Chapter 1: Death of Konoha

Chapter 1: Death in Konoha

Gaara remained calm, Sasuke's arm was in his shoulder, but he remained calm. He sent out an arm of sand and squeezed the other boy into submission.

"Winner Gaara by knock out!" Gaara released his hold, he didn't want to fight right now his mind was racing, but he had to, Naruto stood in front of him kunai drawn at the ready an angry look on his face that said you just stepped over the line. Kakashi and the Konoha genin came down to gather Sasuke so he would not get hurt.

Gaara was glad he had kept his sand shield up because the boy charged in with surprising force. He saw Naruto's face in the hole that Sasuke's attack had made.

"I'm going to make you pay for hurting my friends!" It sounded like two voices talking at once, for the first time in his life Gaara was afraid that he would lose and die. The boy outside of the sand began to claw at the wall to which the crowd responded with cheers, they had just seen their pride genin hurt and wanted revenge even if it was Naruto who they were cheering for.

Gaara was assaulted several times by waves of demonic chakra; some actually got through and slammed him around. He knew there was something different about this opponent. They were the same but completely different. 'Why, why does he fight me to save them and not just to kill me?' He thought.

Naruto was losing confidence in himself, he wasn't sure he could win, he didn't even know if he stood a chance.

'What's going on here?' Kakashi thought while walking towards the arena to retrieve Sasuke. 'Since when can Naruto use the Kyuubi's chakra at will? Ebisu-sensei isn't such a fool to try and teach him that. If it went bad, the chakra could backfire and destroy the whole village. How did he learn to do that?'

Sakura, Ino and Chouji quickly left their seats so the teacher could lay the wounded boy down. Even then his mind was still racing with everything he had just seen. He knew that Sasuke would be in more danger in the first round, that was why Kakashi had decided to train the Uchiha himself, leaving Naruto, who needed to increase his basics, with an excellent teacher. 'Don't tell me he actually learned to use it on his own.' Kakashi almost shuddered at the mere thought. 'True, Naruto is a quick learner when he puts everything he has into it, but this would be a bit much. A dense guy like him would never think of training where he has to use Kyuubi's chakra.'

Taking a single look at Gai, who only nodded back, Kakashi, knew that his long time rival was thinking the same thing.

'And more then that; these last few minutes a lot has happened. Gaara turning out to be an actual jinchuuriki, Sasuke having used his Curse Seal again and finally; Naruto suddenly using Kyuubi's Chakra. I guess Sasuke still doesn't have enough control over himself. Speaking of Jinchiruku's, how come Gaara's been so quiet the last couple of minutes? And Naruto as well.'

Meanwhile, up in the seats for the Kage's Orochimaru was beginning to get really interested. 'Sasuke-kun wasn't able to win after all, but the Uzumaki boy actually stopped the crushing sand of that Gaara. He's used the Kyuubi's chakra twice now, I'm sure that my seal has been removed. But now I'm starting to get interested. Have you surpassed Sasuke-kun for the time being? Show me and show Sasuke-kun. Yes, show him that you've grown and send him right into my arms!'

Having trouble containing himself, Orochimaru gave a small chuckle. Seeing the surprised look on his old teacher's face, he quickly made up an answer.

"My apologies, Hokage-sama. I did not mean to sound rude, but this is truly a golden opportunity. Not only has Gaara defeated a member of the Uchiha clan, he will now also fight against the man who defeated a Hyuuga. His victory will truly be a blessing for the Sand."

"I see. But do not count on victory yet, the fight hasn't even started yet."

'Maybe, Sensei, maybe. But I doubt that a piece of trash like him could defeat Gaara.'

Kakashi motioned to Naruto to join him. "Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto spoke up, actually sounding a bit timid for once. "Tell me. Do you think this guy is strong? He defeated Sasuke and Fuzzy-brows. I'm… I'm scared. This guy's the same as me, but he's so much stronger. He's always gotten by on his own, unlike me. What should I do?"

"Well, Naruto." Kakashi started, trying to think up an answer to his question. "I will admit that this guy is no pushover. He's powerful, but that doesn't always mean that he's strong. You have every right to be scared of someone as fearsome as him. But tell me Naruto," as they both turned at looked at each other again, Kakashi continued.

"Since when do you run from your problems? What happened to the brave and stupid shinobi that attacked a swordsman of the Mist without fear?"

