"There you are!"

"Finally, Sensei..."

I shake my head at him. "Things really haven't changed, huh?" I say.

"Yeah," Kakashi-sensei raises his hand in apology. "Sorry about that. It took me a lot longer than I thought, to, uh, finalize the new squad dossier."

"Hello? This is our first mission as a new team," Naruto reminds him. "Couldn't you be just a little excited? Kakashi-sensei, you haven't changed a bit, have you?"

Sakura claps her hands over her ears and groans. "Already you're annoying," she grumbles. "Shut up!"

"Okay, okay," I say, waving them down before Naruto can retort. "There's really no point in wasting our breath; he's always been this unenthusiastic."

I sigh, at the same moment a bird caws directly over us. But when I look up, I realize it isn't any old bird, but a messenger hawk from the Hidden Sand Village—I'd recognize it anywhere. It comes with the territory, since forming a contract with Aosagi. I frown.

Why do I have such a bad feeling right now?

卍

"Awh man, it'll feel so good to go on a real mission again!"

"Listen," Sakura says, unintentionally putting a further damper on my spirits, "whatever mission we're given, just take it, and don't complain about it."

"Don't sweat it; those days are over," Naruto promises.

"I sure hope so," Kakashi-sensei murmurs.

"C-Rank or D-Rank," I start. "It's been so long, I'll take anything."

"Out of the way; out of the way!"

I'm forced to leap out of the way, as a woman comes sprinting around the corner and down the hall of the top floor of the Hokage's building.

"What was that about?" I wonder aloud, mid-recovery.

"Why don't you watch where you're going?!" Naruto shouts after her, fists raised. "Who do you think you are?!"

That bad feeling I'd had earlier... and the fact that the Aviary must have been the ones to call for the Cipher Corp... They've got to be connected, somehow.

卍

"Huh? Escort duty for a caravan?! Come on!"

"What?" Lady Tsunade leans into her hand, glaring our way. "You got a problem with that?"

"Since you're asking, yes! Lousy C-Rank mission; it's beneath my dignity!"

"Naruto," I say, trying my best to hold back a laugh. "You do realize that we're still Genin, right?" Naruto turns to me, grimacing. "So I'm pretty sure that we're actually beneath this mission's dignity, not the other way around."

Iruka-sensei groans. "Naruto," he says, "your skills may have improved, but mentally, you haven't matured at all!"

"Naruto, I've chosen an easier mission to start with to break you in," Lady Tsunade reasons. "Both you and Kari have been gone from us for a while."

"Well, who said we want an easier mission?" he demands. How many times do I have to tell you to speak for yourself, Naruto?! I think, frustrated. Sakura instantly jumps on him, driving her knuckles into his skull.

"So sorry, milady, let me talk to him; I'm sure I can bring him around!"

"The details of your mission are here," she says, extending the dossier across the table to us, and Kakashi-sensei moves to take it.

"Right."

Naruto huffs. "I miss the Third Hokage," he says. "The old man was smart; he knew what he was doing." My jaw drops.

"Huh?! What did you say?!"

"Just shut up, will ya?!" Sakura growls, tightening her hold around his neck. Suddenly, the door to the assignment room slams open, and the same woman from earlier bursts inside, looking panicked.

"Lady Tsunade, terrible news!" she cries, running up to her.

"Now what is it?" she grumbles.

"An emergency dispatch from the sand," she says.

"The Sand?" I repeat.

"Where is this dispatch?" Lady Tsunade asks.

"I deciphered it as quickly as I could," the woman says, passing over a piece of paper, "but..."

I watch Lady Tsunade quickly scan over it, her eyes narrowing.

"It can't be," Iruka-sensei breathes.

"No way!" Shizune gasps.

"W... What is it?" Naruto asks, taking a slight step ahead of us. "What's happened?"

"It's the Kazekage of the Sand," Lady Tsunade says. "It seems he's been taken prisoner by the Akatsuki."

