Chapter #6:

Journey West

Sasori, and Deidara slowly stalk away leaving Kankuro who lays in the desert sand feeling the poison spreading through his veins as his life flashes before his eyes, looking up to Temari as the eldest sister, exploring the Sand Village, meeting Sasori and being taken under his wing, learning the inns and outs of being a Puppeteer Ninja.

Then Gaara being born, his mother dying from the strain of childbirth, Gaara's Rampages, him and Temari both being terrified of him, then something happened that turned him truly evil and he would kill anyone who looked the wrong way, then the day of the Crush the Hidden Leaf operation Gaara lost and he apologized to Kankuro and Temari for everything.

Over the years Gaara got better and Kankuro was so happy, but felt so guilty of not being a better big brother but he would do better now he wouldn't fail Gaara again.

Kankuro forces himself to his feet fighting through the pain, "You're not taking him! You can't take Gaara! I WON'T LET YOU!"

Deidara shocked spins around, "Sasori, my man I think you created a monster when you took him under your wing."

Sasori nods, indifferent, "You worry too much, there is enough poison in his bloodstream right now to kill an entire platoon of Shinobi. The more he struggles the fast he dies."

Kankuro glares, "I don't care if I die… I won't fail my brother… not again!" he creates chakra string strands and they connect to all the pieces of the shattered puppets and sends weapons flying "Now give him back!"

Deidara laughs, "I don't think so! Hyah!" he makes a hand sign and Kankuro looks on his shoulder a Explosion Clay Spider is on him"

Kankuro realises he has one move left to play so moves his arms downwards aggressively, shooting hundreds of needles shooting at both Deidara and Sasori but hiding his true intentions he places inside Gaara's pocket a tracker just as the Clay spider blows up and Kankuro falls to his knees. "Brother… I'm sorry… forgive me.

Deidara sighs, "Damn it now I'm completely out of clay."

Sasori sighs, "Let's go. This distraction has caused us precious minutes, Pain won't appreciate us being late."

Deidara sighs, "He shouldn't be too miffed, we did get him the Shukaku."

Kankuro gripping the receiver for the tracker he placed on Gaara… "Baki… hurry you need to find me… you need to save Gaara."

Meanwhile back at the Hidden Leaf Village, Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi and Temari are about to depart when Jiraiya appears landing in front of them shocking them all especially Naruto who he thought had left already.

Naruto shocked asks, "Pervy Sage? I thought you'd left already."

Jiraiya nods, "I did but I had to return once I got word of the situation at the sand. Have you heard."

Naruto nods, "We're going to save him!"

Jiraiya shocked, "Wait you're the team Tsunade is sending?"

Tsunade speaks up, "I am. I was impressed with his test the other day, and this is the only team I can spare at the moment."

Jiraiya walks over to Tsunade and whispers, "You did get my reports right… the Akatsuki want Naruto just as much as the other tailed beasts. If we send him we're serving him up on a silver platter."

Tsunade sighs, "I know… I don't like it either… but I can't stop him not now."

Jiraiya looks at Naruto's determined face and nods. "I guess you're right." He walks over to Naruto, "Naruto before you leave I want a word with you…"

Naruto confused, "uh… okay…"

They both walk to the side and Jiraiya whispers, "You be careful around those Akatsuki now, you hear."

Naruto glares determined, "They're after me too, right. Well this way they won't have to look very far!"

Jiraiya wacks him over the head, "Listen to me!"

Naruto winces in pain "Ouch! Okay… okay…"

Jiraiya sighs, "Look it's true you've gotten stronger. But training doesn't mean a thing if you go and get reckless, and losing your cool. You still have a bad habit of getting emotional especially about your friends."

Naruto looks at the ground, "Tch… but I…"

Jiraiya sighs, "Naruto, I don't mean to preach, I just worry about you, I care about you as if you were my own son."

Naruto raises and eyebrow… "More like grandson."

Jiraiya nervous chuckle, "Yeah I guess I'm a bit too old to have a son your age."

Naruto sighs, "Granny told me, it makes a lot more sense why she was so cool with me calling her Granny now."

Jiraiya looks over to Tsunade, "You told him?"

Tsunade nods, "It was time he knew…"

Jiraiya sighs, and nods, "Good, I've been waiting to give you this till after you learned the truth about him." he hands Naruto a scroll with a Namikaze symbol on it. "This is another one of his Jutsu, one he invented himself. But far more versatile and difficult to master than the Rasengan."

