Weight of the World

by Tsume Yuki

Naruto Uzumaki is the saviour, the prophecy child. If there is one body you don't want to get shoved into, it's that one. Suddenly female or not. And as the gods would have it, that's exactly where I ended up. In the body of a blonde, whiskered female child with a mountain of expectations pressing down on me. Brilliant. Self Insert. FemNaruto

7. A Deviation

Weight of the World

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Chapter 6
A Deviation

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"My power won't make a difference if you are incapable of using it!"

The ear shattering boom of the Kyūbi's voice echoed through my mindscape as I laid, sprawled out in the water and staring at the metal patchwork that made up the ceiling above our heads. I couldn't summon the will to get up, it was all going horribly wrong.

I knew that Orochimaru was unavoidable, I had known. It'd been one of the only certainties of this exam so far. But, but I'd still somewhere in my heart, believed I'd have been able to pull a victory from my backside, much like Naruto always does. He got beaten down, but always got back up again, always fought for what was right and came out on top on the end. So why couldn't I manage it? Why was it that even when I put my all into it, I couldn't manage what a twelve year old boy done? Was I so inadequate?

"I can smell your primitive brain burning out from here. This is not fiction you stupid brat, you can take nothing for granted, nothing! You are not a destined hero here, you just are!"

Kyūbi's snarled tore through my thoughts, the force of air he exhaled rattling the bangs that rested on my forehead and cooling my burning cheeks.

Kyūbi was right though. I wasn't a hero, I wasn't a saviour here. I was just normal girl, I felt like a little girl that'd been dropped into shoes far too big for her, and I was stumbling, attempting to run in footwear that just didn't fit. I needed to stop looking at it as the role I had to play, to instead get something that I would actually fit into. To stop trying to shape myself into Naruto's mould and make my own. I needed to break the expectations I had thrown upon myself, I needed to stop looking at this as 'how Naruto would do it' and rather how I was going to deal with the problem.

I should have told Kakashi about Orochimaru, I should have put my trust in the older, more experienced ninja. I wouldn't make that mistake again.

Sitting up, I looked at the giant fox before me, getting to myself in another effortless movement now that my energy had returned to my limbs. Approaching the cage, I felt a steely determination building up behind my eyes, locking back the tears that'd been threatening to escape a few minutes ago. I didn't have Naruto's strong disposition, I didn't have his ability to ignore every jab at my emotions that approached me, that attacked me.

But maybe I didn't need to. Maybe I should stop hollering up everything inside my chest and just go with what my gut told me to do.

"Thank you," I held out my hand before the Kyūbi, looking up at the bright red eyes that stared down at me, carefully guarded, "ready to introduce yourself yet?"

A clawed hand came down at me, but I squared my jaw, ready to face what was sure to be a crushing blow. Instead, two claws landed on either side of me, orange fur only just brushing at the edges of my fingertips. Kyūbi had changed his movement at the very last second to avoid squashing me like a bug.

"Impress me brat, and I'll consider it."

Unable to quite help the smile that crossed my lips, I turned around, looking for the exit when suddenly, I was pulled under the water, submerged in the murky depths that hadn't been more than an ankles length last I checked.

.

I woke up spluttering, sure that there was in fact a great deal of water logged inside of my chest when all that it house was air. Drowning was the last way I wanted to die if it felt anything like this.

Groggily, I allowed my eyelids to part, and then narrow again when the sight before me registered.

"Neji?" I was pretty sure that those pupiless eyes belonged to him, I hadn't really spoken one on one with Hinata yet, not enough for her to be the first face to grace my vision when I wake up. The wetness in my chest got too overpowering to ignore and I rolled over, stomach clenching spasmodically as it tried to upchuck water that wasn't there. I was never leaving my mindscape via brain juice drain again.

"Naruto, are you okay?"

Blinking, I turned to a side to get a better look at Neji, before my attention was drawn to the duo behind me.

Pushing the older Genin out the way, I threw myself at Sasuke and Kiba, catching both of them in an arm each and burying by face between their shoulders.

"You're okay." I refused to believe that the wet and wobbly voice was mine, but it still expressed my feelings quite nicely as I clutched the two boys as tightly as my shaking muscles allowed.

Instantly two pairs of arms came around my ribs, pressing me close. I angled my head so I could hear both of their heart beats, Sasuke's just a little faster than Kiba's, but both beating faster than their usual resting pace. They'd been fighting. I could smell the hormones that usually ran through their bodies when they were in fight or flight. The scent of sweat was strong, Kiba smelt of blood too.

But they were both okay, they were both alive and breathing and still here.

"As nice as this is, there's something wrong with your seal Naruto."

Inhaling as deeply as I dared, memorising Kiba and Sasuke's current scent and the sound of the blood rushing through their veins, I forcibly released my teammates and summoned up a shadow clone. It required an irritating amount of chakra, far more than what it should have done, and my control was shot to hell.

Had this been the original Naruto, he wouldn't have known what to look for. But I did.

My clone popped, relaying all the information it'd seen, back to my mind instantly. The counterbalance of the Eight Trigrams Seal had been upset by the Five Point Seal over placed the top. Two finished seals placed over one another, one being an even and one being an odd, well, there were several ways that I could fix it, but that required time and a safe place, something I didn't have right now. I could remove the Five Point Seal, but there was no telling how long I'd be unconscious for, best to wait until after the preliminaries for that.

So, it'd have to be the temporary job then.

Allowing chakra to light up three of my fingers, I flicked the left side of my jacket out of the way, slamming the digits down onto my skin and twisting. Heat burned through my stomach but I pushed the pain aside, much more focused on making sure the Third Tier seal I was introducing would upset the Second and thus, not set off the First. Because releasing the Kyūbi was the last thing I wanted.

Pulling my hand away, I grimaced at the mess the seal was now, no longer the gorgeous fluid design it'd once been. But my chakra was circulating again, the Three Point Seal effectively locking up the effects of the Five Point Seal. It wasn't a long term solution, because the Three Point was not designed to seal up a seal like the Five Point, but I wanted to keep the secondary number at eight, so that it wouldn't interfere as much with the original seal.

Not quite satisfied, I was reluctant to accept the makeshift patch job but it'd have to do for now.

Fully sorted, I looked back up at the tree males standing closest to me, noting the absolute horror on their faces.

"Please, I know what I'm doing with Fūinjutsu, no need to worry." I didn't think pointing out that I'd never have been able to do what I'd just done a year ago would help them come to terms with the fact I'd been tampering, in a way, with the seal holding the Kyūbi back.

Both Tenten and Lee looked confused, but as long as they didn't know for now, all would be well.

"Can you fill me in on what I've missed out please?"

.

Apparently, when we were forcibly separated by Orochimaru, he'd gone on to test Sasuke, the end result being the sight I'd arrived in time to witness. Since then, I'd been unconscious, Kiba and Akamaru had managed to get both myself and Sasuke to a safe, easily defendable location. Then, he'd been attacked by the Sound Genin. He'd managed to take down the girl on his own, and then the two boys had attacked him together. Lee had come and intervened, and they'd been at a stalemate until Sasuke woke up. Woke up brimming with power.

When they finished the story, I turned to look at the Uchiha, and I didn't even need to ask before he was stripping off his shirt, allowing me to get a good look at the seal that was now sat on his neck.

Pulling out a pair of specialist Fūinjutsu gloves from my pocket, I snapped them on around my fingers. They were only given to ninja that specialized in Fūinjutsu, because they were too blooming expensive to waste on people who didn't take the whole thing seriously. The reason they were so pricey was because they didn't conduct chakra. At all. Chakra didn't stick to the gloves, the chakra brimming beneath my fingertips couldn't escape. Which made them perfect for analysing unknown, potentially violent seals.

Placing both arms on Sasuke's neck, I began running my fingers up and down the muscles where his shoulder joined his neck, looking for any oddities other than the seal. The muscle didn't feel swollen as far as I could tell, but that wasn't really my area of expertise. More importantly, the skin wasn't dried, or cracked in anyway. Say what you want about Orochimaru's seal, but at least it was professional quality.

"Don't dare channel any chakra," I said after a few moments of looking the seal over. I didn't dare unpack it, so to speak, out here in the open. I needed a nice clean room if I was going to do that. There were far too many variables out here. We needed to be at the tower, now.

"This is a cursed seal, and cursed seals are never good as a rule. Considering who gave you this, it's probably one of the worst one's out there. I won't be able to unpack it and start making a counter measure until we get to the tower though." Pausing at the thought, I frowned and tapped at the storage seal on Sasuke's chest. "Still got them?"

"Yeah, we said we'd lost it already when the snake freak asked," Kiba grumbled, looking quite pleased with himself, while Neji's eyes darted from the seal on Sasuke's chest to my other teammate then sending me an approving look. Clearly he liked the whole misdirection thing we had going on.

"Why? It gives me power, is it not a boost like," Sasuke paused, eyes darting to my still bare stomach before looking back up at me, "is to you?"

Grinding my teeth, I pulled my gloves off, gesturing for Sasuke to get dressed again.

"I don't know what kind of seal this is Sasuke, but the vast majority of curse seals eat away at something every time you use them. Your chakra and your mind are the most common. Tell me, do you want to be going up against that man with this weighing your chakra down, or perhaps you'd like to match your half devoured mind against his prodigious one?"

Sasuke suddenly looked quite sick, face scrunching up and fists clenching.

Ignoring the looks of everyone else, I pulled the taller Genin into a hug, pressing my chin into his shoulder that wasn't covered in a seal and thus, allowing my lips to rest beside Sasuke's ear.