Simultaneously, we all gasp. "You mean Gaara," Naruto says.

"That means... they're back again," I realize.

"We've been studying them," she tells us. "We know more about the Akatsuki than any other village. Therefore, the Sand Village has officially requested our help."

Shizune whirls on her. "You're not suggesting that Team Kakashi...!"

"This is urgent," Lady Tsunade interrupts her. "I haven't time to form another squad. And besides, we have someone here's actually who's fought the Akatsuki."

"Yes, but, even so—""The Akatsuki is a large group," I say, "so who's to say that it will be Itachi Uchiha and... and, um... that fish man, who are directly involved?" I frown. "At any rate, it has to be us, Lady Tsunade."

"All right; Team Kakashi— I'm assigning you a new mission. You're to go to the Sand Village at once, find out what's going on there, and keep us informed. You're to remain there, and follow their orders. Give them any backup they need."

"Right."

卍

"Okay, let's get moving!"

I nod, and toss my backpack over my shoulders. "Gaara's waiting for us!"

"Be back soon, milady," Sakura salutes to her. "We won't let you down!"

"Good," Lady Tsunade says.

"Naruto," Iruka-sensei says from her side. "Good luck."

"Thanks," he replies, and Kakashi-sensei leads the way from the village gate. But before we can really start moving, a tall figure drops in front of us, and I'm surprised to see that it's Master Jiraiya.

"Hey there!" he greets. "Going on a mission?"

"That's right!" Naruto answers.

"Well, good for you," Master Jiraiya says, "but more importantly..." And he walks past us, toward Lady Tsunade and Iruka-sensei. "I've got some disturbing news. The Sand's Kazekage—""Yes, I know," Lady Tsunade says, interrupting him. "I'm dispatching a squad; they're just about to leave."

"Mhm," Naruto hums, nodding. Master Jiraiya suddenly leans into Lady Tsunade, whispering something into her ear, before returning to us.

"Naruto, I want a word with you," he says, and he takes him aside. It's not hard to guess what Master Jiraiya might be saying. Where we're going, the Akatsuki are involved, and I know, without a doubt, they'll do anything to get their hands on Naruto. And for whatever reason, they want to get me, too—my chakra. This is a risky situation for the both of us. Even more so, with Naruto's Nine Tailed Fox inside of him.

They finish their conversation, and Master Jiraiya warns Kakashi-sensei to keep Naruto out of trouble. And then, to my surprise, he turns to me.

"Usually it's the other way around," he starts, "where the boy protects the girl. And I don't need to remind you that you're both targets of the Akatsuki." Master Jiraiya reaches into his one pocket, and hands me three square slips of paper—sealing tags. "If anything happens, I trust you know exactly what to do."

I nod. "Of course, I do," I say, stuffing them away into my side pocket. "Nothing will happen while I'm here, you can believe it."

He stands up to his full height. "Glad to hear it," he says.

"Kakashi-sensei! Kari! Sakura!" I turn away from Master Jiraiya to find Naruto several meters ahead of us. "What are we waiting for?"

"Okay, okay, coming!" Sakura calls, running after him.

"We're off," Kakashi-sensei says.

"Goodbye, Master Jiraiya," I say, and I wave past him at both Lady Tsunade and Iruka-sensei.

卍

It's been three years since I'd last been in contact with Kishibi, Gaara, and his siblings. The events that took place on the day of the Chūnin Exams is now, nothing more than a bad dream. Since then, both our village, and the Hidden Sand, have met many changes. Both have new Shinobi in the position of Hokage and Kazekage. Laws and rules have changed – for the better – in the Hidden Sand, thanks to Gaara. Or, so I've heard. Not much word gets received in the Hidden Snow, but whenever it does, it's usually a great deal.

"We're coming," Naruto suddenly growls from ahead of me. "Just hang in there, Gaara."

"Naruto," Sakura calls. "I know you're in a hurry, but quit breaking formation!"

