Declaimer: I own nothing in this fanfic, but my created characters they abilities and Jutsu and that is about all I own "Goes to corner and starts crying"

Writing: Italic: thought, Bold: Bijuu or summoning speaking.

"Even in the soul of darkness, the heart of light will still remain." Timothy Guske sent by J. Hellscythe

"It's not a sense of justice. Protecting my friends, and finding my own path is how I live life. If you measured good and evil deeds by current laws, I would be responsible for many crimes. The same way you like to hone your skills and live your own lives, for me too it's simply prolonging something I enjoy doing. That's why I only fight those that pique my interest; it's not justice at all. And if it means being able to protect a friend or becoming stronger, I don't and will not play fair. I'm a dishonest, cheating human being who hates losing." - Unknown

Returning from his mission, Naruto hadn't even bothered removing the kunai sticking out of his flak jacket; despite everyone insisting that he did. After three years, Naruto's hair got a little longer and more untamed then before. The whisker marks on his cheeks were deeper and longer. His clothing now consisted of a normal Konoha flak Jacket, because every time he made a special one it was destroyed beyond repair. His pants were solid black, but had red fire at the hems that branched off into nine distinct tail shapes. He wore a long zipped up orange and black jacket. "I told you I'm fine," Naruto insisted as he kept walking. The mission was a simple escorting a figure head back to his country, but some bandits decided to intervene. Kakashi, Naruto, and Haku managed to deal with them before anyone got hurt.

"Look, just because you are a Jonin now, doesn't mean that-." Hearing the boy sigh, Kakashi ducked as Naruto pumped chakra into the kunai and sent them flying back into the forest.

"There happy," Kakashi looked up and saw a grinning Naruto looking down at him. Naruto did get a promotion to Jonin a few days ago, but this was his first mission he had to lead. Kakashi was there to do a performance examination to see how the boy handled under the stress and Haku was Naruto's choice to accompany him. Haku hadn't changed that much in the time that had passed, she still wore a kimono, but it now had patches of thin armor on it. She had also became a Chunin, but was on the way to becoming a Jonin.

"Yes, because now Hinata won't be in a panic seeing kunai sticking out of your back," Kakashi grumbled out as he straightened his shirt. Shaking his head, Naruto entered Konoha and chuckled at the Hokage Monument. After many days of begging and prodding, Sarutobi finally convinced Tsunade to take the Hokage title, but he was still around in the council, providing the princess support when needed. In his wildest dreams, Naruto would've never had thought that Tsunade would take the mantle of Hokage, but she did and now here they were. Returning to the tower, Naruto found Tsunade trying to ignore the snickering of Sarutobi who was standing next to her.

"Having fun," Naruto's voiced, but only got glare from the woman, before returning to the paperwork. "Well, diplomat is back in his country." Naruto kind of just trailed off as he noticed someone blooded running through the streets. Thinking it was some crazed man, Naruto was about to ignore it, when he noticed the hat; it was the hat of the Kazekage strapped to his back. It was at that point, Naruto realized it was Sakin. Sakin ignored the guards at the tower and jumped up to the window. Breaking through the window, Sarutobi, Tsunade, and Kakashi went on guard, but Sakin simply slunk to the ground.

"Help," was all Sakin muttered as he looked at the current Hokage with one of his eyes closed. Tsunade rushed to the man's side and began to heal him as much as she could. Naruto walked forward and it was almost an instant reaction. Sakin's gold dust grabbed Naruto and pulled him until they were almost face to face. "They… took Gaara." Sakin passed out after that.

"Send a message to Suna and tell them their Kazekage is injured and in Konoha," Sarutobi yelled at the approaching guards, but just then two new arrivals appeared in the window. It was Temari and Kankuro. "What is going on, why is Sakin covered in wounds?!" Kankuro didn't seem to care about his father's appearance, but Temari looked about on the verge of tears.

"I have to start from what father told us," Temari stated, Sarutobi nodded his head for her to continue. "Well, it was about two days ago…"

XXX

"Enough!"

The council around Sakin shuddered at their leader's anger, but the oldest looking of the group spoke up once more. "Your son is still our Jinchuriki, that means he must use the power of the Bijuu to defend us," despite the look of absolute death Sakin gave him, the man continued. "It is his duty." Before anyone could move the man was surrounded by spears made from gold dust.

