IMPORTANT ANOUNCEMENT!!!
Alright so I decided to end the poll because it just seems like no one is going to beat Gaara, and I feel I already made this story lean towards that couple as much I tried not to. So I'd advise those who hate this couple and can't stand reading it stop reading the story now. If you can bear with me well I hope you enjoy the rest of the story. I am going to take it as slow as I can with this couple so really romantic stuff won't happy until later in the story. Hope you enjoy the story regardless!
I don't own Naruto.
To the story:
Recap:
"I just have a feeling I won't be myself with this thing." Sakura explained.
"Your not leaving." I repeated softer this time.
"Just promise me please. I don't want to take any chances." Sakura said softly.
"I promise Sakura." I told her.
"I promise." Gaara said.
"Thank you." She said before drifting off to sleep.
"We need to tell someone." I said to Gaara. He just nodded.
"We will, but for now just leave her be. After the whole assembly with the Hokage we will tell someone."
"Alright." I said taking one last look at Sakura and I tried to get some sleep after all that happened in this dreadful forest.
End Recap.
Normal POV
"Come on Sakura, we have to go." Naruto said.
"Five more minutes…" Sakura mumbled trying to re-enter the realm of her peaceful sleep.
"Just leave her, she wouldn't make it anyway." Gaara taunted and began walking away. Sakura immediately jumped out of the bed and raced to the door beating Gaara out then turned to glare at him.
"I would be able to beat you." Sakura sneered at him. He smirked at the challenge, and walked behind her whispering in her ear.
"We shall see." He whispered to her, before brushing past her. Sakura fought down a blush at his action before shaking her head and heading out to the room where the Hokage would talk to them. Naruto just smiled at his two friends before joining them as well. He saw Sasuke and Ino, overhearing what was going on between the two.
"Sasuke-kun…" Ino trailed off, her hand reaching for his neck. Sasuke turned to face her, grabbing her wrist with one hand and holding his neck with the other.
"You will not tell anyone about this. Got it?" Sasuke told her in a cold voice. Ino just nodded turning her head away. Sasuke let go of her and turned to face the Hokage. All the rookies were here, along with Gaara's siblings team and Lee's team for the leaf village. The sound team had made it as well along with a few others. [They don't matter]
"Listen up maggots, the Hokage is here to explain the next part of the exam." Anko shouted silencing the room. The senseis were in the upper part of the room watching, while the genins stood in a square like formation, facing the Hokage.
"First off I would like to congradulate all of you for making it this far." The Third started. "But due to the number of you, we will be doing an emlimination round right now. Two will randomly be selected to fight, the winner will move on to the next part. Any questions?"
"What are the rules of battle?" Dosu a sound nin asked.
"Anything goes, the proctor can call the match when he sees fit like if your opponent is unable to fight, knocked out ect…This is like a real battle, you don't know what your opponents can do and vice versa, use anything you have at your disposal." He explained. "Now if there are no more questions, lets begin the first battle." A screen on the other side of the room began randomizing names, before stopping on two names.
Sasuke Uchiha vs. Random Ninja [sorry didn't feel like coming up with a name for him]
"If the two would stay down here while the rest go up in the balcony, we can begin the first battle." The proctor said. The two prepared for battle waiting for the signal to begin.
"Begin." Sasuke's opponent responded by charging at him with chakra surrounding his hands. Sasuke dodged his attacks trying to throw in some of his own. Finally his opponent hit Sasuke and Sasuke grunted, his opponent grabbed his head and Sasuke screamed out in pain.
"This is all you got?" His opponent taunted.
"What are you doing to me?!" Sasuke shouted at him.
"I am draining you chakra, well more like absorbing it and adding it to my own. If you don't give up I'll drain all your chakra and you'll die." His opponent explained. Sasuke tried kicking him off but he was too weak. He couldn't do anything. Sakura chuckled.
"I knew that the Uchiha wouldn't last." Sakura said disdainfully "Pathetic." That set Sasuke off, he gathered up his strength and kicked his opponent off of him, and into the air. He continued pushing his opponent higher, before appearing behind him, like he had seen Rock Lee do. The curse mark reacted, beginning to release, but Sasuke strained to keep it in check as he continued his move. Sasuke appeared above him.
