CHAPTER 14: MESSAGE FROM THE SAND

"Look who is on time this time," said Asuma as his young opponents entered into view. "You know that was a fluke, right Asuma sensei," said Sakura.

"Yeah, probably. We'll be doing the bell test and unlike the first time, your goal is to get the bells. Remember, if you aren't prepared to kill you'll never get the bells. Are you both ready to spar?" asked Asuma.

"YES!" replied the two lower-ranking shinobi.

—-

In the land of Wind, two black-cloaked figures approach a walled village. The sandstone surrounding the village is split to form the entrance the two black-clad men are approaching. One who was born and bred in these sand-filled walls and one who planned on destroying said walls. The walls of the entrance are tinted red, with bodies lining the base. A grin impresses itself on the face of the taller man as a local Jonin stands in the way. Yura stood with his blades rusted, covered in an iron-rich substance. Dropping the blades, he kneels when the two men get close enough. "Sasori my man," said Deidera, "You have really outdone yourself!". "Yura," said Sasori. "Yes sir!" said Yura, slicing his own throat, spilling out onto the ground. "I will capture the Kazekage," said Deidera. He formed a bird out of his clay, flying on its back up into the wind above the Sand Village. The young Akatsuki member dropped little clay spiders on the village, which crawled to points of significance throughout the village. Suddenly a burst of energy and sound filled the senses of the village's inhabitants.

The Kazekage heard this and began to make his way toward his office window. "We don't have birds like that in this desert…" he said, moving toward the roof.

Above the village, Deidera formed a peculiar-looking clay figure several meters high. "True art, IS AN EXPLOSION!"

—-

The ground miles outside the village shook. "Was that an earthquake?" asked Kankuro. "It looks like it came from the village," said a nameless shinobi. "We need to get back home now!" shouted Kankuro.

Kankuro and his team hurried toward their village until they crossed paths with the two Akatsuki members and a passed-out Gaara.

"What did you two do to Lord Kazekage?" demanded the nameless shinobi. Kankuro attacked, using his Puppets to try and grab his brother from the two powerful shinobi. But, it was no use. Sasori deflected the attacks with his own Puppets and went on the offensive. Within moments, Kankuro was infected with the shinobi's poison. The nameless shinobi could do nothing when Sasori stabbed him.

"You have three days until the poison sets in."

—-

The sand village was in shambles with no shinobi left in the village strong enough to rescue the Kazekage they would need to send a distress call to another village. Hastily they sent a coded message to the Village Hidden in the Leaves. "I hope this reaches them in time," said a council member.

—-

Naruto and Sakura were stumped. Their teamwork was good, but they just couldn't get the bells. With time running out they had to think more creatively. Strategy would overtake brute force through the rest of the night, and by daybreak, both Naruto and Sakura had a bell in their hands.

"I guess you two improved after all, don't you think Lady Hokage?" asked Asuma. "Yep, you two have improved a lot. Good work today, get some rest."

"Yes ma'am", the young Shinobis replied.

—-

"So, Sakura-Chan. Do you want to get Ramen?"

"Sure, you're paying"

Naruto reached into Gama-Chan disappointed. The frog has, once again, run out of coinage.

"Actually Sakura, I just remembered I have to unpack. Ha Ha Ha," said Naruto, laughing nervously.

—-

While walking back to his apartment, Naruto ran into the leaf's other young blond.

"Hey Naruto, do you want to go on that date now?"

"You're paying right?"

"Yep!"

"Ok, I can eat!"

The two ate in silence, never having been alone together. So, Naruto… This ramen's pretty good."

"Yeah, Ichiraku ramen is always the best!"

The silence set in again.

"Ino, why did you want to meet?"

"Just thought it'd be good to talk. You just returned to the village so I thought you'd want some good food. I wanted to talk."

"I get what you mean. we were in the same class, but we never talked."

"You were friends with Shikamaru and Choji though."

"Still…"

"I just want to get to know you, because I…"

"Oh Naruto, I didn't realize that Ino ordered for you. Welcome back!"

"Hi Teuchi! Long time no see!"

"So Naruto, are you on a date?"

"Ya huh, she is buying me ramen!"

"I guess…I am."

"Well this calls for a celebration, You guys' ramen is on the House!"

"Really Teuchi?! Thanks, I'll pay you back when I'm Hokage!"

The rest of Naruto and Ino's "date" went swimmingly. They talked, ate, and got to know each other better than ever before. By the time they split up for the night, they were talking about meeting again.

"That was fun," said the male, "Let's do it again!"

"Yeah, If I remember it right I still owe you."

"No, It's cool."

"Naruto, I am going to buy you lunch next time. And, that's final."

"If you insist. How about tomorrow?"

"Alright. We'll meet here at 1100."

"Ok, bye Ino."

"Bye Naruto." Ino left the meal, squealing "I just got a second date!"

—-

The messenger Hawk arrived at the Leaf with no time to spare. Once the shinobi in the aviary saw the letter, they understood it was of major importance. Quickly the letter was rushed to the Hokage's office, where she would decide what to do with it. Tsunade read the letter, then: "I can't read this. Get a code breaker in here right away."

The letter was translated and read:

Urgent:

Kazekage captured

Send help

Please hurry

This letter was of great alarm in the Hokage's office. She moved about the office frantically. "I need to send a team, don't know who. Naruto. Yes, I'll send Naruto. He's friends with Gaara. He'll get him back. Teams though, who else? Sakura of course. Sakura and Naruto work well together. I need one more, who can work well with them? I can't send any jonin teacher. Jiraiya? Maybe. He does work well with Naruto and that might be most important. And Sakura's fighting style is close enough to mine for it to work with his. Yes, I'll send them both with Jiraiya. Oh, and someone has to tell Gaara's sister. I think she's still in the village."