"Rinako?"

Pain stirred as she tried to make sense of that word. It sounded a bit …familiar. But then again, maybe not.

"Mizutori!"

More pain, more fog and yet …something …something ….

Hana sat back and sighed, looking over at Temari. "I've done what I can, but this is beyond my expertise. If this were an animal, I'd give her a merciful ending and let her go."

Temari nodded, looking with critical eyes on the body of a Cloud kunoichi. She shook her head. "But if she were a nin-dog, then what would you do?" She asked pointedly, quietly. Her eyes looked over to the form of a depressed and anxious Kirohu. The large chocolate nin-dog was being guarded by Hana's three canines lest he crowd too close.

The veterinarian sat back and sighed. "Look, truth is I've stitched her up. But she's lost a lot of blood. And there's internal damage I can't assess here. And that hand? No, that needs an expert."

"Will she make it back to Suna?" Temari asked quietly.

Hana chuckled, but there was no humor to be found in her eyes. "Suna? Girl, you married a Leaf shinobi. Think Fire, not Wind. Better medics anyway."

The blonde kunoichi pressed her lips together and shot Hana an evil look. "I only meant Suna is closer. I don't think she'd survive the trip back to Konoha."

Konoha? That word pulled at something. Something important. She had to … that's right …she had to get to Konoha … but …but …where was she?

A groan had the two women stopping as they turned to stare at the prisoner they'd just sort of rescued.

The Inuzuka vet sighed. "To answer your original question, if she were a nin-dog? I'd do everything and anything to save her. Even trying to take her to Suna though I know it'll probably kill her."

Temari nodded, turning to go get the others before Hana's voice continued.

"But she is NOT a nin-dog. She is in fact a foreign ninja. A woman that I'd thought I liked well enough to put her name up to my mother, set up a meeting. I helped arrange a betrothal between she and my brother, Kiba." Hana clenched her fist in frustration. "I met her through some veterinary contacts, a multi-village conference on new medicinal ways to treat certain canine ailments."

Temari looked surprised, pointing at the felled kunoichi. "THIS was Kiba's fiancé? The one whose wedding contract fell through because of an assassination attempt on the Hyuuga family?"

Hana nodded slowly.

Temari whistled under her breath. "So THAT'S how you knew her nin-dog!"

Raising one brow, Hana turned from her patient with an odd look. "Of course we'd met before, how else did you think I recognized Kirohu when we met up with him?"

A slight flush stained her cheeks and had Temari turning to look up the passageway, her back to Hana.

"Well?" Prodded the Inuzuka.

Turning her head to give the other kunoichi a wry glance, Temari shrugged. "I just thought it was a clan thing. Like you knew every nin-dog or something."

She felt dazed, unsure. She was floating, but not in water. There was …something, a moment ago, there was something important she wanted to remember. But it was gone now. So she floated. Floated in a sea of pain and fog, but somewhere in the distance she thought she heard …laughter?

o.O.o.O.o.O

It was just past dawn. The sunrise over Suna had been spectacular, as usual. But as usual, most either slept in or paid little attention to something that was an everyday occurrence. The populace rarely even noted the brilliant colors and beauty in their land.

Gaara did, though he'd not always looked on sunrise as something to admire. Over the years he'd come to detest sunrise actually. And love it. Sunrise had meant that the night was over and the rest of the world joined him in being awake. As the vessel of the Sand Demon, sleep had been …lacking. Short naps here and there when he simply had to do so, but each time the demon had eaten away at his controls, his very personality. But sunrise also had meant he had to deal with living. And his life at the time had been almost unbearable.

Then had come the mission to Konohakagure. Ever since then he'd found a new path, ever since that fight with Naruto …Gaara had viewed sunrise in Suna differently. As each day became a challenge first to overcome, then to succeed. But after the mess with dying, with the Akatsuki …sunrise in Suna had taken on new meanings entirely.

Gaara breathed deeply as he watched the light touch his village. Of course there were people up before dawn, as he often was. Still …when the light hit Suna, it was as if everything came to life.

The sun. Life and death in the desert. A power not to be taken lightly, not out here. Life was lush and relatively easy in Konoha. But the red-head knew he would never consider leaving the desert, no matter how harsh, no matter how deadly. Even with all the difficulties out here, there was beauty in the desert around Suna. The beauty of living his life, on his own terms. This is what the desert meant to him.

