p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The room which housed Kiyoshi was lit by a cluster of candelabras and desolate (minus the herbs, her latest offering of sake and summoning paper.) A thin strand of chakra extended like thread from her heart, and using the hand sign of Ram Kiyoshi was able to focus and coax her own chakra to absorb into the parchment carefully positioned on the ground. Her inky brows beaded with sweat with the effort she maintained to uphold her concentration./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Admittedly, it had been her sixth time attempting this specific summoning. Kiyoshi, much like everyone else, had refused to get left behind after Naruto ignited a fire within everyone before he departed (albeit with a different reason than last time). It had since been a little over a year without Naruto's rambunctious presence in the village, thankfully without an immediate threat being the cause. Kiyoshi had certainly not only kept up, but had surpassed some of her classmates entirely./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"As a recently promoted Anbu Kiyoshi should've been elated, but yet she found herself as withdrawn as ever. A sea-greenish light emitted from the paper as she envisioned an orb of pure light emerging from the glow. With excessive amounts of distress nestled close to Kiyoshi's bosom she willed the image to life, inhaling sharply and shifting her hands into a Rat sign followed immediately by a Serpent positioning of her lithe fingers./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Ninja Art; Slumbering Apparition Jutsu!" Kiyoshi exclaimed, smacking the paper with a force hard enough to echo. Once orange flames from the candles that resembled warmth now, also, produced a green hue as mist coveted the room and the silhouette of a woman slowly took a transparent form. Approximately fifteen minutes was all that Kiyoshi was allotted to express the guilt and shame she felt. Despite being Anbu for the Leaf she no longer felt connected to the village and couldn't explain why and she hoped the spectral being could at least give her guidance/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"_/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ino was basking in the warmth the sun provided, trees dancing gleefully as the wind caressed the leaves and enticed them to rustle. They were a yellowish-green- an indicator of early spring. In Naruto's absence Ino, also, delved into her absolute best. She had sprouted a few more inches and filled in a smidge to resemble more of a young woman than a girl as she came into young adulthood./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Her hazy blue irises gazed up towards the crystalline sky, clouds smattering here and there; surely something Shikamaru would enjoy. From a distance in the fields she could faintly make out the conclusion of a training spar between her own two favorite boys. Ino smiled fondly as waited for them to gather their gear so they could head home for the day./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"It was around four-thirty in the afternoon and while Ino would've accepted Choji's offer of barbeque, she couldn't help but rain check the duo which ultimately left them with confusion and promises of 'telling them later'. She had quite a handful on her mind she was sure the boys couldn't comprehend, Ino herself couldn't make sense of it herself./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ino had refined herself into an excellent shinobi, someone that made her clan proud beyond words. She was a superb ninja on the field and not a shabby medic- overall, she wasn't useless. That was something Ino herself could be boastful about. However, over time, Ino and with age she found herself mulling over the possibility of her ultimately liking girls./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Fuyumi had been the subject of her affections. One could only imagine the conundrum she weaved for herself after discovering through networks that Sakura also had acquired feelings for Fuyumi. Ino couldn't help the bitterness that squeezed her heart. Of course she would be her rival in love again. Her saltiness wasn't even the cherry on the cake, either./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Tomorrow, Lady Tsunade had a pre-scheduled mission lined up that Ino had to delicate teammates for. With all the overwhelming build-up of stress, Ino was giddy to just be home to unwind and go over who would be best for her squad./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"_/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Contrary to what the council of elders seemed to believe, being Kazekage was not, in fact, a cushy job. Gaara found he rarely had enough hours in the day to get all his work done, and he couldn't imagine how buried he'd be if he slept. As it were, his lack of sleep was an aid in getting him to stay on top of things. Shukaku really was good for something, after all (a comment the tanuki resented and summarily screeched about). Still, besides the normal bureaucracy that came with the job, he had to deal with the matter of the villagers' trust. That had been the most difficult thing to handle, but once he'd had his siblings' trust, it felt as though he could handle anything./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Well, almost anything. There was the matter of emotions that didn't come quite as easily to him. Yes, he had discovered hormones like any teenage boy, and had even found someone who piqued his interest enough to be the cause of more than one morning of… Well, some additional time in the bathroom. The Kazekage, young as he was, wouldn't be excused for walking around with a tent in his robes, after all. It just didn't look very professional./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"On another man, it might not have been noticeable, but thanks to a medic chatting a little too loudly after his (rather tense- he still didn't trust