Lady Tsunade walked the group of four off to the gate Kira was practically bouncing where she stood, they didn't have a moment to spare, Gaara was kidnapped by the Akatsuki. There was no time for goodbyes, they needed to go. Kakashi placed his hands on her shoulders pushing her so that she stood still on the ground but even he could feel how jittery she was.

"We're off!" Naruto called fixing his backpack.

"I'll be back, Lady Tsunade!" Sakura grinned. This was not a time to sit back and relax. Kakashi sighed closing his eyes feeling her fidget in his hold. As they were leaving Jiraiya popped out of nowhere.

"Hey! Naruto, ya heading out on a mission?" Kira let out a small groan trying to keep calm. She knew she couldn't rush into things but she had to hurry. They don't have much time and she didn't want anything bad to happen to Gaara. Naruto glanced briefly over at Kira before nodding his head. "Oh, but before that. Bad news Tsunade. The Kazekage's been…"

"I know. I'm about to send these four to the sand." Tsunade shrugged hugging herself as she explained to her old teammate.

Jiraiya leaned in close whispering softly to the woman. "Is that wise? Knowing Naruto and Kira's relationship with the Akatsuki…"

"We don't have time for this." She muttered holding her head in pain. Great the headaches were coming back. 'Great job Kira, you're going to bring her out.' She thought to herself annoyed. Before they could officially leave Jiraiya had to talk to Naruto about something. And with the Hatake siblings good trained ears they could hear it was about the Akatsuki; that Naruto's quick temper was his Achilles' heel and that he shouldn't use a certain jutsu.

Kira frowned at the thought. Naruto didn't have that bad of a temper, sure he wore his heart on his sleeve, but something hit Naruto when Jiraiya said something about a certain Jutsu, he looked away sadly. What had happened while they were apart?

Jiraiya rushed toward Kakashi and Kira, he seemed worried but tried to play it off as if he wasn't. "Kakashi, keep an eye on him. Don't let him go too crazy. I'm counting on you."

"Don't worry." Kakashi smiled feeling his sister slip out from under him towards Naruto who was already leaving. There wasn't a second to lose.

"Kakashi, Sakura, hurry up!" Kira called chasing after Naruto who was already on the run. Thank god, she didn't think she could have waited anymore. She just needed to run to get to Suna, she'd have more of an understanding what happened when she got there.

"Temari!" Sakura shouted surprising Kira out of her thoughts. Looking down Temari was already on her way home. She needed to gather the students for the Chunin Selection Exam. She didn't know, she didn't know about her brother. Skidding to a halt Kira shot down beside the taller blonde haired girl.

She didn't want to worry the girl but she needed to know. "Temari…"

"Kira, we aren't supposed to go to Suna till the end of the exam, what's wrong?" She looked worried when seeing the group of four.

Kira took a deep breath and started playing with her hand again. "Something happened to Gaara…" she whispered fearfully "This organization called the Akatsuki kidnapped him."

"WHAT?! GAARA?!" When no one denied what Kira said she looked horrified. Her younger brother was in trouble. "I knew something felt wrong…"

Kakashi stepped up staring at the Jonin "It's going to take three days to get to the sand, we'd better hurry." He watched her secure her pack on her back. She was ready. The group of five was shooting through the tree's, Naruto's anger getting the best of him causing him to go faster than before. "Naruto, no matter how much of a rush we're in we can't break formation. Calm down, didn't Jiraiya just lecture you about your temper?"

"I hate this!" Naruto snarled gritting his teeth. Temari, Sakura, and Kakashi stared at the boy confused. "I know why those guys want Gaara, Kira, and me. Sakura now you know, too, don't you?" Only Temari seemed to be confused at what Naruto was saying. "I don't like it! The Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit sealed inside me."

Temari's eyes widen in surprise hearing this about Naruto, she knew about Kira because you'd have to be an idiot to miss the two horns sticking out of her head. "Gaara, Kira, and me. We're all carrying monster inside our bodies and that's what they want! Our monsters!" Kira felt the pain build up inside her chest, her Gaara was alone. Her Gaara was trapped with those monsters. "It's awful! They only see us as monsters! I don't like the way they look at us!"

