Harbinger

by tigerowl

Naruto's friendship with his teammates Gaara and Haku is put to the test as they prepare to deal with the threat of the Akatsuki. The secrets Jiraiya has kept come to a head, and Naruto must shoulder the responsibility of protecting much more than the Leaf Village. Continuation of Forlorn. AU NaruHina, GaaSaku, NejiTen, ObiRin

38. Bends in the Road

Note: In which the new Leaf Chunin try to get their sh#t together. Thank you to foxsadist712, Brightheart10, SpicyWifey, imnotadriana, dreaddragonknight, Red Wings, fiveflyingsquirrels, samsaraknight, LordGraygem, Dii10star and Connington for your reviews and observations!

Mature Scene Advisory: There will be a sex scene later in this chapter and you know the drill. Skip it if you do not need to see the sin, or read it you darn filthy sinner. Will be marked by ### for your convenience.

Chapter Soundtrack: "Doubtful" by Gregory and the Hawk

Chapter 38- Bends in the Road

The long, yawning night hushed activities in Konoha Hospital.

A surprisingly fresh-faced, nocturnal secretary looked up and greeted Sato when he stopped at the front desk, "Hi. Weren't you discharged earlier today?"

"Yeah…but I'm actually here to stay with a patient overnight." He clarified.

The lady at the desk nodded, "Name?"

"Maito Tama."

"Hmm." The secretary skimmed down the roster, "She already has guests staying overnight. Hospital policy requires that no more than two family members visit overnight after hours…" She trailed off at the sight of Sato's worn, heartbroken face, "But…never mind that. Go ahead. Maito-san is in room 271."

"Thank you."

On the way upstairs, Sato fretted about who he would find in Tama's room. He was still smarting from Maito Ken smacking him around and venting his frustrations. He relaxed when he entered, seeing only Tama's mother Miako curled up on a contemporary sofa at the far side of the quiet room. She was arranged in an uncomfortable position, one slip-on skimmer dangling off of her dainty foot, snoring softly. Ken, thankfully, was absent.

Sato silently crossed over to the woman and crouched down. For the most part, he and Miako got along very well. She resembled Tama in most every way, save for being brunette and several centimeters shorter than her statuesque daughter. Respectfully, Sato slipped the mother's shoe back on. He smiled a little when Miako stirred and stretched her arms over her head, gradually remembering where she was.

"Sato-kun," She smiled back at him, "I knew you'd be back here when things calmed down."

"Definitely. Where's Ken?"

"He went home." Miako sat up straight, fighting a yawn, "Waiting was making him anxious. He also told me he has a loan closing to oversee in the morning. He wanted to rest."

"Huh." Sato let his hand fuddle around his pants pocket, annoyed that Ken could bellow about attentiveness and caring for Tama…then go home to sleep and resume business as usual.

As if Miako could read his thoughts, she shut her eyes to simper and stand up, "It's just the line of work he's in, Sato-kun. I can't be mad at him for not staying here."

He grunted noncommittally at the justification. Miako crossed the floor and pulled a second blanket up over her daughter to fight the room's chill. She pushed back Tama's bangs and kissed her forehead.

"She just doesn't want to wake up." Miako sighed, "I really did admire…how strong she was today. I've never seen anything like it." She moved tiredly to take a seat in a bedside chair, missed, and nearly fell to the floor. Sato caught her by the backs of her elbows.

"Oh! Thank you. I am all kinds of clumsy at night…"

He gave her a concerned look, "You really should go home and sleep, Miako—"

"I don't want to leave her." The mother protested, "If she wakes up in pain or is confused…I should be here."

"You've been going all day. Tomorrow will probably be even harder…" Sato let his eyes drift between Miako and Tama, "Rest now while I can be here with Tama. Ken won't want me around tomorrow…so she'll need you here." She gave him a long look of deliberation when he asked, "Is that alright?"

"It is." Miako rubbed at her eyes sleepily.

Sato moved to the room's window and flipped latches before pushing it open. Miako watched him stick his head out and make a tooting call out in the night air. Shortly after that, a screech owl zoomed in and landed on his outstretched arm, "This is Aroo. Let him, uh, walk you home. Well, he'll fly. But he'll also come back and let me know you made it safely. If not, I'll be looking for you."

"There's no need to worry about me!" Miako smiled and patted his cheek, "But thank you, Sato, an escort home will be nice." She motioned with her hand, prompting Aroo to flit over and perch on her shoulder, "I'll be off now. You try to sleep too. I'll be back bright and early!"

He acknowledged her with a wave and a nod, listening as Miako's footsteps retreated down the hallway. Sato then pulled the guest chair up to the side of the elevated bed and took a seat, exhaling roughly. Tama laid there, eerily still. He looked at her for a while and let reality sink in.

The only time he ever saw Tama so still and peaceful was when she was stretched out on the couch for a nap after training. Sato's heart ached for those times to return. That she could be mobile, feel well; smile and stay safe. It was hard to see her so damaged— wrapped and mended, immobilized in lower-body braces, her left forearm and hand in a hard cast. Her hair still looked as luscious and shiny as ever, though. 'Miako must have brushed it for her…'

Her right hand was wrapped in cloth bandages but appeared to be adequately functional. Sato gently traced a fingertip along her exposed skin, swallowing hard. The bruises Tama had gotten from training with Kakashi paled in comparison to what now marked her. 'It must hurt. All of it must hurt so bad…that she doesn't want to be awake…' Teary-eyed, Sato glanced up at a drip of strong pain medication, 'I won't even wish for you to wake up, Tama. Not until it starts to get better. I don't want you to…'

He slipped his hand up her right arm, ghosting over a cotton pad adhered to her jaw. Huo had kicked her face and split skin there. 'I don't ever want you to suffer.' Sato shut his eyes, his breaths rumbling. Maybe he should have thought about this nearly two years ago. When he had teased her and encouraged her to become a Genin against her parents' wishes. When he had called in a favor with Iruka-sensei, so that Tama could take the exam and graduate…

"I'm just…really bad at looking out for you." His voice was soft and quivering, "You've always been so good at it. Looking after me. When Mom was gone…and Kakashi was too freaked out to go near me…you protected me from things. You knew what to do. You had your eyes on me."

The sounds of the monitor Tama was hooked up to reminded him of bird chirps.

"But I can do it now." Sato cleared his throat, sniffling, "I've screwed up so many times. That's just how I had to learn. I wish it hadn't been at your expense…I wish you hadn't been hurt. I promise I can do it now. I can protect you. I can look after you." He leaned in to brush his lips across her cheek, "Don't go out of your way for me anymore. It's my turn to care for you. It doesn't matter what I have to do. You have my word."

He let silence settle in again, and Sato shifted to prop himself up on the edge of the bed's mattress, elevated enough to fold his arms and rest his head there. His eyes were trained on Tama's sleeping face.

Sato's thoughts swirled around like marbles in a bowl.

His throat felt tight again when he thought about how he'd been unfaithful and slept with a stranger, merely to sate a craving. For her. Oh, how he wanted to tear his own brain out and throw it to the floor, stomping it and cursing it for failing him. For not safeguarding something so sacred; for saving his body for Tama who, he was sure, deserved that milestone with him. He had sold himself so cheaply. He had once been valuable. Now, looking in reflective surfaces repulsed Sato and reminded him of the mistake.

The alcohol had not justified him. Not even her excuse for leaving that night had justified him. Not when their formidable bond, mutual attraction, and love towered over him as a behemoth reminder. Sato wondered how he could have ever done wrong to someone who cared for him and honored him so. He had never felt quite good enough for Tama. Never felt that he deserved her, if the sarcastic comments of others had been anything to go by. But why? Why tumble into the pitfall? Why be what they said he was? No good.

Sato gulped again. Taking Tama for granted had been a horrible thing to do. When he'd been younger, imagining a future with her used to feel like a heavy, unavoidable requirement. Today, the fear of being unable to build a life with Tama suffocated him with fear.

If he had never advocated for her to become a ninja in the first place, perhaps they would be lounging on the couch right now. She'd be fine. Maybe he wouldn't have cheated, if Tama had not been occupied with Exam preparations, and he could have persuaded her.

Sato pressed his hands to his eyes and rubbed, sickened by the selfish thoughts. Why was he thinking something like that now? Just how much of a degenerate was he, to lament that kind of an outcome? Her life was more important. Whether he was satisfied or not, whether she was a ninja or not… 'If Tama could hear what I've been thinking she would smash my head into garden mulch…' No. Sato acknowledged that now was about a good a time as any to not expect anything physical from Tama. Her welfare came first.

His thoughts evened out. Responsibility clicked back into place. Caring for her meant caring for her selflessly. Anything personal or Sato-related…he deleted those items from his brain. Then he lay there, staring at her face for a length of time he could not measure. Sometimes tears would slip free, and his eyes would dry up again periodically. Things felt very different.

Aroo came back after a time and hooted. Miako was safe at home. Sato thanked the owl and told him to go hunt.

The night wore on and a nurse stopped in, checking Tama's charts and medication drip. She glanced at Sato, bunched up at the bedside and freshly done weeping. She winced in sympathy. "Thanks for staying the night." She told him, smiling gently. Sato blinked up at the nurse, surprised by the remark. She concluded her tasks and carried on down the corridor to her next patient.

With the endless nighttime minutes, his mind ceased speculating and stopped forming ideas of how to improve Tama's circumstance. There was no way to know what was ahead of them. All that he could do was be there. Exhausted, Sato drifted off to sleep. The hands of the room's wall clock completed several revolutions.

The pre-dawn hours of morning were dark and without birdsong. Sato unfurled himself like a dozing cat, pushing up from the bed's edge as he stirred. It was then he noticed Tama's eyes were open just a sliver, almost too narrow to be noticed. She was statue-still.

"Tama?" Sato spoke softly and sat up. When she did not respond he edged in closer, beside her ear, "Are you awake right now?"

She did not move or make a sound. Sato wondered if she had opened her eyes and continued sleeping. Then she slowly turned her head to the right, towards him. Her lashes fluttered as if nerves were firing incorrectly. He felt scared and relieved all at once.

Sato stroked the side of her face and hair as if she were breakable, staying close enough for her to hear as he kept his voice down, "It's me."

"W-W…" She made small sounds, struggling with the effort.

He waited with baited breath for her to complete the phrase.

"Watched…" Tama opened her eyes a bit wider, but seemed disoriented, "I watched…"

"Watched-?" Sato wanted to help her along.

"Watched you sleep." She coughed softly, "Right here." She tapped a single, working finger on the mattress space where his head had rested.

He was startled, "You did? For how long?"

Tama's eyes fluttered shut again tiredly, "A long time."

"I'm sorry, you could've woke me—"

She gave him a weak shhh.

"How are you feeling?" Sato asked a treacherous question, but he genuinely wanted an assessment.

"Not much." Tama batted her lips, "Fuzzy…hard to…speak."

"The medication is super heavy duty. You might feel woozy." He informed her.

"Yeah."

"So you were awake for a while?"

"Watching you." Traces of emotion were returning to her face, bits of discomfort, warmth, and frustration, "Moving…what still moves. My hand. My head and neck are okay." Tama demonstrated by showing off the slight range of motion.

Sato palmed her cheek, "Don't move too much for now."

"Legs." She said simply. She did not mean Sai's nickname for her. She meant that she could not move them. Sato understood and lowered his eyes, despondent.

Tama fidgeted uncomfortably, more awake. Her eyes were scrunched, and she was pursing her mouth, trying to dislodge the nasal cannula fitted in her nostrils, and the small, hollow tubes draped over her ears. "Please." She said tiredly.

He looked at her with shiny eyes and tried to interpret her request.

Tama clarified, "Take it off."

"I can't. I can't tamper with anything." Sato apologized, "I'm sorry, Tama. If you don't move so much it won't bother you. You need the oxygen."

"-can breathe fine." She retorted softly, "Can still do things myself."

"I know." He acknowledged, leaning in toward her neck for comfort, "For now, don't get ahead of yourself. You've been badly hurt. We'll talk to the doctor in the morning."

Tama smiled weakly at him. She stopped fussing.

"I want you to know that we defeated Huo. Hinata beat him." Sato announced with a mix of pride and seriousness, "He got what he deserved. He's under investigation now by Leaf's Security forces."

"…he…didn't hurt anyone else?" Tama hoped not.

Sato kept his head tucked against her as he spoke, "No, no. Sunshine is still scratched up, but otherwise everyone is okay. The group planned out how to deal with Huo."

A long silence answered him. Sato watched the rise and fall of her chest for a time before sitting back, looking her in the face. They held each other's gazes without a word for a while, and Tama understood unsaid things. Sad things. She could see it all in his expression.

