Chapter 35: Reflection

'Inner thoughts'

Writing

・

Yukino's POV

Hearing an explosion I picked up my experiments and ran out of the infirmary to see what was going on only to see my father?! Kneeling in the center of the room and debris he stayed calm with his only cover being the overturned table.

Standing in the entrance to the lounge I glanced to the side seeing Deidara making another clay bomb. "Wait!" I yelled running to the center holding my vials of poison. "It's my father!" I yelled helping my father up. "Otou-san why are you here?" I asked genuinely curious as he brushed away the debris on him.

"You never visited your grandmother." He said sending a glare to Deidara. 'Grandmother? Does he mean Haruko-sama?' I thought back to the previous sage of Inari mountain. 'Wait now that I think of it, she's been around longer than anyone in Inari mountain.'

"Wait is something wrong with her?"

"She's ill and she wants everyone with her during this time."

"What's going on here?" I heard Konan say.

"It's her father," Deidara said pointing at my father who stood amid the chaos still wearing a fox mask.

"How did you find this place?" She asked.

"I tracked her down using the seal on her leg."

"Seal? You told me it was a tattoo." I lied just wanting to go to Inari mountain to see if Haruko-sama was okay.

"I lied. You tend to get kidnapped by people." He cupped my face rubbing my eyes. "After the second time, I had to do something to find you." Turning his head to the two Akatsuki members he said. "I can see you took good care of her and I'm grateful but I will need her back for a week." Wrapping an arm around me he walked towards one of the exits and we walked out. Surprisingly with no interference or trouble.

3rd POV

The two Akatsuki members stood in silence watching their healer leave their base with their father who had come to pick her up. "Deidara, clean up your mess," Konan ordered before walking to the infirmary.

Looking in for a second she closed the door locking it with a key she had. With a sigh, she shook her head at the insanity that she had to go through on a daily basis due to these people. "Zetsu follow her." She ordered the plant being that had been watching her from around the corner.

Yukino's POV

Still carrying my poison vials I knew not to activate my Getsugan. Not now. After months of being in the same base as Zetsu, I learned that privacy was very important which is why I made sure to memorize his chakra signature before any other member of the Akatsuki. Which is how I also know that he was trailing behind us as we approached the forest. 'Will he be able to follow us to Inari Mountain?' I wondered as the fog thickened.

Feeling otou-san squeeze my shoulder I calmed down as the fog cleared. Signing in relief I could no longer sense Zetsu near us. "Is Haruko-sama really sick?" I asked him.

"No, she has more centuries to live. I just needed an excuse to get you out of there." He smiled before hugging me and lifting me from the ground. "You've grown so much since the last time." He placed me down and rubbed my head. "You're growing into a young lady now. Soon you will need to buy new clothing and buy bras-"

"We both know that I will never need them." I sighed crossing my arms feeling nothing. 'Imagine how much stuff I could hide easier if I had breasts. Then I wouldn't have to use seals for the littlest of things.'

"Yukino, you're still developing. Look in a mirror and you will see that your hips had begun to change." 'Is that why my pants are feeling tighter?' I patted my hips with a look of surprise since he added. "It's part of becoming a woman soon you will go through a growth spurt." He sighed handing me an envelope. "Hina said to give this to you."

Opening it the envelope I saw the picture of a young blonde girl. "Who is this?" I asked handing the picture to him and as I did, I noticed something written behind it. "The fifth Hokage age 13."

"I'm guessing she knows you have a breast complex." He said quietly hoping that I wouldn't listen but I did. "You need to go back to Konoha immediately." He began guiding me to another foggy area of the woods. "The fifth Hokage summoned you an hour ago and you need to be there. Go through here and look at this after you finish whatever the Hokage gives you." He placed a note on my hands before nudging me towards the fog.

"What is it?" I asked looking at the neatly folded paper in my hand.

"You'll find out." He smiled, I could tell from the way his face mask moved. Sighing I returned the smile hugging him. "Make sure to visit us more often." He ruffled my hair.

"I will try." I let go, heading back into the fog.

