Naruto's heart pounded in his chest as he walked through the familiar corridors of Konoha's general hospital. He hadn't felt at ease since his fight at the Chunin Exams, and every step seemed heavier with anticipation. His mind was set on seeing one person only, a person he needed to speak to more than anyone else.

Approaching the reception, he was greeted by a wide smile from the lady behind the desk.

"Hey there," Naruto began, scratching the back of his head nervously. "I'm looking for Hinata Hyuuga's room."

The receptionist raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Are you her friend?"

Naruto hesitated, then gave a small, sheepish grin. "Uh… something like that."

The receptionist's expression softened, and she pointed him toward the right ward. "She's in room 207, down the hall and to your left."

"Thanks!" Naruto replied, quickly heading off. As he got closer to Hinata's room, he felt a strange mix of anxiety and guilt. He hadn't felt good since he beat Hinata in the exam, and he knew he needed to say something to her—maybe an apology, or at least to clear things up between them.

Inside the ward, Hinata sat up in her bed, her face betraying her discomfort. She hated hospitals. Always had, ever since she could remember. The sterile white walls, the pungent smell of antiseptic mixed with cheap air fresheners—it all grated on her senses.

But what she hated most was the noise.

Not the usual sounds of beeping medical equipment or the murmur of sick patients, but the constant noises in her head—voices from the other side that only she seemed to hear.

Hinata had lived with the strange presences she sometimes detected, and hospitals were among the worst places for it. Sometimes, she could see them—the faint, ghostly traces of lost souls wandering the halls. But more often, she just heard them, whispering, crying, sometimes even screaming.

The sounds drove her to the edge of sanity, making her cherish every moment of silence.

Neji had visited her today, and she was glad. Partly because she enjoyed his presence, and partly because it gave her something real to focus on, something other than the disembodied voices. A part of her wanted to talk to Neji about her condition, but she didn't want to burden him.

As Neji spoke with her, their conversation light and casual, the door suddenly creaked open. Hinata turned her head, her eyes widening in surprise as Naruto entered the room, moving slowly, almost hesitantly.

Neji blinked, turning his head. "Naruto…?" he greeted, surprised. "What brings you here?"

Naruto managed an awkward wave, his smile nervous. "Hey, Neji. Uh… hi, Hinata."

Neji glanced between the two of them, sensing a bit of tension. "I didn't know you two were… friends," he said, curious.

Before Hinata could deny it, Naruto quickly spoke up, "We're not really… that close."

Hinata offered a small, polite nod, not quite meeting Naruto's gaze. "Hello, Naruto."

Neji looked back and forth between them, sensing he might be intruding. "Do you two… need some privacy?"

Hinata raised a hand, her voice calm. "It's fine, Neji."

Naruto nodded, though he seemed uneasy. "I just wanted to see how you were doing," he said, his eyes lingering on Hinata.

Hinata nodded slightly. "I'm recovering steadily, thank you."

An awkward silence settled over them, and Naruto shifted on his feet, struggling to find the right words. He finally blurted out, "Look, I… I'm sorry, Hinata."

Hinata blinked, a bit taken aback. "Why are you apologizing?"

Naruto hesitated, scratching his cheek. "For hurting you during the exam fight. I… I let myself go. I'm not usually like that."

Hinata shook her head, frowning a bit. "You were only doing what any participant was expected to do, Naruto."

"But I hurt you," Naruto insisted, his voice earnest.

Hinata met his eyes for the first time, her expression soft but firm. "You did what you needed to win."

Naruto was momentarily taken aback by her words, not expecting her to be so… understanding. "But… I mean, it wasn't fair," he murmured, unsure how to proceed.

Hinata hesitated for a moment, biting her lip. Then, she spoke softly, "Thank you… for fighting me on equal ground, Naruto. It… it meant a lot to me."

Naruto's eyes widened a little, surprised by her gratitude. "You're… thanking me? For beating you up?"

Hinata nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Not exactly… but I appreciate it."

