Blood is Thicker Chapter 1

A/N: Hello and welcome to my brand spanking new for serious fanfiction! I would love and appreciate reviews and feedback!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto!

Tsunade surveyed the camp that the soldiers had dubbed "Victory Camp." Indeed, it was aptly named such, for the allied forces had finally overtaken the Akatsuki. The camp had been set up because everyone felt too tired to travel home so soon after the final battle. Ninjas everywhere were either in a celebratory mood or trying to locate friends and family members. Some, however, could not find their beloved. One such example was one of Tsunade's own, a Hinata Hyuuga who was now orphaned after the death of her father.

The heiress Kunoichi sat among her kin, her sister rubbing her back soothingly as Hinata stared off with an empty look, overwhelmed by her horrible day. The killing, the bloodshed, the loss of her father, and furthermore, her unrequited love. After the announcement of victory, Sakura had healed Naruto, and afterwards they stood over Sasuke's body tearfully saying goodbye. This Hinata understood, as she herself loved her teammates, but it was afterward that disappointed her. The pair had stayed away from the crowd, deep in conversation. Hinata watched as the conversation turned serious to angry, then angry to tearful, then tearful to happier. After seeing their faces now, animatedly discussing memories and laughing with nostalgia plastered on their faces and sadness in their eyes, Hinata realized something.

She would never understand him quite like Sakura.

She would never evoke the same feelings in him like Sakura.

She never stood a chance.

All the thoughts consumed Hinata, and along with her other troubles she made a snap decision, like she was prone to under duress. Shakily, Hinata stood and looked toward her sister.

"I'd like some air." she said, receiving a nod from Hanabi.

At first, she walked, and after gaining distance, she began to run. She ran all the way into the forest, towards a cliff she knew the location of. And she leapt.

And fell, her limbs flying wildly as tears flew upward while she flew down, eyes squeezed shut tightly.

But then she hit something. And it wasnt the surface, it was softer and flexible.

It was sand.

"Hyuuga-san this is not so wise," came the quit voice of the Kazekage, Gaara. "Imagine my surprise when I see a close friend of Naruto's leap off of a cliff while I visit with the moon."

Hinata peeked her eyes open to see Gaara's sandals. She sat up as the sand cloud they were on rose back the surface. Once it did, she stepped off onto the grass and sat down, her hands covering her eyes as she sobbed.

"Care to share, Hyuuga-san?"

"I've lost my father..." she began, leaving her other troubles silent.

"I lost my father 4 years ago. Sorry for your loss..."

And with that, Hinata cried silently, as Gaara stared into the moon.

Sakura turned her attention to the moon as well, touched the arm of her companion briefly.

" Ne, Naruto, look at the moon."

"It's still here," he replied wearily.

"And it's because of you y'know. You saved us all, and now-" she said before she was interrupted, by Naruto's lips claiming hers. She was surprised, and when he let go, he gently touched her cheek and said "I don't want to hear about how great I am, Sakura."

With this, Sakura smiled and gave Naruto another kiss, reassuring him of her love.

Kakashi turned away from the sight of his students to see Shizune. She smiled brightly. "Tsunade-sama requests your presence!"

He nodded and followed Shizune throughout the camp. Many of the other ninja were resting and healing, and the jubilant tone had simmered down substantially. He noticed many of Naruto's friends sitting around a campfire. Temari was laying on Shikamaru Nara's shoulder, and many of the Konoha 11 were chatting. Shizune turned to look back. "It's a surprise they're even awake they all worked so hard."

Kakashi nodded. "They'll surpass us before you know it."

When they reached Tsunade's tent, the Hokage was sleeping with her face resting on a strategy table. Shizune quickly shook her mentor awake.

"Ahh, yes, Kakashi..."

Two days later, Konoha nin were streaming in through the gates of their home village. Family members stood to find their loved ones. Some were greeted happily and others waited and waited to no avail. However, when Naruto walked through the gates everyone started to cheer. He bashfully smiled and waved, and tried to continue on walking, but he quickly became surrounded by throngs of people yelling about the future Hokage.

Sakura elbowed her way through the crowd.

"Ok, ok people, move along! Leave the future Hokage be!" she said, using her strength to escape.

"Thanks Sakura-chan!" he said, glad to have escaped the crowd. She smiled, "No problem."

"Hey! Naruto! Sakura!" called Ino, running up with Shikamaru, Choji and Kiba. "We're about to go eat at Choji's parents restaurant to celebrate. Wanna come?"

"Sounds great, I'm starved!" Naruto replied, feeling his growling stomach. "Where are the others?"

"I dunno, I couldn't find Hinata or Shino." Kiba said, scratching his head. "She just lost her father though, so she's probably dealing with her clan."

"She just needs time..." Ino said sadly.

Nobody knew that Hinata had attempted suicide. Nobody knew she spent the night sitting with the Kazekage after failing to plummet to her death. They just knew she was sad, and understandably so.

Even though Hinata was sad enough to attempt to jump off a cliff, she was very grateful she was saved. In retrospect she realized she would have made a grave mistake, however, it did cause her to meet Gaara. he was surprisingly kind, and listened to her plight as she sobbed pathetically. She guessed he was very lonely too.

He told her a bit about his life as the Kazekage and about his siblings, and even told her about the Sand village, because she never had the pleasure of visiting.

Gaara was pleasant company, and she was glad to have not been alone. However, the two were now in separate countries, and she had more pressing issues to attend to. She was acting clan leader until the elders passed judgement.

She didn't want to be clan leader, but somebody had to arrange Hiashi's funeral. She almost wanted to abdicate, leaving Hanabi in charge, or preferably Neji, as her waitstaff were circulating rumors he was even being considered. Nobody really had much faith in Hinata as a clan leader.

She felt that she could rise to the occasion, however, she felt far too young for her to need to. It was rather unfair to the 3 young Hyuugas in her opinion. Hinata very much wished to escape the politics of the clan, as she had told Gaara, who at least understood the fine nuances of clan drama, being the Kazekage.

As she walked around her home, with a warm cup of tea in her hands, she muddled her thoughts over. She stopped to stare at the garden, imagining her Mother tending to flowers as she ran about, far less shy than she used to be, and occasionally stopping to peer at an infant Hanabi sitting in a basket, babbling away as if she could understand at such a young age.

"Your tea will get cold." a voice rang throughout the foyer.

"Neji. How are you feeling? Sore? I have some ointmen-"

"The better question is how are you, Hinata?" he said, coming to stand next to her.

"As good as I can be I suppose..." she said trying to contain herself.

"I saw...Naruto and Sakura..."

"Then you needn't say anything," she said brusquely before walking away leaving Neji in an awkward silence.

A/N: Sooooooo I'm done! Sorry that it was mostly Hinata centric but it is all for set up purposes! I PROMISE more NaruSaku-y goodness in later chapters!

Please review! I don't mind constructive criticism, and I will respond at the beginning of every new chapter!

Please leave a review, peeps!

-MyHikari