Summary: Shukaku is gone…Gaara's dying but he's alive…What's happening? He's gone but Gaara's body and mind are changing being corrupted by something deep within his blood…

Pairings: narugaa shikatem and whoever else you guys want me to pair up

Warning: blood violence swearing

"speaking"thinking as well as normal stuff

Demons speaking or real intense things

Disclaimer: I do not own naruto or any of his characters though I wish I did

A/N: thanks so far to everyone who's reviewed, it means a lot to me it really does. I'm sure none of you really care about these things so let's just get on with the story shall we?

Chapter 6

"Hey! Hey will you guys wait up?!"

Naruto and Sakura growled quietly as they ignored their annoying team mate and kept on running. Kakashi sighed as they jumped through the trees, getting closer and closer to the border of the River Country. He glanced over his shoulder at his newest companion who was lagging behind, obviously not caring as much as the other two about their current mission. "C'mon Sai, move it."

The artist let out a sigh that would have made Shikamaru proud –though he, like everyone else hates the boy- as he sped up his pace, grumbling quietly to himself in a voice that wasn't supposed to carry to the two in front though it did anyway. "What's so special about the Uchiha anyway? What makes him so important?"

Again, Kakashi's original students growled as they heard his quiet, antagonizing infuriating question. They ignored him like they have been doing for most of the trip and jumped, startled as a blue jay flew out of its nest that was on the branch they just bounded off of. According to a representative of the River Country Sasuke had been seen with Orochimaru and Kabuto around the parts. It seemed, by the way they were paying close attention to a specific spot that they had found someone very powerful and were attempting to convince the person to assist them in destroying the Leaf Village once and for all.

Of course Sai wouldn't understand the situation. It's been so long since they've seen or heard anything about their childhood friend who went insane and now that they have, of course they will take that opportunity to bring him back home. With them. Where he belongs. Naruto growled to himself, the thought of one missing friend bringing another to his mind.

It has been five months sense the Sand Village had told them of Gaara's disappearance and even though they sent out search parties no one has been able to find him. Like a true ninja, the boy kept to his reputation. The Sand Man, when he doesn't want to be found, he will not be found. Naruto knew that Gaara felt that there was no choice but to leave his village –if only he had thought about what his friend might do when he saw him before him and his siblings went back, maybe he could've done something about it- and he also knew that the red head wouldn't do anything drastic. Sasuke left Konohakagure to gain power from Orochimaru to kill Itachi. Gaara left to…keep his village safe. It was a battle to make the others realize that he wouldn't try to slaughter either village though.

The trees they were currently jumping through were gradually getting thicker and taller, the atmosphere beginning to smell more like rain and moss instead of grass. Sounds were filtering in the woods, animal calls and the winds silent whispers caressed their ears, forcing them into a somewhat calm state of mind.

The team was scoping the area out with their eyes, shedding the branches of their leaves with their sharp gazes. They had to keep an eye out for River ninja as well as Sasuke. They may be allies with them but that doesn't keep them from being threats. If they ran into any of the river teams they may end up in the middle of an unwanted confrontation. They had to keep an eye out for Sasuke as well. The boy would do one of two things. One: he would attack them in hopes of killing them off. Two: he would stay out of their sights, straying completely from their built in 'Uchiha locater'.

Kakashi made a sudden stop, landing on one of the thicker branches. The other three stopped as well, Sakura and Naruto skidding to a halt on the branch in front of their old sensei and Sai halting on the one behind him. "Kakashi sensei?"

The Jounin stood warily from his kneeling position, ignoring Sakura's question for now. He lifted his head protector and let the blood red sharingan scope out the terrain, the famous eye looking even darker than it was supposed to due to the shadows from the thick canopy. The others looked around the forest, their guards on high as they tried to find the source of Kakashi's disturbance. They couldn't find anything wrong, much to their dismay, the air was normal, there wasn't any distressed animal calls, no glints of trip wires or exploding tags. What the hell was bothering him?

