With only. Week left until the finals, Naruto, Anko, and Jiraiya returned to the village. In the time Naruto trained, his skills in Fuinjutsu and kenjutsu drastically improved, along with having successfully created another jutsu.
"Well, we're back home. What's the plan?" Anko asked as her hands rested in her coat pockets.
"I have to deal with Gaara." Naruto said as his eyes scanned the village.
"Gaki, be careful. You don't know what he's capable of." Jiraiya warned with genuine concern for his godson.
"Jiraiya, Gaara has no idea what I'm capable of. I'll do what needs to be done. We can't afford to have Gaara go berserk in the middle of the village." Naruto said.
"Do you know what happens when A Jinchuriki dies before the extraction?" Jiraiya asked.
"Don't know, don't care. I will absorb Shukaku, and I'll revive him if I have to. But I'm not a member of Sunagakure, so what happens to him isn't my problem." Naruto said.
"Damn, you certainly are cold, aren't you?" Jiraiya asked.
"I'm not cold. I am being realistic and looking out for mine and Anko's home. Besides, depending on how things go, the village may be changing drastically." Naruto said.
"That's enough. I want to get some dango before you go off fighting demons." Anko said as she started pulling the blond by his arms.
"Okay, okay. Let's go." Naruto said as he waved to Jiraiya.
"Alright, so the finals are in one week. What's the plan?" Anko asked as she looked at her boyfriend.
"Take Gaara out before hand. This will either make Orochimaru flee, or force the invasion with less of a force. Either way. We win." Naruto explained.
"Sometimes I forget you're only a genin. Yet, at times, you act like a veteran Anbu." Anko said.
Naruto chuckled sheepishly. "Well, I guess it runs in the blood. Now come on, my queen needs her dango." Naruto said.
Anko smiled brightly. "You're the best!" Anko declared. The two began eating their dango, enjoying the quality time being spent together.
As they ate, Yugao was seen walking around, her usual calm attitude was replaced with one full of sadness. This caught Naruto's attention. "Hey, is everything alright with Yugao?" Naruto asked.
"I'm not sure, I've been with you the whole time. Yugao! Yugao!" Anko called out but her words being ignored.
Naruto sighed. "Go help her. I'm going to handle my situation. Meet at my place tonight?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah. I love you." Anko said.
"I love you too." Naruto said as he vanished in a yellow flash, leaving Anko to be a good friend.
Inside the Hokage's office, he was stressing the situation at hand. Jiraiya informed him of Naruto's plan and while he believed in his surrogate grandson, there was never a guarantee that things would go as plan.
At that time, the boy in question appeared. "Naruto, Jiraiya told me about your plan." Hiruzen said in a stern tone.
"Can't tell the Pervy sage anything. But yes, he's correct. I plan on confronting Gaara tonight." Naruto said.
"Are you sure this is wise?" Hiruzen asked.
"Was it wise when my dad fought Kurama? No, he faced Kurama head on. That's what I'm doing with Shukaku. But it won't be a killing, I will absorb Shukaku and revive Gaara if I must." Naruto said.
"This could cause the fourth great ninja war." The Hokage said.
"Lord Third, I have something that might shock you." Naruto said in a serious tone.
"What is it?" Hiruzen asked.
"Orochimaru assassinated the fourth Kazekage. Not to mention, Danzo is in league with the snake. I have reason to believe that Sound will strike with Suna and root, unless Gaara is defeated.
I doubt even Danzo would strike if Suna backs out. It's worth a shot. Either way, Suna doesn't have a leader." Naruto said.
"I see. Alright, please careful Naruto." Hiruzen said as he stood up and hugged the blond.
Naruto gave a smirk. "Don't worry gramps. I'll be write back." Naruto said as he turned away and flashed out the office.
"Minato, I hope Naruto has made you and Kushina proud." Hiruzen thought as a small smile grew on his face.
Inside one of the hotels, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro were sitting down, reviewing the plan with Baki. "Alright, does everyone know what to do?" Baki asked.
"You guys certainly are brave, talking about the invasion inside the leaf's walls." Naruto said as he sat on the balcony.
