Sorry I couldn't update yesterday, I was busy and I got to be on tv (well you see my face a bit) for the FAIT program. Today was the last day and I got this awesome crystal (not real crystal I don't know what it's called) thing with my name and all. The program was amazing, I had a great time.

Anyways, heres chapter 18.

Disclaimer: Do people even read these, I don't own Naruto.

One Month Later

Temari walked closer and closer to Konoha, they would get there before 9 am, take the day to rest then go to Tsunade birthday the next day. Gaara and Kankuro were leaving the day after, with a Konoha guard who would go to the border where a Suna shinobi will take over.

She spent the whole trip thinking of running into Shikamaru, she wonder if he was still with Kiyomi, if he's been with Kiyomi like he had with her, who had he been with before her. Before she knew it she was standing in front of the Konoha gates.

The four of them showed their passports to the gate guards, and walked to the Hokage's office. Like always people in the street stared at them noticing the Suna hitai-ate but now they were see them as allies and friends. Matsuri walked between Gaara and Temari, she had never been in Konoha before she was looking at everything as if it was from another world.

When they got to the Hokage's Office they were given an escort a Genin. A thought came to Temari, why would they make a Jonin like Shikamaru be her escort every time, he too is an ANBU captain why would they give him genin could understand why, when the chunin exams were near and he was a proctor but all the other times why him?

They were taken to the best hotel in Konoha. They got a suite with three rooms on for each, Gaara getting the masters, but since Matsuri was with them Temari and her had to share a room. After they all took a shower and got cleaned up from their long journey, they went to get something to eat.

For dinner Gaara said he wanted to go to Ichiraku in hoped to fine his friend there. "GAARA!" they heard Naruto who was now walking towards them. "Naruto" Gaara replied with his small smile.

"How's it going, I haven't seen you since the last chunin exams in Kiri" Naruto exclaimed as he took a seat next to Gaara. Hinata who was with Naruto took a small bow "It great seeing you Kazekage, Matsuri, Temari, Kankuro."

"Please just Gaara." Gaara knew Hinata before he was Kazekage, he usually asked the Konoha 12 to call him just Gaara. "I've been good it's great to see you two again how have you guys been." Gaara asked.

Naruto flashed a big smile, "We're better than ever" he said pulling Hinata down to his lap giving her a kiss, making her blush.

They talked about what has been happing in their lives since the last time they saw each other. "So when are you going to be Hokage Naruto?" Gaara asked knowing that Tsunade was planning to make him Hokage, even though she couldn't pick favorite and had another 2-3 successors.

Naruto just laughed and put both his hands behind his head, "Whenever granny decides to retire."

"Well we'll be some great Kage's someday" Gaara said with a smile. "You're already a great Kage Garra," Gaara made a surprised face at his friends's words, and thanked him. They talked for a little bit longer then head back to the hotel. They made plans to spend the day together tomorrow.

After dinner Temari took Matsuri to get to know the hotels, that she will most likely stay at, where they were and what the offered and some good restaurants around each one.

The next morning they all woke up late. Before Gaara would wake them up as soon as the sun came up but ever since Gaara lost the Shukaku he was able to sleep. When they woke up Temari called room service to bring them breakfast. They ate and headed out to walk around. Naruto, like he promised, met up with them. Naruto invited them to lunch and hung out with them all day till he left to get ready for the party.

Around 7 they started getting ready for Tsunade's party. Only a handful of people were to attend the actual party but people all over Konoha were partying at clubs. Tsunade, well more like Shizune, had made it a black-tie formal event, Matsuri and Temari were wearing gowns. Matsuri's was wearing a reddish simple gown that Temari had bought her, the colour matched Gaaras' hair. Temari's dress was a black strapless dress that showed cleavage and had a slit running down the side.

They got to the party around 8; Tsunade greeted them, with sake in hand. Naruto and Hinata were seated next to Gaara and Matsuri who sat next to Kankuro and Temari. "I love your dress Hinata," Temari said, Hinata dress was a beautiful light blue gown. "Thank you I like your dress too, yours too Matsuri." She said as Naruto put his hands around her.