"I know!" he shouts backs. "But..."

"Don't lose your cool," Kakashi-sensei tells him. "Master Jiraiya taught you better than that, didn't he?"

"And when you get all worked up like this, it makes it hard to get past your level of chakra compared to the enemy's," I point out. "Not to mention... it'll loosen your seal, Naruto. Please, calm down."

The tags that Master Jiraiya had given me are for a single purpose—should the seal restricting the Nine Tailed Fox be somehow loosened or undone, these tags reverse the process, and re-contain it. Before I'd gone to the Hidden Snow, Master Jiraiya made sure to have Minako teach me a sealing Jutsu in case I ran out, or if Naruto had been too far gone. Of course, it's only a temporary seal, but in a crisis, it definitely makes do.

"Huh?"

"Did you sense something?" Kakashi-sensei asks me. I nod.

"Yeah, but don't worry," I say, instantly recognizing the chakra pattern. "We're in each other's good graces."

Below us, and along the dirt path, I point out Temari, and call out her name. She looks up at us, and we join her on the ground. By the expression on her face, it's obvious she hasn't heard the news.

"Gaara's been abducted by the Akatsuki," I say urgently, and her eyes widen.

"Gaara?!" she cries. "You mean he's been...!"

"We're two and a half days from the Sand," Kakashi-sensei says. "We should hurry."

"Right."

卍

Night's come. We've still a long way to go before we reach the Hidden Sand. It still bothers me—the bad feeling I'd had early on this morning, Gaara being kidnapped by the Akatsuki-- this been this must've been where it came from. Somehow, I'd received an ill-omen, even before the news reached us back in the Hidden Leaf.

Naruto refuses to let up on his chakra, or slow down. It's making me more tired than I should be at this point on, and it's frustrating. But I know how he feels. If it were him in this situation, I wouldn't be able to handle it.

"Naruto, will you come on, already?" Sakura shouts after him. "Stop getting ahead of us!"

"I can't take this anymore! I know why they're after Gaara and me," he growls. "It's not like it's a mystery or anything! You know, too, don't you, Sakura?" I frown after him. "There's no point hiding it," he says. "The spirit of the Nine Tailed Fox is sealed away inside of me."

The same way... it was hidden from you all your life, Naruto? I think bitterly. Looking at him now, it's a constant reminder of how the Third Hokage made it law to keep him in the unknown. He was just a child, and he grew up without knowing the truth; why he was ostracized; why his parents were... dead.

"Gaara and I are the same! We both have monsters locked up inside of us," he says. "That's what these bastards are after." Naruto's anger becomes a physical issue, when his launch from a branch causes it to snap beneath him. I extend my leap to avoid it, landing on the next tree. "And that's the worst part about it! To them, we're just monsters! All those bastards see... is a means to an end!

"Everything about us... was exactly the same. And he had to fend for himself, a lot longer than I ever did. And now, he's a target of the Akatsuki! One more thing we have in common. Why should his life be so full of misery all the time? Why is it always him?! That's why I've gotta hurry. I don't have a second to waste! This time'll be different. I'm gonna be there to save him!"

Something wet hits my face, and I'm stunned that it comes from Naruto. He's... crying. Naruto...

卍

"You know, those food pellets are only for emergencies, and a girl at your age should especially be careful with the high fat—" Crunch. Disregarding Kakashi-sensei's words, Sakura throws another in her mouth, and picks up her feet. Out of the corner of my eye, I see that he's frowning. "Is she mad at me?" he asks aloud.

I shake my head at him, sighing, and throwing my own food pellet variation in my mouth. As disgusting as they are, they've been sustaining me since daybreak. Constantly keeping up my Sensory Scope is exhausting me. Strangely enough, it hasn't done anything to my chakra. Ever since Minako released my chakra back to me, I've only ever struggled with physical exhaustion, which led me to train to increase my stamina. And while it has, combining both physical exertion along with the use of my Sensory Scope isn't exactly an easy task. For someone like me, being well-balanced in nearly – nearly – every aspect is a rarity. To be able to use Ninjutsu, to have been excessively trained in Taijutsu, to be able to sense and break a Genjutsu, to be able to utilize tools and weapons, to be a Sensory Shinobi, to have a Summoning Contract, and be gifted with limitless chakra... It's a rarity, indeed.