・・・

Stepping foot into the familiar woods. I took out my Anbu clothing and tried to put it on only to realize that I no longer fit in. "Right it's been years since I last put it on." Sighing I threw the clothes back in and rummaged around looking for clothes that I could use for this mission. Finding black pants and a black kimono I just threw it on and took out the new weapons I bought but haven't used. 'I need to ask about my old ones when I return to the base.' Putting on my shinobi gear I took out my Anbu mask and tied it to my side before running to the Hokage's office. 'This will be the first time I've ever seen her.' I realized as I ran.

Arriving at the door I knocked fixing my hair. 'My hair.' Touching it I felt it already reaching my shoulders. 'When did–' Looking around for something to tie it with I heard a stern voice say: "Come in." Leaving it the way it was I opened the door and walked in.

Seeing the woman at the desk she resembled the girl in the picture making me realize that she was the fifth Hokage. From looking at her face my eyes wandered down. 'Her breasts are huge. But won't they sag? It seems like she's not wearing a bra. But now that I look closely she could hide a scroll or two in there. That's so cool…' Hearing her clear her throat, I realized that I had been staring at her bust for quite some time. Standing straight I began to talk. "If it is about me leaving the village so often–"

"We know that your leaves tie into your private mission given to you by the third Hokage." Hearing her say this I just felt relief like no other that I've felt before. 'Wait so those times that I made up excuses was for nothing?!'

"It's nice knowing that after his passing you are still keeping up a mission that he gave you." The woman with black hair holding a pig that stood beside the Hokage said. 'Woah, there was someone else here?'

"Which is why I need you to participate in the following mission, Fuyumi." She used my code name. Understanding I gave a small nod before putting on the mask tied to my side. Knock. Knock. "That must be your partner for this assignment. Come in."

In came in a young man, maybe late teen, with black hair and fading purple ends and a slender build. "Gou, this is Fuyumi your partner." Glancing in my direction I saw the stormy color of their eyes through the openings in his mask.

"I have chosen both of you due to your skills, efficiency, and your record of missions completed without fail." The Hokage nodded and the woman beside her unrolled a map placing it on the desk.

"You are to investigate this location within the border. The local town has submitted this mission saying that these people are actually working with rouge shinobi and the land of grass transporting suspicious objects. Investigate these rumors. If they are true capture every single one and bring them in. If there is nothing just report what you found."

A day worth of travel in silence

At Location

Finding a suitable tree I suppressed my chakra and hid in the shadows to observe the construction of a manor ahead. Taking out my binoculars I heard the creak of a branch next to me. Glancing to the side I saw my partner, Gou, taking a seat on a tree nearby and doing the same.

・・・

Sitting in the tree for hours to no end I obviously began to feel bored at this point. 'I forgot how boring Anbu missions were.' I held in my sigh."Gou, was it? I asked receiving nothing in response except silence. Going through interesting topics to talk about I landed on one. "What do you think of promises?"

"…" Sighing I returned my gaze to the construction still seeing nothing off. "Promises are nothing more than verbal confirmation of an obligation one can't keep." I heard him say which surprised me.

"Some promises are like that yes." I kept my eyes fixed on the people walking around trying to match them up to anyone in the bingo book. Just to make sure I didn't skip a page I took out my bingo book and looked through it quickly before putting it away.

"That book is outdated." I heard him say as I felt something land on my lap.

Looking down I saw the bingo book he placed on my lap. "Thanks." I picked up the bingo book and began looking through it. "As I was saying. Some promises are hard to keep and most do end up broken which brings me to one of my favorite stories." Hearing a small sigh I continued. "Have you ever heard the story of the grateful crane?"

"No."

"Well, it's about this farmer who saved this crane. By helping the crane she returns to the farmer in human form and marries him. They live happily together until money becomes an issue." I closed the bingo book already finished with it.

"So the crane leaves?" He guessed still keeping the same monotone voice.

"No." I gave him back his book. "The crane goes into a room and makes him promise to never look inside while she's working." I kept going returning my eyes to the construction. "He obeys and after several days she comes out holding fabric with beautiful patterns. Sending him out to sell it he comes home with a lot of money. But they got reckless and spent it all too quickly. So she returns to the room and does it again. Curious the man looks in and sees her as a crane plucking off her own feathers to make the cloth. She, of course, sees him breaking the promise."

"What happens next?" He asked as I sensed a little bit of curiosity.

