Blood is Thicker Chapter 8

A/N: Sorry for the wait everyone! I've been terribly busy, having a vacation, then getting sick, and then doing my AP homework before school starts, then being in , I'm a procrastinator when it comes to school... Now that I'm sick again I decided now or never! Thank you to everybody who faved and followed! Please read and I hope you enjoy! Be kind, leave a review!

Katalyst's Inferno: I imagine it could get very humorous at times! ;)

Death by manga: Well, you'll just have to wait and see now won't you? Thanks for the review! ;)

Starfire201: She'll need to tread on careful ground for sure!

Sai ran his hands through his hair in an irritated fashion. He noticed he seemed to do that whenever he was uneasy or unhappy. He guessed he was one step closer to normal if he'd been picking up habits.

He guessed the use of his new habit was in response to the Hokage's assignment. He had to pretend to be the father of Karin's child, which he doubted he would enjoy. He could say he was the father, sure, but actually be a father figure to a child? He couldn't even act like a normal person, and he'd certainly never had a father. He had a brother once, but that wasn't the same.

The only word he could use to describe it was "scared". Sai didn't think he'd ever been scared before. He knew he didn't have to raise the child, but he honestly didn't even know what he was going to do at this point. What if he became attached to him? What if the child hated him?

And what about when the truth comes out? Would the child hate him? Would he be angered that he was lied to?

Sai got up from his bed, and moved to a cabinet that contained art supplies. Reaching into it, he felt the familiar touch of fresh paper, and pulled it out. In his mind, unused paper begged to be marked and made its own. Moving back to his bed with a paper and some pens, he began to work out his frustration in the only way he knew how: art.

He wasn't one to train when upset like Naruto. He was trained that emotions interfered with ones ability, and so he was always calm and precise when he trained.

He wasn't one to lash out like Sakura, either. He never quite understood why she did that, but he supposed maybe it was her way of making people understand they hurt her.

A little later, Sai looked at the results of his drawing. He decided to draw what had him on edge, Sasuke. In Sai's mind, Sasuke was the root of his problem.

He was always compared to Sasuke. Sai didn't quite like that. There's a lot of things that he and Sasuke don't have in common.

And he was assigned his new mission because of his similarity to Sasuke.

Sai didn't even know Sasuke in a familiar sense, and yet the guy still caused problems in his life.

Hinata examined herself in the mirror. The navy kimono she wore matched her hair, and her baby blue obi gave it a pop of color. Her hair was put up by a kind maid she was rather fond of. A knock at her bedroom floor brought her out of her trance, and she opened it to see Neji.

"Hinata, Gaara is here."

Hinata nodded, and quickly followed him out the door into the sitting room in which Gaara proposed. The redhead Kazekage was sitting there waiting for her.

"Gaara-sama, you're here. Where's Temari-san?"

He turned to her. "Please, call me Gaara," he said quietly before continuing. "Temari is coming later, with that Nara man."

Hinata nodded, and motioned for him to follow her into a great dinner hall, set up for a party.

"I hope you find the arrangement suitable?" Hinata asked Gaara, who was examining a floral arrangement.

"Well since you agreed to have the wedding in Suna, the least I can do is let the engagement party be in Konoha."

Hinata smiled and nodded, "Ino did the flowers. I'd like to hire her for the wedding." Gaara nodded. "Flowers are scarce in Suna."

The pair tweaked the arrangements here and there, and soon guests started to arrive. All of the guests were from Konoha, except Gaara and Temari. However, none knew the true reason for their being there.

Gaara observed as Hinata happily chatted with Ino, before getting surprise hugged from behind by Kiba. The Inuzuka male smiled at Hinata, revealing his large canines.

"What's the fancy party for Hinata?" he asked excitedly.

"Yeah, this is pretty fancy for a victory celebration," Ino chimed in.

Hinata laughed nervously, looking at Gaara briefly as if asking for support, before managing to stammer out a "you'll see."

"I wonder what your surprise is, Hinata. I can't really think of anything that comes to mind, other than you becoming clan leader!" Kiba said happily. Ino smacked his arm.

"Clan business is private and shouldn't be speculated about. You of all people should know this!"

Kiba eyed her with a confused look on his face. "I'm surprised to hear that from you, Konoha's Number One Gossip Queen."

Hinata, sensing that Kiba was treading dangerous waters nervously escaped towards Gaara, who was talking with Naruto. Seeing the blonde, who had Sakura standing with him, she nearly turned around in panic, seeing her past and future interact, but she saw Tenten walk towards Neji and latched onto the brunette's arm.