Limitless chakra... The possibilities of what the Akatsuki might do with such a thing frightens me, just as much as I'm frightened of what they plan to do with Gaara and Naruto. What could they possibly want with the One and Nine Tails? Just what do they hope to achieve?

"Naruto," Sakura says. "Tell me. You've met him before, haven't you? Itachi Uchiha. And... he's after you now, isn't he? You know, it's not like I've just spent my time training these past two and a half years. I've stole into Lady Tsunade's library and snuck out of the village as much as I could. And now, the one thing that bothered me more than anything else, finally made sense. The person that Sasuke wanted to kill, it was his older brother, Itachi, wasn't it? A member of the Akatsuki.

"That's the whole reason he left," Sakura says. "He saw Orochimaru as a way to obtain power. But all that worthless viper cares about is Sasuke's body. And we only have six months left to stop him. Orochimaru used to be a member of the Akatsuki, himself. All I'm trying to say is... we can't give up! The closer we get to the Akatsuki, the closer we are to finding information about Orochimaru."

"The closer we get to them, the closer we are to bringing Sasuke home," I agree. "So let's hurry."

卍

Kakashi-sensei stands up, stretching out his arms. "All right; break time's over."

Sakura looks around and between us, frowning. "Hey, where's Naruto?" she asks.

"Up there," I say, pointing above us. Sakura and Temari follow the direction of my finger to find Naruto standing up in the trees. "He refused to take a break, so he decided to be look out so I could rest my head. All this energy and chakra's given me a migraine."

"Are you up for it yet?" Kakashi-sensei asks. I stand up, cracking my back in the process. All the tension from constantly moving had built up; now, I'm set.

"You bet," I say.

卍

Since breaking the point between borders, I've been on edge, having sensed a familiar chakra pattern that'd instantly brought back bad memories.

"All right, finally reached the desert," Naruto announces.

"The Village Hidden in the Sand is just up ahead," Temari tells us. "It's best if I take the lead from here on out."

"Lead on," Kakashi-sensei agrees, and we begin moving once more. However, it's not long before we're forced to take refuge within a desert-side cave after the sandstorm begins.

"We're this close to our target and we're just sitting here!" Naruto growls. "I can't stand this waiting!"

"It's not like we have a choice, Naruto," I say. "This desert is deadly, just as much so as this storm."

"Naruto, for the last time, relax!" Kakashi-sensei scolds. "There's nothing we can do."

"I know, but—""Just be patient," Sakura snaps. "Would you look at Temari? She's the one who's worried the most!"

"The cardinal rule about travelling in the desert," she says, "if you hit a sandstorm, you stay put. You lose all your sense of direction in a storm like that."

"But... Kari, can't you lead us through it?" Naruto asks.

"I wasn't homed in on anyone's chakra near the Hidden Sand," I tell him. "And even if I was, there's always the chance I'd lose it, and then, we'd get lost."

Naruto groans again, for about the tenth time in the past half hour.

"I've heard of many people who've gotten lost in the desert and died of thirst," Temari says. "Don't worry. The sandstorms we get this time of year usually don't last very long."

Naruto looks out into the desert.

"Well, I just hope you're right."

卍

Temari was right. The sand storm only lasted a few hours. During that time, we'd been able to get some rest, to deal with our fatigue. And in that time, I'd lost that terrible sensation I'd felt before it'd begun. Wherever it went, I do plan on finding it again.

I'd never been happier when the Hidden Sand Village comes into view. As time passes, and as the sun rises, we get closer and closer, until we reach the two Sand Shinobi guarding the entrance.

