Welcome to the first chapter in Mika and Naruto Uzumaki: Hurricane Chronicles!

I am rewarding everyone who is a fan of this story with a longer chapter! Thank you all so much for supporting me and reading the story! Enjoy!

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Mika Uzumaki stepped through the gates of Konoha, "Konoha" she whispered mainly to herself, "I'm home."

Shikamaru and Temari smiled but suddenly Temari remembered and grabbed the girl by her black shirt collar.

"Gaara told you he loved you!" Even Temari could hardly believe it, "And you said . . . Thank you?!"

Mika blushed, a cold sweat appearing on her skin, "Uh . . . Yeah?"

Temari let her go and swat her on the head, "Ow! Tem!"

"You deserved it!"

'Women' Shikamaru thought, resisting the urge to roll his eyes, 'So troublesome. Poor Gaara though. I feel for the guy.'

"I'm sorry Tem! I just didn't know what to say. It was so sudden!" Mika scratched the back of her head in embarrassment, "Sorry."

Temari sighed, "Oh brother! I hope he's not taking it too bad. Now he probably thinks you don't love him."

Mika fell silent and Temari glared at her, "You do love him right?"

Mika blinked and looked away from her friend, "I don't know."

Temari was about to shout at her again Shikamaru intervened, "You guys can cat fight later. We have to get to the Hokage and report."

The two women nodded in agreement and followed the Chunin to the main building. Mika's giddy feeling returned as she looked around and noticed that they had added Tsunade's face to the Hokage Mountain, "It's changed a lot here."

"Really?" Shikamaru yawned, "I haven't noticed."

Mika rolled her eyes, "Of course you haven't! You've been living here the whole time! Right Tem?"

But the blonde with four pig-tails just looked away from her, ignoring the question.

'Crap. Now she hates me?'

Shikamaru led them to the Hokage's office and knocked on the door, "I haven't told Tsunade of your return. I figured you wanted to see the shock on her face right?"

The red-haired girl grinned mischievously and nodded, "Oh yeah."

Shikamaru closed his eyes with a smirk on his face and knocked again until Tsunade yelled for them to come in.

Shika opened the door and Mika peeked to see Tsunade was facing away from the door with a pink haired girl at her side. It looked like they had been talking and were still in their minds caught in a dream. Like they were waiting for someone.

"M'lady" Shikamaru smiled, "We've returned."

Tsunade didn't turn around yet and Sakura was still looking outside with a sigh but the Hokage was a bit confused and tilted her head up from her lap, "Shikamaru? I thought you weren't supposed to arrive for three days?" she rested her head in her palm, her elbow leaning on the side of the chair.

Temari laughed a little, "Well we had a little help with the ride here."

"Did you see the lightning?" Shikamaru tried not to give anything away.

"Yes. It was very ominous. I don't like it."

That's when Mika decided to make herself known and stepped forward, "You find my presence ominous!? Should I just leave then?"

"That voice", All of a sudden, Sakura whipped around and gasped, "Mika?! Is that really you?!"

Tsunade stood up and turned around in shock as well, "Uzumaki?!"

Mika placed her hands on her hips and nodded, "It's so great to see you guys again! You've changed a lot Sakura."

Sakura ran over to her and surprised her with a hug, wrapping her strong arms tightly around her friend and old teammate, "I didn't think you'd be here so soon!"

Mika was shocked at Sakura's powerful grip, 'Shit! How is she so strong?!'

"Sakura" she gasped, making the pink haired girl let her go immediately.

"Sorry Mika" she smiled, "I've forgotten how strong I've gotten sometimes. So wait . . . the lightning. That was you? But how?"

Tsunade cleared her throat, "That can wait Sakura. Shikamaru, you are relieved for the day for missions. You may escort lady Temari around Konoha and show her where she will be staying while she is here for the next few days."

"Yes mam" Shikamaru almost groaned but led Temari out of the room.

Mika smiled at the Hokage, "So Tsunade, -"

"Before that, brat, where are your bandages?!"

Mika titled her head to the side before she finally remembered, "Oh! Hahahhah! I don't need those anymore. I've completely mastered my anger and 'that' power. Don't worry."

