Hinata stood by the village gates, her eyes scanning the path that led away from Konoha. The morning sun cast long shadows across the ground, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead. She adjusted her jacket nervously, smoothing out non-existent wrinkles.

  "You really didn't have to come see me off, ya know," Naruto said, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "I mean, it's super early and everything."

  "I-I wanted to," Hinata replied, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "Besides, I've been up training most mornings anyway."

  "Really? That's awesome! You're gonna be way stronger than me by the time I get back," Naruto laughed.

  His laugh was infectious, and Hinata found herself smiling despite the nervous flutter in her stomach. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind. Between the Chunin exams, Naruto's confession about the Nine-Tails, and their tentative steps into a relationship, Hinata sometimes felt like she was living in a dream.

  A comfortable silence fell between them. Naruto kicked at a pebble on the ground, watching it skitter across the dirt path.

  "Hey, Hinata?" he said, his voice uncharacteristically quiet.

  "Yes, Naruto-kun?"

  "I just wanted to say... thanks. You know, for being so cool about..." he lowered his voice, glancing around to make sure they were alone, "the fox thing. Most people would have freaked out or something."

  Hinata's gaze softened. "There's nothing to thank me for, Naruto-kun. That's not who you are. It's just... something inside you."

  "Yeah, but still. You didn't run away or look at me different or anything. That means a lot," Naruto said, his blue eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her heart skip.

  "I could never think differently of you," Hinata said, finding courage in the genuineness of his gratitude. "You've always been Naruto-kun to me."

  Naruto's smile was radiant. "Man, I'm lucky, aren't I?"

  Hinata blushed and looked down at her feet. "I'm the lucky one," she murmured.

  "Huh? What was that?"

  "N-nothing!" Hinata squeaked, her face growing hotter.

  Naruto chuckled and leaned against the village gate. "So, what have you been up to? Other than training, I mean."

  Hinata sighed, her expression growing more somber. "Actually, I've been trying to spend more time with Hanabi lately."

  "Your sister, right? The little one?"

  Hinata nodded. "She's been... distant. More than usual."

  "Is something wrong?"

  "I'm not sure," Hinata admitted, twisting her fingers together. "At first, when I started improving in my training, she seemed happy for me. She'd ask me to show her what I'd learned, and we'd practice together sometimes."

  "That sounds nice."

  "It was. But lately..." Hinata's voice trailed off. "Lately she's been avoiding me. When I try to talk to her, she's short with me or makes an excuse to leave. I'm worried about her."

  Naruto frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. "That's weird. Did something happen?"

  "Nothing specific that I can think of. Father has always favored her—she's naturally gifted in our clan's techniques in a way I'm not. But I thought we were getting closer, not growing apart."

  "Man, I don't know what to say," Naruto admitted, running a hand through his spiky blonde hair. "I don't have any siblings, so I don't really get how that works."

  "It's okay. Just listening helps," Hinata said with a small smile. "Thank you for that."

  "Anytime! That's what... um... boyfriends are for, right?" Naruto's face flushed slightly as he said the word 'boyfriend.'

  Hinata's heart did a little flip in her chest. "R-right."

  A small poof of smoke appeared on Hinata's shoulder, startling them both. When it cleared, a solidly orange rabbit with bright eyes was perched there, looking mischievously between the two teens.

  "Carrot!" Hinata exclaimed.

  "Hey there, lovebirds!" Carrot greeted cheerfully. "Am I interrupting something?"

  "N-no!" Hinata stammered.

  "We were just talking," Naruto added quickly.

  "Uh-huh. Sure you were," Carrot said skeptically, her nose twitching. "Hinata, you shouldn't look so down. Whatever's going on with your little sister, she'll come around. Siblings squabble—it's what they do."

  "How did you know we were talking about Hanabi?" Hinata asked.

  "I've been here longer than you think," Carrot admitted with a wink. "Thought I'd give you two some privacy, but then you started looking all sad, and I couldn't just sit back and watch."

  Hinata reached up to scratch behind Carrot's ears. "Thank you for worrying about me."

  "It's been awhile since I have seen your personal summon." Naruto asked, eyeing the rabbit curiously. "She's kinda like Mochi, but orange."

  "I am nothing like that stuck-up fluffball!" Carrot protested, bristling. "I'm way cooler."

  "Carrot and Mochi are rivals," Hinata explained with a gentle laugh. "They're always trying to outdo each other."

  "Rivals, huh?" Naruto grinned. "Like me and Sasuke?"

  "Exactly! We are the cool orange ones and they are the stuck-up ones." Carrot held up a curled paw which Naruto fist-bumped.

  Hinata smiled, grateful for the lightened mood. Carrot always knew how to cheer her up, even if her methods were sometimes a bit blunt.

  "So, when's the pervy sage showing up?" Carrot asked, settling more comfortably on Hinata's shoulder.

  "Carrot! Don't call Lord Jiraiya that," Hinata gasped.

  Naruto snorted. "No, no, she's got it right. He's super pervy. Always peeking at women and writing those weird books."

  Hinata's face flushed bright red at the mention of Jiraiya's infamous novels.

  "I still can't believe one of the Legendary Sannin is taking you out for training," Hinata said, changing the subject. "That's such an honor."

