chap. 24 - Saving Gaara

Very early the next day Hanabi was waiting for me at the gates of the Senju compound. We walked together to training camp 43, one of the abandoned camps near the Forest of Death.

We did some light stretching and warming up, so I could explain my way of training.

"Hana, I usually train with weight stamps, to increase not only my physical strength, but to increase my speed. So I would like to know if that method of training works for your gentle fist."

"I've never trained with weights, but we can try, since our fighting style consists of chakra-enhanced taijutsu."

I think that is the best way to explain the gentle fist, since it is most effective for those with Hyuga eyes. Those with the Sharingan could also train the technique, but since the Uchihas were completely arrogant and the Hyuga are not far behind, then it kind of couldn't be taught.

I want to try to incorporate the gentle fist into my taijutsu, even though I don't have the Hyuga eyes, I still have a very good knowledge of the human ninja body, since I've been studying Grandma Tsuna's notes since I was little.

Hana and I then started with a light jog, after I handed her 2 anklets and 2 bracelets, imagine they are similar to the ones Goku or Yusuke wore in the anime.

We ran so that she could slowly get used to the extra weight, and to warm up.

An hour later, we rested a bit, since for her who is not used to the extra weight, it was an extra burden, tiring her more quickly.

Then she showed me the postures used by the gentle fist, and we exchanged blows without expelling chakra, not blocking each other's chakra points.

We started at a very slow pace, and as she got used to the extra weight movements and I to the posture, we started to speed up.

This is how we spent the first day. A light workout, more like a preparation than anything.

The next day we trained in almost the same way, but a little faster and heavier. She got used to the weights and is now adapting her taijutsu speed to it.

She told me that she talked to her father about the weights, which he thought was a wonderful idea, so I told him I could make some more for her to take back to her clan.

The week went by like this, and a month of training was over. I can't say that I am an expert in the gentle fist style, but I can already keep up with the basic moves of the Hyugas.

We are called to Grandma's office, and when we arrive, we see team 7 there.

"Suna sent us a request for help, so I am sending team 7 with the addition of Nox and Hanabi as support. You need to leave in 10 minutes," she demands with utmost urgency.

"Team 7 and Hana just need to go to the compound and from there I'll teleport us to the border, so we save time." I speak and start to go to the Senju compound to prepare my things.

In less than 10 minutes everyone is ready, where I ask them to touch my shoulder, and as soon as they do, we appear at the border with the desert.

Then we leave at high speed, and arrive in Suna very quickly the same day. Then we are taken to the Kazekage's office, where we see Chiyo and Temari, worried about Kankuro's situation.

Temari temporarily takes over as Kage, while Chiyo, seeing Kakashi, mistakes him for her father and tries to attack.

"What is the reason for the attack? Just a fake distress call to cause a rift between the villages?" I asked looking at Chiyo.

"I mistook him for your father, which reminded me of the death of my children. That's why I didn't hold back." she replies still with venom in her voice.

"And here I thought that with age, came wisdom." I exhale a tired breath. "You start a war because of the Daimyõ of your land, send people to amatar but don't want to die, and then blame others for your losses. The hypocrisy is touchable."

I sit down across from Temari. "Is there actually an emergency or have we been called to teach your elders about hypocrisy?" I glare at her.

"Gaara was kidnapped by Akatsuki, Kankuro tried to stop them but instead came back injured and poisoned, he is in serious condition in the ICU of our hospital." she explains impassively. But I can feel the nervousness in her voice.

"We have one of the most prominent medical kunoichi in our group, let her see how Kankuro is doing." I point to Sakura, who nods her head in affirmation.

"You can't let enemies take care of him, it would be a dishonor to us of Suna." an out-of-control Chiyo retorts in anger.

"That's why wars happen. Because people with no logical thinking skills occupy important positions. Do you only understand war? What about the children and adults who live in your lands and need your protection and care? Do you think about them?" the dam breaks.

"You see everyone as the enemy, you sit on your pride while your people suffer, but you are eating and drinking well right? Stop getting in the way or I will kill you myself right here and now and Suna can become a better place for your people." my hatred in the words is palpable, so much so that Naruto and Hana are holding my arms so I don't do anything.

"It is strange that the enemy cares more about your people than you do. Now leave if you have nothing useful to add." I swarm the old woman. "Take Sakura to Kankuro fast, with every second lost, he is closer to death." waving Temari to take us to the ICU.

There we arrived and Sakura did not disappoint me, she quickly did her mambo jambo of which I can't explain (author here). Over the top, she expelled some of the poison, mixed it with this and that, tested and retested and when she was sure, administered an effective antidote saving Kankuro.

When he recovered, he said he had taken a piece of clothing from one of the attackers, which helped us to get his trail. Chiyo decided to accompany us with the excuse that she knew the desert better and set off with us.

While we are advancing towards the Akatsuki's hideout, we come across Itachi, so he tries to put Naruto in a Genjutsu, but fails when I get in his way and cut the head off his body. Then we realize that he was just a puppet.

We followed and arrived at the lair, where a huge barrier was at the entrance. So we had two options, break it by force or let me break it by fuinjutsu. We chose the obvious one, force, so I channeled some natural chakra into my fist and punched through the barrier.

When we arrived they were still extracting Gaara's biju, which helped my plan. I quickly launched a water jutsu at Deidara and Sasori, thus breaking their concentration and stopping the extraction.

Deidara tries to escape with Gaara's body, but I made him drop his body while Kakashi tried to block him with kamui. Sakura stayed with Chiyo to fight Sasori and everything occurred as we know it.

After the fight is over, and we are walking back as Naruto carries Gaara on his back, we meet Kankuro and Temari, where we put Gaara on the ground and Sakura helps Chiyo heal his wounds.

A few minutes later Gaara wakes up, looking like he just took a nap. Temari and Kankuro explain everything that has happened since he was kidnapped, he goes to Naruto, thanks him by shaking his hand while approaching me and giving me a hug.

Yes, we are friends, don't forget that I have seen you a few times and we came up with the plan to deceive Akatsuki.

We accompany them to Suna, and when we arrive, the Suna council is meeting to decide who will be the new Kazekage, which infuriates everyone and a massacre takes place.

Right after cleaning up the mess, team 7, Hana and I, went back to Konoha through my blink.

We showed up at Grandma's office where I had to be held by Hana, Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura.

Old Jiraya and my grandma were making out.