Chapter 7

Gaara wasn't proud of himself for fleeing after the kiss. But… what had happened had taken him completely by surprise. Even now when he tried to figure out how he'd been working one second and then reduced to a shaking bag of hormones another was a situation he didn't understand. Some distance seemed prudent to get his brain in working order again.

Plus… he'd promised Matsuri he wouldn't make any mistakes… fuck. He'd never had problems with honor before. Ever.

He had relayed to Hinata through Nobu that she wouldn't be able to work in his office anymore. She had been instead asked to work on Project Firebird from the library at the Kazakage compound.

After an entire day of avoiding Hinata, he could no longer delay the discussion on the project, especially since progress had been lacking the previous day as well.

So around 2 PM Gaara nervously headed to the Kage compound and entered the library. Upon noticing him Hianta predictably paused, turned red and after a few seconds of shock stood up to greet him.

"Kazakage-sama" she bowed.

"How is it going today?" he asked, nodding at her documents.

She paused looking down at her hands and then took a deep breath. "I should apologize first."

He inclined his head at her noncommittal.

"I don't really have an explanation…" she whispered again looking down at her hands.

He remained silent.

"I… I…" she was flame faced now. He wasn't trying to make her uncomfortable on purpose. But her explanation thus far had been terrible. He too had wondered what had happened yesterday.

"I had a…" she struggled to find words. "I had not exactly a memory recall but more like a feeling of familiarity and a lot of sensations came to me at once."

Gaara felt himself loose his breath as he realized what she meant. That being enclosed in his sand had made her have a sensory recall of previous memories. He looked down trying to mask his expression. What was he supposed to make of that?

"I… I realize that is not nearly a good enough explanation. Please know I am ashamed and mortified for what I did… when I know you are… or have moved on. I… I consulted Sakura about it already."

"What did she say?" was all he could ask after a few moments of silent thought processing.

"Er… she said it was likely that different things could trigger memory. Scent and sensations are strong cues and are processed in the brain differently than emotions and other memories. So she said it is possible to recall some of my memories by exploring this path." Hinata smiled ironically.

"Path of what exactly?" he asked sarcastically.

"Oh…" she blinked, "I am not even sure. I … haven't had much time to figure out how to approach this."

"Right." he nodded bitterly. "And what of the research?" he asked harshly, nodding at the documents she had opened. This conversation had soured his mood.

She took a deep breath at the redirect but nodded sharply. "Well your intelligence has found out the whereabouts of Oto from what I heard is that right?"

Gaara nodded. Oto had been confirmed to still be situated in the Blood Prison. Kankuro was on his way to question him.

"Matsuri-san is investigating Subisu, so I have been focusing my efforts on what we have received from the allied nations on our Request for Information on Zensu. There is a lack of consistent or reliable information on this entity."

Gaara nodded.

"They have a disturbing amount of similarity to the intelligence on the Zetsu's that were present during the last war as we discussed. Zensu would in fact be a superior spying tool, however such an entity is likely being used by someone else with an end goal and not necessarily operating solely on their own ambitions."

"I see," Gaara nodded, suddenly his mind moving away from the situation with Hinata and focusing on this anomaly instead. "Is there anything else?"

"Have you considered the possibility that some of these players should be perhaps looked at together instead of separately?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well… If Zensu indeed has similarities capable to Zetsu… it can move in and out of pretty much any space. It can be linked to Oto, it can even be linked to Subisu!"

Gaara's mind whirred. Yes indeed, that was true. If these individuals were linked this all could be much more complicated than a simple attack on Suna for political destabilization. He looked at Hinata with fascination.

"What?" she asked, blinking self consciously. "Is that silly?"

"No…" he shook his head. "I think that could be the key to breaking this case. I need to go to the Blood Prison" he said thoughtfully.

"What?" she blanched.

"Yes, I have no time to lose, I should catch up with Kankuro." Gaara pushed his chair back, standing up.

"Wait…Kazekage-sama" Hinata ran to catch up to him as he strode upstairs. "You can't just leave, it's dangerous. You could be walking into a trap."

"We will take a squad, '' he replied unpersuaded.

