VIv: Wow, it took you long enough.

BB: I know. How sad it is that I haven't updated since September. Of course during Novemeber I was doing NaNoWriMo. Other then that, the only excuse I have is Writer's block.

SHay: This is an interesting chapter though. It introduces a really fun charrie, Konohamaru. I like Kono

Viv: I thought you had a thing with Gaara?

Shay: I do, but Kono's fun to annoy. NAyways, BB doesn't own anything.

BB: Yeah, so please read.


Hanabi sighed as she rode the elevator down. She hadn't expected that from her sister. She really hadn't expected anything from the older girl.

Hana could remember when her sister would always take the blame for something Hana did. She could remember when Hinata would sneak ice cream into Hana's room. She could remember when Hinata would give up her happiness for her.

How did this happen? she thought sharply, slamming her fist against the wall of the elevator. How did she end up all alone? How did she end up without anyone, but her father? And now her father wants to give her to the highest bidder? How did this happen?

The elevator pinged, bringing Hanabi's attention to the doors. Her back straightened as the door opened into the lobby. She strode through the doors, and the lobby as if she owned it. She exited the building with an air of dignity that was impossible for anyone to imitate. It was pure Hanabi Hyuuga.

She made her way to the parking garage, fishing her keys out of her pocketbook. She drove a Porsche Boxster 987; candy apple red, convertible, and was just like her, flashy and attention-getting. Or at least it was like her, before her sister left, and her father said that she couldn't be like that anymore.

She sighed again, the exhale of breath leaving her shoulders slumped. No one was in the garage, witnessing her weakness, or else she wouldn't have done such a thing. Appearances were everything in her life.

She shook off the cloud of darkness, and continued to her car. She froze though when she saw a man standing, leaning against the door of her Boxster. He was her age, tall, with spiky brown hair. Though she couldn't see them, she knew that his eyes were a memorizing onyx color, but she really hated to admit that. She knew who he was, as he was a constant annoyance in her life. A messenger bag was slung over his shoulder, which was where he kept his notepad and tape recorder.

She stepped closer to her car, about to snarl at him, when his head snapped up. He could be a freaking ninja, she swore mentally.

"So I was right!" He yelled, grinning a mischievous grin. "I knew you would be the only person driving this expensive gaudy toy."

"Shut up, Sarutobi." She hissed, glaring viciously. "Get off my car."

"Now, Ms. Hyuuga, I believe I've told you to call me Konohamaru." The man said in a teasing tone, not moving.

She stormed up towards him, stopping only a foot away. Her fists were clenched at her sides, her temper rising to a dangerous level. It really hadn't been a good day, not with the news she had learned already this morning. Then she had to get yelled at by her quiet sister and didn't even get the chance to talk to her cousin. She was ticked, and he wasn't making it better.

"Get. Off. My. Car." She forced out. He blinked at her. She watched his grin widen.

"Tough day, Hanabi?" He asked. "I could kiss you, make you feel better."

"How many times do I have to say it, Sarutobi. I don't like you. Even if you weren't a slimy reporter for Konoha News Journal, I still wouldn't like you." Hanabi yelled. "You are worse then the scum on the bottom of my boot!"

"Ouch." Konohamaru mockingly flinched. "I'd be hurt if you actually meant that."

Hanabi gaped at him. "Why do you think I don't think that. I hate you!"

"No you don't, Hanabi." Kono murmured, pushing himself off of the car. "You don't hate me, even though you wish you do."

Hanabi rolled her eyes, tilting her head to shot him a dark glare. "How can I not hate you? You're a reporter, I'm an heiress. Worse enemies. You constantly harass me. I'm seriously thinking about signing a restraining order. And now, I see that you stalk me, or how else did you know I was here?"

"I didn't." He said, his grin shifting into a smirk. "I came here to talk to a man on the top floor about a pink haired accusation. I was just walking by, and saw your car and figured I had enough time. I could wait for you to come down. I know that you aren't on the best terms with your cousin, so I figured it wouldn't be a long meeting."