Wincing at the harsh voice of his Sensei, Naruto tried to speak up.

"But, Sensei. This guy… he's…"

"You just said that he's the same as you didn't you? Doesn't that mean that you're the only one that can fight him on equal grounds?"

"Huh? No, I couldn't fight a guy like him, he's…"

"He's someone that has hurt your comrades and right now you're the only one that can beat him. Are you telling me that you'll give up on them and let Gaara go unpunished? If so you disappoint me."

"I guess you're right, Sensei. I wouldn't make much of a Hokage if I did that huh." Naruto answered.

Turning around, Naruto walked towards the group of Shinobi and Sasuke, who was still lying on the seats. Seeing the strange, almost grim look on his face, the group instantly went quiet. Sasuke stirred a bit as he struggled to see Naruto's face. He had already come to and was now looking at Naruto.

"Hey Naruto." Ino said suddenly. "Don't tell me you're going up against that guy as well? He's a monster! Even Sasuke-kun couldn't defeat him!"

"A monster huh." he answered gloomy, almost whispering. "I guess you're right."

Stepping past Ino, he walked up to Sasuke and spoke up. "Sasuke. I…I'm sorry, but it looks like," he struggled with his words suddenly. "We won't have our fight after all. I'm sorry." And with that, he suddenly turned around and walked down the steps that would lead him into the arena down below.

Surprised by the dark tone in his words, all the other shinobi looked at his back as he walked down the steps.

"What the hell was that all about?" Kiba said as soon as Naruto was out of their sight.

"Naruto-kun, he…" Hinata started,

"He doesn't think he'll come back." Sakura finished for her.

"What?!" the other's all shouted.

No-one noticed that Kakashi still hadn't moved from where he had spoken to Naruto, or the fact that Gai had moved himself and now stood next to his rival.

"Why on earth did you do that Kakashi? The boy's too scared to fight this opponent. He'll get killed!" the loud man almost yelled.

"I know Gai, but there's a reason I said Naruto should fight him. You already knew didn't you? That boy, Gaara, and Naruto are the same. They are both Jinchuuriki who have been hated and feared throughout their lives. And it's because Gaara has always survived on his own, Naruto got scared. He's forgotten the meaning of his own strength and only looks at the opponent's. And right now, with the way Gaara is, Naruto is the only one who has the ability to defeat him. You saw it didn't you? He used Kyuubi's chakra to save Sasuke. As he is now, he probably doesn't stand a chance against Gaara, but if he were to overcome his fear Naruto would show him all the corners of the ring."

"I still think it's too much of a risk. There's too big a chance that he stays scared and can't fight at all. And if that happens, he'll be killed without a fight."

"Then you don't know Uzumaki Naruto. And I don't want to hear you about risky tactics."

"Let the Semi-final battle BEGIN!"

As soon as the words left Genma's mouth, Gaara rushed forward attacking for the kill right away. His sand arm hit Naruto before he could even react.

"DIE!"

"Aargh!"

Before Naruto had even realized it, he had landed, feet first, on the wall of the arena. The force of Gaara's attack had sent him flying all across the stadium, just like it had done with Sasuke. But Naruto, unlike Sasuke, could still move and his reflexes, honed by months of training, allowed him to flip in mid air thus causing him to land on his feet and minimize the damage. As soon as Naruto looked up though, Gaara was close enough for their noses to be touching. Again, Naruto couldn't move before Gaara slammed him into the walls. And this time, Naruto had no way of reducing the damage.

As Gaara drew back his arm to go in for a third strike, Naruto looked up at the stands. Kakashi was still standing there, just like how he stood during their talk. But now, all the others, with Sasuke leaning heavily on Kiba and Chouji, had gathered as well to watch the fight. Seeing the look on his teacher's face, Naruto thought back to the words that Kakashi had said just moments before. Moments that felt like an eternity to him.

"You just said that he's the same as you didn't you? Doesn't that mean that you're the only one that can fight him on equal grounds?"

'I was right. He IS too strong for me to fight with. I can't hope to defeat someone like this.' Naruto thought as the giant arm slammed into him for the third time now. He could feel the walls behind him cracking under the power.

'Someone like this, he's too strong! He's always lived on his own! I know how terrible it feels but he's always stayed there, never seeking the help of others. I can't hope to win against him!'

