Chapter Three: Let's Fight For The Bells!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!!

Manami's Point Of View

I woke up to find myself in my bedroom.

I jumped out of bed and went downstairs.

Gaara was talking to my brother.

"Gaara-kun!" I called as I ran to the couch.

I sat next to him and he said, "You're awake,"

"Obviously… how long was I asleep for?" I asked.

"Just around an hour," Gaara replied.

"ANYWAY, what happened? Where were you?" Neji cut in.

I sighed in irritation. "Sasuke was in Konoha and he wanted to take me to Orochimaru. He knocked me out and took me to the hideout. Orochimaru said that he wanted me to join forces with him, but I said no. I had to fight Kabuto and Sasuke in the process. As I was fighting Sasuke, I called Gaara-kun and he came and took me back to Konoha." I took a gasp of breath.

Saying all of that was tiring.

"Sasuke was in Konoha?!? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!" My brother yelled.

"Urusai," I mumbled.

My brother sighed. "I guess I'll have to thank you, Gaara,"

"Don't worry about it," Gaara replied.

"Ah! Gaara-kun, your clothes… what happened when I was gone?" I asked.

His clothes were the type of Kazekage clothing.

"I've become the Kazekage of the sand village," Gaara said, almost proudly.

"Omedeto (Congratulations), Gaara-kun," I said, giving him a hug.

"Since you Kazekage you're going to be safer than ever, right?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Promise me, that you won't get hurt. You won't die. Because I need you, Gaara-kun," I said.

"I promise," Gaara said, taking hold of my hand.

Later on, Gaara left Konoha and went back to his village.

-x-x-x-x-

"Your aim is to get a bell off me," Kakashi said.

We were at the training grounds, where we did the bell exercise.

"Heh, just like old times!" Naruto grinned.

"Exactly, but back then, we had Sasuke with us…" Kakashi mumbled.

He turned back to us and we were on the ground practically crying… we missed Sasuke.

"Talking about Sasuke is sure giving us a melancholy mood." Kakashi said.

We stood up and Naruto began charging at Kakashi.

Kakashi caught him, but this time, Naruto had created a clone behind Kakashi, pointing a kunai at his spine.

"Sugoi…" Sakura whispered.

"Now, now, Naruto, I didn't say 'begin' yet," Kakashi said.

"Begin!" Kakashi said.

I moved towards Kakashi and in the blink of an eye, I was holding a bell, waving it in the air.

"I got one," I mumbled.

They gawked at me, except Naruto; He smirked.

"H-How did you…?" Sakura asked.

"Manami-chan is extremely strong and quick. Her training helped her a lot," Naruto explained.

Naruto's Point Of View

I smirked as Manami waved the bell in the air.

-Flashback-

"Manami-chan, happy valentine's day!!" I yelled.

I was fourteen and so was she.

It was valentines, and I had decided that I could give Manami a present.

She was in the hotel room, and Jiraiya was out 'researching'.

I was in the hotel hallways and I opened the door and gasped.

Manami was crying.

Her face was stuffed in her hands as she sobbed. Her knees were to her chest.

"Manami-chan…" I mumbled.

She was sitting against the window sill, crying her heart out.

Why would she cry on valentines?

Then it hit me.

Sasuke left her on Valentine's Day.

I put my hand on her shoulder.

"Manami-chan, are you okay..?" I asked.

She nodded slowly.

"I got you a present, so please don't cry," I said, handing the present to her.

She looked up at me and then to the present.

"Naruto-kun…" She whispered.

It was a heart shaped box. "Inside is full of sweets, I hope that can cheer you up," I said.

She took the box and hugged me.

I was a bit taken a back, but I patted her back softly.

"Its okay, Manami-chan. Train harder so you can kill Sasuke-teme!" I grinned.

She nodded.

Ever since then, she had been training, training to kill Sasuke.

-End Flashback-

"Sakura, Naruto-kun, come with me and we'll figure out how to get the two other bells," Manami whispered to both of us, making sure that Kakashi couldn't hear.

We nodded and jumped away to follow her.

Manami hid us behind a tree and together, we thought of a plan.

-x-x-x-x-

"Kakashi-sensei!!" I yelled, making him turn around to look at me.

"Naruto?" asked Kakashi.

"I KNOW THE ENDING OF THE BOOK I GAVE YOU!!!" I screamed.

I jumped towards him and began charging at the bells.

Kakashi's eyes widened.

"No…" He whispered.

"IN THE ENDING…" I began.

Kakashi covered his ears, closed his eyes and screamed, "NOOOO!!!!"

I snatched the bells off Kakashi whilst he couldn't see.

Soon enough, Kakashi opened his eyes and saw Sakura and me waving the bells in the air.

Manami's Point Of View

-x-x-x-x-

Sakura, Naruto and I were walking the Hokage's office until Sakura said something.

"Manami, are you okay, about what happened yesterday with that… Akio guy?" She asked.

"I'm fine," I mumbled.

"It's okay Sakura-chan; Manami-chan is always doing stuff like that to baka fanboys. In fact, its fun to see her whoop those guys' asses," Naruto grinned.

When we reached the office, Tsunade was with Kakashi and they both looked serious "Manami, Sakura, and Naruto. You will now be called Team Kakashi. Your sensei will be Kakashi once again. Putting that subject aside… I have a mission for you," She said, "It's a C-rank."

