I'm so sorry, guys! My Google Docs somehow lost all of my work, not just this story but everything I have ever written but never published was just gone! I cried and mourned for a few days before trying to remember what I wrote down and I could only remember so much! 😭 again I'm so sorry this took forever and that it's so short! I hope what I was able to remember is okay!

~愛 Naomi

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“Hey, has anyone seen Itachi?” Kisame asked when he interesting the kitchen where everyone mostly hung out. Kakuzu, who was counting his money, ignored him; Deidara, who was making brownies (never a good sign. No one trusts him after what happened the first time he made brownies for everyone), shrugged; Zetsu, who was eating what looked like an arm, looked up at Kisame. “I think Tobi knows where he went,” White Zetsu said, before Black Zetsu added, “He wouldn't shut up about it.”

Kisame nods his thanks and left to look for the man in the orange mask. It took a while to found him (having realized he probably should've asked where he was, Kisame had returned to the kitchen just in time for the brownies Deidara had been making explode. They tasted pretty good, but the blonde really needs to consider taking the C-4 out of the recipe), but when he did, the man asked him to stand in a pose for his painting.

“Do not worry, Big Man Kisame! Tobi is almost finished with his most beautiful picture!” He hummed in response and looked up at his arms, wondering if he would ever feel them again. He didn't get why the man-child called him “Big Man Kisame”, but in a way, it was cute and reminded him of a kid. It's why he always got on to anyone when they talked bad about the strange man.

When Tobi finally cried out, “Done!” Kisame almost fell to his knees, thanking the God's he no longer believed in. “Would Big Man Kisame like to see Tobi’s beautiful picture?” Kisame looked over at the masked man and smiled a little as he remembered his daughter doing the same thing once. “I'd love to,” he said, heading over towards the smaller man. Tobi was practically bouncing with excitement by the time Kisame was at his side. “Tada~!” Tobi exclaimed, gesturing towards the painting.

On the canvas was the shark standing in the same pose Kisame had been in not to long ago, sea creatures staring at it with large eyes. It looked like something a kid would paint. “It looks good, Tobi. I like it,” Kisame said with a smile. It fell to a confused look when he faced the masked man who somehow managed to have stars shining in the hole where his eye could see through, as well as all around his head. The taller man stared for a moment before slightly shaking his head and asking, “Do you know where Itachi is? I can't seem to find him.”

The stars suddenly disappeared as Tobi said, “Oh, Big Man Kisame won't find Red Eye Itachi here because he left yesterday at high noon! Tobi remembers because Tobi was told not to tell anyone!” Kisame didn't know if he should be disappointed in Tobi for not keeping a secret for his partner or if he should be glad he didn't… Tobi made two, 360° turns before pointing in a direction, saying, “Red Eye Itachi went that way! Tobi remembers because Tobi saw a bird poop on the tree Red Eye Itachi had just passed!”

Kisame thanked Tobi and headed in the direction the masked man had been pointing, now knowing that Itachi was headed to the Leaf.

He also vaguely thought of teaching Tobi how to keep secrets…

~•×•~

“Oh, stop being such a big baby, Kitten,” Ginko said as she finished slicing an apple for Sasuke, who currently had his arms crossed and glaring out of a window. “He took all that time to get the woman, the least he could've done was be here when I woke up,” he complained, still glaring out the outside world. “And you wonder why I say you'd be Uke,” Ginko mumbled under her breath. Sasuke, having heard her, turned his glare towards her instead. He opened his mouth to deny that he would most certainly not be Uke, nor would any Uchiha, but she spoke before he had a chance to.

“He's probably mad at you.” Sasuke blinked and stared at her curiously as she set the plate of apple slices on his lap. “He may not be the sharpest kunai in the pouch, but he is pretty good at reading people. He knows you were worried about him and knows you won't ever admit to it or say it out loud, but then you see your brother and suddenly he's the last thing on your mind. I highly doubt he knows your feelings towards him, and I don't know if he will or does return them, but we all know he considers you a friend. How do you think he felt when his friend burst into his hotel room, saying he had to leave now or he was going to be killed? He thought maybe you considered him a friend, too, if you were willing to run for a whole day just to save him. Then here comes the enemy his friend had been talking about, and he thinks it's going to be like it was in Wave Country, but instead you push him aside and act like he's nothing and will only get in your way.”

Sasuke watched as she wiped off the knife she had used. “You hurt his feelings, made him feel like you didn't trust him and thought him a burden, and now he's giving you the silent treatment until you're all better as punishment,” she finished, placing the knife back on the tray that rested on the bedside table. “Your anger and hatred can and will get everyone killed. It can lead you and those you love a situation where only death is freedom… and sometimes you won't even get that option,” she said grimly, staring at the knife. Sasuke pondered that for a moment, letting it sink in.

“My mother told me once that we all have three different types of strength; Physical, Mental, and Emotional. She said that Physical strength is the weakest because it is nothing without the others. Mental strength is the strain your mind can go through. Physical strength is nothing if your mind is broken by a genjutsu or seeing something happen that is truly horrendous. Emotional strength is the most important because only with it are you able to combine each type and bring out the best in yourself. Physical strength is nothing if you are too scared to act and Mental strength is only gained if you have the courage to continue no matter what,” when she finished, she stood and looked back at Sasuke. “Replace your anger and hatred with something that will give you true strength. That way, you have a better chance of not losing anyone else you care about.”

