Normal

"Speech"

Thought

Kyuubi

Warnings: I do not own Naruto. Rated "M" for language and adult situation

Chapter 33: Guess who's Coming to dinner

Myra was headed back to her apartment. She needed to call her Father. Myra closed her eyes trying to search for Edgar and Poe, but they were no where to be found. This meant they were out of range of her senses to pick them up. Not a good time to wonder off. The girl grumbled. Myra sent had Neji to try and stop Hinata, but she knew it was already too late.

Myra went in her front door and heard the phone ringing madly again. It wasn't her father this time. "Sephie?" Myra picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"MYRA! YOU ARE NEVER GONNA BELIEVE!" The girl screeched so loud Myra held the phone away from her ear.

"Sephie, calm down, you don't have to scream into the phone. Where are you?" Myra was confused.

"I'm on a plane with your Dad." The girl seemed a bit loopy.

"Put my dad on the phone." Myra put her head in her hand.

"Yes sweetheart?" Rai purred.

"First off… OMYGODILOVEYOU! Second… How in THE HELL did you get her on the plane?" Myra was trying to contain her excitement.

"Tranquilizers and gummy bears." Rai smirked.

"That'll do it. How far are you from being at the Gates?" Myra looked at the clock on her wall.

"We should be there in another few hours. We left shortly after I got off the phone with Lord Hyuuga. I have already spoken with Lady Tsunade and as far as anyone is concerned, I am flying in for the Chunin Exams."

"So much for waiting until I called you to leave, thanks Dad." Myra snickered.

"I have faith in your capabilities, sweetheart, but I needed a vacation." He sounded happy.

"Then why'd you bring Sephie?" Myra raised an eyebrow.

"Because she was driving me and your grandfather nuts." Her father teased.

Myra got serious for a second. "How much have you told Sephie about Konoha?"

"I thought I would let you explain it to her." Rai dodged the bullet.

"I see. Put Seph back on the phone." Myra heard the sound of the phone being passed.

"What is up my SIStah?" The girl was acting goofy.

Myra shook her head. "How's Steve?" There was silence on the phone. Sephie's demeanor changed dramatically. "Don't ruin my happy Dramamine buzz with talk of that asshole."

A broad grin crossed Myra's face. "That's SO good to hear."

"Please do not go into the "I told you so" speech." Sephie was pouting on the other side of the phone and Myra could hear it. Myra stifled the chuckle.

"No speeches, I promise. But you and I are going to have a long chat when you get here. Right now I have more important things to deal with, so call me when you and Dad get to the gates and I will be there to meet you. Kay?" Myra smiled.

"Yes ma'am. I will have my bells on." And there was a click. Myra shook her head. "This is going to be an interesting day if nothing else."

She took a deep breath. Myra had no time to be excited. She was to busy being worried. The consolation prize was the fact that should Myra not be able to make things right with Naruto, she would have her best friend to cry on. That made life a little easier. Myra pulled the phone off the charger, stuck it into one of the many pockets of her purple duster and closed the door to her apartment.

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Meanwhile, back at the dojo…

Naruto and Gaara stared at Hinata in disbelief. Hinata looked frantic and was still breathing heavily.

"I'm sorry Naruto, but I didn't know what else to do." Hinata started to sob. "I-I didn't want… I-I couldn't let her…" The blonde lowered his head. Gaara put his hand on his friend's shoulder. There were no sounds besides Hinata's sniffle. Naruto took a step forward towards Hinata; then a second step and was running by the third. He didn't know where he was running, but it felt better while he was running.

Gaara didn't try to stop the blonde. Even the Kazekage was having difficulty with Hinata's revelation. Gaara scowled at Hinata which caused the girl to jump. "Are you positive Myra-san said her feelings for Naruto were just an act?"

"I wish I could tell you otherwise Gaara-sama. I can not forget what she said. She sounded like she enjoyed toying with Naruto-kun." Hinata had tears streaming down her face. They both turned when Neji came out of the tree line in a hurry. Neji stopped in front of Hinata.

"Please tell me you haven't found Naruto yet?" Neji seemed concerned. Gaara kept his stark expression. Hinata was surprised to see Neji.

"Neji-niisan?" Hinata stumbled over her words. Neji took a deep breath after seeing her tear streaked face.

"Have already told Naruto-kun what you overheard in your Father's office?" Neji looked angry. Hinata took a few steps back. "Y-Yes."

Neji grumbled a few curses. "Myra-san did not have the time to speak with ANYONE. Nor did I have time to let you in on what was happening." Gaara interrupted. "What exactly is going on?"

