Coming to a skidding halt in front of Suna's gate, the group was relieved to see that everything was still fine. Traders and other visitors were coming and going, unknown of the looming threat.
"We're still on time." Itachi said as he patted the sand off his clothes.
"Question is, how far behind are they?" Kakashi asked as he turned his gaze to the desert.
"The real question would be, who the hell are you?!" a voice barked.
The group turned to the voice, noting a squad of suna shinobi standing at the entrance, their hands lingering on their pouch or weaponry.
Kakashi stepped forward, putting up his hands in a disarming gesture. "We are here on behalf of Konoha. My name's Kakashi Hatake, we have urgent news for your Kazekage."
The group from Suna looked at each other, with apprehension.
"It's fine, let them through." A new voice said.
Naruto looked past the group and noticed a familiar face; one he couldn't seem to place. Kakashi however knew who it was and gave him a short nod. "Baki, we have to speak to the Kazekage immediately."
The Suna jonin still wore a piece of cloth in front of the left side of his face. Which flapped in the wind, showing his burnt face. He nodded and led the way.
"This doesn't look like a place I'd like to live." Micheru softly spoke to Naruto as she took in the somber looking village.
Naruto looked around as they walked to the center of the village, where the Kazekage's dome shaped building resided. The place all main roads led to. "I've been her once, in disguise. There are worse villages to visit. The Kazekage has the best interest of the villagers at heart."
People were going about their business, with shinobi patrolling the streets. It was obvious that Sunagakure was at a heightened phase of security ever since the war with the Reavers.
Surrounding the village were high cliffs that was seemingly blocked off by barricades, which Naruto assumed was Gaara's doing. Shinobi were scouting from high towers, looking into the desert.
The entrance they had passed through was a wall that reached the same height the cliffs did. The wall looked intimidating to any assaulting forces and would surely be a massive obstacle to surmount.
Anbu patrolled the city center and was bustling with people, buying food and other supplies from the market stalls.
The double doors of the Kazekage Dome were opened by the two guards standing there.
"Have you met the Kazekage before?" Micheru asked as the slowly made their way up the stairs to the top floor.
"I did…A some years ago."
Naruto had met up with Gaara and his siblings a year after his departure from Konoha and purely by chance. The meeting was a lot more pleasant than the one before and Gaara had significantly warmed up to his brother and sister. Treating Naruto as a friend and no longer as his mortal foe.
Reaching the top floor, Baki swiftly led them down the hall before opening the door at the end.
"Kazekage-sama, we have unannounced guests."
Gaara was looking out the window. "I know, thank you Baki you may go."
Baki bowed and quickly turned, closing the door behind him.
"I never would've imagined that Naruto Uzumaki would team up with the Akatsuki. Then again, neither could I have imagined myself doing the same thing."
Naruto pulled back his hood and stepped forward. "I once thought the same thing."
The red haired nodded before finally turning around. His hair was a bit longer but still slightly ruffled. His face still showed little emotion, yet there was no killing intent, and a tiny smile could be seen.
"Times are changing."
Naruto grinned as he slapped Gaara on the shoulder. "How have you been?"
Gaara's smile widened. "I am well, all things considering. But I doubt that you've come here to exchange pleasantries."
Naruto's face turned grim and nodded. "Kaze No Kuni is about to be invaded."
Gaara's shock was evident but managed to mask it well. "I haven't had any reports from our borders with the smaller nations, are you sure?" his eyes glancing to the table where various reports lay about.
Micheru decided to join in, giving a small bow. "Nothing conclusive Kazekage-sama, but all signs point to it."
Gaara looked at her for a moment before turning back to the window, seemingly in thought. "What can we expect?"
"The seeming entire might of the Reaver forces." Itachi softly answered, leaning against the post of the door.
There was a sharp inhale from Gaara as his body tensed up at hearing Itachi's words.
"We still have time. You need to evacuate all your villagers and recall all your men. You need to focus on Suna." Kakashi advised, exchanging looks with Naruto and Itachi.
"And leave the minor nations and other outlying villages to die? No, I won't do that."
"You don't understand what's heading this way. Your forces are stretched too thin as it i-."
The door behind them slammed open as Kankuro barged in. "Gaara! Our forces have been overrun in Ishi no Kuni! The Reavers are heading this way…" Kankuro trailed off as he noted the others in the room. "Naruto?"
