CH.14

A/N: Okay, for all of you who are going to yell at me for how long it took me to get this up, I have a few very good reasons. First, I was having computer problems for over two months…no Internet. Then, I was having major writers block along with all the crap I had to do. And I was gone for a week so you can't blame me too much…it wasn't my fault…I swear!

Disclaimer: You would know very well if I owned Naruto…that's Sasuke's job

Only out of natural instinct did Neji's feet touch the trees; his legs were moving out of pure reflex as he soared through them. Gaara was at his right pulling steadily ahead. Kankuro and Temari trailed behind in a bit less of a hurry. Sure, they loved Naruto, he was impossible to not like, but they weren't as close to him as Gaara or Neji and they were both having trouble imagining anything that could hurt him so badly

They had first heard his pained scream less than four minutes before, and when the transmission from Sasuke's communicator came in around three minutes later, they had already been on their way.

His transmission had been simple. He had said all he needed to get his fellow ninja to come to his aid.

The voice had been raspy and it crackled a bit. When the communicator had hissed to life, interrupting the heavy silence, Kankuro and Temari both jumped; though they would deny it to their dying day.

"Captain! I've found Naruto. He needs medical attention; he was attacked by akatsuki and Itachi performed gen-jutsu on him…Sharingan gen-jutsu." Sasuke's voice had been coarse; Gaara suspected that it had been so even without the calloused airwaves.

Neji had answered with a simple "Fuck! We're already on our way," and had pushed his body even faster.

His body flexed at the tension and his muscles rippled from the effort. Gaara saw this, even with the cloak's rippling expanse covering the captain's body, and inwardly he shivered; it was no mystery to him that he found Hyuga Neji attractive; and if Naruto knew, he might have a heart-attack; but he would have to make sure to keep his erratic libido in check. For Naruto's sake.

Gaara watched the man that he was steadily pulling ahead of as his silver eyes twitched; the mask obscured every other feature on his face. His muscles were going to be overexerted by the time they tried to return home if he kept this up. Gaara then decided something; he was going to escort them home. He had not planned on it. In fact, if asked, he would've refuse, but Naruto was hurt and Sasuke, who was still stronger than Neji, would be in even less a condition to fight than Neji, who was exerting himself. That left one option: he would send Kankuro home to fill in for him and he would keep Temari with him. Under normal circumstances, he would send Temari as well but she had not seen her lover for some time and he was tired of her complaining that they never went on missions to fire country. Her excuse was that she wanted to visit Naruto and everyone else, but he knew otherwise. She did not know that he knew of her relationship with Nara Shikamaru, but he did.

His own motion was fluid as he leapt through the trees a bit ahead of the others and he looked at the limbs ahead of him.

Sasuke lifted Naruto's lean, muscular form in his arms and pulled him closer. Despite his lithe figure, Sasuke was quite strong. He was taller than Naruto, yes, but his build was much more feminine. Naruto had grown into a very attractive man, with his same golden hair and sapphire eyes, tanned skin and whisker-like scars. His body was flawless; Sasuke had noticed when he had caught him and held him in his arms. He reveled in the warmth as he carried the unconscious blonde in the direction of the others. After his transmission to them, he had picked up Naruto's cloak and the mask that he found a few feet away. He wrapped the cloak around Naruto and tied the mask to his belt. His hands were steady and his breathing level, but he was struggling to keep his heart at an even beat.

With his arms laden with the almost welcome burden, Sasuke made his way towards the steady, familiar chakra that he could sense coming closer and closer. His pace was slow and careful, but he was up in the trees and his body moved at the pace of an average chunin (1). As soon as he saw the first flash of red hair, Sasuke gave an almost inaudible sigh of relief. He had been worried for some time that they would be attacked again. He was in no condition to fight any of the akatsuki. Under normal circumstances, he could defeat any of them save Itachi, but not now; now he was tired, worn, raged, and a bit unstable. He knew he was unstable; it happened from time to time. When he was really angry or upset it would surface and bad things would happen; but Naruto always calmed him when it came about. Was always there. But he wasn't this time and he had to deal with it by himself.

Gaara was first in line. Then came Neji, Temari and Kankuro. Sasuke glared at them wearily; he knew it wasn't their fault and he wasn't blaming them. But he needed to glare at someone.

Gaara understood this; Neji didn't. He turned his head to the side and scowled. Sasuke noticed this and gave a very slight smirk. The man was pouting. Sasuke could see it, even through the mask. Gaara caught this as well and in his head he was grinning like he never had before. He thought it was cute. Wait! No! Not cute…anything but cute…

His eye twitched and he turned from the man who was normally so composed. He looked at Naruto and his disarray. His body was less battered than it could have been, but he knew that Naruto would not be right in his mind for a while. The Sharingan was ruthless when it was used in battle; Gaara knew from experience exactly how merciless Itachi was.

Neji watched anxiously as Sasuke reluctantly let Kankuro look at Naruto's minor wounds; there was nothing he could do for the major damage but at least it would be less to worry about.

They again came to the unanimous decision that they were to head back to the leaf village.

