Akanishi-san: Mmm, sadly, lately I haven't been too keen on updating this. > Ah well, here is the chapter.

Ch3

"Ouch." Minami muttered as she felt needles on her left shoulder. She had reached Tsunade's office at 7, and the only reason she was called in early was to place her anbu tattoo on her. "Is this…really necessary?" She asked as she winced again. She hated needles, and there was no reason why she would ever like them, who would anyway?

"Oh come on, Minami. It's only needles. It's not going to kill you! You are going to become an anbu, when you are afraid of needles?" Tsunade retorted as she finished the mark off. "Now, its over." She stood up, examining the tattoo. "Sasuke should arrive any minute, are you ready?" She asked, shuffling through papers now.

Minami nodded as she got a mask of a bird on her, her hawk Taka swiftly landing on her soon as he saw that Tsunade was done. "Yes, ready." She said, making one last check on herself. She turned to Naruto, who was scribbling on pieces of paper. "You have fun with that." She chuckled at him. "Paper work, woot."

Naruto groaned and threw his pen onto the desk. "Can I go with them?" He pleaded to Tsunade. "It's a mission for Gaara right?" He whined.

Minami's eyes widened. "Gaara as in Kazekage Gaara?" She whispered, her eyes huge.

((AN: for those of you who doesn't know, Gaara becomes the Kazekage.))

Tsunade turned to her and nodded. "Yes, that Gaara. I'm not surprised you know him, since he asked for you to come."

Before she could continue, Sasuke entered the room, looking slightly irritated. He looked at Minami and gave her a nod in greeting and to Naruto as well, who had gone back to his papers. "So what does Gaara need?" He asked casually, but his irritation still on him.

Tsunade's inside laughed. She knew why this young Uchiha was irritated. Jealousy. But, keeping her serious face on, she explained. "Gaara is getting invasions from the Snow. He requested for fire jutsu users. Especially you," She looked at Minami. "I guess he knows your fire abilities, and you guys are friends?"

Minami nodded. "Yes, I met him during my travels. He and I…of course, Naruto as well, we understand something others don't…" She looked at the ground gloomily.

Sasuke frowned. What do Gaara and Naruto have in common with her? Demon? No, it can't be, there is no strange feeling to her. After Sasuke became an anbu, he went through training to detect those kind of things, and he felt nothing from her. This irritated him even more.

Tsunade, either ignoring or not noticing his irritation, continued. "Anyway, Gaara has asked for you two to help him during battle. He knows that many people will strike Sand, and he fears that his people will get involved. He wants to fight outside the village, and in order to do that, he wants to place a fire technique barrier on it." She looked at Minami. "I'm sure you know what he is talking about."

Minami nodded. "I know." She said, looking determined. "And he knew that I needed someone else, so you chose Sasuke, for his Sharingan?"

Tsunade nodded. "Good. Now, quickly, go. He expects you at the Sand in 4 days. Dismissed."

Hearing her dismissal, the two left silently, Minami waving a good-bye to Naruto before she left the room.

Outside Somewhere

Sasuke and Minami ran through the forest covering Konoha, quickly and keeping their fast pace up. Taka was flying high in the air, acting as a lookout. Even if Gaara expects them to be there in 4 days, they were determined to get there earlier. Minami, because they were friends, Sasuke because he wants to complete all of his missions perfectly.

"During this battle, we will see many killed and you will have to kill as well." Sasuke said, breaking the silence as they hopped form tree to tree. "Have you been in real battle fields before?"

Minami nodded gloomily. "Trust me…I know…I killed people I really regret on killing…" She closed her hands tightly, trying to erase the memory for now. "I haven't been through all these trainings for nothing, Uchiha-san."

Sasuke nodded. "Just making sure." He muttered, feeling embarrassed. In truth, he just wanted to break the silence. He didn't know what to say, so he just said what he said. He wanted to sound strong in a way, but it offended her a little. His insides hoped that she was not angry with him.

Minami chuckled as she kept on running, a step behind Sasuke. "But, since this is a partner work, I am hoping that you will be watching my back. After all, we are going to go against many other people."

Sasuke blushed under his mask which was a tiger mask. He felt him mutter few words before they fell into a comfortable silence. "I will protect you."

Hidden Sand, just because I'm lazy to write what happens

"Kazekage-sama!" Someone yelled, running into his office.

Gaara looked up from his papers, looking irritated. All the battle that was occurring was getting on his nerves. He really didn't like battle. Not when it was costing lives. He was losing many people out there, but look at where he is. In his office, safe. If only the 2 Konoha Ninjas got here, he can safely leave knowing that the village is protected.

"What?" He asked, shuffling into papers. "Make is quick, I need to do this."

The man saluted. "The Konoha ninjas arrived. They are coming right now."

Gaara looked up from his papers, letting sigh of relief escape. "Send them here, quickly." He ordered, getting up. "Dismissed."The man saluted him once more, and ran out. "Finally…" He said aloud. He wanted to go out there, but he wanted to stay here as well, to protect his village. Now he had the best defense with the fire ninjas here.

