After seeing the Ino-Shika-Cho at the gates, Temari headed back to her office in the Kazekage Tower. Sighing, she remembered the stack of documents awaiting her. Her absence had accumulated documents that occupied her entire office and a small meeting room. A month of absence did meant more work than one could manage. To her surprise, Kankuro took the time to sharpen his culinary skills.

"Wow, someone put an effort or is this my welcoming back party? Hope it taste just as well as it smells. Thanks Gaara. Itadakimasu. Gaara, you have improved a lot. Looks like you've found you're calling if you decide to retire."

Gaara started eating as Temari settled in and took a spoonful in her mouth.

"It's Kankuro"

"Uhkk uhkk"

With his monotone voice, Gaara replied "Kankuro, the middle child. You do remember you have two brothers? Wears purple makeup."

"I can't breathe. Why didn't you correct me before I ate?"

Gaara attempting mischief, sometimes she missed the old him. Gaara had gone a long way. She had no idea how Kankuro could find the time in between rebuilding the village after the Akatsuki's invasion and the intelligence gathering. Everyone had grown up hopefully it stays that way. Time to get to work.

"Have you spoken to Naruto lately?" asked Neji in a low voice that could barely be heard. He didn't move from his place to make sure his comrade listened or not. He didn't had to, he knew what really was under those bored expression. They were already on their second day of the mission. They infiltrated Oto in search for Orochimaru's hideout. Since they were already in Oto, it was wiser to have two people on watch.

Without facing Shikamaru on the other, he continued "He still thinks Sasuke hadn't had the choice but to follow Orochimaru."

In other words, Neji wanted Shikamaru to talk some sense out of Naruto. Shikamaru heard that they confronted Sasuke just a week ago with the newly joined Sai under the leadership of Yamato. It was a disaster, Sasuke was actually trying to finish them off.

Everyone was walking on eggshell around Naruto in any topic related to Sasuke. Even missions were kept secret especially missions like theirs right now. Naruto probably would have joined them had he knew. Every hideout, he'd said that Sasuke would be there. People just kept it a secret nowadays to spare Naruto's feelings that having him disappointed. Poor kid.

Not giving up was a good trait, it made a good ninja, hell, there was Naruto to prove that but until when. What difference was it to knowing when to stop and moving on. It made Shikamaru wondered or was it just another perspective in looking at things. Was Sasuke too blind to see the people who sincerely cared for him or he just didn't bother. He had to meet Naruto after the mission, there was also Sai that Ino was talking nonstop.

"Mendokusei"

After four days in Oto, they managed to gather hidden scrolls left behind by Orochimaru. The scrolls were going to end up with the Nara clan after being archived. He would read them eventually. This is what happens when the research and medical units of the village were hold by the Nara clan. Luckily Tsunade gave him two days off without asking.

Shikamaru took off his jonin vest in the laundry to be washed. A thread from his shirt caught around his neck. He really should do some shopping in the near future or ask Ino. No, not Ino she'd buy some weird fashion probably a crop top.

"Come on Shikamaru, it's in black you can wear them for missions"

"Ino, only girls wear those"

"Sai wears crop tops besides we can be twins Shikamaru or maybe a team uniform, buy one for Choji and Asuma"

His fingers tried to untangle the thread that caught on something he was wearing. A necklace. He never wore one not since four days ago. On his wedding day. To his wife. To Temari.

"Uhk uhk…"

"Neesan maybe you should go to the hospital. That's the second time today. " said Gaara without looking up from his food. Small quibbles at the table was a recent custom replacing the usually frigid environment. Gaara sometimes join in the fun with small comments that hit his sibling's nerve. He kind of enjoyed it but after working for a whole day without lunch his stomach was asking to be filled.

Without hesitating Kankuro stood up and took Temari's bowl and place it at the kitchen counter.

"Hey"

Both Kankuro's hand were busy balancing the bowls to the counter. "Jeshh go to the hospital before you contaminate us all. Just sit there quietly, I'm the chef so listen to me."

"I was the chef before, no one listened to me." Temari took Kankuro's place while he was busy setting a place for her at the kitchen counter. It was a surprise to other people if they knew how meticulous Kankuro was. Sure that perfection was drilled in all the Sand siblings but Kankuro was the most diligent between them three. If Gaara hadn't been a jinchiruki, Kankuro most probably would won the scariest sibling among them three.

There was a number of puppeteer in Suna but only a few became legendary like Sasori. Talent was only one of the trait to becoming a puppeteer. This was why Kankuro had to work extremely hard understanding the mechanics behind puppets as well as combining it with his own strength. It some ways, as Gaara changed so did Kankuro. The three of them gradually changed in fact but it couldn't be said what triggered it.

"It's your fault. You didn't use the power to implement the rules. Wait, that's mine, why are you eating it."

"Gaara, look at this. He put more onion and mushroom in his food. Not fair."

"Again, Chef's privileges." After making fun of his sister Kankuro resat the food at the table placing the food at his sister's previous place.

"I think we should have Baki keep an eye on the council since the invasion they have been keeping low but there are communications going out. I couldn't find a pattern but it was sent to the same destination. I did take note of the dates and time."