New Beginnings. Part 2. Chapter 1.

The roar echoed around the cave as the two real ninja and seven images seemed to not notice or care. “Deidara, Sasori. Capture the Jinchuriki, kill the rest.” A gravelly voice ordered. The water that they were standing on started to raise and react. In a rage Naruto flew through hand signs. Kakashi and Sasuke noticed this and what jutsu he was about to cast. “Everyone brace yourselves.” He ordered. “Water Style! Water Severing Wave!” The water rose up and sped toward the Akatsuki members. The jutsu in question, was the strongest water jutsu of the second Hokage. Given Naruto’s surname and his powerful water affinity, it was no surprise he had mastered it. It quickly smashed through the statue that they were standing on cause the images to disappear and the other two to jump in the air. The statue disappeared in a poof of smoke of a summons.

The two remaining Akatsuki landed. “Not bad Fox. You guys should make this interesting.” Deidara created a giant bird. It scoops up Gaara’s body in its mouth. “Well Fox if you want your friends corpse, you will have to come and get it.” With that he order the bird into the air and headed out of the cave. “Damn you Deidara! You are not going to get two of them!” He fired off some senbons at his partner. “Hey! Sasori my man, you should have acted faster.” With that he flew out of the cave. With Naruto and Ookami hot on his heels.

“Dammit! Yamato! Take Sai and Team Eight with you. Get them under control and take out Deidara! The rest of use will handle the other one.” Yamato, Sai and Team Eight quickly ran out of the cave. As they got into the open. “Sai! Get us airborne!” Yamato ordered as Sai pulled a scroll out and quickly using his Super Beast Scroll technique to create four large birds for them to ride on. “Naruto! Ookami! Calm down!” Yamato yelled at them. Naruto snapped out of rage that was claiming him quickly grabbing Ookami and teleporting to Hinata. “Let’s move.”

Back in the cave. “Do you really think any of you stand a chance against me.” Sasori told them. “Your parents would be so disappointed in you Sasori. You had such promise, now look at you. Why don’t you come out and let me see your face one last time.” Chiyo told him. His eyes bugged at the sound of that voice. “Granny Chiyo…” He seemed to be frozen for a bit. Thought going through his head. “What is she doing here?” Seto could see the disappointment in her eyes. He wanted to give her comfort, but it was doubtful that she would accept it. “Sasori of the Red Sand. Stand down and we will take you back to Suna to stand trial for your crimes.” Kakashi informed him. He held no delusions that it would work. “I would be dead either way.” Was the answer that he got. It was six Konoha nin verses one of the most dangerous nin that Suna had produced. This fight was going to be taxing to say the least.