Naruto goes to open the scroll, "Sounds powerful."

Jiraiya stops him, "Not here… wait till your at camp or something."

Naruto nods confused, "Okay…"

Jiraiya smiles, "It won't be an easy Jutsu to learn but I know you can do it."

Naruto puts it in his pocket, "Yeah thanks."

Jiraiya about to leave before he looks at Naruto quite serious, "Naruto remember your promise…"

Naruto confused, "I uh… which one?"

Jiraiya sighs, "That power… never use it. Your not ready. Remember what happened last time."

Naruto winces at the memory, nods, "Of course Maste… I promise."

Jiraiya walks over to Kakashi and pats his shoulder, "Kakashi… make sure that kid doesn't do anything stupid. You know what he's like, he hasn't gotten much better over the years."

Kakashi smiles through his mask, "You can count on me Lord Jiraiya."

Temari getting impatient, "Okay can we go now!?"

Naruto nods, "Yeah, this time I won't fail like I failed with Sasuke… I will get Gaara back."

Sakura grabs his shoulder, "We all will!"

All nod, and shout in unison, "Right!"

Naruto waves back, "Later Pervy Sage, Later Ganny Tsunade..."

Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi and Temari leading them forward all disappear jumping through the trees.

Meanwhile back in the Hidden Sand Council room the Village elders along with Baki are in a heated discussion about what the most important thing to do next is but it's not going well, they're just talking in circles.

Elder Moshino slams his fist down in anger "What did you just say! Now is not the time to be talking about a new Kazekage!"

Elder Tohira slams his own fist on the table, "I don't like it any more than you do! But we need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario!"

"All that matters now is finding the Kazekage and getting him back!"

"It's obvious that our priority should be the safety of this village! Not to mention our forces are spread thin enough as it is."

"Are you out of your mind!?"

Lady Chiyo shouts, "Enough!" both Elders are stunned into silence, "Your all behaving like spoiled children! Now you're both right, we need to double our efforts on recovering the Kazekage we can't let this be a repeat of the 2nd Kazekage." All mumble in agreement "Now as miffed as I am to admit it, we need help."

Ebizo chuckles, "Not often you'd admit that. We must really be in a bind."

Baki clears his throat, "Which is why I had word sent to the Hidden Leaf as soon as Lord Gaara was taken."

Lady Chiyo scrunches up her face, "Bah! The Leaf Village! Don't we have any other allies we can call upon?"

Baki sighs, "I understand your distaste for the Leaf but no, none that could arrive as quickly."

A Messenger bursts through the door, "Urgent News!"

All shocked look towards him and Baki speaks, "Well, spit it out!"

The Messenger nods, "Right… apologies… Kankuro was discovered half a days journey from the village."

Baki looks concerned, "What happened?"

The messenger shakes his head, "Unclear he's unconscious and in bad shape… we won't know the full story till he recovers… if he recovers."

Baki grimaces, "Damnit Kankuro!"

Lady Chiyo pipes up, "What of the Kazekage?"

The messenger nods, "Half of the pursuit unit splinted off to bring Kankuro and his puppets back, but the rest are still in pursuit."

Lady Chiyo, "That foolish boy… right I want an Emergency room prepped immediately we don't know what we're dealing with but knowing my Grandson he has probably poisoned the lad… we'll need to work quick if we want him to survive."

The messenger nods, "Right…"

Chiyo a little annoyed, "Well… what are you still doing here! Go! Go! Go!"

The messenger nods, "R… Right, on my way!" he rushes off to the hospital.

Meanwhile Naruto is jumping through the trees, he has sped up and is now ahead of the pack every leap he is gaining speed and everyone is watching him until Kakashi finally speaks up.

Kakashi sighs, "Naruto slow down, don't break formation. Besides you don't even know where we're going!"

Naruto grimaces, "I know but…"

Kakashi smiles sympathetically, "I know your worried about Gaara. But losing your head won't help anyone, we're still three days away, wasting all our strength now won't help anyone."

Naruto slows down slightly, "I just… I can't stand it."

Temari sighs, "I guess we could speed up a little, but just don't overtake me again."

Naruto nods, "Okay…"

They continue jumping forward hours later and it feels like it's been weeks, everyone's nerves are shot unable to focus Naruto's mind is plagued by memories of his first encounter with the Akatsuki.

