a/n: Himawari is so adorable that I've fallen in love with her cuteness, even though all I've seen are the occasional short clips on youtube...

Shine Bright, Shine Far, (Oh Sun of Mine)

Himawari's cheeks are puffed out, holding back tears as she pulls herself up from yet another tumble. Her knees sting and her favourite yellow jacket is dirty. Mama is going to scold her – if Himawari can find Mama again.

Himawari doesn't know what happened.

Konoha is suddenly so weird – the buildings are old, the shortcuts Big Brother showed her are missing, and their house is nowhere in sight! She'd gone to Grandpa and Auntie's because Grandpa always takes care of Boruto and her whenever Mama is busy (is gone the same as busy?), but Himawari didn't recognise the guards at the door. They chased her out and now she's lost.

Himawari scrubs at her eyes but keeps running forward.

Even if their house is missing, the distinct Hokage Tower has not. Himawari races up the long spiraling staircase that leads to the Hokage's office, stomach rolling in anxiety. The door is open, there's another unrecognisable guard in vigil, but Himawari doesn't notice this time.

What she does see is Papa's blond hair, and Papa long white Hokage cloak billowing behind his pacing steps. Himawari bolts through the doorway without a second thought, tears finally falling free because Papa won't make fun of her for it; he'll make everything better like always.

She leaps into Papa's arms, face buried in his broad chest, voice hitching as she cries. A warm hand caresses her head and there's a low comforting rumble.

"Papa," she wails. "I can't find Mama or Big Brother, and our house is gone, and Grandpa and Auntie's house is weird, and the village looks different, and-" she babbles, unrestraint.

But then she stops because something is wrong. She looks up through blurry eyes, and Papa looks awkward and different – Papa is not Papa at all. Himawari shoves out of the man's hold, scrambling back in fear.

"W-who are you?" she demands like the brave girl Mama and Papa say she is.

The man kneels, blue eyes gentle and soft and so much like Papa's. "I'm Namikaze Minato, the Hokage?" he says, as if asking her. Then, "And who might you be, little one?"

"I'm Uzumaki Himawari, and Papa's the Hokage," Himawari corrects.

The man frowns.

There's a sudden flicker and an Anbu drops down out of nowhere. Himawari falls in surprise, Byakugan activating because she won't let fake Papa's Anbu hurt her. But then they're gaping at her instead, and the Anbu's chakra looks strangely familiar.

"Grandpa Kakashi?" Himawari says, confused.

The Dog mask lifts, and Grandpa Kakashi stares back, young, eyes mismatched, as the red one swirls like Uncle Sasuke's Sharingan. Himawari's lip wobbles. Grandpa Kakashi shares a look with fake Papa, then they both face grimly towards her.

Turns out it'll be a long while before Mama can scold her about her clothes.