Deidara was messing with them. That was most of what they got from how he was fighting. His target of course was Naruto. Those explosive clay birds he was sending at them were a pain to dodge, and considering that they were a high enough in the air that if the ink birds they were sitting on burst it would be painful if not deadly. Naruto cursed to whatever god was not on their side. Naruto through two more kunai at dozen clay birds that sped at them. The explosive tags that were attached to them went off and destroyed them. “This is getting us nowhere!” He yelled. He went to try something else. Something he was working on. Quickly working through some hand signs. Five cannonball sized globs of water formed around him, as his target came into range. “Water Style! Water Cannonball Jutsu!” He sent them flying. They did the trick as it cause Deidara had to move out of the way to avoid them. Naruto made quickly made a shadow clone and throw a tri-pronged kunai at Deidara. When it reached its target he quickly teleported to it, catching it and as the clone used a sai charged with wind chakra to slice the birds head off as the whine of a Rasengan powering up had caught the ex-Iwa nin’s attention.Between the Flying Thunder God, and the Rasengan Deidara looked like he had just seen his worst nightmare. “How?” was going through his mind as the large spinning ball of chakra slammed into his chest sending him off the headless bird and straight into the ground. Naruto kept the jutsu going the whole way, driving his enemy’s body into the ground. Deidara screamed out as he hit. Naruto using his body as a cushion to lessen the damage. Karama was already healing him. “I would give anything to finish you myself. But that pleasure belongs to someone else.” He knew from his senses that he had indeed had the real Deidara. There was no time for him to replace himself with a clone and the bit of demonic chakra he put into the rasengan would disrupt Iwa nin’s own ability to mold chakra. He walked away as a blond girl passed him he glanced at her and she glanced at him as they passed. As she looked down at Deidara. The rage very much evident in her eyes and features. “Get up.” She reached down, with a strength the was surprising for someone of her size. Her violet eyes glowing, her features becoming more savage. “You took him from me!” She raged. “All because of what he held! You took him from me!” Her hand moved to his throat. Her grip was like a steel vice. “You took him from me. I will take something from you!” A few seconds later there was a sickening snap. Deidara’s body went limp. She dropped the lifeless body back into the crater that she pulled it from. She formed hand signs while moving away from where she left his body. She turned and spat a large fireball into the crater. The body was consumed by fire. She then moved through more hand signs and cast an earth jutsu. Creating a dome around the body and fire. She collapsed to her knees. A sob, then tears that turned to screams of pain and heartbreak. Hinata walked up to her. Kneeling beside her and comforting her. The others just stood and waited. Naruto was checking on Garra’s body. Every cry and scream that came from Ookami was like a kunai in his heart if he could he trade places with his friend, then the image of Hinata crying over him if that were to happen.

Back at the cave.
Chiyo was healing the sword wound to Sakura’s stomach. Sasuke was standing away from the both of them. Anger over what had happened building. Kakashi who looked worse for ware, walked over to his student. “Why did she do that?” He asked to no one. “Kakashi just smirked. “I think you already know the answer to that.” He told him. “I wouldn’t ask her to. She is far more valuable than me.” Kakashi smiled. “Never thought Naruto would figure something out before you. She loves you. She has for sometime now.” A small laugh escaped him. “I know that. I have lost so much.” The rest couldn’t come out. Sasuke wasn’t good with emotions. “Well, as soon as she is heal enough to move we need to find the others.” Sasuke agreed. The battle had been tiring, but it was over. Master Seto was looking down at what was left of Sasori. The seal that had stopped him spread out on the ground. He knew it, he had taught it to Chiyo. The mother and father puppets that Chiyo had used to finish the job lay beside his puppet body. He had been some obsessed with living forever that there was nothing left of him other than his mind. It was sad, but it was the cost of what he had done. They would send others back here to collect anything of importance. As Sakura was heal enough to travel they made to leave to find the others.

They met up in a field away from the site of the battle. Naruto was standing looking at his friend. The Kazekage’s life was working out for better, he had control of the beast inside of him and used his own strength to defend his village and those he cared for most in this world. He felt guilt from the fact that he un like his friend he had made peace with the demon sealed in him. “Kit. Don’t think like that. The one tail is not easy to get along with. Trust me.” Kurama told him. “I can’t help it. My life is blessed compared to his.” Naruto told him back in his mind. There was nothing any of them could do. Garra was gone. Chiyo was looking around at the Konoha nin, they seemed almost as if they had failed to save one of their own. Each one mourned for what a few years ago was an enemy. She couldn’t quite grasp the idea. Then there was Naruto, he looked like he had lost a part of his soul. She had heard that he was the reason that Gaara had changed. They had all fought and bleed for someone from another village. In her day that was unheard of. “Hard to believe that they all came to save him only to be too late.” Seto looked down at Chiyo He could see the thoughts running through her mind. “Back in our day this would have never happened. The Leaf would have turned a blind eye. Much like they did with Uzu. Of course in hindsight I don’t think it would have mattered.” Chiyo looked back to where Gaara’s body lay. “All of that work and battle for nothing.” She thought. Maybe it was time to do something about that. She got up and walked over to his body. She had away to fix this, but the cost would be great, if she had the chakra to make it work. She laid her hands over Gaara’s chest and started the jutsu. Ookami had watched her work she knew that jutsu and she knew what the cost was. She felt Hinata stiffen beside her. She looked her, her byakugan active. She could see the chakra flow from Chiyo to Gaara. She knew what she was doing. As Chiyo worked She could feel the effects of the poison working. She had an easier time than most in dealing with it. She had used the last of the antidote on Sakura to save her life. Her chakra was fading fast. Naruto saw what was happening and it seemed like Chiyo was trying something and she was not succeeding. He walked over, he could hear her talking about not enough chakra. He kneeled down on the opposite side of her. “Here. Use my chakra. If it will help.” He laid his hands above hers and started channeling chakra. “You know, at first I couldn’t understand why you and your friends would risk your lives to save a shinobi from another village. In my day that would have never happened. But I think I now understand why. You changed him, from a monster to be feared to a leader to be respected.” She started to smile. “Now. Help me bring him back.” His world turn white.