Itachi's voice rings through Naruto's ears, "Naruto is the prize the Akatsuki is after, and make no mistake we will have him."

Next the voice of his Master fills his head, "Don't get the wrong idea, it's not you they want. It's what's inside of you. There's no doubt in my mind it's the Nine-Tailed Fox they're after. They might even be thinking of somehow seizing control of that power, and bending it to their will."

His memories swirl around in his head, her remembers how he's always been treated by his own village, and how Gaara suffered similar persecution "Hey it's that kid, let's get out of here."

"Monster, get lost!"

"Freak!"

"He's a beast… don't even look at him!"

Kakashi grabs Naruto's shoulder, "Naruto! Calm down…"

Naruto gasps, and realises he's in the lead again, "Right… sorry… nearly lost my head again. How much further do we have?"

Kakashi sighs, "We cleared more ground than expected but we're still at least a day and a half out."

Naruto annoyed, "Damnit!"

Sakura trips up and nearly falls, "Ah!" she quickly regains herself and lands on a nearby branch, "Sorry… I'm fine now though."

Kakashi sighs, "No you're not… you're exhausted. We need to rest."

Naruto shocked, "But…!"

Temari shakes her head, "No he's right. The rest of the journey will be a lot harder it's best if we regain our strength."

Naruto sighs, "Fine…"

Back at the Sand Village Kankuro is rushed through the hospital doors and into the ER to begin operation, Lady Chiyo is there too to help with her own knowledge as a Poison expert, but nothing they do works."

Lady Chiyo is biting her nail nervously, "I don't understand it. What's happening?"

The Head Medical Ninja steps forward, "We're sorry Lady Chiyo we've tried everything but nothing we do has any noticeable effect, I'm honestly at a lost, we think it's a new poison."

Lady Chiyo sighs, "Well of course it is… but it makes sense now. No wonder Sasori left him to suffer instead of finishing him off, typical of Grandson."

The Medical Ninja looks nervous, "What do we do now?"

Lady Chiyo thinks for a moment, "I want you to examine his blood and report back to me with any of your findings."

The medical Ninja nods, "Of course my lady. Well? You heard her!"

The other Medical Ninja nearly fall over each other, "R… right!"

Lady Chiyo heads off, "I'm going to head to my research lab see if there's nothing I can find about this mystery poison of Sasori's. Perhaps he wrote about it before he abandoned the village."

Back with Team Kakashi, Sakura is laying by the camp fire, Temari is sitting in front of the fire in the cave and Kakashi is by the cave entrance looking outwards, while Naruto is up in the trees with nothing better to do, he's going through the scroll he received from Jiraiya.

Naruto sighs, "He wasn't wrong, this looks impossible… just how long did it take you to master this dad…" he shakes his head "Nope, can't do it. I'll worry about it later." He sits down on the tree branch looking out.

Kakashi sighs and heads inside the cave, "Everything seems fine for the time being."

Temari nods, "Good…"

Kakashi looks to Sakura, "How's she doing?"

Temari nods, "Fine… just tired, she fell asleep ages ago."

Kakashi smiles, "She definitely needs the rest."

Temari asks, "So where's Naruto…"

Kakashi motions upwards, "He's keeping a look out from above. Guess he hasn't changed as much as I thought he had. Still our Number One Hyperactive Knucklehead Ninja."

Temari looks upwards towards Naruto, "Can I ask you something?"

Kakashi nods, "Sure."

Temari sighs, "Why does he care so much. I mean Gaara is the same he had so much faith in Naruto before I moved to the leaf he'd talk about Naruto with such admiration. The only time they ever talked was with their fists when we allied with Orochimaru so why…"

Kakashi sighs, "I'm afraid that's not my secret to share. All I can say is they share a similar pain of loneliness and for those who share the same pain, there can be no hate."

Temari nods slightly, "I guess that makes sense."

Lady Chiyo is testing in her lab, "Hmm… no this one doesn't work either. Tell me what other methods have you tried."

The medical Ninja hands her a list, "Here's a list…"

Lady Chiyo, nods "I see… yes good job under normal circumstance most of these would've worked but this is Sasori we're dealing with."

Ebizo looks to Baki, "What news of the Leaf reinforcements."