"Are you sure Mika? I wouldn't want to have to do something drastic just because you thought you could handle it."

"Are you talking about Okami and his unstable chakra leaking out?" Sakura asked and Mika realized that she wasn't supposed to know anything about Okami.

Sakura picked up on the look Mika gave her and laughed, "Oh I know now that you have the eleven tails inside of you. It was pretty obvious after I thought about it. All those time you talked to yourself, made up that diagnostic about your anger and when you bled from your stomach. I mentioned it once to Tsunade"

"I thought it best if I just told her rather than she made something else up. I guess she was just too observant" Tsunade joked and Mika smiled.

"Well I'm glad at least someone else knows. I was getting tired of always keeping it a secret."

Sakura smiled back but then frowned, "But then. . .who else knows?"

Mika frowned with her, "All the Jounin, most Chunin, the elders, some adult villagers and council, Naruto, Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, most others in Suna, Orochimaru, Kabuto and Sasuke."

"What?!" she yelled, "How come so many people knew but me?!"

Mika shrugged, trying to get away from the subject and Tsunade shook her head, "Tell you guys what, Sakura, how about you take Mika to her apartment. We'll have an assessment tomorrow on how well you've grown, Mika."

"Assessment? But wouldn't it be better to wait for Naruto to return too then? Then we'd have most of the team!"

Sakura raised an eyebrow, "But how do you know if Naruto would be here soon or not?"

The Uzumaki girl grinned, "I met him and Jiraiya on my way to Suna from the Land of Snow. That was about 3 and a half months ago or so. They'll be here soon."

Tsunade still looked unsure, "Okay. But we'll only wait a few days, kid."

"He'll be here before then" she promised.

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Gaara tapped his pen on his desk.

The Kazekage wasn't doing so well after Mika left. He wouldn't admit it but she had broken his heart a bit when she hadn't told him she loved him too.

He narrowed his eyes, 'Was it just sex to her? Just her animal demon's primal instincts?'

But Gaara knew deep in his heart that that wasn't the case. Mika was never one who would just be open like that. Besides, after her fiasco with Sasuke, he couldn't blame her. That sad excuse for a man told her he loved her and tried to kill her. No wonder she would be so reluctant.

'But surely she realizes how different I am? I would never hurt her like he did.'

Gaara sighed and went back to his paperwork.

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Once Sakura brought Mika to her and Naruto's old apartment, pure nostalgia flowed through her, "It feels like it's been forever since last I was here."

Sakura laughed, "Yeah. Good luck with the cleaning."

Mika sighed, "Yeah. But it will only get worse when Naruto gets back, you know. He's so messy!"

Sakura made an amused noise, "Well I'll see you tomorrow alright? You probably want some time to yourself."

The Uzumaki kunoichi nodded, "You know me. See you tomorrow Sakura. It was great to see you again."

The pink haired girl waved good-bye, not trusting her voice from breaking down in a cry. Mika usually was never so calm and nice like this and it made Sakura so happy.

Once the girl left, Mika wandered around her and Naruto's apartment with a sigh, 'Everything's the same.' She found the dusty picture of her team sitting on the desk by the bed. She wiped off the dust and smiled at the picture. It was of when they first became a team together. But she glared hard at Sasuke's picture that looked so pissy.

'One day perhaps.' She thought, 'one day perhaps you'll awaken from your madness Sasuke.'

She placed the picture down and went over to the door that held her old studio. Carefully she opened the door to reveal an easel, many canvas, the strong scent of dried and old paint and the warm feeling of the sun beating from the one window that was slowly fading with the sun itself. It was almost sundown. She had lost track of time taking to Sakura.

Her eyes wandered to a particular canvas that she hadn't destroyed long ago. It was one of the first paintings she did of Gaara when they first met.

Her eyes widened as she bent down and picked up the painting that was lying on the floor. It might have escaped her wrath, but apparently it hadn't escaped her heart, "Gaara"

She placed the painting on the easel and stared at the easel, "how do I feel about you? You're a great ninja, a wonderful leader, the perfect lover and an amazing man. But . . . you love me? Me? Why me? Do I love you? I don't even know. I've never thought about it I guess."