"Well, she leaves since he saw her true form leaving the man once again poor and unhappy. In the end, he realized the pain the crane was going through just to make both of them happy."

"What was the point of this story then?" I heard him sigh.

"It brings us back to what I think of promises. I think that the only ones capable of keeping them are the ones who made it and as long as you know you can keep and uphold it you should make it."

"…" Hearing his silence once again I kept my eyes forward and looked around actually finding something.

"That rock wasn't like that before." I looked down at the ground.

Turning my head to see what he thought a blur passed me as he jumped down. Holding in a sigh I followed after him to make sure he had back up.

Catching up he had already moved the rock to the side revealing a hidden entrance. 'Smuggling.' I thought. Without waiting for me he ran into the tunnel and out of my sight. Containing a sigh, I ran in making sure to put on top the fake rock so no one would follow after us. The clashing sound of weapons could be heard the more I approached.

Exiting the tunnel into a room that had more tunnels branching off into the construction site and more rooms like this one that had crates. 'Stolen artifacts and forbidden justu.' I glanced inside one of the open crates. 'These can be sold for a lot.' Taking out my tantō I blocked a kunai that was thrown at me. Turning my attention at my opponent I looked around seeing Gou fighting multiple opponents, some who I had seen in the bingo book, with ease as he moved around them like air.

Immediately running to the one who threw the kunai I wiped the blade against their skin before moving on to another target. Before anyone could realize I didn't cut with my blade I wiped my blade on as many as I could.

Backing away and letting Gou finish with his I waited as I heard the sound of a falling body. Soon one after another they began to fall to the ground clutching their arms and legs. "What did you do?" Gou asked tying his opponents up.

"Poison," I explained taking out a small vial and sprinkling some more on my tantō. "They will live but they won't be able to move for some time." I looked up seeing his bleeding arm.

"Tie them up. Catch up as soon as you can." He said running off to another tunnel before I could even offer to heal him.

・・・

With the mission ending rather quickly we tied everyone up and dragged them to the surface. A few nearby leaf shinobi arrived after hearing the ruckus that was created above ground. Informing them of our findings the crates were dragged out and sent to a facility for investigation.

"They should handle the rest," Gou said ready to leave the area.

Seeing his bandaged arm I beckoned him, "Come here." when he came within arms reach I removed the bandages and began to heal the cut.

"You're a medical-nin?"

"Yes," I responded already finished. 'Huh. I've gotten better.' I beamed seeing at my finished work.

"Then you shouldn't be in the Anbu."

"Why not?" I asked regretting to have healed him. 'If he gets hurt again I'll just wrap it in some bandages.'

"Medical nin are few which is why they're never in the front lines. You are breaking rule 2 of a medical-nin at the moment."

"But I'm not part of the medical team. I'm in the Anbu there are no rules for those who can use medical ninjutsu in the Anbu." I pointed out.

"…" Silent for a moment he took out his rule book and flipped through it. Holding back a laugh I returned my attention to the captured shinobi. 'I hope those go towards my capture count.' Seeing Leaf shinobi take them away I sighed, glad that I wouldn't have to be the one to have to take them back.

Konohagakure

Writing the report as neatly and quickly as possible on our way back to the village. I put in every detail of what we discovered and who was captured.

Finishing it by the time we arrived at the village I made my way to the big red building when I felt a light tap on my shoulder. "Let me see it," Gou said holding his hand out.

"Sure." Placing it on his hand I watched quietly hoping that there was nothing wrong or missing.

"It's good. I'm going to submit it," he said as a matter of fact voice instead of as an offer.

Not minding it I shrugged. "Thank you." I gave a slight nod. "Bye then." I turned around ready to bolt back to my house.

"Wait."

"Hm?" I turned around to see what he wanted.

"You forgot to sign it." He pointed to the spot.

"Oh, right." I took it back. Yukino Uzumaki. Remembering that this was an Anbu mission I quickly erased it and wrote Fuyumi. "There." I handed it back. "Bye!" Skipping away I just gave a small wave.

Skipping to the future to an older Yukino…

"That was the day when I think my troubles started. I thought nothing of it but he… he just proved me wrong. I let my guard down giving the opportunity when I should never have done so. But it happened and there's no rewinding it." Crossing my arms thinking of him I chuckled. "But he was the most normal problem I had. Not one I wanted but still, he was just there."

