(Gaara/OC, Neji/Hinata) When Sasuke and the Akatsuki come after Naruto, a strange woman appears and saves him. But she leaves behind a clue as to who she is. Naruto meets up with an old friend to discover her identity. But not all secrets should be discovered.

---Leaf Village outskirts---

His blue eyes fixed on the gate and he made a mad dash for the gates. He was almost home!

But almost didn't cut it.

A roped net sprang up around him. Naruto yelled in surprise. Behind him, Kakashi, Sakura, and Hinata made a dash to help him, but simply didn't reach in time. A blur of white streaked right towards him and Naruto shielded his face. The blur stabbed Naruto right in the arm. Naruto looked up, through the tears and pain and saw Sasuke's red Sharingan looking back at him. Naruto tried not to say anything, but it was difficult. When he finally decided to say something, Sasuke smirked.

"It's been far too long, Naruto. Far too long. Finally, I can kill you like I'd always planned. Now, it's your turn, Naruto."

"NO!" Sakura screamed. A paper seal was stuck to her forehead. Kakashi and Hinata were pinned down as well, by the same seals. "Sasuke-kun! Stop! Please, I'm begging you!"

"Pathetic woman!" Sasuke brought his hand up and then down. A kunai stabbed into Sakura's hands. "I wish to achieve something. Perhaps, later, you can be of use to me. For now, be silent and still and wait your turn! You'll die as well!"

He turned back to Naruto. His blade pointed right at Naruto's nose. With a flick, he sliced off Naruto's head protector. Another slash and Naruto was cut free and bleeding from his upper torso. It was like a disaster waiting to happen with how much blood poured out.

Naruto coughed and tried to get up. "What's wrong with you, Sasuke?! You were my friend once. Why aren't you now?"

"I'm not friends with weaklings. Besides, you talk of sharing pain and being friends! I have to get power before I can be anything! I'm not like you!"

"No, but you're barking mad, Uchia Sasuke."

All eyes turned to a maroon-and-lavender-clad figure. She had long, beautiful, dark hair that was tied up in a bun that spiked out where it met her head. She wore a frowning wolf mask with smiling eyes. A three-pronged claw of red came up her left side and covered her right eye, mouth, and nose. She was a Suna Anbu.

"Who are you?!" Sasuke demanded, pointing his sword at her, like a proud man.

"You can call me Yakushi. I'm not sure if you're the good guy or the bad guy in this fight. But I'm certain that you're killing won't help."

"How do you know my name?"

The Anbu didn't move. "Ha. Itachi sure has a way with descriptions." She put her hands together, as if praying. "He described you quite well!" The trees moved and began to block Sasuke from Naruto and the other ninja. "On the up-and-up, you're much different than your brother. I can see the difference, both good and bad." She formed the symbols as she spoke the chant. "Bird. Tiger. Ox. Tiger. Ox. Bird. Rabbit. Bird. Ninja Art! Tree Stomper!"

The trees moved, as if to squash Sasuke, but he ran before they could and she released her jutsu, sending the trees back to their original places. She looked at the four ninja's lying there and just gave a "humph" before kneeling down.

Reaching out, she plucked Kakashi's off. "Ah, the resemblance to White Fang is quite astonishing. You must be related." She dusted off the twigs and leaves before moving on to Sakura. She crossed her arms. "Hm. Your temper and your reputation make you just like Tsunade. You must be Haruno Sakura." She pulled the paper off. Grabbing Sakura's arms when the girl tried to move, she slowly, methodically, removed the kunai. "I recognize your eyes, Hyuga. You're from the main branch, so, you're Hyuga Hinata. Ah, yes, you're all quite popular. Even in Suna." With a quick bow, she vanished in a flurry of leaves and flower petals.

A whisper flew out, over their heads. "Yakushi, that's my name," the Anbu said, through the wind.

"Who.... who was that?" Naruto asked before his body went limp. He was out cold.