Heart of Darkness
Chapter 6:
Reunion
A green blur blazed through the forest with an insane amount of speed. To the naked eye it would seem as if a sudden hurricane had struck the forest.
Gai glanced behind him as he sped to the first exam point. 'As I expected...only those two can keep up with me. I can sense them, just barely.' Grinning, he thought, 'That's my Lee!'
Naruto looked ahead, tracing any signs of Gai or other teams with his senses while he and Gaara leapt from branch to branch across the forest. 'Looks like there's two...no, three teams ahead of us,' he thought. He glanced behind him. 'We're not going that fast so there's probably two more teams that are nearby somewhere as well. Once we get the emeralds, we should be able to go full speed after that-'
Naruto halted suddenly, with Gaara following suit, and narrowed his eyes at the trail behind them. After sharing a look with Gaara and exchanging a few hand signs, they both nodded. A spiral of red sand swirled around Gaara and he seemingly vanished into thin air.
Forming a seal, Naruto said, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." In a puff of smoke, a Gaara clone appeared. Naruto and the clone stood out in the open and waited. After a while, Naruto shouted out, "We know you're there. There's no point in hiding any longer."
Silence met his call.
"We've let you follow us for long enough," Naruto stated.
Naruto waited. Nothing immediately happened after calling out the ninjas. Thinking back to the chuunin exam, had he been in the same situation, the ninjas there would have immediately came out and rushed him foolishly. Unfortunately, it didn't seem these opponents were that weak. Then not a second after that thought, a volley of daggers and shuriken burst forth at Naruto and the Gaara clone from the trees above him. Both of them easily sidestepped, having sensed the attack long before the weapons reached them. However, immediately after doing so, two throwing stars with wire attached to them shot out from behind. The stars curved around them in a long arc before whipping around and entrapping them tightly together in the wire. Naruto and the clone made no visible signs of struggle and simply stood there. Their two attackers finally revealed themselves and leapt out from hiding. One was holding the wire while the other out in front held up a pair of knives ready to finish the job. Both wore the symbol of the Amegakure on their forehead protectors.
The attackers offered no arrogant expressions or words and only looked at them with a cool stare as they closed in on them. "This is the end," the one holding the knives stated.
Naruto shook his head from behind the mask. "No."
He raised an eyebrow. "No?"
"Goodbye," Naruto said calmly.
Before the rain ninjas could say anything, two gigantic red hands of sand sprung forth from beneath and completely engulfed them. The red sand was a special type of sand that was not only stronger than normal sand but faster as well. The hands held them up in the air in a death grip, nearly crushing their bones.
"Wh-where...?" one of the rain ninjas managed to mutter out.
Naruto dismissed his clone as the real Gaara slowly appeared from the ground that had melted into sand. He stared at his captives for a moment, deciding something, then raised his hand up into the air and said as he closed his hand into a fist, "Sabaku Shoushin."
Both men shuddered violently, their eyes rolling up into the heads, then dropped lifelessly, Gaara let hands of sand disperse and the limp bodies fell to the ground.
"...That technique almost looked like..." A whisper came from the bushes. Normally, no one but the speak would have heard it, but Naruto's keen ears did.
"Come out right now," Naruto shouted suddenly, surprising Gaara. Gaara looked in the direction that Naruto was speaking to. "If you try to run, I will kill you."
A female figure came into view. Hesitantly, she approached Gaara who caught himself taking a startled step backwards.
"G-Gaara?" Temari asked cautiously. She took another step closer to him. "You...You're Gaara aren't you?"
Gaara didn't answer immediately. "...No." He started past Temari without looking her way. A hand latched onto his cloak, stopping him.
"I know it's you!" Temari said, her voice slowly sounding more assure of herself. Though he was mostly covered by his cloak and mask, he still had his signature features that she recognized - the character written onto his mask and his large gourd of sand, though now painted a blood red. His red hair was still short though he had grown physically since she had last seen him. While not towering over her, he was no longer a head shorter than her and was now a good inch taller.
"Where have been in the past three years? What did Akatsuki do with you? And why didn't you contact us and tell us you were alive!?" The words came out half jumbled as she was frantically asking all the questions at once.
"..." Gaara said nothing as he did not know how to reply.
