The desert was hot, dry and very sandy. I had underestimated just how huge the desert could be and how daunting it was. Like an ocean it touched horizon to horizon and never seemed to end. I was glad I brought a broad rimmed sun hat woven into a rounded shape with a veil to cover the back of my neck and the sides of my face. It was so painfully hot I had to use my chakra to cool myself down until I had adjusted to the heat. I was well supplied with water and I knew exactly where I was going however I had stopped travelling at speed in order to keep myself from becoming dehydrated and fainting. It would be just my luck to die in the desert, however I am fairly certain that I was lost.

Looking around me nothing seemed familiar, though nothing in this dry place was. It all looked the same also so as I glanced around me, I slumped a little. "Just typical, I knew I should have asked for an escort or someone who knew where they were going. Why did it have to be Hidden in the Sand? I can barely find my way back home from the bakery without losing my way." Placing my hands on my hips I remained calm. Looks like I'll have to summon Kazeryu to help me out, he was an excellent guide after all and had saved my neck numerous times when I'd gotten lost.

Before I did so I made to take a drink of water however as my hand reached for the canteen, I became aware of several chakra signatures beginning to surround me. They were expertly masked however they had underestimated my ability to sense chakra. I could feel their hearts pumping with the chakra flow, very minute but definitely there. I proceeded as if I had not noticed anything, carefully counting. Eight of them. Skilled trackers and definitely strong ninja. Even though I had not left footprints in the sand they'd been able to find me out here, which means they must have been travelling a distance behind me so that they were always ever so slightly out of my sensory range. Clever.

Securing the top to my water I let it hang at my side once more before walking on again. They would attack at any moment, if that was their aim. I couldn't quite read their chakra enough to know who they were or where they were from so I reasoned that they might be ninja from Sunagakure and I did not wish to appear aggressive towards them, especially since this was a diplomatic mission. Descending down a rather steep dune I stepped out onto slightly harder ground surface, several rocks and stones protruding from below and I guessed that perhaps there was a hidden structure underneath buried under a mountain of sand. It all happened at once. The sand exploded around me and numerous projectiles fired directly towards my body as I came to a halt, calmly allowing every sharp instrument to land upon my body and embed itself deep though I had already used the shadow doppelganger jutsu and disappeared from sight.

When the sand settled once more, several figures emerged still wary and ready to fight, looking to my double as she collapsed to the ground and went poof. They didn't say a word however as I suddenly appeared behind one of them I placed the blade of my weapon against their neck, holding the chain in a loop along with the other sickle in the other. "Who are you? Are you ninja of Suna?" I questioned but their answer was a sharp movement to pull away from my blade and an attack upon my person once more. "I am Yume Uzumaki, I am here on a diplomatic mission so please identify yourselves before I am forced to take action." I requested firmly but they did not halter.

Some grouped together and my eyes darted, carefully analysing their structure. Some were remaining hidden for a sneak attack, three lining the defence at the sides and centre whilst two took the forward attack, meaning that the other three were the ones lying in wait as they tried to push me towards their trap. It was a good formation, however unfortunately for them I was one of a kind and wouldn't be so easily corralled. Spiralling around with my chain the bladed weapons knocked aside kunai and shuriken, clashing loudly with bright sparks before I reeled them both in and flung both weapons out together with the chain lying flat on my hand.

Both ends hit their mark, slicing into flesh where they would do severe but not fatal damage, forcing two of my attackers to retreat back slightly in order to try and stop the bleeding. "If you do not cease and desist immediately, I will use more deadly force." I warned as I brought my weapons back with a flash, holding up one blade and the light caught in the sun. My opponents all wore blank masks to cover their faces with narrow slits for them to see through, their clothing indistinctive and unidentifiable. They were like shadows moving through the sand, barely making a noise and it agitated me. At this point, I had no choice but to assume that their intent was to kill, after all they had been going after all my vital spots.

Two of them moved in to attack me with a jutsu, attempting a paralysis technique but I sprung upwards into the air with a powerful leap then tilted both blades which I had crossed over me, letting the sunlight catch upon the shining surface and blinded them with the light so that the technique failed, twisting with a spiral of my legs and pushed my chakra as one hand began to make a flourish of signs. "Wind Style – Spiralling Cyclone!" This would make it more difficult for them to move. With my legs being the guide a huge cyclone of air and sand whipped up around us, trapping all eight inside with its wide berth as I landed on the ground and lifted my chain and sickle once more, ready to continue fighting.

