Note: A big thank you to my beautiful beta Hybris! She is so amazing to help me with this story!

"And in fragmented darkness,

I knew that his lunar smile

would captivate the moon

and always be the reason

for my soul's eclipse."

Chapter 3

Watching the last member leave with a slightly confused air about them, Hakaze hoped that they all found the motivation to come back. Hearing Yamanaka-san step next to her, she turned to give her a smile.

"That went well don't you think?" Hakaze thought that having no one attempt to escape earlier, nor leave halfway was a positive sign.

"Hard to say. They'll definitely be back though probably not for the reason you want." Something about her tone of voice, caught Hakaze's attention, "Hopefully, as the sessions go by, true healing will be achieved."

"Eh? What other reason would they come back for?" Silence fell between them as Yamanaka-san thought about her answer, before giving her a gentle shake of the head.

'Must be personal.' Hakaze rationalized. Clenching her hands tightly, she swore then and there that she would work twice as hard to ensure that this program would survive. There was a need! And so long as the ninja benefited from it, then it would all be worth it in the end.

"...Anyway, thank you for the treat Hakaze-chan. It was just the thing to set the mood. Any left for the afternoon group?" Perking up at the thought that her treats were well received, Hakaze cheerfully looked up at her slightly hungry-looking partner.

"Of course! And I have an extra box for you Yamanaka-san!" Really, she didn't know what else she could have done; without Yamanaka-san noticing her program proposal and deciding to throw her Clan's name behind the project...

"Call me Haruka! And honestly, if you weren't such a good medic-nin, I would push you to open your own pastry store. Where did you get the inspiration to make this stuff?" The woman seemed to ooze confidence as she leaned against the table, widely smiling as Hakaze handed her the bento box just for her.

"Oh, just lots of experimenting that's all. I get weird cravings sometimes." Couldn't exactly explain that she got cravings for food that didn't exist, now could she?

'Plus, there's the fact that I've such a sweet tooth and have been dying to get some more familiar sweets in my life. Dango just does not hit the same!' Hakaze took out the other bento boxes and began to count how many were left for the second group that evening.

"Hmm, are you sure you have enough for the B group? It looks like you're missing a bento box."

"Oh, my mistake! I must have miscounted how many I packed for today. It should still be enough though."

'God damn Danzo! I know I had enough boxes this morning! I just know it!' Suppressing her rage at the fact that the damn thief had managed to interfere with her food at work, Hakaze swore to blow a little of her budget and get some quality materials to trap her fridge and bag.

'Enough is enough! What if they spooked the patients with their swiping?! Or worse, poisoned the food!' Hakaze made a mental note to make sure that the leftover slices were poison-free for the final group.

"...Do you have an admirer Hakaze-chan?" Yamana -ahem- Haruka-san teased, tilting her head down at her. Hakaze wondered why everyone seemed to feel so tall next to her. She wasn't short or anything, yet for some reason, everyone around her just seemed to be looking down to meet her gaze.

'Speaking of gazes…' Pushing that thought away, Hakaze returned Haruka-san's look with a firm one of her own.

"You shouldn't tease me like that Haruka-san. I have no admirers, I assure you. I promise to work more on my situational awareness."

"I can help if you like. Also another little tip; if you don't like looking up at people, I recommend you wear sandals with a little heel. It makes a world of difference, trust me." Haruka teasingly leaned against her desk as she pulled her heeled foot onto the table. "See? Thick and with enough support so you don't trip and fall like a civilian."

'It does look good...But is it practical to wear it at the hospital? I have to stand in place for long periods of time, which generally isn't a design concern for kunoichi shoes.' Nodding anyways in thanks at Haruka-san, Hakaze thought about the blonde's other offer. She couldn't deny that her situation was getting ridiculous. Whatever training she already had was clearly not enough.

"Thank you for the offer, but you're already helping me so much! Will you even have time to help me with my training?" Hakaze knew that Haruka was doing more behind the scenes; convincing her Clan head had just been one of the many things she was doing to get more support.

