Disclaimer: I own Naruto the way my friend owns Saiyuki. Guess what? My friend loves Saiyuki for the gore, but she doesn't own it.

A/N: So many responses! I'm really surprised, I didn't expect many…thank you! I decided to add some twists, so the pairings might be a bit indefinite for awhile…and I'm not telling what they are! (It won't be that bad, I promise.)

--

Neji waited patiently for Hinata, slinging his bag of body armor onto his shoulder, "Come on Hinata-sama, your father told me he wanted to speak to you about something…"

Hinata quietly caught up, unconsciously nervously rubbing her hands together, "What is it?"

Neji shrugged, "I have no idea…perhaps something about the Hokage ceremony?"

Hinata sighed and looked to the sky, "…Neji-niisan, would you tell me if you knew my father had arranged a prospective marriage for me by now?"

"Of course Hinata-sama."

"Has he?" Hinata quietly asked, still gazing at the sky.

"If he has, I have not heard a word of it."

"Neji-niisan…do you there is any chance…" she broke off, biting her lip.

"Yes Hinata-sama?"

"It's nothing."

Neji, after a few moments of reflective silence said, "If you are asking if your father will allow you to pick your own husband, there is perhaps a slight chance for you. You are the Main house's eldest daughter, but if you pick someone decently high ranked…" he trailed off and shrugged.

They continued to walk, until Hinata broke the silence and asked, "Neji-niisan, what do you mean by 'a slight chance for you'? Is it only I who have this chance?"

Neji flushed and muttered, "It's really nothing …just a slip of the tongue…"

The corners of Hinata's mouth turned up, "Is there a girl you have in mind, Neji-niisan?"

"No."

Hinata rubbed her arm, and quietly said, "I don't believe Tenten-san has had anyone ask her yet…"

Neji's face became expressionless, "Why does that matter, Hinata-sama?"

Hinata continued as if she hadn't heard Neji, "However, I have seen many guys flock towards her…"

Neji clenched his fists slightly, then said, "It's her business. Come, your father will not want to be kept waiting."

Hinata's small smile faded, "Hai."

--

Hyuuga Hiashi observed his eldest daughter in silence. While it was true that she had grown much stronger, and yes, that he had re-accepted her into the Hyuuga family, she still maintained a quiet shy demeanor that while fitting for a noble lady, wasn't quite the right personality for a Hyuuga family heir.

"Hinata…I assume you already know about the strange situation with the Hokage ceremony?" he said finally.

Hinata minutely scrunched up a bit, without raising her head, "Yes, father."

"Is there anyone you are considering?"

Hinata blushed, "Ah…"

Hiashi frowned, "Is there?"

"N-no, father…there really isn't anyone I think that would accompany me to the ceremony…" Hinata managed to stutter out.

"I see. However, I doubt that no one would take the Hyuuga Main house heir to the ceremony."

Hinata finally looked up, albeit a bit nervous looking, "I don't want to go with someone who just thinks of me as the Hyuuga Main house heir! I want to go with—" she broke off her sentence, and quickly looked away.

"Yes, who?"

Hinata shook her head and remained silent.

Hiashi sighed, "Hinata, you know very well by now that for all purposes I should have you engaged by now. However, obviously I have not in hopes that you would pick your own husband. But, if you do not tell me…I will have to arrange a man for you, and that would be enough of a gesture to be considered engaged."

Hinata bit her lip, "Father…"

Hiashi held up his hand, "I have my own suspicions, but if that person does not arrange to go with you to the ceremony within three days…I will be forced to provide someone else for you."

Hinata nodded slightly, and said softly, "Hai…"

They both stood and Hinata walked towards the door, slid it open, and walked out quietly.

Hiashi turned to Neji who was standing just a little bit outside of the door, "Well…do you think our honorable Rokudaime will take Hinata to his ceremony?"

Neji shrugged, "He's very dense, and Hinata-sama is too shy at times…however, perhaps there is a chance."

"In three days?"

Neji shrugged once again, "That's risky…but maybe it'll happen."

Hiashi nodded, "Good…by the way, have you found anyone yet Neji?"

Neji tensed, "…and how is this any of your business, Hiashi-sama?"

"It would reflect badly upon the Hyuuga family if you arrived without a girl…or for that matter, an unsuitable one."

"And what would count as 'unsuitable', Hiashi-sama?"

Hiashi shook his head, "I already know of your interest in the kunoichi Tenten—"

"I'm not interested!" Neji quickly interceded, although he could feel the heat rising to his face.

"However," continued Hiashi, "although she is the Weapons Master of Konoha…it would be preferable for you to pick a more…delicate girl."

Neji moved as if to leave, "I understand Hiashi-sama."

"I'm glad you do."

As Neji walked off, Hiashi smirked, but for some reason I don't think that means you agree with me.

--

Tenten carefully balanced her groceries along with her bag of body armor as she walked back home. One day, she thought as she carefully avoided the cracks along the path, I am going to figure out a technique that includes balance and carrying tons of stuff at the same time…I did it with Soshoryu; it should be easy to do with groceries, right?

Entranced in her thoughts, she didn't notice Neji until he tapped her on the shoulder.

"Gah!" she spun around, nearly dropping her stuff, "Don't do that!"

"Why?"

"Do you see all the stuff I'm carrying!" she shoved half of her grocery bags into Neji's arms, "Since you scared me, you can now help me."

Neji shifted the bags, "Hmph, and you want to be an Anbu captain…"

"What does carrying groceries have to do with that? Anyway, why are you here Neji?"

"What, I can't greet you anymore?"

"The almighty Hyuuga Neji does not just come by and greet the lowly likes of me when it's almost dinner time," Tenten dryly said.