Baki nods, "Er… they should be here in a day. So long as nothing happened, we're luck too as they sent a team with a Medical specialist."

Chiyo shouts, "Hah! Specialist my foot… they probably just sent a useless nobody who knows the basic medical plants."

Baki frowns, "They wouldn't do that."

Chiyo sneers, "Why not, it's what I'd do, it's the way of the world we look after our own interests and use everyone else to our own ends. This alliance will not last mark my words! The sooner it ends the better, I say… It's the reason we're in this mess to begin with you and the Kazekage depend too heavily on these alliances."

Baki nervous shakes his head, "No, we don't depend on them, I wouldn't go that far…"

Chiyo scoffs "I would! Instead of relying on the Leaf Village to come to our rescue we should be focusing on training our own people to take care of themselves. In any case this alliance is a pipe dream no alliance has ever lasted this will be the same."

Ebizo sighs, "Forgive her, she's gotten rather stubborn in her old age, even more so than she used to."

Meanwhile back in the Leaf Village, the Cell door opens, and Tsunade enters, she looks down at the young girl, "I hear your my Niece."

Anya nods, "Yep, pleasure to finally meet ya Aunty."

Tsunade sighs, "Look if you admit to lying I promise you won't be punished."

Anya chuckles, "Mama was right you wouldn't believe me, which is why you can take as much blood as you need to test that I'm really your niece."

Tsunade frowns, "If your lying it won't end well for you."

Anya smiles, "I know…"

Tsunade sighs, "Fine do it!"

Shizune enters the cell with a needle "Sorry this might sting a bit." She pricks the needle into Anya and draws blood.

Anya winces, "Ngh… yeah thanks. How long will it take?"

Tsunade sighs, "A few days."

Anya sighs, "Guess I'll get comfortable then."

Tsunade eyes her with suspicion, and whispers to Shizune, "Have them double the guards here, I want her to be telling the truth but I can't help but think there's something suspicious."

Shizune nods, "Of course."

They both leave Anya alone in her cell who just lays there lazily, she takes a ball out of her robes and starts bouncing it against the wall.

Elsewhere Deidara and Sasori finally make it to the Akatsuki HQ they use a secret hand sign to unlock the entrance, Deidara tosses Gaara to the ground, Pain appears as a transparent image.

Pain eyes them his Rinnegan glaring, "You're late…"

Sasori bows his head, "Apologies, the enemy was tougher than I thought, and my ex-student tracked us down and tried to stop us. But we succeeded in the end."

Deidara sighs, "I barely got to do anything though…"

Pain sighs, "Fine… it matters not, we can finally begin the extraction." He makes a hand sign and a statue bursts out of the ground and ten fingers are pointing upwards.

Sasori jumps up onto one of the fingers, "Let's get started then. We don't wanna keep the others waiting."

Deidara jumps onto another finger and nods, "Indeed."

Pain jumps and lands on one of the fingers too, "Agreed."

One after another a member of the Akatsuki appears standing on a finger of the statue, "It will take three days and nights before the process is complete. Zetsu have your clones stand guard over our physical bodies we don't want any unwanted surprises."

White Zetsu smiles happily, "As you wish."

Black Zetsu groans, "This is a waste of my talent but fine!"

Kisame pipes up, "Only three days, won't it take even longer since we don't have Orochimaru with us anymore?"

Pain smirks, "Not to worry, I have found a replacement everyone say hello to Tobi."

Tobi appears on the final finger, "Heya guys! Super hyped to be here!"

Kisame groans, "Great, a loud one."

Pain sighs, "Enough talk, let us begin at once."

Everyone makes the same hand sign and each finger starts glowing then a blue energy exudes from the statues mouth, and Pain shouts, "Sealing Jutsu; Nine Phantom Dragons!"

Nine blue energy dragons take shape out of the blue energy and all converge on Gaara enveloping him, still unconscious Gaara screams in pain "Ngh! Gaaahhh! Ahhh!"

The next morning, Kankuro makes a turn for the worst, still unconscious he convulses in pain, "Gaaah! Ngh! Raaahhh!"

Baki recoils, "Kankuro…"

A medical ninja sighs, "I'm so ashamed, even now the best we've managed to do, is ease his pain and make him comfortable."

Baki sighs, "You there!" he points at a Ninja on stand by who is shocked by the sudden shout.

The Ninja stands up straight, "Yes sir!"

