Chap. 31: Gaara's Student... Kidnapped!

"Right. We'll find them." Hinata said as she stood with Neji, Shino, and Sakura. She was apart of the sensory squad being sent out first. In an attempt to locate the student, four celestials, and the sand siblings. The rest of the genin alongside chunin Shikamaru and Naruto were to be dispatched in 10 minutes. And wait for a signal. Shikamaru in charge of that squad. she wore a tan jacket with blue capris pants. Wearing her dark purple hair short around her head, her bangs reaching her chin on either side, wearing her shuriken holster on her right side and her kunai pouch on her back waist. Hinami was on a separate mission that all the jonin were sent on, looking into the artisan village looking for intel on them or for help. Currently though, their village was abandoned, she was able to find what looked to be ancient writing though.

"We're counting on you guys." Shikamaru said and the six nodded before dispersing into the forest, in addition to searching through the forest, Hinata was also one of the medical nin, with Sakura being the other one. 

"Alright, we're all here." Shikamaru said looking around at Choji, Ino, Kiba, Akamaru, Naruto, and Lee. They stood at the village gates looking towards Shikamaru in partial confusion as they weren't all there. There was still Neji and Shino, Hinata and Sakura. All of them. Where were they, they were going to need Sensory shinobi.

"You've organized a no-nonsense squad. But what about sensory types?" Lee asked, he wore a green jumpsuit with his headband around his waist, wearing yellow leg warmers, wearing white bandages on his forearms his black hair sitting around his head in a bowl cut

"Hey yeah! Bushy brows is right! If we're going to help shouldn't we have the others? Hinami, Neji, Shino, Hinata and them? I mean, Hinami and Sakura are busy with something else, but still." Naruto said looking over, his blonde hair spiked around his head, sitting over his headband, wearing a blue-orange ninja outfit with his sandals on his feet. Paired with his blue ninja sandals, on his feet, wearing a shuriken holster on his right thigh with his kunai pouch on his back waist, wearing his chunin vest over his ninja outfit, looking towards Shikamaru.

"They're right. I noticed that Akamaru and I are the only sensory ninja here." Kiba said from nearby,l, wearing a gray hoodie with a black faux fur lining, wearing brown capris pants, with his shuriken holster on his right thigh, his kunai pouch on his back waist. Akamaru sitting on Kiba's head, arfing in agreement, while Kiba's black slitted eyes looked over towards Shikamaru who was standing on the otherside, placing a hand behind his head he sighed a moment,

"Everyone's here that needs to be here. Everyone that you mentioned were sent out ahead of time. To try and locate the teams, they're going to be relaying needed information, like where the battles are, whos injured and so on. But they aren't going to be fighting. We owe the sand village a debt from our last mission, but lets not pay it with our lives." Shikamaru said and the group nodded, looking seriously towards Shikamaru a moment, 

"Let's go." He said the group heading out, jumping through the forest towards a resting spot.

"Ino, you and I will form a two man squad. Choji, you and Kiba will also be a two man squad. Naruto and Lee you will form the last two man squad." Shikamaru said and the group nodded, as Lee looked over towards Naruto as they jumped through the forest

"Please refrain from acting independently." Lee said looking at him and Naruto sighed, hanging his head,

"Yeah…" He said in return.

Gaara, Sana, Temari, and Kankuro rushed through the trees, rushing after the ninjas from the artisan village that took Matsuri. Touka on a solo mission in the sand village when the kidnapping occured, When one of the four celestials, with the lime green highlight on her light blue hair cut to sit just above her shoulders, with a burgundy sleeveless dress that stopped just above her thighs with thighhigh ninja boots, paired with a sleeveless cloak overtop, and gloves on her hands going up to her upper arm. A red belt around her waist. Her artisan headband sitting on a white cloth around her forehead. They heard her voice before they saw her, 

"Kujaku, double edged sword! Tempest wind!" She said sending a blast of air straight through the trees and crashing into the three sand genin. Temari agreeing to take her on alone, in order for Gaara to go save his student, 

"You sure?" Gaara asked and Temari smirked bringing out her fan,

"Yeah, we'll trade tips. Now get going." She said in return, the three with her nodding in response, saying a small warning for her before leaving. Temari smirked looking over towards the woman across from her, Kujaku.

A blue snake like sword came from below, twisting and bending, forcing Kankuro, Sana, and Gaara to the ground, another one of the celestials walked out in front of them, his blue sword having gone back to it's original shape. His blue hair cut just above his neck, with a few strands falling over his artisan headband which sat diagonally on his forehead. He wore a sleeveless purple cropped top underneath a gray scarf. Gray pants and ninja sandals to match, wearing sleeves on his arms which went from his upper arm to hang loosely on his wrists, 

"What do you think, Bet you've never seen a sword like this one before." he said as his green eyes looked towards the two

"Just a kid?!" Kankuro said surprised, looking forwards,before scoffing, remembering the snake puppets from childhood, telling Gaara and Sana to go on ahead, Gaara doing so with little hesitation since Kankuro was sure he could handle the guy. 

"Get going you two." He said simply, and the two did so, Leaving Kankuro to deal with Ryūgan.

The third celestial, not the one with Matsuri on his back, wore a lion like armor on his chest, his brown hair sitting past his shoulders with stands that sat on either side of his headband tied in front. He used a medival style mace to break the branch Gaara stood on in half, forcing the boy to jump to the ground, as he wore blue armor on his shoulders, and a purple like suit. 

"You're not going any farther, Gaara. You'll have to go through me" Suiko stated, Gaara looking forwards a moment, 

"Since you insist. Fine." Gaara stated in return, crossing his arms over eachother before moving his sand. Sana doing the same, 

"Theres no reason for us both to be stuck here brother." Sana said looking over, 

"You're certain?" Gaara questioned and Sana nodded, her dark red hair sitting around her head in sideswept waves, brushing her shoulders. Wearing a white dress with halter straps, the dress reaching midthigh, wearing black shorts underneath, wearing a fishnetting offshoulder sweater overtop with black fingerless gloves on her hands. Her sand headband around her waist, wearing her gord on her back, wearing black sandals on her feet. Gaara nodded in return before going to jump off, Suiko sending a mace towards the boy, which Sana blocked with her sand, though, as she did, the chakra was absorbed from it, both the sand and mace fell to the ground mere centimeters from Gaara's face. 

