Disclaimer: NO RIGTHS TO NARUTO
XXX
"Hey Naruto?" Sakura called to him when she advanced up in the formation. She, Naruto, Kiba, and Akumaru were running and leaping through the forest as fast as they could to get to The Cloud Village.
Naruto was focused on his speed but he glanced beside him quickly, "What is it Sakura?"
"Why do you think Gaara wants us to meet him at Kumogakure? Lady Tsunade didn't say much when she gave us this mission."
Kiba heard what Sakura had asked with his keen sense in hearing, "Yeah, it's a little sudden. She didn't even say what kind of mission it was."
Naruto growled under his breath to himself before answering his friends, "I don't know but…I'm guessing it's something urgent."
"Do you…Do you think it's about of Yue…?" Sakura brought up hesitantly.
Kiba lifted an eyebrow, "Lady Kazekage?"
Naruto shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe? I just have a feeling that it's nothing good."
"I know…" The Pink Haired Medic looked down a little. "It's just that… Well it's been six months- Ah!" Sakura never got to finish her sentence when she stepped onto a weak branch that snapped and she tumbled to the ground.
"Sakura!" Naruto exclaimed and jumped down immediately to go to her aide. He helped her up into a sitting position and held her arms so he could examine her carefully "Are you okay? Don't scare me like that!"
Kiba and Akamaru followed after him worriedly too.
She inspected herself quickly. She felt a little sting here and there but nothing hurt terribly and she didn't see any blood. "I'm all right Naruto. A branch snapped on me and I lost balance. My mind was distracted."
Naruto sighed and helped her onto her feet. His hands still held her arms for support just to be safe, "I think we should make camp and rest for a little while. You're obviously tired."
"Yeah, we can't get anywhere if you're too tired." Kiba agreed and his animal friend barked loudly after him.
One of Sakura's hands lay over Naruto's hand that was on her arm, "I'm fine, you guys. We have to get to Kumogakure no later by this afternoon."
"We went all night and we've been going all day. I'm not tired; I'm just worried for you Sakura. You look exhausted and you haven't had an ounce of sleep." He touched the side of her face and let his thumb glide just beneath her eye.
She held his hand down, "You haven't either. If you can do this, so can I."
Naruto could see the determination in her eyes and there was no talking her out of anything when she had that look. He took out a water canteen from his backpack and opened it for her, "Drink some water first."
Sakura nodded and accepted it. She practically chugged down the entire canteen and started panting from drinking too fast. "L-Let's get going." She handed him back the canteen.
"If you need to rest then tell me Sakura. Don't over do it." He told her and made sure she understood.
XXX
The Sand Brothers were waiting at the gates of Kumogakure for Naruto and his friends to arrive. Kankuro was getting pretty impatient but when he glanced over at his little brother, he saw how he was completely different.
Gaara was pretty much at ease. He had his arms crossed and his eyes were just watching the clouds come together and then drift apart in front of him.
It was near the afternoon but the temperature felt like it was the middle of the night. Kankuro tried to contain his shaking and teeth chattering, "G-Gaara, what's the plan for when Naruto and them get here? What's our next m-move?"
The Kazekage took a moment to answer. His mind was somewhere else but he did hear his older brother's question. "I'm going to The Hidden Stone Village with them. You're going to stay here and investigate on Ito,Kitai. Get as much information on his abilities and the jutsus he specializes in."
"Hmm." Kankuro hummed in thought. "Lady Raikage already checked him out six months ago and he made no confessions about his abilities. We had his records and it says nothing about him specializing in genjutsu. What makes you think he's going to talk to me? "
"Use whatever means necessary, big brother." Gaara faced Kankuro completely. "And I do mean by whatever means necessary."
"Got it." Kankuro chuckled mischievously, "He's got no idea in what I have in store for him. Let's put on a puppet show. ."
Gaara smirked evilly as well, "I'm glad to know that you will be enjoying your stay here."
"Gaara! Kankuro!" Naruto shouted from afar. "We're here!"
At first, the brothers couldn't see where he was coming from because of the clouds but they started to see a silhouette of Naruto and his comrades advancing closer.