Baki glares, "I want word the moment the Leaf arrive, and to escort them here without delay, is that understood!?"

The ninja nods, "Yes, sir!" he rushes off towards the village gate

Baki looks down at Kankuro, "Just hang in there Kankuro… just a little bit longer."

Chiyo cringes, "Relying on the Leaf, we're pathetic."

Ebizo sighs, "Come on sis, you haven't slept since Gaara was taken."

Chiyo sighs and nods, "I guess I can sit down for a moment."

Meanwhile outside, just as the sun is rising the Ninja had just given the guards the message and joined them on patrol.

One of the Gate Ninja sighs, "You know if they left the moment they got word, the leaf should arrive any time, now."

The other Gate Ninja sighs, "Don't count on it, even one of us would have struggled with the sand storm last night."

The first gate Ninja nods, "Right… I just hope they… wait what's that…"

All look at where he's looking and see Naruto, Sakura, Temari, and Kakashi rushing towards to gate everyone looks relieved.

The second gate Ninja is mildly surprised at Temari's appearance, "You were with them Lady Temari."

Temari nods, "What's the situation?"

The ninja Baki sent speaks up, "We can go over the details later, we got word one of you is a Medical Ninja specialist. Who is it?"

Sakura shocked, "Me, but why would you…"

The ninja grabs her arm and starts pulling her, "No time to explain, you're needed at the hospital now!"

Sakura nods, "Right, lead the way!"

They all rush towards the Hospital he explains as they run, "Not long after the message was sent to you, Lord Kankuro went in persuit of Lord Gaara's captors and well… he found them, but he engaged in combat and lost."

Temari gasps in horror, "How is he?"

The ninja shakes his head, "Not good, he's hanging on by a thread, he's been poisoned, and not even Lady Chiyo has been able to save him."

Temari gasps, "What!? Then…"

Sakura grabs her hand, "Don't worry, Temari. It's a good thing I'm here! I'll save your brother so long as it's not too late."

Temari nods, "Then let's hurry!

Inside the Hospital Lady Chiyo, Ebizo, and Baki are standing over Kankuro as Naruto's group enters, she looks up unbothered until she sees Kakashi.

Lady Chiyo glares at him, "You!?"

Kakashi confused, "Er… Me?"

Lady Chiyo charges him, "Damn you! I will have my revenge!" she grabs a Kunai and strikes at Kakashi.

Naruto moves so quick that no one has a chance to react, he creates a shadow clone which disarms her Kunai and the original strikes at her, "I don't think so, you crazy old bat!"

Chiyo blocks the strike and counterstrike's at Naruto, "Step aside boy! I am not above killing you to get to him! I will never forgive The White Fang of the Leaf!"

Ebizo wacks his sister over the head, "Calm down will you!"

Chiyo rubs her head in pain, "Ouch! Ebizo!? What was that for?"

Ebizo sighs, "Take a closer look, he does look a lot like the White Fang but he's clearly somebody else, besides remember how you anguished over it when you heard of the White Fang's death, as it meant you would never have your revenge."

Chiyo surprised, "Oh, that's right. Nevermind then." She starts laughing like a crazy old lady.

Naruto looks annoyed but doesn't have much time to dwell on it as Kankuro cries in pain, "Gyaaah!"

Sakura pushes past everyone tying up her hair, "Here let me take a look, I need every none essential personnel to get out!"

The Medical ninja bow and nod, Baki clears his throat, "You heard him, sorry Temari, but you and the other Leaf ninja will have to wait outside."

Temari looks at him with a pained expression, "But…!"

Sakura smiles weakly at her, "Temari, I know you want to help, but if I'm going to do my thing I need a free work space. Please let me do my job."

Temari sighs and nods, "Okay, I trust you Sakura." She leaves the room before looking back at

Sakura gets to work she starts with some standard tests she looks at his eyes with a torch seeing how much they dilate, and his gag reflex one of the medical Ninja look concerned "Wait what are you doing?" they ask.

Sakura smiles confidently, "Don't worry, I'm here to help. I can save him but you need to let me work."

Baki taps them on the shoulder and nods, "Do whatever she says and aid her however you can, this is our last hope in saving Kankuro."

The medical ninja looks conflicted but nods, "Okay… I understand."

Sakura finishes up the tests by listening to his heartbeat and looks worried, "Okay I think its safe to say he was poisoned by a heavy metal based toxin."