"Good Luck." He said and Sana nodded in thanks, ready to continue her fight. 

"It's already started… Lee, Naruto take the northwest forest. Kiba and Choji the west forest. Ino, and I will take the hills to the northeast. Let's go do this." Shikamaru said his ees widening as he read the kanji spelled out by Shino's bugs before glancing back towards the group, the group nodded

"Right." they all said before scattering, all heading towards their spots to help out the sand siblings and return the favor they paid them a few months ago.

Temari using sea dragon to try and get the jump on her opponent who could take every single thing she through at her, leaving her face cut in some places and her body tired. The woman sending the atack back at Temari which sent her crashing to the trunk of the tree behind her, landing on it's branch. 

Kankuro's opponent sending his snake like sword to bite Kankuro's face, taking him to his limits. Moving out of the wrappings on his puppets back he sent the puppet forwards, but it was clear he was also reaching his limits with the fight. 

With Sana, the man continued to swing the mace around, and any attack Sana sent forwards was absorbed into the armor, or well, her chakra was. She sent a sand coffin attack towards the man. Before creating a large spire of sand, grabbing the man with the mace, swinging him around her body quickly before releasing him to the ground. Though, as with anything else, nothing she tried, was working, no attacks she used worked.

Gaara was gaining on the last man, Hoki. The man had brown hair that was swept to the back reaching his midback with a few strands falling over his light-beige forehead protector for the artisan village. He also sported a purple jacket of sorts along with the rest of the Four Celestial Symbols Men and had a white sword strapped to his back, alongside Matsuri who was still unconscious in the small wooden case she was being carried in, honestly it looked more like a sarcophagus. Hoki seemed to sense the boy gaining on him, as he swiped back with his sword briefly, slicing a few branches in it's path, 'this wasn't the plan, what are those three doing… no matter.' Hoki thought as Gaara jumped over the attack, continuing towards the man. 

With Temari the artisan sent an attack towards the girl, who was still sat on the branch, when Temari moved out of the way of the attack, Shikamaru standing on the branch behind her, the girl having been presumed to have passed out, but yet, she moved with such precision out of the way of the attack.

"How did she??" The artisan said confused, by Temari's sudden movement

"Shadow paralysis jutsu, complete.Man what a drag, any later and we would have been too late." Shikamaru said panting with a smirk on his face

Kankuro was forced to continuously jump out of the way of the launched assault, dodging and weaving, Ryūgan sending all three dragons towards Kankuro, who looked at them wide eyed

"Crap…" He said before a gust of wind blew over the two, Kiba's fang over fang, while in the two headed wolf form, knocking the blades away. Confusing Ryūgan. And Kankuro who'd yet to see the two headed wolf. The wolf poofing from existence as Choji jumped down, Kiba and Akamaru being seen next to him. 

"Hey it's you guys." Kankuro said and Ryūgan sneered, 

"Who are you?" The boy said moving his sword to gesture, a giant pillar of sand making itself known, from across the battle field. The three artisans that were fighting smirked before placing their swords in the ground, a water spire circling Gaara's sand, waterlogging it. The boy falling from where he'd been standing on top of the pillar.

"Who are you?!" Ryūgan called to Kiba and Choji

"Well?" Kujaku said across from Temari, Ino, and Shikamaru

"Allies to the sand village." Shikamaru and Ino said

"We're shinobi…" Kiba said

"...Of the hidden leaf village!" Lee and Naruto yelled as they jumped through the forest as fast as they could, trying to catch up to Sana desperately, 

"You're done!" Suiko said sending a mace forwards, towards Sana who simply glared at him, Lee kicking it out of the way, Sana looking in shock as he showed up.

"The hero always saves the day at the last moment!" Lee announced, 

"Damn right he does!" Naruto said kicking Suiko's head from behind.

"His armor absorbs chakra! Be careful." Sana said from the ground, Sakura walking up to help heal her, 

"Backup from the leaf? Sand village loosing it's edge?" Ryūgan said speaking trash talking towards the three, and Kiba scoffed, as he replied to Kankuro's question, before the boy sent his sword forwards once more, 

"Fang release dark sword!" he said sending it forwards, forcing the three to jump through the forest. The three attempting to send out attacks all at once only for them to crash into eachother, annoying the three to no end. 

"Ino was hurt?" Sakura said looking towards the bugs, Sana telling her to go, which Sakura hesitated with, looking over Sana's condition.

"Go, Sakura, I can take over from here." Hinata said, jumping down, the girl wasn't as talented as Sakura but she could heal some, walking over towards Sana. Wearing her dark purple hair short around her head, her bangs reaching her chin on either side, wearing her shuriken holster on her right side and her kunai pouch on her back waist. The girl helping Sana to his feet. Sakura looked hesitant before nodding, 

"Hinata…! Right!" She said in return, looking towards the girl in shock

"Hinami's in the forest too, she's returned from her other mission..." Hinata said and Sakura nodded seriously in return, before leaving.

"Hinata, what is it?" Sana said and Hinata looked over,

"Their target is Gaara. Or rather, shukaku. They wrote their entire plan out at their village. Some sort of prophecy. Hinami's heading to catch up with Gaara now." she said in return, looking towards Sana, who looked over towards the girl. Lee and Naruto becoming more serious than before, 

"Release the student!" Hinami commented, kicking Hoki's face as she jumped out of the tree to the man's left, wearing her black hair in two braids with light blue ribbons at the bases, a yellow strand going through the braid on the right side with a lilac purple strand going through the braid on the left side. Wearing her headband around her left thigh, her bangs falling over her face wearing black arm protectors on her forearms, wearing shinguards on her shins going over her black sandals. Breaking the container Matsuri was in as she grabbed the student. 

"Hinami." Gaara said in shock momentarily as the man was sent crashing to the ground, 

"Hey, sorry I'm late. But I know what they're after, at least, I have an idea." She said looking over, Gaara wore a dark red outfit with a white cloth diagonally overtop paired with his gord on his back, his dark red hair parting over his forehead. Parting over his love tattoo. 

