Starting to get the hang of this….maybe. Well your reviews say it all so I'm happy and motivated. Noticing quite a lot of my readers are Canadian so like to say hello to them…

Akatsuki's first goal is a close friend of Naruto, hearing of this he dashes off along with the rest of Team Kitsune to the friend's aid. Will they make it in time or will they be too late?

Disclaimer: Friendship is eternal, Me owning Naruto on the other hand is not and never will happen.

Clothing note Read chapter 20 note it tells you everything that their wearing

Chapter 21 : To help a Friend

After a long and gruelling spar with Kirabi, Naruto was lying down on the ground just outside a cave. The Hachibi host had gone off inside the cave for recuperation and 'number eight' as he put it. The others were standing at the top of the ravine as they didn't want to get hit by anything while they fought. The three of them were going down now to see if he he'd been knocked unconscious. Hinata made it to him first it was apparent he'd been knocked out, she knelt beside him softly stroked his face as the blonds eyes opened. Kimimaro and Sai took their time until they were close enough to interrupt, the young blond noticed them showing some signs of disappointment.

Naruto sat up scratching his head "Lost again, great just great I need to talk to him about changing the rules"

Sai replied in a matter of fact way "He didn't shock you this time"

Naruto rubbed his head "No he just beat me up this time"

Kimimaro stated "It's worth it, the training we've had means we should be able to deal with Akatsuki"

Naruto "Don't mean to be a downer but it's goanna take more than us to do that"

Kimimaro "I didn't mean all at once, we'd definitely need help but from what Jiraiya-san said they're pretty spread out right now"

Jiraiya appeared out of nowhere in front of all of them "You rang"

Before he had a chance to pose a bolt of lightening headed towards him, which he sidestepped with ease. The sage pulled a sheepish face and could see that the root of the strike came from inside a cave.

Kirabi walked out of the cave with an awkward smile "Your that sage is all the rage. Don't give us a shock be more like a rock. Fool ya fool!"

Jiraiya sweat dropped "Guess you guys are highly strung"

Naruto "You could… you know say hello like a normal person, what are you doing here anyway?"

Jiraiya "Well, you guys are closer than Konoha from where I was"

Sai "More training lessons?"

Jiraiya "Not this time, got some information that your goanna get before Konoha"

Kimimaro's interest was piqued "Let's hear it then"

Jiraiya "Akatsuki's been sighted on the Sunagakure boarder their obviously aiming for one person"

Naruto "Gaara! Then we have to do something,

Jiraiya "You've got a days head start so make the most of it, I would come with ya but I've got pressing issues. Just be careful and don't engage them by yourselves. Naruto refrain from attempting that move."

Naruto "Got it! Now lets go!"

Kirabi dully sung "Guess you can't stay, we have to part ways. The eight and the nine we say goodbye!"

Naruto smiled and sung back "I feel so sad yet so glad. Give us some time, we'll be back to rhyme."

Jiraiya smiled and before he disappeared said one last thing "Good luck, kids"

Three days later

After some travelling Team Kitsune finally made it out of the desert as they continued onwards they saw someone in the distance completely facedown wearing black. As they got closer they could see debris which they rushed towards they looked like remains of destroyed puppets. Hinata knelt beside the unconscious male activating her Byakugan, it was apparent to all of them who it was.

Naruto shook him waking the male up "Kankuro? Hey! Are you ok!?"

Kankuro weakly replied "They got him, they got Gaara…"

Kimimaro "We're too late"

Kankuro "Follow… the dark sand"

Sai looked around "I see it, they stand out enough to follow"

Kankuro "Save him…please"

Naruto knelt beside him "I will but I can't leave you here like this"

Hinata looked at Naruto then back at Kankuro "He's been poisoned… it's spreading"

Naruto "Damn it!

Kimimaro "How long have you been here for?"

Kankuro turned over onto his back but found he couldn't sit up "Half a day…I think. I'll be fine you need to go"

A brief silence followed, meanwhile Hinata pushed a chakra point in Kankuro's chest then she looked south noticing something in the distance she focused on them and could see who they were.

Hinata kept her Byakugan activated and looked at everyone "Suna shinobi are coming, their far enough not to see us"

Sai "Then we should go, they can do more than us in regards to medic… no offence to our one"

Naruto "I hate to leave you like this, don't die on me."

