Naruto

Of course Naruto wanted to help Gaara, they were becoming friends and they had a connection that went deeper than that, not in a "Oh my God, I'm totally crushing on Gaara!" way, they just knew each other's pain in a way no one else could understand. But when Naruto found out that he could not go alone, he was not happy.

"But I'll be WAY faster if I go alone!" Naruto wined to Sakura, the other ninja on his team.

Sakura rolled her eyes at him, already growing impatient and annoyed. They had only been walking to the border for about three minutes and already she wanted to beat him into the ground. Don't get her wrong, she really cares for Naruto and they are really close friends, but he was just so annoying to her.

"Gaara needs a full squad, maybe even two. I think Guy Sensei's team will be coming too," Sakura explained.

"They came last time!" Naruto exclaimed. "Can't we just say they came but they didn't?"

This time, Sakura punched him in the head. "SHUT UP YOU IDIOT! GAARA NEEDS ALL THE HELP HE CAN GET SO GET OVER YOURSELF!"

She kept walking and left Naruto in a pile. "Why does she have to be so mean?" that knuckle-head ninja asked.

Within the next few minutes, an annoyed pink-haired ninja and a scared blond ninja came to the border where they met up with Shikamaru and Temari.

"You guys coming too?" Sakura asked.

Shikamaru shrugged and sighed. "Yeah, it's a total drag but Temari wants to so I have to go 'cause I'm her escort and all."

Temari ignored that comment and waved over Naruto and Sakura's heads. "Hey, Tenten, Lee, Neji over here!"

Within the next hour, they seven young ninja and Kakashi and Guy left the village to go and help Gaara.

Sumara

I crossed my arms when I saw his red hair poking out from behind a log used to throw weapons at. "Did you really think I wouldn't find you?"

I heard him sigh. Man, did this guy have a lot of air stuck in him or something? Again, thoughts locked up in my head. It was kind of ironic to able to hear what everyone else was thinking consciously and subconsciously but no one really knew what I was thinking. I never really talked a lot. Talking to Gaara, finding Gaara, was the most amount of human interaction I've had in three years. Ever since IT happened…no I wasn't going to think about that.

"Do you want something?" he asked.

I walked forward so he would talk to me, look me in the eyes. I needed him to see me, just for a moment. I needed to see him, to see that he wasn't a monster. I did not want him to be a monster.

"I don't bite, at least, not anymore," Gaara growled.

I wanted to so badly to just leave and get this whole thing over with. I just wanted my village safe from whatever was happening. But I knew I needed to somehow know this strange guy. I was scared, and I know it would be a bit insensitive to let him see it, but I knew he saw it in my eyes. I would not come any closer. I wanted to, God dammit did I want to, but I was glued to the spot only a few feet away.

"I guess I should be used to this by now, having people be afraid. I mean, I died and then came back to life and I no longer feel like a monster. But," he paused, "just because I don't feel it, does it make it true? Just because I do not feel the monster inside, begging for blood and carnage and to be set free, does that mean I still do not hold the effects? I wear the face all know to be of the monster. What am I, if not some small insignificant existence?"

I did not gasp. I did not step away. I felt the strains in my body loosen and I stepped closer to him, but very carefully, as if this vulnerable side with go away and then he will be the Kazekage, the one who needed to be indifferent in order to keep himself away. I was about a foot away from him now.

"You are Gaara, the Kazekage. You are not a monster, and from what I've heard, you never were. All you were was its vessel. You carried it in you and now you no longer have its burden. You can now be your own person, you can feel." I stopped myself from reaching out to him. What the hell? This was wrong, all wrong. I didn't even know where these words were coming from. All I knew was that they were right, and he needed to hear them. So then maybe, he'll know that he is not a monster, maybe then he'll know he can stop being alone.

"Stop," he whispered.

"What?"

"You don't even know me. Please, just stop. No more. No more. Stop."

What had I done? Was I being too personal or something? He was right, I hardly knew him. I stepped away, back far enough so I could hardly see his face.

"Thank you, for trying to help my people. But I think we can take care of ourselves now." I turned to go. I was ready to leave. This was all too much. Too much talking. Too much feeling. Just too much. Too much Gaara.

