~Okay, these are kind of random things (bonus content) from old chapters (23 and 24, specifically). I thought I'd merge them together since they're so short. Plus, they're all set at about the same time.

Time: Chapter 18

Hatake residence, Konoha. Eight years after Kyūbi. Before trip to Kiri.

"Dear Kakashi-san," the letter read,

"I love you. I love you more than the stars or the cold embrace of the moon. I love you the way the sun caresses each tiny, delicate seedling—"

"It'll never fool him," Shika interrupted.

"Oh, really? I practically quoted yesterday's mail verbatim."

My friend rolled his eyes. "And did you happen to write any of yesterday's mail?"

"Shut up," I muttered. "Maybe next time your parents are gone, I'll see if I can find any old letters, and then you'll get blamed for snooping."

"My mom wouldn't write letters," Shika said, but the tiny edge of uncertainty was enough to convince me otherwise. Besides, while I couldn't complain about wrinkles yet, I was still closer to his mother's age than his own. I wasn't exactly blind.

.

~How sweet! It's like valentines. Anyway, on to the old concepts. These ones obviously didn't end up happening. Which means they're effectively the opposite of spoilers, but just in case:

Warning: basically spoilers for the Uchiha Massacre. Don't let yourself miss out! Please read about that in the main story first.

I'm glad I didn't end up using these concepts. I like how the story ended up. But hey, I'm glad I wrote these out a bit! If I hadn't, I might not have been able to improve on them. At least, I'm pretty sure I improved on them with the decisions I made for the plot.

Time: Hypothetical (the night of the Massacre)

Uchiha compound, Konoha. Eight years after Kyūbi.

Had Kana been at a sleepover with her friend Uchiha Kiyomi during the night of the massacre:

"Kiyomi."

"Yes, Kana-chan?"

I slapped myself mentally. "Let's henge into each other!"

She frowned. "Why?"

"If we can fool your relatives, we're pretty good, ne?"

Time: Hypothetical (the night of the Massacre)

Hatake residence, Konoha. Eight years after Kyūbi.

Had the Hatake family been in the village during the massacre and Kakashi been retired from ANBU for a while. Assuming that, had Kana heard what had happened and met Kakashi in their house:

"Daddy?" The ANBU in the living room glanced at me. "You're back in active service?" I asked softly.

"You're really too smart," he pondered, thoughts clearly on a different matter. "We're going to have to have a talk when I get back."

"When will that be?"

He gave me a hug, tousling my hair. "Take care of your otōto."

"Daddy."

He sighed. "I know he was your friend, but people change."

I stared at the whirl of departed leaves, deciding not to follow. "Circumstances change. People don't."

~A moment of silence for that idealism. But anyway. The first of the concepts had some merit. It might have ended up with Kiyomi's survival. Or with Kana dead. Henging would have been better than just waiting to die, and if they'd started early enough, maybe they could have found refuge somewhere. Probably not.

The second concept is the non-plot-twist massacre that us pessimists were expecting. I'll probably sneak that last quotation somewhere into the main story at some point. Maybe even the reinstatement into service. We shall see! Keep an eye out. :)

(And yes, the title was definitely intended. I always worry I won't be able to think of a good title, and without fail, when I'm submitting the new chapter, inspiration strikes. Just maybe not always good inspiration.)