After coming out of his initial shock, Naruto felt rage bubble inside him. He had just seen his dear friend just before he came back to Konoha. They had been enjoying the success of the seal he made to tame Shukaku. Gaara had finally been able to sleep without any worry.

"It's not fair," Naruto muttered sadly. 'Gaara doesn't deserve this to happen to him. He just caught his beak and then this happens.'

Tsunade watched a myraid of emotions cross Naruto's face. 'How does Naruto know the Kazekage is Gaara? Did they go to Suna at one point?' "I'm going to prepare a team, so stay close." She ordered the jonin. He nodded before he left. Tsunade shifted her attention back to Naruto. "Anything you need to tell me?"

Naruto looked at Tsunade with determined eyes. "Let me go after the Akatsuki members that have him. I can take them. They're going to be weakened, especially since Gaara went all out out on them."

"Absulutly not! You just got back! How can you fight two S-class criminals after all this?! What if they get you too? Then what?!" Tsunade exploded.

Naruto's eyes hardened with conviction. "That won't happen. I can take on the Akatsuki. I'm going to save Gaara before it's too late. We have a limited amount of time to save him." Tsunade and Naruto traded glares with each other before Jiraiya cleared his throat.

"Hime, just let him go. The kid has some aces in the hole, he can use to beat them. He has the stamina and resourses to get to the Kazekage faster than anyone here."

The kage arched her eyebrow. "Even Kakashi and his hounds?"

"My summons are much more effective that his dogs." Naruto argued.

"Last time I checked, toads don't have any tracking abilities." Tsunade huffed.

Naruto smirked. "Who said anything about toads? I have another summoning contract. And then some."

Tsunade's eyes widened. 'Is that even allowed?' Her gaze shifted to Jiraiya. "Are you sure this will help?"

Jiraiya huffed. "Of course he'll be fine."

"Fine," Tsunade barked. "But I'm sending a back-up team after you."

Naruto dipped his head in relief. "Thank you, Tsunade." Tsunade felt shocked. For once, Naruto adressed her without calling her 'granny' or 'baachan'. "Gaara's a dear friend to me and I have to help him. Thank you for allowing me to do so. Though, I would have done it anyway if you said no." Tsunade felt her eye twitch at the last part.

"Just hurry up and leave so I properly assemble a back-up team already." She barked. Naruto nodded before he dug into one of his pockets and pulled out a black glove. He dropped it at the center of her desk.

"Give it to Kakashi so he can follow me." Tsunade wached as Naruto left through the window.

She simply shook her head. "Excluding coming and going through the window, he's greatly matured. He's calmer and doesn't act impolsively. What brought that on?"

"It was all him. He got out of Konoha and saw the world and took what I told him to heart. He barely thinks of Sasuke and bringing him back. It helped him on the rode to becoming the best ninja he can be." Jiraiya stated.

"Something tells me that that's not all of it."

"We will explain everything when he gets back."

"I'll accept that answer for now." Tsunade agreed before yelling, "Miyuki!" The black haired jonin burst through the door. He attentively waited for Tsunade's orders.

Tsunade paused for a moment. "Get me Kakashi, Gai, Sakura, Neji, Lee, and Shikamaru!"

"Yes, Hokage-sama!"

.

Naruto shot from tree to tree at an insane speed. He had applied chakra to his feet to increase his speed. 'I've got to get to my spy. He has to know something.' In the span of six hours of running, Naruto reached a border town between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. When he got near the towncenter, he slid into a dark alleyway and cast an illusion over it.

"Open Gate of the Crab, Cancer." He whispered. A golden, shining symbol appeared before him. After the golden emblem disappeared, a man stood in front of him. He was dark skinned and dark haired. He wore a light blue button-down shirt and dark burgandy pants. He had a pair of scissors in each of his hands.

"What do you need, ebi?" The crab-man asked. He had taken to calling Naruto that after learning he was descended from his treasured former masters (though they preferred to be called friends) Lucy Heartfilia and her mother, Layla. In fact, a lot of Lucy's former spirits had taken to giving him pet names akin to Lucy's.

Naruto gave Cancer a pleasant grin. "Hey Cancer. Would you please give my hair a new style and color? I'm meeting one of my spys soon."

Cancer frowned in dissaproval. He hated changing Naruto's lovely sunshined colored hair to some other color. But it was too dangerous for Naruto to use henge or any other illusionary way. So it could not be helped. "Any peticular color or style?"

""No, I'll leave it to you."

"Alright ebi." Naruto closed his eyes as Cancer began to work. After a minute, Cancer tapped his sshoulder and placed a mirror in front of him. Naruto looked to see that his hair was slightly longer and layed flat against his head. Chocolate strands fell in his face as he tilted his head and examined his matching eyebrows and whisker-less face.

Naruto beamed. "Thanks Cancer. I'll summon you to change it back when I'm done."