strangers) physical upon his acceptance of the hat, Gaara was aware he was more than a little gifted in the size department. It was a shame that the only person he cared to try out all the new feelings and urges with was a citizen of a different country; an ally, yes, but she was far away and potentially uninterested in him (not that he'd blame Kiyoshi, considering his past). Perhaps it was time to make a diplomatic-/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Are you ready for your next meeting?" Temari's voice broke through his reverie, and while he wasn't the most thrilled at having his little daydreaming session interrupted, one corner of his mouth tilted up just the slightest bit in recognition of his sister./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'll be right there." Unfortunately, it wasn't a day for planning any diplomatic visits to Konoha. It was a day to listen as the elders fussed and squealed like a flock of chickens over the budget for the upcoming year./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"_/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"There was an itching under her skin, a pull to get back out in the field and see some action, that came with having been village bound for too long. Fuyumi had been so busy honing her genjutsu skills in horrific ways under the tutelage of several TI veterans while also pulling shifts at the hospital (her chakra control hadn't been too far behind her pink haired friend's when it had been tested a few years ago, but the brunette was under no illusions she was anywhere near as skilled in the medical field as said friend). Fuyumi was in high demand! And while it felt nice to be wanted, she was a shinobi and also wanted to do more than just spar and work in a building beneath fluorescent lights./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"At least she got to see her two closest friends on a regular basis. Ino was undoubtedly going to take Ibiki's place as head of TI one day, she was so brilliant, and Sakura? Well, being the Fifth's apprentice meant she wasn't exactly destined for irrelevance! Yet, even with similar shifts, Fuyumi didn't get to spend enough time with either of them, though perhaps it was for the best. Her feelings had been a bit confusing as of late, and perhaps it was time away that could clear her head. Then again, she was greedy for their attention - it was lonely, going home to an empty apartment at the end of every day./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Perhaps that was why she showed up on the Yamanaka's doorstep that night, rocking on the balls of her feet as she waited for Ino to come to the door. Sure, she could have broken past the other girl's traps and invited herself in (more than once Fuyumi had nagged her to set better traps - the Sound invasion had proven you couldn't even fully relax in your home village), but they were some of the more socially polite members of their graduating class, and knew how to knock./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"_/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"About an hour after the Jutsu ended Kiyoshi had been no closer to piecing together the vague message the spirit had to relay. Rather so much as speaking, it proceeded to manifest orbs of crimson that pulsated much like a heartbeat. Beaten with confusion, Kiyoshi ultimately shuffled from the shack she used for her more advanced (and sometimes forbidden) forms of jutsu./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"It must've been around eight at night from the way the shadows cast silhouettes across the plethora of trees. Perhaps some company would do her some good? At the least she could get advice about her dilemma, though who would respond at this hour? Kiyoshi withdrew a silver, slender, flip phone from her shorts and mulled over her options. After much forethought, Kiyoshi submitted to her shot nerves and ended up sending out two separate texts./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Heyy, Lee! You up? Feel like hangin' out awhile?" She sent out to Rock Lee first, knowing it would be a close call between him and Shino who would even be up; nevertheless./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hey, you up? Umm, if you are- feel like chillin' a little?" Kiyoshi's nimble fingers ghosting strokes over the buttons before she sent out her last text./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"_/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ino had assortments of documents strewn about her kitchen's countertop. She had been sipping on a fresh, boiling, cup of herbal tea and scanning over the comrades she had been tasked to sift through and make into her own squad. The mission was A rank, gathering information- something the Yamanaka clan was quite familiar with. If she completed a successful mission Ino knew it would make her parents proud (not to mention the ego boost; she'd be elated!)/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ino had thumbed her way through the stack and instantly withdrew Fuyumi's folder, setting it aside as a definite candidate. Fuyumi's monstrous genjutsu would not only be beneficial for the task, but it also gave Ino the chance to entice the feelings she had brewing underneath. Ino's forethoughts mulled over the actual objective itself./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"A nasty virus had broken out around Konoha that Lady Tsunade suspected came from out of the land of water. This particular strain had never been introduced, and while a few remedies ailed some- others weren't so lucky. Ino's worries were interrupted by light taps at her door. She swiftly stowed the folders within the nearest drawer, setting her mug down to free herself up entirely before meandering to the front door./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Peeping through the eye-hole, Ino was flustered and giddy to see Fuyumi on the other side. Hastily, Ino swung the door open and stepped out to greet