The first Water Release technique any shinobi interested in that affinity would learn was the Hiding in Water jutsu. It was a D-ranked technique that allowed its caster to hide in any liquid by becoming part of it. However, it had a huge weakness: the person hiding that way could still be perceived through their chakra, which meant most of the experienced Chūnin and almost all the Jōnin could still notice someone was there even if they couldn't see them. Besides, the bigger the body of water was, the more difficult the technique became, because the caster was at risk of losing themselves under the surface, and never coming out again.

That explained why this technique wasn't used often, but it still was the mandatory first step to learn Water Release techniques. As Kurenai often said to Naruto, you couldn't build a house without laying out its foundations first. The same logic applied to learning any new skill. When she mastered a few D-ranked techniques, Hitomi could start working on more interesting jutsus, not before.

"The scroll says you have to cover your whole body in the thinnest layer of water chakra you can possibly manage while touching the surface of the body of water you want to hide in, your hands forming the Dog Hand Seal. Ready to try?"

The girl nodded to her mother's words, a determined frown creasing her brow. She wasn't tired yet, after all, and even if she had to keep a bit of chakra to maintain her cats in the physical world, she could still train for a few hours before making a significant dent in her reserves. Her hands formed the Dog Seal, the movement as natural as breathing, and started projecting the relevant chakra around her body.

It took her a few tries to finally experience her shape melting slowly, attracted to the little puddle she had stepped in, and finally she became tiny, compressed in the liquid, her field of vision going all around but unable to focus on a precise spot. To come back to solidness, she stopped feeding the layer of chakra around her body and immediately got back to the shape of a little twelve years old girl. "Well?" she asked her mother, who had been staring at her. "Did I do it correctly?"

"Yes you did, congrats! You're ready for the next technique, but not today. You've got to go to school tomorrow."

The world wouldn't stop running just because she wanted to train and Hitomi understood that, but it was always a bit frustrating to have to stop because of an obligation she would sometimes have liked to forget. Despite that, she liked the Academy, that school where you learned to run on walls and clone yourself – Naruto wasn't dead last anymore now that he had his Shadow Clone to show Iruka when the teacher decided to test the class. As for Hitomi, she had decided it was wiser to hide her own knowledge and mastery of the technique.

The next morning, Hitomi had a hard time hiding the eagerness clawing at her mind at all times. She could perform as expected in class, but part of her mind was jumping up and down in her Library – if such concepts even existed in her beloved refuge – as she tried to decide what to learn next. From the technique she knew, she could learn the Water Clone or the Hiding in the Mist jutsu, both opening their own list of possibilities.

Seeming to sense the underlying tension in her friend, Hinata made sure to stick around all day, often pushing her bravery to brush against her hand, her shoulder. The Hyūga girl blushed intensely at each of the touches she was initiating, but they seemed to appease Hitomi up to a point. In her mind, a few spikes of shyness were worth the warmth blooming in her chest each time she did it.

The heiress' constant presence by her side that day led Hitomi to invite her to her place, after class. They often slept over at the Yūhi household Friday and Saturday night, anyway: Hinata was always welcome, Kurenai made sure of it, and the girl's father didn't dare forbid her from going, fearing the very risky possibility of insulting the Yūhi clan. On a whim, Hitomi took her friend's hand rather than just walking beside her. Hinata's cheeks blushed beautifully, and once she was over her confusion, a small, tender smile appeared on her lips. Maybe Hitomi wasn't imagining things after all.

"Make yourself comfortable, okay? I'm just gonna tell Mom you're here and that I'm cooking tonight. Do you want something to drink?"

"S-some tea would be lovely. Thank you for inviting me, Hitomi."

"I'm the one who ought to thank you for coming. I love it when you're here. I'll have to train during the week-end, I'm working on my ninjutsu, but I know it won't bother you so…"

"I'll just train with you. Thanks a-again…"

"Stop, I told you you don't have to thank me. I'm always glad to have you with me, you know that. I'll be back in a sec!" With a smile and a little wave, she left the room and walked to her mother's office. She knew that, at this time, she would be working on accounting and paperwork for the clan. She knocked and opened the door, finding Kurenai… and Asuma… half… No, she didn't want to see this! How in hell could she have missed his chakra?