Going back to the past. Or present.

Arriving at the base of that snake. I looked at the little note making sure it was the right place. 'Yep. Who else would have a base in a place like this.' Looking around for the entrance I crept in and walked around making sure my steps were as silent as a cat's. 'I wonder if Sasuke is here.' My heart began to race as I thought that. 'Sasuke. The cute boy from childhood working with the guy that experimented on me.' Closing my eyes at the memory I also remembered how he became colder once he entered the academy and how he had no memory of me aside from the one from when I was introduced to team 7. 'Still that doesn't mean that I want him to be with that creep.'

"Watch it!" A girl yelled when I turned the corner and bumped into her. Looking at the girl I bumped she bore a striking resemblance to Ryota from the color of their red hair and their pupilless red-pink eyes. 'Those features must be pretty common then.'

Standing still we stared at each other for a moment surprised at each other before the realization set in. Looking to the hallway I bolted leaving her behind. "STOP!" She yelled chasing after me.

Running through the corridors my eyes zoomed from door to door hoping to catch a glimpse of the boy I knew. Lowering my body to the ground as I approached a corner I swept my foot on the floor to make the turn without colliding into anything.

Once around the corner I straightened up and continued running. Crash! Not looking back I knew I had just gained some distance. 'She will catch up if I linger too long in one place.' With that girl staying on my trail and the noise we were making I knew that Orochimaru and Kabuto weren't here which meant that Sasuke probably wasn't here either. 'Well, I'm not leaving empty-handed.' I looked around peeking into the nearby rooms for something interesting as I kept up my pace.

Surgical rooms. Rooms with glass containers with water. Library. 'Hm. Too many books and I don't think I have enough time to look through them to choose a good one.' Opening another door I stared at room noticing two devices beside each other looking exactly alike. Next to the two machines, there was an open book that seemed new by the way its cover didn't close completely.

Looking inside I saw Kabuto's handwriting explaining how it was a DNA device meant to determine bloodlines and parentage. 'Oh. Someone bought this at the black market for a huge amount.' With a smile, I sensed the girl close. 'It would be a shame if someone were to steal it.' Passing the device through one of my portals. I grinned and passed through it in time as the girl broke down the door out of breath.

Within my little space, I moved the device to one of my storage space in the meantime. 'Wait. Nori could use this to help organize people into their clans.' Passing it to the library I wrote down a quick note about what it did and left it there for Ryota to find later.

Popping into Konoha's woods I looked around me feeling as if there was something else that I needed to do. "Oh, right new clothes." Opening my small storage space I took out a pouch with the gems I had sorted from those nights I cried myself to sleep at the base. Taking out two I put the others away and headed to the village to exchange them to buy new clothes to replace my old ones.

Konohagakure–Training Grounds

Watching the two cousins spar I smiled happily seeing how much Hinata has grown. 'She changed so much in the time I was gone.' I teared up remembering how for many years she kept her hair short.

Thump!

Jumping I looked up seeing Hinata on the ground. "Are you okay?" I yelled.

"Yeah… sorry." She stood up returning to her stance.

"Remember I'm a healer. Don't be afraid of getting hurt." I said loud enough for them to hear. Sitting there with my shopping bags at my side an idea popped into my head. Taking out a blanket I set it down and opened a portal and began to set up fruit. Staring at my layout I looked back seeing them still going at it. Flinching as something entered my eyes I rubbed it trying to get it out.

Gathering some water I froze it and placed it on my eye to calm the swelling reminding me of the pain I felt when I stared into Izumi's eyes that day. 'I need to tell them about my eyes.' I stared ahead at the two cousins. 'I need to do this or the situation with the Sharingan will repeat again.' I wrung my hands remembering how there were so few Uchiha left. 'Maybe I should ask Itachi to teach me how to do genjutsu…' Sighing I knew that would be a challenge for another day. 'I need to tell those two today or I never will.'

"Yukino-chan are you feeling alright?" Hinata asked as she placed her hand gently on my shoulder.

"Huh?" I looked up. "I'm fine, it's just… I need help with something." I sighed thinking carefully on how to put it.