Temari stepped in front of Gaara and, slowly, raised her hand towards his face. Gaara didn't move as she removed the mask. Gaara's face looked like just how she expected it would. He appeared pretty much same, only older. But there was something more than that. There seemed to be something different in Gaara's eyes that differed drastically from the old Gaara. Temari knew what it was. It was that cold bloodlust he had constantly harbored. The look that made you afraid of looking at him the wrong way or face his wrath. That look, that psychotic fierceness, was no where to be seen in her younger brother's eyes. Though the physical mask was off, Gaara still had a cold, stoic expression on his features. He still seemed unsure of what to make of all this. As Temari was gathering her thoughts, deep, buried emotions caused Gaara to speak out first.
"...And? What is it you want now that you know it is me?" His chilling tone in which he spoke surprised even himself. However, he could not forget his past nor his old feelings that were beginning to surface.
"Wh-what?"
"Why do you care about where I have been in the past three years?" Gaara asked. "Since when did it matter to you whether I lived or died?"
"O-Of course it matters and why shouldn't I care! You're my younger brother. Family!" Temari said, angry at the accusation.
Gaara scoffed in disgust. "Family? That word means nothing to me. It was 'family' that put a demon inside of me. It was 'family' that tried to kill me as a child while pretending to care for me. It was 'family' that ignored and ran away from me when I wanted to be with them." Gaara became angrier with each passing word. He clenched his fist tightly.
"W-We couldn't help it!" Temari defended. "You were always glaring at us like...like you were going to murder us! And you know how out of control your power was as a child!"
"That's because that was the only way I could get you to pay attention to me! It wasn't until I used force did 'family' finally look at me, even if it was with fear in their eyes." At the last statement, his force lowered to only a quiet murmur.
"...I-I..." Temari could no longer find the words to defend herself. Her knees collapsed from beneath her and she fell to the ground with a soft sob. "...I-I'm...sorry..."
"Sorry!" Gaara shouted. "Do you think that will-"
"Gaara."
Gaara felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking beside him, he saw Naruto, unmasked, who had been quietly watching the scene unfold. The young man stepped in front of Gaara.
"That's enough isn't it?" Naruto asked softly while glancing at the girl crying to herself on the ground.
As Gaara stared at Temari, he felt a slight piercing in his chest but quickly ignored it. "Stay out of this-" He stopped in mid-sentence as he was taken by surprise when Naruto pressed his forehead softly against his.
"Family isn't always bad, is it?" Naruto asked, his eyes closed. "After all, me and you...we're family aren't we?" His eyes opened and a small smile crossed his face. "Brothers. Ever since that time remember?"
The anger gradually drained from Gaara's eyes as he nodded. "I remember..."
Naruto lifted his forehead and moved beside him. "There had to be some good times with your family, right? Even if there weren't that many."
Gaara's eyes moved to the ground and recalled the past. "...I...I remember when I was younger, Temari used to watch me when she thought I was asleep."
Temari pulled her head up in surprise.
"I could never truly sleep back then because of Shukaku. Some part of me was always conscious," Gaara stated. "At first, I thought it was because she was thinking about killing me in my sleep but...one time, I remember I was having a nightmare. It was a bad nightmare and I...I must of been crying in my sleep. That's when I felt someone take me in their arms and cradle me gently. Whenever I had those nightmares, that person always seemed to be there to comfort and calm me."
"M-Make them go away...make the demons go away..." a boy cried.
"Shhh, it's alright...I won't let them hurt you. It's alright now."
Gaara finally looked up from the ground to Temari. "That...that was you, wasn't it?"
Temari cast her gaze away, her cheeks colored with a light blush, and nodded. "You...you always looked so harmless in your sleep...I could forget that you had a tailed beast inside you." She stood up and looked at Gaara hesitantly. "Gaara...I'm sorry. I know that change won't change the past but...I hope you'll forgive me."
"...I...I forgive you."
Temari smiled and without a second thought she wrapped her arms around him in a fierce hug. "Thank you..."
Gaara stood there, accepting the embrace, but speechless and confused as he had no idea of what to say or do in such a situation. Cautiously at first, his arms came up to wrap themselves around Temari, returning the hug. A small smile crept up onto Gaara's face. 'This feels...good...' he thought. Abruptly, he blinked in surprise as he felt a wetness slide down his cheeks. "I'm...crying? Why am I crying?"
