A.N.: I do not own Naruto. Leave a comment hope you'll enjoy this chapter ^^ Another chapter will follow at the end of the day :) Thank you everyone who's reading the story (i know it's not a short story and it wont end any time soon) I love you all

I am finally back to writing! :)

After the Sasuke retrieval mission failed her brother became less happy and pressured by his promise to Sakura of bringing their teammate back to the village. Nana didn't know what to say to her brother, they didn't talk a lot between themselves but he was slowly getting better as the days passed. Ramen was probably the only thing right now that made him feel better.

After his talk with one of the legendary sanin and what Nana guessed some of his friends he slowly started to become himself again.

Nana didn't know how to feel about her current predicament. She was staying at the village most of the time helping around doing any D ranked missions to earn at least a bit of money. Not being able to use chakra set her back in her work as a ninja but she refused to give up and did whatever she could to stay in shape till the day her chakra path will open again. She didn't tell Naruto of her becoming a chunin, he never really asked her either, she kept her vest hidden under her bed not taking it out and wearing it.

Looking around the apartment she let out a sigh. Today would be her last day with her brother. After today's mission was done and over Naruto will leave the village and go train with Jiraya-sama for two whole years. Nanas chest contracted at the thought of being all alone again, clutching her shirt hard over her heart as few tears escaped her eyes making a path down her cheeks. Before she could drop in to a depressed state the doors of the apartment opened and Naruto came rushing in.

"Are you ready Nana? We got to go! We're late!" Was all her brother shouted before he ran to his bed and pulled out his gear and ushered Nana to pick up hers.

Letting out a sigh she put on a smile as she grabbed her pouch with kunais and followed her brother out of the apartment, locking the door as they left.

Her last mission with her brother and yet her first mission as a semi-captain. Feelings of joy and sadness kept on clashing with each other as she followed her brother down the streat up to Konoha's entrance.

The mission ahead of them was a C ranked mission involving bandits on the border between Konohagakure and Sunagakure. Not only was this mission awkward for Nana but it set her in a bad mood too.

As her team was currently disbanded she filled the spots in other teams when they needed her, sadly because of her lack of ninjutsu not many teams needed her thus leaving her with solo D rank missions.
The awkward thing at the moment was that for this mission she filled the spot of Sasuke in team 7. Sakura was in a foul mood, Naruto was his usual self again and Kakashi as always looked bored while doing nothing or reading his books that he kept on carrying around.

Before they left the village Kakashi quickly explained to them that this was a joined mission. Nana supported the idea of joined missions as they strengthened the bonds between the villages.

"A joined mission with Sunagakure?" Naruto questioned as Kakashi-sensei tried to explain their mission to them.

"We can handle it ourselves." He pouted as he looked up at the jonin.

"Don't be like that. There is some trouble on the border between the two villages. Wouldn't it worsen the bonds between the villages if only one village was requested? It'd be best if we handled the mission with our allies, don't you think? Good relations are our first priority." Kakashi explained to him.

"Well… after what they did to Konoha good relations won't build overnight" Nana commented absentmindedly.

The only thing occupying her mind at the moment was a lot of prayers that Suna didn't send Gaara to this mission. After she heard what he did to her brother she immediately started to ignore him for the whole duration he and his team stayed in Konohagakure. He might have saved her and Lee, but he still harmed Naruto and that she could not forgive that easily.

"A joined mission is a good way to do that." Sakura added as she looked at Naruto.

"Where is the fun if you understand it already?" Nana heard Kakashi ask her and Sakura.

"Wait what? Understand what already?" Naruto questioned them dumbfolded, apperantly not understanding anything when it came to village relations.

"It's way over your head." The pink haired girl shot back at him.

"Come on. You don't have to be like that, Sakura-chan. Ain't I right, Sas…." Naruto looked from Sakura to where Nana was standing, his face losing the previously cheerful expression.

"Basically it's to get along with our allies. Anyways enough chatting, we should head over to the rendezvous point with Suna." Kakashi quickly said before the atmosphere could grow any dimmer.

Awkward. That would be the word to describe the current situation. Trying to loosen it Nana volunteered to scout on ahead.

Coming out of the bushes Nana looked around not noticing anybody being there yet. As she walked to the river filling up her water bottle she could hear Naruto chatting with Sakura and Kakashi.

"This is definitely the rendezvous point, but it looks like we're here early." Kakashi confirmed with her as she stood beside him looking at him questionably.

"How do we know this is not another scheme of theirs." Nana asked Kakashi, finally voicing her thoughts and at that Kakashi's eyes seemed to scan her with amusment.

"Maa… They helped us so there shouldn't be any doubts." Kakashi told her his eyes turning back to his boring expression. "You'll act as the captain of this mission I'll correct you if anything goes wrong, not that it should. It's only a C ranked mission." Kakashi told her smiling.

"They have some balls being late. Besides, you can never read their faces. It's scary. They shouldn't be late if they want to improve relations with Konoha!" Naruto complained with his arms crossed over his chest making Nana giggle at his antics.

"My apologises for arriving late." A voice Nana knew very well said from the river side.
Turning towards the voice her eyes grew wide. The red head stood before them on the river.

Where were the other two? Why is he alone?

Looking him over Nana noticed he didn't change much since the last time she saw him months ago. He wore the same uniform he did when he saved her and Lee, his face was rid of all emotions, and worst of all she was yearning for him to look at her.

Why is my heart beating so loud?

"G-Ga-Gaara!" Naruto said really shocked as he turned around.

"Ah, no worries Gaara-kun. You are right on time." Kakashi said as he saw the shocked expressions on his three pupils. At his voice Nana snapped out of her thoughts stepping forward a bit, her voice and smile masking the feelings inside.