Kakashi slowly stood on the spot, now facing the rather bemused artist. Sai made a face as if to ask something when the man screamed. "SAI MOVE!"

The chunin yelped and ducked, barely missing the kunai that went flying through the air, exactly where his head was just moments ago. The brunette did a type of sideways summersault before jumping across to Kakashi's branch at the same time the jounin deflected the triangular weapon with his own. Sakura and Naruto jumped beside him, kunai in their hands as they looked in the direction the weapon came from. Sai took out his sketchbook, getting ready to summon the picture of the lion to life.

"Kakashi what the hell is it?" Naruto's question was harsh as he glared in the thick trees, waiting for another attack at the same time wondering just who their assaulter was.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes as he began to form hand signs. "It appears that Orochimaru took a little trick from Ataksuki before he left. Though as usual he added his own twist to it."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Sai glared at the silver haired man with one eye and watched the forest warily with the other for approaching enemies.

"We're fighting clones. Clones of ourselves that can do what we do, and think the same way we do."

Before any of the younger ninja could respond there was a sudden flash of golden yellow and orange and Sakura was hit in the gut, forcibly being thrown to the trunk of the tree behind them. The impact gave an audible thwack and the girl let out a tiny moan of pain. The four glared at the assaulter who was now standing upright between Naruto and Kakashi.

Long legs covered in orange pants, slim torso with long arms covered in an orange jacket with black shoulders and a black collar. A round face, forehead protected with a black leaf head protector, golden yellow hair and bright ocean blue eyes, whisker marks adorning each cheek.

Honestly, it was kind of scary to look at him. None of them could even imagine or picture Naruto Uzumaki with an expressionless face and gaze. And there was no way in hell the boy would ever strike Sakura, no doubt the thing was a clone.

Snarling the real Naruto struck out, his right arm twisting in order to strike the others head. The other ducked with the same speed the original Naruto possessed and turned its attention to him. They drew kunai and struck, unfortunately not hitting flesh but mere metal. This is bad kit. He has my power as well, it would be best to not use my chakra for this. Perhaps if we don't they won't. Are you fucking serious? What the fuck should I do then?

He never got to hear the fox's response due to the fact that the fake him used the shadow clone jutsu and two more evil Naruto's threw their fists. Naruto jumped out of their way making the familiar seals and with a "Shadow Clone Jutsu" two of him appeared to even the battle field.

The others were about to help before there was a loud animalistic roar and a scribbled lion landed on the branch, slashing the sketchbook out of the artist's hands. Sai watched with wide eyes as the book fell to the ground, pages ripping from the seam from the force of the fall and scattering throughout the forest. Gasping he unsheathed the sword on his back and parried the makeshift claws. "Shit!"

Two dragons made purely of earth flew towards each other, their glistening brown jaws clashing together with the sound of squashing melons. Sakura jumped off the tree her back had met from the fake Naruto's attack at the same time a glowing green fist plowed into the spot where her stomach once was. The tree roared in agony, the wood shuddering as the bark and layers snapped and tore from each other, breaking clean in half. The large trunk fell to the ground, its branches snagging and tearing the leaves and limbs from its companions in the process.

Five hundred yards away eyes opened and a head raised from its resting position as it sensed the disturbance in the air and forest.

Twenty Naruto's crashed together, their snarls loud as they reverberated through the trees. Fuck! Naruto growled as he jumped out of the way of one of his enemies punch. He summoned two more clones and immediately the pair began to rush the chakra in his outstretched palm to circulate…unfortunately his evil self doing the same. There were twin shouts of "Rasengan!" the orbs were thrusted to their counterpart. There was a loud blast and the Naruto's were thrown back with loud yells.

Look for her weakness, look for her weakness, Sakura twisted around the glowing fist as she spun around and swung her foot high to kick the other with her heel. The other dodged the attack and sent one of her own. Their battle was turning less and less from a battle and more and more into a deadly and intricate dance of strength and power as they continuously dodged the enemy's attacks. Trees were being cleared and demolished as their fists missed their targets and struck their old trunks, turning the small area into a flurry of dust and flying bark. Find hr weakness…wait! She is me! What the fuck is my weakness?!

