The Will of Family

They were used to running through sand, but even after years it seems that now, of all the possible times it is harder to do than ever before. Now when they need the speed, Kankuro & Temari can't seem to find it. Yet they don't stop running, they can't. Their little brother was taken.

Gaara wasn't the greatest kid in the world, but Kankuro & Temari weren't the greatest siblings either. The torturous upbrining of the current Kazekage wasn't lessened by his brother & sister. No, it was heightened & encouraged by them. Even when he killed the only person that cared about him, his uncle Yashamaru, the teasing & abuse didn't stop. Not until the day he killed an innocent child. It was that day that he truly began to be feared. Before a select few had the guts to screw with the Spirit Host of the 1-Tailed Shukaku, but after that kid died, nobody even looked at the young Gaara.

As he grew older, Gaara grew into a sociopath. He heard voices in his head, voices that spoke so much that he was afraid to sleep for fear of having his soul devoured. Constant assassination attempts from the 4th Kazekage added to his fears, especially since that Kazekage was his own father. He began to destroy & kill, simply to confirm his own existance. It was like that for years, having to watch Gaara kill unmercilessly. Living with the regret that they pushed him into such a deep psychosis.

Relief came when Gaara met Naruto Uzumaki, & he learned that he wasn't alone. That no matter what he had somebody that understood & cared. It was then that Gaara vowed to be better than he had been. It was also then that Kankuro & Temari vowed to do all they could to make up for the pain their little brother endured. Here they are now, running with all the speed & power they can muster to find him. To keep him safe, not just because he is the Kazekage, but because they love their brother.

"You work fast Deidara. Much faster than the other team. Zetsu had to get the 3-Tails in order to keep us on time.", Pain states to the wild-eyed blonde as he sets down Gaara's prone body. "Yeah, thanks I guess.", Deidara replies quietly before he takes his position. The shark like Kisame Hoshikagi, & several others appear, yet he speaks up, "Do we really have a week to spare? I mean come on! Doing back to back sealings?!". While a couple other members voice their agreement, Pain declares, "If you are ninja, concealing yourself should not be a problem! Is it? Are you ninja, or are you children?!".

Everybody quickly silenced themselves & prepared to start what would take them days to complete. A sealing jutsu so powerful it takes the 7 Akatsuki members almost 4 days to complete.

Sealing Jutsu: Nine Phantom Dragons!

It had been days, & Kankuro & Temari had no luck in finding Gaara. Even with other Chunin, Genin & even a few Jonin scouring the land with them, they all turned up nothing. The Sand's Ninja Council had start to call back squads sent out, but Kankuro & Temari refused. They won't give up until they find him.

As it nears a week, Kankuro & Temari stop & catch their breaths. "Temari, we will find him, won't we?", Kankuro asks his sister. She nods & manages a weak smile before answering, "Yeah, & I'm sure he'll be fine when we do.". As they refill their canteens with water from a nearby river, Temari looks around. "We've gone a long way from home. I hope.....I just, hope...", she says before tears start to run down her face, "I just hope Gaara can forgive us.", she states while wiping her tears away.

As Kankuro goes to comfort his sister, he sees something. Even as he hugs Temari softly, he doesn't keep his eyes off it. When she finally resolves to stop crying, he moves closer to it, knowing that a tag like that has to mean something. "What are you doing Kankuro?", she inquires curiously. He silently points at the tag & both of them know it means something. What though, that is unknown.

It had been a week, & finally they had finished the sealing. With the screams the Akatsuki had to endure, it was a wonder they could even hear at this point. "Take time to recover, but remember that we still have much to do. Deidara, Sasori, you did well. You are now going to go after the 9-Tailed Fox.", Pain states. Kisame growls back at him, "What the hell?! That 9-Tailed brat is ours! Give them them another! There are plenty of others!". Pain's glances does not shift as he replies, "Yes, there are others. Itachi, Kisame, you are now to go after the 4-Tailed Monkey & 5-Tailed Dolphin Horse.".

Kisame starts to speak, but Itachi gives him a warning glance & he stops. "At least you listen to somebody. I was about to add another. However, I won't. Konan & I will take the 6-Tailed Slug.", Pain declares before looking over at a member in a mask, "& for our newest recruit, you will take care of procuring the 7-Tailed Horned Beetle.". The masked man points at himself & responds, "Me? By myself? Sir, I think....". Pain smiles, which in itself is odd, & states, "I have the utmost faith in you Tobi.". To which Deidara quickly replies, "We might have to replace him too before ya know it.". Everybody laughs, including Tobi who adds, "Oh that's a good 1 sir, oh yes it is!", causing everybody to look at him oddly.

After a minute of everybody working out what was going to be done, the members of Akatsuki dispersed. However, it was when Deidara & Sasori went to leave that things got really interesting.

