"My mom and Kakashi... Kakashi and my mom..." Naruto said as he was sprawled out on the floor. Naruto collapsed seconds after I told him the news. "Naruto, are you okay?" I asked, poking his cheek. "I didn't think he'd take it that hard." Tsunade said.

"You think I should've waited for a better time?" I asked. "No, I don't think so." Kakashi said. I tapped Naruto's cheek with the back of my hand and he started regaining consciousness. "Naruto, are you okay?" I asked as he started coming to.

"Ugh... What happened?" Naruto sat up and rubbed his eyes before looking at me. "Oh, Mom! Thank goodness! I had this terrible dream that you told me you and Kakashi were going out! Can you believe it?" Naruto said.

"Naruto... That was real. You collapsed after I told you the news." I informed. Naruto's eyes went wide before he collapsed again. "And he's out again." Jiraiya said. I sighed and woke him up again with the same method I used before.

"Come on, let's go for a walk. Kakashi, why don't you...?" I trailed off when I saw that he was gone. "Where'd he go?" I asked. "He left to read his new book." Jiraiya said.

"Classic Kakashi." I said, smiling as I shook my head.

Afterwards, Naruto, Sakura, Temari, Shikamaru and I went for a walk to catch up on things. "So, how long have you guys been going out? You and Kakashi." Naruto asked. "Three years. A little bit earlier than that." I answered.

"That long?" He asked. "Uh-huh. I wanted to tell you earlier, but you left for your training. Plus, I thought you'd might find it a little weird that your mother and your sensei were dating." I mentioned. "Well, I find it a little weird." Naruto admitted.

"Yeah, I thought you'd might. Oh, I almost forgot to mention. Hinata's been asking about you."

"Really?"

"Mm-hm. You should pay her a visit later on today." I said. "Maybe I will." Naruto agreed. "By the way, since when were Temari and Shikamaru going out?"

"What? Termari and Shikamaru?"

"Well, look at them. They look quite happy together. Not to mention, a cute couple."

"Hey, we're not a couple, Haru," Temari objected. "The Chunin Exams are about to start, so I've been busy running back and forth from the Leaf to the Sand getting ready for it."

"That's right, and I'm her escort. And don't ask how it happened. But I've been put in charge of organizing the Chunin Exams." Shikamaru said.

"The Chunin Exams, huh? Man, that really takes me back." Naruto said. "Yeah. Well, anyway, what are you gonna do, Naruto?" Shikamaru asked.

"About what? What do you mean?"

"What do you think? About the Chunin Exams. You're the only one in our year who isn't a chunin. Everyone else but you."

"Seriously?" I asked, then looked at Naruto. "What?!" He yelled. "That's actually very surprising." I said. I looked at the sky and saw a hawk soaring above our heads. "I have to go. Tsunade is summoning me." I informed as I walked the opposite direction.

"Summoning you? Do you have a mission?" Naruto asked. "I do. An Anbu mission." I said.

"Anbu?! Since when did you become an Anbu, Mom?!"

"Yeah, Haru. I didn't hear about this." Temari said. "Neither did I." Shikamaru said. "Or me." Sakura chimed in. "I would've thought Tsunade told you already. I was promoted to one last year. I even have this,"

I swiftly went to cut Shikamaru, but he ducked under my attack and leaped back. "What the hell was that for?! Are you trying to kill me?!" He yelled at me. I calmly smiled at him. "It's called a Wrist Blade," I said, showing it to him.

"It's kind of like a secret weapon in case of a situation where I don't have weapons."

"And Tsunade gave you that?" Sakura asked. "No, I designed it myself." I said, activating the blade. "Would you like me to demonstrate it again?" I asked, smiling. "Nope! I believe you!" Sakura said, putting her hands up in surrender.

"Pity." I replied as I deactivated it. "So, you really made this thing?" Naruto asked as he examined it. "Mm-hm." I nodded. "I never knew you were an inventor." Shikamaru said.

"Well, I've always had a few ideas, but I never really acted on it," I admitted. "Anyway, I must be going. It was nice catching up with all of you." I said, waving.

I went into the locker room of the Anbu Headquarters and got changed.

Once I was dressed, I went to the Hokage House. "Your mission is protect the Kazekage. We have reason to believe that the Akatsuki are going to infiltrate the Sand Village." She informed. "Yes, ma'am." I replied. "You are dismissed." She said.

I bowed my head and headed towards the gates. It will take me three days to get to the Sand Village. Unless...

"Summoning Jutsu." I summoned a huge hawk and we flew to the Sand Village. I got there within 45 minutes and headed to the Kazekage House. I opened the door, then approached Gaara. "Who are you? State your name." Gaara commanded.

"So... You really have become Kazekage." I said, taking off my Anbu mask. When I revealed my face, Gaara's eyes widened slightly. "Nanny..." He whispered in disbelief. He stood up from his chair and I walked over to him, and hugged him.

"It's good to see you again, Gaara." I said. "I missed you, Nanny." Gaara said. "As have I," I replied, smiling. "I'm so proud of you, Gaara. Congratulations on becoming Kazekage." I said.

"Thank you."

"Unfortunately, I didn't come here for a visit."

"I figured, since you're in Anbu uniform."

"Lady Hokage has reason to believe that the Akatsuki are coming to this village."

