Chapter 26: Purpose

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters.

Sakura couldn't understand how Gaara could be untouched by the scorching sun with black clothes that covered most of his body and a giant gourd on his back. Even his siblings were getting a little tired, but Gaara seemed untouched, as if he weren't even human, but Sakura wouldn't say those thoughts out loud. As far as she was concerned, he was more human than she was, since she had acted so cruel to Naruto and used others to her advantage, making them all go on a wild goose chase for Sasuke, who was now to messed up in the head to do anything, spending his nights alone until Sakura came to check on him and more and more, she saw the boy she had once had a crush on, fading away like a dream. Gaara, on the other hand, is perfectly sound in mind, thought Sakura as she took another look at the Kazekage who had once pinned her to a tree and threatened to kill her. Not to mention the fact that he's a kind and gentle person, nothing like I am, so he's so far out of my reach that I can't help but blush when he helps me out over the most minor of things. The land of suna had ended a while back, but during a terrible war during the rivalry of villages, the sand and leaf fought like the bitterest of enemies. Now they were probably the most deadly alliance, and probably the closest alliance of its time, which only went to prove how much of an ironic joke fate was. During that, part of the forest on the leaf territory that was on the border of suna towards the southern part, was completely scorched and left as desolate waste.

"My god how can you stand walking in this heat with such dark clothing," asked Sakura as she eyed Gaara suspiciously, trying to find whatever tricks this pale man dressed in black had up his sleeve.

"I was born in suna and as such I made it a point to take a daily five mile jog during noon," replied Gaara as he surveyed the area like a hawk looking for its prey. "As an added bonus, the sand actually helps me cool down by moving around my body, so that the sand heats up and then goes back in the gourd when it gets too hot."

"I would consider that an unfair advantage," complained Kankuro as he climbed up the rock formation that was in the way of the path to the next town.

"Well try not sleeping for half your life and then tell me which you would prefer," said Gaara, not in an angry tone or in any tone that gave away a hint as to what emotion he was feeling. "The town is right down there anyway so let's go down there, find who we're looking for and get out."

"You make that sound too easy," laughed Kankuro as he waited for Temari to show up. "Damn, ever since she started dating that Nara boy she's been slacking off a bit. I swear she needs to move her ass faster because I've seen it and it's getting fatter."

"I'm right here dip shit," shouted Temari as she grabbed a shocked Kankuro by the collar and started to strangle her sibling. "You're the one whose ass is getting fat from all those parties you go to and those days off when you sit at home and do nothing."

"I do some things," retorted Kankuro as he tried to free himself from his older sister's grip. "What do you do, but lay around with that Nara boy and look at the stars. I bet he's too lazy to even have sex with you."

"Please, why don't you take a look out yourself," said Temari, which only made Gaara more annoyed at the bickering, but they didn't notice the swirling sand that loomed above their heads. "And at least Shikamaru's man enough not to wear makeup."

"Will both of you shut the hell up for two minutes," shouted Gaara as he brought a giant ball of sand down to crush a rock. "You both are giving a huge fucking headache here."

"I can help you with that," said Sakura as she put chakra into her fingers and after receiving a nod of approval from Gaara, she put her hand to his head and soothed the pain caused from frustration.

"Thank you Sakura, I really needed that before I killed them all," said Gaara as he ran his hand through his thick red hair, leaving his two siblings to wonder if he was joking or not.

"It's all I can do unfortunately," replied Sakura as she gave him a smile, but Gaara could see past it, see that she really felt useless.

"A medic is just as essential to the team as anyone else," said Gaara as he put his hand on her shoulder causing her to blush at the feel of his touch. "You are strong Sakura and you can fight just as well as most jonin and you try to make up for your weakness by sticking in there. Truly you have earned your place among the elite of Konoha."

"Thank you, Gaara-sama," replied Sakura, tears coming to her eyes as she movede away from his touch, feeling that she would defile him with her touch, just as she had corrupted Naruto with her lies and deceit. "But I have betrayed those who matter and even if I could heal a thousand people in my lifetime, I would never be able to make up for my stupidity and for the way I treated my friends like pawns, all for a boy who never cared if I was raped by dogs."

"Sakura, looking back at the past isn't good for one's health and I think that," said Gaara as he pulled her to her feet and gave her a smile, a real one. "If I lived in the past of my crimes I'd have probably died a long time ago, but I live for today so that I can find something that is real. Back when we first met, I felt like I could make up for everything I lacked by killing people and making them hurt, like I hurt every day, but when I first met Naruto, it was like looking into a mirror at what I wanted to be. The only thing that could help me was love and that was what was real for me. Today I live, not to kill, but I live to find that which is real."

"Gaara-sama," whispered Sakura as she looked at the man who had been changing as a result of his interactions with Naruto. That was Naruto's true power, to give back to people what they had lost, but right then and there, Gaara was giving Sakura back something that she believed she had lost somewhere along the way.