'This program is more important than my skills right now. I shouldn't distract her from what is truly important just for my peace of mind. To ensure the patients' safety, I'll just not bring any homemade treats till I get better seals and traps.

"Aren't we friends Hakaze-chan? Besides, we both work on this project. Don't downplay the amount of hard work you contribute as well." Seeing the resolute look in her eyes, Hakaze couldn't help but return her grin.

'If she's so sure about this, then who am I to question it? I'll just treat it as a bit of good fortune! Maybe the universe is making up a little for Danzo.'

"Then, please help me improve. I'll be in your care!" Hakaze barely had enough time to dodge after straightening from her respectful bow, as a series of kunai and shuriken landed where she had just been standing.

"We have a good hour until B group. Let's start now." Hakaze shuddered slightly as Haruka's face turned mischievous. The young woman seemed to pull another set out of thin air as she threw them in Hakaze's direction.

'No matter what, I can't afford to get caught! I need that chakra for the examinations!'

Smiling in a farewell to the last confused looking jonin, Hakaze gathered the last reports into a pile and made her way to where Haruka-san was waiting for her.

Hiding a wince at the still healing cuts on her arms and legs, Hakaze reminded herself that every sting and pain was going to be worth it in the long run.

"Good work today Hakaze-chan, now onto the tedious stuff." Wondering how such a pretty face could hide such a sadistic training partner, Hakaze swore to herself to make sure not to upset her too much.

'Haruka-san can be truly frightening with her aim.' She hid a shiver as she slid the finished reports of group B to the blonde.

"Yes, I was looking into our supplies allotted by the hospital and found that more have gone missing since last placed in it." And hadn't that been an upsetting surprise, they were missing a variety of different vitamin jars and minerals that were necessary when detoxing safely.

'Not to mention several of the chakra infused drinks for helping hydration have suddenly sprung holes, making the space an absolute pain to clean and even harder to get a replacement.' Taking a few controlled breaths, Hakaze controlled her grip so she didn't accidentally break the hospital desk. 'They'd just take it out of my paycheque.'

Haruka-san's eyes grew cold as she bared her teeth in a parody of a smile.

"Oh? More secret admirers at work?" She wished it was so simple. No, something told her some foul play was at hand here.

'Fucking Danzo. It's not the bento thieves, this was too sloppy to be them. Damnit, is there someone in the Hospital helping that man fuck my program over?" Hakaze hated having to suspect her coworkers for sabotage, but she was aware of how unpopular her program currently was. She couldn't discount the fact that one of them might have decided to lend a helping hand to remove what they found as an eyesore.

"No, there were faint signs of chakra forcing the lock open and the seals on the door being reapplied with less care than they were in this morning."

"I see. Well then, looks like we'll need to get more support soon."

"Is Yamanaka-sama's support not enough?" Yamanaka Inoichi had been gracious enough to get Haruka-san as the official therapist in charge of the program, even though technically Hakaze would remain as the founder of the project.

"It would be if we had any successful cases. But since this program is so new and small, he can only give so much. The Clan has to save face should we fail after all."

Pulling out a stack of photographs, Haruka-san cackled as she began to mutter on who her next target should be. Hakaze looked at them and saw different clan heads and other prominent shinobi.

'We're thinking too small. This program will never survive long term without a solid sponsor that has enough political power to get the hospital board, the civilian committee and the clan shinobi to give it a shot.

"...What about one of the Elders?"

"Them? You're more ambitious than I thought!" Haruka-san seemed positively thrilled at her comment, her body language becoming a little more open than it had been before.

'Did I pass some hidden test?' This was what she didn't like about the elite, they were so eccentric you just didn't know if you should look underneath the underneath or just look underneath, 'How many underneaths do you have to look under?'

"Let's see, Homura Mitokado-sama might be a good sponsor. He is excellent with finances and has been a staunch supporter for the Jonin corps during the Wars. The man has a good reputation with many of our patients..."

Hakaze didn't know too much about the village elders per se, but the few times the anime had shown them, they had looked more like Danzo's mean girl gang.