her friend in a hug, "Fuyumi, babes?! You didn't tell me you were coming!" Ino proclaimed with excitement, "Oh my gosh, let's get inside- ohhhh, I have so much to tell you!" Ino squeed as she gripped the other woman's forearm and escorted her inside./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Admittedly, it had been her sixth time attempting this specific summoning. Kiyoshi, much like everyone else, had refused to get left behind after Naruto ignited a fire within everyone before he departed (albeit with a different reason than last time). It had since been a little over a year without Naruto's rambunctious presence in the village, thankfully without an immediate threat being the cause. Kiyoshi had certainly not only kept up, but had surpassed some of her classmates entirely./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"As a recently promoted Anbu Kiyoshi should've been elated, but yet she found herself as withdrawn as ever. A sea-greenish light emitted from the paper as she envisioned an orb of pure light emerging from the glow. With excessive amounts of distress nestled close to Kiyoshi's bosom she willed the image to life, inhaling sharply and shifting her hands into a Rat sign followed immediately by a Serpent positioning of her lithe fingers./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Ninja Art; Slumbering Apparition Jutsu!" Kiyoshi exclaimed, smacking the paper with a force hard enough to echo. Once orange flames from the candles that resembled warmth now, also, produced a green hue as mist coveted the room and the silhouette of a woman slowly took a transparent form. Approximately fifteen minutes was all that Kiyoshi was allotted to express the guilt and shame she felt. Despite being Anbu for the Leaf she no longer felt connected to the village and couldn't explain why and she hoped the spectral being could at least give her guidance/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"_/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ino was basking in the warmth the sun provided, trees dancing gleefully as the wind caressed the leaves and enticed them to rustle. They were a yellowish-green- an indicator of early spring. In Naruto's absence Ino, also, delved into her absolute best. She had sprouted a few more inches and filled in a smidge to resemble more of a young woman than a girl as she came into young adulthood./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Her hazy blue irises gazed up towards the crystalline sky, clouds smattering here and there; surely something Shikamaru would enjoy. From a distance in the fields she could faintly make out the conclusion of a training spar between her own two favorite boys. Ino smiled fondly as waited for them to gather their gear so they could head home for the day./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"It was around four-thirty in the afternoon and while Ino would've accepted Choji's offer of barbeque, she couldn't help but rain check the duo which ultimately left them with confusion and promises of 'telling them later'. She had quite a handful on her mind she was sure the boys couldn't comprehend, Ino herself couldn't make sense of it herself./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ino had refined herself into an excellent shinobi, someone that made her clan proud beyond words. She was a superb ninja on the field and not a shabby medic- overall, she wasn't useless. That was something Ino herself could be boastful about. However, over time, Ino and with age she found herself mulling over the possibility of her ultimately liking girls./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Fuyumi had been the subject of her affections. One could only imagine the conundrum she weaved for herself after discovering through networks that Sakura also had acquired feelings for Fuyumi. Ino couldn't help the bitterness that squeezed her heart. Of course she would be her rival in love again. Her saltiness wasn't even the cherry on the cake, either./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Tomorrow, Lady Tsunade had a pre-scheduled mission lined up that Ino had to delicate teammates for. With all the overwhelming build-up of stress, Ino was giddy to just be home to unwind and go over who would be best for her squad./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"_/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Contrary to what the council of elders seemed to believe, being Kazekage was not, in fact, a cushy job. Gaara found he rarely had enough hours in the day to get all his work done, and he couldn't imagine how buried he'd be if he slept. As it were, his lack of sleep was an aid in getting him to stay on top of things. Shukaku really was good for something, after all (a comment the tanuki resented and summarily screeched about). Still, besides the normal bureaucracy that came with the job, he had to deal with the matter of the villagers' trust. That had been the most difficult thing to handle, but once he'd had his siblings' trust, it felt as though he could handle anything./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Well, almost anything. There was the matter of emotions that didn't come quite as easily to him. Yes, he had discovered hormones like any teenage boy, and had even found someone who piqued his interest enough to be the cause of more than one morning of… Well, some additional time in the bathroom. The Kazekage, young as he was, wouldn't be excused for walking around with a tent in his robes, after all. It just didn't look very professional./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"On another man, it might not have been noticeable, but thanks to a medic chatting a little too loudly after his (rather tense- he still didn't trust strangers) physical upon his acceptance of the hat, Gaara was aware he was more than a little gifted in the size department. It was a shame that the only person he cared to try out all the new feelings and urges with was a citizen of a different