Ino will eventually detangle, sort of sidle over, and say, "Hey! Raizume, right? Congrats on the top spot."

More blushing!

"Thank you! You got -- uh -- third, right?"

"Yeah! Top kunoichi in my year - I'd say overall, you seem more 'menace' than traditional kunoichi," Ino says, voice slightly teasing.

"Why menace?"

"Please tell me you remember biting Shikamaru."

"That's not menace, that's a valid contribution to society. He needed to be bit."

She laughs. "I'll give you that."

Pretty!!

"My mom said you're going to be in a team with him and Choji. Are you excited?"

Shrug. "Eh. I've known them forever, and it kinda feels like - you know, this path a bunch've people go down, and it's obvious where to go, and. Well. A shakeup might be fun, too."

"What would you do? If you could do anything."

Laugh. "Oh wow. No clue." Sort of awkward shrug. "I mean, don't know. I like learning stuff - not really like Sakura. More like how stuff relates? Like, this flower with that, that person with this... Don't think that's very usable in a fight, though."

"Have you tried sealing? I've been learning it since I started the academy. It's really interesting and complicated and connective. Brings in a bunch of different things together. It's fun to puzzle out."

"Huh. Might look into that, sounds neat. Thanks!"

"You're welcome!"

The conversations around the table drift on, people mostly starting talking about school but quickly getting into a massive variety of other topics - books, they're talking about putting in a movie theatre, wow is it unseasonably hot - without much of a common thread or anything. Shikamaru pretty much only talks to Chouji, but everyone else is friendly.

Kiba and Naruto have their promised eating contest - and the Akimichi kids join. Chouji's third-oldest sister reigns supreme, laughing when even her brother gives up.

Raizume mostly keeps to herself, takes out her artbook and starts on a new sketch. This whole socialising thing is cool and everything, but... okay she just doesn't care much about these near-strangers. So. Art!

People leave her to it. 

Eventually people have other places to go and the crowd starts dispersing, faster as conversions die down and food settles.

She's not paying much attention, too caught up in her work. And her thoughts.

What if this whole Naruto-passing-the-exam shifts the known future dramatically? He was supposed to go off and get the forbidden scroll and learn the shadow clone jutsu. Will he still learn it now? Unlikely, since its forbidden... And what about Mizuki? He's a traitor and will still be around. Will he still try to steal the scroll? Should she tell someone about that???

She looks up at Naruto.

He was also supposed to find out about the Nine Tailed Fox. Did he find out another way? Or will they just continue to let him live in ignorance.

The world doesn't see fit to answer her thoughts, unless Naruto excitedly saying "bye" to everyone counts.

Tsume approaches their table, Hana having apparently shown up during the dinner and tagging along.

Hana goes ahead, to hug her siblings, congratulate them, and apologize about being late - clinic had a quick emergency. Dog's fine, but very thoroughly scolded about stuff he shouldn't eat.

"Ready to head home, pups?" Tsume asks.

Raizume shakes off her stupor, waves goodbye to everyone and hugs her sister. She would have liked Hana's company during dinner, but her job is important, so she understands.

-- at her mom's words she gets a sudden idea.

"Can I walk Naruto home, mama?"

"Sure, pup."

She looks at Naruto.

"If that's okay?"

"Yeah!" he replies, nodding with a broad grin, then, to Kiba, "See you at assignments!" (Kiba waves back.)