Hello to everyone!

Sorry for keeping you waiting, but it's that time of year when the season brings work, work and more work.

As promised here is the newest chapter.

Just one quick thing, I'll be putting this story on hiatus soon. College life is rearing its head again and I have to make sure I'm caught up and whatnot. But never fear this story will not be forgotten, soon as I have more time I'll be sure to write again.

I might be able to post one more chapter before then but that will depend on how many reviews I get.

But for now read, enjoy and especially review!

Now onwards my dears!


Gaara had been surprised when Naruto greeted him at Konoha's front gates. He was even more surprised when the blonde Hokage gave him a crushing hug that nearly made him pass out. Typical Naruto-fashion, making an emphasis to show how he cared.

"Gaara! Old buddy, it's been ages!".

The sounds of his brother's laughter didn't help at all. As much as Gaara was fond of his friend, his childish antics were very embarrassing.

"Naruto I'm happy to see you as well, but would you please let go of me".

The red-head was very much relieved to have air fill his lungs when Naruto finally released him. How humiliating it would be to have the Kazekage pass out right outside Konoha all because he got a squeeze from a friend.

"Naruto, as nice as it is to see you again, I'm sure that your aware on why Gaara and I are here".

The blonde's attitude went from excited to serious in the blink of an eye. Naruto had been informed by Shikamaru to expect the red headed Kazekage in his village soon. He knew why he was here; it was to negotiate with Hyuga Hiashi. Well, at least that's what at the very least he was hoping for. Hiashi had refused to let anyone see him until Gaara arrived. Normally Naruto would like to avoid the man at all costs, but since Gaara needed support, and he was involved in this matter he had no choice but to attend as well.

"Yes, I know why. Let me say that Shikamaru has been expecting you. He wanted me to tell you that he wants to speak with you before we go and see Hiashi. He wouldn't tell me anything else".

Gaara nodded a little "Understood. Please lead the way".

"What?! Gaara we just got here".

He turned to his brother "Kankuro stop whining. I'm here for the sake of my future with Hinata. Only reason you're here was because Hinata asked you to be my bodyguard".

The puppet master groaned a little "Ugh! You're so difficult, do whatever you need too. I'm going to go check out an inn or something". Gaara was actually a bit relieved to not have to deal with his older brother for the moment; he had been nothing but a source of irritation for him the entire way and it was a welcomed relief to finally have some space away from him. He had other more important things to deal with right now.

"Gaara I now this may not seem like the right time to ask about personal questions but how is Hinata doing?"

He smiled "She's doing alright. She has become pregnant with our second child".

Once again he was surprised when Naruto engulfed him in another crushing bear hug. "Gaara that's such great news. Your gonna have another little you running around. Makes me happy knowing that Hena's getting a little brother or sister. Congratulations man, I'm so happy for you".

"Thank you Naruto. I appreciate that". He barely got that out that sentence due to the lack of oxygen. Why must the blonde insist on hugging him? He really wasn't much of a hugger to begin with.

"Well all humor aside, I should take you to Shikamaru he's waiting back in my office. Just follow me".

Not much else was said as the pair walked through the village. Gaara was only half listening to Naruto as he briefly talked about Sakura and their two small sons. He knew that Naruto was trying to put his nerves at ease. As much as it was a good effort on his part, it was not really having the effect it was supposed to. Still he knew that his friend was only doing his best to help him and he would give Naruto credit for that.

Shikamaru was leaning against a wall when the pair entered the cluttered office. Lazily opening one eye he was met with the sight of two serious faces.

"Hmm took long enough for you to get here, so troublesome having to wait".

"Shikamaru now's not the time to whine. Gaara's here so please tell him what's been going on".

"Not really much I can say, I haven't been able to get nearly as much as I would like. But I will say this, be prepared for a long haul. Hiashi's been giving off threats from all over".

After quickly finding Neji, the four made their way to the Hyuga compound. This was the first in a very long time that Gaara would have seen his wife's old home. He wondered if it could even be called a home to begin with; nothing about it seemed like a place of comfort.

A serving maid was quick to lead them to the meeting room and with every step the amount of tension was getting higher. The red head had good reason to be nervous, but he couldn't afford to show it. Even the slightest sign of weakness could possibly tip the balance into Hiashi's favor and he couldn't allow that.

"The three of you are going to wait out here. I want to speak to Hiashi alone".

"What?! Gaara we didn't come all this way to have you screw it up. We're all going to talk".

"I have to settle this one on one. You'd only be in my way".

"Gaara-"

"Naruto let him go".

"But Shikamaru-"

"None of that! Gaara's right, he needs to talk to Hiashi alone. We'd only be a hindrance; we'll wait until there done and then decide what to do next. So keep your mouth shut".

Gaara knew that Naruto was only looking out for him. But he really needed to do this alone. Secretly he was hoping that this would turn out well. His last encounter with Hiashi was not exactly pleasant.

Upon entering the room, it suddenly felt like the temperature had dropped, he resisted the urge to shudder. Hiashi was sitting in the far back of the room staring at the ground. It was almost like he hadn't noticed that Gaara was there. He finally shifted his gaze towards him when the red head was sitting directly in front of him. He gave him a sickly smile of some sort; one that would definitely make your skin crawl. Gaara didn't make any move whatsoever. His face remained completely stoic. He refused to let Hiashi intimidate him with his little act.

"So nice of you to visit Lord Kazekage".

"The pleasure's all mine".

"Tell me now, how are my two precious daughters? Surly they miss their father?"

Gaara was fully aware that Hiashi was trying to provoke him. But he reminded himself to remain calm. If he lost his temper he'd probably regret it. He needed to focus on what was happening.