'Plus they hated the main character. Which means that until they get swayed into thinking the main character is the best thing since sliced bread, they are sketchy at best and hidden bad guys at worst.' Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Hakaze decided to get more information about this man.

"...Haruka-san, before you fixate on Homura-sama, can you tell me what percentage of Jonin in Konoha are women?" Working on the frontlines as a medic, as well as working in the hospital, had taught Hakaze it was an unfortunate truth that the percentage ratio between men and women in the force was more unbalanced the higher you went up the ranks.

'If this Elder supported a ratio that was primarily male, when we're both women...plus his age...He won't be the right fit for this program's first major sponsor.' Through all the weeks leading to the start of the program, Hakaze had heard the other medic-nin mutter on how emotional, how 'civilian' this project was.

'I really hate this fucking system that told this village that daring to express in a healthy way your emotions is wrong.'

"...There is less than a fourth of kunoichi who have the full Jonin rank, though you will find many more in the Tokubetsu Jonin rank as it allows for a more personalized skill set." Something dark flickered in Haruka-san's eyes for a second. It made Hakaze wonder if she had felt the divide between the genders in her job before coming to the hospital.

"Still, I'd have to say that there are maybe a third of them who are kunoichi? Why? Does it matter?" Raising her eyebrow at the guileless look on Haruka-san's face, Hakaze sighed softly.

'Guess I'm gonna have to articulate why the old man's bad to a jonin who respects him.' Steadying her breath, Hakaze took that moment to calm herself as she spoke clearly and without a single bit of judgement in her tone of voice. The tone was key right now.

"You would know better than I, but is Homura-sama the kind of man who would endorse a program started and run by kunoichi?" An odd silence filled the room as Haruka-san seemed to be torn between looking at her with either pity or concern.

"...He's not an unfair man, Hakaze-chan. He will accept results and endorse them if they benefit the force. Did you experience discrimination at the hospital?"

Sidestepping the question, Hakaze focused on the first part of the response.

"Then it sounds like he's not the right person to ask for sponsorship at this stage either; as you said, we don't have anyone who has finished the program yet. No success stories to show as proof that this works." Hakaze remembered how big that was back in her old life. She had worked with a non-profit for a few years and their sponsors had been so adamant on using success stories to decide whether they would continue to fund the project or not.

Narrowing her eyes slightly, Hakaze looked out the window and towards the idyllic looking garden.

'Some things just don't change. It doesn't matter where you are, people will always want to endorse what makes them look good.'

"Surely you're not thinking of Koharu-sama? She's a very tough woman. Koharu-sama might have a great love for our village, but that does not make her soft in any manner." Turning back to face Haruka-san, Hakaze hoped one day she would feel more comfortable with sharing her experiences as they got to know each other better. Some of the things she implied ...painted for a very interesting life.

"Exactly. If we can convince her, an Elder who cares for the whole rather than the individual, then the others will have a harder time refuting us." Leaning forward on the desk, Hakaze felt some strands of her hair slide out of the bun she was wearing and cover parts of her face.

It was something she recalled seeing in her old work. If you could gain endorsement from a very picky, powerful sponsor, it would often have others take note and become curious in your enterprise; the ideology of "surely there must be something worthwhile if they've gotten that person's interest" would provoke them into contributing as well.

'Go big or go home Hakaze. You can do this.' She thought, gripping her hands on the table.

"I was just teasing earlier, but you really are an ambitious little thing, aren't you? And if she was before you right now, just how would you be able to convince her to lend her support?" Haruka smirked condescendingly, leaning back into the chair and crossing her arms over her chest as if to say 'impress me.' And despite what Haruka might be thinking, Hakaze's been ready to have a willing audience for more than a year. She knows exactly what she wants to say, and how she'd argue her case to someone like Koharu.

"Ever since the end of the Third War… No, even before that. In the gap between the Second and Third Wars, and continuing well into the Third, there has been a rise of alcoholism in our shinobi forces." Memories of growing up in the orphanage by the red-light district threatened to overwhelm her for a moment. The scent of perfume, alcohol, and sweat filling the air. The sights of men, and some women, stumbling drunk, losing themselves to the full range of human emotions as everything they were was amplified and distorted; like a funhouse mirror from hell.

