Author's note: Hey! If you're reading this then good for you! Just want to make it known that I don't own NARUTO in anyway. Heads up to the reader that this is rated M for later chapters, so if you can't handle the language or the explicit content then turn tail and run. Now that that is out of the way, on with the show!

Episode 1: Staring?

Being the head of the Hyuuga clan, she shouldn't be here, but apparently as the mission was top secret; only members of the Inner Circle could do these kinds of missions. Currently she was stuck underneath a boulder, shading herself from the sandstorm that had erupted earlier, regretting the moment she volunteered on taking the mission. 'Why am I doing this again? Oh right, Naruto asked me.' Hinata gripped the scroll she was given tightly to herself, knowing that the contents would determine the future of both Konoha and Suna. For the past few months there have been unexplainable disappearances on the borders of Konoha and Suna, and due to said disappearances people began to point fingers to the neighboring nation. Things were beginning to get out of hand, people were becoming restless from the lack of development to solve what was happening, and this made them angry. Rumors of war were quickly rushing through the citizens of both nations, and this wasn't what Naruto wanted. Multiple times Naruto had sent messenger hawks to have a council with Gaara, but sadly the hawks were disappearing as well, so he had no choice but to have to risk someone to get the message to Gaara. Although it was direly important to get the scroll to the Kazekage, he didn't want to risk someone's life, he asked for a volunteer. Hinata jumped at the chance when he had announced it, feeling confident in her abilities on completing the mission as she had worked hard to get where she was now.

Hinata had worked so hard to show her worth by constantly training with Kiba and Shino, and built her strength by working with Sakura every so often, non-stop did she practice until she found blood and sweat normal to her. No one at the Hyuuga compound challenged her anymore, even Neji found her to be a difficult opponent, her father saw her develop into a lethal kunoichi. Hiashi was so pleased by her progress that he managed to appeal to the Elders to reinstate her as the future predecessor of the Hyuuga clan. Her training had paid off when Naruto sent her an official notice stating she was now part of the Inner Circle. After two years, she was tired, but content with her current position- so long as she could remain close to Naruto.

The sand storm rushed swiftly around her and in that instant she felt another presence. Hinata began to weave her hands to make the symbols to activate the Byakugan, when the presence moved behind her, too quickly for her to turn and defend herself, it placed a sickly sweet smelling cloth over her mouth and nose, making her inhale it. Her vision blurred and she felt hands hold her steady, preventing her from falling.

Sitting at my desk, bored of looking at scrolls of complaints and upcoming festivals, I took out the folder of the messenger Naruto had sent out to meet me. The folder was slightly covered in dust from being in my desk for a week. Strange, that I had completely forgot such a thing. Inside contained a short summary of the person- of their likes, dislikes and capabilities- followed by copies of myriad reports on the person's progress.

From what was supplied in the older reports, this "Hyuuga, Hinata" was a very weak shinobi and more likely to be a hindrance, rather than provide actual assistance. Point being: She's a very terrible ninja. But her name wrung a bell in my head, as if I recognized her name. I checked the back of the old reports and found an old photo of a petite, and frail, looking girl. This was Hinata; this picture was of the thirteen year old girl who caused the one-tailed demon in me to stir during the chunin exams. Yes, her sweet blood had caused Shukaku to squirm, and in turn my bloodlust rose to a level that made watching her bleed almost painful. The pleasure had nearly driven me mad; I enjoyed watching the pain cross her face as she faced her more powerful cousin, Neji, fruitlessly attempting to strike him down. The demon went crazy over her, my blood lust loved her, with her wide fawn like eyes, soft face and body, but overall, loved her weakness.