Sasuke watched her leave but didn't say anything until he opened the door. “Hey, thanks for the Daisy's. How'd you know they were my favorite?” Ginko stopped and turned around, giving him a confused look. “I never brought you any Daisy's. Sakura and I brought you the Lily's.” And with that, she left.

Sasuke blinked and looked over at the Daisy's on the window sill, wondering who could have brought them if it wasn't any of the females on his team.

~•×•~

Gaara had been working on his Taijutsu under Baki's watch almost every day of the week for the past two months and he had nothing to show for it. He still couldn't hit hard enough, dodge quickly enough, his sand (despite all of his and Shukaku's efforts) still moved to protect him, and he couldn't pick up a 25 lb dumbbell. 20 lb was easy enough thanks to the sand armor weighing as much as it did, so Baki said he could move on up to 25 lb.

It was sad watching the redhead struggle as much as he did and realized he should've helped him sooner, no matter how scared he had been of the boy. And with the return of their lost citizens, Gaara's murder total had been dulled down significantly; so low, in fact, that you could count the number of people he has killed within the village on just two hands.

'You call this training? I've seen a squirrel pick up more weight than you,’ Shukaku said, smirking when Gaara grumbled. 'You can't even pick up 25 lbs? You can see how sad and pathetic this is, don't you mah boy?’ Gaara decided to ignore him as he tried lifting the dumbbells, getting it up about two inches before letting them hit the ground once more, his body shaking. It was too much. How could Temari pick up 75 lbs dumbbells so easily? How could Kankuro and Baki bench press 225 lbs? It was just impossible. It was inhuman. His siblings and Sensei just weren't human.

'You know,’ Shukaku started, causing Gaara to groan. 'I bet Lee could pick up these here dumbbells.’ Gaara froze. He didn't… 'I bet these are nothing to him. He probably picks up lightweight shit like this for breakfast. No wonder Ginko's with him instead of you…’ Just like Shukaku thought it would, his teasing motivated Gaara to finally push past the pain and lift the weights up and over his head, though, in his and Baki's opinion, he probably could've done it without all the screaming. But, at least he was getting somewhere with his physical training.

~•×•~

“Bullshit,” Ginko said, looking up at Lee's face, which was twisted in what looked like pain. He pouted and picked up all of the cards that were turned over. “You do realize you give yourself away by making that face, right?” Ginko told him as he sorted the cards in his hand. “Gaara is only better at this than you because he has one hell of a poker face. I'm quite jealous of it, actually. Two fives,” she said, laying down a five and an ace. Lee narrowed his eyes and looked through his cards, “As am I,” he mumbled before pointing to the cards she had laid down. “You have told another lie,” he added.

She sighed and picked up her cards, “The game is called Bullshit, Lee. You're supposed to say the games name, not 'you have lied’.” His face twisted as he set down three cards. “It is disrespectful to say such things in a lady's presence, and it is wrong to lie, even if it is just a game. Three threes.”

“And that's why you can't beat Gaara at this game; you can't tell a lie. And even if you do, you might as well be Pinocchio with how much of a give away you are,” she said, laying down 2 cards. “Two fours.” Lee's face twisted again as he laid four cards. “Four fives.” Lee looked through his cards once more as he thought back to when he played against Gaara during the Chunin Exams at the tower.

×~Three months ago at the tower~×

“Two fours,” Gaara said as he laid down two cards on the large pile between him and Lee. “Two fives,” Lee said, a worried look on his face as he looked at his cards. He didn't have much left, and Gaara had only 7 cards left…

“Three sixes,” Gaara said laying down three cards. Lee bit his lip, looking between his cards before looking up at Gaara, hoping he could read him. Gaara just blinked at him, his face blank; unreadable. The boy could have easily shamed a statue for how blank his face was. Well, that was a bust. He looked back down at his cards again, glad he at least had one seven. He laid it down and called out its rank. Gaara then laid down four cards, saying, “Four eights.”

Lee looked up at Gaara with disbelief, seeing the boys blank face once more. That had to be a lie; there was just no way he had all four eights. That was just impossible! Lee had laid down an eight last time, hadn't he? But… with how blank Gaara's face was, he wondered if it really was true. How could his face be that blank?! It was just impossible! Wait, it's moving. Gaara raised a brow at Lee and asked, “Why are you staring at me like that?” Lee blinked a few times before looking down at his cards. Surely he had an eight in here somewhere…

When Lee came across an eight in his large pile, he smiled and looked up at Gaara, saying, “You have told another lie.” Gaara smirked and turned over the cards he laid down, revealing four… eights. “We mixed all of Ginko’s cards, remember?” he said at Lees shocked face. Lee did remember, now that Gaara mentioned it. Why didn't he think of that?! How else could he and the pile be so large?! Gaara reached across the coffee table and closed Lees mouth with a finger. “Careful,” he said, “You'll catch flies that way.”

×~Present time~×

Lee pouted as he looked through his cards again. Maybe, with the cards so low, he could practice lying? As much as he didn't want to, he had to! Not only to beat Gaara but to become a better shinobi! He will not end up in this hospital again because he could not tell a lie! He looked down the hospital bed he was in, seeing his broken leg in its cast. The mission he and his team went on not too long ago cost him his left arm and leg; the enemy having crushed his limbs and shattering the bones.

Lee swallowed and laid down two cards, trying his  hardest to keep his face as blank as Gaara's as he lied, “Two sevens.” He thought if he avoided eye contact he could get away with it, but…

“Bullshit.”

Lee sighed. Looks like he needed to train in lying…