"What if their plan is to have you and the top tiered agents out of the country? Wouldn't you leave the country in a power vacuum?"

"Temari is my successor if something were to happen to me," Gaara replied right back.

That statement brought Hinata to a stand still as she watched Gaara's back climb the stairs ahead of her. "How can you say that?!" she said sharply, her voice reaching a shrill level surprising even to herself.

That seemed to have gained Gaara's attention as he stopped suddenly and turned to her with a raised eyebrow. A slightly dangerous aura flickered around him… a kunoichi couldn't talk to the Kazekage like that. Especially a foreign kunoichi.

"I…I" she stammered flustered. "I am going to go find Matusuri-san!" Hinata said in a panic and turned to leave but she felt a sand hand sneak around her wrist grabbing and stilling her.

"You don't have any authority to tell me what I should or can do Hyuga," Gaara warned in a low voice.

She realized she was shaking as she finally stilled. She had somehow followed Gaara to the third floor of the Kazekage mansion. The floor where she didn't have any clearance to be in.

It was a weird thing, this muscle memory of hers. As Gaara was holding her wrist it was all she could do to not turn around and hold him in place. Hug him and beg him to stay in Suna... with her. It was like an instinct. Something deep inside her was calling out to do that. Something in her body recognized him and wanted him near. She exhaled shakily… confused.

"I… I'm sorry" she finally looked up at him. His eyes were piercing and he didn't look like he was kidding around.

"You can go find Matsuri, I need to brief her" was all he said before nodding and walking down the hallway effectively dismissing her.

After bringing Matsuri over to the Kazekage compound Hinata was loitering around outside the Kage study waiting to hear what the outcome of this meeting would be as Sakura walked in.

"Oh hey Hinata" the pink haired Kuinochi smiled, seeming a bit weary.

Sakura usually had very long days at the hospital but most of the individuals who were attacked now seemed to be well on their way to making full recoveries and some even being released from the hospital.

"What… are you doing?" she asked, confused. Usually Hinata was in the kitchen during this time cooking.

"Uh… Kazakage-sama is in there with Matusuri-san… I'm just waiting to see the outcome of their meeting, '' Hinata replied, wringing her hands.

"Why are you so nervous?"

"Gaara-sama is looking to go visit the Blood Prison, to question a prisoner based on some intel I recently found. I … I don't think it's a good idea for him to leave"

Sakura blinked. "Is it not a bit unusual for you to be so concerned about… Gaara?"

Now it was Hinata's turn to pause. Was this unusual?

"I-I…err…" she stammered and then stopped at a loss for words.

"Right…" Sakura murmured and just then the doors swung open as Gaara and Matsuri walked out.

"Sakura" Gaara nodded upon noticing the pinkette.

Sakura returned the nod measuredly. "I hear you are heading out on a mission."

"Yes… there are a few things that aren't adding up," Gaara paused, looking thoughtful and his sand swirled around the palm of his hands. Almost as if he was agitated or thinking. Hinata paused fascinated. "I need to go see to this myself."

"Right" Sakura replied simply. "Well.. be safe… I know Naruto and Sasuke are out there too. Say hi to them for me, will you?"

Gaara smiled back at Sakura in that familiar way and she blinked again in disbelief that he was just leaving like this and everyone was letting him!

And then without any other words Gaara turned grabbing his knapsack and walked away from the Kazekage mansion followed by Matsuri. Hinata stood in the foyer staring out at him as he gradually disappeared.

.


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10 days later

Am I still supposed to be here? Hinata wondered while walking to the Kage tower. Now that the emergency medical situation in Suna was resolved, Sakura was getting ready to head back to Konoha.

Why was Hinata still here? She wasn't adding any value and without Gaara here, she'd been instructed to help around… and she wasn't enjoying that very much.

"Good morning Hinata" Matsuri nodded from behind her desk evaluating the daily status reports.

"Morning-Matsuri-san" Hinata bowed to the younger girl. "Have you heard from the Kazekage-sama?" Hinata asked as she had every day for the last 10 days.

Matusri as usual was distracted looking through documents.