"What do you mean?" Gaara questioned as he caught up with her, taking his student, Hinami looked over, 

"Their goal is to resurrect SeiMei, using Shukaku. Their goal is you, Gaara. I'll tell you the details later, but right now, we've got a fight ahead." Hinami said as Hoki stood from the ground, rubbing his shoulder. 

"That actually stung, so, this is the power of the Senju clan, am I correct?" Hoki spoke and Hinami tched, 

"We need to move to an area more suited for hand to hand combat…" She said quietly to Gaara who nodded in agreement, before seeming to blink as the man attempted to make a run for it, 

"He's herding us… don't drop your guard.." Gaara said and Hinami nodded in response, the two following Hoki to a ravine nearby 

"I've healed what I can, but you need to take it easy, please." Hinata said before standing in the Hyuga clan's gentle fist, 

"I can help with this." Sana said in return, calling sand from her sand armor to form another spear in her hand, 

"Chakra is useless against me." Seiko declared opening his arms wide as he looked towards the tree canopies above them, the sun seeming to shine only on him, before coughing blood, looking towards the ground in shock. The ninja all looked towards his abdomen in partial shock a moment, seeing spear of sand stabbing through his middle. Looking back towards Sana who was panting, having thrown her spear, landing right in the middle of his armor, stabbing straight through his body. Blood pouring from his wound, and his mouth as he stumbled for a moment, coughing, before hitting the ground. His blood pouring onto the ground. Sana falling to the ground a moment later, unable to continue, Hinata catching the girl, 

"She's exhausted her chakra, I'll heal them, but I'll need your help, Naruto. Hinami's with Gaara." Hinata said and Naruto nodded in return, he couldn't use medical ninjutsu, but he could manipulate his chakra sometimes with focus. 

"Your leg's broken." Hinata said as she began healing Lee, and Sana, helped from Naruto, her hand on his leg and Sana's arm, emitting a green glows and the boy looked towards her a moment, inquisitively a moment as he met her gaze. 

"Did you study under Lady Tsunade as well?" Lee asked and Hinata nodded, 

"Yeah." Hinata said in return and Lee hummed, 

""Hey, let me help." Sakura said and Hinata nodded, scooting to the side so Sakura could help heal Lee and Sana,

"Just a few tendons. Alright, Lee, you're not doing any more fighting. As medical ninja I forbid it." Sakura said 

"She's right." Hinata said as Ino sat behind Lee, looking on at the medical ninjutsu the two were using, feeling completely useless in the fight, while they were healing them, with incredible precision.

"I am in your debts." Lee said laughing with a hand behind his head, the girls brushing him off easily, 

Back near the waterfall, Shikamaru and Temari backed the woman up near the waterfall, the woman continuously gloating about being out of reach, 

"Well, we won't know until we try." Shikamaru said simply, before Temari sent another cyclone scythe jutsu seemingly towards the woman, though, instead, sending it towards the water in the waterfall, creating a secondary shadow for Shikamaru. Which allowed him to connect to the woman, who held two swords in either hand. Using his shadow strangle jutsu, rather than shadow posession, 

"You couldn't reach this far before!" The woman stated, confused, outraged, had she made a miscalculation?

"Confused? Well, let me shine some light on the subject." Shikamaru said forcing the woman to look towards the waterfall, which extended his jutsu allowing it to reach her. Temari sending her summoning blade dance towards the woman, sending the woman tumbled off the cliff, falling to the water below. 

"One down." Temari said before giggling as she grinned, 'girls are something else man.' Shikamaru thought, 

"Man beast clone! Fang over fang!" Kiba said with what looked to be Akamaru at his side, the pup transforming into a clone of Kiba, before the two spun readying their attack, Choji's hand coming up behind them.

"Partial expansion jutsu" He said 

"Enough of this! Dragon eye! Fang release! Dark Sword!" the boy said as he sent the dragons of chakra forwards once more, 'stopping' the attack as Kiba and the pup landed in Choji's hand, grinning as Kankuro smirked, Akamaru barking behind the boy, causing him to turn, confused, 

"What the… but if.. Then whos…" The boy said looking towards the two in the hand, the pup transforming back into the crow puppet, Kankuro lifting crow up as he shoved the boy into black ant, the crow breaking apart into different parts, each part holding a blade. 

"Now it's time for a puppet show! Secret black move, Iron Maiden!" Kankuro said, the boy yelling out a moment as he was stabbed before blood started to fall out of the puppet. 

"Gaara and Hinami, have the last enemy cornered in a canyon." Neji said as he used his byakugan to look forwards as he jumped through the trees, Shino relaying the information to the other teams. Shikamaru and Temari rushing forwards to help alongside Kankuro's team, going as quickly as they could. 

"your at the end of the line." Gaara said as he and Hinami stood side by side, his arms crossed one over the other sitting on his chest, Matsuri being placed behind a rock, hidden from the fight, Hinami holding her staff in her hands, looking forwards seriously, Hoki seemed to laugh a moment, pointing his sword towards them as he spoke, 

"You think I'm cornered? Your the one trapped." Hoki said as he looked towards the two ninja confusing them who raised an eyebrow, 

"Uh… it's two on one, pretty sure your outmatched here bud." Hinami said clearly confused, running forwards throwing her staff in the air, jumping on the metal, as Gaara stood in a fighting position. Neji who was jumping through the forest as well, alongside the team of sensory shinobi looked around, using his byakugan, looked around the canyon

"The surrounding area is calm.. No other enemies have been detected." Neji said, Shino talking about the battles being diversions more than likely, Hinata sending a message to Shino from Hinami, which he spread to the other genin and chunin sent out. 

Sakura finished healing Lee, teasing him for a moment, Lee taking it in stride, laughing off the embarrassment. Hinata also finished healing Sana who was unable to continue the fight with the amount of chakra she was missing, but she was at least consious now. She was going to need support for a bit while she regained her strength that Hinata couldn't restore even with Naruto's help. Lee rubbing the back of his head as he addressed Sakura.

"Sorry… but you've saved my life, Sakura, so now, I am forever in your debt." Lee said sitting up, looking towards her, 

"I was just doing my job." Sakura replied with a lighthearted grin, Ino yelling for Lee to stay down, Hinata doing the same and Sakura moving her arms out. As Lee stood on his feet,

"As a medical ninja, I forbid you from continuing this fight." Sakura said 

"Please let me go, I cannot leave Gaara out fending for himself." Lee said

"Hinami is with him, you need your rest." Sakura said firmly unwilling to budge on the issue, a fact that Lee was noticing as he looked at the determined look on her face. Naruto putting Lee's arm over his shoulder to help him walk, the boy looked towards him a moment. 

