Chapter 4

Naruto returns

"When we are betrayed, we are given two paths. Revenge is the common one. But forgiveness is the right one." Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage

The sound of the falling pebbles was breaking the silence. None of the parties moved a muscle. The Akatsuki were still dumbfounded by the blonde who made them look like fools, while the Sand and Leaf ninja were trying to comprehend his arrival. Naruto turned to face them, scratching his scar on the left cheek, a memory of his sister, killed five years ago before his very eyes. The blonde gently putted Gaara down on the ground, before facing his captors.

"N-Naruto? Is that…?" Sakura wanted to ask him, but was cut off.

"This is hardly the time for talk, Sakura. Even I know that." The Uzumaki said with a serious voice. He cracked his knuckles, ready to rumble. "So which one of you wants to fight me, you trash? Mister Lady or Doll-man?"

Deidara giggled. "Hey, Sasori, you heard that? You're the Doll-man." He almost started laughing.

"That doesn't change the fact that you're Mister Lady, you idiot." Sasori pointed out, shutting his partner. Soon Deidara realized things and got all red.

"Who are you calling a lady?! I'm just hot, hn!" The Akatsuki blond yelled.

"Yeah right." Naruto mocked. "You're just flat. Damn, you're even more flat than a six year old and have a very deep voice, that's all." He could see some smoke running out of Deidara's ears. "No need to pretend to be a guy just because your hormones failed to make you into a beauty."

Chiyo and Temari couldn't grasp what was happening. This blond was talking some nonsense, which were enraging the Akatsuki. In fact, they were holding back from laughing. The Leaf team, on the other hand, couldn't believe Naruto was still into this.

"Damn it! Stop mocking me, you stupid jinchuriki!"

"If I'm stupid then what are you, being aware I'm mocking you and still falling for it? I just can't understand you guys." The blond said plainly, as if not caring he was talking to an S-rank criminal ninja.

"That's it!" the explosives specialist animated a huge clay bird, mounted it and took off. "The jinchuriki is mine, hn!"

He launched at the blond, catching him with the talons and flew out. Kakashi followed them with his eyes before actually moving. "Damn it. I see Naruto only for three minutes and he's already working on my nerves. I'll help him deal with this guy. You handle Sasori."

"If you're dealing with someone like him, you're gonna need a long-distance type at your side." Temari suggested. Since this was no time for debate he nodded in agreement. The two leaped after Deidara's bird, while Sakura and the Sand elder faced the puppeteer.

Sasori decided it'll be for the best to abandon his puppet. Its armor wouldn't provide any more protection now. As he left, the two kunoichi were surprised to find a young, red haired man in the typical Akatsuki cloak.

"What is this? Some kind of trick?" Chiyo asked loudly.

"What do you mean, Lady Chiyo?" Sakura was confused.

"Sasori should be older, far older than this." She explained. "Is this another puppet of yours, Sasori?"

Sasori smiled. He was clearly calm. He took off his cloak, revealing his whole body being that of a puppet. A wire was coming out of his belly, covered with poison. A total of eight blades were on his back, forming wings. He smiled. He was going to kill them.

Outside

Deidara was flying high, to make the jinchuriki think if he really should try to free himself. Although he couldn't hide his disappointment. He thought about what Itachi said.

Flashback

"One more thing" Itachi said, as the chakra dragons let Gaara's body fall onto the ground. "They are not alone."

"What do you mean, hn?" Deidara asked. "They have more back up, hn?"

"The jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails is coming." The Uchiha said, getting everyone's interest.

"The jinchuriki of the Fox? Naruto Uzumaki? He's coming here?" Leader asked.

"As we speak." Itachi confirmed.

"Well, it's not like we need to catch him right away." Leader said. "It would be better to seal it for last. But on the other hand we may not have such an easy-to-catch opportunity again." He turned to the puppeteer and the sapper. "Catch him if you can."

"And how do we recognize this Naruto?" Sasori asked.

"He should be easy to spot." Itachi informed. "Blond spiky hair, whisker marks on his cheeks, annoying personality…"

"I've got the picture. He's as good as ours." Deidara smiled ominously.

End flashback

He looked down at the blond. He wasn't resisting at all. He was beginning to wonder if the jinchuriki wasn't plotting something. That's when his senses told him to evade. Just in time he avoided a wind jutsu. He looked down to find Kakashi and Temari after him. The Sand kunoichi seemed ready to hit another jutsu, while Kakashi was focusing. He revealed his sharingan as they left the cave, and now he closed his eye. Temari was at first confused as to why she had to do all the work. But then again Kakashi wouldn't have her do that unless he needed time for preparations. She waved her fan again. Deidara dodged again.

