Clearly, i Don't own.


"Hey" Neji sat down Next to Sakura. The others Were all doing their appointed tasks to prepare for the nighttime, but Neji was in luck as both he and the Pink-haired maiden finished earlier then expected.

Knowing the others as he did, this was likely to be the only time he would get to see his fiancée.

Sakura was sitting with her knees to her chest and her arms wrapped around them on the forest floor, but she still managed to shuffle around so that she was no longer facing him.

"Look" He grabbed her forearm and turned her back to face him, now he was squatting awkwardly, still holding her arm.

"What Hiashi wants, he gets. He wanted Hinata married, to a woman, for some strange reason, and this is what eventuated. For whatever reason, you were on Hinata-Sama's radar, but I know why you were on mine. I love you. I have for a long time."

He let go of her arm and stood up. "So. Now you know. I just, I just couldn't let that go unsaid. You can still hate me, hate us for this, but I love you, and nothing you can do could change that."

He walked away and began the menial campsite tasks.


Sakura was still alienated and silent well into the evening, but the entire travelling party was shocked when she quietly sat down next to Neji around the campfire for dinner. Only once she softly asked for Sai to pass her plate over did the spell break and conversations began once again. No one was willing to probe the sudden acceptance of the Hyuuga male, But Hinata was observing impassively.

'It would seem that his prior contact has made him much more easily accepted.'

This could be somewhat of a setback, but she was not deterred. She was the powerful, Hyuuga heir and Sakura was, first and foremost, hers. Neji was an unavoidable addition to that, but it wasn't something she could do much about. But at the same time, such a connection could work in her favor. To be closer to one Hyuuga was to be closer to all of them, and she and Neji tended to work in close quarters since her father had dictated that they would be the leaders of the clan, its head family. That would, logically mean more interaction with Sakura if she and Neji were on good terms again. Yes. This would defiantly work in her favor.


The Rest of the journey was relatively normal. Neji, who despite being back on decent terms with Sakura, was still no where near accepted by her self proclaimed 'body-guards' and hung towards the back of the group with the silent Hinata.

As they approached the Suna gates, they spied three figures waiting for them on the gates observation station.

"Gaara!" Naruto called.

All three figures dropped down as the Konoha shinobi came closer, and soon they were face to face with Kankuro, Temari and the Kazekage himself.

"Good afternoon, friends." Gaara stated formally.

"Sheesh man. Drop the formalities. We all know this is a bludge visit Gaara. Loosen up kiddo." Naruto scolded the red haired man.

"Yea Bro. Saku-Chans here." Kankuro threw in, looping an arm casually around Gaara's neck. "Chill Kid. It's a holiday for all of us, since were their political guides." Temari added, poking the irritated Kazekage.

There was something about all three sand Children (for, in her eyes, they were that and nothing more) Hinata instantly didn't like. It was a quality she recognized from many people in Konoha., in fact, it was a quality you could find almost anywhere.

Utter infatuation with Haruno Sakura.

With covert glances towards the Konoha party, She deduced that everyone, save for Sakura and Naruto, felt the same way about their hosts.

This was going to be a long trip.


Yes, it is excruciatingly short but i had to get something out. and believe me. coming up with this was like swallowing nails and having Chinese water treatment.t

Thanks for my reviewers, but as my computer is screwing up, i can't name them. sorry.