"Every time I use the Kyūbi's chakra it strips away a little bit of my lifespan, it burns like hot oil is running through me instead of chakra. No power is freely given, you're better off working for it. Please trust me." Tightening my hold on the back of the boy's shirt for just a moment, I took a step back at his grunt, instead turning to look at Team Gai. Lee grinned, offering me a thumbs up even if his eyes still glinted with confusion.

"Yosh, your youthful team have collected both of the required scrolls?"

At the boy's question, I stretched my arms above my head, grinning as I nodded.

"In that case, let us travel in a group. Other teams will not like the of two to one odds. It will be safer for all of us!" And as odd as he looked, Kiba and Sasuke couldn't really argue with Lee over that.

.

We made it to the tower by the end of day two. There had been one team from Ame that'd took one look at the six of us and decided they'd rather try their chances elsewhere. We'd opened our scrolls, and Kakashi-sensei had appeared, congratulating us. But I knew from the look in his eyes he was expecting me to report the second I could get away.

Unwrapping the bandages that curled around my right forearm, I exposed my own storage seal, releasing the packed bentos that were sat within. I'd packed enough to last the three of us for seven days instead of the five I knew the test would take, but since we'd finished early, then I figured we could start eating them now and rummage through the tower later.

Summoning up a trio of shadow clones, I sent them off to hunt out a clean room, letting my shoulder droop as I clutched at the bentos in my hands. We'd made it through the second test, but it wasn't relief I was feeling. More like trepidation. I was scared, scared of what was going to happen. Sasuke, Kiba and I were close, closer than what the original team seven had been. Shisui was alive. But would it be enough for the Uchiha to avoid leaving for Orochimaru? I didn't know. I hoped so.

"Food?" Kiba's optimistic moan pulled me out of my thoughts and I spun on the balls of my feet, twisting to face the rest of my team, along with Neji and co.

"I've got bentos, if you want to share?" As if to prove my point, I wiggled the stack of six bentos about in my hand, jolting slightly when Tenten let out a moan of appreciation, all but pouncing me in order to rip one free of my grasp.

"Your cooking is sooo good Naru-chan."

"Yeah! And she's our teammate, not yours!" Kiba stuck his tongue out at the older girl and I laughed, handing out the bentos to the rest of our little group as we continued forwards, walking into the main room. Sasuke lingered at the back and I allowed the squabbling Tenten and Kiba to pass me by, followed by Neji who was showing Lee polite interest for his latest rant.

"What's up Sasuke?"

He was quiet for a moment, filling the silence with the sound of the bento lid being popped off and exposing the contents.

"Will you be looking at it soon?" The seal. Exhaling, I picked at my own bento, keeping track of all the other Genin who'd come back to the main room to see who else had made it through.

"I've got some clones cleaning up a room. I'll have Kakashi-sensei on standby, but I think I'll be able to manage a temporary measure until after the next pat of the exam."

The Uchiha nodded, eyes darting up to take in all the other Genin around us and then grimacing when Haruno Sakura came scampering towards him. This girl hadn't had a Wave mission to kick her into high gear yet. She hadn't had to face down Sound nin with no backup. Part of me felt like I'd deprived her of what she was suppose to become, deprived her of her development. But then I'd remember that had she been on team seven, Kiba would not have been. And such a thought was unacceptable.

"Please don't touch Sasuke, Haruno-san," I managed to grab her extended arms and veer her off course, expertly ignoring the angry look she sent me. All of the villager had sent me far worse. "Sasuke has been cursed with a seal of unknown origins and no one is suppose to touch him until it can be better assessed."

"Ano, Na-Naruto-san... Ka-Kabuto-kun said th-that you were a-a Fūinjutsu sp-specialist?"

Looking up at Hinata, who looked so timid in that huge jacket, with her big doe like eyes and short dark hair, I couldn't help but smile.

"I am indeed. I have some clones prepping a room ready for examination and possible methods of containment, so don't be surprised when we disappear. I'll leave a note on the door we use, but do try not to enter it. One wrong stroke and I might end up blowing up the building if I get distracted."

Sakura was pale, staring horrified at Sasuke, who was just hunched over his lunch and was finishing it with an increasingly rapid rate. After a moment's thought, I pushed my own towards him, no longer hungry. My normally huge appetite was non-existent. Sasuke already knew the drill that when I was offering food it meant I didn't want it, so he didn't bother to make sure I was certain, instead accepting the half full bento and devouring the rest of it.

"Are you sure you should doing something so dangerous?!" Sakura cried, her bright green eyes wide with horror. They were an astonishingly pretty colour, glittering in the light and- was that a sheen of tears? Nope, not my area of expertise.

"Right now, no one is suppose to give us any medical aid, it's up to us to survive to the next stage Haruno-san. Out of everybody in this tower, it is not presumptuous to assume I am the most skilled with seals."

"But-"

"Just shut up Sakura," Sasuke grumbled, stacking the second empty bento box on top of his first one, turned his dark eyes on me, "Naruto's dealt with a seal far more dangerous than this one today. I trust her to not mess this up." That was that apparently.

.

Unpacking the Curse Seal of Heaven was tricky business. While according to the rules Kakashi wasn't allowed to interfere without getting us disqualified, that didn't meant he couldn't sit in the room and make sure he'd be there to stop any giant blunder I could make. The kind with far reaching consequences. Such as blowing up the tower. Not that I was at such an amateur stage anymore.

Kiba was sat outside the room, guarding the door to make sure no one else would try to interrupt. I trusted him, the Inuzuka knew what a delicate process this was, he knew that even the slightest distraction could cost me. Considering the last time he'd drawn my attention a half made storage seal had started melting the paper it was wrote on, he'd long since learnt not to interrupt me with when I was in Fūinjutsu mode.

"Okay, so we've got a fourth tier interlocking matrix over here," I murmured, gesturing to the specific location for Kakashi's benefit, who's eye was narrowed and for once, paying complete intention. "I'm going to interweave a temporary chakra feeder, which should last a week at most. But after that, it'll close up around there and I won't be able to do this again, so you'll have to get it sealed. You can do that later, right sensei?"

Looking at the silver haired man from the corner of my eyes, I clocked him nodding, so I turned my attention back to Sasuke, folding the seal back up and picking up my paintbrush in glove covered fingers.

"Okay Sasuke, what I'm going to do is put a chakra storage seal on your shoulder here," tapping at the body part in question, I traced the chakra pathway -which I'd gotten Neji to draw on Sasuke's body with a special, unreactive ink earlier- until I reached the cursed seal on his opposite shoulder. "I'm going to pour a hell of a lot of chakra into it and link it up so that the seal eats away at that instead of your chakra. Mind you, this is only a temporary fix for a week, and either me or Kakashi-sensei will be sealing this up. Otherwise it's going to eat away or your mind and corrupt your thoughts. Which we want to avoid, yes?"

Sasuke nodded, fists clenching as I began to paint syntaxes across his bare back.

"It's going to hurt, but not as much as the curse seal will in the long run. There's not much chance of you passing out, but if you feel the need to, do not fight it. Understand?"

"Yes. Just get on with it."

This was awful. I shouldn't have to be putting this kind of seal on Sasuke, feeding the curse seal with my own chakra. I should be able to get it off, or at the very least, seal it up for him I had no idea how long he'd be unconscious if I did that, and right now, that was something we couldn't risk. And so, I got to work.

---

His little Kaichō-chan was incredible. The sealing had taken more out of her than either of them had thought it would, and Naruto had passed out only a few seconds after Sasuke. He'd carried them outside, following Kiba to their temporary sleeping space and dropping the two on the bed, leaving to report to the Hokage. She was very skilled with Fūinjutsu, Kakashi knew he certainly wouldn't have been able to find a temporary measure for holding the Cursed Seal of Heaven back in such a short time.

Now he was stood before the leader of his village, who looked as proud as he felt.

"Naruto-chan sure has come a long way."

"Yes she has Hokage-sama."

"So, Sasuke'll be okay?" Uchiha Shisui had perked up from where he'd been stood beside the Hokage, the dango stick he'd long since finished and moved on to gnawing at now held between his fingers. The little wooden stick had been mauled worse than what his ninken would have managed with a bone.

"We'll have to seal it correctly after the preliminaries, but other than that, yes."

The older Uchiha let out a relieved breath, eyes warm as they scanned the Hokage's crystal ball, which showed a dozing Naruto.

"I can honestly say I wasn't expecting the brat to be so exceptional."

"Naruto did manage to keep a very levelled head considering what happened. Kakashi, has she had any relapses regarding her previous trauma?"

The silver haired man shook his head, pleased to be able to do so. It'd been some of the most painful weeks of his life, having to train Naruto to not flinch away at the sight of a blade, to be able to run her thumb across the sharp edges again. To be able to dig a kunai into her palm in order to break a genjutsu. It'd been a horrific couple of weeks, and it was not something that Kakashi wanted to relive.

Luckily, it appeared he wouldn't have to.

"Then as long as she passes the preliminaries, I think we can safely say Naruto is set for promotion."

Both Kakashi and Shisui nodded, taking the leave where it was given and exiting the room.

They walked down the corridor of the tower, Kakashi pulling out his favourite book with its worn cover and dog-eared pages, Shisui seemingly deciding he hadn't yet mangled the dango stick enough.

"Can I see them?" Shisui asked after a moment of silence, the eighteen year old looking up at his with huge, pleading black eyes that no ninja should ever be allowed to employ. Ever. Naruto had something similar, but her brilliant blue eyes were infinitely worse, especially when she angled her head just right and caught the light in her unshed tears.

"I suppose you can't really be considered an examiner or trainer." The fact that Shisui was a family member went unsaid.