"It's exactly as we feared. We need to act now." Said Itachi.
"How long is it to travel from Ishi no Kuni to Sunagakure?" Micheru asked to the group.
Kankuro looked at her with a strange expression on his face. "Three days if they come at us with full speed."
"They'll need fighting strength when they get here. I reckon it will take them four or five days at the most."
Gaara slowly sat down in his chair, his head resting on his intertwined hands. "It was only a matter of time. What's their army strength?"
"From what was reported, nothing we've ever faced before. What are your orders Gaara?"
Gaara looked at Kankuro before settling his gaze back on Naruto. "Pull all our forces from the border, including that of our allies, or send them to another allied country that isn't under imminent threat."
Kankuro nodded and turned to leave, giving Naruto one last strange look.
"We'll talk later, okay?"
"Sounds good, kid."
Gaara turned to a seemingly empty corner. "Send out our Anbu forces and start evacuating all outlying villages."
Naruto distinctly noted a shimmer. The anbu that had been standing guard disappeared.
"What about the villages to close in range of the enemy forces?" Micheru asked, interrupting Gaara's conversation.
Kakashi solemnly answered where Gaara seemed to hesitate. "They won't make it in time."
Micheru gritted her teeth. Before turning to Naruto. "Y-You can help Naruto!"
"He can't flashstep that many times, Micheru. It would break his body, "Itachi interjected. "Every time he uses it, it puts a strain on his body."
Naruto remained silent, his nails digging into the palm of his hand, trying to control his anger before slumping in defeat. "We need to start strengthening your defenses, Gaara."
The Kazekage who seemingly suddenly aged ten years nodded in agreement. "You're right. I'll send out messenger birds to at least try and warn the villages."
"Which village is nearest to the border of Ishi no Kuni?
"That would be Risha."
Naruto turned and walked to the door. "The least I can do is head there and warn them. I'll cover the area with clones and place traps to buy time."
"Let one of us tag along." Kakashi offered.
The blonde shook his head. "The more people I take with me, the heavier it will be for me. This is the fastest and easiest way."
Micheru looked at her friend and only now noticed the thin layer of sweat that covered his forehead, or his soft yet notable breathing that seemed slightly higher pace than normal. "If you-."
"I'll be fine, Micheru." Naruto patted her shoulder, his eye locking with hers.
"What are you planning, Naruto-kun?" Gaara asked, completely left in the dark about their conversation.
"The others will explain. I'll probably be back later today." And with that he disappeared into the hallway, the only sounds they heard were that of his footsteps as he sprinted down the corridor.
x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x
Naruto panted as he sat down on a low stone hedge. Watching the villagers disappear behind the hill gave him slight satisfaction. With all the traps currently being laid out, along with his small army of clones in hiding, he was confident that he would at the very least slow down the enemy advance.
Looking to the North, he knew that the Reavers weren't far off. Slowly he pushed himself on his feet, his body protesting every move he made. With the lack of proper rest and continuous fighting, exhaustion started to settle in.
Pouring a decent amount of chakra into his next jutsu he summoned a hawk before hopping on it. "Take me to Sunagakure please."
'Here's to hoping they'll march straight in the village' Naruto thought. The small village itself had been turned into a bomb that would go off the moment they walked in.
To the west lay another village that was being evacuated by his clones. It was all he could do in his current state. Glancing east he knew that there were villages there as well. With a sigh and a large amount of regret he spoke to his summon. "Nodin, change of plans. Go east. We've still got work to do.
They took to the skies, and he gave one last glance over his shoulder. he had fought the Reavers on many occasions, but the scale of the upcoming battle was something he had never experienced before and dreaded for what was to come.
x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x
The next day, dusk.
Kakashi wandered near the entrance of Suna, along with Micheru. Refugees from all over were flocking in and had been throughout the day. The Kazekage had sent out a request to all former shinobi-turned civilian to answer the call to join in the defense of Suna.
"What's the plan for all the civilians?" Micheru asked as she bumped shoulders with yet another one of the many passing refugees.
"From what I heard is that Gaara is sending out scouts to clear a path using the passageway at the other end of the village. It's always been their strategy in times of war. It leads away and towards the coast where a fleet is lying in wait to take them away.
"But isn't the Reaver fleet going to anticipate this?"
"They've been scouting the seas and they haven't noticed anything. It should be fine. Besides it's only a short trip and along the coast."