Hanabi blinked at him. He was here, on the worse day of her life, by coincidence? Did the deities of the stars hate her, or what.

"Figures," She muttered. She looked up at him, and the fight went out of her. A sigh escaped her lips, and she suddenly felt tired. All she wanted to do was go home, and hide in her bed. "Move." She said, her voice sounding exhausted, though to her ears, it sounded defeated.

She glanced up to see concern flitting behind his dark eyes. "You okay?" he asked, actually sounding concerned.

"I'm fine." She snapped, not wanting to see her weakness. "Once you get the hell out of my way, and let me go home, I'll be even better."

"okay, Hana." Konohamaru said, sidestepping out of the way. "Don't want to see you sick." He grinned. "I mean, who else would I stalk?" he whispered in her ear as he passed her.

She whirled to scream something extremely rude, but he was already gone. She gave a huff, and viciously unlocked her door, ripped it open, and threw herself inside the car. She slammed the door closed, and glared at her steering wheel.

Anger, frustration, helplessness, hopelessness, and of course the feeling of stupidity swirled inside of her. SHE HATED IT!! She slammed her hand against the steering wheel, over and over again, screaming her anger. She was so focused on inflicting the damage upon her car, that she never noticed the tears running down her cheeks.

---

Hinata sighed, leaning back to stare at the ceiling. She was sitting with Lena and Naruto in Naruto's office. Lena was finishing her report, and Naruto was snorting in his sleep, which pretty much left her to her thoughts.

What did Hanabi want? She wondered. What could've driven her independent sister to speak to Neji? What could've happened?

Hinata really didn't want to know. It had to be something terrible, something that not even Neji could handle. She just hoped her sister would be okay. She may not get along with the girl, but she was more important then almost anything. On Hinata's list of people she would die for, Hanabi tied with Neji for second.

The door to the office slipped open, and Hinata turned to see a tall boy with spiky brown hair peek in. He blinked at her, and then his black eyes settled on Naruto. He smirked, and slipped into the room. Hinata rose, but the boy waved her away, walking silently towards Naruto. Lena also looked up, watching the new person.

The boy made his way through the office, and stood a few feet away from Naruto's snoring figure. His smirk widened, and he inhaled deeply. Before Hinata could stop him, he yelled.

"UZUMAKI, YOU'RE SLEEPING ON THE JOB!!!"

Naruto jolted up, and flew to his feet. He caught his foot on the leg of his chair, and slammed against the ground hard. He moaned, and his sky blue eyes shot to the new boy, killing intent evident in them.

"Konohamaru," He growled darkly, slowly lifting himself up. "I'd run."

"Yeah, yeah, Nii-san." The boy, Konohamaru, said with a lazy wave of his hand. "You terrify me."

"I should. What the hell are you doing here?" Naruto asked, on his feet now.

"About to talk to Uchiha about Ms. Haruno." Konohamaru said with a shrug. He glanced over at Hinata. "You're Hinata Hyuuga right? I saw your sister in the parking lot. She didn't look too happy."

"Please don't tell me that she was the girl you've been whining about!" Naruto moaned, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling. "If it is, I'm kicking your butt."

Hinata's eyes passed between the two men, and she blinked. Lena just leaned back, grinning.

Kohohamaru glared at Naruto. "Nii-san, number one, I don't whine. Number two, why would you kick my butt?"

"Because, Hanabi Hyuuga is bad news. No offense, Hinata." Naruto said, tilting his head to smile at Hinata. He remembered the last person to speak badly about the younger Hyuuga. "She'd chew you up, and spit you out, hardened reporter or not."

"No she wouldn't. I'll have you know, Hanabi Hyuuga has a soft spot for me." Konohamaru grinned. "She thinks I'm hot."

Naruto bended over, laughing hard. "Yeah, right!"

Hinata smiled at the two's antics. "I highly doubt that Hana thinks you're hot. I have to agree with Naruto-sama on this."

Konohamaru shot her an exasperated look. "Figures you'd be on his side. Anyways, I've got to ask you something. What's going on with your sister?" His look switched to an interested look, and Hinata remembered one of the previous comments.