"Lions Barage!" Sasuke shouted as he delivered the final kick that sent his opponent to the ground. Painfully. Sasuke landed, chest heaving up and down. His opponent was unconscious.
"Match goes to Sasuke." The proctor announced. Sasuke turned to where Sakura was and smirked at her. She just smirked right back, knowing that egging him on set him off. Before he could go up to the balcony Kakashi came down to him, leading him out of the room, before Kakashi left though he glanced at Sakura and she looked down at him. Kakashi broke the eye contact and walked off.
Temari had won her match against Tenten by making Tenten's weapons useless with her fan, and Kankuro won his match as well using his puppet to trap his opponent.
Naruto Uzumaki vs Kiba Inuzuka
"YAHOO! Lucks like we got lucky Akamaru!" Kiba cheered. Naruto clenched his teeth as he watched Kiba go down for the fight.
"Don't worry about him Naruto. You have just as much chance of beating him as he does of beating you. Show him that hes not as lucky as he thought." Sakura encouraged before pushing him toward the stairs. Naruto nodded and his confidence grew with each step he took. He would not be beaten easily.
"Begin." The proctor announced once the two were ready. The two charged at each other, trying to land hits, but Kiba was faster and his long nails ripped Naruto's sleeve.
"Lets end this." Kiba said as he got on all fours. "Beast mimicry!" His body exuded an aura of blue chakra as he became more beastlike, his nails growing sharper and his taijutsu skill increasing along with strength and speed, as Kiba elbows Naruto in the chest, Naruto was knocked back and forced to lie for several seconds on the ground, unable to move.
"What happened? I blinked and it was over." Kankuro asked. Naruto slowly started to get up.
"Ha! I just wanted to see what you've got. Frankly, you hit like an old lady. You have a better chance of winning this if you send that puppy to fight for you."
"You're gonna regret that." Kiba growled throwing a smoke bomb interfering with Naruto's vision. Kiba and Akamaru continuely attacked while Naruto was unable to see, until finally Naruto ran out of the smoke. Kiba smirked 'fool, that's exactly what I wanted you to do. Go Akamaru.' When the smoke cleared Naruto was lying on his back, Akamaru next to him.
"Good job Akamaru!" Kiba cheered. Akamaru looked to Kiba and ran over to him, Kiba having his arms open to catch him. But instead of jumping into Kiba's arms Akamaru bit him. "Akamaru what's wrong?" Kiba shouted confused and in pain from the bite. That's when Naruto came into the picture. He transformed himself into Akamaru as his clone held the real one.
"He's certainly an interesting one...it's not everyday you see a shinobi who would bite his opponent." Neji said as Naruto stopped biting Kiba spitting at the ground
"You smell even worse that the dog." Naruto said.
"Time to get serious." Kiba said as he took out two soldier pills, tossing one to Akamaru and eating the other. This causes both of their chakra to double and Akamaru to turn red.
"Beast Mimicry, Half Beast Clone!" Kiba shouts and Akamaru becomes a transformtion of Kiba. Then the two attack using the increased strength and speed to create an opening.
"Double Fang Destroyer!" Naruto lands on his head, on the concrete floor, yet refuses to give up, blood is dripping from his head and mouth, a pool of blood dripping onto the ground beneath his body. Kiba begins laughing, taunting and testing Naruto's will to fight. "Look at him, he's finished."
"Don't ever...underestimate me!" Naruto shouted.
Alright you stupid fox, give me some of your chakra.
Naruto began eniminating a red aura, increasing his strength just like the pill had done for Kiba. His wounds on his head began sealing, stopping the flow of blood. Naruto smirked.
"Sorry to tell you this, but I'm the top dog around here!" Naruto shouted.
"You tell him Naruto!" Sakura cheered. Naruto just nodded not taking his eyes off his opponent. Naruto vanished and reappeared behind Kiba kicking him in the air before summoning shadow clones. The clones reapeatedly kicked Kiba further in the air.
"Uzumaki Barage!" Naruto shouts as he kicks Kiba to the ground. Kiba is out cold.
"Naruto Uzumaki is the winner." The proctor announces.
"Yeah Naruto! That's my teammate! Way to go!" Sakura cheered. Naruto turned to her and rubbed the back of his neck smiling sheepishly. Gaara was smirking next to her to cool to shout, even their sensei was nodding in approval.
