Well here's the filler chapter. A little window on the other people who appear in the story, so while it's in the story it's probably not completely necessary. I guess it's on to the next fic now... Oh Kakaru makes a small appearance I'm not sure if the Sand Sibs will end up in the main story or not. But hey I had to at least mention them Sasuke is wandering around on their territory afterall.

Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine, though for this story I'm pulling the strings.

Hollowness and longing, which will win

Hokage Tower

When Kakashi's signs stabilised, Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief for the first time in days. The council had been on her back for the entire time, but then, they always begrudged her any time spent at the hospital. Even when it was done to save one of Konoha's finest. After more than a week neglecting her Hokage duties it wasn't without trepidation that Tsunade approached the door to the Hokage's office, her office. Even with Shizune's help, there had to be a stack of papers to take care of. Not to mention the current predictable splits in the council.

The usual suspects were pushing for a war, only they had no target. Some wanted to leave Sasuke out there, a fortunate casualty, others were baying for his blood, literally baying because they wanted the promised Uchiha heirs. Sometimes Tsunade regretted losing her bet to Naruto.

Pushing open the door Tsunade was greeted by the sight of two well-known council members working at her desk. Sighing because she expected a battle, Tsunade shut the door and took up a neutral position in the middle of her office.

"Hokage-sama." The old man said inclining his head briefly.

Honorable council member Komako." Tsunade said inclining her head in return before turning her gaze towards the old woman.

"Tsunade."

"Honorable council member Hitake."

"Your day to day work is done." The old man said closing the scroll he had been reading.

Tsunade broke from Hitake's stare, to look in surprise at the neat pile of documents on the corner of her desk.

"Well I guess I have some time free then." Tsunade said carefully, wondering what their motivation was.

Hitake steepled her fingers and cleared her throat.

"There have been reports which change the possibilities of the current situation."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes, that her network of informants had been outmanouvered by the old two was something she would have to rectify.

"Komako and I have called back young Ino Yamanaka, she'll be sent out with Neji Hyuuga to intercept the group being led by the Aburame boy."

Tsunade opened her mouth to snap about going past their authority limits but Komako lifted his hand and she clipped her mouth shut out of respect.

"There are reports of a clan of snake worshippers active around the border of Sand country. But whenever ninja from either Sand or Grass try and investigate, they dissapear into the marshes of Rain Country."

Tsunade sighed heavily.

"Not everyone who has something to do with snakes, forcibly has something to do with Orochimaru and the Sound you know."

"And if we said that the first appearence of these worshippers coincided with the end of the second Sound-Konoha war? And the fact that since, everywhere there have been reports of this clan, reports of ancient Sound ninja are soon to follow."

"Coincidence indeed." Tsunade voice was flat. "But hardly proof. And certainly not enough to change mission assignments without consulting me first."

Hitake straightened irritably in her chair.

"We've been tracking this group for years, if we think there are strong links between them and the new Sound, then you can believe us, they're there."

Tsunade gritted her teeth.

"Out of my chair."

Stalking around her desk Tsunade shooed the two away from her place.With a certain feeling of comfort Tsunade sat down in her chair. She always felt more Hokagey in front of these two when she was behind her desk.

"If you would have the goodness to tell me what exactly makes you think there are links between the new Sound, which is to all evidence headed by Kabuto, who is not a snake freak, and this clan of dissapearing snake worshippers, and why you think calling Yamanaka and Hyuuga off a very important case will help. I would love to hear it."

Steepling her hands she waited for the explanations to start.

Hokage Tower

Shikamaru didn't know where his day had gone wrong. He'd been given a rare day off and had thought to spend the day lazing on his favourite roof top. And that's what he'd started out doing, but barely two hours into his laze, he spotted the flight of messanger birds heading out. He hated it when that happened.

He blamed Asuma-sensei for the fact that he never got enough lazing time anymore, something always pulled him back to his work. Afterall someone had to look after everyone else, and that always seemed to be him.

But even his vague curiousity didn't explain how he got landed with analysing all the information from the network of informers that certain council members had. Goidame-sama, had seen him wandering around the hallways and dragged him into sorting fact from fiction.