"Gaara!" Minami yelled, throwing herself onto him. Gaara stepped backwards from the sudden weight, but did not push her off. "I haven't seen you in ages!" Taka, knowing that she was going to hug him, had gracefully took off and was now perched on a podium, placed there just for him.

Gaara nodded, feeling glares from Sasuke. He also knew why the Uchiha looked angry. But he felt nothing towards Minami. Sure, she was his friend, but nothing more. But he wasn't going to say that right now. "Minami, reunion later. Hurry."

Minami nodded, jumping off of him. "I'm on it, Sasuke-san please follow me." She said, exiting the room, Gaara and Sasuke behind her. They walked through many rows and rows of market, but no one was outside. They were inside, alert for anything. She nodded to herself, acknowledging how well Gaara was as Kazekage. They seem to really trust him…that was good. "Is this the center of your village?" She asked Gaara as she stopped at a clearing, where a tall post stood.

((AN: For those times I made Minami call Sasuke Uchiha-san, erase to Sasuke-san))

Gaara nodded. "Yes, it is the center of my village. Will I be able to exit your defenses?" He asked, soon as he saw her order Taka to get off of her shoulder and bit her thumb.

Minami nodded, now crouching down and marking the ground with her blood to a seal. The seal circled the post, and the post started to give off a hum. "You will be able to enter and exit. But in order to do that, I will need to exit with you, and enter with you. Don't worry; the spell will not go away, even if I die. It will stay until someone says the dispelling word, which is 'hope.'" She walked over to Sasuke, and pushed him into the circle gently. "Soon as you say that word with a tiger sign followed by snake, it will be removed. The negative part of this is that the people will not be able to exit unless I am with them. So, bring your forces out now."

Gaara nodded. He turned to a man who was now kneeling in front of him. "Order every anbu team except 4, 11, 21, and 31 to get out, armed for battle. Also, ask for the special Jounins to leave, and other Jounins who are not already assigned to duty to leave as well. The others, I have already told to stay. Also, tell the jounin teams 5 and 7 to stay, and guard all the entrances, and make sure absolutely no one exits without her aid." He jerked his thumb at Minami. The man nodded, and was off.

After a minute, a bird's cry was called. "You may continue." Gaara said, looking over at Minami, who nodded in reply.

"Sasuke-san, please copy me." She said, bringing her hand to a tiger sign. Without questioning, Sasuke brought his hands to a tiger sign, his Sharingan blazing. Soon as she knew he was ready, she entered through series of complex rows of seals. "Gaara, I hope you will cushion his fall." She whispered, and slammed her hand on to the seal she had created, Sasuke following her, not knowing what was going to happen.

Now he did.

Soon as his hand connected the seal, he felt power on his hand, and warmth. Fire? And something soft…feathers? But before he could analyze what he was feeling, he was thrown backwards with a blinding light as well. He landed on the soft sand, looking surprised. He then looked up to see Minami holding her ground, wincing as the power tried to blow her off, but she held on.

"FUU!" She yelled, and finally, the power let her go, and her knees gave, falling onto them, but on soft sand Gaara created for her.

Sasuke's eyes widened. From the post, the seal, a large bright red bird, the Suzaku emerged form it. The head came out first, its emerald green eyes blazing, and its feather on the head swooshing in the wind. Then, the body, the wing was enormous. It spread its wings, and the long feather tail came out, which has green emerald jewelries on it.

Soon as it emerged from the seal completely, it swooped up into the air, and after a screech, the massive wing covered the village completely, as if protecting it from harm. Soon as it covered the place, a burning red half sphere now covered the village, with no openings and cracks.

Minami slowly stood up, looking up to her work. Taka swiftly flew towards her, and landed on her shoulder, peering into her face for injuries. Minami rubbed a finger on its chest, grinning. She then turned to Sasuke, who was still on the ground, looking surprised still. "Well Sasuke-san, job well done. Couldn't have done it without you." She stretched her hand towards him, grinning, intending on helping him up.

Sasuke took her hand, and was pulled up with her help. He still felt shaky from the sight he saw, and to the powers he felt. He looked up to ask her a question, on what that was, but he was cut off by Gaara. "Let's get going." He muttered eager to go help his people outside, in battle.

Minami nodded. "Right, but before we exit…" She made some complex symbols. "I know your sand protects you Gaara, but just incase." She made her last symbol, and a ring of fire surrounded Gaara and for a while it was around him, circling, but soon faded. "It will protect you from Snow attacks." She explained, doing it to Sasuke as well. "Automatically too. Since you can't see it, they won't suspect it to be there. They will use their snow attacks; they will deflect and melt against my fire." She grinned. "Now, let's get going." Sasuke looked at his own ring of fire as it disappeared, placing his hand on where it was, as if seeing if it will burn. Minami giggled. "No, it will not harm the one it's protecting, Sasuke-san. Trust me." She said, smiling.

