Strong warning of Shippuden SPOILERS ahead:
I've changed some of the events leading up to, during, and following the first story arc of Shippuden.
And for those of you unaware, I don't own Naruto.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Ino was putting away supplies in the hospital, when she heard the 'click' of the lock behind her. Without surprise, she turned to find Sakura staring back at her.
"You got away yesterday, saying you were too upset to talk."
Ino grinned, but the humor didn't reach her eyes. "And you were distracted by finding out that Naruto was back in town."
Sakura shrugged. It was true. And she and Naruto were due to 'test' their new skills against Kakashi later today. She was supposed to be getting ready, but felt she needed to chat with Ino first.
Ino sighed at the look of concern painted on the pink-haired girl's face. "I'm fine."
"You're pregnant." Sakura told her with cold precision. "And you aren't happy about it. Does Kiba know?"
Ino's blazing face and ashamed look told her friend that Kiba did not know about his fiance's condition.
"How far along are you?" Sakura asked, calling her chakra to her hands and reaching for her blond friend.
Ino batted away Sakura's hands. "Not very. Tsunade was having me practice on some maternity patients, seeing if I could correctly tell her when the babies would be due. There was this one girl who was barely pregnant, just over three weeks."
Sakura nodded, she knew that it was harder to judge when they weren't that far along. Tsunade could tell after about two weeks, but then she was the best medical ninja around. Sakura's limit was about three weeks.
"And I noticed that her chakra signature had a small 'bump' in it and I was so pleased that I'd figured that out. But I wanted to make sure and tested myself. I had that same 'bump' in my chakra signature, so I thought I was wrong. I told Tsunade about it, worried I might have faiiled. But she just frowned, then reached out and touched my stomach."
Sakura closed her eyes in sympathy. "And you're pregnant."
"Three and a half weeks." Ino sighed and sat down on one of the supply boxes, her face a study in misery.
Sakura looked confused. "But I thought you told me that your parents were all for grandchildren. Tsume too. And you told me Kiba was looking forward to being a father."
Ino nodded, and her bottom lip trembled. "But what I didn't tell you is that I don't want children. They do. Not me."
A gasp escaped Sakura's lips as she went to hug her friend as Ino's tears started to fall. "But you're wonderful with kids! And they love you."
"Oh, I don't mind kids. And I wouldn't mind having them, I just don't want to have them." Ino's voice shook.
Sakura smiled gently. "You know there are ways to reduce the pain of delivery. I know we're just getting into that area, but Tsunade and Shizune …"
"No." Ino interrupted, looking desperate. "I'm a kunoichi. Pain doesn't scare me so lightly."
Sakura frowned, "then what's the problem?"
Ino's answer ended on a wail as she collapsed into her friend's arms. "I'm going to get FAAAATTTTTTTTT!!!!"
Sakura sighed as she patted her friend's back.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Temari sat at a small outside table, eating a light lunch. She was on her own since she was waiting for Shikamaru to return from a small mission that Tsunade had given him. Nothing major. It was a simple 'D' ranked mission that Chouji and Shikamaru had taken along with a three man genin group. Escort duty for a pampered son of a noble. He'd be back probably tomorrow. After that he'd be exempt from missions until a month after the wedding.
But that wasn't where her mind was lingering. She was worried about her younger brothers. They'd been gone a week and had probably already bearded the council in its chambers. She worried about both their tempers.
Temari absently reached for her tea cup and was taken aback as it cracked just before she touched it. She wasn't one who normally believed in signs, but somehow she was starting to feel distinctly uneasy.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Gaara was furious. Angry whirlwinds of sand wavered around his silent form as he looked over the papers found in the offices and homes of those accused of treachery.
"Execute them." Baki told his Kazekage. "You're going to need to set an example."
Kankuro nodded, but not without a look of uneasiness. "Maybe."
Gaara sighed. They'd been going over and over the same issues for the past two days, ever since arriving in Suna and staging the small coup on the council.
"Yura had a valid point though." Kankuro spoke up, giving voice to his own concerns. "Whatever you're going to do, do it now and decisively. The warning he received about the Akatsuki is troubling."
Baki nodded, but added. "However, this threat to your position is more immediate than vague warnings."
Gaara put down the papers. "Of the four, it would seem that three were simply trying to isolate me so that I depended more upon them. The last was a direct try and undermining my authority and perhaps leading to my downfall."