If it had been Naruto that had been the target, Naruto who'd been 'gifted' that awful seal, not even all of Iwa and Kumo's combined power would have been able to hold Kakashi back from reaching her side.

Leading the younger Sharingan user down the twisting corridors, Kakashi stretched out his senses, reassuring himself that Naruto and the rest of team were still in the room.

Pushing open the door, Kakashi paused at the sight before him, a smile breaking out under his mask. They really were like little puppies.

All three of his Genin were sleeping within one of the chambers of the tower, but most importantly, they were sprawled out not around each other, but instead on top of one another.

Kiba was sleeping at the bottom of the pile, leg occasionally twitched as he dreamed, one hand grasping Naruto's slim ankle. The girl herself had spread out starfish style, attempting to take up as much room as possible on the single king-sized mattress Kakashi had dropped her on.

While Kiba had hold of one ankle, the other leg was thrown across the boy's torso, toes digging into his ribs. Naruto was laid face down, having, at some point, snatched up one of Sasuke's arms and began using it as a pillow, lips occasionally parting to let out an almighty snore, something which Naruto only did in her sleep when she was completely comfortable with the company around her.

As if that weren't bad enough, Sasuke seemed to have decided he preferred being at the top of the pile, laid on one side with his legs over Kiba's and his head nestled quite neatly between Naruto's shoulder blades. A trail of drool had escaped the corner of his mouth and was now pooling on the thick material of Naruto's jacket, not that the girl would notice until she woke up.

All in all, it was an exceedingly cute scene to stumble upon, and Kakashi had to hold up his hand to prevent the other Jonin from making a noise and rousing the trio. At least, until he got a photo of the sight before his eyes. This was blackmail material just begging to be stored away for future reference.

Shisui, upon realizing what he was doing, beamed, eyes flashing Sharingan red so he'd never forget the scene before him.

"I want a copy," he whispered to Kakashi, the Copy-Nin nodding along.

"Only if I'm there when you show Sasuke."

"Done."

---

When I woke up, it was to a tight grip on my ankle, another arm that couldn't possibly belong to the same person wrapped around my waist. The fact that I hadn't registered the holds as threats was enough for me to know I was safe, it had to be someone I knew and hung out with often.

It only took a few seconds for everything to catch up with me and decide that, yes, this was quite the comfortable and acceptable position.

It wasn't until I heard the muffled snickering that I realized that, like it or not, I was going to have to get up.

Cracking open one sleep caked eye, I scanned the room, noting the two bodies that were woven between my own, before my gaze landed on Kakashi and everyone with him.

Shisui was there, grinning from ear to ear, Sarutobi Asuma stood beside him, along with the rest of Team Ten. Shikamaru, Chōji and Ino. And all three were gawking at us.

Rolling my jaw around, I looked over my shoulder to find out it was Sasuke's head and oversized ego pinning my chest to the bed, and that it was Kiba currently snuggling with my left calf.

Grumbling, I wiggled my elbow out of from under Sasuke, digging it into the dark haired boy's side while trying to free my foot. However, Kiba wasn't having it, though Sasuke woke up with a surprised snort, blurry eyes blinking in a rapid motion.

"Get this mutt of me," I chuntered, scowling harder when Sasuke let out a low chuckle but nevertheless gave Kiba a swift kick to the rump, sending both him and Akamaru off of the bed.

Ignoring our audience, I stretched my arms up above my head, twisting my spine back and forth and listening to the satisfying pops.

"How's the seal Sasuke?"

The Uchiha frowned, absentmindedly clamping a hand down over the offending chakra construct before a yawn tore through his throat.

"Good, don't feel a thing. Thank you."

"Wait a second! Why were you all sleeping together like that?!" Ino came striding in, a glare on her face and arms folded in a stern intimidation of an angry Shisui. I meant to answer, meant to explain that we found comfort in being so close to each other after being attacked.

Unfortunately, my mouth had other ideas, and instead out came, "why is there a wet patch on my back?"

.

The remaining days passed quietly. The three of us mostly stuck to the room that Sasuke and I had woken up in after the sealing. I'd inspected the thing every day, both morning and night, but my temporary solution seemed to be holding out fine. We had enough food stored in the seals on my arms to not have to leave for anything, so we didn't.

It might be a form of trauma, it might be just me that felt this way, but I needed to reassure myself that both my teammates were fine. We'd encountered an enemy so very far out of our league, we'd been lucky to escape with our lives. If he'd wanted us dead, we would be. End of story.

I'd panicked, lost myself to a Kyūbi induced rage instead of thinking things through as I should have done. I'd have had more chance, but I'd just seen Kiba so beaten up, heard Sasuke's throat tearing scream and that'd been it. I was lost, a slave to my emotions. It was something I needed to work on. Fight smart. I needed to fight smart. There was no other choice for ninja, and I needed to remember that.

"So, this is where you've been hiding."

Walking through the door after Kiba, I tilted my head to the side Neji was currently on. The dark haired Genin was leaning against the wall, one arm crossed over his chest and other chewing at a rations bar. Probably from his own pack. Ah, we may have been hording my food in our room, but really, we'd come to an agreement as a team it was best if everyone else was running on tower supplied ration bars instead of the real food I'd brought with me. Heartless maybe, but they'd just have to get over it.

"Yeah, burrowed under the covers masterminded our plan to take first place," I replied, stuffing one hand into my pocket while the other reached out to tug at Neji's ponytail. He blinked in confusion at the action for a second, understandable since I'd not really dared to become too familiar with him. But Neji was my friend, one of my closest, if not the closest. Only Kakashi was closer, and that was because he was my mentor, practically my older brother. It was perhaps time I started showing that.

"Come on Hyūga boy, let's go see why we're gathering."

I gave another teasing pull, watching as Neji's eyes narrowed for a second but nevertheless fell in step with me, Sasuke flanking my other side.

"Have you managed to reach a solution regarding your seals?" The dark haired boy asked, gaze flickering between us, clearly an open ended question.

"I've got one for mine, and I think Kakashi knows of one that can help Sasuke, so yes, we're good."

It pained me not to ask if he would like to attempt removing his, tweaking it so that it could never hurt him. But I did not need the full weight of the Hyūga clan coming down on me, not when they could just as easily reapply the seal to Neji.

From the tightness of his eyes, the older Genin recognised the situation for what it was, but not once did he put me in the position by asking either.

Reaching out and taking hold of the boy's hand as we walked through the doors to the main room, I gave it a light squeeze before letting go, hoping that the contact could say what my mouth could not.

.

We stood in lines, listening to our Hokage speak. I was in front, the shortest of our collective group, Kiba behind me and Sasuke bringing up the rear. Neji was to my right, Sakura to my left. Five teams from Leaf, one from Sand, and one from Sound. Good numbers for the Leaf village at least.

There was outrage as it was announced there would be preliminary matches, most noticeably from Shikamaru and Sakura. Not that I cared really.

I would have to win. I needed to be in that final.

The electric scoreboard that would show the matches was revealed from a heavy wooden slot and I let my gaze lock on the screen. This was it. From here on out, I wouldn't have Sasuke and Kiba's support, just like they wouldn't have mine. The temporary chakra seal I'd placed on my teammate should be enough to hold the curse seal off from another three or four days, but there was a high chance it'd get excited whenever Sasuke started using his own chakra, and thus start burning through the supply I'd set up for it to eat through much quicker than I'd have liked.

Regardless, I could do no more now, I'd done as much as I could, which was far more than had happened in the manga. And Sasuke had still managed to win his fight in the manga while struggling with an unbound seal. So he should be okay.

Behind me, Kiba sucked in a sharp breath and I looked up, catching sight of my name on the scoreboard.

Right above Gaara's.

.

My mind stuttered to a halt.

Gaara? He, he'd been the last person I'd been expecting to fight in all honesty. I'd been sure that the actual match-ups were rigged by somebody, so that the most promising and politically heavy children would have been thrown into the actual third test. To bring in the most money to the village. But apparently it really was random.

I doubt the Third would have matched me up with the Fourth Kazekage's kid otherwise. Gaara still had his reputation of being untouchable right now. And damn was he unstable.

"Naruto?" Kiba asked, placing a hand on my shoulder and voice tinged with worry.

Whatever reply I could have given was drowned out by our examiner, Hayate Gekkō, calling for the two of us to come forwards. I barely heard Kankurō grumble that I had reached the end of the line and was about to get what was coming to me.

In fact, I ignored everyone but the Hokage completely, kneeling before the man and sucking in a breath between my two front teeth.

"Hokage-sama, it may be unavoidable that I use that power. Permission to break S-rank secret if required?"

Beside the Hokage, Asuma was the only one close enough to hear my words, and he actually inhaled his cigarette, coughing and spluttering away as he tried to recover from the sudden obstruction to his wind pipe. The Third had to know what Gaara was, had to know that he was far too unstable for me to get out of this thing unscratched. That I might have to draw upon that power. I could see it in his eyes, before he finally gave a low nod of his head, sighing and puffing at the pipe between his lips.

"Granted, Genin Uzumaki Naruto."

Swallowing, I stood his straight, turning my attention back to Gaara, who was watching me with sharp eyes. Hayate shifted from foot to foot, an uncomfortable look on his face as his eyes danced between us. He knew what we were too, he knew just how explosive this first match could get.

"Are the first two participants, Leaf Genin Uzumaki Naruto, and Suna Genin Gaara of the Desert, ready to fight?"

"Yes," Gaara responded tonelessly, but I paused, sucking in a deep breath before pulling off my jacket. With the seal now balanced again, it was no longer visible unless I channelled chakra in such a way that I wanted it to be visible. Undoing the bandages that covered both my upper arms and forearms, I threw the whole lot up to Kiba, who caught them with a raised eyebrow.