Kakashi was having similar thoughts to that of his only kunoichi student. He was currently somersaulting backwards away from…well himself. Landing on the trunk of what seemed to be a very old tree he began to make the similar hand signs of the fire technique. His sharingan zeroed in on his evil –though very handsome- self and saw the clone making similar seals. He placed his index finger and thumb around his lips and blew. A thin trail of fire escaped through the small circle his lips made grew to a large fire ball that had a ten foot diameter. The flaming ball flew towards his opponent, bark and leaves catching aflame and burning to their death in its wake.

His eyes widened when a large dragon head materialized from nowhere, the creature gathering the moisture from the air, earth and live trees around them. The clear liquid shimmered and glowed in the light from the fire, it's somewhat solidified form roaring as it crashed into the inferno. Immediately a rush of steam erupted into the air and the fire died instantaneously as the water hit it. The dragon's momentum carried it straight through the dying flames, its head evaporating as it flew towards him and his sharingan whirled. He wouldn't make it in time –a broken apart water dragon crashed into his stomach, the hot liquid crushing him against the tree he sat on, simultaneously burning his flesh with the temperature of 100 degrees. Damn it he was a worthy opponent!

Sai gasped as he felt claws rake into his left bicep, the claws tearing through skin and muscle, turning his entire left limb to a bloody pink mass. His teeth ground together to the point of breaking as he glared at the scribbled mass in front of him, gripping his sword he swung. The metal slashed through the drawings throat, causing it to shimmer and disappear, black ink splattered like blood on the silver blade. Growling the chunin threw himself off the branch and to the ground, twisting so he would at least land on his feet. He clutched the torn limb tightly, feeling the burning hot blood drench his hand. He landed heavily on the ground, shuddering from the bone jarring force and ran to the nearest fallen sheet of paper he could reach.

His heart jumped when he heard an ominous roar from the summoning of his enemy's summoned animals. The paper was right there damn it! Move your ass Sai! There was a sound of snapping sails and a harsh, high pitched screech of a bird of prey. Damn it, he has to get to the destroyed sketchbook before the eagle got to him. He ducked forward and fell to his knees in front of a drawing, crying out as he felt the sharp talons tangle in his hair and pull, tearing out a few strands. Placing his thumb on the paper he looked up and saw the eagle turn in the air, its magnificent wings curving to allow the sharp movement. He dragged his thumb across the drawing and watched as a lioness jumped out of the paper and slashed at the oncoming raptor.

A shadow made its way quickly over rock, moving down the mountain at incredibly speed and made its way to the forest.

Naruto growled as he dodged a fist of his attacker. Damn it he was strong! –Though he supposed that's a good thing…but he shouldn't have to fight himself! Kit! Behind you! Naruto looked over his shoulder, his eyes wide but it was far too late. A bright, swirling orb of pure raging chakra was coming towards him at a rapid rate and there was no way he would be able to block the rasengan! Naruto screamed, the sound curdling his team mates blood as he felt the raw power of the attack fall on his upper chest. The chakra ate through his clothing like razors cutting paper before it tore into his skin, directly where the dip of his collar bone was. He was thrown back, his body snapping a weak branch in half, wood splintering and cutting his flesh, shedding more blood on his broken body before crashing into a tree, coughing up blood as his momentum created a crater in the bark. He slid down the tree, black dots obscuring his vision as he felt warm blood thread down his front and blinding pain from his back and chest. He was far in the land of unconsciousness when he plopped onto the ground, his clones disappearing in clouds of smoke.