Feeling silly, Gaara turned away from his window. He didn't dare share these thoughts with anyone. Not Baki, and definitely not his siblings. For a brief moment, he wondered if Hanabi would notice the sunrise. Would she notice Suna and see it as he did? Or would she think his musings silly and inane?

"Kazekage-sama?"

Glad for the interruption, Gaara turned toward the young kunoichi. She gave him a small smile as she bowed her head. "A message for you."

o.O.o.O.o.O

Hanabi sneezed suddenly, then excused herself. "Sorry." She muttered to Ibiki as their sensei peered into the room where an enemy shinobi had burst into flames not a few hours before.

Bending down into a crouch, but not entering the room, Ibiki studied the scene. "You didn't use a tag on him."

"She only kicked him through the door." Rocks said, not for the first time.

"That wasn't a question." Ibiki grunted, finally standing up with a sigh. "If it had been a tag of Hanabi's, then the papers, scrolls and books in there would have burned too. No, this was something else."

Hanabi shook her head, breathing through her mouth to dispel the stench of burned flesh. "But what?"

Ibiki shrugged. "You have the eyes, look."

"I did!" Hanabi felt the urge to kick him, but held off on the thought that he could kick her ass to Konoha and back. He'd been training them, and she knew she hadn't yet seen him fight full out. And still none of their team could touch him skill wise.

Michi shifted uncomfortably. "She used the Byakugan, saw some strange things …not exactly tags."

Ibiki frowned and looked around the room. "No one enters any of the rooms that don't look like the Cloud ninja have cleared."

"Not without your permission, I presume." The nasally voice grated as each of the Leaf ninja turned to look at Rakuai. The Grass shinobi met their gazes implacably. "This place doesn't belong to Leaf."

"Well it doesn't belong to Grass!" Rocks stepped forward, only to have Ibiki put his hand on the young man's shoulder, stopping him.

Rakuai didn't answer, instead he walked forward and up to Ibiki. The two men sized each other up for a long moment. The three genin shot each other looks as if unsure what they should do next. Finally, Ibiki moved aside and with a wave of his hand made as if to usher the other shinobi inside the room. "Be my guest. But I should warn you …"

Humor lit the Grass ninja's hard-eyed gaze as he turned to look inside the room. "Traps. Yes, I'm aware. I even sense one or two, but I'm sure that there are more than that."

"See." Hanabi elbowed Rokuro. "I didn't burn the man down."

"I would have been more impressed if you did." The Grass ninja stated dryly, crouching down much like Ibiki had before him, in order to look at the still smoldering corpse. He sniffed carefully. "I don't recognize the accelerant."

"Nor I." Ibiki commented.

"But I do recognize the symbol etched into the wall that the Cloud ninja were using as a dining room." The Grass ninja stood back up and eyed Ibiki carefully.

"As did I." The ANBU torture master nodded.

Hanabi looked confused and Rocks shrugged lightly. Michi nodded and sighed. "Akatsuki. Right? The Cloud shinobi found an old Akatsuki fortress and were making use of it."

Everyone looked at each other, each wondering what was the next move. Leaf didn't want to cede the find to Grass, but neither did Grass want to let go of it.

Rakuai shook his head. "I've already sent a message to the Grass Village. We're closer, and our people will be here sooner than yours." The threat was more than implied.

Ibiki didn't look troubled. "I sent a message to Suna, they're closer than Konoha." Countermove.

"And allies of yours." The Grass shinobi said almost bitterly.

"As you say." Ibiki nodded, though he hoped he had reinforcements coming from Konoha sooner than that. Shino should be on his way toward them already, bringing help.

o.O.o.O.o.O

As it happened, the Grass contingent got to the former Akatsuki fortress first. But only by a few moments as Sand arrived next.

Temari grinned when she saw Gaara leading the group from Suna.

The two groups circled each other carefully. Each standing ready to fight if anyone made even the slightest move in the wrong direction.

Gaara stared coldly at the cliff side. "This wasn't where they brought me." He didn't remember that time, but he'd been back to visit. Something in him had drawn him back to see the place where he'd died. If Granny Chiyo hadn't intervened ... oh well. No use thinking of might have beens.

Something moved in the eyes of the lead Grass ninja, a jounin of high rank, though not the leader of their village. "So you say."

"So we all say." Ibiki stepped up with quiet menace. "The reports are that the cavern was destroyed in the battle with Sasori of the Red Sand. This place is something different."

The Grass ninja grunted, but let the comment slide. Instead he turned the subject. "You have a Cloud ninja captive, we want access."

