Inside Hinata's room.
The room was very tidy, with many photographs hanging on the white walls.
They all showed Hinata at different stages of her life.
There was Hinata as a child, before she attended the Ninja Academy, playing outside with Naruto and Sasuke.
There was Hinata sneaking food while sharing a desk with Naruto at the Ninja Academy, and Hinata in the group photo the five of them took when they had just formed Team 7 after graduating from the Ninja Academy.
There were many, many other photographs, all treasured by Hinata in her room.
And in almost all these photographs, a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy stood beside Hinata.
As sunlight streamed through the window, Hinata's delicate eyelashes fluttered. She slowly opened her eyes, her mind still a little stalled.
"Mmm, what time is it?"
Hinata rubbed her eyes, then turned her clear blue gaze toward the clock hanging on the wall.
It was a little yellow duck-shaped clock, a birthday present Naruto had given her once.
"Huh, it's already eight?"
"It's the weekend today, isn't it? Why hasn't Karin come to see me yet?"
She gently placed a finger against her lips, lightly holding it in her mouth as she tilted her head and fell into thought, looking a little adorably dazed.
The next moment, she seemed to remember something. A gleam flashed through her eyes, and she got up to look through her wardrobe for something to wear today.
After getting dressed, she came out of her room. In the living room, Hiashi was reading the newspaper with his usual composure. This seemed to have become something every clan head had to do.
Hanabi had fewer lessons today and was eating breakfast at the dining table.
Her eyes lit up when she saw Hinata, and she waved to