"Gaara, you're called the ultimate weapon of the sand. But you've already used all your chakra." Hoki said tauntingly, as Gaara glanced over, Hinami sliding back on the sand as she blocked another attack, 

"Think what you want, but I'm still going to take you on." Gaara said, standing in defiance, as Hinami did the same, holding her staff behind her as she was trained, Hoki lifting his sword, into the air, 

"Come! Infinite Kujaku armor!" He said, the armor from the previous celestial they fought, traveling towards him, wrapping around his chest instead. 

"Well, that's… new." Hinami commented as Gaara gasped, turning around as the man yelled, moving his arms out in some sort of grand gesture

"Fang release! Airborne Dark sword" The man yelled,the sword from Ryūgan fusing to his back, the parts of the sword acting as a tail as the wind sword from Kujaku appeared in his left hand. 

"Alright… not cool…" Hinami said running on the sand, avoiding the two blue swords as they came closer as Gaara glanced at Matsuri who woke up, passing her back the rope javelin. 

"Go hide." He said and the girl nodded, Hinami jumping over one of the swords, blocking another one to her back with her staff, sliding in close, hitting the middle of the armor, before hitting his chin and chest just above the armor, his armor absorbing the chakra from her blow and sending it back towards her, the girl sliding back on the sand, Matsuri's eyes widened a moment before she nodded towards Gaara.

"Right." She said in response before doing so, 

"A shinobi fighting with his bare hands, doesn't stand a chance against a ninja tool." Hoki said, the two ninja tching. Hoki sending forwards a slice of windstyle, forcing Hinami to jump over and block it with her woodstyle and her staff, Swiping out with her staff, 

"Waterstyle, Water slicer jutsu." She said calmly, flipping in the air, water slicing through the wind and hitting Hoki, the chakra absorbed from the attacks, the girl jumping back down next to Gaara,

"Chakra attacks aren't going to work agains this guy." Gaara said looking over, and Hinami hummed in response, 

"Yeah… I… may have forgotten that." she said in response, before they jumped apart, avoiding the fire and lightning sent their way, 

"Gaara, I'm told you have a monster inside you, isn't that right." Hoki said, turning towards Gaara, the boy tching, as they continued to avoid the mans attacks on them, 

"It's about time to release Shukaku." he continued confident, looking towards him

"Hey! Leave him alone." Hinami said running forwards, Hoki backing Gaara against the wall, Hinami sliding in front of him, swiping her staff out towards his attack, sending the attacks back towards the man, forcing his arm to go up in front of him. Blocking his own attack, before he tched, Hinami holding out a hand towards the boy who took it gratefully, 

"Release the Shukaku! Ultimate weapon!" Hoki said, taunting Gaara, Hinami holding the staff to her right, standing in defiance, their clothes held rips and tears from the attacks and fight they were in, 'that leaf ninja defended Gaara sensei from the attack…' Matsuri thought from nearby as she watched the fight as it continued. 

"Not a chance. Gaara's stronger than you think he is." Hinami said looking towards and Hoki tched, 

"You're getting in my way! Kujaku hurricane!" he said angrily, sending attacks towards Hinami, who jumped to the right ducking underneath the hurricane, jumping over the next attack. 

"Keep watching leaf ninja, the reign of the five hidden village is soon to come to an abrupt end as the artisan village will reign supreme. With it's ultimate ninja tool of course" he said and Hinami scoffed, holding a paperbomb between her fingers, holding it across her face, 

"Our tool will make the need for ninja nonexistent!" Hoki declared, grandly, gesturing towards the canyon either way, 

"You won't succeed in your plans." Hinami said definitely, looking towards him, the paper bomb hadn't been lit yet, as she remained in place, 

"Such insolence. The village of artisans has long since, been weaponsmiths, for years we've made the ninja tools, better than the ones used in the five great nations, in times of war our village is always the source of attack, targeted for our weapons." Hoki continued his tangent, talking about bending to the whims of the five villages, threatening the leaf village first, 

"No way! Gaara get down!" Hinami said before sending the paperbomb forwards, Gaara jumping out of the way as the tag multiplied, Hinami moving her hands for specific jutsu signs, looking towards Hoki, 

"Tandem explosive tags!" Hinami said calmly, sending Hoki into the canyon wall, leaving a small crater before he jumped back towards the ground, sending forwards more of his jutsu and weapons, hitting Hinami into the wall in retaliation. The girl remaining on the wall with her chakra, jumping over as he sent his three headed sword towards her once more, slamming into the rocks she'd been standing on, and knocking some loose, causing a few to fall to the ground, the girl remaining on the move as the sword came towards her, forcing her on the defensive, not giving her time to get through the jutsu signs in order to launch a counterattack. 'Those swords… they each function independently from his body, like tails? Interesting, there has to be a range that they can move.. I need to exploit that' Hinami thought jumping over another attack and ducking in midair to avoid another attack from one of the other snake swords 'there!' she thought, twisting in the air as she activated her byakugan, using rotation to send the snake swords back towards the ground, being hit with another kujaku hurricane that sent her flying through one of the rocks on the ground and into the canyon wall, the attack landed even in the middle of the rotation, the girl sliding on the ground a moment, blood running from her forehead, the three headed swords came back through, heading towards the girl who seemed to be unconscious, sand springing up around her hardening, Gaara was kneeling on a sand platform in the air, his hands clasped together. Glaring forwards as he did so, the swords bouncing off of the hardened shell.

"That dome is packed with minerals from the earth, your attacks are far too weak to penetrate it." Gaara said in response to Hoki's inquiry into his chakra, trying to attack Hinami once more, 'Gaara sensei and is working to protect that leaf ninja…' Matsuri thought, watching the fight from where she hid. 