country; an ally, yes, but she was far away and potentially uninterested in him (not that he'd blame Kiyoshi, considering his past). Perhaps it was time to make a diplomatic-/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Are you ready for your next meeting?" Temari's voice broke through his reverie, and while he wasn't the most thrilled at having his little daydreaming session interrupted, one corner of his mouth tilted up just the slightest bit in recognition of his sister./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'll be right there." Unfortunately, it wasn't a day for planning any diplomatic visits to Konoha. It was a day to listen as the elders fussed and squealed like a flock of chickens over the budget for the upcoming year./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"_/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"There was an itching under her skin, a pull to get back out in the field and see some action, that came with having been village bound for too long. Fuyumi had been so busy honing her genjutsu skills in horrific ways under the tutelage of several TI veterans while also pulling shifts at the hospital (her chakra control hadn't been too far behind her pink haired friend's when it had been tested a few years ago, but the brunette was under no illusions she was anywhere near as skilled in the medical field as said friend). Fuyumi was in high demand! And while it felt nice to be wanted, she was a shinobi and also wanted to do more than just spar and work in a building beneath fluorescent lights./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"At least she got to see her two closest friends on a regular basis. Ino was undoubtedly going to take Ibiki's place as head of TI one day, she was so brilliant, and Sakura? Well, being the Fifth's apprentice meant she wasn't exactly destined for irrelevance! Yet, even with similar shifts, Fuyumi didn't get to spend enough time with either of them, though perhaps it was for the best. Her feelings had been a bit confusing as of late, and perhaps it was time away that could clear her head. Then again, she was greedy for their attention - it was lonely, going home to an empty apartment at the end of every day./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Perhaps that was why she showed up on the Yamanaka's doorstep that night, rocking on the balls of her feet as she waited for Ino to come to the door. Sure, she could have broken past the other girl's traps and invited herself in (more than once Fuyumi had nagged her to set better traps - the Sound invasion had proven you couldn't even fully relax in your home village), but they were some of the more socially polite members of their graduating class, and knew how to knock./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"_/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"About an hour after the Jutsu ended Kiyoshi had been no closer to piecing together the vague message the spirit had to relay. Rather so much as speaking, it proceeded to manifest orbs of crimson that pulsated much like a heartbeat. Beaten with confusion, Kiyoshi ultimately shuffled from the shack she used for her more advanced (and sometimes forbidden) forms of jutsu./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"It must've been around eight at night from the way the shadows cast silhouettes across the plethora of trees. Perhaps some company would do her some good? At the least she could get advice about her dilemma, though who would respond at this hour? Kiyoshi withdrew a silver, slender, flip phone from her shorts and mulled over her options. After much forethought, Kiyoshi submitted to her shot nerves and ended up sending out two separate texts./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Heyy, Lee! You up? Feel like hangin' out awhile?" She sent out to Rock Lee first, knowing it would be a close call between him and Shino who would even be up; nevertheless./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hey, you up? Umm, if you are- feel like chillin' a little?" Kiyoshi's nimble fingers ghosting strokes over the buttons before she sent out her last text./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"_/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ino had assortments of documents strewn about her kitchen's countertop. She had been sipping on a fresh, boiling, cup of herbal tea and scanning over the comrades she had been tasked to sift through and make into her own squad. The mission was A rank, gathering information- something the Yamanaka clan was quite familiar with. If she completed a successful mission Ino knew it would make her parents proud (not to mention the ego boost; she'd be elated!)/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ino had thumbed her way through the stack and instantly withdrew Fuyumi's folder, setting it aside as a definite candidate. Fuyumi's monstrous genjutsu would not only be beneficial for the task, but it also gave Ino the chance to entice the feelings she had brewing underneath. Ino's forethoughts mulled over the actual objective itself./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"A nasty virus had broken out around Konoha that Lady Tsunade suspected came from out of the land of water. This particular strain had never been introduced, and while a few remedies ailed some- others weren't so lucky. Ino's worries were interrupted by light taps at her door. She swiftly stowed the folders within the nearest drawer, setting her mug down to free herself up entirely before meandering to the front door./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Peeping through the eye-hole, Ino was flustered and giddy to see Fuyumi on the other side. Hastily, Ino swung the door open and stepped out to greet her friend in a hug, "Fuyumi, babes?! You didn't tell me you were coming!" Ino proclaimed with excitement, "Oh my gosh, let's get inside- ohhhh, I have so much to tell you!" Ino squeed as she gripped the other woman's forearm and escorted her inside./p