Chapter 33: Journey to the Sand
I was running through the village as soon as I received the message on an emergency mission that I needed to be a part of. Dodging people along the way I ran up the Hokage tower opening Tsunade's door seeing not only Kakashi but Sakura and Naruto with him.
"Sorry… did I interrupt?" I questioned worried as Tsunade waved her hand saying, "Not at all we were just waiting for you."
"Yuna is joining us too?" Naruto asked curiously as Tsunade looked at him replying, "While you were away, and Sakura was training under me she's been getting special training by Kakashi and I can't think of any other Chunin I'd send when it comes to dealing with the Akatsuki. So, for the time being she will assist Team Kakashi."
I felt my body tighten up, so this was Akatsuki related, so suddenly, they'd been quiet for so long while I said, "What's the mission?"
"The Kazekage of the Sand has been kidnapped by the Akatsuki." she said grimly making my eyes widen, "Gaara…"
She went over what little details the Sand sent us as I listened taking in all the information, I could see Naruto was just as ready to go as I was. Once given the go I ran home to grab what tools and such I needed dashing to the front gate. I started pacing back and forth antsy to get the show on the road especially since the Akatsuki were involved.
It had been over a year since I'd seen Gaara, but I missed him, I was so proud when I heard he became the Kazekage. It was his dream, and I knew I'd stop at nothing to make sure that dream stayed alive along with him. Hearing footsteps I turned to see Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura and even Tsunade walking towards the gate as I stood up straight seeing Naruto smile at me.
"Alright let's get moving." Naruto said as I nodded turning only to run into Jiraiya who walked past Naruto seeing him whisper to Tsunade.
I tilted my head as he pulled Naruto to the side frowning, we should be moving by now, too much time had already passed. He came back over to us saying something to Kakashi, but Naruto and I had already taken the lead ready to go.
"Good luck." Tsunade said as we all nodded making our way towards the Hidden Sand Village, hoping we weren't too late.
I began jumping alongside Naruto seeing the look of determination on his face making me just as determined too.
"Hey you guys don't break formation we need to stay together." Sakura yelled as I looked back towards her slowing my pace slightly but notice her look down.
"Temari?" Sakura said jumping down as we all followed seeing her look towards us with slight worry.
"What are you guys doing here?" she asked as I replied, "It's about Gaara… he's been kidnapped by the Akatsuki."
"What Gaara was kidnapped!" seeing the pain flash through her eyes before she turned away from us as Kakashi said, "It will take two and a half days to get to the sand from here so let's hurry."
She nodded as we all jumped off now all of us going at a faster pace knowing Temari wouldn't slow down now that she knew her brother was in danger.
Once nightfall hit, we kept our stride going except Naruto who insisted on going faster than all of us hearing Sakura yell, "Naruto you have to stay with us."
"It's not fair… what they're doing to people like Gaara and me." Naruto said as I frowned hearing him say, "You know Sakura… that I have the spirit of the Nine Tailed Fox inside me."
I looked down as he said, "Gaara and I both have monsters inside of us, that's why they are after us. They only see us for what's inside of us, I don't like their selfish views towards us."
Temari looked towards me never knowing that Naruto had the nine-tailed fox inside him while Naruto said, "That's why Gaara and I are so alike, and he fought all by himself a lot more than me. That's why Akatsuki are after him, why does he always have to be the one who gets the short end of the stick."
He looked back towards us proclaiming, "That's why I want to save him straight away."
I jumped up towards him putting my hand on his shoulder saying, "Don't worry we will."
He smiled towards me, but I saw the tears in his eyes looking ahead seeing the sun would be rising soon, we were almost there.
I bit into my pill as I traveled beside Kakashi and Temari hearing Sakura mention Itachi's name making me perk up. Itachi Uchiha, he was part of the reason Kakashi wanted me to train under his guidance and I was more than willing to defend my team against him. I heard their conversation veer towards Orochimaru which I learned more about from Anko. She used to be his student and I learned for a time he was part of the Akatsuki. Looking towards Naruto and Sakura I knew they wanted nothing more than to go after him to get Sasuke back.
"Yuna." I heard looking to my side seeing Kakashi hold out a bag of blood pills as I took it saying, "What is this?"
"Just in case things get bad." he said giving me a hidden smile as I nodded putting them into my pack looking ahead, Itachi, Kisame… any of the Akatsuki get in my way I'll find a way through them no matter what.
I yawned lightly as we were now one day away from the Sand, after taking a short rest we all kept moving as the sun was slowly rising high in the sky. We jumped down from the trees seeing that they stopped, and a vast desert was now in front of us.
"The Sand Village will be ahead, I'll take the lead from here." Temari said as we all nodded knowing she knew the fastest way.
Making our way through the desert Temari suddenly stopped and looked ahead before turning back to us, "There is a sandstorm coming we should take shelter."
"I saw a little cave not far from here." I said seeing her nod as we all made for the cave just before the sandstorm reached us.
"We need to get moving..." Naruto said as Kakashi grabbed his shoulders saying, "Calm down Naruto it will be okay."
"Yea, Temari is the one who should be the most upset." Sakura pointed out as Temari looked at the sandstorm replying, "Ask anyone and they'll tell you not to go out in sandstorm, you could be lost or die of dehydration long before anyone can find you. This time of year, it shouldn't last long we just have to wait it out."
Naruto sighed sitting back down as I felt his eyes look towards me saying, "Did you start dating bug boy?"
I felt my body tense up looking at him with wide eyes yelling, "Why would you ask such a foolish question at a time like this?!"
Laughing nervously, he said, "I'm just trying to kill time I already know Sakura isn't seeing anyone."
"What's that supposed to mean!?" Sakura yelled at him seeing Kakashi sigh defeated while Temari gave a small smile towards us.
"I'm not dating Shino we're just friends, though Ren-sensei and Anko started dating after you left." I said relaxing slightly seeing Naruto give a weird look saying, "That crazy lady is dating your sensei?"
Tilting my head towards him I replied, "Yes, but I'll let her know you think she's still crazy."
"A lot really has changed..." Naruto said softly while I pat his back replying, "Most for the better, at least you're back."
He smiled towards me as Temari turned her head towards the mouth of the cave, "The sandstorm is passing we should be able to move again."
We all nodded getting up from our spot continuing our run to the Sand, Shino… I wonder if your mission is going well…
Meanwhile elsewhere…
"Achoo!" I sneezed rubbing my nose as Akamaru barked hearing Kiba say, "You catching a cold or something?"
Looking over at him under my hood I said annoyed, "Of course not."