"The sand dome is packed hard with minerals from the ground. your attacks are far too weak to penetrate it." Gaara said as he glared forwards, his hands in a prayer motion under his chin as he glared forwards, 

"You're amusing. Ultimate weapon, you'd risk your existence for this nuisance?" Hoki said, gesturing,

"You'd use your chakra for a friend?! Interesting choice, but this will be your downfall!" Hoki said moving his arm out as a metal dome emerged around Gaara, the boy looking around in shock as the sand dome crumbled, Hinami regaining consciousness as she sat up quickly, looking over towards Gaara in shock, in an instant she was trying to open the dome from the outside, bringing up a large tree on the inside trying to break apart the dome from the inside, and while it did bend slightly, it did not break. Something that Hinami mad note of as she resorted to pulling at it until her fingers bled, and even then, she continued to claw and scratch at the metal.

"Damnit! Gaara! You're gonna be okay, you hear me? You're going to be fine! Just don't let him win!" Hinami said, Gaara groaning in response, the chakra being taken from him was sent in a line towards a coffin hidden in the rocky mountainside, the coffin floating out of the cliffside, falling in front of the artisan holding all of the ninja tools, before falling open, a mummified corpse greeting the world, as the man opened his arms, 

"Oh, mighty lord Seimei! May your spirit be joined with my flesh, to complete your revival!" He yelled, the corpse glowing a bright white, as the artisan yelled as he seemed to disappear from the eye, his skin falling to nothing. 'Son of a…' Hinami thought, glaring over, 

"We've received word from the vilage of artisans. We've got enemies there, apparently, a group called the four celestials. They've been participating in illegal research in order to recreate their villages legendary ultimate weapon. I've already sent Hinami out to back up the squads searching for Gaara's student." Minato said, looking towards Kakashi as he stood in his office, having given his report on the village being empty. Just as Hinami had done almost an hour prior, the girl sent as immediate back up to the genin and chunin teams sent out to help the sand siblings. Standing with his mask on his face and his headband covering his left eye, with a dark blue ninja outfit and jonin flak jacket over his top half, wearing his shuriken holster on his right thigh and a kunai pouch on his back, Shikaku behind his chair. 

"Intelligence gathering tells us the rest of the artisans learned of the four celestials plans and evacuated for their safety." He concluded and Kakashi hummed, 

"That would explain why the village was empty when I went to it… so what is this ultimate weapon?" Kakashi asked and Minato hummed

"The revival of Seimei. The founder of the artisan village." He responded evenly, 

"That explains why the tomb was damaged." Kakashi said in return

"For the security of the leaf, we must stop them from raising their ultimate weapon. No matter what." Minato said and Kakashi nodded in understanding, turning to leave. 

"There is one other who will be taking this mission with you." Minato added on Kakashi turned from the door,

"Oh? Who?" he said before Jiraiya walked over, 

"So, Shukaku is responsible for my return." Seimei said, who's white hair flowed down to his thighs, wearing a gold metal bracket on his forehead paired with an oversized tan kimono paired with violet pants that poofed out at the thigh before hugging the calves, the armor sitting around him like a vest, as he floated above, noting the metal dome surrounding Gaara, the boy yelling in pain from within as the chakra was extracted. Ignoring Narutos yells of confusion. Seimei moved his hands out, merging with the weapons, as he floated above the ninja. As he gloated, Hinami crouched in the sand for a moment.

"If you think you'll be able to do what you want, you're way wrong!" Hinami said looking over, running forwards as she avoided and dodged the attacks, running forwards, sending kunai forwards jumping to them as another attack rained down, holding her broken staff, she sliced through Seimei's side, 

"Flying raijin slice…" She commented, using Tobirama's move, jumping to the side, panting on the ground, inside the dome, Gaara was on his hands and knees, yelling in pain as his chakra was painfully extracted. 

"Why don't you pick on someone ½ your size." Hinami said sliding against the sand ignoring the tears on her arms and shoulder, blood running from the cuts slowly, she continued forwards sending two kunai's forwards, one to the right and one straight ahead, winking towards Seimei she disappeared from sight once more, landing on top of the metal dome, Seimei noticing the paperbomb too late, as it exploded in his face, sending him flying back momentarily as Hinami tried to pry the dome open with her staff, though, no matter what she tried, the metal dome didn't budge.

"Just hold on Gaara! I'll get you out!" Hinami declared, Seimei tched, looking towards the girl, 

Dashing wind!" He said, Hinami yelling out as it collided with her back, sending her over the dome, and onto the ground, before she stood once more, running forwards, avoiding attacks, as she ran forwards. Matsuri watched the leaf ninja from the bushes as she tried to save her teacher, watching as she took attack after attack, and yet, continued to try and save her sensei. The two swords on Seimeis back changed to that of dragons, going towards Hinami, the girl yelling in pain a moment before continuing forwards, having been unable to block the dragons with rotation, striking out towards the metal dome with her chakra powered fist, denting the metal, though, just barely. The girl didn't give up, continuing to try and break the metal dome. Though it barely dented the metal before her, much to the girls frustration as she reered up for another attack on the dome. 

"You better still be awake in there! Gaara! You hear me! You fall asleep on me, and I'll… I'll drop a mountain on you! So just… just hang in there! You hear me!" Hinami declared, yelling at Gaara as she tried hitting the dome with a chakra powered gentle fist, once again, she dented the metal, but other than that, there was no affect. She continued to call towards Gaara, trying to get the boy to listen, to hear her voice.

In the forest, the entire team was making their way towards the valley as fast as they can, when reports from Neji and Hinata came in about what was happening over there, Hinata having jumped away from Sana and Lee in order to do so. Temari reminding Shikamaru of the beast laying dormant in Gaara, as they jumped forwards. Sana was worried as she jumped through with Naruto, Sakura, and Lee, heading towards the canyon, they knew they were after Shukaku, and they had to prevent them from succeeding. 

"I've wasted enough time on you. This game, while entertaining, has come to it's end." Seimei said, sending firestyle towards the girl who slid back on the ground, moving her hands quickly, blocking with waterstyle, the jutsu clashing together and causing a mist to fall over the area for a moment, the girl panting as she stood on the ground, blood running from her head, arms, shoulder, her sides as well as her legs and her foot. She was barely standing, but she had to keep going. To protect Gaara and his student, she was the only one here, she had to hold out. She could do it, she knew that she could… or well… she hoped she could…

"Whoever she's fighting, their chakra levels are huge." Kiba said as Akamaru whined

"We'd better hurry, we're already late to the party." Kankuro said as they pushed themselves faster. 

