Before the Storm

The ANBU materialized out the darkness like phantoms in the night. Naruto wasn't surprised. He eyed them coldly as they greeted him with silent masked faces a quarter mile outside of Saka.

He spoke first. "The resistance group is in Saka. I must speak with the Kazekage immediately."

He'd surprised them, and for a second the small group paused before its leader nodded slowly.

"It was most unwise to wander off alone in times such as these," the ANBU leader said, and Naruto glared at him.

"Yeah, okay. Well then, I don't suppose you have any information on the resistance group the Kages could use, do you?"

He knew he was being given the stinkeye. Naruto said nothing, only waited, hands hooked behind his hand.

Grudgingly, the ANBU leader ndded again. "Very well. Please, allow us to escort you back to camp." Naruto smirked, and trailed behind them..

"So, you were able to actually see the men involved?" the ANBU leader prompted two miles later. Naruto shurgged.

"One is a blond man called Norio. Another, an older man who goes by Huang." He conveinently left out the part about a certain dark-haired young man who went by Akira.

Not long later, the camp came into view, nestled between the dunes. Gaara was waiting outside of his tent, arms crossed, expression unreadabe.

One look and Naruto knew that Gaara was pissed.

He marched into the tent, head held high, like he'd done nothing wrong, and claimed a cushion for himself. He was mildly surprised to find Maiko waiting inside. Did they think something was going to happen to me out there, he wondered. Gaara stepped in lightly, flanked by ANBU.

Gaara wasn't a man who was angry often, but when he was, he looked downright intimidating, and Naruto could almost see the troubled boy he'd seen in his youth hiding behind Shukaku's wrath.

Not that Naruto was actually intimidated. He did, however, feel a little empathy on the Kazekage's part. Him walking off and Gaara finding out about it (he mentally cursed. What had gone wrong? He'd have to find that clone and chew it out!) had probably caused a lot of undue stress.

Oh, and maybe camp-wide panic.

Oops.

He met Gaara's gaze boldly, and the Kazekage sat rigidly. Gaara's mouth worked, like he had something to say, but he seemed to swallow it before spitting it out. Finally, he said, "What were you thinking?"

Naruto winced. Gaara's voice was so carefully controlled, it was almost scarier than being yelled at by Tsunade. And that was saying a lot. He met the redhead head on.

"I was thinking I couldn't stand to sit idly by anymore," Naruto growled. "I'm not a prisoner."

"You were going to trail Temari-" Gaara accused, but Naruto shook his head.

"No." Naruto disputed this firmly. "I only wanted a bit of space. I just-"

Gaara stared at him. "A bit of space? Naruto, need I remind you of the price on your head?"

Heat flooded into Naruto's face, but he ignored it. "I don't need to be reminded. I'm not a defenseless woman, Gaara, and even if I was, I could damn well protect myself. I'm a fucking sage, and a respected Chuunin of my village. I don't need to be reminded of what I can and cannot do. Now, if you want to pull your head out of your ass, I'll inform you of the resistance group that's taken root here." That caught Gaara's attention. He looked up sharply. Ignoring the ass comment.

"The group is here? We had reports it was only clones addressing the crowd-"

"No. They're here. This must be dealt with, Gaara. We can't let them continue to preach. Something has to be done. Now." He insisted. Gaara sighed.

"It will be dealt with, I assure you. Now, please, go get some rest. You're dismissed," the Kazekage ordered tiredly. Cursing under his breath, Naruto was escorted out of the tent, though he none too gently slapped away any hands that dared attempt to reach out to him. He ripped past the tent flaps. Fuming, he marched into his tent, which was located directly across from Gaara's. He dismissed the Anbu sharply, and they left a little reluctantly.

Angrily, Naruto stripped off his shirt, throwing it, then climbed into his sleeping bag. He stared off into the dark, glaring at nothing in particular. His breathing slowed, as he suddenly realized someone was about to enter his tent.

He sat upright, jerking slightly as the movement woke the child within him. It dropkicked his bladder again, and Naruto almost had to chuckle. He frowned when Gaara stepped inside, his silhouette seeming to melt and merge with the loping shadows of the dark tent.

The Kazekage didn't speak. Not right away.

