"The rules are the same as before. You may use whatever tactics you wish to take the bells from me. You have until sunrise tomorrow." Kakashi announced in the middle of the clearing. This was the same clearing Kakashi had pulled this exact same test three years prior back when they first became a team.

There were so many memories when it came to this test. "Huh...brings back memories, this place…"

"Yeah."

The three teens looked at the clearing sadly they were still missing another member of team seven. "Oh, right. This was the site of your very first exercise." Kakashi mused knowing fully well that it was. He did this for a reason.

"Team number seven…"

"The four man team…"

"We were just a bunch of dumb rookies back then…"

Kakashi looked at the sad faces of his team letting out a soft sigh. "Back then, we had Sasuke too didn't we." Sakura fell to the ground hugging her knees muttering to herself while Naruto fell to his knees banging on the ground cursing himself.

"I guess Sasuke's name is taboo…" Kakashi slumped his shoulders staring at the two teens. "Aren't you upset?" Kira's older brother asked staring at the still standing team. She was upset but she wasn't like the others.

"Of course I am...But we're going to get him back. We'll bring Sasuke back as soon as we get word of where he is." Naruto and Sakura looked up nodded to themselves agreeing with Kira's words. They'd bring Sasuke home.

"Anyway...let's begin." Both teens got up from the ground looking determined quickly taking notice of Kakashi's lack of book.

"Not gonna read this time, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto mocked tying his headplate tightly against his forehead.

"Or have you finished it already?" Sakura finished shifting her black gloves over her hands. Kira smirked under her mask shifting her sleeves back up her arms keeping her eyes locked onto her brother. Her hands hovering over her pouches ready to attack when needed.

Kakashi shifted his headplate away from his eye. Showing off his Sharingan "Nope, just saving it for later. Besides, I get the feeling that this time I'm going to have to make more of a serious effort."

There was a staredown, Kakashi never took his Sharingan off of the kids, so when Naruto threw his throwing stars at the male. Kakashi was quick to deflect and throw his own crouching low to the ground. Naruto was just barely avoided the throwing stars when another set came toward him. Naruto quickly created a shadow clone to maneuver away in midair.

Kakashi captured Naruto by holding onto Naruto's wrist holding a large weapon as well as gripping onto Naruto's blond locks at the root keeping him locked in place. That is until the second Naruto held a Kunai to Kakashi's back appearing to have the upper hand.

"Heh, still the impatient one, eh?" It was like when they first started as ninja's. Naruto was always impatient but he really did grow while he was gone. They all did. Kakashi chuckled to himself smiling under his mask and gave the kids a close eyed smile. "All right, go!"

Kakashi disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Kira kept her eyes shifting all around her. Kakashi was still much better than she was after training under her older brother for the past three years. She knew he always had tricks up his sleeves and would never let you actually have the upper hand. "Below!" Sakura slammed her fist into the ground causing the ground to break apart in large chunks of rock. Kira quickly jumped closer towards Naruto away from the blast zone.

Sakura was scary strong. She was a true disciple of Lady Tsunade and it was terrifying sometimes. She even terrified Kakashi who indeed was hiding in the ground. Now was the chance! Kira manipulated her chakra to build up in her chest. She felt the burning sensation climb up her throat until she couldn't hold back anymore. She let forth a blast of fire towards her brothers direction. She cursed herself watching him dodge the attack, though she was glad he was okay and able to escape.

Kakashi jumped back up crouched down ready to jump away if need be. "Had your shot, kids. My turn now." Kakashi blew a large blast of fire causing the three to jump out of the way and letting Kakashi escape.

Hours had passed well into the night and Kakashi still was winning this challenge. The three sat huffing and puffing to catch their breaths sweat trickling down their faces and soaking their clothes. "I knew it would still be hard, but that Sharingan sure is something. Plus sensei's sign-weaving speed, he's so fast you can't keep up. His arms. We've got to disable them somehow...tie them up…" Sakura panted shooting out an idea.

"No good...Even with Kakashi's arms tied down, he's still fast on his own...we need to trap him…" Kira countered checking on her metal arm making sure nothing was broken. No matter how many times Shiro had told her his material was capable for battle she always feared it would break on her so she always checked on it. Running her left hand over the warm hard metal feeling for anything that might be loose or broken.