Gaara shook his head negatively. "I haven't been briefed in yet, no negotiations until then." His voice was cold, unwavering. Although the Grass jounin was older and bigger, no one watching would mistake Gaara for being the weaker of the two. Power almost radiated off of him.

The Grass ninja took one step forward, then stopped as the sound of sand started swirling in the gourd Gaara held on his back. The foreign shinobi stopped and rethought his position, though he shook his head. "We demand equal access." He said, but sounded just the slightest bit unsure.

Temari coughed lightly, stepping up beside her brother. "The prisoner was being held by the Cloud ninja. And tortured. She is near death."

"Awake?" Hissed the Grass shinobi.

Rakuai moved forward, nodding his head slightly to the other Grass shinobi. "I've seen her myself. She is not awake, and may never waken again so severe are her injuries."

o.O.o.O.o.O

Shikamaru shook his head and sighed. "No, Sakura. Even as acting Hokage you can't execute a foreign noble."

"Don't make me regret bringing you in on this." The pink-haired girl moaned. "Kotetsu just threatened to go missing-nin if we don't relieve him of hostage-sitting duties."

The shadow-nin slumped in his seat, looking bored. "You only brought me in on this because you needed me to run interference with the Elder Council. Trou…."

"If you say troublesome one more time, I will knock you through the wall of the Hokage tower." Sakura gritted her teeth and called chakra to her fist. "And while I might not get away with killing Shihei, I will get away with hurting you. A temporary Hokage, is STILL Hokage."

Ino smothered a giggle as she watched her best friend and her fiancé bicker. "What's the big deal, he's just a kid, right?"

"Annoying brat from hell." Sakura muttered, still eyeing Shikamaru. "And you haven't met him yet. Kotetsu is trying to get him to eat in the next room."

Ino frowned. "Why won't the boy eat, is he too worried? It must be awful to be sent out as a political hostage. Bartered for a mission price. That sucks."

Sakura relaxed slightly, putting her fist down. Which in turn made Shikamaru relax as well. The pink-haired temporary Hokage gave a weak smile. "No. He won't eat the food because it wasn't what he wanted. And we don't have silver chopsticks for him to use."

"Silver chopsticks?" Ino boggled. "He really IS troublesome, isn't he?"

Sakura groaned and closed her eyes in despair. "He's ruined you! Now he's got you using that damned word too!"

Shikamaru smiled over at the pretty blonde. "That's my girl."

o.O.o.O.o.O

"Well? How's it going?" Hana poked at Hanabi as they sat in a nearby room.

Hanabi, looking with her Byakugan, shrugged. "I can't tell."

Naruto scowled from the corner. "I can't believe she put SAKURA in charge."

Temari grinned and peeled an apple with a sharp blade. The ribbon of apple peel spun in one long spiral. Rocks looked impressed. "Hana has the medical knowledge, but can't see through walls. The mushroom has the eyes to look through walls, but not the medical knowledge to know what she's looking at. Perfect."

Rokuro's ears perked up. "Mushroom?"

Hanabi scowled, and rushed to try and distract her teammate from the nickname her step-mother had given her. "Tsunade is doing something with tags while Shizune is drawing out something on the floor. Oh, she just pulled out a small scroll."

Michi sighed. "If this is just going to be a recitation of what they're physically doing, then it will tell us nothing." He got up, I'm going to go see if the Kazekage needs anything.

Rocks smirked at him and Michi swatted the back of his head as he passed, but kept his mouth shut. He passed Naruto, hearing the blonde mutter something. "What was that?"

Naruto blinked his blue eyes at the guy and shrugged. "It doesn't mean anything. It's not like she's REALLY Hokage or something."

"Hanabi, coming with?" The water-jutsu genin asked from the doorway, turning away from the brooding blond shinobi.

"No thank you."

Temari smiled and finished peeling the apple, slicing it into neat and even pieces. "One would think you're avoiding my brother." She gave a quirky little smile as she handed part of the apple to Hana.

"Shino's up there too." Hanabi snapped. "And you're down here."

The blonde kunoichi laughed outright. "Not a comparison. I'm not avoiding my husband, he's busy. And I've been assigned to guard the door to the room here. Make sure that those pesky Grass ninja don't try to poke their masked noses in during the healing session."

"Do you think they can heal her?" Hana asked quietly, her hand reaching down to pet Kirohu, who was staring intently at the closed door.

Rocks grinned widely. "This is Lady Tsunade and Shizune. Of course they can heal her!"