"Gaara? What is it? What's wrong?" Naruto stood, going over to him. Gaara didn't speak for a moment. The redhead sighed. The silence was slightly overwhelming, and it worried Naruto slightly.

"Gaara-"

"I know what you can and can't do." The Kazekage finally murmured. Naruto blinked in the dark, confused at the direction Gaara was taking.

"What-?"

"I'm merely...if you would only let me...I'm just trying to protect you. So please, cooperate with me," Gaara's voice faltered. Naruto waited for the "if you try this again, I'll-" part, but it never happened. He waited.

After a moment, Naruto kicked at the ground, a little embarrassed. Had he offended Gaara in some way? He seemed upset, and that didn't bode well with Naruto. "You can try to protect me, but in the end, I will need to fight my own battles," he tried to say, unsure of how to continue and assure Gaara that despite this, he was still grateful for all his friend was doing. But he wasn't the best with words sometimes. As he searched his mind for other things to say, a sharp, bitter chuckle escaped Gaara's lips.

"Right. Enlighten me, Naruto. How are you going to do that like this?" Without warning, Gaara pressed his hand against the smooth, barely-there curve of Naruto's abdomen. For being almost twenty-six weeks pregnant, the evidence of the life Naruto harbored was still easily hidden, but Naruto had begun to notice a change. Indeed, he was losing the hard, toned abdomen, and a scrutinizing eye would be able to detect the soft curve if he was studied from the side for a moment, but it was not altogether blatantly obvious, especially given his long, lean torso. Anyone else might think he'd just eaten too much.

Not that Naruto was complaining.

Naruto swallowed compulsively at the sudden contact, nervous. His eyes narrowed at Gaara's directness. When his friend did not remove his hand, Naruto shook his head, understanding washing over him. He wondered how he hadn't noticed it before.

"Don't worry about me too much, Gaara," he whispered. Gaara's hand dropped, fingers curling as his fist slowly rested as his side. He took a breath, eyes averted.

"I'm only trying to be here for you...as a friend." the Kazekage said firmly. Naruto smirked, but it was hollow, cynical.

"I want to be your friend," he said, "but it's obviously not what you want." Naruto's voice dropped, low and amused. He could hear Gaara's sharp intake of breath.

"Why are you in here?" Naruto asked, moving closer. Gaara hesitated, not speaking.

"Whatever you had to say, you could have waited until morning," Naruto pointed out. The Kazekage grimaced.

"I already said what I came here to say. As your friend, I have warned you personally. Next time, do not disobey me," Gaara growled, attempting to turn the tide of the conversation. It didn't work.

"Or what? You'll spank me?" Naruto taunted darkly. His white teeth glinted in the dark with his smirk. Gaara shook his head, but Naruto noticed the increased severity if his breathing. Short and rapid, compared to easy and relaxed. Gaara was nervous.

"That's enough, Naruto," Gaara replied lowly, but he made no move to leave or put distance between them. Naruto shook his head.

"Come on. Even I can see it, Gaara."

There was another silence.

"I would never act upon it, and it doesn't hinder my decisions on this mission concerning you, I assure you," Gaara said suddenly, and Naruto laughed. So there it was. Gaara had feelings for him.

It would never work, and Naruto's heart still ached for Sasuke. Probably always would, in some way.

"I don't think that's true." With that said, Naruto's hand suddenly and quickly snaked up the back of Gaara's neck, his fingers entwining in the red hair as he pulled Gaara forward to meet his lips in an aggressive kiss.

Later, Naruto would have to admit that the act of making his point had lasted a bit longer than he had intended.

Shock suddenly forgotten, Gaara wrapped his arms tightly around his friend, hands kneading Naruto's shoulders. Gaara sighed, a breathy moan slipping past his lips as he trailed his tongue teasingly along Naruto's bottom lip. Then suddenly the kiss broke, and in that moment, Naruto released his hold, ripping himself away from the contact, breathing quickly.

He wondered what he had done that for, doubt gripping him. Maybe he had taken that too far.

"Don't deny it," Naruto finished. "But I'm not your happy ending, Gaara. I'm sorry." He winced at the sharp clarity of his own words, the unspoken challenge loud in his tone. At first, the Kazekage made no move to leave. He stood frozen, in the middle of Naruto's tent.