  "Yeah, I guess," Naruto shrugged. "He's pretty strong, even if he is a total perv. And he knows some cool jutsu."

  "I'm going to miss you," Hinata admitted quietly, her eyes downcast.

  Naruto's expression softened. "I'll miss you too. But I'll be back before you know it! And I'll have all sorts of new techniques to show you!"

  "You really didn't have to see me off, you know," he repeated, but his tone made it clear he was glad she had.

  "I told you, I've just been training by myself anyway," Hinata said. "Kurenai-sensei has her hands full with Kiba and Shino right now."

  "What about you? Aren't you on their team?"

  Hinata shook her head. "Kiba didn't want me there. He was worried I might accidentally give something away about their training strategies."

  "What? That's ridiculous!" Naruto exclaimed indignantly. "You'd never do something like that!"

  Hinata giggled at his vehement defense of her integrity. "Thank you for your faith in me, Naruto-kun. But I understand. They're both going to be in the finals, and they need every advantage they can get."

  "Still," Naruto grumbled. "It's not like you'd tell me their secrets or something."

  A rare glint of mischief sparked in Hinata's eyes. "Well, who knows what I might say after a kiss?" she said, then immediately clapped her hands over her mouth, stunned by her own boldness.

  Naruto's face turned as red as a tomato, his eyes widening comically. "H-Hinata!"

  "Oh my goodness, look at you two!" Carrot cackled, rolling around on Hinata's shoulder. "You're both the color of ripe cherries!"

  "I-I don't know why I said that," Hinata stammered, mortified.

  "Hey, don't apologize," Naruto said, his voice cracking slightly. "It was, uh, it was cute."

  If possible, Hinata's face grew even redder.

  "Aww, you two are just precious," Carrot cooed, thoroughly enjoying their embarrassment. "When's the wedding? Can I be the flower girl? Or wait, would I be the ring-bearer? Hard to throw petals with paws."

  "Carrot!" Hinata squeaked.

  "What? I'm just asking the important questions here," the rabbit defended, looking entirely too innocent.

  Before either teen could respond, a deep voice cut through the moment.

  "Well, well, what do we have here? Saying goodbye to your girlfriend, eh, kid?"

  They turned to find Jiraiya standing a few feet away, his arms crossed over his chest and an amused smirk on his face. His long white hair was tied back, and he wore his usual red vest over green robes.

  "Pervy Sage! You're late!" Naruto accused, pointing a finger at him.

  "I'm not late; you're early," Jiraiya countered smoothly. "Can't blame a man for wanting to enjoy a peaceful morning stroll."

  "More like you were peeping at the hot springs again," Naruto muttered under his breath.

  Jiraiya ignored the comment, his gaze shifting to Hinata and the orange rabbit on her shoulder. His expression turned thoughtful.

  "Hyūga Hinata, right? The rabbit summoner?" Jiraiya asked, though it was clear from his tone that he already knew the answer.

  Hinata bowed politely. "Yes, Lord Jiraiya. It's an honor to meet you again."

  "Hmm." Jiraiya stroked his chin, looking between Naruto and Hinata. "You know, having you around might actually be helpful."

  "Huh? What do you mean?" Naruto asked.

  "I mean, maybe your girlfriend should come with us," Jiraiya said, his eyes twinkling with something that made Naruto instantly suspicious.

  "Really?" Hinata gasped. "But I thought—"

  "It's settled then," Jiraiya declared, clapping his hands together. "Hinata, are you doing anything important for the next week?"

  "N-no, not really," Hinata stammered, caught off guard by the sudden invitation. "Just individual training, like I mentioned."

  "Perfect! You can train with us," Jiraiya said with a decisive nod. "Your Byakugan will be useful for what I have in mind, and I've been meaning to check in with the Rabbit Clan anyway."

  "Hey, wait a second!" Naruto interjected. "Don't I get a say in this?"

  "What's the matter, kid? Don't want your girlfriend tagging along?" Jiraiya teased.

  "That's not it," Naruto protested. "It's just—I thought this was supposed to be special training for me. You know, because of..." he glanced meaningfully at his stomach.

  "Oh, it will be," Jiraiya assured him. "But having Hinata along will actually make certain aspects easier." He turned to the Hyūga heiress. "What do you say, young lady? Up for a training trip with the Legendary Toad Sage?"

  Hinata looked to Naruto, uncertain. "Only if Naruto-kun is okay with it?"

  Naruto's initial surprise gave way to a broad grin. "Are you kidding? That'd be awesome! We could train together and everything!"

  "Then... yes, I'd love to join you," Hinata said, her face lighting up with excitement.

  "Great! Go pack your things and meet us back here in an hour," Jiraiya instructed. "And make sure to get permission from your clan, of course. We'll be gone for a full week at least."

  "I'll be right back!" Hinata exclaimed, already turning toward the village with newfound energy. "Come on, Carrot!"

  "Race you there!" the orange rabbit challenged, hopping down from Hinata's shoulder and bounding ahead.

  Hinata laughed and chased after her summon, her heart lighter than it had been in days.

  As she raced through the streets of Konoha, her mind was whirling with possibilities. Training with Naruto and one of the Legendary Sannin! It was beyond anything she could have imagined when she'd woken up that morning.

  She slowed to a walk as she approached the Hyūga compound, trying to catch her breath and compose herself. It wouldn't do to appear before her father flushed and panting like an overexcited child.

