I've debated on whether or not to say who my favorite Naruto character is. I have decided against it. It may become obvious as the story progresses. If it doesn't and you would like to know please tell me!

When I read the 28th volume of Naruto and found out that Sasuke is the most popular character I about chucked the book at the wall. He's not at the top of my list. The only reason the book stayed in my hand was because I saw that Naruto was in 2nd place and that people liked his Jutsu more than Sasuke's!

...

Chapter Two: Reunions

"Sakura!" The pink-haired kunoichi turned at the sound of her name to see Ino and Hinata running towards her. Ino reached her first.

"We heard about the challenge! Are they really going to do it?" she asked. Sakura turned to look at the sparring field where Naruto and Sasuke duked it out. Their muscular bodies where coated in sweat. Their eyes burned with savage determination.

"Yes, I'm afraid they are."

"Is it true then, that Gaara is going be a part of it?" Hinata asked.

"He is. Gai went to go get him." The four girls turned to see Kakashi walked calmly towards them. His eyes were on Naruto and Sasuke. "He'll be here tonight."

"That fast huh?" Ino stated, folding her arms across her chest. Gai and his team were known for their impressive speed, but sometimes it still shocked everyone how fast they could really go. "I just hope Gaara can keep up with him."

"I don't think we have to worry," Kakashi said. "All right you two that's enough!"

On the field Naruto and Sasuke halted. Naruto's Rasengan and Sasuke's Chidori stopped short of colliding...barely a quarter inch apart. The chakra faded as the two relaxed. Naruto sat down on the ground and took a deep breath. Sasuke stretched his arms over his head. The two made in impressive sight, even when they weren't fighting.

"It should be illegal for guys to take off their shirts," Ino muttered under her breath so only Tenten and Sakura could hear her. They laughed, but their faces still turned slightly pink. Kakashi gave them a quizzical look before going up to the boys.

"So when is Gaara coming?" Naruto asked as he stretched out his legs.

"Tonight," Kakashi replied.

Naruto turned to look up at Sasuke. "Can you imagine how strong he is now?! I can't wait until we get to spar with him!" Sasuke made a face as he remembered his last encounter with the Sand Ninja...before he was Kazekage.

"So are Temari and Kankuro coming?" he asked, shoving the memory back.

"Temari is, but Kankuro decided to hang back to protect the village just in case," Kakashi told them.

"Tehe! Won't Shikamaru be happy," Naruto said in a mock evil way.

"Think we should go tease him?" Sasuke asked, grinning wickedly.

"Oh yeah!" The two boys grabbed their shirts and bounded away, slipping them on and making their way to headquarters. Sasuke didn't usually partake in this kind of thing, but every once in a while he joined Naruto in his small fun.

Kakashi watched them go, shaking his head.

"Well Kakashi, we'll see you later!" Ino said as she and the others turned to leave. "Girl day today!"

They waved goodbye and were gone.

...

Night fell quickly, but not as fast as Naruto would have liked. His eagerness to see Gaara only seemed to make time go slower. At last he ceased his fidgeting and sat down on one of the couches in the sitting room. Around him the other boys of the Suicide Squad were lounging about while the girls were in the kitchen preparing a welcome feast.

Sasuke lay sprawled on the opposite couch, eyes closed, fast asleep. Kiba was curled up in the recliner very much like a dog, also asleep. Shikamaru was busy playing a game of solitaire on the floor.

Naruto lay down on the couch. He closed his eyes and put his hands behind his head. A couple minuets passed after he settled himself down. Just as he was about to drift off to sleep the door burst open and Rock Lee flew into the room, yelling, jumping onto the couch and landing with his feet on Naruto's stomach. There was a crash from the kitchen, a gasp, and a curse. Shikamaru started and swore as his game was ruined, Sasuke jerked awake and fell off his couch, and Kiba literally jumped about three feet into the air before landing on all fours and snarling savagely.

With a vicious growl befitting a fox Naruto threw the other boy off of him. "I don't care how full of youth you are, don't jump on me!" he snapped. "And you scared the crap out of everyone in this room!"

"But Naruto," Lee said from his spot on the floor, having landed on his butt, tears of sheer joy in his eyes, "Gaara is here!"

Naruto stared at him blankly then looked up as two more ninja entered the room calmly. Naruto smiled big. "Gaara! Temari!"

Gaara nodded at his friend and Temari smiled brightly at him. After pleasantries where made, and Gaara and Temari where shown their rooms (Gaara in the spare room on the guy's floor, Temari in the spare on the girl's floor), they sat down to eat. Lee was invited to stay, but the ninja denied the offer and flashed out the door. Clearly Kiba was still ticked at him for ruining his sleep.

When dinner was over and the dishes cleaned the group took seats in the sitting room. Silence fell over them as thoughts of the upcoming challenge began to weigh in their minds.

"So, uh Gaara, what took you so long to get here? Gai is usually faster than that," Naruto brought up.

"Isn't it obvious?" Temari said, giving him a smug look. "He's Kazekage. He can't leave his village without making sure it's properly secure."

"It took Gai about a day to reach us," Gaara added. "I spent the next day and a half making sure that there was enough security. I was worried. If something happened to me people might take it as an open invitation to attack the village. Kankuro stayed for that reason alone."

"What makes you think you're going to die?" Naruto asked, narrowing his eyes at the Kazekage. Gaara stared back at him. The room fell into silence.

"Even if we lose, he might just let us live," Sasuke said after awhile. The others looked at him. He sighed and leaned forward as he explained. "He issued a challenge. I'm getting the feeling this guy likes to play games. He says Naruto, Gaara, and I are the only one's he wants to fight. He might just be judging our strength. If we're not strong enough he might wait and ask for another challenge again. This guy gives me the vibes of someone who likes to toy with people until they can no longer play."

"If that's the case then he's going to commit suicide," Sakura stated. "Last time I checked you guys don't give in so easily."

No one commented on that. Gaara looked out the window, his eyes narrowed. "No matter what," he said finally, "we cannot underestimate him. We don't know who he is or what he's capable of. That's where we're at a disadvantage. He clearly knows who he's dealing with."

"If what you said is true," Ino put in, "then there's someone out there who's a spy and is telling him all about you three, or he's been watching you since the beginning."

"How far would this beginning go?" Hinata asked.

"The day Naruto and Sasuke met Kakashi, and the day Gaara was assigned the plan Operation Destroy Konoha," Shikamaru told them.

...

Yeah! Gaara returns! In the next chapter, the challenge commences. Will Gaara, Naruto, and Sasuke have enough power to put down their new foe? And if they lose...will Sasuke be right, and the enemy will allow them to live to play another game?

R&R please and thank you!