"Mom!" she yelped as she closed her eyes, the memory already carving itself a nice little book in her Library. "Hinata's home and I'm cooking, oh hi Asuma-san, bye!" Her heart thundering in her chest, she slammed the door closed and hurried down the stairs, a whine of anxiety constricting her throat. She leaned against the corridor wall and breathed deeply a few times to regain her composure then came back to the living room, where Hinata was sitting all stiff and nervous, toes of one foot rubbing against the talon of the other. "Are you okay?" Hitomi asked softly.

Hinata jumped a bit, turning her head to her. "What? No, I mean yes! Yes, I'm okay. I'd just like… Could I speak to you about something? In private?"

They were alone in the room, but Hitomi understood perfectly what her friend meant: a place where she would feel safe and at ease, where an adult wouldn't just walk in unannounced – the Yūhi girl had been impressed by the discretion and respect her mother offered her, and so was Hinata, who was used to the way of the Hyūga clan. Without a word, Hitomi took the other girl's hand and led her to her bedroom. There, she closed the door without locking it, sat on her bed and invited her to do the same.

"Well?" she asked as Hinata settled next to her. "What did you want to tell me?"

"I-I… It's difficult…"

"I can see that. Take your time, okay? Whatever it is, I'm here for you."

"It's… For a long time now I have been…"

Hitomi stayed still and silent, but not inactive, noting Hinata's quickening breathing, her eyes catching the way her friend fingered with the hem of her shirt. If she listened closely, she could even hear her thundering heart. In that situation, it was best for her to stay silent and wait for her friend to overcome the anxiety constricting her throat. She knew it would come.

"I-I started… I started noticing you, in a way that… Well, I want to do things with you that are not… appropriate… between friends… I think?"

Hitomi gave a light, tender chuckle. "Would you like me to kiss you, Hinata?" She felt warm, her heart was fluttering, but she knew she could handle it. Shyness, or what little of it she had anyway, never got the best of her, even when it hit her full force. Her dark red eyes, quiet and affectionate, met Hinata's pale lilac gaze, so expressive and vaguely nervous. Her proposition was met with a shy nod, and a smile appeared on her lips. She had never kissed anyone, in this life or the previous one, but she was ready to try with Hinata, since the surges in her heart weren't unanswered after all.

Slowly, so as to not frighten her, Hitomi shifted to a seiza position and leaned toward her, keeping her balance easily on the mattress. She took Hinata's chin between her fingers, her grip light and delicate, then turned her head so they faced each other, their lips a breath away from each other. She crossed the distance without hesitation nor rush, her mouth brushing against Hinata's. Comfort and tenderness fell into place in an emptiness she hadn't been aware of before, somewhere deep under the surface of her mind. Her first kiss, willingly given to a person she had feelings for – not love, not yet, but a fondness she wouldn't have for just a friend.

The kiss was soft, long, quiet. Hinata's hand found a place, after an adorable hesitation, against Hitomi's neck so she could bring her closer. Neither of them had any experience in that field, so there was awkwardness, noses bumping, breaths forgotten, each of them bringing them to low giggles. When they separated enough to watch each other in the eyes, Hitomi caressed Hinata's cheek, pressing her forehead against hers, then spoke again, her lips reddened and puffed by this new, and no doubt interesting occupation curving into a playful smile. "So, Hinata, those were your inappropriate things you wanted to do? If so, do know we can do it again, whenever you want."

"I-I think I'd like that, yes."

"Really? Well, in that case, I will ask: Hinata, will you be my girlfriend?"

"I… Yes!"

They were both beaming, happy beyond measure like only teenagers in love could be. They were only twelve and thirteen, but this ageless joy made them feel mature, so sure of what the future held. Hitomi, not thinking about training at all for once in her life, straightened just enough to go get a kiss on Hinata's lips once more. Her girlfriend. It sounded so good, so sweet. She took solace in brushing her dark hair with delicate fingers, the locks as soft as silk against her skin, then kissed her again, and again.

When they left the room two hours later, the two girls were positively glowing with happiness. It was time to get started on dinner, so they went to the kitchen, Hitomi suddenly remembering her five cats, who had been waiting this whole time in the living room. She went to get them, and understood as soon as she saw the wicked spark in their eyes that they had heard them talking – kissing.

