It didn't take long for Kakashi to retrieve the carriage, but immediately after he pulled up next to his team Sakura climbed up and took the steering from him. "We're still being watched," she said in his ear as a way of explaining herself. He nodded. He had noticed that the kidnapper actually hadn't gone very far when he left. He was far enough away that he couldn't hear their conversation, but he was close enough that he could still see them. It would probably be better for him to have his hands free if the man decided to attack them.
Naruto ushered the little boy into the carriage before turning to Sasuke. "I'm actually a bit tired," he said. "Do you think that we could just drive around a bit before going back to the hotel room?"
"Of course," Sasuke nodded with his own loving grin on his face before helping Naruto into the carriage. "Anything that you want."
"I'm driving," Sakura said inside both of their heads as Sasuke followed Naruto.
"Good," Naruto replied. "Don't lose the kidnapper. We want him to find out where we are sooner rather than later so that we can stop this."
"You got it," Sakura agreed.
"So," Naruto said out loud. "It's nice to meet you Gobi."
"I'm honored to meet you as well," Gobi nodded. "It's been a very long time since I've spoken to your predecessor."
"It's been a long time for all of us," Naruto agreed, "but I've been gathering everyone up for a reunion."
"Is there any particular reason for this reunion?" Gobi asked suspiciously. The last time all of the jinchuuriki were together in one place had been long before he even became the Gobi, but he had all of the memories of that horrible time.
"We're being hunted," Naruto replied. "Have you heard of the Akatsuki?"
"Yes," Gobi nodded. "That's why my sister and I came here. We were hoping to hide here, but then that man took her. She couldn't risk fighting back or the Akatsuki would probably be tipped off to where we are."
"Is she your sister?" Naruto asked. "Or is she your host's sister?"
"My sister," Gobi clarified. "Her host didn't even know my host before the two of us introduced them to each other."
"Well at least they stuck together," Naruto smiled. "It would have been a lot harder on you and Rokubi if the two of you had been separated."
"I wouldn't have let us be separated either way," Gobi growled.
"Where is your host anyway?" Sasuke cut in.
"Why should I answer that?" Gobi growled. He didn't like this random human cutting in as though he was better than him.
"Because we want to make sure that he's okay," Naruto replied. "We'd also like to introduce ourselves if that's okay."
"I didn't force the take over," Gobi said defensively. "He let me take over so that I could save his girlfriend."
"Did his girlfriend get taken too?" Naruto asked.
"His girlfriend is my sister's host," Gobi replied.
"Well that's gotta be weird," Naruto blurted out without even thinking.
Gobi stared at him for a long moment before bursting into a short fit of laughter. "You are very similar to your predecessor," he said once he regained his control, "always making light of everything."
"We'll get her back, though," Naruto promised. "That's why we came here. And then we can take both you and Rokubi back to Konoha so that we can help protect you against the Akatsuki."
"Isn't that a little risky, though?" Gobi asked. "You're gathering all of the Jinchuuriki in one place. Won't that make it so that the Akatsuki focus all their forces on that one place?"
"Don't worry," Naruto smiled. "I've got a plan."