"There has been a rise of whoring and gambling as well, what's your point?" Haruka-san rebutted, not fully impressed with the opening line. But that was fine, Hakaze would just have to work harder to change her opinion. Taking another shallow breath, she tried again.

"My point is that while those other two things are also important addictions to be addressed, neither have yet to cause such damage to their bodies that a regular medic-nin would be unable to save them on or off the battlefield. That the only way for them to make a recovery is having someone like Tsunade-sama be in charge...And she's gone." And didn't that just burn something fierce? Hakaze had managed to interact with her once, and that was already one too many times. The woman who she became near the end of the war…That woman was nothing but an insult to the legend she had heard about growing up.

'They always say, "Never meet your heroes." But she wasn't even my hero, I just wanted…' Gritting her teeth in frustration, Hakaze noticed she had gotten distracted again. Haruka's unimpressed was slowly turning to boredom.

"That's cute and all, but this is Koharu-sama. She's been known to claim that any Shinobi who self-sabotages themselves like that deserve to perish in doing their duty for the village." Haruka-san was right, Hakaze was still being too polite. This wasn't a customer, nor a higher up before her. This was an audience who wanted her honest opinion.

Throwing her shoulders back, Hakaze spoke a little louder, as her frustration began to bleed into her words.

"That kind of talk is only possible if our forces had the amount of manpower to discard ninja like candy. Especially with such a high rate of mental health problems in our elite, surely she does not mean to sacrifice a good portion of our most skilled shinobi for something that can be healed with time and resources?"

"We have yet to see any visible problems until now, so why waste further resources on a thing that isn't even a problem." Haruka-san's continued nonchalant manner of responding was very infuriating, but also good practice for the inevitable moment where someone said the same thing; trying to keep her breathing even, Hakaze stayed firm.

"Should a medic not treat a wounded shinobi simply because it is not currently life-threatening?" She refuted, gesturing her hand just as nonchalantly as Haruka-san had earlier while keeping a close eye on her answer.

"This and that are two different things Hakaze-chan," she smirked, eyes seeming to laugh at her little sass.

'Okay, that little smirk is just asking for a punch in the face.'

"No, they are not. We lost too many shinobi during both wars, and the hospital was overwhelmed with patients that we couldn't save because we were limited in numbers. A good fourth of those shinobi could have been saved if their bodies hadn't deteriorated to such an extent." It had been so frustrating, realizing how much damage had gone unnoticed.

'Stay focused Hakaze, you can't afford to get distracted right now.'

Gesturing angrily at the window, towards the rest of the village; Hakaze felt herself start to speak a little faster, a little harder.

"If the strength of Konoha is truly important to them, then doesn't it make sense to keep our forces not only large enough to survive wars but to also keep our skilled, valuable ninja and bloodlines healthy and thriving?" Standing from her seat Hakaze silently dared for Haruka-san to claim otherwise.

'Because while Konoha isn't as Kekkei Genkai hungry as Kumogakure, we do love making sure the clan kids have better resources than everyone else.'

Clasping her hands together in front of her mouth for a moment, Hakaze tried to regain control over her emotions. She inhaled, letting the emotional high leave on the exhale, before continuing more calmly.

"We are still a very young village. Our Hokage is just barely older than these walls we are working in. The 1st Hokage brought the clans and civilians together to make a change. The 2nd Hokage died to give hope for the future generations to build a legacy where Konoha would not only survive but thrive and grow even stronger. We can't afford to throw away those we claim weak just because they are struggling and need support."

Twisting to look at the pile of profiles and data on their patients, Hakaze took a quick moment to picture their faces. Everyone one of them deserved the chance to regain control over their lives. To look at the future and not think they have to go to such lengths to get by.

Not even bothering to hide the narrowing of her eyes at a now more interested blonde, Hakaze angrily wished people would understand the little references she wished to make. 'Are you not entertained?' indeed."

"Especially when their recovery is something we can provide with a little bit of support and care! Is that not what the Will of Fire is? To help and support our fellow comrades and ensure that together we provide the best for those we love and fight for? Isn't their value in nurturing those who struggle and show those who will come after us a better way?"

