:: Rightie! On to chapter 7…

::Thanks again for the reviews…

Chapter 7: An Explosion And A Photograph

Sakura changed to her night clothes, turned on the lamp and fixed her tent to get ready for bed. She checked her bag. A photo dropped out. "Oh, I could never forget this photo. It's my favorite one in the whole world." She thought as she stared at their young faces. This photo in particular has meant a lot for her team. She always brought it along to every mission. Especially after Sasuke left… She brushed her cherry-blossom-pink hair and went to sleep.

In the next tent…Naruto was trying his best to get to sleep… and failing. He can't sleep at a time like this… not now… not when Hinata's been kidnapped… not when she might get hurt any minute… no… not now… He rubbed his eyes as he turned yet again to get to sleep… until his hands felt something… it was his headband. "This is a mission I will not fail. I will bring you back. Whatever it takes."

"Well, this mission could be more interesting than I thought…" The masked jonin said to himself, opening another copy of Icha-icha, for his errm… light reading. "Hmm… I do need to keep an eye on Sasuke though. The Hokage told me to. He did betray Konoha, but then again, he did kill Oruchimaru… And he's back now. I doubt he'll need any protection after I've seen his fight against Naruto." He tought, then he went to bed after reading the next chapter.

Sasuke changed clothes and was just about ready to get to bed until he sensed something… that weird feeling of being followed has been present ever since they started their mission… "Now I'm sure… somebody's here." He leaped off to a nearby tree and was there in the blink of an eye, he activated his Sharingan and looked at their camp in full detail… "Something isn't supposed to be here…" There it was… this small crawling spiderlike white thing… it was on its way to his tent… he then threw a kunai at it, and is exploded with a small 'poof'… "What the heck is that thing?" he wondered. "I better tell everyone." And Sasuke woke everyone up. Starting with Kiba and Ino.

"Hey Kiba. There's something here." He said.

"No… it's someone. I can smell him, he's not too far. Come on Ino." He said as he, Akamaru and Ino leap off to another tree, preparing for an attack.

Kakashi was awaken by the small explosion and gets out of his tent, then wakes up Naruto as Sasuke was waking up Sakura.

"Naruto, the Akatsuki who once abducted Gaara is here." Kakashi told Naruto.

He rubbed his eyes sleepily, he just got to sleep. "What? He's here?"

"Yes, he is. Let's go."

Sasuke and Sakura have just gotten out of the tent and jumped into the same tree everyone else was in.

"Kakashi-sensei, what was that thing?" Sasuke asked.

"It's a Kibaku Nendo –chakra infused clay that explodes. The Akatsuki member Deidara uses them, he used them when he abducted the Kazekage." Kakashi explains.

"So, one of the Akatsuki already…" Sasuke smirked. He looked up at the sky and saw a flying birdlike silhouette in the moonlight. "…I suppose that's him." He said, pointing at it while glaring with his Sharingan.

"You're right. Be careful, he's very dangerous." The jonin said.

Up in the sky, on his clay bird, Deidara examines their camp with his special eye. "Oh, they've seen me. No problem, my art can handle this." He said. As the mouths from the palms of his hands begin chewing up clay and formed grasshopper-like figures.

"I'll handle this. I'll meet you guys in the forest in a few hours. GO NOW!" Sasuke yelled to everyone.

"But Sasuke-kun?" Sakura said.

"Don't worry about me. Remember your mission, the Hyuga Heiress is waiting. Do you understand? I can take him. You guys have more important things to worry about." He replied.

"Yes Sasuke-kun." Sakura replied.

"Lets get going." Kakashi said. He knew Sasuke could handle it. He needed to help the others escape.

Kakashi, Kiba, Akamaru, Ino, Naruto, and Sakura leaped out and made their way out of the place. Anywhere within ten kilometers would be dangerous. Especially to Naruto, the host of the Nine-tailed demon-fox –what the Akatsuki was after.

"Right then, let's get on with this." Sasuke said. "Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!" He used the simplest fire technique he knew. They were sufficient enough to get rid of the little grasshopper-like figures. He then leaped high into the air, from tree to tree until he reached the giant bird.

