Ura approached the area where the person was last seen. Her weapons weren't drawn as she looked around the area for an hour or two. The moon began to rise as Ura's eyes turned blood red, she was trying to find a heated source in order to track this person down. She bent down low to the sand, picking up a hand full and watching it seep out of her grasp. There were some mixtures of blood in the sand, but she could tell it was old and dead. The blood was from the corpses of the Tracker Units that tried to do what she was doing. Ura pulled out a scroll from her pack, laying it on the ground as she put her hands together in a jutsu format. She bit her thumb pad and trailed her blood from the center of the scroll to where she engraved her blood into the sand. Closing her eyes, the scroll glowed a dark red as she used her chakra in her blood to search where there was another heat source besides herself in that area.

Hours of searching and losing chakra made Ura give up looking on the ground. If they weren't standing, they were flying. Ura rolled up her scroll and looked towards the starry sky. Whoever they were...were skilled in the art of hiding and evading contact. Ura leaped to the highest rock, all she could find was a lone raven flying her way. There wasn't enough food for that bird, surely it would die in a matter of days. She looked away and back at Suna, that was the right spot where the last saw the person. Maybe they left? That wasn't a sure thing though. Ura leaped down from the rock, re-opened the blood from her thumb pad and rubbed a single line of blood on the boulder. That chakra in the rock made the blood seep through the dense matter. Just in case a heat source came near that rock, the blood in the rock would activate and Ura would instantly see who was by the rock.

"Your jutsu is quite impressive... I want it."

She turned to see a tall man, much taller than 6ft staring down at her with golden eyes. His short white hair rustled in the wind as his gray, slim body seemed to sway carelessly in the wind. Where was his headband? A man that fast couldn't be a normal human! Ura didn't show fear as she eyed him, "You like that? Then you're going to love what you see next."

"Entice me, woman," the man smirked as his body started morph.

Ura felt vomit rise from her esophagus as she watched his body form little bumps all over his skin. His head changed from normal to elongated as his pupils disappeared. The hair turned into more of a fur material as his limbs became shorter and a tail grew from his spine. What...what was this monster! Ura pulled out her metal umbrella as she hesitated on trying to figure out what she was fighting. Finally, he finally stopped forming and morphing to a giant kimono dragon lizard. Ura felt her nausea disappear as he ran at her at such a fast speed that she nearly forgot to jump away. He rammed into the rock she had her blood seep in as she landed behind him.

She used her umbrella as a canon as pulled a small trigger, releasing hundreds of poison/blood dripped hari at the lizard. To her surprise, it made a direct hit, but the lizard swung it's large tail at her. Ura dodge the attack, but the tail back back and sent her flying across the sand. She dug her umbrella into the ground, catching her fall and braced the impact it had on her body. Getting back on her feet, Ura removed the hari by yanking on her umbrella, pulling out the hari with her chakra string attached to the umbrella. Her eyes glowed that same crimson red as she saw through the lizard-man. What shocked her the most was that he had the ability to morph his organs to that of a lizard's body as well. He became cold blooded...his organs were enlarged... This man...was he able to morph perfectly into anything he wanted?

It looked like the lizard-man smirked as he gazed into her crimson eyes. Ura could see that the poison had no affect on his body... All she had to do was survive and give Gaara a report on what she had seen. The lizard-man's body began to morph again, causing Ura to put her umbrella in front of her again in case she had to defend herself. His arms grew longer, feathers sprouted from beneath his skin as his mouth turned hard in a beak-like manner. From a lizard, he turned into a large raven in the skies. Ura looked again at it's body, the wounds she put in him...we're all gone! Not only could this guy morph in animals, but he could also heal himself. Something was definitely wrong with this guy... Ura couldn't let him anywhere near the village or else he could fool the units.

Putting her hands together in a jutsu sign, she glared hard up at the raven-man as he dived down at her, "Blood Jutsu: Tsunami Sacrifice!"