She spoke again, "My chest hurts."

"Even with the medication?" He was mildly alarmed.

"Yeah." Tama confirmed.

"Well," Sato swallowed and recalled some info he had gotten when he had checked on her earlier that day, "Your mom told me you have some broken ribs, and you came in with a collapsed lung. The medics had to correct it…with a needle to draw out excess air from your chest." He was grimacing, "I know it's got to hurt. I wanted you to sleep as much as possible…so you don't have to feel as much of it."

"What else?" She asked. Tama was aware there would be a laundry list of problems with her body.

"Let's wait for the doctor tomorrow before we discuss the rest." He recommended again, "Whoever comes in to look at you will have to do some follow-up evaluations. Tsunade-sama will too, when she can."

Tama presumed, "…it's bad."

"You're going to be okay." Sato insisted nervously.

A far-off look came over her face. Tama stared across the room while deep in thought. She was processing the level of physical impairment she would have to deal with. She was weighing it against how she lived her life, her career, her wishes. Sato watched her think with a pattering heart. His worry stretched over them like a rain cloud.

"Sato." Her voice sounded a little stronger, "You can leave."

Sato was surprised but then dismissed the statement, assuming he misunderstood, "I'm staying all night and day, until your family shoos me out. Your mom already went home for some rest."

"No." Tama shut her eyes and shook her head tiredly, "You can leave me."

Sato was hushed in shock and then supposed he was not misunderstanding.

Tama explained to him, "It isn't good. Me like this. I can't live the life…I want. Can't give you the life you want."

He shook his head rapidly in disagreement. She went on to clarify, "There are…no strings. Like this, I'm a burden. If you want to, forget everything. I won't be…offended. Really…I understand."

"Can't give me the kind of life I want?" Sato was appalled by the suggestion, "What kind of life is that, Tama? An active one? A meaningless one? I don't want to spend every day with you purely for the convenience." He protested, eyes tearing up again, "I am not intimidated by doing whatever it takes…to care for you. Whatever that entails, I'll do it. If I have to reduce mission activity, or quit being a ninja, I will. I am going to look after you and be with you."

"I may not…be the same." Tama warned him, "Could become…very sad. Un…unfulfilled. I like my pastimes. Dancing. Biking. Running. Working. If I…can't do the things I enjoy…I might change." She took a break from speaking to catch her breath, then added, "That change may let you down."

Sato regarded her for a long moment and then let out a clipped, half-deranged laugh at the thought.

"Let me down?" He calmed himself, "You…are worried…about letting me down?" Sato sighed at the assertion, "Tama. That is impossible. No matter what you're going through, you will never, ever disappoint me in any way."

Tama stared at him and listened.

"That's one of the craziest things I've ever heard. I'm not in love with you just because of the physical things you can do, although…yeah, I do find you extremely impressive and attractive. But your way of thinking…your spirit…that's what moves me." Sato looked down for a moment and noticed where his hand had settled on the bed's edge, Tama had subconsciously grabbed it while he spoke, "Your devotion and love are the things I want most. There's nothing in the world better than that."

For the first time in days, Tama saw Sato smile the way he used to: genuinely happy, with a hint of the debonair, carefree charm that played a tune on her heartstrings.

Tama's awareness of pain alleviated a bit. Her mouth was tugging up at the corners, pleased that he had disagreed with her.

"Yup." He seemed much more relaxed, "Oh, I am so committed. It's gonna get annoying. Watch out. Until we are cremated piles of dust, Tama…and whatever happens after that. I don't want to go anywhere or do anything without you."

They smiled goofy smiles at each other.

"Is it okay if I kiss you?" Sato asked her, "Will it hurt you? I'll be careful."

Tama blinked at him, "Even if it does hurt…I want you to."

Acting on that permission he leaned in, half-lidded eyes matching her own when he was only a whisper away from her mouth… Sato stopped short. He paused to look at her as if another urgent declaration had come to mind, "Hey…" Tama peeked an eye open wider when he said, "I love you."

Flustered, she shimmed a bit and only allotted him a bashful peck on the mouth. That did not satisfy and Sato moved in again, his eyes shut, head tilted, kissing her in earnest. Tama had been holding her breath in surprise. She was pretty sure that was the first time she had distinctly heard Sato say those words to her. After a moment he pulled back a bit to look at her and gauge her reaction. She looked astonished.

"Sorry if I taste like onions." He was sheepish, thinking of the ways he could have messed that up, "I didn't brush before I came over here."

Her face was more expressive. Tama was cracking up. She began to giggle, unable to control the rumble that jostled her chest painfully. Sato raised his eyebrows and automatically reciprocated the laughter. With what strength she had, Tama raised her hand and tugged on his t-shirt. He understood. Leaning in, they quieted down and kissed again. It was calming and binding. Without saying so, they both felt much closer and more confident.

"Hmm." Tama dropped her head back on a fluffed pillow. She was smirking and looked very pleased.

Sato shifted in his seat, stifling a yawn as he angled himself downward, and mashed himself onto the corner of her pillow to get comfortable. He pressed his lips to the bare skin of Tama's arm and kept kissing her there. She started chuckling again.

"Thank you, Sato…" She watched his hand caress up from her fingertips to the curve of her shoulder, down and up again, "I love you too."

"I am gonna do more to deserve hearing you say that." He declared, "Now you need to stop giggling adorably and being so damn soft."

"Can't." Another chuckle spilled from her lips.

Grumbling, Sato glanced up at her, "It's turning me on too much."

That, uh, was the point, Tama's expression revealed. She was taunting him cutely on purpose. So what if she couldn't move? She still had it.

"Let's sleep." Tama suggested.

At first, Sato was not much for the idea, even though he accepted the extra blanket layered on top of her— which she wanted off. Covered up and folded onto the bed, they muttered and yawned at each other until they did indeed sleep.

---

Later that morning, at about 8:10AM, Tsunade took a silent headcount of the former Leaf Rookies who had piled into her office. Maito Tama was not among them. That absence stood out like a sore thumb to the Hokage, and she leaned back in her seat, shutting her eyes for a moment to compose herself. The youngsters chattered quietly while Tsunade collected her thoughts.

At the side of the room, Shizune cleared her throat. Beside her on a display table were ten Chunin vests, each with a small note safety-pinned to a front pocket; the names of who they belonged to.

Right. Tsunade took Shizune's cue. There was no use in dragging the announcement out.

She angled her swiveling chair to get a side-on view of her newly promoted ninja, "I congratulate all of you on a job well done. Each of you has been promoted to the rank of Chunin, with the conclusion of the Exam." Tsunade added airily, "And the shenanigans that ensued generated a staggering amount of revenue…which will provide a much needed facelift for our village. I thank you all for that as well."

They replied in an affirmative chorus and Tsunade raised a hand to settle the group down again. She flicked her eyes toward Shizune, "Shizune is going to call each of you to receive your flak vests and certificates. Frame the paper if you want. The copies that really matter are on file here…and if your vest does not fit as anticipated, be honest. I've seen Chunin walk around this building who are clearly in denial."

Ino cackled softly at the jibe. Sakura nudged her to hush up. Hinata was called first and timorously accepted her accolades from Shizune. Ino and Chouji followed after her, followed by Sakura and Kiba, then Neji's team, and then Shino and Sato last. Aghast, Sato stared at the table, his eyes ringed by dark circles. He turned to Shizune as she gave him a questioning look, trying to hand over his vest.

"What about Tama?" He asked severely.

Shizune tried to explain, "I was told—"

Sato kicked the leg of the table with his foot, turning to Tsunade in outrage, "You didn't promote her?"

"Mind your mouth." Tsunade smiled at him patiently, resting her chin on her folded hands.

"You didn't." He spoke through clenched teeth, "You saw what she can do…how can you exclude her?"

"If I see it fit, I will exclude her however I deem it necessary." Tsunade daringly made eye contact with Sato, "She was promoted to Chunin just as all of you were. I have her flak vest locked in a cabinet on the next floor, if you must know. I won't be giving it to her. I suspended her mission activity."

"How can you-?"

"How would it look if I gave her the false impression that she is among you and your peers now?" Tsunade spoke over him, "To give her soft tasks. Desk work. Paperwork or drudgery that requires little movement. That isn't what she worked for. So I won't do that. I will not assign her anything beyond focusing on her recovery."

"Then, in a symbolic sense, at least give her what she earned." Sato tried to bargain, "That would make her happy."

"It won't make her truly happy." Tsunade replied knowingly.

"Do it anyway." Sato spat, and then he looked to Shizune again, "I refuse to participate if you don't recognize her."

Shizune was shaking her head at Sato, still extending his Chunin novelties. Tsunade watched him impassively with her mind made up. Sato stared at the Hokage and tried to compel her to bend on this one trifling matter. She did not.

As good as his threat, Sato stormed off without accepting his vest or promotional document. He brushed past Shino and Hinata who tried to slow him, hoping he would reconsider. Sato squeezed through the group and darted out of the doorway. After that, Shizune wilted and set the items down on the table again.

The whole collection of new Chunin stared at the floor in silence. It was hard to accept. Sakura, for one, had been particularly moved by Sato's solidarity with Tama. She stepped forward in a gesture to return her promotional items.

Tsunade leapt from her seat and barked at her, "No. No dissent among the ranks. Especially not you, Sakura. He's being childish."

Sakura did not give much pushback, "But Tama should still—"

"It was my decision to make. If you all feel bad about this, fine: visit Tama in the hospital and tell her what I told you. I guarantee that she will understand. That is simply how that girl thinks— that's why I can depend on her." Tsunade circled around the desk and approached them, "I am depending on all of you more than I ever have. Don't cut and run just because you don't agree with me."

She stopped in front of Neji and pointedly locked gazes with him. To her surprise, he was fully paying attention to her. The former back-sass and friction she used to get from him were gone. 'Ah, good. He's recovered from that no-contact order, it seems. Just when I'll need him most.'

"For now," Tsunade went on as she paced slowly in front of the Chunin gaggle, "I want you to rest. I will begin mission assignments within a week. Things are still hectic internally with the closure of the stadium, so I may have you oversee things of that nature…"

The youngsters acknowledged her and thanked her. Tsunade dismissed them after that. When they had filed out of the office, the Hokage reminded Shizune she was a seasoned Jounin and advisor, and never had to take anyone's shit. Why had she stood there and not smacked Sato for his impudence? Shizune mumbled lowly, unsure. She felt bad, she guessed.

"Throw it in his face, next time." Tsunade recommended, picking up Sato's unwanted vest and certificate, "Let's go get breakfast, Shizune. Ton-Ton. I'll hand this off first so I don't have to look at it all day…"

---

Kakashi knocked on the door for ten seconds before he tried the door knob. Locked.

"What a pain." He scratched his head tiredly and then traipsed down the apartment building's interior hallway.

Had anyone been watching, Kakashi would have made it look easy flitting out of a window to the top of a nearby building, circumventing around the complex's exterior until he arrived at the window of his nephew's flat. Sato often left it ajar for Aree and Aroo to come and go as they pleased. Kakashi dropped in via that entrance.

"Yo." He half-shouted into the home. He got no response. Kakashi could tell that someone was around, though.

He tottered down the corridor and popped into the open doorway of the restroom. Sato was vigorously splashing his face at the sink.

"Tsunade-sama called you a dissenter today." Kakashi greeted and watched his nephew sputter and startle, fumbling with faucet handles before he stood upright, surprised by a visitor, "Looks like this is the first time all night and morning you left Tama's side."

"It is." Sato patted his face with a towel, "And I'm going back to her right now. I'm gonna say slanderous shit about the Hokage and talk about how I won't serve as a Chunin. Not unless Tama can."

"That's stupid."

"So is your face."

"That's why I don't show it much."

"That mole is stupid."

"It's a beauty mark." Kakashi corrected him.

Annoyed, Sato stuffed the towel on a drying bar and motioned for Kakashi to move aside. His uncle obliged, but followed him into the bedroom.

"I'm changing clothes, you know." Sato warned him, pulling his t-shirt off.

Kakashi shrugged. He stood there and watched, utterly unaffected, and held Sato's Chunin vest in his hands like a butler. The boy changed back into his white and red tunic, the clothing that he debuted at the Tournament. Kakashi was not surprised that his nephew was embracing the Hatake-style apparel. It suited him.

Sato stopped in front of his uncle, who blocked his exit. He frowned when Kakashi handed his vest to him.

"You're going to put this on, and you're going to serve." Kakashi told him, "Life isn't fair. It doesn't always go as planned. Didn't you think about how Tama would feel if you waltzed up to her and told her you forsook a duty she wants to fulfill? That she'd feel angry and frustrated? It's better if you take responsibility. That's what will cheer her up."