"Do you know the reason?"

"I don't. That's why I'm here. To protect you."

"I don't think that'll be necessary. Sand Village guards are patrolling the village as we speak."

"It's better to be safe than sorry."

"You're right about that."

The day went by slowly as I stayed by Gaara's side. When it was nightfall, I looked towards the ceiling, sensing something. "Somebody's here, and their not an ally. It's an infiltration." I informed Gaara. "Then, let's go." He said as he got up from his chair.

"Lord Kazekage, you mustn't. It's my job to protect you. Please stay here and I'll see to the enemy." I said. I put on my mask, then teleported to the roof just as someone landed in front of me. No doubt they were with Akatsuki because they were wearing the Akatsuki robe.

It was a male with a blonde hair tied in a high ponytail and a blue eye while some device was placed over his left eye. "Why are you here, Akatsuki?" I asked, calmly. "Leaf Village, huh? In a way, I'm not really surprised since you and the Sand Village are allies, un." He said.

"I will ask again. Why are you here?" I repeated. "Sorry, but that information is classified, yeah." He said. "Is that so? If you refuse to tell me, I'll have no choice but to resort to violence." I informed, politely.

"Sounds reasonable. How about you and I dance a little bit?"

"Not interested."

I took out my katana and attempted to stab him, but he leaped into the air and landed on a clay-shaped bird. "Impressive." I mumbled before leaping onto his bird with him. "How brave of you to accompany me on my art. You must be into art as well, un." He said.

"Who are you?" I asked, ignoring his comment. "How rude of me to not introduce myself to a young lady. My name is Deidara." He introduced. I narrowed my eyes at him behind my mask. 'Is he playing with me?' I thought.

"Aren't you going to tell me your name? Don't be rude, un." Deidara said. I hesitantly answered, "I'm Haru."

"It's nice to meet you, Haru. Now, how about you and I start our dance?" He suggested with a smirk. 'He is toying with me.' I realized. "Let's." I agreed. I sliced at him with my katana, but he intercepted it with his kunai knife.

Deidara tossed a few small balls of clay at me and made a hand sign. The moment he did, the balls of clay exploded. I was blown off the bird and falling towards the ground. I did a backflip and landed on the roof of the Kazekage House in a crouching position.

"He's strong... and very childish." I said as I looked up at him. He was still smirking as if he was waiting for me to come back on his bird.

"You wanna play, Deidara? Then, let's play," I said. I lifted my mask so it was resting on my head and made a few hand signs before making a fist. "Try this on for size."

I opened my hand and blew some golden butterflies towards Deidara. Once they were close to him, I made a single hand sign and they exploded around him, smoke surrounding him. I put my mask back on, then took the opportunity to leap into the air and onto his bird.

I gasped when Deidara lunged out of the smoke and went to stab me with a kunai knife. I grabbed the blade with my hand, then kicked him away, taking the weapon from him. I quickly tackled him off the bird and both of us fell through the sky.

We wrestled and threw punches at each other as we fell. But Deidara managed to end the fight as he kicked me down while his bird flew by and swooped him out of harm's way. I crash-landed into a merchant's shop with a rough thud.

I grunted as I sat up with debris falling off me. I looked up at the sky and spotted Deidara on his bird. He staring down at me, like he was waiting for me to get up and fight. 'Now he's starting to get on my nerves.' I thought with a frown.

I stood to my feet and frowned at him. "Plan B, then." I mumbled, lifting my mask over my head. I made a few hand signs. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

I breathed out a huge fireball towards him. As expected, he managed to dodge the attack with his bird. "Not done yet. This one, you can't escape from." I said, making more hand signs. "Fire Style: Burning Ash!"

Gunpowder surrounded Deidara and his bird, then I ignited the gunpowder. "Sorry, Kakashi. But I need to borrow your technique for a sec." I said, putting my mask back over my face. I charged my Lightning Blade and leaped from rooftop to rooftop to get to Deidara.

When I got to him, he was ready to attack, but I wasn't allowing him to get the upper hand this time. "Stop." I whispered. I froze time and went behind him, then unfroze time. I grabbed his ponytail, pulled his head back, and held a kunai knife near his throat.

"Wow, you're good, un. You must've used up a lot of chakra just to get to me. I'm touched." Deidara commented. "Make the slightest movement, and I'll slit your throat," I warned. "Now tell me why you're here. What are your intentions? Tell me now."

"You're good... but not that good." Deidara said. I looked to my left shoulder and saw something clay-like crawling on me. "Katsu!"

I couldn't freeze time fast enough and the small creature exploded, causing me to get blown off the bird once again, while my mask fell off. 'I underestimated him. Damn it.' I thought as I fell through the sky.

I landed on something soft, so I opened my eyes. Gaara was by my side and I noticed I was resting on the sand he was manipulating. "Gaara..." I whispered as I rested my arm across my stomach. "You've done enough, Nanny. Let me handle this." He said.

"No. I can keep fighting. It's my duty to protect you. I have to stop him." I said. I tried sitting up, but I grunted in pain. Gaara gently pushed me back down on the sand and placed his hand over mine.

"I know. Now, let me return the favor." He said, giving a small smile. I slowly reached out to him with my other hand and placed it on his cheek. "You've grown, too..." I whispered with a smile. My hand slipped off his cheek as I blacked out.