The Kazekage waited until they stopped in front of him and his brother before cracking a smile, "Always a pleasure to see you again, my friends."
All three Leaf Ninjas were gasping for breaths, even Akamauru was panting. Naruto had his hands on his knees and his back arched forward a little, "Hey…S-Sorry we're late."
"You're not late Naruto, it's all good man." Kankuro assured him and turned to his comrades. Sakura was trying to pace herself and Kiba was kneeling next to Akamaru to check on him. "Good to see you guys again."
Kiba grinned, "Same here man."
"All right Gaara, we're here. Now tell us why you summoned us." Naruto said after he finally caught his breath and stood upright.
Sakura on the other hand was having trouble. She fell to her knees tiredly. Naruto abruptly knelt down and held her. "I'm sorry… I'm okay." She apologized for her weakness.
Naruto looked up to Gaara and Kankuro, "We haven't rested at all. She's just tired."
"Perhaps you should all rest before I explain." The Kazekage suggested.
The future Hokage agreed, "Thanks Gaara, I think if we take a little break and get something to eat, we'll be back on our feet again."
XXX
"I feel a lot better now!" Naruto shouted excitedly when he put down his second bowl of ramen.
Sakura nodded, "Me too. I don't feel as tired anymore."
Akamaru barked beside Kiba, "Us too."
They were in a private room of a restaurant in Kumogakure. No one would be able to bother them or hear important business. Gaara and Kankuro sat at the round table with them. They waited until the waitresses finished clearing the table from the empty plates and dishes before anyone said anything.
"Shall I discuss of the matter at hand?" The Kazekage brought up.
"Yeah, go ahead. We're all ears." Naruto replied seriously now.
Gaara took out something like a piece of paper and practically flicked it skillfully onto the table. It landed right in the middle of table for The Leaf Ninjas to see.
It was the pathetic picture of Yue. The Three Leaf Shinobi looked at the picture with confused faces. They didn't recognize who was in the picture.
Naruto picked up the picture. He was in the middle of the Kiba and Sakura so all they had to do was lean over to get a closer look.
"Who is this Gaara? She looks familiar." The Spikey Blonde asked.
The Kazekage smirked rhetorically before taking out another picture and then chucking it in the middle of the table once more.
Naruto picked up that picture as well and held it next to the other photo. With the two pictures next to each other, the three finally realized who it was.
"Yue…?" Sakura whispered questioningly. She couldn't believe her eyes.
One of the pictures of Yue was beautiful and the other was pitifully frightening. It wasn't recognizable because of the weight loss and how scared she looked.
"No way! That's Yue?" Naruto couldn't believe it either when he looked at the two pictures again.
"Indeed it is." Gaara replied easily and indifferently. He crossed his arms sternly, "Lady Raikage has requested for me to go and retrieve her. She was spotted in Iwagakure ."
"That's why you called us here." Kiba finally understood.
Kankuro nodded, "We need people who knows the situation fairly well and who know Yue well."
Kiba frowned confusedly, "Well… Then why am I here…? I only met her twice."
"Lady Hokage must have thought that your keen senses and your canine companion would be of use in locating her in Iwagakure if needed." Gaara answered his question.
Sakura took the pictures from Naruto's hands and did a medical comparison, "My gosh… It looks like she hasn't had a decent amount of food in her or a decent amount of sleep for awhile."
"Which is why Lady Raikage wants us to find her soon." Kankuro added.
The Medic concentrated on the black and white picture further, "She looks terrified…"
"Ask me if I care…" Gaara muttered as he looked away.
Naruto glanced his way, "Gaara… Come on she's your wife."
"We're divorced, she's is not my wife. If she is anything to me then she is worth nothing more than a useless stranger."
Sakura couldn't believe what he was saying, "Lord Kazekage, how could you say that."
"Pretty easily." He answered nonchalantly.
"Then why are you even bothering to go get her? Why not leave her just like she is?" She questioned him.
Kankuro felt the need to answer for his brother, "It's what Lady Raikage wants…. It's what she asked of us. It's why she summoned us here."
Gaara sighed non-caringly and stood from his seat, "We leave tomorrow morning."
XXX
"Finally…" Kiba exhaled when he saw the gates of Iwagakure. "We're here."
