Back at the village Kakashi had just returned from a mission and was in the Hokage's office. 

" What did you say?" Kakashi demanded. " You mean you sent Genin after Sasuke?"

" Well, what else could I do?" Tsunade asked. " You know the state that this village is in right now." Kakashi lowered his head and sighed. " Anyway, I have a contingency plan in place." He started to walk out. " Hey, where are you going? You already have a mission assigned to you." She held up a piece of paper.

" I have to go run an errand first," Kakashi said. " Haven't seen Aceso in a few days. Be back in a bit. Don't worry."

"Kakashi!" Tsunade exclaimed as she got up.

Kakashi looked back at her. "I won't be too long." He then left the building.

"Kakashi-sensei, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said as she ran up to him." It's already been two full days now since Sasuke left the village. Naruto and the others haven't come back. And Lee's out there too."

 " I know," Kakashi sighed. " I'm pretty much up to speed now." He began to walk away. " I have to go talk to Aceso."

" Sensei, I--I have faith in Naruto, I do," Sakura informed. " I believe in him. But if anything were to happen to those two, I--" She stopped talking when he put a hand on her shoulder.

" Sakura, you don't need to worry," Kakashi assured with a smile. " Just leave it to me, there's a reason I need to talk to Aceso."

" You won't find her in the village by the way," Sakura informed. " Shikamaru had her come out after them with a few medical squads if they hadn't returned yet." Kakashi's eyes snapped open.

" That would have been nice to know," Kakashi said.

" You have a soft spot when it comes to her, why?" Sakura asked.

" Sakura," Kakashi began. " I helped raise that girl alongside Gai...and if that anything were to happen to her, I will not very happy." Sakura's eyes went wide. " And if Shikamaru requested her, then she is probably has a good reputation as a med-ninja." He then walked toward the gate and Sakura followed. 

*****

Kakashi had gotten to the scene just as Sauke bolted away leaving Naruto unconscious. Pakkun was with them. He then grabbed Naruto and started to head back.

" Kakashi Sensei, where's Sasuke?" Naruto asked after he was woken up. Then some medical ninja appeared.

" Kakashi, what's Naruto Uzumaki's condition?" a ninja asked.

" He'll pull through," Kakashi answered.

" And Sasuke, Sasuke Uchiha, what about him?" the ninja asked. " What happened?" Kakashi glanced back at Naruto, then forward and shook his head.

" How are the other genin?" Kakashi asked.

" All right," the medical ninja answered. " They all dispatched at the times that Doctor Matsuba ordered them to leave for the first and second medical corps to pick them up. Emergency treatment was administered on the scene. Then, they were all immediately transported to the hospital."

" They were all wounded?" Kakashi asked.

" Yes," He answered. " Shikamaru Nara is going fine, only minor injuries. Kiba Inuzuka's are more serious, but not life-threatening."

" However, Neji Hyuga and Choji Akimici and Doctor Matsuba are all in critical condition," another ninja said. " At this point, they could go either way."  That was not the news Kakashi or Naruto wanted to hear.

After getting treated, Aceso was taken to her room to sleep to recover more. About a day later Aceso's eyes fluttered open. Her vision was a bit blurry, but it soon cleared up and it became clear that she was staring at her bedroom ceiling. The sun was enhancing the room, making it feel warm. She glanced over to the side and saw a vase full of flowers. She glanced over to the other side and saw a person sitting on a chair, head in his hand as he looked at the floor, spikey red hair. There was a gourd leaning against the back of the chair. She looked forward and slowly began to shift, sitting up. She saw that her arms were wrapped in bandages. Her hair wasn't in braids. Aceso reached over and grabbed a flower, she then used the end of the end, taped the petals onto the top of his head. He slowly looked up at her, she smiled closed her eyes a little, and tilted her head to the side a little. Aceso then felt a pair of arms wrap around her, engulfing her in a hug.

" Ow," Aceso breathed as she felt an intense pain coming from her lower abdomen. 

" I'm sorry," Gaara apologized as he pulled back. 