Mika thought about all the times she spent with him. He had been harsh at first when they met. He was different and cold but familiar. But then once they started spending time together, he was a bit more understandable. He was just like her.

And then he betrayed her and the Shukaku escaped from him to satisfy its blood lust.

And then he pleaded forgiveness from her. He begged her to forgive him. He wanted so badly to be her friend and she forgave him.

But after Sasuke violated her and tried to take advantage of her, Mika felt hurt and disgusting.

Then Sasuke almost killed her and it tore her heart apart. His words were lies. He didn't really love her like he said.

And then Gaara and her trained together and spent time with each other in Suna and Mika couldn't have been happier if it wasn't for her dark side trying to escape. When they parted, she felt torn.

Two years of loneliness when she finally returned to him and she felt complete.

'Is that love? Feeling whole?'

But the statement of Gaara's love is what surprised her, 'Does he even know what love means now? He's only known it for what? A few years?'

She shook her head, 'Of course he knows. He's had Temari and Kankuro to show him for all that time. But how could he just say it so easily? And he just expected her to say it right back?'

Mika slid to the floor and hugged her knees that night in deep thought. The question ringing in her mind continuously.

'Do I love him?'

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The next day, Mika woke up feeling even more confused and strange than before she went to bed. She just felt so tired, so empty.

'Am I feeling guilty?'

She sighed and got ready for the day, 'Naruto and Jiraiya should be back today either today or tomorrow. Well that's what Jiraiya said he calculated anyway. Hope they make it in time.'

She left her apartment and wandered off to the gates of Konoha, 'Got nothing else to do today.'

She sat on a roof and waited, watching the gates with intense suspension, 'Might as well wait for brother to come home'

Mika was very much used to waiting. She had went through hours and sometimes days of meditation forced on to her by Kenshin and Imako. If anyone could sit still and wait in their own thoughts for days it was her.

An hour later, however, Mika found herself getting slightly impatient. But then again, perhaps it was because she was waiting for her brother that made her so twitchy, 'hurry up dammit!'

"Waiting for Naruto, I see, Mika?"

"Yeah. . . . . . ?"

She whipped around, "Kakashi sensei?!"

Kakashi smiled under his mask, "Yep, it's me alright. How are you? It's been a while, kid."

Mika stood up respectfully and grinned at her old master, "I'm great sensei! You?"

"I'm fine" he sighed, "But I gotta say, it's pretty quiet without all my little students around."

Mika laughed.

"So how was training in the Land of Snow?"

Mika narrowed her eyes and smirked, "It was worth it. But I won't tell you anything. I'll show ya when the time comes. When Naruto arrives."

Kakashi listened carefully to his old student's cryptic-like talk, "Huh. Alright but how long are you willing to wait for him? It could be days before Naruto returns to Konoha."

She shrugged, "Nah." She returned her gaze to the gate, "I can smell him in the breeze. Their close."

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Gaara was standing outside the Kazekage building on a large balcony looking out on his village.

A sigh escaped his lips.

He still couldn't get over Mika's inconsiderate words, 'It's not her fault. If she doesn't love me, oh well. She's still my friend. I guess.'

He groaned inwardly, 'Dammit.'

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Naruto saw the gates up ahead, "Oh boy! We're nearly there Pervy-Sage!"

Jiraiya smirked at his student, "You can hardly wait can you?"

He shook his head vigorously, "Nope! I can't wait to see everyone! Do you think Mika will be there already?!"

The sanin nodded, "Of course. She wouldn't break a promise now would she?"

Naruto didn't answer his teacher and they passed through the gates in relief, 'I'm home'

"It's been more than two years" Naruto looked reminiscent with a grin plastered on his face.

Jiraiya nodded and smirked as he watched Naruto jump up onto a pole up by the rooftops, "Whoohooo! Konoha! You haven't changed at all!"

"And neither have you, Naruto."

The blonde whipped around and grinned, "Mika!"

His twin sister grinned at him. Naruto didn't even notice Kakashi standing there as well when he leaped over to the rooftop and glomped his sister in a big warm hug.

Mika embraced her brother tightly back, "Welcome home, Naruto."