"Yeah...Kakashi sensei's as strong as ever. Smarter than Shikamaru, a keener sense of smell than Kiba, more adept at Sharingan than Sasuke, and his Taijutsu is greater than Bushy Brows…" Sakura seemed to have a spark of an idea.

"But he's got to have some weakness! C'mon think."

Kira's eyes widen grinning under her mask and giving Sakura and Naruto a look just shaking with excitement. She knew his weakness! "Make Out Tactics!" she whispered quietly.

"I didn't even think about that!" Sakura gushed grinning like a madman. "If we strike just right not only would it disable him, it'd block his Sharingan too!"

Naruto slammed his fist into his palm grinning evilly. He had a plan. "Then what are we standing here looking at each other for? Are you ready?"

"Hell yeah!"

"Yup! Lets do it!"

Kakashi panted keeping an eye out for the kids attack while leaning against the tree. Having used his Sharingan so much his stamina quickly depleted. He was proud that his team was working together and even excited for their next attack.

Kakashi took a sniff and kept his eyes peeled. They were coming and fast. The scent of Fresh Melon and Sheer Wood (Naruto), Japanese Cherry Blossoms (Sakura), and Baltic Amber and tree bark (Kira) were coming up fast. Only this time instead of coming up from the side of below or even out of sight they did a frontal assault. Something he thought they'd know better than to do.

"Now Naruto!" The girls yelled diving towards their former instructor.

"Here I go! Hey Kakashi-Sensei!" Kakashi looked bored at first till he heard Naruto continue. "Make Out Tactics final plot twist! The main character is really…" Kakashi quickly shoved his hands over his ears. He couldn't hear the spoiler, but even with the Sharingan still being open he could read Naruto's lips. Quickly shutting his eyes he crouched so that he couldn't hear or see a thing. Totally vulnerable and down for the taking.

The teens snickered to themselves grabbing a bell each letting it jingle so Kakashi could hear. "Hehehehe, Shinobi read the hidden meanings within the hidden meanings."

"Remember sensei?"

Kira snickered to herself grinning at the disbelief on her older brothers face. "We really got you good Kashi."

These past three years Sasuke knew he had grown stronger. He was almost ready to kill his brother. He'd be ready as soon as Orochimaru had found Itachi. He had no regrets leaving Konoha, studying under Orochimaru had been most helpful when it comes to his new abilities. There was no doubt in his mind that he'd be this powerful if he had stayed.

Sasuke rarely thought of his home he didn't care what anyone would think of him. He already agreed to himself after killing Itachi that Orochimaru could have his body. There was nothing to live for anymore. The day he left, the day he had to leave her buried beneath those rocks he didn't care what happened to him anymore. He just needed to kill Itachi. That's it.

He still thinks of her often, he wondered what she would look like now. Sasuke leaned against the wall of his room, he could still feel her long soft gray hair through his fingers. He could still see those beautiful ruby red eyes twinkling in the sun. If she were here she'd probably be reading one of her books, glued to the pages desperately wanting to know what happens next.

His heart still aches knowing she was gone. She never had the chance to grow into the beautiful woman he knew she would be. She never had the chance to be the powerful ninja he knew she would have been. He wished he had a picture of her. With time that had passed he knew that her image had altered in his mind. But he'd never forget her eyes, the way she smiled, the faint scar running over her lips, those tiny horns on the top of her head she tried to hide, her scent. She always smelled amazing. He remembered it would change with her shampoo.

Sasuke slammed his fist into the dresser drawers near him creating a hole. He felt the spare clothes against his bloody knuckles. His mind going haywire, why did she have to come. Why did Naruto get to live and she didn't? Taking a deep breath to calm himself down, he brought his hand back to his chest, he felt barely anything anymore. He stood from his spot and walked to his bed, quickly throwing the covers over his body and closed his eyes.

He needed to stop thinking about her, she was gone and he couldn't bring her back. Nothing could.

After Kakashi finished being stunned the group of four made their way back to the village for dinner. He couldn't get over how strong they've become. "My, my, how you guys have grown! I honestly didn't think you'd manage to take the bells!"

Naruto snickered to himself "Heh, maybe I've surpassed you, Kakashi-senesi!"

