Scarlet Justice - ep. 67
"Prospects"

Today is a good day to start on my big assignment: scouting new aides for the Hokage's Office. There are people to select from the existing pool, but they also have their own necessary functions and plenty of current work to catch up on. These two dedicated assistants will be responsible for work that the Hokage would normally take on, related administrative duties and most importantly, leaning on the old man when needed so that certain things get done. From what I've been hearing, he has a tendency to drag his feet on troublesome things or even delay them by using that sharp diplomatic mind of his.

Much to consider in this search. But I've been spending the last few days making preparations.

"Luna, seriously. I'll be fine."

"I don't like the idea of you moving around so much," she says as she clears the table after breakfast. She's still in her nightgown and hopefully will be taking it easy for the day, light cleaning aside.

"It's administrative work for the Hokage, quite important. I'll be gone for two, maybe three days. Believe me when I say that there are few people who can do this job aside from me."

"Can you please stay home for a few days once you return and everything is done with?" she asks. "Miss Lili, I really mean it. I want you to rest properly."

"When I'm finished, I'll let the Hokage know that I'm off limits for a while," I say as I leave my seat. "I promise. I didn't have anything planned for after this anyways."

"Thank you so much."

"I don't mean to worry you, Luna."

"You never do. It's alright." She walks over and gives me a warm hug. "Just remember that you're still a growing young girl. Give yourself time to recover properly in mind and body."

"Yes, of course."

I pack lightly and choose a simple form of dress for my journey. A light jacket and comfortable pair of jogging pants will do. Hopefully it won't get too cold, but these will work for me if it does. Hair and face are good. I make sure my headband is on my right arm, and there's an extra pouch on my waist for the special notebook that I'm going to carry with me. Some security will be necessary here, and there are some seals on the cover to help with that.

"I'm off," I call out as I leave.

"Yes, understood. I will take care of things here. Was there anything else you needed from me?" Luna asks from her room.

"No, nothing. Take care while I'm gone. I love you, Luna."

"I love you, Lili. Be safe."

"Yes, always."

I make my way out and lock the door behind me. The search for personnel will be in two phases: military and civilian. The existence of spies means that there should be profiles on every registered shinobi within the village at the least as part of protocol. It means a lot of information at first blush, so I'll narrow my categories down to start. The old man has a preference for women, so I'll accommodate him there. I'll also want to look at more of the well-known clans in the Leaf to filter out those subtle sorts of problems, like institutional knowledge, clan politics, things of that nature. People with an understanding of those sorts of things can be on-boarded in a quick and efficient manner. As for the civilian phase, I'll observe the downtown sector manually. If there's a diamond in the rough, I'll be sure to find them. Civilians are good for a few reasons, one of them being that I used to be such a person. There are many skills and perspectives that they have, and acumen in their respective fields that can reach levels well beyond that of shinobi.

I consider my options as I walk. Standard information on all shinobi would be held in the Hokage's Office, as a matter of course. But...I want information that is more vivid and intimate. That means it's a good time to visit Intelligence again. Since it's going to be a long day, I think I'll grab a few things to munch on.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, young miss. What can I do for you today?"

The local shop owner helps me stock up on treats, and I head to the entrance of the Leaf Intelligence Division. There are the usual gentlemen hanging around the entrance, smoking and engaging in conversation. Their faces aren't hostile this time around, and they make room so that I can enter without incident. I nod politely to them as I step inside.

Ibiki spots me as I cross the foyer and gives me a wave while approaching. "Hey, how's it going?"

"Things are fine today. I'm getting some work done, so I'll be here a while as a result. You have video rooms, don't you?" I ask him.

"Upstairs, quite a few of them to choose from. You can take as long as you need once you get inside, nobody should give you any trouble. What'd you need it for?"

"I'm running some errands for the Hokage today."

"Hoh, big shot over here. Well, everything you need should be in reach. Video rooms are upstairs like I said. I gotta go and kick someone's ass on the other side of town, so I'll see you around. Take care of yourself," he says as he pats me on my good shoulder.

"Yes, surely. Thank you, Ibiki."

He nods and makes his way out while I head towards the elevator. The guide inside tells me that the video equipment is two floors above me, so I press the button and ascend with no fanfare. It's relatively quiet today, with not too many people moving about.