Temari shared a look with Hana, both wishing they had the confidence of youth and a sense that their elders were capable of anything and everything. But both women had seen the shape Mizutori Rinako had been in when they found her. And neither gave the Cloud dog-ninja a high chance at surviving.

"Even if she does come through." Hana sighed wearily. "I don't know if she'll be able to recover fully. Her hand was a mess. Crushed."

Naruto suddenly banged his fist down on the table. "It's not the same! Sakura is merely holding down the fort, while one day I will be Hokage! Full Hokage!" No one answered him, he'd been going on like this for hours.

Michi poked his head back inside. "Hanabi, you're needed."

The Hyuuga scowled. "Tell Gaara that I'm busy."

Temari's eyebrows flew up at the girl's tone. "I wouldn't if I were you. Making it a challenge? Not a good way to go. Gaara doesn't walk away from challenges."

Michi frowned. "Ibiki wants to see you."

"Oh." Chagrined, Hanabi deactivated her Byakugan and headed out with Michi. Rocks followed along in their wake.

Hana watched the empty doorway, confused. "What just happened? Why was Hanabi being rude to the Kazekage?"

Temari grinned and bit into her apple. "That? Oh that was just someone trying to avoid her fate." Gaara's interest in Hanabi both surprised and thrilled his older sister. And the girl had a serious backbone, which she would need. "Poor mushroom."

"Huh?"

But the blonde wind user didn't explain further.

"It's not fair!" Wailed Naruto, having missed the entire conversation.

o.O.o.O.o.O

Hiashi was up and eating breakfast when Katashi rushed into the room, grabbed some fruit and started to run out the door. His cat followed him, almost like a dog.

A sharp cough from the Hyuuga clan leader had the boy stopping and turning. "Sorry, good morning father! Bye!" With that, boy and cat raced out the door without looking back.

Neji pursed his lips and shook his head slightly. "If I'd treated you like that, you'd have skewered me."

Yugao patted her husband's hand as she gave him a quick smile. "Oh, let him be. He's excited about starting the Academy today. Anko even promised to take him into town afterwards to the weapons maker, show him some of the different ninja blades and how they're made."

Hiashi ignored the conversation and bit into a succulent piece of melon.

"Is that alright with you?"

The question caught everyone by surprise, and Hiashi even choked a bit on his melon. All eyes turned to Anko. She blinked at them all. "What?"

"Did you just ask permission to do something?" Neji asked, only to wince as his wife kicked him hard underneath the table.

The spiky-haired jounin frowned sharply at him. "No, I don't need fucking permission, termite." Her expression easing as Neji stiffened at the nickname. "I'm asking my husband if he has other plans."

"No. It would be a treat to Katashi and it's a good learning experience." Hiashi answered simply, his surprise no less than Neji's though he was smart enough not to spoil the moment by acting suprised. Anko usually did what she wanted, when she wanted and didn't bother to clear it with anyone else. Feeling a bit off kilter, Hiashi cleared his throat. "If you'd like, we can meet for dinner afterwards, in the village. Nobara's?" He asked, spur of the moment.

Anko's eyes lit up. "I love that place! Most of the time I don't bother because …well hell, it doesn't matter if it's expensive anymore does it?"

Neji grinned. "No. Go for it." It amused him to watch Anko every time she rememberd she was rich now.

"Do I have to dress up? Last time they gave me grief for my outfit." Anko's expression darkened. "I had to draw a little blood before they'd seat me."

Yugao turned her head so she wouldn't start laughing outright.

Hiashi blinked at the visual Anko's words elicited, then shook his head ruefully. "You're rich, connected, and married to a Clan leader. I guarantee that no one will find fault in your outfit. In fact, you might set the new style. No one will treat you ill, not within my sight."

"And you can see a long, long way." Anko purred with delight.

"Indeed." Hiashi pushed away his plate. "If you'll excuse me, if I'm going to dine out tonight, there are some things I need to rearrange."

Neji grinned and looked over at Yugao, who was giving him an odd sort of look. He turned to the servant and requested more melon slices for his wife. When he looked back at her he saw that her expression had darkened a bit. "What?" Neji asked.

"Hiashi is taking Anko out to eat."

"Hai. So?" Neji felt lost. "I doubt they'll be in any danger, not those two." He said, wondering if she was concerned about another assassination attempt.

Yugao threw down her napkin and got up from the table, excusing herself.

