Half an hour ago – The Kazekage's hotel suite

Hinata settled on the sofa, between Hiroshi and Tadashi. They leant against her sides and waited patiently for her to start talking. During dinner, her guilt had increased tenfold. She had only been able to see Hiroshi's tired face and Tadashi's remorseful one.

This knowledge that it was too early for her sons to bear the brunt of those emotions, ate at her peace subconsciously. They were supposed to be happy, healthy and safe and so far, Gaara and her had done a good job at sheltering them from the messy politics and high expectations that came from their world.

After dinner however, one look at Gaara's impassive face had led her to accept the hard fact that given her sons' lineage, it was her job to prepare them for their future and all the consequences of that.

They would have to face many adversaries and criticisms to grow into who they would want to be. And one way of helping them was to be honest and tell them all of her past mistakes so that they are never held accountable for her choices.

If only she knew how to begin… It was after all a subject she had not even given a passing thought about in ages.

"Mama, are you okay?"

She looked down at Tadashi and brushed his wild red spikes gently.

"Yes, I am. Are you?"

He nodded silently.

"I'm sorry for scaring you today. I promise never to fight with Tadashi again," Hiroshi whispered, head burrowed into her side.

She smiled lightly and drew his head to face her.

"I am glad to hear you say that. But do you know what happened to you today?"

"Tadashi said I have the Byakugan?"

"Yes. The Byakugan, as you know, comes from my side of the family. All Hyuugas are born with it but it develops differently in everyone. Right now, you do not have control over it and it is going to take a lot of practice to master it, if that's what you want?"

"Will he have to stay here to do that?" Tadashi asked worriedly.

Eyes still focused on Hiroshi's thoughtful expression, Hinata shook her head. "Maybe there will be times when Hiro will need help and will have to come to Konoha. But for now, I can handle teaching him. Grandfather will probably consent to sending a tutor as well."

"What did you mean by if I wanted to control the Byakugan?" Hiroshi asked.

"Well, you might decide that you'd rather master the magnetic release or sand like your father or puppets and wind release like the other Suna-nin. As such I can always teach you just the basics of the Gentle Fist techniques."

"But you fight with both the Byakugan and the sand. Can't I do that?"

"Yes of course you can Hiro. But for that you will need to devote time to learning the Gentle took me a long time to finally find my style and my power."

The two boys exchanged a nervous look before Tadashi gathered the courage to ask.

"What about Aunt Hanabi and Uncle Neji? Were they good?"

Hinata was thrown off-guard for a moment. The names, the comparisons, so fresh from this morning, made her want to wince. Determined to get through this conversation, she fixed her stare to the ticking clock on the wall and delved right in.

"The best."

"Is that why people think you're not a good Jounin like them? But I thought you went to the war with them?"

"These people this morning were only civilians love. They do not always understand some of the choices we make as ninjas and how everyday changes us.

When I was a little girl I used to be the Hyuuga heiress instead of aunt Hanabi. But, I was not very good at it. I could not fight like the other shinobis of my age and I was always too scared to voice my opinions. Because of that, your grandfather was very disappointed in me and gave me over to Kurenai-sensei to train.

People still remember that time and judge me by that. Also, when I left Konoha all those years ago, I was running away from my problems and my position as heiress. I guess I disappointed more people than I thought."

"But…why did you leave? Where did you go?" Tadashi enquired curiously.

Six years ago – Sunakagure

"Welcome Lady Hinata. My name is Rei," said a friendly, young kunoichi, straightening out of her half bow. "Please if you would follow me, the Lord Kazekage awaits."

Hinata nodded tiredly and fell in step with the tall sand shinobi. Her jacket was hanging by the strap of her backpack and her sandals were scraping the ground, sending loose sand flying around her heel and into said sandals.

The heat and the journey had drained all of her energy, and yet, the turmoil in her mind would not quiet down.

'Going solo to Suna had definitely not been my best decision,' the young girl thought wryly, reaching up to tie her long hair into a ponytail.

It had given her way too much time to wallow in the fact that her teammates had been the only ones at the gate to bid her farewell. The elders had given her disapproving glares as she had left the compound. She had not dared to go see her father because she knew she had disappointed him again, after so many years of getting along.