The head medical ninja looks impressed, "You can tell all that with a few standard tests."

Sakura laughs, "this is nothing, but we need to hurry, the toxin is slow acting but as it's been in his system for a few days we have no idea the kind of lasting damage that has already been inflicted, if we can't get rid of it it'll continue to attack the muscle tissue destroying his cells integrity. Do you have his chart?"

A medical Ninja standing to the side nods, "Here you go, my lady."

Sakura giggles at being called 'my lady', "Please, just call me Sakura. Anyway let's have a look."

Lady Chiyo looks at her from the other room in awe, "She's quite talented for one so young."

Kakashi nods, "She is, well she'd have to be, to be named Lady Tsunade's Apprentice."

Chiyo shocked, "I heard she only had one disciple… Shizune I believe her name is."

Kakashi nods, "Before she became Hokage, Shizune was her only student, but since becoming Hokage she has implemented something she has wanted for many years even before she left the Village. Someone with medical prowess on every team even if it's only basic knowledge and they can't use medical ninjutsu so long as they have basic medical knowledge they'll be able to save their teammates from death."

Chiyo shocked, "Well how about that, the Slug Princess actually did it."

Naruto curious, "So wait, Sakura isn't her only student?"

Kakashi shakes his head, "Nope, aside from Sakura she taught Ino, Hinata, and Tenten all some Medical Ninjutsu, none had the skill that Sakura displayed and Tenten wasn't able to demonstrate enough control to use even basic Medical Ninjutsu but they all got the basics of procedures and medical plants down as well as how to perform basic first aid without jutsu."

Naruto smiles, "Go Granny Tsunade."

Chiyo scoffs, "You're a rude little boy aren't you."

Naruto chuckles, "Well I'm probably the only one who can say it to her without being punched in the face."

Chiyo raises an eyebrow, "Oh, why's that? She got a soft spot for you?"

Naruto chuckles, "I used to think so, but no… turns out she's actually my Granny, my dad was her son."

Chiyo shocked, "Tsunade had a son!?"

Naruto shrugs, "It's complicated, let's just say she didn't feel confident she could be a good mother so she sent him to an Orphanage believing the village would look after him, and it did."

Sakura looking over Kankuro's chart hums to herself, "Hmm… okay is this everything?"

The medical ninja nods, "Yes, we weren't able to deduce everything that was used in the poison, it's why we had such a hard time figuring out an antidote…"

Sakura nods, "I can see why… but never fear I already had a pretty good idea what the poison does. This just confirms my suspicions."

The head medical ninja asks, "Well, what is it doing not even we could understand what was happening."

Sakura sighs, then smiles, "Perhaps I can petition Lady Tsunade to send some medical scrolls to help up the medical knowledge of the Sand Village as part of our alliance. It's not an insult just…"

The head medical ninja nods, "We understand, Lady Tsunade is a genius any medical knowledge she'd be willing to impart would be a great boon to behold."

Sakura smiles, "Indeed, now then to answer your question, the cardiac muscle will be weakened to the point where the heart will collapse and stop functioning all together."

Chiyo nods, "It's the Poison of the Devil… Sasori why did you go down this dark path."

The head medical ninja asks, "So can you cure him?"

Sakura nods, "If given time I should be able to but right now he's too far gone to waste time on finding a cure, we need to ease his burden by reducing the amount of poison in his bloodstream."

The medical ninja all look concerned as they hadn't even considered that as an option and all ask in unison, "How?!"

Sakura nods, "Okay, I'm gonna need you all to grab as many basins as you can fill them with water, and I'm gonna need to see a list of all the medical herbs you have in the Village."

All nod, "Right!"

Sakura looks down at Kankuro, "Hang on Kankuro just a little bit longer."

Kankuro still unconscious winces in pain, "G… Gaara…"

Meanwhile in the Akatsuki hideout Gaara has been lifted into the air as the Shukaku is slowly drained out of him his eyes and mouth are wide open as he grunts and groans as red chakra seeps and pours out of his mouth and even his eyes, inside Gaara's subconscious Shukaku struggles to resist but it's no use the Jutsu is too strong.

There are six basins all lined up around Sakura and she nods confidently, "Okay, we're ready to begin, this is gonna hurt him a lot though so I need you all to hold him down do not let him move, understand."