Naruto's words filled her head, pushing her to move faster she was starting to break formation as well. "Gaara and I had the same kind of lonely life. But it was even worse for him 'cuz he suffered and fought along a lot longer!" Memories of when they first seeped into her vision. How angry he was when he told Temari and Kankuro for getting into a fight. Those lonely seafoam green eyes still haunt her dreams. "So now the Akatsuki has targeted him just like they targeted us. It's not fair! Why should his life be full of misery all the time?! Why is it always him?! You wanna know why I can't calm down?! That's why! Whatever happens, when we get to the sand I can't just stand back and do nothing! I have to be there for him! I have to save him!"

Kakashi, Temari, and Sakura sped up a bit to catch up to the two. Kira kept thinking of him, their first dinner, the late-night chats when he couldn't sleep, and when he asked her to be his girlfriend. All those memories spiraling into one.

Gaara had returned to Konoha having had a meeting with Lady Tsunade. The only reason Kira knew this was because he had shown upright as her lesson had ended. As soon as she saw those eyes she just knew her heart would explode.

"Gaara?" She called excitedly a large smile starting to plaster over her face. Those feeling from when they first met had refused to leave no matter how many times she told her heart that she didn't want to be with any male, but then he'd call or he shows up and her heart would beat out of her chest trying to run to him. Feeling she's never felt before.

The hearts in her eyes grew when she caught sight of his tiny smile, the smile he saved for those he really cared about. The one that could melt ice. Kira tried to compose herself to be professional but couldn't hold back the hug she'd been wanting to throw at him.

Matsuri rolled her eyes annoyed watching the gray-haired girl throw herself at her sensei. She hated the girl for trying anything with him. And couldn't believe Gaara could allow this girl to touch him! It infuriated her, even more, when he hesitantly wrapped his arms around the girl. She was seeing red at this point.

Kira giggled to herself feeling him hold her back, snuggling into his chest. "How've you been?" she muttered slowly pulling away, she didn't want to but she didn't want to make Gaara feel uncomfortable. "What are you doing here?" she grinned making sure to hold one of his hands.

Tsunade walked up behind the girl leaning down to her height. "Gaara has business with me." Kira jumped staring up at her instructor fearfully. She did not want to piss of Lady Tsunade.

"Sorry my lady!" Tsunade chuckled standing to her full height again nodding her head to Gaara. "I'll just...I'll see you after your meeting?"

"Sure," Kira grinned waving bye to the boy and walked outside trying to calm her quick beating heart. Matsuri not too far behind her. Matsuri couldn't understand why Gaara would allow such behavior, she wasn't pretty, she didn't look strong, she looked like a boy! And Master Gaara liked girls! She didn't even have all her appendages! Master Gaara deserved a girl who was strong enough to take care of herself and those around them!

Kira glanced at the small girl raising an eyebrow at the third degree stare before moving on to meet up with Sakura or Kakashi. That girl's thoughts were loud, loudest of all the thoughts she's heard. "He's never going to fall for you!" Matsuri called to her in an angry voice. Kira glanced back at the kid confused. "Master Gaara has much better tastes in girls and could do much better!"

"Probably. Gaara's my friend though, we've been friends for a few years now." Matsuri scoffed looking away arms crossed over her chest. Though what Matsuri said out of anger/jealousy the words she said did make Kira sad. Of course, she knew that Gaara was an attractive male, he's smart, sweet, caring, strong, funny, and so much more. Gaara deserved to be happy and be with someone that made him happy.

Matsuri stayed close behind the girl she hated, she wanted to see why Gaara might even tolerate her. There was no way that Gaara could fancy her. Outside Sakura sat waiting for Kira's lesson to finish so that they could get lunch. "Hey, Kira!" Sakura waved then took notice to the young girl "and Matsuri right?"