For a moment, Naruto wondered if he had gone too far, if by doing this, he had ignited a fire, the prelude to a fight, a challenge of hearts. Finally, Gaara found his voice.

"And Sasuke is not, and never will be, yours," Gaara replied coolly, taking up the challenge. Momentarily rendered speechless, and fighting to smother his anger, Naruto shook his head, turning away.

"If you ever want a real family for that child, I'm always here, and most importantly, I'll always be here to love you." Gaara's words cut deep. Although more than likely not entirely meant to be so, it was still a low blow, and Naruto had to resist the urge to scream "Fuck you!" after his old friend as the Kazekage slipped out of the tent without another word.

Naruto sat down on his sleeping bag, head in his hands.

That night, he dreamed of Sasuke.

Away from the dunes, near an oasis under the moon, the Leaf and the Sand stood ready to fight.

"At ease, we won't fight you!" Temari barked, her fingers curled tightly around the handle of her iron fan. The Sand nin behind her were poised, ready to attack in one fluid movement without warning.

Shikamaru regarded the team thoughtfully, and he and his team relaxed, though only slightly. The subtle twitch of muscle as they forced themselves into a less threatening position was difficult to contain. Still, the tension was not erased, and like a shroud, it settled over the groups heavily.

"It is the wish of the Hokage-" Shikamaru began quickly, only to be interrupted as Temari's voice rose over his.

"It is the wish of the Kazekage that there be no conflict. I hope for the same outcome. I assure you, Naruto is well guarded. A mind as brilliant as yours, Shikamaru, should be aware of the possible outcomes of this mission should it go wrong." Her words hung suspended in the air, icy. Shikamaru narrowed his eyes.

At this moment, he found Temari annoying, as well as frustratingly attractive, with how she conducted the scene with ease and confidence, yet at the same time, was a terrible threat. Now, there was a woman with a head on her shoulders and a brain he could pick. A woman who could hold her own. Not that such women didn't exist in Konoha.

He shook the thoughts from his head.

"I am following the orders of the Hokage," he reminded her calmly. See? It was out of his hands. Orders. Don't blame him. Negotiating was so troublesome. Everyone always wanted to point fingers at the messenger and cut his throat first.

"Need I remind you," he continued, "that as a ninja of the Leaf, Naruto is ultimately our responsibility to protect, in disguise alongside the Kazekage or not. Your village is simply aiding in the process," he responded sharply.

"You're wearing thin our treaty," Temari shot at him. Shikamaru could feel a headache coming on.

"No. You're wearing thin our patience," Shikamaru replied coolly. Temari seemed to bristle in her anger.

"I know you can agree that these are dangerous times. It's only logical to protect your back as well as your front, if you can."

Temari chewed on his words a moment. "You might as well be painting a target on our caravan!" she burst out.

"If there isn't already one. In that case, you'll be glad for our company." Shikamaru said smoothly. Temari narrowed her eyes, searching for a hidden meaning. Before she could speak, Shikamaru's voice rose to greet her thoughts.

"The resistance group is in Saka, if you weren't already aware."

"It's come to our attention," Temari acknowledged. "But their resistance is a little more than futile. What are a bunch of soldiers with no nin or jutsu abilities compared to ninja? Even Naruto, in his condition, is stronger than their most able-bodied men," she pointed out. Shikamaru was quiet a moment. He noticed the troubled looks on his team and sighed.

Thank you, Temari, for almost dishing out classified information. He reigned in his irritation.

"You're underestimating the enemy," he said finally. Temari snorted.

"They're no real threat, and will easily be quelled."

"A carpenter ant to a hornet isn't a threat. But put a thousand ants to that same hornet, and it will surely die," Shikamaru pointed out flatly.

Temari scoffed. "You give them too much credit, Nara." A nin behind Temari snickered, and Shikamaru's mouth formed into a grim, hard line. He wasn't amused.

"For a ninja of your status, I would have expected more caution. Thinking like that will only get you killed one day." The words were meant to antagonize, they did. Temari scowled, looking furious. The words had evidently stung.

"So, what do you want?" she ground out, ready to end the banter and get down to the dirty.