Kankuro put his hand on Naruto's shoulder "Just go"

A few more hours of dashing through the desert following the dark sand trail they finally came to the end of it, which was covered in brown grass and stretched quite far until the grass was a healthy green. All of them stopped making sure which way to go was the correct route. One of them had been bothered by doing this pursuit and decide to voice their opinion.

Sai "We are taking a big risk exposing ourselves like this. Why are we doing this?"

Naruto "Cause I owe him one and he's my friend. We're similar remember"

Kimimaro "The value of friends and the amazing things you'll do for them"

Hinata smiled "So true, d..don't worry we'll save him"

Sai "You and your on the spot philosophies, night's going to fall soon…"

A crescent moon had come replacing the sun with darkness, the moonlight reflected off of the forest they were all in but they came into a medium sized clearing. The light of the moon was just giving them enough visibility but they all hit a snag as Sai stated the obvious.

Sai "The sand trail ends here, I presume they may be more than a day ahead of us"

Naruto thought to himself briefly before telling the others "There's only one way to follow them now Kuchiyose no jutsu"

He went through the hand signs pushing some of his chakra in slight haste, smoke appeared where he had pushed his hand on the ground. As it cleared a very unique female frog appeared holding a wooden spoon and wearing a frilly apron, it seemed she was quite elderly too. She began to speak in an aged yet unsettled tone.

"What intarnation?! Your that new kid. Ma hates having her cooking interrupted"

Naruto pointed at the toad nearly shouting in disappointment "Your not Gamakichi! How are we going to find Gaara now!"

The toad known as Ma jumped on the blonds shoulder and yelled in his ear "How dare you, ask me nicely for help and address me as Ma!"

Sai looked down with confusion "A frog with attitude? How strange"

Ma jumped back on the ground folding her arms as she opened her mouth allowing her tongue that appeared to have teeth to come out. She pointed west "He's over there just keep going that way they've stopped. I should tan your hides so hard, respect your elders boy!."

Naruto felt uncomfortable "Erm sorry Ma, thank you Ma…wish I was warned about this"

Ma was rather frustrated she muttered to herself before vanishing "Grrr Jiraiya boys goanna get torn a new one when I see him again."

Sai raised an eyebrow "What just happened?"

Naruto stretched in preparation "I overdid it trying to get a tracker and she showed up… now that was a bit scary But at least we know where to go, come on!"

Kimimaro stopped him going further "No we should rest, night travel is dangerous and we're going to need our strength"

Naruto sighed in defeat as knew to trust him on this "Your right, fine lets get some rest"

As soon as morning had broken they headed out, the Kitsune group had been going on and off for at least eleven hours in pursuit. They were going the right way, which was confirmed this time by a small tracking toad called by Naruto. They jumped tree to tree towards where Gaara was they noticed something merging out of a tree but then suddenly going back into it. Hinata initiated her Byakugan to get a better look but it was too late to confirm whatever that was.

Kimimaro curiously asked "What was that?"

Hinata replied in a collective manner "I didn't get a look but it looked like a strange plant"

Naruto dismissed it "Probably nothing, lets keep moving"

Akatsuki base

A grotesque looking statue with a blindfold with several semi-opened eyes had spiritual energy coming out of its mouthy engulfing the Jinchūriki Gaara. It had outstretched palms and its wrists were chained together. On nine of the ten fingers stood each member of the Akatsuki, only two of them had a physical appearance while all the others were projects in some mysterious way. The plant like member Zetsu's white half's eye opened.

Zetsu "We have serious problems, unwelcome guests are heading for us"

Deidara "Oh come on we've only just started un"

Sasori "I told you taking to the sky was a big mistake"

The one known as the Leader spoke up "We cannot afford interruption… We will use that jutsu. But first how many?"

Back with the Kitsune squad

As the four of them continued rushing towards their target they all came to a sudden halt hen they found their path obscured. It was a lone Akatsuki member which was apparent by the red clouds and black cloak. The face was covered slightly but as the head lifted up all of the Kitsune squad went on guard ready for combat. Hinata and Naruto took a step back in awe when they saw the Akatsuki members face.

Kimimaro was puzzled by two of his friends reactions "Who is he?"

Naruto's eyes widened "So soon?!"

Cliff hanger ohhhh…just pretend that was dramatic. Starting to read the romance genre due to inexperience in that field, forgive the corn in those scenes but I am trying. Next time the battle with Akatsuki begins but who are they up against? Will Gaara be saved or will he die?