Unused to such a powerful tornado it became difficult for my opponents to move quickly, utilising all of their speed in order to avoid my attacks whilst the other half attempted to break the cyclone around them but no attack worked. This technique was far too advanced to them as I was constantly focusing my chakra upon it. It was a steady drain but I still had plenty spare. I'll have to wrap this up quickly. "Yume!" Hearing that voice made my entire blood freeze over as I spun around to see Sasuke standing with one of the assailants gripping his hair, a blade pressed to his throat.

"Sasuke!" I was so panicked and fearful that I did not even see through the genjutsu. All I could see was that Sasuke was in danger. My heart burned in rage and immediately I was flying forwards as the blood was spilled from his neck, his captor releasing him to drop to the ground and I heard the horrible sound of Sasuke choking on his own blood and vomiting it back up so that bright bursts of scarlet splattered the golden sand and moistened it into a brown slush. "SASUKE!" My scream seemed never ending and I almost collapsed, feeling horror and pain stricken grief penetrate my body until I suddenly realised that it wasn't Sasuke. It was a very close likeness but not exactly right. His face was just slightly…off. Call it gut instinct, but when I realised that I was mourning a genjutsu, my grief turned to rage. "You…BEASTS!" Thundering with a snarl, I turned around with a powerful burst of chakra as light emitted from my hands even as I performed the hand weaving.

Clapping my hands together into the final sign, the light burst outward with a cold sharpness and I heard the sound of knives and shuriken shattering under the unbound pressure of my Light Release, howling in fury like a mother wolf until even the cyclone was blasted away, sending sand crashing down in a wave which buried some of the ninja whilst the others were caught by the blast and vaporised on the spot. Perhaps I was wrong. Maybe I really did have the capability to be heartless. The genjutsu faded away with the death of its caster, an advanced illusionary jutsu with a doppelganger and transformation technique. I felt foolish for falling for it.

Something slashed through the air and the sharp sound made my back jar as I whirled around and crossed my blades in front of me, blocking the attack whilst springing backwards as the last ninja came hurtling towards me, hands coming alive with chakra and our movements became an intense blur as I fought him off, ducking and weaving with a constant spiral of movement, toes pointed gracefully as I sweepingly arced my legs around in a stag leap and made two separate hand weaves before sucking in a deep breath. "Fire and Wind Fusion Jutsu – Razing Fireball!"

With the increased power of the flames due to the wind, the explosion of fire was enough to cause a huge blast that consumed us all and even super-heated the sand to turn it into sheer glass. An earth wall jutsu was performed however this was also turned to molten rock and it crumbled under my powerful jutsu as I landed gracefully with a sweep of my black long coat which brushed over the ground, sleeves rolled up a little past my elbows with a crisp upturned collar. With a hand gripping onto my sun hat I tilted it upwards slightly so that I could look down upon my crumbled opponent, eyes blazing in furious and silent anger.

This person was no gasping for air, the ragged breaths audible behind the blank mask as I stood before them, blotted out by the sun behind me. "Who are you?" I asked again, however they still refused to answer. Before I could stop them they took a kunai knife and drove it into their own throat, choosing to die rather than become my prisoner or be forced to tell the truth. I had lunged for them, trying to stay their hand so that they could live but I was too slow having not expected it and the knife opened up a spring of red blood that gushed forth and pooled onto the layer of glass that we now stood upon.

Turning my head away slightly I exhaled. What a waste, though I should be used to sudden attacks like this by now. Something still did not sit right with me and I was unsettled, making me frown before I looked a little closer to the body. There was a slight breeze that ruffled my clothes as well as those that the dead were wearing and as I looked, I saw white papers stuck to their back and torsos. Fire seals. With a rush I tried to leap away from the danger but they activated all at once, causing a fiery blast which rattled my teeth as I lifted my arms to try and block against the damaging assault but when I heard the grinding hiss of sand moving I opened my eyes to see that I had been swarmed by the desert, enshrouding me in a protective sphere as the noise continued to blaze outside.

"Gaara." I instantly recognised the signature of the sand, reaching out a hand to touch the side of the wall and the sand itself wrapped around my fingers as if to answer back, making me smile. I stood perfectly still and waited out the blast, not moving until the sand dropped back down around my feet. Turning around I instantly saw him standing a safe distance away upon the ridge of a sand dune with two people at his side, Kankuro and Temari. They came to me as I turned to face them, their swift movements crossing the distance in seconds as I bowed my head in greetings. "Thank you for saving me, I greatly appreciate the assistance."