A minute elapsed with a no-blinking staredown, and finally Sato sighed and accepted the flak vest. When he pulled it on and zipped it up over his tunic, Kakashi snickered at him, amused.

"What?" Sato was still not happy about it.

Kakashi ruffled his hair, "You look a lot like my dad."

They left the certificate on the kitchen table. Sato followed Kakashi out of the flat, exiting from the window. Kakashi accompanied his nephew on the trek across town to the hospital. There was a traffic-jam of wheelchairs and other hardware being moved across the lobby, and so they waited for it to pass.

"The Hokage would have felt terrible assigning Tama menial tasks. I'm sure you agree with her that Tama would not want to do those sorts of things." Kakashi ventured, sticking his hands in his pockets.

"I know she wouldn't want to do stuff like that." Sato acknowledged woodenly.

"Tsunade-sama is sympathizing with Tama. I know that she is very fond of you both."

"Because we're like you and Gai." Sato figured.

"Not that." Kakashi disagreed, "You remind her of another time…of a more hopeful time in her life."

Sato quirked an eyebrow at Kakashi, not getting it. When the floor was clear they carried on to the stairwell.

"Off the record, the Torture and Interrogation Corps has detained both Huo and Sekieima, and from what I hear…" The Jounin kept his voice low, "It really was a hostage situation. The network that Huo was a part of runs deep, and has undermined Iwagakure. Like a mob, if you will. Many people are threatened and hushed into keeping it secret."

Sato noted perceptively, "That's not gonna last."

"Not if Huo has valuable information about that operation, it won't. He can't conceal anything from our specialists." Kakashi confirmed, "His restraints sap and lock chakra. He won't be able to use Ninjutsu or Tao Arts."

"Good. I heard Sunshine knocked some of his teeth out."

"Yeah. He's not getting those back."

They wound up and up the steps.

"So do I really look like Grandpa?"

"You do. You've seen the photos." Kakashi confirmed.

"Why don't you ever talk about him?" Sato asked. He'd been meaning to ask that for years.

"Because," Kakashi said as they turned into the hallway, "Some days…I still can't believe he's dead."

Sato processed the sentiment. He felt that way about his mother.

"I don't want people to know how addled my head is. About losing him. Losing everyone." Kakashi chuckled, "It'd be pretty obvious if I talked about my dad, and Semi, and Sensei, and Rin and Obito all of the time. I'd never shut up."

"You can talk to me about it." Sato offered gently, "I won't judge."

"Maybe I will." Kakashi sounded surprised with himself, "Some time. I might."

They arrived at Tama's room and the door was closed over slightly. Kakashi pushed it open and ambled in, followed by Sato. The room was stuffed.

"Who are all of these people?" Sato whispered from the corner of his mouth.

"Hmm." Kakashi was surveying the many visitors crowded around Tama's bed, chatting amiably. He knew most of them. At least he thought he did.

Eventually, heads turned and noticed Kakashi and Sato had arrived. They received a lively greeting. Tama had strength enough in her right hand to wave a little.

"Hey!" A young man in a Chunin vest laughed at the sight of them, "The Hatake clan is here, move over people!" Sato squinted his eyes. Everyone gathered was a Chunin or Jounin, but they looked young.

'They look…Tama's age.' Sato estimated.

Kakashi was given the space to Tama's immediate right and Sato sidled in beside him, reaching out for Tama's hand and feeling better when she laced her fingers with his.

"Good morning, Kakashi-sensei." Tama greeted politely, "Sato-kun that looks good on you!"

"You'd say that about any old rags I put on." He winked at her.

"You were promoted too." Kakashi informed her, "But the Hokage terminated your mission activity, for the time being."

"Well that's nice." Tama yielded, "It makes sense."

"I had a problem with it." Sato protested mildly.

"Please don't. Please take missions." She soothed him, "I know you'll visit me a lot. We'll find a new balance soon. Work on your schedule and assignments."

"Alright, I will…"

"So…" Kakashi regarded all of the wrinkle-free faces around, "This is your graduating class, Tama-chan. Or, it would have been if you graduated in your year."

"Yes!" Tama confirmed, "Thank you for visiting, everyone!"

Sato's mouth hung open a little. Tama's peers from her Academy days must have seen her match in the Chunin Exam Tournament. Maybe they didn't know she had become a ninja after withdrawing from the Academy years ago, as a late bloomer.

"Looks like you need an introduction," The man who spoke earlier from the left side of the room chimed in again, "I'm Runruna Mion. I know Tenten from your age group, actually. This here is my teammate, Hagino Shoda. Medic-nin and part-time journalist." The dark-haired, bespectacled man beside him waved with a small blush.

Mion pointed to other ninja in the room, "That's Aburame Michiko, isn't she cute? And her teammates: that there's Sarutobi Banri, I hear he's a clerk for the Sealing Corps now. Aren't you, man?"

Banri smiled at him, "Yep. But I am going to apply to be an assistant commissioner next year."

"Good for you, curlicues!" Mion congratulated the wild-haired Sarutobi, "And Mizutani Nogo rounds off their team. Yo, Nogo, we need to go out again sometime. See something in the cinema."

Nogo agreed.

"Here's our Ino-Shika-Chou trio." Mion gestured to the three at the foot of Tama's bed, "Akimichi Choukoki, Yamanaka Inohei, and Nara Kojika. Kojika, girl, you spilled your mega-slushie all over yourself at the Tournament, I heard."

"Yeah." She confessed, "During Tama-chan's match. It was exciting."

Tama thanked her.

"And here's Nabeya Yurie," Mion pointed to a man to his left, "One of Tama's rivals from our Academy days." Yurie waved the suggestion off and insisted all of that was behind them, "Huh? Well cool. And here's Shimura Mashu. Whoa, Mashu, you smell good. New cologne!"

Mashu cupped his face in his palm.

"It is new, right?"

"Yes. Please stop talking about it." Mashu muttered.

"Their teammate Aiko quit recently because she had twins!" Mion tittered, "Can't wait to see those cuties later."

All of Tama's age group clamored about how excited they were to see the babies. Mion prattled about how he was also a father to a baby girl now and wow, did time fly by so fast!

Sato was glaring at Yurie's head, as he had realized that was the boy who had injured Tama in the past during an Academy quarrel…and caused her to drop out. Kakashi patted his shoulder, signaling to his nephew to cool it.

Inohei flipped his chic haircut out of his face, "Tama-chan, we're very sorry we fell out of touch with you. Most of us didn't know you continued your shinobi career."

"Not that you being a ninja is the only reason to socialize with you." Shoda clarified.

"Right, I know." Tama assured them.

"When we were kids, you punched me once so hard that I cried." Choukoki remembered fondly, "You've always been strong."

"We wish you a speedy recovery." Kojika was very pretty when she smiled.

"Thank you."

"Also," Mashu spoke up again, "Tama-chan's match was an unparalleled earth shaker…but Hatake Sato-san…" All heads rotated to look back at Sato, "You used jutsu in your match that you invented on your own."

"Technically, I just improved shape and nature manipulation based on what Kakashi showed me." Sato dumbed it down, "Then I poked someone with it."

Laughter answered him. This time he actually wasn't being funny but he accepted it anyway.

"I don't know anyone else who can do that. Even Danzo-sama of my clan, can't do anything like that." Mashu impressed upon him, "No one who saw that Chidori on the ground or in the sky will ever forget it." His peers agreed.

"I probably won't use it so rashly next time." Sato admitted.

"Mashu says stuff like that because he wants to label you." Kojika informed him dryly, turning back to Mashu, "Go on and do it, then. Dub him something. You did it to every single one of us."

"I will, since I have a speck of creativity to my name." He snarked back at her, "Sato-san, like the rest of the Hatake clan, possesses white chakra and incredible talent. Based on what we've seen…he could be the White Wing of Konoha."

Mion blew a raspberry.

"That's not as cool as Kakashi-san's moniker. Or the White Fang's." Yurie pointed out.

"Sounds kinda flappy." Kojika seconded the pan.

"Then come up with something better." Mashu turned his nose up at them. He bid Tama farewell and filed out with Yurie in tow.

Idle chatter continued for a few minutes while Sato pondered the nickname. He didn't dislike it.

Mion and his teammate, along with the Ino-Shika-Chou team excused themselves and promised to visit again before leaving. Michiko did not say much, but she extended her hand and left a ladybug on Tama's casted arm. Her smile was slight and sweet, adjusting her glasses before giving Tama a pat. She and her teammate Nogo carried on out of the room. Sarutobi Banri lingered, however. Sato, still wrapped up in his own head, did not notice the loiterer.

Kakashi did. He was not sure why Banri did not move on with his team. His conversation with Tama seemed trivial, as if scraping for a reason to stay. He called the kid out, "Banri-san, doesn't the Sealing Corps have management meetings in the morning? You'll run late."

"Oh, I…" He glanced up at the clock, "You're right, Kakashi-senpai. Please excuse me."

Banri said goodbye and wished all of them well.

"Friend of yours?" Kakashi asked his student.

Tama smiled lopsidedly at him, "From when I was six. It's so strange not seeing people since I was a kid…I mean, we live in the same village. We should've run into each other before now."

"You all keep very busy." Kakashi observed.

"That could be why."

"Well…" Kakashi steered Sato forward and plopped him into a bedside seat, "I don't think we've eaten. I'll find some edible hospital food for now. Catch up with each other, kids. Before Ken gets here." He plodded out of the room.

"Even Kakashi knows what's up." Sato noted after his uncle had gone, "Did your dad tear into Kakashi too?"

"Not yet. He's still at work." Tama guessed, "Mom came over thirty minutes ago and asked me what I wanted. I begged her to bring me something from the bakery and tell my coworkers that I won't be in...for a while. Hm! I might get sympathy scones."

Sato pooched his lips, "What's a scone?"

"Delicious."

"That's all I need to know."

"Uncle Gai will probably come by with his team." Tama imagined, tipping her head back, "That'll be nice."

"Yeah, they'll all be in a pleasant mood. I feel bad though. Neji was still limping a little when I saw him this morning." Sato recalled.

Tama clucked her tongue at him. She knew he was responsible for Neji's injuries.

"Come on, everyone's a little roughed up. Lee and Tenten too. I saw them hobbling around at Hinata's party…" Sato started chuckling as he thought about it, "I've got these scary bruises all over me, and I think my butt bone chipped from the falling-out-of-the-tornado incident."

"Tornado?" Tama raised her eyebrows, "You need to tell me more about your match. And it's called your tailbone. Or Coccyx, if you want to be more scientific."

"Whatever you call it, it hurts." Sato whined. He folded forward and mushed his face into the edge of Tama's pillow.

Tama turned her head slightly toward him, "Now you just want attention."

He peeked an eye up at her, "Can you tell?"

"I'll trade your tailbone pain for my full body tingling and numbness." Tama offered, "They adjusted my IV and I'm getting less medication now. I feel way more lucid. Still have the fluffy feeling though! You should try this stuff sometime."

"I think maybe I did get it after the Star Village mission." Sato narrowed his eyes and tried to remember, "My body was majorly screwed up even after Sakura-chan and Tsunade-sama worked on me."

"Oh gosh." Tama then remembered Sato's close shave with death, which she had nearly forgotten, "We need to be more careful."

"I think that kind of goes without saying at this point." He scooched closer and brought his face close to Tama's, "I'm glad we're still here."

Tama possessed more energy than she had overnight, and delightedly kissed him until they were short of breath. Sato settled on his pillow-edge spot again and looked at her, contented.

"Did that make your tailbone feel better?" She asked.

"Totally."

They were interrupted by vigorous knocking on the open door, and looked over to see Sakura grinning at them. She had a stethoscope around her neck and a clipboard in hand.

"Whoa. I came at a good time!" She laughed, gamboling in, "I am so glad you're awake, Tama!" Sakura scurried over to give her teammate a gentle hug, "Kiba-kun said he'll be by soon! I heard Kakashi-sensei is already here."

"He is. He went to find food, but I already asked my mom to bring me baked goods." Tama confirmed.

"Hmm. I kind of want treats too." Sakura noted to herself, "I might stop there later. Do you mind if I do a couple of tests on you? I was going to take some notes for Tsunade-sama and see where we need to start treatment."

"Please do."

The day before, Sakura had expected not to lift a finger around the hospital for a while. It turned out to be a harder habit to kick than she had thought.

Sakura went through the practiced motions of checking blood pressure, heart rhythm, breathing, pupil dilation, head and neck mobility, and so forth. She glanced over at Sato and was relieved to see him wearing his Chunin vest. He had mostly been watching Tama with a protective look on his face, but Sato eventually made eye contact with Sakura. She seemed thoughtful and optimistic, despite the fact that she confirmed Tama's disablement from the waist-down.