Naruto laughed in her ear, not trusting himself to actually say anything just yet.

Kakashi watched the display of sibling affection with a smile under his mask, "What, no hug for your old sensei?" he spoke teasingly.

Naruto blinked and let go of his sister, "Kakashi sensei! You haven't changed a bit!"

Mika swat his shoulder, "You recognized Kakashi right away but not your own sister?!"

Naruto chuckled but Kakashi looked a bit confused.

"Oh!" Mika smiled, "When I was on my way to Suna from the Land of Snow, I met Naruto and Jiraiya at a nearby town. Dimwit, here, didn't recognize me at first!"

"Aw come on sis!" Naruto pouted, "You had your hair up and you 'grew' so of course I'm not going to recognize you immediately!."

"Naruto you thought I was a rapist!"

"Yeah because you were hovering over me while I was sleeping!"

Kakashi broke them up, "Alright, alright kids. That's enough. I get the picture. Man, you two sure haven't changed at all either."

Mika smirked, "Well maybe not in personality but defiantly in power. You'll find out soon."

"Oh crap!" Naruto started going through his backpack, "I almost forgot Master Kakashi! I got something for ya!"

"Oh?"

Naruto pulled out a book and Mika rolled her eyes, "Oh god."

Kakashi stared at the book in rapture, "No way. . . Is this?"

"Yep. It's the latest book in the make-out series. The first in three years. I figured you'd like it!"

"Suck up" Mika muttered.

Jiraiya called down from below, "Hey, It's probably time to go see Tsunade, don't ya think Naruto?"

"Oh yeah!" he grabbed Mika's hand and jumped down to Jiraiya with his sister in tow, "Come with us, sis, we can catch up! Come on Master Kakashi! You too!"

The four ninja walked in the streets of Konoha on their way to the Hokage tower when Mika smelt a familiar scent up ahead. Naruto suddenly swung his arm around her shoulder, though, affectionately before she could say anything.

"I missed ya sis" he told her, "So when did you get here?"

"Oh, only yesterday. I arrived with Shikamaru and Temari using my Lightning Teleportation Jutsu."

"Oh! You've got to show it to me again sometime! It was totally awesome!"

Mika laughed, "Hey! You want to go get some Ichiraku ramen after we visit Tsunade?"

"Oh yeah!" He shook her shoulders with his arm. He really didn't want to let her go. He had a tough enough time over two years ago actually letting her go with Gaara let alone the Land of Snow. And now since she was finally back with him, he didn't want to let her out of his sight.

Mika sniffed again, "Oh well look who it is"

Naruto looked up to see Sakura walking with Tsunade and Shizune around the corner, "Oh! Hey! Sakura!"

The pink haired girl twirled around at the mention of her name and smiled, "Naruto!"

She walked up to him with Tsunade and Shizune behind her, "Wow! I almost didn't recognize you! Guess we've both grown huh?"

"If ya say so! You haven't changed at all!"

'Oh god Naruto.' Mika thought, 'You'd think you'd learn after all this time.'

"Or maybe you've just gotten taller" Sakura tried to be nice.

Naruto hid a light blush.

"Naruto! Big brother!"

'Oh no I know that voice. That kid that looks up to Naruto so much'

They looked around to see Konohamaru grinning at them all, "Check out my new jutsu!"

Mika rolled her eyes as the scene unfolded around her. Of course Konohamaru used sexy jutsu, Naruto was going to try and out-do him and Sakura punches him in the face.

'Holy shit Sakura's gotten strong!'

Tsunade broke up the 'reunion', "Alright that's enough with the emotional reunion. Kakashi, take it away."

The silver-haired ninja snapped his book shut and sighed, "It's been awhile but from now on, you three are a part of my team again but not as sensei and students, but as equals."

He pulled out two bells they remembered from their first exercise together, "I want to see how much you've all grown. The rules are the same. Attack as though you mean to kill."

Mika nodded, 'Oh, you guys are gonna be blown away. I've already seen how Naruto's changed but I doubt Kakashi's changed much at all. Sakura, however, has seemed to have gotten stronger."

