I was worried when we caught up to Temari. Temari had the same sense of dread that I was feeling. The wind became cold and chilly when we told her what was going on. Anger and determination was written on her face as she traveled along with us. The silence was tense before Kakashi broke the silence and explained the entire situation concerning Garra. I didn't really have to listen to the conversation as it involved the Jinchuriki (meaning Naruto and Gaara). Naruto was rather quiet when his story came to light, which shocked and saddened Sakura. She didn't understand why Naruto had been treated the way he had been. She had followed Ino's example and ignored Naruto, not understanding the reason why.
Now you know, Haruno. I thought. All this time, you hated Naruto without understanding the reason. You followed the crowd and ignored him, not knowing the kind of pain he suffered. Now, do you understand the pain he suffered as he grew up?
I could tell that she felt absolutely awful with the way she had treated Naruto now that she was acquainted with his history, but I knew that Naruto would forgive her one way or another. He was a very kind, pure-hearted shinobi and Sakura was his friend, despite it all. This was one of the best traits in my teammate and it was one that I admired and respected. Temari then turned her attention to me and asked Kakashi about my involvement. She had never seen me before until now and she was curious to know who I was. I was prepared to tell my story but Kakashi decided to take the wheel and started to fill the blonde kunoichi in about me.
Gaara had used the last of his chakra as he attacked the intruder. He fainted, much to the shock of his brother, and was captured by the clay bird. The Sand Shinobi on the ground attacked the intruder until the order to halt was given. There was worry that they would inadvertently hit the Kazekage. They all looked on helplessly as they watched their leader being taken. Kankuro wasn't going to have it. That was his brother that was being taken away and he went right on after him, ignoring Baki's calls to stop. Baki, on the other hand, sent a team after Kankuro to make sure he didn't do anything foolish.
Whatever you do, Lord Kankuro, Baki thought. Don't die.
Kankuro continued his pursuit and came to the narrow opening at the mouth of the cliff that allowed entry into the Hidden Sand Village. He stopped and came across a grisly scene. By then, the team that was sent out to catch up with him arrived and were just as shocked with what they saw. He remembered that there had been a Sand Shinobi working for the intruders-who had since been arrested for slaughtering these guards-but there was something else that left him unnerved. He felt that something had been missed and overlooked. He entered the narrow entrance carefully and investigated the bloody scene before him, remembering that there had been two intruders to come to the village.
"Don't move anyone carelessly." Kankuro ordered.
The order came too late and there was a large explosion and large boulders came tumbling down on Kankuro and the team. Baki saw this from a distance and immediately departed for the scene, with a few other shinobi following him.
Tamari was staring at me by the time Kakashi finished the story. She wasn't sure what to think of me, but I could feel her subtle admiration for my decision to forego every principle that I knew of in order to save her brother from a terrible fate. I wasn't going to let an innocent person die because of an evil organization was after his inner demon. Kakashi explained that I had been formally trained and became one of them in order to go on this mission. I was the key to this operation. As we continued our journey towards the village, I felt a pang in my chest. The pang was so bad that I had to stop. I knew then that something big changed in the timeline. Naruto immediately fell back, concerned with my condition. I was touched by this because no one had ever shown me any compassion in my life. Maybe there was room for family after all.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"History changed. We need to move faster."
Naruto made me get onto his back and we quickly caught up with Kakashi and the others, quickly explaining the situation. We picked up speed. There was no way that we could let that Akatsuki member take off with Gaara.