"I don't think I noticed it as much before…" Sakura said as she carefully reclined Tama again to rest, "That you guys are like two halves. Inseparable, in some ways." She moved on to examine Tama's working hand, "It kind of gives me second-hand happiness being around you. I don't know why that is, exactly…"

She scribbled a few things on the clipboard and set it on a physician's table, "Try not to worry or jump to conclusions, Tama. You too, Sato. Tsunade-sama's follow up should get Tama on the right track. I know it."

Her comments bolstered them. Kakashi returned shortly after that and tried to encourage Sakura to stay, "Look, I brought applesauce and onigiri." Hospital food was not very enticing, and she did have a few more patients on the floor to check in on.

Sakura told them to keep their chins up before waving goodbye, carrying on with other duties in the hospital.

---

By early afternoon, Sakura wrapped up her round in the hospital and returned to the Administrative Building. Tsunade was just about dead on her feet. She had put on her game face for the morning announcement to her new Chunin…but as the day wore on she tarried, shoved papers aside, and snapped at a few visitors to her office.

Shizune had brought the Hokage a pot of green tea and an energy bar. Sakura snickered at the sight as she three-hole punched documents for binder filing.

"What is this?" Tsunade held up the plastic-sealed protein bar.

Shizune frowned at her, "Your lunch."

"I'm going to find something substantial in the break room, not this sad excuse—"

"Not until you look at the preliminary report from Morino-san. It has to be approved and sent out with the affidavit to Iwa. As soon as possible."

"Since when do preliminary findings take up five pages? Ibiki is trying to kill me." The Hokage began peeling the plastic open to get at the snack, resigned.

"You have to get that done, if nothing else. You should not have been so decadent at the party last night." Shizune grumbled over her shoulder, helping Sakura with sliding hole-punched papers into place, "Tsunade-sama, you even said you wouldn't indulge after the exam. We anticipated the workload we'd have today."

"The Hyuga kept pouring the wine. It'd have been rude to refuse their hospitality. And I'll have you know that I had no qualms with getting work done today."

"Pft." Turned away from her mentor, Shizune crossed her eyes at the bookshelf. Sakura laughed out loud.

"Sakura." Tsunade sniffed in annoyance.

"…yes…Tsunade-shishou?"

"Was something funny?"

"Uh…" She gave a cornered look to Shizune.

Tsunade pressed, "Did you complete your check-ins at the hospital?"

"I did—"

"Hmph." Tsunade tossed an interoffice envelope at her apprentice, "You're too ambitious today. Drop that off at the Media and Print building. Then actually rest like I asked you to. At least one of us can."

Without needing to be told twice, Sakura scurried out of the Hokage's office, down the tower's stair, and out onto side streets north toward the small, brick printing offices of the village. She presented the envelope to a clerk who wordlessly took it from her, probably unenthusiastic about his job. 'This is good! I finished early. I'll go home and clean myself up…fib to Mom about staying over at Ino's…then buy a ton of sweets.' Sakura remembered that she still wanted to drop in at the bakery and treat herself. She hustled across town back to her house.

And then, in true parental fashion, Haruno Kizashi delayed Sakura from her plans for forty-five minutes. He was still so very proud of her and just kept talking and talking…

Laughing at one of her father's corny puns was the appropriate release latch, and Kizashi was so tickled that he barely noticed Sakura sprint to her bedroom in order to gather things for the remainder of the day. Quickly, she changed into less practical, much cuter clothing. She could still hear her father talking to himself out in the hallway.

Sakura could not make a clean escape. On her way back out, her mother exited from the kitchen doorway and set a vase of flowers on a side table. Mebuki gave her daughter a discerning look, "Going somewhere, Sakura?" The overnight bag on her child's shoulder was a dead giveaway.

She stopped and turned slowly on her heel, "Yeah, I finished up my duties today. Tsunade-shishou wants me to take it easy."

"Hm." Mebuki handed Kizashi an empty bowl and a bag of refill potpourri, "A girl's night, then?"

"Ino invited Hinata-chan and I over. You know her sleepover routine: silly board games, staying up late, sugary snacks…"

"You're getting a little old for all of that." Mebuki pointed out astutely, "I suppose that's fine…"

"Oh! We should play a board game tonight, dear." Kizashi was inspired by the idea. He'd filled the potpourri bowl.

Sakura moved in to kiss her father's scratchy cheek, and then her mother's. Mebuki accepted it, but had an attentive glint in her eye.

"Sakura, it's a shame that you didn't bring Gaara-kun over to celebrate with us. Won't he be leaving soon?" She was probing the subject.

"He can drop by tomorrow morning before he leaves. I think." Sakura slid her thumb up and down her bag's strap. 'Play it cool. Mom can smell blood in the water already…'

"Is he busy tonight? Maybe that's why you made plans with Ino." Mebuki and Kizashi moved in opposite directions in the living room, tidying it up.

"Exactly."

Mebuki gave Sakura a long, sharp look. Then she relented.

"Bring him over when he's available. We want to say goodbye, if we don't meet again for a while." The mother smiled knowingly, "I'm sure he'd like to do the same."

Sakura seized the opportunity to diffuse parental suspicion, "I know he does. Gaara likes you both very much." She gave a crinkle-eyed smile to her mother and father, "And that's important to me."

That calmed Mebuki right down, even if she did sense a hint of deception coming from her daughter. Kizashi was flattered by the statement. They told Sakura to have a good time before she tapped her shoes on in the genkan and hurried on her way.

---

At 4:30 that afternoon, Gaara answered his apartment door. He found Sakura there holding up a large confectionary box like an offering. He blinked at it.

"Once you try what's inside this box," She warned him, "You may love me more."

"I will feel more strongly about you in the future irrespective of food." Gaara replied. He let Sakura inside and closed the door.

She set the box down on the low dining table and was curious as to why it was already set for one. Sakura looked over her shoulder, seeing Gaara fetch another bowl and chopsticks from a kitchen cabinet for his guest, "Oh, were you going to eat?"

"I ordered takeout. It should be here soon."

"So you're having a lazy day?" She nodded in understanding, "I don't mean to—"

"It will be enough for two." Gaara assured her, setting another bowl down on the table. Inquisitive, he pulled the lid of the box up and beheld an assortment of beautiful, unhealthy desserts. Sakura noticed his eyes widen just a touch with I-have-not-eaten-all-day anticipation.

Sakura confirmed, "We're going to be fatties tonight. What kind of takeout did you order?"

"Han food from the Ethnic Quarter."

Awesome. Thank goodness she'd only had a protein bar earlier in the Administrative Building. It was time to pound back saturated fats.

"You don't want to wear your Chunin vest, Sakura?" Gaara asked her. He was walking around the kitchen island, gathering a glass pitcher, ice, and a pot of tea that had been left on the counter to cool. She watched him. He was unusually dressed down.

"No, I brought it home. Call me vain, but I just want to wear pretty things since we got into that habit for the Tournament." Sakura explained, "Gaara-kun…a t-shirt and shorts? Don't you usually wear sashes and drapery? "

"I'm out of clothing." He admitted, filling the pitcher, "Doing laundry now, as a matter of fact."

"Ah." That made sense. No one was laundering clothes for him. He did all of that on his own.

Gaara crossed back to the table and set down the pitcher of cold tea, then took a seat on the zabuton beside Sakura. Before she could utter another word of small talk to him, he moved in and cupped her face, slanting his mouth over hers. Ah, she thought to herself: there it was. He'd been rather casual about her arrival; even though they were both aware she intended to stay over again. Sakura angled into him and shut her eyes to enjoy the greeting. Gaara kissed her for a long while.

A knock at the door sounded.

Gaara leaned back and looked at Sakura. She appeared dazed, her eyes slitted and lips parted.

"Dinner is knocking." She pointed out.

"I'll get it."

"Why don't you sit and I'll get it?" Sakura started rising, smirking at him.

Gaara pushed her back onto the cushion, "No."

"What? I'm not gonna embarrass you and tell the delivery guy that the Kazekage ordered."

"When you put it that way…I think you will." He laid his hand flat on the top of her head, bidding her to stay put, "As my guest, you will wait here and let me serve you. And don't tease me."

She was grinning, "I came here to tease you."

"Sakura, sit." Gaara ordered. He went to the door, glancing over his shoulder to make sure she wasn't going to rush after him or shout something.

Gaara greeted the delivery-teenager, thanking him as he accepted a brown paper bag. The boy clearly had no idea who he was asking 400 Ryo from. But drats, Gaara realized…he forgot the money on the kitchen counter.

And Sakura had found the paper notes and scurried over, standing beside him to pay the delivery-teenager. Then she let it spill that he had just delivered dinner to the Kazekage, and Gaara gruffed in annoyance as the freckled kid in a cap began to sputter and struggled to come up with the appropriate salutation. Gaara gave him an extra note to keep and shut the door in his face.

"Aw! He had no idea what to do!"

"Sakura—"

"Let's eat!" She pranced back to the table.

Exhaling, he calmed down as he crossed the space and took a seat beside Sakura. She was being playful. He could handle it. Gaara knew he was not in the right head space to dish it back to Sakura or clown around, pajama-bumpkin that he was now. She was pulling food containers out of the bag, evaluating each one while making ooh and ahh sounds. He leaned over discreetly to reach for pork and soybean noodles, getting a whiff of Sakura's hair. She always smelled good. He was starting to do these things automatically while in her presence.

"So…Matsuri isn't joining us?" Sakura wondered, "I kind of wanted to have at least one evening with her."

A grumpy answer, "Well, that won't happen for a while."

She picked up on his inflection and gave Gaara a curious look, "Did something happen?"

"She…" He trailed off and started shoveling golden-fried lamb and spring onion pies onto her serving plate.

"Slow down, that's too much." Sakura smiled with concern, "You didn't have a disagreement-?"

"No. I'm surprised the Hokage didn't tell you." Gaara decided to clarify, "Matsuri is seeing someone."

"Oh-!"

"A Tide Village ninja."

"Oh-!" Sakura was reacting to the news in the exact opposite way he had.

"And now he will act as an ambassador to Suna. I have no idea why I allowed that. I wasn't even drunk." He recalled, "I don't want her to be unhappy…but I don't want him to make her unhappy."

"He won't! What's his name, by the way?"

"Menma."

She nodded before a bite of rice and vegetables, "Ah, that's right."

Gaara chewed on a dumpling lethargically.

"Gaara…such is life. Let her make mistakes and get hurt. Let her date and succeed. She'll come to you if she needs you. You'll always be her teacher." Sakura reminded him, "But I get the feeling Matsuri can handle this and make something good out of it."

"Optimist."

"I know you think that too."

"I do." He admitted with a half-full mouth, "But now I worry more about others being hurt, and not doing enough to stop it. Our villages. You. Everyone."

She paused before another bite, "…what a thing to worry about. So mature."

Gaara grunted at her but smiled a little. The pan-fried pies were the first to go. It only took a few minutes to clear the container.

"These barbecue skewers are kind of burnt…" Sakura noted, passing off the container of chicken. Gaara didn't care. He ate one.

"Did you visit your teammate in the hospital?" Gaara asked, "And how is Sato?"

"Oh! I did. Tama was alert and cheerful. Sato was too, thank goodness." She wilted a bit when she added, "I don't even know where to start with Tama's lower body injuries. We'll need more tests to examine the fractures and nerve damage."

"Can't Tsunade heal her?" He wondered.

"I know she can try. But…it'll be dangerous. Whatever procedure she attempts will be high-risk." Sakura supposed, "I…"

She stopped talking and poured herself some chilled tea. She looked Gaara in the face, shiny-eyed.

"I can't take it anymore." Her voice thickened, "I don't want to lose another teammate. I don't want to take missions without her. Tama's helped me so much." Sakura blinked her eyes and turned away, "I want to do more. To help her. I want her to live and serve as a Chunin like the rest of us."

She sipped her tea and tried to relax. Gaara turned a bit and braced her as she leaned into him.

"Tama-san is fortunate to have someone like you, even if she doesn't recover." He informed her, "She is a true friend to you and is dedicated to your team. She's grown much stronger than when I saw her last."

"All that training so she can waste away in a hospital bed…" Sakura lamented.

Gaara halted her train of thought, "Stop that."

They finished eating and boxed up the leftovers. After tidying up and putting the food away, Sakura followed her boyfriend to the laundry closet after a buzzer sounded. She helped him fold dried clothing.

"Today in Tsunade-shishou's office I was filing employee reports…and I read some of their long-term goals…" Sakura recalled, assisting Gaara with quartering a long sash, "It made me think about what I want to do."

"And what do you want to do?"

"A lot of things. I would like to set up an inter-village conference of Medic-nin and experts annually, to share research and address crises; kind of like a Kage Summit…but that's ambitious at this point."

