"Kakashi-Sensei, how long have the Akatsuki been targeting Naruto?" Sakura asked, as they ran through the trees. Naru was running behind them all, not saying a word but her body became very tense at the mention of her male name.

"...I think it's been about three years," he answered back.

"Why would they take so long to attack, if that's the case?" Sasuke asked, catching up with Kakashi.

"Perhaps because Jiraiya-Sama was always with him," he answered while leaping on a rock.

"I don't think that's the case. From what I've heard the Akatsuki needed time to prepare for the extraction of the Bijuu," Chiyo said, as she ran ahead of the others.

"If that's the case, why did they go after Naruto three years ago?" Sasuke growled out.

"I don't know about that but none the less as jinchūriki he's in just as much trouble as the rest of them," Chiyo said.

"What's a jinchūriki?" Sakura asked, causing Chiyo to go into a full explanation.

*Team Seven meets Itachi*

In front of them stood the dear brother of Sasuke.

"Hello brother, Kakashi. It has been awhile, hasn't it?" Itachi's eyes flickered between them but landed on Naru his gaze held no hatred but a look of knowledge; it was a sad look to say the least.

Sasuke flung himself at his older brother, only to find him farther back than before. The midnight haired brothers' fight went on for quite some time; Kakashi had joined in but Naru's body still refused to move, for Itachi had put her in a genjustu.

_In genjustu_

"It's nice to see you as well Naruto," Itachi said, smirking at the girl.

"Itachi…" she spoke softly.

"You've gone back to the leaf I see."

"Hn, of course just like for you it will always be my home."

"They don't know what you did, do they?" Naruto smirked dangerously at him.

"No, they don't." She threw her hands up in submission. "I highly doubt that they would care anyways, it's not like they like me." Itachi shook his head.

"No, I think they do like you, you just don't want to admit to it." Naruto glared at him.

"You say that and yet, you're holding an even bigger secret then me. Before you lecture me any more about it, how about you tell them that you're not a bad guy!"

"I can't do that and you know it, but I know that Sasuke will find out some day. I can only hope it will be you telling him and not Madara."

Naruto looked away from him. "Why do you always make things hard?" He gave her a sinister and sad smile.

"I'll see you again when the time is right, Naruto." Turning her eyes back to him she nodded.

"Thank you," he said as he slowly began to fade away.

_Back to fight_

With a painful gasp Naru opened her eyes, to see Sakura and Chiyo holding onto her shoulders. Her left eye began to twitch and as she swatted the hands off her she glared once again. "Don't touch me!"

Naru whipped around to watch the fight. She wasn't stupid; she knew that this was not Itachi but an imposter. With much needed strength back in her legs, she sprung herself at Itachi, her sword at his neck, ready to slice it off at any moment.

"Where are they hiding?" she asked with an impatient tone.

"You think I'm going to tell you?"

"I thought you would say that," and with a swift movement of her hand Naru slashed the man's throat open, and allowed him to fall to the ground. Taking out a small rag, she swiftly wiped blood off her sword so it wouldn't rust.

"It's an imposter," Kakashi said in disbelief.

"He's also one of the ninjas from my village," said Chiyo voice having a disbelieving tone.

Naru sneered at her; "What do you think, your village is completely innocent?"

"N-No of course not..." Naru didn't respond to her; she simply moved on to the way they had been running.

"She's such a snob!" Sakura gasped out.

(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)

Team seven tapped down next to Team Gai. There was a field of grass that went waist high, covering the entrance to the cave Gaara was being held, as well as a massive bolder, that made it so no one could get in.*

Naru stood away from her team and simply looked away from them, lost within her own thoughts.

"Kakashi, who is that girl?" Gai asked leaning over Kakashi's shoulder.

"She's the new member of our team," he answered back.

Lee suddenly appeared next to Naru's side and went down on one knee, gently grabbing her hand in his; he looked up at her with twinkling eyes.

"Sweet golden rose, would you be ever so gracious as to go on a date with me, after we finish this mission?"

Naru's mouth opened and closed several times making her look like a fish. Closing her mouth, she tipped her head ever so slightly to the side and allowed a small soft smile to grace her lips. Her cheeks were ever so slightly pink only making her look sweeter.

"I'm currently not wanting to go into a relationship with anyone," almost immediately Lee's face fell but Naru didn't let go of his hand just yet, "but I would still love to go out with you as a friend," Naru spoke softly, but her voice was strong enough that everyone could hear her.

