Temari looked into the mirror at the unhappy girl's image. "What's wrong Tanya? You seem depressed."

The girl suddenly stopped brushing and offered a weak smile. "It's nothing."

Temari turned around to look at the girl. "Does it have to do with your brother?"

She nodded. "I received a letter from him."

"That's wonderful! How is he?"

"As well as he can be… considering."

Temari nodded. "I am very sorry for what he has had to endure. Gaara sent a letter of protest but…"

Tanya nodded. "But it was ignored; I appreciate his effort on my behalf though."

"Don't lose hope, he's still alive that is the most important thing."

"He has been trapped there for over a year."

"I know, if Gaara becomes Kazekage then perhaps something can be done." She turned back around and Tanya began brushing her hair again.

"Yes, if he becomes Kazekage. But that will not happen anytime soon will it?"

"You have to keep hope that something can be done."

Tanya nodded. "Temari, may I ask you something?"

Temari smiled at her favorite maid. "Of course."

"If your brothers were trapped in a Mist prison, would you kill to free them?"

"Yes," the answer came without the slightest hesitation. "I'd slaughter as many mist nins as I had to to get them out."

"But… what if the person you killed wasn't an enemy?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if the only way to free them was to kill someone who was completely innocent and had nothing to do with their situation?"

"Would killing this person free my brothers?"

"Yes it would."

"Then I would kill him." The answer again came without hesitation. "I have killed Tanya, and I know that taking a life is never easy. But if it means saving someone I love then I will do it."

"Even if the person is completely blameless and innocent?"

"Yes, if it is to protect the ones I love. I'm not saying that it's right or just. But the world is a hard place and some times we must do hard things to protect what we love." She turned around again. "Why are you asking me this? You're not thinking of doing something stupid like actually going to Mist are you?"

She gave Temari a reassuring smile. "No! Of course not! I'm not even kunoichi, what could I do?"

Temari nodded and turned back again. "Don't lose hope Tanya, as long as he is alive there is hope."

She nodded. "I know there is." She looked into the mirror ad seemed to relax. "So what do you have planned with Shikamaru today?"

Temari smiled and relaxed. "He's meeting me here but I'm taking him to my favorite restaurant then we're going to spend the day all around the village."

"Sounds like great fun." Tanya brushed out her hair and made sure to store away every detail for later.

XXXXXXXXXX

The department of Internal Security took up much of the third floor of the Tower of Wind. In some ways it was simply another piece of Suna's bureaucracy. It functioned fairly well, if not with extreme efficiency. It had files and offices and busy administrators who often felt themselves to be overworked and overwhelmed. In some ways they were no different that the department of Licenses and Permits that shared the third floor with them. Of the course the latter never ordered the assassination of foreign officials.

In a simple corner office Ossama Sulamon sat behind his desk. Unlike his grandson he was not a man who required excessive displays. Outside his door was written his name and the simple title; Director of Internal Security. The words had remained unchanged since he'd first been appointed to the position eighteen years ago by the new Kazekage. He did not shy away from hard work and often spent long hours going over reports and making difficult decisions. Over the years he had lost track of just how many deaths he had ordered, how many lives ruined, or how many innocent people he had sent to prison. He never lost sleep over any of it. If asked he would have replied that he was a loyal patriot of his village and always acted in the best interests of Suna. He would have spoken without lying, for it was what he believed. In his long life he had always acted to protect his clan and his village. He had destroyed many lives while guarding each. It was the way of the world that power, not justice, was what mattered. His actions were always based on that premise.

He looked from the report on his desk up to Captain Yura. "Is this genuine? On the face of it it does seem rather ridiculous. Why would four blacksmiths wish to attack Gaara?"

"Our sources in Takumi village do not know the purpose but the intention seems certain."

"Seems certain? Do these idiots even know Gaara's reputation?" Yura nodded. "I simply find it hard to believe that these blacksmiths could be so deluded or so suicidal as to plan to come here to attack Gaara."

"I can certainly understand that, however their intentions do appear clear. Also Director, while Takumi is an artisan village specializing in weapons manufactures these four are ninja."

"I disagree, what they are is a waste of time." He looked down at the report again. This Jin idiot probably had some crazy convoluted plan to gain great power. How many idiots like this had he dealt with over the years? There seemed a never ending supply of fools with both ambition and too much imagination. "Normally I would ignore this, especially given how shorthanded we are." He looked at the report again, and sighed. "However with the current situation as delicate as it is I don't suppose I can risk allowing these fools to make the attempt." He took a blank piece of paper and began scribbling on it. When it was done he signed and sealed it. "Here," he handed the mission order to Yura. "Have them and all known associates killed. I've assigned it as a B-rank so allocate one of our better teams to it." Yura simply put the paper into his folder and nodded. "Now what can you tell me about this new organization?"