"Well, congrats you two," Hoshihi said with an amused flick of his whiskers. "You're cute together."

"Yeah," Haīro added, "and we couldn't stand you both beating around the bush for so long. Enjoy being a couple now that you're decided, alright?"

Hitomi laughed heartily as Hinata blushed and hid her face against her new girlfriend's shoulder. With a contented sigh, she walked towards the kitchen, Hyūga heiress in tow. She was in the mood for tempura and she had seen her mother put shrimps away in the fridge. Humming quietly, she started preparing the breadcrumb coating while Hinata got her hands on the vegetables that would come as a side for the dish.

When Kurenai came back, wearing a light pink yukata – tightly closed this time – Asuma just behind her, the two girls were completely focused on the kitchen. Even then, their arms constantly brushed against one another, and Kurenai raised an eyebrow when she saw her daughter put an arm around Hinata's shoulder, then kissing her cheek with an enamoured smile. She had missed something. Several somethings, more like. But could she really protest, she who had tried to hide her own romance from Hitomi? Asuma had told her about their talk in the dawn light and how her daughter had closely woven threats and approval. Kurenai was incredibly proud. "Congratulations, you two!" she exclaimed with a wide smile.

Hitomi and Hinata jumped at the same time, but didn't draw away from each other. Living with shinobi helped them get used to being taken by surprise, especially when the shinobi in question were so much stronger than them. The Hyūga heiress blushed and tried to answer, only able to stammer an unintelligible answer, but Hitomi straightened with a cheeky grin. "That's right, Mom. I'd introduce you to my girlfriend but, well, you already know each other."

And just like that, it was settled. Hitomi hadn't been the slightest bit worried about confiding in her mother. Most people in Konoha were totally open to the idea of lesbian relationship – of all consensual relationships, really. Ninjas lived like a flame would, intense and slowly burning to their end, confronting death during all their missions outside the village. Their relationships could be light and ephemeral, long and tender, monogamous or polyamorous, almost no one would judge. And then there were the traditionalist clans, like the Hyūga.

"Well, congratulations, you two. Hitomi, Naruto and Sasuke won't be there tonight, they have been invited by Inuzuka Tsume for a game night with Kiba."

Hitomi hummed in approval, taking the tempura out of the frying oil with an ease that only came with habit. She had sustained enough burns to learn how to handle herself in the kitchen, even when she had to use more complex tools. Quickly enough, dinner was ready, the two adults and two children sitting around the table to tuck in.

Half an hour after dinner, when the dishes were done and put to dry on the rack, Hitomi took Hinata's hand and led her outside under Kurenai and Asuma's discreet supervision. They were too busy cooing over how cute they were to really keep an eye on them anyway. In the middle of the garden, her mother had placed a little pool full of water so she could train. It was only two meters wide and three meters long, but it was enough at her level. Not too far from it, she had piled storage seals full of water, just in case she needed to add some in the pool.

"Water Style: Water Clone Jutsu!" she said once she was standing knee-deep in the water. She had never understood why ninjas said the names of the techniques they used out loud in the canon, but she got it now. Most of it was just the habit they had built in the Academy – such a deeply rooted reflex couldn't be suppressed easily. But there was something to be said about the shinobi code of honour: by using the name of the technique out loud, ninjas indulged in the mix of pride, achievement and respect they felt while fighting properly. A lot of foreign shinobi froze in terror for a second when they heard the name – or loud chirping – of the Chidori, Kakashi's legendary technique. But she could use any of her techniques without using its name, if she wanted to. She had made sure of it.

Halfway through its formation, the water clone Hitomi had tried to create fell back in the pool and the chakra she had used dissipated into thin air. She hadn't expected any other result: it was far harder to shape water than to lose herself in it. Breathing in slowly, she allowed her hands to form the mudras once more and focused her chakra again. This time, the clone almost appeared completely shaped before falling.

"You're getting there, Hitomi." Hinata's gentle, encouraging tone drew a smile on Hitomi's lips. She met her eyes and thanked her with a nod before going at it again, totally focused once more.

Hinata was right. She was getting there.