Placing her hands on the table, Hakaze leaned forward, not-quite looming into Haruka-san's space, as her lips twisted into a mocking smile.

"And who are you to make such bold remarks? You're not even twenty-five. What makes you so wise as to decide what our elite, those older and more skilled than you, need or don't need?"

Looking down between her hands for a moment, Hakaze tried to gather her emotions and thoughts as she wondered how to answer her. 'Not like I can say I'm old enough to be her grandmother at this point. Or at minimum her mother.'

"...I am weaker than them, and yes, I know I am not as skilled. But every master was a novice, and good ideas shouldn't be discounted simply because they come in unconventional forms. We are shinobi, clever and creative. How many jutsu has been refined and made new because someone dared to do something different? I know I don't have a Clan nor a prestigious lineage to lean upon, but...if those things are so important then why are non-clan children allowed to be ninja too? There is no ban on how high we can go, so surely that means that our contributions are just as valid?" Looking up, she frustratedly stared - a little pleading, a little angrily - at Haruka-san's laughing eyes.

"So passionate Hakaze-chan."

Biting her lips in disappointment at the blonde's response, Hakaze pulled back and sat on her chair again.

"Haruka-san, I am serious! We can give so much more, help our forces so much more. Konoha itself is proof of Hashirama-sama challenging all the previous elites in his generation who were wiser, more experienced, and maybe better than him and succeeding! Konoha is practically a symbol of how new ideas and working together provide betterment for the whole!"

Exasperatingly throwing her hands up in the air, Hakaze wondered what else she could say that wouldn't reveal too much, yet still get her point across.

"I know rank means a lot to the councils and the civilians, so that's why I wanted this program to focus on the elite. If we can prove that there is a better way, a healthier way to cope with everything we have seen and done ...then maybe one day the other ranks will receive the same help as well. Plus many jonin are the sensei's to our future. It is up to them to teach the future backbone of our village how to cope and handle all the pain they are going to go through. So why not prepare them for the worst-case scenario while working for the best possible future? "

Feeling positively drained after that last burst of emotion, Hakaze buried her face in her hands. Shoulders slumped, not even daring to look at her partner's indifferent, mocking face.

'Well...that was a hot mess. So much for being prepared. I didn't think I'd get that emotional.'

Sincere clapping startled Hakaze into looking up in a daze. Total bewilderment filled her face as Haruka-san smiled gently at her baffled face.

"Beautifully put. You were a little too much at times, but overall you had enough good points that few would be able to deny it. I'm impressed, Hakaze-chan, I never took you for such a passionate young lady." Smiling sweetly, Haruka-san leaned forward, her chin on her palm.

"Now you're just teasing me again" This woman was completely draining! Hakaze needed a long, hot soak in her bathtub with sweet snacks to gnaw on right now.

"Only a little, but that's because you're fun to play with." Poking Hakaze's nose with a fingertip, the blonde grew more serious as she stared into Hakaze's face.

"Still...I hope one day you share with me who you lost to make you so personally invested like this."

Pulling away, Hakaze felt her heart drop to her stomach at those words.

"...Why do you say that."

"Most people don't get so worked up about these kinds of things, not unless they have lost someone or failed another because of it." There was no pity in her blue eyes, thankfully. If there had been, Hakaze didn't know if she would be able to stop herself from trying to punch her in the face; that would have been suicidal to do to a jonin.

"... … …"

"Thank you for your hard work Hakaze-chan. I will use your passion to get Koharu-sama to support this project." Haruka-san stood elegantly as she offered a handshake.

Gently taking it, Hakaze nodded in gratitude as they firmly shook on it.

"Thank you for representing us Haruka-san."

"It has been my pleasure, and I mean it, really. This has been some of the most satisfying work I've done in a long time." Watching her walk away from the room, files clasped in the blonde's hands, Hakaze felt a little light-headed as she took in everything that had just happened.

Subtly blinking back tears of gratitude, Hakaze counted herself lucky to have this amazing woman's support.