"And how long is the journey from here to the coast?" Micheru pressed.
"About a day and a half, depending on their speed."
"You think we have a chance?" Micheru asked, glancing as a large group of Suna shinobi marched past them. She noted that there were young children, presumably genin among them
Kakashi thought about that for a moment, slight doubt lacing his voice. "The forces we're gathering is among the largest we've had in a direct confrontation." The grey haired Jonin trailed off.
"I kinda feel a 'but' coming..."
"But…The Reavers are amassing a force never shown before either. At Kumogakure they sent a portion of their army, but not everything. They were attacking other countries simultaneously. This time it looks like they are going all in."
Micheru gave a dry chuckle, hoping to hide the fear in her voice. "So, we're screwed?"
"Regret coming along?" Naruto said as he came walking through the gate, giving a chunin his report before walking up to his new teammates.
"You're back! How did it go?" Micheru initially wanted to step forward and give him a hug but restrained herself at the last minute. She could see that he looked tired, and his face had smudges of dirt on it.
"The villages closest to the Reavers have been evacuated. I've laid out traps all along the village and what I assume will be their route. It should buy the fleeing villagers some time."
"What now?"
"Now, we drink and forget about our impending doom." Naruto joked with a tired yet genuine tone, dragging Micheru to the nearest bar.
x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x
The waiting was undoubtedly the worst.
Sitting on top of the wall, atop the cover, his feet dangling over the edge. To his far right he noticed Baki barking orders and giving some chunin a verbal beating of a lifetime for dropping a crate of kunai over the edge.
They defense of Suna was incomparable to the defense of Nami no Kuni. The wooden walls that could barely hold the men standing atop it or the samurai that had little to no intel on the Reavers.
Add in the few men available they had at the time; it was a miracle they held it as long as they had.
"Well, well! If it isn't the little blonde brat from Konoha."
The 'blonde brat' turned to his left and saw Temari walking up. Her appearance had significantly changed the last time he met her. Her blonde hair was no longer tied into four different pigtails but had instead opted for a single knot. She wore a black nin-kimono, specifically made to allow good mobility and didn't hamper her movement. On top of her clothing, she wore armor plating for her chest, but had left her arms exposed.
"See your attitude hasn't changed at all." Naruto grinned at her as she hopped on the battlement next to him and sat down as well, having placed her trademark fan on the ground behind it.
"Why change what's working?" She returned the grin before she smiled fondly. "It's been years, Naruto. You lied to us, last time we met. We had to find out from Tsunade that you had abandoned your village. It was an incredibly uncomfortable talk."
Naruto looked back out over the dune sea. The sun was slowly going down, and along with it the temperature. "Didn't want you guys to get into trouble. Suna/Konoha relations and all that."
"You've helped us with Gaara, the least we could've done was return the favor." She playfully tapped her foot against his.
The hunter shook his head. "You didn't have anything to repay me for."
"We beg to differ, kid."
"You know, Kankuro. You're only a few years older than me."
Kankuro and Gaara came walking up as well, various shinobi at the wall gave a short bow before returning to their duties.
"Uzumaki Naruto…Traitor of Konoha and working together with the Akatsuki while being part of a group of hunters, who have caused pain all over the elementals. You've made some strange and questionable choices."
"All of it leading to this. Our group has known for a long time of what was to come. Trying to prepare."
"By destroying strongholds and killing people left and right. Strange way of preparing." Temari noted, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Normally these questions are asked at the end of a war, not during. The end justifies the means and all that?" Naruto jokingly retorted.
Gaara placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Not when to the world these actions seem like an act of terror."
Naruto shrugged. "When the war is over, I'll gladly sit down with you and talk about it. I may not be able to change your mind, but you will understand, even if it's just little bit."
Kankuro pointed at the piece of cloth covering his eye and a large portion of his face. "What's up with the Hatake look?"
Naruto winced as the memory of his battle with Kenpachi snapped into his head. He turned to Kankuro and lifted the cloth, showing his mauled eye socket.
"Kami! What happened to you?!"
Temari hopped off and walked to Kankuro's side before being taken aback by the sight in front of her.
Three thick scars covered his face. Where his eye used to be was nothing more than dark gaping hole.
"I-I" He shook his head as more memories started plaguing him. "Got into an intense sparring match that's all." He jokingly tried to brush it off.
