It took her a while to find just the right jacket. Orange pants were easy enough to find, but the jacket? With the strings, collar and Uzumaki swirl? That took longer. She'd begged the Hokage (Jiji now - she has to remember that) to buy it for her, having used most of her allowance that week on groceries. Feeding a growing young boy is hard.

"Are you sure, Naruto-kun?" Jiji asked, looking at the orange material dubiously. "It doesn't seem quite your.. style."

Too loud.

Too bold.

Too honest.

It's Naruto's colour, not hers.

"Of course I'm sure, Jiji!" She cried. "Orange is awesome! As awesome as Ramen!"

"Well, if you're sure." He'd said, smiling around his pipe.

And here she was now, slowly, slowly pulling the jacket over her shoulders. She found a black shirt to wear underneath and watch it slowly disappear as she zipped up the jacket. She went over to where she'd tucked away the mirror, her only full-length one. Dust billowed up as she pulled it out from where it was wedged between the wall and cupboard.

She looked at Naruto. He looked healthy.

She raised her arms, and Naruto raised his.

It was was a bit like Shadow Possession.

Naruto smiled widely in the mirror, teeth bared as he rubbed his nose.

"How ya doing, Shikako-chan!" Naruto chirped.

No. That wasn't how he said it.

"Shikako-chan. Shikako-chan. That's awesome. That's so cool."

Still not right.

He hunched his shoulders and leaned in, putting a hand near his mouth. Like he had a secret. "Neh, neh, Shikako-chan, I have this totally awesome technique. Can you help me figure it out."

"Of course I can, Naruto." Naruto said.

Shikako winced before straightening her back. Taking a deep breath, she puffed out her chest and put a fist in the air, eyes trained on the mirror.

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto, and I'm gonna be Hokage! Don't you forget it!"

That wasn't right.

"I'm gonna be Hokage." She frowned before quickly smiling again. " I'm gonna be HOKAGE!"

That was it.

"I'm gonna be HOKAGE."

There he is.

"Neh, neh, Shikako-chan! Let's go out for Ramen!"

Her hands shook as she closed her eyes. "Sure Naruto, let's go get Ramen."