Slumping over her floor table, Hakaze groaned slowly. This was not how she wanted to spend her evening. Feeling a curious Kohaku-kun bat at her hair, Hakaze peaked up to see her furry friend staring judgingly at her.

"Being an adult can be hard alright? No one ever tells you about the sheer amount of math you have to do. Not even the Ninja Academy, where they're so intent on telling you about the awful things shinobi have to do." Scratching him under his chin, Hakaze smiled at the soft purr rumbling from under her fingertips.

"See, look at this. So, Tanaka-san gave me my cheque, right? Which is an additional 4,000 Ryo for this month. I already paid rent yesterday, which was about 9,000 Ryo due to water bills. The Hospital paid me last week 24,600 Ryo, making that the last paycheque of the month. So right now I have 44, 200 Ryo. I need to buy more groceries, which I'll have to do tomorrow, so that's about 5,000 Ryo. That should last me for the next two weeks. Plus some food for Ko-kun's - that's you, by the way - visit, so another 1,000 Ryo." Giggling at the startled look the nin-cat gave her, Hakaze placed a kiss on his forehead.

"Of course I would pay for your visits, Ko-kun. You're a treasured friend." There was something adorable about seeing a giant cat fluff out its fur and act all bashful.

"Now then, I also need to buy new traps for the stolen food if I want to keep bringing treats to the program; that's gonna be roughly 5,000 on good quality paper and ink alone. Plus an additional bottle of oil and whetstone for my weapons upkeep, and that's another 2000 Ryo." Continuing to pet her friend, Hakaze tried not to tense as her mind continued to go through the mental math.

"Haruka-san said she'd be covering the fee for renting the rooms, so that's one less burden, but since I am the medic-nin in charge of the program, it's going to come out of my next paycheck for the cost of the sabotaged supplies. Which is about 20,000 ish Ryo in total, so that means I won't get paid much next week. So I'll need to save about 9, 000 ryo for next month's rent just in case. This weekend I need to do some laundry so that's another 1,500 Ryo for the number of clothes. Plus I need to use the better laundromats that actually do good work on the uniform. That's leaving me with 21, 100 Ryo left over." Mentally kissing goodbye, treating herself to buying new books or enjoying anything outside of work and baking; Hakaze nuzzled into Ko-kun's head as he purred up a storm.

"So half of that will be going to savings, as I most certainly don't want to live here forever, even if I have a wonderful visitor like you stopping by Ko-kun. Still, with only 10, 550 Ryo for personal spending, that's not exactly a lot. Guess I won't go out and visit any good restaurants, nor do any personal shopping or hang out with any co-workers after hours for the next few weeks. I can use that money instead to cook some delicious treats and visit the genin corps."

Smiling at the cute head but he gave her, Hakaze whispered softly into his ear, "What say you, Ko-kun? Think Sato-san will be happy to see me pop by?"

The nin-cat leapt out of her arms and gave her a skeptical look, before regally sitting next to the mouse squeaky toy.

"Oh? You want to help me with my practice tonight?"

Licking his paws daintily, he gave her a dismissive look as he lightly kicked it towards her.

Laughing in delight, Hakaze used her chakra strings to grasp the toy. Whipping it around the room for the cat to catch, she used her other hand to pull objects in and out of the Maine Coon's way as he leaped and twirled as he tried to catch the flying fake mouse.

'I am so lucky to have such a good friend. Maybe I can splurge a little and get him his favourite fish tomorrow.' Wickedly pulling the toy away at the last second, Hakaze led him to her room as they continued to fight over the toy close to her bed.

In the distraction, a masked intruder slid into her kitchen and made off with the bento box that had the last slice of cake. Nearly silent yelps of pain echoed over the rooftops as a small squad began to duke it out for the box.

Flopping onto her bed in exhaustion, Hakaze smiled as Kohaku-kun slumped next to her and began to purr. Kissing him one last time on his head, she curled up next to him, resting peacefully after such a stressful day.

Thank you so much for your support! Hope you enjoyed the new chapter! Please feel free to comment and review!