 "You're nothing but a pest." Seimei said floating to Hinami, once more, as the mist around them died down, before he seemed to become enraged, 

"Give up!" he demanded, sending another windstyle forwards, the girl yelling as it hit her, sending her across the sandy floor, before Hinami jumped back up, panting as she looked towards Seimei, her hair falling from it's braided state, falling around her face as she looked towards 

"No chance in hell!" Hinami said, Seimei aiming to kill her now, so he wouldn't loose Gaara and Shukaku, not to this child.

"Solid blanks." He said, bringing up his hand, sending solid bullets made of air towards the girl who used rotation in response, nullifying about half of them, before bringing up a wall of wood, blocking the others as Seimei continued to send them out. Bringing her arm up to block her face as she was hit with the solid blanks in the same moment. Being sent flying across the canyon, leaving a crater in the wall, before getting back to her feet, looking forwards, Matsuri watched with worry clear in her black eyes, looked between the leaf ninja and the man, Seimei, she reminded herself, clutching her javelin close. 

"This fight isn't over." Hinami said, though, she looked ready to fall over barely remaining on her feet. She was tired, but she was going to defend Gaara if it took everything she had. Seimei laughed as he taunted her further, stealing Gaaras power, as he stood over the dome.

"I hope you got a good taste of Gaara's power! Because your gonna give back every drop of power you stole!" Hinami said, looking towards him, holding her fist in front of her face in defiance. 

"You ought to give up now. The power of Shukaku is mine." Seimei said sneering at Hinami who tched 

"I'm declaring war on your nations! And against every single ninja of those lands who took advantage of the village of artisans. Starting with the leaf! They will suffer the consequences of the 100yr grudge held by my proud people, they'll all be sacrificed for our revenge." Seimei said floating over the girl

"Shut up!" Hinami yelled, avoiding more attacks as she moved on the sand, confusing Matsuri who was still hiding near the fight, her brown hair falling over her shoulders, as her yellow scarf sat over her blue shirt. Her black eyes looking wide at the battle, Narutos head was looking down for the moment, their clothes torn from the fight they'd been in, as they stepped forwards, their exhaustion evident. Lifting her head to glare at the man.

"If you think you'll be able to use our own power against us that easily, your dead wrong!" Hinami declared, blood running from the corner of her mouth, pushing the pain aside, she pushed herself beyond her limits once more, jumping onto the air as she ran forwards, heading towards Seimei. Bringing up a tree from under the ground, 

"She must be in pain… so how can she continue to fight, despite her injuries?" Matsuri wondered aloud, crouching behind the rock, she was still an academy student, not even a genin yet. In fact, she'd just started being taught by Gaara. 

"I'm curious,why still try to win? What makes the monster of the Sand worth saving?" Seimei asked

"Gaara's my friend, simple as that. Someone like you, a mere tool, would not understand slimplicities such as that." Hinami said in response, wiping the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand, Matsuri hummed in partial shock, remembering Gaara's words to her. 

"Gaara sensei is important to her. A friend." Matsuri said in realization as Seimei lifted his arm, preparing another attack against Hinami who glared forwards, preparing herself to block the powerful attack.

"Very well… then you'll die for him!" He declared, moving his hand down, sending the dragons forwards once more, 'here we go…' Hinami thought, bringing up her hands to block once more, when the attack stopped suddenly, shocking Hinami a moment, the three dragon heads held back by Matsuris rope javelin. Matsuri standing off to the side, as she pulled the rope tight, shocking the shinobi. 

"Matsuri?" Hinami said in shock, 

"What are you doing girl." Seimei demanded and Matsuri looked over

"I get what Gaara sensei was trying to teach me now. Weapons took the lives of my parents, but weapons can also be used to protect those you care about." Matsuri declared as she pulled the rope tight, glaring at Seimei, who looked down, his gray eyes meeting her brown

"What nonsense." He said pulling the dragons back with Matsuri along with them, sending her flying through the air, Hinami catching the girl, sliding back on the sand, before setting her on the ground, 

"That was reckless, but well done. Thanks for the assist. You okay kid?" Hinami asked and Matsuri looked shocked for a moment as she looked towards the girl, 

"Huh, uh, yeah… thanks." Matsuri replied as she looked over at the destruction cloud, Hinami turned back towards Seimei, who stood over the partially broken dome, where Gaara yelled in pain, Hinami running forwards once more, sending her spear flying towards Seimei, who went to brush it to the side 

"Ninja art. Exploding blood." Hinami said calmly, closing her fist, the blood on the staff igniting in bright pink flames, before a powerful explosion took place blasting Seimei back as Hinami panted on the ground, standing in a way that blocked Matsuri from an attack, 

"Transformation has begun." Seimei stated jovially, before Shikakus arm broke the barrier apart, Gaara standing in the middle of the dust cloud, half Of his body having transformed to Shukaku. As he fought against it, 

"Whats happening to him?" Matsuri asked and Hinami looked over, 'shit!' She thought, running forwards 

"Gaara!" She yelled as he struggled, groaning as he looked over glaring at Seimei, who sent Hinami flying back on the sand, the girl blocking the attack as best she could with her kunai. Sliding back on the sand, before falling to the ground, standing once more, glaring over as well. 

"So that's the shukaku. First time ive seen it" Seimei said looking at Gaara like a specimen, as Matsuri sat back, scared of what she wad seeing, her knees in front of her as her arms sat back. She sat near the canyon wall with Hinami, who put an arm in front of the girl, 

"That's still Gaara." Hinami said before turning slightly to address Matsuri

"Go on, get out of here, will you?" she said and Matsuri nodded, before hesitating, 

"But Gaara Sensei…" she said and Hinami looked over

"Gaara's only trying to keep you safe, but we can't fight Seimei and protect you at the same time, get going while you can!" She said, Matsuri agreeing to hide, Hinami running forwards once more, maintaining low to the ground, avoiding the attacks that Seimei sent out. Moving her hands in jutsu signs. 

"Wooddragon jutsu." She said sending two dragons on either side of Seimei, as well as one coming up from the ground, knocking him back from Gaara as Temari and Shikamaru jumped down. Alongside the rest of the group. Hinami jumping over the dragon swords that Seimei sent forwards, the girl raising her fists, bringing up a few trees, running along the bark she constantly moved as Seimei knocked the tops of the trees off with his invisible bullets. 

