Outside and out of view of the diner, Itachi felt as though he had the upper hand.

"Tell you what, if you let Sakura come with us, we'll let you go without beating the shit out of you,"

"And if we don't?" Negi challenged.

"Then we'll beat the shit out of you, and take Sakura." Itachi answered smugly. He honestly thought he was going to get Sakura one way or the other.

Out of the original six, Lee was the best at hand to hand fighting. He was captain of the wrestling team, afterall. Naruto put up a good fight for the mere fact that if he went ballistic, no-one could predict his moves. Behind him, Sasuke and Neji were pretty much equal. Ino could up a good fight in the fact that she'd make her opponent underestimate her. Sakura wasn't much of a fighter, but she had learned, and was a natural at, first aid. This seemed insignificant, but it was for this reason, after fighting with Itachi's group, that they could go home without having to go to the hospital. As accommodating as the hospital was, it was nevertheless, expensive. And considering how many times they had gotten into a fight with Itachi, Sakura was just as useful as the rest of them.

What the original six didn't know was how well Gaara could fight. They didn't know that when he said he could fight, he meant that he could fight.

Of his group of freakshows, Itachi was the best fighter, having taken a martial arts class. Deidara was both a fool and a coward, but his aim was fairly good, and he resorted to throwing rocks and other objects when in a fight. Sasori's abilities matched up with Negi and Sasuke. Kisame had the most strength out of them, and though he wasn't very strategic, or smart for that matter, his power was not something to be taken lightly.

"One last chance," Itachi said coldly. For some reason, Gaara couldn't stand him. He had been watching up till now, behind the group, where Ino and Sakura stood, but now was the time for action.

"You're a sick fuck, you know that? A cocky piece of shit." Gaara said, coming up to the front where Sasuke stood.

"What did you just say?!" Itachi was shocked. The only people who had actually ever stood up to him was Sasuke, and his friends. Who was this guy? He wasn't one of Sasuke's friends, that's for sure. The only time Itachi saw this guy with Sasuke's group was now, at the diner. "Do you have a death wish."

"Even if I did, I highly doubt you could grant it." Gaara faced him, his eyes emotionless. This intimidated Itachi.

"Hey!" Deidara said in his annyoning voice, "I know him, he's the new kid!" To Kisame and Sasori, who were both in college, this news meant nothing. To Itachi, it meant this kid needed to learn a lesson. This kid needed to fear him.

"New, huh?" Itachi smiled, "Well, I guess I'll go easy on you then,"

"Go fuck yourself," Gaara saw that this was the last draw, that now Itachi wasn't going to use words anymore.

"You bastard!!" He aimed a punch for Gaara's face. Everyone sprung to action. Gaara ducked out of the way, caught Itachi's arm, and held it behind his back. Negi blocked Sasori as he tried to help Itachi. Deidara had tried to gain some distance, but failed and was now getting the shit beaten out of him by Naruto. Lee, both surprised and happy to see Itachi so easily subdued, went to go help Ino and Sasuke, who were facing Kisame.

"What's this?" Gaara said, evil and hatred dripping from his voice, "This is it?" Gaara was tempted to use the switchblade he had secured in his secret pocket.

Damnit! For Temari and Kankuro's sake, I can't end up in jail during my first week here. He resisted, and instead kept twisting Itachi's arm. Itachi tried to suppress his voice, failed, and cried out in pain.

"Beg for mercy, you filthy dog. You have no power on your own, you prey on the weak, and you have absolutely no sense of dignity. Without these minions of yours, you would be NOTHING!" Gaara enjoyed breaking his enemies like this. He was going to continue when he heard,

"Gaara! Watch out!" It was Neji. Apparently Sasori had gotten the better of him and had thrown him to the ground, and was now coming for Gaara. Back in Suna, Gaara had once taken on seven people. These seven people all knew how to fight.

Swiftly, Gaara moved back, violently pushing Itachi onto the ground. Before Sasori's punch could connect, Gaara spun around and kicked him in the stomach.

By this time, Deidara was beat, Sasori was writhing in pain, Itachi was holding his arm in pain, and Kisame had been finally subdued by Lee, Ino, and Sasuke.