Naruto blinked, then grinned. "Well, uh… you fought really well, you know?"

Hinata's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't look away. Naruto continued, "Your taijutsu was pretty good. Better than most people I know. You really kept me on my toes."

Hinata felt a warmth spread through her chest, even if she suspected he was just trying to make her feel better. Still, the sincerity in his voice touched her, and she appreciated the gesture. "Thank you, Naruto."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head, a bit embarrassed. "And… I'm sorry for looking down on you at first. I didn't consider how you might've felt, and that was… kind of insensitive."

Hinata shook her head quickly. "It's okay," she murmured. Then, after a brief pause, she added, "I… I was a bit rude too, during the fight."

Naruto chuckled lightly, "Ah, don't worry about it. You were probably just caught in the moment."

Neji, sensing the atmosphere lighten, smiled slightly. "Maybe Naruto could help you train sometime, Hinata."

Hinata's face turned a deep shade of red. "N-Neji!" she stammered, glancing away.

Naruto stuttered, "Uh… s-sure, why not?" He hadn't meant to say it, but the words came out before he could stop them.

Neji chuckled, pleased with the development. "You could learn a lot from him, Hinata."

Naruto smiled awkwardly. "I could… learn a lot from her too."

Hinata's blush deepened, though she still didn't raise her head. Naruto didn't seem to notice, and the silence that followed felt surprisingly comfortable.

"Well, I should probably get going," Naruto said, waving. "I'll… talk to you later, Hinata. Nice seeing you, Neji."

Neji nodded with a small smile, and Hinata offered a quiet, "Goodbye, Naruto."

As Naruto left the hospital, he felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He was glad to have cleared the air between him and Hinata, who he now realized was just a normal person who could probably use a few more friends.

"Yeah… that wasn't so bad," he muttered to himself, a small smile forming on his lips as he walked out into the bright Konoha afternoon.

4 days later...

The arena buzzed with excitement as Sakura and Ino faced each other, their eyes locked in fierce determination. A sly smile crossed Ino's lips as she taunted her rival.

"Ready to lose, Forehead?" Ino sneered, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll make it quick."

Sakura scoffed, clenching her fists. "Not a chance, Ino-pig. This time, you're going down."

From the stands, Naruto cheered loudly, waving his arms in both directions. "Go, Sakura! Go, Ino! Give it your best shot!"

Beside him, Sasuke sat with arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Naruto glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "Hey, Sasuke, don't you care your teammate's fighting?"

Sasuke shrugged, barely sparing Naruto a glance. "I'm just here to see if there's anything worth learning for my fight with Gaara."

Naruto blinked. "Wow, you really know how to be supportive, huh?"

The proctor raised his hand. "Begin!"

Ino wasted no time, lunging forward with her kunai in hand. Her movements were swift and precise, but Sakura was ready. With a series of deft movements, Sakura blocked each strike with her arms, her calm expression never wavering.

"Come on, Ino," Sakura teased, "Is that all you've got?"

Ino's eyes narrowed. "Not even close!" She leaped up, aiming a kick at Sakura's head, but Sakura sidestepped, grabbing Ino's leg mid-air and flipping her to the ground with a powerful throw.

Ino tumbled but immediately rolled to her feet, determination burning in her eyes. "You're going to regret that, Sakura."

Sakura smirked, raising her fists. "Come on, Ino, don't tell me you're tired already, Bring it on!"

From the stands, Asuma leaned over to Kakashi. "Feeling confident about your student, huh?" he asked with a grin.

Kakashi chuckled under his mask. "She's got more than a few tricks up her sleeve."

Asuma smirked. "Let's make this interesting. 500 ryo says Ino wins."

Kakashi's eyes crinkled with amusement. "You're on."

Back in the arena, Ino assessed her situation. She knew that Sakura had the edge in close combat; she'd always been the physically stronger of the two. Ino needed to switch tactics, and fast.