"Hey, what's the big idea, you stupid girl, hn?" Deidara shouted. "Don't you care about this guy's life, hn?"

"Then come down here and fight me like a man, you sissy." Temari shouted back. "Or are you afraid of loosing to a girl?"

"Ha! I have no need to fight you. I have what I need. Now I ca…" Deidara was talking. But Temari's attention got drawn by Kakashi's sudden increase in speed.

"I'm ready. Kamui!" he said, opening his sharingan. Only now it was different, much different. The design looked like that of a demon windmill shuriken. What was that eye? Then she looked up towards the Akatsuki guy. The space around his arm seemed to collapse. It was swirling and collapsing. Deidara could see that and couldn't pull his arm out. His arm started to hurt. But he wouldn't give up his other arm. He pulled it with his whole might…

Kakashi's jutsu failed. He was just a second too late. Deidara made some weird kind of exercise with his arm. It felt so stiff. 'That was a close one.' He thought, "Better take greater distance.' He patted his bird to fly higher. As the bird was about to do so, it started to act strange. Deidara looked down. Was that Sand kunoichi attacking again?

He saw the talons holding nothing.

"What?! Where's the jinchuriki?!" he asked loudly, looking around.

"Looking for me, bastard?" someone asked him from behind. Deidara froze for a moment, before building the courage to look behind. As he turned around, he saw the familiar blond. Just in time to see his foot hit his face. As Deidara was falling, he took the opportunity to detonate the bird. It exploded. A huge cloud of smoke continued to expand as the flames vanished.

He smiled in satisfaction, until he noticed something incoming from the black cloud. It hit him. It was the jinchuriki.

They disappeared in the trees.

Kakashi and Temari wasted no time and followed after them. As the two were leaping through the trees, they could hear the merciless beating. There was a sound of flesh being beaten. Bones were breaking. The cries of pain echoed throughout the forest. They arrived to find the two fighting.

Despite a missing arm, Deidara was doing pretty well. He kept throwing his clay birds and spiders at the blond, who was easily dodging them.

"Trash." Naruto called him, grabbing his hand and crushing it. Then he delivered an elbow to his gut. "Animal." He continued, punching and hitting the Akatsuki with no openings for escape. "Waste of whatever potential." Naruto finally grabbed the bomber with his huge hands, pushing him to the dirt. From above, the clones, performing the rasengan, were yelling. The ball of widely swirling chakra hit the man with insane force. However, in his place there was a mass of clay. Naruto growled in anger. He looked behind to find Deidara standing, surrounded by an army of clay clones. The artist was smiling sinisterly.

"This is it, hn." He said. "You'll be coming with me. If you want to join your friend, I can beat you just as bad as I did him, hn."

The Uzumaki glared evilly. He was going to use this version he decided. So he made a few clones and had them charge at the group of Akatsuki clones. Deidara could easily fight them off. And this got him suspicious. This shouldn't be this easy, should it? Then all the Deidaras saw this weak light incoming. What was that?

"Gigantic Rasengan!" Two Narutos yelled, dashing with a huge version of the jutsu. the two kept charging, ramming every Akatsuki in their path. The original started sweating. This was dangerous. He managed to jump away, but he was too slow to avoid the attack completely. His left leg got hit. In frustration, he got ready to use another explosive creation, when he felt the familiar sensation. His arm…

The part between his shoulder and elbow disappeared. The grass turned red. The artist cried in pain for a minute.

"You stupid… JINCHURIKI! YOU'RE AS WORTHLESS AS THE ONE-TAIL! WISH YOU KNEW HOW HE BEGGED ME TO STOP!" he cried, taking steps back. He made a grave mistake.

Even Temari, despite being in Gaara's presence all these years, was overwhelmed with this one sensation- primal fear.

Naruto's eyes turned red, as his facial expression turned to that of a psychopath. A red aura was showing around him. Deidara was about to move, when…

"AAARRRGGGHHH!" Pain. The only thing aside from fear Deidara was aware of was pain. he looked into these eyes. These blood red eyes of Naruto's. There was no mercy. No second changes. Not even pity. These were no eyes of someone who would just kill- he was going to enjoy making the Akatsuki artist beg for death, which would be in no way pleasant if ever to be delivered.

This was no murderer. This was true evil- a demon.

He tried to escape. He knew he turned away and started running. He was running as fast as he could. Then why was it as if he didn't move a single muscle? Was it fear? He was brought back to reality when Naruto caught him by the throat and pressed him against the tree. The artist looked with a glare… to look at the insane smile.