Temari softly touched his cheek as she slightly tilted Naruto's face more to her, giving her a better view. "I am worried about how the other guy looks, if he still breathes."
"Oh, he looks just fine alright. Seeing as he walked away with barely a scratch."
"Who was it?"
A cold sweat slowly started building up as he restrained a shudder. "It was Kenpachi."
"You mean the leader of the Reaver forces?" Kankuro asked, surprised.
"That's the one."
"No wonder…I heard he's unstoppable."
Naruto placed the cloth back in its former place, covering the damage once more. "Certainly, felt like that." The blonde said dryly.
"You think he's going to show here?" Temari asked before her brother could.
"Maybe. Normally he lets his commanders take control. But things haven't been progressing as well as he'd have liked. Probably why he amassed such a force that's heading this way. He's done playing around. It's possible he'll join the fight."
"So, what do you think? We got a chance?" Kankuro asked as he started fidgeting.
"We've always got a chance. But…it's a slim one. A real slim one at that." Naruto muttered.
"What about Konoha, Naruto? Are they sending help?"
"It won't matter if they do. They won't make it in time." Gaara answered Temari's question. "We're on our own."
The blonde stretched out and stood up. "Why don't you take me to my teammates, I think they were at a bar somewhere."
Kankuro slapped Naruto on the back before gripping him by the shoulders and guiding him to the nearest stairway. "That's what I like to hear!"
x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x
The bar in question was a smaller place filled with a mixture of regular civilians as well as suna-nin "No elitism here I guess."
"What?"
"Shinobi tend to favor bars with no civilians. Arrogance if you ask me."
"Well, can't really do anything about it." Kankuro shrugged before dragging him to the bar.
"You sure Temari knows where my teammates are?" He asked, watching Kankuro order two dishes of sake.
"You think we don't keep tabs on shady figures? You're at the top of our list, kid!"
"Stop calling me kid…" Naruto muttered under his breath as he accepted the dish and took a small sip, savoring its taste.
Kankuro grinned at the blonde and instead downed the drink in one go.
Naruto couldn't help but grin as well. Why he had waited so long before visiting Suna was beyond him. "Hows Gaara? Gotta admit, I was surprised when I heard he was the new Kazekage."
"If you told me back then he'd become the new Kazekage, I would've called you crazy. But he really stepped up…Man he really did."
The blonde smiled fondly as he tapped the bar with his dish, getting the attention of the barkeep, ordering two more. "So Suna has become more accepting of Jinchuriki. If only more people thought like that."
"When it becomes common knowledge that the Reavers use demonic powers of their own, I wonder what the consensus will be then." Itachi's voice spoke up, walking to the bar before sitting down next to Naruto.
"I'm glad command decided to keep that little detail as a secret for now." Naruto responded, ordering another sake dish for the newcomer.
"For now."Kankuro repeated slowly. They both understood the meaning.
x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x
for a large portion of the evening, they spent reminiscing about the days long past and catching up with what they had been doing in the years in between. During their chat Temari had joined them, along with her, his teammates, Micheru and Kakashi.
Micheru was silently listening to Naruto's genin days and occasionally chiming in when he was talking about his time with the hunters.
As the evening turned into the early hours of the morning, the group eventually dwindled down until only Kakashi and Naruto remained.
Glancing at his old teacher, he noted the distant look in his lone eye. His thoughts far away, most likely submerged in his memories.
With a sigh he stood up and paid for his tab, along with Kakashi's. slowly making his way towards the exit.
"Wait up."
Naruto slowed his pace and waited for Kakashi to catch up when he remembered something. "You know. That whole conversation we had with your summon back in Nami no Kuni struck me as odd."
"I figured you would bring that up sooner or later."
"Searching for me in Nami. Explain."
"Well…When we were looking for you, Paku found your trail, in Nami No Kuni?"
Naruto looked at him with a deadpan look. "I got that part, Hatake. Why didn't you find me?
"Maa, Naruto, we just couldn't, simple as that."
The blonde came to a stop and turned to the gray haired nin. "Your pets are renowned for their tracking abilities. What are you hiding?"
Kakashi's shoulders slumped, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "We found your trail..."
"Figured as much."
"I was tracking with Paku. The others were in the village. I…decided against following your track."
Naruto looked at his former sensei with a surprised look in his eyes. "But...why?"