I can't beat her in a straight fight, she thought, biting her lip. She's too good at taijutsu… and her genjutsu resistance is strong. I'll have to get creative.

Without hesitation, Ino pulled out a handful of kunai, throwing them in rapid succession toward Sakura. Sakura evaded the first few easily, but then her eyes widened as she noticed the faint glimmer of explosive tags on several of them, now pinned around her in a circle.

"Oh, crap!" Sakura leaped into the air just as the tags detonated, the blast wave sending her sprawling across the ground.

Ino's lips curled into a grin as she saw Sakura stagger to her feet, coughing from the smoke. "Got you now," she murmured under her breath, charging forward with newfound confidence.

Just as Ino was about to strike, she skidded to a halt, her eyes darting around frantically. "Wait... where is she?!"

Suddenly, the dust cleared, and Ino realized she was in the center of the arena, with Sakura nowhere in sight. She gasped, her eyes widening in realization. "A genjutsu?!"

From behind her, Sakura appeared, delivering a swift blow to Ino's jaw. The crowd erupted in cheers as Ino crashed to the ground, wincing in pain.

"Good one, Sakura!" Naruto yelled from the stands. He turned to Sasuke, a grin plastered on his face. "Told you she's got this!"

Ino wiped the blood from her mouth, smiling through the pain. "Not bad, Sakura," she admitted. "But I'm not done yet." Her eyes flickered to something behind Sakura, a triumphant glint flashing in her gaze.

Sakura noticed the shift in Ino's focus and tried to turn around, but her body refused to move. Her limbs felt like they were bound by an invisible force. "What the—?"

"Gotcha," Ino whispered with a satisfied grin. Behind Sakura, a clone of Ino stood, hands clasped together in the signature sign of her Mind Transfer Jutsu.

Up in the stands, Naruto leaned forward, eyes wide. "What? No way! Sakura got captured?"

Sasuke simply shook his head. "Wait. The fight's not over yet."

"But it's looking bad for her," Naruto muttered, his hands clenched. "Come on, Sakura. You better pull through, or I swear I'll make sure you never forget this day!"

Ino calmly approached the immobilized Sakura, pulling out a bouquet of flowers with a cocky grin. "You fought well, Sakura, but it just wasn't your day." She extended the bouquet towards Sakura's controlled form. "Here, take this. Consider it a consolation prize."

Sakura's body, under Ino's control, mechanically reached out and accepted the flowers. Ino chuckled as she turned away, her back facing Sakura. "Too bad for you, I mixed a few surprises in that bouquet—"

Sakura's gaze fell on the flowers, and her heart sank when she saw the hidden explosive tags among the petals. "Just great..." she thought, sighing inwardly.

Ino turned away, arms raised in triumph. The bouquet erupted in a fiery explosion behind her, and the crowd cheered. Ino scanned the stands, catching Naruto's eye and waving at him cheerfully.

"Did you see that Naruto-kun? I won!"

But then, the ground beneath her feet trembled. "What…?" Ino whispered, and suddenly Sakura burst up from beneath the earth, her fist connecting with Ino's chin in a powerful uppercut.

Ino stumbled back, eyes wide in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me!"

Sakura grinned. "Nice try, Ino. Almost had me there. But let's face it—the outcome was never in doubt."

She cracked her knuckles, a triumphant expression on her face. "You should pay more attention to your surroundings, maybe next time you won't miss the important details."

Ino's mind went back to when she blew up Sakura with her explosive kunai, realizing that she must've used the smokescreen to perform the hiding like a mole technique.

Crap! I should've seen it coming! She thought.

As Sakura moved to deliver the finishing blow, Ino shrieked, shielding her head with her arms. "Wait! Not the face, Don't hit my face!"

Sakura obliged in the nick of time, shifting her aim lower, landing a solid punch to Ino's stomach. Ino flew back, crashing into the arena wall with a painful groan.

The proctor raised his hand. "Winner: Sakura Haruno!"

