"Ren-chan," her childhood best friend called her the moment she was inside the tower, "I hear you have another S-Ranked mission under your belt. At this rate you'll gain a reputation in no time."

"I don't care for a title, Kankuro-kun," she murmured as she approached the stairs; he was right behind her. "The chakra threads are useful in assassinations, by the way."

"I told you they would be. They'll help you get the upper hand in battle too. With your chakra control it's easy and a trump card," he told her with a chuckle. His face was painted in purple like always and he wore the same black hood over his head that he did on missions.

"Did you just get back," she asked with her brows furrowed.

"Yeah, less than an hour ago. I missed the entire ceremony," he huffed.

"Gaara-sama didn't seem interested, you didn't miss much," she informed him, "There's a party thrown for him and he's nowhere to be seen."

"You know how Gaara is. He's going to get straight to work. He doesn't allow himself downtime." Kankuro sighed as he tucked his hands in the pockets of his black jumper.

"It also means no rest for us. I wish, with you being friends now, you could convince him to loosen up," she told him with a smile; he couldn't see it because of her mask but she knew her eyes had crinkled in the corners.

"I've tried. Sometimes I don't think either of you is even human," Kankuro grumbled. "How do you keep going? It's like you've got a tailed beast inside you too, giving you unlimited energy or something."

"I simply recover my chakra quickly; we both know I'm no jinchuriki. I have to sleep eight hours a night just like everyone else. My body may not get too tired but my brain does," she pointed out.

"Yeah, I know. I wish I knew what they gave you to break you out of your coma. I thought you'd have to spend years recovering your muscles when you came to."

"Lord Fourth made sure that wasn't the case," she told him lowly. Truthfully she wanted to tell Kankuro about her run-in with Orochimaru but she just wasn't sure if it had really happened; there had been several times after extensive use of her byakugan that she was in so much pain that she hallucinated; sharing it with Kankuro could lead her to be removed from ANBU.

"This is my stop," Kankuro yawned as he looked down the hallway. "I'll see you later, alright? Don't let Gaara send you out on another mission too soon."

"I can't promise anything," she muttered.

"Ja ne," Kankuro told her with a wave as he headed towards his bedroom.

"Ja," she responded with a light wave. The boy was a bizarre one but their friendship meant the world to her; he was her first friend and sparring partner. The older they got the more missions they were given and the less time they spent together but their friendship would last for their entire lives. It was a relief to her that Kankuro hadn't changed at all between 'The Incident' and her return to the waking world; she knew he could have forgotten her easily in those two years.

Ren's fingerless gloved knuckles tapped on the large office door once she had finally reached the top of the tower. When she was granted entry she hurried inside and kneeled before her Kazekage. "Kazekage-sama," she spoke gently, "You called for me?"

"I wish to speak to you about your missions," he stated flatly from his desk without looking at her. "Have a seat."

"Of course," she nodded and rose to her feet. The armchair in front of his desk was made of sandstone and the only comfort it offered was a red cushion but Ren sat without hesitation. She knew she was in for a lecture… again. The difference was now the Kazekage was actually named Kazekage. He was younger than her by a few years and now her orders officially came from the boy everyone had feared at one point.

"I cannot decide what to do with you," he confessed. "On the one hand you are so skilled and a valuable asset but on the other hand you house hostilities towards other villages, especially Konohagakure."

"I apologize for any inconvenience I bring you," Ren sighed, "I just do not wish for my father's family to know you have a Hyuga descendant amongst your shinobi. I still do not trust anyone outside the village, Kazekage-sama."

"I understand your concerns however, the Hyuga Clan would be foolish to cause too many problems with us. The Leaf is working with us to help improve both villages; we have to have their trust and give them ours. I trust them. Do you not trust my judgment?"

"I do not doubt your judgment, Kazekage-sama," she responded robotically and lowered her head; she felt like a child being lectured by her father. Ren had never known her father, however, and Gaara was a few years younger than her so that made it even worse.

"I need you to assist Konoha on a mission," Gaara stated. "You will be paired with one of their ANBU and the two of you will investigate rumors of a beast terrorizing Shimogakure. Figure out what the beast is and relocate or eliminate it if necessary."

"The Village Hidden in the Frost? Surely there is someone better suited for-"

"Do you fear snow?"

"N-no," she shook her head. "I will do as you ask of me." Her heart was in a vice as she processed the locale. Why couldn't Gaara trust her judgment on this? She wasn't trying to defy him and had her own reasons for being ill at ease.

"Good. You will go to Konohagakure and report to Lady Tsunade. You'll need to leave in two days. Take the time off and rest."

"Yes, Kazekage-sama," she muttered with her head bowed. All thoughts and emotions were wiped from her physical form and she forced them out of her mind.

"You're dismissed, Hyogo-san."

Ren's eyes were instantly on Gaara's seafoam green ones; her heart clenched despite her efforts to feel nothing. "I will see you later. Thank you, Kazekage-sama." For all it was worth, her devotion to him was as overlooked as it had been by the council before he was named Kazekage. A lump formed in her throat as she left his office; how much did she have to do to get a smile from him? All she wanted was to make him happy but he seemed to be unaware of her existence as more than a tool. He would never notice her.

She pressed her fingers against her eyes as she walked down the stairs she knew like the back of her hand; her eyes were beginning to hurt and her vision blurred slightly.

Gaara was sending her to the Land of Frost because she would be able to see through a snowstorm; if only he knew how much pain it caused to use the Byakugan. Fear kept her from speaking up about it; she refused to be treated like she was broken ever again. Hyogo Ren had worked too hard and dedicated too much of her life to her village to be treated like she was incapable.