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They finally reached their old practice field a few minutes later and smiled at the old memories. Mika, however, wasn't too reminiscent anymore. Especially if those memories contained Sasuke Uchiha.

Kakashi stood amongst them still holding out the bells, "You have until sunrise tomorrow to get the bells from me. Use whatever force you see necessary to get them from me."

Mika ignored Naruto and Sakura when they mentioned the old cell seven and how this practice field brought back memories. Kakashi even looked a bit sad at the thought but Mika just snarled a bit.

"Alright enough. Let's just do this." She stretched her arms out and cracked her neck, "So there's no limitations as to what jutsu we use?"

Kakashi nodded, "None."

Mika grinned, "You're going to wish you didn't say that."

Naruto smirked but Sakura looked apprehensive.

"We'll see" Kakashi lifted up his headband that covered his Sharingan eye and put his book away.

"Not gonna read this time?" Naruto teased him.

"Or have you already finished it?" Sakura pulled on some battle gloves and Kakashi stanced at the ready.

"Nope. I'm just going to save it for later. Besides, I have a feeling that this time I'm going to have to be a bit more serious with you three."

There was silence for a few seconds before Naruto attacked first, throwing some shuriken to get Kakashi to duck and throw his own at his student. Naruto, however, created a clone and made it pull him out of the shuriken's range. Naruto transformed his clone into a giant shuriken only to be stopped by Kakashi holding a hand on his head behind him, effectively immobilizing him.

'Nice Naruto'

Kakashi didn't expect however for Naruto to have another clone behind Kakashi with a kunai at his back.

Kakashi smiled, "Still the impatient one I see. I hadn't said to start yet."

He remembered their first exercise when the same thing happened but without the clone, 'This is sure making me feeling old'

"Alright. Go!"

Kakashi disappeared in a poof of smoke.

Mika smelt him below them in the ground but Sakura acted first, "You're below!"

She punched the ground, causing the dirt and earth to break under her fist and reveal Kakashi underneath.

'Damn.' Mika pursed her lips, 'Stronger than I thought.'

Kakashi jumped out of the rubble but now it was Mika's turn. She pointed at her sensei with one hand and pointed to the ground with the other. Storm clouds started to cover the sky.

'What is she up to?' Kakashi thought.

Mika smirked as she closed her fist at the ground, making lightning strike down in front of Kakashi but before the man could escape, Mika made some signs to cause the lightning to form into a prison, much like the one she trapped Sasuke, Kabuto and Orochimaru in when they arrived in the land of Snow.

Kakashi was trapped behind lightning bars, "What the?! Is this really?"

"Yup!" Mika grinned, "It's real lightning Sensei! I know you've told me not to mess with it but I really didn't have a choice when training under Imako and Kenshin."

'Mika' Kakashi smiled in pride, trying not to touch the 'bars', 'This is magnificent. Not even I-'

But Kakashi made some signs and poofed away into smoke again appearing once more outside the prison, "Nice try kids. But now it's my turn"

Sakura was still staring at Mika when she dispersed the electric prison, 'Whoa. If Kakashi told her never to use real lightning, it must be dangerous. But now she's-'

Naruto was chuckling in his mind, 'That's one of the juts she showed me a couple months ago!'

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It was night already but fastly approaching sunrise. Mika was exhausted but didn't show it in her features.

It was when Naruto came up with a brilliant idea that made her think of all the prank he played on people when he was little.

They decided to go at Kakashi but Naruto, as a distraction, decided to play on his sensei's greatest weakness and was going to give away something from Kakashi's new book. But even with his Sharingan he could see his lips moving so he had to shut his eyes as well so he didn't hear any spoilers.

Mika stepped back and let Naruto and Sakura grab a bell. There were only two after all and there was three of them. However, Naruto took her hand in his, symbolizing that she, too, captured a bell with him.

Kakashi sighed, "I guess you kids beat me"

They all laughed in unison together.

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Kakashi sighed, "I still can't believe you three beat me."

Mika chuckled, "Maybe we surpassed ya, huh sensei? After all, real lightning is stronger than chakra lightning. I found that out pretty quick in my training."

"Oh?" Kakashi questioned, "How so?"