Naruto laughed a little, "It wasn't that bad… I'm kind of hungry though."
"When are you not…" Sakura said wiping the perspiration on her forehead away with the back of her hand. "At least we made it."
Iwagakure and Kumogakure was a long distance from each other. It was ironic because Iwagakure was actually closer to Sunagakure and Konohagakure. They had to travel at least two days to get there but they did take breaks and had some sleep along the way.
Naruto glanced at Gaara who was in front of them. He was staring at the detailed chiseled gates but he didn't seem there at the moment. "Hey Gaara… Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." The Kazekage answered simply and turned around to give his complete attention to his companions, "Shall we rest first and then look for the girl?"
The future Hokage looked to the other two and then at Gaara, "I think we're okay. Finding Yue right away is more important."
"Definitely." Sakura agreed.
Kiba nodded and Akamaru barked cheerfully.
"I suppose…" Gaara muttered and lead the way. The three followed behind him as he went up to one of the Iwagakure guards. "I'm The Kazekage of Sunagakure. We are here to investigate a matter."
The guard eyed him suspiciously but he immediately noticed the kanji for the word 'love' on the side of Gaara's forehead and recognized him, "Oh! Lord Kazekage, allow me to welcome you into our village. Does Lord Tsuchikage know of your presence?"
"He will when I inform him." Gaara said and walked passed him with his friends following.
Iwagakure was different from Kumogakure but in a way similar to Sunagakure. In Sunagakure, the buildings were covered in a plaster of sand, making it look like it was a part of dessert.
The buildings in The Hidden Stone Village were a tower-like structured and it looked like they were carved out in stone. It blended into the rocky mountain ranges behind it, making it look like it was a part of it.
The Villagers stared at The Kazekage and his friends as they walked further into the village. Everyone but Gaara was keeping their eyes open for the sight of Yue. They didn't pay too much attention to the villagers.
"Gaara, I think we should ask if the villagers know about Yue." Naruto suggested.
He contemplated and accepted Naruto's idea. He walked up to an old lady's vendor stand. She seemed like a nice old grandma.
The old lady looked at him through her old eyes and blinked twice, "You're The Kazekage of Sunagakure."
Gaara nodded and cut right to the chase. He held out a picture of Yue to show her, "Have you seen her?
It took her a moment but her face lit up in recognition, "She looks like the girl I give food too. I don't know her name though. She never told me."
Sakura's face lit up, "She does? Do you know where she is now?"
"She lives just outside of this village in that tiny hut. She comes into the village once a week but it's better for her not too… Tsk..Tsk.." The old lady shook her head disapprovingly sad. "The poor girl."
Gaara watched her skeptically, "What do you mean by that?"
"Well for one thing, every time she walks into the village, the other villagers beat her like she's a stray. I don't think she is able to speak because I have never heard her spoken before and she doesn't yell or cry when she receives a beating." She leaned in slightly and held a hand next to her mouth as if she was telling a secret, "People here think she is crazy or she's possessed."
"You don't?" Kiba asked out of curiosity.
The Grandma shrugged genuinely, "I don't think she's crazy. She just seems sad all the time and scared too."
"So…" Sakura started to say. "You said she lives just outside the village? In the woods?"
"Yes, just beyond the trees a little. She lives in an abandon hut near a waterfall. If she doesn't come into the village for a long time, I go looking for her and bring her some food not that she eats much." She stopped to have a thought, "She came into the village last night looking for me but she got another beating, it was terrible…"
Naruto's eyes widened along with the others. "Those heartless bastards. She's just a girl!"
The Kazekage rolled his eyes indifferently, "Settle down Naruto. If I am not getting worked up over it than neither should you."
"B-But G-Gaara-" The Future Hokage was surprised at how cold Gaara was at hearing the news.
"We should not waste time. Let us search for her." Gaara said and advanced ahead. His friends trailed behind him.
The elderly woman had said that The Girl had a small hut just outside of the village. Finding it wasn't too difficult but they had to walk a small distance to get to it.
The small straw house looked pitiful. It appeared dirty and it looked like even a simple wind could blow it down easily. There wasn't even a proper door to secure the residence. A white fabric was acting as a door.
