The time for mourning came and went. The Land of Waves saw the loss of its ninja as an overall victory in the long haul. The war changed many, but none as much as it did Miyuki. Her cold and distant demeanour turned dark. It did not go unnoticed by the Mizukage. He promoted her to ANBU Rakurai Interrogation Division soon after the mourning period was over. Katsu was placed in the Sensory Rakurai Division, while Ryuu took over the ANBU Rakurai Hunter Command.

On one of her fewer days off, Ryuu came knocking on her bedroom door. He entered to find her still in bed. He gently shook her awake, “Miyuki, wake up. It’s passed noon.” She lazily groaned in defiance. He then sighed, “I brought you coffee.” She immediately shot up, looking like a tired mess. She took the cup from him, ignoring Ryuu's sweat dropped expression, “What do you do when you’re up all night, gees. You need to get more sleep.” She glanced at him, and then returned to slurping her coffee. How could she sleep when images of Akio’s final moments haunt her whenever she tries? She wiped her mouth with her arm and handed Ryuu the mug before she got out of bed, “Thanks.”

He watched her get to the mirror, ravaging the drawer for a comb, “I blame the Rakurai's Interrogation Division, you know. That place isn’t suited for people with caring hearts, like you.” She chuckled out of disbelief, “Huh. Caring hearts… Why don’t you see me shove a needle in someone’s neck, and then you can tell me how much I care.” She grabbed her hairbrush and headed to sit at her window.

“You see! It’s that Interrogations Division that keeps you up all night. With all those people you have to torture? It's not good for you.” She halted brushing her hair and shot her eyes wide open before pointing an accusing brush at him, “Why don’t you run along and get Katsu, and we can all sit around a campfire and hold hands while we express our feelings? Then we can all be as caring and carefree as you.” She was both sarcastic and dramatic in all her gestures.

“Look, all I’m saying is we’re your brothers, and we’re here for you whenever you need it. But we can't help you, when all you’re doing is hiding out here behind your ANBU mask, pretending you’re okay all the time.” Even he was frustrated now. She frowned at him, before whipping around and glaring at the window. She then spotted the few sheets of paper laying on it’s sile and picked one up, beginning to fiddle with it. He sighed, about to give up when he remembered something, “Hey. Katsu has some free time today. He’s spending it training Harumi. I’m heading over there now... Care to join us?” He inquired, tingling with a tiny piece of hope. “I’m fine, where I am.” She answered, concentrating on roughly folding the paper. “Come on. It’s been weeks since you joined us. Why don’t we go sing Harumi a song, like the good old days? You know she loves to hear you sing.” He insisted. “Just go away, Ryuu!” She demanded, and with a heavy heart, he left.

When her paper art was finished, she realised it had turned into a heart. Taken aback, she bitterly tore the heart and flung it towards the floor. She sat and watched, her grief spilling down her eyes and onto her knees.

…..........................................................................

Summer turned to winter, and winter turned to spring. Soon after, the Autumn leaves began to fall. “Ha! ANBU Interrogations Captain at 20! That’s my Princess!” Tadashi proudly raising a glass, and toasting to his now 20-year-old daughter.

She was promoted to the Interrogations Force's Captain within a year, earning a reputation as ‘Needles.’ She grimly stared at her tea, “Thanks, dad.” “We’re so proud of you, darling.” Shizu beamed. “Congratulations.” Katsu added. “Yeah! Well done, Big Sister.” Ryuu smiled. Her brothers knew better though. They knew that she was unhappy, and worried she would always be. It had been a long time since the five sat together and ate dinner like this. Katsu worked closely with Ao and the Mizukage, while Miyuki worked in the shadows, hiding behind her mask. Ryuu made lots of friends with other Rakurai Hunters, and continued down a brighter path full of the chase rather than torture. He chose to leave what happened in the war behind. “How about we celebrate by working on an Ice Technique? After all, your Yuki bloodline flows just as strongly as mine.” Her mother suggested. “Sure.” Shizu was Half-Yuki from her mother, and Half-Haurutsuki from her father’s side. That made the trio a quarter Yuki. Miyuki seemed to inherit most of her mother’s Yuki genes, being a combination of Wind and Water Ninjutsu abilities. It explained why she was able use the Ice Release Justus. “Miyuki, you’re a young woman now. Stop slouching and act like one.” She sighed, straightening up at her father’s command. “Much better. Now then, how about some dessert?” He smiled. “Sounds great.” She said, forcing a polite smile. She didn’t even know what a real smile was anymore…

One Autumn night, Miyuki returned to the Mizukage's Office with the mission report from her latest intel collected on a tortured suspect. She halted before knocking on the door, hearing Ao’s voice speaking. Her ears perked up at the mention of extermination, and she couldn’t help but listen in.

