(And I'm back. Sorry it took so long guys. But I have another chapter all ready.)
From the POV of a small creature, it scurried along the roads of Konoha late one night. It went around every corner it came too hitting the occasional dead end resulting in it backtracking where it came before getting back on track. It even went down another alley and saw a cat with a red ribbon in it's ear. The cat hissed at the smaller creature forcing it to turn tail and run. It arrived outside Naruto's home and crawled up the drainpipe before reaching Naruto's bedroom window.
The creature's reflection revealed to be of a bright glowing spirit gopher, "I hope you're feeling like a light sleeper tonight." he said, as he began tapping the window.
Naruto who started hearing the tapping began tossing and turning in his sleep before finally waking up, "Ugh, is my head rattling or something?" he looked over at his window and saw the creature tapping, "Gochi?" he opened the window allowing the spirit inside.
"Naruto, thank the stars you weren't fast asleep." the spirit panted.
"Gochi, what're you doing here this late?"
"I'm afraid I bring dire news, Naruto."
"How dire are we talking?"
"Akatsuki dire." Gochi answered with dread.
The sound of the Akatsuki got Naruto worried, as he spoke, "Speak."
"I've just received word two members of the Akatsuki are planning to invade Suna and abduct Gaara in two days."
"What? Who are they?"
"I remember hearing the names Sasori and Deidara."
Naruto committed the names to memory before he realized something, "Hold on. How do they expect to even get into Suna? The village itself is heavily guarded."
"Sasori told the other members he's got someone on the inside." Gochi answered.
"A mole," Naruto feared, "Thank you for this information, Gochi. I'll take it from here."
"Good luck, kid." Gochi vanished.
"I have to inform baa-san of this." he ran to his closet and quickly got dressed. After getting changed he jumped out his bedroom window and used Airbending to propel himself off to the administration building.
At the Hokage's office, Tsunade was doing some late night paperwork, until the door opened to reveal Naruto and Shizune, "Baa-san!"
"Naruto?" Tsunade asked, before turning to Shizune who looked worried.
"Tsunade-sama, Naruto has something vital to tell you."
"Speak, Naruto."
"I just received word from one of my many spirit friends that the Akatsuki is planning to invade Suna in two days."
Tsunade's attention was grabbed, as she spoke, "Are you absolutely sure about this?"
"I trust my spirit friends with my life. And he said the Akatsuki have a spy inside the village walls."
Tsunade trusting Naruto's instincts spoke, "This is indeed problematic. The Akatsuki are finally making their move."
"We can't let them invade Suna and take Shukaku from inside Gaara." Naruto said.
"I know. Tomorrow you and your squad report here tomorrow and I'll explain the situation to them."
"Yes, ma'am." Naruto nodded, until Shizune spoke up.
"Shouldn't we send a warning message to the Kazekage, Tsunade-sama?"
"We can't risk it right now," she answered, "If the Akatsuki do have a spy in Suna, we have to suspect everyone."
"Unless you count Gaara, because that would just be crazy." Naruto answered.
"For now we'll have to keep it between us." Tsunade said.
Naruto suddenly got an idea, "Maybe we don't have too."
"Naruto?" the ladies asked.
"If I can concentrate while meditating I can project myself to Gaara and warn him without letting anyone else know we're onto them."
"Can you do it?" Shizune inquired.
"You're talking to the Avatar here." So Naruto got on the floor into a meditating position. He closed his eyes and concentrated hard, while Tsunade and Shizune made sure not to disturb him. As his whisker marks began to glow in the Avatar State, Naruto's astral form left his body.
"All right. Now to Suna," he flew through the ceiling and was outside the building. He flew through the skies of Konoha across the land at a fast speed before he arrived at Suna's desert, "Almost there." he continue to fly before reaching the village. He arrived at the administration building before flying through the roof and appeared in the office.
Naruto saw Gaara was at his desk taking a little nap, "He's asleep. Communicating with him will be easier." he flew down to Gaara and laid his hand onto his head before glowing.
Gaara woke up in a void and looked concerned, "Where am I?"
"On the spiritual plane, Gaara." came a voice, as Naruto appeared before him.
"Naruto. What's going on?"
"Sorry to contact you like this, but it's the safest way so no prying eyes can listen in on us."
"What're you talking about?" The Kazekage asked.
"There's trouble brewing, Gaara. The Akatsuki are finally on the move."
"The Akatsuki?"
"Yes. And you're their first target."
"How did you come across this information?"
"A spirit friend told me. They're on their way to Suna, and worse they have a spy in the village." Naruto warned him.
"A spy?"
"Yes. We don't know who it is, but whoever it is will try and sneak the Akatsuki members in."
"Any idea how many are coming?"
"Only two. And their names are Sasori and Deidara."
At the sound of the first name, Gaara became shocked, "Did you say, Sasori?"
"I did. Why does the name mean something to you?"
"Sasori was once a Suna shinobi long before my time, or even my father's. In fact he was one of the greatest puppet masters in the puppet corp."
"The puppet corp?"
"Yes. Kankuro's puppets were originally built by Sasori of the Red Sands, and those were just some of his early creations."
"He probably kept all the best ones for himself." Naruto deduced.
"Yes. If he's involved in this then we can be certain he'll have plenty of tricks up his sleeve. Although the second one Deidara I do not have any information on."
"I see. Well, thanks. Tomorrow me and my squad will be on our way to the village. Akatsuki will be coming in two days. We can rendezvous with you and plan a sneak attack against their ambush. Though try to keep this between us until we've arrived."
"I understand. I'll see you soon my friend." Gaara said, as Naruto vanished from his mind and Gaara woke up back in his office.
"Naruto?" Shizune asked.
"Did you succeed?" Tsunade inquired.
"I informed Gaara of the Akatsuki and he said he'll meet me and my squad tomorrow. It's very troubling for him because one of the Akatsuki members is a former Suna shinobi. Sasori."
Tsunade spoke, "I see. And do you know of the other one?"
"His name's Deidara. Does that name ring a bell?"
"Yes. He's former shinobi from Iwa." the Hokage answered.
"Then Tsuchikage-jiji might have information on him. I'll go ask him." Naruto got back into meditating, as the ladies waited for him to return to his body.
"You know this could be our newest way of relaying messages to the other Kage without any other unwanted eyes seeing it." Shizune suggested.
"Maybe, but let's focus on the matter at hand." Tsunade answered, as Shizune nodded as they continued to watch Naruto's body.
Suddenly Naruto's eyes opened up, "I got our information."
"And..." The Hokage waited.
"Deidara was as you said a former shinobi from Iwa part of the Explosion corps. He can create bombs made out of clay which he molds into various shapes and sizes. Tsuchikage-Jiji said if he's involved in this invasion then he himself will also be accompanying us."
"Is he serious?" Tsunade asked in disbelief.
"I know, he said even the back pains will be worth it so long as he can discipline a former shinobi of his." Naruto smirked.
"Well, if that's all for now. You better head home and get some sleep." Tsunade ordered.
"No need to tell me twice." Naruto answered, as he left the office.
Shizune turned to her master, "Are you worried?"
"Of course I am. How can anyone not?" Tsunade asked rhetorically, "But we need to have faith in Naruto and his squad."
"Yes, you're right." Shizune agreed.
Back at Naruto's place, the Avatar got back to bed and gazed up at the ceiling remembering Itachi and Kisame, "Akatsuki. Make your move, because we'll be ready for you."
(And that's the chapter. Don't miss next time where it's a fight in Suna, as Naruto and his squad take on the two artists of Akatsuki.)