He could see all of the people that were important to him. His mother, his teachers, His friends. They circled the him. He was a little boy compared to them. Left the circle to find his friend. As he ran he found him. Himself the vestige of a young boy curled into himself crying. The loneliness could be felt. He approached him putting his hand on his shoulder. “Come on Gaara. Let’s go home.” The redheaded boy looked up at him in surprise. Then everything turned back to the world they both knew. As Gaara awoke, (which was strange to him). He was met by his friend and his team. There was Hinata and her team and his sister and brother shinobi from his village and then her. The other person that brought light to his life. Ookami. She moved towards him. Throwing her arms around him and crying. “Ookami? Why are you crying?” He asked. She looked at the face of the man that she loved more than anything. “You came back to me.” She told him.

Back in Suna a day or so later. The Funeral for Lady Chiyo had been quiet event. They mourned and reflected on the loss of shinobi that had died a hero. Gaara and Ookami lead them through the streets to the burial site. After it was over they all parted to rest and heal. Naruto and Hinata spent most of that time together. They had quiet meal, talking little about the events that had happened. Mostly what was going through their minds was what would happen if that had been one of them. They spent the night in each others arms, neither willing to part from the other. The next day, The village council wanted to thank the Leaf nin that had helped them in their time of need and for bringing back the Kazekage. The tried to object, but they wouldn’t hear anything of it. So it was a day of celebration. Ookami had quickly snatched Hinata away to shop. Gaara in turn whisked Naruto away to talk and catch up. They were walking the streets. Naruto was in his black cargo pants and a black t-shirt. His headband was off, sealed into one of his bracers. His red sage coat flapping in the breeze. Gaara was in his usual dark black red shirt and pants, his grey vest on. “I know you don’t like this sort of thing, but you did help save my life. Besides Ookami need to spend some time with Hinata, work keeps us too busy at times.” Gaara told him. Naruto smiled. “Ya. It just feels weird, ya know. I was doing my job. I would do the same for anyone.” As they walked try some of the local food. Two others were standing on the balcony of one of the rooms they were staying. Sasuke looked out over the village. The people in the streets celebrating and having fun. “Look. You know why I did what I did.” Sakura told him. She was standing behind him wondering if she had messed what they had up somehow. “I know. It is just… I can’t lose you. I have found a reason to be more than just an avenger. I have lost so much, and if I..” That was all the father he got before she turned him around and kiss him with everything she had. At first he was surprised, but that ended quickly. As they pulled apart. “You won’t lose me. I have trained just as hard as you and I will have your back always.” She told him. Before he pulled her in for another kiss. She pulled him back into the room. They fell across the bed and continued their activities. Needless to say lunch and celebrating would have to wait.