Shikamaru didn't let his thoughts wander.

"Allow at least one of our second team to join the caravan as a precaution. The rest of my team should be near Suna's borders and not more than two days behind us. Namely, Sai would be my pick."

Temari nodded stiffly. "Only him. No more."

"Done."

"What about you?" Temari wanted to know.

Shikamaru shrugged. "We're going to trail the resistance group, but we'll be close by if you need us. We are, after all, assigned to watch over this caravan." With that, the meeting was over, and the ninja dispersed, melting into the night, becoming of the many loping shadows to run across the sand.

The icy night wind comforted Akira. He sat on a boulder, still slightly warm from the final rays of the setting sun. It was a soothing contrast. Camp had been made, and most of the men were sleeping.

Most. Akira could not sleep. He thought of the name again.

Was it true? Was he the one called Sasuke? The one feared and hated throughout the country? The thought made his stomach churn, and his blood boil. He bit the inside of his cheek at the sudden surge of anger.

All the kindness, peace, and laughter he had shared with the Yamagatas while they spoke of the war and their fears, and of this hated Sasuke and his Akatsuki; was it all some sick ironic joke that the killer they feared so deeply had sat at their table while they tended to and cared for him, while he ate their bread, and went off into the woods with their children?

Sasuke.

On his tongue, it felt foreign, tasted strange. Like copper. He thought of the old woman, eyes boring into him, alight with hatred as she died in his arms. For once, he wasn't thinking of the blue eyes from his dreams.

Burn in hell, you monster!

Norio had been watching him closely after that, like a hawk watches a mouse. But he was more darkly amused than anything. Akira as Sasuke? Please. But, Norio was aware of the power, of the ability to perform ninjutsu that Akira possessed. He desired it, it was easy to see.

Akira...no, Sasuke...was only a tool for the Brotherhood.

He snorted. He was no one's tool, no one's pawn. He wondered, idly, what it would be like to run off, towards the stars. To keep running north, towards the mountains, to run until he couldn't breathe and collapse in a heap. Would he arrive at a village, a city, the middle of nowhere at all? Could he live peacefully after all of this? He chuckled darkly.

It wasn't peace he desired.

Peace for Sasuke Uchiha had died long ago. No, he wasn't leaving the group. He wouldn't leave until he felt the Yamagatas had been avenged. He couldn't rest until the blood of the Akatsuki was slick on his sword. For a moment, the hatred was so consuming, it was almost frightening. He wanted to hurt them so badly. He thought of Eiji, and his nauseating anger cooled.

That's enough, Akira, Eiji had said when he'd caught Akira stabbing that monstrosity. Over and over and over. Akira closed his eyes. The memory made him shudder, made him feel like ants were crawling over his skin.

He shook it from his thoughts, wondering about Sasuke.

Thinking of himself as Sasuke was too jarring to process at the moment. He was too busy trying to feel hatred for the very side of the playing he was supposed to be playing on. Or so it was said. He sank backwards, sprawling on the warm rock, not minding the grooves and bumps that jutted into his back. He hooked his hands under his head, staring at the sky. He mind wandered, and he thought of the blond in the pub. Despite everything, the image of that young man hadn't left Akira, not for a second.

It was stupid, really. Almost desperately, Akira wanted to see him again, for no real reason. As he thought it, images flashed before him suddenly, in a sickening blur:

Hair bright as sunlight; cool, cornflower blue eyes. Sun-kissed skin that tasted like a slightly salty piece of bliss; anger, so much anger, but he'd only been trying to protect him. No, come back, please! The garden. Staring at the memorial. There was something he'd wanted to say. Wished he had said to the blond a long time ago, because, what if, after tonight-?

There was a sinking feeling in his gut, and he jackknifed into a sitting postion. A name came to his mind, unbidden.

Naruto.

He felt sick. Sick with trepidation-

A shout interrupted his thoughts, but it only barely sliced through the panic of the return of his memories. He turned, looking to the tents behind him. Another shout. A whoop. A celebration? More noise, more clatter. What was going on?

He rubbed at his eyes, still trying to deal with the pictures in his head. Then a figure tore his way out of the tent, found Akira and slapped him on the back.

