Kakashi got straight to the point.
"What do you know about Gaara's capture by the Akatsuki?"
Temari froze as if struck by lightning.
"What? Gaara was taken?" Her eyes widened, a mixture of shock and panic flooding her expression.
"You didn't know?" Naruto blinked at her, genuinely surprised.
"I had no idea. I came to the Leaf for a mission. I was on my way back to the Sand. When did this happen?" Temari asked quickly, breathless, her thoughts racing.
"Last night." Naruto replied. "If you don't have any intel, then we need to get moving. You should head back to the Sand on your own. We don't have time to waste."
He turned, ready to take off again.
"Wait. I am coming with you!" Temari called out, reaching out as if to grab them.
Sasuke's reply was cold enough to freeze the air.
"Taking you with us will slow us down. Slowing down means Gaara loses time. He does not have time to lose."
His tone was even, impersonal, but each word landed like a blade. Temari's breath caught. It felt like a shard of ice had pierced her chest.
Naruto glanced at her. He saw the fear and worry tightening her face.
"Don't worry. Since we accepted this mission, we'll bring Gaara back safely. You have my word."
Looks like Gaara really has someone who cares about him now.
"Alright. We are leaving." Kakashi concluded.
The four of them vanished so quickly that Temari barely saw the blur of their departure.
What remained was the whisper of dust and Temari's own frustration.
Sasuke had been blunt, even harsh, but he was right.
Bringing her along would only slow them down, and every moment mattered.
Gaara, please be safe, she prayed silently.
Ever since the Leaf Invasion incident, Gaara had slowly begun opening his heart. The hostility between the siblings had softened, replaced by a fragile but genuine bond. Temari could not bear the thought of losing that bond now.
She pushed her speed to the limit, racing toward the Sand Village.
Far ahead, the four Leaf shinobi streaked across the desert in a straight line. Their footfalls left brief impressions in the sand before the wind erased them.
The Sand Village, already tense and grieving, responded instantly when four approaching silhouettes appeared on the horizon.
A sentry shouted, "Shadows approaching rapidly. Sound the alarm!"
Sirens screamed through the dry air, sharp enough to scrape the nerves.
The village erupted into a surge of movement. Shinobi appeared on the walls, scrambling into defensive formation.
In the wake of their Kazekage's abduction, the entire village had been stretched tight, emotions raw, nerves frayed. Even the hint of danger sent panic flickering through the ranks.
On the wall, a squad of mid-ranking Sand shinobi reacted too quickly. Without waiting to identify the incoming figures, they formed hand signs.
"Wind Release: Sandstorm Vortex!"
Several swirling cyclones of razor-edged sand roared forward, churning the air violently as they hurtled toward the four black shadows.
But as the sandstorms neared, each vortex was sliced cleanly apart. The attacks collapsed into harmless streams of dust.
The four landed lightly atop the outer wall.
Naruto raised his hands in irritation.
"Hey. Is this how you greet the people coming to save your Kazekage?"
Kakashi lifted a hand and tapped the Leaf symbol engraved on his forehead protector.
"Relax. We are shinobi of the Hidden Leaf. Your village sent a request for assistance. We are here to help retrieve Gaara."
The Sand shinobi exchanged wary looks.
Then someone recognized Kakashi.
"That is Kakashi Hatake. They are allies." A jonin stepped forward, signaling everyone to lower their weapons.
He bowed deeply.
"Forgive us. With everything that has happened, we did not expect you to arrive so quickly."
Kakashi shrugged modestly.
"Gaara's safety is important. The Leaf takes this seriously."
"We appreciate your help," the jonin said with sincerity.
Naruto stepped forward, impatience written clearly across his face.
"Save the speeches. Do you know where the Akatsuki went after taking Gaara?"
The jonin flinched.
"Kankuro pursued them, but he was defeated. The Akatsuki member poisoned him. He is being treated at our hospital."
Sasuke raised a brow.
"So you have no idea where the Akatsuki went."
The jonin lowered his head in shame.
"That is correct."
Kakashi exhaled slowly.
"Did they leave any trace or clue behind?"
"When our Anbu arrived at the scene, all they found was Kankuro unconscious. The enemy left nothing at all."
Kakashi frowned. Their arrival had been quick, but if there were no clues, their speed meant nothing.
Naruto made the decision for all of them.
"Then we will talk to Kankuro directly. Maybe he remembers something."
"Yes. I will take you to the hospital at once." The jonin bowed and led the way.
They followed him inside.
Kankuro's room was filled with grim faces. Several Sand shinobi stood around his bed, their expressions tight with worry.
An older man glanced at the door as it swung open. The moment his eyes landed on Kakashi, the man's expression shifted instantly.
In a heartbeat, he lunged forward with killing intent.
Before the old man could strike, Naruto's eyes hardened.
He vanished.
A fraction of a second later, he appeared in front of Chiyo and launched a single, clean punch to her chest. The impact sent her crashing backward across the room.
They had come to help the Sand Village.
Being attacked once was understandable.
Being attacked twice was provocation.
Did they think the Leaf was made of soft clay?
"Calm down, Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata!" Kakashi shouted quickly.
Sasuke's Sharingan had already awakened, and Hinata's Byakugan was active. They were all a single breath away from counterattacking.
Kakashi wiped a bead of sweat from his temple.
They were here to help the Sand, not destroy it.
"Chiyo, stop! Look closely. He is not the White Fang!" Ebizo rushed forward, grabbing his sister before she could charge again.
Chiyo blinked, finally seeing Kakashi properly.
She paused, realization dawning. After a moment, she forced a laugh.
"Haha. My eyes are old. Must have been a mistake."
Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Kakashi stared at her with identical deadpan expressions. The sight of an elderly woman pretending to be playful was simply too much.
Ebizo stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
Before Naruto could answer, the jonin who escorted them bowed again.
"Ebizo, these are Leaf allies. They have come to help rescue Gaara."
Ebizo blinked, stunned.
"You came this quickly?"
Even Chiyo's eyes widened slightly.
She had expected the Leaf to send a token squad, perhaps a team of inexperienced shinobi to fulfill the bare minimum of an alliance.
After all, she knew better than anyone how fragile alliances between great nations could be. While a treaty might look firm, it could crumble with a single political shift. Just like how the Sand once betrayed the Leaf without hesitation.
Gaara's safety, in theory, had nothing to do with the Leaf.
In fact, a weakened Sand would benefit them.
Yet here the Leaf stood, not only responding swiftly but sending powerful shinobi, including Kakashi himself.
Chiyo looked at the four silently.
Perhaps the world was changing after all.
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