"We've been expecting you," one of them says. "Lady Temari, you were with them?"

"Please," the other one says, gesturing toward the entrance. "This way!"

卍

It seems, while Temari had been away, quite a bit had happened from the time that Gaara had been abducted, until now.

"What?" she exclaims. "You're saying they got Kankuro, as well?!"

"Yes," the one guard says. "When the enemy took Lord Kazekage, Kankuro went after them by himself. He's been poisoned, and we haven't been able to find anything to counteract it. He won't last much longer."

"Damn it," Temari curses, the panicked evident on her face.

"Don't give up yet, Temari," Sakura says, glancing over at her as we run in the direction of the hospital. "Let me take a look at him."

卍

"Kankuro!"

Temari bursts into the operating room, where two Sand Medical Ninja, a Jōnin, and two elderly Shinobi stand around Kankuro's body. It's odd, seeing him without his purple face pain. But even more so, seeing him incapacitated. From a doorway at the end of the room, a tall girl with red hair runs out, and joins them at his bedside.

"Temari, you've returned," Kishibi says, looking about as panicked as her. Before she can say anything else, however, the old woman on the right side of the bed rushes toward us.

"Damn you!" she cries, her eyes trained on our Sensei. "Get ready to defend yourself or die! Revenge at last!"

What on earth?! I think, my eyes as wide as saucers. Revenge?

Naruto rushes forward, intercepting the old woman's fist after summoning several Shadow Clones, both of which are taken down within seconds. They both push away from each other, glaring the other down.

"What do you think you're doing attacking Kakashi-sensei like that?"

"You wrinkly old prune!"

"I haven't forgotten what you did," the old woman says, directing it to our Sensei. "I've waited for this day, White Fang of the Leaf." Uh, White Fang? "The day I reap vengeance on you for what you did to my son!"

"No, no, no, you see, I'm not—""That's enough!" she shouts, cutting across him. I exchange a look of concern with him, at the same moment that her elderly partner steps in front of her, holding his arm up.

"Take a closer look at the man, sis," he says. Kakashi-sensei puts his hands up in front of him, chuckling nervously. "It's true there's a resemblance, but this one is not the White Fang."

"H-Hello," Kakashi-sensei says.

"Besides, as you know, the White Fang of the Leaf died long ago," the old man further tells her. "Remember? When you heard the news, you wept in frustration because it meant you'd never get your vengeance. Isn't that so, sis?"

After a moment, all – most ­– of the tension from the room subsides, and I'm able to breathe again.

"Oh, well, never mind," she says, breaking into a string of laughter. I deadpan. But Kankuro's screams of pain quickly interrupt, and he clutches at his throat, gurgling.

"Here, let me take a look him," Sakura says, quickly throwing up her hair.

"Yes, please," Temari says.

"Listen, it might help if you all clear out and give us some room," she tells us.

"You got it, Sakura," Naruto says, and he follows Kakashi-sensei outside.

"Kari, could you stay and use your numbing technique as an alternative to the sedative?" Sakura then asks.

I nod, climbing to the top end of the table, and then to the Sand Shinobi, "I'll need a chair."

"Of course," and one of them retreat to fetch one. The Jutsu Sakura spoke of, the Mystic Wick Jutsu, is a technique that can sedate and numb the pain during treatment, effecting all the target's senses in the process. It's literally the only Medical-type technique I know that I'd been taught. But it can't ever be used in battle, as by temporarily shutting off the nerve endings, you shut off your own, which is why I need the chair.

They return with a chair, a stool with a back to it, and I sit down, having taken out a sealing tag from my equipment pouch. Laying it on the table, next to Kankuro's head, I release it, and there appears a small candle.

"That's it, huh?" I realize I should have infused more chakra than I had, just in case.

"Will it be enough?" Sakura asks. I nod.

"It should be just enough," I tell her.