It really was small but only one person lived there so there was no need for any extra room.
A tattered paper lantern was hanging outside the house because the sky was now dark. Fireflies flew around the lantern.
"She must be home if there is lit lantern outside." Naruto pointed when they arrived in front of it.
Gaara pulled the white fabric aside and entered. No one was inside. There was a single candle lighting the room. It was placed on an empty upside down cardboard box near a tatami mat in the center of the room.
There wasn't much in the hut beside a couple of canteens and a duffle bag which The Kazekage recognized to be Yue's.
So this has been her life for the past six months… Gaara thought grimly but ignored the oncoming softness of his stone heart and walked outside.
"No one is here but I am certain it's the girl's home." He informed his friends.
Sakura looked around, "She might be nearby somewhere. We should split up and look."
"Good idea Sakura." Kiba patted his dog's head, "Akamaru should be able to sniff her out."
The Ninken went right to work but it didn't take a couple of seconds for him to bark in Gaara's direction. The three Leaf Ninja who stood in front of Gaara looked up at him and then behind him.
Gaara didn't need to turn around to see… He knew that she was at a distance behind him. It was as if his heart started beating with life again when he felt her presence near.
He ignored the silly nonsense of it all and turned around. The girl was walking toward her home with her eyes peered down at the ground. She was holding her arm like it hurt.
She looked terrible. The picture didn't even look as worse as she did in real life. Her clothes looked like they were just barely hanging on her. Her entire body and her beautiful face were greatly thinned out. The dark circles around her eyes only helped sink them in further.
Not only she was terribly thin and she looked like she lacked a decent night sleep, there were visible bruises all over her face. A side of her bottom lip was slit open.
Yue must have sensed Gaara too because when she got a little closer to them, she stopped in her tracks and her eyes widened in shock.
She didn't want to believe it. Instead, she thought it was just her mind going crazy or it was just her wishful thinking being brought out by her imagination.
Reluctantly and slowly, she lifted her face up and saw who was standing in front of her hut. Four pairs of eyes stared straight back at her.
Instantly, she couldn't deal.
Her mind was trying to figure out of a way to make a run for it but her body was in so much pain and she was so tired that she knew she wouldn't get far.
The girl decided to try anyway. At least she would get away for a few seconds if not minutes but then she realized that her eyes were glues Gaara's eyes.
His green orbs were frightening. They appeared non-caring but Yue knew better. Deep in those green eyes was murderous anger waiting to be vented.
But…
At the same time…
She couldn't pull away from those eyes no matter how intimidating they were. He was so handsome standing there glaring at her.
It was almost like a dream…
"Yue…?" Sakura called to her softly but she didn't even hear her.
The Kazekage advanced one step toward but that was able to make her snap out of it. She turned the other direction and ran as fast as she could.
"Yue! Yue wait!" Naruto shouted after her.
It didn't take long for the girl to grow tired and out of breath because of her malnutrition but she kept on sprinting away anyway.
I have to get away… I have to go… Her mind told her over and over again as motivation.
She didn't get far when a large dog appeared in front of her with its master on it. She almost fell over when she had to stop abruptly.
In a panic, she turned to her left and was about to escape but Naruto stood in her way, "Yue, calm down! We're here to help you!"
Yue didn't want to hear it. She jerked around to her right but Sakura was already there, "Yue, stop running, it's not good for your body!"
The girl knew if she turned to another free direction then Gaara would be standing there without a doubt. Adrenaline pumped into her veins and amped her frail body temporarily as she shoved Sakura aside and ran past her into the trees.
Her legs were getting numb at every second she pushed herself to run. Her lungs felt like they were going to burst but she had to get away from them.
Out of nowhere, she collided harshly into something or someone. She fell back in a loud painful thud. She coughed out the dust that sneaked into her airway as she struggled to sit up.
What had she run into…?
Her eyes glanced up to see Gaara standing there with his arms crossed. His face was without emotion.
She scrambled onto her feet right away and tried to run in the other direction but Gaara 'poofed' and reappeared in front of her a second later. He squared his hand and hit her vital points at the nape of her neck.
Her eyes rolled over and closed as she passed out onto the ground in front of him.
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