Ura pulled out two hari, crossing her arms as she directed the points of each hari at her upper arms. In a second, she sliced her arms all the way down from her shoulders down to her wrists. It was a risky jutsu, but at least it would slow this guy down from getting away so someone could stop him if not her. Blood poured from her arms as the raven-man paused, watching what would happen next. Her blood hit the sand as she glared up at him as she held the jutsu hand sign. As soon as it hit the sand, the blood expanded to a wider and wider distance as it began to move in wave-like format. Soon, the wind picked up as Ura released the jutsu once she put enough chakra behind it. She picked up her umbrella as a smirk formed on her lips. Flipping her umbrella upside down, she stepped inside the umbrella as the blood that seeped from her arms to the blood on the ground began to grow higher and higher, as if it were large tsunami wave ready to crash down. Soon enough, Ura's umbrella acted like a sail boat as it sat at the very top of the large blood wave. Ura was at the highest point in the sky, glaring directly into the raven-man's eye.

She directed her umbrella forward as the wave grew three times as bigger, using up all of her chakra and quickly crashed over the raven-man right before he tried to fly away. It was no use, Ura felt him inside the tsunami blood wave. His wing smacked her off of her umbrella when they hit the ground, sending Ura into her own blood. They both smacked against rocks and other desert debree for several minutes before the jutsu end. Ura lain motionless on the ground, breath evading her as she tried to focus on sealing her two large cuts with her chakra. It would take her awhile, but it was time she didn't have. She rolled over to stare up at the same man...unharmed...

"No.." Ura groaned, trying to get a hari from her sleeve, "You..won't live.."

"I'm going to take your jutsu," he knelt beside her, as he pulled out a kunai, "I want your blood jutsu. Then, i'm going for your Kazekage, I want his demon."

"Gaara..." Ura looked up at the man with tired eyes, "I can't...let you... He's..he's mine.."

"This will be painful, my dear," he grinned as he lightly stabbed her chakra points, "I'll be surprised if you live through this."

He placed his hand over her body as his hand turned into a serpent's head, opening his wide mouth and sucking out the red chakra that was her kekkei-genkai. Ura's eyes widened to the maximum length as she felt something stab at her body. Her organs were fighting the suction jutsu that this man was using to steal her genetic ability. The pain grew heavier each second until Ura screamed, struggling to free herself, but her body was too tired and weak to obey her command. Her screams were empty in the desert, no one could hear her. Tears streamed out of her eyes, her body was growing weaker and weaker as she felt her life being stolen from her. It wasn't fair... Gaara didn't know... Nothing...

In a second, it stopped. Was she dead? Ura silenced herself as she looked up at the man, someone had gotten his attention. She turned her head to the left side and saw a young girl glaring at the man with her light brown eyes. Who was that girl? Ura couldn't tell from the loss of blood, "No...get away..."

"Get away from my sister!" screamed the girl as she used her small, hand-held fans to throw rocks at him, "Leave her alone!"

"Leila..." Ura groaned, but the man was growing irritated at the intrusion.

He got up and turned to the girl, "I'll just have to kill you..."

"Leila," Ura watched as her academy student sister took a step back, she couldn't let her sister die...

Ura put her hands together in a jutsu sign and dissolved into blood in the sand with what little chakra she had left, reappearing in front of Leila as she glared at the man with her crimson eyes. Her body was so weak... There was little she could do to save herself and her sister from this evil man. He grinned wickedly at them as his serpent hand turned into a beastly claw of a bear, "I want your jutsu... I can't kill you just yet. But, you are not a threat to me now, i'll just finish the Kazekage before I get to you."

Her heart nearly stopped as he turned into a regular-looking raven and flew towards Suna. Ura fell to her knees as her body began to shut down on her. No... Ura felt her hot tears go to the sand... She wouldn't let Gaara die. Leila tried to help Ura up, but the child wasn't strong enough yet. So, Leila lightly shook Ura, "We can't let him go to the Lord Kazekage, c'mon Ura we need to go!"