"If you don't want to die here and now, I suggest you shut up," Sakin's voiced with the most serious tone anyone had every seen.

"You can't I'm part of the council," the man was shaking when Sakin chuckled.

"You won't be that hard to replace," Sakin stated with no emotion in his voice. Everyone at that point decided to shut up about Gaara. After concluded the meeting, Sakin sighed as he leaned back in his chair.

"They will never accept me," Sakin smiled as he recognized the voice. Seeing his son sitting on the window seal, Sakin held out his hand to accept his son's mission scroll.

"How did everything go," Sakin asked with general concern in his voice.

"Fine," Gaara concluded quickly before making towards the door.

"I don't care about what they think Gaara," Sakin stressed, but only got a suspicious look from his son. "The last time I did it nearly cost you everything, but now you have friends and your brother and sister love the new you."

"I… appreciate it, Kazekage," Gaara stated. Sakin sighed at that, even after everything, his son still called him, Kazekage. He expected it after all he had done, but he thought they had made some progress. "Is that everything, sir?" Before Sakin could answer a giant explosion rocked the village. Turning around in his chair, Sakin saw nothing, but fire and people running for their lives.

"Gaara stay here," Sakin ordered, but seeing his son about to retort, Sakin turned on him. "Stay. Here." Gaara nodded his head, as his father disappeared in a swirl of gold dust. Appearing on top of a building, Sakin scanned the area. Hearing laughter, the Kazekage turned to see a man sitting atop a giant clay bird. He was wearing a black cloak with red clouds with a straw hat concealing his face.

"Isn't my art beautiful," the cloaked individual threw back his head, while gesturing to the destruction. Sakin narrowed his eyes, not recognizing the man. He had blue eyes with long blond hair, but the weirdest thing was the device attached to his left eye. "But I know you don't appreciate the value of my art, so I'll make a deal. Give us your Jinchuriki and I'll leave your village be." The answer came in the form a large amount of Gold Dust erupting all around him.

"How about this," Sakin's voice almost became demonic. "I grind you into the very ground we walk on!" Throwing his hands down, the dust came crashing down all around the attacker.

"It seems he doesn't like that plan, Sasori," at that moment, Sakin froze, not because of the name, but because he couldn't get his gold dust to move.

"It seems that way, Deidara," turning towards the gruff voice, Sakin thought he was seeing a ghost.

"Sandaime Kazekage," Sakin stuttered out, but Sakin knew it wasn't truly him. The sole reason why was because of the clanking sound of puppet mechanics coming from him.

"Not exactly, but yes," the gruff voice came from behind the puppet. "I killed him and turned him into a human puppet. He still possesses all the abilities he did in life, but he is just a puppet." Sasori emerged from behind the puppet, but Sakin only stared at him in confusion. He didn't look like Sasori, but that wasn't what was important. "Now, you can die for trying to be a pest." Sakin watched as black dust emerged out of the Kazekage's open mouth.

"Iron sand," Sakin couldn't wrap his head around what he was seeing, but quickly snapped back as he heard something whizzing towards him. Focusing his magnet based chakra; Sakin stopped the Iron before it could reach him, but heard something else; something falling. Looking up, Sakin saw what appeared to be a giant clay doll.

"Remember this, art is an explosion," Deidara yelled. Sakin's eyes widened as he still couldn't get his Gold dust to move. That was when he saw the sand moving. The explosion smacked against a giant dome of sand that shielded Sakin and the village from the impact.

"Now it's even," Gaara voiced as he appeared out of the building, using the sand based buildings for travel. Standing next to Sakin, Gaara's sand encircled him. As the Iron Sand retracted, Sakin glared at his son.

"I told you to stay there," Sakin growled out.

"I know, but I chose not to listen," Gaara responded. Sakin was slightly mad at his son, but in the current situation he couldn't be all that mad.

"Alright you can help, but please be careful," Sakin begged and got a nod from Gaara.

"So the beast finally come too us," Sasori looked up at Deidara and nodded his head. "Well, time for you to come with us." The response was the building that Sasori was standing being crumbled back to its sand base. As the sand encircled the puppet user, Sasori only chuckled. Suddenly the dome exploded as the puppet Kazekage's Iron Sand expanded around Sasori. "You have no chance; the Iron Sand was made to be an improvement on Shukaku's sand. It may be a little slower, but it is more durable then your sand." Twitching his left finger, the Iron Sand shot forward, but was stopped by Sakin's own magnetic chakra.

