CHAPTER 52(Reunions)

Read auxiliary chapter World Info before starting the story.

Please read the author's notes. (Examples and explanation of moves and changes etc)

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CHAPTER START---

Gaara was in no state to be fighting, he was walking back to his room to get some rest. He's only been back in Suna for a few hours at the moment and finally got a moment away from his doting siblings.

Walking through the door to his room, he immediately feels another presence in his room, with a wave of his hand a whip of sand strikes out, only to fall lifelessly to the floor as soon as it makes contact.

"Hey relax!" Jin calls out to his friend, the sand immediately stops.

"Jin, why're you here?" Gaara moves to sit on his bed, still tired from his return to life.

"I'm not here," he smiles at the Kazekage.

"Ah, you know I could have your head for breaking into my castle, or for entering my borders without permission.

"Nah, but you could try," his voice becomes softer, much less jovial as he continues," I didn't have time to go check in with the old lady before coming here, as far as she knows I'm still on my mission and should be for a few more days, her message got me worried about my friend so I raced over here..."

"You came to help me?"

"I came too late apparently, what happened Gaara?"

Both young men finally take the time to catch up. They hadn't had time to see each other since Jin went off to train, he hadn't even been able to make it to Gaara's coronation ceremony as Kazekage.

---Almost an hour later...

"So you can finally get a full night of sleep now, you must be thankful at least," Jin shrugs.

"I...wish I was, but I'm worried more than ever. When the one-tailed beast was within me, at least then I knew the chance of it being used against my village, against my friends, was unlikely. But the Akatsuki, they---"

"Want to use them, yeah that's a problem."

"Exactly, Jin. You defended your village from me before, you stopped a tailed beast, and now you're much stronger. Will you help me protect my village from them," Gaara met his gaze.

A small smile broke out on Jin's face as he looked at his friend. Resting his hand on Gaara's shoulder.

"Why do you think I raced over here, I'll always have your back. The Akatsuki needs to be stopped Gaara, or they'll tear us all apart."

"Agreed, as Kazekage, I'll help you in this fight."

---Hokage Tower...

Jin was currently standing in Tsunade's office after giving her a report on his mission.

"We have another mission for you starting tomorrow, sorry but you won't get a break between tasks," she says with a sigh.

"That's fine, the last one was mostly traveling so I'm pretty well-rested, what do you need princess?"

"Can you still feel Orochimaru's chakra?"

"I never forget a chakra signature, so yeah I can pick him out if I want."

"This mission, involves Sasuke..." she lets the name linger for a moment to gauge his reaction, his poker face is perfect.

"Need me to find him?"

"No, I need you to act as escort, I'm sending Naruto to track him down by intercepting a spy for the snake himself. This is their first chance to get their friend back, I need to be able to trust you not to become hostile, can I?"

"Naruto...saved my friend, he saved Gaara, I'll give him a chance to save Sasuke too, but we have other sensory..."

"But we don't have anyone else available that's fought the Kyuubi as effectively as you, even if it was just a hint of its power. I'm sure you've figured it out by now but the Akatsuki is after the tailed beasts, your role will only be to guide them and ensure Naruto and the Kyuubi return to the leaf, you will not get in the way of their mission, understand?"

"Yes, just observe unless it looks dire, got it."

"Good, you won't be the only Jounin on this mission, I'll have a member of the Anbu leading the four-man team, be at the main gate tomorrow to meet your full team."

"Understood, I'll make sure Naruto returns safely."

---The Following Morning...

"This is so lame, why didn't he just meet us when we met Yamato?" Naruto whines once more as he walks to the gate.

"Ask him when we get there Naruto," Sakura groans as she walks beside him.

"Hey Yamato, what's the last member of our team like?" Naruto asks.

"No idea, I've never worked with him before, he was on team Kurenai before his promotion to Jounin and Captain a few days ago," Yamato says matter of factly.

A tense moment befalls the group as both Naruto and Sakura frown deeply, the gears in their head connecting the pieces at once.

"Noooo..." Naruto doesn't want to believe it.

"Oh god, I thought we were supposed to retrieve Sasuke, if HE comes with us, does that mean he's here to, no, but Lady Tsunade," Sakura isn't sure what to believe.

"I assure you our only mission is to find Sasuke, Lady Hokage has entrusted the rest to both of you as his teammates," Yamato reassures.

As they approach the gate, their fears are brought into reality.

Standing at the gate eating a Dango, Jin waves at them as if it were the most normal thing ever.

"It's been a while team seven," he gives them a small smile, "relax I'm just here to watch basically," he casually shrugs.

"WHY ARE YOU HERE?" Naruto begins freaking out.

"I...Just told you, princess assigned me to supervise and make sure Naruto returns to Konoha."

"Liar, you'll just attack Sasuke won't you!" Fangirl joins in the shouting.

"If I wanted him dead I could go kill him whenever I want," this causes silence to befall them.

"I already told you he's here to help us," Yamato tries to calm them down.

"Naruto," his voice was stern, with no room for debate. "You saved Gaara right?"

"Uh, yeah we did..." Naruto isn't sure where he's going with this.

"Gaara is my friend, you saved him, so I'll leave Sasuke to you and Sakura, my only job is to ensure you return to Konoha, as long as that's not at risk I won't lay a finger on Sasuke, got it?"

"Yeah, thank you, Jin," the blonde can barely get his words out, surprised by the complete 180.

"It's not just me, everyone wants to believe in you, including Shikamaru, and quite frankly Naruto, I'd like to go back to when we were like brothers, before we became divided over Sasuke, I'll stay out of your way but I won't help you either, not for him but for US," he reaches out with a handshake for Naruto.

Naruto stares at his hand for barely a moment before lunging forward and pulling Jin into a tight hug.

"YES! Thank you!"

"Jeez, you know I don't really like hugs Naruto, now let's go before you and fangirl miss your chance ok," he returns the hug with a small smile.

"Yeah, let's go, and don't call me fangirl!"

END CHAPTER---