(A/N Hi folks, this is only a short chapter, but I wanted to show you all that I am continuing this story and not just letting it lay around like I used to.

There was another thing I wanted to say about the Boruto: Blue Vortex Manga. I just read the ninth chapter. Do you know what? Kurama lives again and is now inside Himawari! So that shows that even after Kurama dies of the effect of Baryon Mode, Kurama will still revive and come back to life. He was long believed dead for good, but Kishimoto decided this wouldn't be the case.

I wish you all the best, and since a few asked about this, I will say this here again so you all can be at ease:

The real father of the child was informed that he was a father. He didn't know that he had a child, but after we found out who the possible father was and after a test that turned out he was the real father, he stepped into the child's life.

This is all from me. Have a nice day, and we see each other again in the next chapter.)

Summary: The Namikaze Clan wasn't well known in the Shinobi world. This was until Naruto Namikaze showed up in the Shinobi world. The name Namikaze will spread like wildfire in the Shinobi world. "I couldn't see him! He was too fast!"

Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

"Naruto." Speak

'Naruto.' Think.

Jutsu/Technique

Flashback/Events of the Past

"It's been a while, Naruto Namikaze," said Gaara. Gaara had fair skin, green eyes, and short, spiky, auburn hair. As a child, he carved the kanji for "love" (愛) on the left side of his forehead, and his hair was parted to keep it visible. Gaara wore a long-sleeved crimson coat and full-length dark trousers with a pair. Over the coat, he wore two buckled belts, a grey vest held in place by a single strap over his left shoulder, and two buckled belts, which he also used to carry his gourd.

Gaara looked at the two members of Team Kakashi from behind his desk. He sat in his chair, multiple scrolls open before him. He was the Kazekage of Sunagakure. He was once considered a weapon, and everyone feared him, but after a certain Kunoichi from Konoha guided him back to the light, he gained the villagers' trust and became the youngest Kazekage in history.

Beside Naruto and Sakura stood Temari with a smile. "Indeed, Kazekage-sama," said Naruto with a light bow. Naruto held the scroll that both were supposed to bring to the Kazekage. He took four steps forward and laid the scroll on the desk for Gaara to take. After he placed the scroll on the desk, he took four steps back to stand beside Sakura again.

Gaara took the scroll and opened it. He began to read the information on the scroll and narrowed his eyes a little. His mostly stoic face twisted into an expression rarely seen. He looked concerned and more severe than one would think he needed to be.

Gaara laid the scroll on his desk, closed his eyes, and leaned back in his chair. "What is it, Gaara?" asked Temari with a worried tone. It was apparent something stood in the scroll that her younger brother didn't like and found concerning.

"Please bring Naruto and Sakura to their quarters," said Gaara. He closed the scroll and stood up. "I will hold a meeting with the council."

"Wait a second, Gaara! Can't you tell me what's going on?" Temari asked.

Gaara walked around his desk with the scroll he had just gotten from Naruto and laid a hand on Temari's shoulder while he was beside her. "I will explain everything in the council meeting. Come when you finish your task, and you will hear everything."

Temari sighed and nodded to her younger brother. "I hope you two will enjoy your stay in Sunagakure," said Gaara to Naruto and Sakura before he left the room.

"It must be something significant," said Sakura.

Temari nodded and looked at Sakura. "I guess you don't know anything from your statement?" asked Temari.

Sakura shook her head and said, "No. Our mission was only to bring this scroll to Gaara. Only he was allowed to read what was inside."

"I have a suspicion," said Naruto, looking out the window.

"Really? What is it, Naruto?" asked Temari.

Naruto looked at Temari and remained silent for a second before he said, "Sakura and I had a meeting with the Jinchūriki (Power of Human Sacrifice) of the Nibi (Two-Tailes) when we were close to the border of the land of wind. We also encountered a few rouge ninjas from Kumogakure and had to fight them."