"Well I think we should be heading in that direction," said Gaara as he walked down to the village that lay before them and he when he walked alone, he seemed to be the loneliest person she had ever seen. Quickly, she up next to him and walked beside him, the least she could do for the person who had done so much for her was to make sure that he wasn't alone anymore because he didn't deserve to be walking alone.

The compound was done in a more traditional style, with paper doors that slid and koi ponds, something that seemed a bit nostalgic, but it was very tactful, since it meant that there was nowhere for a person to hid. Lanterns lit up the place showing who was where and making sure that every shadow was cast into the sight of a guard. Unfortunately for the person who owned the compound, Shenlong didn't want to hide himself as he just cut through the paper and any guards that where on the other side. Keeping his steady pace, it was like he was death itself, walking about followed by destruction and chaos. The guards were al rushing about to find him, but Shenlong decided that none of them would see his face and he used the sand that he kept in a pouch to go through the halls and put out each lamp so that he walked in perfect darkness. While the guards couldn't see him, Shenlong could smell them, their swords and weapons, and the fear that was emitting from the depths of their souls. Renji was circling from the other side, using the chaos and panic that his partner had brought as a cover for himself so he could sneak in and put out any communications. The job was being done efficiently and mercilessly, something that was a characteristic of Shenlong's missions.

It was only after a few dozen guards later that Shenlong reached the main part of the compound, which changed from the traditional paper doors and walls to solid walls that were made to hamper enemy process. Oddly enough, Renji's idea of taking explosive tags being useful had actually been useful even though Shenlong said that using explosive tags would give away position to the guards inside. Now he was blowing the walls apart and waiting for the guards to come out, but they were different from the common thugs that he had been taking down so far. These were smart and knew that he would be expecting them to come out and had shuriken that could separate into different fragments. A smile spread across his face as he walked into the hole in the wall, his sword at the ready to block any projectile weapons that would be heading his way. To his surprise, most of the guards were sprawled across the floor, rendered unconscious by some unknown intruder, one who Shenlong was dying to meet. He walked into the main chamber which was where the clan heads met to discuss matters, but now it's only occupant was a woman holding a strange red gem that seemed to glow bright in waves. She had silver colored hair that glistened in the moon light that came in through the ceiling making her look like a spirit and as he saw the wolf ears on her head, he knew she was one.

"So are you a representative of the Okami clan," asked Shenlong as he sat down to light a cigarette that he looked at the woman standing in the center of the room. "Well, it seems that I finally see one of the members of the clan. All I got back when I died was that my family served your clan and it was my turn to bear the torch. So what would you have your servant do?"

"Number one, in coming back to life you became one of us," said the woman as she took her hands off the gem and let it float in midair. "Do you know why it happened?"

"That was on last night's Jeopardy I think," said Shenlong as he stroked his chin, acting as if he was trying to remember something.

"You are every bit of an ass as your father said you were," replied the woman as she smiled a bit. Shenlong grinned; the Okami clan had a sense of humor. He hated it when he had to serve people who had no sense of humor because it meant that his witty sarcasm could only be appreciated by those who had the sense of humor for it. "But the reason you are like us now is because of that night, when you grabbed the sword out of its sheath, from that moment you were destined to become one of us."

"Sorry, but everything before the day after the night is a blank," said Shenlong as he looked down at his feet in torment. "Even my own name is unknown to me, the name I have now is the name of my family's sword, the one that is buried with their bodies."

"So you believe that you are unworthy of the sword," asked the okami as she got closer to him, placing her left hand on his right shoulder.

"No, I'm saving it for when I find him," said Shenlong as his hand shook with anger. "I'm waiting till I find out whoever sent those demons to my family's house and I will use that sword to severe his head from his body. The one thing I remembered when I died was the face of that bastard and I know that the man who I killed me was the same man who plunged the sword into my mother's chest."

"Ah, so you remember a few things, but only what is necessary for your revenge," commented the okami as she twirled about in the room, earning a look of puzzlement from Shenlong. "What is it about my dance that excites you or captures your attention? Are you starting to like what you see?"

"With all due respect you are the worse dancer I have ever seen dance in my life," laughed Shenlong as he nearly choked on his cigarette.

"Your just jealous because you can't dance as good as I do," she retorted as she got closer to him and whispered seductively into his ear, "I know you want this body."

"Don't flatter yourself," he replied, only to find her right behind with her hands wrapping around him.

"Oh well, you were just as faithful as they say you are…..and just as big might I add. It's a shame that your heart already belongs to another because I am sure you would make a good mate."

"You have a larger purpose than just standing there and talking to me so come on and tell me what you have to say," he whispered in her ear as he grabbed her by the waist.

"You wasted your time coming here; these men wouldn't be able to do that much to your objective."

"My objective?"

"The woman you love, Yuki, is oddly enough, your objective," replied the woman as she grabbed the gem and put it in his hand. "You'll need this later on if you're going to take on Orochimaru."

"Why would that pale snake bastard go after Yuki," asked Shenlong in shock. "For him to use that power inside of her is impossible and if he could why are you sending someone like me after him."

"Well, seven tails, we have a lot to discuss, starting with who you are."