"Kankuro, you're to go back to Sand. Fill in for me while we escort them back to Leaf. Tell Sanji at the gate to put up extra patrol and be on the watch for akatsuki," Gaara barked at the nin suddenly, catching him completely off guard.

"But Gaara…you're sending him alone?" Temari asked with a shaky voice.

He sighed at this. "Yes. I'm sending him alone. You're coming with me."

"But what if he's attacked? I mean…I don't think it's wise to send him alone."

"Have a little faith Temari. He's not completely useless; after all, he is my brother." Gaara smirked at the looks on his siblings' faces.

"Umm…Gaara? Are you alright?"

"Why Temari, you seem a bit…surprised." He was positively grinning by now. Even Sasuke was eyeing him like you would a mass murderer; and in fact he was, or had been.

Neji looked at him through his mask with a calculating look. What was wrong with this guy? Was he really that insane? If he was, would they really want him to be Kazekage?

No.

'So it's simple then. He's not insane; he's just acting. Well he's a damn good actor…' Okay so him and Gaara had very little in common. But that meant nothing. Neji still could not help but want to know a little more about the man before him. He couldn't say why; it was just an instinct that told him to be closer to the man. His eyes suddenly met jade and he turned away. Why was he so nervous? Well…he had been staring at the man.

Gaara smirked. He had felt the eyes on him for the last few minutes. The others had left him alone after he had stopped acting like a maniac and Neji had tuned them all out after the first few jabs at Gaara's sanity. Neji was now staring resolutely at the forest around them. He was sure he was blushing. His left eye twitched for the third time in the last hour. What where these people doing to him! He was a Hyuga for Kami's sake (2)! His eyes twitched again at the thought.

'That's it! I'm going mad! How does this always happen to me!?! Ok so I don't really go mad all the time…but close to it! It's this damn team! I swear!'

Gaara's eyes hadn't left him as he lost himself to thought again. He really needed to get laid. A thought crossed Gaara's head as he watched the captain signal his team, Gaara included, to move out. Kankuro went in the opposite direction. Was he blushing? He could feel the embarrassment radiating off of the Hyuga as easily as if he had no mask on.

"God Neji…what's got you so worked up?" the voice was raspy and all eyes turned to the blonde in Sasuke's arms. He had refused to let anyone else carry him. Naruto's blue eyes stared at the raven-haired man in question. He smirked as Neji's left eye twitched once again.

"Naruto!" Sasuke looked positively relieved that his partner was awake.

The man stared up at Sasuke with an odd look in his eyes. Why was Sasuke carrying him like this? Sasuke currently had his left elbow under Naruto's knees and his right arm behind his shoulders. Bridal style. Naruto's eye twitched at the realization. He both liked and hated the position he was in; and Sasuke realized the later. It was as if he just realized the awkwardness of the position. His eyes widened a fraction and it let Naruto know that he had just realized it. He nearly dropped him but managed to prevent it. And suddenly Naruto was on his back, clinging to his neck. He couldn't figure out how Sasuke had done it. His face was blank for a second. "What the fuck!" he cried. "Don't ever do that again! I swear I will strangle you Sasuke!"

"So you plan on having him carry you like that again?" Gaara inquired. His face was blank and his voice even. He knew that neither of them had wanted to give up that position, but neither of them knew that the other shared his wants.

"What! Gaara you know that's not what I meant!!" Naruto was trying desperately to hide his blush. But Sasuke couldn't see it so he wasn't too angry.

Gaara smirked and turned to Neji. "We should head out." Neji nodded in response and signaled for the rest to move out…again.

…Three hours later…

They were making horrible time. They had stopped four times since they had first started out that morning. Once because of Naruto. That had taken almost half an hour. Then when Naruto had woken up. That one was only about ten minutes but it was still a waste of time. Then another time because Naruto had to pee and had threatened to do it on Sasuke if they didn't stop. Neji then wondered if Naruto really had grown out of his nuckleheadedness. Of course Sasuke had said that he would drop him if he did and an argument had ensued successfully wasting more time than necessary. That had taken about fifteen minutes. The last was necessary. Neji had sensed movement and halted the group. They had all sensed it except Naruto, who had fallen asleep.

They had stopped and Neji used his byakugan to locate the movement. He could see three bodies. They were ninja; he could tell by their chakra systems. They looked like they were waiting for an ambush. But that was just it. They were defensive not offensive. Who were they? Neji held up a hand for the others to stay but Gaara put his hand on his shoulder before he could leave. It was the look in his eyes that made Neji stop. He smirked and let Gaara do what he needed.

Gaara watched Neji for a moment. There was amusement in those pale eyes. He gave him a sharp look and started to perform a jutsu. Sand leaked out of his gourd and formed just above his head. It swirled for a moment before shaping into an eye. Then it dematerialized. Neji knew the technique; it was legendary. Gaara's famous third eye.

Gaara's left eye was closed as his eye traveled the fifty or so feet through the forest. He reiterated what he saw to Neji quietly.

"Three of them. All men, all in jounin uniforms. All in leaf headbands."

