Author's Note: So, have you guys missed me? I'm sure some of you are frustrated to the point of violence by the long span, but I couldn't upload yesterday; stuff came up. So, other characters finally reappear! Yay! I don't really have much to say about this chapter. So, I guess I'll see you all next time!

The siblings had been in Konoha a week before Gaara was allowed out. He was extremely irritable being locked up for a week straight, considering his siblings had to go out and work a good portion of the day, leaving him alone. By the time he left he was twitching with impatience. But it was necessary. It did after all take a week to get Gaara's newest clothes. First they had to find a seamstress. Then they had to give her Gaara's measurements. Then they had to wait for her to make the two new sets of clothes. But it was all worth it. The clothes sufficiently hid his now extra 30 pounds. Those who knew him well would still be able to tell that he looked different; who wouldn't? His cheeks were round and flushed and his body was filled out (way out). But at least they wouldn't notice his stomach, unless of course they spent time examining it.

Gaara felt ten times better once dressed in his new, breathable clothes. Placing a protective hand on his stomach, Gaara walked out into the fresh night air, ready for the biggest meal of his life. He was starving.

The three sat down in a decent sized restaurant; in the corner of course where they'd attract less attention. Unbeknownst to them though, a rowdy group of Konoha shinobi were sitting right across the way from them, hidden from their vision…

Break-

The group of the guys had all somehow showed up at the same restaurant. This consisted of Naruto, Neji, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Shino, an interesting group to say the least. They all sat around talking about random shit going on in their lives. Naruto and his failed attempts at winning over Sakura. Neji and his uncle pressuring him into finding a suitable girl among a list he'd chosen. Shikamaru with Ino constantly on his back about being lazy and carrying his load. Kiba and his fights with his mother, who insisted that he was gay and needed to admit it to her and his father. Shino and…umm…well…ok, so maybe not all of them talked.

In the midst of their conversation, they heard the door of the restaurant open, not paying any mind of who might be entering. That is until Kiba spoke up. His nose was twitching as looked over into the far corner of the restaurant. "Hey, aren't those the sand siblings?"

Everyone instantly looked in the direction. Naruto smirked and Neji sighed, still recalling Lee's confession a while back. It was then that Naruto, being as he was, pointed out an obvious fact with a dropped jaw. "Damn, Gaara looks fat!"

Kiba looked at him and replied, "You're right. Just how much weight did he gain anyways?"

Shikamaru's eyes were drawn to Gaara before he said, "Yeah, you're right. I knew he'd gotten bigger since the Chunnin exams, but this is just weird."

Neji spoke with arousing suspicion, "This is really strange. When Lee talked about his last encounter with him, he never mentioned anything about Gaara getting, well, chubby."

They all contemplated this while coming up with the strangest and wildest theories. Neji however was worried. Lee had mentioned all the blood once before. Was Gaara just taking that one night experience badly? Was he gaining weight out of depression? What was going on?

A waiter walked over to the sand-ninja's table. In a split second, the plate being placed in front of Gaara smashed onto the floor. Pieces flew everywhere and Temari and Kankuro gasped. Gaara brought his free hand up to his mouth and abruptly stood up. Looking like he was about to vomit yet still managing to glare, Gaara disappeared in a whirl of sand. Kankuro wiped an irritated hand down his face while Temari rubbed at her temples.

"What the hell was that?" Naruto said, mouthing everyone's question.

Break-

Kankuro sighed and stood up. "I'll go find him."

Temari nodded as Kankuro walked out the door, hands in his pockets. The waiter walked back over to the table. He questioned, "Is he alright?"

Temari chuckled. "I should be asking you that. I'm very sorry for the trouble we've caused."

"Not at all. This isn't the first time a plate's been broken around here."

Temari looked down at her dinner and then glanced up at the waiter. "Do you think I could get this in a to-go box?"

He grinned. "Why certainly madam."

Break-

The group watched in astonishment. Temari calmly stood with her doggy-bag and strode quickly towards the door. She didn't notice them as she left, nearly at a run now. Everyone in the group was curious and somewhat worried for the sand-nins. Okay, more curious then anything. They all agreed and stood up to follow her, throwing down their money on the table.

Kiba quickly caught Temari's scent and the group followed close behind her. They went on like this for a good bit before they found themselves climbing over the wall of the city and running into the woods. They slowed as the heard the inevitable sounds of battle. Creeping up as close and they could, the boys stopped. The group hid behind a cluster of trees and gazed out into the clearing, completely shocked by what they heard and saw.

Break-

Gaara was livid. He didn't even understand why. He was frustrated and his back hurt and he was tired of puking. What better way to get rid of his anger then fighting? He reached out a hand; left then right. His sand followed Kankuro. He wanted to hurt something. Whether it was a relative or not, Gaara felt Shukaku's buried blood lust begin to rise up in him.

Kankuro jumped, dodged, ran. He would occasionally throw kunai, trying to distract Gaara. If he didn't, the sand would get him. He could feel the sand steadily getting closer and closer. Hear the whip and rush of wind pass by in the small empty space between sand and body. Although running with all his might, the sand eventually caught up to Kankuro. Gripping his ankle, the sand smacked him down into the dirt. Blood gushed from his lips and spattered onto the ground. He could hear a hiss escape Gaara's lips at the display. His senses heightened for a spilt second, but to him, that second felt like an eternity. He could feel death's icy hands in the cool air of night.