All the medical ninja nod, "Yes, ma'am!"

Sakura using Ninjutsu gathers the liquid in her hand and pushes it inside Kankuro's body, his eyes open wide and he starts screaming in pain flailing about, Don't let him move I said!"

All the medical ninja force him back down, "Sorry!"

Sakura nods then closes her eyes and she focuses bring as much of the poison to the surface and when she's confident she's gotten as much as she can she shouts, "Now!" she pulls the liquid back out of Kankuro and they can all see bits of black splotches inside the liquid.

The head medical ninja asks, "What is that… is that the poison."

Sakura nods, "It's not enough though, there's more still inside him… Bring me the next Basin!"

One of the Medical ninja nods, "Er… right!"

She and the Medical Ninja do this process again and again forcing Kankuro down as she absorbs the poison into the solution and brings it out of him each time gathering less and less poison but it just means that there's less to gather.

Naruto watches from the next room in awe, "She's really incredible isn't she…"

Chiyo sees the look in Naruto's eyes and chuckles like an old lady, "Oh to be young and in love."

Naruto embarrassed his ears turn hot pink, "Ngh… knock it off Granny!"

Chiyo smirks, "There's nothing wrong with it, why not tell her, take it from an old women there's plenty in life I regret so don't waste time."

Naruto looks to the ground, "I don't deserve her, I already betrayed her once, and I failed to uphold my promise to her twice. So yeah… I love her but she deserves someone better."

Lady Chiyo looks impressed by Naruto's maturity, "Not something she expected to see coming from someone like Naruto, "I see… well it's up to you in the end just make sure it's something you won't regret."

Kakashi nods, "She's right… I'm not that old and there are things I still regret. He closes his eyes and visions of his friends mangled bodies and their last breathes…

Naruto thinks for a moment before he asks, "So Kakashi Sensei…"

Kakashi looks up brought out of the memory, "Hmm…"

Naruto asks with a curious look, "So who is this White Fang of the Leaf Granny here thought you were… she seriously hated the guy."

Kakashi struggles to find the right words, "Well…" he sighs, "In a word… he was my father…"

Chiyo gasps, "Y… y… you… you're the White Fang's brat?"

Kakashi nods with a sincere smile, "Hello…"

Naruto shocked, "But he's dead isn't he?"

Kakashi nods, "He killed himself."

Naruto gasps, "But why…"

Kakashi sighs, "You gotta understand this was back in the day when we were at war with nearly every village, he went on a mission that was almost guaranteed to bring prosperity to our village at least for a while… his team was captured though so he had two options. Sacrifice his friends lives and complete the mission… or abandon the mission and save his friends, he chose the latter."

Naruto nods, "Good because like you taught us, those who break the rules are scum but…"

Kakashi nods, "Those who would abandon even one of their friends are worse than scum… unfortunately the rest of the village didn't see it like that…"

Naruto nervously asks, "What do you mean?"

Kakashi sighs, "They blamed him for missions failure and the end result which meant a lot of resources a men were wasted even those he rescued turned on him, he just couldn't take it anymore… I came home to find him dead, he had performed seppuku on himself. From that moment forward I made a vow to always follow the rules no matter the consequences. Even if I had to sacrifice my entire team I would never make the same mistake my father did."

Naruto raises an eyebrow, "Really?"

Kakashi nods, "it took me a long time before I unlearned that lesson, and my best friend dying to realise that friends are more important than rules…"

Naruto looks up expectantly, "What happened?"

Kakashi sighs, "I guess it's time you hear the story… of how an arrogant self-righteous kid learned the true value of friendship. It's the story of how I obtained this very eye." He taps his head band covering his eye. It all happened Right before you were born, nearly 25 Years ago."

Next Time on NaruSaku Shippuden… As Kankuro struggles in the operating room, Kakashi remembers his story and how he lost his best friend and obtained his Sharingan on the same day, and Naruto comes to respect Kakashi in a whole new light, Meanwhile Anya's identity is confirmed but who is she really and why come to the Leaf now.

Hey guys thanks for reading the latest chapter hope you all enjoyed it, look forward to next Chapter where we revisit Kakashi's & Obito's Past, before I upload the next chapter, I request just five reviews.

I'm not sure when I'll start working on it, as there are other projects I'm also working on at the moment too but I look forward to bringing you the next chapter. Anyway see you next time.