I'm not quite sure what to expect, but I'm feeling hopeful as I walk to the mission room. There are still plenty of people waiting in line, and farther ahead I can make out Sakura's pink hair. Moments later when she comes back towards me, I smile, and she returns it with a friendly wave. But, when I get closer to the desk, I wonder what the investigation I overheard the other day was about. Something related to Raiko? Probably. In fact, I'm a little surprised I haven't heard anything about her from the other ninja- this is usually the kind of thing that would travel through the village in an instant. Perhaps it's because Ibiki took an underground route to the interrogation room, or because Obito and Sasuke have been trying to keep news of an impostor spreading. Well, as long as the story isn't out there, I don't mind how it's stayed a secret.

When I get to the desk Lady Tsunade is still looking through a swamp of papers on her desk. Shizune clears her throat, and Lady Tsunade looks up as if nothing has happened. "Ah, Hinata. I don't have any missions for you, per se, but there are a couple things I'd like you to do for me."

"What did you have in mind, Lady Tsunade?"

"First, I'd like you to head into the library and check Sarutobi's personal scrolls for me. What I need is something from the time of around the incident involving your family several years ago, which should be…" Lady Tsunade looks through the papers on her desk for a second, only for Shizune to point out the one she was looking for. "There. From the time of that incident, which should be on this shelf," She says, handing me the slip of paper. "The scroll should be about the talks with the village council and your family about a treaty with Kumo, if I remember correctly."

"Okay. And, the other thing?"

"It's obliquely tied to this- you see, the daimyo's daughter has asked for a meeting with me, and she mentioned a few incidents related to a certain kunoichi who claimed to be involved in the business between your family and Kumo. Since you were there with her in the royal city recently, I'd like you come to the meeting with me and offer your perspective."

"A- and when is this?"

"She should be here in a few days."

"...Um, Lady Tsunade, Lady Sorano didn't react well to my staged capture. If you don't mind, I would prefer you not mention I was her tutor."

"Why not?" Asks Shizune. "It's a pretty rare opportunity to meet a mark after the mission's come to a close."

I almost say "Because some people are more useful dead than alive," but I catch myself, and instead say, "It was hard on me, too…"

"Alright. I'll be needing that scroll today, so if you would, please bring it back as soon as you can."

"Yes, Lady Tsunade." I bow, and turn to go. My head is spinning as I make my way to the Hokage Library. I thought the interrogation would put all the trouble with Raiko behind me, but instead it's just drawn it even closer.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the mission room, the silence of the library helps to calm me down a little. Lord Third's section of the library has several shelves hurriedly put in place during his time, and besides a minor rearrangement to continue the central path, they're still there taking up space. Some of them form corners and dead ends, kind of like a maze. The shelf mentioned on the scrap of paper is in one of the dead ends at the far side of Lord Third's section, a few twists and turns off the central path. Getting closer to the shelf, I can hear someone already there, looking through the scrolls. As I turn the corner, I see it's Obito. It's a bit of a shock to see him here, as the Hokage Library isn't open to everyone- maybe he got special permission from Lady Tsunade? He glances my way, but then continues looking over the scroll. He's right in the middle of the shelf the scroll Lady Tsunade sent me for is on, and I hesitate to approach. Obito doesn't miss anything, and out of everyone that might get a glimpse of the cut on my neck if my hair is moved out of the way, he's the one I would least want it to be.

"What is it?"

I snap out of it and clear my throat, and show him the scrap of paper with the place of the shelf on it. "Lady Tsunade sent me here to look for a scroll, and, um…" Obito shrugs, and moves a few feet to the side without saying anything. The first scroll I check is a record of a council meeting, about as dry and dull as cardboard. The second is a record of a treaty signing regarding the banning of an old jutsu developed by a distant village, and isn't much better than the first. The third is some kind of cookbook, and after I put it back on the shelf, I realize that Obito is probably looking for the same scroll I am. I start again at the section he'd been at before I got here, and pick one out. This isn't the one; it's just a heavily noted first draft of an old law. I try the one next to: at first it seems like just another account of a meeting, but I see that one of the people at this particular meeting is my deceased uncle, Hizashi… I feel like I should say something to Obito, but after I roll up the scroll, all I manage is "Have a nice day."

"You too," Obito replies, still looking down at a scroll. I hurry back to the mission room, and as I do so the relative calm of the library melts away. I've been getting ready for my trip to Mount Myoboku the last couple of days, and now instead of that, I have something else I need to get ready for...