"You forgot about me," Sakin stated with seriousness. "I'm also a wielder of that Kekkei Genkai."

"Oh, I didn't forget," Sasori stated. Sakin was confused until he heard the crumbling. Looking down, Sakin narrowly dodged Iron spikes that nearly got him. "I just have to keep your attention away from my idiotic companion." Sakin looked up just as Deidara threw what looked like spiders down at the two. Gaara concealed himself and Sakin under his sand as they waited for the explosions, but they never came.

"Something isn't right here," just as Sakin said this he saw the lining of the sand slowly move. That was when Sasori's voice came to mind; 'All I have to do is keep your attention away from my idiotic companion.' Looking at his son, Gaara realized he had trapped them in a dome lined with bombs. From the outside Deidara and Sasori watched as the dome exploded from the bombs.

"Isn't beautiful, Sasori," Deidara snickered at his companion who only scoffed. Looking back at the explosion site, Deidara could see something shining from inside. As the dust cleared, they saw a small coffin big enough for one.

"So he saved himself instead of his own child, the bastard really didn't care did he," Sasori spoke too soon as the Gold Dust crumbled, standing inside was Gaara. Hearing a thud, Gaara turned and stared at his father. Burns covered his body as blood slowly dripped from his eye. Instead of feeling nothing, Gaara felt something new surge from him; fear. Fear that his dad was dying. "He took the blast. I hoped he would save himself, making it easier on us, but I guess he does care."

"Why did you do that," Gaara yelled, but Sakin only stared at him for a few seconds.

"Because you are my son and I will protect you," putting his hand on Gaara's shoulder, Sakin shoved his son off the nearly destroyed building. "Please run from this place, Gaara." Gaara tried to get his sand to catch him, but Sakin simply swept him away with his Gold Dust. Looking up at his opponents, Sakin's Gold Dust encircled him.

"I've already killed one Kazekage, I don't mind putting another one on that list," Sasori stated as he positioned the Sandaime Kazekage puppet in front of him.

"I'm not afraid to die for my son," Sakin stated as he watched the Iron Sand slowly emerge from the puupet. "But I'm not dying alone!" Jumping forward, iron crashed against gold, but out of the corner of his eye, Sakin saw Deidara attempting to go after Gaara. "Fuck you!" Deidara turned just as a spinning blade of gold cut off his arm.

"Why didn't you stop that," Deidara screamed at Sasori.

"It was aimed for your chest," Sasori answered. Keeping his focus on the battle, Sasori could tell that Sakin wasn't giving up. In the swirling mass of gold and iron, Sakin vanished. Surprised, Sasori looked around for the Kazekage. Looking behind him, Sasori saw a gold covered fist entering his field of vision. Taking the punch, Sasori was sent flying through the buildings. Sakin could barely breath, taking the explosion was starting to catch up and his vision was starting to get blurry.

"Now I'll kill you before he comes back," Sakin growled out, but heard Deidara chuckle.

"You people are so stupid," Deidara countered. "Did you think I would just let stand their without some sort of punishment?" Realizing what he meant, Sakin jumped away just as the ground he was standing on exploded. Flying back, Sakin's head smacked against the wall causing him to crumple. Lying on the ground, Sakin slowly fade in and out as he struggled to move, but was stopped when blade entered his vision. "So we kill him and then we retrieve the Jinchuriki?"

"Yes, otherwise he will remain a pain," Sasori's voiced, but it was slightly clearer. "I will admit he was good at dodging my poisoned Iron Sand, but now he is just a dying dog waiting to be put down." Before his eyes closed, Sakin saw the sand beneath move and only one thought entered his mind.

"Gaara."

XXX

Tsunade finished on Sakin just as Temari finished. "When he came to, Gaara was gone and so was those two," Temari voice was filled with dread for her little brother. "He didn't even wait for medical to check him further, he ran straight here, we followed just to make sure he didn't die from it."

"They attacked your village, where the hell was the rest of your Shinobi," Naruto voiced, furious that Gaara had been captured.