"We get him! We got him!" the man shouted, laughing before taking off and leaving him stunned on the rock. Curious, Akira walked towards camp. He couldn't say why, but suddenly he was wary. Like frenzied ants, the men started to crawl from their tents, whispering in excitement.

"What's going on?" Akira (Sasuke, he tried to remind himself) asked. A new recruit looked up at him with a gap-toothed smile.

"You're not gonna believe it! You know, I thought it would be like this for a while, but I didn't think we'd to this point so fast-"

"Get the the point," Akira (Sasuke! he told himself) hissed. Chastised, the recruit rushed his next words.

"Norio knows where the Jinchuuriki is."

An icy hand of dread gripped Sasuke's heart. He blinked. How was that even possible? Norio wasn't supposed to actually be clever, or trained enough, or even networked enough to gain intel on something as top secret and guarded as that.

The Nine Tails, his thoughts whispered softly. Sasuke had believed the group would rally supporters, and face members of the Akatsuki. Not this.

Never this.

"How?" he demanded. The recruit shrugged.

"I don't really know. I heard someone talk about a renegade spy-"

Sasuke didn't wait for the rest. He turned away, stumbling towards Norio's tent. It was still coming back. All of it, in one horrifyingly quick rush. The moment in the woods. The romp at the inn. He had dressed like a woman. Naruto had laughed and said and you thought it was a stupid jutsu! He remembered the feel of Naruto's rough hand squeezing the fake breast, the way his thumb glided over the taut nipple. He'd thought of that night for a long time afterward. Naruto being pissy. Suigetsu laughing about it. Sasuke slicing off Fukasaku's tongue. He and Naruto were running. Naruto was demanding something of him he didn't want to give. Naruto was so angry at him...

Kabuto's fire. Naruto's kisses. Nights they spent talking. Just talking. Sasuke told him embarrassing stories from when he was little. Naruto had laughed, really laughed. Suigetsu's betrayal. Juugo was gone...where was Juugo...?

Madara. The child...His promise to Fukasaku...Naruto had looked him in a way that made his stomach ache. He wanted Naruto to come back, listen to him, please...

Shit.

He was dizzy, he was going to vomit from the shock of it. He stumbled, swallowing thickly. He was going to be sick. The memories resurfacing were jarring. He took a breath, taking another step towards Norio's tent. He took a breath, calmed himself, and stalked towards it.

Naruto is my business, and mine alone. I will deal with the responsibilities.

You're no hero, Sasuke.

Suigetsu. Sasuke's hand shot out, grasping the rough, thick fabric of the tent flap, tearing it aside as he walked in. Suigetsu was dead, wasn't he? If the sorry bastard wasn't, he was wishing he was. He couldn't understand why it was making him feel so terrible. He stepped inside.

There was a genial, triumphant atmosphere in the tent, along with the smell of beer and sweat. Sasuke wrinkled his nose, eyes darting to the figure in the middle, but Norio's cool gray eyes had already found him. His lips stretched over dull teeth. The smile of a predator, a cat that had caught its mouse. Sasuke stared back poisonously.

"Akira!" Norio shouted. The men turned, clapping the youth on the shoulder. In the past few weeks, Akira's popularity had risen.

"How is it that you've found the Jinchuuriki?" Sasuke didn't miss a beat. The buzz of excitement dulled to a hum. Everyone was curious, and obviously, the truth hadn't been told. Norio's grin widened.

"A little birdie told me," he joked. The men chuckled appreciatively. He continued, "We're headed for Suna. This war ends now."

Sasuke cocked an eyebrow."And how are we going to end it?"

Norio's laugh seemed to ricochet off the tent's fabric, bouncing back ruthlessly on Sasuke's ears. His hand twitched, eager to inch towards his sword, but he kept himself still.

Norio looked smug. "I've already taken care of that. All you have to do is be there." '

Sasuke's temper flared.. "You planned this without me?" He hissed. Akira had been a member of the Brotherhood who'd been there, for every calculated step. For Norio to have excluded him made the alarm bells in his head sound off.

Casually, Norio poured himself more beer. The atmosphere in the tent changed, plummeting from triumphant and warm to ice, anger, and tension. Narrowed eyes were fixed on Sasuke.