"You were not injured?" Gaara asked, studying me carefully. I got the feeling that he was not sure how to approach or even respond to me, possibly because I had not treated him differently when we had first met. I was curious to him, an oddity who accepted strange and even dangerous people even perhaps when I shouldn't. Plus, at that time, I was one of the few if not only people who had shown him genuine kindness.

"No not at all, I'm alright." I assured him, giving him another smile before looking to his brother and sister beside him. "Temari, Kankuro, it's good to see you again."

"Likewise." Temari gave a grin as she leaned against her fan. "Sorry we didn't get here sooner, saw the big explosions and figured you'd be around somewhere though you're way off course to get to our village."

"Yes, I got a little lost. It's a bad habit of mine." I admitted bashfully with a rub of the back of my head before then looking around to the remains of the ninja who had died and sacrificed their bodies in a last bid to kill me. "I'm sorry for the trouble, I did not realise they had been tracking me for so long. If you feel that it is too dangerous to risk me being in your village then I shall return immediately and explain to my Hokage, I do not want there to be any misunderstandings between us."

"You are not the threat." Gaara stated simply in his monotonous voice, eyes still watching me carefully. Kankuro gave a grin before spinning the wrappings off the doll he carried, manipulating the strings as it continued to whirl.

"We managed to catch one for you before they blew up, figured you'd have a few questions for him though Gaara had to dig him up out of the sand. You buried him pretty deep." Instantly my eyes fixated themselves onto the ninja who was caught in Kankuro's puppet master jutsu, trapped and unable to move or escape without Kankuro's permission. "Aren't we good hosts?" His grin was slightly taunting, giving a pull on the strings as I knelt down and lifted up my sun hat slightly so that more of my face was exposed before I reached forwards and, without hesitation, ripped off the mask.

Immediately it dropped from my hand as I stared, mouth opening in a silent gasp as hurt flashed across my features. I knew this ninja. Not well and not personally, but I did know him. He was from Konoha, my own village. "But why?" I could barely speak as the ninja met my gaze, staying silent and passive before suddenly I saw a glint of a smile. It seemed sympathetic, apologetic even before suddenly he cried out in pain and his mouth shot wide open with his head ripping back, sharp spasms contorting his body as I instinctively lunged forwards to grab him. "Wait! You can't die yet, just hold on!" With the body supported in one arm I pressed the other to his chest, trying to heal him from the curse mark that was eating away at him from the inside, destroying all of his organs and killing him before he had the chance to talk.

It was heart breaking to watch and as the ninja lay dying in my arms his eyes fixed onto mine, hand lifting slowly to point at his tongue. I froze, understanding immediately what he meant and when he went limp, I paused before opening his mouth and taking a look inside. Sure enough, there was the signature curse mark of the one man who hated me enough to want me dead, who thought me too troublesome and dangerous to be left alive. "Danzo. I swear I'm going to…" I hissed under my breath before looking away, letting go of my fellow Konoha ninja as I struggled to keep my cool. "My apologies, it seems they were after me. I will try to not be a further nuisance to you all."

"Nuisance? Pft, forget about that. We'll take you back to the village where you can get some water and rest a bit, you look like you swallowed half the desert on your way over." Temari stated bluntly as she stood up straight as a sign to move. "Can you keep up with us?"

"It won't be a problem." I assured her before springing after the kids. Risking a look back I watched as the desert swallowed the evidence that was left behind, confusion and speckles of anger sparking in my chest. Danzo had sent a highly elite team to try and take me down en route to Suna, it could very well be a ploy to blame our allies for my murder and break ties with them. Was he trying to start a war…or weaken Konoha from the inside? I wasn't sure but I knew one thing, I have to report this to Granny Tsunade the moment I get the chance.

"I'm guessing that you know the reason why you're here, I should hope so otherwise you'd be a hopeless ninja." Temari called to me as we made our way to their village. "But you're not just here as a diplomat or an ambassador or whatever, we were hoping that you could help us out with a few things. Or rather, my brother Gaara was hoping." I looked towards Gaara who was a little ahead of us and even though he could hear us he did not look back. "Your nephew did quite a number on him, he's starting to change and actually become a halfway decent person. It's totally weird but kind of cool at the same time, my brother is turning out to be a pretty awesome guy."

"Why thank you, I knew you cared really Temari."

"Not you Kankuro you idiot!" Temari snapped and I gave a light laugh, their sibling like banter reminding me of when I used to argue with Kushina. "Why would I be talking about you? You're just a creepy weirdo who still plays with dolls. You're not a man at all." Kankuro grinned at her, obviously used to the taunts and insults however before he could answer Gaara came to a halt, standing upon a huge rocky surface that seemed to have been cut flat with a blade.

