Author's Note:

Hello lovelies,

I'm happy to be posting a new chapter for this story. Writing this story and reading all the reviews that people have been posting has really brought me an excitement and happiness that I never thought that I would have in this point in both my writing career and life. So, thank you all for this feeling and my repayment to you is this and future chapters. I hope you enjoy it.

Side Note:

I have decided to do this within limits just to see how this goes. So how this is going to work, whoever reviews the current chapters can make a suggestion for me to add (event, characteristic, scene, explanation, etc.) in the future chapters. If I like it then I will try to fit it in. Now, I might not be able to fit it into the next chapter, but if it is a suggestion that I really like then I might just put it elsewhere. Regardless, if your idea gets mentioned, I will be sure to give you the credit where your suggestion will be placed. Also, if your suggestion is picked, I will be in contact with you on how and what exactly you would like for the suggestion to go. So, be on the lookout for messages from me and I'll be on the lookout for suggestions for you. Good Luck!

Side Note 2:

As I have stated in the Author's Note above, I really appreciate the feeling and support that all of you have given me. I am also aware of my track record in the past with updating. But, I DO NOT need a constant reminder every other day in ANY form. I appreciate that you are excited for the newest chapter and am worried that I might not update it in a timely manner. I am extremely guilty of that and I am sorry, but I am trying to do better. I just want some of you to realize that I am an adult who works and has a life outside of both writing and Fanfiction. With that bring said, I cannot just sit around and write all day long (despite how much I would love to do so). So, from now on, allow me time to breath. I will try and post a chapter on my off days, if I can, but I am mostly shooting for at least once a week or no longer than every other week. Please bear with me and allow me to work. Also, please don't take this as I am angry with anyone. However, I am slowly losing my patience with some and wanted to make this public announcement for everyone to know. So, if you are one of these people, please DO NOT take this note lightly or I will block/ report you. If this does not pertain to you then please ignore. Thank you.

Final Side Note:

Know I've posted this chapter already, but I felt bad for being a lazy writer and not finishing the battle better between Sakura/ Chiyo and Sasori. So, to make up for it, I have posted this edited version with added attributes towards the end of the chapter. Please feel free skip to the end and finish reading the chapter, or you can just skip it all together. It doesn't matter, it won't technically change the story.

…

…

…

Chapter 3: Rescuing Gaara (Part 1)

Normal P.O.V.

"What's taking so long? We should have left be now," Naruto groans as he leans against a tree in their campsite.

"Hold your horses, we have to wait for Sakura and Lady Chiyo to grab their things before we can head out again," Kakashi says while reading his newest copy of Icha Icha Tactics he received from Jiraiya before they left for Suna.

"Yeah Naruto," Pakkun yawns, "Just relax a little bit. I can still sense their trail. They haven't stopped, but they're not that far away either,"

"Don't be in such a rush. If we rush too fast, then we'll burn out. You know they won't give Gaara up without a fight, so we need all of our strength for when that happens, alright?" Shikamaru tries reasoning as he lays on the ground and cloud watches.

"I guess you're right. I'm just so worried about Gaara; especially since we have no idea what they could be doing to him," Naruto sighs as he stares off into the forest they camped in.

While Sakura was leading her team in healing Kankuro, Naruto, Kakashi, Shikamaru and Pakkun were tracking the Akatsuki. They managed to make it past Suna's boarders and into the Hidden Rain Territory when Sakura and Lady Chiyo finally caught up to them and offered their assistance. Naruto tried to convince them to turn back, but both women were too stubborn to the young man's complaints. So, after taking a much-needed break, the team is now waiting for Sakura and Chiyo to gather their belongings before they head out.

"Hn. Just like the Hidden Leaf to be lying down on the job," Chiyo grumbles as Sakura and she makes their way to the rest of the group.

"Hey, old lady, we were waiting for you," Naruto glares as he gets in her face.

"As you should. Learn to revere your elders, young man,"

"I take it that we're ready to keep moving?" Kakashi asks. Everyone, except Chiyo and Naruto nod, "Alright then, let's move out,"

…

…

…

The group travels for about three hours among the trees before Pakkun stops dead in his tracks.

