Saving Gaara

Kakashi was explaining to me about the plan.

Deidara was starting to wander what we were planning.

"So you think your giant Rasengan will do it?" Kakashi asked.

"Yeah," I responded.

"Good," Kakashi said and closed both eyes while making the handsign.

When he opened his sharingan eye it the tomecs were fuse together into a mangyekyo sharingan but different from Itachi's.

"Is that…a mangyekyo sharigan?" I asked.

"Yes and no," Kakashi said.

"What?" I responded.

"It's kind of like my own version Mangyekyo Sharingan," Kakashi said, "However it's different from Itachi's, like I didn't have to kill someone close to me to gain it, and I can't use the type of genjutsu Itachi's can or produce the black flames."

"Okay," I responded.

"Don't worry Naruto, what I said is true, but it does have its own jutsu, one of which I can use for this plan," Kakashi explained.

I nodded as it made sense to me.

"Naruto if I mess up, even if you have an opening, don't waist it," Kakashi said, "You maybe at the same rank as Shikamaru, but as you know already, you're not as smart as him. So make sure you don't mess up if that happens."

"Understood," I responded.

"Mangyekyo Sharingan!" Kakashi said looking at Deidara with his Sharingan.

The area around Deidara became wavy.

Suddenly Deidara found himself being pulled into something as well as the area around him.

Meanwhile I jumped up on the cliff and continued running at a safe distance from Kakashi's jutsu until I had the right moment.

However during the pull Kakashi ended up loosing focus and it ended, but not before taking Deidara's arm.

At that moment I came from behind Deidara forming the Giant Rasengan.

"Giant Rasengan!" I shouted.

Deidara quickly jump out of the way and I smile, because at the same time a shadow clone transformed into a bat reached the mouth and transformed back to normal.

It pulled the mouth open and grabbed Gaara before transforming back into a bat.

When I saw that Gaara was safe I turned the giant Rasengan at the clay bird and destroyed it.

"Bat Transformation Jutsu!" I shouted transforming into a bat.

Deidara landed on the ground.

I landed far enough to be hidden and took out a scroll.

The shadow clone took Gaara onto a tree and transformed back to normal.

I had another Shadow clone check on Kakashi-sensei who was recovering with his sharingan back to normal.

Deidara was now deciding what to do.

Suddenly the ground shaked from under him causing him to almost loose his balance.

He turned to see the cause and saw me in fox demon form with two tails.

I tackled him and hit him with my tail sending him flying.

I quickly formed the chakra bomb and swallowed it.

"This is for Gaara," I thought and fired the chakra bomb.

It hit Deidara at high speed and exploded without doing further damage.

I transformed back to normal and walked over to where Deidara was at.

However when I got there instead of seeing the remains of Deidara, I saw a clay substitute.

"Substitute," I responded.

I sniff around and used my hearing and knew he was hiding.

"Well at least Gaara's safe, but we need to get him to Sakura before it's to late," I thought.

Kakashi jumped down to me.

"Are you okay?" Kakashi asked.

"Yeah, luckily I learned how to control how much power to add into the chakra bomb," I said, "Good timing Sakura."

Kakashi turned to see that Sakura and Chiyo had jumped down to them.

"How did you find us?" Kakashi asked.

"We saw an explosion and I figure that Naruto used the chakra bomb," Sakura said.

"It was, after Gaara was safe and out of range," I explained, "Speaking of which."

I waved my hand and the shadow clone that was carrying Gaara jumped down.

It put Gaara down before disappearing.

"I can't explain how its possible but Gaara is still alive but barely," I explained.

"What?" Chiyo responded.

Sakura check Gaara's vital.

"Naruto's right, it's faint but there is a heartbeat," Sakura said.

"What about your opponent?" Chiyo asked.

"He's hiding, but it won't be long until he's found out," I said with a fox grin.

At the time I said that Deidara turned around to escape just to see Neji Tenten Lee and Gai standing there a little beat up from their battle.

"Good job Neji," Gai told Neji whose Byakugan was active.

Sakura Kakashi and Chiyo turned to see them as I smirked.

Tenten summoned shurikans to attack, but Deidara blocked it with a kunai in his mouth.

Deidara went to the remaining of his clay bird and took a bite out of the clay, chewed it and swallowed it.

