I returned at night, the full moon staring down at me. Though I've done several in recent weeks, day and night runs at nearly full speed are still the most exhausting thing. This one is no different. The gates are open, the blue-white of the fluorescent light buzzing loudly. The ninja on duty step out from the shadows, blocking my way for a second.

"Is that you again?" Asks one- Genma, I think. I straighten up so he can see my face, and brush my hair out of my eyes. His face softens then, and he gives me a nod. "Welcome back, Miss Hyuga."

"One of these days you'll have to tell us where you've been going," Asks the other man, who looks familiar but I don't quite recognize.

"...It was nowhere exciting this time, I just went out for a run in the forest..."

"Well, there are worse places to go on a mission," Genma says. I can only nod in agreement, and walk into Konoha.

Time seemed to blur from then on, and it was like waking from a deep sleep when I arrived at my clan's estate. I shook myself awake, and as quietly as I could, crept back to my room. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't just collapse on my bed and fall asleep- there were a couple things to do first. One, hide the scroll with the razorleaf plant's records inside; two, think. I certainly have a lot to think about. I turn on the lamp on my writing desk, and sit down. The first thing that comes to mind is the man who came back to the plant during the lunch break; he had seen me as my Raiko alias, and after what happened, isn't likely to forget me. My greatest strength and weakness, hmm. I guess Ibiki can read me better than I'd like to admit. I don't doubt word will spread, and once people realize Raiko was also the one who assassinated Shigekuni Yamaha, I'll have gotten myself into a fine mess indeed. I wonder if Yusei has said anything about being in contact with my Raiko alias...

I rub my eyes, and wonder how I'll manage being three different people at once while(if, I suppose) I'm at the daimyo's palace. It seems like none of them could really be me, and yet at the same time, are. After a second I start, and realize I don't even have a name to use as Lady Sorano's tutor. For a minute I smile and think of using the name Raiko again, but that would be a bit much. Hmm, now that I think of it, Raiko doesn't have a last name... but that's a problem for another time. The tutor... the name should be like her appearance, just right. Not too short or hard, not too long... A softer family name, yes. Starting with an H... Hirawa? Maybe. I get out a sheet of paper and write down a couple other names. Perhaps because of Raiko, I get to thinking of first names that start with an R. Rei, Risa, Rana, Rin... I sigh and close my eyes to rest them for a moment, more R names floating through my head. I write down a few, then rest my eyes again...

When I wake up something is sticking to my face, and there's light coming into the room through the window. The thing on my face turns out to be the list of names, and, in some strange omen, it seems that all but one were crossed out as my hand slipped and I fell asleep. Ruza. Not the prettiest name, but nice enough. I look over to check my clock, and almost jump out of my chair- it's late, and mission assignment time is nearly over! I quickly smooth down my hair and straighten out my clothes, and run off to the mission room.

Thankfully, there are still several people left when I enter the room. I avoid looking towards Lady Tsunade as I walk forwards in the line, but soon I come to the front and have to look up. "G- good morning, Lady Tsunade..."

"Good morning, Hinata." Lady Tsunade says with a smile. "Why are you here?"

"I had thought that perhaps you would assign some mission to me while waiting for a reply from the daimyo's palace."

"Maybe," She answers with a shrug, "But we didn't really get anything particularly suited to you. If you're itching to get out, I could assign you an E or D rank mission if you really want to."

"No, that's okay."

"Alright. But, I should say that the reply came back this morning. Once the Cryptanalysis Department gets done with it, which I'd imagine would be sometime this afternoon, we'll let you know. Okay?"

"Okay..." I bow and leave the mission room, and wipe the sleep out of my eyes as I walk back home.

When I get there, my baby sister Hanabi is standing in front of the door to my room, her arms crossed and expression furious. "Where is she?" Hanabi says, voice low and dangerous. "I could taste her in your room..."

"Hanabi, I'm very tired. Would you please let me in to room so I can take a nap?"

"Tell me where Haruko is, and I will."

"Sealed into a scroll," I say, purposely not saying which one contains the old gray stuffed bunny. "I'll give her back once I wake up, just please let me in..."

"Is she in a scroll you're carrying now?"

Sometimes it's mildly annoying how smart Hanabi is. "...Yes, but there are a couple other things sealed into it, too. Let's go in my room..." Hanabi nods and opens the door to my room. I walk over to my writing desk and take out the scroll from my hip bag, and open it up. When I unseal it the folders I took from the razorleaf plant also pop up, and as quickly as I can I reseal them into the scroll.

"Why did you take her...?" Hanabi asks as she cuddles Haruko, looking angry and sad and incredibly adorable.

"Because you keep reading my journal. Who knows, I might take her again if you keep doing it."

"Maybe if you would just tell me things..."

"Well, I would, but I can't, and you already know why..."

"It doesn't have to be the things about Taizo, or Yusei..." It's hard for me to stay mad at Hanabi, and I give in.

"Okay. I won't kidnap Haruko if you don't read my journal... and I promise not to keep some of the things in there a secret from you."

Hanabi nods. "Haruko says you made the right choice," She tells me, holding the stuffed bunny out as if it was addressing me. "...And, do you really like Aoba and Ibiki?" I walk over to my bed and flop down onto it, closing my eyes.

When I wake up, it's in the late afternoon. My muscles are sore from the run, but I feel more rested, and stretch. As I yawn, the watched feeling lingers over my chest, and I reflexively cover it up. I hurriedly use the Chakra Sensing Technique, but as always, no one is around. I look around my room and see an envelope by the door. I go over to pick it up and sit down at my desk, opening it.

"Hinata, in short, the response from the
daimyo was a yes. However, as this proposition
officially came from our village, he decided
that it would also be useful to give Lady Sorano
instruction in the life and mindset of ninja,
citing the recent war as his main reason. There are
a few scrolls on the history of ninja conflict in the
Hokage Library that I think would prove valuable
to this, and I'll have them available for you
in the morning at the mission room- and please
keep in mind that the young woman being sent to tutor
Lady Sorano is a civilian, not a ninja.

-Tsunade"

It's set, then. I fold up the letter and begin to start packing...