"What's wrong Pakkun?" Naruto asks.

"They're just up ahead. This is as far as I can go,"

"Alright then, thanks," Kakashi says before dismissing the miniature pug. "Alright gang, let's get ready for whatever they have to throw at us,"

"I'm going first," Naruto growls before shooting off. He jumps several yards until he is standing at a tree just behind the duo. "Hey bastards! Where do you think you're going?"

The two Akatsuki members turn around to stare at Naruto.

"Well, well, would you look at that Sasori. The Nine-Tails came to save his friend. You know what that mean?" Deidara laughs.

"Yes. Our quota will be filled. I will take him for my own. The others will be so pleased,"

"Wait a minute, what makes you think you can have him? He's supposed to be the most powerful one. Maybe I wanted him for myself," Deidara whines.

"Shut up will you, you're so annoying,"

While the two are arguing, Naruto turns his attention towards the back of the bird's tail that Deidara is riding on. There he sees an unconscious Gaara barely clinging to life.

"Kyuubi, can you see if ShuKaku is still in there?"

"Sure thing, kid. Give me a minute," After a little while passes, Kyuubi comes back with annoyance in his tone. "Yeah that bastard is still in there and is as loud as ever. We need to hurry and rescue them,"

"I'm on it,"

Naruto clears his throat before speaking, "Hey, I don't particularly care what the two of you are talking about. All I care about is you giving Gaara back,"

"Hm? And what makes you think that we'll just hand him over to you without taking the both of you?" Deidara asks with a tilt of his head.

"Fine, if you don't want to hand him over," Naruto pulls out eight kunai. "Then I'll just have to take him myself,"

Naruto flings the kunai at them. Four of them go towards Sasori while the other four aim for Deidara. Sasori uses his tail to block the heading for him as Deidara uses his clay to dodge the four heading his way. This is a great distraction. While both Akatsuki were busy dodging the kunai, Naruto jumps forward and manages to deliver a nasty right hook to Deidara's face. The blond grunts as he tries to find his footing on his bird.

"I'll get him," Sasori says before swinging his tail over by them.

Naruto jumps out of the way as the tip of tail punctures the bird, making it disappear and drops Deidara and Gaara. Deidara curses Sasori for his recklessness at the same time Naruto brings his leg down on Sasori's head.

"Why you little~" Sasori growls as he tries to hit Naruto with his tail, but only becomes more frustrated when Naruto dodges all his attacks.

"Hold on, I got him," Deidara says as he launches some clay towards them.

Sasori manages to jump out of the way, but the explosion hits Naruto.

"Dumbass, you could have hit me,"

"I got him though," Deidara shrugs until he doesn't see any remains left. "A shadow clone? But where~"
Naruto whistles, catching both Akatsuki's members. Both gasp when they see Naruto holding Gaara in his arms behind them. "Well this has been fun, but we have to get going. Catch me if you can," Naruto smirks before taking off.

"Hey! Get back here!" Deidara yells while shaking his fist.

"Let's go after him you fool!"

"Not so fast!" Sakura shouts as the rest of the team appears.

"You're not going anywhere," Kakashi says as he readies himself.

"Oh great, there are more of them. Sasori, you take care of them. I'm going after the Jinchūriki," Deidara orders before taking off on one of his clay birds.

Sasori was about to complain, but it was too late. Deidara was already gone and he has four people in front of him that he needs take care of, one old woman in particular.

"Naruto is going to need some help," Shikamaru acknowledges.

"Agreed, why don't you two males go and help the Nine-Tails while Sakura and I take care of my grandson,"

"Do you really think we can take him?" Sakura asks.

"As long as we work together, he does not stand a chance. Besides, who do you think he learned his moves from?" Chiyo smirks as she steps forward and pulls out several kunai and uses her chakra to send them flying at Sasori.

The evil puppeteer uses his tail to block the attack. This gives Sakura time to rush at him with her fist cocked back. She lets it fly, but misses when he jumps out of the way. This line of attack keeps up for a while, giving Kakashi and Shikamaru time to chase after Deidara and Naruto.