  The guards at the gate bowed respectfully as she entered, and Hinata made her way directly to her father's study, where she knew he would be at this hour.

  She knocked softly on the sliding door.

  "Enter," came Hiashi's measured voice from within.

  Hinata slid the door open and stepped inside, bowing formally. "Good morning, Father."

  Hiashi was seated at a low table, a steaming cup of tea before him and several scrolls laid out methodically. He looked up at his eldest daughter with his usual impassive expression.

  "Hinata," he acknowledged. "You're up early."

  "Yes, Father," she replied, kneeling on the cushion across from him. "I was seeing Naruto off at the gates."

  "The Uzumaki boy," Hiashi noted, taking a sip of his tea. "He's leaving the village?"

  "For training, with Lord Jiraiya," Hinata explained. She hesitated, then added, "Actually, that's what I wanted to speak with you about. Lord Jiraiya has requested my assistance with the training."

  Hiashi's eyebrow rose slightly—the Hyūga equivalent of open surprise. "Is that so? And what assistance does one of the Legendary Sannin require from a genin?"

  "He mentioned my Byakugan would be useful," Hinata said, her fingers tightening in her lap. "And he wanted to check in with the Rabbit Clan as well."

  Carrot, who had been quietly sitting beside Hinata, nodded vigorously. "Queen Joousa would be thrilled to meet with Lord Jiraiya again. She's always saying how much she respects him."

  Hiashi regarded the rabbit summon thoughtfully. Recently, he had begun to view Hinata's contract with the Rabbit Clan more favorably. Initially, he had been skeptical of its value compared to more combat-oriented summons, but the recent developments with the Rabbit Clan's new Great Warren and their enhanced abilities had changed his perspective.

  "I see," he said after a moment. "And how long would this training expedition last?"

  "A full week, Lord Jiraiya said," Hinata replied. "We would leave today."

  Hiashi took another sip of his tea, his face revealing nothing of his thoughts. "It must be for the Uzumaki boy's benefit," he observed. "Given his... unique circumstances."

  Hinata remained silent, neither confirming nor denying her father's assessment. In the shadows of the hallway outside, a small figure lingered near the partially open door, listening intently.

  "You have my permission," Hiashi said at last. "A training opportunity with Lord Jiraiya is not something to be refused. It will reflect well on our clan."

  "Thank you, Father," Hinata said, bowing deeply, relief and joy flooding through her.

  "Your training with Kurenai has shown results," Hiashi continued, his tone neutral but not unkind. "Your performance in the Chunin exams, while not victorious, demonstrated significant improvement."

  "Thank you," Hinata said again, surprised and touched by the rare acknowledgment.

  "And Hinata," Hiashi added, setting down his cup, "I have no objections to your continued... association with the Uzumaki boy."

  Hinata's eyes widened. Had her father just given his blessing to her relationship with Naruto?

  "He has proven himself capable," Hiashi went on, "and his lineage, while complicated, is not without merit."

  "I—thank you, Father," Hinata managed, her cheeks warming.

  Neither of them noticed as Hanabi, who had been eavesdropping from the hallway, slipped away, her small face twisted with an emotion somewhere between shock and frustration.

  "You should prepare for your journey," Hiashi said, returning his attention to the scrolls before him. "Do not forget to pack appropriate medical supplies."

  "Yes, Father," Hinata said, rising to her feet and bowing once more. "I'll go pack immediately."

  As she left the study, closing the door behind her, Hinata felt a bubble of excitement rising in her chest. Her father had approved! Not just of the training trip, but of Naruto as well!

  "See? I told you he wouldn't say no," Carrot said smugly, bouncing alongside her as they headed toward Hinata's room. "He knows a good opportunity when he sees one."

  "I can hardly believe it," Hinata admitted. "Training with Naruto-kun and Lord Jiraiya... it's like a dream."

  "Better than a dream—it's real!" Carrot declared. "And think of all the alone time you'll have with Naruto. Well, mostly alone. I'm sure the pervy sage will disappear to 'gather research' pretty often."

  "Carrot!" Hinata admonished, but she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face.

  As she reached her room, she paused, glancing down the hallway toward Hanabi's bedroom. The door was closed.

  "Should I tell Hanabi I'm leaving?" she wondered aloud.

  Carrot shrugged, as much as a rabbit could. "Can't hurt to try. Worst she can do is ignore you, and that's what she's been doing anyway."

  Hinata nodded decisively. "You're right. I should at least say goodbye."

  She walked to Hanabi's door and knocked softly. "Hanabi? It's Hinata. May I come in?"

  There was no answer.

  "Hanabi?" Hinata called again. "I just wanted to let you know I'm going to be away for a few weeks. For training."

  Still silence.

  "I guess she's not in there," Carrot suggested.

  "Maybe," Hinata sighed. "Or maybe she just doesn't want to talk to me."

  "Her loss," Carrot said firmly. "Come on, we've got packing to do! You don't want to keep loverboy waiting."

  Hinata gave Hanabi's door one last regretful look before returning to her own room. Whatever was going on with her sister would have to wait until she returned. For now, an adventure was calling—with Naruto by her side.

  Karin bit her thumb as she watched Naruto leave for a week with that Hyuga princess. He'd been so excited, practically bouncing on his heels as he waited for Hinata to return from packing her things. And the way his face lit up when she finally appeared—Karin's chest tightened at the memory.