"Kakashi-sensei, this'll get dangerous," I murmured, gaze still focused on Gaara, who's eyes were trailing over the multitude of seal of my arms with interest flashing in his eyes, "please prevent any damage from spilling over on everyone."

"Hai Kaichō-chan."

Somewhere up on the balcony, Temari snorted at the nickname.

"Then I am ready Hayate-sempai."

"Right then, first match, begin."

I shot to the left, rocketing past the Hokage, who was the only one to not move out of my way. Flipping up onto the stone hands that served as the only decoration in the room, I pressed a chakra powered finger down on a seal situated on my inner upper arm. Instantly, a flood of water exploded outwards, following the chakra I was channelling down my arm and absolutely drenching the entire floor. We were ankle deep in water by the time the seal spluttered to a stop, Gaara looking significantly unimpressed.

While my secondary affinity was water, I still wasn't quite at the stage where I could summon it from the air. Which was why I'd stored a hell of a lot of water in a seal on my arm. Now, I didn't have to worry about a water source, I could carry it around with me.

"You think water'll stop Gaara's sand?"

I ignored Kankurō's taunt, instead allowing Kiba's bellow calling for my victory to fill me with courage, to set my stomach aflame.

Releasing my weight seals with another tap of a finger, I shot forwards, hearing several of the Genin up in the stands gasp in shock. I twisted, slamming my foot into a wall of sand and pulled it back quickly. The chakra glide that Neji and I invented was incredibly useful, as I shot around on the water it appeared as if the liquid was aiding me, instead of my movements just creating a wake.

Pulling out a handful of shuriken, I threw them at the sand, appearing on the opposite side of Gaara and going for another punch. But it failed, slamming into a secondary wall of sand forcing me to jump back as it came chasing after me.

At that exact moment, the shuriken released the transformation technique, the shadow clones I'd henged into weapons before leaving our room today reappearing. And one managed to land a solid kick to Gaara's chest, throwing him back.

Sand armour cracked, and Gaara's face lit up. He was losing control. He'd been pretty much emotionless when we met before the first test, and with how unstable he appeared, I'd expect it. That didn't mean that the sight of that creepy smile didn't send a terrified shiver down my spine. But if I lost here, then it'd probably be Sasuke facing him. Because that was how my luck worked.

"Hurry up, and come." Gaara demanded and I clenched my fists.

I would not let Sasuke face him. If anyone had a chance at beating him, it was me.

Pulling two seals from my trouser pockets, I threw them onto the water, leaking out enough chakra to activate them. Instantly two geysers of water shot into the air, swirling around as I ran through handseals.

"Water Release; Water Fang Bullet!" Several drills of spinning, highly compacted water shot forwards from all angles to attack Gaara at the same time I finished my second set of handseals.

"Water Release; Water Colliding Wave!"

I knew the moment it hit, knew the moment that Gaara had gotten hit by a drill and not the wave I'd summoned. I could smell the blood, even as it was absorbed into the water.

"W-What is this?! Mother?! Blood... My blood?!" The cry echoed through the room and I cringed, wiping the droplets of water from my eyes just in time to see a dense mass of sand shooting at me.

I was too slow to move and it grasped my torso, gripping far too tight around my rib cage. I was pinned to the wall above the decorative hands, Sasuke and Kiba's cries of denial thrumming through my ears. My chest was heaving, but I didn't have the room to breathe, couldn't suck in the air I was so desperately in need of.

"Show me Uzumaki! Let me prove my existence!"

He's gonna kill me!

'Kurama, please! Please let me prove a Jinchuriki that works with their Bijū is greater! Please!' It was a desperate plea, I can't lie. But my vision was darkening as the sand was tightening, ready to pop my body like a grape.

And then, there was a furious rush of power.

'Don't dare lose brat. Not to him.'

---

Sasuke knew right away the second that Naruto called upon the power hidden beneath her skin, sealed away in the design on his stomach. He might have been half mad with the pain of the curse seal, might have been injured and sure he was going to die, but he would never forget that oppressive, acidic chakra. The air was suddenly thousands of times heavier, pressing down on their shoulders and coaxing sweat from their skin.

From the corner of his eye, Sasuke watched the vast majority of the rookies vomit under the pressure, only Kiba and himself managed to avoid such a fate, and even then it was a close call, only occurring because they'd been exposed to it before.

Beside him, the Suna Genin that'd come to brag about Naruto's unavoidable defeat, had gone still.

"Wh-what is tha-at?!" The Suna girl whimpered, eyes wide with fright and knuckles white.

"That would be Naruto-chan's trump card," Kakashi answered, seemingly unaffected. Sasuke knew differently, the hand on his collarbone that'd stopped him from dashing into battle to rescue Naruto was clenching into the tender flesh of his shoulder. Kakashi was worried.

"Your teammate might have one tail Genin-chan, but Naruto, she has Nine."

As if it'd been waiting for Kakashi's words, red chakra exploded out from Naruto's body, propelling the sand away and surrounding her form. It danced around her, nine wide columns of burning power, twisting about until it formed the menacing visage of a fox above the blonde's head. Naruto had dropped to the floor now, curled on all fours with her head in her hands and even the Hokage had retreated to a safe distance.

Every Jonin in the room was tense, but Sasuke could not rip his eyes from his teammate. He saw what she'd meant now, back when Naruto had told him using the fox's chakra cost her so much. Parts of her skin were starting to flake away as she fought for control, the nine tails of chakra slowly clumping together until it was only four, waving about behind her.

"No," Naruto's voice was suddenly so much deeper, so much more menacing than normal that it raised every hair on Sasuke's skin, from the back of his neck to his forearms, "too much. Only need one."

Through what appeared to be nothing more that sheer will-power, Naruto pushed all the red chakra back, until only a single tail flickered about behind her. Then, she looked up. Sasuke's breath caught.

Her eyes were red, redder than the Sharingan, redder than the chakra that coated her form, redder than the blood she'd made the Suna Genin bleed. Silted pupils and the whisker like scars were suddenly so much more noticeable. Right there, nothing had scared Sasuke more than the appearance of his teammate. The teammate he'd entrusted his life too so many times already. And he wasn't even the focus of all her killer intent.

"Y-You mean, s-she's a-"

"Naruto is the Jinchuriki of the Kyūbi no Kitsune. And she is my teammate," Kiba snarled beside him, the two Suna Genin flinching back.

"Yes!" Gaara, Naruto's opponent, looked manic, bloodthirstiness written across his every feature. "You are just like me! Prove to me your existence!"

"I'm nothing like you!" Naruto snarled, clawed hands coming together and a glowing ball of chakra twirling around in her hand. The tail of chakra wrapped protectively around the limbs, seemingly aiding the formation of whatever attack was making that swirling noise.

"I fight for my comrades, I prove my existence by protecting the bonds I have with them. And for that, I will take you down!" Naruto shot forwards, a roar tearing through her throat as Gaara's sand attempted to slow her approach, to attack and disable her. But Naruto pushed through it, the chakra in her hand whirling until it met with Gaara's stomach, ripping away the sand armour and tearing at the tender flesh underneath.

Behind him, Sasuke felt Kakashi's wince as if it were his own. Or perhaps because he had felt the same thing, had flinched as the attack landed.

.

From there, it descended into a slugging match, Naruto's burning chakra against the crushing sand. Chakra coated fists were meeting faces, limbs of sand and demonic energy grappling with one another, throwing the opponent around the room. There were more craters than Sasuke cared to count, and more than one Jonin had been forced to snatch up their students and retreat to a safer location as one Jinchuriki's attack or the other's landed where they'd been not a second ago.

After what seemed like a painfully long wait, but could not have lasted more than a minute, Naruto finally got the hold she was looking for, slamming Gaara into the ground with far more force than anything Sasuke had ever seen her use before.

To think, she'd been holding back this much when they'd been sparring. This kind of power-

But her limbs were shaking, her muscles protesting every movement, and if the redhead's panic filled eyes was any indication, was any evidence, then he was in the same boat, if not more so. All of that looked like it had been very chakra intensive, very costly.

It seemed this fight was coming to an end.

---

"No! Get away from me! I will not disappear!"

Unable to stop my heart from clenching painfully, I forcibly dragged myself towards Gaara, who had managed to force himself into a sitting position and was trying to retreat in a crab like style. He'd tried to fall asleep, to call out Shukaku, but I'd been prepared for this. A seal that forcibly kept someone conscious was usually only used during torture and interrogation. But right now, it was my greatest asset.

It stopped Gaara from calling out Shukaku, which I knew was the only way I could win this.

I pushed myself that little bit further, forcing my feet to hold my weight as I stood over Gaara. Kyūbi's chakra had disappeared from my form now, I could feel my patch job of a Three Point Seal threatening to crumble if I dared to pull anymore chakra from it. But Gaara was as out of chakra as I.

"My existence will never be extinguished!"

Ignoring everything in my that said it was a bad idea, ignoring the voice that sounded suspiciously like Sasuke and Kiba and Shisui and Kakashi all rolled into one, I dropped to my knees besides Gaara and threw my arms around him. I could feel him freeze in shock, body stiffening further than what should be humanly possible. No one should react to a hug like this. No one should feel like a demon. Gaara was human. Gaara was-

"just like me." I pressed my face into Gaara's neck, one hand wrapped in his red hair and the other pressing into his back, keeping him close to me. I held tightly, not willing to let the boy get away.

