Chapter One
Born to Fight
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"Do you fight in order to become more powerful? Or do you want more power so you can fight?"
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"Sakura, they are in dire need of help! You can't just abandon them by simply not wanting to go!" Tsunade mentioned.
"I can't Tsunade, and you know why. What if he's there? What will I do then? I'm not ready for this yet," Sakura told.
"And what if he isn't?" Tsunade watched her student's expression. Her head was bowed and slightly turned. "All I'm asking is to help Suna with this mission. The Sound is attacking and they don't know if they can hold out much longer," she told.
Sakura sighed, "Why can't they their 'mighty Kazekage' to help?"
"He is," Tsunade answered, "and that's who you'd be helping. Most of Suna's best are out fighting and, unfortunately, many of them are not winning. Apparently, these are enemies like never before. Most of them are sword wielders, which is strange because swords are usually short range, but somehow each of them has a special jutsu."
Sakura let out a harsh sigh, "Am I going for medical purposes? Or do I get to fight too?"
"Both. Your first priority would be healing the wounded ninja and, if needed, help on the battle field," Tsunade informed.
Sakura fell into the chair below her and started to rub her temples. "But don't you need me here?"
"Sakura, I think I can handle a few weeks without you. I may be old but that doesn't mean I can't work," Tsunade chuckled.
Sakura pondered the whole situation over and sighed once again. "Okay, I'll go."
Tsuande leaned back in her chair and smiled. "Good, because the rest of your team should be here any minute."
"Wait, what? You knew I would accept this mission?" Sakura questioned, pointing a finger towards her sensei.
The blonde-haired women laughed as she folded her hands on her desk. "I know you like the back of my hand, Sakura. You haven't declined any mission. Ever."
The pink-haired medic smiled just as the giant oak doors swung open. "You called for us, granny Tsunade?" the boy grinned.
The Hokage's eyebrow twitched before sighing. "I've got a mission for all of you."
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Sakura wiped the sweat from her face as she jump to another tree. She had been traveling for three days. Three freaking days. But she knew that they were almost there. The trees were slowly becoming scattered and more open space started to form. She glanced to her other teammate. One that she has known for as long as she could remember. Sakura smiled at some of the memories in her head. "Hm, I'm hungry," Naruto commented.
Sakura's face fell. Way to ruin the moment, Naruto, Sakura thought. "And look! We're almost there!" Naruto shouted.
The medic-nin looked up and saw the he was right. The grass soon turned into sand and beyond a few miles of desert, was a structure of a wall. Each of them looked at each other and picked up the pace; jumping off of the trees and started to run on the grass.
Sakura looked up to the towering wall that neared their path. But something also made her stop. She looked up and saw that there was a cloud of smoke above the city of Suna. The two of them stopped when two guard ninjas came running up to them. "Please state what your purpose is here."
"Haruno Sakura and Uzumaki Naruto. We were sent from Konoha to help aid Suna in battle," Sakura told.
The ninja nodded. "Welcome to Suna, both of you. I'm sorry you had to come at such an awful time, but we do appreciate you coming here."
"May I ask where we'll be heading?" she questioned.
"Both of you will be heading to the Kazekage's squad. Their team was sent to the toughest of the enemy and I would presume they would need you both more than anyone else."
"And where are they?" Naruto questioned.
"The Kazekage is south of the city."
The two of them nodded and hurried passed the guards.
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One of the squad members flew passed the red-headed Kazekage, whom scowled in returned. He glared at the two men that stood a few yards away. Both close fighters but yet had just taken out his entire team. He looked at the man he was currently fighting. He had shoulder-length black hair, dressed completely in white, and wielded a double-bladed sword. The sword was almost as tall as him and had a chain, which he used to throw his weapon.
The other didn't look as strong. In fact, he hadn't even fought anyone yet. He just stood back and watched. "So, you're the great and strong Kazekage? You're all alone now, and low on chakra too. I can tell you that much," the man smiled.
Gaara glared even more as he started to breathe heavier. "Shima, finish him off."
"Yes, sir," the man who stood behind him answered.
Gaara watched closely as the blonde-haired man walked in front of the other. He pulled out a sword that curved into a circle before going into a point. Inside the circle laid a small, blue stone. Shima raised his sword and quickly did hand signs before mumbling, "Release, Verruga."
Gaara's eyes widened as he quickly took action. Doing a few hand signs, he suddenly surrounded himself in a sphere of sand. He tried to calm his raging heartbeat as he listened for the enemy. This was his only time to think of a plan. But as he tried to think, a sharp pain suddenly formed all over his chest. He slowly looked down, only to find himself surrounded by a large hand. The red-head's eyes widened with realization.
The hand ripped him out of the sphere as it began to crumble to the ground. Gaara watched at the ground started to get further and further away. Gaara forced himself to turn around, but was shocked at what he saw. Looking back at him where two red, glowing eyes that hid behind a skull that resembled a warthog. A long snout with two long tusks sprouting at the end.
Before he knew it, Shima raised his fist and threw the Kazekage right into the ground. As he slammed against the desert sand, Gaara desperately tried to catch his breath, but once again he found himself confined in the creature's giant fist. Shima increase the pressure in his fist as he heard a yell come from the red-head. He then threw him towards the ground once again. Weak from the impact and the loss of oxygen, Gaara lay there, trying to catch his breath. But Shima wasted no time. Gaara turned his head, seeing two giant hoofed feet come towards him.
Shima raised one of his hoofed feet and slammed it onto the red-head's back. Gaara cried out in pain. He pulled his weight a few feet across the desert floor before turning around. He watched as Shima came closer with ever giant step. Shima rose his foot into the air and slammed it down.
