I do not own Naruto.

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"The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter." - Mark Twain

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Hinata hummed The Sound of Music to herself as she crossed the busy street, enjoying watching the snowflakes as they fell overhead from the crimped gray sky. Everything always seemed so much softer when there was snowfall, blurred a bit more around the edges and blanketing noise to echoes of its usual volume. Her boots crunched on the sidewalk, old gray slush that had not yet melted was piled against the buildings, the fresh layer covering the worst.

It was cold of course. Her parka, gloves, hat, scarf, and extra layer of socks did a lot to keep the chill away, but it didn't catch all the little nips that seeped in between cracks to strike at bare flesh. She was willing to bare it all though, even the nonsensical chatter of the passerby, just to have a few breaths of fresh air. She had kept herself cooped in her apartment too long, and it was nice just to get out and stretch her legs.

These are a few of my favorite things, Hinata sang in her head, dodging around a red-faced woman dragging a surly teenager with dark hair and a pierced nose down the street. Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…

Fingers beginning to numb, Hinata took refuge in the first store she saw that didn't have lingerie as its main attraction and browsed. She wandered aimlessly for a while and ended up in the housewares section that was displaying a sign for grills, thirty percent off. Do I need a new grill? No. No I do not. Of course I could use it for protection if someone ever broke in, I suppose. But what are the chances they could get by that big metal bat Neji bought me for Christmas? Or the tazer Kiba gave me for Valentine's day last year? Or… why do all the presents I receive lead to violent images?

Shaking her head she bypassed the grills to get on the escalator. Maybe she should have a talk with her boys about appropriate presents. They were probably just concerned, may have even had a right to be, but she wouldn't have minded some jewelry that didn't have pepper spray attached.

"Hinata darling," Someone cried, and out of the crowd swept thin, sweet little Aunt Hitomi, beaming. As soon as Hinata stepped off the escalator she was encased in a hug consisting of nothing but bones and silk. "I've missed you!"

And then there are days, Hinata thought as she returned the sentiment and hug; that I wish for pepper spray jewelry.

Aunt Hitomi fawned over her for a while, stroking her hair and criticizing her blush choice, before Hinata was dragged over to a horribly convenient bench to have a chat.

There were fifty-six of Hinata's relatives that lived within the city limits. She loved most all of them, and holidays were always exciting, but having a family that ruled a good portion of the businesses wherever you went could be occasionally exhausting- or suicide inducing, depending on which relative she dealt with.

"—and I am so glad you're extending the Hyuuga Sphere of Influence into interior design. Just genius! I'm sure my dearest wouldn't have any problems handling any advertising that needs doing. Are you going to the family reunion? It's only two months away you know!"

"Only two months?" Hinata asked, voice falsetto. "That's so much… earlier than last year."

"Oh I know," Hitomi said, French-tip nails gleaming in the light as she threw curled blond hair over her shoulder. "But it'll be so much fun! We're bringing the nanny to watch the children of course. They're such a handful!"

Hinata wasn't sure how Hitomi would know her children were a handful when she only saw them about three times a week, but decided to take her word for it.

"Yes, well, kids. And all that. Well, it was wonderful talking to you, Aunt," Hinata said, standing and edging away with a nervous chuckle. "But I have to be going. Very busy…"

"We'll have to have dinner together soon!" Hitomi gushed, brushing imaginary dust off her stylish skirt suit. "And, really dear, you may want to rethink that lipstick choice. It makes that pale skin of yours just wash out! Not that your dark hair doesn't do that already. Have you ever considered highlights?"

"No," Hinata said, smiling with clenched teeth. "Goodbye, Aunt."

"Goodbye, Dear!"

Hinata made a face as soon as she was out of range, and tugged on her hair. Hitomi meant well, she really did, but sometimes she could be overbearing.

And annoying.

And rude.

And perhaps she even occasionally bordered on an imbecilic dolt.

Hinata sighed, pushing unkind thoughts away, and focused on the rack in front of her. It was filled with brightly colored silk ties, a yellow one with blue stripes standing out from the rest. She fingered it gently. It reminded her of the tie she had gotten Father for his birthday…

Of course, she had thrown it at his closed office door after their fight (which now seemed a little childish, looking back) but at least she had given it to him.

She really had to stop dwelling on this.

A poster sale across the room caught her eye, and she smiled.

Well I'll be, she thought gleefully, almost laughing out loud as she walked over and pulled one out. If it isn't Miss Rosie the Riveter…

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Author's Notes: Next chapter includes Naruto in all his glory, and Hinata caving to his, um, "charm".

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