"You're just like me. But I had Kakashi-sensei. And then Shisui-sempai came and Neji and Sasuke and Kiba. And I wasn't alone. I might have been a monster to everyone else, they might still see me as a demon. But my precious people, they love me for me. The care despite the seal on my skin. And for them, I'll do anything."

Releasing my hold on Gaara, I instead gripped at his shoulders, resting my forehead against his and letting the boy see the tears that were welling in my eyes, creating tracks down my cheeks.

"Because with them, I'm not alone." Closing my eyes, I pressed my forehead a little harder against Gaara's, as if it'll allow my thoughts to transfer to him through osmosis. "And you don't have to be either."

There was a moment of silence, and I didn't care what everyone else was thinking, what was racing through their minds. Because right now, the most important thing was getting through to Gaara. I'd been given an early opportunity to do so, and I wasn't going to waste it. He had to get the message. He just had to.

"Love?"

The word was barely a whisper, but I pulled my head back far enough to get a good look at Gaara, who's dark rimmed eyes were wide, lips trembling with an emotion that wasn't anything to do with bloodlust.

"Yes. For the people I love, I'll do anything. And I like to think they'd do the same thing for me. You've just got to find the right people." Letting go of my fellow Jinchuriki, I winced slightly as he dropped onto the floor, eyes sliding shut and looking exhausted.

There was a momentary pause as Hayate reappeared, glancing around the room, eyes lingering on the rampant destruction that'd been wrought on the place.

"Winner, Uzumaki Naruto of the Leaf."

There was another moment of silence, before Kiba burst in ferocious cheers, followed a second after by Lee and Tenten.

I twisted to get a look at them, but my legs gave out. An arm wrapped around my waist, the other throwing my own limb over a set of shoulders and I looked up to meet Sasuke's gaze.

"A bit cheesy, but a victory all the same I guess," he grumbled, tightening his hold before jumping back up onto one of the two remaining faces of the balcony.

I collapsed in a heap beside Kakashi the second Sasuke let go, but Kiba was right there, arms thrown around me in a hug and babbling a mile a minute as he did so. There was another set of arms afterwards, longer and stronger than that of my teammate, but not covered in the usual Jonin jumper.

"Shisui-sempai?"

I don't think I remembered him standing with the rest of the Jonin at the start, but clearly he'd snuck into the tower at some point to witness al that had happened.

"You were great kiddo."

"Yes, congratulations Naruto."

Glancing up at Neji's voice, I wiggled an arm free, ignoring the exhaustion that was attempting to pull my limbs down as I did so.

"You'll have to come down here Neji, I can't managed standing."

Neji looked like he was about to protest, but Kakashi took great delight in pushing the boy down within my arm's reach, and the next thing the Hyūga knew he was included in the Uzumaki-Uchiha-Inuzuka sandwich. Sasuke and Kakashi both stood above us, the former looking exasperated while the latter was smiling like a proud papa or something. Or, that's what I figured the expression under his mask was.

"Err, Kakashi-sensei?" I asked, swaying slightly amongst the bodies that surrounded me. "Maybe I should visit the medics?"

.

I woke back up roughly half an hour later, laid out in the medical bay and staring up at the ceiling. The itch around several different body parts alerted me to the fact I was already wrapped up in bandages, and not the comfortable kind.

Breathing steady, I forced myself to sit up, taking a look around. It seemed a few more matches had happened since I'd last been awake, because I wasn't the only occupant. Off to a side, one of Kabuto's teammates was unconscious, and beside him was Chōji. Across from me was Kiba, and I frowned upon catching his eye. What did I say, what could I say when I'd gotten through and not him. Was there a way to talk to the boy without hurting his feelings?

"It's okay Ruto," Kiba grumbled, running a hand through his messy brown hair, "but next time, make sure you let me know who's who. Because that bushy eyebrow guy is way too strong."

Ah, so Kiba had gotten Lee then. That was a poor match up indeed, considering a lot of Kiba's ninjutsu revolved around taijutsu. And Lee was an expert on the subject.

"You just got to make sure you beat him, okay?" The Inuzuka hoped off his bed, clearly not as injured as I'd thought, even if he had to limp out of the sick-bay.

Stretching my aching arms above my head, I twisted where I was sat, and the froze in place.

Gaara was sat in the bed next to me. He was propped up by a collection of pillows and was just looking forwards. His eyes looked dead.

Completing another sweep of the medic bay to make sure there was no one else present but the two unconscious, I ran through a small wind jutsu, summoning up the last dregs of my chakra and releasing it away from Gaara. The force of the wind propelled my wheeled bed to side, bumping into Gaara's and jolting the boy from whatever thoughts he'd had.

"Hi." I murmured lowly, for lack of anything else to say.

With wide eyes, Gaara stared back at me for a second before he looked away.

"Hello." It was quiet, but nevertheless, a reply.

Shuffling as close as my delicate buttocks would allow, I forced my legs to move, swinging them up and onto Gaara's bed, the rest of my body following afterward. I kicked my bed away, making myself comfortable besides Gaara's very still form and then sighing. There was about an inch or two of space between us, and I didn't know how violent the boy still was.

In the manga, he'd gone form receiving his Naruto therapy to a Kage. The manga had been called Naruto, and as such, followed Naruto's character development, not Gaara's. I didn't know if he suffered from relapses, if he was currently dangerous at this moment in time. But that didn't matter. He was as beat up as me right now, and if I, who'd won, couldn't summon up any more chakra, then I highly doubt Gaara could either.

"You thought about my words?"

The redhead turned his gaze back to the world, but I could see he was thinking though. That was an improvement at least.

"How. How do you make them love you?" It was such an innocent, such a broken question that my expression surely shattered. I could feel tears pooling at the back of my eyes, but I pushed the feeling back. I'd cried enough today.

Instead, I slowly wrapped my arm around Gaara's shoulders, giving the boy plenty of time to move away.

"You can't make them love you. Trust me, I tried. I was only a week off of seven when I met Kakashi-sensei. And to begin with, that's all he was. But then we started to trust each other, and I started cooking, and then Kakashi was treating me to ice-cream and we were friends. And it grew from there. He's like an older brother to me now. You can't make them love you, you can only try to be their friends. But when they do love you, you love them back just as hard. And sometimes you can lose a person you love, it's one of the things I fear most of all. But isn't it better to have that precious time with them, then to never have them at all?"

I started to remove my hand from Gaara's shoulders, but before I could retract it more than an inch, a head of red hair came to rest upon my shoulder, tresses of crimson brushing against my neck, usually covered by the jacket I'd abandoned an hour or so ago.

Instead of retrieving my limb, I ran it up the length of Gaara's arm once before holding tight to him. I scrambled for something to do, something to say, before the words came to mind.

"Hi, my name's Uzumaki Naruto," I began, feeling Gaara's head shift a bit under my jaw as I put my chin atop his brow, "I like my loved ones, and I don't like people who try to hurt them. I do a lot of cooking and training, and my goal is to keep getting strong so I can protect the people I care about. I have a handful of friends, but I could always use more."

For a second, I didn't think it'd work. I thought that Gaara would ignore me, or worse, summon sand from nowhere and crush my overly friendly self to death.

But instead, one of Gaara's arms wrapped around my middle, the cool, dry skin of his palm sweet relief against my hot, sweaty back.

"My name is Gaara of the Desert. I like salted tongue. I dislike those who attack me. I cultivate cacti. My goal," here there was a hesitant pause, before the redhead continued in a near silent voice, "is to have a friend, and understand why that makes you so strong."

Sat in the bed with Gaara, I tightened my hold on my fellow Jinchuriki, feeling the resolve I'd come to after my defeat by Orochimaru harden. I was not Naruto. I would do things my way. But that didn't mean I couldn't be sentimentally soft when I wanted to be.

"Consider part one of your goal complete Gaara. My name is Uzumaki Naruto, and I have a friend from Suna called Gaara."

The boy startled, head whipping up to look at me with wide teal eyes.

"As for the second part, we can work on it. You're still in Konoha for the next month, right? Because I can't spend all my days training." Laying my head to rest on the Suna Genin's shoulder, I let my eyes slip closed, surrounded by the dry warmth that was Gaara and the soft thump of his heart beat.

.

Twenty minutes later, I was rudely awakened by a hand shaking me about. Looking up and finding Kakashi's masked face staring down at me, camera in hand, I groaned and reburied my head back into Gaara's shoulders, noting the way the boy's arms tightened around my waist.

"Maa Naruto, I said no more exotic boys, remember?"

"Doesn't mean I have to listen," I grumbled into Gaara's shirt, even though I'm sure it was nothing more than muffled nonsense to Kakashi.

As I'd half expected but hoped otherwise, Kakashi expertly extracted me from my nest, holding me effortlessly under one arm as if I were a rugby ball.

"Ah, my cue little Kaichō-chan, you need to find out who your next opponent is, so you can snuggle up to them. Fingers crossed it's the Hyūga boy huh?" Hmm, Neji had won his match then? A quick scan of the medical bay showed no signs of Hinata. Curious.

Pinching Kakashi's leg at the accusation in his tone, I allowed the man to carry me off, waving goodbye to a confused Gaara as I did so.

.

I was unceremoniously dropped into Sasuke's arms when we arrived back in the main room. It appeared to have taken on a bit more damage, but not as much as I'd been expecting. Lined up alongside of us were the rest of the competitors. Shino and surprisingly enough, Sakura were stood to our left. The girl must have flourished under Kurenai and without the distraction that was Sasuke hanging around.

To our far right was Kankurō and Temari, both of who were sending me absolutely terrified looks. Closer to home was both Lee and Neji, with one of the Sound ninjas and Shikamaru between us.