Kankuro ran his tongue over his teeth and sighed. "So, you're thinking spare the three and execute the one?"
Gaara nodded.
"I don't like it." Baki frowned harshly. "It sends the wrong message."
Gaara stood and looked out his office window. "I'm not so sure about that. It shows that I'm not afraid to kill, which they should have known anyway. But it also shows that killing isn't the only thing I'm capable of doing. They all have to be removed from their council seats. Yet, if I spare Akihiro, Shinji, and Teruo their lives, then I am proving to the council that I am more than a mere weapon."
Kankuro nodded, although he was still torn.
Baki scowled, not liking where this was going at all. "At least can we execute Tanaka Saduo?"
Gaara nodded and turned, handing his newest council member a scroll. "I've already signed the order."
Unknown to them all, two strangers were approaching the gates of Suna. The guards stationed there were dead, all except one. Their killer and the village's betrayer. A man they'd all trusted. Yura.
o.O.o.O.o.O
That night everything changed.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Sakura was tired, but excited. It had taken almost the whole night, but she and Naruto had proven themselves to each other, Tsunade and Shizune. But most importantly, to their former sensei. Kakashi was no longer their teacher, but their teammate. She reached up and rang the small bell she'd hung from her bedpost. It was the finest trophy she'd ever received.
Later, the three were walking down the corridor to the Hokage's office to receive their first mission as a newly minted team when they were nearly run down. Naruto had yelled at the retreating back. But Kakashi was a bit concerned, having recognized a 'Class One' code interpreter.
Some highly sensitive message had just arrived, he was sure.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Temari had gotten up with the sun, her earlier unease not yet gone. When she'd made breakfast, she'd been distressed to find the milk had gone bad despite it being fresh. And the strap on her sandal had snapped in two as she'd dressed.
She kept reminding herself she didn't believe in signs or omens. Shikamaru wasn't back yet and she didn't feel comfortable enough with anyone else here to share these vague thoughts with them. So that afternoon she took a walk.
There was no plan in place. No decision to walk in a certain direction. But she found herself walking along the woods in the general direction of Suna.
o.O.o.O.o.O
While Tsunade had been arguing with Naruto about the lack of difficulty on the mission she was trying to send him on, she received word of the previous night's events in Suna.
Without consulting the council, Tsunade gave the mission to Kakashi, Sakura, and Naruto.
"Go to Suna, send a report on what you find. Follow their orders. It seems that Gaara has been taken by the Akatsuki."
Naruto's eyes narrowed in anger.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Temari was still walking in the vague direction of Suna, unwilling to look too closely at her own melancholy mood.
It was something of a shock to hear her name called. Looking up, she was startled to see Sakura along with Naruto and Kakashi barreling down at her.
Sakura explained the situation and Temari's heart turned over. "Gaara." She whispered, her hand shaking.
There was no indecision now. No room for doubt. She told them she was going with them, and they all took off at full speed.
In the back of her mind, though, was a picture of a certain lazy ass chuunin shinobi. This wasn't going to be long. Right? Gaara was strong, a vessel for the demon Shukaku. He'd get away and destroy all those who'd attacked Suna.
She'd be back in time for her wedding. In her panic and fear, she almost believed that.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Inuzuka Hana's day was pretty normal. She was at the clinic early and completed her rounds with a minimum of fuss.
She'd been a little worried about the mountain lion cub that Gaara had saved. The poor cub was acting upset and pacing her large enclosure. But Hana could find no putrification in the healing wounds, or any other reason for the foul humor. She put it down to the cub feeling closed in, no matter how large an area the pen encompassed.
The messenger interrupted her late lunch, and Hana frowned as she received the call to the Hokage's office. But she didn't hesitate, she grabbed another mouthful and hurried over to answer the summons.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Tsume was watching Ino and Kiba as they went over the myriad of lists associated with weddings. Something was …off. Ino's smile wasn't quite reaching her expressive eyes. And by the looks of Kiba, he wasn't sure what was going on either.
Her son kept sending puzzled looks at his betrothed, and telling the most outrageous stories and jokes to try and coax a smile from the blond kunoichi.
Tsume was about to demand to know what was going on when she received the message to report to the Hokage's office along with Kiba and Akamaru.
Ino looked startled, and seemed a bit clingy when Kiba tried to put on his jacket. Tsume frowned, she and Ino needed to talk later.
