The strike of energy he barely avoided made an uncomfortable memory came forward. Red blazing eyes of Itachi Uchiha, the man he hated the most, a cold certainty that he could kill him if he desired. His pride won't acknowledge it, much least now when he flew away of that raven haired woman. Deidara was impressed with the strange surge of skill and killing intent she directed.

How was he supposed to capture that blond Jinchiriki with three scum bags? Sasori-dana won't be pleased. The blond would have been easy, he was the type to hit and ask later. Kakashi, could prove to be bothersome but the raven was completely unfamiliar.

The previous research didn't give anything about a raven woman with lightning elemental nature.

Something about her calculated sabotage at his bombs lighted up interest. Furious? Hell yeah, the woman might have ignited the forest with such a cold glare. Stupid? Unfortunately, no. The kunoichi was waiting for an opening, he might have an idea. Let's see if I could ignite that bomb inside of her...

If she had not being intensely focused on turning to ashes the young Akatsuki before her, Kaoru might have realized the mistake sooner. But when she encountered her dear friend at such state… blinding fury raged and something much darker came forward. The part of her that longed for control, for revenge…

If not for Kakashi help, she would have been seriously injured. As much as her mind desired pursuing that blond man, she was stuck on the ground feeling the weight of strange things she had seen. Naruto strange red aura calmed down, Kakashi did something unknown to him. Kaoru wondered for a second what was it but another matter occupied her heart. She continued to calling for Isamu after feeling the strange aura of pure despair and rage emanate from Naruto, but she could not feel it. Why? when she needed him at such a hard situation.

Then Team Gai, Sakura and the Granny Chiyo came, I was relieved to see them well but the feeling did not lasted much when Deidara body expanded. Somehow Kakashi saved us from the explosion, but the effort took a lot from him.

Her leg was the last thing on her mind as she gazed at Gaara, finally free. I was too afraid at first, waiting for Sakura to examine him but… looking at her defeated face. My legs lead me to him, as if everything was playing in slow motion, as if this was just a bad dream.

"Why did Gaara had to die this way?" Naruto question lingered on me. I could not even acknowledge fully that word. No, it can't be… not him. Please not Gaara.

"You just turned into a Kazekage…" His voice, almost a reflection of my own… my own heart. He worked so hard to be acknowledged. I could picture vividly the first sincere smile he had when we visited the orphanage and finally, those little kids accepted him and even hugged him with no trace of fear. He was so happy… I kneeled besides the most caring and pure man I have met. Just looking at Gaara surrounded by grass, it was like he was sleeping. I continued calling for Isamu, that maybe… just maybe he could get me out of this. To say this was a genjutsu… this was not real. My hands lifted slowly, with such care his head, down on my legs. His skin felt… cold, it was hard to keep thinking.

"Calm down Naruto…" The granny… that woman. IS SHE HEARTLESS?! Why can't she understand?

"SHUT UP!" The anguish of Naruto voice was cracking my hopes. Something splashed on Gaara face, I blinked a few times realizing… it was my own tears. "It's your fault! If you would not have put that monster inside him… THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED!"

"It's not that…" No, even I did not wanted to hear more of it. No more excuses, not now.

"YES, IT IS! NO ONE HAD ANY RIGHT TO BURDEN HIM LIKE THIS" As my memories with him were flashing forward. Meeting Gaara, the first time my panic attack crashed and he listened with patience. The first time he hold Rin, the baby from the orphanage. Watching him train Matsuri and Yue. When I found him on the hospital looking after one shinobi. The night he promised… to be there and remind me… I had something to live on. To never again think of hurting myself, to keep fighting for my own dream. My eyes were solely for the friend who supported me on hard times after leaving Konoha.

"He was much more than just a weapon." I had to cover my face, my tears were falling too much. Tainting his face, his rest…

"I could not save Sasuke… I could not save Gaara." Naruto hurt tone, I knew what it felt. "I trained so much and even so, nothing has changed…" He cried along with me.

"Please… Please…" I kept thinking on my mind. It was silent, until I heard him. A rough soft whisper, he was back.

"I-Isamu…" I answered on my head, not caring to hide my feelings.

"I...I'm sorry" he apologized, it was the first time I heard a sincere note of remorse.

"What are you doing?" Naruto voice briefly distracted me, Chiyo was kneeling besides us with glowing hands. I didn't even noticed when it happened but Sakura lifted my hope briefly.

"Revive...Gaara?" I put my hand on his cheek, feeling my heart jump.

"Is it possible?" I asked him, Isamu long silence left my pulse on chaos until he answered

"It is… but a price has to be paid. It depends where is his soul is now"

Naruto came to us, noticing the lack of chakra she had he offered his help. If there is a way, I was willing to take it.

"I will do it" I said out loud, both looked at me unsure of why I was talking to myself but I explained.

"… I will help too" I glanced at Granny Chiyo. "I know you don't know me, but trust me this time. Don't be scared for what you will see"

"I strongly recommend you to not do this" Isamu last attempt to stop me was sent away. I prepared the hand signs and my energy to summon Isamu. I felt the pulse of energy, the open path of Reishi behind materialize the Soul King, no mask to hide his slight worry

"You don't give up… Hime" he said, putting his hands on my head, butterflies glowing around us like glitters battled with sunlight.

"What… what is this?" Chiyo said astonished.