  She wanted to go with him. She was useful. She could heal him up to let him train for longer. She knew a few Uzumaki tricks her mother had taught her before... before everything had fallen apart. She could have helped him master his chakra control or shown him the beginner sealing techniques that were their clan's birthright.

  But she... was just family. He only had eyes for Hinata.

  Karin's shoulders sagged as she turned away from the village gates. She'd stayed long enough to wave goodbye, to see Jiraiya's massive form lead the two teenagers down the path, to watch Naruto reach for Hinata's hand when he thought no one was looking.

  Konoha was great, she had to admit. Everyone treated her nicely and way better than in Grass. The Hokage himself had welcomed her, arranged temporary housing, started the process for her permanent residency. Even the interrogation had been surprisingly gentle—professional and thorough, but not cruel.

  And Naruto—Naruto was kind and caring and took time out to meet with her almost every day so they could get to know each other. He'd shown her around the village, introduced her to his favorite ramen chef, taught her the best training grounds to use when she wanted privacy. He even had given her a key to his apartment while he was away.

  That probably was a little too trusting on his part. Not that she would abuse it, but... they had only known each other for a couple of weeks, and she was from a different village. If she'd been a spy, she could have ransacked his home for intelligence. Though from what she'd seen of his apartment, the only intel she'd find would be on instant ramen flavors and the hiding places of his dirty laundry.

  Karin sighed, absently adjusting her glasses. Despite Naruto's kindness, despite being welcomed into the village that was secretly all she'd ever dreamed of as a lonely child in Grass, she couldn't help feeling adrift.

  She had yet to be assigned a team. Depending on who passed the chunin exam, they would probably shuffle the teams around and slot her in. Though Leaf seemed more committed to keeping teams together, so who knew? She might end up as a floater, assisting various teams as needed, never truly belonging anywhere.

  Her feet carried her through the unfamiliar streets of Konoha, past bustling shops and laughing villagers. Everyone seemed to have somewhere to go, someone to be with. Even the ninja moved in pairs or groups, calling to each other, sharing jokes or complaining good-naturedly about missions.

  She wandered aimlessly, lost in thought, until raised voices caught her attention.

  "I told you using live kunai was a bad idea, Hanabi!" a boy's voice shouted.

  "It's your stupid fault," a girl snapped back. "You said you were skilled. How are we supposed to get better faster if we don't have real risk involved?"

  Karin followed the sound around a corner and came upon a scene of five children arguing in what appeared to be a small, secluded training area. She recognized the boy with goggles as the Hokage's grandson—she'd seen him trailing after Naruto once or twice. He was being held back by a boy with glasses and what appeared to be a perpetually runny nose.

  The other speaker was an angry-looking girl who looked a lot like Hinata, though with shorter hair and a harsher expression. She was being held back by a girl in pigtails. Between them stood a slightly older boy in a hat with a nasty gash on one arm, trying to calm the two down despite his obvious pain.

  "I'm fine guys, just a scratch," the injured boy insisted, though his pale face told a different story. "Let's just tell a teacher and get a medi-nin to heal it up."

  "But we're going to get in big trouble," the boy with glasses moaned. "We're not supposed to be using live weapons yet!"

  "And we wouldn't have if you could aim properly, idiot!" the Hyuga girl shot back, struggling against the pigtailed girl's grip.

  Karin stepped forward, interjecting herself into the situation. "What's going on here?"

  All five children turned and flinched at the sight of her, guilt written plainly across their faces.

  The pigtailed girl moaned. "We're gonna be grounded forever."

  The hat kid tried to straighten up, pressing his hand against his bleeding arm. "Nothing's going on. We're just, uh, practicing our... teamwork."

  "Yeah!" the Hokage's grandson chimed in. "Super-important teamwork training!"

  Karin cut them off with a wave of her hand. "Let me guess—you all were trying for some 'realistic' training and now know the reason why you haven't been given live weapons outside of supervised sessions, right?"

  Five sullen nods greeted her.

  "And if you go to a teacher, you're going to get in big trouble."

  Five more sullen nods.

  Karin considered her options. She could just take them to a teacher. Show she was being a good little leaf ninja following the rules. It would be the responsible thing to do.

  On the other hand, getting a favorable impression with some important kids could be helpful down the line. The Hokage's grandson, a Hyuga, and... whoever the others were. They seemed to be academy students, which meant they'd be genin someday, possibly even placed on teams with her if she stayed in Konoha long enough.

  Besides, the boy's wound wasn't life-threatening. It was painful and bleeding, but nothing that would cause permanent damage.

  She made her decision and stuck out her finger toward the wounded boy. "Bite it."

  The boy recoiled as if she'd offered him a live snake, and the rest looked at her like she had grown another head.

  She rolled her eyes. "Look, some ninja techniques are odd, alright? If you don't want to get in trouble, just bite my finger."

  Hat boy grumbled that biting people usually GOT him into trouble but did as she asked, his teeth pressing into her skin with obvious reluctance.

  Within seconds, the glow of Karin's chakra enveloped the point of contact, and the boy's wound began to close. The Children's eyes widened in amazement as skin knit back together, leaving not even a scar.

