi replied, a little stunned. "How did she remember me?"

At her lack of answer, they continued, "I was just… thinking. I want to see a certain someone again."

Rin was, quite frankly, pissed. All of her happy feelings from spending the whole night talking with her childhood friend had faded at the sight of this- this faker, and all she could do was grab their arms and haul them off.

"H- hey!" Aoi yelped. "What are you doing?!"

"Taking you to Ayame-sama," she growled. "Now shut up and walk."

It didn't take long for the two of them to enter the rebel camp. Tsunade looked up in alarm as she dropped the soldier at her feet.

"I caught him walking around near camp," she explained tersely. "Have him interrogated. I want answers."

"My pronouns are they-them, actually," the soldier piped up unsurely.

"Have them interrogated, my apologies," she grumbled. "After the way they hurt her, I'll be damned if we let them anywhere near Morino. They're likely lying."

"I see," Tsunade frowned their way, and the green-haired soldier shifted in their spot. Then she turned, calling out, "Suisen, you're up."

"Yes, Ayame-sama," a younger blonde answered as she took Aoi, helped them up, and led them to an empty tent. Once the tent flaps were shut, she stared them hard in the eye.

"Alright, let's start easy." She said. "Name and age?"

"Igurashi Aoi, age 23."

"Preferred pronouns and gender identity?"

"They-them, and I'm non-binary."

"Gotcha." She nodded. "So far you're telling the truth. Now what did you say about meeting 'her' again? You mean Aika?"

Their cheeks lighting up in embarrassment, they lowered their head. "... yeah."

"Can you elaborate on that?" She softly encouraged.

"I just… I feel awful for what I did," they confessed. "I mean, I was following orders, sure, but I didn't expect it to hurt me that much to see her look so… betrayed. Haunted. I want to see her again and apologize."

She observed them. "Thus far, their body language says that they're being truthful. But why do they care so much? Aren't they a Konoha soldier? I recognize the forehead protector tied around their neck."

"And… why do you want to apologize to her?"

"Because I…" They faltered for a moment, staring at their own hands. "I… I've had a lot of time to think, and…"

They hesitated, but Ino gestured with her hand.

"I…" They continued. "I… I think I'm… in love. With her."

Ino blinked. "That was definitely the truth."

"I don't know when I started feeling this way, but… but I can't bear to remember her in pain anymore." Aoi looked up at her desperately. "I just need to see her again. I need to tell her about everything. About Rokuda, about my role, about…"

"About your feelings," she guessed quietly when they faltered again.

Their face burned brighter, and they nodded, looking away in shame.

Ino let out a silent breath. "That's… definitely revealing. Um, how about we let Ayame-sama in on this conversation?"

Aoi just nodded, and Ino stood from her spot and opened the tent flap, speaking in quiet tones.

They could feel their heart pounding in their chest as the blonde woman strode inside, her honey-brown eyes narrowed on them.

"That's quite a revelation," she commented as soon as she sat down next to Ino.

"They've been telling the truth this entire time," she reported. "And you aren't a part of a plot to infiltrate Mimei again to rat us out?"

"No!" Aoi's head shot up and he gave them a desperate stare. "No, no no no, I don't know of any plot. All I want is another chance. A real one this time."

Slowly, Ino nodded her head. "They're not lying."

Tsunade sighed, brushing her bangs out of her face. "This is… sudden. I suppose we could take you in, but all new recruits have a mandatory probation period of two weeks before they're fully considered a part of the group. Does that turn you off from it?"

"I'll do anything I have to do to properly earn your trust this time," they answered quietly as they bowed their head deferentially. "Not as Rokuda, but as Igurashi."

Briefly, the name registered in her mind, and when it clicked, she realized why Rin had been so angry. "Ah, that's right. I suppose you were the one responsible for…?"

"I killed him," Aoi numbly said. "I was supposed to. And… and I was just… so angry. And envious. Now all I do is regret my actions."

Ino nodded to her, and she heaved another sigh.

"Well, as long as you're willing to wait two weeks, I suppose we can bring you aboard." When their head came up again, she held up a finger. "But first, we need to discard any and all Konoha-related items, starting with the headband and ID on your jacket. And you'll need to lay low for a while. No going into the capital at all, nor showing your face to anyone not a part of the group."

Aoi nodded, already reaching back to undo the knot on their headband. "I can do that."

As soon as it was off, they handed it and their ID badge to her. Tsunade hovered a finger over the plate, and with just her nail, made an even slash through the symbol. Aoi stared in awe (and a bit of fear) as she handed both items off to Ino.

"Just… what the hell are you?" They breathed.

Tsunade laughed, giving them a wink as she got up off the ground. "Some call me a princess. I like to think of myself as a matriarch. You, however, can just call me Ayame-sama."

With her arms wide open, dangling the forehead protector in her right hand, she gave them a wry smile. "Welcome to the rebels, Igurashi."

A/N: Alrighty, that does it for this month! Please tell me what you thought, and I'll see y'all at the end of April!