"Thank you ebi. Before I go," Naruto stared curiously at the spirit. "Do you mind if I change your haircut? I found something that would look better on you."

The blonde shrugged. "Sure why not. You always do a good job."

"Then goodbye then." Cancer bowed before dissapearing in a shower of gold. Naruto closed his eyes before finding the chakra signature he needed.

.

.

Naruto casually strode through the entryway of a local bar. Smoke waffed its way through his nostils. He wrinkled his nose as he swiftly scanned the bar for his contact . Once he found him, he slid in the seat next to him. The blackhaired spy discreetly slid a scroll into Naruto's pocket as the blonde ordered a drink. As he a tentive sip, Naruto felt his spy cast an illusion over the duo.

"So what do you have for me, Kuro?" Naruto after a few moments. The blonde took another sip of his drink. 'I really hope he has the information I need.'

"From what I gathered, the Akatsuki have started to mobalize. They are going to start with the Ichibi and end with the Kyuubi. I also heard Deidara of Iwa and Sasori of the Red Sands captured the Ichibi, the two known as the Zombie Duo are going after the Nibi in Kumo, and Kisame and Itachi are going after you as you already know."

Naruto frowned. "What about the others?"

Kuro swallowed. "I know for a fact that the Yonbi and Gobi belong to Iwa and the Hachibi belongs to Kumo."

Naruto nodded in understanding. "Alright, thanks for the information. Can you notify the others and ask for any information on the whereabouts of the Sanbi, Rokubi, and Nanabi jinchurrikis? Oh, and some more information on the Akatsuki members."

The black haired spy dipped his head. "As you wish Naruto-dono."

Naruto made a face. "You don't have to call me that. It makes me feel weird."

"Of course Naruto-sama." The spy responded in a deadpan voice. Naruto merely sweatdropped.

"Thank you Kuro for meeting me, but I have to go." Naruto started. Kuro simply nodded.

"Remember to be safe. I'll see you when I see you." The Konoha shinobi got up and left.

.

The Next Day

.

Naruto found himself outside the gates of Suna panting with exhaustion. A Suna shinobi was patiently waiting for him to catch his breath. When he did, the shinobi led him to the hospitol room where Temari was anxiously pacing. She looked at Naruto with suprise.

"Naruto! What are you doing here?" She rushed over and nearly tackled the younger ninja to the ground. She smirked and lightly tugged at the shorted ends of his hair. "Got another hair style?"

Naruto blushed. "You know how Cancer is." He hugged the kunoichi back. "I'm here to help get Gaara back, and I can help with Kankuro's poison problem."

Temari pulled away. Desperation was heavily written on her face. "How can you do anything without a cure. Considering how Sasori is, it would be forever to make a cure."

"You know about my celestial spirits and how their powers are variate?" Temari gave Naruto a nod with a confused look. "Well, one of my spirits has an affinity for healing . She can definately take care of the poison that's afflicting Kankuro."

The sand kunoichi's eyes became hopeful. "Really? Then bring her out!"

Naruto reached into his leather pouch that was strapped to his thigh. "Open Gate of the Phoenix: Phoebe!" Bells chimed as a golden, magical circle appeared. When the emblem faded, a flaming haired stood in its place. Her blazing hair was bound up and held together with two golden chopsticks.

She slowly blinked her burnt orange eyes and looked at Naruto. "You called for me, master."

"I told you not to call me that." He responded automatically. "But yes, I did call for you. A friend of mine has been poisoned, will you please heal him?"

Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Why of course! Naruto-dono doesn't need to ask." She hufffed in her sultry voice. She tucked one of her loose locks of hair behind her ear. "Now, where is my patient."

"Right over her." Naruto pointed to Kankuro, who was on the hospitol bed a few feet away.

"Then I will get right to it, Naruto-dono." Phoebe gathered the lower parts of her off-the-shoulder kimono and clicked over to Kankuro's bedside.

Temari looked around. "What was that sound?"

"Probably the sound of her geta." Naruto answered. Temari gave Naruto a strange look. She was about to say something but was cut off.

"Who in the world is she?" Naruto and Temari whirled around to see a small, old woman standing next to Baki. She gave Naruto and Phoebe glares.

"Chiyo-sama, it's just one of Naruto's celestial spirits. She's curing Kankuro of his poison." Tenari stammered.

The older woman narrowed her dark eyes. "What in the world are 'celestial spirits'?" They sound silly. Besides, we don't need the help of some Konoha dog. Suna can take care of itself. I honestly can't fathom why the Kazekage assosiates himself with someone like that. It just shows how naive he is."