The hand sign to use for this Jutsu is not a typical one. It's similar to the tiger seal, but in essence, it's reversed, your last two fingers starting from the smallest being pressed together.

"Mystic Wick Jutsu."

A purple flame ignites the small wick poking up from the candle, infused with my chakra. To everyone else, there is no scent. To Kankuro and I, soon to be only me once the Jutsu starts affecting his senses, it smells just like a jasmine flower. Once the Jutsu is cast, I press two of my fingers on each hand at each of his temples. I'd struggled to get a good grip on him, as through his pain, he rocks back and forth and thrashes on the bed. And the moment I do, I lose all feeling in my legs—that's why I needed the chair.

Once Kankuro stops moving, Sakura places her ear against his chest, most likely searching for a heartbeat.

"We're definitely dealing with a heavy, metal-based toxin," she announces, "the kind that destroys muscle tissue, attacking the cell's integrity."

"I've definitely a lot to learn if you were able to figure that out, just through his heartbeat," Kishibi murmurs.

"May I see his chart?"

"Yes, of course. Here it is—we were getting a breakdown of the poison, but there are still quite a few blanks."

"I know just what'll happen," Sakura says. A clipboard is handed over to her, and she quickly examines it. "The Cardiac muscle will be weakened to the point where the heart will collapse and cease functioning all together. It's doubtful we'll be able to come up with an antidote in time."

"W-What are you saying?!" Temari cries. "There's nothing you can do?"

"I'm going to need a few things, and I'm going to need them quickly. It's going to be pretty crude, but... it's the only option we have!"

卍

"Kari, don't let up on that Jutsu," Sakura says, once she's situated herself amongst the supplies brought to her. "This part isn't going to be easy on him."

"I figured as much," I say. Instead of simply two fingers, I place both of my hands on either side of his head. The ante is upped, though I try to hold back for the sake of keeping him awake during the procedure.

Sakura rests her hand at the edge of the medicated water in the basin, and in her palm, as if stuck to it like glue, she lifts a large ball-shaped sphere. With a single hand, she forces it through his chest. Despite my efforts, somehow, Kankuro still manages to sit up, and I'm dragged out of my seat by the reaction. Temari and Kishibi come to my aid, Temari taking hold of his shoulders, Kishibi, his feet, and the others, the rest of him, arms and legs.

A moment later, Sakura draws out the sphere of water, and with it, a dangerous-looking purple liquid.

"What is that?" Temari asks from beside me. "Is that the poison?"

Sakura lets the water sphere drop back into the basin, and she turns to one of the Sand Medical Ninja.

"Another!"

"Right!"

He replaces the basin with a second one, and Sakura repeats the process, this time, in his abdomen. The stress on Sakura, having to keep a constant focus, is getting to her. Kishibi notices this, as well, and goes to her side, dabbing away the sweat rolling down her face with a white cloth. Once more, Sakura extracts the poison, releasing it back into its basin.

"Another!"

"Right!"

It's impressive how fast she's able to do this, I think, keeping my hands firm against Kankuro's temples. Not even Sen or even Minako were this good. Although, those were still simpler poisons to deal with. This Sasori of the Red Sand character... he's deadly.

After finishing another basin, Sakura wipes her forehead on the back of her arm.

"I've removed most of the poison," she announces. "That should put him out of any immediate danger." Collectively, everyone lets out a breath of relief, and Kakashi-sensei, Naruto, and the two elderly Shinobi re-enter the room.

"You were amazing, Sakura," I tell her, removing my hands from Kankuro's head. Releasing the Jutsu, I notice how little of the candle I'd sealed away is left—not much at all.

"But he's not completely out of the woods yet," she says. "Now then—I have to quickly put together an antidote for the traces of toxin still remaining in his body."

"Anything you need, just tell me," Kishibi says. "I'll get it for you."

"Well, first, I'll need a list of all medicinal herbs that you have in this village," Sakura says. Kishibi directs one of the Sand Medical Ninja out of the room. "And we should change these bandages for new ones."