'Now then, Naruto-kun.' Orochimaru thought. 'Show me what you are capable of. You could control Kyuubi's power to the point where even a Hyuuga was no match and you deflected Gaara's attack. Show me if you are a threat to Akatsuki! Show me if you are a threat to ME!'

Up in the stands, the people were in a variety of opinions for the fight. Naruto could clearly hear people shouting at him to get up and fight back, while others where yelling with glee he was about to be killed in this tournament. Yet a third group of people was yelling that he had to get up and defeat Gaara for the honor of Konoha and to avenge everything he's done to Sasuke. And all of the shinobi that actually knew Naruto and had seen what Gaara was capable of were yelling at him to give up and surrender so he could at least survive.

'They have no idea what its like to be like us; from where they are they can't imagine what the bottom would be like.' He thought scornfully.

Shikamaru was standing, looking at the fight below. In his mind, he was reviewing the conversation he and Naruto had with Gaara the day before, back in the hospital. He had, back then, already realized that he would stand no chance against Gaara and, if Naruto's bluff was right, Gaara was facing the only opponent in the village that could fight him. But Gaara was winning big time.

As Naruto looked up to see Gaara storming at him again, he suddenly saw something behind him that reminded Naruto of something that had happened almost a year ago. In his mind, he was suddenly back in a flower field, a field that was in the country of the Wave. He could see a person standing in front of him, talking with a small smile on his face. If Naruto had not known it was a boy, he would mistake him for a girl all over again.

It was all that Naruto could remember about the words. Before he had time to consider more words, Gaara attacked him again. Going for a different attack pattern this time, Gaara punched Naruto into the sky before jumping after him. He continued the attack by quickly kicking Naruto in mid air. The kick, although not executed by a monster-shaped limb, was still powered up by the Chakra of Shukaku and caused Naruto to be slammed into the audience.

"I have real strength, my friends; you can't beat me no matter how hard you try! I'm fighting to defend them, to defend Konoha! Against me you can't stand a chance!"

'I'll have to summon the frog-boss.' Quickly flashing through the seals in the order he had memorized already, he quickly bit the thumb of his right hand for the blood. Slamming his hand down on the ground he yelled the jutsu's name. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" In front of him was a toad, but it wasn't boss toad. Instead it was a frog his size with a katana on each side of its belt. 'It will have to do.'

As Naruto yelled out his new jutsu's name, all the higher ranked shinobi looked dumbstruck. It was quite common knowledge among the jounins how a summoning technique worked. It required the writing of a contract with the animals you would be summoning as well as a mass of chakra. It was almost unheard of for anything below chunin to be able to use a technique like that. But of course that was not what had most adult worried right then. Every single person that knew the truth, whether they knew Naruto in person or they had only heard the rumors about him, was thinking and fearing the same thing. 'Did he make a contract with the foxes?'

'What the?' Kakashi thought. 'Since when can he do a summoning technique? What did Ebisu-sensei teach him in this month? Controlling the Kyuubi's chakra, using summoning, the more I think about it, the less likely it seems for Ebisu-sensei to have taught him something like that. But then, who was it?'

'What the…' Kakashi thought. 'I expected a lot of things to appear but not a frog. There's only 1 person that can give the summoning contract for frogs.'

Taking a quick look at Gai gave Kakashi all the info he needed. They were thinking along the same lines.

"It looks like Jiraiya-sama is back." Kakashi said

"Yes. There's no other option. He's the only one who could give the summon contract for the frogs."

"jir-who-ja?" Kiba asked a confused look on his face.

"Jiraiya-sama." Tenten said, having come over to check up on Lee mere seconds before.

"He's one of the three Legendary Sannin of Konoha." She continued. "He's the master of Toad-like Ninjutsu. But he left the village about a decade or two ago right? Why's he back now?"

"It is true that he left Konoha a long time ago, but he never became a missing-nin. He has simply gone wandering, but never turned his back on Konoha." Kakashi answered. Only in his thoughts did he continue the sentence.

'But, why would a shinobi like him suddenly return and take Naruto under his wing? He hasn't trained anyone since the Fourth.' Kakashi

"What's going on here?" The frog turned to Naruto and leered. "You are the one who summoned me yes?"

