"What do you mean she's not here?" Kakashi asked as the convoy stood in Gaara's office.

Gaara leaned forward, "I mean that 'Hana has left the village."

"When? How?"

"She left last night. 'Hana has come along nicely in her training. So nice that she was able to master shadow clones and was able to fool my guard, and myself long enough to get away."

"You don't think she's headed..."

"No, I don't think so. Something happened with her last night. Something changed but we won't know what it is until she gets back. She asked me to grant her three days..."

"Three days?!"

"I could have sent out a search party and had her brought back here but in this instance I feel it was better to let her go. Let her go now for three days so that she wouldn't try to run for 300 days."

"The Kazekage is correct. This is a cage for 'Hana. Better than her last one, but no matter how pretty the bars, we were still holding her here for her own protection."

Kakashi nodded his understanding.

"Kakashi, how many days can you stall your return to Konoha?"

"I'll send a letter to the Hokage and explain that Hinata has come down with the flu."

"Very good. In the mean time... Welcome to Suna."

Kohana ran for all she was worth. It felt good to be able to do so without someone stopping her. She felt empowered by her new found freedom.

"How much farther Kurai?"

"Not too much. You'll know when we reach our destination."

Meanwhile back in Konoha.

"What do you mean Kakashi-sensei is on a mission? He wasn't supposed to leave without me."

"I'm sure that there were reasons you were left behind, Naruto," Sakura responded as they walked through the village with Chouji and Shikamaru.

"Yea, I heard they already had a four man team on this one."

"What?! But Sakura and I..."

"Can it Naruto! They didn't need us on this mission."

He grumbled at that. He wanted to go see how Kohana and Gaara were doing.

"Be thankful. If they had sent you, you would have been subject to the awkwardness of the Hyuuga's," Shikamaru chimed in.

"Yea, after the exams, Hinata and Neji, aren't exactly on the best of terms speaking wise," Chouji added.

Naruto stopped in his tracks and looked to the east. He could feel something very faintly.

The others stopped and looked back at him.

"Naruto?" Sakura asked and before she realized it a figure was walking beside her towards him. Her skin went cold and she hoped Naruto wouldn't do anything to jeopardize what they had been working on.

"Slacking off as usual, boy?"

Naruto instantly balled his fist as he snapped around to watch the traitor among them.

"What do you want, Danzo?"

"Just keeping an eye on things. It's not a crime to walk through the city is it?"

Naruto nearly growled, "Find some place else to do it than where I am."

"My, a bit touchy, are we? I thought you were beginning to enjoy our talks."

Sakura watched the exchange. What talks? Was Danzo searching for information?

"I told you last time to stay away from me. I don't want anything to do with you."

Danzo leaned in real close and put a hand on Naruto's shoulder.

"Such strong words. What have I ever done to you?"

Naruto was struggling not to lose his temper. Sakura could see it. She looked over at Shikamaru who was watching closely the situation.

"Ah, Lord Danzo, there you are. The council wishes to speak with you when you have a moment," Shizune said with a smile.

Danzo nearly sneered at her but instead smiled, "When are they not?"

Danzo gave another look at Naruto and leaned in once more to whisper before leaning back and gauging whether or not to say anything more.

"I guess I should be going. It was a pleasant chat we had, Naruto. Give my regards to your parents," he stopped and appeared as if he just suddenly realized, "I'm sorry, that was terribly rude of me. Good day."

They waited for Danzo to leave, the air tense.

"Man, that guy is a drag," Shikamaru said his arms folded behind his head. He looked casual as he glanced over at Naruto but his mind was calculating as it searched for a reason of Danzo's prodding.

Naruto seemed to be in shock. His eyes unfocused. Sakura ran the short distance to him and touched his shoulder.

"What did he say, Naruto?" and when he didn't respond, "Naruto?"

"This is it," Kohana said as she felt the ocean breeze wash over her face. She looked around her and there was nothing for miles around. Just water and sand. Her heart felt lighter than it ever had before.