"Hm, I see the rumors of you being retired are false," Sasori pants.

"No, they are true. I just came out of retirement because I wanted to see my darling grandson and tell him how bad he's been," Chiyo laughs.

"Fine then, if that's how you want to play it," Sasori rips the rest of his torn cloak off and shows himself on all four with his tail coming out of the mouth of a large, orange Traditional Japanese Mask on his lower back. "How would you and that little brat like to be a part of my puppet collection, granny?"

"Puppet collection? What does he mean?" Sakura asks.

"Allow me to explain, once I kill someone, I drain them of their blood, remove the organs, and then save it from decay before filling it with hidden weapons and hiding myself inside," Sasori explains.

"So, you mean~" Sakura takes a large gulp as she lightly shakes. "No wonder that thing looked life-like,"

"It really is sickening seeing you use this in combination with your Puppeteer Jutsu; all the more reason for me to regret teaching you it,"

"Don't say things like that, granny. Here, allow me to demonstrate how well I've learned from you and managed to pick up on my own," He grunts as he thrusts his tail forward, Sakura and Chiyo dodges the attack before jumping safely into the bushes behind the trees. "Hiding? Don't worry, I'll find you. I can't wait to make you numbers 299 and 300 of my Human Puppet collection,"

In the bushes, the two women discuss their plan.

"Damn him,"

"What's wrong, Lady Chiyo?"

"His puppet, it's one I've seen before but isn't the same one as before. He's modified it,"

"So, what do we do now?" Sakura asks while keeping a look out for Sasori.

"We have to destroy that puppet, but somehow we have to get close enough to do so. Sakura., I need you to use your monstrous strength you've inherited from that Slug Queen to smash that puppet. If you can do that then Sasori will be defenseless and we can kill him,"

"But how am I supposed to get close to him with his tail and all the modifications?"

"That's where I come in. I will control you, like a puppet, and will help you dodge his attacks. I will also get you as close to him as possible. When I do, the rest is up to you,"

"Got it. Alright, let's get going,"

"Where are you two? I don't like to be kept waiting," Sasori growled.

"We're right here!" Sakura calls out, grabbing Sasori's attention.

"Alright then," Sasori chuckles before removing the cloth in front of his mouth. "Accept your punishment then!"

The puppet opens his mouth and shots out tons of little silver needles at the duo. With the help of Chiyo, Sakura is able to dodge them without trouble. Frustrated by their success, Sasori shoots off his left arm where thin wooden pegs full of needles shoot at them as well. Just as before, the two were able to perfectly able to dodge the needles.

"I don't understand! How are you two doing that?!" Sasori yells in frustration.

"It is of none of your concern," Chiyo starts, distracting Sasori. "You only need to focus on the battle before you,"

Just as she says this, Sasori just realizes how close Sakura is to him. He puts his tail up in defense, but something stops it from hitting Sakura.

"Got Sakura!"

"Right, here goes!"

She reels her fist back before connecting it with the puppet, effectively shattering it. As the dust clears and the puppet's pieces falls on the floor, Sasori jumps out and away from the pair.

"Ah, so you've finally come out? Come now, let me see the face of my grandson. I've come all this way and have waited twenty years; the least you can do is show me your face before we destroy you,"

"I just don't understand," Sasori starts. "I just don't understand how a brat and an old woman could possibly beat my puppet so easily?" As he turns around, the cloak falls off and reviles his face, shocking Chiyo.

"But… but how?" Chiyo gasps with a hand over her mouth.

"Surprised? I would surly hope so," Sasori smirks. "It should actually be a crime to look so young at such an old age. I would be envious too if I were you,"

"What have you done to yourself?" Chiyo asks.

"What you should be asking is what I'm going to do you with my newest creation," Sasori smiles as he takes out a scroll activates it. When he does, Lady Chiyo is left in disbelief at who Sasori made one of his victims. "Do you like him. I hope so, he was well worth the effort,"

"How could you Sasori?" Chiyo cries as she falls to the floor.