"What do you need help with?" Neji asked standing by his cousin.

"Okay, how should I say this my dōjutsu is able to copy other dōjutsu when activated. Which is what happened at that time when we attempted to spar." I explained the basics of what it could do.

They both glanced at each other and just sat down across from me. "We'll listen. Go on." Hinata said holding my hands in hers.

"Ask if you have questions since my guardians aren't here to stop me from answering." I threw a small glance to the side just to make sure. "My dōjutsu, Getsugan, allows me to create those portals but it also allows me to copy other dōjutsu at the cost of extreme pain and temporary blindness," I explained glancing at their faces to see if they got it. 'I probably shouldn't tell them about the rewinding and stopping time.'

"Is that everything it does?" Neji asked narrowing his eyes slightly.

"Neji nii-san…" Hinata whispered.

"Fine. It can also freeze time for a couple of seconds, reveal moments in the past, accelerate the age of living things, turn back time on objects, and bring one to the past. But the last one happens rarely." I explained keeping my voice low.

"Does your family have this dōjutsu?" Neji asked looking confused as he tried to make sense of it.

"No. The whole copying dōjutsu thing wasn't there from the start it was put in."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It was an intentional mutation made by my guardian." I shook my head remembering Tsukiyomi and her careful attention to my eyes.

"But that's not what a mutation is."

"I know Hinata… She did it on purpose." I pulled my cold hands away from her warm ones and just grabbed a fruit basket and began eating the fruit inside. Grabbing another basket I put it between them.

"But why would they do that?" Neji asked.

"To make my clan stronger…"

"I didn't know you were part of a clan."

"It's because most of them are dead." I munched into the fruit swallowing it down along with my embarrassment.

"That would explain the change in your dōjutsu." Neji took a persimmon and began to peel it.

"Really?" Hinata asked.

"Yes. Sometimes the intermarriage between clans can create new and even different results of the original." Neji believed as he handed Hinata the peeled fruit.

'That's true.' I realized. 'I'll go with that before telling them that I wasn't born like them.'

"But that doesn't explain how you need our help." Neji returned to my original woe.

"Yeah about that. I copied your Byakugan the last time we tried sparing so I will need both of you to help me how to use it." I told them, clearing my throat as I did. "If you would like to of course."

"For the first time, I will be able to return the favor for all the times you've helped me train." Hinata smiled closing her eyes as if remembering her fondest memories. "I would love to train you."

"I see no problem with that. We could go over the basics while we train you." Neji added seeing some benefit.

"Alright! Hinata-sensei and Neji-sensei. I will be in your care." Standing up I bowed slightly glad to have both of them as mentors. "But let's do that another day. With my current mission, my stay in the village is quite limited." I sighed rubbing my temple. "I will spend the next two days with my family in the last few I would like to return and spend them with you two."

"Of course, this will give us enough time to prepare." Hinata smiled turning to Neji as if he understood what she meant.

"Agreed, make sure to arrive at the Hyūga manor when the sun rises." Neji decided. Chuckling we moved on to small talk as we shared the fruit I brought. 'So Gaara is Kazekage.' I found out as we talked about the upcoming Chūnin exams and how Hinata and Neji were both going to join. About to offer study material I decided not to. 'Who am I kidding they're both smart enough to know how to get past the written exam.'

At the Hyūga manor on the agreed date, I was given my own set of black training clothes. Sitting in the huge mostly empty training room Neji and Hinata stood side by side across from me giving me demonstrations and explaining carefully to not leave anything out. "I will be your first opponent." Neji offered.

Thinking that I was going to be fine I soon realized that I wouldn't be easy. Holding the tears back as my chakra points were hit. The impacts of the hits were greater than the hits that I experienced from Hinata years ago. 'You don't feel pain…' A little voice told me. 'You are stone. You are ice. Pain is nonexistent to those two.' Keeping my head high I was somehow able to separate myself from the pain until I was hit again. "Wait." I sat down clutching my sides. "This is supposed to be Byakugan training but you haven't given me time to activate it." I breathed.

"Sorry."

Resting for a while I activated my eyes this time and they both stared in shock at my eyes. "It really looks like it," Hinata said staring curiously at them.