"Hm. Let's see...if I'm at this age, then we need to find candidates that are young, with at least a little experience, and some potential for growth. We will limit the search to seven years ago. Women will take priority as decided earlier," I say to myself as I walk. "We can also glean personality traits from video footage, much easier than with written reports. But those will come in handy as well, later on. But what events should I focus on first? There are the Chuunin Exams, obviously...ah, the cultural days. And the athletic meets, too. There are three areas already. I just have to take note of everything that's of interest."

I approach the front desk and ask the woman behind it for the tapes I want. Footage from the past fourteen Chuunin Selection Exams, the cultural festivals from three and seven years ago, the past three athletic meets, and a special combat exercise from four years ago that's mentioned by another librarian who came by to collect some notes. With so many tapes, we get a rolling cart to put them on, and I push it to the first empty room before closing the door. There's the cassette player, a projector, and a large television that can be moved around on its own wheeled cart. I decide on using the projector this time, and each item conveniently has its own remote. I set my goodies down on the long table in front of me along with the other tapes, and decide what I'm going to watch first. I think the combat exercise will do as an opener.

After putting the tape in, I wait for the film to start and open a bottle of chocolate milk, then take out my notebook and a pen. As it plays through and I look at the footage, I realize that I'm not going to get much in terms of data. I let the tape finish, rewind and eject it, and then start on one of the cultural festival tapes. It's rich with detail and I sit back to watch carefully. There are a decent number of interviews that take place too, which is quite helpful. I find one girl that catches my eye and pause the tape to capture extra details. The next tape has some promise too, but nobody immediately suitable. I take down some names just in case.

The Chuunin Exam tapes are up next, and I find a lollipop to suck on while I watch through them. High production values make these a treat to watch, with much in the way of nice details and perspectives. These are all of the public final rounds for the most part, with some highlights from the Forest of Death as teams reached the tower to complete the second round. Another two girls attract my interest, though I enjoy the footage of other candidates just as much. It would be a treat to do this and get paid for it at the same time, but I'm not one to complain when things are this good already.

The tapes take a while to go through. Some of it is my fault for...various reasons relating to research. Naturally. Leaving no stone unturned, and no figure unsurveyed. I eventually do finish, writing down my observations on people and other things of interest. By now it's afternoon, and I'm just a bit hungry. I can endure a while longer, however. It's time to clean up and return these tapes.

"If you're done, I can take those for you," the woman from earlier says as she spots me.

"Thank you. Please take care," I say to her. She nods and pushes the cart back to the front desk, where the tapes will be organized and returned to their proper homes. I shoulder my backpack and take one more look through my notebook. The next stop will be...profiles on the village's shinobi. If I recall correctly, those archives should be a floor down. I head to the elevator and wait for another person to get in before sending us downwards. As I exit, I locate the front desk on this floor and move through the tall shelves towards it.

"Identification, please."

"Yes." I take out a small card and hand it to the woman at reception. Her hair is the colour of chestnuts and looks silky smooth, cascading down her front and framing her soft face.

"Ah, Miss Kobayashi. You have some extra clearance here, that makes things much easier. How may I help you today?"

"I would like access to personnel files for a few hours. I'm doing research on behalf of the Hokage's Office."

"Understood. If you could list the names for me, I'll get their files and fill out the necessary paperwork for you."

"I have them listed here," I say as I open my notebook to a certain page and hand it to her. She looks over it and nods before typing quickly into the computer nearby.

"Excellent. If you could wait a few minutes, I'll collect everything in one go and return to you."

"There's no rush, please take as much time as you need."

She gives me a smile and heads off to collect the requisite files. Her legs are nice. Mm. I wonder where she works out in the village. Eventually she returns all of the files on another rolling cart, put into a neat stack for my convenience. And it's in the order I listed, too. Very nice.

We exchange bows before I move to one of the standing desks and open the file folders one at a time to examine them. These contain the extra details that wouldn't show up right away in a video; personal details, medical history, any disciplinary actions, commendations, mission data and so on and so forth. I take out another lollipop and place it in my mouth as I scan the files, writing down notes on their own dedicated pages as needed. This consumes a few more hours on its own, and now I'm really getting hungry. It's late afternoon according to my watch as I put back the last of the files and wheel them up to the front desk. The receptionist gives me a nod and wave as I return them to her, then make my way out of Intelligence for the day.

I've picked up three definite candidates from all of my research, attractive in both body and mind. Now the second phase can begin...after I get something in me.

I stifle a belch after finishing some delicious meat buns from a street vendor. The green tea they have is refreshing, too - I don't often have it cold, but it's very nice. By now it's evening in the Leaf, and I've already left the Intelligence building for the downtown core. The plan now is to stop and pop into various shops, spending money here and there to interact with notable employees.