Neji started explained the situation to Gaara and Hinata. "Lord Hyuuga has proposed a marriage of alliance between the Hyuuga Clan and the Ravenheart Clan." Neji stared at his cousin. Hinata took in a deep breath. Gaara crossed his arms. "How interesting?" The Kazekage thought aloud.

Hinata blinked. "I don't understand."

"Lord Hyuuga is plotting to take over the village, or that is what we suspect." Neji nodded.

"We? Who is this "we" you are talking about?" Gaara raised an eyebrow.

"I have suspected for years now that Lord Hyuuga has been maneuvering certain Hyuuga loyalists to key positions in different areas of the village. He does not dare openly challenge Lady Tsunade. However, should he obtain enough control over the council, he could effectively control the village with out challenging the Hokage." Neji said flatly. Gaara mulled that over for a few moments. Hinata still looked confused.

"There was a document that came across my desk a few months ago in regards to a permanent peace agreement between Suna and Konoha. It was a proposition to have an ambassador from each village placed on the council as an advisory capacity. Hinata was to be sent to Suna as the Konoha ambassador, and Temari was to be sent to Konoha as the Suna ambassador." Gaara started to put pieces together as well.

"I wouldn't make a very good advisor. I don't know anything about policy or how to run a village." Hinata still looked scared. Myra came into the clearing.

"And that is the very reason your father wants you in Suna. So he can tell you what to tell the Council of Suna. And like the good little daddy's girl you are, you would do it without question." Myra's voice was very low and dangerous. She was angry at Hinata. Neji stood protectively between Myra and Hinata.

"She did what she thought was the right thing to do." Neji glared at Myra.

"I know." Myra groused. Gaara moved forward and squinted at Myra. Myra felt the rising anger in Gaara. "Explain." Gaara's tone was effortless and deadly.

"Before I can explain, I have to know what I am explaining." She turned to Hinata. "What did you tell them?" Myra was trying to stay calm. Hinata blinked.

"I-I told them that you had been toying with Naruto-kun and the relationship was all an act." Hinata hung her head. Myra nodded her head.

"I see…" Myra took a deep breath. She was angry at Hinata, but she understood the Hyuuga girl's reason for running to tell Naruto. "I would be pretty mad at me to, had that been what I said, but that isn't what I said."

"What did you say to Lord Hyuuga?" Gaara was still looking like he would kill Myra had she given him an answer that displeased him.

"I said something about Naruto being a blast. I mentioned fun and games, and how those fun and games had to come to an end someday." Myra nodded. Hinata stared at Myra dumbfounded. It wasn't exactly what Myra had said in the Hyuuga study, but it was close. Gaara blinked. Myra shook her head.

"It isn't what you say. It's how you say it." Myra placed her head in her hand.

"But I watched with my Byakugan, you were telling the truth. Your voice was icy and cold, like you enjoyed the fun and games, but it was nothing more." Hinata yelled at Myra. The Ravenheart girl burst into hearty laughter.

"That's because I was telling the truth, but only half of it. You filled in the blanks. Naruto is a blast to be around in more ways than I want to tell you. I love playing with him, toying with him, making him angry and teasing him mercilessly because its fun and it's a game. With any relationship those fun and games have to an end eventually and you have to think of the serious things." Myra sighed. Gaara looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "You lied, but told the truth at the same time?"

"I have always thought that truth can be as sharp as any blade. Used wisely, the truth can set you free. Warp the truth and it can wound you just the same." The Ravenheart girl took a deep breath. "It isn't difficult to do once you understand how it works. It is a simple skill that has gotten me into and out of trouble more times than I care to count." Myra looked to the sky.

"Then it was the perception that became the lie." Gaara stared at Myra.

"Yes and it was intended that way. Apparently it had the desired effect because Lord Hyuuga believes that I care nothing for Naruto." Myra looked sad. "I had planned on telling Naruto, because I am sure that Lord Hyuuga will use it against me as some point." Myra looked at her feet. Gaara walked up to her.

"I do not envy your task, Myra-san. Maybe if we all had thought about the situation, then perhaps it could have been avoided." Gaara nodded. Neji looked sternly at Hinata. The Hyuuga girls started to cry again.

"I-I'm sorry, Myra-san." Hinata bowed very low. Myra turned to Hinata and sighed.

"It's all right. You did the right thing from your point of view. Had the situation been reversed, I would have pulled you aside and beaten the crap out of you." Myra smiled. Hinata stood up.

"I-I thought that I would do that a-after I t-told Naruto-kun." Hinata smiled. Everyone laughed, except Gaara. His lip curled upwards in a smirk. Hinata dried her eyes and looked at Myra.

"Would you like some help in finding him?" The Hyuuga girl wanted to make up for her mistake.

Myra lost her smile and looked at the Hokage Monument. "I already know where he is."