"Like that'll ever happen." Sakura teased. Though the possibility of anyone of them ever surpassing Kakashi was slim to none. Kakashi was just that incredible.

"Someday, maybe. After all, this old dog's still got some new tricks. In fact, just the other day, I invented this amazing new jutsu…" it was clear that none of the kids were paying attention to Kakashi anymore and he only pouted missing the old days when the kids listened to everything he would say. Shaking his head he faced his sister.

Kira looked up at her older brother giving a small smile under her mask running her fingers over the metal "We still on for sparing tomorrow?" Kakashi chuckled tasseling his sisters messy hair. It was really quite cute that she was taking after him, almost like she was still trying to be a kid and play dress up. Though her hair is shorter than his, Kakashi thought it was cute that she styled her hair to be parted on the right. He still had a foot ahead of her but they looked very alike now. More than before.

"We'll see," He pushed some of her bangs back and faced the two whispering about Kakashi treating them to some ramen. "Sorry. Gotta go draw up and submit the platoon list with the new teams. Later 'gators."

Kira snickered at Naruto's exasperation. "He's blowing us off?!" She walked towards her best friend wrapping an arm around his shoulder beyond happy with how everything turned out. She was back on the same team as her best friend and all she wanted to do was talk to him and hear everything that happened with him these past few years. She missed him so much.

"He wants to read the rest of his book, most likely." Sakura shrugged shaking her head at her former instructor. "We should get Kira to pay for us." Sakura pointed out smirking at the confused look on the two kids faces. "You just got back from that B-Class mission didn't you?"

Kira's eyebrows scrunched together "Well yeah, but that doesn't explain why I should pay, why not you? You're one of Lady Tsunade's best students you make loads more than I do." Sakura laughed shaking her head.

"No way, I have to help my parents out with bills." Rolling her eyes she smirked under her mask. "Come on pleeeeeease?" She begged trying to look cute.

"No way!" Kira laughed shaking her head "Naru I got your first bowl of Ramen as a welcome home gift." Naruto threw his arm around Kira's waist pulling her into a hug spinning her around like he did when they were younger.

"You're the best!" Naruto cheered.

"I know." Kira snickered pulling away from her best friend giggling with Naruto.

"Shikamaru! Temari! Hey! Look who's back!" Sakura suddenly screamed pointing over to Naruto and Kira.

Realization crossed both faces and a large grin made its way to Shikamaru's and Naruto's faces. Naruto rushed over to Shikamaru and Temari's sides grinning at his friend. Kira shook her head walking over to Temari "Hey Temari,"

"Why haven't you called my brother?!" Was the first words out of her mouth. She sent a scary glare towards the gray haired girl. She leaned close pointing a finger in her face "You're supposed to come home with me at the end of my visit and he's freaking out because you haven't called him yet."

A red blush quickly made its way to her face while Naruto and Shikamaru chatted about Naruto getting back. "I ended up having to take a test when I got home, I just got finished…" Kira didn't want Gaara to be upset but she also didn't want his older sister Temari to attack her. Temari was scary. "I'll give him a call as soon as I can. I promise."

Temari squinted her eyes sizing her up before nodding. "Good. Now if only I can get Gaara to listen to me like you do then we'd be perfect." She joked smirking to herself. Temari watched Kira burst into laughter grinning at the older girl.

"So are you two on a date, too?" Kira looked over at the boy confused.

"Who are you on a date with?" Naruto sent Kira a small glare and nudged his head to Sakura. "Oh okay…" Kira sighed looking back at Temari who snickered with her.

Shikamaru glanced over at Temari and shuddered. "Not. Even. Close."

Temari rolled her eyes resting her elbow on Kira's shoulder as she went on to explain why she was there. "Oh please, like I would ever. It's almost Chunin Selection Exam time again. And while I've been acting as Liaison between the sand and Konoha I'm being forced to act as Exam Proctor, so I was ordered to escort the sand ambassador, that's all."

Naruto pulled a look as if he was thinking of fond memories "The Chunin Selection Exam, huh? Brings back memories…"

Shikamaru stared at Naruto realization struck him again. "Oh! So what are you going to do, Naruto?" At Naruto's confusion Shikamaru elaborated. "About the Chunin Exam of course. You're the only one in our year who isn't a chunin." Stunned turned to fear and fear turned to rage as Naruto just exploded!