"Let's start again." I stood up copying Neji's pose. With a nod, we began. With every attempt to hit me I knew what would come if he hit me so before the hit could land I moved out of the way or moved his hands away from their target. Glancing to the side to see what Hinata was doing I saw her serious expression as she watched our movements carefully. Feeling moved I resolved to put all my energy into the next few days to learn as much as I could.

Weeks later

Missing dearly the company of Hinata and Neji I sat alone in the infirmary eating to fill the gap in my heart. Looking down at the spoon I looked at my reflection and cheered quietly. "Happy 15th birthday!"

Humming to myself I decided to do something I haven't done in a while. Going to my room I closed the door behind me and created a portal the size of a plate. Rummaging through it I found the white dress I used to wear so much as a kid. 'It will always fit you…' Tsukiyomi-san's words echoed in my head. 'Tsukiyomi-san… where are you?' Figuring that she must be busy with her own stuff I held up the dress. The long white dress had long flowy sleeves and a turtleneck. Lowering it so it could touch the floor I chuckled seeing how short I once was. 'That can't be right. There's no way I was that small.'

Deciding to test it out I removed my shirt and put the dress on over my head. Putting one hand in and then another my head went through. Surprised I looked down seeing the open shoulder white dress reaching slightly above the knees. Extending my arms in front of myself I saw the elbow-length flowy sleeves. 'It really does change.' Taking a little spin I kicked off my shoes and pants remembering the lightweight feeling of running through the woods.

Giggling I sat down on my bed and brushed my hair making sure to untangle my current white and blonde hair. (Full moon red turns white) Welcoming the new joy I rummaged through the portal for anything else interesting. Pulling out a box I've never seen before I opened it seeing white flat shoes inside as well as a note.

For when you find the time to relax. —Kuzunoha. Flipping the small note There was more. Ps. It is actually from Tsukiyomi but she doesn't want you to know so she wrote my name.

With a smile, I placed the box back into my portal and put on my new shoes. Walking into the bathroom I stood in front of the full-length mirror and bowed. 'Since no one is here. I should just do what I like.' I skipped out of the room and ran to the lounge room. Taking out the ingredients for chocolate cake I began to work.

3rd POV

With the smell of cake wafting through in the air it caught the attention of one person as they entered the base. Stepping into the kitchen they were greeted by the sight of the healer decorating a cake. With a water-like tentacle, she saw as the healer remove extra frosting swiftly and precisely. 'Using her surgery techniques on a cake.' The woman realized as she watched the healer create more water tentacles to finish decorating before placing it in the fridge.

Looking around she noted how the two people responsible for watching over her at the moment were gone. "Where are Hidan and Kakuzu?" She asked which caused the girl to flinch.

"Uh." She quickly turned around and responded, "Kakuzu-san found a bounty for a rogue he saw on his last mission and went hunting them down. Hidan tagged along because he was bored." She explained quickly.

"What have you been doing during this time?" She looked at the girl's white clean outfit.

"I was bored… so I dressed up and baked a cake." She looked down and began playing with the hem of her sleeves. "Doing the same thing over and over gets boring."

"Really? What did you do before this?"

"Well, I explored around my family's property. Hm… also I wandered off to other towns and lands to explore." 'Technically that's what I did.' the young girl thought keeping silent about it. "But as you heard I ended up getting kidnapped on more than one occasion." 'It was actually once but still'

"That must have stopped you for a while."

"Yeah but only for a while. But next time I will be more careful. I don't want to see that snake pedophile again."

"How did you escape?" She asked after a small silence.

"There was a riot." 'One that I started. "I took advantage of the chaos to escape." She laughed.

"I see. No wonder your father seems overprotective." She glanced at her ankle seeing the three black coils. "Since no one is around there is someplace we can go to pass the time."

Walking around in the rainy Amegakure weather in silence. Holding the umbrella Yukino glanced from time to time at the stoic woman not really sure what to say. Stopping at one store that didn't look any different from every single building in a ten-foot radius they entered.

Inside the girl had to squint as her eyes were assaulted with an array of pink and bright lights. While she was adjusting to it Konan left her and talked to the store's owner. Adjusting to it Yukino quickly looked around and she could tell that this was an undergarment store for women.