"Wait," he called, his voice sounding ragged. "Do not leave, not yet. Your people are in great danger. I do not know of what, but we have had issues with it too. Do not leave."

I didn't turn around. I wanted to believe his words. I actually knew I could believe him, could trust him. But this was not the time. I can take care of myself, and my village. So I just kept walking.

I heard footsteps hit the ground, as if landing from above. This time, I did turn around. It was that Naruto kid. And he was not alone.

Gaara

Sumara did not listen to him, only kept walking. Gaara knew she was going to leave. And if she left, she would die.

"Hey, Gaara!" he heard a familiar voice call. Gaara looked up and let out a low gasp. They were already there.

"Naruto," was all he said in response.

Gaara saw Sumara turn around and freeze. She knew who this blond ninja was. She knew he and Gaara had fought. Sumara stayed absolutely still.

"That was quick," Gaara remarked as more and more of the Leaf ninja assembled. Gaara recognized all of them, and even his older sister was there.

Naruto put his arms behind his head and grinned. "Yeah well, we're pretty cool that way." Sakura smacked him in the back of the head. Somehow, she just needed to get the message through that he was being totally stupid.

Shikamaru turned and noticed Sumara, but said nothing. Rock Lee was the one to notice.

"And who is this fair maiden?" he asked when he scurried up close to her.

Sumara just glared at Lee, took a big step back and said, "Not in your lifetime."

Gaara could not help but grin. He felt confused. He though she was funny. Gaara even kind of liked her, in a friend way of course. No more than that, he assured himself. Temari noticed his grin.

"Gaara, you okay?" she asked her brother.

Gaara was immediately back to indifference, though he was slightly pleased to see his sister. "Yes, I'm fine."

Temari glanced over her shoulder at the strange girl and back to her brother. What was going on?

Lee was still trying to get over the initial shock of being rejected. "But, I am perfect for you. I always train!"

"Yeah, well, I don't really care. You kinda creep me out.."

Sakura walked over to Sumara, raised her hand in a high-five. Sumara high-fived her with a confused expression. Sakura whispered, "Don't worry, he's just weird. He has a thing for me too."

Sumara just nodded slowly. Gaara watched her. Her long black hair was pulled back in a long braid, but he saw this one stray piece of hair that bobbed as she nodded.

"This is Sumara," Gaara said, finally introducing this girl unknown the his allies.

"I'm Temari, Gaara's big sister," Temari said with a peace sign.

"Shikamaru."

"Neji."

"Tenten."

"Sakura."

"Rock Lee."

"Kakashi Hatake."

"Guy."

"And, I'MMMMMMM--"

Sumara interrupted him. "I know who you are."

"Huh?"

"Don't ask," she responded, then started walking away.

"Wait, where are you--" Sakura began.

She was interrupted by Gaara. "Leave it, she needs to sleep. And you guys need to know what's going on, don' you?"

"Right!" they all said, even Guy and Kakashi.

"Follow me." And they all followed Gaara.

The early morning sun blossomed a bright orange and crimson as it climbed its way over the Sand Village's buildings. Gaara did not speak as he led the Leaf shinobi back to his room. He needed to stay focused. Sumara now knew the truth, whether or not that effects here is to be none of his concern. He just needed to keep her village safe, even if she no longer wished for his help.

When they finally reached his chambers, Gaara knew exactly what to say.

"For awhile now people have been being taken from the outskirts of this village. And now it is occurring in the Village Hidden in the Dreams, the village where Sumara is from. I have an idea what it is, but I need you," he nodded towards Kakashi and Guy, "to scout it out for me. While you're out I need the others to keep order in the village as well as asking the people from the Village Hidden in the Dreams about any sort of suspicions they have. I will speak with the Council."

They all nodded in agreement and Kakashi and Guy left. "You can go get some rest until everyone is supposed to be awake," Gaara told them.

"You should do the same," Naruto remarked.

He just nodded and the other ninjas left.

This whole thing was not going to be easy. The truth was, Gaara knew exactly what was taking all those people, but to speak its name would only mean summoning its presence. He did not even dare think its name. He needed to find its scroll. Every second counted. The more time that monster was left out in the open, the more powerful it would become. Gaara knew one thing for certain, if this beast reaches full power, they would all be dead.