AN: hey, I hope you guys are liking this so far, I haven't gotten any word so I don't know… sorry about the last chapter but I wanted to continue the mission in its own chapter, you'll see why.
x-X-x
Chapter 5: Improved Ultimate Defense
"Where exactly is this one Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked the second day of the trip.
"It's in the Wind Country. Gaara would like to accompany us, so we're stopping by in the Sand Village to see if he'll be able to," Kakashi said.
"Alright, I haven't seen them in a while," said Naruto.
"Yeah, and I would like to get a look around the Sand Village, last time we were there we were in a rush to save Gaara," said Sakura.
"Well, just because there's no life on the line here doesn't mean we have time to enjoy the sights, we're still on a mission," said Kakashi, Sakura nodded.
"Hey, Lee, you're pretty quiet," Sakura said.
"Huh? Oh, I'm just wondering if Tenten is better. I hope she isn't blaming herself," he said looking downcast.
"I bet she's fine, her cut was rather minor, she won't even scar," Sakura said with a smile, Lee returned it. 'Is he worried about her because she's his teammate, or is there more? He has stopped trying to win me over lately…'
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The four entered the Sand Village and walked to the Kazekage's office.
"Leaf ninja, what is your purpose with the Kazekage?" demanded one of the guards.
Kakashi was about to answer when a voice yelled to them, "it's okay, he's expecting them."
The four turned to see Kankurou walking towards them.
"Kankurou hey!" yelled Naruto.
"Hey guys, what took you so long?" he asked as he pushed on the door.
"We decided to have a bit of a look around the village before we came, being in one ninja village so long, one might forget others exist," said Kakashi.
"Sakura or Naruto wanted a look around, didn't they?" a female voice asked as they entered the Kazekage's office.
"How'd you guess Temari?" Sakura asked in slight embarrassment.
Temari smiled, "an answer like that had to be fake."
"Naruto, welcome back," said the Kazekage standing up.
"Thanks, it's good to see you again Kazekage-sama," Naruto said bowing and grinning at the same time.
"Naruto please, you can call me Gaara," Gaara said with a slight irritation at being address so formally be his friend… his friend. Gaara was still getting used to the meaning of that word.
Sakura sighed at the two, 'he shows all this respect to Gaara who doesn't want it, and calls Tsunade-sensei granny, when she wants the respect. I wonder if he does it on purpose?' Oh no, Naruto isn't smart enough to do it on purpose.
Naruto glanced over at Sakura, 'why is she staring at me like that?'
"So, you guy's are hunting down Akatsuki?" Kankurou asked.
"No, we received heads of eight of them, there are nine members. We are seeing if the ninth is resurrection the organization, or just laying low at an old hideout," Kakashi said.
"How did you get the heads?" Gaara asked.
"We don't know, they were sent to the Hokage anonymously, but we have confirmed that they are the members," said Kakashi.
"How may hideouts did they have?" Temari asked.
"Four we know of, including the one they too you, Gaara," Lee said.
"How may have you searched?" Gaara asked.
"Only one, we've had some bad luck with team members," Kakashi said, Sakura and Naruto looked at the ground.
"Well, I know about the place you're looking for, but I don't know where it is, exactly," said Temari.
"Me neither, I've only heard about it, it's got some weird stories attached to it," said Kankurou.
"What kind of stories?" Naruto asked.
"Stories like you and me," Gaara said Naruto's eyes widened.
Sakura and Kakashi looked at Gaara with the same look Naruto had, Lee, on the other hand, was completely baffled, "what kind of story would that be, exactly?" Lee asked.
"Demons," said Naruto and Gaara nodded.
Lee's look of confusion deepened, 'well, I know Gaara had that demon in him, but since when does that involve Naruto?'
"Well, would you mind showing us where it is?" Kakashi asked.
"No, you actually passed it on the way here, it's near the border," Gaara said before heading out the door, his siblings and the leaf ninjas following.
x-X-x
They were following the same path the four leaf ninjas took to get to the sand, Gaara in the lead, when suddenly they stopped. On the path before them were three people, standing and blocking the path.
The two on the sides were dressed the same, in the black seemingly standard ninja outfit. The one on the left had green eyes and short dark blue hair, the one on the right brown eyes and long red hair.
The one in between the two had dark brown pants, black sandals and a red leather jacked that went to the ground. He had elbow pads over the jacked and black gloves. His torso was bare, spiky blond hair and light blue eyes with his forehead protector on his forehead. He was a ninja of the Grave.
"Who are you?" Gaara asked.
"I could ask the same of you," the man in the middle said.
"This is my home, I can see from you're forehead protector that it's not yours. What are you doing here?" Gaara asked again.
The man grinned, "We are here for one thing. A simple blood sample from a Sand Ninja. And lucky us, that ninja is right here."
"What do you what with his blood?" asked Temari.
"It holds secrets me and my allies would like to understand," the man said.
"If it were possible for me to give you some, I don't know if I would want to, you're desires are still a mystery to me," Gaara said.
"Yes, well, I don't plan on elaboration. It seems to take a sample, we have to kill you. Please, don't take it personal," said the man and the two others jumped at Gaara.
Instantly they were both caught in sand. The sand raised them into the air and crushed them into nothingness.
"Yes, I though this would be beyond them, by the way, my name is Red, in case any of you others meet me again," the man said before starting on a series of hand seals.
But Kakashi was already ahead of him, his Chidori charged in his right hand and left eye exposed. Kakashi ran at Red his speed faster than the normal eye could see, Red grinned.
"A lightning fist, allow me to introduce you to my version of that," said Red.
Kakashi thrust his right fist forward, aiming dead center of Red's chest and his hand flying thought it, only for Red to turn into smoke.
"A clone?" Kakashi said as the real Red appeared before him.
"Mine's a fire fist," he said before hitting Kakashi in the gut with his flaming left hand. Kakashi flew straight backwards and was caught by Gaara's sand and set down, Sakura ran over to him.
"He wish's to have my blood, I am his opponent, stay behind me," Gaara said walking closer to Red.
"Now there's a sensible lad, I truly hate having to kill those who don't need to die," Red said with a grin.
Sand started flowing form the gourd and surround Gaara.
"Ah, yes, the ultimate defense, lets test it, shall we?" asked Red as he started flying through hand seals. A grin appeared on Red's face again, "it's been a while since I got to use this one it's usually overkill," he raised his left hand and aimed it at Gaara's sand shield, "Hellfire Catastrophe!"
A giant fireball shot form Red's left hand and hit the sand, enclosing it. Flame kept flowing form Red and the heat of the fire kept rising.
"What do you want Gaara's blood for anyway, Akatsuki took the one-tail form him!" yelled Naruto.
Red's eye's widened, "the one-tail, that's his source of power?"
"Yes, what'd you think it was?" demanded Temari.
"Bloodline," said Red.
"If that was true, I'dve killed you with my own sand by now," Temari said, fear on her face.
The fire stopped flowing form Red, "you're his sister?"
The fire subsided and revealed Gaara in his sand shield, only it wasn't sand anymore, the heat had turned it to glass.
"Sorry for the trouble, and my suggestion, heat will only strengthen it," Red said before vanishing.