No doubt they were thinking, why's this kid being such an ungrateful little fucker?

Norio shook his head. "Akira, Akira. Don't be a brat. You've done a lot for this group, but you haven't proved yourself that much, have you?" Norio asked lightly. Sasuke flushed.

What is he planning? he wondered wildly.

He imagined taking out the whole tent. Or at least stunning them all, grabbing Norio, and demanding for Naruto's whereabouts. Of course, he wasn't an idiot, and...he looked at the faces. Some of them he'd come to know. The thought of taking them out was strangely uneappealing. Stunning would work a lot better.

But Sasuke did nothing.

Scowling, he left the tent, mind whirring, heart racing. Once out in the dark, he ran for his tent.

What the hell was going on? How had Norio-

Sasuke tensed, body rigid as he reached his tent. Someone was coming-no, they had already arrived, and they were now inside his tent. Fast as lightning, eyes scanning the suffocating blackness of his tent, his sword was drawn, and its wicked point stabbed Kabuto between his golden eyes.

The medic nin gasped and crumpled, but his body became a dozen hissing snakes, who quickly reformed the clone. Sasuke grimaced. It was only a clone. Kabuto chuckled.

"Go ahead, get it out of your system, but pull that again and I'll only disappear, and you won't be able to hear the plan that has already set in motion."

Sasuke froze, hesitating. He licked dry lips. "Go on," he urged quietly, still processing everything.

Kabuto grinned. "I've told Norio Naruto's whereabouts. I've cut Madara's safety net, all under his rotting nose." Kabuto chuckled. "The fool thinks I can't cross him. He might have played me for the army I provided, but he underestimated my thinking. Now all I want is to see him destroyed, even if it means my end."

Sasuke said nothing, only waited.

"Now here comes the fun part, Sasuke. Remember I told you that one day I would come for you? That one day, you would have to make a choice."

Sasuke tried to remember. He couldn't, not really, but he told himself not to be too intimidated. "I'm not going anywhere with you," Sasuke growled. Kabuto shook his head.

"Come with me, or Uzumaki dies," the clone said flatly. Sasuke snorted.

"You're underestimating me."

"No, Sasuke. You're underestimating me. I came more prepared this time," the clone whispered. Sasuke said nothing, trying to decide if Kabuto was worth believing or not.

"Norio has already set the plan in motion. It is already done. There is nothing you can do." Kabuto's voice was quiet, confident. Sasuke hesitated now.

"If you come with me, you'll find out what I intend to do. Come with me, and we can destroy Madara together. We'll keep Naruto safe. Deny me, and you can watch your brats die. I won't say it again."

Sasuke's breathing quickened, nerves cutting cold right through him. "Norio and his men can't take ANBU," Sasuke said flatly. Kabuto chuckled.

"They don't have to, Sasuke," Kabuto assured him. Sasuke's heart picked up the pace. What had Kabuto done? Could it all be a bluff?

"You don't have a plan," Sasuke said coolly.

"Do you want to risk his life on the chance that it is?" the clone asked with a click of its tongue.

"I'm not going anywhere with you," Sasuke snarled.

The clone sighed. "Very well. Cling to your miserable hope. At least Naruto's blood won't be on your hands...oh wait.. How tragic. It won't matter, in the end, you'll help me."

Sasuke's grip on his sword tightened.

"You have until dawn. I'm leaving a snake in your tent. Should you change your mind, touch it, and everything will stop." The clone disappeared, leaving Sasuke alone in the dark tent.

When Kabuto had gone, he found the snake hissing on his sleeping bag. He brought up his sword and in one fluid movement, beheaded it.

He took the snake, throwing it out to the sand outside.

Naruto wasn't going to die. Not on Sasuke's watch.

He looked to the moon. That night, he dreamed of Naruto.

The sun was a pinprick of fire against the still dark dawn. The Sand caravan seemed to crawl instead of move forward. At least, to Naruto, it was slow. The wind raked cool fingers across the exposed skin on his face, blowing sand, and his eyes watered against its. The Sand ANBU traveled alongside, ranging ahead. However, Naruto stayed close, the camel he was riding on taking loping, lazy strides that threatened to lull him to sleep.