"This is the place you wanted me to come to. It feels so much different here than anywhere I've ever been. It's not just the sounds of the waves or the sound of sand gliding over sand... it's as if this place was meant for me.

"Good. Now's the time... Release the seal."

"Lord Kazekage! We've just received word from Konoha. Naruto has left the village," Kankuro rushed as he burst through the door.

"What happened? Where is he headed?" Gaara demanded as he stood.

"The message is still being decoded, but I thought you should know as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Kankuro. Send word to Kakashi to come at once and get me the rest of the message quickly."

Gaara's mind raced but his gut instinct told him what the rest of the message said. That meant that Naruto was either headed to where Kohana was by tracking her through the link of the nine tails or headed to Suna to confront those who hid the information from him. Gaara was hoping that Naruto was mad enough at Kakashi, Sai, and him to come for them first.

Hinata stared out the window of their room as Neji leaned against the wall.

"What do you suppose she's doing?" she asked.

"There's no telling, but if what they say is true and she is Naruto's sister then Kage help Konoha," Neji answered without opening his eyes.

"I think the world would be a better place if there were more shinobi like Naruto," she defended as she turned around.

Neji opened one eye to look at her, "You only say that because you're in love with him."

She blushed but didn't try to deny it, "You know he's good at heart. He means well... just sometimes he gets worked up over stuff."

Neji let a smile slip and pushed away from the wall to walk over to her.

"If you're looking for an approval of your choice for a husband, then you have it. Kage knows you could do much worse than with an over active idiot."

"Th-that's not. He doesn't... We haven't..." she stuttered as he let out a laugh and ruffled her hair, "Neji!"

"Everyone knows you're in love with Naruto except Naruto. When are you going to get around to making it obvious to him?"

She fell back to the childish mannerism of pointing two fingers together in front of her, "When he's ready he'll notice me. He's doing so many important things that it would be wrong of me to try to tell him right now."

Neji glanced at her again, "What am I going to do with you, Cousin?"

She stuck her tongue out at him, "I'll tell Naruto how I feel about him, the day you tell Tenten how you feel about her."

Suddenly it was Neji's turn to be uncomfortable, "That's none of your concern."

She smiled and playfully punched his arm, "Only cause you thought no one noticed the moon eyes you make at her."

A knock came at their door just before Kakashi entered, "We have trouble..."

"Kurai!" Kohana called as she dodged another attack. Daylight of the second day had already come. The beast before her was the nine tails and the chains she had around it were starting to crack. From the moment of the first day when she had released the seal, she had been on the defensive. Taking a few shots now and again but the fox didn't even seem effected by her effort. She could also tell that the fox was holding back.

"Keep in control. Remember the feeling of when you first arrived."

Tired, she ran across the top of the water around the beast trying to get as many of her chakra chains around it as possible to keep it steady. One of the tails smacked her as she tried to jump over it, sending her flying back on to the bank. She lay there dazed, the vision of the fox wavering before her. Her vision went black.

"Kohana!"

"Kohana?"

Shikamaru, Sakura, and Chouji raced to catch up with Naruto. If they could just get a little bit closer then Shikamaru could use his shadow possession to stop him but it was becoming apparent that they weren't going to catch him.

"Sakura, Chouji... We're being followed."

"I know," Sakura said as they continued on.

"Danzo's men?"

"Most likely," she said, "It was likely that this was his plan all along."

"What do you think he said to him?" Chouji asked.

Sakura shook her head, "I can only guess that he said something about Kohana."

"The merchant's daughter you escorted over a year ago?"

"Turns out she wasn't the merchant's daughter. Sai had rescued her from Danzo."

"So, what's the connection with Naruto and Kohana?" Shikamaru inquired.

"I'm not exactly sure. Everyone knows that Gaara announced Kohana as his sister a year ago."

Shikamaru stopped as the thought hit him. The others stopped just ahead and looked back.

"Shikamaru?"