Sakura screamed as she saw her comrade and close friend fall. The wound was horrible, the rasengan had twisted his flesh completely cleaning the skin off his muscles were twisted and bleeding sluggishly and profusely. The fake Naruto looked at the battling Kakashi's and made its way towards them, clones following. The distraction was all her evil self needed. The kunoichi let out a strangled shout, her eyes closing tightly as blood stained her teeth. Pain, sharp horrible pain was in her throat, forcing her to taste the metallic tang of her own blood. It felt like the bone was snapping the same way the branches were, small pieces splintering off as the larger broke in half (what it felt like, not what happened)it seemed like the muscles and her windpipe were breaking and cracking, turning into a useless pile of mush that achieved nothing but the lack of her oxygen intake. The force of the blow sent her flying off the higher branches, making her tumble to the ground with a futile attempt of a battle against gravity, her arms and legs flailing helplessly. Dust flew into the air and she was in unconsciousness before she even made contact.

Kakashi scowled beneath his mask, sweat kneading down his brow and neck making his back sticky. Naruto! Sakura! He wanted to check on them but –a sharp cackling chirping sound so close to his ear made him counteract the chidori with his own and to make his head go back in the battle. The lightning blades crashed off each other, sending a blinding flash of blue light around the forest. The chirping grew louder than normal, the high pitched sound shattering his right ear drum. The Kakashi's jumped back away from each other, both of them standing straight as they evaluated their opponent.

The jounin's eyes widened when he felt air rush around him and he was suddenly surrounded by five Naruto's. The blond's and his own replica jumped toward him, their palms glinting with the chakra of chidori and multiple rasengans. He attempted to make a jump for it, to find a way out of the mob and make a break out of the circle before an agonizing pain tore through his back, muscles, spine and flesh twisting until a clean hole was engraved there. The bright chidori dove into his jugular, his enemy's hand diving in so fast he didn't even feel pain.

There was a sudden poof and a cloud of smoke and a large broken log floated in his place (haha you thought I killed him didn't you ;P). He was breathing heavily as he stood behind a tree, leaning against the unforgiving bark.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Sai groaned as he bent over his wounded arm. Blood was blanketing his arm now, the entire limb nothing but the color of red the crimson was even covering his right hand and the hilt of his sword. The drawn creatures were currently tearing at each other, claws clashing against talons, feathers and fur bristling. Fangs and razor beaks tearing into fake flesh, ink dripping on the dirt and grass like blood. He saw Naruto and Sakura thirty yards away from him, both forms down and covered in blood. Was this it? Was this his fate? Death?

It seemed so.

For at that precise moment he felt another being behind him. Brown eyes widened to plates as his mouth pursed. A choked yell rang through the forest as he felt cold metal slash against his unprotected back. Blood streamed from the deep wound in rivers, covering his back in crimson. There was a sharp pain on the top of his head –he elbowed him!- before everything went dark.

The shadow jumped through the trees, nose twitching as it smelled the horrifyingly tantalizing smell of blood. Sharp eyes searched through the destroyed forest, landing on the clones and fallen shinobi. As the gaze fell on the broken and battered blond rage, pure, raw, unadulterated rage filled its entire being. Snarling the shadow jumped into the next tree, watching as three of the blond clones ambushed and slashed elongated claws against the silver haired ninja's temples. The man dropped and the shadow let everything but rage and protectiveness leave it.

Naruto groaned as he blinked his eyes open. An ache was wafting in his chest and he lightly fingered the delicate, newly grown skin. It seemed Kyuubi healed the wound even though the fox hasn't woken up yet. He sat up with a gasp. Where was he? Where were the others? Where were the clones? He was cold, the air feeling damp and uncomfortable. Sunlight was shining in through the mouth of the cave, making him believe it was a little past noon. The light was shedding brightness on the walls and ceilings of the caves, showing off the dazzling stalagmites.

Sakura was –he let out a sigh of relief- currently healing Sai's arm, her medical ninjutsu stitching the muscle and skin back together. The girl looked terrible, her pink hair matted with blood, her clothing covered in crimson spots, her leggings hanging in tatters. Sai was covered in bruises, his left side completely covered in dried blood, his eyes unfocused, his breathing slowly evening out. He was being uncharacteristically quiet and docile. Kakashi was standing across from them, his back towards them so the jinchurriki couldn't see the severity of his wounds.