  Karin pulled back her smarting finger with a wince. It always hurt, but she was used to the pain by now. At least this had been a voluntary offering, not like in Grass...

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  "So cool!" the pigtailed girl exclaimed.

  "Big Sis, who are you?" the Hokage's grandson asked, eyes shining.

  Karin planted her hands on her hips, feeling a surge of confidence at their admiration. "I'm Karin Uzumaki."

  If anything, three of the kids' eyes got even bigger.

  "You're Boss Naruto's cousin!" the Hokage's grandson exclaimed. "He mentioned you!"

  "Wow, you're really pretty!" the pigtailed girl added.

  Eh, they knew Naruto? Well, that made this doubly good. The Hyuga girl was fidgeting, shooting guilty glances at the boy in the hat who was still amazed by the healing, probing his arm where the injury had been.

  "So who are you kids?" Karin asked, crossing her arms and giving them what she hoped was a responsible-adult look.

  "I'm Konohamaru!" the Hokage's grandson announced proudly, jabbing a thumb at his chest.

  "I'm Moegi," the pigtailed girl said, giving a little bow.

  "Udon," mumbled the boy with glasses, sniffling.

  "I'm Inari," the hat boy said, finally pulling his attention away from his healed arm.

  The Hyuga girl lifted her chin slightly. "My name is Hyuga Hanabi, miss."

  "Well, Konohamaru, Moegi, Udon, Inari, and Hanabi," Karin said, her gaze sweeping over each of them, "maybe now you understand why the Academy doesn't let you play with real weapons yet?"

  The children shuffled their feet, looking appropriately chastened—except for Hanabi, who still had a defiant gleam in her eyes.

  "We weren't playing," the Hyuga girl insisted. "We were training. I need to get stronger faster."

  Karin raised an eyebrow. "Faster than what? The Academy curriculum?"

  "Faster than my sister," Hanabi muttered, then immediately looked like she regretted saying it.

  Ah, so this was Hinata's younger sister. The family resemblance was obvious now that Karin knew to look for it—the same delicate features, the same distinctive eyes, though this girl's were harder, more determined.

  "You could have just asked for a training partner who's actually qualified to use real weapons," Karin pointed out. "There are plenty of genin or chunin who would probably be happy to help."

  "Like you?" Konohamaru asked eagerly.

  "Uh..." Karin hesitated. She hadn't exactly meant herself.

  "That would be so awesome!" Moegi said, clasping her hands together. "Can you teach us cool ninja moves? And that healing thing?"

  Karin stared at the five eager faces, all suddenly looking up to her as if she were the font of all ninja knowledge. It was... actually kind of nice, having someone recognize her skills for a change.

  "I guess I could show you a few things," she admitted. "But you'd have to promise me you'll stop with the unsupervised weapons training."

  The kids nodded eagerly, Inari even going so far as to raise his hand in a solemn oath. "Promise!"

  Hanabi crossed her arms, less enthusiastic, but eventually nodded. "Fine."

  "We'll be super good students, Karin-sensei!" Moegi chirped, bouncing on her toes with excitement.

  "Just Karin is fine, I'm not exactly a teacher," she said with a small laugh.

  "Hey, hey, Karin," Konohamaru stepped forward. "Can you show us that crazy healing thing again? Does it work on everything? How does it taste? Does Naruto-nii-san know this technique too?"

  Karin pushed her glasses up. "It's a special ability I have. The Uzumaki clan has particularly strong life force and unique chakra. Some of us manifest healing abilities."

  "So Naruto can do it too?" Udon asked, wiping his nose on his sleeve.

  "No, he has... different gifts," Karin said carefully, thinking of the massive, frightening chakra she sensed inside him. "Each Uzumaki is unique."

  Moegi raised her hand as if she were in class. "Um, Karin? Can I ask you something?"

  "You just did," Karin said, then smiled to show she was joking. "But go ahead."

  Moegi twisted the hem of her shirt. "Well, I was wondering if you could tell us about... about sex appeal?"

  Karin blinked. "What?"

  "It's just..." Moegi looked at her feet. "I always ask big sis Sakura, but she gives really roundabout explanations. And you seem like you'd know."

  "Yeah!" Konohamaru added with a mischievous grin. "Like how girls get boys to like them and stuff!"

  Karin stared at the children for a moment, then shrugged. It was a valid ninja topic after all. She'd been about their age when her training in Grass started covering these matters.

  "Sex appeal is just understanding how to present yourself in a way that attracts attention through physical appearance and behavior," she explained clinically. "It's a tool that kunoichi can use during certain types of missions, especially infiltration or intelligence gathering."

  The children gathered closer, seeming fascinated.

  "In Grass, we started learning the basics around your age," Karin continued. "Basic makeup application, how to accentuate your features, voice modulation, body language..."

  Konohamaru's eyes were getting wider. Moegi was hanging on every word. Even Hanabi was leaning in, though she was trying to appear disinterested.

  "For beginners, there are some simple techniques," Karin continued, shifting into the lecturing tone her old instructor had used. "Learning to make eye contact just a beat longer than normal. Knowing how to position your body to appear more appealing. Using your voice to convey interest. Touching someone's arm or shoulder casually to establish a connection."

  She demonstrated each point as she listed them, muscle memory from her old classes kicking in. "The key is subtlety. Too obvious and you'll seem desperate or artificial."

