Kabuto had finally caught up with Gaara and Sakura. He hid waiting till they fought it was safe to stop. Gaara had formed a sand dome shield around Sakura and Emi while stay outside to defend them.

"I'm surprised to see you of all people defending Hime-koibito." Kabuto said as he came out of the shadows. Gaara glared at him but also surprised by the honorific.

"I have respect for her, she would be able to hold her own against me." He replied trying not to give too much away. He did respect her due to her skill but also because she remind him about someone but he couldn't remember who.

"Well Orochimaru-sama wants her back."

"Well he isn't having her back." Gaara hissed as he interrupted him. Kabuto glared at him.

"Kabuto I suggest you leave." A calm cold voice spoke from the undergrowth. Both Gaara and Kabuto froze. Itachi walked out between them. "I also suggest you refrain from the use of koibito after her name." He hissed at him. Kabuto made an audible gulp and pushed his glasses up. Gaara knew if they both chose to attack to get Emi he wouldn't be able to hold the dome shield that protected both of the girls and defend them and himself.

"I'm only here on orders to retrieve Hime-sama." Kabuto said replacing the honorific out of fear. "If you're here to get the tailed beast then I won't get in your way." He added taking a step back.

"I am here to repay Emi-hime for the pain that I caused her. As for Gaara, his time hasn't come but it will be soon." Itachi informed them as he stepped in front of Gaara. "You'll have to get through me to get to Gaara. Do you think you can defeat me?" He asked in a menacing voice. Kabuto shook his head and ran.

Gaara watched Itachi like a hawk, waiting for his attack. "Like I said Gaara, your time hasn't come yet but it will be soon." He said before disappearing in a flock of crows.

Gaara released the breath he was holding. He opened a small window to see into the dome.

"Sakura we need to move." He told her. Sakura nodded and quickly finished up healing Emi. Gaara picked up the still unconscious Emi with his sand and they ran to a clearing near Konoha and set up camp. This way they could meet up with the rest of their teams and heal those who needed it. Gaara took first watch as Sakura needed her rest in case some of them came back badly injured.

Nightfall was coming and Gaara was starting to worry that the others wouldn't make it back. Emi was curled up into his side purring happily, he wasn't sure how it happened. His attention was soon taken away from Emi as he heard leaves rustling.

"Who's there!?" Gaara hissed in the direction the noise came from, his sand was ready to attack.

"Jeez Gaara-kun, calm down will you." Naruto said as he made a clumsy exit from the bushes with Kakashi following close behind.

"Sometimes I wonder how you can be a ninja." Kakashi said to Naruto with a sigh as the others emerged behind him. Naruto pulled a face at him. "Where's Emi-hime?" He asked immediately after. He hadn't seen her as they stepped on the camp. May be she was in the tent that had already been set up, most likely by Sakura in case of injuries.

"Curled up next to me." Gaara said trying not to blush at the thought. "I've tried moving her but her claws can poke through my sand amour." He added quickly when he saw Kakashi give him a dry look. Kakashi walked up the Gaara and Emi, sighing. He tried to pick Emi up but it only resulted in Gaara flinching from her claws so he decided to leave her there. They rested for the rest of the night, they would head back in the early morning.

An hour before they had to wake up to get ready to leave, Emi woke up very confused. She uncurled herself and looked up a Gaara.

"Racoon?" She muttered with a very confused look on her face. "What?" Gaara smiled at her, he only allowed it as everyone else was asleep still.

"Good morning Emi-hime." He said softly.

"What happened after I passed out?" She groan and lay her head in his lap. Gaara stiffened.

"Not sure, I and Sakura-saan took you to safety to heal you." He decided to leave out the encounter with Itachi, he would inform Kakashi of that later.

"Oh, so it is true? Kakashi is my real father?" She asked as she stretched. Gaara nodded and Emi smiled happily.

"Where the hell have you been?!" Two voices shouted behind Emi and Gaara, making Emi jumped up onto her feet.

"Yin...Yang...hey." She greeted them nervously with a hand over her heart.

"How many times do I have to tell you, don't run off!" Yin yelled at her, waking the rest of the camp up. Emi looked down at her feet and Gaara watched the three closely. Kakashi walked up to them.

"That would be our fault Yin." Kakashi said rubbing the back of his head. Yin glared at him. "We came to take her back to Konoha. Orochimaru isn't her real father, I am." He added. Yin just stared at him.

"Hey! You two ate my bugs!" Shibi shouted at them annoyed when he realised it was Emi's ninneko's. Yin just look bored at Shibi.

"Then why shouldn't have wondered away." He hissed back while Yang licked her lips.

"They were yummy! Do you have anymore?" She asked innocently. Both Emi and Yin's ear dropped flat to the top of their heads.

"Yang do not eat Shibi-san's bugs, same goes for you Yin." Emi warned them.

Naruto was next to make a fuss.

"Kami! I missed you two!" He shouted running towards them. Gaara held him back before he could touch them.

"Naruto-kun!" Emi hissed at him. He gave her a sheepish look and apologised.

"Seeing as we're all up, we might as well had back now." Shikaku said in a lazy tone. They all agreed and headed back to Konoha.

Once they arrived they went straight to the Hokage's office.

"Welcome back!" Tsunade shouted and hugged Emi as soon as she saw her. Emi yelped from the sudden hug and Tsunade let her go quickly. "Where are you hurt?" She quickly asked thinking she yelped in pain.

"I'm fine Tsunade-sama." Emi said quickly. "I just wasn't expecting the hug, that's all." She added with a smile. Tsunade nodded and sent Kakashi and Emi home, she would want his report in the morning. First she wanted Emi to settle down with her father. They had plenty of time later.