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Orange Sand

Chapter 3: Memories


NARUTO'S POV:

Light shone on four lone figures as they sped from tree to tree. One of the figures was a few trees ahead pushing himself to go as fast as he could.

"Naruto! I think it's time to rest. Sakura and Sai are getting tired!" Kakashi yelled to Naruto from behind. Naruto turned sharply and glared.

"We don't have time! What if it's the Akatsuki again! I lost Gaara once but, I won't lose him again!" This time Sakura decided to speak up.

"Naruto, please! I can't go on much further. We won't be able to protect Gaara if we are worn out when we get there!"

"No! We need to keep going!" He scowled before turning around and picking up his pace. Twenty minutes later the group stopped when they heard a loud thud. They turned around to see Sakura unconscious on the forest floor. Kakashi quickly leaped down beside her body and tried to shake her awake.

"Naruto, I know you don't want to wait but Sakura won't wake up for at least a couple hours. We will head back out as soon as she wakes up." Naruto scowled before taking a seat next to Kakashi on the forest floor. Gaara I hope you're not in trouble. As soon as Sakura-chan is awake we will try to get to you as soon as possible.


GAARA'S POV:

Gaara woke up to someone roughly pushing him to the ground. His eyes snapped open to see a furious Karin straddling his waist.

"What do you think you were doing sleeping with Sasuke-kun!" Gaara glared before roughly pushing her off. What the hell is her problem? It's taking all my patience not to just snap her neck!

"Listen girl. I can sleep next to anyone I want. Now I suggest leaving me alone before I kill you!" Karin seemed to freeze a bit before she pushed up her glasses and glared back.

"Sasuke-kun is mine which means you keep away from him!" Gaara's glared hardened.

"It's seems he is not interested in you If he is sleeping with a guy he just met up a few hours before." She seemed to be taken back before she stomped up to Gaara and stuck her pointer finger in his face.

"What would he want with a monster like you! I heard all the stories of you killing innocent people! No one would ever want you!" As soon as the words left her mouth Gaara felt something snap inside him. Flashbacks of his horrible childhood seemed to surface.

A young child watched as his beloved uncle was slowly dying before his eyes. He kept repeating the same question over and over again.

"Why...? Why..? Why you...Yashamaru?" The young child clutched his head as tears streamed down his face. "You..you were the only one...who ever loved me.." The dying Yashamaru coughed up the blood leaking into his lungs.

"It was an...order." Tear stained eyes widened in shock.

"W-what?"

"I was commissioned to kill you. By your father...Lord Kazekage..."

Gaara continued to punch Karin as more painful memories resurfaced. "Why...? Why can I never be loved? Everyone...always betrays me in the end." Each word was delivered with another hard punch as tears poured from the broken redhead's eyes.

"Why...why would...? Why would Father...?"

"You, Lord Gaara... In whom the Shukaku was implanted while you were still in the womb...Had been watched over and guarded until now as an experimental subject. However If you cannot learn to control the sand that is the power of the Shukaku wraith...You will eventually become too dangerous for the village, Lord Gaara...So it was decided..." A small smile appeared on Gaara's face.

"Then...then you didn't have a choice Yashamaru... You had to carry out Father's order..."

"No...that's not entirely true...I certainly did...receive an order from Lord Kazekage. I probably could have refused it If I had thought to..."

"..." Gaara just stared in shock as Yashamaru continued,

"But Lord Gaara...deep down...I...think I...resented you...for stealing the life of my most beloved sister with your birth...I tried desperately to love you...even If only as a memento of my older sister...but in the end I couldn't. My older sister did not want you...She was sacrificed for the village and died cursing this place...No, you were never loved..." Yashamaru yanked open his vest to reveal explosive tags. "And now...please die with me..." The explosive tags went off killing Yashamaru but, as always Gaara's sand shielded him from any harm. Unable to deal with the emotional pain, Gaara used the sand to carve the kanji for love on the left side of his forehead. Standing up he remembered the words he would live by 'Love only yourself...and fight only for yourself.'