  Inari's face had turned bright red. Udon looked like he might pass out.

  "Of course, these are just the foundations," Karin continued, oblivious to the growing discomfort. "Later training gets more advanced—specialized walking techniques to enhance feminine movement, breathing exercises to create a more appealing chest presentation, targeted muscle control—"

  "Um, Karin-san?" Moegi interrupted, her face now matching her hair. "This is... really different from what Sakura-nee tells us."

  Karin frowned. "What does she say?"

  "She says sex appeal is about being confident and smart," Konohamaru offered, scratching his head awkwardly. "And that we're too young to worry about it."

  Karin paused. Wait a minute. This was Konoha, not Grass. Were the villages really that different in their approach? She thought back to the kunoichi she'd seen around the village. They didn't seem to use the same techniques she'd been taught. Hinata certainly didn't, and Sakura's approach to attracting Sasuke seemed to revolve more around proving her ninja capabilities than seduction.

  "Does..." Hanabi looked like she was forcing each word out through sheer willpower, her face scarlet. "Does Leaf not teach... t-those things?"

  "Not in the Academy, no!" Udon exclaimed, looking horrified.

  "But isn't flower arranging part of the kunoichi curriculum?" Karin asked, genuinely confused.

  "Yeah, but that's for infiltration and culture stuff!" Moegi said. "Not for... you know..."

  Karin suddenly realized her mistake. These kids weren't being taught seduction techniques at all. Konoha's Academy apparently had very different priorities than Grass.

  "Oh," she said, feeling heat creep into her own cheeks. "I think I might have... misunderstood the question."

  Hanabi looked like she was about to implode, her pale face now such a deep red it was practically purple. The Hyuga girl stood stiffly, arms crossed tightly over her chest, eyes fixed firmly on a spot on the ground.

  Inari was tugging his hat down as if he could disappear inside it. "I shouldn't have heard any of that," he mumbled. "Tsunami-mama is going to kill me if she finds out."

  "This is so embarrassing," Moegi whispered, though she seemed the least affected of the group.

  Konohamaru, meanwhile, had an odd mix of horror and fascination on his face. "Do they really teach that stuff in other villages?" he asked in a hushed voice.

  Karin adjusted her glasses nervously. "Um, yes, but clearly that's not how things are done in Leaf. I'm still learning the cultural differences."

  "We should pretend this conversation never happened," Udon suggested, looking around at the others.

  "Agreed," Hanabi said immediately, her voice strangled and higher-pitched than before.

  "So, uh, maybe we should talk about something else," Karin suggested, desperately trying to salvage the situation. "Like basic chakra control exercises? Or I could tell you about some Uzumaki fuinjutsu principles?"

  Five heads nodded vigorously, clearly eager to change the subject.

  "Wait," Hanabi suddenly spoke up, her embarrassment temporarily forgotten. "Are you saying other villages teach their kunoichi to... to seduce people as a ninja technique?"

  Karin nodded cautiously. "It's a standard part of kunoichi training in many villages. Infiltration and information gathering often require... specialized skills."

  Hanabi's brow furrowed. "But that's—" she cut herself off, looking troubled.

  "It's what?" Karin prompted.

  "Demeaning," Hanabi finally said, lifting her chin defiantly. "Using your body like that. It's not... honorable."

  Karin watched the five children process her words, their reactions a fascinating mix of shock, horror, and—in Hanabi's case—indignation. It struck her just how different Konoha was from Kusa in its approach to ninja training.

  Must be nice to be raised in a village that can afford to care about honor, she thought, a touch of bitterness creeping in. The Grass Village had never been particularly concerned with such lofty ideals. Effectiveness and results were what mattered, not the methods used to achieve them.

  Karin doubted there were no seduction specialists in Konoha. She remembered the second exam proctor—Anko, wasn't it?—prancing around in that mesh bodysuit and tiny skirt. That outfit definitely wasn't chosen for its tactical advantages in forest combat.

  Still, it was probably best not to push the issue. Getting these kids to like her was great progress, but getting their parents mad at her would be a serious setback. The Hokage's grandson, a Hyuga clan child, and three other academy students—their families would have influence, connections she couldn't afford to alienate.

  "You're right that Leaf does things differently," Karin said carefully. "I'm still learning how things work here."

  Hanabi's posture relaxed slightly, though her expression remained guarded.

  "Anyway," Karin continued, eager to change the subject, "what kind of training were you all trying to do before I got here?"

  The children exchanged glances, the earlier tension gradually dissipating.

  "We were trying to improve our aim," Konohamaru explained, puffing out his chest. "Academy kunai are too light, so we... borrowed... some real ones to practice with."

  "I see," Karin said, surveying the makeshift target they'd set up on a tree. "And I'm guessing that's when things went wrong?"

  Hanabi's chin lifted defensively. "I hit the target every time. It was Inari who couldn't control his throw."

  "Hey!" Inari protested. "It wasn't my fault! Konohamaru bumped my arm!"

  "Did not!"

  "Did too!"

  Karin clapped her hands sharply. "Enough! If you're going to train with me, rule one is no blaming each other. A team takes responsibility together."

  That quieted them down, though Hanabi still looked like she wanted to argue.

  "So you all want to get stronger, is that it?" Karin asked, looking from face to face.

  Five enthusiastic nods answered her.

