Chapter 6

"S-sasuke? Why would he…" Sakura started.

Naruto instantly recognized Sakura's mood. He grabbed Gaara and pulled him out of the tent.

"Naruto what's going on?" Gaara blurted, "All I said was Sasuke captured Kankuro."

"Exactly. Remember when I said Sakura is suffering from memory loss? She doesn't remember that Sasuke left the village…nor does she believe anyone that tells her that." Naruto explained.

"That explains a bit…" Gaara replied, "But wait, I thought you were injured."

Naruto suddenly felt pain run through his body and fell to the floor. Gaara stared blankly, watching as Naruto struggled to get to his feet.

"Guess I forgot hehe…" Naruto laughed, "Wait here…I'll go talk to Sakura."

Gaara nodded and Naruto re-entered the tent. Sakura was sitting down, still with a look of shock written on her face.

"Sakura…you okay?" Naruto asked.

"I…I don't know. Sasuke-" Sakura tried.

"Don't worry I'll save Kankuro no sweat!" Naruto answered, "Believe it!"

"That's not what's worrying me…" Sakura said.

Naruto stared blankly…was there something Gaara said he didn't get?

"Well, what's got you so worried then?" Naruto asked.

"Gaara had said that spy was spying on a group that wanted to destroy the Leaf Village…why would Sasuke be there!" Sakura cried.

Naruto remembered that too now. What was the deal with Sasuke being there? Was it coincidence? Or was it something more…

"I'm sure Sasuke wasn't working with them! He's got his own matters to attend too." Naruto reassured her.

"Whether that be the case or not, I'm still going to find Sasuke and do whatever means necessary to retrieve my brother." Gaara interrupted.

"Gaara you're not helping!" Naruto complained.

"Oh right…sorry." Gaara answered, "Though I'd like to speak with you later Naruto. Alone."

As he said that, Gaara left the tent, leaving Naruto and a confused Sakura.

"CHA! It must be a lie! No way would Sasuke do something like that!" Inner Sakura blurted out.

But deep down, Sakura knew it wasn't a lie…something in her gut just told her that what Gaara said had been true…and her proof was that Naruto was trying to cover it up.

"Naruto…about Sasuke…I want to know what happened! Tell me everything!" Sakura requested.

"Uh…sure. It's a long story though." Naruto warned.

"We've got time…right?" Sakura threatned.

"O-of course! Haha…let's see…" Naruto continued.

He told Sakura of how Sasuke had been tainted with Orochimaru's curse mark, which made him lust for power. And that led to his betrayal and Naruto's promise to bring him back. By the time the story was done, night had fallen. And Naruto was late for a private meeting with Gaara.

After Sakura had left the tent, Naruto snuck out to go meet Gaara in the forest. Gaara was waiting At the edge of the forest, and looked a little impatient.

"Sorry it took so long! I just had to-" Naruto began.

"Save it. I'm putting together a small rescue team; consisting of four shinobi including myself. Are you in?" Gaara asked.

"Huh? Yeah of course!" Naruto accepted.

"Good. You're the fourth and final member…we're ready to move out." Gaara stated.

"So…who are the others?" Naruto asked.

"You really need to ask?" Temari answered from above.

"Kankuro is in danger…we can't just leave him." Baki called from the right.

"Hehey! It's been a while guys!" Naruto laughed.

"And just where do you think you're going Naruto?" called a voice that made Naruto's spine shiver.

"Kakashi sensei! I was uhh…just uhh…" Naruto tried.

"Never mind that. But you aren't ready to leave the medical tents yet…I can't let you go alone…" Kakashi told him.

"And nobody is going anywhere without me!" Sakura stated.

"S-Sakura?" Both Naruto and Kakashi exclaimed.

"I appreciate your help…but the enemy would notice a group of six shinobi…four is the max number that can be in a stealthy group." Gaara explained.

"Oh that I know…but how about this…we split up. Your team and Naruto will do your mission as planned…while my team provides back up just in case?" Kakashi offered.

"Hmm…I suppose if you insist on coming along." Gaara accepted.

"We should get moving…we might lose Kankuro's trail if we don't get there soon!" Temari suggested.

"Right. Kakashi…I'll give you a day to gather your team and get approval of this mission. As for my team…we're heading out." Gaara declared.

After that, Gaara, Kankuro, Temari, and Naruto all vanished. Leaving Kakashi and Sakura to gather up Team 7 and get permission to provide backup.

Meanwhile, the rescue team arrived at an abandoned hideout of the mercenary shinobi. They scattered to try and find a clue as to what happened here and where they might have gone next. Naruto was looking around the surrounding forest, and suddenly found something he hadn't expected to see.

"Hey uh…Gaara! I think I found something…" Naruto called out.

Temari and Gaara rushed to the scene, only to find Kankuro's puppet, Crow, in pieces all over the woods. Temari fell to her knees in shock and Gaara began to look frustrated. Throughout the woods, blood was found on the trees and the puppet pieces. If Kankuro was alive, he was badly injured.

"Kankuro…dammit!" Gaara cried.

Naruto hadn't seen Gaara this frustrated in a while…but he understood completely. Like Naruto with Sasuke, Gaara felt powerless to save his brother, and it hurt.

"Hm!" Gaara suddenly shot up.

"What's going on Gaara? Did you see something?" Temari and Naruto asked.

"Yeah…we're being watched!" Gaara pointed out as he pointed to a tree.

A small but agile ninja was sitting on a branch…watching the team's every move. Surely he could lead them to the new hideout, but it wasn't going to be easy to catch him.

"Looks like the Sand finally shows up with reinforcements…but it's too late!" laughed the ninja.

"Bastard! Where's Kankuro!" demanded Naruto.

"Oooh! What have we here? The Leaf's jinchuriki! The Akatsuki should be quite pleased if I were to bring you back…" the ninja said.

"The Akatsuki!" gasped Naruto and Gaara.

"But I-I defeated their leader!" Naruto pointed out.

"Hmm…not quite no. The real leader is someone by the name of Tobi. Or at least, that's what we're supposed to call him in front of our enemy…" laughed the ninja.

"Tobi! I've met him…he has that jutsu where we couldn't hit him no matter what we tried…" Naruto remembered.

"Yes he and that Sasuke person seem to share a common goal! Destruction of the Leaf Village!" the ninja blurted out.

"Sasuke! Tell me where he is!" Naruto demanded.

"Naruto calm down" Gaara warned.

They could see a hint of a cloak becoming more and more visible around Naruto's body. A strange chakra was being emitted from it as well…a feeling of hate, and death.

"I'll tell you one more time…tell me where he is!" Naruto threatned.

The cloak was clearly visible.

"And if I refuse?" the ninja teased.

"Then I'm going to beat the living hell out of you!" Naruto growled.