The arena erupted in applause and cheers. Up in the stands, Asuma grumbled, handing over a bill to Kakashi. "Guess I underestimated your student, Kakashi."

Kakashi accepted the money with a nod. "She's come a long way. I'm proud of her."

Naruto shrugged, still grinning. "I guess I'm okay with Sakura winning."

Sasuke scoffed, standing up. "That was as lame as I expected. What a waste of time."

Naruto nudged him with a playful grin. "Come on, killjoy. Let's go congratulate her."

As Naruto walked ahead, Sasuke paused, looking down at the arena. Sakura was helping Ino to her feet, both girls laughing and sharing a smile despite their bruises. Sasuke's lips twitched into a rare, soft smile.

He turned, following Naruto. "Yeah… let's go."

The air in the Hokage's office was tense, the weight of recent reports hanging over the room like a shroud. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, fingers steepled, his eyes moving from one face to another. Jiraiya leaned against the wall with his usual casual demeanor, but his eyes were sharp and alert. Danzo sat to Hiruzen's right, his face impassive, while Tsunade sat on the opposite side, her brow furrowed in concern.

Hiruzen broke the silence. "The Hidden Stone has reported the disappearance of one of their shinobi... Deidara."

Jiraiya nodded, pushing off the wall to step closer. "And we suspect he's joined the Akatsuki?"

Hiruzen sighed, rubbing his temples. "Our intelligence suggests as much. The Akatsuki is gaining more power, and we have reasons to believe they are recruiting shinobi from other villages."

Danzo interjected, his voice low and measured. "The Akatsuki is not just a group of rogue shinobi. Our intelligence suggests they may be some sort of cult."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "A cult? What makes you say that?"

Danzo turned to her, his expression unreadable. "The patterns of their movements, the secrecy, the dedication of their members... it all points to an organization driven by more than just money or power."

Jiraiya leaned in, his expression serious. "We need to find out what this group is up to. If they're recruiting shinobi like Deidara, we could be looking at a serious threat down the line."

Tsunade crossed her arms, leaning back slightly. "And you think this is motivated by religion?"

Danzo nodded. "There are signs. Certain... rituals. Symbols. The reverence with which they speak of their goals. But for now, it's just a theory."

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed as he considered this. "Whatever their motives, we need to keep a close eye on them. If the Akatsuki is indeed recruiting shinobi and growing in strength, they could pose a significant threat to the Hidden Leaf and all the other villages."

Jiraiya agreed, his tone firm. "I'll keep my network on high alert. We need to know more about them, who's leading them, what they want."

Hiruzen nodded, his gaze resolute. "Very well. Keep me informed. This meeting is adjourned."

The room began to clear, but Hiruzen motioned for Jiraiya to stay behind. As the others left, Hiruzen turned to his old student.

"Jiraiya, there's something else I wanted to discuss," Hiruzen began, his voice softer now that they were alone. "It's about Naruto."

Jiraiya's face softened slightly. "Ah, Naruto… How's he doing?"

Hiruzen smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes. "He's progressing well. He'll be officially promoted to chunin in a few days."

Jiraiya chuckled. "That kid's got guts, no doubt about it."

Hiruzen nodded. "He does. But guts alone won't be enough. He's grown a lot, but there's still so much more he needs to learn. I wanted to talk to you about his training."

Jiraiya's expression turned serious. "I've been thinking about that too. I'd like to take him under my wing. Train him privately."

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure, Jiraiya? He's a handful."

Jiraiya laughed. "When has that ever stopped me? Besides, he's Minato's son. It would be an honor to guide him."

Hiruzen's face softened, his gaze turning thoughtful. "As Konoha's jinchuriki, Naruto needs to be at his best. If anyone can train him properly, it's you. I trust you with this, Jiraiya."

Jiraiya grinned. "I'm looking forward to it. He's got potential… more than he knows."

Hiruzen nodded. "I'll make the arrangements. In a few days, Naruto will be assigned to you officially."