"Because you deserved it. You grew up in village that despised you. You were beaten, bullied…They tried to kill you so many times over the years, Naruto." Kakashi scratched the back of his head, feeling slightly uncomfortable about the ordeal.
Naruto looked away, his mind working overtime trying to understand. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because it's what you said. I don't deserve it, "He let his head hang in defeat. "Your father once asked me that if anything ever were to happen to him, or to Kushina that I should take care of you…But I didn't."
Naruto looked at Kakashi, waiting for him to continue.
"Sandaime however, he didn't think it was wise. He put you in a foster home instead. Hoping you would get the attention you needed. Instead of a worn out, tired anbu operative."
Naruto scoffed as memories of his youth flooded his mind. "That worked out great..."
"No, it didn't. For what it's worth. I'm sorry about what I said. I'm sorry I didn't help when you needed me most. I failed as your sensei."
They reached the barracks where they were residing. Naruto struggled as he was trying to make his mind wrap around the revelation. It was as if the suppressed rage in his chest sizzled out, for the moment.
"Your words of trading me like I was some barter item, broke me," Naruto admitted silently. "Sasuke, Sakura both dumped me. Then you decided I wasn't worth the time."
"It was a moment of weakness, Naruto. I had a student who was plotting to abandon the village. The village's desperation to keep the Sharingan in Konoha," Kakashi winced at his own words, making it sound like a lowly attempt at shifting blame. "Regardless of that, I made a mistake, something I can never take back."
Naruto looked at the man in front of him. Regret etched clearly on his face. A man in his early thirties that had seen more than most would ever see, or experience. However, the blonde still felt immensely conflicted. "I…. Thank you, Kakashi. I need to think about this."
Kakashi patted the blonde on his shoulder and headed inside. Inside was a large hallway where foreign shinobi were residing. Shinobi from Kuma no kuni, warrior monks from Ishigakure (whom Naruto had never even heard of before) and even Ame-nin could be spotted.
In the corner he could see Micheru sitting with a couple of Ame-nin, walking over he couldn't help but smirk. "Well, aren't we all nice and comfy?"
Her face lit up, a wide smile appearing as her eyes locked with his. "Naruto, they were with us at Tsuchi no Kuni, the beachhead battle."
"You accompanied Pein, didn't you?"
The shinobi nodded. "That's right. He gave us orders to head this way, while other, less experienced shinobi evacuated everyone. They are heading to Konohagakure as we speak."
"Figured Ame wouldn't be left alone."
"No...We weren't."
Naruto sat down next to the ame-nin and gave Kakashi a nod as he walked past and headed to his bunk.
Eventually after another half hour of softly chatting with one another, the blonde yawned and couldn't help but stretch. "I really should get some sleep."
Micheru stood up, suppressing a yawn herself. "Sounds like a good idea. Thank you for a lovely night. Hopefully, we'll see you in the coming days."
Naruto gave the ame-nin another nod and headed after Micheru, who led him down a corridor and into the room designated for the 'Konoha squad'.
Itachi and Kakashi were already inside, with the former sitting on his covers and staring out the window.
"I missed you at the bar, Itachi, leaving early, tsk." Said Naruto with a touch of sarcasm.
"Your sarcasm is noted, Naruto-kun. I hope you enjoyed yourself."
"Missed Kisame's antics but I can't complain," he sat down on his bed and took off his hunter's outfit, glancing at Kakashi's sleeping body. "What about yourself? Managed to get some rest?"
"I scouted around, got myself acquainted with some of the commanders in suna. They've been preparing themselves well."
Naruto's gaze followed Micheru move towards the bathroom, closing the door behind her, but not before locking eyes with his, giving him a soft smile.
The blonde stared at the closed door before removing the rest of his outfit. He slid under the covers with a satisfied sigh.
He was fast asleep by the time Micheru returned from the bathroom, wrapped into sleepwear. Her eyes lingering on the blonde's face for a moment before lying down in bed herself. Her mind wandered off.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter. A bit of preparation and catching up with the Suna family. Next chapter is going to be a short one though. I actually wrote that one over the last few days. I felt this arc could use a bit of substance. Because of the shorter chapter, expect it will be posted a few days after this one, to make up for the chapter length.
There will be some people who didn't enjoy Kakashi's conversation with Naruto. But it was something that was bound to come up. I planted that 'seed' ages ago, one that would be dealt with sooner or later.
Until the next one!