"What's this? You're an amusing little fly." Seimei commented Hinami jumping over his sword, landing on the trees, before jumping overhead she landed a kick to the mans head, sending him to the ground, causing a shockwave to fall over the group. 

"Crap. Is that what I think it is?" Shikamaru said looking at a partially transformed Gaara, and Temari nodded

"The transformation has already begun." Temari said as Kankuro and the rest of the team jumped down, 

"This isn't looking good.." He said, looking out as Seimei moved dragons from his back, grabbing Hinami by the neck, the girl coughing blood before she was sent flying back. Naruto catching her before she hit the ground

"Hey guys. So those swords have some more literal bite than I was expecting…" Hinami said, standing with Naruto as Temari looked to Matsuri, 

"You okay, Matsuri??" Temari asked and Matsuri nodded, before looking back out at the battlefield, 

"But Gaara sensei's in trouble, he needs help," She said and Naruto stood, walking forwards,

"I'll leave her to you guys then." Hinami said, going to help in the fight once more, Sakura grabbing her wrist stopping her from walking away

"What gives, Sakura." Hinami said looking back and Sakura shook her head, 

"You try to continue the fight in your condition and you'll die. you should just stay out of it, your injured." Sakura said looking over, 

"I can't stay out of it, Sakura. I have to help him." She said in return, looking over seriously, Sakura sighed in response, 

"Well, lets patch you up first." Sakura said looking over, placing a hand on her shoulder, 'most of her chakra is depleted, but there's nothing life threatening here.' she thought, looking towards Hinami who remained standing, though just barely.

"Things are going to get real ugly, real fast." Temari said and Shikamaru tsked

"Hurry it up Sakura, we don't have all the time in the world." He stated and the two nodded, Sakura looking towards Hinami,

"Right." Sakura said moving her bag of medical equipment off her back, in order to look at her wounds, asking Hinami for her hands. 

 "What is going on over there, it looks like Gaara's transformed into some sort of beast. While the opponents chakra is increasing exponentially." Neji stated as he jumped down with the rest of the sensory squad, and Matsuri looked forwards

"That one called himself Seimei and said he'd been reborn as the ultimate ninja tool for the artisan village." She started

"He's stealing Gaara's chakra. Or rather, Shukaku's chakra, through chakra, using him like… like a funnel or something." Hinami clarified, pissed and Lee noted the similarities between the armor Seimei wore and the armor worn by the enemy he and Naruto fought with Sana. 

"We need to think this through, we can't just rush in." Shino said, Sasuke Kankuro grabbing the back of Naruto's clothing to stop him from rushing in, at the same moment, and Shikamaru agreed, as Seimei continued to gloat in front of Gaara even as he floated in the air, he looked towards Gaara like he was a specimen, it disgusted Naruto,

"I am delighted at the prospect of fighting Shukaku. It'll prove that even his power is no match for my village." Seimei said his arms moving out in front of him, Gaara growled out a moment, thinking back to meeting Hinami, the shy girl visiting while her parents were handling clan business, 'I'll love you forever, Gaara.' she'd said, meeting Naruto who had the same problems in his own village. Naruto reminding Gaara that for his friends, he'd fight to no ends. In addition to the words that were spoken to him over the years. Yashamaru, his mother… Remembering this, gave Gaara the strength he needed to suppress the Shukaku chakra leaking from his body, closing his eyes to do so, the Shukaku cloak melting into sand off his body. 

"Gaara!" Naruto yelled 

"He's returning to normal." Matsuri said looking at Gaara, 

"He's using his strength to fight off the transformation." Temari added, 

"Why though, wouldn't he need that." Shikamaru said and Kankuro hummed

"It's unpredictable." Hinami said from next to him, 

"He can't control it, he's chosen to rely on his power not that beasts." Kankuro said, nodding in agreement with Hinami, 

"We need to come up with a plan.." Shikamaru said, the group looking forwards, agreeing with the boy. Across the canyon, Seimei laughed at Gaara

"We drop a mountain on the guy." Hinami said, 

"Has that worked?" Shikamaru asked

"I didn't put my back into it, easy peasy…" Hinami said in return,

"So, it was too much to completely transform?" Seimei said, taunting the boy who looked towards him his brow furrowed in anger. 

"To help my friends, I must do it for myself. On my own." Gaara replied, standing defiantly, 

"You'd allow emotions to guide you? You truly are a fool. A shinobi must abandon emotions if he's ever to obtain ultimate power." Seimei said unconcerned, before continuing, 

"Power… power is the only truth in this world, as you'll soon find out." Seimei said floating higher in the air, changing the three swords on his back to dragons once more, sending them after Gaara who flipped out of the way, 

"Your time is up, freak of the sand village." Seimei said, Gaara glaring up at him, before grinning, confusing Seimei who commented on it, 

"You're right. My chakra's totally depleted, but did you think I was sitting there doing nothing inside that dome?" Gaara said as he continued to grin, before slamming his hands together, 

"Sand Tsunami!" He yelled cracking the rocks apart in the canyon, adding to the sand on the ground, Temari picking up the unconscious puppet-user, prepared to jump out of the way. Seimei yelling as sand covered him completely, even as he tried to move, he found it impossible, Gaara focusing his chakra raising on the sand as the sand rose similar to a tsunami wave. The others on the sides jumping out of the way. 

"Hey! He got him!" Naruto said and 

"No…" Neji said 

"He doesn't have much chakra but that armor…" Hinami commented, looking underneath the sand, where he could still see Seimei's chakra clear as day, 

"Kyujaku wind hurricane!" He said breaking the sand apart. As he stood overtop. Looking towards Gaara with something between curiosity and a sneer in his gaze, almost taunting.

"Well, that was unexpected." Seimei said sneering at Gaara, before scowling at him, his gray eyes meeting Gaara's seafoam, before shrugging, pointing his sword towards Gaara with a sneering smirk on his face, excitement in his gaze. 

