Midori looked away from the small house to her brother.

"Are you sure you're ok?"

"Ya." He said, not looking at her.

"No one is going to blame you."

"I know."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Why did you do it?"

"I couldn't…I didn't feel comfortable with who they paired me with."

"I see."

"I didn't mean to – "

"I know." Midori said, rubbing her bruised arm slightly.

Haruno pushed open the door only to find his entire family pop up and scream "SURPRISE!" Midori walked in after him, smiling widely. "Thanks everyone!" She said.

Haruno walked in slowly, shutting the door behind him. He attempted to give them a weak smile but failed. His Uncle came up to him, messing his hair.

"What's wrong? You should be proud to be a chunin now!"

Gaara put a hand on Kankuro's shoulder and shook his head as Haruno looked at the floor.

"Oh…" Kankuro, rubbed his head. "Well….lot's of people don't make it their first time! No worries – just take it again next year!"

Temari sighed and pushed him away. "Not helping Kankuro. Although he is right – not everyone makes it on their first try."

Haruno nodded. "I know."

Temari smiled. "Look what I've got Gaara!" She pulled out a small book and waved it in front of him. Ume was helping me clean the house and we found these. They're your BABY PICTURES."

Gaara paled. "What?"

"Hey do have the one from the time when we gave him some makeup? He loved the eyeliner."

"But of course."

Haruno sulked off to his bedroom when he saw an opening. He knew his father would be mad but he just didn't feel like he deserved a party. He didn't know what to think, especially about Midori. He loved her but at the same time he was annoyed with her. If only she had never come then he might have became a chunin after all. He sighed and lay down on his bed, closing his eyes.

Don't think like that, you know it's not fair. You chose what you thought was right. Came the voice from within his head. He knew it was right but he hated admitting it and without meaning to he drifted off into a fitful sleep.

She was back again, but unlike all the others times she was now scolding him as though he was still a small child.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to."

"Yes you did. You chose to do what you did and now you must live with your guilt."

"But Mom…" He struggled to find the words to make her understand. "I couldn't hurt her – she's my sister! And then she came out of nowhere and I was just so mad! I'm sorry!"

He watched as his mother nodded and faded away with a sad smile. He jolted awake, dripping in cold sweat to find someone pounding on his door.

"Haruno open up. Now." Came his father's stern voice.

Haruno sighed and walked over to the wooden door. He paused a moment before turning the knob and allowing Gaara to push it open all the way. He had rarely seen his father so livid so he looked at his feet instead of facing his father's stern gaze.

"Ya Dad?" He muttered.

"You know very what I'm here for. Everyone came up from Konoha to see you and your sister and you sneak upstairs after barely saying hello."

Haruno gulped, he was in more trouble than he thought – Gaara wasn't even yelling. "Sorry."
"Sorry's not going to cut it. What gave you the idea that you could do that? You had no right to run off like that so you better have a really good reason because whether you're allowed out of the house for the next 3 weeks might depend on it got it?"
Haruno felt his temper boil. His dad knew he had lost the fight and naturally it would be a sore spot so what right did his father have to come and start yelling at him.

"You knew I'd be fighting her didn't you?" He asked trying to keep his temper in line.

"What are you talking about?"

"You knew I was paired with Midori and you had the power to change it! Did you really think I'd be able to fight her! Were you surprised when I forfeited before the fight even began?"
"Don't you talk to me like that. The fights were chosen at random – "

"But as Kazekage I am sure you got the list before hand! I can't believe you'd do that to me!" He pushed his way past Gaara and walked out of the house.

After walking a few feet he collapsed on sand and looked up at the stars, tears leaking silently down his cheeks.

"I didn't mean to hit her Mom, honest. I was just so mad and then she came up to me and I couldn't take it. I didn't mean to yell at her and tell her that I resented how Dad took her in, you've got to believe me!"

"You are forgiven little one." Came the voice once more as Haruno kept pleading with the empty sky.

Gah! This took me longer than I thought. Next chapter, which might be up tonight, might get a little confusing because it's going to be in different POVs ok? Good. Next chapter will be the last one for this story and the it's the sequel which I can't wait to write! It's going to be so much better!