Temari narrowed her eyes at this statement. Hearing about a Jinchūriki from another country near the border of the land of wind was always troubling, especially when it came to one of the two Jinchūriki from Kumogakure. Both were said to be perfect Jinchūriki, who had complete control over their Bijū (Tailed Beast).

"The Jinchūriki wasn't alone. Her teammate I fought was Kansai Matsuda, a B-Rank Shinobi from Kumogakure who managed to recreate a weaker version of the Raiton Armor from the Raikage," said Naruto. He explained in detail what happened during their travels.

"… after all these incidents on our way here, I think Kumogakure has plans on either invading the land of wind, a neighboring country or creating outposts," explained Naruto.

Temari nodded and said, "This would be possible, but we can't be sure until I know what is happening." She closed her eyes for a second and thought about it.

Naruto and Sakura looked at each other before Temari said, "Let's go. I will bring you to your quarters so you two can rest. I am sure you both are exhausted from the fights and the way through the desert."

"Lead the way," said Sakura with a small smile. Temari knew why her friend smiled at her. She wanted to show that Naruto and Sakura would support Temari, whatever happened. As long as both were here, they would help Sunagakure.

Temari smiled, grateful, and took the first step. "Follow me," said Temari.

Naruto and Sakura walked out of the office with Temari and were glad they could rest. They made practically no stops while traveling through the desert. They only rested a few times briefly but never rested enough to regain their full strength.

Naruto stood on the balcony of his hotel room. Naruto and Sakura were in separate rooms in a special hotel designated for special guests like Naruto and Sakura. He looked up into the night sky and thought about everything that had happened. He had already slept a few hours since Naruto and Sakura arrived at the village eight hours ago. He would go back to sleep in a few minutes but wanted to think about a few things.

'Something is happening, and from the look of it, it must have been something big and important when the Kazekage reacted this way,' thought Naruto.

He knew Gaara not like he knew Temari, but he knew that he had his emotions in check and could control them like an Anbu. When someone like Gaara looked visibly concerned and even a little shaken from the information in a scroll, it must be something very concerning.

He leaned against the railing from the balcony and looked toward the Kazekage building where Gaara most likely still was. 'Gaara is a Jinchūriki himself and could hold his own against the Jinchūriki of the Nibi for sure, but there must be more. Something is going on I don't see,' thought Naruto.

He could only speculate what was written in this scroll since Naruto and Sakura didn't look inside the scroll as instructed. They fulfilled their mission to 100%. He could only wait for Temari to come to the hotel and inform both of what was going on.

He narrowed his eyes when he saw a few Shinobi, or more specifically, Anbu's from Sunagakure, speeding over the roofs of the buildings to the village entrance. They were in full gear, using chakra to enhance their speed and their strength of jumping to cover a greater distance.

Naruto entered his room with a single bed, a table with a chair, and a bathroom. Since he had rested, he only wore his blue clothes without his Shinobi equipment. He pulled his flak jacket over his clothes, placed his pouches appropriately, and tied his headband around his forehead. He wanted to leave his room but heard a knock on the door.

He opened his door to reveal Sakura, ready for action, and Temari beside her. "It's more severe than we first thought," said Temari. Naruto narrowed his eyes at the statement.

"Gaara wants to meet you and Sakura. Please follow me. He will explain everything," said Temari. Naruto nodded, and the three made their way toward Garaa's office. It was only four minutes later that they were inside the office again.

"I am sorry for disturbing your sleep or other resting activity, but I would like to give you both a mission. I already got permission from the Hokage beforehand, and if something happened, I would need your support," explained Gaara.

"A new organization named Akatsuki was discovered not long ago," said Gaara. They are an organization of rogue ninjas who all happen to have the S-Rank in the bingo book."

"It isn't known what their goal is, but from our information, they are a group hired by multiple clients. They were used for infiltration, assassination, and other matters. I discovered that even my village had hired this organization in the past, shortly after the third great ninja war," explained Gaara.