"Er… not yet" the girl looked up, "I'm sure he is fine Hinata… Here I've made a list of tasks for you to accomplish today. I am heading out for my first meeting of the day." and with that the girl was gone.

Hinata nodded almost comically and then looked down at the list, sighing.

.


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Somewhere in Kusagakure

The journey from Suna to Kusagakure wasn't far per se. The challenge was mainly trekking the vast expanse of the desert that was in his home country and then traversing across the continuous downpour that was the Hidden Rain Village to get to Kusagakure. This wasn't a country with particularly strong ties to Suna, however this is where the blood prison was located and therefore where he needed to be.

Kusagakure, also known as the Village Hidden in the Grass, was renowned for its unique and diverse topography. Nestled amidst lush greenery and sprawling fields, the village was surrounded by dense forests and vibrant vegetation, creating a picturesque and verdant landscape. The village itself was situated within a valley, cradled by gentle hills and rolling meadows. The terrain was marked by undulating slopes and patches of fertile soil, making it ideal for agriculture and the cultivation of various plant species.

In addition to its natural beauty, Kusagakure's topography offered strategic advantages for its shinobi. The dense forests and abundant foliage provide ample cover and concealment, allowing ninja to utilize stealth and surprise tactics effectively. The undulating terrain also presents tactical opportunities for ambushes and flanking maneuvers.

On top of this despite its serene appearance the grassy terrain of Kusagakure could also be treacherous. The dense vegetation concealed hidden pitfalls, traps, and the occasional dangerous wildlife, adding an element of danger to the village's surroundings. Shinobi native to Kusagakure were well-versed in navigating these hazards, but foreign shinobi such as them had to be extra careful.

Gaara had caught up to Kankura within a few days of travel and now the party was traveling together. His brother had been annoyed with him joining the mission because now this operation had become a couple of notches more sensitive and high profile. Which would make it harder for Kankuro to keep a low profile.

"Matsuri should have let the Kage of Kusagakure know that we are visiting" Gaara reassured Kankuro that they would have backup if needed. His brother didn't seem too passified by that.

"Gaara you could have sent me a clone to inform me of this, you didn't need to come on your own. What if this is a trap?"

"Based on what Hinata said, if this is all in fact linked…this is a lot more complicated than we thought. I need to be there myself to see Oto's reaction."

Kankuro sighed. He knew he couldn't win with Gaara on this. Plus clearly something had happened. He could read his brother like a book and he wasn't being forthcoming right now about something. It must be related to Hinata, Kankuro thought as he discretely looked at his brother who was leading their formation.


They get to the blood prison the next day. In fact the Kusagakure Kage had been informed of their visit and had sent a convoy to escort them to the prison.

"This is my first time being here" Kankuro looked at the dismal sight of the decrepit looking castle situated in the middle of a lake. "It looks as miserable as they say…"

"Oh yeah… the inside is a lot less cheerful," Gaara muttered, raising sand platforms to transfer the convoy to the prison.

After they've been checked in by the security detail, they were taken to the cell. Otto wasn't a very high class heinous criminal so he wasn't locked away in the basement, but this establishment still seemed a bit of a stretch to hold a simple drug smuggler from Suna.

Gaara tried to refresh his memory on how Oto had landed here… but he'd had no part in the transfer of Oto from Suna to here. He frowned, feeling a bit uneasy.

All of a sudden they were in front of a standard marked cell and Gaara had to shift his mind to the present to deal with what was in front of him. The guards opened the door and Gaara and Kankuro walked inside, signalling the convoy to wait outside.

The grimy interior of the prison and the smell of the unwashed man along with that of human waste made the hairs inside Gaara's nose singe but he maintained a neutral expression.

"Well… well" Oto's oily voice rang out, "Aren't I a lucky boy to receive a visit from such esteemed guests" he laughed.

"Oto" Kankuro replied with a jovial expression, smiling at the overweight man, "I thought you would have lost a few pounds in a place like this."

The sneering expression on Oto's face fell at the words and the man grunted moving up to a sitting position from where he'd been laying on the bed.

"Well… to what do I owe the pleasure? As you can see… I can't exactly entertain guests in here" the man gestured to the dismal small cell.

