Hinata sat down on the chair she was motioned to. She was nervous, beyond nervous, but knew that someone's life was in her hands. Tsunade motioned her to closer her eyes and Hinata obeyed. Tsunade made a few hands seals and placed her hand over Hinata's forehead.
"Now…remember what happened and activate your byakugan" Tsunade ordered. Hinata nodded as she activated her byakugan and started reliving that night in her mind. Tsunade winced as she too could see through Hinata's eyes.
"Now Hinata…show me what happened" Tsunade said as Hinata screamed. Tsunade kept her hand on Hinata's forehead and put one hand on her shoulder, trying to keep her still.
"Just a little bit more Hinata" Tsunade shouted as Hinata frantically screamed…and then…it was all clear for Tsunade. Tsunade released her hold on Hinata, who held her head as a huge headache dropped over her like a ton of bricks.
"Genma!" Tsunade shouted as Genma appeared.
"Bring Uchiha Sasuke here…there is much to discuss" she said. Genma nodded as he disappeared once again.
"Thank you Hinata…" Tsunade said as she placed her hand on Hinata's forehead, relieving the headache that was caused.
Break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah
After a dozen bowls of ramen, two ice cream cones, some sushi, and yet another bowl of ramen Naruto and Gaara made their way to Gaara's garden. Naruto looked on in awe, seeing so many different flowers and trees in such a dry place as Sunakagure. He looked like a small child, going from flower to flower and practically inhaling them.
Gaara let a small smile tug at his lips. It was always nice to see Naruto so full of energy and happy…even if it was only barely happy. He had decided to protect Naruto at all costs…and there is no way in hell he would let Itachi and Kisame take his precious Naruto away…
That was right…Naruto was his…even if only he believed it. Naruto turned around and smiled, running toward Gaara and grabbing him. He practically dragged the Kazekage through the garden, heading towards a small fountain. There Naruto let go of Gaara and smiled sheepishly, noting how he had dragged him and not allowed him to walk.
Gaara simply rolled his eyes at Naruto. Naruto smiled his big grin as he turned to the water fountain, leaning over slightly to feel the coolness of the water. Gaara stared at him…at his beauty…and the ethereal aura and simply amazement and radiation that the blond seemed to just pour over. Gaara watched Naruto lean over the fountain, frowning as the droplets of water splashed in his face. Naruto would attack the water, causing the water to splash even more. It was quite amusing…to say the least. Gaara chuckled, causing Naruto to turn and fall into the fountain. That was what did it…Gaara couldn't contain it any longer as he laughed…yes Gaara laughed…and quite loudly.
Naruto poked his head out of the water, pouting at Gaara who continued to laugh. Naruto tilted his head, hearing Gaara laugh so freely for the first time. And he was glad that it was him who made Gaara laugh so much…made him feel special…needed…secure…
"Mou…it's not funny" Naruto said as he continued to pout. Gaara's laughter slowly seized a smile on his face.
"Actually it was…no one told you to lean over so much" Gaara pointed out. Naruto frowned…what a smart ass…
Break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah
"Do you understand Itachi? Bring Ichibi and Kyuubi to me…they are the only two we need…once we get Ichibi…Sunakagure will crumble…and the city will be ours for the taking…" a voice said. Itachi nodded.
"It's much easier actually…with Naruto in the same village we can kill two birds with one stone" Itachi responded as he and Kisame faded away.
"Itachi…is it wise to send those two?" asked Kisame.
"But of course…one is a former sand member…he should know his way pretty well…once Gaara is taken we'll aim for Naruto…but not on the same day…we must plan carefully…one at a time….otherwise we'll have both Konoha and Sunakagure on our tails…it will be much more difficult" Itachi said.
Kisame nodded…Itachi was right as always. Things must be prepared accordingly. Itachi and Kisame looked at Sunakagure from their locations by the rocky area of the Wind Country. As planned…the two strangers struck…
Gaara was in his room as Naruto changed his clothes in the bathroom. A messenger entered his room, notifying Gaara of his work. Gaara sighed and knocked on the bathroom door.
"Naruto…I have to go to the office for a moment…it is wise that you stay here and rest…I shall return shortly" Gaara said.
"Okay! Hurry up Gaara-chan!" Naruto teased, knowing how Gaara would get with the word…chan. Gaara's eye twitched as he left the room, though deep inside he was glad Naruto was starting to feel better.
Gaara sat on his chair in the Kazekage's office…and that's when he felt it…officers were immediately dispatched and Kankuro entered the room.
"I know" was all Gaara said as the two left the building. Deidara surveyed the area, a smirk on her face. She smirked as she landed on the ground, but was surprised to see none other than Gaara before her.
She grinned at seeing Gaara, but suddenly sand dashed towards her from the side. Surprised at the sudden attack Deidara jumped on her bird and took flight towards the sky. Gaara, unimpressed, shot the sand towards the sky after Deidara. He jumped onto the moving sand, using it as a wave as he followed Deidara above Sunakagure.
Deidara removed three small birds, ready to use her special ability when the sand roared before her, causing her to pull back away from Gaara yet again. The sand transformed into Shukaku's claw, aiming to grasp and destroy Deidara. Deidara smirked, throwing two of the explosive birds towards Gaara, who in turn maneuvered the claw-like sand towards the projectiles, blocking them. The sand and projectile collided, causing an massive explosion. Deidara smirked, believing that she had stopped Gaara.
"What the!" she looked surprised, seeing a sphere mad of sand surrounding Gaara.
"But…when did he have the time?" she asked surprised. She cursed as the sand suddenly shot from underneath her. Deidara flew back, but the sand grabbed her left arm.
"Desert coffin…" Gaara stated, shattering her left arm completely. Deidara managed to fly away from the sand, arm destroyed.