"Lady Chiyo?" Sakura runs over to her and helps her up. "Lady Chiyo, what's wrong?"

"That's the Third Kazekage! He turned the Third Kazekage into a puppet!"

"The Third Kazekage? But how could that be? I heard he went missing ten years ago,"

"He was never missing. He challenged me, trying to persuade me to come back to the village. He was a tough one to defeat, but like I said well worth the effort for the magnificent creation you see before you today,"

"You won't get away with this Sasori," Chiyo glares.

"Oh yeah? And how does my dear old granny plan on stopping me? Hn. I'm not afraid of some retired old woman. You've got one foot in the grave and am thirsty for revenge. What could possibly make you so terrifying to me?"

"Hn. I've see you still hold no respect for your elders, in that case, let's see how your puppet can stand up to this,"

She pulls out two scrolls of her own and activates them. Two puppets appear that hold the same features as Sasori himself.

"So, you brought them?"

"Yes, you remember them? The first puppets you ever created. I thought they'd be appropriate for this reunion, don't you?"

"What could you hope to accomplish with them? I created them, remember? I know all their inner workings,"

"If you're so sure about that then how about we put it to the test?" Chiyo smirks before motioning Sakura to come closer. "I'm going to try and wear him down. I need you to try and find an opening while I do so,"

"Right. I won't let you down,"

"I don't know what you're playing at here, but it won't do you any good. I'll be the winner of this outcome. Play time is over!"

Sasori thrusts his hands forward, making the Third Kazekage's body lung towards them. Chiyo does the same and the three puppets collide in whirlwind of fighting fiery. They were moving so fast that Sakura can barely keep up with them. The parent puppets had both a sword and a long whip with kunais on the outer sides of it, respectively. Sasori's puppet, on the other hand, had spinning spikes as weapons. The two puppeteers skillfully use their puppets to not only defeat the other, but to demonstrate who was the best in this fight.

Needing a rest from both ends, Sasori and Chiyo pulls their puppets back to assess the damage done. The Parents and the Third Hokage's bodies were fine, but their weapons are shot to help. Chiyo made her puppets their weapons away before heaving them clap their hands together. Between their conjoined hands, three threads of black wire appear.

"Have you had enough, Granny Chiyo?" Sasori smirks.

"I was about to ask you the same thing. I, on the other hand, am having too much fun," Chiyo chuckles.

"You dare laugh at me? Fine then, I think it's time to end this,"

Sasori flicks his finger to open the Third's mouth. Suddenly, black sand leaks out of its mouth.

Chiyo gasps, "Oh no. This is bad,"

"What's the matter? What is that thing?"

"It's one of the original jutsus of the Third Kazekage: The Iron Sand. It renders puppets like mine useless. When the Third was alive he created a jutsu that allowed him to infuse his chakra with sand and make it magnetic. It's one of the most dangerous known within the Sand village,"

"But how is he doin that? I know he made the Third into a puppet, but that's all he is right?"

Chiyo shakes her head slowly, "Remember when I told you that Sasori makes puppets out of real people? Well he also uses their bodies as the actual puppet. So, in a case like this, he can use the Iron Sand Jutsu while still being able to control his puppets too,"

"Damn. He's good; too good. What are we going to do?" Sakura asks in slight fear.

Chiyo lowers her head and the Parent puppets, since they were of no use to her anymore, before speaking, "You need to get out of here Sakura,"

"What? And leave you here to fight him alone? I don't think so. I'm staying and we will defeat him together,"

"You're a foolish girl. How do you expect us to win against him? I can't use my puppets so I am of no use to you,"

"Then use me like before. The jutsu won't work on me and I can fight him. If we can work together like before, then he doesn't stand a chance. I'll crush both him and his puppet,"

Chiyo looks at Sakura with amazement at the young woman's determination. She smiles, "You truly are that Slug Queen's apprentice. Alright then, but just be careful. I can't support you like I did before, so most of it must be your doing,"

"That's alright. You just need to get me as close as you can," she glares at the sinister puppeteer as she pulls down her gloves. "I'll take care of the rest," Chiyo nods before attaching her chakra strings to Sakura again.