"Because you're happy, Gaara," Naruto said, smiling.
"Oh...I see." And that was all that was said for a long while.
After a comfortable silence, Gaara and Temari released each other.
Temari was the first speak up again. "What happened to you after you were kidnapped? What did Akatsuki do to you?"
"They trained me. They taught me how to control my powers and become stronger. I have been with them for the past three years now," Gaara said. "Though I was at first with them against my will, I am now apart of them of my own free will. I have no regrets." Gaara stared at Temari in the eye. "Temari, I have no intention of going back to Suna."
"I see..." Temari looked down for a moment before raising her head with small shake. "It doesn't matter. You're alive." Her gaze then changed to Naruto with a curious, slightly cautious expression. "Who is he?"
Temari took the time to fully analyze the stranger before her for the first time. Her attention had been so focused on Gaara that she had almost forgotten about his presence. The man was handsome, there was no doubting that, but that wasn't what she was looking at. What garnered her attention were his sharp, long nails - which she found odd - and particularly the whisker like markings on his cheeks. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but the markings reminded her of someone. There was also one other thing - his eyes. They were bright yellow with slitted pupils, like an animal. They were almost frightening. When she had first been discovered by the man, she caught a glimpse of his eyes through his mask. The fear she felt then was similar to the fear that surfaced when she looked into the eyes of Gaara when he loses control of his power; the sensation of being pierced by a predator's eyes right before he devoured you. However, as she peered deeper into the man's eyes, she could tell that they were now different, as if she was no longer deemed a threat by him. There was no bloodlust in eyes. Only the hint of a dull sadness remained.
"You're staring," Naruto stated.
Temari blinked and flushed slightly as she turned away her eyes. "S-Sorry."
"I believe you met him before during the chuunin exams," Gaara said. "His name is Naruto. He fought with me when we attacked Konoha."
Temari's eyes widened. "You're that kid?!" Now that she knew who he was. It was true that he resembled the hyper-active boy from so long ago.
Naruto nodded in acknowledgment.
'Geez, I can't believe that brat turned out like this!' she thought in shock. 'He looks so...um...' Temari shook her head furiously, an embarrassed expression on her face. 'Looks aside, I'm surprised he turned out to be so reserved. I wonder what happened to him?' she thought. Out loud, she asked, "Why is he with you?"
"Like me, he was also kidnapped by Akatsuki three years ago," Gaara began explaining. "He is now my partner in this mission."
"This mission?" Temari asked, eyebrow raised. "Why are you here at the jounin exam anyways? What exactly are you two doing here?"
Gaara and Naruto exchanged glances. Both appeared to be thinking rather seriously until Naruto shook his head with a small, helpless smile. "I'll go with whatever you decide Gaara."
Gaara closed his eyes, smiled slightly, and nodded.
Temari looked back and forth between the two, confused. 'I feel like I'm missing something here. What exactly happened between these two during those three years? The Gaara I knew wouldn't of acted this friendly towards anyone, including myself and Kankuro.'
Gaara's expression became serious as he turned back to Temari and said in a stern tone, "Temari, you and Kankuro must leave the Konoha vicinity immediately."
"What? Why?"
"Because, you are in danger. I can't go into further detail."
"...And so you expect me and Kankuro to abandon the exams just like that? With no explanation?"
Gaara nodded. "Yes. It's for the best."
Her eyes shot open. "You must be joking!" Temari said in an outburst. "For one, we'd be a disgrace to everyone in Suna if we just got up and left!"
"It doesn't matter because the exam is going be canceled."
Again, Temari looked confused. "What? By who?"
"By us."
Temari's eyes widened. "Wh-What? You can't be serious...?"
"There are bigger things happening here than you and me, Temari," Gaara said. "You will be danger if you stay here."
Temari narrowed her eyes. "I can take care of myself. I am one of the representatives for Suna after all. They did not choose me for nothing. Besides, I'm not going to leave you, not after just finding out you're alive."
"No. You must leave. It's too dangerous," Gaara said, not budging.
