On the way there, as the three leapt from tree to tree in a steady formation, the rhythmic sound of rustling leaves filled the forest.
The cool breeze brushed against their faces, carrying with it the faint scent of dew and bark.
Sakura's mind wasn't on the scenery though—her thoughts were elsewhere, clouded with worry and curiosity.
She clenched her hands tightly, her knuckles pale as she looked toward Naruto, who was leading just ahead of her.
His movements were confident, his focus unwavering, but something about his calmness made her uneasy.
"By the way, Naruto… you met him, didn't you? Uchiha Itachi?" she finally asked, her voice cutting through the wind.
Naruto landed on a branch, glancing back at her, surprise flashing in his blue eyes.
'Oh yeah,' he thought. 'That was back in the OG timeline. Man, Sasuke got his shit beat that day.'
"Umm… yeah," he replied awkwardly, scratching his cheek before clearing his throat.
Sakura's gaze hardened, her expression serious. "And for some reason, he's after you."
"I guess. What are you getting at?" Naruto asked, feigning confusion, pretending as if he didn't already know everything that was supposed to happen.
His tone was casual, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that Sakura didn't miss.
She took a deep breath before continuing, her words flowing quickly, like she'd been waiting for the chance to say them. "Well, I haven't just been training these past two and a half years. I've been gathering information from different sources—whenever Lady Tsunade sent me out, I kept my ears open. I found out that the person Sasuke always talked about killing was his brother… Itachi Uchiha. The one who murdered his whole clan and joined the Akatsuki."
Naruto's eyes darkened slightly, but he stayed silent, letting her continue.
"And Sasuke wants more power, which is why he went to Orochimaru. But Orochimaru—he wants Sasuke's body. From what I heard, he can only transfer bodies every few years, and he's nearing that limit again. That means Sasuke doesn't have much time left before Orochimaru takes him over." Her voice cracked slightly at the end, a mix of fear and frustration.
She looked at Naruto, determination burning in her green eyes. "What I'm trying to say is—the closer we get to the Akatsuki, the closer we get to Orochimaru. And if we find him, we'll find Sasuke."
Naruto landed silently on another branch, his gaze distant as if he were weighing every word she said.
"Yeah, you're right," he said at last, his tone calm but firm. "Let's just focus on getting Gaara first. After that… we'll think about getting Sasuke."
Hearing his response, Sakura blinked, surprised by his composure. The old Naruto would've shouted or made some dramatic promise, but this one spoke like someone who had already accepted the weight of the world on his shoulders.
She hesitated, then nodded slowly, " You're right "
From behind, Kakashi silently watched the two of them. The silver-haired jōnin's visible eye narrowed slightly as he observed Naruto's expression—steady, cold, and mature.
'What really happened during your training with Jiraiya?' Kakashi thought, his hand tightening on the strap of his pack. 'You've completely turned into a new person.'
If only he knew.
While leaping through the trees in silence, the rustle of leaves and the rhythmic thud of feet against bark filled the air. The late afternoon sun filtered through the canopy, scattering golden light over their faces as they moved swiftly toward the desert border.
Naruto's sharp eyes caught movement below—a familiar figure walking alone along the sandy path. He squinted for a moment before realization struck.
"Wait… isn't that Temari?" he said, pointing down at the figure, his voice breaking the quiet.
Sakura followed his gaze and smiled in recognition. "Oh, you're right! Hey, Temari!!" she called, waving energetically as she balanced on a branch.
Temari, who had been walking with a scroll slung over her shoulder and her fan strapped to her back, paused at the sound of her name.
She looked up, shielding her eyes from the sun, and raised a hand with a faint grin. "Sakura! Where are y'all heading in such a rush?" she called out, her tone casual but curious.
Naruto and Sakura dropped down beside her, landing lightly on the sandy trail.
Kakashi appeared moments later in his usual calm manner, though his visible eye carried a hint of concern.
After a quick exchange, Sakura explained everything—the attack on Gaara, the Akatsuki's involvement, and their current mission from the Hokage.
Temari's smile faded immediately. The color drained slightly from her face as she processed the words.
Her expression hardened, and her brows furrowed deeply. She stared into the distance for a few seconds, silent, the desert wind tugging at her blonde hair.
"…I see," she finally said, her voice low and tense. "So it's already happened." Her fists clenched around the handle of her fan. "Then we better not waste time standing around."
"Let's move, guys! We don't have much time!" Kakashi suddenly called out, his tone sharper than usual.
He leapt up into the trees once again, his cloak fluttering behind him as he took the lead.
Without hesitation, Naruto followed, landing on a nearby branch before glancing back at Temari. "Come on! We'll fill you in more on the way!" he called with a grin.
Temari gave a determined nod and leapt after them, her movements swift and precise despite the weight of her fan.
Sakura brought up the rear, and soon the group disappeared back into the canopy, moving in unison once more.
As they traveled, the tension eased slightly. Naruto, never one to stay quiet for too long, began chatting with Temari and Sakura between leaps.
Time passed in steady motion after that. They stopped for a few short breaks—just long enough to drink water or catch their breath—but none of them let their focus waver.
The closer they got, the drier the air became, and the greenery slowly gave way to the golden dunes of the Wind Country.
By the time the sun began to set, casting a deep orange glow across the horizon, the silhouette of the Sand Village came into view—tall sandstone walls and familiar towers rising from the desert like a fortress of gold.
"Finally," Naruto said, landing on the last ridge overlooking the village.
The group stood together for a moment, gazing at the place Gaara called home. Then, without another word, they walked toward the gates of the Sand Village, their mission truly beginning.
TO BE CONTINUED