"Yes … I'm sure it must be tough being in here forced to reflect on your crimes" Kankuro said sarcastically, looking around.

"Crimes?" Oto spat… "Since when is drug trafficking a crime to send people to the blood prison?"

Gaara stomach knotted. Why hadn't he reviewed the prisoner transfer records before heading over here? Fuck.

"Well..." Kankuro blinked, realization dawning upon him mirroring the same understanding that had struck Gaara. Without missing a beat, Gaara took it upon himself to divert Oto's attention.

"We didn't come here to chitchat… but we did come here to ask you a few questions'' Gaara replied in a commanding voice. The one that stoof for no arguments.

"Oh boy, a visit from the Kazekage himself?! Just to ask little old me a few questions?"

"Little?" Kankuro scoffed and Oto snarled at the puppeteer while Gaara leveled his brother with a frown. It was a warning.

"Have you had any interactions with a being known as Zensu?" Gaara asked Oto.

"Zensu? What's that? How would I have any interactions with anyone anyway being stuck in here? You can see my visitor records so why bother asking me?"

"Cut the crap. We know that Zensu can move between spaces and likely dimensions undetected… very similar to the ability we observed in a being called Zetsu back in the day…"

"Hmmm… Zensu… nope that doesn't ring a bell" Oto continued inspecting his nails.

Gaara narrowed his eyes. He didn't know Oto well, but he didn't have to rely on his instincts honed over years of being the Kazekage to know that he was lying. It was fairly obvious. The question was why was he lying and not even trying to hide it?

Kankuro looked between Gaara and Oto, picking up on the underlying tension.

"I'm sure you've heard by now of the attack that Suna experienced a few weeks ago" Gaara continued.

"An attack? to my dear ol home?... oh no… I hope that everyone was okay…" Oto's voice trailed off.

"Did you have anything to do with it?" Gaara replied doing his best to not lose calm.

"The Kazekage doesn't seem too bright eh?" the bald man looked at Kankuro like a co-conspirator, "again… how would I have had anything to do with the attack being stuck in here?"

Oto had barely finished his sentence when a sand arm wrapped around his throat and pushed him against the wall.

"Cut the crap" Gaara replied through gritted teeth, still standing where he was. "How did you get in contact with Zensu?"

Oto tried to laugh while wheezing for air. The man was desperately trying to budge the rock hard sand. A few seconds passed before Kankuro came to Gaara and touched him in the shoulder, starting to look a bit nervous. With a few blinks Gaara loosened his hold, as Oto gulped in air.

"Let me ask again… how did you get in contact with him?" Gaara asked in a no nonsense voice.

"Shouldn't… t-the question be" Oto rasped, "shouldn't the question be how did I end up in the blood prison?"

"Okay…" Gaara played his game, "How did you end up in the blood prison?"

"There's someone close to you… who doesn't want you to find out the answer." the man replied cryptically showing off browned teeth.

Gaara winced.

"Okay… If I promise to transfer you out of here will you tell me who the hell you are talking about?"

"Now what would be the fun in that…?" Oto simpered, pushing Gaara's temper again.

"You realize I could kill you?"

"Not on foreign land you can't… at least not without consequence. Besides, I'll tell you a secret Kage… I ain't afraid …. to die"

.


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Sunagakure - Hospital

"Hinata!" Sakura looked up surprised as the blunette walked into the room.

"Oh I'm sorry" Hinata bowed looking at the sand clones of Naruto and Sasuke in the room. "I knocked and assumed you weren't in."

"That's okay Hinata, are those the documents Temari sent over?"

"Yes" Hinata nodded moving forward, extending the documents with both hands to Sakura.

"I know you hadn't come to the hospital before during your visit here Hinata… feel free to look around."

"Oh… Sure" she nodded taking a few steps back to leave. "Naruto-kun… Sasuke-san" she said breathlessly…

The two clones turned to look at her.

"Are… have you by any chance heard from the Kazekage?" she asked bravely.

"Oh.." Naruto said surprised. "Gaara?... yeah he's right here actually" he turned looking off to the right of him. "I was just telling Sakura we should all be home in a few more days…we've wrapped up our investigation here."