"Oh hey, Hinata! Lovely party!" Tenten said with a warm smile. "Neji wouldn't tell me the occasion."

"It's a bit of a surprise I'm afraid," Hinata said, now walking normally beside her cousin's teammate. Neji saw them approach and headed towards them, closing the distance.

"Everybody seems to be here," he remarked.

Hinata couldn't help peeking in Naruto and Sakura's direction. "Yes, everyone. Good." She took a deep breath, and steeled her resolve before heading towards Gaara, still happily chatting with the pair. Tenten raised an eyebrow at her antics, before turning to Neji.

"I wonder what got into her?"

Hinata approached Gaara, tapped him on the shoulder and said "It's time!" quickly before heading in the direction of a small stage, practically running. Naruto and Sakura exchanged a knowing glance, as Gaara gave them a polite nod an followed his fiancée.

Hinata tapped the mic, getting everyone's attention. The crowd of guests turned to look at her, and in the front Temari gave her a reassuring smile and a thumbs up. Starting meekly, but building strength she said, "As many of you know, the Kazekage, Gaara-sama is visiting Konoha currently. I would like to welcome him to the stage, as we have an announcement to make." She paused, seeing the confused looks of the Hyuuga elders, who had mostly mingled amongst each other during the party.

Gaara took the microphone, and with resolve stated, "Hinata and I are getting married." With this, much of the crowd reacted in different ways. The pair watched as Temari beamed, Tenten turned confusedly to Neji, Naruto and Sakura exchanged concerned looks, and the elders contemplated what that would mean for the clan. However, Hinata looked for an additional person. The reaction of Kiba, who had still been bantering with Ino, but now seemed quite angry. Gaara continued.

"Many of you may feel it is quite sudden, however, we both feel this is best for us. Thank you." The redhead left the stage, and Hinata followed, her eyes following Kiba as he left the room. The couple were soon pummeled by people wishing them congratulations and a happy engagement.

Kiba couldn't believe his ears. Hinata? Marrying that guy? He was supposed to have had a chance, now that the object of her affection was unattainable. Had she resigned herself that she wasn't to have Naruto and decided to say yes to any Kin, Satoshi or Akio who asked to marry her? She was supposed to realize they could be something.

Kiba ran his hands through his unruly hair, and sighed leaning against the balcony, looking at the happily twinkling stars, who were unbothered by his worldly troubles.

The Inuzuka stayed there lamenting for a long time, but eventually decided to go face the music. He stood up straight, made sure his looks were in order and left his anger out on the balcony.

Making his way back to the room, he decided to slip into the line waiting to get their dinner from the buffet, that was undoubtedly rolled out by the Hyuuga's employees. Kiba slipped into the line with the first person he recognized, a blonde in a blue cocktail dress.

"Hey, Ino."

Ino looked at her friend with a funny look. "Where'd you go?" Kiba tried to be nonchalant.

"Just needed some air."

Ino shrugged, before getting a mischievous look on her face. "Well, because you used me to get ahead in line, now you have to sit with me and listen to me talk."

So Kiba sat with Ino. And she talked a lot.

Naruto meandered some hours later out of the party, Sakura in hand.

"Some party."

Sakura nodded. "Good food. It was pretty amusing how the elders acted though when Gaara made the announcements. They practically jumped for joy."

"Speaking of Gaara's speech, I know he's a man of little words but wow that was snappy."

"Might be smarter though, considering all the reactions."

"True! They practically mobbed the two!" Sakura giggled in response to Naruto's statement, and the two stopped walking for a moment, now outside Hinata's home. The moon was a little crescent of a moon, and it gave little light, but the colorful lanterns that lead the way to the party added a soft, romantic light.

Naruto leaned in, his forehead touching her, and Sakura smiled at him cutely. They finally leaned in and kissed, for a just a moment. After pulling away, Sakura wrapped her arms around his torso, and snuggled close for a hug. She peered up at him, blinking a few times. "You're it."

Naruto was confused, and lifted her face up to see his. "Huh?"

Sakura smiled gently then, out of nowhere, she ran away from him, occasionally looking back with an impish grin.

Naruto muttered something to himself along the lines of her being 'such a tease.' and chased after her calling out, "Ready or not, here I come!"

A/N: Don't know where that last part came from, sounds like something i'd do to my bf! Again, sorry for the wait. I guess being sickly has its perks after all.

Next time on Blood is Thicker, Naruto has his first Jonin mission!

Night kiddies!

-MyHikari