Gaara had sent a summons to the Raikage, head of the Aliled Shinobi Forces. A decision had been reached among the Kages. The resistance group was going to be dealt with, and very soon. Now that they were in Sand country, Gaara had a leg up. A team had already been dispatched, sent toward the location Naruto had specified. They might not be there, but perhaps information could be gathered.

Suna was mere hours away.

The anticipation of finally being in a somewhat stable location made him fidgety. He was tired. A yawn bubbled in his throat. It was then, after the child squirmed (as was usual at this time in the morning) and aiming a kick to his ribs (Naruto couldn't decide if he liked it better than being kicked in the bladder, or not. The kid must have flipped), that Naruto realized how quiet the desert was. There was a pit in his stomach that couldn't be attributed to morning sickness. It had stopped happening a few weeks ago, anyway. He turned to the nin next to him.

"How far ahead have the others ranged?" he asked. The ANBU nin yawned pointedly, not concerned.

"Far enough. Relax. It's early, and as far as we know, we're not being trailed by enemy nin. It'll be fine. We'll be in Suna by noon," he assured Naruto. Unconvinced, but not feeling like pushing the issue, Naruto sighed. The ninja accompanying him babbled on blissfully as he recalled what awaited him in Suna.

"I can't wait. I haven't seen my wife in almost two months. We're newlyweds, you know. I had to leave for this mission a week after we said our vows. Gods, I miss her. She's so beautiful, you wouldn't believe-"

"I think I can," Naruto cut him off, chuckling a little, but not wanting to hear any more. The other man sighed a little dreamily.

"I can't wait," he repeated.

Naruto grinned at him, cracking a joke, and the ANBU laughed. Naruto looked ahead, wishing he could see the outline of the village against the lightening sky. Instead, he saw a three man cell running their way.

"How far ahead again?" Naruto asked. The other man, Noboru, didn't answer.

"Go inside with the Kazekage." Noboru ordered quietly. Naruto hesitated. "Tell him something has happened," Noboru added. Naruto complied.

Noboru watched Naruto disappear inside the caravan, and he raced forward to meet with the team, a Sand nin, and two Leaf nin. A pale, black haired boy who was socially retarded (as the others had come to find) and a raucous, loud, shaggy fiend named Kiba. Although, Noboru had to admit that Kiba was a little fun. Just a little.

"What's going on?" Noboru demanded sharply.

"Resistance group," Kiba panted. "Attacked the ranging ANBU up ahead. Some kind of new fire-powered weaponry. We should avoid the original route. Go around, take the Kazekage's pass. It's pretty fucking nasty over there." At that moment, a blast rang out in the desert, echoing over the dunes.

"Dammit," Noboru said, and uneasily, he wondered what kind of weaponry this was. "How's the team handling it?"

Kiba waved him off. "They'll be fine. The weapons are a little unsettling, but I'm sure they can handle it. Just get the caravan to go around. I'm getting back over there. Sai's going to stay here with the caravan and Naruto." With that Kiba and the other Sand nin shot off, leaving Sai with Noboru. They hurried to the Kazekage in silence.

"What's going on?" Gaara poked his head out of a coach, hopping out of it and landing softly on the sand.

"The resistance group-" Noboru began, but Gaara cut him off.

"That much is obvious. How? How the hell did they find us?" Another blast fired in the distance. Gaara frowned.

"What is that?" the Kazekage demanded.

"They have some sort of mechanical fire-power, sir." Noboru answered.

Gaara swore. "I don't know how big this group is. Send for reinforcements, now! Call back the Leaf! If the resistance wants to attack us, they're igniting a whole new war." With a curt nod, Noboru sent a summons.

"Naruto, Sai," Gaara called. The blond was at his side in an instant, along with Sai.

"If, for some reason, anything goes wrong, get him out of here. Naruto, your hitai-ate, please." Gaara turned from Sai to Naruto. Naruto fidgeted, but kept his mouth shut. He glowered.

"If you're thinking of doing what I think you're doing, then no! I won't do that-"

"I demand it. Now."

Naruto looked mutinous. Grudgingly, he took the protector out of a pocket in his cloak, tossing it at Gaara with a little too much force.

