Hi everyone! I am back!

I hope that your are all safe. I cannot believe that we are still in a lockdown.

Thank you for all your lovely reviews, as they give me the strength and the motivation to continue writing. I hope that you will enjoy this chapter. Gaara is finally entering the game ;)

Please do not forget to review this chapter, as I am eager to read your opinion! And again, english is not my first language. I apologise in advance for any grammar/vocabulary mistake(s).

Enjoy!

The first thing Hinata noticed was that she was in a very spacious office, which was lit by a large window. She realised where she was when she saw the ANBU symbol proudly painted on one of the walls. Hinata turned her head towards the man who was still holding her wrist.

"W-what did you do?!" She gasped, her eyes meeting onyx. "How did you enter the compound? Do you realise what you have done?" She still could not believe what had happened a few minutes ago.

The Uchiha let her hand go as if her wrist was burning him. "This was needed." He motioned her to sit on a chair, and leaned on the wall facing her. "We had to find a way to get a hand in the investigation of this murder."

The heiress sat down on the chair offered to her. "I…I understand. But this is going to create a political drift between Konoha and the clan." She genuinely understood Sasuke's intentions. However, as Akio insisted a few minutes ago, Konoha has always tried to not get involved into the Hyuga clan's affairs. Even when it was a murder. She could easily take the example of her own uncle, Hizashi. Such a drift would only strengthen the position of this dissident faction, and maybe even turn into a plot to throw a coup d'état against Konoha. She was going to voice her worries, however, she stopped as she sensed a very familiar chakra approaching.

"Sasuke, what have you done?" Kakashi entered the room in a hurry, and closed the door behind him. Although half of his face was hidden, Hinata could see worry across his features. His dark eyes flickered to Hinata. "Good morning, Hinata."

Hinata politely bowed her head. "Good morning, Lord Sixth."

"Well, Sasuke, care to explain what you have done?" Kakashi asked, with an underlying threatening tone in his voice. "Actually, no, let me tell you what you have done. You barged into a Hyuga clan meeting, which no one is allowed to do. Then, you shoved the law in front of their faces. Given that they participated in drafting the Constitution with Hashirama-sama, I am sure that they know about Article 55. And, as if this was not enough, you brought their heiress in custody for interrogation."

"You gave me authorisation to carry the investigation of the murders, Kakashi." Sasuke calmly replied, crossing his arms.

"Yes, I did. However, I did not ask you to interrupt their meeting, or shove the law to their faces, or even bring Hinata for interrogation." Kakashi furrowed his eyebrows. "Now, I'll have to go there and clean up your mess."

"I-It's fine, Lord Sixth." Interjected Hinata. "I will speak to my father."

"That will not be enough. I do not want another tragedy… like the Uchiha clan." Kakashi sighed. "The Hokage's role is to maintain peace and protect the village. At all costs."

Sasuke stiffened upon hearing his clan's name. However, he maintained his composure. "This tragedy can repeat itself if you give a clan too much power. Konoha was founded with several clans, however, giving privileges to one clan but not to another will end up in another tragedy." Sasuke turned his head towards the window, seeing a familiar eagle coming his way. He opened the window, and held his arm out so that the eagle could land safely. A small scroll was tied to its leg. He carefully took it, and his eyes quickly scanned the message. "Sakura confirmed that the bodies have safely been transferred to the hospital. She will be conducting the autopsy."

Kakashi massaged his temples as he listened to Sasuke. This young man would never understand how the world of clan politics worked. However, he decided to not waste time on explaining it to him. There was no point, as he knew very well how stubborn his student could be. The Hokage got up, and walked towards the door. "Good. Then, I'll get going. Please release Hinata as soon as possible."

The heiress watched the Hokage leave the door, and internally sighed. She really felt bad for him. It was well known that speaking to Hiashi was very difficult. Deep in thought, she did not notice Sasuke who was now taking a seat in front of her.

"Let's start." The Uchiha said, as he opened his drawer to take a piece of paper.