"What do you want, genin?" Baki asked.
"I've got some news for you guys and a solution to help you. Weather you take it or not, will determine what happens next." Naruto said as he activated a privacy barrier.
"What are you saying?" Baki asked.
"I'm saying that you're being manipulated by Orochimaru. Unfortunately, he failed to mention the part that consists of him killing your Kazekage." Naruto said.
"What? Dad was killed?" Kankuro asked. Temari started tearing up.
"Oh, shut up and stop with the tears. My dad does putting the nine tails inside of me. So I'm sorry if I lack any empathy. I'm willing to make a deal with you guys." Naruto said.
"What kind of deal?" Bakinasked hesitantly, while slowly forming his wind blade. However, he found a shadow clone of Naruto with a kunai to his neck.
"I wouldn't do that. Either you lose, but if you make the right call, you lose a little less." The blond declared.
"Uzumaki, speak or I'll kill you." Gaara said, getting irritated.
"Back out of the war, go home. Let me take Shukaku and I'll make sure Gaara is alive and isn't crazy." Naruto said while crossing his arms.
"Do you think this is a joke?" Baki yelled.
"Do you? I'm offering you a chance to not have such a bad lost. Either way, I'm taking Shukaku. So you decide." Naruto said.
"Damn, our plan requires Gaara to use his demon. But, if lord fourth is dead, then what's the point? If Orochimaru killed him, we'll surely get betrayed." Thought the suna jonin.
"How do you plan on taking Shukaku and keeping Gaara alive?" Baki asked.
"I'll show you." Naruto said as he appeared next to Gaara. "Gakido." Muttered the blond as he began absorbing Gaara's chakra, and the chakra of Shukaku.
In that moment, Gaara dropped dead, instantly. "You bastard! You lied to us!" Temari shouted.
"Hold on." Naruto said as he went through a series of hand seals. "Rinne Rebirth!" Naruto declared as a purple aura of chakra formed around Gaara.
"What the hell is he?" Baki silently asked himself as he watched the blond revive Gaara.
When the aura vanished, Gaara was moving around, showing signs of exhaustion. "There, he's fine. Now, take your ninja and leave. Tell your council to schedule a meeting with the Hokage and request Namikaze. We'll go from there afterwards." Naruto said.
"Why are you helping us?" Kankuro asked.
Naruto chuckled. "I know what it's like to suffer and if I can make the suffering of others lessen, then I'll be happy." Naruto said.
"Thank you, Naruto. Alright, we'll leave immediately." Baki said.
"Good. Here, take my kunai. If you have problems, throw it and I'll appear." Naruto said as he vanished in a flash.
"What are we going to do?" Temari asked as she held her brother tightly.
"We're going home. I don't know why, but I believe what he's saying." Baki said as he and the Suna ninja left.
Back at the Hokage's tower, Naruto arrived. "It's done, and suna is leaving." Naruto said.
"Naruto, you do know the exams will look strange, right?" Hiruzen asked.
"True, but I did the dirty work of keeping the village safe. You can handle the politics." Naruto said as he left in a yellow flash, leaving an exhausted Hiruzen.
Naruto arrived home and found Yugao and Nako sitting at his table with a bottle of sake. When the blond asked what was going on, he was stunned to learn that Hayate was murdered.
"What? By who?" Naruto asked.
"Baki, the jonin of the sand siblings." Yugao said as she started crying.
Naruto's Rinnegan activated. "I'll kill him." Naruto said as he was about to leave, until Anko told him to stop.
"Why shouldn't I end that bastards life?" Naruto asked as he slammed his fist on table, shattering it.
"That isn't you. You aren't an avenger." Anko said in a stern tone.
The blond looked at Yugao with a sad expression. "Please don't, Naruto. Hayate wouldn't want you to do this." Yugao said.
"Aunt Yugao, I will make those bastards pay for this." Naruto said.
"I know we will. But for now, take it easy until the exams start, okay?" Yugao asked.
"Alright, that's fine." Naruto said as he walked over to the counter.