"It's still an excellent idea." Gaara commended the objective.

"I think that goal is much further out. But maybe in a few years or so…I can get funding and start a bigger, better-staffed mental health clinic. Divisions for children, civilians, shinobi…the clinic we do have in Leaf is kind of falling apart because of its board and administration." Sakura explained, folding pants as she spoke, "I want to run one myself. Correctly. I need to figure out the financial piece, though. Without inviting greedy interests and layabouts into management…"

He agreed, "The quality of the establishment can only be as good as its foundation."

"Did you know that up to 52 percent of active duty shinobi don't seek mental health counseling even when they know they need it?" She quizzed him, "Even when it's affordable or free?"

"Very concerning."

"That's what I said. No one has bothered to do anything about it. I asked Tsunade-sama about using some revenue from the Exam…but she said it's already been mostly spent by the village council on other projects."

Gaara sighed. He knew what it was like when village administrators spent money before anyone had even physically seen it.

"How does Sunagakure compare, on the mental health front?"

"It is less organized and not as available as it is here…though I don't have formal reports on it. I lack the experts to brief with me." Gaara confessed, "I do care. I want to know. I want to hear what you think about it, and have you give me guidance if you can."

Sakura smiled at him and then tottered off with a pile of towels. She went to put them away in a linen closet. Gaara took a pile of folded clothing and carried it by hamper to his bedroom. When he passed the dining room window, he stopped and observed a torrential downpour that had started outside, darkening the evening sky.

"Gaara, should I put towels in the bathroom?" He heard her ask from the linen closet.

"Just two."

"Will do!" Sakura's voice carried down the hall.

While he dawdled at the closet and dresser putting apparel away, Sakura returned to him and waited in the doorway, watching him. She smiled and leaned on the doorframe, "You know what I want to do now…so how about you tell me what you want to do in the future?"

He gave her a wary, side-eye look around the corner of the dresser, "What I want to do?"

"Yes."

"That I'm not already doing or working towards?"

"Yes. Details like that."

"I don't know." Gaara was a bit evasive about it.

"Bullshit— you don't know! Everyone has something they're working towards." She protested.

He did not reply to that. Gaara finished organizing things into drawers and made himself scarce at his bedroom closet, placing tops on hangers. Sakura frowned, annoyed. It was not an especially hard topic to talk about, was it? She was curious. Surely he understood?

She left the doorway without a word. It was suspiciously quiet for six minutes and Gaara concluded his laundry routine, wondering what his girlfriend had gotten up to. He sort of, a tiny bit, did want to tell her what he was looking forward to…but he feared she would not approve of the goal he had in mind. It wasn't typical. He left his bedroom to go looking for her.

"Sakura?"

No answer.

He grumbled to himself and poked into the bathroom, squeaking the door open as he heard water being run. The tub was filled, and beside it Sakura was seated on a bathing stool, completely nude, rinsing herself down with a shower head. She had her back turned to him.

He cleared his throat, miffed, "Sakura."

"Hm?" She glanced back at him, rinsing suds from her shoulders.

"I didn't give you permission to bathe here."

"I didn't know I needed to ask for permission. I'm sorry." She smiled, "Can I take a bath?"

"If you don't, you'll have wasted water."

"Thanks." She took that as a yes.

Even more annoyed, Gaara shut the door and stood in the hallway. Then, he pressed his forehead against it and listened to Sakura bumble around in the washroom. The showerhead had switched off by the sound of it. He took a moment to collect himself. Maybe this was more normal than he thought? Sharing a living space. Maybe he should tell her about the unconventional goal he had in mind?

He took a deep breath and opened the door, finding that Sakura had settled herself in the tub, up to her neck in warm water. She winked at him and said that she really was sorry, "I shouldn't be testing boundaries in your home. It's rude! I wanted to clean up, but I should have asked first."

Gaara shook his head and shut the door behind him. He slid down the wood panel until he sat on the floor where it was dry, ready to stay and talk, "You're not rude. I like that you're comfortable around me."

"I'm rude. But thank you, I am comfortable around you, Gaara."

"I don't mind." His tone of voice evoked a sense of appreciation for the fact she was naked in the tub he used.

Sakura sighed and leaned back, shutting her eyes as she relaxed.

"I do have quite a few expectations for the future." Gaara told her, shattering the silence. She cracked an eye open and listened to him as he went on, "I want Temari and Kankuro to train Genin teams while they still have the energy. They have the skills and mentorship for it. But I've made them both so busy lately…they can't scout for students or read Academy profiles."

"Things will calm down again." Sakura assured him.

"Temari doesn't seem that interested. Not as much as Kankuro is." Gaara recalled discussions with his siblings, and rested his arms over his bent knees, "And down the line I want them installed on the Village Council when they have off from missions. They're already very highly qualified for those seats…and the assembly needs a younger, fresher perspective."

Sakura was chuckling in the tub.

"I don't want Matsuri to get too wrapped up with a sweetheart now. I was going to assign her an apprenticeship to Sand's best Sealing Corps Commissioner, Maki. She already likes Matsuri and sees potential in her. I don't know if I can get her to agree to train that way now if she wants to spend more time and energy on the Tide Village…" He sighed in frustration, "She could be a Jounin if she kept working hard for a few years."

Sakura was optimistic again, "Maybe she can balance it out? Work with Tide and her boyfriend…and still train with the Sealing Corps?"

"I hope so. The only way to know is to ask her to do it." Gaara acknowledged.

"But what about you?" Sakura pressed, "What do you want to do, Gaara?"

"I…" He tilted his head up and looked at the ceiling, pondering, "I want to formalize an agreement with Sand about freeing Shukaku. Once I have it in writing, I can submit it to the council and see how enthusiastic they are about ratifying something like that."

"If they don't like the proposal coming from you alone, maybe you could have portions of it supported by testimony from other jinchuriki?" Sakura suggested.

"Oh." That was a good idea.

"Yeah, if other jinchuriki endorse it and ask their villages to honor similar agreements, you can set a precedent."

"Hm. Cloud and Tide might immediately get on board with that…"

"The Tide village has a jinchuriki?" Sakura squealed, "When did that happen?"

"He's a transplant from Mist. Very talented. Our first meeting went well." Gaara explained, "I should introduce you to him, sometime."

"Wow, that'd be great."

"And along that same line, I want to strengthen deals and build new import incentives for the Tide Village. It could be the greatest opportunity that Hidden Sand has had…since its founding." Gaara estimated, "Which is pathetic from a financial standpoint. That over a hundred years of stagnation and slippage has endured."

"Well, you know…the desert." Sakura said, sticking her toes up from the tub water, "It's not exactly a business utopia."

"But soon it could be. We're nearly there."

"Have you thought about agricultural and greenhouse initiatives-?"

"We have already started a few." Gaara was proud to say.

"Whoa! Where will you build them?" She was impressed.

"There are several locations that daring architects said they can work into semi-subterranean gardens, with the right controls and management."

"How much did that cost?" Sakura snickered.

"The figure keeps going up. It should be worth it." Gaara added finally, "But what I think about most is…retiring in ten years or less."

A soft splash sounded as Sakura pulled her feet beneath the water's surface again, turning to stare at Gaara. He looked back at her and was definitely being sincere, judging by his facial expression.

"You mean…retire from being Kazekage?" She asked, and watched him nod in the affirmative, "You want to be done in ten years or less? Why? You practically just started!"

"It's been two years already. I accomplished quite a few things." He observed calmly.

"But why?" Sakura demanded, astounded, "Can you not…handle it anymore? Is it not what you thought?"

"It's a privilege. It's been very rewarding." Gaara assured her, his expression softening, "I just want there to be an end to it. To the work. To…the distance between us." He confirmed, "I can't stand being far away from you anymore, Sakura. I've thought about what your parents said. I won't make things harder for you if I don't have to."

She was a stuttering mess, slick strands of pastel hair clung to her temple and cheek, "…u-uh…you m-mean—?"

"I know I can live happily in Leaf and be proud of the legacy I leave in Sand." Gaara stated plainly. He was watching her reaction from across the bathroom, amused by her surprise and timidity.

"You mean…" Sakura adjusted her warbling voice, "You want to live…with me?"

"Yes. I would retire tomorrow if I could, but I need to round off my responsibilities."

She held up her hands, overwhelmed, "Wait! You don't need to do anything like that, Gaara! I can move. Really. I have no problem with going to Suna when I get the clearance to-!"

"I dislike how that would remove you from your family and friends. Your parents were concerned about you sacrificing so much for me." Gaara assured her, "I feel the same way they do."

"They're your family and friends too, you know." Sakura insisted.

They went quiet for a while and thought about it.

Sakura scooched down in the tub and ruminated on the possibility. It came with many implications. She blew a few bubbles and tried to muster the courage to ask the question that was really weighing on her mind, at that point.

Almost inaudibly, Sakura asked a question half-gurgled from the water. She was abruptly shy and soft-spoken.

Gaara was turned toward her and seated on the floor, scrunching his face to try to understand, "I didn't hear you, Sakura."

"Um…"

"What did you say?" Gaara needed her to repeat it.

"…I asked…" She could form the words a bit clearer this time, "Do you…want a…family?"

He regarded her with rounder, wider eyes, processing the inquiry. Then he bounced the question back at Sakura, "Do you?"

"What? No, you can't deflect it, I asked you first!" Sakura griped. She was trying to shrink into the tub as if to hide, embarrassed.

Gaara took another twenty seconds to look at her and think.

"I do want a family." It was a basic answer. Sakura watched him noodle on it for a few more seconds.

A tidal wave of honesty suddenly came out of his mouth, "I want to have children. I don't know why I've thought about it so much, but I have. When you came to Suna for the training workshop, I kept thinking." Gaara continued the stream of consciousness tangent, "Many children. I like children; actually…they've grown on me…"

Sakura had adopted the reflexes of nervous poultry from her spot in the tub. Shocked, she needed to stop his narrative and held up a finger, interrupting Gaara, "Okay. To clarify…you want children with me?"

"Did I leave that part out?" He couldn't remember.

"I don't know. Maybe it was implied? But I really need you to tell me what qualifies as many children in your opinion." Sakura notified him, "Can you…?"

"Four." Gaara said.

"Ah, no." She panned it, "I want to continue my career."

"Three." He countered.

"Again, by what persuasion do you expect me to manage that even if I'm in Sand? Because Temari and Kankuro may have their own families and maybe they don't want to babysit?" Sakura wrapped a tidy rejoinder around it, "Ugh. And my mother would ruin them in Leaf…"

"I see how this is going to work." Gaara was getting it, "Two…because that is the standard nuclear family and I will persuade you. I can be relied upon while caring for them and raising them. It wouldn't be your responsibility alone. I'll have the time."

Sakura continued to shrink the number, "1.5, because that's a modern average and I like it better."

"That isn't even a whole number." Gaara complained.

"The 0.5 is a pet and the 1 is the kid."

Gaara replied, "I don't like pets unless they are autonomous and hygienic."

"…I think you misunderstand what a pet is." She snarked at him.

"Sakura," He got serious about the subject, "You can do and achieve whatever you want to. I won't make it so you are burdened or impeded in any way. You have a sharp mind for policy and improvement. You'd make a better Kage than I. You are a more charismatic, personable mover and shaker than I can ever hope to be. So work, imagine, and create things if that's what you want to do." Gaara quelled her fears by admitting, "I can be at home with children. I would like that."

She swallowed hard. He had batted her heart out of the park— a home run.

"Now I'm more inclined towards two kids because you said that." She told him, "But you know…all of this requires the act of making, carrying, and then pushing the watermelon through the orange…which has always scared me in a vain sort of way…"

Gaara pointed out, "We don't have to decide now."

"Right, right…"

"Whatever compromises need to be made, we can make them when we're ready. You have greatness and genius that you need to share." Gaara told her, "I need you to take higher-level missions and advise councils, to advocate for your ideas— which are an incredible asset…sow the seeds for your goals now. I will help you."

She felt jittery. Sakura nodded to him, smiling like an idiot, and then lowered her forehead to her raised knees. Not only did he call her a genius, but he was emphasizing the importance of her using that talent to bring about change. Gaara pushed himself up from the floor to stand. She watched him from the corner of her eye.

Goodness, she was besotted with him. Sakura did a mental, backwards search for the stupid reasons why she had once thought Sasuke had been worth her time. He had asked for so much and given so little. Now it finally felt like she had found love that was rooted in equality and respect. It was powerful. Gaara made her feel strong.

On his way out of the bathroom Gaara said he would bring clean night clothes for her. She thanked him before the door clicked shut.

