AN

DarkRavie: God DAMN you're fast- I haven't posted in weeks- I finally do and not even 10 minutes pass- WOW--- Kudos to you… kudos to you… LOL

Serenity Maxwell: wow- I'm surprised people didn't get this one right away??? I mean- yeah- coming up fast as I can…

End AN

Naruto, with Shirei's help, came out of the arena. Itachi stood waiting for him to come in from the stage-

"Congratulations."

Naruto felt silly, but put two fingers up for 'victory' anyway, silly grin on his face-

"WHAT!!!"

Itachi rushed towards the outcry with Naruto being half carried- half dragged shortly behind. Kankuro turned to see them as they came around the corner-

"What-"

Kankuro shook his head. In the closer room they heard crying, but more cries of the ecstatic than anything to worry about. In the further room they could hear Shikamaru, but not what he was saying- he was cut off, but Temari was speaking quietly enough not to be over heard.

"What's- the ruckus?" Itachi paused between words to choose carefully.

"Not for me to say," Kankuro responded plainly, "but I suspect it'll all be clear one way or another right as soon as Shikamaru shuts up so Temari can finish again."

"You can hear what's going on?"

Kankuro lifted up one hand, chakara threads leading from his fingers and under the door, "Left Karasu in the other room."

Kankuro put a finger to his lips, then pointed to the door, A couple moments later Gaara's figure loomed in shadow through the semi-opaque window. Gaara pushed open the door and everyone's expression blanked into shock-

Gaara was smiling

Matsuri was clinging tightly against him; Temari had a confident expression on her face while Shikamaru wore a more resolved face.

Temari chucked Karasu down in front of Kankuro, "Did you already tell them or shall we?"

"Still your show," he said calmly, putting his arms behind his head in an almost 'Naruto-ish' manner.

Temari smiled and pulled herself up against Shikamaru, smiling. Shikamaru didn't resist, but it was only after that he finally smiled as well. It was a warm and sincere one to match the other three. Traces of tears still etched on Matsuri's face. Gaara spoke at last as none of them was sure who should say it. "There's going to be a wedding," he looked to Temari and Shikamaru, Shikamaru nodded, "a double actually," Gaara explained.

Naruto looked around for a moment, "That's- ah- great- which-" he didn't even let himself finish- "Wait a minute- Shikamaru- since when have you been dating Temari- wait- GAARA AND MATSURI!! Since when!??"

Shirei smirked, "Boys are always so oblivious, aren't they," she smirks at Temari.

Naruto frowned, "What, just because I'm not caught up on who's dating who? It took me months to realize Kakashi WASN'T still hung up over Rin!?"

Shirei laughed, "I've been here less than a week and I noticed these four- next you'll tell me you haven't seen Jiraya's hung up all over Tsunade."

"Even I'm not THAT dense," he growled.

Gaara gave a confused expression, "Wait- you mean- Whoa- I think the feeling is mutual between them."

Kankuro laughed this time, "Well duh, I just met her today and I could tell that."

The medic-nins were coming by finally, carrying Lyle on a stretcher. He was conscious now, but barely. When they caught up to Naruto he thrashed a bit to catch the attention of the ninja carrying him- "Wait!" As they stopped he looked over at Naruto and the others, "I want all of you to come with me once I'm healed- back to Rain. Then you can take care of the three-tail."

Itachi nodded. Then Gaara and Matsuri moved aside so the medical ninjas could pass.

"So," Itachi called everyone back to the moment, "Have you set a date?"

Temari turned to Gaara and he nodded back, "As soon as possible, we'll send the invites with each of the village leaders before they leave, give each of them enough time to return to their respective homes and then come to Sand. So, if you go with Lyle, it should be ready when you return," Temari said, sounding excited.

lyLYlyLYly

'Beaten, well- that sure does suck. God- and it wasn't even by the power of the kyuubi- it was the power of its vessel.' Lyle laid back with more broken body than parts- the Kyuubi's chakara had done that to him, all Naruto had done was muster the strength to actually hit him afterwards.

Lyle sighed and turned over in the bed they had put him on. Moments later his teammates came in to check on him.

"Uh-oh, he's moping now," Nora kidded.

"Yeah we might have to work our healing jutsus on his pride."

"No way, it's too big for us," Nora laughed, she and Celene touched their fists together.

"Oh ha ha," Lyle called back without turning over, "Maybe a guy just likes to lick his wounds before faces the world, eh?"

"Lick his wounds eh, well then, where'd you get hurt- looks like all over, and I'd think you'd have trouble reaching certain places."

Lyle shot up in his bed- immediately winced in pain- "That is UN-called for."

Celene chuckled, "You know we're just teasing."

"You don't tease a guy about THAT sort of thing when he's lying in a hospital bed!?"

"But we make such hot nurses," Nora mused.

"I'm in hell, no other explanation for it…" Lyle turned back and laid down in his bed.

Celene laughed again, Nora was just smiling. "If it makes you feel better we all lost to the same guy?"

"I'm not moping, I'm thinking."

"If it's about what you could have done differently, here's a clue- that's moping," Nora taunted.

Lyle turned over, but didn't sit up, he just glared back at her.

"Look Lyle, don't think we don't know about your complex 'issues'. You're the strongest in our whole organization-"

"I told you, I'm not moping," he worked his jaw in annoyance, "I can deal," he paused and frowned, then gave a more sincere smile, "I mean it, I'm not down, I'm just surprised. I always thought the power came from the demon. But fighting with Naruto showed me there's more."

"You don't think we can beat Pein, do you?"

Lyle swallowed, "Not as we are- I think- I think Itachi was right from the beginning."

"Do you want out?"

"No," Lyle reassured, "But I think we need to try a different tact."

The next morning everyone was gathered and ready to leave. Temari and Matsuri said their last pieces before dragging Shikamaru towards the edge of Rain's border towards Sand, while Gaara, Naruto, Shirei, Itachi, and the Rain team left directly for the heart of Rain Village.

"You know, I could still go with them- make sure they're not late-"

Temari cut Shikamaru off abruptly, grabbing him around the waist and pulling him tightly against her, "You, lazy bum, are not leaving my sight," Temari smirked seductively. Shikamaru swallowed nervously…