" No worries," Aceso said as she opened her eyes. " I like hugs."

" How are you feeling?" Gaara asked as he put his hand on her forehead as he now sat on the bed. 

" I am doing okay," Aceso answered. " How is the other genin? Naruto? Shikamaru? Choji? Neji? Kiba and Akamaru?"

" They are all recovering," Gaara answered.

" And Sasuke?" Aceso asked Gaara shook his head.

" He has chosen his path," Gaara informed her. " A path of revenge." Aceso stared out the window, not even Naruto could get him back. " He's most likely has turned into an enemy of our villages." 

" So Sasuke really went and joined up with the likes of Orochimaru," Aceso said as she twirled the flower in her hands. Gaara waved his hand in front of her face, but she didn't respond.

" Aceso?" Gaara asked.

" Hm?" Aceso breathed as she looked at him. Her hands touched her lowered abdomen, it was tender. " How are you doing Gaara?"

" I am fine," Gaara said. " You're the one who is the hospital."

" I do live here," Aceso reminded him.

" You know what I mean," Gaara said 

" I am going to get better," Aceso smiled, she looked back at the flowers. Her eyes went wide and she looked back at Gaara." How's-"

" Doing laps around the village," Gaara finished.

" How did you know who I was asking about?" Aceso asked

" I know you better than you think I do," Gaara said grabbed her pillows, and sat them up straight. " You need to take it easier."

" I'm sitting," Aceso said.

" Without support," Gaara argued.

" Normally, I'm the one doing this," Aceso said as she leaned back on the pillows. 

" Today you're taking it easy," He insisted.

" Got it," Aceso laughed. Then her bedroom door opened, they looked back to see someone carrying on a ton of flowers.

"Are there any other vases?" a voice asked, it belong to Lee.

" Don't you think that's bit much?" Gaara asked as he got back in his chair.

" No way," Lee denied. " These flowers will help embrace the prime time of her youth."

" Flowers are for all ages," Aceso said, the flowers fell onto the floor and Lee stared at her. He jumped over all the flowers he dropped, appeared on the bed, and crushed her into a hug, he was crying happily, tears were falling out of his eyes. Once again, the world seemed much brighter, and warmer.

" Lee, that hurts," Aceso managed out in pain. 

" I shall punish myself with 600 laps around the village! " Lee exclaimed loudly as he pulled back.

" But-" Aceso began as he got up.

" I must punish myself for causing you pain," Lee insisted as he began. She grabbed his hand and put her other on top. 

" Can you just stay here for a bit?" Aceso asked as she looked up at him. Lee's looked down at their hands, looked back up at her, his face turned a dark shade of red, and then he fainted. Aceso leaned over the bed in concern. " Lee?"

" What happened?" Gaara asked as he looked down at the boy.

" Not sure," Aceso admitted as she scratched the back of her head.

" You're supposed to heal people, not knock them out," a voice laughed, they looked over to see Ino, Temari, and Shikamaru.

" Knocked him out?" Aceso asked as her eyes went wide. " How?" Ino laughed more. " I don't get it." Shikamaru and Temari started to laugh as well.

" Give it a few years and then you'll understand," Ino said as she started to pick up some of the flowers.

" What is that supposed to mean?" Aceso asked as she let go of Lee's hand.

" Anyways, I wanted to thank you," Shikamaru said as he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. " I thought it was Lady Tsunade that sent up the backup, but she corrected me and told me that you were the one that insisted on asking help from the sand village, saying you knew who exactly to request."

" Wait, were they the surprise?" Lee asked as he woke up.

" Yeah," Aceso smiled. " I had a lot of faith that they would help out."

" That means a lot that you had faith in us," Temari said. " It's important our villages have trust between each other."

" You did say that if I needed anything, I could just ask," Aceso reminded her.

" Seriously though, you saved our butts," Shikamaru said. " All I asked you to do was bring out the medical corps."

" Don't worry about it Shikamaru," Aceso said. " Besides, they did the actual saving all I did is convince Lady Tsunade to send for help."