  "Especially Hanabi," Moegi volunteered, earning a glare from the Hyuga girl. "She's always saying she needs to catch up to her sister."

  Karin's interest piqued at this. The Hyuga heiress—Hinata—was dating Naruto. And here was her little sister, apparently desperate to surpass her. Information about the girlfriend's family dynamics could be useful.

  "Is that so?" Karin asked, trying to sound casual. "Your sister must be pretty impressive."

  Hanabi crossed her arms, her expression clouding. "She's... improved a lot recently. Father has been praising her progress."

  There was something in the girl's tone that caught Karin's attention—not just sibling rivalry, but something deeper. Fear, perhaps?

  "Well, I'm sure there's room for both of you to excel," Karin offered.

  Hanabi's pale eyes narrowed slightly. "Not in the Hyuga clan."

  The other children shifted uncomfortably, suggesting this was a sensitive topic. Interesting.

  "What do you mean?" Karin pressed gently.

  Hanabi seemed to debate whether to continue, then finally spoke in a clipped tone: "The clan heir leads the Main Family. Everyone else becomes Branch Family." Her hand unconsciously rose to her forehead. "With the seal."

  "The caged bird seal," Udon supplied helpfully, then withered under Hanabi's glare.

  Karin felt a chill run down her spine. She'd heard rumors about the Hyuga clan's practices, but hadn't realized they sealed their own family members. "And your sister is the heir?"

  "For now," Hanabi said, her small face tightening. "But Father hasn't made a final decision yet."

  So that was it. The younger sister was afraid of being relegated to this "Branch Family" with a seal placed on her. No wonder she was pushing herself so hard to improve.

  "I see," Karin said, filing away this information. "Well, I can certainly help you all improve, but we need to be smarter about it. Real weapons are fine, but you need proper supervision."

  Konohamaru brightened. "So you'll train us? For real?"

  Karin nodded. "We can meet here a few times a week, after your Academy classes." She glanced at Hanabi. "I can show you some chakra control exercises that might help with your clan techniques."

  The offer seemed to surprise Hanabi, who regarded Karin with newfound interest. "...Thank you."

  "Me too!" Moegi begged. "I want to learn too!"

  "And me!" Konohamaru added. "I'm going to be Hokage someday, believe it!"

  Karin couldn't help but smile at the phrase—so similar to Naruto's favorite saying. "I'll work with all of you. But first..." She glanced up at the position of the sun. "It's getting late. You should all head home before your parents worry."

  The children looked disappointed but didn't argue.

  "Meet back here tomorrow after your classes?" Karin suggested. "And no weapons practice until then!"

  The children agreed, their earlier enthusiasm returning. As they gathered their things, Karin noticed Hanabi hovering slightly apart from the others, her expression pensive.

  "Hanabi-san," Karin called softly. "Could I speak with you for a moment?"

  The Hyuga girl approached cautiously, wariness evident in her stance.

  "I wanted to ask you something about your sister," Karin said, keeping her voice low.

  Hanabi's guard immediately went up. "What about her?"

  "I'm curious," Karin said, choosing her words carefully. "Naruto seems to think very highly of her. Is there anything I should know about her? Since Naruto is my clan member, I want to make sure he's... making good choices."

  It was a transparent attempt at fishing for information, but Karin hoped Hanabi's apparent rivalry with her sister might loosen her tongue.

  To her surprise, Hanabi's expression softened slightly. "Hinata-neesan is... kind. Too kind, sometimes." The girl's brow furrowed. "She never stands up for herself. Always putting others first."

  These didn't sound like flaws to Karin, but she nodded encouragingly.

  "She used to be weak," Hanabi continued, her voice lowering further. "Everyone in the clan thought so. But then she started training more, getting stronger." Something like pride flickered across the younger girl's face before being replaced by uncertainty. "Now Father watches her differently."

  "Is that a bad thing?" Karin asked.

  Hanabi hesitated. "It means... it means I have to be better. Or else..."

  She trailed off, her hand unconsciously rising to her forehead again.

  "But is there anything about her character that concerns you?" Karin pressed. "Anything Naruto should be worried about?"

  Hanabi looked genuinely confused by the question. "No. Hinata-neesan is... perfect." The admission seemed to cost her something. "She's gentle and kind and never cruel, even when she should be. She'd make a good clan head, if—" She cut herself off.

  "If what?"

  "If the elders didn't think her too soft," Hanabi finished, but Karin sensed there was more to it.

  "I see," Karin said, hiding her disappointment. So much for finding dirt on the perfect Hyuga princess. "Thank you for being honest with me."

  Hanabi nodded stiffly, then turned to rejoin the others who were waiting at the edge of the training ground. Karin watched them go, her mind churning with new information.

  So Naruto's girlfriend really was as sweet and perfect as she seemed. That would make things more difficult. Karin had hoped to find some character flaw, some hidden secret she could exploit to drive a wedge between them.

  Instead, she'd found a complicated family dynamic—two sisters caught in a system that would force one to subjugate the other. Hinata might be perfect, but her position in her clan was far from secure. And the younger sister, Hanabi, was clearly torn between familial love and self-preservation.