Kuromaru and Akamaru raced beside Kiba and Tsume as they headed to the Hokage tower at all haste.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Ino felt distressed about being left behind, but also a bit relieved. It was hard holding up the façade that nothing was wrong. She sighed, her hand going to her belly. She was going to have to tell Kiba sooner or later.
And later wasn't an option.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Chiyo and Ebizo walked into the medical ward in Suna and called for order. The medics were desperately working on a young man who didn't appear to be gravely injured, and yet was in the throes of great pain and not aware of his surroundings. Several of the medics were struggling to hold him down as he thrashed and fought against them.
"Poison." Chiyo breathed, and set to work before anyone even told her it was Kankuro she was working to save.
The brunette puppeteer was dying. Painfully.
Word came that a medic was coming from the Leaf village. Word was that they were travelling fast but still wouldn't be in Suna until the next day. Chiyo snorted. She wasn't holding out much hope that anyone the Leaf sent would be of their top tier of medics.
Besides, she didn't think Kankuro would last the night.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Temari's heart skipped a beat and her eyes widened as a branch snapped under her foot. She caught herself and redoubled her speed as the others matched her, reading her fear and desperation to get home.
What was happening at Suna? Where was Kankuro? Did the city still stand? Who had taken Gaara and how?
Temari blinked back her tears and narrowed her gaze. Whomever was behind this was going to pay with their lives!
o.O.o.O.o.O
If Tsume was surprised to find Hana just arriving at the Hokage's office, she didn't show it at all. The three Inuzukas and their five nin-dog companions were all ushered in to see Tsunade.
"I've received a Class One Emergency Alert from Suna." Tsunade opened baldly, her voice even but laced with anger.
Tsume noticed that Hana went stiff at the mention of the desert village. She assumed that her daughter was worried about a certain shinobi. That bastard, Baki. For Hana's sake, she prayed the jerk was still alive.
If Tsunade noticed the tension lacing the Inuzuka heir, she didn't let it show. "I've sent team Kakashi to go to Suna and report. It seems that the Kazekage has been kidnapped."
Hana stopped breathing.
Tsume scowled. If the Kazekage had been attacked, then certainly Baki was in the line of fire.
Kiba just felt bewildered. After having seen Gaara in action, it was inconceivable to him that the red-headed shinobi could have been taken. And he said so.
Tsunade shook her head. "I have very little details. But what I have read is that Gaara used up most of his chakra, and sand, to protect the village from a blow that would have destroyed Suna nearly to the ground. It left his enemy with an opening, which that enemy then took advantage of, and Gaara was taken."
Hana's hand trembled once, then firmed. "They've gone after him, yes?"
Tsunade nodded, rubbing at her temples.
"And you want us to track down these villains?" Hana asked, trying to keep the hate and hope both out of her voice.
"No." Tsunade was looking away and missed the flash of anger that Hana wiped off her face as quickly as it had appeared. "I need you all to scour around the Leaf village. Track every unknown scent. This might not be an isolated attack. Suna and the Leaf are allies."
Tsume nodded. "It would be assumed we'd send all assistance to Suna."
"Leaving us less protected, yes." Tsunade nodded tiredly.
"Are we sending assistance to G…Suna?" Hana coughed to hide her near slip.
Tsunade nodded. "As I've said, I've sent team Kakashi. But I've sent back up as well, team Gai."
Hana nodded, feeling sick. Every part of her wanted to rush over to Suna now. But the logical part of her brain kicked in and reminded her that, all appearances to the contrary, both Kakashi and Gai were highly capable shinobi.
"Hokage-sama?"
Tsume glanced at her daughter as the girl stepped toward Tsunade's desk.
"After this assignment, should reinforcements be needed. I would like to go."
Tsunade gave the Inuzuka girl a startled glance, then sighed. "I'll take that into consideration. But first, go."
With that, the three Inuzukas and their companions left to fulfill their current mission.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Sorry it's short. It's late and I have to be up early. Not to mention the thunder storm I hear building outside.
This chapter was incredibly hard to write. Trying to pick through what pieces of Shippuden I'm keeping, what parts I'm skipping, and what parts I'm changing.
Obviously in the canon there are no betrothals, weddings, or pregnancies. No pairings per se. So those had to be worked into and around the story line.
My main storyline will pick back up as the events of Shippuden's first story arc finishes.