Sakura stared at the wall and was hyper-conscious of her elevated heartbeat. The excitement had gone from a shade of surreal to tangible ecstasy. 'Lucky does not even describe it anymore…' She composed herself, took a breath, and then stood from the tub to towel off. She drained the water and neatened the room.

'Well,' Sakura thought to herself, 'I brought condoms this time. And I know I am going to be using them…because, boy, did we come up with a great plan after that talk.'

Wrapped in her towel, Sakura accepted the clothes that Gaara handed off to her at the door. She raised her eyebrows, realizing he had given her a shirt and shorts of his own. She responded to Gaara's wary look and explained, "This is fine, but-! I brought clothes with me in my bag."

"Oh, I'll—"

Sakura shut the door and laughed, "Sorry, I think I want to wear these more!" She heard him give up and walk down the hallway. She shed her towel and dressed, thrilled that she had a chance to wear something of her boyfriend's. 'Maybe I can sneak off with these and borrow them? I wanted something of Gaara's while he's gone again.' Then she remembered she had the key to his flat. She could come by anytime she wanted and run amok in the place. Nap on the couch; try on clothes in his room…

She decided that would be intrusive. She would probably still do it, though. Sakura regarded herself in the mirror, intrigued by the deep, draped 'v' at the front and back of the black shirt. 'This is very desert-dweller…' The shorts were burgundy and soft and she wanted to steal them.

Sakura ventured out and found Gaara at the dining table again, frisking the box of desserts. She plopped down beside him on a cushion, "You pick first, Gaara."

"I don't know what most of this is."

"Well you must've had daifuku before. You know what that is." Sakura presumed.

"Sometimes Haku would get it." Gaara acknowledged. He picked up the glutinous rice cake and bit into it, then turned to her in surprise.

"There are whole strawberries inside the red bean paste." She informed him, "Good, isn't it?"

He nodded and then pointed to a square tart. He wanted to know what it was.

"Carrot cake." She laughed lightly.

Gaara finished chewing, "Not real carrots…"

"They're dissolved in the batter. It's not very noticeable. Delicious, if you ask me."

"Why is there a design of a rabbit on it?"

Sakura split a piece with him, "Because the baker thought it was cute? Carrots. Rabbits. You know…"

Gaara said nothing and wolfed it down. He continued scrutinizing the treats.

It took a moment before he appraised, "The daifuku is better."

"It's the strawberry inside that makes it a winner." She agreed.

"What is that golden cube?"

"Honey toast. They put chocolate on it for me." Sakura tittered and pulled a corner of the treat off, letting him try it.

He was sitting closer, she noticed. They stared each other in the face while eating and ripping the honey-chocolate toast to pieces. It was the clear favorite.

"Nothing sugary is made in Suna." Gaara was a tad mournful about it.

"Maybe that's to your benefit." Sakura theorized, "I think I can feel my arteries being blocked as I eat this." She licked a syrupy spot off of her thumb after carelessly handling her treat.

"It's an enjoyable way to die." Gaara was eyeing the daifuku again, but canted his head to watch Sakura try to manage her sticky hands. Gently, he plucked her wrist up and did not break eye contact with her when he brought her hand to his mouth.

She inhaled harshly from her nostrils and pursed her lips, wondering what stupid face she was making as Gaara lapped the honey's sheen from her fingertips. Daring, he watched her face emote a variety of feelings in a rainbow of expressions, sucking her pointer finger clean. Sakura sat on her heels, stunned, dropping her hand to her lap after Gaara let it go. In her mind, where a clear, coherent inner voice usually sounded to direct her thought processes, she found only a static buzz.

It looked like he was about to say something, but Sakura quickly poked her hand into the box and drew it out, sticky again. Gaara gazed at her incredulously.

"…look at that…w-would you mind…?" She was a mix of amused and skittish when Gaara made no comment and raised her hand again to lick it clean.

Focus shifted away from dessert altogether. The heated, aching, whirring sensation between her primly folded thighs, her sense of smell sharpening, and taste along with it…Sakura was heavily fuddled by her awareness of him. She leaned forward and narrowed her eyes, watching him hold her hand as if it were a delicate, small thing that needed protecting…

Gaara leaned back to avoid her attempted kiss. He was still watching her. She blinked in confusion, scooching in again, only to be evaded as he slipped back a little on a floor cushion. Bewildered, Sakura then began to detect that he was teasing— a subtle, impish look on his face.

"Kiss me, jerk." She furrowed her brow at him.

"I did that already." He recalled that she had been thoroughly kissed when she first stopped over.

Sakura briefly debated holding him down and getting what she asked for, but she feigned hurt instead and turned her face to the side, drooping, her hand slipping out of Gaara's. Like many a girlish actress, her on-the-verge-of-tears face was a reliable standby. He moved in again and murmured softly against her slender neck. His hands had roamed, sliding down her arms, and Gaara spun her nearly a full-turn while she sat on her zabuton. He faced her back. Sakura trembled and felt him push aside the curtain of her hair, pressing an open-mouthed kiss to the nape of her neck.

It occurred to Sakura that she didn't need to demand anything from him or continue teasing him. Gaara definitely knew what she wanted. 'So I'll just…let him…' Her brainwaves were scrambled. The game was afoot. He wanted to seduce her. He didn't need any guidance. Gaara's kisses traveled down her back, free to descend and graze her skin where the shirt dipped. He tugged a little on the fabric, nearly reaching her lower back. The kissing and pressure from his hands folded Sakura forward, bent almost in a formal floor bow.

His hands moved along her flanks over the draped top. Gaara was kissing his way up, but he kept Sakura in that tucked, vulnerable position. She wasn't resisting. She was calm and alert to every touch, sighing sometimes. Gaara edged in closer, pressing against her to reach her neck again, carding his fingers through short, pink locks; kissing her skin. A soft nip at the round of her right shoulder elicited a shudder. Sakura had her head turned sideways, only able to see Gaara's hand pressed flat to the wood floor beside her face. He was working diligently.

###

The attention to her shoulders, neck, and the backs of her ears felt good and was quite romantic, Sakura thought to herself. Romantic was nice, but she was hoping for more progressive action. With a brief, nondescript motion, she raised her hips and ground her backside into his front. A frantically thoughtful silence followed. From her viewpoint near the floor, angled in a rather provocative position, Sakura watched Gaara's hand lift away from the hardwood. She felt him replace his hands at her waist, anchoring her. Her ears did not lie: he had moaned softly.

That was a new reaction, 'What a great sound. I need to make him do that again…'

Fascinated by the effect this had on Gaara, she pushed back against him with her bottom and rubbed. His feedback was louder— a strangled groan that quieted in a hiss. He was very, noticeably hard and snug against the cleft of her ass. 'Hmm. What to do? Gaara seems to like this, even if we're not face-to-face, so…'

For the sake of science and her own curiosity, Sakura ground against him again, without pausing to see what he would do. The response from the ordinarily quiet man behind her was a piercing, reactive wail, and Gaara's grip on her hips roughly sunk into her flesh. Abruptly, he let go and shimmied away from her. Sakura peeked over her shoulder, slowly sitting upright again after he'd retreated. Gaara was assessing her too, flustered.

"Now why did you stop? That was the perfect thing to do while we're not aspectant." She didn't turn around completely, hoping he'd be willing to proceed with the newfound pastime.

"I was…" Gaara was a bit flushed, "I didn't want to hurt you."

"You weren't. It was great." Sakura assured him, and then boldly taunted, "Come on, Gaara. I'll take something off if you do."

His brain was on two second delay, "Take something off of myself?"

"Yes. Remove your own clothing. We'll make it fun, and hopefully not awkward."

She was impish and snickering over her shoulder at him. Enticed, but lacking blood in the northern portion of his body, Gaara agreed and sat behind Sakura, watching her back and wondering what to do.

'Good. Stripping will move us along.' Sakura was gloating to herself, pulling her top off over her head, 'That suggestion helped, I think. Gaara takes direction well.'

To be coy, Sakura swiped a spot of chocolate from what remained of the honey toast on the table. She turned to look at her boyfriend, as alluring and topless as possible, and sucked the sweetness off of her fingertip. Certainly he would react to such temptation! Then she got an eyeful of Gaara, who she expected to match her state of undress…and squawked in startlement.

He was not a modest, shy kind of naked— Gaara was up on his knees, staring at her, lanky muscle, pale skin, with a raging erection type of naked.

So. He had missed the point of the playful exercise. His clothes were strewn about on the floor.

"Gaara…" Sakura cleared her throat and averted her eyes, her face scarlet, "One article at a time…is what I meant. I-I…wanted you to copy what I did."

He had moved closer. Sakura could feel the warmth of his body as he kneeled behind her and spoke, "But this was the end result you were thinking of."

"Yeah, but not quite so quick." She admitted.

"I know." He acknowledged loftily, "That's why I did it." Gaara traced a hand in dreamy patterns over her bare back, "And I think you should copy me."

"I…eh-hem…I definitely am going to…" Sakura kept her eyes on Gaara's face when she turned toward him again. Sometimes, no matter how sly she thought she was, Gaara was a pinch more cunning when it counted. Or it only looked that way, and he was really just winging it— not in the least embarrassed.

The kisses were much tastier mid-dessert, and since Sakura's hands were busy with his bare shoulders and chest she let him slide her shorts off. Maybe he shouldn't have dressed her after her bath, Gaara wondered while flicking said shorts across the room. Maybe Sakura would have let him sweep her up and toss her into bed while she was fabulously naked and pruny? Though the idea crossed his mind, he had prioritized good manners and boxed confections first. Not the worst way to go about it, they could agree.

Then there was nothing cute or modest about it. She had nearly climbed into his lap, voraciously claiming his mouth, and Gaara traced his hands over the softest, most sacred parts of her body. Outside, a rumble of thunder accompanied the rainstorm. Sakura flicked an eye to the darkened window, her brain still considering things in the background of pleasure and exploration.

"I wonder how often people…in Konoha…" She tried to speak around his kiss, "Disrobe in their dining rooms?"

"Probably not very often." Gaara estimated. He relished the soft sound Sakura made when her breasts were meticulously rubbed in circles, a silken touch. He pulled her closer and tipped her head back for a kiss.

Sakura's reasoning capability was rapidly shrinking. Undeniably, it was going to happen. Dessert had been a good call on her part. Or maybe the bath had been? And yet, she just couldn't abide the wide space of the dining area and the window that gave the dark evening a glimpse of their activity. With a quiet, smack sound, she interrupted another kiss, "Local voyeurs are in for a show…and they may ask you later who did your nice, new floors." She jested, "Gaara, you have a perfectly good bed…"

He agreed with a weird growling sound and scooped her up. For the road, Sakura snatched a daifuku and bit half of it away. She crammed the rest of the mochi ball into Gaara's mouth as he relocated her. Down the hallway he finished chewing and requested, "Buy more of those."

Once in the bedroom, Sakura made nonsensical, delighted sounds and did not care that she was just about hurled onto the top of a fluffy comforter. She briefly took stock of her surroundings— fresh sheets, lights out, occasional illumination by lightning in the room, and her bag sat neatly on the bedside table like a good little overnight bag should.

Gaara wrapped his hand around her ankle and pulled Sakura toward the bed's edge, firm yet gentle with the motion. She blinked and watched him, wanting to ask what was on the agenda…but she didn't say anything. She sucked in a breath when he kneeled down and slid his hand up her leg, lifting it, pressing kisses past her calf and inner thigh. He roamed up again, over her hips, kissing her stomach and took time to dote on raised nipples, listening to her mumble. Gaara gravitated back towards the porcelain of her stomach after a time, reverent. Sakura watched in wonder; feverish, excited, and curious about what he intended to do.

"Are you alright?" His voice sounded lower, sultry to her ears. Gaara's eyes turned up to look at her face from where he hovered over her navel.

She trilled her answer, "Yes! Uh-herm! Sorry. Yes, why don't you come up here?"

"I will. But not yet." His face looked positively sharp and irresistible in the dim light.

Sakura liked trolling her fingertips over his smooth skin, the knolls and sinew of muscle, then tracing lightly across his scalp. He was using his mouth to get better acquainted with her features, and for now she would do the same with her clever hands. Whenever he decided to join her on the bed, she figured, he wouldn't object to an onslaught of kisses. Then Gaara moved down again. She hadn't expected his sudden relocation between her legs, or how he unabashedly pressed his mouth to her folds. Sakura shrieked in surprise.

He snapped back and ended the contact, acknowledging her with wide eyes, "Should I not-?"

"Don't- No, I mean…do it again. Don't mind the vocalization, please." Sakura struggled to communicate, frantic, aching and excited, "It was new. It's alright. Gaara, please do it again?"