Hinata turned her head towards Sasuke and gulped. His dark eyes bore into hers, waiting for her to start talking. She found everything about him intimidating. She understood that villagers still had a hard time trusting him and thought of him as being emotionless. However, the more she carefully examined his onyx coloured eyes, the more she could see glimpses of emotions. Especially when his family, clan or his beloved Team 7 were mentioned. She recalled what he had said the night of Naruto's party, with a pained voice. "I've loved enough". There was so much he hid underneath this cool face of his. And for some reason, Hinata could not help but wonder if he would ever let her in.

"Is my face making you speechless?" The Uchiha asked, with a small smirk on his face.

The Hyuga's cheeks slightly turned pink. "N-No, I'm sorry."

She cleared her throat and related what had happened this morning, as Sasuke was taking detailed notes. She explained how she usually wakes up quite early to prepare bento for her teammates before their training. She did not notice anything particular that morning. She did not feel any unfamiliar chakra either.

"What are the names of the maids?" Sasuke stopped writing and looked up at the person facing him.

"Uhm… Mai, Rin and Tsuki Hyuga." Hinata's eyes widen as she gave their names. She locked eyes with Sasuke, as she hesitantly continued. "Mai is part of one of my father's personal maid. Rin was previously my personal maid, but she was moved to the kitchen because she really liked to cook. And… Tsuki is in charge of… Hanabi…" Her voice almost broke as she whispered her sister's name. She was not worried about her father, as he was capable of taking down any opponent. But knowing that Hanabi was in danger made her blood freeze.

Sasuke calmly took the names down. "Interesting." He watched the heiress' face turn pale, as she whispered her sister's name, a worried expression on her face. He knew this expression well. She reminded him of Itachi, and he hated it.

"This must be a warning to you, and your father." Sasuke stated, as he put the pen down. "A member of the dissident faction must suspect that you and your father trying to dismantle them."

Hinata stayed silent, as Sasuke's words rang through her mind. A warning.

"Do you suspect anyone?"

"N-no…" She sighed. "I really cannot think of anyone."

When Hinata entered the Hyuga compound, she was immediately greeted by her little sister, who nearly knocked her down by jumping in her arms.

"Nee-sama, what happened?" She asked, her pale eyes scanning her elder's sister's face.

Hinata hugged her back. "Don't worry, nothing serious."

"Really?" Hanabi slowly stepped back, tilting her head. "Why did Sasuke Uchiha look for you? I had to let him in during your meeting with the elders."

"So you are the one who let him in? You should have stopped him." Replied the heiress, a hand on her hip.

"Really? Me? Stopping a shinobi who defeated a freaking goddess?" Asked Hanabi, arching her eyebrow. "He seemed quite worried about you actually, that's why I let him in."

"Worried?" Whispered Hinata, furrowing her eyebrows. Why would he ever be worried about her. "Anyway, you must already know about what happened in the kitchen. Please be careful, Hanabi. If you feel like something isn't right, please tell me."

The youngest sister's face darkened when Hinata mentioned the kitchen. "I know… Tsuki was among them."

"Hanabi…" whispered the heiress, as she softly patted her sister's head. She was now terrified. Would they dare to hurt Hanabi as well? "I… I have a favour to ask you."

"Yeah…?"

"You must always ask Ko to be with you whenever you go out, and wherever you go, including the compound. I do not want to see you alone." Declared the heiress, as she put her hands on her sister's shoulders. "Please."

"Why are you so worried? What are you hiding?" Hanabi stared at her sister suspiciously.

Hinata's determined eyes stared back at her sister. "I promise I will tell you when the time comes."

The younger sibling was a little taken aback by Hinata's pleading. She gulped, before slowly nodding. "Fine… Are you safe, though?"

"I'm fine, don't worry about me." Hinata's lips formed a reassuring smile. "Now, go back inside. I need to check the kitchen."

Hanabi was going to protest, but the look her sister gave her made her gulp again. Hinata was serious. She hesitantly kissed the heiress on the cheek, before complying with her demand.

Hinata carefully stared at her sister's back until she was sure that she was inside, and started walking towards the kitchen. ANBU shinobis were already working there, including forensic medic nins. She slowly approached the masked ANBU who seemed to be in charge.