"Oh… oh.. That's good" she sighed. Now she could finally relax. "Well then I wish you a safe journey home." Hinata said quickly, bowing and leaving the room.


Hinata hadn't stuck around the hospital to explore, instead she headed back to the Kage tower hoping to grab a coffee this afternoon with Saromi.

But before she could get far she bumped into Temari in the lobby, "Oh Hey Hinata" the older girl said warmly upon seeing her.

"Temari-san" she smiled.

"I've been meaning to come find you but its just so bloody busy with Gaara gone."

"Oh did you need something?" Hinata asked curiously.

"No… well I didn't know how long you'd be in Suna… as I know things are wrapping up here. But… er.. Well there was a space here I wanted to give you a key to… so you could explore. Well it was something you had set up before you see… and"

"Oh" Hinata blinked.

"Its a greenhouse" Temari said scratching her head looking a bit like Naruto.

"A greenhouse" Hinata murmured in wonder.

"Yes well… its a little late now for me to be showing you.. But oh well. Cmon" the blonde gestured walking away from the Kage tower taking the tunnels into the Kage compound.

"Oh" Hinata breathed in wonder as they neared a glass greenhouse that was tucked away to the south of the house. She had noticed it before… but like much of things in Suna, she had stayed away from it knowing her boundaries.

The greenhouse's exterior was done up with a combination of transparent glass panels and translucent sun-shielding materials. The design allowing for the perfect balance of sunlight to penetrate its walls while minimizing the scorching heat and protecting the delicate plants within. The glass surfaces glimmered under the sun, casting a mesmerizing play of light and shadows on the surrounding sand.

"Well I should give you the key, I certainly never come here…" Temari smiled as they walked closer to the structure and unlocked the door walking in to a medium sized space filled to the brim with plants.

"I….I…" she looked around at a loss for words.

"Yes well… it is a lovely space" Temari nodded looking around. "I gotta run Hinata, but here is the key and I will leave you to explore" the blonde gave her hand a squeeze as she deposited the key before leaving.

Hinata stood in shock finding herself suddenly alone.

The air was moist in here, infused with the earthy scent of damp soil and the subtle fragrance of blooming flowers. The temperature seemed to be carefully regulated, creating an optimal environment for the diverse array of plants.

The interior space was ingeniously organized, maximizing every inch of available room. Shelves, arranged in neat rows, hosted many potted plants, ranging from succulents with their fleshy leaves to delicate orchids displaying their intricate blooms. Each plant occupied its designated space carefully labeled to ensure proper care and maintenance.

The greenhouse's central pathway was laid with soft gravel and small pathways branched off from the central one leading the visitors towards various sections of the building. To one side of her she saw lush ferns unfurling their fronds, and another contained rows of desert roses, there were huge cacti around and even aromatic herbs scented the interior pleasantly. And finally the walls of the structure were decorated with climbing vines ascending with the assistance of trellises, creating intricate patterns.

Oh my goodness, she thought as she explored. She had been able to get a green house built here? Her hands ran through the various plants as she explored and came across a sitting area.

It contained a cozy arrangement of comfortable seating options nestled in the lush foliage and colorful blooms. There was cushioned couches with soft, earth-toned upholstery and the fabric seemed to be carefully chosen for its durability and resistance to moisture. A small, intricately crafted wooden table stood at the center of the seating area, its surface adorned with delicate potted plants and a few unscented candles. The table was both functional and decorative.

Soft, ambient twinkling fairy lights were delicately intertwined among the surrounding vegetation, adding a touch of enchantment to the space. They weren't on at the moment, but Hinata could imagine their gentle illumination creating a special ambience in the evenings.

There was even a tiny cart of tea and coffee tucked away. She blinked as tears came to her eyes. This... this was really perfect, and she must have spent a lot of time here.

Hinata sat on the couch and the next thing remembered was blinking awake much later. She tucked the blanket closer around her as the evening chill already was starting to set in… but… the sunset that was visible from the translucent panes of the green house was breathtaking.

She was at a loss for words. This was the first place since coming to Suna that had truly felt like home to her. And it had her identity stamped all over it. She could tell that even without remember who she had been.

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