"WHERE'S MY BROTHER YOU BASTARDS?!?!", Temari screams in a rage as she swings her fan, a vicious wind pushing them back & cutting their cloaks. "A girl who is good at blowing, interesting.", Deidara says with a snide smirk on his face. In an instant, Deidara has to dodge a sharp tail blade swinging at him. "What the hell was that for Sasori?! I th...", he exclaims before having to dodge it again. Sasori flings his tail downward, pulling the other Puppet Ninja down. Kankuro lands on his feet & quickly dodges Sasori's tail strike as he jumps back to stand beside his sister.

"Hear that Temari? That is Sasori of the Red Sand.", Kankuro states with a twinge of excitement in his voice. Deidara smirks & retorts, "Look Sasori my man, looks like you've got fans. Should I leave you 3 alone?". Sasori glances over at him & before he can answer, Temari declares, "You aren't going anywhere! Neither of you are until we get our brother back!". Sasori finally speaks up, "If you want him, he's yours. We can avoid the unnesscessary violence & bloodshed before it starts.", he points a finger inside the dark cave while turning around. Kankuro runs in while Temari stands in front of the Akatsuki members, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

As Kankuro runs inside, he sees a pair of bodies lumped together, both looking lifeless in the low light of the cave. All he can think is, "No...please don't be Gaara...please don't be Gaara...". As he repeats that in his head, he turns over a body & lifeless, light-purple eyes look up at him. A sick mix of sadness & relief flows through him as he tosses the body aside. However, as he looks down at the other body he feels like he is about to vomit & sob at the same time.

The rust red hair, the baby blue eyes, even without the gourd & the kanji on his forehead Kankuro knew that the unmoving body laying before him was that of his little brother. He turns around, pulling out a scroll & running toward the Akatsuki with revenge in his heart. "I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR THAT!! YOU'LL REGRET EVER TOUCHING MY BROTHER!", he cries out as his puppets; Black Ant, Crow & Salamander are brought out from the scroll.

Temari attacks with her fan, causing a massive gust to blow both Deidara & Sasori backward. Kankuro catches Deidara with Black Ant, setting up for his Iron Maiden Jutsu. However, Sasori attacks & breaks open Black Ant with his tail, freeing his partner. With another swipe of his tail, Crow's body is splintered & falls apart instantly. Sasori & Deidara look at the Sand Ninja, with the blonde stating, "Either they're holding back, or they just really suck Sasori my man. What should we do?". Sasori looks over at Kankuro & replies, "Take care of the girl. The boy with the puppets is mine.".

Temari charges at the Akatsuki members, ready to strike again. This time however, she is met by the one called Deidara, & bit by a hand on his mouth. She jumps back, & as the chunk of her flesh drops from his hands, he smirks at her. Deidara digs into his hip pouch, asking, "Is that all you've got? Do you do anything else besides swinging that fan around like an idiot?". Temari growls, the moons on her fan glowing before she swings violently.

Wind Style: Sea Dragon Jutsu!

Deidara laughs & throws out a white millipede, replying, "Wow, that hurt so much. Let's see how much my jutsu hurts you.". Temari shoots him a smirk back as a massive tornado drills up through the ground & catches both Deidara & his massive bug in a violent wind storm. The millipede explodes, shooting Deidara out of the cyclone & the cave, him landing on his feet in the river Temari & Kankuro were in a moment ago.

Temari throws her fan out & glides on it, not taking her eyes off the Akatsuki boy. "I must admit, I underestimated you, girl. You are interesting, so let's see if you can keep up!", Deidara tosses out another clay statue, a bird, & in a puff of smoke it grows to an incredible size. The young Akatsuki member hops on his creation & quickly flies away, the blonde kunoichi following after him.

Meanwhile Kankuro is all but screwed. His puppets torn apart by Sasori of the Red Sand, Kankuro is no match for a ninja with skills & knowledge of puppetry like he does. He has never been good at taijutsu, but that hasn't stopped him from trying to beat the living hell out of the renowned puppetier. What has though is Sasori's metal tail, dodging & blocking it proved to be ineffective, & as Sasori knocks Kankuro down again they both know that poison is pumping through his veins. That Kankuro only has a matter of time before he is just like his brother, dead.

After an insanely long chapter, it's time for.....*drum roll* Naruto Trivia!!!

Which of these "lesser" villages is known to have a jinchuriki?

A. Sound

B. Rain

C. Waterfall

D. Stars

Alright...alright. It's.....wait.

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Figure it out. Don't cheat, just think about it!

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By the way, "lesser" means that it isn't within 1 of the 5 Great Ninja Lands (or whatever you choose to call it.)

Ready yet? No? Ok, but remember, if you cheat......

Hidan will come back & make you wish you had a period.

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Gross, yes. Odd, I know. Just don't cheat!

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The answer is... C. Waterfall! Also known as Takigakure to the Japanese fans, The Village Hidden in the Waterfall once held the 7-Tailed Horned Beetle who was sealed inside Fu.

Congrats if you knew that! If not...it's ok. =) Come back soon for more Naruto Trivia!