Ino comes to mind as I pass by a few clothing stores, and I end up stopping into one after finding something that I think would look lovely on her. Even better, this shop arranges deliveries for gifts. I'll be sure to tease that girl with something daring once we get old enough, but for now, she'll just be getting a terribly cute blouse and skirt combination.

There are quite a few cafes in the area...along with some that I've heard of, but never experienced before. Maid cafes.

"Hm."

I shrug and decide to try my luck. There's definitely an appeal to it, but I prefer regular people-watching. This one has a cat theme, of the big and small varieties. There's a candidate that I have a conversation with, and I keep her in mind after leaving. I might stop by again if I have nothing else to do. I pass through the local bars as well, just to check. Some of the shinobi recognize me, and it helps with the employees trying to scold me for 'being in the wrong place'. I thought the headband on my arm would have been enough, but I suppose not. In any case, there aren't many women working at the bars themselves, mostly as servers and waitresses. I'm looking for something a bit different after the maid cafes.

There's a coffee shop that catches my eye, and I step into it. A woman with gradient blue hair is brewing tea, so I make an order for it and a small cup of coffee as well. She seems to be one of those 'cool beauties' that I've heard about, and in addition has a laid back nature about her. The tea is very good, as is the coffee. There's a smoke that I can smell on her, very subtly. I feel like I've encountered the scent before...it's not tobacco, to be sure. So what is it? I should know...mm. I'll figure it out later. She's one of my favourites, so I make sure to get her name before I leave.

I'm getting hungry again. The inn I spotted earlier has a restaurant across from it, and it's already night by now, so...

"Ah...shoot, I can't lose this. I need it for my search..."

"Is everything alright, ma'am?" I ask as I approach the woman ahead of me. She looks to be in her late twenties, and has a curvy frame that's a treat to behold. I help her pick up her papers from the street.

"Thank you so much."

"Resume papers? Are you looking for work, by chance?" I scan the sheet before giving it back to her. Those are strong credentials she has. I do wonder...

"Oh, yes. I...um, was let go from my job recently. It's a long story, and I'm sure-"

"I have enough time," I reassure her. "I actually was going to eat dinner, so...if you wanted to talk over a meal, I would be delighted to do so."

She's between jobs, but also homeless as I find out. I give her a fair bit of my spending money as we part ways, and she politely refuses before I charm her into finally taking it with her. She's staying at a women's shelter nearby, and I make sure that we leave her enough time to return to her bed safely. Now I have six candidates, three from the military, and three civilians. All strong choices. I order some more tea and do one last assembly of my notes, plucking out everything that's irrelevant and focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of my candidates. It's not bad for a day's work.

Candidates, Final Selection

Mimi Koshiro
Chuunin/F/17
A lean and cute body. She's well-rounded and can learn quickly (similar to Sakura). A normal girl with a normal looking family (also similar to Sakura). Good for a sense of grounding and normalcy in the environment. Might not be able to handle extreme pressure, which there will be a lot of.

Kikyo Nara
Chuunin/F/16
Has a soft and well-nourished body. Looks quite good in pants. She's strong when it comes to observations and pays great attention to detail. An experienced, diligent worker who is devoted to her tasks. Seems solid. Her issues however are dealing with abstracts and emotional matters/matters of the heart. This could be a problem when it comes certain levels of work and operating on the Hokage's level. Might be dragging her out of her element; it's not all simple paperwork here.

Imari Hyuuga
Chuunin/F/19
A slender and elegant body. Her appeal is boosted by skirts and dresses. Those eyes of hers rarely miss a thing. She has low experience in these specific areas, but great drive. Possibly because of her time in the Hyuuga Branch House, she is very compassionate towards others and does her best to connect with people. This seems like a boon. Teachable, talented, and passionate when allowed to be.

Leona Yamasaki
Barista/F/20
A firm, bountiful chest and long legs. Her gradient blue hair makes her stand out, but she is a calm and cool individual. Her precision is also nothing to sneeze at, and she has strong management skills that can transfer over to the new job. She also might not have any trouble with the old man's smoking, which is another plus. Seems a bit hard to read at times, but friendly.

Yuna Ijuuin
Waitress/F/17
Huge breasts. The backside isn't bad, either. Cute face, bubbly, fun. Could be a great injection of energy for the office. Handled her work expertly and to the letter. The transition to office work will be the hardest part - she has no experience with it. She's adept with handling customers and doesn't fold when faced with their pressure. Attracts lewd situations with mysterious consistency. I like her underwear choices, though. Very bold.