"Well then," Hayate broke off for a second to finish coughing but returning his attention to us, "now that we're all here, let's draw some numbers."

Anko held out a box before Sakura and I watched her draw a number five. Shino went next, getting seven, and then it was Sasuke's turn, pulling out a three. Suddenly the box was before me and I blinked, but never the less I picked out my number, holding up a nine. Typical.

Neji got one, and Lee got a four. So it was Sasuke against Lee then, that'd be interesting. Shikamaru drew a two and I winced. Poor boy, against Neji. The Sound shinobi drew a six and I grimaced. Sakura was rather unlucky on that front, she'd ended up with the Sound Genin that Gaara was suppose to kill. Only now, I wasn't sure if he'd be doing so. Kankurō drew an eight, which left Temari as my opponent. She didn't look too happy about that.

I tried to stay focused, to listen to the Hokage speak, but my mind kept returning to Gaara. I'd messed up the timeline bad. Would the invasion still happen now?

I didn't know. And that worried me.

.

The next morning, I was stood outside the hotel that the Chũnin candidates from outside Konoha were staying in, my bento in one hand and a bento including salted tongue in the other palm. I'd had to look the recipe up, because I'd shied away from cooking tongue before today, but in the interest of showing I was serious about my friendship with Gaara, here I was.

The medic's had insisted that I take a day's rest after using the Kyūbi's chakra, even if I felt fit and ready to go. Regardless, the Third had insisted I rest for the day, so rest I would. The Hokage had also promised to introduce me to a trainer for the next month tomorrow, and I was pretty certain it was going to be Jiraiya. That the older seal master would be the only one trusted to fix my tampered seal kind of made it obvious.

Kakashi had approached me the previous night, informing me that he was going to be sealing up Sasuke's curse seal, and that we could put our heads together on how to take it off him after the Chũnin exams had passed. And no sooner. Not that it'd stop me from summoning up some clones to think over how to deal with Orochimaru's stupid invention.

Disregarding that, I was supposed to be spending the day off, which is why I was currently in the lobby of the hotel, smiling up at the reception woman who looked a little hesitant, but her eyes kept darting to my clearly homemade bentos and her eyes were softening. I reminded her of someone she liked. Good.

"Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me what room the team from Suna, the one with the redhead, are in?" Gaara was the only Suna Genin present with red hair, so the woman should know who I was talking about. Luckily, her eyes lit up with understanding and she nodded, flicking through her papers before pausing and giving me a curious glance.

"Why are you here, Shinobi-chan?"

"Gaara's my friend, and since he's not in the tournament anymore, I wanted to see if he'd come out for a picnic." I lifted up my bento boxes, giving them a little shake, as if to prove my intentions. The woman took a look at my clothes, a knee length, pastel orange sundress with a pattern of blue flowers dancing across the hem and the neckline, before she smiled.

"First crush aye?"

"Not quite, we're just friends."

The woman snorted, rolling her eyes but there was still a teasing smile pulling at her lips.

"That's what they all say. Room 203."

Offering the woman a polite bow, I took off up the stairs, frowning. It wasn't a crush. I was too old mentally for Gaara right now, and he was in a delicate position. I would not be taking advantage of that. We were friends, and if we ever became anything more it'd be at least four or five years into the future. No exceptions there.

It felt highly uncomfortable getting teased like that, because while I'd come to accept I was Naruto now, that I was twelve years old, a part of me was still the twenty year old that'd died. My original parents had been four years apart, which was why I'd set my dating age for this body around sixteen/seventeen. Even though I'm sure I'd be too busy trying to stay alive from the Akatsuki during that time period.

So after that maybe.

If I lived that long.

Sighing, I dropped Gaara's bento on top of my own, rapping at the wooden door with my free hand.

There was a lull in noise from the opposite of the wood, as if the occupants were questioning why there was any sound coming from their door at all. And the it was pulled open and I found myself face to chest with a Sand Jonin.

Tilting my head back until I could look the man in his eye, I put on my best winning smile.

"Hi, is Gaara here?"

The noise inside the hotel room hasn't started up again, and now seemed to evolve from curious silence to a horrified one. But I was more focused on the quiet footsteps that were approaching. Before Baki could so much as open his mouth, I saw a flash of red by his arm and let my gaze fall to a side, landing on Gaara.

"Hey there, I'm on medical leave for some reason, so want to have a picnic?" I held up the bentos clenched in one hand, watching as Gaara gave a slow blink before shouldering past Baki.

"Gaara-" The older Sand ninja didn't get to say anything else, because Gaara just turned cold teal eyes on him, frowning but not saying anything.

I nudged the boy in the arm, watching as his stare swept to me for a second, before returning to his Jonin.

"I'll be back by sunset."

.

We walked out of the hotel, having past the receptionist again, who actually had the audacity to wink at me as we passed by. Scowling, I ran a hand through the single ponytail I'd thrown my hair up in, turning to look at Gaara who was now stood still on the street.

"What now?" He asked dully, eyes scanning the crowds that instantly parted for the two of us. No doubt taking in the way they looked at me, the way they shied away or glared. Noting the way so few of them dared to meet either of our eyes.

"Now we go and find things we like doing together. Me and Neji spar a lot, or we make jutsus, like the chakra glide technique I used in our fight. But then Kiba and I sometimes spend time playing with his family's ninken, and there was one time I even managed to talk Sasuke into going swimming in one of the training ground lakes, even if it was under the guise of teaching him water walking. Maybe we should just walk around until an idea comes to us?" Shrugging, I snatched up the boy's hand, noting the sand that coated it. Clearly I wasn't past that ultimate defence yet, but hey ho. Slow progress, but progress all the same, considering my hand hadn't been torn off.

"Why walking? Is there nothing more productive to do?" Gaara's voice was still in that irritating monotone, even if I could read the confusion in his words, simply because he was asking.

"Well I suppose, but sometime it's just nice to spend time with a friend."

"Naruto-chan!"

Pausing in my march forwards, I twisted around to see Shisui grinning, hands laced down with shopping bags but happily coming over.

"See, that's why Shisui's coming over, to talk and catch up. Hi Shisui-sempai." I addressed my fellow Leaf Ninja with that last bit, grinning and raising my arm, the one that was still attached to Gaara's.

"This is Gaara. I know you've seen him before but we're friends now and you came bouncing over here so I thought I'd introduce you."

The Uchiha nodded, lips pressed together in a firm line and a jokingly stern look on his face.

"As long as this isn't another Haku incident, then go have fun Naruto-chan. I'm going to be out of town for the next month, training Sasuke-brat with Kakashi. You'll be okay, right?"

I nodded, letting go of Gaara's hand to give Shisui a one armed hug.

"I'll be fine, now jog on. Go train Sasuke up so he can give me a challenge later."

.

Gaara and I spent a lot of time just walking around the village, until it got to about two in the afternoon and my stomach rumbled, alerting me to the fact neither of us had stopped to eat. Which found us where we were now, sat under the tree at the academy, the roots of the trunk supporting our backs and bentos on our lap.

"This is where it all started for me." I murmured, looking at the swing out of the corner of my eye.

Those first few days at the academy had been tough. I'd been in a strange place, without anyone familiar, without anyone who really cared. Well, the Third had, but also happened to be Hokage, which meant he was very busy indeed, too busy to come and pick an orphan up every day. Not that he could have done, could have shown any more favour to the Kyūbi Jinchuriki than he already was.

"I didn't have anyone really, not while I was here. All the other kids teased me, whether because they were jealous or their parents told them they could get away with it, I don't know. But I raced through the academy, and then I was put under Kakashi-sensei. I don't think I'd have made it as far as I have without him."

Until I'd met Shisui, Kakashi had been the one person who'd been around, who'd accepted me unconditionally. True I'd only been considered his apprentice at the time, but it'd given me purpose. Sure it'd evolved to an almost brother-sister relationship, but before that, being Kakashi's apprentice was how I'd defined myself. I wasn't the Kyūbi that the villagers kept calling me, but my mind had been rejecting the title of 'Naruto' during that time period. Being Kakashi's apprentice had given me the chance to grow, to stabilize my life. Which was why I understood Haku perfectly.

"How?" Gaara asked, picking at a slice of salted tongue with an unreadable look on his face. Whether it was down to the question, or the fact I'd remembered he liked salted tongue and gone out of my way to make it, I don't know.

"I don't really think there was a how Gaara. We just grew attached to one another. Your sensei cares for you, you know?" Leaning back against the tree a bit more, I let out a low sigh, my eyes slipping closed as I did so. "I could see it in his eyes, he was really cautious when I asked after you, and not just because I was a Leaf Genin. I'm not sure how deep the feeling runs, but the fact he cares a little bit gives you some space to start on, no?" Not daring to open my eyes, I slipped the last slice of tomato from my own bento between my lips, letting the flavour sweep over my tongue. Yes, sending out all those clones years ago to learn the culinary arts had been an excellent idea indeed.

.

It was an hour or so later, after just sitting calmly in soft silence with Gaara and enjoying the warmth on our skin, that the peace was broken.

"Nee-chan!"

Eyes snapping open at the familiar call, my heart almost leapt out my throat when sand rose up and blocked Konohamaru's usual tackle hug.

"Don't hurt him!" I cried, torn between reaching out for Konohamaru and cuffing Gaara around the head.

"He was going to attack you," Gaara deadpanned, eyes narrowed on Konohamaru, who was flailing about in his sand and screeching about the creepy boy that was too close to his nee-chan.

"It's okay, it's just an excited hug. I'm used to them."