Back down in the streets. Naruto and Gaara were still talking, they had stopped at one the food stalls eating. Gaara felt a tap on his shoulder. He knew who it was, as did Naruto. They turned around to a surprise. “Hey Gaara, Foxy. What do you think?” Ookami had a smile that could light up a room. She was wearing a black dress with purple trim around the neck and waist that stopped just before her knees, under that was black tight fitting pants, mesh covered her right shoulder and arm just before the elbow and the left side had long flowing sleeve that was matched with a long slash part on the bottom of that side. She also had a purple cap on with a metal plate with the symbol of the Suna on it. Hinata was wearing a lavender kimono style top with flowing sleeves that covered her hands with dark purple trim. At her waist was a dark purple obi, smaller black ribbon tied in a bow holding it in place. Under it was black mesh shorts and a black mesh top. The kimono ended about 2” before her knees. She didn’t wear heeled sandals like Ookami did, preferring flats. Gaara was dumb stuck. Their relationship was the opposite of Naruto’s and Hinata’s. He was the shy one, not really knowing how to act sometimes. She moved closer to him. “I take it, you approve?” She told him right before she kissed him. Of course Naruto wasted no time in letting Hinata know what he thought. As he had her in a lip lock before she could say anything. As they broke apart. “I take it you like my new look.” She said somewhat breathless. He smiled. “You would look beautiful in anything Nata.” He told her going back for another kiss. Of course this was broken up by Temari. “Not to spoil the fun, but I need Gaara for some Kage stuff.” Ookami looked at Temari. “Pooh Mari, I just got him back and now you want to whisk him away to do boring paperwork. Well you can’t have him.” She pouted throwing her arms around him. Temari wasn’t assumed.

The rest of time there went too quickly. They didn’t get a lot of down time. But soon they were gathered at the front gate saying goodbye. “Naruto, if you have need of me. Just send word, and I will be there.” Gaara told him. Ookami standing beside him nodded. “Take care of Foxy for me Hina. Keep him out of trouble.” She laughed at his little pout, sticking her tongue out at him. “Anyway we had better getting going, or Lady Hokage will be sending Anbu to find us.” Kakashi added motioning for them to head out. The trip back to Konoha was uneventful. They mostly talked about what they did during the celebration. Sakura had picked up some of the coffee that was sold there considering how much it cost to have shipped. Naruto couldn’t stand the stuff, but his mom and elder sister lived on the stuff. So he made sure to get some for them. Kiba had tried to find a girl to hang with, but his usual macho attitude got in the way. Shino was glad to be on his way back home. His insects didn’t like the dry air much.

At the Hokage tower.
“So I guess everything could have gone better. The Kazekage’s report as well as the Suna councils reports commend you all on a fine job. Now you can head home and rest. All but you Naruto and Hinata.” As they rest filed out of the office, she activated the privacy seals. All that were left in the office where Jiraiya, Hiashi, Hinata, Naruto besides his mother and Shizune. Tossing him a scroll. “Lord Hiashi wants to make you and offer. Read and let me know your answer.” He opened the scroll and read. Hinata reading as well besides him. As they got to the main part. She fainted. Her father got her and smiled it was nice to know that something hadn’t changed much. Naruto looked up at his mother and then to Lord Hiashi. “This is a wedding contract. You want me and Hinata to get married?” It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about it. With everything that was going on he just didn’t see the right time yet. “Well not right away, but the elders are trying to find Hinata a husband to stop my plans to stop the seal and unite the clan.” He said from the couch that he laid Hinata on until she could awaken. Naruto figured they had something to do with it. “Of course I have given it some thought. It is just with everything happening with the red cloud business and all. I was thinking after all that had settled down.” Hinata started to come to. Setting up and blinking. “I had the weirdest dream. We came home after the mission and father had a marriage contract for….” She looked over at them and saw the scroll in Naruto’s hand. She shot up and clearing the distances between him and her. “So it was true.” She through her arms around her father and hugged him. Thank you could be heard over and over as she squealed. They all laughed at her reaction. “I take it this is what you want Nata?” Naruto asked “Of course it is! After everything I saw recently, I don’t want to go through what Ookami did. I want us to take the next step.” Naruto couldn't really argue with her logic. “Ok, then.” He smiled and they both signed.