Gaara evaluated her for a long moment, reading between the lines of consent to see if she actually meant it— actually wanted him to do it. That grimacing face of hers…it was impatience and desire on a pale canvas, framed by her damp, blush hair. He had to look down and away, cowed by her beauty. Sakura made another annoyed, encouraging sound at him. Then he bent and resumed, testing with a flick of his tongue.

Sakura was still rather noisy but he paid less attention, wondering at this strange, new human part that was so smooth and pliant under his mouth. Without thinking much, Gaara slid his hand to the space below her bellybutton and held there. He shut his eyes and brushed his lips aimlessly, dipping his tongue when he felt bolder, aware of Sakura's approving sounds and wriggling. Testing, tasting.

His mind went to a way-station at the precipice of consciousness. 'Oh. We won't be friends anymore.' Gaara thought, 'Not like how I used to know you and wish for you as a friend. Then, at the Academy. On summer days when we were younger, and you never stood too close to me, Sakura.' He lapped at a sensitive spot, thinking, 'I will always want you more. Not in simple ways. I want you to give me everything. I want you to take everything I have. To stay close.'

Her touches were busy skimming any part of him she could reach, furling in his hair at times. Gaara listened as Sakura gave him directions, breathy and vague though they were. A few instructions were nearly too scientific in nature, and Sakura bit her tongue, trying to muffle her logical talk and keep it sexy. Before long, her boyfriend struck the ideal balance of pressures and attention with his tongue and lips. Her wailing was a very good indicator, so Gaara took the cue and continued what he was doing, hearing the pitch rise; Sakura's groaning was a lightning strike to his brainstem.

She nearly ripped hair out of his head, suddenly caterwauling. Gaara took care not to overreact or cease contact. He did watch in fascination as Sakura thrashed and made disbelieving sounds. Her head lolled on her neck and her pink lips parted— he did not look away, his mouth still canny at work. Gaara did take liberties as she peaked, enticed by the experience of it, and slid down her folds over the flesh bridge below. Though he was stimulated by the texture and taboo, Sakura made a definitively shocked grunt of objection and surprise.

She patted his cheek and pushed his face away. Sakura was panting and chattering nonsensically, "Was the— huh, did you-? Ah…whew…down there…was that—? Intentional." She breathed deeply, her chest heaving beautifully. Gaara stared. It took a bit for him to compose an answer.

"Should I have not done that?" He wondered, genuinely ignorant.

Sakura was moderately oxygenated, "I…it's weird. It's never been…the most I've ever done for myself…uh." She shook off her embarrassment, "That made it feel way better, but I can't condone you…going that far down, right now. Hygiene! I hate to give a health rant, but that sort of venture goes best with some preparation. You understand, right? The need for prep."

"I understand." Gaara confirmed, clambering up onto the bed beside her.

"But damn it felt good." Sakura added as an afterthought. She had only ever manually pleasured herself all by her lonesome. It was extraordinary to rocket to new levels and feel unfamiliar, insurmountable things because of him.

They rolled on their sides to face each other, pawing lazily and curiously. Sakura grinned at him, "Thank you, Gaara. That was a nice maiden voyage."

"That's what it was, wasn't it?" He was pleased and speaking against her mouth, in-between oddly flavored kisses, "I want to do that to you every day."

"-now think about—"

"Before work. Every day." Gaara decided to himself. He had palmed her ass cheeks in each hand, kneading them while his lips traveled down her neck.

"Do I have to set the bar that high?" Sakura wondered if it had to be reciprocal treatment. She had a hand wrapped around the urgent erection between their stomachs. He stopped moving and sucked wind sharply when the pad of her thumb grazed over the underside bundle of nerves. Sakura made a note of the reaction.

He assured her, "You just have to show up."

"Ah. I got it. Oh gosh, I should know now not to accept missions you request me for. It'll be a trap." She teased.

"A trap." Gaara's voice was changing octaves as her fingertips skimmed sensitive flesh. It was too much. She did so little to make him feel so much.

His verbal communication had tragically declined. All power had been diverted to the groin, away from extremities. He was poised to snap like an elastic band— so close…

Gaara rolled away from her and escaped Sakura's fast-learner hand. She pouted at him.

"Just a brief stop." Wow, he managed to speak. Gaara was aware of how it sounded like he was being strangled. Without a break in the action it'd have been over with half a second ago.

Sakura, of course, understood. She regarded him as he laid belly-down on the bed, running her hands from the crown of his head and southbound over his back, surfing down to the backs of his legs. "Oh." She discovered his ass, and with it, rediscovered the dimples of his lower back, "This is perfection I don't see often."

He snorted at her.

"Are you relaxing? We're not done yet. And shush. I like your butt." Sakura informed him.

Within twenty or so seconds Gaara had pushed himself up, seized her wrists, and toppled Sakura over onto crinkling down and pillows. Their staring match was organic and amenable, but Gaara slowly began to choose alluring locales on her body: clavicle, the curves of her breasts, pert nipples, ribcage— nipping and growling. Sakura writhed under those attentions for a time.

Gaara raised his head to peer up at her. His eyes were begging long before he said, "I want to be inside of you." Sakura stared back at him, processing as he requested, "Please. Can I?"

She gave him a comically solemn look, "Yes. You can."

He nearly forgot himself and proceeded. With a touch of super-strength, Sakura batted him aside and reached for her obediently present overnight bag. Gaara watched her and slowly caught on that, oh right, she was trying to be practical and responsible. Like last time. And he still wasn't thinking much about those virtues, even though he'd pontificated about them earlier in the bathroom. His stunted thought processes, Gaara accepted, probably had to do with arousal and other biological impediments.

A finger snap got his attention while his mind and eyes wandered. He blinked at Sakura. She held up a square of plastic packaging in front of his face. With as much dignity as she could muster, Sakura asked him, "So…ever used one of these before?"

Mildly offended, he frowned at her.

"That's a no?"

"I have never had sex before you. Dispose of the searching questions and just ask me if you were concerned." Gaara sniffed at her.

She felt a little bad that she had bothered to be insecure about it. He wasn't exactly a ladies' man. Or anyone's man. Gaara was the bare minimum of social, most days.

"Right…then perhaps you've seen a condom and know what to do with it?"

"I suppose I know. I've seen them in my brother's drawer."

"That was…too much information." Sakura sighed.

"Teach me." Gaara invited. So she did, with a red face, demonstrate correct application and helpful tips that had been shared with her. After that, it was on and he looked down at himself as if he'd made some determination while Sakura sat anxiously beside him. If she wound herself up anymore she'd have a fit of nervous hiccups.

She cleared her throat and gave him options, "Front or back? You…kind of liked it from behind when we were—"

Gaara seemed even more annoyed by her implication, "No." He brushed against her and pushed her down onto her back, "It's impersonal that way. It might hurt you."

"I don't know about that…and either way…" Sakura gave a small shrug.

"I want to see you." He supplied her with the actual rationale and it was enough. Gaara aligned himself with her body and was still accepting kisses, though distractedly. He paid more attention to her slow, luscious explorations with her tongue, savoring his mouth. She was trembling. Sakura's jitters allayed when Gaara folded his hand over hers, holding her in a protective manner.

Mid-kiss she tensed at the pressure of entry, somewhat relieved by the fact that she was obscenely, messily lubricated. A deluge of worries crashed in her thoughts, and Sakura addressed it for a millisecond before noticing something remarkable. She distinctly felt him, cautiously easing in, his fingers laced with hers while Gaara grumbled in a variety of tones. 'Whoa. Wait.' The alien feeling was suddenly marvelous and not what she'd anticipated, 'I was told this hurts. I do not…agree with that.' To her happy surprise, it was a very agreeable sensation. Perhaps because of all of the other pleasure signals hailing her brain and body at the moment, but she'd take it. No complaints.

Gaara, for his part, was far beyond that mild acknowledgment. Fully seated inside of her, everything was amplified. Sakura's deep kisses and stray touches were insane. The caress of her ankle moving up his hip, when she was relaxed enough to cinch her legs around his waist…he understood what all of the fuss was about— why people wanted to do this. He was unashamed of the peculiar grunts and moans he uttered against her skin. Sakura seemed pleased by those noises. Though timidly, she matched the slow rhythm he'd established.

The way she looked when she squirmed, moving his free hand to a breast, glorious skin to skin, moving beneath him, tightening around him…he opened his mouth while inhaling her soapy smell, lost in sensitivity. Gaara groaned and stopped moving completely. He didn't want to finish. There had to be a way to prolong such a divine act.

Oh. But she was a trickster and brat; and Sakura ground herself into him— a minuscule in-and-out slide that made everything wild and dim and sensory. Gaara's rational thought and "present self" were hurled into mental wilderness. He didn't fight or protest what she was doing. He was meeting her in a fanatical epicenter of vulnerability. How could something feel so good that a mortal had a louder, abstract concept of death? Did she feel this way too?

Gaara tried asking her that, but the words came out sloppy.

"It is very good." She was smiling and had an arm draped around his shoulders. He motioned for her to stop moving and she did.

He exhaled roughly, "Try not to move. I don't want to…"

"I know…" Some of her playfulness had come back and replaced apprehension, "There's no rush. They say a man's first time is pretty short—" Gaara pressed a finger to her lips to quiet her. She'd still made her point.

It was hard to look at her she was so beautiful. The dark of the room couldn't dim her radiance. Sakura's tea-leaf eyes were bright and seemed to pierce through him. It made him ache.

"You're not in pain?" Gaara asked a bit late.

"No. This is not what others told me it would be." Sakura confirmed, "Maybe it's because we were so occupied beforehand…or my pain threshold is way beyond this." She found a spot on his neck that needed to be nibbled and kissed.

"Sakura, I don't know how…to tell you…" He was sighing and rumbling, slowly thrusting again, "How good it feels to be inside of you."

"We're not poets. Besides, I can kind of tell just by looking at you…what it must be like." Her hands were all over the place and setting his skin a-tingle.

"Then look at me." Gaara's eyes were narrowed and his face a breath away from hers, bearing down on her and moving faster. She made a small sound of aroused accord, sinking her nails into his shoulder and back. She kept her eyes on him.

The proximity and tightness— the pleasure of Sakura's reactions, mewls, and touches; it made him moan and cry out in ways he had never dared. Every nerve ending that Gaara had was his new best friend. The emotions playing across Sakura's features, it was as if he instantly understood the dozens of feelings she was experiencing all at once. It was so strange. She thrashed more when he got bolder, deeper. She softly vocalized and watched him.

Then the far-off wilderness feeling in his mind condensed down to a tiny focal point. Gaara could only stare at her face in wonder and let himself come. It was visceral clarity. Short-lived and intense. Nothing remarkable or outrageous about it, the two entwined and making low sounds; Gaara pressing his face into the curve of her neck to ride out the waves. It was curiously simple as well as profound. Sakura relished his vulnerable countenance during and after orgasm.

For a long while they stayed in the embrace, brushing each other lightly with fingertips and lips. Intrigued, Sakura lifted his hand and noticed claw tips that had sprouted, "This again? That's two for two."

"I got the sheets rather than your skin, thankfully."

"It's fine. It'll just be our normal." She proclaimed cheerfully.

He groaned tiredly when he pulled out. Sakura was briefly fascinated by the drenched condom and then helpfully handed Gaara a tissue. He sat on his knees and removed the sheath, wrapped it up, and chucked it in a waste bin on the far side of the room. Simultaneously, the pair toppled over in a heap.

###

"Sa-aakura." Gaara rolled onto to his back and took her along, ignoring her disgruntled puff as he squeezed her.

"Gaara." She said, "Blanket." It was chilly. He got the hint and pulled back the comforter, settling beneath it with her. Sakura happily curled into him, tucking her hands against Gaara's chest, "When no one's around you get louder. Not by much…but I liked it."

Gaara traced his fingertip (now clawless) along the shell of her ear, "Good. You are the only one who is going to hear me like that."

"Well, that's the idea. But when Naruto and Haku are home it'd be polite to keep it down."

"Absolutely not." Because for the grief they gave him, Gaara believed they could put up with occasional bedroom snarling down the hall.

She poked him, "You're terrible."

"At least I am consistent about it."

"True. You never coddle them. Naruto once told me you like to tell him to eat shit and die when he needs your help."

"That's how I sign off my letters to him." Gaara confirmed.

Sakura snickered merrily at the thought. Then she asked, "Oh! That reminds me: what have you put Haku up to? Was he overseeing something that stopped him from entering the Exam?"

"Yes." Gaara lied flatly and efficiently.

"Oh. Ino made me wonder. What sort of work is it? Is he enlisted in the Medical Corps in Suna?" She was endlessly curious.

"Not exactly enlisted in the Medical Corps, though he is trained in Medical Jutsu." Gaara confirmed at least that much from Haku's most recent correspondence.