"What's the matter, puny, little man?" Naruto spoke with a darker, more sinister voice. "Can't handle the pressure now, can you?" he tightened his grip, making Deidara spit some blood. "How pathetic. Is this truly the power you beat the red head with? You must be just a pet to the organization. In other words the weakest link. Otherwise you'd be able to do something about me… Wouldn't you, you third-rate artist?" he said, getting his face closer to the Akatsuki ninja.

The last sentence got on Deidara's nerves. No body calls him a third-rate artist. He kicked Naruto in the chin, somehow forcing him to let him go. He took that opportunity to run. Unfortunately he didn't get far. As he was about to land on the branch, Guy kicked him in the gut, sending him back on the ground.

Naruto pulled himself together and was ready to go after the bomber. He wouldn't let this one go. He was now going to destroy him with more power. He seemed to be turning into flames, growing a tail. Kakashi knew this was bad. However, he was prepared. Despite the blonde's disappearance 5 years ago, Kakashi believed Naruto survived. Sometimes, when on missions, he would spare some time to look for him. Since that was the case, Jiraiya gave the jonin a special sealing tag should Naruto lose self-control.

Now was the time to act.

He appeared behind Naruto and placed the tag on his forehead. He could tell it was working. The chakra cloak started to disappear. Naruto started to act strangely. He started to suddenly scream, rolling on the ground. Was he in pain? The jonin putted that question aside after the young man stopped moving.

Then his attention was caught by the Akatsuki bomber who hit the ground with a thud. Team guy has arrived just in time.

"You guys look pretty beaten up." Kakashi commented, seeing Team Guy covered in bruises.

"Yes, well, we had some difficulties." Guy said. "But we were youthful enough to handle it."

"So you managed to deal with the special protection seal, hn?" Deidara commented, standing above the clay which served for a clone earlier. "Well then… I'll have to deal with you all now, hn."

"Are you sure that's wise?" Neji said, removing his hair from his eyes. His braid was ruined during the fight with the clone, but was somewhat thankful. "You are outnumbered after all."

"And out powered." Naruto said, getting up on his legs. Team guy was so surprised seeing him, it gave Deidara the opening. The bomber bit the clay. Then there was a chakra spike.

*ka-boom*

A huge explosion took place. Huge enough for Sakura and Chiyo to see. The two were exhausted after their fight with Sasori. He was a very powerful ninja. Sakura was actually still a bit shaken thinking there was still more like him and Itachi. These people were monsters. Luckily Lady Chiyo was with her. Her knowledge and experience made their victory possible. Now they were in a hurry to find their comrades.

It took a long while, but finally found the place. It was hard to see anything through the smoke and dust in the air. But it soon cleared. Everyone was alright. Kakashi was leaning against the tree, pulling down his forehead protector to hide his left eye, while Naruto had his defensive jutsu active and down to one head.

"That was close." Kakashi said. "Kamui managed to send the explosion into a different dimension just in the nick of seconds."

"Are you alright, Kakashi?" Guy asked, offering a helping hand.

"Yes, but I'm exhausted. I won't be able to move for days."

A while later everyone gathered on the small clearing. Sakura placed Gaara's body down. Naruto approached him.

"Sakura, is he…?" Naruto asked. She shook her head. "No. No it can't be. He can't end up like this!" he kneeled beside the red head, trembling. Everyone held back from saying a word.

"Relax, young man." Chiyo said with no sign of sadness in her voice. She said it as if Gaara was just another person to die.

"SHUT UP!" Naruto yelled out, with a furious expression. But it was the tears in his eyes that caught her attention. Who was this man? "This is your entire fault! If you ninja of the Sand hadn't putted that beast inside Gaara, none of this would've happen!" Chiyo took a step back. She didn't show it, but Temari could tell that the elder was trying to fight the sensation of guilt. "Did you even ask Gaara how he felt? You made him into something without his say on the matter and then you tried to kill him! JUST HOW ARROGANT ARE YOU PEOPLE TO TURN US, HUMANS, INTO WEAPON?! YOU THINK THAT CHANGING US INTO JINCHURIKI MAKES YOU SUPERIOR OR SOMETHING?! HUH?!" No one said anything. Actually, the older generation looked down with shame. Chiyo was just looking at the boy. At something touched her. Her mind travelled back to the last night.

Flashback

The fight with Itachi was tiresome. The team decided to take a rest. They were resting in a shallow cave. The fire was just big enough to scare away any animals nearby. Chiyo looked at Kakashi, who was taking the watch. Something was troubling her.