"I am a ninja, damn it!" Temari shouted angrily. "I won't let you throw me away like this." Temari glared at Gaara.
Gaara glared back and prepared a retort. He was surprised at how much resistance Temari was displaying even if he was being a bit forceful. He had been so used to having Temari, and Kankuro, follow his every word without a single word of disobedience before. He had expected it to be same.
Inwardly, Temari herself was also surprised. It seemed so much more easier to think of this new Gaara as simply her younger brother, rather than a boy containing a demon. She had no idea what it was or why she had lost that fear of him. Perhaps it was because she had not seen him for over three years and that her feelings about him had changed over time. She had thought she lost him once and she wouldn't risk losing him again.
Naruto stepped in between the two and held up his hands. "Calm down, calm down. How about we let Temari, and Kankuro, accompany us? That way we can protect-"
"I don't need anyone to protect me," Temari immediately cut in.
"-watch over them," Naruto finished.
"No," Gaara replied.
Naruto sighed. "If Temari wants to stay here, there's not much we can do about it anyways. Where is Kankuro, Temari?" Naruto asked her.
Temari thought for a moment. "Well, we said that we would meet around over there," she said, pointing southeast. "Since we had lost the trail, we had been following the tracks of two other teams but they went in different directions a little while back. About thirty minutes ago I think."
"Hmm." Naruto looked off in the southeast direction before turning to his partner. "Gaara, take Temari and get Kankuro. Southeast is the direction opposite of where the exam is. We don't have time to go and come back to get an emerald without risking being passed by too many teams. I will go and pick both us up two emeralds. We'll meet back at the dead trees, right before the bridge, south of here, on the west side. If any team possesses an emerald, they must pass through that point because that's the quickest route back."
Although she was surprised that Naruto had come up with a plan so quickly, she said, "That plan is ridiculous. Do you really think you'll be able to just waltz in there and take the emeralds without being killed by the other teams?"
"Yes."
"I don't like relying on you," Temari said blatantly. "Why don't you just come with us then we'll go get the gems together. It can't take that long. At least, not enough for the other teams to pass us."
Naruto shook his head. "Before the fight with the Ame ninja, there were three teams ahead of us. I'm sure that at least three other teams have passed us since then."
"What! That many already?"
"Yeah." Naruto turned away from them in the direction of the emeralds. "I move faster alone anyways. I'll be back." He was about to leave but he paused abruptly. He stood, contemplating something for a moment, before he said one last thing. "...Though I doubt this will happen," Naruto began, his back facing them, "as a last resort, if five teams have already passed, and I'm still not back yet, then just stop the other teams and take their emerald. I'll meet back with you guys at Konoha." And with that, he vanished.
"Will he really be able to do it?" Temari asked after a moment.
"He will. I have no doubts."
"...But then why did he say the last part? 'If he doesn't get back in time'?" Temari asked.
Gaara stared off into Naruto's direction. "...I have a feeling that is because if he meets a certain a person out there...he will go out of his way to kill him." Gaara added a thought to himself, 'Although that's not supposed to be part of the plan...Naruto, I hope you know what you're doing.'
Two ninjas - bruised and bloodied - glared at each other from a distance while they both took in haggard breaths of exhaustion. Both were still in fighting stances, kunai in hand. The two enemies grinned at each other simultaneously. From the looks on their faces, it seemed as if they were enjoying their brutal fight to the death. In a way, they were, both on their own terms. However, the fight was beginning to stretch out dangerously long and they knew it would have to end soon. In appearance, they both seemed to be equally battered with numerous cuts and burns scattered throughout their figures.
'But...' they both thought.
Anko grinned.
The Shadow frowned. 'I need to do something soon. I'm running low on chakra and I can tell she still has a lot more left than me. I never thought I'd have to resort to using 'it'...I had no idea that she was this strong.'
Anko broke the silence. "As fun as this is, I'm going to have to end it soon. Last chance to give up." She received no answer. "Fine then...let's finish this!"
A/N: As always I try to keep characters as in-character as possible but also keep in mind that it has been three years so people do change.
I borrowed this quote "There are bigger things happening here than me and you." I think it was from the Lord of the Rings.
By the way, I probably won't have another chapter up until January because of the holidays.