"However, that just means theres more for me to feed on." he concluded, the armor which looked to be in the shape of a wolfs head, wrapping around his body, begun to glow, or at least, the eyes did, sucking chakra into the mouth. Taking more of Gaara's chakra,

"He's draining Gaara's chakra!" Neji said, alarmed, 

"Damnit…" Hinami said clenching her fist, refraining from running out, though, Naruto did not share the sentiment, 

"That does it!" Naruto said making to run forwards 

"Stop. Naruto. You'll be nothing but a liability right now." Neji said 

"What?" Naruto said looking at him, ready to argue, 

"He's right, Naruto. You'd only be in the way right now, but have some faith in Gaara, he's stronger than you think." Temari said, looking over, Naruto hummed before turning back, 

"I hope so." He stated simply, looking as Gaaras chakra was absorbed. Next to Temari, Sana stood, looking assured as she looked towards Gaara, the boy lifting his right hand with sand gathering in his palm, 

"Extreme tempered ultimate attack, Shukaku's pike!" He said, the pike was made entirely of brown sand, with redsand mixing at the top of the pike where the spikes could be seen, as Gaara reared back, holding his right hand to the side of his body as he adjusted his stance, before throwing it straight into the armor's mouth, killing Seimei, the armor shattering around him as the torso of his outfit became coated in blood

"How?! That's impossible!" Seimei said

"A ninja tool like you wouldn't understand." Gaara said simply, before Seimei was brought back underneath the sand, 

"Giant sand burial!" Gaara declared, burying Seimei in more sand, shaking the entire grounds, 

"Seimei's gone. Finally." Hinata said sighing, everyone releasing a breath,

"All right!!!" Naruto said, running forwards as he cheered, Matsuri spoke her relief a moment, before the rest joined him, in running forwards, as Gaara fell onto the sand, the group running forwards, 

"He's missing a lot of chakra, but that seems to be the extent of it." Sakura commented and the group sighed, 

"He was able to suppress Shukaku, on his own." Temari said, Kankuro agreeing, that was a new development, Gaara had been trying to suppress the cloak on his own and often succeeded, however when he was low on chakra, it was a coin flip. Thankfully, this time, the odds were in their favor. 

"That was stressful… But I wasn't worried… that much." Hinami commented from next to Temari with a smirk before her eyes rolled and she fell forwards, Temari stopping the girl from hitting the ground, sighing a moment, 

"Her chakra's low… but their both fine." Hinata said, 

 "We rushed over here to help, only for the party to be over…" Kakashi said, Jiraiya agreeing, 

"Appears that he's progressing well, wouldn't you say, Kakashi. Though, Naruto is still an inexperienced knucklehead. But his training with Minato and Kushina is helping him progress well… not up to my standards yet of course." Jiraiya said and Kakashi scoffed

"You're hard to please." He joked, 

"Yep." Jiraiya said overlooking the ninja.

 "Thanks. We owe you." Temari said as they stood at the gates, Hinami stood by the village gates with Shikamaru 

"I'm just glad you guys are okay and your students safe." Hinami said in return 

"Besides, this was payback for the Kyoto mission. Next time you'll owe me though." Shikamaru said 

"What about Naruto?" Gaara asked 

"Naruto's talking about going on some training journey with Uncle Jiraiya. For Uncle Jiraiyas 'Impossible drop training' I hope he survives… Kiyoka went through it, and she could barely stand for a week when they returned, but that was only for like, a month." Hinami said with quotation marks before putting a finger on her chin

"Ah man what a drag… He's gonna make the rest of us look like we're not doing anything." Shikamaru said right after

"Oh yeah! aunt Kushina made these for you guys, she was… very insistent on my giving them to you." Hinami said holding up a basket of Onigiri which was grabbed by Temari who thanked her 

"Bye." Gaara said, Hinami nodded in return, Matsuri turning back, running back up to the leaf ninja

"Thanks to Naruto, I finally understand what Gaara was trying to teach me, you'll tell him won't you? Thanks to him, I see the value of real effort and dedication" Matsuri asked Hinami and Shikamaru who nodded, 

"Great. Another Naruto fan." Shikamaru said jokingly and Hinami hummed, before heading off, to see Naruto off with Jiraiya alongside Sasuke. Sasuke set to join the police force in his absence, 

"Be safe." Hinami said hugging the boy who nodded in return, hugging her back. Hinami wore her black hair in two braids with light blue ribbons at the bases, a yellow strand going through the braid on the right side with a lilac purple strand going through the braid on the left side. Wearing her headband around her left thigh, her bangs falling over her face wearing black arm protectors on her forearms, wearing shinguards on her shins going over her black sandals. Naruto looked back towards Jiraiya, he wore his blue to orange ninja outfit, wearing his shuriken holster on his right thigh, paired with his kunai pouch on his back waist, set to head out with Jiraiya, the man set to research the akatsuki while also training him. 

"Don't die you idiot." Sasuke said his arms crossed as he stood to the side, his arms crossed. wearing his black hair spiked behind his head, his headband strapped to his forehead as he wore a blue shortsleeve shirt with large collar paired with tan shorts, wearing his shuriken holster on his right thigh with his kunai pouch on his back, wearing white arm warmers on either arm, blue sandals on his feet. 

"No way, Not until I become hokage, ya know." Naruto said with a grin and a thumbs up, before he and Jiraiya began walking up the road towards Minato and Kushina who were waiting for their opportunity to say their goodbyes to Naruto as well. After saying their goodbyes, Naruto headed out of the village and down the dirt road with Jiraiya. Hinami watching them go until they disappeared. A conflicted look on Hinami's face,

"Worried?" Neji said from behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder, Hinami startling nearly jumping out of her skin,

 "Of course I am… He's a lot like him, you think? Geikan. And Naruto." Hinami said and Neji glanced over before humming, nodding in return, 

"He'll be okay. It's why Lord Jiraiya is going with him." Neji said in return and Hinami nodded, before hugging him, the boy welcoming the touch, before Hinami gasped, 

"Oh man, I was late for training with you and Hinata. I'm sorry." Hinami said realizing that she was in fact, 30 min late to the training, and Neji shook his head, waving his hand a moment, 

"We ended early today, so she could say goodbye to Naruto." he said in return, Hinami nodded in return, 

"I'm going to use these two years to get unbelieveably stronger, there's no way I'm being outdone by that kid… and also relax without him yelling at me." Hinami said her hands behind her head,