"Tell me, son of the White Fang." She started. "The girl, Sakura, mentioned her teammate is the same as Gaara. What is she exactly talking about?"

Kakashi sighed. It was a bit painful for him. "Naruto Uzumaki is the jinchuriki of the Nina-tail." He said, getting the elder surprised. "It was sealed within him the same night it attacked our village. I believe you can imagine what kind of childhood he had."

"Being seen for the creature itself."

"If he were here, he would likely race to save him."

The elder was confused. "Why? Why would he come to save someone from another village?"

"Because to Naruto it doesn't matter what village he's from. Gaara is the jinchuriki just like him. That is enough to consider him close."

"It's a shame then." Chiyo commented.

"It was Naruto who changed Gaara, you know." Kakashi said, surprising the elder woman. "It's unreal, but Naruto's greatest power isn't that of the Fox. He has a strange power. Whoever he'll meet, Naruto can make friends with them. It is as if he could see into their souls and find that one thing through which he can change them, as if seeing that one, tiny crack in their cold armor of hatred."

Flashback end

"I was training so hard, hoping that I'll grow strong while travelling the world. And now it appears I still can't protect someone dear to me…" Naruto fell on his knees, seemingly broken. Chiyo had a serious look. This boy was strange. Yet he triggered something in her.

She intended to set things right. this new generation would not pay for the arrogance and mistakes of hers. She walked over to Gaara and pressed her hand against Gaara's chest. A sudden chakra spike scared off the birds nearby.

"Lady Chiyo…!" Temari cried in terror.

"Wha… What is Granny Fossil doing?" Naruto asked with a tone.

"She… She's bringing him back to life." Temari started to explain. "This jutsu allows bringing the dead back to life in exchange for the user's life."

"What? Stop her!" Naruto yelled.

"Don't, boy." Chiyo said calmly. "I wouldn't survive the night anyway. So consider this my way to set things right." she said. She continued the jutsu. but after a while frustration appeared on her face. "Damn it. Not enough chakra…"

Naruto growled, running his hand through his hair. He quickly appeared before the Sand elder. "Use my chakra." He said, getting his attention. "It'll work, won't it?" he asked. Chiyo seemed to be in a deep thought. She nodded.

"Place your hands on top of mine, child." She said. Naruto did just that. "In this world of shinobi, made by foolish old people, I am glad someone like you appeared." She commented. Everyone was listening to her. "My past was filled with nothing but mistake after another. I always believed that people who once became enemies must remain enemies. I am glad that for once I'll be able to do something that is right, not what I find necessary. Sand and Leaf… the future before you at this moment will definitely be a better place than my past. Kakashi told me you had a strange gift to make friends with anyone. I hope you'll become someone with great influence. People with this kind of power, and kindness, are needed now in this chaotic world." She raised her head and glanced at the young blond. "I have one final request, Naruto Uzumaki. You are the only one who's able to understand Gaara's pain. And he understands yours as well… Please help him…for me… where I… couldn't…"

Naruto closed his eyes. When he opened them, there was light everywhere. He saw something off in the distance. He jumped forward…

Gaara opened his eyes as soon as he felt someone's hand on his shoulder. He sat up and looked around. The rescue party and the ninja of Sand were all around him. Everyone was cheering.

"Wha… What happened?" he said weakly, with a confused look. He looked at his shoulder and then followed the arm to find a familiar smile.

"Everyone was worried about you, brother." Naruto commented. Gaara's eyes widened.

"Naruto…" he said, trying to get up. He almost fell, but Naruto supported him.

"Come on. Let's get you home."

"Naruto's right." Temari said. "You need a solid rest now. Though, it's not like you need the assistance of an underling." She said with a smile, looking proud.

"Funny, considering you're his underling yourself." Naruto commented with a sly smile. The Sand blond suddenly looked down, losing her proud look.

Deidara's arm was lying still right were it fallen. The flies were already swarming around it. But they flew away when two figures approached it.

"Oh, lookie, Mr. Zetsu." One man said, reaching for the limb. "It's Deidara's arm. Well, I guess the rescue rangers didn't had too much trouble after he was 'dis-armed. He he." The man joked.

"Show a little more respect, you fool." Black Zetsu said with a harsh voice.

"Calm down. Tobi is a good boy. Don't be so harsh on him." The White Zetsu commented on the man in a black suit with some armor pieces. The man turned towards Zetsu, showing his orange, spiral mask with a single eye-hole. A ragged symbol of the Seven Lucky Gods Trading Guild was on his chest.

"Well what do we do now, Mr. Zetsu? Since there seems to be no body, I take if Deidara's last masterpiece blew him off too." Tobi joked.