I sensed trouble right away.

"Neji," I asked.

"Yeah, I know, he's building chakra in one spot," Neji explained.

"He's using himself as a bomb. We got to get out of here," Kakashi said.

I took a scroll and bit down on it.

"Fox Demon Transformation: 1-tail!" I shouted.

I transformed into a 1 tail version of my true form.

"Sakura put Gaara on me, I'll carry him," I explained.

"Right," Sakura said picking Gaara up and putting him on my back.

We started running as Deidara's body started expanding.

Finally he exploded with a blast coming our way.

Suddenly the blast of the explosion seem to be sucked into one spot.

"That jutsu," I thought and turned to Kakashi-sensei.

His mangyekyo sharingan was activated.

The jutsu finally disappeared completely.

"Where did it go?" Tenten asked.

"To another dimension," Kakashi explained as his sharingan returned to normal, "I manage to get it just in time."

He collapsed but Gai stopped him.

Lee and Neji move Gaara off my back as I transformed back to human form.

"Lay him down, I'll see what I can do," Sakura said.

"Right," Neji responded as he and Lee laid him down.

Sakura tried a medical jutsu on Gaara for a few minutes but stopped.

"Sorry guys, I tried but his heart rate keeps dropping," Sakura said.

I look at Gaara and clench my fist as memories of Takashi went through my head.

"I trained so hard," I said.

Everyone turned to me confuse.

"I trained for 2 ½ years, so that I can save Sasuke before its to late, so that what happened to Takashi never happened again," I said, "And now all I can do is watch Gaara die right infront of me, unable to do anything about it again."

Chiyo look down remembering what Kakashi told her about Takashi.

She suddenly got down on her knees and started using the reanimation jutsu.

"Lady Chiyo," Sakura said.

"You might not be able to do anything, but I can," Chiyo said, "I don't know if I'll survive using this jutsu to save someone twice but at least I can try."

Sakura remembered it was Chiyo saved her using the same jutsu.

Chiyo struggled using the jutsu as she was already low on chakra.

I knew she was having trouble and quickly sat next to Gaara across from her.

I placed my hands on hers and channeled my chakra into her hands.

"What are you doing?" Chiyo asked.

"If you're low on chakra to save Gaara, then you can use my chakra," I explained, "Anything to save Gaara from the brink of death."

Chiyo look at me, then nodded and started concentrating in mixing my chakra with what was left of hers.

"The chief would be proud of you Naruto," Chiyo said.

"What?" I responded, "You knew…"

"Yes, I knew the chief of Mt. Oinari, I also knew about your father attack on the village. I heard that he saved you, I had to admit, I wander what he was thinking of keeping the kit of the ledgendary 9-tail Fox alive, but now that I got to know you, I'm glad he did, because now you're nothing like your father," Chiyo said, "Trust, loyalty, friendship, your father wouldn't even consider that back then, but you have all of it, and that's what separates you from any tailed beast, and cause of it I know you'll be a great ninja."

I smiled hearing it and nodded.

"Sakura, Princess Tsunade taught you well. It was an honor to work with you," Chiyo explained, "i\If I make it out of this alive, I hope that one day we'll work together again."

"Same here," Sakura responded.

"Naruto, Sakura after seeing what both of you can do, I have no doubt you two would surpass the original three Sanin one day, and I wish you the best of luck in finding your lost comrade," Chiyo said.

At that moment I sensed Gaara's life stronger than it was a few minutes ago as Chiyo retreated her hand.

"There done, and Naruto, I want you to become Gaara's closest friend," Chiyo said before passing out.

Sakura checked her vital signs.

"She's still alive, but we should get her back to the sand village just in case," Sakura said.

"Maybe we can help," someone said

We turned to see Kankaro, Temari, Ebisu, and a squad of sand ninjas standing there.

Then Gaara started waking up.

I turned back to Gaara as he opened his eyes.

"Gaara's waking up," I responded.

Everyone gathered as Gaara started getting slowly.

"Take it easy," I responded.

Gaara look at me and asked, "Naruto."

"One and only," I responded, "We almost lost you, but Lady Chiyo used some kind of jutsu and save your life."

Gaara turned to the unconscious Chiyo in Sakura's arms.

"She's alive but unconscious," Sakura explained.