Neji looked around, but there was no one left in the room. "What was that about?" He wondered aloud. Not expecting an answer, he wasn't surprised when he didn't get one.

o.O.o.O.o.O

Hanabi paused as she stepped out of the main cavern, blinking at the sunlight. They'd been up all night and well into the next day, but she wasn't feeling the toll yet. She knew she would soon though.

She looked around, then sneered as she saw Ibiki speaking with the Grass ninja leader … and Gaara. "So. It was the Ibiki who wanted to see me?" She shot a glance at Michi that promised at retribution.

Michi held up his hands in protest. "Ibiki was the one who sent me to find you. I just didn't tell you that he wasn't alone."

"Sneaky bastard." Hanabi grumbled, making Rocks smile. With that, the young kunoichi plastered a fake smile on her face and marched over to the group as if she didn't have a care in the world.

Gaara, of course, noticed her first. He turned slightly to allow the trio of genin to approach. The Grass ninja fell silent as he watched them.

Gaara looked at her a long moment. "Need those eyes of yours."

"They're attached, you can't have them."

If Ibiki was taken aback by the snippy comment, he didn't show it. Gaara didn't even blink. But the Grass ninja looked surprised as he looked at the young genin. "How can this child help?"

Hanabi bowed slightly, but didn't answer.

Gaara gave her a glance that let her know to watch her step. Hanabi straightened up, he was right. This was neither the time nor the place. She'd behave herself, for now.

Ibiki waved his arm toward the cavern system. "We need it mapped as best we can, without going through and setting off every trap they've got in there."

Hanabi nodded and asked for some paper. "I'll get started."

"I don't think that this is a good way to …" The Grass ninja protested as Ibiki led him away from the group.

Gaara looked at Michi and Rocks. "Go get her that paper, some ink and if you find anything that looks like a desk."

Hanabi sighed as she watched her teammates leave. "You're not their leader, you shouldn't …they shouldn't snap to obey you like that."

Gaara gave her one long look and Hanabi realized that for the time being, they were alone. She sniffed and stuck her nose in the air. "I thought I told you to stay away."

"You did."

Hanabi tapped her foot in irritation. "But you sent for me! Specifically!"

"I sent for Temari too." Gaara shrugged. "Kankuro's busy putting traps in that house of his."

"You were supposed to stay away!" Hanabi felt her temper rising, and her face heating up.

"I did stay away." Gaara gave her a quick upturn of his mouth, almost a smile. "You came to me. There's a difference."

"You requested my presence, from my Hokage!" She said through gritted teeth.

"Well, I did stay away. From Konoha at least. You didn't specify."

"ARGH!" Hanabi shut up as she saw two Grass ninja heading their way. "You're impossible." She muttered in a hoarse whisper.

"Compared to whom?" Gaara asked equally as quiet as he watched her, pleased with what he saw. She was still refreshingly insolent and quick witted. Why he found that so attractive, he couldn't really say.

o.O.o.O.o.O

They heard Kotetsu protesting mere seconds before the door was thrown open. The harried ninja trailed the pissed off looking kid. "Is this brat a prisoner or a guest?" Kotetsu asked point blank, unsure how to treat the boy. "Do I have to be nice to him?"

"I'm a political hostage, yes …you have to be nice. If that's even possible." Shihei blustered, looking around furiously. "That includes treating me properly. I demand better quality food, and the proper utensils for civilized eating, and a better room!"

Sakura pressed a finger to a vein that was throbbing next to her temple, closing her eyes and counting to ten.

"What's wrong with your room?"

Sakura heard Ino ask the question and thought to warn her not to bother. She opened her eyes to speak, and instead fell silent.

Shihei was staring at Ino as if the moon had descended to earth. His eyes were huge, his face was flushed, and even from here she could tell his heart rate had sped up alarmingly.

"Kid?" Ino asked, waving a hand in front of his staring eyes.

"Are you a political prisoner too?" Shihei asked roughly.

Sakura blinked and shot a glance at Shikamaru, who was looking bored, slightly confused and bored. "She's my friend and …" She'd been about to explain how Ino was a kunoichi, when the kid turned and glared at her.

"You are not worthy to call either this Angel, nor myself a friend. I don't care how long I must remain hostage for my grandfather's release. But I will not dishonor my blood, nor my name. You do NOT have leave to claim my friendship."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Sakura sighed and Kotetsu gave her a big grin behind the boy's back and mouthed the word 'Angel' mockingly. "Consider it done, you and I will never be friends."