"You're a reporter, aren't you?" She asked slowly.

"Yes, I'm a reporter, for the Konoha News Journal. My uncle owns the newspaper. But still, what's going on with your sister? Off the record." Konohamaru said with a shrug.

"I don't know." Hinata admitted. "I didn't know that she was acting strangely"

"Yeah, she has to be. She was here, no doubt to speak with her cousin, and she seemed to be in a rotten mood. Not to mention, at one point in her conversation with me, she seemed to drop her usual attitude, and she sounded exhausted."

"Exhausted?" Hinata questioned, blinking.

"Yeah, tired. And I have no doubt you know that it must be something big to make Hanabi drop her mask." Konohamaru sighed, and shook his head. "Whatever it is, it's bad. I'll keep my ear to the ground though, about what's happening at Hyuuga Company."

Hinata watched the boy. "You care." She murmured. Konohamaru turned to her.

"About Hanabi?" He asked, blinked. "Yeah, a little. She's interesting, and fun as hell to annoy." A slow smirk crossed his face.

"You know, Hiashi is trying to overpower Demon Eyes." Naruto pointed. Lena was still sitting at the desk, watching the exchange, slightly confused but extremely interested. "They're working to take over Mist beforehand."

"I'll keep an eye out." Konohamaru said with a nod. "I'll even do some digging, see what I can't get. Aren't you glad you have a reporter for a friend?" He asked, glancing at Naruto.

"Actually I am. Now, why don't you bug Sasuke, since you woke me up from my nap."

"Fine, I'm off." Konohamaru walked towards the door, and turned. "It was nice to meet you Ms. Hyuuga. See ya later, bro."

"See ya, Kono." Naruto waved as Konohamaru walked out. When the door snapped shut, Naruto stretched sighing. "Love the dork, but man he's annoying."

"Is he really your brother?" Lena asked from her place behind the desk. Naruto turned to look at her.

"No, he isn't. His grandfather is a friend of my grandmother. Kakashi is a buddy of Asuma too, Konohamaru's uncle."

"Oh." Lena turned to Hinata. "Is this Hanabi woman really your sister?" She asked, tilting her head. Hinata winced.

"Yes, she is. But she doesn't like me much." Hinata muttered.

"I think that's the understatement of the year, Hinata." Naruto muttered under his breath, settling back in his chair.

---

Sasuke's finger flew furiously across the keyboard, as codes and information spun itself onto the screen. He had an entire division of computer nerds to create these programs, but what was the fun in that?

A knock sounded at his door, and he looked up. "COme in." He called, pulling his hands up to crack his knuckles.

The door opened to reveal the brat that use to constantly follow Naruto around. Sasuke knew that kid had now made a name for himself as the best Journalist in the Konoha News Journal.

"What do you want, Konohamaru?" Sasuke asked, leaning back.

"An interview." Konohamaru said, stepping all the way into the room. "It's about some nasty little comments that one Sakura Haruno has made about you."

"What kind of comments?" Sasuke questioned, interested.

"Well, some comments should not be said in proper company, but mostly it centered around, and I quote "Sasuke Uchiha is a chauvinistic asshole who wouldn't know a real woman if she danced in front of him naked." Konohamaru grinned. "I thought it was slightly poetic, really."

Sasuke sighed. "I knew she was more trouble then she was worth." He muttered.

"Probably, but that's what you get when you date needy movie stars. Look on the bright side, at least it wasn't Ino Yamanaka. The last guy she went out with had to leave the country for the fear that she'd find him and castrate him."

"True. Sit down, Kono." Sasuke waved towards the chair in front of him. "THink an interview with me will make the front page?"

"Of the paper, nah, but of the Style page, definitely." a sly evil looking smirk slowly slid across Konohamaru's face. He reached into his messenger bag, and pulled out his tape recorder and his notepad. Pulling a pen out of his shirt pocket, he clicked it. His black eyes flickered to Sasuke. "Let's begin."