After getting the mission details that afternoon, almost evening, we decided it was time to head to the Sand Village.
I came back from the mission desk, got ready, grabbed some clothes, fixed my hair, and that was it.
Once I was set, I left my apartment and met my team at the Konoha gate, where we would start our trip to the Sand.
The journey from Leaf to Sand takes about 3 to 5 days, so it's a pretty long trek.
We were at the Konoha gate, ready to leave, as Granny Tsunade and Big Sis Shizune approached.
"You'll go there, check out the situation, and I'll send a backup squad to help you soon!" Granny Tsunade said, with Kakashi-sensei nodding beside her.
"Why do we even need a backup squad?!" I muttered, just loud enough to be heard. Everyone turned to look at me, but I just shrugged it off.
Soon, their attention shifted as Jiraiya-sensei arrived.
He whispered something to Granny Tsunade that I couldn't catch, then walked over to me.
"Naruto, let's have a word," he said, passing by everyone as he led me a short distance away. I followed him.
"Naruto, your growth over the past two years has been nothing short of amazing, but... I need you to be careful with your new powers. We don't fully understand them yet, so there's a chance they could be dangerous to you," he said.
"So, are you saying I shouldn't use them?" I asked.
"Not at all. You should use your powers, just don't overdo it. And remember, they're after the Nine-Tails inside you. I hope you understand what that means," he cautioned.
"Yeah, I know. I've built a good relationship with him, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue," I replied confidently.
"Good to hear!" he said, as we walked back to the team. Jiraiya-sensei wished us luck as we left the village for the Sand.
"What did Jiraiya-sensei want to talk about, Naruto?" Sakura asked, curious.
"He just told me to use my power as much as possible to help you guys!" I said with a smirk.
With that, we began our journey to the Sand Village.
Not long after we left the village, I sensed a familiar chakra nearby. I stopped in my tracks, and Kakashi-sensei and Sakura halted too, looking at me with questioning eyes.
"What happened? Why did you stop?" Sakura questioned.
"I think I sensed someone other than the two of you nearby, and the chakra signature is familiar to me," I said as I jumped down from the tree to the ground.
I looked around and finally, in the distance, I saw someone walking in the same direction we were heading. At first, I couldn't recognize them, but after looking carefully, I realized it was Temari. We met her two days ago at the Hokage office after returning to the village.
"What? Who is it?" Sakura asked as both Kakashi-sensei and Sakura also came down from the tree.
"It's Temari. Look!" I said, pointing towards Temari. Both Kakashi-sensei and Sakura followed my direction.
"Yeah, what do you think? Where is she going?" Sakura questioned.
"I think she's returning to her village," Kakashi-sensei replied.
"Let's talk to her then. Our destination might be the same. Also, I don't think she got the news about Gaara yet. If she did, she wouldn't be walking so calmly," I suggested.
"Temari!" Sakura called out as we walked towards her. Sakura called her out two or three times before Temari finally looked back with a curious expression.
"Hey, where are you headed?" Sakura asked as we caught up to her.
"I'm heading back to my village. What about you guys?" she questioned.
"We're going to your village too!" Sakura replied.
We then filled her in on the Akatsuki attack on the Sand Village and how Gaara had been taken.
She was shocked, utterly stunned and heartbroken by the news. We did our best to comfort her and after a bit of conversation, we continued our journey, now joined by Temari.
After hours of leaping from tree to tree and some walking, night finally fell. We decided to call it a day and rest until dawn.
In the middle of the night, I woke up from a nap and noticed Kakashi-sensei perched on a nearby tree. It was part of our plan; we would rest while he kept watch for enemy attacks.
I woke up and climbed up to the branch where Kakashi-sensei was sitting. "Sensei, you should get some rest too," I suggested, taking over the watch.
At first, he refused, but I managed to convince him to take a break.
About half an hour later, as I sat on the branch, I saw Temari waking up and heading somewhere. Curious, I followed her through the forest, the moonlight casting a soft glow on her path. She seemed deep in thought, burdened by worries. I approached her quietly.
"Hey, Temari," I called out softly.
She turned, surprised to see me. "Naruto, what are you doing up?"
Leaning against a tree, I looked away from her. "Couldn't sleep. I saw you walking off and thought I'd join you. Looked like you could use some company."
She sighed, her shoulders slumping. "It's just... everything that's happened. Gaara being taken... I feel so helpless."
I stepped closer, my voice steady and cool. "I get it, Temari. It's rough, but we're not done yet. We can and we will get Gaara back. You just need to trust us and believe in yourself too."
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "I want to believe, but... what if we're too late?"
I placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We won't be. We're not letting anything happen to Gaara. And besides, you've got me now. I don't lose."
She let out a small chuckle, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
I smirked, feeling a sense of satisfaction in lifting her spirits. "Seriously, Temari, you're not alone in this. We're all here for you, and we'll handle whatever comes our way together."
Her expression softened, and I saw a flicker of hope in her eyes. "Thank you, Naruto. It means a lot."
I leaned in a bit closer, my tone more serious. "You know, Temari, I've always admired your strength and determination. You're not just a great shinobi; you're an amazing person too."
Her cheeks turned a light pink, and she looked away, clearly flustered. "Naruto... you're too kind."
I chuckled, my eyes twinkling with a mix of mischief and sincerity. "Just telling the truth. And hey, if you ever need someone to talk to or just hang out with, I'm here. Always."
She looked back at me, her eyes locking onto mine. "I... I appreciate that. Really."
I gave her a warm smile. "Good. Now, how about we head back? We need to be rested for tomorrow. We've got a lot of butt to kick."
She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, you're right. Let's go."
As we walked back together, I casually slipped my hand into hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. She glanced at me, surprised, but didn't pull away. Instead, she seemed to find comfort in the gesture.
As the night went on and the sun rose, we began our journey once again. It was after almost four days that we reached the sand village.
[A.N: Does it feel more romantic like this? Or do you like it?
Thanks for reading! Drop Powerstones if you enjoyed it, leave reviews if you like the story, and don't forget to add it to your library!]