"I only found out about that after a meeting with the two elders in this village since they are two of the last remaining Shinobi who are still alive to remember this," said Gaara. "There was no document that confirmed what the two elders told me since everything about the Akatsuki was destroyed by the Fourth Kazekage. It was a disgrace for the village to have any connection to this criminal organization after they found out what Akatsuki did."

"In the scroll your Hokage sent me, there was new information about Akatsuki and their possible goal. To this day, they do jobs almost every Shinobi does—assassination, Infiltration, Protection, and all other things a Shinobi does. But now, an old team member of your Hokage dropped a new hind. The Toad Sage and legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, found new hinds that they were after Jinchūriki," said Gaara.

Naruto and Sakura looked at each other wide-eyed when they heard the last sentence. This wasn't good at all. Everyone knew that a Jinchūriki was the ultimate weapon of a village since they had a giant beast inside them that gave them more chakra, strength, abilities, and multiple other benefits—now hearing how Akatsuki was after those Jinchūriki who were viewed as very strong Shinobi just from their status as Jinchūriki was troubling. Not only was every member of the Akatsuki a S-Rank rogue Shinobi, but they were also targeting the Jinchūriki. No average Shinobi could even dream of competing with a Jinchūriki since they were simply in their domain.

That means that every single member of Akatsuki was at least in this domain where they were sure they could challenge a Jinchūriki and win. The typical reaction of a Shinobi would be to avoid a confrontation with a Jinchūriki. Naruto and Sakura were on this side of the Shinobi roster. Both were indeed strong with good abilities like Sakura's superhuman strength, her medical ninjutsu and Genjutsu progress, or Naruto's mastery over the Shunshin and his personal A-Rank Jutsu, the Rasengan.

But both would be lucky to survive a direct confrontation with a perfect Jinchūriki. Even together, the chance of winning was less than 10%. Both were very good Chunin, and both already had traits of a Jonin in specific areas of their abilities, but a perfect Jinchūriki was at least a Kage-level Shinobi.

"Movement from Kumogakure at our border also shows activities that could mean an invasion, but this isn't entirely confirmed. After Temari reported your meeting with the Jinchūriki of the Nibi, it was clear something was going on," said Gaara.

"One more important piece of information was a possible location where two members of Akatsuki were right now. They were supposedly seen near the location where you two fought against Kansai Matsuda and the rogue Ninja of Kumogakure. This can only mean that they either after the Jinchūriki of the Nibi or want to come toward Sunagakure to confront me," said Gaara.

"Of course, they could also be after something entirely different, but their most logical goal would either be the Jinchūriki of the Nibi or me," said Gaara.

"Could I ask a question, Kazekage-sama?" asked Naruto.

"Of course," said Gaara.

"With all this information, I assume you want Sakura and me to investigate something for you since you can't send the Shinobi from your village to investigate right now with all the information you got," said Naruto.

Gaara closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. It was true what Naruto asked. The mission Gaara had for Naruto and Sakura was precisely what Naruto had just requested. Gaara had to protect his village and couldn't spare a single Shinobi. There were too many dangers for Sunagakure right now.

He placed all the Anbu around the village to look out for Kumogakure Shinobi or Akatsuki members and couldn't let them leave.

"It is as you say, Naruto," said Gaara, opening his eyes. "I can't spare a single Shinobi right now since my village faces too many possible dangers."

"But the mission I am about to give you two would only take place if you both decide to take the mission. You are not Shinobi from this village, and even when I have permission from the Hokage to ask for your help, you both are still Shinobi from Konoha and not from Suna. You both can decline this mission since it can become very dangerous," explained Gaara.

Naruto and Sakura remained silent, and Gaara began to provide details of their mission. "I would want you two to go to the location described on this scroll," said Gaara while he laid a scroll on his desk. "When our information is correct, a possible hide-out of Akatsuki is in the near environment of this location. Your mission is to investigate the location and determine whether the information is correct or false. When you both find the hide-out of Akatsuki, come back to Sunagakure and report back immediately."