It must've been when Hokage-sama told him that Ino was being sent into imminent danger based on this so-called proof. Yeah, that's when the day stopped being so relaxing. Afterall if Ino was going into certain danger, then the hothead needed the best information possible.

So he flicked over another page and read why this person believed that a gang of kids painting snakes on walls meant that Orochimaru was actually alive and planning another attack on Konoha.

Hyuuga Private Dojo

Hiashi Hyuuga sat silently in the clan dojo, staring at the words hung on the wall. Each one written by a previous clan leader. Each one a promise made by the Hyuuga leader towards their clan.

Loyalty...Discipline...Honour...Strength, and his own addition, Sacrifice.

Their script made by sure hands, steady and strong. In his grip was another that would one day be hung at the end of the line. It was written by a lighter hand, sure in its own way, steady in its own way, strong in its own way.

Family.

One day it would hung by the hand of the new leader, but for now he knelt and prayed to his ancestors for his eldest daughter and the only son of his brother. He prayed they would come home, and that this word, this promise, would come true.

Konoha Markets

At almost six foot tall and built like a tank, Chouji Akimichi was always easy to spot in a crowd. For that, Hanabi was glad, it made finding her target even easier.

"Akimichi, " She panted tugging on his sleeve. "Glad I found you."

Chouji stopped and looked down at the tiny girl.

"Hyuuga..uh."

"Hanabi, Hinata's sister."

"Oh, hello Hanabi." Chouji's voice was cheerful and loud, a little like him.

Hanabi grimaced and pulled on his arm.

"Come on, I have to ask you something." When Chouji resisted, or rather she was unable to budge him she gave him a glare equal to one of Neji's.

"In private."

"O-kay."

Chouji followed the intense girl a bemused smile on his face. He'd never had alot to do with Hinata or Neji. Hinata and he sometimes got stuck with the boring duties when the group got together, but he couldn't remember actually speaking to her alot, and Neji, well Neji was his own planet. So he couldn't guess what Hinata's little sister wanted with him.

Stopping in a side alley Hanabi turned around and fixed Chouji with a worried look.

"Can you tell me what's going on?"

Chouji blinked. Hanabi waited, hands clasped.

"Going on?" Chouji asked, unsure.

"With Neji nii-san and your teammate Yamanaka Ino."

"Uh, nothing. They hate each other."

Chouji tried to think if he'd picked up any gossip about Ino and Neji being an item, but he tended to ignore gossip about Ino anyway. Mostly it was just jealousy and mean spiritedness. And anyway, Ino had no reason to 'hook up' with Neji, she was already taken.

"Nooooo, don't tell me you don't know." Hanabi groaned, her voice grew arrogant. " And anyway cousin Neji would never date her."

Putting her hands on her hips, Hanabi missed the subtle stiffening of Chouji's spine at her tone.

"I mean about their mission being changed."

Chouji tipped his head to one side, his anger, though formidable, was slow to heat.

"Their mission was changed? Are they coming home early?"

"I don't think so." Hanabi said frowning in worry. "I was hoping you'd know more, Father caught me before the meeting had finished."

"It's probably nothing to worry about, and if it was secret then.." Chouji chided her gently.

Hanabi stamped her foot, irritated enough to act childishly, something she hadn't done openly for years.

"Then why is my father sending a shadow?" She insisted.

Her mouth snapped shut and the tight line of her lips wobbled as irritation turned into fear.

"Why is my father sending someone on a shadow mission after Hinata nii-san, why do I think he's sending Neji nii-san?"

"A shadow mission could mean many things..." Chouji started, placing one large hand onto Hanabi's thin shoulders.

"No!" Hanabi said explosively.

She pushed his hand away and started slapping at Chouji's enormous stomach the only thing she could reach.

"For a Hyuuga it means only one thing. Hinata nii-sans in trouble, and they're sending Neji nii-san to take her place, to-to die for her if he has to. Which means she could die where she is, which means.."