"Do not play coy. You have no right to ask about the welfare of Hinata and Hanabi in my presence".

A vein had made itself visible on Hiashi's forehead. He had made him angry pretty fast.

"I have come to Konoha under the impression that you wanted to talk. Well now is the time to say whatever it is you want to me". Gaara didn't want small talk; he was the kind of person that jumped straight to the point. The sooner he could get away from Hiashi the better.

Hiashi growled lowly under his breath, the vein getting slightly bigger.

"Very well then I'll put it bluntly I want my daughters back".

Why was that no surprise? Did he honestly think that he didn't already know that?

"I believe you already know the answer to that". Gaara resisted the urge to smile as Hiashi's face flushed from irritation.

"I am no fool Hiashi, I'm aware of what you want. You seek power and you're willing to sacrifice your own daughters to get it. Do not try and lie to me, I already know what you've done. Why do you think that I'm here? I want to settle things once and for all".

Gaara hated to have to repeat himself, but it seemed like Hiashi just wasn't getting it.

"What gives you the right to accuse me?! What proof do you have!".

Gaara shrugged "I simply have resources that are reliable that's all. I'd prefer not to dirty my hands".

"What do you know?!"

His eyes narrowed "You've assigned someone to dispose of my wife. If necessary Hanabi as well". He folded his arms "Don't try and pretend you don't know I have all the evidence I need".

Reaching into his pocket Gaara pulled out the same crumbled piece of paper. "This may look familiar to you. Mind telling me what motives you have".

It had been good thinking on Gaara's part to keep the note with him. It would've been much harder to prove Hiashi's own actions against him without it. He kept his gaze stoic as Hiashi's eyes widened considerably before giving him a glare that would want any person to simply drop dead.

"Where did you get that?!"

"That is not important. Now tell me why you had an assassin dispatched to kill my wife".

"Damn you!"

The corner of Gaara's mouth turned up just a tiny bit. He could almost say that it was kind of fun making Hiashi angry despite the heaviness of the situation.

"It's best not to toy with me Hyuga Hiashi. As Kazekage I have ways of getting what I want and I assure you that you wouldn't like some of my methods. So let's try this again I will ask you the same question, why did you want an assassin to kill my wife?"

There was a long silence that filled the room. The red head remained still as he watched Hiashi have some sort of inner struggle before finally he growled in irritation and looked him in the eye.

"As you already know Lord Kazekage, Hinata is a weakling nothing more and nothing less. We Hyuga have always been expected to carry out our reputation of being one of the more powerful clans of Konoha. That means every child born into this clan must be strong".

Gaara resisted the urge the bang his head against the nearest wall. He knew that Hiashi was delaying the inevitable as a way to make him lash out. But it was a good thing that Gaara was patient. Though sometimes his patience was cut short such as right now; He didn't want a back story he simply wanted a straight answer.

"I need an heir to the Hyuga. But neither of my bastard daughters is compatible for such a role. That's why I've set my sights on something a little different".

He raised an eyebrow "What do you mean?"

"I know that my nephew has been trying to persuade me to have him take my place. But I'd rather be burned alive then let a branch member take over the main family's heritage".

At this point Gaara had an idea of what Hiashi was talking about and he could feel the rage boiling inside of him.

"You know Lord Kazekage it's been nearly three years and I still have yet to meet my granddaughter. Do you suppose she'd be a suitable role for representing the Hyuga? After all she's got good blood in her and she is-".

"Don't say another word".

Gaara's voice had turned deadly. His teal eyes were swimming with fury. He had figured that his hatred of Hinata was driving him to do what he did. But he was hoping that it wasn't going to extend to kidnapping his daughter. Kami, this man infuriated him to no end.

"Leave my child out of this. She's done nothing to deserve the madness that you've given to everyone else".

"What makes you so sure that she's safe".

Gaara closed his eyes for a moment to try and calm himself down before speaking. "You know Hiashi you remind me of someone that had similar motives to yours. They became obsessed with their desires that it eventually drove them mad. They now reside in an asylum never to be seen again by the outside world spending the rest of their days drowning in a dark fantasy".

He stood up then walking towards the door. It may have seemed a little random but in all honestly Gaara couldn't even look at Hiashi right now. His anger was just too great. He really needed to calm down before he regretted something.

He wasn't normally like this. But it seems as though he was at his limit for a lot of stuff.

"I am done talking for today. We shall speak tomorrow".

Before he could open the door Hiashi's voice spoke up "You know that what you're doing is all pointless. Nothing will change my mind".

Gaara slowly turned around "Perhaps not…but that doesn't mean the craving won't feed off you instead".

When he finally left the room he was met with the faces of Naruto, Shikamaru and Neji. He should've known that they would wait it out for him. That probably meant they heard everything.

"No need to explain anything Gaara. We already know".

Pinching the bridge of his nose he gave an irritated huff. "I have one more person to worry about now".

Naruto placed a comforting hand on Gaara's shoulder. But the red head didn't seem to notice.

"So what happens now?"

"I will return to Suna".

"Gaara you can't-"

"I will only stay two more days and then I'm going back to my family…we have much to talk about".

Seeming to understand his wishes the other three men didn't say anything more. They couldn't help but feel a bit of pity for the Kazekage but now was not the time for sympathy. There was still work to be done.

At least for now they could get a brief moment of retreat.

Damn it all.

Okay I am aware that this chapter is slightly short. But I didn't know how to make it longer.

I will think of ways to make sure the plot is moving forward but it might take a while depending on my workload.

Thank you for being patient with me. It helps a lot.

Don't forget to review!

Till next time everyone!