As Gaara was about to deal the final blow to Karin a firm and seized his wrist. "Gaara, calm down." Sasuke's deep voice seemed to snap Gaara out of his trance. He looked down to see the bloodied remains of Karin. Noooo! Not again! Gaara jumped off of Karin into Sasuke's arms crying for the first time since that night. Sasuke embraced him before ordering Suigetsu and Juugo to take Karin to the nearest village. The redhead's whole body shook as he broke down in the raven's arms. "Shhhh...Gaara calm down. You need to calm down and explain to me what happened." Gaara toke time to collect himself before finally looking up into the raven's concerned eyes.

"S-she s-said I was a monster w-who killed i-innocent people...and no one w-will e-ever w-want m-me..." He slowly started to breakdown again while Sasuke just held him and whispered soothing words. She is right, I am a monster! All I do is hurt people! Suddenly his face was turned towards onyx orbs.

"Gaara you are not a monster. Now tell me why you attacked her." The words seemed to calm him a bit. Gaara sniffled before retelling how the words she said brought back horrible memories of his past and he didn't notice what he was doing until Sasuke grabbed his wrist." Gaara that wasn't your fault. Sometimes words trigger unwanted memories and we have no control over that. Just mentioning my brother's name brings my back to the day were I looked him in the eyes as he died right before me. Karin will be fine. We got there just in time. Don't hate yourself over your reaction, she said hurtful words to you that brought up memories that you reacted violently to. Just clam down for now." Even Sasuke himself was surprised how caring he sounded. Gaara needed comfort, and hopefully comforting him brought him closer to Gaara's wounded heart.

A few hours later Gaara calmed down and decided to lay down with the raven for a nap. He laid in the raven's arms trying to force away the images of what he did earlier and finally fell into a light sleep. Sasuke lay awake watching the stars wondering just how much pain Gaara faced in his life. Can I ever truly understand the pain that Gaara has went through. Maybe, maybe not, but I will have him as mine very soon.


NARUTO'S POV:

Sakura had just woken up and team Kakashi was back on the move. Kakashi had summoned Pakkun and the dog was leading them to where he picked up Gaara's scent with a strangely familiar one.

"Naruto, if Pakkun says the scent is familiar it could also mean an enemy. We have to be careful." Naruto just nodded to Kakashi to confirm he had the warning and continued to follow the pug in front. Soon they were in front of a small camp. As he looked around he noticed stand out crimson red hair next to dark onyx. He narrowed his eyes at how close the two were. Hidden in the trees he hid his chakra to remain undetected. What the hell is Sasuke doing here! And why the hell is Gaara with him!

"Naruto is that Sasuke?" Sakura whispered from a nearby tree.

"Yes. I think it would be best to just confront them. I know Sasuke and he wouldn't let his guard down." All eyes turned to the team leader, Kakashi. He just nodded and Naruto jumped down to land in front of the napping duo. Onyx eyes snapped open to bleed into crimson as his sharingan activated. "Teme what are you doing here with Gaara!" Gaara jolted awake at the sound of the voice. He turned to stare wide eyed at Naruto.

"Dobe."

"Teme."

"Naruto."

The rest of team Kakashi soon appeared behind Naruto getting into combat stances. Sasuke pushed Gaara behind him as he glared at his former teammates. (Plus Sai) Gaara could only stare in horror as Sasuke unsheathed his Katana.

"Seems my replacement has come too. Maybe I should kill you first." Gaara's eyes widened and he quickly seized Sasuke wrist that held his katana.

"Sasuke you don't need to kill them. Let's just see what they came here for. If I had to guess you guys are here to escort me to Konoha. Am I correct?"

"Hai. We were given a mission to protect/escort you all the way to Konoha. Why is Sasuke-teme with you?" Naruto took a step closer to Gaara causing Sasuke's grip to tighten on his katana.

"None of your business dobe." He glared at the blonde as he broke free from Gaara's grip. Gaara shot Sasuke a brief glance before turning his attention back to Naruto.

"The same reason you are here."


Longest chapter so far! :D

Please review! I'm going to start writing longer chapters so they should be posted within every three days.

More reviews, the more inspired I am to write = quicker updates!

P.s Karin is not dead just severely injured and will most likely not appear back into the story!