"A vacation, seriously?" I asked, unable to keep the skepticism and disappointment from my voice.

"A weekend trip, I'll even help you get the schedule stuff sorted, it'll be fine, you can swing it. It's just what you need, which is why the Hyuugu generously offers it to our esteemed new Hokage," she said with a short, respectful bow.

When 'the Hyuugu clan' arranged this meeting, I thought it was for something important. I was just about to tell her more firmly that I wasn't interested, that I had no time for such. Then her eyes opened.

"Off the books, it comes with an escort to see to your every need. She's an excellent cook, a trained masseuse, even an unofficial counselor if you want to talk through anything," she wiggled her eyebrows a little at that first sentence, but otherwise maintained an air of utmost dignity.

"Don't think Sakura would love that," I muttered, actually more apprehensive at the way she sweetened the offer.

"Oh, who's gonna tell her? Me? Besides it's not like you two are together, you've never been seen in public, you didn't say she was your girlfriend just now…"

The sting in those words had to be intentional.

It worked. Sakura had been more an obligation than a pleasure since I took the office, every time I did find a half-hour free to run by the hospital or her apartment my reward seemed to be a tense meal at best. Honestly, I was getting a bit irritated with it. Might not have been showering her with gifts and surprises and affection so much anymore but she knew about the new job dammit!

My mind strayed to thoughts of what I, technically, had the freedom to do with an escort, all alone with me out a thousand miles from nowhere. Still, one last thing held me back.

"This girl, she's not like, she's there by choice? This isn't some branch member your coercing into this job is it?" Kunoichis got sent on work where they had to…use their beauty every so often, I wasn't unfamiliar with the prospect. Not less so now that I was Hokage. That was for important stuff though.

I'd expected Hanabi to either look guilty or take offense to the implication of my question. The unbearably smug smile on her face was quite the surprise. Also quite confusing. She leaned in again.

"Oh trust me, she'll be thrilled,"

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