"Can you help find the right size for her." Konan gestured towards the girl who was curiously looking at the frilly undergarments.

"Of course." She nodded and walked towards the girl. "Let's start by getting your measurements." She took out a measuring tape from the pocket of the apron she was wearing. Knowing what to do, she lifted her arms and let the woman get the measurements she needed. Hearing the woman mumble the numbers the girl took note of the measurement for future reference. "Is there any color you like?"

"White and blue," she responded quickly.

"Wait a moment." The woman said before going around the store picking a couple of stuff. Grabbing enough she returned and showed her the options she could choose.

"What's this?" She asked lifting the thing that looked like a tank top but shorter.

"It's a training bra. It gets you used to use a bra for when you move on to the real thing." The lady explained.

"Oh…" Looking at the other things she noticed the frills and bows. "They're so cute!"

"What have you been wearing this whole time?" Konan asked.

"Boxer shorts but I do remember wearing plain white panties when I was smaller but somehow I shifted to boxers," she told her remembering that the reason why she began wearing boxers was that she was kicked out stores like this. 'This is the first store that has ever let me in…' she thought so joyfully that a flowery aura surrounded her.

・・・

"Yay~" She hugged the bags close to her to avoid it getting stolen or wet by the rain. Inside the bag held the new selection of undergarments she chose herself. "Thank you." She thanked the older woman who had bought the clothes.

"Let's buy food and rest somewhere." The woman offered as she led them to a food stand.

Yukino's POV

Sitting on the roof with Konan we ate the food she had bought. Sheltered from the rain on a rooftop gazebo we looked down below. Spotting the round belly of a woman below I said without much thought. "Look she's pregnant. But there doesn't seem to be any flowers around so how did she become pregnant in the first place?" I asked taking another sip from my juice.

"What do you mean by flowers?" Konan asked looking at the belly of the woman below. For a moment I thought I saw a hint of sadness but shrugged it away thinking I imagined it.

"Otou-san once told me that in order for a woman to become pregnant she and someone she loves very much have to hold hands over a budding flower and then she becomes pregnant. After nine months the baby then pops out." I told her. 'Maybe that's how I'll be able to have children someday.'

"When did he tell you this?" She asked hiding a smile behind her sleeve.

"When I was 7. Why?" I asked. Clearing her throat, she began to explain the differences in female and male anatomy and how those differences played a role in pleasure and reproduction. "That makes more sense. I was always wondering what those parts of the body did." I sighed looking down at where the woman was. 'My body looks normal but the inside is definitely different.' I thought back to my digestive system. 'I wonder if that part of me is different too. Will it even work?' As I finished that though another popped up one I could say. "Children… their like little clones of a person but slightly different right?" I asked her actually wondering about this kind of stuff.

"Yes. Some children take after one or both parents." Frowning, I looked up at the sky in thought. 'I wonder who I take after.' "I assume you get your appearance from your mother," she said catching me by surprise.

"Actually. I'm… adopted." Technically it was true but at the same time, it wasn't since Tsukiyomi created me. Mentally sighing I remembered her constant lesson drilling when I was a kid. 'I haven't even used some of the things she taught me…' Realizing Konan was still waiting for me to continue I added. "I never met my blood parents." I sighed, wondering if I looked like any of them. 'Of the four I must look like one right?' "But that doesn't matter Kamen is my currently part of my family along with everyone else." I thought of everyone in Inari mountain including Tsukiyomi-san. 'It was fun though learning how to do some of that stuff.'

"Konan," Flinching I turned my head towards the sound and saw a man with orange hair, purple ringed eyes, and many piercings.

"Pein-sama." Wide-eyed I looked at Konan realizing that this was the boss that Deidara mentioned.

"We've never met. Hello. I'm the healer." I quickly bowed.

"I know. Konan a minute."

"Understood. I will see you next time Yuki." She walked away with the leader of the Akatsuki.

"Thank you for spending my birthday with me!" I said as she was still within earshot. Grabbing my stuff I quickly left the roof and returned to the base. 'That guy is the leader?' I shivered on my way down. Something about his eyes seemed unsettling and interesting at the same time. 'I'll look into it.' I told myself.

I never did because I discovered something even more interesting.

・