Hey people.

I haven't been able to update often because of my exams coming up next week. I hope you enjoy this chapter anyways, and stay tuned for the next one!

Naruto: The Ninth Tail Chapter 13

Reunion

It was morning, and team 7 was at the main gates of Konoha. Kakashi wasn't late this time (for a change). Tsunade, Jiraiya and Shizune were there to see them off.

"Be careful out there, Naruto."

Naruto nodded, but he didn't say anything. Tsunade knew there was something wrong, but she didn't say anything about it. This isn't like Naruto. What happened? Tsunade looked at Kakashi, and their eyes met. A silent thought passed between them, and they both nodded.

"Keep those tails in check, Naruto." Jiraiya told the blond boy.

Naruto once again just nodded. There was that sad expression on his face, just like the one yesterday. He turned around, and started walking down the road, to Sunagakure.

The rest of team 7 walked after him. Tsunade looked at Naruto's back. "I'm worried about that kid. There's something wrong."

Jiraiya grunted. "Who cares? I'm glad I got rid of that brat."

A punch in the stomach stopped him from saying any thing else. He was lucky to have received just that. If he had said any more, an uppercut would have sent him flying all the way to the other side of the village.

He was still, however, on the ground, doubled in pain.

A young man with red hair was looking out of a window. His arms were crossed over his chest, and a large gourd was strapped onto his back. His eyes were blue, and his skin was pale.

A woman with blond hair, tied into four short ponytails, came in, a huge fan in her left hand. "Gaara, they're here."

"Ah…" Gaara turned around, and walked over to the woman.

"Kankuro!" The woman yelled, and a guy with black clothing and purple face paint appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

"What is it, Temari?"

"Our guests have arrived."

"Oh! It's been a while since we saw them last! I'll come with you."

Gaara, Kankuro and Temari walked out of the office, and headed for the main gates. Once they reached it, they saw Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi.

Naruto ran straight over to Gaara with a wide grin on. "Hey, Gaara! Long time no see!"

Gaara's face was still expressionless as usual, but he stuck his hand out.

Naruto looked at Gaara's hand, and his smile became gentler. Even the most common gestures have a rare emotion behind it. He grasped it, saying. "Just like last time."

"Ah…"

Naruto looked over Gaara's shoulder, spotting his siblings. "Yo, Temari, Kankuro!"

Kankuro raised a hand. "Hey, Naruto." Temari smiled.

Gaara let go of Naruto's hand, and surveyed the rest of Team 7. He exchanged polite nods with Sakura and Kakashi, but once he came to Sasuke, the raven-haired boy flinched. Gaara stared intently into Sasuke's eyes.

"It looks like you still have those eyes." Sasuke didn't say anything. He just glared at him.

"Well, now that the pleasantries are over, let's get down to the nitty-gritty." Kakashi said.

"Yes. Let's." Temari started to walk back to the Kazekage tower, and the rest of the group followed.

Naruto-kun…

Her thoughts were on her only love at that moment. Her heart beat faster just by thinking of him, a mental picture forming in her head. Her grip on her pants tightened. Her breathing grew slightly heavier.

Naruto-kun…

She looked up at the blue sky, clouds floating here and there. She sighed. What she would give for just one full day alone with Naruto. She wondered if he even realized that she liked him. She wondered if he felt the same way. She wondered how he would act if she told her how she felt. Then again, she couldn't do it, for some reason. She had always blabbed out something else.

Naruto-kun…

She thought about his physique. His mouth, those white teeth and fine lips. His blond hair, a small mane covering his head. His skin was smooth and clean. His sapphire blue eyes. How they shined and twinkled when he laughed or smiled. His body, how strong it was…

Naruto-kun…

Oh what joy she would feel if he just hugged her, or said that she loved her. She doubted it would ever actually happen though. Oh, how she fantasized about what they could to together. She could just imagine them sitting on a bench, tongues intertwining in a fiery frenzy, her screams of ecstasy as he delved into her heated depths…

Naruto-kun…

"So, what exactly happened?" Sakura had to ask. Sunagakure's defences were not to be taken lightly. However, there was the recent extraction of Shukaku from Gaara, so their defences would have been weakened by that.