Tamaki Kurogane
Unemployed/F/27
A well-balanced, curvaceous body (reminds me a lot of Luna, definite plus) that sends her appeal through the roof. Currently homeless and spends her nights at a shelter while job hunting. Used to be the personal assistant of a big company CEO two years ago, but ended up fired and blacklisted from her field. This came as a result of reporting the sexual assault of a junior coworker, and pursuing the case all the way to the top of the company. Seems a bit anxious at times and her self-esteem can get low, likely because of what happened all that time ago. But she carries all of the relevant skills for the job and at an extremely high level. Definite favourite. Bright smile and a motherly warmth.

Now...the only thing left to do is make my final decision. The old man said he needed at least one. Two would be good and seems like a sweet spot. Three also works, and any more than that would be too much.

"Ah..."

Two people sounds best, for the sake of synergy. I nod and take a sip of my tea. The window at the front of the restaurant shows off the bustling night life of the Hidden Leaf. It's like a lot of big cities, but these flavours are unique. This is the place that I've sworn to protect, for better or for worse. That's the reason I'm out here, writing in a notebook at night with my arm in a cast, instead of resting peacefully at home in my own bed.

But it's less about the village, or the nation it sits within. It's these people. The ones I view as precious, and even just worth fighting for at the drop of a hat.

The bright streets reveal women in their flashy clothing, some walking to and from bars and clubs, others on the street corners and in front of the inn that I'll be entering in a while to rest. There's someone who looks to be around my height, hopefully not my age as well. Thin black stockings with the rest of her covered by a jacket. Hair the colour of lavender, soft and puffy like a cloud, covering her eyes. I'm drawn to her, for some reason. Wondering who she might be waiting for, if anyone.

My thoughts go to my father. I remember the places he brought me to, shortly after my mother passed away. I remember the flashy women, dressed just like that, who were daring and vulgar, and gossiped about how disgusting the men who stuffed money into their racy outfits were. Some talked about my father and how handsome he was, others who had the pleasure of his company saw past it and found him far worse than the balding tycoons. The memories trickle through, in bits and pieces. I hope she doesn't get picked up by a man even half as bad as him. To that end, I whisper a small prayer for her.

I've come to a judgement on my two candidates, but want to sleep on it a bit more to be sure. This is a pretty big decision, even if it doesn't feel like it right now. Tomorrow is a new, fresh day for discovery. I pay my bill and set down a good tip before leaving, heading out into the cool night. The jacket for today was a prudent decision, then.

"Shinobi, huh."

I look over to see the girl, or woman that I was observing earlier beside me. She's actually a bit taller than me, at least with the heels on.

"Yes," I reply.

"Does it for you?"

"In more ways than one," I say deliberately.

She laughs lightly and nods. "Live your truth, hon."

"I will say the same to you." I pause. "Would a donation be handy?"

"Sure. I'm independent these days," she says with a smile. "Can't stand these agencies skimming off the top and the middle too."

"Such is the world," I say as I hand her a few bills. "My father used to solicit women. They fell in love with his looks and hated his guts by the next morning."

"Shit. Sounds like a piece of work."

"If only he stopped at being that bad. Well, be safe. As much as you can be in this world, at least."

"Doing my best. Thanks, hon. Have yourself a good night."

"I will." I head into the inn and grab one of the open rooms, take a warm shower with my cast covered tightly, and then change into something light before heading to bed. Sleep comes quickly.

I yawn and roll out of bed, heading to the bathroom and making sure that water didn't get past my cast cover after last night's shower. Everything seems fine after my inspection, so I clean up for the morning, get back into my casual clothing, and seal up my dirty laundry before packing up and getting ready to leave. The front entrance of the inn is clear in the morning light; the women of the night and their clients have left for parts unknown, sure to return once the sun goes down and normal business hours begin again. I wonder about the woman from last night and what she's doing now, briefly. Hopefully she's staying safe, and living her own truth as she asked me to do.

"Hm. Coffee sounds nice." I yawn and head over to the nearby coffee house - there are several in the vicinity - primarily to perk myself up a little, but also on a little intuition. If I'm right, my first selection should be here, hard at work.

And as I enter the small shop, I see that I'm right.

"Miss Kurogane," I say out loud as I approach. "Might I sit?"

"Oh, yes! Please go ahead! Lilith Kobayashi, right?"