Jiraiya placed a hand on Hiruzen's shoulder. "You won't regret it. I'll make sure he's ready for whatever lies ahead."

Hiruzen smiled, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and concern. "I trust you will, Jiraiya. For Minato's sake... and for Naruto's."

Jiraiya nodded solemnly. "For both of them."

With that, the two old friends shared a brief, knowing look before Jiraiya turned to leave, the weight of the future resting heavily on both their shoulders.

Two weeks later...

The moon hung low in the sky, casting its silvery glow over Kurenai's quiet front yard. The sounds of the village seemed muffled tonight, the occasional rustling leaves and chirping crickets filling the silence. Neji and Hinata sat side by side on the wooden steps leading to the house, the cool night air brushing against their faces.

Neji leaned back slightly, gazing at the stars, his posture relaxed despite the tumultuous events of the day. Hinata sat beside him, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her head bowed. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice soft.

"Neji," she began, her eyes flitting up to meet his. "About the match today… Are you… Are you alright?"

Neji turned his head toward her, a faint smile gracing his lips. "You don't have to worry about me, Hinata. I'm fine. Truly."

Hinata frowned, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her skirt. "But… losing to Naruto… it's just not fair. Someone like you should never—"

"Hinata," Neji interrupted gently, his tone firm yet understanding. "It's not about fair or unfair. Naruto is stronger than I expected. He earned that victory."

"But he's…" Hinata trailed off, her brow furrowing. "He's not like you, Neji. You've worked so hard for everything you have. It feels wrong that someone like him—who's been handed everything—could just…" She stopped herself, frustration lacing her tone.

"Maybe it's how it's meant to be. Maybe people like us just aren't meant to go very far."

Neji's expression softened, but there was a trace of disapproval in his eyes. "Hinata, where did you hear something like that?"

She looked away, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I didn't hear it. I just… I thought it made sense. You're from the side branch, and I'm…" She hesitated, her throat tightening. "I'm an embarrassment to the clan. Maybe we're just… not meant to go very far."

For a moment, silence settled between them. Neji's frown deepened, and he shifted slightly closer to her, his presence steadying. "Hinata," he said, his voice calm but resolute, "don't ever think that about yourself."

She blinked, startled by the intensity in his tone, and looked up at him.

"Why did you become a shinobi?" Neji asked, his gaze searching hers.

Hinata blinked again, the question catching her off guard. "I…" She hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I became a shinobi to… prove myself to my family. To show them I'm not…" Her voice faltered, but she forced herself to continue. "To show them I'm not useless."

Neji nodded slowly, as though digesting her words. "And are you working toward that goal?" he asked.

"Yes," Hinata replied softly. "Every day. I try my best."

"That's good," Neji said, his tone encouraging. "As for me, I became a shinobi for a different reason." He paused, his eyes softening as they held hers. "I became a shinobi to protect the people who are precious to me."

Hinata's breath hitched at his words, and her heart ached as he reached out, gently stroking her hair. "That includes you," Neji said, his voice steady. "Hinata, it doesn't matter to me how far I go in the shinobi world, as long as I can keep the people I care about safe."

Her cheeks flushed, and she looked down, her hands trembling slightly. "Neji," she murmured, her voice quivering. "You've always… been so kind to me. I don't deserve it."

Neji's lips curved into a gentle smile. "You do, Hinata. And as long as I'm here, I'll keep being here for you."

Hinata's eyes grew misty, and she wiped at them quickly. "Thank you," she whispered. "For everything. For being there for me and for Hanabi."

Neji chuckled softly, leaning back slightly. "That's all that matters to me, Hinata. Being there for both of you. That's what drives me to get stronger."

Hinata leaned into his shoulder, her heart swelling with gratitude. "You're already so strong, Neji. Not just in battle… but in everything."

Neji rested his hand lightly on her shoulder. "And you're stronger than you think, Hinata. Naruto sees it. So do I."

They sat in silence for a while, the night wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. Hinata eventually spoke, her voice tinged with sadness. "How is Hanabi?"

