Fireworks lit up the night sky over Hidden-In-Leaves, causing 'ooo's and 'ahhhh's to ripple out of the gathered crowd. The city was aglow with lantern night and festivities, celebrating the night of Tanbata. But the piece de resistance truly was the Tanbata tree, decorated with lanterns and love prayers, standing proudly in the middle of the happenings. Many were gathered around it, the usual couples, including Shikamaru and Temari, who were looking at the fireworks in the sky and holding hands happily. The Sand kunoichi nudged the shadow shinobi slightly in the shoulder, and he looked down on her and smiled warmly, pausing to run a hand through her long hair, then tugged her over towards the town square.

The town square was cleared for a dance floor for young and old couples, and many had taken advantage of that fact and were dancing slowly, revolving under the soft glow of lanterns and candles. Sasuke was dancing with Sakura, but they were at a safe distance from eachother, as not to convey a romantic air about them. Naruto had asked Hinata to dance with him, and she was now doing so with a very red blush on her face. Temari and Shikamaru now joined the rest and over the latter's shoulder, Temari smiled at Naruto, as if to say, You were right, he loves my hair. The Hokage did what he does best: he merely grinned back.

However, the Kazekage was nowhere to be seen. While his siblings enjoyed the fanfare of a carnival, he was in his private quarters, thinking solemnly. Many thoughts raced across his mind: Hidden-In-Sand, alliances, enemies, and that strange Hatake Ao. There was something about him, something that reminded him of someone he knew a long time ago...

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Eight years ago...

"You know what your mission is."

It was right before the Chuunin exam, and the location was in Hidden-In-Sand, in the Yondaime Kazekage's chambers. The Kazekage himself was seated at his desk, glaring coldly at the genin in front of him. He did not think of his three children, who were also standing before him. He thought solely of the youth next to them. The youth in question was standing next to one of the Kazekage's children, the one with red hair and black-rimmed eyes. Gansaku Shimei, that was his name. He glared back at the Kazekage with the same ferocity in his young amber eyes, and flicked the black strands of hair out of his eyes with a swift movement of the neck. He was clothed in a black form-fitting traditional long sleeved shirt that buckled at the front, and his sleeves were rolled up to the forearm, exposing the white lining on the inside. The village headband was slung lazily around his neck, the silver plate on a black sash rather than a dark blue one. He had bandages wrapped around his legs, which were just visible between black shorts and black sandals. His hands were at his sides, one fingerless gloved hand fidgeting with his shuriken holder, the other gloved hand at his side. His stance radiated a sense of boredom and an attitude that screamed 'I don't care!', and the Yondaime didn't like it one bit. Narrowing his eyes, he got up and walked to Gansaku, towering over him. The young ninja returned the look, and then, with a voice lined with venom, he did the unthinkable.

"Something wrong?"

Without warning, the Sand village head struck him across the face. When Gansaku's face was visible again, the irises of his eyes had gotten alarmingly small, and a murderous look was on his face, along with a bleeding cut across his left eye. Triumphant, the Kazekage strode back to his seat, smirking.

"There was something wrong. Now everything's alright."

Still glaring at the Yondaime, Gansaku strode out of the room without a moment's hesitation. Many looked at his departure in amazement, including the boy who was standing next to him, the Kazekage's youngest son. Never had he seen someone stand up to his father in such a way, and live to tell the tale.

When he asked his sensei about it before their departure for the Fire shinobi village, he merely laughed and said that Gansaku Shimei had not been seen since that meeting in the village and that it was most likely that he left Hidden-In-Sand for good. The sensei had also added that Gansaku's face would was not healed, and that it probably never would.

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Gaara shook his head. He had dismissed it as just someone who would eventually come back begging for forgiveness, but Gansaku never came back. He joined Akatsuki and was still alive. A look of worry came over the Kazekage's face. Perhaps Gansaku knew that the Yondaime who gave him that scar was not the Kazekage, but Orochimaru, and had gotten his revenge? It seemed that Gaara would never find out until they met face-to-face. And personally, after all the gruesome stories of the one they called 'Fake Name', he hoped they never would.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, another was lost in thought. Ao was staring out his window at the fireworks in the sky, running a hand through his hair now and again. As if it was a shadow, his hair began to fade to black, beginning at the roots, and a scar formed over his left eye. Only the amber eyes did not change.

"I wonder where that Hyuuga brat is," Gansaku snarled, as he looked around his room. The Uchiha had offered him a room at his household, and 'Ao' had taken it gladly. Now, as 'Fake Name' jumped out the window, his red-and-black cloak billowing around him, he only had one thought on his mind:

Revenge. As soon as possible.

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He swiftly ran through the forest, hot tears of anger coursing down his face. That bastard! Scarring him in front of everyone! And it wasn't even the real Kazekage! The young Shimei didn't know who it was, but he saw something strange around the aura of the Yondaime. Rubbing his newly-gained scar, (which would become a habit later on, even if he was in disguise) he made a vow to himself: Never return to Hidden-In-Sand. Then, kill whoever that fake Kazekage was.

His thoughts were soon interrupted when he collided with another figure, only the genin fell to the ground, rubbing his face of tears. He thought for sure that it was a Jonin from Hidden-In-Sand, but when he looked up, all he saw was a black-and-red cloak with clouds, and red, red eyes...

"How convenient for you to run into me, Gansaku Shimei."

Then, darkness.