The captain frowned. "Very little I'm afraid. They appear to be a highly organized group of missing nins, most of them either A or S ranked. They call themselves Akatsuki. The only members we have confirmed at present are Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame."

"Anything that involves Itachi is important. Increase our efforts."

"Yes sir, though it will be difficult."

"This has an S-rank priority; you can have whatever funds you need."

"The problem is not money sir, but rather finding anyone willing to risk themselves by spying on such dangerous men."

"Well do all that you can." Yura nodded. "Now I asked you to put together a special file for me?"

"Yes sir, it's right here." He handed him a manila folder.

Sulamon opened it and took a look its contents. "Not the thickest folder I've ever seen."

"I am sorry Director, it is all the information we were able to gather on the subject."

"Tell me Yura, what is your opinion on him?"

"He seems highly intelligent and has crafted the appearance of disinterest. Yet he is reported to be greatly skilled in combat possessing a sharp tactical mind. I find it easy to see why he is a favorite of their Hokage. There is also one other interesting fact about him."

"Oh?"

"He is considered the best shogi player in Konoha. In fact it's reported that the only one he has ever lost to is his father." Yura smiled a bit. "Perhaps you should play a game with him?"

Sulamon nodded ruefully. "Now that would be interesting. Unfortunately, I think it better that he and I never meet." He looked up from the file. "You have done well as always Yura, you may go now." The captain nodded and left the office.

Sulamon went back to the file on one Nara Shikamaru.

XXXXXXXXXX

There was a knock on the door. Chouji opened it and found Ino standing there with a tray of cookies. "Room service." She laughed.

He gave her a weak smile. "Hey Ino."

Seeing the reaction her good mood began to dissipate. "Can I come in?"

He nodded and stepped aside. "Sure."

She set the tray down on the small table in front of the sofa. "Chocolate chip, your favorite, I had room service make them."

"Thanks Ino, that was nice of you."

A depressing silence fell between them. What made it even more depressing for her was that this was Chouji. Sure Shikamaru would occasionally not want to talk, but Chouji had never been that way. They'd never had trouble talking to each other before. But yesterday she'd had the talk Shikamaru had bullied her into. She had watched Chouji slowly deflate in front of her as she told him they would only ever be friends.

Not able to stand the quiet anymore she impulsively went up to the boy and gave him a fierce hug. "Chouji please don't hate me!"

He looked at her in shock. "Ino I would never hate you!"

"Then are you angry with me?"

But he shook his head. "No, I guess… I don't know, maybe I'm just sad to know there will never be anything between us."

Now it was her turn to look shocked. "How can you say that? Chouji you and Shikamaru are my dearest friends! You're both special to me and I care more about you two than anyone except my parents."

He hesitated, but finally decided that if he was ever going to say this now would be the time. "But not special enough to go on one real date with."

Her eyes dropped to the floor. "Chouji, I've never told you that I felt that way. I'm sorry but I don't think of you like that." She brought her eyes back up. "I know you want me to feel that way but I don't. It's not something I choose, it's just what's there. The heart wants what the heart wants. Can't you understand that?"

And that was the first time she saw it. It was the very first time she saw what had always been there. She saw his eyes flash with pain, with an ache so deep and terrible she wondered how she could have ever been so blind. "Yeah Ino," he said softly. "I know about the heart wanting what it wants." He took a breath. "Tell me just one thing though. You said you liked the way I looked when all the weight was gone. If I looked that way all the time would you want to date me then?"

She looked embarrassed. Am I really so shallow and into looks? "I don't know. If I were suddenly fat would you want to date me?"

"Yes."

She knew he meant it. "I'm really sorry Chouji, you are a wonderful guy and I know you would treat me well and be good to me. But I don't feel it." She felt on the verge of tears. "I should go."

As she got to the door though he spoke. "Are you really going to leave me to eat all these cookies by myself?"

She was surprised to see the old smile there. "Are you sure?"

He nodded. "Ino, I won't say I'm not sorry you don't feel more. I won't say I'm not hurt." He rushed on when he saw the look on her face. "But I still care about you and I still want us to be close. If all we can be is good friends then I still want that."

She smiled at him. And even though he knew it was stupid, he was glad that he had made her smile. "Thanks Chouji."

They both sat down and began eating cookies. Chouji looked at the girl and decided he would make a huge sacrifice for her. "So, are you thinking of getting any new shoes?"

She lit up. "Oh! I am so glad you asked…"

Very soon the discomfort and silence that had hung between them was, if not forgotten, set aside as they relaxed and ate cookies.

XXXXXXXXXX

Sulamon stared at the file on his desk. "My, my, Shikamaru but you are an interesting fellow." He took a pen and scribbled one word at the end of the document.

Spy.