"If everything is correct and there's only a 5% chance that this is even remotely possible. Kohana isn't Gaara's sister. We know that. She was rescued from Danzo out of Konoha. What would make Gaara, the Kazekage of Suna, agree to take her on as his sister?"

Sakura was trying to follow his thought process, "Why would Gaara offer her safe haven?"

"As the Kazekage he has a responsibility to protect his people. We already know that Gaara and Naruto are close and that Gaara feels like he owes a debt to Naruto. He doesn't owe a debt to Konoha. A random shinobi would not be offered safe haven. Danzo finds out this girl is missing and suddenly he takes an interest in Naruto. What does Naruto have in connection with this girl? Other than the fact that he unknowingly helped her escape. I believe there's a direct link between the two. Gaara is protecting Kohana because she's related to Naruto."

"That would mean... Kohana is Naruto's sister and not Gaara's?" Chouji asked.

"If I'm correct, then yes."

"Then, that would mean..."

"The nine tails."

"That's the direct link between the two of them. Naruto can show Danzo just where Kohana is. He's using Naruto to try and get Kohana back."

All three of them sprung back into the chase after Naruto. Danzo's men close behind them.

"Naruto knows about Kohana," Gaara said as everyone gathered in his office on the afternoon of the second day.

"How? I thought you said Kohana wouldn't..."

"She didn't. We forgot. All this time, we forgot there was another player in this story. We weren't expecting him to make this move but desperate times call for desperate measures and you best believe that he is feeling the pressure right now."

"Danzo?"

Gaara nodded as he steepled his fingers together in front of him, "This passed year we have been training her to become stronger. The stronger she becomes the more likely she will be able to defend herself against Danzo. He doesn't want that."

"But what benefit would he gain from telling Naruto about his sister?" Hinata asked.

"We haven't figured out which direction Naruto is headed in at this moment. If he's headed to Kohana then Danzo gets what he wants. If he's headed here to confront us then Danzo gets what he wants."

"Either he shows Danzo where she is... or Naruto provides a distraction so he can accomplish it himself," Kakashi explained.

"So, what is our plan of action?" Sai asked.

"There's more," Gaara said and the intensity of the room rose as they waited to hear what else there could be, "I can't be certain but yesterday morning I felt a surge. One that comes with the nine tails and I'm positive that it wasn't from Naruto."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that somewhere out there is a girl that has a whole lot of demons coming after her. I suggest we split into two teams. One team head for 'Hana, and the other to intercept Naruto. The message said there were three shinobi following him so they will be able to assist us," Sai said.

"I agree with Sai on the two teams but we need to decide who will be going for who?"

Neji piped up, "It makes sense to split Hinata and I up so that each team has a direction. Hinata will join the group for 'Hana. Gaara and Sai will also be on that team. Kakashi, Temari, Kankuro, and I will head for Naruto."

"Kankuro will have to stay behind here, so as to not leave Suna defenseless. Other than that I agree on the groups," Gaara said and looked around the room to see each of them nod. Not knowing what they were getting themselves in to, they paired off to prepare.

"Kohana? What kind of name is Kohana?"

"What kind of name is Naruto?"

"Now see here, that was to honor Jiraiya."

"What kind of name would you have picked out for a girl then?"

"Well, uh, ..."

"Exactly my point. I suppose it could have been worse... Kohana is a pretty name."

"Yea, it does have a nice ring to it, Kohana Uzumaki."

Kohana blinked several times as she opened her eyes to see the backs of two individuals. She frowned as she looked from the yellow haired man in the white overcoat with the word Namikaze on it to the read haired woman in dark blue shirt and pants with a green vest on.

"Who?... What is this?"

"She's awake."

"You go ahead, I'll hold this one," Minato said as they both looked over their shoulders at her.

Kushina nodded and turned towards her. Kohana stood quickly as the woman approached.

"You look so much like him," Kushina said causing Minato to holler back over his shoulder, "But she has your hair."

"I don't understand, what is all of this? Where did you come from?"