"Leave my arm alone, you jackass." A familiar voice caught everyone's attention. They turned to find Deidara approach them. Apparently that explosion was more for show, allowing him to escape.

"Hey, he's still alive." Tobi cheered.

"Where's the jinchuriki?" Black Zetsu asked.

"Hey, don't look at me, hn. I did my job, hn." Deidara answered with a bored expression.

"My, my, but the rescue party did give you quite a beating, didn't they?" The masked man commented with some joy. "I mean, how they could not, considering your level."

Deidara gave him the look. "Tobi, even Buddha loses patience when insulted three times. Insult me again, and you won't live to regret it."

"And what're you gonna do? Have me pose to your kindergarten sculptures?" Tobi asked him humorously.

"That's third." Black and White Zetsu commented.

Deidara's legs were wrapped around Tobi's neck, squeezing the life out of him. "DEATH BY SOPHOCATION!" the artist announced with circles for eyes.

The Hidden Sand Village, night time

It was a hard day on everyone. People decided to party another time for the Kazekage's save return. Besides, they just had a funeral for Lady Chiyo. It was a sad thing after all. And Gaara needed rest.

The Leaf ninja were allowed to stay for the night. Or rather they requested to stay for the night. And that was just what they were doing.

But they weren't exactly resting.

Naruto's eyebrow twitched as he looked at the others around him. They were all giving him a stare.

"Why… am I in this position again?" he asked. What was he asking about? Well, he was tied to the chair with ropes, chains and sealing tags. Plus there were some kunai and wire around, aiming at him, should he try anything.

"Well I admit. The kunai trap is going too far, Sakura." Kakashi commented with a sweat drop in a word balloon over his head.

"Like a chain would hold that guy!" she yelled.

"Typical Sakura." Naruto commented loudly with a give-up look. "Still believes to know everything."

"Well you are tied up according to her instructions." Lee commented.

"As if I could expect her to be gentle."

"Hey!" The pink head roared.

"Now, now, Sakura. Let's just take it easy." Kakashi asked.

"My youthful rival is corrected. We should just talk to Naruto about his adventures." Guy suggested.

"Like a big-fore-headed pettanko (a term for girl with flat-chest) with a temper like her would be interested." Naruto commented coolly. There was a sudden chill in the air, as Sakura was releasing her killer intend.

"What did you call me, Naruto." The kunoichi asked calmly. Strangely to everyone, Naruto seemed calm.

"Don't tell me you didn't hear me, Sakura. I just said you're the type of girl to prove people's point when they comment on your lack of famine charm."

The killer intend suddenly disappeared. Sakura was now sitting curled in a corner. The atmosphere felt more then depressing. "Why is it that…" she started murmuring something under her nose.

"Well, good night everyone." Naruto said, walking out of the toilet. As he entered his own room, everyone had an owlish look. They looked at Naruto in the chair, who just puffed away.

"Somehow Naruto has grown up into a jerk." Tenten stated.

"Is he a jerk or are we?" Neji asked.

Everyone sighed in defeat.

The next day, morning

The rescue team, Naruto and Gaara with his siblings were standing outside the gates. It was time to depart. Naruto and Gaara shook each others' hands, which was taken by both sides as a sign of a better future coming. As the Leaf ninja moved out…

"So, Naruto, what are your plans now?" Neji asked. Then the blond noticed everyone looking at him- staring.

"Well, I doubt you guys will let me go off my way. Might as well go with you. I miss the Ichiraku's" he said, having everyone fall in a comical manner. Then he giggled. "Just messing with you. Actually, I feel homesick. I feel it's about time to come back now."

"You mean you…" Lee had stars in his eyes.

"Don't get too confident, Bushy-brows. I'm still not certain how much that village is tolerant towards me. But… it is still my home. I might as well try a new."

"Sweat!" Guy shouted, getting everyone's attention. "To celebrate this, let's have a race!" he announced, carrying the fatigued Kakashi on his back.

'This is disturbing.' Naruto thought.

'Two adults giving each other a piggyback ride? It's so wrong.' Sakura thought.

'I'm gonna have nightmares for weeks now.' Tenten thought.

'….' Neji thought.

'Note to self: never go out on a mission with these two again.' Hitodama thought.

"I see… I won't lose to you, Guy-sensei!" Lee shouted, as his mentor ran out into the distance, laughing.

"Try to catch up! Ha ha!" Guy shouted, running into the distance with the helpless Kakashi.

Everyone still had the disturbed look.

"Anyone?" Lee said, ready to carry anyone.

"Like hell!" The whole group shouted.

To be continued…