"N--Naruto-kun, what's wrong with you…?!"

"HRRRRRRRRRRRAHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

"Stay here…"

"Gaara…"

Hinata jumped up with a slight scream, and looked around. She was still in her bedroom, the moon shining in through the window.

It…It was a dream…Hinata thought, relieved. She slouched forward, and stared down at her hands. It had been seven months since the incident with Naruto--Since he and Gaara had been locked in demon combat, and Naruto had disappeared. Was he alive? What was he doing? Where had he gone? There were so many unanswered questions all of Konoha had.

Not only that, but the battle had an effect on Gaara as well. Gaara had suddenly become darker and more arrogant. He had gone back to Suna--He had a "responsibility as Kazekage", or so he called it. Hinata sighed, and lay back down, falling off into her sleep once again.

……………………………….

Gaara sat at his desk, silently working on paperwork that was given to him, as he was Kazekage. He sighed, put down the pencil he was writing with, and stared off into the distance. He needed to see her again. Only this time, something else crossed his mind. His dark eyes narrowed--He wanted to go back to Konoha. He wanted her with an untamed lust that couldn't be controlled.

Gaara shook his head, swinging back into reality, and focused back at his paperwork. Suddenly, a woman with dirty blonde hair walked into the room, a large fan hauled over her back.

"What is it, Temari?" Gaara said carelessly, still slightly in two worlds at the same time.

"I came to remind you," She said impudently, "That we are going to see the Hokage tomorrow. You always forget things like this, Gaara."

Gaara looked up at his sister. She was right--Of course he had forgotten. His dark mood had put him in a quieter and more careless mood for the past seven months. That's why he had left Hinata for his job as Kazekage--He just didn't really care anymore. It was like he had a disease that was slowly tearing away at him…

"GAARA!" Temari shouted. Gaara shook his head, snapping into his senses. Temari frowned at him, and sighed.

"Forget it, Gaara…You really shouldn't have given her up," Temari turned to walk away, when a writhing snake of sand held her feet down to the ground. Gaara glared angrily at her.

"You think my mood," Gaara continued, standing up. "Has anything to do with her?!"

Temari glared at her brother, not a hint of fear in her face. "Let me go."

Gaara scowled for a second, and then made his sand release his sister. "Get out."

Temari left, and Gaara fell back onto his chair.

Damn it…

……………………………….

Click. The door closed behind Sakura as she left her home. She began to walk down the stone street, passing many new and old buildings on the way. It was early morning, and her new outfit really wasn't suiting her well against the chilly atmosphere. She wore a red vest over a black t-shirt, and her capris were dark blue, going down to her knees. Sakura looked around her empty environment as she continued forward--How she enjoyed quiet walks by herself.

Then, she stopped. She stared down the forest path before her--The path where it had all began. Where Naruto had been discovered as the killer, but not on his own will. It was his demon's fault--Its emotions had driven him to kill innocent people. Sakura thought of all the good and bad things that had happened since then: Shikamaru and Ino hooking up--Then breaking up again. Shikamaru had become a Jonin, and Ino had gone her way to continue taking on the Yamanaka flower business. Then, Gaara stopped caring about everything, and he went back to his duties in Sunagakure. Hinata had gotten over him since his departure, but Sakura knew that she was still broken on the inside. At least Neji and TenTen were still together--Their relationship had gone along quite smoothly, and rumors were wildly flying around that Neji was going to ask TenTen about "the big M" soon, even though Neji repeatedly denied it.

Then, there was Sasuke and herself. Sakura smiled--They were still going steady as well. Though they didn't see each other often, since Sasuke was usually away--He was trying to find Naruto.

"Naruto came to find me when I went after Orochimaru," Sasuke had said. "It's my duty now to find him as well."

Occasionally, Sasuke would come back to Konoha to be with her and his friends. For now, he was still searching. Sakura sighed, and jerked her head up when she heard someone shout her name. She turned around to see a black-haired man running towards her, wearing a white tank-top and green shorts, his long hair pulled back into a ponytail. Yes--This was Lee seven months later. He had changed drastically--His long hair, his more muscular stature. Sakura smiled, and waited for Lee to catch up to her.

"Hey," he said, smiling. "I'm going over to meet Neji and TenTen in the courtyard. Want to come?"

Sakura smiled, and nodded. "That would be nice," she said happily.

……………………………….

The black, spiky haired ninja stood at the top of the waterfall, looking down of the edge. He lifted his head, and stared off into the distance, looking for any trace of his friend. Huffing, he jumped back into the forest, running along the branches of the trees. He smiled as he ran forward--It was funny that they had once been worst enemies, Naruto and himself. A few years ago, when he ran off to find Orochimaru, Naruto had come for him. Now, when Naruto had disappeared after the fight with Gaara, he was coming for Naruto.