Caught off guard, Sasuke blushed. "Erm, it's not that, I was just surprised at the technique…and the defense system as well. Is it your blood-line?" He asked her, now almost regaining his control. Every time she smiled, he felt his heart twist, and he didn't like it…yet, it pleased him. For her to smile at him.

Minami shook her head. "Well, the fire protecting you guys are my blood-line work. Everyone in Suzaku clan can control fire. But…the bird defense thing…only I can do." She looked at her feet.

Sasuke felt himself frown. He made her feel uneasy! AGAIN! But Gaara was not having any of this. Not during a war! "Let's move on!" He urged them, walking swiftly to the gates.

Minami nodded, happy that he had changed the subject. "Coming!" She cheered happily, and turning back to Sasuke, she said, "Come on!"

Sasuke only nodded, he too, happy that he had changed the subject. But…the way Gaara acted, it was as if he knew what was making her uneasy. Gaara knows whatever it was, but he doesn't…Gaara has understanding that can share with Minami…he doesn't. Those thoughts filled his head as he followed them to the gates. He was getting gloomier every step he took.

Finally reaching the gate, Gaara was about to head out, but Minami pulled him back abruptly. "I told you, you can't exit without me." Gaara looked at himself in surprise. How come he forgot? He nodded to Minami, who smiled. "If you went straight out, this would have happened." She said, and kicking a small pebble to the barrier, the 3 saw it suddenly blaze up soon as it touched the barrier, burning into ashes, to nothing. "Oh, and this is about the same thing with your fire protection. Except the shied around you will change shape to whatever necessary. All right, stay close to me, unless you just feel like getting burned to death, all right?"

To that, the two nodded. Minami smiled, and having Taka adjust his spot on her shoulder so she could form seals, she made 3 seals in a row, seals that were not known to Sasuke or Gaara. "Kai…" She whispered, and bringing 2 fingers up, she placed them on the barrier.

Sasuke was about to pull her back, horrified that she might get burned, but instead, Gaara pulled him back. "She's a specialist on fire." He muttered to him, looking irritated.

Sasuke turned back to Minami, sure enough, her finger was not burned at all, and she was however making a small hole around where she stood. She smiled, and pushing herself more, she made a bigger hole, and after releasing more chakra into it, she made a hole big enough for all 3 to pass. Motioning to them, she told them to come out. Soon as they were safely out, did she move out. Soon as she was out, the fire filled the hole, and the barrier was once again completely covered.

Gaara inspected the place, and nodding his approval, he started to walk to where he knew the most battle occurred. However, before he even took a step, someone else came out of the forests, aiming a snow attack to the Kazekage. "DIE!" He yelled, and whirled the attack, but of course, Minami's fire protection rose, and protected him, his sand not moving, the snow dissolving from the fire effectively. The attacker looked surprised, and before he could go and warn anyone, Minami had swiftly ended his life.

"Let's get moving." She said, and dropping back, she stood next to Gaara, Sasuke on the other side to protect him if necessary.

The three ran through the forest, occasionally running into some enemies, but Minami, Sasuke or Gaara ended their lives quickly and cleanly. As they ran through, the 3 noticed that the numbers of attackers were gradually decreasing. As if, they weren't attacking them on purpose. Waiting.

Minami stopped at a tree branch, as did the others, looking around carefully. "Where is the battle you want to go to, Gaara?" She whispered over to Gaara, a kunai out to defend herself if needed.

"It is near here, a little more to the North." Gaara said, also scanning the place, eyes narrow. He didn't trust this eerie silence. Neither did Sasuke, he had his kunai out, his sharingan activated as well, scanning the area thoroughly. "I wish I can just…go…" He muttered. "My people are in danger, and all I did was sitting, and now, I'm caught…" Gaara looked around, trying to find the mysterious person who has been tracking them all this time.

A chuckle came from the bushes. The funny thing was that the chuckle came from all directions around them. It was only one person, yet…and Sasuke knew who it was. He felt himself grip his kunai tighter, his eyes narrowing, growl on his throat.

The chuckle came again, once he heard that name. "Hello, everyone." The voice said. Those yellow, snake eyes appeared in front of them, from the bushes. They stared at the 3 ninjas, who now knew who it was.

Orochimaru.

Akanishi-san: Ohh Cliffie hanger Haha. Yeah, as you probably can tell, Sasuke is SO going to be OOC. But then again, what story is not OOC?

BTW REVIEWERS

RainingHeart: I'm really glad you like it. Please keep on reading! I need every support I can have!

DarkStarr101: Hehe, yes, and this is the next chappie! Hope you like it!

Desolate-Soul: Evil minions? Ahhhaaa! NO EVIL MINIONS! I SHALL SEND MY OWN EVIL MINIONS AFTER YOU! lol. jk. well, not if you do send your evil minions, but i did update so you cant, so I won't see your minions, so I don't have to send out mine, and I'm getting confused. XD

Uchiha-Clan-San: Ah, well it's all right, I'm happy that you read it, and that's enough. Thanks! And good luck with that!