Neji's gaze softened. "She misses you every day, even if she doesn't say it. She talks about you often."

Hinata's chest tightened, and she swallowed hard. "I… I miss her too."

Neji nodded, his expression resolute. "I'll do everything I can to make sure you two can see each other again. That's a promise."

Hinata didn't respond, her throat too tight with emotion, but she nodded, leaning into his support.

Neji's tone lightened as he spoke again. "And I'm glad Naruto offered to train with you. He's not just strong; he's determined. You can learn a lot from him."

Hinata smiled faintly, her cheeks warming. "Maybe… maybe I can."

As they sat there under the starlit sky, Hinata felt something stir within her—a quiet determination. Neji's words stayed with her, his strength and his kindness wrapping around her like an invisible shield.

Sasuke sat on the wooden steps outside his house, elbows resting on his knees, staring blankly ahead. The fight against Gaara had drained him, and his body still ached from the effort. His eyes were heavy with exhaustion, and he felt the weight of fatigue settling deep in his bones.

Suddenly, a hand ruffled his hair from behind.

"Oi," came a familiar voice, soft yet firm.

Sasuke's heart leapt. He knew that voice. He turned his head, trying to hide his smile, but his expression remained stubbornly neutral. "Itachi," he muttered.

Itachi settled down beside him, a gentle smile on his lips. "How are you doing, Sasuke?"

Sasuke shrugged, keeping his tone as cold as he could manage. "I'm fine."

Itachi's eyes softened, but he didn't press further. "Good to hear," he said calmly.

Sasuke glanced at him, trying to mask the relief in his eyes. "When did you come back?"

Itachi chuckled softly. "Not long ago," he replied. "I wanted to see how my little brother was holding up."

Sasuke snorted and turned away, taking off one of his sandals and shaking it out. A large amount of sand poured onto the ground. Itachi raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"I take it Gaara lived up to expectations?" Itachi remarked, a hint of laughter in his voice.

Sasuke, still annoyed, took off his other sandal and dumped even more sand onto the ground. "There's sand everywhere..." he muttered with irritation.

Itachi couldn't help but chuckle. "It seems like you brought half the desert back with you."

Sasuke sighed, brushing off more sand from his clothes. "He's a pain… and not just because of the sand."

"Sounds like a formidable opponent," Itachi observed with a knowing grin.

Sasuke huffed, but a small, begrudging smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "I could've won if I'd been in better shape."

"Maybe," Itachi replied with a shrug. "Or maybe he's just that strong."

Sasuke shot him a glare, but Itachi's amused smile only deepened. "Want to go for a walk?" Itachi suggested suddenly.

Sasuke hesitated, trying to look indifferent. "I guess… I wouldn't mind," he said with a nonchalant shrug.

Itachi stood up and extended his hand to help Sasuke up. "Come on then."

Sasuke took his brother's hand and tried to rise, but a jolt of pain shot through his legs. He winced, staggering slightly. Itachi laughed, a rare sound, light and genuine.

"Maybe you should take a bath first," Itachi teased. "Get rid of all that sand before you turn our walk into a sandstorm."

Sasuke grumbled, still in pain, but couldn't suppress a small grin. "Fine… you're probably right," he muttered.

Itachi chuckled again, giving Sasuke a gentle nudge. "Go on then. I'll wait."

Sasuke limped towards the door, still feeling the sting in his muscles. As he reached the entrance, Itachi called out after him.

"Sasuke," Itachi said softly, "I'm proud of you."

Sasuke paused, his hand resting on the doorframe. He tried to play it cool, shrugging as he glanced back. "Tch… it was nothing," he replied, his voice casual.

But as he disappeared inside, a smile broke across Sasuke's face, hidden from his brother's view. His heart felt lighter, and despite the pain in his legs, he moved with a bit more spring in his step.