Mika stumbled, knowing that she had almost slipped up. She didn't want them to know that she met Sasuke just a year ago and almost killed him. She wasn't planning on ever telling anyone, "My sensei' are lightning elementals."

"Hm"

'Shit, I think he suspects something!'

Naruto swung his arm around her shoulders again, "How about we all go get Ichiraku to celebrate?!"

"Great idea!" Sakura piped up, "Let's get Kakashi to treat us!"

The silver-haired ninja smiled under his mask, "Sorry, kids. Not today"

He poofed away.

"Aw man!" Naruto groaned, "Blowing us off like that! What a jerk!" he smirked at Sakura, "Hey Sakura-"

"No Naruto" she interrupted.

"But you don't even know what I was going to say!"

'You're still the same nitwit, little brother. She'll never go out with you. Too busy dreaming about Sasuke.'

Just then Mika caught two familiar scents and whipped around, "Temari! Shikamaru!"

The two ninja looked surprised that Mika had scented them but Shikamaru's creeped out face disappeared when he saw his old friend, "Hey! Naruto!"

Naruto grinned, "Shikamaru!"

"Did you really just get back now Naruto?" Shikamaru asked him but Naruto shook his head.

"He just got back yesterday. We've all been 'catching up' since."

Shikamaru smiled, "You've gotten taller, Naruto. Finally eating something other than ramen huh? You seem different. More mature perhaps?"

Sakura laughed, remembering the incident yesterday with the sexy jutsu. Mika rolled her eyes with a smirk, "Try again, Nara"

Shikamaru sighed, "I figured. How troublesome."

"Hey! I'm right here ya know! I have TOO matured." He grumbled, "But Shikamaru, you two on a date huh?"

Temari blushed and Mika almost giggled at her friend's composure.

"Not even close, man"

Shikamaru didn't notice Temari's almost hurt look.

'Poor Temari.'

Temari spoke up, "The Chunin exams are almost up. I'm acting as ambassador for the Sand and the Leaf."

"I'm being forced to escort Miss high strung here, around Konoha. I'm also gonna be a proctor for the Chunin exams this year."

"Chunin exams huh?" Naruto sighed, "Brings back memories."

"You can say that again" Mika laughed, "I remember when Gaara was all mean and cold. It was so cute. Now he's all serious and adorable"

Temari glared at her but Mika ignored the look while Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"Oh! So Gaara did let ya back huh? How is he huh?!"

"He's fine" Mika said quickly.

"Probably not right now" Temari muttered.

"Poor guy" Shikamaru shook his head.

"What are you guys talking about?' Both Sakura and Naruto asked but Mika shook her head.

"Nothing!"

"Anyways" Shikamaru interrupted, "So what are you guys gonna do Naruto and Mika? About the Chunin exams?"

'Crap.' Mika's face turned sour as she remembered the embarrassing fact.

"What do you mean?" of course Naruto was clueless.

"Well you and Mika are the only ones in the Rookie ten that aren't Chunin now. You two are still Genin."

Naruto looked ready to burst, "What?! Even you too Sakura?!"

Said pinkette grinned, "Yep!"

"Yeah" Mika nodded, "And Neji, Temari and Kankuro are all Jounin."

Naruto looked absolutely shocked, "Ah cool! Oh!"

"What?" Mika asked but was surprised when Naruto grabbed her by the shoulders, "But what about Gaara?! You haven't really said a word about him! Is he a Chunin too?! Or a jounin?!"

"You mean you haven't told him?" Shikamaru asked.

"Told me what?!"

Mika sighed, "Gaara is Kazekage now of the Sand village."

It took a few moments of silence before Naruto grinned, "Kazekage huh? Good for him."

Mika smiled. She could sense Naruto's jealousy but also that he was truly happy for him.

'Oh Naruto.'

"Yeah" Mika sighed, "It is pretty good isn't it?" she frowned and Temari furrowed her brow in guilt.

'Poor kid. I guess I shouldn't be too hard on her. After all, even if she doesn't love him, she'll always be there for him as a friend.' Temari smiled softly.

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Gaara sighed, tapping his pen on his desk in frustration, 'I just want to bang my head against a wall or something.'

