Chapter 14

The Promise

"Naruto! I see the rock formation up ahead!" Neji yelled trying to catch up to the ever speeding up Naruto.

"What do you see?"

"That's just it…I can't see inside…there's a seal preventing me."

"So your saying we have absolutely no idea what do expect upon entering…."

"Basically yes"

"Let us break the barrier down with the power of youth!" Yelled Lee who was all of sudden incredibly energetic.

"Lee…" 'Why must he be like this?!' Neji thought as he shook his head and explained it to Lee…again.

"It doesn't matter as long we save Gaara!" Matsuri said coming out of nowhere and blasting ahead of everyone.

"Matsuri your ok?!" Lee said attempting to catch up to her but to no avail.

"I'm fine Lee…forget about me…we have to-"

"We'll save him Matsuri…don't worry…" Naruto said being the only one able to catch up to her. "Calm down…he'll be fin-"

"How can you say that?! He's in the Akatsuki hideout, probably loosing his bijuu and dying right now!"

"Matsuri…"

"Do not "Matsuri" me…I am in no way slowing down! In fact I'm speeding up. The faster we move the faster we get to Gaara!"

"We'll save him Matsuri trust me…"

"Naruto…your words will not get anything done…actions to back up those words will…just like the time you saved him from that guy form the artisan village."

"Has he taught you about a person's nindo?"

"What the hell does that have anything to do with this?"

"You said that I have to back my words up with actions…did he teach you?"

"…I don't know!...Man you have a short attention span!"

"I made a promise to bring him back no matter what…to bring both of you back no matter what…cause that's my nindo…my ninja way…"

"…Naruto…"

"I know how much he means to you…and how much you mean to him…he would give his life up in a heart beat to save you…he's been alone his whole life…he was so happy when you picked him as your teacher…he felt like he was wanted for the first time…he just became Kazekage…finally achieving his dream…he's too young to die now…I'm not going to let him!"

"…." 'Thank you.' "Naruto…don't worry about me…I'll be fine…he's the one we have to save…I'll die if it means that he'll live."

"No you won't die…Gaara wouldn't want you to die for him…after all…you are his girlfriend…and probably his future wife…he plans things out so well you never know!...being his girlfriend means that you want to spend your life with him…to die for him is not what he would want…"

"…For him to live is all I would want…."

"…no it's not…you want to be there with him…Matsuri…mark my words here and now…I…will…save…him!" He looked at her with the best smile he could come up with. "Believe it!"

"I don't mean to break this up but were approaching it…are you ready?"

The both looked at each other. "Hell yea!" They both said in unison. Kakashi and Chiyo had by now caught up to them form the back of the group.

"Naruto…don't overdue it…keep your emotions in check…"

"…Yea…"

"Matsuri your still healing…be careful."

"Kay…"

Meanwhile

"Hmm…looks like our guests are here…" Diedara said who was sitting on the now cold body of the young Kazekage.

"It seems so." Sasori replied. "Should we give them a proper welcome?"

"Well if they are smart enough to break the seal then yea I guess so…maybe I'll get the chance to show them my art…" Diedara said as his hands spat out a small bird like bomb. "After all only true art can be a proper welcome…right Sasori my man?"

"Heh…that is probably the only thing I'll agree with you on."

"Probably…seeing that you fail to recognize art as a short-" Sasori's tail flew at Deidara.

"Don't even…"

"…explosion!" Diedara said finishing his sentence...but before Sasori could kill him there was a loud crack. The boulder smashed into pieces…Naruto and Matsuri jumped through the smoke and dust.

"Get the hell off of Gaara you bastards!" Naruto yelled he ran at the villains...with Matsuri right behind him.

"Gaara!" Matsuri yelled.

END