After hearing the news about Akatsuki's attack on the Hidden Leaf Village, Gaara worries about Naruto's well-being. He remembers a time in the past where he and two Sand ninja meet up Team 7 to deal with bandits as part of an alliance between their villages, though Naruto and the others were not eager to trust Gaara. But when Gaara is revealed to be targeted by those in the Hidden Sand who still consider him a threat as a Jinchuriki despite his change of outlook, Naruto was the first to aid him with Gaara's teammates following.