The sun was dipping low in the desert sky, painting the landscape in hues of orange and red as Gaara, Kankuro, Temari, and Baki made their way back to Sunagakure. The wind blew softly, carrying with it the familiar scent of sand and sagebrush.

Temari broke the silence first. "You did well in your match, Gaara," she said with a smile. "Fighting Uchiha Sasuke to a standstill... not many could claim that."

Gaara's expression remained unchanged, his eyes fixed ahead. "I didn't win," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.

Kankuro glanced over, his tone conciliatory. "Come on, Gaara. There's no shame in a draw. Sasuke's a top-notch shinobi. Even the Leaf's elites consider him a prodigy."

Baki nodded in agreement. "Kankuro's right. Your performance was impressive. The Kazekage will be pleased. You represented the Hidden Sand admirably."

Temari's smile grew wider. "Absolutely. We did our duty, and we did it well. You should be proud."

Gaara's expression softened, if only slightly. "I could have done better," he replied tersely.

As they continued their trek, Baki's eyes suddenly narrowed. "Wait," he said, holding up a hand. "We're not alone."

Two figures emerged from the dunes ahead, draped in dark cloaks, their silhouettes outlined by the fading light. The red clouds on their robes became clear as they stepped closer.

Baki's eyes widened as he recognized one of the figures. "Sasori… what is this?" he demanded, his voice edged with shock and suspicion. "Why are you here, and why are you with him?" He nodded towards the blond man beside Sasori.

Kankuro's jaw tightened. "Sasori… one of our own rogue shinobi," he muttered, his fingers twitching towards his puppet scrolls. "And those robes… Akatsuki." He turned to the others. "We're dealing with members of the Akatsuki."

Sasori's lips curled into a cold smile. "Greetings, Kankuro, Baki… Temari… Gaara," he said slowly, his voice calm and almost regretful. "It's a pity we meet under such unfortunate circumstances."

Temari stepped forward, her fan ready at her side. "What do you want?" she asked, her tone sharp and demanding.

Deidara chuckled, his gaze shifting to Gaara. "Oh, we're here for one of you," he replied with a grin. "Specifically, the redhead." He tilted his head towards Gaara. "Our target… for the greater good, yeah."

Baki's eyes narrowed. "Why Gaara?" he questioned. "What does the Akatsuki want with him?"

Deidara's grin widened. "Isn't it obvious?" he sneered. "He's a jinchuriki. And we've got big plans… for peace."

Kankuro stepped beside Gaara, eyes sharp. "Peace? Don't make me laugh," he snapped. "You think taking Gaara will bring peace? You're out of your minds."

Sasori sighed, almost as if bored. "I wish you could understand, Kankuro… this isn't personal."

Gaara's sand began to swirl around his feet, his expression calm but focused. "You won't take me," he stated flatly, his voice devoid of fear.

Temari tightened her grip on her fan. "If you think we're going to let you just walk away with him, you've got another thing coming."

Deidara laughed, a manic gleam in his eyes. "Perfect! I was hoping you'd resist," he said with a smirk. "It makes things… more interesting, yeah."

Baki drew a kunai, his eyes never leaving the two Akatsuki members. "Temari, Kankuro, Gaara," he said in a low, firm voice, "prepare yourselves."

Gaara's eyes narrowed at the challenge. "I'm ready," he said quietly, his eyes locked on the enemy ahead.

Temari swung her fan wide, wind gathering around its edges. "Let's see what they've got," she muttered, eyes narrowing.

Kankuro quickly reached for his puppet scrolls, unsealing them with a flick of his wrist. "Bring it on," he growled, his focus razor-sharp.

Sasori's smile remained, but his eyes were cold. "Then let's not delay," he said softly. "Shall we, Deidara?"

Deidara cracked his knuckles, a wicked grin splitting his face. "Oh, absolutely," he replied. "Let's give them a show, yeah."

The desert air grew still, tension crackling like static between the two groups. Sand swirled, wind howled, and in the next instant, the calm before the storm shattered as both sides lunged into battle, the stakes higher than ever before.