Naruto Fanfiction by Modingbeli
If you feel the urge to read this again at the beginning of every chapter, just come back here.
Disclaimer: Kishimoto owns Naruto and all affiliated characters.
A War to be Fought
Chapter 1: Desert Creature
An ominous white dune hung in the horizon. The light from the full moon failed to reflect upon its surface. In the middle of the desert, the landmark was a monument to it's own lonely singularity. A shadow appeared on top of the dune; the large figure was notably wearing a long coat with a high collar. This was most notably was a patient figure. Quickly and efficiently, his hand shot from under his coat and performed two quick seals: hare and tiger. Words were mumbled and the dune melted into a giant mountain of hot glass, only again to solidify again. White to Black, there was still no reflection of light. Red eyes turned towards civilization.
"Come, find me Shukaku."
From the roof of the ruined sand temple, a young man felt but not as much noticed the change in the scenery. There was a blinding light coming from the desert that only became a void of all soon afterwards. The full moon was already having an effect on his judgment. His form dissolved in a flurry of sand only to reappear at the entrance of the village. A gigantic gourd was removed from his back; it was no long necessary: all the sand in the desert was his. The young man's eyes widened maniacal as his legs suddenly extended themselves. His presence on the spot was eradicated save some residual floating dust.
He ran for all he was worth. His body close to the ground, his arms carried backwards by the air resistances: he was all energy. He could barely feel his legs on the ground as his tiny imprints remained on the sand. A growl came from within.
He was a desert creature.
The feeling of freedom countered the pull of change, of Shukaku. By his own will, the youngster headed for the black monument with unwarranted passion. There was life there. There was death present; free blood could not be ignored. As his feet encountered the slick sides of the figure; without thinking, hands fell to the ground aiding the climb.
As Gaara launched himself to the top, he landed on his haunches, turning his green eyes upon the large man.
Full of beautiful blood. Gaara's body was working on pure instinct. He was an animal.
"Are you strong?" The man gave a non-committal grunt and turned around, showing his back. There was a strange design on it. A red inverted tree, with the roots reaching towards his neck. Gaara wasn't interested in it though.
"Your blood is mine." Gaara could already feel the change that taking place. He was no longer himself. He was one, and then he was three. The demon Shukaku at the forefront, his body morphed beyond human recognition. The monster launched himself with abandon at the nonchalant man.
A great struggle began.
Before Shukaku could react, there was a flurry of silver hair, and a rush of air. The boy's half transformed body crumbled under his fist. The shockwave blew all remaining grains of sand from their dune. Yellow eyes met red. Shukaku's arms slashed only to meet air again. His body went flying down the dune. How strong was he? Gaara's body was covered with sand once more as he launched himself up the hill once more.
"Do you think you have strength?" The man asked. Shukaku was only half awake, and all too aware of the strain the man was putting on the youngster's neck. The demon could only needlessly struggle against this superior power: he had lost.
The man's glowed an odd shade of blue. On his fingers, characters were now visible while in his palm a sun glowed with furious intensity. He slammed his right hand into the solar plexus of the child. Manipura, the fifth human chakra center was violated. As the man proceed to perform a seal in his right hand, he mumbled, "Power Release." Gold colored chakra energy rushed into the seal. Shukaku awoke again just to have his energy sealed into a biological prison. This was fate worse than death. As the young man's body fell to the ground, the sealer right and left hands blazed with blue fire. His fingers landed on each pectoral, burning the symbols of balance around the fourth chakra center. Anahata, the heart center was being rectified. Behind, no sign of the violation was left except the smell of singed skin.
Gaara's clothing was burn through as he finally regained complete control. He groaned in pain.
"What have you done to me?" Saliva dripped from his lips as he reclaimed motor control. The man tossed him a brown sheet and turned around facing civilization once more. Gaara's skin was cold and he was shaking. The feeling of freezing sweat dominated his senses as he fought for consciousness. His body uselessly fell on top of the glass dune, shivering. The man sighed as he turning again around to cover the youngster's body with the thick canvas sheet. As Gaara slipped into the realm of darkness, he heard the words, "If you was strength, seek me, and survive." Then he was gone.
Gaara awoke to the sound of vultures flying overhead. By the direction of the sun, it was already late afternoon. He looked around for his gourd only to gasp in remembrance. The gourd was left at the entrance of the village. His memory had gaps. Freedom. Fight. Seal. Sleep.
Sleep? Gaara looked around for signs of blood. None. Was it all a dream? Was Shukaku asleep finally? His fingers found the fringes of his burned shirt. His eyes widened as he saw the symbols on his chest. Ying on the left, Yang on the left. Heart balance. They slowly faded into his skin as he calmed down. He looked through the hole in his stomach. An odd numbered Seal: five marks radiating from a circle. The seemingly filled interior was composed of hundreds of lines of runes. His eyes widened as he remembered now.
"If you was strength, seek me, and survive."
The journey back to the village would be perilous.
End Chapter 1
AN: What do you think? I have rewritten this in light of new developments in the story. All types of reviews are appreciated, constructive comments preferred.