An urgent report right after returning to the village: Gaara was captured by the Akatsuki!

The night wind was bitterly cold, scraping their faces like little knives.

Sen stepped on a branch as thick as a finger and used its spring to leap forward.

Naruto's shouts still echoed through the forest, his blond hair bouncing.

"Big bro, save a strong one for me when we get there!"

"Save one, my ass. Watch where you're going before you ram headfirst into a stump."

Sen irritably spat out the half-chewed grass root in his mouth.

Beside him, Kakashi skimmed along the tree trunks with a scroll clutched in his hand.

"Naruto, don't get careless. Our opponents this time are the Akatsuki."

Kakashi's dead-fish eyes darkened slightly, his voice carrying a serious edge.

Suddenly, a series of urgent hawk cries came from the night sky ahead.

A black hawk swooped straight down, bringing a gust of cold wind.

Kakashi raised his right arm, and the hawk landed securely on the back of his hand.

"An express message from the Hokage Building... with the highest red priority."

Kakashi untied the message tube, his face looking grim in the thick fog.

"Well, looks like big sis has another mess on her hands."

Sen landed lightly on a thick branch and slipped both hands back into his pockets.

Naruto and Sakura landed after him, making the bark rustle beneath their feet.

"Kakashi-sensei, what does it say? Is it Gaara...?"

Naruto hurried over, his eyes wide.

Kakashi broke the wax seal and scanned the lines with his dead-fish eyes.

As he read, the corners of his mouth began twitching beneath his mask.

"What's wrong? Kakashi-sensei, don't scare me!"

Naruto clenched his fists, sweat dripping down his cheeks.

"An urgent report from Sunagakure. It details how Gaara was captured."

Kakashi handed the scroll to Sen, his knuckles paling.

"Gaara... was defeated head-on by