Matsuri nodded sizing up the pink-haired girl and nodding again. There was no way Master Gaara would ever be interested in her. She just had to keep her eye on this boy-girl here. "Ready to go?" Kira called glancing back at the girl again. "We're going to lunch. Would you like to come?" Matsuri thought it over a moment.

'I am hungry but I'm not going to let her know that. For all I know she'll try to poison my food.' Kira rolled her eyes and started walking with Sakura to one of the food districts. "I'm thinking Takoyaki what about you?"

Sakura made a 'hmmm' sound while thinking. "I could go for some Udon, what about you Matsuri?"

Matsuri grinned with a great thought in her head. "Well since you don't have any Salted Tongue and Gizzard I'll go with Udon." She grinned up at Kira a malicious glint in her eye 'Take that, you weirdo.' To her disappointment, she just shrugged her shoulders. Sakura shuddered at the idea of Salted Tongue and Gizzard.

"It's actually not too bad, Gaara and I were talking about food a while ago and he somehow convinced me to make it. I could make some tonight if you're really craving it."

"Yuck, you two are made for each other." Sakura laughed linking her arm through Kira's giggling to herself "Let's just get some fried squid?" Matsuri was fuming as the two girls walked off to a little shop for food. She watched the girl order two things, what a fatty. She might as well be like Naruto that loser.

They were just talking when the girly boy walked over with two squids on a stick. She offered the girl her stick and they all sat together munching on their treat. Matsuri could fall asleep to whatever they were talking about. "Kakashi's going to take me to the mountains next week I don't think he has any missions either." Matsuri's eyes widen in surprise she was seeing someone?!

"That should be fun. Are you going for fun or training?"

"Both I think? I think he's going to teach me a new jutsu. I just need to work on my speed though so that'll just take me a while." Matsuri ended up falling asleep listening to them talk about mindless things. It was just so boring. She woke when the sky turned red, it was getting late and she was on someone's back. Warm, whoever it was they were warm. It must be her sensei. Gaara was always warm.

"How was your meeting?" Kira whispered trying not to wake the sleeping girl on her back. Gaara had met up with them only a few minutes ago after finding out where his student had run off to. He was glad she was spending time with Kira and Sakura. They were nice people.

"It wasn't bad. Look, Kira, I had another reason for coming to Konoha…" He watched her fidget under his stare, she wasn't scared she hasn't feared him in a while now. Gaara grew nervous unsure how to even ask this. "I was...well, I was um…"

Kira couldn't believe he was stammering he never stammered. He was always so sure of himself. "What's up?" He started blushing and looking at his feet nervously.

"Would you want to...Never mind it's stupid...thank you for looking after Matsuri while I was in my meeting...You didn't have to."

Kira frowned placing the girl on a bench so that she could figure out what he was going to ask "What's wrong Gaara?"

He wanted to start pacing, his heart was beating very fast, he was sweating, his knees were shaking, he felt sick to his stomach and he just felt the urge to puke. And with her looking at him like that he felt like he should just run away. Why is it, this girl, why is it her that makes him feel this way? He's defeated enemies stronger and scarier than her and yet she brings him to feel this way? What was he to do? Temari said that they should date but he knew Kira would never want to date him. She didn't want to be with any boy. "Nothing, I should...I should go."

He started to walk away when she gripped his hand. "Gaara just tell me, I promise everything will be okay." he gulped at her words, what if she laughed? What if she got angry? What if she wanted to kill him on the spot because he offered such an idea. But she was giving him that pleading look, ones he's seen others give. He always thought it was stupid that someone would cave after receiving such a look but here it was happening to him.

"Will you...will you be my girlfriend?" He whispered the last part terrified of her reaction. They had such a good life so far, she was easily his best friend, his first friend. What if he screwed everything up by just asking that.

"Of course I will you big dummy!" She squeaked grinning up at him, her smile making all those nerves run away. She said yes. She said yes! He had a girlfriend. "I've always wondered if you ever wanted to date or not. I never asked because I didn't want you to be uncomfortable."