"Enough. We're here." He announced as I came to a stop beside him and took in the sight of Sunagakure for the first time. It was quite incredible, high rising cliffs surrounding the city on all fronts save for a gap at the main entrance, providing a route in and out of the city for the civilians. It was also built up into eight sections, walls running all the way from the circumference of the round shaped city which ran all the way to the centre where I guessed the Hokage building and council sat. "Kin of Naruto Uzumaki, welcome to Sunagakure." There was no real warmth in his greeting, mere protocol and it tickled my amusement as I turned a smile to Gaara.

"Yume is just fine, I prefer to be called my name rather than just 'Kin of Naruto', you know." I teased him slightly however I don't think he quite understood that I was teasing him as he frowned slightly.

"Y-Yume." He tested the name slowly before looking upwards, thinking his own thoughts with his arms folded severely. "Let's go." He jumped down and his siblings followed him so I did the same, sliding down the rock face before pushing off to cross the rooftops, all of which were rather wonderfully designed and covered in stucco or dry mud, dome shaped and closely knit together. There's no chance I'd ever find my way in this city, I'll have to either stay within the council tower or simply go everywhere with a guide.

"You'll be staying in a guest room at the council tower if that's alright but we don't live too far away, only a few houses down the street." Temari told me as we landed in the street and began to walk as a group, people stopping and staring first at Gaara and then at me, whispering about my long red hair which flickered from underneath my sun hat. Gaara must be more like me than I thought, both of us being rare redheads. "It's hot and it's easy to pass out from the heat so don't go out much during noon because you'll suffer for it. Water isn't easy to come by so it's carefully monitored, however since you're a guest you'll be given whatever you need to be comfortable."

"Don't worry about me, I've been trained to go a long time without food or water in different conditions. Treat me as you would any other of your people, I would feel guilty to receive any special treatment." I requested politely as they all took me to the tower, Kankuro helpfully pointing things out to me.

"That place there sells good food though you might find it different to what you're used to. More insects and stuff like that but it's all tasty once you get used to the legs and wings. Down there is our academy where we learn and train to become ninja, that way is the codex hall, something like a library though I've never been there. Our place is over there, way over there. Temari is as good at giving directions as she is good at cooking and by that I mean she's terrible."

"Hey! I don't see your lazy butt doing anything to try and help! I've had to learn from scratch!" Temari snapped at her brother, whacking him on the head so I lifted a hand quietly.

"I can teach you to cook a few things, it's easy enough to get the hang of and I doubt you could be a worse cook than I was before I learned how to do it properly. I'd be glad to help."

"Really?! You'd do that? Please teach her! The food is always dry and flavourless I'm desperate for a decent meal!" Kankuro pleaded until his sister whirled around her massive fan and struck him in the gut, sending him flying across the street though he grinned and twisted his body at a near impossible angle to land on his feet again.

"Shut up you jerk!"

"Be quiet." Gaara said passively. "We're at the council tower. We need to report in so that they know we completed our task." Instantly Temari smartened herself up and recovered her temper as Kankuro dropped in next to her which left me blinking slightly and looking at my sand ridden and dusty clothes. Quickly I brushed them down before taking off my hat and holding it in my hand, my weapon chain clinking as I walked. It was infinitely cooler inside than it was out and I immediately exhaled at the cooling relief I felt. Temari gave me a knowing grin which I returned with a friendly smile as they led me to the council room.

They entered without knocking, approaching a half circle shaped table that ran with a smooth arc where several older shinobi sat down on plump cushions like they had forgotten what it felt like to be squatting in mud, rain, slush, snow and whatever other environment we ninja were made to work in. "You are the Konohagakure ninja, are you not?"

"Yume Uzumaki. Thank you for your hospitality, I hope to be of help to you in whatever way I can." I presented myself with a bow, knowing that they would probably appreciate that sort of thing.

"Indeed. We also appreciate Konoha's assistance in this…delicate matter." One of the councilmen answered, broaching the subject carefully. "Of course, this diplomatic envoy is to assure your Hokage that our loyalty remains intact and our alliance is unchanged, however there have been several disputes and conflicts within our own borders that have affected our relationship with your…"

"I am aware of the situation as I was fully debriefed." Cutting in to ensure that no time was wasted with delicate articulation and careful arrangements of words, I placed one hand on my hip and leaned into it which made my overcoat part to reveal my travel attire. Khaki shorts, a mesh shirt that ran all the way down my arms and a black crop top that fit loosely around my upper torso. The council members seemed surprised by my stern attitude but I was not interested in politics, I avoided them whenever possible and I knew that I had been chosen for this mission for a specific reason. "My strength is yours for the entire duration of my stay and I will gladly help to maintain balance within your city with the unrest that has been stirring as my Hokage understands that you are severely lacking in ninja to keep the peace. My role here, however, does not stretch to becoming a statement of your power. I am here for your people, not for you."