"Yeah I need some help fighting this guy!" He said seriously as he pointed at Gaara. "Hold him off until I can summon Gamabunta." He used the toad's proper name thinking the toad in front of him might take offense at his nickname. The frog nodded and pulled out the swords and leapt towards Gaara who simply held off the toad using sand until the toad began using wind to extend the cuts and Gaara started bleeding much to his horror.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" Again he had failed; a small look alike of Gamabunta was before him this time.

"Hey you keep summoning us! Can't you do anything right?" The small toad asked.

"Why do I have to mess it up now? A frog like this is useless." Naruto thought out loud.

"Hey! I'm not useless!" the frog responded, his pride obviously hurt. "I'll let you know I'm a powerful being, but I'm not experienced enough to fight against something like this yet. Who are you trying to get any way?" as he said the last part, the frog turned his head away, not daring to look at Naruto.

"So, in other words, you're useless." Naruto simply said."Boss toad Gamabunta-sama." Naruto said answering the toad's question and gathering more of the fox's chakra getting ready for another summoning. This time it worked, the crowd gawked as the giant toad appeared in the center of the ring.

Gaara couldn't believe what he was seeing, frogs! He was being beaten with frogs! He felt himself slipping, he had no control and the sand covered his entire body and everything faded into black. The demon attacked the smallest opponent who was saved by Naruto in the nick of time.

Kakashi had a smile on his face that wouldn't go away; he couldn't believe that Naruto of all people had just summoned Gamabunta.

Orochimaru had done something that had given himself away, he had shown anger at seeing the frog not the technique, and it was then that the Third gave a few hidden hand signals to his own bodyguards who aimed kunai at those guarding Orochimaru. The Third prepared a Jutsu of his own; he would seal Orochimaru so that his evil could never harm another person.

The giant frog he was standing on reacted as well, although in a way no one, except maybe the Third, had expected. As the king of all frogs looked up to see who was standing on his head, expecting an explanation, Naruto's old confidence came back to him.

"Alright! The results of my training finally show! Now we're talk-"

"You again!" the frog interrupted, sounding annoyed. "What's with you? Whatta ya want?"

Before Naruto could answer, Gaara, in his full Shukaku form, moved his tail, earning him Gamabunta's attention.

'If I remember correctly, that's Shukaku of the sands.' He thought. 'Not an easy opponent, even for someone like me.'

"Toad-boss!" Naruto exclaimed, addressing Gamabunta by his own version of the frog's title. Please fight with me! I'm counting on yo-" He didn't get to finish his sentence as Gamabunta again interrupted him.

"Hell No!"

"What!" Naruto exclaimed. "But why?"

"Last time you said you'd make me you underling. A boss's supposed to help out his underlings in trouble, ain't he? That's the family law. And I know I said I'd make you my underling last time, but we haven't even exchanged drinks to seal the deal, so…"

He let the rest of the sentence hang in the air, hoping the blonde would understand what he meant. Meanwhile, his thoughts were on a completely different track.

'Why should I have to do anything for the sake of this pain in the butt…'

"No way! I'm not of age yet, I can't drink Sake!" Naruto exclaimed. Suddenly he felt a weight land on his head that spoke up.

"Now don't go saying that." The smaller frog Naruto had summoned before spoke from his new resting place, sitting atop Naruto's head.

"Will you listen to the fellow already? I was saved by this one Pops."

"Huh? Pops? You mean that you're his son?" Naruto's question went unanswered as Gamabunta instead focused his attention on his son.

"What are you doing here Gamakichi?!"

"I was bored so I came out to play." The small amphibian answered before pointing his hand towards Gaara. "But more importantly, that guy tried to bully me!"

"Say what!" Gamabunta exclaimed, his voice hard enough for half the stadium to flinch.

"But this guy here saved me. He's pretty interesting!" Gamakichi continued.

"Tell you what kid." Gamabunta exclaimed as he drew his dagger. "I'll recognize you as my underling. And I'll show you all about the Family Law!"

"I have a plan boss-toad!" He yelled up to the toad that turned to him, he jumped up and onto the frogs head and began to whisper the plan into the toad's ear.

The toad's tongue shot out at Gaara who was surrounded by sand again, the sword wielding toad disappeared knowing it was no longer needed. Naruto jumped to the ground and the tongue retracted and the toad drew out his sword. He slashed into the sand body and cut it in half, waking Gaara at the sudden loss of sand covering him. He put up a sand shield. The crowd was cheering insanely and Naruto gave them the same cold look they had always given him.

