"ah, that feels nice." Hinata groaned as she sank into the hot spring. The month was now July and the temperature had skyrocketed outside. However, the hot spring was really good for relaxing her sore muscles.

She had been on the move for the past three months. With her first mission as Kohona's messenger starting in May, the missions kept coming with no break. But Suna hadn't been the only village she was carrying messages to. She had been sent to three different villages over the past three months and she couldn't be happier.

At the moment, her time in the hot springs was the first time she had to sit down in a while. When she wasn't running missions, she was at home training and attending meetings. There had been whispers among the clan that Hanabi would be officially announced as heir at the end of the summer. Hinata had done her best to ignore the rumors but she knew it was true. Hanabi would be the official heir, it was bittersweet. Hanabi would be pulled in multiple directions and expected to be a leader at all times. The days of going out with her friends and being a teenager were slowly being chipped away. As soon as the heiress position was given to Hanabi, things would shift. But hadn't they both known it was coming? The last time they had a mock battle all those years ago, Hianta lost because she couldn't think of hurting her sister and the same was true even now. She couldn't do it. fighting an enemy was one thing but when it came to family Hinata couldn't put herself to hurt them. Not like that anyway.

"Am I giving up too fast?" Hinata asked herself. " and what about Hanabi? What does she want? does she even want to become heir?"

Hinata began to think about her sister's future. There was no doubt her sister would be a good leader, but her sister had quite a temper that would need to be put in check.

If her sister wanted to be heir maybe Hinata could help assist her in her temper. But what if Hanabi said no? What if she confided in her that she didn't want to be heir? What would become of them then? Could they have another mock battle after all these years? Could Hinata gain the strength to fight her sister and win?

A sigh escaped her as the heaviness of her clan bared down on her. Even if she did fight her sister and win, the question was would her father and the clan elders approve? Would either of the girls' opinions even matter? While Hinata had become stronger and more confident than she was years ago, it wasn't enough to change their minds about her.

Speaking of her father, he, her sister, and a few other members of the clan were out visiting the Taketori clan to help with political matters. It was the first time in a long time that Hianta was left to her own devices.

"I think I'll work in the garden today." She said aloud.

The thought of her garden sent memories of a sleeping kazekage. He had been so content sleeping on her shoulder that Hinata didn't move that night. Matter of fact she had fallen asleep as well. When they woke up the next day it was eleven in the morning and his advisors had been looking for him.

Hinata couldn't help but chuckle at the memory. When the kazekage awoke to realize they had both fallen asleep, he seemed pretty surprised.

Flashback:

Hinata groaned as a blazing heat hit her face and a light snoring filled her ears.

"mmm…huh?" she grunted sleepily. It took her a moment to realize where she was but when she did a big realization hit her.

She and the kazekage had fallen asleep.

"oh no! lord kazekage. It's time to wake up now. We fell asleep in the greenhouse!"

Gaara sat up, a look of confusion on his face.

"wh-what happened?" he asked.

"We fell asleep. We are still in the greenhouse. You should probably get back to your office."

It was then Gaara turned his head to the greenhouse door and said "Someone's coming. Hide."

Hinata was quick to use a henge and turn herself into a plant.

"Lord Kazekage!" a voice called.

"Here I am." He answered, smoothing out his robe and fixing his hair.

The greenhouse door opened to reveal a man with red hair and brown eyes.

"ah lord kazekage! There you are! Lady Temari and lord kankuro are looking for you!"

"good morning Sasori. Are they now? Well, I suggest we let them know I've been found. If you don't mind, please tell my siblings to meet me in my office, I will be there shortly."

"of course lord kazekage."

And then the man walked away. As soon as Sasori left, Hinata broke her henge.

" for the second time I have received the best sleep of my life and I owe It all to you," Gaara told her.

" I am glad I could help lord kazekage." Hinata bowed.

"Please…call me Gaara. Your kindness has moved me."

Hinata blushed at being asked to be so informal.

"lord kaz- I mean G-gaara. Are you sure? I don't want to be a hindrance."

"you are not a hindrance to me. you have been very helpful, patient, and kind. Shukaku even finds you interesting."

Hinata was taken aback. A tailed beast found her interesting.

"anyway, you should head back to the tower and get some rest. I will have the scrolls for you soon."

With that said, Gaara disappeared before her eyes.

End flashback

A blush formed on Hinata's face when she thought about the kazekage. He was an interesting person that's for sure. And to know that his tailed beast found her interesting. It made a sense of warmth fill her.

It felt good to be needed in a way.

Hinata was quick to dry off and get dressed as she made her way out of the hot springs. Just as she was walking out, Ino was walking in.

"Hinata! Hi!" Ino greeted.

"oh! Ino chan hello." Hinata greeted awkwardly.

"im glad I bumped into you! can we talk for a minute?" ino asked.

"of course Ino Chan. Is everything ok?" Hinata asked as Ino pulled her aside.

