New Enemy: Akatsuki! - 6

"Recently I've been keeping tabs on a dangerous collection of nukenin who call themselves the Akatsuki," Jiraiya admitted, taking a seat on the side of the building, "They seek to gain power from the biju. You two each possess one of the nine. Because of that they've been plotting to capture you and seal away your respective demons for their own benefit."

Naruto, a bit overwhelmed by the news, sat down beside his teacher to absorb the information. Gaara preferred to stand, but still felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"I didn't think they'd be looking for you this early but…it looks like I was wrong," The toad sennin confessed, "From now on I advise you to be cautious. Be wary of your surroundings because they have spies that can dig up information on just about anything."

"What about Haku? Do they know about him?" Gaara asked quietly, wondering if it would be an issue.

"Hm? No, they don't know him and don't care to know him since he isn't a jinchuriki like you," Jiraiya dismissed the idea, adding, "Don't get me wrong; he's still got his own problems. He won't be able to rest easy until Orochimaru is good and dead."

"Hey! We'll be fine, Gaara-kun! You'll see!" Naruto's confidence returned rather quickly, "We always watch each other's backs, so what are we worrying for? They won't be back for a while if they know what's good for em'!"

The toad sage chuckled, "I couldn't have said it better myself, Naruto. Now, I say it's about time we get back to our search…"

Naruto stood up and clapped Gaara on the back, "Hey, uh…" He lowered his voice, "Thanks for saving Sasuke back there…I'm sure that'll give you one up on him, eh?"

Gaara smirked broadly, "I'm going back home now. Don't get yourself killed."

Naruto watched the red haired boy descend down to the street below and head south before turning back to Jiraiya, who was still smoking in order to settle his nerves.

It did cross his mind if Sasuke ever would be able to be at peace with his brother, at least by way of killing him. In his opinion it seemed a very lofty goal, but then again, one not as far-fetched as his dream of being Hokage, 'Everyone's got their own agenda, I guess…'

Haku had tried to explain to Sakura why Gaara had not come with him, and had hesitantly admitted that he had gone to check up on Sasuke after he had been acting strangely.

She didn't seem too bothered but had asked Kiba to retrieve them if he could. After Akamaru had picked up their scent he had left, assuring Sakura he'd make sure they weren't tearing each other's throats out.

That had left her a bit uneasy.

"I'm going to need replacement blades for Karasu," Kankuro mentioned as they passed by Tenten's weapons forge, "You think we can stop here for a bit so I can make repairs?"

Temari recalled how his puppet had gotten quite mangled after fighting a Cloud shinobi who was surprisingly adept with a sword. She shrugged to her brother, seeing they had little else to do.

Sakura followed Kankuro inside the shop, wanting to say hello to Tenten and get some spare kunai if she could.

Temari waited outside the forge with Haku, observing the magnificent weapons on display in the window, "Not going in, huh?"

"I don't think I should."

She raised an eyebrow at him, "Why's that?"

Haku smiled to himself, "Tenten has a lot on her mind, I'm sure. I tend to make her nervous when I'm around and I don't want to bother her."

"You like her?"

'My…Temari really can't differentiate between personal and casual questions…' He decided to humor her, "I did once. Only as a friend now, I suppose."

Temari looked as if she was interested in the subject and he couldn't tell why. She leaned on the wood panel of the door, folding her arms in the same fashion Gaara would, "What discouraged you then? She dumped you?"

"It was a bit of a disaster, really," Haku chuckled, embarrassed to admit it, "I should've known better. Her teammates are very protective over her and I really wasn't being rational when I pursued her either…"

"A wise decision on your part," Temari agreed, recalling Team 13, "You wouldn't want to cross that Neji-fellow if you don't want a beating."

Haku frowned, remembering Neji's jealousy, "I learned that the hard way…"

Temari laughed good-naturedly and he was glad that she had finally warmed up to him. Even if it had cost him an embarrassing story and nearly having himself killed, he was truly grateful that he had the chance to get to know her.

It was also fascinating just how much she and Kankuro were comparable to Gaara in physical appearance and personality traits, 'Although, Temari is far more capricious than either of her brothers…'

He also found himself acting more and more puppy-headed, as Naruto had called it. The phrase was synonymous with overly-complaisant, he guessed. This fawning behavior had started after he had fought her in the exam, but he couldn't really justify himself.

'She's dauntless, feisty, rude, very beautiful and…' Haku paused and blinked at his reflection in the glass of the display window, 'I really like her.' The last time he had liked someone it had not worked out. Maybe now he was better prepared.

It was a sweet revelation with bad timing.

"Hello? Earth to pretty-boy!"

She had been trying out new nicknames for him, some more polite than others.

Haku snapped himself out of his contemplative state and gave her his attention, hoping she couldn't read his thoughts like an open book. Temari gave him a puzzled look, "You're not going to pass out or anything are you? You had that look again…"

"No, I'm alright. I was just thinking…" He searched for an easy topic, and picked one he was genuinely curious about, "What was life like for you when you were younger, when Gaara-kun still lived with you?"

She was silent for a long moment and looked away from him.

"Well…you can't really describe living like that. I'd call it terrifying, maybe, but that really doesn't do it justice," Temari answered in a low voice, recalling how it was, "Everything was based on fear. My father had made so many rules and restrictions about Gaara that it made him seem less like our brother and more like a ticking time-bomb."

"Were you afraid of him?" Haku asked, his eyes were gentle and understanding.

"A little. I was afraid of what he would do but I wasn't afraid of him," Temari explained, "I wanted him to get better. I remember being sad because our family stopped being a family and turned into a militia shortly after my mother died."

Haku listened quietly, beginning to see how it was.

"All Kankuro and I could do was study and train to be shinobi because our father had devoted so much time to Gaara and he barely ever let us go near him. It was too dangerous…and only because he made him that way!" She sneered, hating her father, "The only person he allowed near Gaara was my uncle and even then, he was still bent on killing him when he thought that his powers had become too much to control…"

"He must have been very lonely." The dark haired boy commented, and she sighed, trying to relax.

"It will never be that way again. He's alive and he's safe here…" Temari said softly, "We won't let him be unhappy like he was back in Suna. This place had changed him…" She turned to Haku, regarding him for a moment, "You changed him."

He didn't want to take all the credit for it, but he admitted that he was a very positive influence.

Haku smiled at her, "Well, I do think you've answered my question to the best of your ability." He looked into the shop through the window to see Tenten taking measurements of Kankuro's puppet and Sakura was helping her with the measuring tape, "How about we get some tea?"

"Tea?" Temari blinked at him, "Fine. But I only like ginseng with honey and I seriously doubt it'll be as good as it is back home…"

Haku walked beside her contentedly as they turned the corner to head for the teahouse, and he dearly hoped things would go more smoothly this time than they had the last time he had been there.