Sasori laughs, "What? Now that you can't use those puppets anymore, you resort to your sneak attack? I don't think so!"

With the flick of his fingers, he uses the Third to form large objects made of iron. Sakura yells as she runs towards him.

"Stupid girl!" Sasori yells out as he rushes forward to.

Sakura is quicker she manages to jump on top of one of the objects before reeling her fist back and punching the other across the field. Angry at this, Sasori tries to use the other object to pierce Chiyo. She too manages to get away. He flexes how fingers to move the object back towards them. Chiyo dodges again, leaving Sakura to drill it into the ground with a mighty kick.

"Damn bitches! I am not one to be played with!"

Flexing his fingers aggressively, Sasori launches the Third at Sakura. The girl's body starts to give in from exhaustion so she falls on her knees.

"Sakura!" Chiyo screams.

"Die!" Sasori yells as a sword appears from the Third's cloak.

When it gets close enough, Sakura grabs the arm of the puppet and slams it into the ground with her fist, shattering the puppet in to a thousand pieces.

"Damn that girl,"

"Sakura!" Chiyo screams again as she rushes down to help the pink haired bunny up. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm a little scratched up, but nothing too serious. I can't even feel the poison in my body," she smiles.

"You two are starting to annoy me," Sasori growls as he walks towards them.

With the Third gone, Chiyo's puppets are useful again and the sand structures that Sakura drove away are disappearing.

"It's time to put an end to this,"

Sasori removes his clock to revile not only four scrolls in his back and blades on his arms, but the answer for why he hasn't aged since the last thine Chiyo saw him.

"Sasori, You're a puppet? You've turned yourself into a puppet?"

"Yes, and it is one of my finest works yet. What a fitting end to your life, isn't it granny? Now, allow me to send you to the heavens!"

One of the scrolls on his back lit up, Sasori outstretches his hands and an intense fire shot out of them. Lady Chiyo and Sakura can only dodge by hiding behind rocks, but even that prove difficult. Realizing that his fire isn't working, Sasori activated his water scroll and uses that to slice through the rocks the women are hiding behind. Both Lady Chiyo and Sakura are frustrated because with him attacking like this, they were never going to get close enough.

"We need a plan," Chiyo says.

"I know, but it's head to find some kind of opening," she watches Sasori carefully before finally coming up with a plan. "I've got it. Lady Chiyo, that thing inside of his chest, that's got to be his heart, right? Since the rest of his body is considered a puppet. I think that if we smash that, then we can will this fight. What do you say?"

"Great idea, Sakura. Let me distract him while you get close enough to strike,"

"Right,"

The girls stand up and rush towards Sasori. Laughing at them he says, "Is that all you got?! Fine, let's end this once and for all!"

He lunges at them too. He uses the sharp end of the cord to strike Sakura in the side, effectively poisoning her. She drops in pain. Chiyo was about to rush over to her when she notices how close Sasori is to her.

"Die!" he yells in excitement.

He was about to use his blades to attack Chiyo but was stopped by something. Both puppeteers look to where Sakura is standing, holding onto the cord with the last of her strength.

"You're done for! Get over here!" she screams as she pulls Sasori back towards her.

His eyes open wide when he sees her fist coming right for his "heart". As she shatters both the "heart" and Sasori's body, the pain overcomes her and she falls to the floor.

"Sakura!" Chiyo shouts as she runs over to the girl and puts Sakura's head in her lap. "Are you alright child?"

"Yes, I will be fine. I don't think I took on too much poison, but it shouldn't take Naruto and the others long to come back with Gaara. I can wait. I'm tired anyway,"

Chiyo nods with a slight smile on her face as she brushes her bangs out of her face. She turns her head to the sky as her smile expands.

"Tsunade… looks like you turned out to be a fine person after all,"

…

…

…

Author's Reminder:

Hey everyone, just a friendly reminder and summarization of what I said earlier. Review this chapter and tell me what you would like to either see in the future chapters. I look forward to hearing from you soon.