"Nicely done Naruto." Sasori said as he returned to the balcony.
"Thanks guys."
In the next match Shikamaru had beaten Kin by using his shadow technique to make her hit head on the wall. Shino beat Zaku, clogging the pipes in his hands with his bugs.
"The next match will be Hinata Hyuga vs. Neji Hyuga." The procter announced. The two walked to the battle arena, Neji glaring at Hinata. His hate for the main branch showing.
"Give up now Hinata, you don't stand a chance." Neji said to her in a cold voice. Hinata looked at him with shock, before shaking it off and determination shone in her eyes.
"No." Hinata said in a hard voice.
"Then you destine yourself to failure." Neji said.
"Begin." The proctor said and the two charged at each other, delivering devastating blows and blocking on coming ones. They appeared to be equally matched but Hinata brought arm back ready to deliver a devastating blow to Neji's chest. She hit but she was the one that ended up coughing up blood. While she was going to hit him, Neji had hit her as well. Obviously showing who was more powerful.
"See, you were doomed to fail. You were always a failure." Neji said to her.
"No." Hinata said softly denying his statement. Neji scoffed.
"You are weak, and you always will be weak. Look." Neji said as he pulled Hinata's sleeve up revealing the effects of Neji's blows. Neji didn't even look effected by any of Hinata's attacks. Hinata coughed up more blood and fell to the ground.
"Pathetic." Neji scoffed.
"Get up Hinata! Don't take that from him!!" Naruto shouted to her. Hinata looked at the ground, then fisted her hands and struggled to get up. Once she stood her determination returned and shone in her eyes. She went to attack her cousin with all her might but Neji reacted faster and hit her in the chest were her heart is. She coughed up more blood.
"Its useless, you are useless."
"No, you are." Hinata said to him, and that set him off he went in for another attack but was held back as jounin came down, as Kurenai took Hinata away on a stretcher.
"The match goes to Neji Hyuga." The proctor announced. Neji stood glaring at where Hinata was taken. Naruto angry jumped down and confronted him.
"How can you attack her like that?!" Naruto shouted. Neji turned to him and chuckled.
"Hinata is a failure just like you are."
"Who are you to judge that?" Naruto asked angrily.
"Only someone like you would defend Hinata, she doesn't deserve it and it only makes her weaker."
"Why I oughta!" Naruto said before rushing to attack. He was stopped by a hand though.
"That's enough Naruto." Sakura told him then turned to Neji. "You went to far Neji."
"That's all your going to say to him?! He deserves a good beating."
"Maybe so, but you will not do it now. If you want to fight him so bad win your match and you might face him." Sakura said to Naruto. Naruto growled and walked over to where Hinata coughed up blood, he fisted some up and held his fist toward Neji.
"I swear that I will beat you." Naruto vowed.
"You could never beat me." Neji taunted. Naruto glared at him ready to hit him again. Sakura sighed.
"Come on Naruto." Sakura said disappearing in water with him back to the balcony. "Why do you have to pick a fight?"
"Did you see what he did to Hinata?!"
"Yes we all saw, I'm mad at him too but I'm not going to do something stupid just because he might deserve it. He was egging you on and you would have been diqualified if I hadn't stopped you." Sakura said.
Gaara vs. Rock Lee.
"Now will you watch Gaara's match and be quiet." Naruto just nodded and turned to the arena watching as the match began and Lee raced trying to punch and kick his way to Gaara. But Gaara's sand left no gaps in his defense. Bored with Lee's attempt Gaara sent his sand after him. Lee dodged as best as he could but soon found his leg caught in it and was thrown across the arena into a wall. He got up trying to think off what to do, when Gai interrupted.
"Take them off Lee." Gai told him. Lee looked to him shocked.
"But you said—
"I know what I said, but this is a special circumstance." Gai shouted. Lee nodded happily and jumped on a post in the arena. He unstrapped weights from under his leg warmers and held them up in the air his arms spread out.
"Big deal, like those weights will—
CRASH!
Kankuro was cut off as the weights hit the floor leaving giant craters in the floor. Everyone gasped and Gaara's eyes widened as Lee suddenly circled him throwing in more punches that were getting past his shield.
"Looks like Gaara won't be able to just rely on his shield for this." Sakura said.
"You almost sound happy about that." Naruto joked.
