Chapter 38: In Pursuit

We stood glaring at the enemy in front of us hearing Naruto yell, "Just where do you think you're sitting you jerk!"

Seeing the blond laugh he looked at his partner saying, "He's the Jinchuriki alright, the first one to yell and scream… Itachi is pretty good at describing people."

Tightening my fist, we started having a staring match as I looked down seeing Gaara still wasn't moving while Naruto yelled at him to wake up. He took a step forward, but I grabbed his arm feeling him tense up against my touch.

"Naruto he's..." I began trying to form the words knowing this wasn't the time or place to cry, not with the two responsible still alive.

I could feel him shaking as the enemy tapped Gaara's face saying, "That's right he's long dead now."

"Give him back!" Naruto growled jumping forward but Kakashi stopped him saying calmly, "You need to relax, if you go head on like that you will be eliminated."

The two enemies began to bicker on who was going to take Gaara away while the other stayed behind and fought. Hearing the shorter man call the other Deidara I could only assume that meant the other was Sasori who dealt in poisons. Though my blood could withstand some poisons from what he did to Kankuro it wasn't something I could handle. They began to argue about art as I could see Naruto was getting increasingly agitated and I was starting to feel the same.

"Knock it off!" Naruto finally yelled seeing him open a scroll as a giant shuriken appeared in his hand throwing it towards them.

I watched it fly but Sasori without even looking swiped it with a tail that was hidden under his cloak making my eyes widen. On the tip of the tail, I could see the poison making me swallow hard these guys were going to be tough. Deidara began to stand up as I tightened my fist ready to make a move should I need to.

He looked down at his hand before throwing something small and white watching it expand into a bird seeing it go to grab Gaara. Sasori went to attack him, but he jumped on the bird before he could beginning to fly over us watching the bird swallow Gaara up as he stared at Naruto. He wanted him to follow, this had to be a trap and I'd be damn if he went alone.

Naruto began to run as I looked towards Kakashi seeing him nod as he told Sakura and Chiyo to hold off the other until Guy's team arrived. Kakashi and I then ran off to catch up to Naruto as I looked back to Sakura and Chiyo, before landing next to Naruto and Kakashi.

I heard Kakashi go on the radio asking for backup, but it seemed Guy's team was also currently in the middle of another fight. Seeing Deidara flying above I knew that my blood would be useless to reach him but maybe my lightning could. Looking to my side I saw Kakashi pull up his headband while I took my kunai out cutting open my palm enough to let it begin to bleed through.

"Is it okay for you to be taking me on… Kakashi of the Sharingan." Deidara said looking down towards us seeing his eyes travel to me saying, "I don't know who you are, but you'll be dead anyway."

Glaring towards him he ignored me looking back towards the cave saying, "My man Sasori is stronger than I am… probably… even if we differ in our ideas about art."

I could hear that Sakura and Chiyo began to fight listening to Deidara mention that they were no match for Sasori turning my eyes in their direction. I had faith they could do it and beside this guy was trying to get Naruto alone and I knew he would be no match by himself.

"Yuna… Kakashi go help Sakura and Granny Chiyo." Naruto said seeing him leap forward yelling, "I'll save Gaara."

I watched Naruto go to reach for him but Deidara flew up more throwing something at Kakashi and I as we jumped up seeing it grow in size. Kakashi took a kunai out throwing it at the creature as it exploded seeing a shuriken appear out of the smoke watching him easily dodge it.

"I would have been disappointed if it was that easy to kill you." Deidara said seeing Naruto break through the rocks glaring at him saying, "I will take Gaara back!"

"You sure are a weird Jinchuriki… from what I've seen so far their nothing but gloomy nobodies..." he began making me frown as he shrugged saying, "Besides this one, we've already defeated two others and not even one villager or comrade attempted to help them."

I felt myself shake as he laughed saying, "Some were even glad to rid of them I think… it seems you can't forsake someone pitiful and hated like you. He was killed when we extracted the One-tailed beast, and the same thing will happen to you."

"Not if I have anything to say about it." I said throwing some kunai towards him seeing him go to dodge it but flinch as my blood stayed connected to them going back to strike.

His bird quickly used it's wing to block it as we all jumped down into the water seeing my kunai begin to float around me.

"I see… so this is what you can do." Deidara said looking down at us before beginning to fly off as Naruto quickly ran after him saying, "You guys go help Sakura."

Looking towards Kakashi we knew that we had to put our trust in Sakura and Chiyo, Naruto was thinking irrationally, and I would never forgive myself if he was taken. We started running with him as Kakashi got on the radio hearing that Guy's team was still fighting and would be a while longer.

Jumping across large branches we began to purse Deidara as Naruto led the hunt seeing he was much faster than us. I could see Deidara throwing something as three more birds appeared seeing the first go for Naruto as it exploded. Kakashi threw his shuriken at the second while I used my blood to wrap around the tree catapulting myself out of the blast zone of the third.

Hearing rumbling behind us I looked back wondering if it came from Sakura and Chiyo turning ahead seeing Naruto look back at us, "Kakashi you're too slow we need to hurry."

"His next target is you Naruto he won't stray off too far." Kakashi said while Naruto growled responding, "We need to do something, I have to get to Gaara."

"I have a few strategies that we can use but I need time to prepare." Kakashi said as I looked towards him then at his Sharingan, what was he planning on doing?

Looking towards Deidara his speed picked up seeing Naruto sprint full speed ahead despite my protests we needed to stick together.

After a few minutes I suddenly saw Deidara drop a bunch of small creatures towards Kakashi and I as we stopped, dodging a few of their explosions. My blood sprouted to life as I focused the chakra on my feet sprinting forward putting up a shield to block the explosions.

"Naruto slow down." Kakashi called out as Naruto looked back saying, "I'm going ahead I promise not to do anything reckless."

Looking towards Kakashi we both began dodging through the explosions seeing a few jump for his face as I swiped my arm out letting my blood coat the creatures. We both sat staring at them seeing Naruto getting father away looking at the creatures seeing they followed our movements.

"Follow my lead." Kakashi said as I nodded seeing him sprint backwards as I followed with great speed seeing him use some hand signs as I followed suit disappearing from site.

Once we heard two explosions, we broke through the ground seeing that they were all gone now making me sigh in relief.

"Yuna." I heard looking towards Kakashi as he said in a serious tone, "I'm going to try and use a jutsu that could render me unable to go on."

"Kakashi-sensei..." I said worried as he gave me a reassuring smile saying, "I know you'll protect Naruto if I can't."

Looking back at Naruto I closed my eyes for a moment taking out a kunai, "You can count on me."