"That voice… oh… is-is it…"

"I will explain later, we don't have time" I put my hands above Naruto's and Chiyo's already feeling the warm glow on my head and chest. "He means no harm, I will look for Gaara soul. Meanwhile both had to hold on… I would hear you so let me know if he wakes up"

"Ok, there you go." Isamu soft voice was the sign I waited. When I blinked, the world changed, the foggy light of the remaining butterflies lead me to a familiar place. I ran, as the spiritual world slowly appeared, grass dancing beneath my feet. The bridge that crossed the sparkling river and a caravan of butterflies passing to the other side. Isamu teal butterfly approached as I ran.

"How can I find him? There are too many souls passing…"

"You know how his soul looks… usually you can hear his voice, he must be around here. Don't let him pass to the threshold or else…"

His warning was enough, I had to concentrate. I had seen it's color, but some of the butterflies were similar, if that don't worked I had to use something else. I touched some, waiting for an image. But every face it flashed was not him, I was starting to fear that maybe he was already near the threshold so I ran up there.

Isamu accompanied me in silence, being the connection I had with the real world. I heard Chiyo starting to exhaust herself, confessing the ill she had done. The hope she had for a brighter future for their villages, it was the motivation she needed to keep looking.

"Gaara!" She shouted, hoping that somewhere a flying bulb of light hesitated. This time she desired to be there for him.

"Not many women have the courage of a man, or the heart to embrace a risk for someone else. With people like you, maybe the shinobi future will change…" Chiyo voices sounded far, just too far. I felt touched, I continued shouting as I passed the cherry blossoms a few feet away at the entrance of the huge town. I was not sure how much longer could Chiyo hold up.

"I have a favor to ask… I'm so grateful that people like you can understand Gaara's pain, please help Gaara"

"THERE!" Isamu shouted, I finally found him. "Gaara!" his soul stopping just a few paces from the entrance. I ran up until I could touch him.

"Gaara!" I felt Naruto strong voice call, the light surrounded us. I could glance at his face, blue foggy eyes lost on the immense space in wonder.

"Gaara!" my legs pulled me to him, the joy as he turned and the light returned to his gaze was so tender. Did not stopped as I embraced him, feeling the hot radiance of his soul with mine.

Finally…

"Ka...oru?" Even his voice was like fresh cold water, I wanted to say so much… I let him go, feeling Isamu glow next to us.

"We have to go" he said, Gaara watched perplexed to us.

"Where?" Gaara asked not fully sure what was happening.

"Home" I took his hands and let Isamu engulf us on its wings.

Strangely the first sensation I had when I woke up was like being cuddled, at something hard but the heat it radiated was comfortable. When I blinked the sunlight was too strong and I had to cover a bit. Then I heard too much noises.

"Oh you are awake!" Lee, it was his voice. Now fully realizing I was on his arms, but I wanted to see my friend.

"Wooaa wait, don't move…"

"Gaara? Where is he?" Glancing around me, surprised at looking at so many shinobi around us.

"He will be fine… but you had to rest, you scared us for a second" Lee said, but I pulled him to let me down.

"Kaoru, I'm so glad you are fine" Sakura approached, a smile that alleviate my worries. I felt my legs a bit heavy, she offered a hand but I continued walking. Now realizing how close we were to the village. Just how long was I sleeping?

The crowd from the distance starting cheering and closing it's distance, but a group in particular called my attention. The first ones to ran up where the younger orphans, then Hikaru and Yue. My boys were smiling, in direction of another pair of young man I could recognize anywhere, Gaara and Naruto. I did my best to hide my pain as the little ones hugged my legs, but I had to intercept them or else their excitement could knock down Gaara. The twins were particularly worried, their little cherubic faces a mess of tears as they talked.

"Sora said you might not come back" said Shion, the older of the twins.

"That Gaara-niisan was in trouble" continued Shun looking at me.

"We were so scared" said little Midori, pulling forward Sora, the older one with a little smile trying to pull off the twins from my legs.

"Are you hurt?" Toru the timid one said looking at my injuries, I just denied and ruffled his hair.

Gaara voice was enough to divert the twins attention and they went forward to him, noticing Naruto they hesitated at first.

Finally Hikaru and Yue catched up to us, while the children now surrounded Gaara being careful to not bother him. "You are back…" He said relieved, trying to not hug me. I smiled to my boy and Hikaru put a hand on his shoulder, gaze directed to the young Kazekage. Then I was witness of the most strange event ever. Yue went forward to Gaara and kneeled to him, no… more like a pleading.

"I-I know… I am not worthy of an apology, I have failed you on many ways already… As a student, as a man and… as family." I felt my voice stuck, disbelief over his feelings. As his voice wavered but he lifted his gaze to Gaara.

"If something had happened to you… I won't be able to cope with the guilt." He paused, everyone was silent, even the little children who were gazing between him and Gaara. "I'm sorry… I…"

Yet Gaara was the first to move his hand, stopping his speech as he answered "Thank you… for trying." Naruto adjusted his grip, when Gaara tried to approach Yue, just touching his hair gently.

I didn't knew Yue felt so guilty, but my boy was growing up. Because facing your fears and acknowledging truths were valuable she let Hikaru support her.

"I'm glad everyone is safe" Baki said to lift our spirits. Now we were surrounded by the crowd, as if the whole village were here.

"Thanks to everyone…" Gaara said, Yue rushed the kids to our side.

"Thank you Uzumaki Naruto" Baki answered back

"Oh, I didn't really did anything… it was…" Naruto tried to not look at me but… Baki noticed, I just gazed down, not sure how to react. With that we finally made our way back, there were things I was looking forward, now that Gaara was back.