"WHAT?!" He desperately looked to Sakura and Kira switching back and forth between the two. "You mean you're a chunin too, Sakura? Kira?"

"Yup!" Sakura grinned holding up a peace sign.

Naruto gave Kira a hopeful look, she giggled again "Nope." Naruto's shoulder sagged with relief knowing he wasn't the only one who wasn't a Chunin.

"And just so you know, Neji, Kankuro, and these ladies here are already Jonin." Naruto's eyes nearly bulged out of his head staring at Kira surprised.

"I thought you knew." Kira giggled at her best friend looking down at her outfit and back "it's not like I was hiding it." Temari rolled her eyes muttering something about 'How stupid could he be?'

Naruto fearfully looked at Temari thinking about the other Sand sibling. Shikamaru didn't say anything about him. "Oh! Gaara! What about Gaara?"

Kira let out a happy sigh leaning against the girl thinking of her boyfriend almost placing a hand over her heart. She couldn't wait to see him. "Gaara is Kazekage of Suna." Kira explained. "He has been for the past two years now."

"WHAT?!" Naruto moaned slumping his shoulders forward pouting that everyone got ahead of him while he was gone. "How did that happen?"

"It's a story, I'll explain it over Ramen." Naruto grinned at least he'd get some Ramen out of this. "I'll see you later Temari, Sakura you coming?"

Sakura waved Kira off knowing the two needed to be alone and talk. Sakura saw the girl push all her emotions down and into training but she missed him. She didn't do that good of a job hiding it, practically going to Ichiraku's every Friday for lunch. So she let the two walk off on their own to catch up.

Naruto had his arm wrapped around Kira's shoulder pulling her in close. Temari glared not liking what she was seeing "Don't worry Temari, they've always been like this." Sakura explained grinning to herself.

"Those two are practically siblings." Shikamaru explained trying to ease her anger.

Sakura nodded in agreement not bothering to tell the blonde haired girl that Kira used to have feelings for the boy. "Besides she's crazy for Gaara," Temari nodded happy at that.

Though even she could see that the girl was crazy for her brother. She just didn't want anyone hurting Gaara, he didn't need it.

Over at Ichiraku Kira was explaining everything that she knew that happened before he became Kazekage. "So after a year of training he was finally accepted in as Suna's Kazekage." Naruto had been nodding along listening intently to what Kira was saying.

"So you just kept in touch with Gaara and that's how you found out?" Naruto watched her face flush up and look back at her meal, she couldn't stop smiling though.

"Sort of...we were really good friends the first year and then we became really really good friends." She flushed confusing Naruto.

"You replaced me with Gaara?" Her head snapped up confused. "How could you replace me as your best friend with Gaara?!"

"You dummy he's my boyfriend!" Realization hit him hard and his mouth turned into an 'O' shape "You loser of course you're still my best friend. Gaara and I have been officially dating for the past two years. We call each other whenever we can and we try to see each other whenever we get the chance. I'm supposed to go to Suna soon. I'd be gone for a week and a half." Kira explained picking up a variety of noodles from the bowl.

"Thats awesome Kira!" He grinned shaking her shoulder with his excitement. "But I thought you didn't like guys anymore…?"

He watched her shrug her shoulders and start stirring her chopsticks around in the bowl. "I don't know Gaara was there and, well, he treats me nicely and he waited for me to be comfortable around him...He just makes me happy and I like being around him."

Naruto nodded his head again reaching over and stealing her pork from her bowl. "Well I'm happy for you, and Gaara. Has he gotten…?" He started to gesture about making an angry face annoyed at everything.

Snorting she shook her head leaning on her fist. "Well he can sometimes get that way but it's really rare. He's mostly really calm and understanding. He works harder each day to show the villagers that he wants them to trust him. That he'd take care of them. Gaara's pretty incredible." She sighed happily, Naruto swore she almost had hearts in her eyes.

"So Jonin huh?" He sighed bringing his bowl to his lips drinking some of the amazing broth. "Hows that going for you?"

Kira shrugged rubbing the back of her neck "It's not too bad, I get a lot more missions but with you here I'm sure you'll be Chunin soon." Naruto chuckled

"Yeah I'll get Chunin easily!"

"Mind if I cut in?"Iruka sensei called entering the ramen shop. "Naruto welcome home!"