His posture was stiff, his entire being seeming to be focused completely on the inside of the cave. As Naruto looked he saw that the cave expanded, curving into an uneven tunnel, rocks hazzardly sitting on the walls. His skin prickled from the strange sensation emanating from the caves interior.

Sakura released a heavy sigh as she stood, her body tired from using so much chakra. Sai winced as he stood as well, his eye twitching from the pain in his healed back. The kunoichi smiled as she saw Naruto's open eyes. "You're awake. How're you feeling? Do you need me to heal anything for you?"

Touched at her sincere concern he closed his eyes and smiled contently. "I'm fine." She nodded and looked away as he got to his feet, his jacket and shirt still torn and most of the pain dissipating from his inhuman healing abilities.

"Kakashi sensei?" The man jerked his head, the only indication for the girl to continue. "How are we alive? The clones should have killed us." Each member felt a wave of shame pass through them at the last six words. Pathetic, they couldn't even defeat themselves. Absolutely pathetic.

The jounins eyes narrowed as he began to walk into the interior of the cave. "I don't know, but I intend to find out." The others didn't even protest as they followed their team leader, his voice had gone dark with determination and they all knew not to argue with that determination.

Another reason…they were fucking curious as well.

The further they went into the cave the darker it became. The air got colder and their skin prickled as hair stood on end. Something was definitely wrong here. And despite their instincts telling them to make a run for it they went further in, their curiosity peaked. Water was running down the alcoves created by the joined rocks, mixing the smell of dirt and lake water into the air.

Turning the group found that the tunnel expanded, spanning out until the ceiling was over ten feet high and the walls separated by twenty feet of air. It didn't appear to be dark anymore, at least not your average every night darkness. It seemed as if something was there, floating in the air and making everyone believe the makeshift blanket of night.

Kakashi made a few hand signs and knelt placing his hands on the ground. Light exploded in the room in a flurry of colors, causing the younger three to flinch and cover their eyes from the very abrupt change. The jounin made a low surprised sound in his throat as his light chased away the darkness. But, what bothered him most was not the change in vision. But the thing in the center of the room.

Naruto, Sakura and Sai warily lowered their hands, squinting in the brightness, trying to get used to the change. When their vision cleared enough all three gasped, Naruto even made a very slight movement forward. Sai was the only one who didn't grasp what the others were, he didn't understand why the others were tensing up and looking so shocked.

The figure was sitting on the ground, its back facing them. Surrounding it were seals, multiple upon multiple of black seals, scribbled on the walls like calligraphy that crawled towards the figure in the center. The seals were in a circle around it, a five foot diameter for it to move around. It was wearing a black –rather tight- trench coat, its arms looking to be folded in front of it but, they assumed that the arms were completely covered as well. A light brown vest was on top of the coat, a thick strap going around its left shoulder and what looked to be buckles wrapping around its middle. The slim, long neck was covered by the coats collar, the head covered in blood red hair. On the top of its head were two ears, slightly stubby and rounded and just as deep a shade as the mane that settled around them.

Naruto gulped, his nostrils flaring slightly as his pupils shrank to pin points. His voice was very quiet, sounding almost too frightened to believe the word coming from his own mouth. "Gaara?" He took a step forward, then another when he saw those rounded ears twitch. Could it really…really be him?

He was pulled roughly back by Kakashi and frankly was too shocked to be angry. "Don't Naruto. It may look like Gaara but remember what he was going to become. Look at him, closely." He dug his fingers into the blond's shoulder, his voice hushed as if afraid those twitching ears could hear his words.

Naruto looked. Yes, he knew Gaara was supposed to become the next demon but…it was Gaara for crying out loud! He couldn't just leave him! Though, now that he observed the details he was able to see the substance that had made that makeshift darkness not too long ago. He could see and feel the black chakra threading out of the red head's body, his primal instincts making him want to run from the figure in front of him who was neither human nor animal.