"Lili is perfectly fine," I say as I take a seat across from her. She has papers spread out on the table in front of her and is sipping a cup of coffee. The overnight bag at her feet seems sturdy enough, but has certainly seen better days.

"Right, right. You said as much yesterday. Speaking of that, thank you so much for what you did. You've bought me a lot of time! And I can spoil myself a little...like the old days," Tamaki says with a smile. She really is marvellous to look at. I noted how appealing her body was already...she has long brown hair, secured in the middle by a star-shaped hair clip. Soft looking green eyes and lush red lips - she's been taking care of herself while continuing to survive, never giving up hope that things would get better one day. Well...it's time for that faith to be rewarded in full.

"I'm flattered, but there's no need to thank me. That was the least I could do for you."

"It really isn't, stop that. Thank you again. So...what might you be doing around here this morning? I'm sure you're a busy shinobi of the Leaf. You're certainly not here to hold court with a jobless woman like me!"

"Oh, you'd be wrong about that. Here," I say as I hand her a small card. She takes it and blinks, looking at it curiously.

"What's this? Directions and instructions...to...aha, I'm not sure I get it," Tamaki says. "Lili? What's happening?"

"Tamaki...on behalf of the Third Hokage, I would like you to become a special aide for the Hokage's Office, in direct service to him and to the Hidden Leaf. I very humbly ask for your help," I say gently.

"Hokage...eh? You mean to say...ahaha. Ahahaha...this is...haha, this is..."

"Tamaki..."

"Ha...haha..." She stares at me, tears running down her face as she flips between crying and laughing. "Is this really...happening?"

"It is."

"For...for so long...for so long I've been alone and helpless. Nobody would take me on for more than a season, barely enough to live on. I was losing hope each day...I...I'm just a homeless woman, just so desperate...but now...somehow..."

"You have a wonderful heart. That is why you've been chosen. People like you are irreplaceable treasures. Tamaki...you are not alone any more."

She sniffles and wipes at her eyes. "I...where will I..."

"Everything will be taken care of. Living arrangements, clothing, whatever you might need. Please head to the noted location within the week." I take out another card for identification, sign it, and then hand it to her. "This will take care of everything needed if anyone should ask. And you'll have a partner, one from a prestigious clan in the Leaf. She'll be your junior."

"My...junior."

"Yes. Please teach her well, Miss Kurogane. I believe in you."

The look in her eyes changes. I can see the determination that I imagined last night when I was making my decision. The same strength that drove her to sacrifice everything in order to see justice done.

"This senpai will not let you down."

I nod. "Naturally. That's part of why I chose you."

We both stand up and share a long hug. She really is warm and reminds me of my sisters...yes, this was definitely a good choice.

"I guess I won't be needing these resumes right now...ah, but I need to hurry and gather up my things, make sure other things are taken care of...so much to do all of a sudden! Lili, I'll see you in a while."

"Of course."

"Please take care of yourself...and thank you for everything. Thank you so much."

"I'll see you soon, Tamaki. Welcome home."

She smiles and kisses me on the cheek before gathering her things, finishing her coffee, and taking off. Of course, she made sure to leave an appropriate tip behind.

I close my eyes and sigh with satisfaction. I can already tell that she'll be an incredibly reliable woman.

A delicious cup of coffee and some light reading before heading back to more familiar parts of the Leaf. This next person is closer to home...well, maybe this particular place is already another home to me, as unlikely as it would be to see.

The gates are opened up at the Hyuuga estate, and I walk up to the guards. Today I'm in a decent mood, so I'll play nice. "May I have an audience with Lady Hanabi? I'm here on official business."

The two men look at each other for a moment before one heads inside. It takes a few minutes, but I see him return with Hanabi behind him, out of breath and smiling.

"Big sis! I was jumping rope with some of the girls!" Hanabi says happily. "Did you want to see onee-sama?"

"No, no. I'm honestly here on business. Is she in, though?"

"She and Neji are out..." Hanabi beckons me close so she can whisper. "Neji's watching over her. She's at Naruto's place again, I heard."

"Ah. That's only fair. He did say that he was starting to see her as a woman."

"Wha...n-no way..."

"It's true. I think Hina's growth has exceeded our expectations," I say with a nod.

"Yeah. Definitely." We separate and straighten ourselves out. Hanabi coughs once and assumes a regal tone. "Well, then. Might I ask your business with Hyuuga, Captain Kobayashi?"

