---
"Don't even try to run!" Kankurō shouted angrily, sprinting after Deidara.
"Kankurō, wait!" Baki called out, alarmed. "Don't act recklessly—wait for the team!"
But Kankurō didn't look back. He kept charging forward, his face grim. "Gaara will be gone if we keep wasting time!"
"Damn it!" Baki cursed under his breath. "Hurry! Organize two squads to pursue Kankurō and provide support!"
"Yes, sir!" A nearby Suna shinobi saluted before dashing off to carry out the command.
Meanwhile, Deidara's giant clay bird descended slowly at the outskirts of Sunagakure.
"Tch, you're so slow," Sasori muttered in irritation. "Didn't I tell you not to make me wait too long?"
As he spoke, he casually flung a shuriken at Deidara.
Deidara twisted to avoid the blade midair, sighing. "Tch, you can't blame me entirely. That Jinchūriki was no ordinary opponent."
Before he could finish his sentence, Sasori cut in coldly, "That's why I told you to prepare thoroughly."
Deidara shrugged. "And what about you? How well-prepared were you?"
"I've been ready this whole time," Sasori replied impatiently. "Unlike you, I'm not lazy. I came prepared."
Deidara glanced at the village behind them and said, "Tch… whatever. Let's get moving."
He leapt off the bird. The two Akatsuki members casually walked away from the village entrance.
After a short distance…
"Hey," Sasori suddenly called out to Deidara.
"What?" Deidara looked at him, puzzled. "Something wrong?"
"Why aren't we riding the bird?" Sasori asked bluntly.
"I figured with your legs, you wouldn't be able to jump up onto it," Deidara replied, spreading his arms nonchalantly.
Sasori: "…"
A moment later, Sasori demonstrated that not only could he jump—he could fly.
The clay bird soared into the skies again, this time carrying Sasori and a battered, grumbling Deidara.
---
At that moment, Kankurō arrived at the entrance of Sunagakure with his support team.
"Nani?!" Shock spread across the team's faces as they saw the massacre.
"Bastards… they're all dead?" Kankurō's face turned pale with fury. "This wasn't even a fight. They killed them before Gaara could fight back."
"Captain Kankurō! One of the guards is still alive!" a Suna shinobi shouted as he supported an injured comrade.
"Don't move him!" Kankurō ordered, rushing over.
Just as he knelt down, a sudden glow emitted from the wounded shinobi's chest.
"Shit! It's an explosive tag trap!" Kankurō shouted.
The body erupted in a blinding explosion, and in the next instant, dozens of explosive tags hidden on the surrounding cliffs detonated. Boulders cascaded down, blocking the entrance with a violent crash.
---
Konoha — Hokage's Office
"What?! You're assigning me to a team with Kakashi-sensei and Sakura-chan?!" Naruto shouted in disbelief.
"Huh?" Sakura shot him a side glance. "You got a problem with that?"
"Cough! Of course not!" Naruto said, embarrassed. "I just mean, I'm still a Genin. How can I go on missions with a Chūnin and an Elite Jōnin? Wouldn't I just be holding them back?"
He then spoke dramatically, "A Genin like me should be doing D-rank missions, like walking dogs or finding cats!"
Shizune facepalmed. It was exactly as Lady Tsunade had predicted.
"I see," Tsunade said with a sly smile. "Then let's have Shikamaru escort the Sand envoy, Temari, back to her village instead."
Naruto's expression flipped instantly. "It is my duty to serve the village! The village is proud of me, and I'm proud of the village!"
Everyone: "…" Never seen someone flip-flop that fast.
---
On the Road to Sunagakure
"So, we're teaming up again?" Naruto looked at Kakashi and Sakura. "Didn't you say you weren't my teammate anymore, Kakashi-sensei?"
Kakashi waved lazily. "Your actual teammate is busy. Consider him 'logged out' temporarily."
Naruto: "…"
Suddenly, an eagle's cry echoed overhead.
"There it is!" Temari exclaimed, raising her hand and whistling.
A large falcon descended, carrying a sealed backpack on its back.
"What's that?" Naruto asked curiously.
"It's a messenger hawk from Sunagakure," Kakashi explained calmly.
"Correct!" Temari confirmed. "And this is Takamaru, the fastest eagle in our entire village!"
Temari quickly unsealed the backpack and pulled out a scroll.
"A first-class emergency message?!" she said, startled.
Her hands trembled as she opened the scroll. "Gaara…!"
"What happened?" Naruto asked, stepping closer.
"Gaara's been captured by Akatsuki!" Temari said, panic in her voice.
Naruto's expression darkened. "Tch, so they've already started moving."
He turned to Sakura and Kakashi. "I'll accompany Temari to Sunagakure. You two head back and inform Lady Tsunade."
Sakura frowned. "Why should you be giving orders? Shouldn't Kakashi-sensei be the one doing that?"
"Sakura." Kakashi's tone stopped her. He took the scroll from Temari and gestured for her to follow. "Let's go."
Without further delay, Naruto picked up Temari princess-style and charged toward Sunagakure at full speed.
Temari blushed but didn't resist. The sudden wind pressure made her cling tightly to him.
"Why are we following Naruto's lead, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked, still confused.
"I'm not exactly sure," Kakashi replied. "But before we left, Lady Tsunade told me that in case of an emergency, Naruto's orders take top priority."
He paused, recalling Naruto's past feats. It's been two years… Just how strong has he become?
Temari whispered softly from Naruto's arms. "Please… bring Gaara back."
Naruto was silent for a moment before answering, "I will."
He pushed his speed even further, the wind howling in his ears as Temari buried her face against his chest.
---
Land of Wind — Desert Skies
A massive clay bird glided high above the dunes.
On the ground below, a small figure chased relentlessly, sand kicking up behind him.
"Damn it… damn bastards!" Kankurō panted. "They took Gaara… and killed so many of our people…"
"Hm?" Sasori glanced down suddenly.
"What is it?" Deidara asked.
"I'm surprised," Sasori said calmly. "Someone's still following us."
"Huh?" Deidara blinked, confused.
Sasori gestured below. "Look down."
Sure enough, on the desert floor, Kankurō was running and screaming incoherently: "BASTARDS—COME DOWN HERE—@#%!!"
Because of the distance, it all just sounded like muffled grunts from above.
Deidara: "…Tch, and you understood that?"
"Should we go talk to him?" Deidara asked, glancing at Sasori.
"You go on ahead," Sasori replied coolly. "I'll handle this little brother of Sunagakure."
Deidara nodded and urged the clay bird higher while Sasori prepared to descend.
---
Kankurō was wheezing by the time he caught up to the landing point.
"Finally… caught up… You bastards!" he gasped. "Hand Gaara back now!"
Sasori and Deidara simply stared.
"…Are you sure you didn't come here to offer up your head?" Deidara asked dryly.
Sasori stepped forward. "Deidara, go. I'll deal with this nuisance."
Kankurō pulled three scrolls from behind his back.
"Heh… Let me show you a puppet performance crafted from the genius of Sunagakure's very own Sasori!"
Sasori: "…"
Kankurō formed hand seals. "Karasu! Kuroari! Sanshōuo!"
Poof! Poof! Poof!
Three puppets materialized in front of him.
Kankurō raised both hands and moved into a complex stance. "I'll say it one more time… Give Gaara back!"
---
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