The next morning everyone was dressed and ready to find their first real mission as a team. Everyone was there on time except Kakashi, something the group automatically already assumed would have happened. Kira didn't mind, Kakashi needed to take his time before meeting them up. He had his reasons. Not those fake ones where he saw a black cat or he walked under a ladder.

"You're late!" Naruto yelled startling Kira out of her standing sleep. Jolted awake she looked up and found her brother standing with a hand behind his neck laughing it off.

Letting out a yawn she listened in on the two argue. "Sorry, I was procrastinating on the new teams paperwork…"

"Today is the first day of our mission as a new team, you know! And you're not excited?! Kakashi-sensei! You haven't changed at all!"

"Oh like you're one to talk Naruto! So what if he's a little lackadaisical? Thats just who he is." Kakashi wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not, though he was quick to notice Kira staring at the sky watching a Sunagakure hawk fly through the air.

What was that about? The two siblings glance at one another before walking forward to get a mission.

So far Naruto didn't like any of the missions Lady Tsunade offered "Uh-uh! No way! We are not going on that mission!"

Kakashi, Kira, and Sakura all gave Naruto a look that screamed for him to stop. "Young man, you do realize who you're speaking to like that."

Even Iruka didn't like the way he was speaking to Tsunade. Having learned the hard way how Lady Tsunade could be. "Naruto...mentally you haven't matured at all…" Iruka groaned holding his head.

"S, so sorry milady! I'll speak to him later!" Sakura promised laughing nervously quickly putting Naruto in a headlock, though Naruto didn't seem to get the hint. He keep egging her on.

"Old man third, he really knew his stuff."

"Excuse me?! What did you just say?!" Tsunade was about ready to jump from her seat.

"Will you quit it!" Sakura screamed choking Naruto forcefully.

The door burst open loudly as a woman rushed inside yelling about terrible news. Tsunade was just pissed enough as it was. Though the news was terrible. "We've just received word that the sands Kazekage has been kidnapped by a member of the Akatsuki!"

The group of four went silent. Naruto, Sakura, and Kira's eyes widen in surprise. A familiar glow returned to Kira's vision as she stared at this woman. What did she say. Gaara was kidnapped?! Heart hammering in her chest she thought of Gaara putting up a hell of a fight and couldn't see him losing. Why would they kidnap Gaara. Wait of course the Akatsuki.

"Itachi…?" Kira muttered moving towards the door looking up at the older male. It's been a while but she remembered him. Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke's older brother. Itachi had his sharingan activated and had locked eyes with Naruto and moved on wards to her.

"Wonderful to see you again Kira." He called but he held no grin, his cold eyes sent shivers down her spine. 'You know him?!'

'Not anymore Naru, thats Sasuke's older brother!' Naruto's eyes widen with even more surprise.

"Hard to believe that such children carries the Nine Tailed and the Water Spirit." the blue skinned one called announcing himself.

Naruto backed up nervously 'How the heck do they know about us?!' Naruto thought frantically. He had the feeling of bad vibes take over him. They needed to get away. 'What're our chances of escape?' Kira glanced behind her towards the window. No latch.

They'd have to actually break the window open to escape. 'We'd need to get out through the bathroom window…'

"Naruto...Kira, why don't you come with us."

The Akatsuki. They had tried to kidnap Naruto and Kira not even three years ago, right before they found Lady Tsunade. Now she found out that the Akatsuki just kidnapped her boyfriend?! Kakashi's hand made it's way to her shoulder squeezing tightly to calm her down.

She hasn't had an episode like this in a while, startling news like this though. Her emotions started to run wild. "Breathe…" Kakashi uttered softly watching her carefully as she tried to calm herself down, the glow wouldn't go. She was freaking out, Gaara. Her Gaara was kidnapped! Shifting her eyes away from the woman to Lady Tsunade she waited till she heard the answer she wanted.

Tsunade extended a sheet of paper towards the group. "Team Kakashi I hereby amend your mission. You will leave for the sand now! Assess the situation and report back immediately! Afterwards, you will follow sands orders and provide them with whatever assistance they require."

Okay thats it for this chapter! Damn it Deidara and Sasori for taking Gaara! Thank you everyone who's stuck with me and read this far ahead! I love you!