The picture in my hand expressed all of this, but now I didn't feel that crazed blood lust, just pure disappointment at the fact that Naruto was sending her as the messenger. Behind this picture there were more, newer, reports on her progress and as I read my opinion slowly changed, that still didn't change it completely. Behind the last report there was one last picture. Hinata was in lavender Yukata with an obi that was a deep shade of purple around her petite waist. This picture seemed to give off a completely different person than the first. This picture didn't show a weak young girl, but a strong maiden. She was so… different from before and it raised a strange sensation in the pit of my stomach. It was as if the bloodlust had returned, but it wasn't exactly the same. I looked over the picture again, paying close attention to the parts of her that seemed appealing. I traced her slim figure, entranced by the calm look in her pearly eyes and distracted by her plump pink lips. Hinata was smiling out at me, her fingers were curled around flowers someone had given her and she was in the process of putting them in a vase when this picture was taken. Without really noticing I was imagining I was the one who gave her those lilies and that she was smiling at me in thanks.

"Gaara," surprised I blinked up at to find Kankuro slouching on the wall on my right. The hood he always wore was down, his hair a mess of brown tangles and he let a grin spread on his purple painted face. I hated that smile, his 'I-know-what-you-were-thinking' smile; I really wanted to yank it off. His paint also made him seem sly and cunning- which he could be, but more often than not he acted like an idiot.

"You should have knocked first." I said, casually slipping the picture of Hinata underneath my arm; hoping to the gods that Kankuro wouldn't notice it, or dismiss it as some random document.

"I did knock, for about 30 minutes- and I'm not exaggerating- but forget about it. So…What were you looking at so intently, little brother?" Again he let that smile curl on his face as he leaned on my desk, both elbows on top and let his hands cradle his head.

"Nothing, it isn't important."

"Oh? I don't think it was just nothing. It must have been important for you to stare continuously without even hearing me knock, or hear me shout your name twice. So, what is this unimportant thing you won't tell me about, Gaara?" I sighed and gave him the photo, if I didn't he would either continue his pestering or he'd tell Tamari and she would nag at me for days to tell her. Neither was appealing. "Wow! The Hyuuga's grown into quite the catch, aye, Gaara!" I wanted to roll my eyes as I watched him leer at her picture. "Gaara?"

"Hm?" I began to re-read some of the Hyuuga reports to hint that I wasn't just staring at the picture, as Kankuro focused at the picture.

"Is she the messenger who's bringing Naruto's status report?"

"Yes."

"Oh boy…This ain't good." I looked up at him with a questioning look in my eyes. "Um, you see, it seems that Hinata's been kidnapped." What? That can't be, she's suppose to be here, with me to discuss the scroll, I thought. My temper rose and that confused me. "Don't worry, we have a lead, but there's one problem that I came to discuss with you." Again I looked up. "Well, so you remember the old Suna Mountain Pass, right? Yeah, so, you see the place is covered in seals and the only way in is through the sand dunes. From the location and the placing of the seals we believe that there is an underground cave that the assailant is using, underneath the dunes that are giving us one hell of a tough time. None of our Onbu can get through, that or once they enter they never come back."

"And you want me to go in?"

"Yes." I thought of it and realized that if Hinata, the Hyuuga heiress, is reported dead in Suna, then a war would definitely be unavoidable on the Suna and Konoha border. No matter what he or the Hokage do, the war would come unless he can get the Hyuuga back and safe. That and there is a possibility that the ones who captured the heiress are the ones who started this whole strife. "Do you think you can help us out for a bit?" I waited a little; contemplating if maybe I should try to report this to Naruto, maybe if I told him to keep this situation secret then maybe I would be able to prevent the war from starting.

Kankuro must have confused my silence for doubt so he just had to add another reason to the mix. "Plus, Gaara, you'd get to meet the girl, bet she'd want some time to stay to give thanks."

"Fine, I'll do it, but not for the reasons you believe." He left, satisfied, while I thought on how my encounter with the Hinata would turn out, but my throat felt dry when I thought of myself asking the Hyuuga to stay so I just shook it off and continued to sign scrolls.

Author's Note: I'll try to update as often as humanly possible.