"Yes, ma'am," the other says.

"I'll need an IV drip set up, stat," she then says. "Oh, and be sure to set aside a small sample of the toxin I'd extracted—I'll be needing it later."

Sakura pulls off her headband, and unties her hair.

"You remind me of the old Slug Queen, Tsunade," the old woman says to her. "Isn't it strange, you turning up in the village like this?"

"Well, after all, Lady Tsunade is my teacher," she explains. "And it was by her order that I personally came here."

"Here's that list of medicinal herbs," Kishibi says, as the Sand Medical Ninja from earlier had returned.

"Good, thank you very much."

卍

It'd taken a bit for me to regain function in my legs—such an irritating side effect. Naruto helps me out of the room, as I'm still extremely wobbly, and sets me on the bench in the hall.

A Sand Shinobi approaches both us and Kakashi-sensei, as well as the Sand Jōnin from back inside the room. "Lord Baki, a reply from the Leaf Village," he says, handing him a scroll. He unravels the scroll, skims it, and then hands it to us.

"It's from your Hokage," he tells us. Kakashi-sensei takes it, and reads it over.

"From Grandma Tsunade?" Naruto says. "What'd she say?"

"She says that Team Guy is on its way here to back us up," he reiterates.

"Huh? Bushier Brows-sensei's squad?"

"They were on a mission when we'd gotten back to the village," I realize. "We really haven't had any time at all to see many of the others, huh?"

"You're right about that," Naruto agrees. "Man, I can't wait to see how much they've all changed. And even Neji, being made a Jōnin... Well, all right! No sense waiting for them to get here! Let's go after the Akatsuki right now!"

Before he can make it even a foot away from me, I grab the collar of his jacket and yank him back.

"And just how are you supposed to do that if you don't have a clue where they are?" I reason, and he stops struggling.

"... right."

"If you don't mind me asking," Kakashi-sensei starts, "what have been the results so far of the attempts to pursue the Akatsuki?"

Baki glances back into the room behind us.

"First, Kankuro went after them by himself," he says, "and you've seen what'd happened to him. Then we dispatched a Tracking Unit in pursuit, but as of yet, we haven't heard back from them. And there's another problem. It appears that Captain Yura, one of our council advisors, has gone missing. We don't even know if he's alive."

"So, you're saying you've completely lost track of the Akatsuki," Kakashi-sensei says.

"Yes... we have."

"Lord Baki?" one of the Sand Medical Ninja call from inside the room. "Kankuro has regained consciousness!"

I exchange a look with Naruto, and we quickly shuffle into the room, standing by the foot of his bed.

"Kankuro, are you all right?" Temari asks, her eyes wide with worry, but also, relief.

"... Temari?" he says, his voice hoarse. "You're back already?"

"I heard the village was in trouble," she says.

"I'm sorry... to be such a bother," he whispers.

"Shut up, don't be ridiculous."

I turn to the Sand Jōnin, Baki. "Would you be able to lead me to where Kankuro's fight with the Akatsuki took place?" I ask him. "I'm an accomplished Sensory Ninja; if even the slightest trace of their chakra remains there, I'll be able to track them, no problem."

"There's no need for that," Kankuro rasps. I glance over at him, and watch him sit himself up. "Where are my puppets? I assume my puppets were recovered, right?" Kishibi makes a gesture, and one of the Sand Medical Ninja flees the room. "One fought with me, while the other carried Gaara away. You won't be able to track Gaara, but you'll definitely be able to track the one I fought. I made sure of it."

Moments later, the Sand Medical Ninja returns, carrying a large, bound up package. He undoes the knot keeping it closed, and inside is a broken up, mangled puppet. "See?" Kankuro lifts his finger, and the puppet's closed hand, opens. "I've got it right here." In its palm, a piece of dark cloth. "The last thing I did was make sure I got a scrap of his clothing."

I approach the bundle, and take the piece of cloth.