"Leila... Stay here, don't move from this spot," Ura turned to her little sister, holding her small shoulders, "Stay here and hide. Don't come home until I come for you, understand?"

"But, Ura-"

"I mean it, Leila!" Ura yelled as she glared harder at her sister, "Stay here and don't move an inch!"

Leila nodded reluctantly and went to the rocks, hiding in the small shadows. Ura looked to the village, no one was noticing the bird flying towards them. She had to tell Gaara immediately and stop this man from getting Shukaku from Gaara. Against what her body wanted to do, Ura got back on her feet and ran as fast as she could until she finally reached the first Patrol Unit, "He's an enemy! Warn the Kazekage quickly! Look to the sky and find a raven, he can morph!"

Without acknowledging her, they obeyed her quick commands as Ura entered the city. She still had to tell Gaara, but someone reached him first. Gaara stood at the tallest building with his arms crossed as sand poured from his gourd. Ura watched in horror as the raven turned back into that man in front of Gaara on top of the mansion. She couldn't let Gaara get hurt, even if it meant that her body collapsed from such a beating!

'Fuck...fuck...FUCK!' Ura thought as she leaped from roof-to-roof, trying to get to the scene as fast as she could.

"God dammit," Ura cursed beneath her breath as she saw Gaara already attacking the man as he turned into that lizard again.

Gaara deflected the lizard-man from getting close again, but Ura leaped onto the scene with her arms crossed in front of the lizard-man, "I said you're not going to hurt him and I meant it!"

"Foolish, woman, you're getting in the way!" the lizard-man spoke in low voice as it glared at her, "I should've taken your jutsu while I had the chance."

"That's a mistake you're going to regret!" Ura growled as she pulled out a hari twice as long as the normal hari, "I'm going to end this!"

She ran at him as Gaara tried to stop her, but Ura knew what her plan meant. As she came closer and closer, Ura saw him open his mouth at the last moment as she went to stab his head. Though it was going to hurt, it was necessary. She stuck her hand inside his mouth as he snapped it shut. Using her muscles to catch the blow for her bones, her blood seeped inside his mouth as his own purple blood dripped onto her hand. She managed to turned the hari vertically to get an identification on his blood. He was a natural morpher, but he had stolen other kekkei-genkai abilities to make him almost invincible. Almost was the key word of choice.

"Ura... You're done," Gaara called to her, but she wouldn't have that.

Ura used her free hand to pry his mouth open with all of her strength she had left, removing her hand from the hari in his mouth as she leaped away. She remained in front of Gaara as she glared at the lizard-man with a jutsu handsign, "I won't let you leave with Gaara's Shukaku spirit! Not while i'm alive to stop it!"

"Ura, you have no more chakra left in you," Gaara grumbled angrily as his sand was ready for his use, "Let me fight."

"No!" Ura stated as she watched the lizard-man trying to get the hari out of his snout, "Gaara, you mean too much to your people and to that one woman out there. Without you, their lives are in danger. To save them is to save you, and i'll be here to protect you until my last dying breath."

She watched as the lizard-man morphed back to his own body, glaring at Ura with such hatred. They ran at each other, he landed the punch on Ura and then went to Gaara. Ura was knocked to the ground, but not unconscious. Her body felt like a heavy brick and each movement caused severe pain as she got back on her feet, pulling out another hari. She ran back at the man, but he turned and kicked her stomach. That swift kick sent her flying near the edge of the building, but she stopped herself from falling off. Ura pulled herself back up to the top, but she saw Gaara get blind-sided and fell on his side. The man toppled Gaara, using his own face like a serpent and began that loud suction jutsu. Ura watched as Gaara tried to fight back by keeping Shukaku at bay, but it wasn't enough. She got back on her feet as fast as she could to stop this man, yelling as she leaped into the air to send him away. The main raised his hand to her again, using a serpent like head to suck out her kekkei-genkai. Ura felt the same pain again, screaming in agony as she felt that stabbing pain in her organs as they tried to fight back. It felt like an eternity until Ura finally felt her body give up on her. Her last sight was seeing Gaara motionless, he was gone too...