Hanabi swallowed hard, she would not break down in public, she wouldn't humiliate herself and her clan like that. Her hands kept up a punishing rhythm against the unyeilding flesh of Chouji's stomach while she berated herself her weakness. Why had she thought this fat oaf would know something, he was stupid, and fat, and stupid...

Chouji let the girl beat him until she regained control, then he pillowed her head against his poor abused stomach. She rested an instant then pushed him away, as any true Hyuuga would do.

"I'll see what I can find out. But until then, trust Neji and Hinata, they're with friends."

Chouji's voice was calm and soothing, and Hanabi resented him for the fact that it was working. She was calming down.

"I bet Ino taught you to handle people like that." She grumbled.

Chouji smiled.

"Just wait."

"I can't, I'm so worried, what if Hinata nii-san dies? What if Neji nii-san dies? What if he dies to save her? I-she'd never get over it."

Chouji smile grew pained.

"The worst thing in the world is feel like you can't help. Like you're useless."

Hanabi nodded her head dumbly, stupid Chouji what would he know about being weak? He was huge and could swat people aside like flies if he wanted. She was so far behind even Hinata nii-san now, that she was ashamed when her father came to watch her practice.

"So what are you doing here? Get back to training!"

Chouji clapped Hanabi on one shoulder which almost drove the girl to her knees.

"If you don't train, you'll never get stronger, and you need to be strong if you want to protect the people you love."

Hanabi grimaced at his cheerful voice, maybe beating things up would help her mood.

"Promise you'll come and tell me the instant you know something." Hanabi ordered.

Chouji snapped a salut, and Hanabi muttered something about idiots, but Chouji ignored her. She was a Hyuuga, and apart from Hinata they were all like that, grumpy from lack of good food. He promised himself that he'd take a bowl of his mother's special strength building broth with him when he went to visit her with his news. That might put some roses in her too pale cheeks.

Hanabi waved briefly, proof she had some manners, and left as quickly as she'd come.

Chouji thought for a moment. He needed to find Shikamaru, Shikamaru would know something or know where to find out. On his days off Shikamaru went cloud watching on their old roof. But this being Shikamaru he was probably already aware of Ino's mission change so he'd either be at home if it was nothing important, or at the Hokage Tower if it was. Settling his belt back into place, Chouji started jogging towards the Tower, this was Ino and she was almost always in trouble. He ignored the snorts of laughter as he passed people, his body jiggling as he hurried along. He was Chouji Akimichi and he was on a mission of the highest importance. His friends needed him.

Konoha Hospital

"Kakashi-san, if you try to leave I will personally sign the papers putting you off duty for the next month."

Shizune tapped her foot and waited. Kakashi considered his chances of convincing her otherwise but recognised the look in her eye. Sakura got the same look in her eye sometimes and it was only because he still outranked her on missions that he got around her.

Easing back into his bed Kakashi gave a disarming smile.

"Eh, I was just testing that my bed wasn't too high off the ground."

Sighing in disbelief but mollified because he'd pulled the blankets back over his legs, Shizune picked up his chart and started noting things. Kakashi figured his disarming smile would work better if people could actually see it.

"Shizune-san, Tsunade told me about Sasuke. She said she'd sent out Sakura and Naruto to search for him."

Shizune flicked her eyes up to Kakashi, warning him, then went back to staring at the sheet she was filling in.

"Is there any news?"

Shizune tried to ignore him, but he kept following her with his one good eye. She considered lying, telling him that she didn't know anything, but the way he was fixing her made her nervous.

When Shizune didn't speak Kakashi hung his head, the shadows under his eyes deepening. He didn't want to think about the possibility of watching them carve Naruto, Sakura or Sasuke's name into the Memorial Stone.

"Have they reported back?"

Shizune hunched over her board more. She never could resist when people asked about their teammates and she was a hopeless lier.

"We've received regular reports, they're fine they haven't found much, but they're hopeful." She said in a small voice. "Tsunade-sama and the council are still fighting, but they've sent reinforcements incase your team do find something, it's all we can do for the moment."