She didn't have it in her heart to be mean to him. Lee just had an air around him that made the blonde feel like she was talking to a very enthusiastic child.

Lee bolted off the ground, ran over to Gai, and pulled him into a joyful hug.

"That's good for you!" Gai said, patting Lee's head.

Sasuke and Sakura were looking at Naru, who had already lost her smile and was looking at the giant boulder that was holding them back from saving Gaara.

"It's a Five Seal Barrier," she said softly.

"What is that?" Tenten asked her. Glancing at Tenten for a moment only to look back at the tag on the boulder.

"It means there are four other tags that also have to be pulled off, at the same time as this one, in order to get in there at all."

"I see! Get working Neji, my boy and find these tags then!" Gai said proudly.

"Understood," Neji said, as he activated his Byakugan, finding the placements for each one and giving out their places.

"All right! Now put on these radios and all of us will go off towards one of the locations!" Gai said happily. Doing as he said Team Gai scattered off towards their destinations. Together as one team Gai and Kakashi tore off the tags, while Sakura ran towards the boulder.

Smashing her fist into the boulder even then it didn't break only leaving a small crack.

"What the?" she said stunned.

"Move."

Everyone turned around to Naru, who had a sharp mean look in her eyes.

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked dumbly.

"Move now or I'll smash you into the wall as well!" Naru said, while tightening her left glove.

Sakura's eyes grew wide, as Naru sped off in her direction, ready to smash in the boulder. She just narrowly moved, in time as Naru successfully cause the boulder to crumble.

Promptly they jumped in on Kakashi's cue. The sight they saw was shocking. Deidara was sitting on Gaara's corps while Sasori sat next to him.

"Well if it isn't the blond jinchūriki, un," Deidara said, in a smart-aleck tone of voice.

Everyone looked at Naru, who was trembling with rage. "You bastards get the fuck off Gaara Nii-Chan!" she yelled out, while glaring at them with blood red eyes, shocking everyone else.

"Hm, it seems she didn't learn her lesson the last time we saw her, did she Sasori my man, un."

Strong tears were slipping down Naru's cheeks now, as she did all she could to hold herself back.

"I wonder if she's just as weak as she was last time..." Sasori taunted her.

"I agree, even after we nearly killed her, she still doesn't get it, un."

Without warning Naru flashed from her spot and appeared on the other side of the cave, smashing Deidara into the wall.

"I dare you to say more!" she growled in his face. Deidara tried to speak but coughed up blood instead. Naru being so intent on chocking Deidara didn't notice when Sasoris tail flew in her direction.

Sasuke was getting ready to go help her, when a sudden white flash passed by him, stopping Sasori's tail in its tracks.

Naru's crimson gaze flickered off Deidara for a moment to look behind her. "Good job Kota."

Kota, was a white fox that was much too large for her species. Like Naru she also had dark blood red eyes, that were glaring up at Sasori as she held on to his tail with her teeth.

"Of course, the nine-tailed brat would use foxes as her summons." Naru showed her long canines as a fierce growl escaped her lips.

"I'm going to kill you."

"I would like to see you try," Sasori taunted again. Letting go of Deidara's throat, Naru ran at Sasori at full speed, paying no attention to the long poles covered with poison coming her way. With great skill she dodged under them and kept up her charge. Half way near her target she pulled out her katana and sliced at the poles causing them to go limp.

Suddenly Naru felt her katana being torn from her hands. Ignoring the fact that her weapon had been snatched away, Naru kept up on her charge.

"Naruto-Sama," Kota said as she came near Naru to charge with her.

"Hold back the puppet Kota," she said, leaving Kota to take care of a newly summoned puppet, knowing full well the female fox would be safe.

Pulling out a single kunai, Naru threw it as a distraction. As she used the few seconds she got from the distraction, she made the rasengan. Running at her attacker again, she quickly maneuvered around him crashing the rasengan into his back. His body dispersed into several different pieces scattering along the cave floor.

Naru looked back to see Deidara struggling against her team. Walking away to assist them, she failed to notice when Sasori's new body moved towards her., along with her sword in his hand.

A sudden pain in her stomach, caused her to call out a feeble scream, as she came crashing to her knees.

*I know very well that the scene was a water seen but I changed the place as I had to fit it to the story it's a minor change but it was necessary for later in the story.