The Suna Genin frowned, but nevertheless let out a low sigh and moved his arms, the sand dropping to the ground and slowly meandering back to rest at his feet. Instantly Konohamaru had his arms around my neck, sat quite neatly in my lap and he was chatting a mile a minute, all the other academy students mulling around curiously. I could even spot Iruka stood off to a side, the panic over Konohamaru's capture only half drained from his face.

"So didya win Nee-chan? Huh, did ya?"

Laughing, I ruffled the tuffs of hair that stuck out of Konohamaru's funny hand, gesturing for Moegi and Udon both of who looked very curious, to come and join us.

"First of all, guys, this is Gaara from Suna. Gaara, these are Moegi and Udon. The little monkey currently climbing me like a tree is Konohamaru. You've seen them before, remember?"

The redhead nodded, frowning as he looked over the trio of academy students again.

"He's the creepy one that scared the mean one, right Nee-chan?" Konohamaru asked, pulling his face out from my neck and grinning wildly.

Tugging at the boy's scarf until he was an acceptable distance away from my head, I looked over at Gaara, answering, "Gaara's bit creepy, but he can be quite nice if you try Maru-kun. And the mean one was Kankurō, Gaara's older brother."

"He is mean." Was Gaara's helpful addition to the conversation, startling a laugh out of me. It clearly hadn't been meant as a joke, but that fact somehow only made it more amusing for me. Even the Konohamaru Corps were grinning, Moegi and Udon shuffling a bit close and seating themselves so we were in a circle, like it was story time.

"Nee-chan!" Konohamaru gave an almost vicious tug of my ponytail, drawing my attention back to his pouting face, "you never said if you won."

Laughing, I returned the playful pull on the boy's spiky hair, looking at Gaara.

"I won Otouto, I beat Gaara to a place in the final test. In fact," getting to my feet, and thus sending Konohamaru tumbling off of my legs, I turned to Gaara and offered a hand to help him up, "let's show them your sand defence. I'll only use Taijutsu and so that Konohamaru knows how hard you made me work for that victory."

.

That was how we spent the rest of the day, the two of us showcasing a bit of our abilities -Gaara and his sand, me and my taijutsu- even if we weren't trying too hard. After watching for five or so minutes, Konohamaru decided he wanted to have a go at getting past the ultimate defence too, and began attacking. I could almost sense Iruka's heart threatening to give out, my own was in the same state.

But the sand didn't hurt Konohamaru at all, instead flicking him back, rougher than what I'd have liked, but far more gentle than I'd have expected. Upon seeing their fearless leader join me in battle, the rest of the Konohamaru Corps raced to join in.

Even though there was four of us, we still couldn't get around Gaara's defence, not unless I'd started pumping my limbs with chakra. But it was only a spar for fun, so I saw no need to do that.

Looking up at the positioning of the sun, and the approaching Ebisu, I was sure it was rapidly approaching tea time.

"Okay then, that's enough!" Clapping my hands together in an attempt to regain control of the situation, I sighed when none of the academy students so much as looked my way, far too entertained with trying to get past Gaara's sand.

My fellow Jinchuriki seemed to hear me though, because with a flick of his wrist, all three kids were surrounded by sands, only their heads sticking out, and hung upside down in front of me. I quickly scanned all of their faces, yet upon finding no discomfort, turned to Gaara and grinned.

"Thanks, that's damn effective."

Turning back to the trio, I clocked the fact Iruka had intercepted Ebisu in the special Jonin's approach, appreciation running through me at the gesture.

"When I say it's time to stop, it's time to stop. You're lucky Gaara paused the game, because otherwise I'd have walked away and not treated you to dinner."

"Aw no wait! Please Nee-chan, please!"

This was followed by twin cries from Moegi and Udon, both of whom substituted 'nee-chan' for 'Kaichō-chan'. I had no idea where they'd picked it up, but I knew exactly which silver haired Jonin to blame it on.

"What do you think Gaara, should I let the troublemakers join us for dinner?"

The Suna Genin blinked, clearly having not expected for his opinion to be asked and I had to root my feet to the ground in order to not go tell of those brats that dared to call themselves his older brother and sister. True I didn't know the whole story, but I knew for sure if I'd had a sibling I'd have stuck with them throughout this whole life, demon in the belly or not.

"Only if the loud one listens to his sister."

Konohamaru let out a victorious cry, before realizing what he'd been called and retaliating with his own name calling.

.

We went to the BBQ place that team ten usually occupied, but they weren't there tonight. In fact, it was quite quiet, but perhaps that was because we sat in the window and both Gaara and I were in clear view of all those wanting to come inside. Apparently news spread fast through the ninja ranks about two Jinchuriki meeting up.

Regardless, I had a good time, scribbling away at the colouring mats that Konohamaru and crew were offered but refused to use, much to Gaara's evident confusion. Though I was sure that his lips twitched up a bit, so perhaps he was amused too. You know, somewhere deep, deep down. Real deep down.

It was only as we were finishing out dessert that Ebisu swooped in, snatching up all three protesting kids and leaving without saying anything.

Thus, it was rather quiet when Gaara and I were walking down the street back to his hotel, a stick of dango hanging from my mouth and Gaara's still wrapped up in the packaging he'd bought them in.

"So, good day?" I asked, angling my head backwards slightly, staring up at the sky that was lighting up with colours now that the sun was setting.

"It has been... Pleasant," Gaara murmured, his own eyes focused dead ahead of us, perhaps on the hotel that we were rapidly approaching.

"I don't think I'll be training every day, day in, day out. We can do this again before the exam is over, if you want that is?"

Letting the boy mull it over, I stopped by the front of the hotel, noting that Baki was sat atop the roof, eagle sharp eyes watching us, or probably most likely, me.

"I think I would like that Naruto."

Grinning I snapped off a quick salute, swiftly tracking out the quickest path up onto the rooftops.

"Great. See you around Gaara."

---

Gaara was different. Baki's frown deepened as he watched the boy walk out of the bathroom that they were staying in.

So much had been thrown off course the previous day. Gaara was suppose to go through to the final matches, that was the way it was suppose to happen. Gaara was their strongest weapon, their strongest Genin. He'd never even gotten a scratch on his missions before. He was suppose to be in the final.

And then, then he'd been matched up against the Leaf's latest little genius, even if she'd not advanced in the ranks since her promotion to Genin near six years ago. Baki had done his research before coming to Konoha, he'd read about the little genius apprentice of Hatake Kakashi. That alone had made her dangerous.

But he'd been confident in Gaara, confident in the boy's abilities to win, even if it possibly meant a messy death of the enemy. He'd miscalculated though.

There had been a chance that Konoha had a Jinchuriki, they'd all heard about the attack of the Nine Tails. But they weren't going to rule out the rumour that the Fourth Hokage had actually killed the fox. That man had done things with seals never seen before, and seeing as the war had only ended a year before, they all still held a healthy fear of the man, possibly warping his abilities into something more benefitting a legend.

Anyway, it was evident those rumours were fake now, Baki had been the one to stand there and witness the two Jinchuriki going at one another, to watch as the girl forced the bubbling red chakra back until she matched up against Gaara with only a single tail of power. It'd been a statement, a proclamation that even if she only used the same power, she was stronger than their Jinchuriki. That she didn't just have quantity on her side, but quality too.

He'd not come to the Leaf expecting that Gaara would get his first wound. That Gaara would face his first loss.

Then the girl had hugged him. He'd been too far away to hear what she'd said to their demon container, but it'd clearly been something that'd changed Gaara's entire perspective, because when he'd gone down to the medical bay to inform him that both Temari and Kankurō had come out victorious, he'd been treated to the sight of the Leaf Genin sleeping on Gaara's shoulder, puddle of drool gathering on the boy's shirt.

Gaara had looked discomforted, but had made no move to throw the girl off. The change had been, well, Baki wasn't sure how to describe it. But there had certainly been a change.

Which was why when the girl had come knocking today, he'd not instantly turned her away, why he'd allowed Gaara to leave with her for the day. Because he had a feeling she'd be good for the boy. And he was right.

He'd tracked them through the day, watched the way Gaara handled the multiple new interactions, both between the girl and the three academy brats that'd come to orbit around them. He'd watched Gaara's sand bat almost playfully at the three children's clumsy attempts to penetrate the defence. He'd watched, disguised, as they'd eaten dinner. As Gaara interacted like a person. A social stunted person, but a person none the less.

The most telling thing though, was when he'd jumped down to join Gaara outside the hotel, watching the blonde tearaway leap away onto the rooftop routes. The redhead hadn't look him in the eye, instead turning on heel and heading inside the hotel.

But Baki hadn't imagined the quiet 'I'm sorry', that the boy had whispered.

Whatever the outcome of this invasion, at the very least, the trip to Konoha had changed Gaara for the better. The Kazekage would probably still need to talk to Gaara if he wanted the boy to still participant, because now, if Gaara was going to transform, it would be in the stadium. With all their potential future clients. And the spelled all different kinds of disasters.

The plan needed fixing, soon.

"So how was Gaara's date then?" Kankurō grumbled, arms folded and a mutinous frown on his face. Temari was probably still out training. The girl had been terrified for the first three hours after she'd found out her opponent, but then it'd turned into a ferocious steely determination that he'd never seen on her face before, but on plenty of war time ninja. It was the expression of someone who knew they were going to be fighting for their life. Though Baki was rather sure that the Leaf Genin wouldn't take Temari's life. She hadn't taken Gaara's after all, when all she'd have needed to do was draw a kunai to do so.

"Don't ask stupid questions Kankurō," Baki crouched, rubbing at his forehead as he did so, "I am going to go and see how Temari is doing. Do not do anything stupid." Baki disappeared in a whirl of sand, inattentively wondering just how long it'd take Kankurō to realize something had changed with Gaara.

