[Second Chapter in the story. Enjoy!~ ^^ I would have had it up yesterday, but you could say the internet was having technical difficulties.]

The walk through the woods was a long one, and Naruto was starting to get bored. He leaned back, arms behind his head, and looked at the others in his group. The fox-boy was still amazed that Sasuke had finally returned to the village, though he was also curious to why he had come back. The raven-haired Uchiha had refused to talk about it since he came back. Despite the Hokage's relief, she had ordered Kakashi to watch the once-missing ninja closely.

The Uchiha snapped Naruto from his thoughts with the question, "What are you staring at, Moron?" He was obviously teasing Naruto, but the blonde scowled and responded heatedly. Both stopped in the middle of the trail they were on.

"Nothing, Duck-Butt!"

The comment had its desired effect when Sasuke twitched and glared coldly at his friend/enemy, "What did you say?"

Sakura glared at Naruto, but the boys were too busy staring each other down to notice. She yelled, "Don't call my Sasuke that you idiot!"

"Your Sasuke?"

Kakashi sighed, waving his hands to get the group's attention before saying in a calm voice, "Hey, lets focus on the task ahead, shall we?"

They began walking again, reluctantly, though they hadn't gone on for five minutes before a sound in the bushes attracted the group's attention. Leaves were shaking and a few of the bushes branches sounded like they were being snapped in half. Eager to prove himself, Naruto sent a kunai in that direction. An outraged cry got the group's attention as the kunai disappeared amongst the leaves, and out from the bush jumped a monkey-like creature. Its body was round and covered in white fur, and it had triangular ears. It's arms and legs were brown, and it had shackles on its wrists and ankles. The creature's paws were like boxing gloves. Its nose was pig-like, and from its expression it appeared very angry.

"What IS that thing?" Sakura asked.

No one could offer an answer as the creature glared at Naruto. Their eyes locked for a split second, and it charged angerly at the boy. Naruto, caught off-guard, turned to run but was slow on his retreat, and was sent flying by a punch from the pokemon, colliding with Sasuke and both falling to the ground.

"Get off me," Sasuke grumbled from beneath his comrade. When he took to long to respond Sasuke shoved him off and stood up, ignoring Naruto's groan of pain. He glanced at the thing that had so easily knocked out Naruto and nonchalantly said, "I'll handle this."

"Okay. I'll make sure Naruto is alright." Oh Sasuke, he's so cool!

"I'll let you guys handle this, then," Kakashi said with a nod, eager to get back to reading his book.

The creature was daring anyone in the group to come closer, growling its name, "Primeape."

Sasuke sneered, stepping forward, "This is going to be easy."

"What did that thing say?" Sakura asked Kakashi. She was focusing a special healing chakra into her palm, then using it to heal any injury that attack may have had on Naruto.

Kakashi's mask moved as his mouth did while he offered a reply, watching the Uchiha boy, "I heard it say 'Primeape'."

"Any clue what that means?"

"Either its the thing's name, or a special Jutsu. That's my guess."

"Hmph. Well, Primeape or whatever you are, prepare to lose," Sasuke murmured, even as he charged toward it. His eye color slowly morphed to red, with three little black shapes surrounding his pupils. He pulled back his fist, prepared to punch it.

Primeape ducked the approaching fist with ease and sent Sasuke spiraling through the air as Naruto once had. With luck he landed on his feet, staggered, and charged again, "You little-"

The pokemon struck again, sending him backwards once more.

~In the Desert..~

Back in the desert, the Kazekage and his siblings seemed to be having an easier time with the intruders. A yellow-and-tan shrew-like creature with a brick-like design on its back was playing in the sand around Gaara's feet. Sandshrew, it was decided, was the little creature's name. Gaara seemed to have immediately bonded with it. He crouched down, petting it's back as it contently said its name.

"These creatures don't seem to be a threat to the people of the Sunagakure," he concluded. Temari and Kankuro nodded, Standing up, he turned and gazed at his village on the horizon, "Lets head back."

He began walking, and behind him the little Sandshrew, though not invited, followed.