"Are we going to war again?"

Shizune paused as her heart squeezed painfully at the word. Taking a shaking breath in, she replied.

"Noone knows for sure. The new Sound is still only a rumour. It takes more than one small group of rogue ninja to make a village. And even if Konoha still isn't at full strength, we're strong enough to take on whatever might remain of the original village."

Shizune sat down on the edge of Kakashi's bed with another sigh. The weight of everything that was happening was tiring her out, not to mention the increased shifts looking after Kakashi and trying to prepare the hospital for a war without letting anything slip to panic the public or most of the staff.

They were silent for a while trying to push their imaginations back into a corner where they could ignore certain fears.

"I have to help my team."

"We'll get you patched up as quickly as possible." Shizune promised standing up again.

She hesitated and looked at him sideways.

"But duty might require you to stay here."

Kakashi dropped his eyes to the practical brown-grey bedcover.

"I'll cross that bridge when I reach it."

Konoha Gates

Lee and Gai returned to Konoha at the same time. Giving his most excellent ex-student a high five Gai congratulated Lee on his improved running speed. Lee ever pleased with praise gave the good guy pose and congratulated himself silently on the tough training he'd done to achieve it.

Leaving each other with the promise to train the next morning at first light, the two split up. After dropping off a mission report, Lee headed back to his apartment, ready to celebrate his return. He wasn't surprised to find Tenten already hanging around outside his apartment door.

"Tenten!" Lee said, happy to see his teammate.

"Hey Lee." Tenten grinned back.

They were by far the two most social members of their team, so whenever an occassion presented itself they tended to get together and eat out. Occassionally they managed to drag Neji along, if he wasn't completely occupied with his duties. Gai-sensei would often try and drop by for a bite but leave soon after, always busy with something or other.

"Come in, I won't be long."

Lee opened the door and dismantled the simple trap. Tenten followed him into the spacious hallway, her hands linked behind her back. Neither she nor Lee had grown up with alot of family and it was always special to think that they had people to come back to after a mission.

Tenten helped herself to a stamina drink from Lee's fridge and turned on the television while Lee showered and changed.

Coming back into the living room towel-drying his hair, Lee asked Tenten if she had somewhere in particular she wanted to eat lunch.

"Nah, let's do the usual." Tenten replied dismissively.

She turned her head to look at Lee who was dressed in loose normal issue chunnin pants. His chest was still a little wet from the shower and the sun made the droplets glisten. With his ridiculous hair cut and enormous eyebrows covered by towel he was absolutely gorgeous.

Tenten gave an appreciative wolf whistle, and Lee's head snapped up. Blushing bright red he covered his bare chest with his towel like a maiden caught bathing.

"Tenten!" he exclaimed loudly.

"What? I keep telling you, if you went topless a little more often, and stopped wearing lycra, you'd be drowning in girlfriends."

Lee blushed even hotter and hurumping returned to his bedroom to find a top.

Tenten chuckled to herself and went back to flicking through channels. She really had to find him a girlfriend. It was a shame to let all that muscle go to waste, and Lee was a seriously nice guy.

Reappearing fully dressed and back to his normal colouring Lee presented himself for inspection. Tenten considered the outfit. The loose pants looked good with the tighter top. His hitaeaki made a good belt that drew the eye to his narrow waist and the stretchy top material gave just a hint of all the lovely muscles he had.

"You'll do." Tenten said linking her arm through his.

Ever since she'd told him that she refused to eat with him in his lycra, Lee had been making slow progress in the wardrobe department. Which meant he would at least wear loose trousers over his jumpsuit making things bearable for Tenten. Lee convinced himself on the pants by loading the much wider legs with more weights, thereby making these outings a special training session. Tenten had taken her victory and run with it.

They chatted aimably while they wandered down the street, and Tenten had been without her teammates for so long that she didn't even mind the clinking sounds coming from Lee's pants. As for Lee, he was happy that the day was beautiful, the mission had been success, and that he was going to spend some social time with his best friend. All that was missing was his eternal rival.