"Chidori Nagashi!" And lightning chakra envelops Sasuke, he charges the chakra into his chokuto, which he then tries to his Deidara with. He dodges, and throws more exploding clay to Sasuke, who gets rid of them before they explode.

"Uh-oh. I got myself in trouble now. Well, I guess this is it. What I get for getting myself caught." He thought, then got rid of his Akatsuki cloak, revealing another mouth, but on his chest. He then fed it all the clay he had left.

"What are you trying to do?" Sasuke asked. As he tried to hit him yet again.

"You'll see…" He replied, dodging another attack.

"He's gonna make himself into a bomb. I better get outta here." Sasuke thought, leaping out of the bird.

"You'll never be able to escape! MY ART… IS A BLAST!" He shouted sadistically. As he then created a huge explosion.

"Shit, this guy's gone crazy." Sasuke thought picking up speed.

In the forest, the leaf-nins saw the explosion as well, they were already a safe distance away.

"SASUKE-KUN!!!" Sakura screamed, and leaped off in search of Sasuke.

"Wait! Sakura!" Ino said, following her.

They all went looking for Sasuke. Until finally…

"Here he is!!!" Kiba called out, he and Akamaru got his scent quickly. Sasuke was out cold, he had cuts and other wounds.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura quickly appeared. She hastily began her hand seals and healing jutsu.

"Sasuke-kun! Wake up Sasuke-kun!" Sakura screamed hysterically.

Nothing. Sasuke was still motionless. She performed more healing jutsus, using up half her chakra.

"S-sakura." Sasuke opened his eyes and said weakly.

"Sasuke-kun! You'll be okay!" Sakura said enthusiastically.

"D-don't worry, I'm fine. It'll take more than explosions to kill me." Sasuke said. Smiling.

Sakura gave him a tight hug. It was comforting, but it hurt. "S-sakura y-you're…" Sasuke said painfully.

"Oh, sorry Sasuke-kun." She said as she started putting the bandages on him.

"Wow Sasuke. That was very brave of you." Ino said.

"Well, I couldn't just let you guys get killed." Sasuke replied.

"I didn't know you actually cared that much for us Sasuke." Naruto said.

"Yeah Sasuke. Thanks again." Kiba added.

"Don't mention it." He answered.

"There you go Sasuke-kun. You'll be fine." Sakura said as she finished his bandages.

"Thank you. Sakura." Sasuke replied.

"Right, lets get going then." Said the masked jonin.

Everyone got down from the trees and began walking to the village of the Mist. Their tents were all destroyed, thanks to that blast.

"Sakura. What's that in your pocket?" Sasuke said after seeing a piece of paper or something peeking out from Sakura's pocket.

"N-noting." She replied with a smile.

Sasuke grabbed whatever the thing was, and opened its folds. It was their old picture. Back when they were kids.

"You still carry this thing?"

"Why not? It's a very special photo. Don't you still have yours?"

"I don't really remember. I think I left it in my room the night I left."

"Oh."

"Hey wait. Didn't our tents get blown up? How'd you manage to get this thing if we all left our bags?"

"I took it right before we got out of my tent."

"Of all the things you could have saved. You choose this thing?"

"Like I said. It's a very special photo."

"But I could have just given you mine, or we could get copies."

"It wouldn't be the same. I've brought this photo everywhere. I had it with me all the time. It was one of the things that helped cheer me up when you left. I always hoped you would come back."

"I am back." He said.

"I know." She said smiling, and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

In the Akatsuki's hideout…

"So, my brother has grown more than I expected." Itachi thought after the news of Deidara's death reached him. "Perfect. He'll think he's stronger than me now. I can't wait to defeat him again."

Hinata overheared a conversation between the Akatsuki members a while ago. She knows they're coming for her… coming to save her.All she has to do is stay alive and hope they'll be okay.

"I'll be here Naruto-kun."

::Sorry for the long time before the upload. Schoolwork keeps me too busy. PLEASE REVIEW.