"Two shinobi that had left their villages had come here and stolen one of our technique scrolls." Kankuro pulled out a map of Sunagakure and its surroundings, and then pointed to the west gate. "The two entered from around here, and then entered this building, the Kazekage Tower. They snuck around, totally decimating our guards, patrols, backup, security, you name it." As he was saying all this, his finger moved along the map, showing what path the enemies took. "It seemed as if they had come here before. Then, they took one of our Jutsu scrolls and headed back right away."

"Were there any markings or symbols that these two had?" Kakashi had a hand holding his chin, thinking.

"Yeah, there were." Temari looked the Jounin straight in the eye. "They wore cloaks with red clouds."

"Akatsuki." Team 7 said in unison. Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura looked at Sasuke, who had a strange look on his face. It was a look that was half joyful, half fearful. Was he ready to face his brother this time? Had the difference of power changed at all? Could it be possible that there was no change? He would probably find out soon enough.

"Well, since it's them, we'll have to be ready for any kind of attack. We don't know who they sent."

There was a moment's silence, and then Kankuro stood up. "Well, let's start packing for the chase."

"Yeah…" Naruto got up, and walked out.

Gaara looked at Naruto as he left, and then asked Sakura, "What happened?"

Sakura knew what he meant. "Well, he was pretty happy before, but once Sasuke came back, he's been in this kind of sulk the whole time. I don't know what's going through his mind."

Gaara turned his head to Sasuke, and, once again, he flinched. Interesting. Gaara thought. He never flinched back at the Chuunin Exam. Something must have happened that gave him quite a shock.

"Well, we'd better get a good night's rest. We'll need the energy." Kakashi walked out of the room. After a moment, Sasuke followed, then Sakura, then Kankuro, then Temari. Gaara started to walk out, but stopped at the door. He looked back at the map, and a little bit of sand floated through the air, rolled up the map, and dropped it onto a shelf. Then, Gaara finally left the room.

"Why did we get this stupid scroll anyways, Deidara-san? All these Jutsus are so weak!" A guy with black spiky hair and a white and black mask looked at the contents of the scroll, then turned his head to the guy beside him. The guy had blond hair and a crafty smile on.

"It's really just for bait, yeah." Deidara had some clay in his hands, and rolled it into a ball. As he kept rolling it, it seemed to be getting smaller and smaller, until his hands met. As he spread them apart, mouths could be seen on his palms. "We're just trying to reel in some fish, yeah. Don't worry, Tobi. They should be here soon, yeah."

"Awww? So boring…" Tobi leaned his head back, and stared at the sky. There wasn't much to do. "I bet Zetsu-san is having fun busting heads somewhere…"

"Well, you need experience for things like that, yeah." Deidara lectured, and out of the mouths on his hands were two clay birds. "Beautiful, yeah?"

Tobi took one look at the birds, then turned his head the other way. "Bah… so ugly."

A vein pulsed in Deidara's forehead, and, quick as a flash, Tobi was in a headlock, face in the dirt. "What did you say, boy?"

"Mmmmffff!" The muffled reply came from Tobi, arms and legs flailing wildly.

Deidara brought his captive's face off the ground. "Say uncle!"

"Damn you, Deidara! Anyways, those birds are the colour of shi - GAAAAKKKK!" His little rant was cut short as Deidara tightened his grip on Tobi's throat. He had to choke out the next three words. "Uncle, uncle, uncle!"

"Yeah, that's right." Deidara grinned, but something distracted him. He didn't relinquish his grip, so Tobi was left still struggling in his headlock.

"Yo, Tobi…"

"Hn?" Tobi stopped moving.

"Looks like today's not gonna be boring anymore, yeah."

End of Chapter 13