Sakura and Sasuke took seats next to Hinata and Naruto, and Tenten and Neji took seats next to them. Both girls looked beautiful in their gowns. They all talked and drank, the girls were happy that Temari could make it.

Shikamaru arrived with Kiyomi and the other members of Ino-Shika-Cho with their dates, Ino with Sai and Choji with his date. Shikamaru didn't want to come to the party, his dad was away on a mission so he couldn't use the family-only thing, and Ino told Kiyomi she could come with him so he couldn't get it out. Neither Shikamaru nor Temari had spotted each other till they bumped into each other.

"Watch were your going" "Sorry" they said at the same time.

"Temari, w-what are you doing here? When did you get here?" he said not expecting her to be here. "Yea what are you doing here?" Kiyomi said not happy that she was there, even more unhappy at the fact that Shikamaru was staring at Temari.

"I'm here with my brothers and Matsuri… well it was great seeing you." She said turning around to leave. Shikamaru grabbed her hand "WAIT" they looked at their hands, but neither moved. Shikamaru couldn't believe that she was here, he had been thinking of her for the past month.

"Shikamaru…" she said softly, Kiyomi's eyes glared at his hand still holding hers. "Shikamaru I think we should find our seats, now" Kiyomi said grabbing his shoulders turning him making him let go of Temari hand. Shikamaru had forgotten that Kiyomi was there and frankly he didn't care he just wanted to talk Temari.

Temari was talking to the girl but she looked like she was a million miles away. Both Gaara and Kankuro wanted to know what was going on, the waited till Tenten left the group, Tenten was Temari's best friend if anyone knew it would have to be her.

Tenten was dancing with Neji, "Excuse me can I steal Tenten away for a minute thanks" Kankuro said fast not giving Neji time to say no before he was pulling his girlfriend away, he just glared at Kankuro.

Kankuro pulled Tenten outside, back inside a worried Neji was using his byakugan to make sure Kankuro didn't try anything. "Umm what do you want" Tenten asked. "We want to talk to you about Temari" Gaara said quickly walking it to the light, Tenten hadn't seen him.

"Ok, what about Temari." She said not getting why they had bragged her outside to question her.

"We want to know if something happened last time she was in Konoha," Gaara asked.

"What no why is everything ok" Tenten asked worried about her best friend.

"So you don't know" Gaara asked, he was sure if anyone knew it would have been Tenten. "Know what"

"That Temari quit as ambassador and won't be coming back to Konoha unless to escort Gaara, she training Matsuri for her old job now, though Gaara and I are just playing along to get to the bottom of it or try to." Kankuro said. Tenten was shocked to hear that Temari had always been ambassador, expect for one year and that was because she was on ANBU missions.

"No, Temari can't just quit. She loves it here it like he second home, she's always telling me that." Tenten said. Kankuro and Gaara looked at each other they could see she didn't know anything, "Ok then, thanks, you might want to go back to Neji now before he get tried using his byakugan." Gaara said walking back inside. Tenten turned around to look in Neji general direction.

Once back inside Tenten went to look for Temari and pulled her aside. "What's this about you quitting your job as ambassador? What happen?" Tenten said. Temari let out a sigh; she had planned to tell Tenten everything so why not tell her now.

"Ok, I was going to tell you later but I guess I can tell you now but somewhere else and you can't tell my brothers." Temari said.

"Ok I swear we can go to the café across the street, every ones out at bars, so it will be empty." Tenten said. They walked to the café a Temari spilled everything, she said what happened after everyone left that night and the morning she left. Tenten was in shocked at everything that happened, she understood why her friend was leaving but she didn't think running away was the best idea.

Back at the party Kankuro and Gaara where going to try talking to Shikamaru about Temari, they both knew that he and Temari were friends in fact many people thought they liked each other. Maybe Shikamaru knew what was wrong with Temari they wanted to get to the bottom of it.

Next Chapter:

He really wasn't one to go out of his way for anything but Temari was driving him crazy he need to talk to her again