Gaara look at the group of people around him.

"You all came to save me?" Gaara asked.

"Well, the leaf ninjas already save you when we got here, but yeah we did came to help you," Temari said.

"Of course you're our Kazekage," a sand konochi name Matsuri shouted as the sand ninjas cheered in agreement.

Gaara smiled as he knew he gained the trust of his village.

Temari and Kankaro smiled as well happy to see their little brother was alive.

Kankaro walked over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Naruto, I know you referring to the reanimation jutsu that Chiyo used, but I have a feeling you helped her out in saving him," Kankaro said, "So from Temari and me both, thank you for saving our little brother."

"Not a problem," I responded.

After Gaara rested a bit we got ready to move for Chiyo's health.

I use the summoning jutsu to summon Akagitsune.

"Akagitsune, I need you to carry Gaara Kakashi and Chiyo until we get to the sand village," I said.

"I take it you save the one-tail's Jinchuuriki then," Akagitsune responded.

"We saved Gaara, but after the Shukaku was removed from him," I explained rather annoyed as I was getting tired of hearing the word Jinchuriki.

"Fine," Akagitsune agreed laying down so that we can get Gaara, Kakashi and Chiyo on him.

With Tenten's help Sakura got Chiyo on Akagitsune's back in front so that she can lay on his neck.

After arguing with Gai it was best, he help Kakashi up next.

Finally we got Gaara on its back.

"Sorry we couldn't get you front seat," I apologize.

"It's okay, Kakashi and Chiyo need it more than I do," Gaara said.

"Spoken like a true Kazekage," I thought.

We headed out toward the sand village, yet I couldn't help but shake this feeling this won't be the last I would here from Deidara.

Back at the explosion site Zetsu and the newest Akatsuki member Tobi worn a dark cloak and a mask over his face with one eye hole.

Tobi replaced Sasori after finding him dead at the rubble of the hide out were checking it out.

Suddenly Deidara broke out from underground proving he was still alive, and was angry to find out Tobi was his new partner.

Once we got to the sand village, Chiyo and Gaara were checked over by the medics.

Kakashi was as well, but he only needed some rest after we get back to the leaf village.

Gaara made a recovery and we waited for Chiyo.

Sakura came out after helping sand's medics.

"Right now Lady Chiyo is recovering from chakra exhaustion," Sakura said, "Other than that, she's stable and will make a full recovery."

"That's great," I responded.

Kankaro came in soon after.

"Baki send a team to gather the remains of Chiyo's puppets," Kankaro said, "I even requested that they returned with Sasori's puppet body."

"Why?" Tenten asked.

"I think I know why," Sakura responded, "He want's to turn Sasori's puppet body into his own puppet to use."

"Yeah, I decided it was time I make my own puppets, and I can start by reparing his puppet body and use it for the good of the sand village instead of against it," Kankaro said.

"I have no objections," Gaara said.

Chiyo finally woke up the next day, but had to stay in the hospital.

Sakura and I decided to visit her while she was awake, but when we got there, Gaara was already there to thank Chiyo for what she did to help save him.

Chiyo also apologized to Gaara for participating in the sealing process in sealing the Shukaku in him.

Now we were heading out since Sakura had info on Orochimaru's whereabouts and we needed to report it before having to go.

Only problem was that Gai insisted of carrying Kakashi on his back.

Gaara Temari and Kankaro came to say goodbye and see us off.

I was about to say something to Gaara when he extend his hand out toward me.

"Someone once told me a hand shake was a symbol of trust between friends," Gaara explained.

I remembered Chiyo telling me to be Gaara's closest friend, which I wanted during the time since Gaara help Lee and me out during the retrieval mission.

"Right," I said and took his hand and shook it creating our trust of friendship, "If you ever need mine and the leaf village's help again, you know how to reach us."

"Yes," Gaara said.

I headed out with the others as we headed back home to the leaf village.

Next Time: We're back in the leaf village and Kakashi is bedridden for a few weeks, leaving Sakura and I needing new teammates for the mission. I checked with team 8 and 10 to find them busy, until I was attack by some unknown leaf ninja. Meanwhile Minato was left with no choice but assign a member from the root division of the Anbu, as well as one as the one he had planned. Whose our knew teammates? Read to Find Out...