Kushina smiled, "It's a long story but we don't have much time. I'm so happy that you're alive. They told me you were dead when you were born but somehow you survived."

Kohana took in the red hair, the talk, all of it. It was sinking in rapidly, "You're my mother?"

Kushina nodded as a tear escaped.

"But, how? I thought you two died a long time ago."

"Your father is an amazing man. When he sealed the nine tails with in you and Naruto he also sealed a piece of each of us with it so that one day we would be able to help you when you needed it."

Kohana didn't know how to feel. Over the last year she had been able to see how parents were with their children but it never did translate into her own past.

"I'm not sure... how I'm supposed to react. I've never had anything close to a mother or father before."

Kushina seemed to suddenly burst into flames of anger as she cracked her knuckles, "I know and if I ever get my hands on that man he'll wish his grandparents had never met before."

Kohana let out a surprised laugh as tears ran down her cheeks and she did what she would have if it had been Temari in front of her. She hugged her. The feeling of being safe surrounded her as Kushina returned the hug.

"There's my baby girl. You've gotten so strong, so beautiful, but there's things that still need to be done, sweetheart."

Kohana glanced up to the nine tails raging behind a barrier and over at her father who smiled at her.

"Whoever named you must have been a really nice person," he called over his shoulder and the two women went to join him.

"Why do you say that?" she asked as Kushina took over the barrier so that Minato could talk with his daughter.

"Because you've grown into a beautiful flower despite what Danzo tried to do to you," he said as he ruffled her hair. Kohana stared at him and curious, threw her arms around him. Surprised but touched Minato encircled her into a hug.

"I was right," she whispered.

"Right about what?" Minato asked.

"The safest place in the world is in the arms of your parents."

Minato laughed causing Kohana to blush and bury herself in his shoulder. Minato squeezed her and looked at Kushina over her head.

"I wish we could stay forever," he started and she looked up at him, "but this is only a part of who we were. Before we get into that, know that Kushina and I love you with all of our hearts. We wish we could have raised you and Naruto ourselves but we did what had to be done a long time ago to save the lives of those we cared about. You understand?"

She nodded, "I'm glad I got to meet you. I think I would have liked having parents."

Kushina looked over at Minato, "It's time."

Minato looked back down at his daughter and kissed her forehead.

"It's time for you to finish this fight, Kohana," Minato said and turned her back around to face the fox.

Reaching out beside her Kohana took each of their hands and squeezed them in reassurance as the barrier broke into a million pieces.

As the pieces fell to the ground, Kohana launched herself into the air, the confidence of being happy deep within her, and 12 chains burst from her grabbing a hold of the fox.

"I don't want you to be a prisoner!" she called to the fox as she strengthened the chain with every bit of chakra she had left.

"Lies! All humans lie!"

"It wasn't my choice to seal you within me. It wasn't my choice to be raised by Danzo. Work with me, Kurai, please. I don't want to go back into a cage anymore than you do."

The fox seemed to consider it, testing the bonds of the chains around him.

"I won't serve a weak master..."

"I am not weak!" she raged and the fox seemed to smile and close its eyes.

"Remember that, little one," the fox whispered and then shattered. The blast sent her flying back and though her body was beaten she felt a sense of peace come over her again. Arms reached out and caught her tumbling to the ground with her.

"Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad," she managed.

"They didn't catch you, little one."

"No, not this time, but they caught me all the same," Kohana smiled as her parents wavered and then disappeared, "Are you going to disappear too, Kurai?"

"I'll be here when you need me."

"Thank you," she said and passed out from exhaustion on the sand. The image of the fox girl stayed a moment longer, staring off back towards Suna.

"I hope you're ready for what's coming next," Kurai said and brushed Kohana's hair from her face before fading away.

Author's Note: I apologize for the hiatus but I was distracted by life I suppose. The inspiration to write my stories comes and goes but I appreciate those that still stick around and read them. Even if it does take me a while to get there, I will update. So, off I go on another exciting adventure.