"We were busy trying to stop the fires and explosions, by the time we realized what was happening, it was already too late," Temari looked at the ground ashamed of herself. "He tried to defend Gaara, but he was too injured and having to face the puppet of the Sandaime Kazekage, he should be dead."

"He has a fractured rip and a concussion on top of several other variables," Tsunade stressed. "He shouldn't be even able to move."

"Gaara," Sakin awoke once more and stared directly at Naruto. "I tried to protect him and failed. Please, save him. I'm asking for your help to save my son."

"I accept," Naruto stated without any sort of thought. Despite hearing how strong these two guys were, Naruto was determined to go and fight for Gaara.

"Naruto we don't even know where they went, much less how many they are," Tsunade countered with a stern look.

"So we go to Suna and look for any clue about the direction they headed," Naruto answered. "And if that isn't enough we can bring an Inuzuka with us, we are not leaving Gaara with these bastards!" Tsunade sighed as Sarutobi stroked his beard in thought.

"Did you see what direction they are heading," Sarutobi questioned the two Suna nins.

"We found tracks heading away from the village, but one set disappeared, but the other continued on," Kankuro stated calmly. "We have a arm of one of the attackers, an Inuzuka will be the most helpful."

"That won't be needed," Kakashi voiced. "I can summon up some nin dogs that can track as well."

"Okay that is two," Sarutobi stated still thinking about the team.

"I can't just send Naruto out," Tsunade countered. "Can we talk about this in private; if this is the same people then we can't endanger Naruto."

"Sorry, but I'm going with or without your permission," Naruto growled out as he glared at Tsunade.

"You would go against your Hokage's direct orders."

"To save a friend… yes I would," Naruto answered back. "Besides we are still short on Shinobi to send out and the Kazekage obliviously wants us to help." Looking towards her old teacher, Sarutobi just shrugged with that 'it is your decision face'.

"Fine, you can go, but Kakashi is in charge this time," Tsunade stated sternly.

"Fine with me, I'll let Kakashi decide who comes with us," Naruto turned and left the office.

"Kakashi," Tsunade's tone was a warning, but the one-eyed Shinobi was way ahead of her.

"I already know," Kakashi left leaving behind the Suna group and his Hokage. Thinking about who to bring, Kakashi knew Sakura was coming. Training with Tsunade had taught the girl a great amount of medical techniques that would be useful, but now he needed one more. His thoughts turned to Haku, but decided against it, but that was when inspiration hit him. Heading to the Uchiha compound, Kakashi got ready to retrieve the people he needed for this mission.

XXX

Impatiently tapping his foot against the ground, Temari and Kankuro watched as Naruto gazed around waiting for Kakashi. Hearing the approach of footsteps, Naruto turned and saw Kakashi walking with Sakura, Suigetsu, and Haku. "I thought you would like to have your old team with you," Kakashi stated. "Sakura is our medic on this mission." Naruto grinned, already liking their odds of finding Gaara. "So are we ready?" The question wasn't needed as the group started for the gate. Looking at Suigetsu, Naruto saw what appeared to be a necklace with a piece of ice at the end.

"A gift from Haku," Suigetsu stated seeing, Naruto staring at the necklace.

"That's cool," Naruto stated. Taking a breath, Naruto pumped chakra into his legs until they turned blue.

"Naruto, we-," Kakashi didn't finish as had to cover his face as bits of dust and rock pelted his form. Looking at where, Naruto was standing, Kakashi saw two feet-shaped craters.

"I guess we'll meet him at Suna," Suigetsu chuckled as he shifted into a running stance. "Race you there." This statement was said to everyone. Suigetsu bounded off with Haku and the other Suna nins right behind him. Kakashi shook his head, but underneath his mask he was smiling.

XXX

Naruto knew where Suna was and wasn't stupid enough to go off and try and find Gaara by himself, but he knew time wasn't on their side. The longer Gaara was gone, the longer the people had to do whatever they wanted with him. "How are you doing, Kurama," Naruto asked his Bijuu, but didn't receive an answer straight away.

"We may not have gotten along, but Shukaku is still my brother," Kurama stated back. "I just hope we are in time to save both of them."

"Don't worry, fur ball," Naruto joked as his eyes silted as Kurama's cloak slowly began to envelope him. "We will save both of them."

Here is the next chapter and I hope you guys/gals enjoyed. Next off to Suna and maybe some fighting against Akatsuki ;)