First off: this chapter is shorter than the previous two but, it had to be that way so ... sorry about that.

Secondly: this story is becoming so much fun to write! And I beg you not to strangle me by the time you finish this chapter. I know you'll want to! I'm wicked, and I know it! bwahahaha xD

Again, this is my very first story so please be kind.

I do not have a beta so any mistakes that are made are purely my own.

And, once again, I do not own Naruto in any way, shape, or form. I just own this plot. I wish I owned Naruto though. But, alas, I do not. T^T

This story will eventually be yaoi so if that's not your thing then I suggest you turn away. And hit the back button.

Now off to the story!

The trip may have been long, but it was uneventful.

Despite stopping to rest, they set a brisk pace that, in the end, had led them to reaching Suna in just over two days. Temari had been there to greet them and had immediately led them to Gaara's office. He hadn't been there when they'd arrived, so Temari had asked them to wait inside while she tried to track him down.

An hour later Gaara walked in looking exausted and annoyed.

Naruto bit his lip knowing that since Shukaku had returned to Gaara his ability to sleep had returned to what it had been before ... non-existant. He'd thought that the two would find some common ground like he and Kurama had, but it didn't seem as if that was the case.

'You're reading into things too deeply Naruto. Shukaku wanted to return to Gaara to heal him, so I do not believe that they would have much trouble getting along'. Kurama grumbled inside his head.

Naruto nodded absently, which made Sasuke shoot him a questioning look. Naruto just shrugged and pointed to his seal. Sasuke inclined his head in acknowledgement.

Gaara sat down at his desk and eyed each of them in turn. His calm jade eyes flickering to an irritated glare at the sight of Sasuke before he shifted his gaze back to Naruto. His eyes softened immediately.

"I called the three of you here on a recovery mission," Gaara announced quitely.

"Recovery mission?" Sasuke growled out in disbelief. "Why couldn't you use your own shinobi for this? What, are they not capable enough?"

Naruto let out a groan when he saw Gaara tense up as if he were about to leap across the desk and strangle the Uchiha. "Shut up, teme! Gaara is Kazekage, he deserves to be treated with respect! He must have called us here for a reason! So just be silent and allow him to explain!"

"Hn," Sasuke grunted.

Gaara settled back in his seat, but kept a distrustful eye on the annoyed Uchiha.

"I recently received word that a shinobi we'd believed deceased was spotted in Grass country. I sent an envoy to check this out to uncover whether there was any truth to the rumors and the envoy sent back a coded message that it was, but that things were not what they seemed. The shinobi in question does not remember who he is and so he has been living as someone else for several months now. Your mission is to try to help him regain his memories, so that you may return him to his village. However, Naruto, do not try and force memories on him. My envoy has advised against that. This is a very delicate situation and must be handled carefully."

Naruto frowned. "Um, Garra? How are we going to get this man to remember who he is? I don't know the Suna shinobi very well an-"

"The man in question is from Konoha," Gaara interrupted, a slight smile on his face.

Naruto froze. Gaara rarely smiled. He'd only seen the man do so two other times in the entire time that he'd known him.

"Who?" Naruto croaked out, knowing that it was someone important to him judging by Gaara's smile.

"I am putting you in charge of this mission Naruto. All decisions are to be made by you. Sasuke and Yamato are your back up and will follow any and all orders you give them concerning this mission. Is this understood?" the red head questioned, his eyes never leaving the Uchiha's. Sasuke tilted his head to the side, studying the red head silently, before nodding his head. Yamato gave the Kazekage a brisk nod when the jade green eyes turned in his direction.

Satisfied, Gaara silently handed Naruto an envelope and gestured for him to open it. His heart was beating frantically in his chest and his hands were shaking so badly it was a wonder he didn't drop the envelope. He opened it with some trepidation. He pulled out a picture and felt his world tremble at the sight of a person he'd thought never to see again.

Ero-Sennin...

See. I warned you that you'd want to strangle me. You can't say that I didn't warn you.

I know it was evil of me to end the chapter this way but, I just couldn't help myself!

Edited: 6/22/2016