"Excuse me, I have a question."

The ANBU looked at her through his mask, and slightly bowed his head. "Yes, Hinata-hime?"

"How were they k-killed?"

The ANBU stared at her for a few seconds. "We are not sure yet. However, a knife was used. We believe that it was a knife from the kitchen, but we are unable to find it. Unless… the killer took it with him or threw it somewhere else."

Hinata nodded in understanding. "Thank you." She slightly bowed her head, and turned back, her head full of thoughts.

This murder was definitely a warning against her and her father. She had experienced so many different kinds of pain, including the loss of someone close to her. And she knew that she could not go through this again. She could not afford to lose someone else. The killer's message was clear. She felt her hands shaking. She stopped in the middle of the garden and watched her pale hand. Why was she shaking? Was she afraid? Or was she angry? How could she not have sensed anything strange that morning?

The next morning was busy for the Hyuga heiress. Wiping her sweat away from her forehead, she sat on a log as she watched her closest friends spar. She had trouble sleeping, as she was worried about her sister's safety, and used her Byakugan several times during the night to check her room and the compound. She felt like she was going crazy. And the worse part was that she could not even speak about this with Kiba or Shino, as she would worry them. They already went mad when she said that three maids were murdered. She tried her best to maintain her composure.

"So I heard that Sasuke barged into your clan's meeting." Said Shino, adjusting his glasses.

The heiress internally sighed, as she tried to avoid her team's inquisitive stares. Even Akamaru was wigging his tail in anticipation.

"He came in to investigate." Explained Hinata, finally meeting her teammates eyes.

Kiba did not seem very convinced. "Still, this does not explain why this bastard put you in custody."

"Sasuke is not someone who would do this without having anything in mind." Said Shino. "Although I do not like him, he is not reckless."

"Are you defending him now, Shino? No matter what he does to save Konoha, in my eyes, he will remain a traitor." Barked the Inuzuka.

"I…I think Shino is right, Kiba-kun." Whispered the Hyuga, earning herself a glare from the young Inuzuka.

"You guys are trusting him too much." He hissed.

After hearing Kiba complain about how both Shino and her were defending a traitor, Hinata had only one wish: to go somewhere calm. She loved Kiba very much, almost as much as Neji. However, she sometimes found him too exuberant, and draining. In a way, he reminded her of Naruto. Sighing internally for the third time that day, the young heiress decided that she needed some time alone, in peace. And she had a dedicated place for that.

The walk from the training grounds to the Yamanaka flower shop did not take her long. Everytime she felt like she needed some time alone, she would go to the cemetery and sit by Neji's grave. It made her feel at peace.

The Yamanaka shop was her favourite flower shop in Konoha. Ino always ensured that she gave the best flowers and the best customer service possible. Hinata knew how hard the blonde kunoichi worked. Sometimes, she would catch Sai and Ino discreetly talking to each other. Ino would blush, and Sai would attempt to make some kind of discussion he read from a book. It was very amusing to watch, and she could not wait for them to be honest about their feelings for each other.

The heiress noticed that the shop was empty when she arrived. The blonde was arranging a bouquet of white roses, and lifted her eyes when she sensed Hinata's chakra.

"Hinata!" She greeted, giving her friend her brightest smile. "I didn't know that would be coming today."

Ino was not as close to Hinata as she was to Sakura, however, they were close enough for her to notice that her friend seemed preoccupied. She showed Hinata an empty chair by the counter. "I do not have many clients today. Care to keep me company? I will make you tea." Offered the Yamanaka.

"Sure!" Replied the heiress, a bit startled. She did not expect Ino to ask her to stay. She sat on the chair, while her friend was boiling some green tea behind the counter. "I would like a bouquet of purple hyacinths."

Ino poured the green tea in a teacup, as she listened to her friend. "That's a great timing! A fresh batch of hyacinth came in this morning." She put Hinata's teacup on the counter. "Is everything alright?" She asked, her blue eyes filled with concern.

