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Konoha Village.
A loud eagle's cry echoed across the sky, causing the patrolling ninja to look up.
Inside the Hokage Building, Mission Assignment Center.
"Alright, that's your mission." Tsunade said, slapping the table.
"Oh man, Granny Tsunade is even more unreasonable than the Third Hokage," Naruto complained, clearly displeased.
"Come on, Naruto, read the room!" Sakura scolded him.
'You idiot, you have no idea how terrifying our master can be!'
"Hokage-sama!"
A member of the Cipher Division came rushing in, holding a decoded message.
"Emergency communication from Sunagakure! The newly appointed Kazekage has been abducted by a group called Akatsuki!"
For a moment, everyone present couldn't help but turn pale.
Tsunade picked up the message and frowned.
"It seems that after a period of silence, the Akatsuki organization has begun to act again."
"Tsunade-sama, how should we respond to Sunagakure's request for assistance?" Shizune asked.
Tsunade rubbed her temples and reluctantly said, "Team 7, start your new mission."
"Yes!"
Tsunade then continued seriously, "Team 7 members Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno, listen to me."
"Present!" Kakashi and Sakura answered seriously, and Naruto, too, quieted down, looking intently at Tsunade.
"I command you in the name of the Hokage: Go to Sunagakure immediately, understand the situation, and report back to me. Then, follow Sunagakure's orders and carry out the rescue!"
"Yes, ma'am!!" Naruto responded loudly this time.
"Don't worry, Granny Tsunade," he said, giving a thumbs-up, "I will definitely bring Gaara back!"
"Kakashi," Shizune added, "Temari from Sunagakure left Konoha not long ago after discussing the Chunin Exams. Perhaps you can catch up to her."
"Understood," Kakashi nodded and then looked at Sakura and Naruto. "You two, hurry home and pack your things. Meet me at the Konoha gate as soon as possible!"
"Yes!"
*
At the Konoha Gate, Team 7 members assembled with their backpacks.
"Naruto," Minato said as he saw his son off at the gate, "if you encounter danger, remember to summon me."
"I got it."
Naruto took out Minato's special kunai from his ninja tool pouch, spun it in his hand, and then put it back.
"Don't worry, Dad, Granny Tsunade, Iruka-sensei. I'll definitely rescue Gaara!"
He smiled brightly at those who came to see them off.
"I believe in you," Minato said, nodding with a smile.
"Yo!"
Suddenly, Jiraiya dropped down from the sky, landing in front of everyone.
"Kakashi, are you going out on a mission?"
"Yes," Kakashi replied.
Jiraiya leaned over to Tsunade and whispered, "I just got word that the Akatsuki are in Sunagakure..."
"I know," Tsunade said. "I'm sending Kakashi and the others to help."
"Is Minato going too?" Jiraiya asked, glancing at Minato.
Minato shook his head with a smile. "No, I won't be participating."
"But you know Naruto's identity..." Jiraiya said, somewhat disapproving.
"It's okay, Pervy Sage!" Naruto suddenly spoke up. "I know they're after me, so this time, let me go after them!"
"Naruto..." Jiraiya gave in, patting his shoulder. "Be careful."
"It's time for us to go," Kakashi reminded them.
"Good luck with your mission," Minato waved.
"Let's move out!"
At Kakashi's command, the three of them immediately rushed toward Sunagakure.
---
Northern Coast of the Land of Frost.
A gray figure descended from the sky, landing on the ground.
"Well, this is where I leave you, Gurē."
"Thanks, Gurē."
Sasuke and Izuna jumped off Gurē's back.
"You're welcome," Gurē said, shrinking down and spreading its wings again. "I'll be heading back now."
"Goodbye."
Sasuke watched as Gurē flew back into the sky, then turned to Izuna.
Izuna crossed his arms and said flatly, "Don't look at me. I'm just here to protect you, not to interfere with your decisions."
"I got it."
Sasuke thought for a moment, then bit his finger and placed his hand on the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
"Ka-ka-ka, Lord Sasuke!"
A pitch-black crow emerged from the white smoke.
"Jin," Sasuke nodded. "Do you have any information on the Akatsuki?"
"Ka, the crows have been gathering all kinds of intelligence," Jin said, flying over to Sasuke. "Recently, the big news is that the new Kazekage of Sunagakure, Gaara, was abducted by the Akatsuki!"
"Gaara? I see. Thanks, Jin," Sasuke said. "Could you gather some more detailed information for me?"
"No problem, ka-ka."
With a puff, Jin disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"So, you're going to Sunagakure?" Izuna asked.
Sasuke nodded. "I'm going to check it out and see if I can find any clues about Itachi."
"Then be careful," Izuna said as his body rapidly thinned. "Remember, I won't appear unless you're in extreme danger."
With that, he turned into a paper figure and slipped into Sasuke's ninja tool pouch.
"Hmph, I got it."
Sasuke patted the pouch, checked the direction, and then headed south.
---
On the way, Team 7 successfully met up with Temari.
"What? Gaara, he..."
After hearing from Sakura that Gaara had been kidnapped, Temari couldn't help but worry.
No wonder I had that bad omen earlier!
She remembered how her tea cup suddenly cracked while she was having tea at a tea house.
"Let's go. It's still a three-day journey to Sunagakure from here."
"Move out!"
Naruto took the lead and rushed forward.
"Naruto, maintain formation!" Kakashi reminded.
"I'm really pissed off!" Naruto said.
"What?" Sakura asked.
"You know, Sakura, Gaara and I are the same. We both have monsters sealed inside of us." Naruto's voice was filled with pain.
"That's why they're targeting us and treating us like monsters. It really pisses me off!"
"I will definitely save Gaara!"
Naruto picked up speed again.
'Naruto Uzumaki...'
Temari watched Naruto's back, feeling moved.
---
After three days of non-stop travel, they finally arrived at the gate of Sunagakure.
"Miss Temari, you're finally back!" The ninja guarding the gate immediately rushed up.
"What? Even Kankuro..."
Temari almost couldn't bear the string of bad news.
"Yes, Kankuro was poisoned and hasn't been able to recover. At this rate, he only has half a day left."
"This can't be happening..." Temari struggled to hold back her tears.
"Let's go see Kankuro."
Upon hearing about Kankuro's condition, Sakura stepped forward and tightened her gloves.
"I can treat him."