He turned around in his chair and looked out the window, 'I gave everything to her. My heart, soul and even part of my body! And for what? Just to get a 'thank you'?'

He almost grumbled but decided against it. Mika always did have an influence on his personality that almost scared him. He was becoming more open with others because of her.

Suddenly a movement in the sky caught his attention.

'A bird? But that's no ordinary bird from the desert.'

He got up fast and ran to the roof, throwing off his Kage robes, his battle clothes underneath, 'Something's wrong.'

He reached the roof and glared at the bird. Now, however, he noticed a man on riding the bird and weaving signs. He was heading for the Kage building so Gaara just stayed put.

'Dammit Kankuro where are you? Where are all the guards?'

The long-haired blonde man leaped off the strange bird like creature and noticed Gaara was waiting for him, "Oh" was all he said.

Gaara glared down at the man and used his mind to make sand come crashing towards him but he dodged.

'Who is he?" the Kazekage wondered, 'A member of the Akatsuki? Judging by his robes, I'd have to guess so.'

The blonde man jumped back up on his weird bird, "But how did you know?"

"There are no such birds in this desert."

"Ah" Deidara hummed, "Mission failed then huh?"

Gaara attacked.

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Mika was sitting with Naruto and Iruka for lunch at Ichiraku's.

She listened to Naruto happily talk about his travels with Jiraiya and all the cool new moves he learned.

Temari was escorted back to the apartment she was staying in by Shikamaru and Sakura had to visit Tsunade for something.

Mika grinned as she ate the Ichiraku ramen. It had been a long time since she had it and it was as good as she remembered.

She reached for her cup of water to cleanse her palate when the cup suddenly cracked. She stopped and stared at the broken cup in awe and slowly, she turned her gaze up to stare at the Third Hokage's stone face on the Hokage Monuments. It had also cracked that day he died.

She swallowed the ramen that was in her mouth, 'I feel as though something's terribly wrong, Okami.'

'I know pup.' The wolf demon replied, 'I feel it too.'

She narrowed her eyes, ignoring Iruka and Naruto's conversation.

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Gaara panted in exhaustion as he used the last of his energy to move the sand away from the village. Deidara had tried to bomb the Sand village but Gaara had managed to create a sand shield to protect his villagers from danger.

Now, however, he was sacrificing the last of his strength to drift the sand shield away so it didn't dump on them.

'Dammit' Gaara growled, 'We were unprepared for this. This attack just came out of nowhere!'

He was slowly losing consciousness, 'Mika.'

His sand fell off of him and he began to fall from the sky, 'I'm just happy I got to tell you how I feel. And that the village is safe. Mika . . . .'

"Gaara!" he could hear his brother shout out for him but it was too late. Gaara lost consciousness and Deidara caught him in his strange clay bird's tail.

The bird took off into the sky.

'Mika'

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'Mika'

The red-haired girl woke up the next day in her bed sweating like a pig. She just had the scariest dream that Gaara had been calling out to her. He was hurt and there was nothing that she could do about it.

'Gaara? Did something happen?'

She shook it off and got ready for the day. Naruto got up after her and they both got ready to go to the Hokage building to receive their first mission as a squad again.

When they arrived to the Hokage building, of course Naruto was starting to fuss again about boring missions and such. It was really starting to feel like old times again.

Mika sighed and shook her head fondly at the memories.

"Lady fifth!" a woman rushed into the room shouting with urgency.

Mika perked up to smell the fear on her.

"What is it now?" Tsunade was feeling very irritated after only dealing with Naruto for a few minutes.

"Terrible news! We've just received word that the Sand's Kazekage has been kidnapped by a member of the Akatsuki!"

Mika's eyes shot open wide, 'What?'

She covered her mouth, 'No way. It can't be. Not Gaara'

Even Naruto looked worried but Mika was terrified.

Tsunade stood up and spoke calmly, "Team Kakashi, I hereby amend your mission. You are to leave for Suna now. Assess the situation and report back immediately. Afterwards, you will follow the Sand's orders and provide them whatever assistance that they require. Understood?"

Team Kakashi nodded.

Mika swallowed, 'Gaara. Please be okay.'

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R&R