"You never make me uncomfortable," She giggled to herself glad that she has a boyfriend, and that her first boyfriend was Gaara. This was amazing. Leaning up she placed a kiss on his cheek watching the way his face heated up to match her own. "Do you want to come over for dinner?"

"Yes please,"

Ever since that day the two have been together, she knew she loved him. The love she felt for Gaara was different than the love she felt for Naruto. Back then she didn't know how she felt but Naruto was always going to be her brother. She loved Gaara and hoped maybe one day they'd get married and have kids of their own. That's why she needs to get to Suna and save Gaara from those bastards. She needs to save Gaara and protect him, no one could steal her Gaara and get away with it.

"Naruto...Kira...you met him once, didn't you…" Sakura called confusing the two. What was Sakura talking about? Of course, she met Gaara. "Uchiha Itachi, and he's after the two of you." Oh, that made sense. "You know, I haven't been just training these past three years. I secretly read Lady Tsunade's reports and snuck outside the village to snoop around as much as I could."

Yeah Itachi, she met him. She knew him before he left but only briefly she couldn't say they were friends they weren't. She only saw Itachi a few times when she was younger so when she saw him the last time it was a major shock. "The person Sasuke keeps saying he wants to kill is his older brother Itachi, right? The one that's a member of the Akatsuki…?"

Sasuke's one-sided fight with Itachi raced through her brain, he didn't stand a chance. Itachi was too powerful. "That's why Sasuke is with Orochimaru right now, trying to gain more power. But Orochiarmu wants Sasuke's body, right? And we only have about half a year left until he can transfer again." Naruto and Kira locked eyes. She knew about that too?! "And Orochimaru himself was once a member of the Akatsuki as well, what I'm trying to say is this."

Glancing back at the pink-haired girl Sakura looked like she had the perfect idea on how to get Sasuke back. "The closer we get to the Akatsuki, the closer we can get to information about Orochimaru. And from there, closer to Sasuke. Time is running out. We've only got half a year to find Sasuke."

Three days of running and out waiting sandstorms with barely any rest they finally made it. They finally made it to Suna. It seems that not only was Gaara taken but Kankuro while trying to pursue the Akatsuki scum who stole Gaara, Kankuro was poisoned and he didn't have long.

Kira, Temari, and Sakura rushed forward towards Kankuro's side except this old woman attacked Kakashi halting them in the rush. Naruto was quick to deflect the woman's attack "Why are you attacking Kakashi sensei you shriveled up prune!"

"Sakura hurry Kankuro needs you." Kira urged pushing the pink-haired girl closer to the poisoned male. The old woman glared at Kakashi hatefully. "That day, how dare you. Despicable White Fang of Konoha! Finally, today I shall collect vengeance for my son! And to rub it in my face you bring your Son?!"

"I'm not his..."

"Oh! No, wait I'm not…!"

The siblings tried to argue, Naruto looked ready to kick this old women ass it was the old man to stop her. "Look closely sis, they look just like him, but that's not the White Fang and his son." It took the woman a few seconds to realize her mistake.

"Oh well, never mind…" The old woman started laughing as if this was all some sort of big joke.

"Now, can we all just focus on Kankuro?" It took Sakura some time to get the poison out of Kankuro's body, poison extraction could be simple only it's timed. Taking the poison out of the body is simple but it doesn't stop the effects completely. It just gives you just enough time to make an antidote. "I removed most of the poison. So there's no more immediate danger, but we're not completely out of the woods just yet. I still need to neutralize the minute quantities of toxins remaining in his system. So someone's going to have to fetch me some medical supplies. Kankuro's overheating now, Kira I need you to cool him down."

Kira nodded rushing to Kankuro's head feeling the skin a moment before creating some hand seals. Kankuro's pained face lessened as she placed her fingers to his temple concentrating on getting rid of the excess heat, Sakura should have an antidote finished after he's back to normal.