Naruto's eyes instantly narrowed in annoyance. He hated that he had to deal with her and others like her every time he visited Gaara. Before Naruto could snap at the older woman, Temari beat him to it. "Look Chiyo-sama, I know you come from another time where you can't trust someone from another village, but those times have changed. Konoha is our ally, and Naruto is Gaara's friend. And I'm sure another team is coming to help." Temari gave her a pleading look. "Just please co-operate for once." Chiyo sighed and very reluctantly agreed. It was just like the last, when Naruto fixed Gaara's seal.

"And my celestial spirits are people, thank you very much." Naruto huffed. He instantly frowned when everyone gave him wild looks. "What?! I was just saying."

"Thank you Naruto-dono." Phoebe chimed. "Also, I have also cured Kankuro-dono of his poisoning. He will be at top condition by later today or tomorrow."

Chiyo once more narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean you cured him? Sasori's poisons are not so easily cured. And also, how would you know if he's cured of not?" She skeptically examined the celestial spirit. "You don't look like a medic."

Phoebe's orange eyes flashed dangerously before she masked it with a smile. "And how you know if I was a medic of sorts or had any healing abilities? You know what gate Naruto-dono opens when he summons me? The gate of the phoenix. You know what the phoenix can do? They can heal just about anything. So," The phoenix allowed her eyes to darken amd narrow evilly. "Do not pass judgement, based on my appearence, if I am a healer or not." She let her glare slip and replaced it with a smile. "And besides, don't you know its rude to make assumptions about people?" Chiyo looked discerned at Phoebe's words.

"Fines but what self-respecting healer wears such... garish clothing attire?"

Phoebe's eyes started to blaze. The hems of her deep orange kimono caught fire. The phoenox spirit stalked forward until she was glaring down into Chiyo's eyes.

"Phoebe!" The spirit whirled around to face Naruto. "Time and place. Finding Gaara is much more important than arguing."

Phoebe's jaw clenched before she composed herself. She turned around and bowed to Naruto. "Forgive me Naruto-dono. I will return to the Spirit World and await your call."

"Thank you Phoebe for all of you help." Naruto gave the spirit a warm smile before she vanished.

Naruto shot Chiyo a glare before turning to Temari. "Do you have anything of Gaara's?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I'm going to use that to track down where the Akatsuki have taken him."

.

.

A scowl was settled on Naruto's face as he followed his wolf summon that was guiding him and Chiyo. Chiyo had insisted that she be the one to come along. ("Konoha scum can't be trusted with the sole safety of out Kazekage.") "How rude." Naruto grumbled. Didn't that old bat know Gaara was Naruto's dearest friend? He would do anything for Gaara. Naruto just couldn't someone like Temari come with him instead; their combined wind attacks made them the perfect partners. "Why'd it have to be his hag?"

"Hey!" Naruto turned to look at Chiyo. "What are we taking so many turns? I thought your wolf was a good tracker."

"Kurokiba is a fantastic tracker. He has the expirience and abilities to find the least dangerous way."

"Why would we need to do that?"

Naruto gave her a pointed look. "Don't you think the Akatsuki would have taken precautions to ensure that they wouldn't be interrupted if someone did happen upon them?"

"Apologies, that does make sense." Chiyo frowned in thought as she kept pace with Naruto and summon. The elder had thought of past encounters with Naruto. She taken note how past mentions of Akatsuki had agrivated him, almost as if it was personal between him and the Akatsuki. It wouldn't be personal unless... "Are you a jinchurriki?"

Naruto's eyes widened with suprise. 'How did she figure that out?' He swallow roughly but answered with, "Yeah, I am."

Chiyo snorted. "Your hokage is rather negligent for allowing you to roam around like this. I suppose that is expected with someone like the Legendary Sucker."

The muscles in Naruto's jaw tightened with anger. 'How dare she?' He mentally snarled. "I'm sorry, would it be better if I stayed locked away in my village like some animal?"

"That's not what I meant. What if you're captured? Then what would happen?"

"I doubt that'll happen. I have a fool proof escape plan in case something like that would happen." Naruto shot back.

"Whatever you say, you arrogant child." She grumbled. A grimace settled on her lips when Naruto, his would summon, and subsequently herself ,made a stop. "Why are we stopping, we're on a time crunch?"

Naruto turned to Chiyo and wickedly grinned. "We're going against a person who uses bombs and a master puppeteer. They are bound to have a bunch of tricks up their sleeves. Unlickily, I came prepared. We're going to set up a suprise attack here so we can stop them while we're unsuspecting. It will also buy some time for the second team to catch up."

Chiyo looked hesitant. "I suppose. Are we going to kill them or incapitate them?"

"We're going to incapitate them of course." Naruto's grin widened at the elder's doubtful expression. "Just let me do my thing." He pulled out an amulate which was mostly grey snd spiked on the upper half. It's bottom was golden with a purple stone in the center. "Put them in their place, King Basilisk."

(A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'll try to update this story next month with 'Naruto of the Raging Storms'.