  Karin started walking back toward the apartment she'd been assigned. Naruto was gone for a week of training with Jiraiya and Hinata, which gave her time to establish herself in the village. These kids could be a good start—especially the Hokage's grandson. Konohamaru clearly idolized Naruto, calling him "Boss" and mimicking his speech patterns. If she could get Konohamaru to like her, he'd tell Naruto how great she was when he returned.

  And spending time with Hanabi might yield more insights into the Hyuga clan, which could prove useful later.

  As Karin turned onto the main street, she spotted a familiar figure up ahead—the pink-haired rabbit girl, Sakura. Karin tensed slightly. She hadn't interacted much with Sakura outside of the tet, but she knew the girl was close to both Hinata and Naruto. And from what Karin could tell, Sakura was firmly on Team Hinata.

  For a moment, Karin considered ducking down a side street to avoid her, but Sakura had already spotted her and was waving.

  "Karin! Hi!" Sakura called, her long pink rabbit ears perking up as she approached.

  "Hello," Karin replied, forcing a pleasant smile. "How are you?"

  "Good! Just finishing up some training," Sakura said, falling into step beside her. "I heard you've been settling in well?"

  Karin nodded. "Everyone's been very... welcoming." It wasn't entirely true—she'd received plenty of suspicious looks from villagers and ninja alike—but the leadership had been accommodating enough.

  "Great! I was actually hoping to run into you," Sakura continued. "I wanted to invite you to dinner tomorrow. Sasuke-kun and I thought it would be nice to get to know you better, since you're Naruto's family."

  Karin blinked in surprise. Dinner with Sakura and Sasuke? That was... unexpected. And potentially useful.

  "Unless you've already made plans?" Sakura added when Karin didn't immediately respond.

  "No, no plans," Karin said quickly. "Dinner sounds nice."

  "Great!" Sakura's ears twitched happily. "We'll meet at Yakiniku Q at seven, then."

  "I'll be there," Karin promised, her mind already racing ahead to how she might use this opportunity.

  They walked in silence for a moment before Sakura spoke again. "So, what were you doing at the Academy training grounds? I heard your voice there as I was passing by."

  Karin hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I was... helping some Academy students with a small training problem they were having."

  "Oh?" Sakura's interest was clearly piqued. "Anyone I know?"

  "The Hokage's grandson and his friends," Karin answered vaguely. "And a Hyuga girl."

  "Hanabi?" Sakura's ears perked up further. "Hinata's sister?"

  Karin nodded. "She seems... intense."

  Sakura laughed. "That's putting it mildly. She's like a mini-Neji, only with better social skills. So what kind of training were they doing?"

  "They were trying to practice with real kunai," Karin explained. "One of them got hurt, so I healed him."

  Sakura smiled "You that was very kind of you! Those kids get into all sorts of trouble,"

  They had reached a crossroads, and Sakura pointed down one street. "I'm heading this way. But I'll see you tomorrow night, right?"

  "Right," Karin confirmed. "Looking forward to it."

  As Sakura waved goodbye and headed off, rabbit tail bobbing behind her, Karin stood for a moment, considering. She needed to be careful around Sakura. The girl was clearly intelligent and perceptive, not to mention completely devoted to both her teammates. If Karin made any obvious moves against Hinata, Sakura would undoubtedly notice and intervene.

  Still, tomorrow's dinner might provide an opportunity to gather more information and perhaps plant some subtle seeds. She'd have to tread carefully, but Karin was nothing if not patient. After all, she'd survived in Grass for years by knowing when to wait and when to act.

  With that thought, she turned and headed toward her apartment, already planning her approach for the following day's training with the Academy students. Konohamaru and his friends would be easy enough to win over, but Hanabi would require a more delicate touch. The Hyuga girl was clearly intelligent and guarded—much like Karin herself had been at that age.

  Perhaps that was the angle to take: recognition of a kindred spirit. Someone who understood what it meant to have your fate controlled by forces beyond your reach. To fear being marked and controlled.

  As she walked, Karin found herself thinking about what Hanabi had said about her sister. Despite clearly viewing Hinata as a rival, the younger girl hadn't been able to come up with a single negative thing to say about her. "Perfect," she'd called her—with a mixture of resentment and genuine admiration.

  It was frustrating. Karin had hoped to discover some hidden flaw, some secret Hinata was keeping from Naruto. But instead, it seemed Naruto's girlfriend really was as sweet and gentle as she appeared. The kind of person who would make an excellent clan head precisely because she lacked the ruthlessness most clan leaders possessed.

  Too perfect, Karin thought with a frown. Nobody's that perfect.

  There had to be something. Some vulnerability she could exploit. Some way to show Naruto that she, Karin, would be a better match for him than the Hyuga princess.

  But it would take time to find it. And in the meantime, she would continue establishing herself in Konoha. Making connections, becoming indispensable. The Academy students were a good start. If she could help them improve, their parents and teachers would notice. Word would spread.

  And when Naruto returned from his training trip, she would be there—the helpful cousin who had seamlessly integrated into village life. Who had made friends with his friends, who had proven her worth to the community.

  Karin reached her apartment building and paused, looking up at the Hokage Monument that loomed over the village. Four faces carved in stone, watching over everyone below.

  One day, Naruto might be up there, she thought. And by then, if things went according to plan, she would be at his side—not as a cousin, but as something more.

  But first, she needed to find Hinata's weakness. Everyone had one. Even the perfect Hyuga princess.