Sakura stood, rooted to the spot. W-was this really Gaara? T-this chakra –she wanted to run, run fast and hard, do anything in order to get away, to get far, far away- it wasn't normal! A tiny sound like a frightened kitten escaped her sealed lips.

Sai stood in shock. He didn't know who this Gaara person was –though by his team mate's reactions they obviously knew him. And he could remember hearing the name brought up some times before- but this feeling wasn't natural. He didn't like it.

Kakashi took a deep breath, taking in gulps of air. He pursed his lips and released his hold on Naruto's shoulder –surprisingly the boy didn't move. He spoke louder this time, though he had a feeling that the –boy?- in front of him already heard everything he's said. "If you are Gaara, prove it. Let us see your face."

The figure responded to that. A soft, low, humorless laugh escaped it –him?- the thin shoulders jumping in time with the sound, those blood red ears swiveling flat against –his?- head before going upright again. The voice was raspy and low and dangerous and very much Gaara. "You want to see my face? I don't believe that will make you believe it to be me…actually it will only frighten you more. But, if you insist…"

The figure –no, Gaara- stood to his full height, displaying the black sleeves that extended far past his hands. He turned slowly, unintentionally adding onto the suspense and tension already in the air.

Sakura muffled the scream attempting to break out of her throat by covering her mouth –she knew Gaara was a very unstable child, if he saw too much negativity…-. Fear filled her green eyes and she took a step backwards, her entire body trembling. Subconsciously knowing that she was making his emotions worse by showing physically that she wanted to get away…

Sai wasn't fairing any better, in fact he was worse. He retreated so quickly that his own two feet tripped him and he fell flat on his ass. Not even seeming to comprehend that he fell he scrambled back on his hands, his eyes wide like a petrified animal, when his back hit the wall his fear only heightened. I'm trapped w-with t-this th-thing…..

Kakashi didn't make any sounds and he refused his body the movement it wanted to make. He could feel Naruto's body stiffen to the max beside him but, when he looked at him, there was no fear in those blue eyes. Only sympathy and pain.

The leggings of Gaara's trench coat flapped softly around his legs, the black chakra disrupting their peace. His black pants were tight on his muscular legs a light brown strap was beneath both knee caps. His pants flared slightly at his ankles where they stopped and his feet were the answer as to why he sprouted an inch and a half.

He was standing on his toes, his heels up in the air. His left foot was covered in black fur, the feet –paws- seemed to be padded and they were…muscled –strange seeing as how they're…paws…-, in the same way of a big cats. His right paw had patches of red and black fur, the red as dark as blood and the same shade as his hair. The fur went all the way up the appendage until it disappeared underneath the pant legs. Their gazes traveled upwards, taking in the lithely muscled form. Their eyes landed on his face and Naruto felt a tear slip from one of his eyes.

His skin was as pale as ever, thin pink lips held in a frown. The kanji was bleeding. Blood glittered as it slid from the somehow reopened scar, miraculously the blood making the wound appear even darker than it was before. The blood leaked in streaks down his brow, trailing into the dark circles around his eyes. The black had spread, the circles appearing to shrink as they spread across his face in thin, jagged lines, crossing over his nose and stretching across his cheeks, some even split his lips and went under his chin. The white in his eyes were completely black, making up for the lack of darkened circles, the only difference between his and Shukaku's eyes were the color. There was no golden yellow, his eyes were still there. The vibrant and feral shine in those green eyes far more pronounced with the darkness surrounding them.

Gaara of the Desert.

What has happened to you?

Well, there's chap. 6 I liked it but I'd much rather hear your opinions on it.

I'VE GOT A BETA NOW AND THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO OFFERED

I WAS WONDERING…DO YOU GUYS PREFER THE SONGS WITH THE CHAPTERS OR DO YOU NOT CARE OR DO YOU NOT WANT ME TO DO THEM? CAUSE I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE WHOLE THEMESONG FOR EVERY CHAPTER ANYMORE.

PLEASE REVIEW PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE FOR GAARA KUN!!

HAVE A JOLLY, JOLLY CHRISTMAS

Ja ne