"You remind me of that Slug Lass, I never imagined a girl like you would come…"

Sakura giggled at the compliment. "Yes, well Lady Tsunade was the one who ordered me here. She is my Mentor, you know!"

The elderly people in the room seemed to be happy Sakura was here. "Alright! But we can't rest too long! We gotta go after the Akatsuki now!" Naruto announced happy that Kankuro would be okay.

Kankuro's temperature was back to normal but he still looked horrible. Thankfully he was now semi-conscious. "Hey Kankuro…" she whispered reaching over and dabbing a cool rag over his face "How're you feeling?"

Kankuro let out a small groan squinting as he opened his eyes some before closing his eyes again taking in a deep breath. "As soon as Sakura finishes we move out!" Naruto repeated stretching his joints in his arms more than ready to start his pursuit.

"Naru we don't know where the Akatsuki ran off to." Kira sighed walking away from Kankuro fidgeting with her arm again, feeling for any imperfection.

"Just rein it in a bit, Naruto." Kakashi agreed with his sister "What's happening with the pursuit of the Akatsuki?"

Naruto reached over grabbing her hand squeezing for reassurance. "Kankuro went solo and ended up like this. That's it." Baki explained sadly. He should have gone with Kankuro so that he wasn't alone. Maybe he could have helped bring Gaara back.

Kakashi resisted the urge to sigh this wasn't good at all "Take me to where Kankuro fought. I must track them if even a trace of their scent remains…"

Kakashi was cut off. Kankuro sat up shaking and pained he gave everyone what he remembered. "No need for that, there were two of them, one has Gaara. All you have to do is follow Gaara's scent. Even if they split up The Crow tore a piece of the other one's clothes off." Temari was at his side in an instant keeping him sitting up straight.

"Turing things to his advantage like a true sand ninja." Kakashi mused smirking under his mask.

"Kankuro are you alright?" Temari called worriedly, Kira rushed over with some freshwater sitting beside the male.

"Yeah, I feel a little better." Kankuro muttered his head was killing him. He took the glass Kira offered him, his hands shook sloshing the water around the bed till her hand grasped the cup. "Thanks…" she gave a small smile and helped him drink with ease.

The cool water helped ease the pain in his throat. "Kankuro, are you sure one of them was Sasori?" The older woman asked uncertainly.

"Granny Chiyo and Grandpa Ebizo?!" Kankuro asked surprised just now noticing them in the background.

Ebizo pursued Chiyo's question "Is it True Kankuro?"

Frowning Kankuro nodded "Yeah...he called himself Sasori of the Red Sand." The news seemed to upset the elder woman. Almost as if Chiyo knew who this Sasori of the Red sand was. Sakura soon returned with the antidote and forced Kankuro to drink it all up.

"That should do it. All he needs now is to keep still until the numbness goes away. Lie down and take it easy." Sakura instructed.

Everyone was on the move getting ready to leave. Kira got to work filling her emergency canteens full of water and shoved them in her pack. "Come on, let's get out of here!" Naruto yelled looking at Kira reaching over fixing her head plate.

"Uzumaki Naruto...please save my brother." Kankuro begged weakly. Naruto grinned giving off his signature grin and determined look.

"Of course! I'm going to be Hokage! For now, the Kazekage can just owe me one!"

Outside Temari had said that she'd be out backup but what surprised everyone was Chiyo. "Temari, you stay to aid border security. I'll represent the sand village myself." That confused everyone. She was just an old woman what all could she do?

"But granny Chiyo!" Temari tried to argue.

"It seems inappropriate for…" Baki tried to reason with the old woman.

The old woman took none of it. She ran off the edge of the tall building and jumped. She jumped! "Don't treat me like a fossil!" she demanded while Sakura, Naruto, and Kira jumped back surprised. They weren't used to seeing such badass grandmas. "It's been a while since I've taken care of my adorable grandchild."

Damn the Akatsuki! How dare they take Gaara! AGH This one always seems to make me upset, the pain he must have been in agh. Alright that's it for this chapter hope you liked it.