The Leaf Ninja jumped down from the array of trees, and stood in a clearing--The same clearing where Gaara and Hinata had been discovered together so long ago. He bowed his head, listening to the environment around him, and then he knew--There was someone behind him.

"You just don't give up, do you Sasuke?" the person said in a hoarse tone.

Sasuke chuckled softly. "I can't give up--I have a debt to a friend that needs me."

The person behind him huffed sarcastically, and Sasuke could sense a tear roll down the person's face, splattering to the ground. "Sorry, Sasuke…I can never go back."

Sasuke's eyes widened, realizing who was behind him, and he whirled around. "NARUTO--!!!"

But Naruto had disappeared. Sasuke scowled in disappointment, thinking about what his friend had said.

I can never go back…

Sasuke lowered his head, staring at his hands. But…Why?

……………………………….

Lee and Sakura had arrived to the point where they were to meet their friends. Upon seeing Neji and TenTen, Sakura noted how much they had changed. Neji had become taller--His body had become more masculine, but had also become more graceful. His long, dark brown hair was no longer pulled back, and it hung freely around his shoulders. His headband was now made of black cloth instead of blue, but it was still wrapped tightly around his forehead where the dreaded curse mark was.

TenTen hadn't changed much. Her hair was still pulled back into two buns, but it was longer, and a few free strands of hair hung down. Her outfit was now composed of a blue shirt spotted with silver designs, and she wore black capris. A large scroll was also strapped to her across her back by a black strap with a silver buckle at the end.

"Sorry to spoil the fun," Neji said abruptly, "But there's been a change of plan."

Lee tilted his head to the side, his long ponytail moving along with it. "What do you mean? Are we going somewhere?"

TenTen nodded. "The Hokage just called all Chuunin and Jonin to the front gate. The Suna Kazekage is arriving for his meeting with Tsunade."

Sakura jumped on the inside. Did Hinata know that he was coming? And when she saw him, would she be able to control herself? Sakura nodded, and the four ninjas headed for the front gate.

……………………………….

Gaara watched as the front gates of Konohagakure appeared on the horizon. Kankuro and Temari followed him quietly as they hit a clearing in the forest they tramped through. Gaara stared around the clearing as he walked forward. As he turned his eyes toward a certain spot, he saw himself as he was seven months ago, as he cowered on the ground in pain, and as he repeatedly knocked the Hyuuga girl back as she reached out for him.

"Feh," Gaara spat, shaking his head and continuing to walk forward. Behind him, Kankuro turned to his sister.

"Hey," he whispered. "Do you think he's really gotten over his old girlfriend?"

Temari shook her head. "I'm not really sure. Sometimes I believe it, sometimes I don't. We'll just have to see his reaction if he sees her while we're in Konoha."

Kankuro nodded. "Yeah, I just hope--" he turned his eyes toward his brother. "That he doesn't do anything too rational."

Gaara shot his eyes at his brother and sister. "What, may I ask, is so interesting?"

Before Kankuro or Temari had to say anything, Gaara turned to watch a black-haired ninja appear out of the trees before them. The ninja smiled.

"Welcome back," he said, extending a hand toward the Kazekage. "Sabaku no Gaara."

The Kazekage nodded, replying to the Leaf Ninja's extended had with a firm handshake.

"It's been a while, Uchiha Sasuke."

……………………………….

Hinata had finally arrived at the gates--She had been called upon by Tsunade. The Hokage had said someone important was coming to meet with her, and Hinata anticipated knowing who it was. What if it was a ninja from the Land of the Clouds or something like that? At least Neji would have someone else to despise.

Hinata's long, black hair fluttered behind her as she approached the Hokage. Tsunade turned, and smiled.

"There you are, Hinata!" Tsunade said. Hinata bowed slightly, and nervously spoke up.

"M--May I inquire to ask who exactly is coming to meet with you?" Hinata said quietly.

Tsunade tilted an eyebrow. "You mean, YOU don't know? It's the Kazekage from Suna! I was expecting EVERYONE would tell you."

Hinata stumbled back. Gaara was here?! No…She didn't want him to break her. Not again. Then, Hinata saw him. He walked straight up to Tsunade.

"Good day, Hokage-sama," He said, until turning his attention to Hinata, who was now being watched by the other ninja who had just arrived.

He stared at her.

She stared at him.

Here they were--AGAIN.

Hinata suddenly burst into a full-speed run. She ran away from the gates--There was no way she was going to confront Gaara now--After he had run away for his duty?! Hinata turned one last glance at the front gate as she ran. Everyone watched her--Including Gaara.