The Yamanaka knew for a fact that when Hinata came to the shop, it was to buy flowers for Neji. And she also knew that Hinata would visit Neji no more than once a week. This was the first time that she had come to the shop twice within a week.

"Um…No, I'm fine Ino-san, thank you for asking." The heiress whispered, uncomfortable. She wondered if she was that easy to read. She could not tell her anything.

"I saw you leave Naruto's party with Sasuke-kun."

Hinata's eyes snapped up, meeting her friend's azure stare.

"I…. I had a few drinks, and I did not feel well. I left the house to get some air… and Sasuke-san happened to be there as well. I don't remember much of it, as I was quite inebriated. "She confessed, holding her gaze. This was the truth.

"I thought something had happened, and that was why you wanted to see Neji again. I guess what's preoccupying you is a different matter that you do not want to share." Ino softly smiled.

Hinata did not have enough time to reply. She sensed two familiar chakras entering the shop. She turned her head towards the entrance.

"I was waiting for you, Gaara-san, Sasuke-kun!" The blonde kunoichi put the carefully prepared bouquet of white roses on the counter.

The Hyuga heiress stood up, alarmed by the presence of the Kazekage and Sasuke. She stood up almost immediately, and politely bowed. "Kazekage-sama. Sasuke-san."

"You do not need to be so formal, Hinata-san." Said the Kazekage, offering the Hyuga heiress a warm smile.

She lifted her head up, and met his deep emerald eyes. "Yes, Gaara-san." A slight blush crept up on her cheeks. His stare was so intense that she felt like his eyes were piercing right through her soul. She had not met the Kazekage since Naruto's wedding, where she exchanged a few pleasant words with him. She remembered him as being calm, collected, and kind.

She averted her gaze to the Uchiha standing next to him. He nodded, acknowledging her.

"Ino-san, I can see that my bouquet is ready." Gaara broke the silence, and approached the counter, standing just next to the heiress.

"I am sure that Naruto will like it, Gaara-san." Replied the blonde with a smile.

"Naruto-kun…?" Whispered the Hyuga, tensing at the name. She then covered her mouth almost immediately, blushing in embarrassment.

"I could not attend his marriage anniversary party due to Kazekage duties. Offering the couple a bouquet while I am in Konoha is the least I can do." Explained the red-haired shinobi, as he took the freshly prepared bouquet in his hands. "Thank you, Ino-san. It is very difficult to obtain flowers in Suna due to the climate. It is always a pleasure to buy flowers from your shop when I come to Konoha."

Hinata nodded respectfully at Gaara's explanation, still embarrassed by her outburst. It seemed like she still struggled to not react to Naruto's name. She glanced at Ino, who was blushing at Gaara's praise and mumbling something to thank him.

"Sasuke-kun, would you like to order anything?" Asked the Yamanaka, tilting her head.

The survivor shook his head. "I am only here to accompany the Kazekage."

The heiress noticed that the Uchiha had dark circles under his eyes, and that his skin was paler than usual. A number of questions popped inside her head. But for some reason, she felt that she could not voice them. Sasuke was a very private person, and his mood was like the weather. Unpredictable. He would sometimes open up to her, and then push her away. The Uchiha caught her gaze, and arched an eyebrow, as if asking her what she wanted. She gently shook her head, and looked away hesitantly.

This interaction did not go unnoticed by the blonde kunoichi. She however did not voice any of her observations. She glanced at the Kazekage, who was looking at some bouquets that she had prepared this morning. One in particular caught his attention. A bouquet of lavender roses in the corner.

"This." He pointed at the bouquet, and turned his head towards Hinata. "I would like to give this bouquet to you."

Ino gasped. Hinata's eyes widened, her cheeks turning red. Even Sasuke's onyx eyes flinched for a millisecond, without anyone noticing. The survivor knew that lavender roses were used to convey romantic feelings. His mother used to gloat about how his father asked her hand with a bouquet of lavender roses. His father apparently had to travel to a distant country in order to obtain them.

The three Konoha ninjas had the same question echoing in their head: was the Kazekage openly courting Hyuga Hinata?