Gaara pretended not to notice as he caught it. He turned back to Sai. "It seems the resistance group is all camped out along our original route. We should be fine taking the Kazekage's pass, an alternate route to Suna not many are aware of. But, Tsunade and I have prepared for this. There is a rendezvous point for Naruto to be taken to should something happen."

"Of course." Sai answered calmly. He tugged on Naruto's arm, but the blond stayed rooted to the spot for a moment. Gaara met his gaze, and for a long moment, they stared at each other.

"Be careful," Naruto said finally. Gaara nodded mutely. He watched them bound away.

Be safe, Gaara thought, and looked to the horizon.

Something was off. Something was very, very wrong. Sasuke was at his post along the caravan's route, sitting in a quickly dug trench. An old engineer dedicated to the Brotherhood's cause had gifted the Brothers with an invaluable weapon: a new technology that blasted metal shrapnel, or even the smallest shuriken Sasuke had ever seen, at incredible speed. The men had nicknamed it the fire lancer, because sometimes the projectiles shot forward with fire. Sasuke's was lying, unattended and unloaded, in his trench. He wasn't going to attack the caravan. But the thing was, there was no caravan to attack anyway.

The recruits were fighting off ninja. The orders Norio had given were to open fire on the ranging ANBU scouting ahead. Opening fire on the Anbu would surely alert the caravan, Sasuke thought, frowning.

Then it hit him.

"SHIT!" Sasuke startled the younger boy beside him, clutching his fire lancer and looking nauseous. He practically pissed himself at Sasuke's curse.

"What? What?" he cried, gripping the fire lancer for dear life. Sasuke didn't answer. He raced ahead, looking for Huang. Norio was nowhere to be seen, as well as a few other notable recruits.

It made more sense now.

Sasuke found Huang a few hundred feet ahead. He ducked suddenly as a ninja using an Earth style ahead sent a shockwave towards the group, spraying sand and rock. The men hollered, bunking down, before Huang shouted, and they all rose in unison, firing.

Huang saw Sasuke first. Huang must have thought he was there to back them up, because he ran over to him, sliding into the trench beside him.

"Good thing you're here, Akira. Listen-"

"What's going on, Huang?" Sasuke demanded. He kept his identity as Akira, and had stayed with the group, simply in order to find Naruto and discover Norio's plans in order to exploit and stop them.

"Everything going as planned." The large man replied, raising an eyebrow at the question. Sasuke shook his head.

"Where's the caravan, Huang? Where is it? What are we doing here? We're losing men, we're going to lose if they call for reinforcements and we're not doing anything but firing-"

"Then you better do something about it," Huang answered, irritated. Sasuke paused.

"Tell me what's going on, Huang," Sasuke said, a hidden warning in his tone. The big man laughed.

"What are you going on about? Boy, I don't have to tell you shit-" He gasped suddenly, shaking, frozen, as he made eye contact.

"You're going to tell me, Huang." Sasuke whispered, Sharingan whirling. Huang swallowed, eyes unfocused.

"Tell me," Sasuke commanded.

"Fucking hell, you're-!"

"Shut up. Is Norio planning an ambush somewhere else? This is just a distraction isn't it? Where is he?"

Huang stiffened. Around them, more shots rang out, some screams, the ground rumbled as an earth ninjustu was activated again.

Huang quailed under the Sharingan and its influences. After a few minutes under it, he spilled his guts and pleaded for Sasuke to stop.

"Alright! Alright! He knew. Norio knew that the Kazekage had another route to take. No one really knows about. We can't possibly take on the Jinchuurki. He's...too strong. Couple blasts might not do the trick. We don't know what he can do, and the Kazekage has that sand thing. We can't take the Kazekage either. We...we planted mines on the alternative route to Suna, in the canyon. We won't need to do anything but shepherd them there. With an extra rock slide, we might actually kill someone." Huang's voice grated against his throat. Sasuke's eyes widened, and Huang crumpled to the sand, unconscious.

Sasuke darted away.

A/N: According to some Googling and Wikipedia (hahaha) the first guns were invented in China. They were called Fire Lancers.

Next chapter will the "Taming the Beast" After that, all chapters will be all BRAND NEW CHAPTERS AW YEAAUUHH.

:D

There are seven more chapter to read, lovelies, until you reach the end of the story.