"It could well be that you would meet enemy ninja on your way to the location, and it would even be possible to meet a member of Akatsuki if it's true," said Gaara. "The mission is an S-Rank mission, and normally, I would send an Anbu team to investigate this matter, but as I just said, I can't spare a single Shinobi right now. So think about your decision: whether you accept or decline it. You two would help us immensely with accepting the mission, but nothing would happen if you declined. No one would think any less of you both."

"What should we do, Naruto?" asked Sakura after two silent minutes in the office.

Naruto looked at Gaara and saw his stoic face. It was clear this was something he wasn't proud of. As already mentioned, Naruto didn't know Gaara well enough, but he knew him enough to say Gaara didn't want to give them this question and choice.

Naruto looked at Sakura and said, "I don't know if I am being honest. If we either meet a member of Akatsuki or the Jinchūriki of the Nibi again, we would stand no chance in a direct fight. We could run away, but the possibility of not succeeding was there too."

Sakura nodded, already aware of this fact. She was sure she and Naruto would manage to bring a scroll to Sunagakure together. But this mission? There were too many factors and dangers both normally wouldn't be able to handle.

If Kakashi were with them, she wouldn't have any worries since, with him at their side, they could even manage a Jinchūriki. Kakashi was an S-Rank Shinobi himself, with the Sharingan at his disposal. He even fought the Jinchūriki of the Yonbi (Four-Tailes) in the past. But there were only two of them right now, and this was a problem.

"Why don't you both think about it for an hour and come back here when you both have decided?" asked Gaara. He knew this decision was hard to make, and it was unfair of him to do this to Naruto and Sakura, but he had no other choice. He had a duty as Kazekage, and the safety of his village was his number one priority.

Naruto and Sakura looked at Gaara, bowing grateful. "We will take this offer, Kazekaze-sama," said Naruto.

Both left the office to talk about the entire ordeal. "Wouldn't it be possible for me to join them on this mission, Gaara?" asked Temari.

Gaara looked at his older sister and remained silent, looking back to the door where Naruto and Sakura had left the office. He closed his eyes and stood up, turning to the office windows. He looked out the window and said, "I am sorry, Temari, but I won't allow you to go on this mission. You are needed here, and I can't send my sister on this mission."

Temari sighed softly. She went beside Gaara and laid a hand on his shoulder, which he took with his hand. Both looked out of the window, praying and hoping everything would turn out as planned. There was information Naruto and Sakura didn't know yet. The scroll also had other information Gaara didn't want to reveal to Naruto and Sakura. It was up to the Hokage to tell them this information.

"Are you sure?" asked Sakura.

"No," said Naruto as they walked through Sunagakure. But when I look around and see all the villagers, I think we need to help them, even though I know this mission is normally out of our league."

He saw a few kids playing together on the side of the "street," even when Sunagakure didn't have streets per se. It was a peaceful village, just like Konoha when it came to civilians who didn't know what dangers the Shinobi faced. The civilians could live peacefully in this village without fear of bandits or wild animals.

Sakura looked at the kids and smiled a bit. It reminded her of the time when she was playing with all the other kids on the playing grounds back in Konoha. There, she met Ino, Shikamaru, Kiba, and the others of her friend group.

"But what do you think?" asked Naruto while he stopped. Sakura also stopped beside him and looked into his sky-blue eyes. She saw his determination and began to smile. She had her own resolve and determination. Temari and Gaara were good friends, and she couldn't face herself if she didn't help them in this situation.

"I say we help them," said Sakura. Naruto smiled and nodded. "Then let's head back and tell Temari and the Kazekage of our decision," said Naruto.

(A/N A quick question directed at every reader: Do you prefer chapters with more words like the first two but a slower update rate, or is this word count enough for a chapter? This would mean you all get chapters faster, even when the word count isn't as high.

This is all. I wish everyone out there the best.)