" well I wanted to talk to you about Naruto… he .. he told me your feelings for him and I just wanted to apologize. I've been feeling guilty ever since he told me. you loved him for so long I-"

Hinata cut off Ino's apology wih a hug. Making sure to pull ino in tight, a tremble in her voice as she spoke.

"don't apologize ino chan. Please its not necessary. I won't lie and say I wasn't hurt. Just because I had dreamed of falling in love with him but life does not always go the way we plan. I want to wish you both many years of happiness and prosperity. I have a different path in life and I will follow it. so don't worry about me, or feel guilty. You both deserve the best."

By the time Hinata was finished speaking both she and ino were in tears.

"oh thank you, Hinata. You truly are an amazing friend. Will it be too awkward to invite you to my bridal party when I have it?" ino asked.

Hinata smiled softly and said "It may be for a moment but the feeling will fade. As long as I get to see you and Naruto smiling. That will make my day."

"thank you again, Hinata. I'll see you soon?" Ino questioned.

"of course."

With that said, the two women went their separate ways, and yet as Hinata walked away she felt a wave of acceptance and closure come upon her.

She could let go of the things she once desired and move on to what her future held for her.

….

"There you are out on the water! I can see your smiling face reflect back at me…" Hinata sang to herself as she planted strawberry seeds in her garden.

She always planted flowers in the summer but this year she wanted to do something different.

So far she had strawberries, blueberries, cucumbers, and cabbage. She was also in the middle of making more balm, alongside some soap.

"Excuse me.." a deep voice called.

Hinata looked around but didn't see anyone.

"Hello?" she called with her guard up.

"down here." The deep voice answered.

Hinata's eyes widened to see a large lizard in front of her.

"oh my, um hello."

"Hello, my name is Kenji the Gila monster. I am lord gaara's summons. I have a letter for you."

There was a small pack on his back, that Hinata opened. Inside of it was a letter.

Sitting down on the grass, Hinata couldn't help but smile as Gaara's words washed over her.

Dear Hinata,

I hope all is well with you. I want to thank you again for the balm, and other items. My sleep has been restful these days. you could sell your balm at a stand if you wanted to. You have great potential. Shikaku asks about you often I hope you know. Ever since we met you, he and I have found something in common. You intrigued us. you come from an elite clan and yet you don't stick your nose up at others. Something you confided in me about has been on my mind for a while and I didn't know how to address it in person. Therefore, I suppose now would be a good time to ask you. you mentioned that you were once in love with Naruto. How is it that you could love a tailed beast? Did you not want to hate him? runaway? And in the end what benefit did you get from loving him? In the end, you lost him? What did you gain from that loss?

Your comrade,

Gaara.

…..

Gaara sat on the roof of the kazekage tower. It was midnight and he should have been asleep or doing paperwork but instead here he was holding the letter Hinata had sent him in his hands. To be honest he was hesitant to open it just because he didn't know what her answer was. Had she loved Naruto out of pity? Did she have some deep-rooted fear of tailed beast and that's why she was nice? Was it all an act? A façade to gain his trust and then stab him in the back?

No sense of mistrust among her shikaku told him. The one-tailed beast tended to talk strangely but over the years Gaara knew exactly what he was saying. And it seemed that Shukaku didn't sense any mistrust amongst Hinata at all. Neither did Gaara but he did have some trust issues.

With a sigh, Gaara opened the letter.

Dear Gaara,

I am so glad your sleep has gotten better! I am currently in my garden, starting something new. I also grow herbs and different flowers but one day I decided to plant strawberries and a few different kinds of fruit. I will have to bring you some once they are ready for harvest. I also feel very honored that Shikaku asks of me. The next time we meet, I must talk to him. now to the matter at hand. Even though Naruto had a tailed beast sealed within him, I didn't see him as any different from others. Naruto had a rough childhood. He had no parents, and most of the time had to fend for himself. Our village shunned him, and parents told their kids to stay away from him. I was already being deemed a failure by the clan when I began watching Naruto. Even through his pain, he stayed strong and trained very hard. He inspired me. I guess that's where you could say my love for him began. I was inspired by his hard work and strength. However, I was so shy around him, that I often fainted and couldn't get a word out. fast forward years later, my inspiration and love for him only grew. I watched his trials and tribulations from afar and up close. I encouraged him when could and eventually I got to stand by his side. It took a lot in me to confess my feelings gaara, but I never regretted it. I was glad to have it put in the open. When I looked a Naruto, I didn't see a tailed beast or someone that had a hard life. I saw a friend. A friend that needed help. I do regret not helping him more though. But that was the low self-esteem that restricted me from going further, not to mention the watchful eyes my clan had on me. and even now, Gaara, I have no regrets. I gained many things from loving Naruto. From watching him change and grow. He helped give me the courage to try harder, to fight a little longer. I gained confidence from loving him gaara. I gained an understanding of myself that I never knew before and yet I gained the heart to love. to see underneath the underneath. I have no regrets.

Your friend,

Hinata hyuga.

Gaara reread the letter more than once.

"do you think someone could love us shikaku?" he asked the tailed beast

"what is love?" shikaku asked

Gaara remained quiet.

What was love?