"Yes. I would humbly like to speak with Miss Imari Hyuuga."

"Oh, Icchan," Hanabi says, immediately relaxing her tone. "I know where she is. Please follow me, Lili-nee."

"Right."

Hanabi signals to the guards that everything is okay before taking me through the massive residence. We end up in a set of similar looking rooms, and she slides open one of the doors so that we can step inside. There's a young woman diligently scrubbing the floors. Her hair is like that of the other Hyuuga; long, straight, and dark. Currently, she has hers tied into a thick and round bun at the back of her head. Her eyes are the same as her kin, a pure white. And I can confirm from up close that she has a slender, elegant type of frame underneath those plain clothes. Not even that drab fabric can erase her lovely looks...her skin looks especially smooth and soft.

"It's always better in person," I say absentmindedly. "She's a beauty."

"Icchan really is pretty," Hanabi says. "The Main House girls are jealous of her. Really a shame that she's stuck in the lower house, you know. What did you want to talk to her about?"

"Becoming one of the Hokage's special aides. She's the second of two candidates chosen."

"Wow. That's definitely impressive. Although..."

"Hm?"

"Well, there are other women in the Main House...I'm sure that Hyuuga will be upset that you chose someone from the Branch House to serve alongside the leader of the village."

"Is that so?" I smile wickedly. "Then that just cements my decision...and makes it so much sweeter."

Hanabi laughs as I start to approach Imari.

"Miss Hyuuga, pardon my intrusion."

"It's no trouble at all." Her voice is soft and measured. Very soothing to listen to. "Captain Kobayashi, isn't it? I am at your service, honoured elder sister."

"Mm...you really are a treasure. I came here today because I have a request of you, on behalf of the Third Hokage."

"I am at your command."

"Please become a special aide for the Hokage's Office, Imari Hyuuga."

"Ah...?" Her eyes widen. "W-wait...this must be a-"

"I don't make silly mistakes like that. Certainly not when it comes to beautiful women like you."

She blushes and clasps her hands together. "S-surely...there has to be someone else. Perhaps in the Main House-"

"I have no such dealings with Hyuuga. Branch House, Main House...all worthless to me. Hinata and Hanabi are my precious sisters. I wouldn't dare say those words if I cared for a moment about the trappings of this clan. Imari, you have a beautiful light that has shone through years and years of oppression. That light is something that will brighten this village, and help it become more and more beautiful, just as you are."

"Captain Kobayashi..."

"Lili is fine.

"Um...Lili...I..." She shakes her head rapidly and lets out a breath, composing herself. Standing at attention, she gives me the same determined look as Tamaki did this morning. "I will accept this challenge before me with pride. Please, allow me to serve the Hokage with all the strength I can draw out!"

"Thank you, Imari. Although, to be honest...you've wanted an excuse to spread your wings for a while now, no?"

"Ah...hahahaha!" She laughs before covering her mouth with one hand. "Wow...you've really done your homework on me!"

"Naturally. Didn't I say it earlier? I don't make mistakes when it comes to beautiful women," I say with a wink.

"I see that it's the truth, clearly."

I sign an identification card for her, and give her another card with directions to the check-in station. "Make sure you're there by the end of the week."

"Understood. There's just one more thing..."

"If it's what I'm thinking, there's no need to worry," Hanabi says with a smile. "By the power vested in me as the future Hyuuga Head, you're free to go. Icchan, good luck!"

"Thank you! Lady Hanabi, I won't let you down. Please, watch over me and continue to send me your blessings."

"You'll have a senior to learn from, and she's fiercely protective of her kouhai. Imari, you're going to be in the best care. I'll see you soon."

"Yes. Thank you, Lili."

"You're very welcome."

"Big sis, stay a while?" Hanabi asks. I pat her head, and she purrs softly for me. She really knows how to rope me in now, doesn't she...

"I really should get back home to Luna..."

"Please? It'd be really nice if we spent some extra time together. Just for a little bit? Won't you?"

"You know that I can't resist you, little kitten. Your big sis can't do much moving, though. Is that okay?"

"It's super okay. I have stuff I want to show you in my room, anyways."

"I can make some tea and snacks for you both," Imari says. "I ask your patience while I prepare them."

"We'll be waiting in my room, Icchan. Take your time, okay? Lili-nee, let's go."

"Sure." I smile and let Hanabi take my hand.

Looks like everything was a success, and Sasuke's mentorship is secured. Another good deed done. Now...I'll do as Luna wanted and rest a while for my troubles.