"Good." Shihei stated, missing her poisonous tone of voice as he turned to look at Ino. "I would be honored above all others if you would dine with me. The food here is not up to quality, but your company would make up for all manner of slights."

Shikamaru shook his head, as if trying to clear out some fog. He even wiggled a finger in his ear to make sure he was hearing things right.

"Eat. Please, I don't want it said that Konoha didn't feed its political hostages." Sakura said snidely, looking at a wide-eyed Ino. "Go eat. Talk. Get to know more about each other."

Ino looked over at her fiancé, but Shikamaru just shrugged. "Kid. She's not an angel, trust me. She's a kunoichi."

"Liar." Shihei sniffed. "The quality of her blood shines through the low-class clothes you force her to wear for your amusement. She fairly glows with nobility, you could never hide her natural grace and beauty from someone of the same class. She is noble, as I am. And you sir, are …are …"

"A base commoner?" Kotetsu supplied.

"A jerk?" Ino commented with dry humor.

"Troublesome." Sakura winked at him. "He's defiantly troublesome. Please, now will you go eat your food if we allow …our other political prisoner to join you?"

"If it is the best you can find, I suppose it will have to do." Shihei held out his arm for Ino. "Though it is not fitting for one as lovely as yourself."

The blonde stared at him a long moment, then slipped her arm through the kid's, allowing him to escort her from the room. She turned and her eyes shot daggers at Sakura, who stuck her tongue out at her friend as she went out the door.

Kotetsu went with them, leading the duo back to Shihei's room.

Shikamaru sighed, looking less than worried. "Looks like I have competition."

Sakura laughed. "Like you could compete for an 'Angel'." She teased. "Poor Ino, lets just hope she gets some good information out of the kid."

o.O.o.O.o.O

It was hours later that Hanabi looked up, rubbing her neck after bending over her papers for so long.

Gaara, who hadn't left her, looked over her shoulder. "So many tunnels?"

The genin looked up at him, her pale-eyes wide. "You doubt me?"

"No."

His simple and very open response soothed her temper slightly, then she grinned as she heard her stomach rumble. So that's why she was feeling so off! She was hungry. When had she last eaten?

"I sent for lunch to be brought out to you." The red-head said quietly.

"So gallant." She teased him coolly.

Gaara didn't respond to that, only looked over the papers she'd been detailing for so long. "A lot of rooms." He looked up as Ibiki joined them.

The ANBU torture master traced some of the tunnels, frowning. "There's no door there, I was just in that room."

Hanabi rolled her stiff shoulders and neck muscles. "Yes there is, we just don't know how to open it yet. I assure you, I can see the tunnel, and the room it opens out into." She said, tapping the highly detailed map she was creating.

Ibiki grunted as Gaara looked down at Hanabi, he noted the dark circles under her eyes. "You need to eat, then rest."

"I need to get this done." Hanabi protested. "I'm only part-way through."

Ibiki shook his head. "The Kazekage is right, you need to rest. We're going to be here a while. This complex is huge."

"We're not leaving?" Hanabi asked, trying to figure out how that would work.

"Tsunade and Shizune both say that the Cloud kunoichi can't be moved. She survived the healing, but it's still unclear if her body has been through too many shocks." Ibiki told her. "And this is a former Akatsuki outpost. We can't afford to leave and let Grass get their hands on any information, weapons, or whatever."

"So, what is going to happen?" The Hyuuga kunoichi asked. "If we won't leave, and Grass won't leave .." She looked at Gaara.

"Suna's not going anywhere."

Ibiki grunted. "And don't think that's not pissing off our Grass friends. They're making noises about fighting us for rights to this place."

Gaara sighed. "So we're all staying. Setting up a joint outpost. One big happy family." He said with some sarcasm, not having been raised with any sense of family … or happiness.

"You're not staying though, right?" Hanabi asked, suddenly nervous. Stuck out here? With him? Never!

"No." Gaara said without inflection, reading her face without much effort. "Neither is Tsunade, we have duties we can't delegate so easily. We have to go back to our villages."

Hanabi nodded and waiting for the feeling of relief, but she felt strangely on edge. Maybe it was hunger and fatigue. Yep. That was probably it, not that Gaara would be leaving.

"You and your team will be heading back to Suna with me. Once you're done with the map of course."

Hanabi's stomach dropped suddenly. "What?"

o.O.o.O.o.O

Well? Hope you enjoyed! Kiba and Shiho will be seen again soon, I promise! Reviews are always welcome, especially to let me know how you think the story is going. THANKS!