"C-RANK?!? WHY C-RANK?!?" Naruto yelled.

"Because someone in this room is unfortunately still a genin!" Sakura said.

Naruto stared at me. I sighed. "I'm an ANBU ninja, Naruto-kun, that's higher than a genin or a chuunin."

"So…" Naruto mumbled.

"WE'RE DOING A C-RANK MISSION BECAUSE YOU'RE A GENIN!!!" Sakura yelled.

Naruto had anime tears streaming down his cheeks. "Put all the blame on me, will you?"

"What's the mission?" I asked.

Tsunade stayed silent or a moment. "Gaara, the Kazekage of the sand, has been kidnapped by the Akatsuki."

My eyes widened.

"G-Gaara-kun? Akatsuki? Doushte?" I whispered.

"They want the thing inside of him, is what I'm guessing," Tsunade said.

Naruto held back his anger. "Manami-chan, let's go and get Gaara from these freaks,"

I nodded.

Naruto and I went back to our homes to collect our things. We all met at the Konoha gates, meaning: Kakashi, Sakura, Naruto and I.

Before we jumped off, Jiraiya and Tsunade called us.

Jiraiya talked to Kakashi a bit, most likely to be about Naruto's demon.

Next, Jiraiya walked over to me. "Manami, be careful with your demon. You may get angry on this mission, but I trust you to take control of yourself. But I know that you're demon will come when needed."

I sighed. "I know, but I swear, if they hurt Gaara-kun, or just give him a scratch, I'll kill them."

Jiraiya smirked. "Careful now, I want you to make sure Naruto is controlled too."

I nodded.

Tsunade said good bye to all of us and we jumped away.

-x-x-x-x-

We took camp amongst the tall trees, which loomed over us.

It was around midnight, and everyone was asleep, except for me. I stared into the flames of the campfire as I thought about Gaara…and Sasuke.

Suddenly, by phone began vibrating and I had a new message.

Manami,

Lee, Tenten, Gai-sensei and I are coming with you as well. We may be a little behind, but we'll reach you soon enough. Please be safe,

Your favourite brother,

Neji.

I rolled my eyes.

'Favourite brother'? He's my only brother.

I sighed.

But, why is it that I can't get Sasuke out of my head?

And Gaara… he didn't deserve to be kidnapped.

At that precise moment, Naruto woke up and sat next to me.

I kept my gaze onto the fire.

"Manami-chan, are you okay?" He asked quietly.

"I should be asking the same thing, Naruto-kun. When we were traveling, you were mad. Real mad," I mumbled emotionlessly.

"I guess that's what you feel when your close friend gets hurt," Naruto said.

"I guess so, Naruto-kun,"

-x-x-x-x-

Within three days, Team Kakashi had finally reached the sand village.

We ran to where Kankuro was; we heard that he was in a battle with an Akatsuki member, and he got hurt.

We reached the room and I ran to his bed, where he was trying to convince the doctors to let him walk.

"Kankuro-kun, are you feeling okay?" I asked.

Kankuro's gaze turned to me. "Manami! Long time no see!"

I shrugged. "What happened?"

"I was poisoned… oh and by the way, you look like you've grown…" Kankuro said… And apparently he wasn't looking at my face when he said that, if you get what I mean.

I slapped his face and scowled. "Geez, even if you're poisoned, you still tend to be just as perverted."

He smirked, also rubbing his cheek. "I guess so. It's my way of life."

"Idiot," I muttered.

An old lady was somewhat accompanying Kankuro.

She turned around and she saw Kakashi, which made her mad and she charged at him.

"Die, Konoha's White Fang!!!!" She yelled, grabbing a kunai and trying to stab Kakashi.

Kakashi stopped her and Naruto asked, "Kakashi-sensei, why did that old lady try to hurt you and who's Konoha's White Fang?"

"Naruto, I'm not sure why she charged at me, but the white fang… is my father," Kakashi said.

Naruto gasped.

"What's so surprising about Kakashi's dad?" I mumbled.

Sakura got ready to heal Kankuro.

Sakura tied up her hair and she glanced at me.

"Want to help out?" She smirked.

I shrugged. "I guess."

Sakura stood on one side of Kankuro and I stood on the other. Kakashi and Naruto watched from afar.

Sakura began taking the poison out carefully and I healed his wounds.

Kankuro screamed in pain, but the other nurses and doctors held him down.

Soon enough, we had finished getting out the poison, but Sakura needed to make an antidote as well.

When she left to go the medical herbs, I sat at the foot of Kankuro's bed.

I could feel Kankuro's eyes on me.

"How long has he been gone?" I asked quietly.

"Who, Gaara? He's been gone for a few days," Kankuro mumbled.

I sighed and stared at the ground.

There was silence all around the room, and I felt all eyes on me.

I broke the silence by whispering,

"Gaara-kun… didn't deserve to be kidnapped…"

Sorry it took sooo long!! I was trying to remember what had happened. Hopefully I got it right... ALSO, I was thinking of making an Akatsuki love story... you know, with lots of possibilities. Sasori, Deidara or Itachi? WOOT! Do you think I should write that story? Please review and tell me what you think!!