And Hanabi, her little sister had been so understanding. It had broken Hinata's heart to think she had given up on helping her sister achieve so many wonderful things because she wanted to explore the world and get away from Naruto.

And there was also the fact that she had basically broken up with Naruto via a letter he hadn't received yet.

It certainly cranked up her frustration and unhappiness.

'If only Naruto was to storm those gates and whisk me away to make everything right between us,' a small part of Hinata's brain kept wishing and hoping.

And every single thought was a knife in her stomach. She had become so dependent on Naruto that it was almost painful to her.

"And here, is the shopping district, my Lady. You may find the attires you need for the official events in some of these shops."

The firm voice of the Suna guard brought her back to the mayhem that was Suna's central market. Hinata noticed several people staring at her, but there was no hostility, no acknowledgement of anything other than curiosity in their gazes.

And the rush of excitement at the prospect of being a clean slate gave Hinata all the encouragement she needed. Pushing all the wandering thoughts side, she focused on Rei.

"… of course, Lady Temari would probably have someone help you out. Otherwise I can help too; my grandfather is on the council and I know that they are intending to host a dinner tomorrow night."

"Rei-sama?"

The kunoichi stopped at once and turned to gape at Hinata.

"Just Rei is alright, Lady Hyuuga."

Hinata shook her head and answered similarly.

"And just Hinata is alright too. I was wondering, what is the protocol here for people like me?"

"Excuse me, my Lady? I'm not sure I understand."

"Well, the Council sent a request for a courtship and although I will admit I was the one who requested to be here, I'm not sure what is expected of me."

The brunette pondered for a while, while they continued towards the Kazekage's office.

"To be honest Lady Hinata, this is a first so I'm not really sure. I heard that Lord Kankuro was not supposed to even allow the Council to pressure Lord Kazekage to marry."

"Why is he being pressured?"

"Well, I presume you know Lady Temari is currently seeing a boy from Konoha. The council fears that if the Kazekage does not marry and have an heir before Lady Temari, then her child and Konoha by extension will have a right to the Kage title."

"Poor Gaara," Hinata murmured sympathetically under her breath. Normally, she asked again, "if that is the case, why was I named? Is it because of the Byakugan?"

"Actually, my lady," Rei began fidgeting uncomfortably, "the Council had already named two other prospective brides before Lord Kankuro decided to name you too."

"Are you saying that the Kazekage is courting two other girls at the same time?" Hinata asked, amused despite herself.

"They are just eligible girls from the two other families of Suna; Hakuto from the Hoki family and … Miyoko from the Shirogane clan."

As they were nearing the entrance to the huge clay building, Hinata pretended to miss the slight apprehension in Rei's tone when she spoke of the other two girls. She filed the information away because honestly, she doubted she was the one for Gaara. Granted they knew very little of each other, but the prospect of an alliance with Suna was the last thing on her mind. Hinata wanted to focus on herself for once; do good where she could, train to become a stronger ninja and get over Naruto eventually.

She bowed back to the couple of Elders who met her at the entrance. Poised and collected, she greeted them and used all the charm she learned from her days as an heiress. Rei left her side somewhere on the third floor and two other guards led her in front of massive double-doors. After a quiet knock, one of them opened the door and ushered her in.

Dishevelled, dehydrated and disoriented, Hinata lifted her gaze to meet a pair of calculating, guarded teal eyes. She felt the breath leave her lungs and her brain had no explanation for it yet.

Seated behind his desk, just a couple of metres away from her, suddenly transformed this man she thought she knew into a very different, albeit compelling, stranger.

"Hinata."

"Gaara."

What was happening to her?

Present - Hokage's Office

A tense silence had settled between the two friends. Naruto was apprehensive.

"That first day we met, Hinata told me that she had left a letter for you with Sakura, explaining the situation. For months, after coming to Suna, she waited to hear from you," Gaara revealed. "Finally, one day, she approached Temari and asked to be put on the patrol rosters."

Naruto maintained his silence for a while longer. His brain was scrambling to come to terms with the situation, to analyse feelings he'd push aside for so long. That was his brother, sitting in front of him, asking about his feelings concerning his wife.

What the hell?