Kind of a short one, but I really couldn't think of much to add in this one. Some of the scenes in this story are more fillers for different parts in the story. Hopefully most of the ones after this will have more of a pupose and won't just be there so there's not as big of a gap between stories (not counting the first few with years in between). And Golden Dragon, thanks very much for all your reviews and helpful criticism, it's good to know what I'm doing wrong because I don't usually think everything through and make ridiculous mistakes. It's also good to know someone's reading this! ;P

Change of Heart

Temari ran alongside her two brothers, feeling the beginnings of fatigue but not letting it slow her pace. Speed was of the utmost importance if they were to get to their destinations in time.

Despite the gravity of the situation, Temari found her mind wandering back to a few hours ago...

Temari blinked in shock at Lady Tsunade's request. She didn't know the Uchiha kid all that well, but to find out that he left the Leaf Village of his own free will, and to Orochimaru? Though it did happen, it was rather rare to hear of a ninja leaving their village, especially one who never seemed to express desire to leave and then suddenly disappear.

But her surprise wasn't just the mission itself, it was who she had chosen that shocked her the most. Tsunade had chosen Temari and her siblings for the job. She knew that the Hokage had asked Suna for help to give them a chance to prove their re-established alliance, but to choose them, choose Gaara, for assistance? The last time Gaara had been in the Leaf, he had been taken over by Shukaku and run rampant during the Sand and Sound's attempt to wipe out the Leaf. Of course, Tsunade hadn't been in the village at the time, but there was no way, especially now that she was the Hokage, that she couldn't have heard about the attack on Konoha. So why would she trust Gaara to the mission, even if he had had a change of heart?

Maybe the Leaf is more trusting than the Sand, Temari speculated. It wouldn't be too far off. The Sand had always believed in the 'every person for themselves' rule. They were trained to let nothing get in the way of their duty, and taught to never make friends with anyone. They were independent and self-isolated. Trust was not something that fit in their way of life.

Returning to the present situation, Temari turned to look at her two brothers to see their reactions. Kankuro seemed hesitant to want to assist; she couldn't blame him, he had always been afraid of the consequences of breaking Suna's unwritten laws and it became somewhat of a habit for him to instinctively follow them. She knew he was a good person, and, in his own way, would be glad to help others. But he, like the rest of them, was used to Suna's reclusive ways and unaccustomed to the openness of countries like Konoha.

Her teal eyes shifted to her youngest brother. Gaara was completely still, no emotion but passiveness showing on his face. Temari, though, could see past his indifference through his pale green eyes to know what he was feeling. His eyes had lost the demonic look to them after his defeat against Naruto and it became much easier for her to see his emotions through them.

What she saw surprised her. Gaara didn't appear hesitant to help at all. In fact, he seemed almost eager to assist the Leaf. She couldn't understand why.

"Gaara...?" she trailed off.

"I owe the Leaf...I owe the Leaf a great debt."

It was those few words that made everything clear to Temari. Gaara wanted to repay Naruto for showing him there's more to life than killing others, and for showing him what it feels like to love.

She still couldn't believe that Gaara was so willing to help out, but she supposed that she was just used to the old Gaara and not the new one. Looking over at him, she could see the same sense of determination to help as she saw before. Her lips curved into a small smile. Naruto really had changed him. At first she didn't believe that an idiot like him could be capable of such a thing, but now she knew better.

Thank you, Naruto...Without you I may not have gotten my brother back.

She was indebted to Naruto now, and she intended to repay that debt by helping him and the others.