He'd give it a week, at least.

---

Knelt before the Hokage, I pushed down the urge to look up, to examine the only man in the room I'd never met. I'd had a very brief meeting with Danzō before today, when he cornered me on my way back from visiting the Hokage and asked if I was truly happy under Kakashi's leadership. Recognising the recruitment pitch for what it'd been, I'd answered with blunt honesty that I couldn't imagine learning under anyone else, and that I trusted Kakashi-sensei with my life.

I'd not seen the elder since then, but my stomach bubble in anger, knowing that he'd had a hand, if not pushed outright, for the Uchiha massacre. He was certainly the reason Itachi was being forced to live the life of an S-ranked criminal. I don't know how Sasuke had felt, but I'd rather have known my family were traitors and have my loyal brother with me instead of the current situation.

But I didn't really get a say on that front, it wasn't my business until it was. Or at least, it would be, some point in the future. I was going to save Itachi. I was. He was one of the priorities on my list, because his life had just been so awful. My own hadn't been good, but I'd found the precious things, the precious people to cling to. Itachi had Sasuke, but at the same time, he didn't have him. I was determined to change that. If only because the man had sacrificed his own family so that I and the rest of the ungrateful, unknowing Konoha citizens could live in peace.

It was only fair I returned the favour.

Just without the mass murder part.

"So, this is the brat then?"

Looking up at Jiraiya, I grinned, reaching into my hip pouch for the item I'd bought for this occasion specifically.

"Are you Jiraiya of the Sannin?"

"Ha, the brat knows of me!"

Thrusting the book that was in my pouch at the man, I bowed my head.

"Please sign this for me!" The hardback book was carefully taken from my hands, and I heard Jiraiya suck in a surprised breath.

"The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi?"

Lifting my head up, I drew another book out of my pouch, making a blatant show of trying to be subtle as I passed him the next book.

"That one too please."

"Ah-ha! Icha Icha Paradise! Some of my best work!"

You could tell the second the remaining two member of the room registered what Jiraiya had just said, because Danzō's face all but turned to stone and Third ended up inhaling his smoke instead of exhaling it like you were suppose to.

"Hang on a second. You're way to young for this."

"Old enough to kill, old enough for the rest as far as I'm concerned. I'm considering writing my own series in a few years."

Jiraiya looked torn between pride with his fellow author, and horror regarding his bad influence as a god father.

"Hiruzen, surely you can see that Jiraiya will only do more harm than good?"

"Get lost," Jiraiya grumbled, one giant hand coming down to rest on my head and steering me until I was beside him and thus, the Sannin was between both Danzō and I, "she's my god kid, that means I get to train her. Like I'd let her anywhere near you." It was quite clear that from the tone of Jiraiya's voice, he wouldn't let Danzō teach me if he were the last ninja on the face of the earth.

Meanwhile, between the two feuding men, the Third gave a smoky cough, gathering my attention.

"What I also wished to discuss with you today Naruto-chan, if now that your status as the Kyūbi Jinchuriki was unfortunately forced to surface, was if you wished to reveal your parentage too." I froze at the question.

While it would be nice to be acknowledge as the daughter of the Fourth, nice for people to look at me with something other than hatred-

"But Iwa and Kumo.. Iwa would want me dead and Kumo tried to kidnap mum. I... I don't think I'm ready to defend against that kind of threat. But if you feel it is necessary to bring more of a crowd for the exams, then I'll just have to train harder, Hokage-sama."

The Third made a pleased sound in the back of his throat, nodding as he did so.

"I shall let you know Naruto-chan. See Jiraiya, I told you she had a levelled head on her shoulders."

"Yeah yeah, just like her old man. Now come on brat!"

I was scooped up much in the same way Kakashi had cradled me to his side the previous day, hanging limply from Jiraiya's arms like a much beloved sports ball.

"There's training to be doing!"

---

Omake; The Hot Tub

Chũnin poker night, a weekly event that saw a handful of mid-level ninja gather in one home or another to bet a portion of their wages. That or favours. Iruka rarely turned up, but after this particular day in which Konohamaru had viciously pranked the entire class for speaking bad of his Nee-chan, he needed to unwind. It was only as they were into their third game at Kotetsu and Izumo's home that an interruption came in the form of the most ungodly roar he'd ever heard.

Everyone at the table jumped, reaching for a weapon hidden on their person while the two hosts just let out a little chuckle. The duo, both from minor clans, had opted for a bit of independence, moving out from their respected compounds and renting this house in a rather nice part of town. Or what Iruka had thought to be a nice part of town, but that noise-

"Looks like she's at it again." Izumo mused with a chuckle, getting to his feet and approaching a wall absolutely covered in Fūinjutsu. Iruka had clocked it on the way in, but thought it was just another case of ninja paranoia. Apparently not.

The dark haired Chũnin flicked at one dial and instantly the noise cut off. Silencing seals, Iruka noted. But his fellow Chũnin didn't appear to be done, because he tapped at another on the array, the noise returning again but somewhat muffled. The voice that came from the seal was crystal clear though.

"Izumo-sempai? Sorry about the racket, I'm still working on the noise dampeners."

"What are you doing Naruto-chan?"

Instantly Iruka perked up. The Uzumaki girl was almost a complete mystery to him, he'd only heard from others about her. Now it seemed he'd be able to witness some real interaction, the true face of the girl, so to speak. But instead of the Uzumaki girl responding, Iruka was a little stunned to hear one of his more troublesome students -past student, he was a past student- answer.

"She's proving her genius, that's what Naruto's doing!" Kiba's voice echoed through the room and Iruka raised a brow, Kotetsu getting to his feet and joining Izumo by the bizarre communication seal. As if that wasn't a big enough shock to the academy teacher though, the next voice had his mouth popping open in surprise.

"Shut up dobe or they'll want to come over or something!" Sasuke was with the duo? Naruto, Kiba and Sasuke? It seemed team seven were the source of the noise that'd sent them all leaping into the air. He was intrigued, that much Iruka was willing to admit. And apparently, so we're Izumo and Kotetsu.

"Come on, let's see what the little genius is up to."

.

Stood on the roof of the house he'd been sat in not a few seconds ago, Iruka could only stare. It looked something like a miniature hot spring mixed with a bath, only it was bubbling and steaming and was quite possibly the strangest thing Iruka had ever seen . Curious, he followed after his hosts, who leapt over the fence into the neighbouring back garden and stood beside the strange contraption.

"What the hell is this?" Izumo grunted, his head tilted to a side and staring at the little head of blonde hair sat in the contraption. Iruka watched as Uzumaki Naruto opened her eyes, reaching for one of the seals that littered the contraptions edges and then the bubbles and roar stopped. Both of her teammates, each neck deep in the steaming water, let out a groan of disappointment, glaring daggers at the three Chũnin .

"I call it a hot tub. Lots of tricky Fuinjutsu all coming together to keep the water at a comfortable temperature -though there are three setting- and seal powered pumps that draw on natural chakra with no effort required of the user, set into the seats so that it gives sore muscles a much needed massage. It's the tester, but it's good, I'm gonna sell them to the bath houses and maybe give one to the Fire Daimyō. Might even stick a few in the Jonin lounge and get in their good books... Why, want one?"

Iruka could only watch in shock as Kotetsu dipped a finger into the water before turned to the girl in the orange bathing suit and grinning.

"I think you know the answer to that Ruto-chan."

"See Iruka, we've a deal with the little blonde here, we put up with her mad genius living next door, and she gives us free goodies, like this."

"Wait, I'm you're teammate! Does this mean I can get one at home?" Kiba shot to his feet, standing in the deep tub and planting his hands on his hips.

It was at Sasuke's addition of "well?" that Iruka realised he had no idea what was going on, and appeared to be the only one with this problem.

"Of course you two can have one; the only reason I don't bother giving Kakashi stuff is because he practically lives here already with the amount of times he drops in for dinner."

"Can we do that as well? Your cooking' so good," Kiba whispered with a little moan, reaching for a glass of bubbling pop that was resting on the side of the 'hot tub'.

"Sure, I don't mind either of you dropping by for food, there's always leftovers in my fridge for the two of you. As for the hot tub, I'll have one ready by the end of the week for my nosy neighbours."

"Great!"

Head spinning, Iruka followed the two Chũnin back into their own house. If there was one thing he was now sure of, it was that there was a hell of a lot more to Uzumaki Naruto than he'd first thought.

This can fit into the story if you want, or you can take it as a bit of fun.

Either way.

---

So, lots of Gaara in this one, thoughts on that? I wanted to make the most of Gaara's time and show how, because of her run in with Orochimaru, Naruto's finally gotten her act together and made a decision to run this life as her, and not keep fiitting into a large pair of shoes, like the Kyubi had been telling her she's been doing.

Secondly, what do you think to Naruto and Gaara's development here? As people? Believable? I hope so, but if not, please let me know.

On the topic of the reverse harem or whatever, that is NOT happening. Most of the rookie genin have only ever dealt with the shy Hinata and the bossy, infatuated Ino and Sakura, Naruto not being interested in relationships and being a serious ninja just drws their attention a bit. Like when there's a new kid in class and you always assess their looks and personality to see if it's any good (Or is that just me?)

Question, should Naruto remove Sasuke's Curse Seal? Does she have that kind of power? Thoughts? Because I'm conflicted on that. I'm not sure if that'd be too overpowered or not, or if with the amount of time she'd spent on seals, it'd be realistic for her to manage it. Please help?

Thanks you all so much for reading and reviewing, it's appreciated,

Tsume
xxx