"You're amazing, Kankuro," I say, looking up at him from beside his puppet. "Insane, but amazing."

Kankuro lets out a chuckle, grinning slightly, before the pain from the remaining toxin overtakes him, and he doubles over.

"Kankuro, what is it?" Temari asks. He then glances upward, noticing Naruto. "Yes, he came all the way from the Hidden Leaf Village to help us."

"... is that...? Naruto Uzumaki?"

"Hey there," Naruto says.

"I've found him," I announce, and everyone's eyes shift toward me. "He's just barely inside my range. And now, there's no way he can escape me."

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A poof of smoke appears at the end of the room, and taking its place is a group of dogs – Ninja Hounds – contracted to Kakashi-sensei.

"At your service," the smallest one, Pakkun, says. "Eight Ninja Hounds!"

"Hey, Pakkun!"

"Is that you, Naruto?" he says. "Long time no see!"

"Look at you, you haven't changed a bit!" Naruto says, beaming.

"You haven't either," Pakkun tells him.

"Huh? What are you talkin' about? I'm a lot taller for one thing—""All right, all right, let's skip the reunion," Kakashi-sensei interrupts, taking the outstretched piece of fabric from my hand and holding it out to Pakkun and the other Ninja Hounds. "I need you to get on this right away."

"Huh?"

"Find out which way they went, okay?" he goes on to say. "Kari has a lock on his chakra, but he's almost out of her range. Go on!"

"We'll let you know when we find something," Pakkun says, and they all run off.

"They won't let us down," Naruto says under his breath. "Okay! We move out as soon as Pakkun and his posse get back, so I say, in the meantime, we start getting ready!"

"Not so fast, Naruto," Kakashi-sensei says.

"Kankuro..." The old man and woman have come back into the room, and Kankuro gasps in their direction.

"Lady Chiyo, and Lord Ebizo? You're here?"

"Yes," Lady Chiyo says. "There is something we must know, and only you can tell us. Am I correct in thinking that one of your opponents, the one you fought with, was Sasori?"

Kankuro frowns, and stares into his lap.

"Speak up, Kankuro," Lord Ebizo says.

"... yes. Sasori of the Red Sand... He told me so, himself."

"Sasori of the Red Sand, huh?"

"I knew it; you just confirmed it for me," I say. "But Lady Chiyo... by the way you spoke about him before... Do you know something about these Akatsuki? Can you tell us?"

Before anything can be said, however, both Sakura and Kishibi rush back into the room, carrying a vial containing a dark red liquid inside it.

"We've got the antidote," Sakura announces, and everyone sighs in relief. Kishibi hands her a cup, and she pours the contents of the vial into it, and helps Kankuro to drink it. He groans, and starts coughing, holding his stomach. "There; you should be all right now. Just lie back and rest, and don't move around until the numbness passes."

"All of you are going to need rest, as well, after your journey," Baki says. "We've prepared rooms for you."

"But we've gotta go after Gaara!" Naruto insists.

"Thanks," Kakashi-sensei says. "We'll take you up on your offer. We may have to travel far and fast tomorrow," he tells Naruto.

"We won't be much help when it comes down to fighting," I reason. "We'll be exhausted and out of chakra in no time."

"... okay," Naruto finally relents. "You win."

I sigh in relief and crouch down. "Good, because I'm so ready for bed."

Everyone lets out a chuckle, despite the edge still floating about the room. A sudden weight is lifted off my back, and I realize it's Naruto, trying to pull off my bag.

"What's up?" I ask.

"I was gonna carry your bags," he explains, grinning. "You and Sakura are probably tired."

"Oh," I say, surprised. "Thanks, Naruto."

"Naruto..." We all turn to Kankuro, who ever since drinking the antidote, is a right sight better than he'd been a few seconds ago. "Save my little brother... will you?"

Naruto smiles. "Don't worry," he says. "I will. After all, I'm gonna be Hokage someday, and the Kazekage can just owe me one."