"…"

"If you think you can score dinner off of me," Tenten added, attempting to sling her bag on more securely, "don't expect anything that good."

"…Tenten."

"Yeah?"

"You're going to the Hokage ceremony with me."

Silence, as Tenten just stopped walking.

"…say that again Neji? Because I could have sworn…"

"You already heard me. Hurry up; otherwise we'll be trying to balance these bags in the dark."

Tenten stared at Neji, then walked forward and put her hand on his forehead, "Are you alright Neji? It's really not like you to—"

Neji pushed her hand away, "I'm serious. You're coming with me, and that's final."

Tenten dropped her bags, "Excuse me? Neji, you know, before you decide these sorts of things, you're supposed to ask the girl?"

"Well, you don't have any plans for the ceremony anyway," said Neji, shrugging.

Tenten twitched, "What makes you think that I don't have any plans?"

Neji just looked at her, "Well, you don't."

Tenten stepped forward to punch Neji, but he easily stepped back and languidly blocked it, "Bastard! I'll have you know Hyuuga-dono, I have had herds of guys come to me to ask if I would go with them! Why the hell would I languish here, having nothing better to do, but go to the damn ceremony with you!"

"You didn't accept any of their offers, and you really don't have to show that much respect Tenten," he smirked.

Tenten picked up her bags again, "How do you know I haven't accepted any offers? What are you, a stalker?"

"No."

They walked in silence until they reached Tenten's small apartment, "…do you want something to eat?"

"No, good-bye Tenten," Neji said as he put the bags down, and walked off.

Tenten smiled slightly as she efficiently put the groceries away, "Stupid Neji…" she muttered, "…so stupid. Anyway, I guess I'll have to get a dress or something…."

--

Hinata smiled as she listened to Lee and Neji's conversation. Or rather, Lee celebrating with tears streaming down his face, while her cousin stonily watched him.

"Neji! I have just heard the most joyous news, Tenten and you are going to the ceremony together!"

"Yeah."

"Fantastic!" yelled Lee, causing everyone on the street to turn around and stare, "Ah, I can already see it…" his eyes began to get moist and sparkly, "Hyuuga Tenten, with three kids running around her—"

Gai popped up behind Lee, "What's this? Neji you are marrying Tenten? Yosh! The flame of youth prevails upon my other two students! What do you say, Lee? Will the two of them perhaps name their kids after us?"

"Who wouldn't want to name their kid after Gai-sensei!"

"Lee!"

"Gai-sensei!"

They hugged with an explosion of sparkles.

Neji sighed and walked away. Hinata smiled, and began to walk to the hospital where she worked as one of the head medical nins, when she accidentally stepped on someone's shoe.

"Ah, sorry…"

"Watch where you're going bitch!" yelled the brown haired man, "these shoes are really expensive!"

"I-I'm sorry, I can pay you back…"

The man snorted, "Bet you can, you're one of those damn Hyuuga nobles, aren't you? In that case…" he wrapped his arm around her waist, "why don't you pay me back by going with me to the Hokage ceremony?"

Hinata twisted away, "No thank you."

"Hey, hey, you just said you would pay me back!"

"She offered to pay you, nothing else. But in showing the trash you really are, she really owes you nothing," said a cool voice.

The man spun around angrily, "And who the hell are you!"

Gaara calmly stared at the man, "Gaara, the Kazekage of Suna."

The man backed away, "G-gaara! Hey, I really didn't mean anything…bye!"

Hinata quickly bowed, "Thank you for helping me Kazekage-sama."

Gaara turned his gaze towards her, "…you're that girl that Naruto knocked down the other day, aren't you?"

"Ah, h-hai! I'm Hyuuga Hinata."

Gaara nodded slowly, "I see…"

He turned and began to walk away, but Hinata quickly called out, "A-ah, Kazekage-sama!"

"Yes?"

"A-ano, if you like, I could pay you back for helping me by showing you around Konoha…"

Gaara considered this for a minute, "…alright."

Hinata smiled, and bowed again, "Un, why don't we meet in front of the hospital around two? I get off of work around then…"

Gaara shrugged, and walked off again, "Sure."

--

Naruto snickered as the squad of Anbu lead by Sasuke ran by, "Damnit! Dobe, get your ass out here now, or I swear I'll chop you into a million pieces, and then Sakura will smash those pieces up, and then we'll both dump those fishes into the pond for the fish to eat. Or maybe we shouldn't do that…it might spoil the intelligence of the fish, and probably the taste as well…."

Naruto snorted as he watched them run off, "Yeah, yeah…doesn't matter though, I'm free! No more paperwork to do! How Tsunade-bachan dealt with all of it I have no idea…maybe that was why she was always drinking sake?"

He undid his transformation into an inconspicuous bush, and stretched, "Hm…I guess I could go see Iruka-sensei, maybe he'll buy me some ramen!"

He was about to walk off, when he saw a really unusual sight. Gaara and Hinata were walking together, and Hinata was smiling and laughing.

He rubbed his eyes, and looked again. No, still the same sight and now for some reason he didn't feel all that great. In fact…he kind of felt the way he did when he had first heard that Sasuke had gone on his won will to Orochimaru.

He quickly shook his head, and walked the opposite direction, No that's stupid. Sasuke-teme running off was pretty bad, but why would I feel that way just because Hinata's having a good time with Gaara? She's probably just showing him around, nothing big…though why should I care? Has nothing to do with me, yeah, that's right.

then why…

--

A/N: Sorry for the wait, I was in San Diego…hope you liked this! Next chapter will probably be mostly Sasuke and Sakura, so sorry all Shikamaru/Ino fans! Please review and Gaara wasn't OOC was he?