Okay, I know I say this ALL the time, but I really am sorry for never updating! I have hit the biggest case of writer's block I have ever have. I'm starting to think I took on a challenge to big for me. But that doesn't mean I won't finish it! It will just take longer then I would like to admit. I am really, really sorry. This is not a complete chapter, but it's going to have to do for a little while. I will update this chapter when I can figure some things out. Again, sorry!

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"Alright," Suki said, drawing in a deep breath. "Kiyo kept talking about 'the day'. He said that Kyoko was the key to it all.

"What did he mean by 'key'?" Rai asked.

Suki shook her head, "I don't know. All I know is that in two days time, something bad is going to happen to your friends."

"He's really going to finish off the hidden leaf village." Kankuro said.

Suki nodded, "that I can almost promise you."

"Well we're not going to let that happen." Temari said, propping her fan on the ground and holding it out at an angle.

Everyone nodded in silent agreement.

"Where is this happening?" Rai asked.

"Inside Konoha; Kiyo plans on eliminating the guards and making his move in the center of the village."

"What's our first move?" Kankuro asked.

Suki looked at him, "We have to go get the others and get to Konoha as fast as possible."

"Hai,"

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"Get moving!" a gruff voice snarled. She was shoved viciously in the back and landed face down on the ground.

"Hey!" Ruuto yelled. She heard the dull thud of a punch and Ruuto doubled over on the ground clutching his middle. His breathing was raspy and he was gasping, trying to regain his breath.



"Lowlife," he managed.

"Want another one?" The burlesque man asked. He appeared to be enjoying himself as he watched the yellow haired boy grimace.

"Enough!" a voice roared annoyed.

Kyoko looked over to see Deiyo. He walked with more authority then he did the last time she saw him. He held his head higher, and his fists where clenched into tight fist and his knuckles were turning white. The man growled and mumbled incoherently under his breath, but left all the same.

"Are you okay?" Deiyo asked, extending a hand to Ruuto.

Ruuto stared at it for a moment before glaring and slapped the hand away.

"I'm fine," he said and slowly got to his feet.

Deiyo looked hurt by Ruuto's reaction, but suppressed it with a blank look. He rubbed the back of his head.

"Look, Kyoko, I'm sorry…I'm sorry about this, about everything."

"We don't need your sympathy." She snarled, touching Ruuto's arm.

"Then this is good-bye."

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"You…you what?" Naruto stood back is disbelief. How could Sasuke abandon his own child?

"You don't understand, it wasn't like that." Sasuke began to pace, a bead of sweat ran down his temple. "I though, I thought he was dead," a small sob escaped. "And now he's going to kill my baby girl."

Naruto could only stare. He had never seen Sasuke like this before. Never had he seen the great Sasuke Uchiha cry. Thrown for a loop, he was unsure what to do. Sasuke had always been the strong one, always the backbone of the group. Though Naruto would've liked to believe that it was he, he knew it had always been Sasuke.

Sasuke kept the group grounded and gave them direction. He had given both Naruto and Sakura a reason to work harder, try harder, to get stronger. Though for separate reason, regardless, Sasuke had. He had inadvertently pushed Sakura to be a better konoichi if only to gain his approval of her. She had become stronger over the time he had disappeared. She trained with Tsunade and became a skilled 

Medical Nin. When Sasuke finally did come back, he had nothing but admiration for her strength and skill; she was no longer the weak little girl he had strived to protect.

Naruto had also gotten stronger, if only to beat the hell out of Sasuke when he came back. He trained with Jiraiya and mastered so many new jutsus and gotten stronger. He was no longer the dopey yellowed haired kid when Sasuke came back; he was older, wiser, and more mature. They both had changed so much because and for Sasuke.

Sasuke was more than a friend. He was a lover, a brother, a father, a husband, a teammate; he was family. And for so long they had depended on him to be their strength, their drive for excellence, their need to be better. For so long they had derived their fire from Sasuke.

But now, Sasuke needed Naruto. He needed Naruto for strength, for comfort. He. Needed. Naruto.

Slowly, almost cautiously, Naruto approached his friend and wrapped his arms around him; hugging him.

Sasuke was shocked at first, then slowly began to relax in his friend's hug.

"Naruto,"

"Yeah?"

"Don't tell Sakura."

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"Come on!" Suki beckoned. Temari, Kankuro and Rai all ran out of the thicket, pressing themselves against the wall surrounding the village.

Rai took a few deep breaths. "Alright, on my signal, we move in."

Suki and Temari nodded.

"Wait," Kankuro said, stopping Rai. "Why on your signal? Who made you leader?"

Rai sighed and turned to the Sand Nin, "'Cause we all know you are an inadequate leader."

"Pffft! Name one time!"

The whole group sweat dropped.



"You don't want him to answer that," Temari said, patting his shoulder. Kankuro nodded dumbly and settled down.

Rai nodded to the group and began advancing. Slowly, careful not to make a…