Sliding open the door to The Pepper Bell, Lee let Tenten enter first as a gentleman should. Giving the waitress a smile Tenten took their usual bench seat next to the window so they could watch the world walk by. They talked about Lee's latest training ideas, about Tenten's recovery and how soon she would be back on active duty and how she was itching to use her new double sai. They also bemoaned the fact that Neji was so occupied with his family duties that they barely saw him anymore. They had just gotton onto whether such and such technique could win against such and such techniques when Gai-sensei appeared at the door.

"Lee! Tenten!" Gai boomed.

"Gai-sensei!" Lee replied with equal enthousiam.

Tenten nodded rather than add to the noise they were making. Gai took a place next to Lee and signaled the waitress.

"It is so good to see my team displaying their unity! You should live your youth to the fullest!"

Tenten sipped her drink a small frown on her face, beside her Lee straightened and snapped a salut.

"Yes, Gai-sensei!"

Gai-sensei ordered a drink and spent a few minutes expounding the power and strength of youth. Which meant he had something serious to tell them and wanted to make sure they were sufficiently 'empowered' to hear it.

"Neji has had his mission changed so his expected arrival date has been marked as undetermined." Gai finally said.

Lee nodded.

"I will not let the extra training time go to waste Gai-sensei!"

From her side Tenten swallowed a small sigh. Not only was Neji incrediably busy with his family responsibilities but now his already long mission just went 'undetermined'. Not that she was looking forward to seeing him or anything. It was just her convalescence was boring and she was so very ready to get back to work.

"Tenten?" Gai-sensei asked, worried that his lovesick little kunoichi would be taking it hard.

"Some people get all the luck." Tenten complained twirling her straw around her fingers.

"Someone's getting tired of staying in Konoha." Lee teased, dodging the straw.

He didn't dodge the quick shin kick though, but that hurt Tenten as much as it hurt him anyway. It reassured Gai that his ex-students were in such good spirits. A mission of undetermined length was never an easy mission and given the budding romance between two of his ex-students he'd feared that little Tenten would take it hard.

Lee smiled and gave a thumbs up to his sensei. Leaning his chin down onto his crossed arms Lee gave a crossed eyed look at Tenten. She raised a fist threatening him and he cringed in mock-fear.

Clapping Lee on the back Gai stood up to leave. Downing his drink in one gulp he saluted Tenten and left.

"Comes and goes like the wind." Tenten said twining her fingers together.

"Yeah." Lee said.

They shared a look that said they both felt the same nostaligia for the days when Team Gai was more than just a name and few lunches here and there.

"When Neji comes back," Tenten started, "we should do something, all four of us."

Lee nodded.

Hokage Tower

Jiriya tapped at Tsunade's office door. Hearing her call out he opened the door and entered not bothering to say hello to his former teammate.

"I have received a request from the Aburame clan that Shino be called back from his mission." Tsunade said in a bland voice.

Jiriya said nothing choosing to lean over her shoulder, read the request himself, and get an eyeful at the same time.

"They don't beat around the bush when it comes to their clan heir do they?" Jiriya said equally bland.

"The Hyuugas have already acted, using their preemptive vote while I was in the hospital. When Neji makes it to the group he will replace Hinata who will be sent back to the relative safety of Konoha."

Jiriya nodded thoughtfully.

"I heard that young Yamanaka is being sent out, no 'requests' from her parents?"

Tsunade sighed.

"The Yamanakas are no longer a clan with any political power in Konoha, they don't have the strength to influence this. And besides, I can't call back every ninja just because their parents are worried about their safety."

Tsunade rubbed one hand over her temple.

"What I wouldn't give for some sake."

"Ahh, Shizune-chan confiscated the last batch I bought in?" Jiriya asked with a wry smile. "Yeah, Naruto used to confiscate my researching material, when he found it."

"I don't suppose you bought any more?" Tsunade said hopefully.

Jiriya darted a look left and right, he reached into his sleeve and drew out a delicate white clay bottle, Tsunade smiled for the first time since Kakashi had been brought back.

"I suppose you want to share and everything." She said, trying to sound grumpy.