"Damn…I barely have any clay left…this will be the final blow…" she narrowed her eyes, noticing how the sand dripped from Gaara's sphere. A smirk appeared on her face.
/I see…so the sand is different…that explains the gourd he always carries around…maybe this will be enough after all…/ Deidara thought with an evil smirk.
"This homing bird should be enough…" whispered Deidara. Gaara looked at Deidara wearily…he knew something was up…he could feel it…
Break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break
Naruto dressed up, hearing the battle outside. He wondered what was happening so he looked out the window as a powerful explosion was heard. And then…he saw it…the fall of Gaara…
"GAARA!" he shouted as Gaara fell through the skies. Deidara swooped down and grabbed Gaara with the bird's tail, flying away.
"GAARA!" shouted Kankuro as he followed Deidara. He couldn't allow this to happen. Gaara had changed for the better…he swore to protect this village…he had changed…and now this…no…he wouldn't allow it…
Naruto ran down the stairs as fast as he could, a sudden desire to save Gaara at all costs. Kankuro glared at the two Akatsuki members.
"Deidara…go…I will deal with this kid" the other member said. Deidara nodded as she flew away with Gaara in hand.
"I won't allow it!" shouted Kankuro as he pulled out three scrolls, summoning karatsu, the salamander and the ant. The other Akatsuki member smirked, a large tail appearing and destroying the three puppets. Kankuro was slammed to the ground, poison entering his system from one of the wounds.
"Im…Impossible…how did you manage to find out their weakness…" Kankuro stammered. The Akatsuki member smirked.
"It is simple brat…because I created them" Kankuro's eyes widen.
"Wait…that means you're Sasori from the Red Sands?" he asked surprised. Sasori smirked as he walked away.
"You will have three days before you die from this poison…it was fun battling a cute puppeteer as yourself…" Sasori said as he vanished. Naruto ran as fast as he could among other shinobi from Sunakagure.
"Kankuro…where's Gaara?" asked Naruto as he kneeled down next to him.
"I…couldn't stop him…them…" Kankuro whispered as he passed out.
"Naruto…Konoha already received word of this…we will expect back up within the next twenty four hours…" one of the shinobi said. Naruto sat back…it was all his fault…because of him…Gaara now had to suffer…
Break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah
Kakashi brushed away a strand of hair from Iruka's face, watching him sleep, but not so peacefully. Kakashi knew that Iruka was worried about Naruto…even as he slept. Kakashi lifted his gaze to the window, hearing the familiar hawk.
"I shall see you later then love…" Kakashi whispered as he pulled down his mask, kissing Iruka softly in the lips. He fixed his mask once again and disappeared, appearing in Tsunade's office.
"You called Tsunade-hime?" asked Kakashi. Within the room stood Hinata, Sasuke, Sakura, Neji, Shikamaru, Temari, Kiba, Lee, Chouji, Ten-ten, and Ino. Kakashi looked at them all, slightly confused for their presence, especially Sasuke's.
"I called you all here to explain the situation. The one who attacked Naruto the other night was none other than Uchiha Itachi" Tsunade said. Shikamaru and Neji turned to her confused.
"That's not possible…we were fighting him at the outskirts of Konoha" Neji said. Tsunade shook her head.
"An illusion spell…that placed another person and put a genjutsu over them, making them look like Itachi and Kisame…even I couldn't figure it out" Tsunade explained.
"So Itachi took the form of Sasuke to attack Naruto and have everyone believe it was Sasuke" Shikamaru stated. Tsunade and Hinata nodded.
"I…I believe that he wanted Sasuke out of the way…so he can take Naruto-kun" Hinata explained.
"However another tragedy has bestowed upon us all" Tsunade said. Everyone turned to look at her confused.
"Akatsuki struck Sunakagure…and they have captured Gaara"
"WHAT!" everyone shouted. Tsunade sighed as she rubbed her temples.
"Exactly…Naruto is still safe…however Kankuro has been badly injured with a new poison…therefore I will need all of you to head towards Sunakagure at once. Neji, Shikamaru, Sakura and Hinata are in charge of Naruto…and therefore will become his guard. Kakashi, Lee, Kiba Temari and Sasuke will scout and form an investigation. Ino, Chouji and Ten-Ten will infiltrate a nearby base…Ino will infiltrate using her special ability…Ten-ten and Chouji will form the diversion…once information has been gather you three are to leave the place…no one is going to act like a hero…we don't need deaths in vain" Tsunade said.
"Hai…Tsunade-sama" they all said in unison. Tsunade sighed…she simply hoped that Naruto didn't try to become the hero and leave before the teams arrived.
"Dismissed" she stated, the room suddenly becoming empty with nothing but the wind blowing.
"Jiraiya…make sure Orochimaru doesn't strike…like reports have stated…" Tsunade said. Jiraiya stepped out of the shadows, heading towards the window.
"Of course Tsunade" Jiraiya said as he jumped out of the window.
"Naruto…please be safe" Tsunade whispered to no-one.
/break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah/
"Excellent work…" a voice said as Deidara and Sasori handed Gaara over.
"Let us commence the ceremony at once" he said. All the other Akatsuki members, including Itachi and Kisame, began to chant. Gaara rose from the ground and was engulfed in light. Something came out of the ground, looking like a tree. Eyes began to open at random places as the ceremony to remove Shibi…the Shukaku…began.
/break blah break blah I'm tired of this/
And that's it…sorry for the nearly three months of wait…from viruses to computer crashing to me crashing heh….to writer's block and loss of inspiration I have returned! Now I'm going to update the other stories…
I've received a bunch of reviews…so sorry for not posting my replies to all your wonderful reviewers who are so faithful and have waited patiently for this chapter…I am back baby! And my updates will become constant! Which means…I'll be updating in two days XD yeah baby!