"Not exactly?" Sakura pried impishly, "Black Ops, then?"

"I can't get into detail about it due to confidentiality." He muttered against her hair.

She stated smugly, "I knew it. And Ino kept speculating. Well! Tell Haku-kun I wish him well and that he stay safe."

"Of course."

"Is he in good spirits? Do you two spend time-?"

"Sakura—"

"You know we miss him! We don't hear about him as much as Naruto-kun…"

"He's…not in the best of spirits. He and my sister…" Gaara trailed off and shook his head, wondering why the hell he was entertaining the subject, "To be honest, Sakura…I'm done talking about him."

"Hm." She reflected on the shutdown.

"Haku is alive and working. He irritates me." Gaara gave her that much, "Confidentiality, as I said."

"Right, I understand. It's policy." She nodded sleepily, "We can talk about something else."

"Such as how I want to take you back with me to Suna," He squeezed her gently in the confinement of his arms, "And wake up to you every day."

"Mmmm…that sounds nice. But remember we kind of agreed on a plan?" Amused, Sakura pulled the comforter higher to warm her neck and ears.

"We can amend the plan."

"How do you suggest we do that?"

"Come with me. Then we make a new plan."

"I think an amendment would have to happen before I go anywhere." Sakura double-poked his pectoral.

"I'll speak to the Hokage in the morning and order your reassignment." Judging by how Gaara said it, Sakura determined the statement was 90 percent a joke and 10 percent serious.

"Tsunade-shishou would love to hear you out now that she just promoted me and wants to add to my workload." She ventured further, "And an inter-village reassignment also needs approval from both corresponding administrative panels."

"Those panels almost always go along with what a Kage approves."

"True." Sakura traced her fingertips along his hip bone, "But why abuse your power like that and make yourself look like a douche?"

"I wasn't serious."

"You kind of were."

"I'm tired of being away from you, Sakura." He repeated his earlier frustration and snuggled closer. She sighed.

"I know…" Her eyes were feeling heavy, "I'll tell you what. Give me a hand scrounging up funding so I can establish that new clinic I mentioned. I'll make sure I find staff and administrators I trust to hand it off to, once it's running smoothly. Maybe we can set up a network with Sand and Tide?"

"That is substantial funding you're talking about." He noted.

"You've thrown that kind of money at Tide already." Sakura countered.

"Only after getting screamed at by committees, did I make that happen."

"Will you just talk to the right people for me?" Exasperated, Sakura gave him a light shake.

"I will."

"In exchange, maybe I'll…spend extended periods of time with you, while you're still working as Kazekage. Maybe we'll change our minds about where we want to live?"

"I like the idea. But Suna has no hot springs or sweet shops. Not like here." Gaara considered.

She teased, "That's a steep downside alright."

"If you think about it," Gaara yawned, "It really is."

---

Several days and nights passed with frequent rain showers. As a result, Neji's seventeenth birthday was a low-key affair at the Hyuga household and was hosted indoors. The next day the sun finally came out again.

That particular post-birthday morning, Neji got his way when it came to eking out more time with Tenten. It had not taken much convincing for Lee and Gai to agree to a special Wushu lesson with Wong Leung downtown. Tenten, of course, was invited to the Hyuga estate.

"Did you get your stitches out?" She was optimistic, trotting alongside him towards the Main House courtyard.

"I did."

"About time. Sakura also said my arm is in perfect working order again." She was smiling a lot.

Tenten had not been able to attend his formal birthday celebration, but the team dinner with Lee, Gai, and Wong Leung had been very festive. It had been evident that Wong was very happy that Neji had thought of him, even if he didn't give thanks for the invitation. Since the informal team party, being promoted to Chunin, and visiting Tama (who was doing quite well, all considered) Tenten was positively buoyant.

Her good mood was rubbing off on him. Neji suppressed a smile, and motioned for her to hand over his jian once they stopped in the square dirt yard. Tenten handed Mo-Ye over to him. Neji cocked his head and looked at the sword in her other hand.

"That isn't Hok." He pointed out.

"No. This is Mo-Ye's mated jian, Gan-Jiang." Tenten handily unsheathed it so he could see the work she put into spiffing the retired sword up, "It was just sitting there in the shop cabinet. I felt bad."

Neji was interested, "Were these used often in the past?"

"I think so. My dad always kept them around." She ambled off into Wushu steps to test out her swings and thrusts, speaking over her shoulder to Neji, "Dad said he named them for a folktale he enjoyed. Like everything else he named, really."

By that point, Neji was aware that though he had never met the man, Tenten's father had been an avid reader of literature.

They went about a Wushu sword routine that Wong Leung had demonstrated prior to the Exam Tournament. Tenten noticed when Neji's crouching step fell out of time with hers during the synchronized drill. She laughed at him, "What's the matter? Partied too hard yesterday?"

Tenten made him start over. The second attempt went much better. Moving in unison, the pair kept a safe distance and completed forms. Hanabi's former babysitter, Natsu, stopped on the veranda for a minute to watch. The green haired woman gasped in delight at the impressive, spinning leaps and slashes. She gave them a little wave before pressing on with household chores.

At a break, Tenten stopped at the porch and sipped from a thermos of tea. Without a word, she held it up and offered it to Neji, but he stood by and shook his head. No sooner had she turned her back and swallowed, she ducked under his swing for her head. 'This isn't the first time Neji launched an unprovoked sword attack on me. Must be how he flirts…'

With good humor, she accepted the challenge and sparred with him— even if he was a bit slow and stiff from his Chunin Exam injuries. Tenten kept it a mild contest because, 1) she hated dinging blades during practice and was a stickler about maintaining them, and 2) it'd be rude to thoroughly whoop him at his own residence.

At the end of a long exchange of parries and creative combinations, she had him woefully trapped. Tenten leveled the tip of Gan-Jiang with Neji's nose and he paused respectfully. "That's a point for me." She declared. Slightly hot-blooded, he smirked and tapped her blade away with Mo-Ye, charging after her. She chirped in annoyance when his jian nearly caught her earring. If he'd ripped it out… 'I would make him sorry for a week if he did that, accident or no…' His footwork was a bit more polished, she noticed. Neji marched her across the courtyard during a long exchange, and backed her against a porch beam of the house.

Tenten scowled and crossed swords with him. He'd stopped her in a rain puddle on the ground, and her feet became unpleasantly wet. "Your point." She conceded, muttering, "But you didn't have to be rude about it…"

"I am not rude." He informed her as they parted their weapons, "You need to be mindful of your surroundings."

"That's why I have you, isn't it?" Tenten smiled, referring to his talents.

"That is not the only reason you have me." Neji's voice was fond and warm, "Please do not take me for granted."

Tenten liked that he was standing close, also soddened by the puddle. Sometimes he said things that made her wonder if he had ever actually been a true, detached misanthrope in his youth…or if Neji had still loved and cared as much as he was capable of now— but had built defensive walls that he never really needed. She tipped her face up at him because he was already leaning down, misty-eyed and smitten with her.

"That's…impossible." Tenten muttered against his mouth. It was a tender, good-morning kind of kiss. He tasted of iyokan and strong Han tea.

Four blissful seconds then gave way to Neji jerking back from her in startlement. She batted her lashes at the sudden retreat, trying to understand. His face was sheet white.

Tenten's contingency functions gathered that something significant had occurred to Neji and that he'd need a moment. She sheathed Gan-Jiang for good measure. She started to understand when he slowly turned his head to look over his shoulder, and the veins at the corners of his eyes faded, 'Oh. Neji must have gotten a look around. With the Byakugan.' Well then. The matter seemed quite obvious to her now. They'd forgotten themselves in a very formal, noble house. In a formal, noble house where people could see through solid objects.

And she glanced over at the end of the porch that encompassed the internal courtyard, catching a glimpse of Hyuga Hiashi's back. He was nonchalantly sliding a door open and carrying on into the house. If Tenten did not know any better, she'd wager he had not noticed a thing. One could dream.

Tenten chose optimism, "He probably didn't—"

Neji's loud, rattling sigh of anxiety silenced her.

"Okay. Your uncle may have seen that." She stepped out of the puddle and tugged him along to dryer ground, "I'll take my leave now and find a rock to hide under for the next forty years."

"No." Neji sighed again but there was a scintilla of humor in his tone, appreciative of her, "I…should talk to him."

Tenten's eyebrows assumed the position of maximum surprise her face was capable of.

Neji tapped her arm and gestured for her to take Mo-Ye back after he sheathed the sword. He advised, "Wait here. I should not have procrastinated your introduction for so long."

"Wait. You mean this isn't some catastrophic, punishable offense?" She tottered after him as he moved for the porch, stepping up on to it. Tenten stopped in the dirt yard, wondering, "Should we not have—?"

With a bothered head snap, Neji returned his attention to her, "Yes, we should have. I am not an unthinking, unfeeling puppet preoccupied with my clan's customs or prejudices. It's why I never inquired with them in the first place." By force of habit, he took his shoes off to go into the house and left her with, "And you are the only reason I ever would." Then just like that, he was off after his uncle.

Tenten nodded to herself as if absorbing a philosophical truth. Love wasn't a crime. Hyuga clan policies just had a hard time defining what love was and what purpose it served. She sat down on the porch to drink her tea and wait.

Neji caught up with Hiashi at the long corridor's corner, before his uncle could settle down in the tea room to take breakfast and read the morning news. He gave a small, half-bow of respect to the clan head, "Hiashi-sama."

There was a benign look on the man's face. He considered his nephew, "You seem to be feeling better today, Neji. I didn't think your injuries would heal so quickly."

"I am much improved." Neji confirmed, "I apologize that my teammate and I took up the courtyard. I neglected to remember that you reserve it for this time."

Hiashi was unruffled, sliding open the tea room's door, "Do not apologize. I'm an older man now. Sometimes I like it better when I don't have a warm up each and every day…" Neji followed him in and shut the door. When his uncle took a seat at the table, Neji politely kneeled down as well on a cushion.

"Have you more to say?" His uncle imperceptibly quirked an eyebrow and poured himself tea.

"I do not want you to believe I am acting imprudently, or that I do not value my station in our clan…based on my behavior in the main yard." Neji clarified.

"That young woman— Tenten. I know who she is. I watched her performance at the Tournament." Hiashi assured him, "Don't fret, Neji. It's natural for you to lose a contest of weapons against a talent like her. I forgive your transgression, so long as you vow to improve that abysmal swordsmanship of yours."

He was smirking a bit. At first, Neji could not wrap his head around the fact his uncle was trying to make a joke.

Neji opened and shut his mouth, unsure of how to respond.

"Your bond with her does not offend me." Hiashi made it clear to his nephew "I have no objection."

"But you would consider it frivolous and temporary?" Neji asked.

"Yes. Are you telling me that your relationship isn't like that?" His uncle was fishing for the facts, "For anything serious you must seek approval from the Main House."

Neji made his intention plain, "Then I am seeking approval now."

Hiashi's forehead wrinkled as he took a sip of tea. He regarded Neji for a moment, somewhat surprised.

"I cannot grant permission for a formal courtship…without getting to know her more." Hiashi explained, "I am your custodian. With your best interests in mind, I need her to be introduced to me in order to be certain that she is as serious as you are. If she is spoken for, I should like to meet her guardians as well."

"Tenten has no living family." Neji informed him.

"None at all?" Hiashi wondered, "What is her relation to Wong Leung-san and his grandson?"

"A strong friendship. They share customs and are nearly family…however," He tried to explain it, "Lee and Shifu would not be able to tell you anything that Tenten could not tell you herself."

"Ah." Hiashi shut his eyes and nodded, "She can speak for herself, in that case."

"Is that enough?"

"It is." Hiashi assured him, "If I find her sincere of intention, and to be…compatible with you…I would gladly submit your request to our Elders. I will even advocate for it."

Neji was nodding and trying to downplay the fact that he had feared pushback or disapproval for his personal choice. Maybe choosing to bring this up now, after Tenten had advanced far at the Tournament, was a strategically sound move. She'd made a good impression on his uncle, at least superficially.

"An introduction over dinner will suffice. Of course, this should be treated like any formal consultation. I expect all courtesies that we afford our esteemed friends in the Taketori or other such clans…to be respected at this meeting." Hiashi elaborated, "Make sure that she is aware. She will join us and my daughters tomorrow. I have other commitments today."

"I understand." Neji expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Uncle."

Hiashi waved it off, "See to it, then. Do not leave a respectable kunoichi waiting on our porch."

---

Note: For the sake of your eyesight and the potty break you may need to take, this chapter was truncated. You may deposit reviews in the comment box below for collection if you wish. Click the next button when ready, 'O gallant reading knight.