“They’re too strong. At this rate, they'll rival the Kaguya Clan.” Ao explained in his usual a grouchy tone. “Agreed. But for now, we keep them close and let them think they have nothing to fear. We are growing in population steadily, and have quite a few promising Shinobi outside their Special Forces. We move to strike when they’re least expecting it.” Lord Yagura answered. Her eyes gradually widened. The orange masked man’s voice came to mind, ‘The Mizukage is using you.’ Aiko’s words helped connect the dots, ‘Needles... Me and five other ANBU... Were secretly ordered to stir up the Kaguya Clan to get you to fight.’ The masked man helped her see the final piece, ‘He wants your clan to take down the Kaguya Clan… Because your expendable.’ She gasped and in panic, knocked on the door. Lord Yagura invited her in, while Ao remained silent on the side lines. She kept her composure beneath her mask, and handed in her report without raising any suspicion. The moment she stepped foot out the Mizukage’s mansion, she broke into a run.

However, once she explained everything to her father, including the masked man and Akio’s final words, he slammed his fists on the table of the Living room. “All this time... How could you keep this from us!?” All her mother and brothers could do was sit back and watch. Miyuki dropped to her hands and knees, pleading in a merciful bow, “I’m sorry, father. But the Mizukage-” He cut her off, “No! Not another word of this nonsense. This is the last I want to hear of such treason! You were obviously put under a delusional Genjutsu from your last mission.” She lifted her head, and faced him, despite her fears, “No, dad. I'm telling you the truth. And if you would just listen-” But he interrupted her again, “Are you talking back to me? I am your leader, and I order you not mention any of this to anyone, ever again. Understood?” Her eyes welled up with tears, and she hung her head down in defeat, “Yes, father.” Her brothers sat there, afraid speaking up would only make things worse. “Good. You're off duty until further notice. Shizu, take her to her room, and check her over for Genjutsu.”

Miyuki grabbed her mouth, fighting the tears. Her mother helped her to her feet. She pushed her mother away and frustratedly stared into her father's eyes, “Why, won’t you just... Believe me.” Before another word, she ran out, crying all of her tears. She spent the rest of that night sobbing, wrapped in the arms of both brothers at her windowsill.

As she sat holding onto the two, she finally confided in them, “I thought if I stained myself in more blood, his would wash off with the rest of it… But it didn’t.” She sucked in her breath, “His blood is always there... Akio’s blood is always slipping through my like he was.” She sobbed on, crying into them. They gave her a gentle squeeze, and held her close. They wished they could do more to ease her pain. But how could they? Ryuu felt his own tears welling up. He took in a deep breath, lowered his head, and started to sing, “And if you feel your sinking, I will jump right over. Into cold, cold water for you... And although time may take us into different places. I will still be patient with you... And I hope you know. I won’t let go… I’ll be your lifeline tonight.” He then kissed the top of her head and said, “We won’t let you go.” And Katsu whispered out, “Never.” Her crying subsided. She sniffled before replying with a soft, “Thanks.”

A few weeks went by, and Miyuki seemed to be coming out of her darkness. She spent most of her time with her brothers at home, and in two weeks was put back on her Rakurai duties. But that didn’t stop her progress, she even made the time to visit Harumi before her bedtime and tuck her in. She remembered how to smile, laugh, and play. Slowly, she felt like a new, better version of herself. She spent days out in the Village with some of her comrades in the Rakurai ANBU, and made friends with the Hunters Ryuu introduced her to. All in all, everyone seemed to be moving forward, despite their worries about the past.

Little did they know, it was about to catch up to them...

One day, out of seemingly nowhere, it came. The trio were walking home, chuckling at a how this was their second day off in a row. Their father ran up to them, yelling out, “Everybody get down!” The trio turned around to see him frantically running up the grassy mountain towards them. As it turned out, the Mizukage had given all Rakurai Forces the day off. “Dad?” Ryuu wondered. Katsu gasped, “Shinobi are heading our way!” He sensed oncoming from the mountain base. “What? Katsu are you sure?” She asked in disbelief. “Everybody get down now! The Mizukage is-” Just at their father's warning, as the Haurutsuki people came out their homes to investigate, the sounds of launching kunai were heard. Everybody looked to the sky. Like black rain, they saw oncoming exploding tags attached to kunai. Everyone gasped in horror. Miyuki, though panicked, knew what to do, “SHIELD!!!”

With that, those that could use Ninjutsu, launched a defence against the attack.