" If there is anything you need for the next couple of days, just let any of us know," Temari said.

" Well...I would like some tea," Aceso admitted. They all got up and left the room beside Gaara. 

"Cousin," Gaara began, Aceso looked at him. "Why...why did you take my place?"

Aceso smiled lightly. "A simple answer really...I'm sure you can figure it out." Gaara didn't seem too happy with that answer. "Don't overthink it." Aceso bent over her bed, she took out a playing board, there were pieces in a bag. "Play some shogi with me." She and Gaara played Shogi for two rounds. Aceso became quiet, all she could think about was Sasuke. She didn't even realize she spaced out until she saw sand swirling in front of her. "Sorry."

"You are thinking about him, aren't you?" Gaara asked. 

"How's your cactus hobby going?" Aceso asked as she tried to change the subject. She looked at Gaara, he seemed puzzled.

"If your hurting you can talk to me," Gaara assured. "We are friends." Aceso's eyes widened as she sat up straighter. 

"I'll tell you another day," Aceso assured. "I'm not exactly sure how to phrase how I'm feeling." Gaara studied her a bit more. "One more round of Shogi." Gaara gave in, after that round he went back to his siblings. 

******

Later that day Aceso was reading through medical materials when someone knocked at the door, she looked over to see Kakashi.

"Dad," Aceso said as she sat up.

" I brought you some medicine," Kakashi said as they walked into the room. " How are you feeling?"

" Better, thank you," Aceso answered. " How's Naruto?"

" Physically he's getting better, but he's emotionally destroyed," Kakashi answered. " Sakura is trying her best to stay positive."

" She didn't take it out on Naruto?" Aceso asked.

" Surprisingly no," Kakashi laughed as he sat on the edge of her bed. Aceso smiled. " This reminds me of the time you got your tonsils out."

" Except this time I can talk," Aceso pointed.

" I'm not sure if that's a good a thing," Kakashi said.

 " Hey!" Aceso exclaimed in defense. Kakashi laughed more as he put an arm around her as a father would.

"What are you reading there?" Kakashi asked.

"Oh, nothing special, just reading up on medicines," Aceso asked.

"Sounds boring to me," Kakashi said. "But if you like it, then you like it." He ruffled her hair. "You did great out there kid."

"Thanks, Dad," Aceso smiled up at him.

******

Late that night, Aceso was laying on her bed staring out the window, it was a waxing crescent, she was so intuned with her thoughts that she jumped when somebody touched her.

" Sorry," a voice squeaked, she looked over and saw Lee, he was holding two cups of tea. She quickly sat up to make room." I figured that I would be the one to bring you the tea this time instead of you bringing me tea."

" It's alright," Aceso smiled at him as he sat down on the bed and handed her the tea. " And thank you for the tea." He tilted his head while looking at her.

" What is it?" Aceso asked.

" It's quite strange not seeing you with braids," Lee pointed as he reached out his hand, he ran his fingers through the loose hair. " Can I braid it?"

" Um, sure," Aceso said slowly. Lee jumped off the bed, grabbed a brush, jumped back on the bed, sat behind her, and started to braid. 

" I'm sorry," Lee apologized as he moved his fingers around.

" For what?" Aceso asked in confusion. 

" I didn't protect you," Lee said sadly.

" But you did," Aceso corrected.

" If I didn't you wouldn't be so injured," Lee denied.

" No, but you did," Aceso insisted. " Hugley when you were...drunk." Lee looked and his cheeks became very pink. " And I got hurt trying to protect you, so it was worth it."

" I'm supposed to be protecting you," Lee reminded her. " You heal me, and I protect you."

" At this moment, the roles are kind of reversed," Aceso pointed out. " You brought the tea."

" I'm sorry for getting drunk," Lee apologized. " I broke a rule of drinking underage as a Shinobi."

" Don't be so hard on yourself," Aceso said. " You thought you grabbed medicine....and honestly it was adorable. You kept hiccuping and giggling as you were fighting." Lee's face grew bright red and he fainted, falling on her.