"Leaf? Why would they be out here? We were informed that there were to be no missions in this area," Sasuke put in quietly.

"Yes but there could have been an emergency mission."

"Another has joined them…a missing nin…from the leaf village." Gaara whispered in the quietest voice he could manage.

"His description?" Neji was nervous now. What if it was Hakure? What would they do? They were short their strongest teammate and their second strongest was carrying him. Gaara was strong, but he wasn't as strong as Naruto. And what about Neji? He was exhausted too. Temari was strong, but she wasn't as strong as Gaara, who was weaker than Naruto, who wasn't conscious (what a mouthful! (3)).

"He's taller than the others, maybe six foot. Platinum hair, black eyes."

"Are we screwed or what?"

All four jumped at the sound of Naruto's voice.

"Why's that?" Gaara asked calmly.

"Because Souri Hakure was the third strongest captain in the anbu. In my full strength, I can barely beat him if we are using strictly tai-jutsu. He's faster than Lee-san and though he can't get through my defense, I can't get through his either. But my attacks are a little more conservative on my chakra."

"Oh, and don't forget how clever he is," Naruto put in.

Neji gave him a warning glare but said nothing. Gaara dissipated his jutsu, letting the sand came back to his gourd. "Well, we do have a problem don't we. What do you propose we do, Hyuga-san?"

"Come on! We've got to hurry."

No one had expected Naruto to speak, but when he did, there wasn't too much surprise.

"We have to go. Now!" Naruto snapped. "Captain! Are the men dead? I hate to say this but…" Naruto stopped at the look on the other's faces. They looked bewildered. "Look, there's no time for me to be sentimental here! We have to move. I have no doubt that Hakure has sensed our presence, even when it is masked. I can't…I can't hide my chakra quite as well as the rest of you can. Even if it's depleted quite a bit, I can't help that Kyuubi has a distinct signature. If he's here, he's more than likely to have a partner; they always do. And Itachi was close enough. I…I couldn't face Itachi again, especially not in this state. Neither could Sasuke, and your chakra is low and your body exhausted, Captain. Gaara may be a match for one of the akatsuki, but Temari, most definitely, is not. I suggest we move." The look on Naruto's face startled them. He was so serious, but his eyes gave a small flicker of fear that was only seen by the captain and the Kazekage.

None of them understood it. He had used to be so brave. He had never backed down from a fight, even if he was clearly outmatched. Especially if someone else was in danger. But Neji knew the same as Naruto; the ninja were dead anyways.

Neji gave a quick nod and signaled them to wait a moment while he scouted the area with his byakugan.

They weren't sure why, but it felt impertinent that they be quiet now, more than ever, even if they were not close enough to the clearing to be heard.

Neji gasped and looked in several directions before he gave a few signals to the others. They had been taught how to do this as chunin and it came naturally on their missions. The first signal was for them to be alert, a closed fist, thrust to the right. The next came a few seconds later after a quick second scan of the area. His palm was flat, facing the forest floor far below their feet's, giving the signal that it was clear. He made the motion for them to move with a deft flick of his wrist.

However, before any of them responded to this order, a smooth chuckle was heard echoing throughout the trees.

"Well I'll-be-damned (3)! If it isn't Anbu Team 11 and it's captain, the Hyuuga boy. But you seem to have lost a few members and gained a few sand ninja…" his voice was overly cheery and sent chills crawling down their spines.

Naruto felt himself drifting towards sleep again, but he pushed his mind to stay conscious and his eyes to stay opened.

"Souri Hakure, traitorous trash and scum of the earth. I guess its fate that we are the garbage men. But we wont put you in a bin. But Ibiki might…after he's done with you that is…"

"Not nice, not nice at all, fox boy…but I don't suppose I could expect that from the Kyuubi's vessel, now could I?"

Naruto said nothing to this but Sasuke could feel his body tense and his breath hitch.

"Ah…and I see you're injured as well. I'm guessing that that's Itachi's doing?" after a pause he continued. "No matter. I'll take you all out before he even gets here…"

"No, you won't." every one of them recognized the voice. It was deep and smooth and held no emotion at all. Two out of the group that now consisted of seven shivered and felt a flicker of fear and panic accompanied by rage.

"Awww…come on Itachi, can't I have my fun?"

A/N: Okay…so I'm not really sure I like this one. It was a little confusing for me and very hard to write. It took waaay too long! By the way, did I mention I was sorry? Anyways, here's all my explanations for this chapter:

You know very well that they weren't "average" chunin. Lee, Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji were all really really fast!

Kami means god…I think…

This one's for all of you who had a bit of trouble with that…even I had trouble when I read over it! Okay so here it goes: Naruto's strongest, then comes Sasuke, after that is Gaara and then Neji. Temari is obviously the weakest.

I'll-be-damned is an expression that I use all the time and for those of you who don't know what it means, its an expression of astonishment basically.

If you had any trouble with this chapter or if you have any suggestions for revisations…tell me!!! Please! This chapter had me utterly fluserated! (That is not a real word...I KNOW!! But it's the perfect word for how I feel)