"You are quite bold and arrogant for a woman your age." I gave a slight smile at that, tossing my hair with a flare of my nostrils to signal my irritation.

"Perhaps you may view me as young but I am by no means inexperienced. Considering all the mistakes you have made up until this point, Konoha was bound to step in at some point. Leave your streets to me, I'll help to weed out those stirring the unrest and I'll also ensure that your ranks have been rebuilt since you have no Kazekage as of yet to establish order. However, I will only do this on the condition that I am merely the backup, you cannot become reliant on me as I cannot stay forever. With this in mind, I request that you do exactly what I say without question when I say it, otherwise you and I…" Blurring across the room I leaned across the table, giving a slightly wild and dark grin to the head council member, an old man with more wrinkles than facial features. "…will have issues." With a quick laugh I drew back, giving another bow. "I shall retire for now. Tomorrow morning I will return to you for any tasks you need doing and to hand in my report for the night. Until then."

With a flick of my hand in farewell I turned and glided out of the room, daydreaming slightly about what I should do first. Perhaps take a nap? Oh yes, I have to report in to Tsunade first to let her know that I have arrived and also tell her about my suspicions about Danzo. What I wouldn't give for a cold shower right about now, I'm glad Kakashi doesn't have to see me like this all covered in sweat and sand. "That…was…incredible! You sure are something else Yume-san, you're everything a proper woman should be." Temari told me with laughter written all across her face the moment we were out of earshot.

"Totally, I've never seen those old sand badgers look so intimidated in all my life! I think it's going to be great having you around, you're not like the other old guys."

"Excuse me, I am only twenty seven years old I'll have you know, I'm still young!" I protested before getting into an argument with Kankuro and Temari about what constitutes as 'young' and what was 'old'. These kids, they make me feel ancient and soon enough I was worn out, feeling hot and bothered whilst they remained fresh faced and energetic. Maybe I really was getting old, I feel like I could sleep for days.

"You're tired." Gaara noted in a blunt statement. "We'll take you to your room and leave you in peace. Food will be brought to you, you need only ask." I lifted my head, blinking at him as he walked away.

"Does he ever smile?" I asked his siblings, both of whom shook their heads. "What a shame, I think he'd have a lovely smile. He's a very handsome child, just like you two." I mused distantly, wandering off into my own head and hardly heard Temari protest to being called handsome as they followed after me. The siblings left me at the room I had been allocated, saying that one of them would come back later to check and collect me as they'd also invited me to dinner. Well, rather Kankuro had demanded I come and cook for them so that they could finally have a decent meal and the other two didn't exactly protest. Although they had each other, I think they were lonely. I'd noticed that when we were walking, everyone shied away from them and I don't think it was just because of Gaara. They had no mother, no father and no other adults in their lives that I was aware of, for other people it would be difficult for them to remember but I could see clearly that although they were all fiercely independent and very strong, they were still just kids.

What was the world coming to? We adults can't even take care of our children properly anymore, it made me so distressed and angry. I took several deep breaths to calm myself afterwards before then summoning Kazeryu quietly. "Princess! I'm so glad we've been spending so much time together recently, what can I do for you?" He asked me excitedly as he coiled around my body before settling across my shoulders, smiling as I tickled his chin. The young, boyish voice was always a comfort to hear, it reminded me of Naruto though it also reminded me of just how much I missed him.

"Kaze, I need you to carry a message to Granny Tsunade for me, would that be alright?"

"Of course princess, I am your trusty messenger dragon, only the fastest winds will carry me to whomever you wish to confer with." I smiled gratefully before constructing my report, writing everything down in clear detail before I held out the rolled up scroll to Kazeryu who then swallowed the message, storing it in his body. "Any other messages you wish for me to take? How about one to your nephew?"

"No thank you, not just yet. I don't want him to feel like I'm harassing him or anything, I bet he's still jittery and excited for setting off with Jiraiya on his own for private training. I can wait a while before I send him a message to see how he's doing." Stroking Kazeryu's long serpentine body as he circled around me I sent him off with speedy travels before then flinging off my travel coat and dropped onto the bed, sighing wistfully before taking a well deserved rest.