Jiriya nodded giving a cheesy grin which only made Tsunade roll her eyes. Tsunade got out two cups and clumped over to her private balcony door.

"Fine then, hurry up Shizune always knows when I start drinking."

Jiriya let his grin soften for a moment which only made Tsunade really grumpy because she didn't need sympathy at the moment, she needed answers and help. Not that she expected to get either from the old pervert, but the sake was a start.

Konoha Academy Teacher's lounge

"Oi Iruka-kun, how's the marking coming along?"

Iruka leaned back in his chair stretching.

"Ahhh, I'm almost finished." He said with a relieved smile.

"Anyone of note?"

The Anbu member shuffled the papers with one hand.

"Eh? But all the marks are so low. Is the entire class idiotic or..."

Iruka frowned, wagging a finger at his friend. Ruiki lifted his hands and smiled.

"Sorry, I wasn't questioning your methods."

Iruka went back to marking his papers ignoring his friend. Ruiki leaned against another teacher's desk watching Iruka work.

"Did you ever try and stop him?"

Iruka's pen paused in its steady scratching.

"Who?"

Ruiki had steady nerves from years of mission work, so Iruka's warning tone didn't scare him, much.

"Naruto." Ruiki ignored the careful way that Iruka lay down his pen. "Didn't you ever think that maybe letting Naruto, given his unique problems, be so friendly with the Uchiha brat was a bad idea?"

Iruka sat up very straight. His friends had often questioned his attachment to Naruto, some had even stopped talking to him after the incident with the forbidden scroll. Iruka was used to this, but it still hurt everytime.

"I mean you're usually all over his case about everything, I don't get why you didn't object to this."

How to explain the light in Naruto's eyes whenever he talked about Sasuke? The way Naruto clung to his team like a lifeline. The loneliness that still haunted Naruto even now, the need that drove Naruto to stay with the only other person who'd understood his childhood.

"Naruto, he-he choses his friends and he keeps them." Iruka said finally.

Reiki sighed.

"That can't be easy to accept. Not for a father."

Iruka swallowed.

"Hokage-sama wants to see you at the tower as soon as possible. Your boy's gotten in it up to his neck again.'

Iruka didn't trust his voice so he said nothing. Reiki turned to go.

"Oh, you should come hang out with the gang again. We miss your prissiness."

The door closed before Iruka got control of his face back. Putting aside the unmarked papers Iruka stood up.

He'd never openly objected to Naruto being friends with Sasuke when they were children, they were both orphans they could've helped each other. After the second Sound-Konoha war, and the breaking of the Akatsuki, he'd been reluctant about Naruto and Sakura spending so much time with Sasuke. However being a sympathetic person and remembering the lonely, socially inept little boy that Sasuke had been, Iruka had given Sasuke the benefit of the doubt, Naruto had that effect on people.

So how did he feel now that Naruto was off on another dangerous mission to bring his friend home? Risking life and limb for a guy that to all appearences despised him?

Proud.

Konoha Rooftops

Kankuro stood firm as the wet wind tried to push him from his rooftop perch. It wasn't the dry hot wind that tried to strip your skin off from home, it was softer in its touch but just as strong.

All around him he noted the activities of the Konoha citizens, watching, observing, judging. He saw friends coming together and smiling, old alliances reforming, promises of future meetings being made. War was in the wind, and even those who weren't informed of it yet could smell it, like winter coming out of the hills. It pushed them to huddle together for warmth, to try and cling on to each other before the wind became a storm that would rip some of them away. Maybe all.

But that was not for now, now was for holding on and reconnecting.

He pulled on the straps holding his latest creation to his back. The creak of the leather was comforting. His brother, the Kazekage (still kazekage despite having lost the Shukaku,) had sent him to Konoha to answer the Hokage's questions about a group that regulary used their border as a camping ground.

The wind was growing colder and Kankuro wanted nothing better than to get inside somewhere, but he needed to smell the wind a little longer, he wanted to try and judge how long they had until the war arrived. Before the wind became a storm and ripped them all away.