Gaara watched as his foot never connected with him, but watched as the creature stumbled back, blood gushing from a wound in the center of his stomach. "Looks like we got here just in time, eh Gaara?"
The red-head slowly turned his head to meet the blue eyes of the blonde-haired teen he's known for years. "Naruto," he mumbled.
Naruto grinned as he looked at Sakura and she nodded in return. "We can take on the giant pig. Do you think you can handle the other guy?" Naruto asked.
Gaara nodded while Naruto hooked his arm under his and lifted him up.
The ninja with the black hair frowned as he watched the scene unfold before him. "Shima, finish them off," he told.
Shima's eyes seemed to glow an even brighter red as he turned him attention to the new ninja that came. "You made a mistake coming here, kids," Shima responded.
"And I think you're underestimating us," Naruto yelled.
Shima raised one of his giant fists into the air and slammed it towards the two. His eyes widened as he looked down and saw the pink-haired girl holding back his fist with one hand. Sakura smirked before she pushed him back, causing him to stumble back to the ground. "Gaara, hurry and take care of the other guy! Sakura, help the injured ninja," Naruto commanded. Both of them nodded and hurried off.
Gaara ran under the giant legs of the creature that stood before him. Shima tried to grab him but once he reached for him, Naruto responded with a chakra-filled punch to the side of his skull. Once Shima recovered from the heavy blow, he turned to stop the red-head, but stopped when he saw his leader's hand go up. "It's alright, Shima, I can handle him. You just watch the two brats in front of you," he told.
"Okay, Kensei."
Gaara glared at Kensei and clenched his fists. He had to stop this man here; otherwise something even worse could happen. "You're probably wondering why we're even here, eh Kazekage?"
Gaara continued to stare, only increasing his glare. Kensei's smile became larger as he watched the red-head. "Kensei, we were told not to tell what we are going to--"
"Quiet, Shima. Like I was saying, we were suppose to capture you and bring you back to our leader, but I don't know if I want to anymore. I rather have you dead where you stand."
Naruto and Sakura stopped fighting and watched the black-haired man. "I refuse to bring you back to the leader."
Shima glanced at the two in front of them and took the opportunity to grab both of them while they were distracted. Sakura screamed as the giant picked her and Naruto up and held them to his giant eyes. Shima turned around and faced Kensei. "I refuse to bring someone to the leader who is weaker than me," Kensei glared.
Gaara glanced back towards Naruto and Sakura, trying to think of what to do. "He wanted you because he thought you would be a strong opponent."
The red-head kept glancing between the two until he heard Naruto start to shout. "Gaara, look out!"
His eyes widened as he quickly turned and saw the oncoming blade . . . but it was too late. Sakura averted her eyes elsewhere as a sickening crack was heard. Naruto watched as the blade of the sword went right through his abdomen. "And I am not going to let that happen," Kensei whispered has he let go of the hilt of his sword.
Sakura gathered a large amount of chakra and hit Shima in the chest, causing him to drop them both to the ground. Shima went to grab them again but was stopped. "Leave them; he's finished anyway."
Shima nodded as he formed a sign with his fingers and then regained his normal form. He tucked his sword away and walked to his leader.
Gaara watched as his surroundings slowly started to fade to black.
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A constant dripping of water made the red-head open his eyes. He looked around but saw nothing but darkness. He slowly got to his feet and started to walk forward, where ever he was. With each step he took, water was sprayed up from the ground until a loud rumble came to his ears. Gaara stopped and tried to see through the darkness. "It's finished isn't it? I lost the battle," he mumbled to himself.
"Finshed? It'll never be finished."
"What?"
"A battle is not some stupid argument. As long as someone's breathing, the fight still goes on."
"I have no reason to fight him," he mumbled in response, trying to see who was talking.
"You want a reason to fight? Why don't you just except it?"
"What do you mean?" he questioned.
"You seek out fights. You desire power, isn't that right? Everyone who searches for power, searches for battle."
Gaara glared in the darkness. "That isn't true."
As he looked to his side, two golden figures soon became visible. Gaara's worst thoughts had happened before his eyes. That voice became clear, and those gold figures were only his eyes. "What do you want?"
"Do you fight in order to become more powerful? Or do you want more power so you can fight?"
Gaara watched as the demon slowly became clearer in the darkness. "I can't tell you that. The only thing I know for sure is thing like us were born this way."
Gaara eyed the demon as it sat in front of him, lowering his head so it was level with him. He could feel its breathe on his skin and saw his star-like pupils stare at him. "We were born to fight. Instincts will keep leading you towards battle."
The red-head looked into the demon's eyes. "Why should I believe you?" he questioned.
"It's the only way you have. The only way to become stronger."
Gaara put together what the demon was saying.
"Fight, if you want power to control your enemy. Take that sword in your hand and cut him down! That's your only option. That's the road that continues in front of you and remains behind you."
Gaara clenched his fist and yelled as he forced it towards the object that stood in front of him. He closed his eyes and watched as the demon shattered from glass and fell to the wet ground below.
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Sakura watched as the red-head stood there, non-moving. Kensei let out a maniacal laugh as he saw their reactions. But he soon stopped and turned his attention back towards the Kazekage. Gaara gripped the blade of the sword and in one swift movement, pulled it from his flesh. Kensei watched as his eyes suddenly seemed to light up . . . and they were looking right at him.
Gaara ran towards him as Kensei could only watch.
"Die."
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Yes this is my newest story. What do you all think? If you like it I'll continue, but this one isn't going to be as long as my others. So, tell me what you think!
R&R!