Chapter 12: A Friendship Formed

The return to the village wasn't as fast as the trip there but if everyone was safe that's what mattered. Reaching the village once more the injured were taken immediately to the hospital for medical attention. Kiba, Neji, and Choji were all in critical condition while Reno, Hayner, Temari and Kankuro got off with some small wounds. Lee was brought back to the hospital ordered by Tsunade since he still wasn't completely recovered. The sand siblings decided to stay in town until they were sure everyone came out alright and Naruto was safe.

"You guys can stay at my apartment, it's the least I can do." I said seeing them all nod while Reno piped up saying, "I mean Temari if you'd rather stay with me..."

I smacked him in the back of the head replying, "Stop being creepy."

Walking back to my apartment I showed them my room that they could all share hearing Kankuro call dibs on the bed.

"You're sure, I feel kind of bad just taking your room." Temari said while I smiled saying, "You guys helped us out I don't mind, plus I don't sleep much anyway."

She nodded deciding to retire early while Kankuro decided the same leaving me standing awkwardly beside Gaara.

"Your teammate has a very peculiar interest in my sister." Gaara said suddenly while I sighed saying, "Yea he can be a bit rambunctious, but he means well."

"Your blood technique is something I've never seen before." he said while I sat on the couch saying, "It's my clan's technique, I don't know too much of its history though."

"Are you the last of your clan?" he asked making me shake my head saying, "No, they live somewhere else, I left to start my own life."

I saw him sit down on the couch keeping his distance replying, "Why?"

"My clan views our power as a way to cause more war and destruction and I wanted to prove it can be used for good, silly maybe but still." I said seeing him deep in thought before replying, "It's not silly, taking control of your life is to truly be free."

Gaara and I spent the next few hours just talking about our past sharing the hardship we endured but the friendships we had formed along the way. He told me about living with the One-Tailed beast in him feeling bad he had to endure that his whole life. He even asked me about Naruto which I told him the little I did know since we didn't talk much. It was clear he thought fondly of Naruto after their encounter in the forest the day of the invasion.

"Why does that one boy follow you around?" Gaara asked suddenly making me snap my head towards him saying, "What?"

"The one you battled at the Chunin exams, when I was walking around the village I noticed he watched you a lot." he said making me turn red from anger or embarrassment I wasn't sure saying, "He was… creepy bug boy… and he knows where I live now…."

Gaara stared at me confused for a moment until I shook it off saying, "Shino thinks of me as his enemy… well I guess rival now since I beat him in our fight… I just hate bugs!"

Gaara gave me a perplexed look before saying, "Is that a normal thing for a rivalry?"

Leaning back on the couch I replied, "There is nothing normal about him sometimes..."

"You hate this person?" he asked while I shook my head saying, "No, I don't hate him in fact he's a very good opponent just can't stand his bugs."

"I see… well perhaps you will one day find common grounds." he replied making me nod saying, "Yea I hope so too"

Realizing it would be dawn soon I heard a knock at my door walking to it seeing Kakashi standing there giving me a somber look.

Gaara instantly walked towards the door beside me as Kakashi said, "Lady Tsunade informed me the sand shinobi would be here, I just got Naruto to the hospital."

"What of the Uchiha?" Gaara asked seeing Kakashi look down saying, "He's on his own path now."

Frowning I heard Kakashi say, "Naruto is sleeping now but you may see him when you wish."

Gaara thanked him as Kakashi gave me one more look before disappearing as I closed my door seeing Gaara deep in thought. I couldn't believe Sasuke would abandon the village like he did, sure his brother was a terrible person but that shouldn't mean he throw away his life becoming a missing nin. I guess in the end revenge can make people do crazy things.

Once Temari and Kankuro woke up we all went to the hospital to check on everyone seeing Shikamaru outside one of the rooms visibly upset. Throughout the night Neji and Choji almost died as Kiba was making a slow recovery. Temari went to sit near Shikamaru while Kankuro said he would check on Kiba so that left Gaara and I to see Naruto. Opening the door, I saw Naruto staring out the window but perked up seeing Gaara and I.

"Hey, was wondering when we'd meet again." Naruto said flashing him a smile as I shook my head saying, "What am I chopped liver?"

He laughed saying, "Sorry Yuna… thank you for helping to keep everyone safe… I told Shikamaru you should have helped in the first place, but he preferred Shino and then when Shino couldn-"

"You were going to recruit Shino over me?" I said cutting him off letting out a defeated sigh of disgust as Naruto waved his hand saying, "No I said you! Shikamaru wanted him you're less creepy!"

Smirking I replied, "Good to know… now I'll leave you both be."

He waved at me before I walked out making my way out of the hospital and to the training field seeing Ren, Hayner and Reno talking.

They stopped seeing Reno wave me over saying, "Did you hear Naruto came back last night, how was having Temari over… what does she slee-"

Getting struck over the head by Hayner I replied, "Yea, we went to go see him this morning and you're a pervert Reno."

"Glad you all are here I wanted to discuss some things with you." Ren said as we all lined up ready to listen.

"As you all know Sasuke has left to join Orochimaru and Akatsuki has started showing up wanting the power of the Tailed-Beast." he began hearing Reno say, "Who's the Akatsuki?"

"They are a group of S-ranked rouge ninja's… not much is known about them at all only those two members include Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki. If you encounter either one of them, you run do you all understand me?" he said now getting a more serious tone making us all nod knowingly.

"Anyway, with all this happening and Kakashi's team being one man short the Jonin and I will be taking turns attempting to learn more information about them with other Jonin. That in mind you may be split into different groups with how best fits the missions you'll be sent on." he said seeing him look at us sadly replying, "Though we may not get to all be together as much, I know that your teamwork won't falter for when we take the Chunin exams again. After all, you still have to beat my big sister's team, right?"

We all smiled knowingly while Reno said, "Hey doesn't that mean you'll get to work with Anko?"

I saw the blush creep up Ren's cheeks as he muttered, "That's not important but yes."

Getting his posture back Ren pointed to the sky saying, "Now in the name of my new friend Guy-sensei go forth my youthful pupils and forge your paths! Hugs all around!"

"No." "Yes!" Hayner and Reno said in sync making me laugh which caused them to laugh too, we would always be a team no matter what.