"It's odd," Naruto said loudly so that Gaara could hear him, "that they cheer for me now, when every other day of my life they looked at me with those eyes, those hating eyes that are so cold. You know those eyes better than your own too don't you? I hate they way they look at me, I try to cover it up by laughing and playing jokes but in the end when they look at me it's always the same isn't it?"

The people in the stadium always listened to what the ninja said, they always loved the drama it added to the fights, this time however they felt guilt, the fox-boy was talking about them for once they were the ones who did something horrible for the past eleven years they had made that boys life a living hell and they knew it. For once they saw him for what every genin they had ever seen fighting truly was, a child who was becoming a soldier so they could live their normal lives.

Gaara's sand wall came down slightly, just enough to see Naruto's face, no red chakra, and no demon energy was needed for this fight, the wall turned to dust and the gourd fell to the floor. He clenched his fists remembering all of the hateful looks as he grew up. Naruto had been accepted, eventually he knew just by looking at him, because in the blonde ninja's eyes he saw acceptance. The first real smile he had in a long time came to his face as he ran forward and punched Naruto in the gut and felt a fist slam into his side.

'I knew you couldn't be pure evil.' Naruto thought as he punched Gaara in the face and got a fist to his own in return.

"It's always the worst on your birthday right? No one else celebrates with you and you are left all alone." Gaara said ducking a hit.

"Even when I got a team they didn't like me, they even said they hated me right to my face. We shared our likes and dislikes and I know I was on both of their lists. They were raised that way, it disgusts me. My sensei said that I would be better just giving up on being a ninja; I wasn't cut out to be one. In the month we had to train he just pushed me off on someone else and trained golden-boy Sasuke." Naruto said angrily punching Gaara as hard as he could. Kakashi looked down at his feet not wanting to look at Naruto. Sakura had tears in her eyes as she thought about how mean she had been to Naruto. Sasuke smiled knowing that he had messed up the worse, but he knew that he and Naruto were friends.

"When I was young my father sent my uncle to kill me, he was the only one who ever cared about me. He was the first person I ever killed." He hit Naruto off balance, everyone who was watching was stunned, it was a violent fight in the beginning but now it was nothing but a fist fight.

"Interesting turn of events, eh, sensei?" The Hokage heard from behind him, he hadn't seen Orochimaru move, the clone in the seat turned into snakes and a series of loud bangs could be heard as the invasion started. A blade went through the Third before he could turn around.

"Damn it Orochimaru!" He said as he jumped off of the blade and into the open stadium. Kakashi and Gai reacted first jumping towards the shattered window. Hiashi Hyuuga followed, he and Neji had heard the last fight had started and returned to the stadium.

The giant toad heard snakes crashing down the walls protecting the village and jumped into action. The Hokage landed between the two boys who immediately went to him, they were joined by Sasuke, Shikamaru and Neji.

"You boys need to get the students and other children in the village, get as many low rank ninja and children as you can away from the village. You are all promoted to chunin, Naruto you are in charge get them to safety." The old man tried to get up but could not. "Hurry go, you must save them." He implored and they followed his instructions by gathering the younger ninja in the crowd and moving out from there, Naruto was the only one who stayed.

"Old man…Hokage-sama…You can't die not like this." He felt tears begin to form as he clutched the old man not caring about the fight forming around him.

"Naruto…your so much like your father all of the sudden…your a lot more mature after today's fights aren't you? Naruto I must tell you before I die…your father he was the forth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. I want you to remember that when you protect something important to you...a ninja's true strength will manifest!. I give you my will of fire Naruto." His eyes closed and he began to grow cold, Naruto began to sob as he watched his living hero die.

"I'll remember forever Hokage-sama." He got up and took the body with him, he had something to get something they would need besides untrained ninja.

Kakashi, Gai and Hiashi all stood before Orochimaru ready to kill and be killed. Orochimaru smiled knowing the old man was finally dead.

All around Konoha battle raged and people died, civilians mostly as first but then ninja from both sides began to join the dead.

A/N: I hope you liked the first chapter. This is just another of those Ideas that came to me and refused to go away. I'm currently working on chapter three (I just came to edit this one a little) I'm looking for a beta to check my stuff so I you want to help just say so in a review or pm me…