:::::::::

A Few Days Later

:::::::::

Kankurou sat by Ura's bed side in the medic ward. The man who put her and Gaara's affliction had gotten away, but it was said he had taken a hostage as well. Gaara's condition was worse than Ura's, Shukaku was his own life force. It was almost too late...but Lady Chiyo used her ultimate sacrifice and gave Gaara his life back. Kankurou had went to the funeral for Lady Chiyo and hoped her spirit was in a better place. He glanced over at Ura and felt a pain in his chest, she didn't have her kekkei-genkai anymore. She had risked that in order to try and save Gaara. On the other hand, Gaara was up and well again. The Kazekage frequently visited Ura in hopes of finding her awake. Each visit was a little more depressing from the last, or that's what the nurses told Kankurou.

Ura had used all of her chakra and body strength to get to Gaara. It was a miracle she wasn't dead from pure exhaustion. Kankurou didn't leave her side, only to eat, bathe, and use the bathroom. Besides those three excuses, he didn't move an inch. Temari had sent word of the attack to the Leaf personally, so it would take her awhile to come back and check on their old friend.

"N..ngh..."

He turned to see Ura stirring, her light brown eyes started to become visible. Kankurou smiled warmly as he took her hand softly, "Well, hey there."

"Kankurou? Where's..where is..Gaara buried?" Ura asked as tears formed in her eyes.

She had thought Gaara died apparently. Kankurou rubbed her hand softly as he murmured, "Gaara is alive, he's going to be just fine."

"But.."

"Lady Chiyo gave Gaara her own life to save him," Kankurou explained, "Hold on, I need to tell the nurses you've awakened."

"Alright.." Ura closed her eyes again, probably to sleep some more.

Kankurou informed the nurses, but went to go see a certain Kazekage. There was some more information to tell that Ura probably wasn't going to be too happy to hear. He was tired of seeing Ura sad, giving up her hopes and dreams all because Gaara was too blind to see. Plus, he had heard from Naruto that Ura was seeing Sasuke. It was too risky to have Ura trying to find peace with the Uchiha. Just thinking about it made Kankurou's stomach knot up in anger. She needed Gaara, she needed to know he was alive, and she needed him to be happy. Kankurou could tell Gaara needed Ura just as bad as she needed him. Gaara constantly looked for her approval, lavished her room for her, gave her the position just below his in order to see her somewhat happy with her life. They had to face it, Ura needed to come clean and Gaara needed to stop playing the fool. Kankurou roughly entered the mansion, following the stairs that led to his little brother's office.

Gaara was sitting at his desk when Kankurou came in, "Good, i've been meaning to ask you about-"

"It's Ura, dammit," Kankurou stated as he walked in, slamming the door shut that made Gaara put down his pen, "I've been giving you hint after hint after hint that it was Ura the entire time. She just woke up and has given her strongest weapon away for you in hope that she could've saved you. Now go down there and ask forgiveness from her!"

He sat in his chair. Ura. All along it was Ura. That couldn't be. No way. Gaara looked up at Kankurou with confusion, "Ura doesn't feel that way towards me, it isn't true."

"Face it, Gaara, Ura loves you with everything that she is. If you don't feel the same, then tell her so she can move on with her life," Kankurou stated angrily, "Because there are guys like me out there who are hoping to take her from you."

It was true then. Gaara felt some warmth in his heart knowing that Ura loved him. It made him smile slightly, he was needed by her. She needed him, not because he was a Kazekage, but because she truly loved him. Gaara stood up from his desk, he had to go pay a visit to the woman he needed to see.