Three days have passed since the sand storm and they were now entering the Sand Village. Ichigo looked around at the buildings and the way that most of the people were dressed. "Hey Renji I think we are overdressed."

"Yeah no kidding. If this is how everyone dresses in this time we need a wardrobe change."

Moegi laughed. "Not everyone dresses like them. They dress that way because it is the most logical and comfortable being in the middle of a dessert. In the Leaf we dress different. Same with all the other Hidden Villages."

"Gaara!"

Turning to look straight ahead Ichigo sees a woman with long black hair and large silver eyes carrying an infant as she walked toward them. "That your wife and kid?"

"That's right." Gaara smiled as Hinata wrapped one of her arms around his neck and hugged him. "I am fine itoushii."

"I still worry about you. And will worry about you and Hikaru until the day I die." She then turned to the strangely dressed men with him. "So that is them?"

Nodding his head Gaara looked over and pointed. "Kisuke, Ichigo, Renji and there is a stuffed doll they call Kon as well. That is still strange to me."

"Is it the puppet master Jutsu?"

Gaara shook his head. "They have some unusual powers to say the least. But I do want you to help me with one thing."

"Anything."

"See if they have a chakra network."

Cocking her head to the side she gave him an odd look. "But if they have power of their own then why would they need Chakra?"

"Their power won't harm anyone of this time. They could even hit Hikaru with everything they had all at once and it would not scratch him. The only way they will be able to fight is if they have chakra that I can train them in, than they will be able to fight."

Nodding her head Hinata handed her son to her husband and then turned to them and smiled. "Byakugan." She gasped as she stepped back. "Oh my God!"

"What?"

"Not only do they have chakra, but they have quite a bit of it. If they have chakra then that could explain why Sasuke wanted their friend. If she has chakra like them."

"I see." Gaara then turned to Kankuro and sighed. "Take them and show them to a place where they can stay and have his wounds looked at. Since they have Chakra then I will start their training tomorrow."

With a glare Ichigo crossed his arms. "Why not now? We don't even know about Orihime."

Hinata gasped. "That's right! I forgot to tell you that one of Sai's Ninja Beast Scroll animals showed up here just a few hours ago. Naruto has the girl and they are making their way the long way around to Inari."

"I see."

"So he rescued her?"

Hinata looked up with a bright smile as she took her son from her husband again. "That's right. Naruto said he would rescue her and protect her. And would gladly give his life for her."

With a sigh Ichigo uncrossed his arms. "Fine. So where do we stay?"

"This way."

Gaara watched as they walked away then turned with Hinata to head to their home. "Do they really have that much chakra?"

Nodding her head Hinata looked up at him. "They do. It is no where near the amount that you and Naruto or some others have. But for never having been trained in chakra techniques they have an impressive amount."

"I am sure Naruto knows if the girl does or not. Neji is with him."

The slight whimper in her arms caused Hinata to look down with a smile. "He's hungry."

"Then lets go home and feed him."

X

Kankuro showed Ichigo and the others into a room in the inn. "This is the best room in the inn. I know it looks like a dump but it is at least something."

With a sigh Ichigo sat on one of the two beds. "It's fine."

Turning for the door Kankuro sighed. "Gaara's days start early. Someone will be here to wake you before dawn."

With wide eyes and a gasp Renji watched as he left then glared. "Damnit! I don't do mornings that early for Captain Kuchiki. I gotta do it here?"

Kisuke sighed as he sat on the other bed. "We all just need to deal with it. We really have no choice but to trust that this Naruto Uzumaki will keep Orihime safe until she is with us again. And if doing that and learning a new skill set is something we have to do then we have to do it. Besides it might be good learning something new."

"I get that. But come on…"

"Think about it. If this Sasuke could do it to get her once, someone else might be able to do it another time. If we can fight like them then we won't have to feel helpless like this again."

Opening rather serious eyes Ichigo glared straight ahead of him. "If doing this one time is enough to get her back and learn to protect her from others of this time that might want her I am all in for it. I don't care how early I have to get up or how late I have to stay up."

With a glare Renji crossed his arms. "Easy for you to say."

X

Orihime sighed as she slumped down against a tree and leaned on Naruto. The last three days were taking their toll on her. She hadn't moved that far in that short amount of time at all. Even in the Soul Society. But having someone like Naruto that she could lean on was a big help. 'It would figure I meet someone like him and he would have to be from a different world.'

"Are you alright Orihime?"

Her chocolate eyes fluttering open she looked up at him with a bright smile. "I am. I am just tired. I haven't done this much moving around before."

With a smile Naruto turned back to watch as everyone else in the group took their own little spots off away from each other a little. Neji and Tenten were settled up in a tree together. Shikamaru and Ino sat closest to the fire together. Sakura and Lee were just behind them leaning against another tree. Iruka, Kotetsu, Izumo, and Kakashi were all leaning aginst trees in a big square around everyone. Then he gave an annoyed glare to his right at Jiraiya. Who for the fourth night in a row has sat and done nothing but mope cause he can't get close to the woman at his side.

He looked back down at Orihime and smiled. She had already fallen asleep. She was perfect in so many ways. But she was going to be another love lost. 'When she goes home I won't be able to do anything about it.'

"You know that you shouldn't let your emotions get involved. When the time comes and she goes home it won't do you any good."

Looking up at Kakashi on his left he sighed. "I know. But there is just something about her that I can't help but get drawn into it. You know. I will be fine though."

"You took Sakura and Lee pretty hard. And I think Hinata and Gaara even harder. You sure you can handle another woman you can't be with?"

"I will be fine Kakashi. I know I shouldn't but there is just something about her. I can't help it like I said. I would have rather loved and lost then to have never loved at all. I loved Sakura for so long, it hurt when she fell for Lee instead. But now I just love to see how happy she is. Same with Gaara and Hinata. And I will be able to go on knowing she is safe and sound with her friends in her time when it comes around to that."

"Alright." Kakashi smiled as he walked away from Naruto and stood leaning against his tree again. 'That kid has grown up so much from the day that I got him as a Genin. I know you are both as proud of the man he has become now that I am. Sensei, Kushina.'

Moving so that he could put Orihime's head in his lap Naruto methodically ran a hand through her hair as he smiled. 'I wonder what you would do if you and mom were in this situation dad? I wish I could see you again to be able to ask you what I should do. It would be so easy for me to fall in love with Orihime. Just not sure if I should or fight it.'

Just as his eyes closed a gentle breeze blew through the camp and in the wind he could have sworn that he heard his father's voice say the word love. Looking back down at the girl sleeping in his lap he smiled as he reached around and pulled a blanket from his pack and threw it over her. 'Thanks dad.'