"We were just early, that's all." She said with a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Good relations, good relations, act like a captain! The mission comes before my personal problems.

"No.." Gaara started to say as two loud splashes were heard behind him. Looking around him she saw the other two teammates she was searching for before.

"Sorry."

"We are really sorry."

"Again my apologies for arriving late." Gaara apologised as he bowed respectfully before them.

"Don't worry about it. We just arrived ourselves so there is no need to apologise." Nana quickly said as she bowed back to him.

Their eyes made a connection. Hers confused as to why she felt the need to make him feel better. His slightly shocked because she talked to him, despite giving him the cold shoulder a few months back.

The moment they shared was broken by Naruto as he grabbed a rock and threw it at Gaara making the sand defence come out. Everyone's expressions were shocked except Naruto's and Nana's. While Naruto's expression didn't change much, Nana's eyes shone with amusement she couldn't hide.

You are supposed to hate him stop smiling just because his sand shines pretty. Think of what he did to your brother!

While Kakashi scolded Naruto, Nana went closer to Gaara to apologise for her brothers actions. As she got closer to him she noticed the two teammates missing and as she looked around she could see a bush shaking and the two guys shaking in fear behind it.

"It's how I greet him. It's not like a rock can hit no brows over there, right?" Naruto said as Kakashi let go of his ear.

"Huh? Hey weren't there two guys with you?" Naruto questioned as Gaara turned around to look at the spot they should be in.

"What's with them? Bunch of scaredy cats." Naruto complained.

"Hey, how come the guy that wears make-up and the girl with the fan aren't with you?" Naruto interrogated Gaara.

Nana couldn't understand it… How could her brother talk to Gaara like that? Wasn't he angry at what he did to him and his teammates? Why was he acting friendly towards him?

"Kankuro-san and Temari-san." Sakura scolded Naruto as she pulled his ear like Kakashi did not too long ago.

"I'm part of the regular troops for the time being. I'll introduce them. They are my subordinates, Yaoki and Korobi"
Gaara said and as he introduced them they both greeted back from the bush at the mention of their names.

"I am Hatake Kakashi" Kakashi said and pushed Nana a bit forward "And this is Uzumaki Nana. She is the captain of this squad with me as her counsellor." After that he pointed to Sakura and Naruto introducing them. Both Sakura and Naruto waved to them while Nana slightly bowed her head.

"They are still new to all of this. Please bear with it." Gaara told them his eyes again locking with Nana's. She could feel her cheeks heating up.

"Let's move up to a more secure spot and discuss the mission, then." Nana suggested as she pointed up to the trees above the bridge.

"Okay team Gaara will take the mountain'west s side and our team will head towards the east. We'll simultaneously attack the bandits' fortress at summit. We'll commence the mission at midnight, alright?" Kakashi repeated the plan as Nana thought about it going through a lot of things that could go wrong, a lot of them including her brother Naruto.

"As if we need to wait that long. We can take care of those bandits ourselves." The other twin complained as he stood upside down on a tree branch above them.

"Don't forget they are missing-nins. Some of them are chuunin ranked." Nana tried to remind him.

"That's right Naruto! We could all be put in danger because of you" Sakura agreed as she scolded him.

"Alright already." Naruto pouted looking away.

"We also agree with this strategy." Gaara announced and his face shifted in to what Nana would call his serious mode. "I would like to speak to you in private." He said locking eyes with her.

At that she got confused pointing at herself "M-Me?" She stuttered.

"You are the captain, right?" Gaara looked at her before jumping down to the ground.

She quickly followed behind him as she jumped straight down, not missing her brothers complain about Gaara being so secretive.

"They think they're so cool, being captains." Naruto exclaimed from above them making Nana grab her kunai in anger as her eyes shifted to his spot out of frustration.

"There is someone following us." Gaara told her, making her turn back to him. "It'd be nice if it was only my imagination. But I just thought I should inform you." He told her as he looked in to the distance over the bushes slightly narrowing his eyes.

"You know who it is?" Nanami questioned him, her previous embarrassment forgotten.

"The village elders alienate me. It may cause you some trouble." The red heads eyes again locked on to Nana's shocked ones.

They want to kill him? Why? Why would they do that to him?

She was growing angry at that thought. His own village is trying to get rid of him.

"This mission will only have meaning if both our teams succeed. That will help us strengthen the bonds between our villages. Besides… The more challenges we face together the deeper the bonds will become." Nanami told him as she smiled at him.

Completely forgetting about what happened between him and her brother she uncrossed her arms looking him in the eyes. Before he could react her arms were around his shoulders and her cheek pressed against his own. His sand reacted faster than his brain, wrapping itself around her tightly for a split second before he forced it back and away from her. Standing there is shock the redhead didn't know what to do as the girls arms grabbed a bit of the fabric on his back, pulling him closer to her.

"It's not like I'm going to let anyone harm my friends. They'll have to go through me first. Besides" She stopped talking and pulled herself away from him again smiling up at him. "You still owe me that dango."

"You better not be hitting on my sister Gaara!" Naruto shouted from the tree branches making Nana's face change colour completely.

"You! You idiot!" She shouted as her hair gained a life of its own making Gaara step back just a little as she grabbed her Kunai and threw it up next to her brothers head. Looking at Naruto she smirked in satisfaction as she saw his pale face. Quickly turning back to Gaara she apologised for her brother. Again…

"Okay! Let's move out!" She told them as she quickly told Kakashi the information.

"Try not to be late again Gaara" Naruto said as he looked back at his friend.

"See you at the rendezvous point" Nana added before she disappeared in to the trees.

Ahhh a bit of doki doki moment 3