"Maybe I am. Its about time someone can give him a run for his money so his ego takes a good blow."
"Your heartless."
"No it just serves him right for earlier." Sakura justified. Then Lee finally landed a punch, and continued pushing Gaara into the air with a series of kicks. Once high enough the bandages around Lee's arms unraveled and wrapped around Gaara as Lee flipped them so they were head first to the ground. Then he started spinning at a rapid pace before impact. Lee backed away from the rubble and looked at Gaara laying there motionless.
"Did I do it?" Lee questioned looking at Gaara. Suddenly the face cracked and caved in. A sand clone. Then sand drowned Lee while he wasn't paying attention. Gaara who was behind Lee was smirking. He choked Lee until he was unconscious and set him on the ground.
"Gaara is the winner." The proctor said. Gaara rejoined his team and Sakura patted him on the back.
"No blood this time. Good job." Sakura teased ruffling his hair. "Sorry but I don't have any treats with me."
"Ruffle my hair again woman and see what happens." Gaara threatened. Sakura ruffled it again and disappeared. Gaara growled at her disappearance but watched the next match. It was Chouji and Dosu. Dosu coming out with an quick victory with his sound magnigication device on his arm. There was only one match left. Sakura appeared back in the arena just in time for the names to stop.
Sakura Haruno vs. Ino Yamanaka.
The two rivals looked at each other, each with determination and confidence in their eyes. They looked to the proctor to start the match.
"Begin." That was what started it, the two charged at each other, both just using taijutsu to punch and block. The rest of Sakura's squad frowned.
"Why is Sakura holding back?" Sasori asked confused, not knowing what happened to her in the forest. "This match should be easy for her."
"Well…" Naruto trailed off, not knowing how to put it. Both Ino and Sakura flew back after being punched by the other. When they got up Ino glared at Sakura.
"I don't want you to hold back! If I have to fight you I want to fight you at your best!" Ino yelled. Sakura gasped, her eyes wide then she looked to the floor.
"I can't Ino." Sakura said softly.
"Fight me like you mean it!" Ino demanded. Sakura didn't move, staring at the same spot on the ground. Ino growled and did hand signs while Sakura wasn't paying attention. "Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
"Sakura look out!" Naruto shouted. Sakura looked up but it was too late. Ino's spirit was now controling Sakura's body. Sakura snickered.
"Too bad Forehead." Ino said her voice coming out of Sakura's body while hers laid motionless on the ground across from her. 'Sakura' slowly began raising her hand until it was above her head. "I Sakura Haruno, would like to withdraw from—
"Come on Sakura! Your better than this, show Ino what you got!" Naruto yelled at her. 'Sakura' looked up to him and smirked.
"Its useless, she can't hear you." 'Sakura' told him. That's when 'Sakura' clutched her head, screaming out in pain. "What's going on!" 'Sakura' shouted.
"Are you withdrawing or not?" The proctor asked.
"No I am not!" Sakura shouted, breaking through Ino's control for a second. When Ino took back control she forced Sakura's hands to do a hand sign.
"Release!" 'Sakura' said, and everything in the arena was still again. That's when Ino got up breathing heavily.
"How do you have two souls?!" Ino asked shocked. Everyone except Naruto and Gaara who already knew was surprised. Sakura chuckled, her hair grew longer to her mid back instead of her normal shoulder length. It also turned a light purple color. When she looked up her eyes were a deep purple. Everyone gasped at the transformation "Wh-Who are you?" Ino stuttered.
"I am the other soul you speak of. Sakura calls me 'Inner Sakura' but my true name is Momo." Momo announced.
"Hey! What have you done with Sakura!!" Naruto shouted. Momo looked to him and smiled. Ino took this opportunity to attack throwing shuriken in Momo's direction. Before it hit its intended target they fell to the floor with a clunk. Momo was still facing Naruto, her hand out as if it blocked the shuriken.
"I have done nothing to Sakura, she is fine. She has just allowed me control of the body that I share with her." Momo explained. Ino charged at Momo but was stopped mid attack and put up in the air, Momo's hand directing it.
"What are you doing?! Put me down!!" Ino screeched. Momo turned to her.
"This is what you wanted. You wanted Sakura to be at her best, well here it is. Next time don't ask for something you can't handle." Momo said before rising in the air to become face to face with Ino, one touch to the head and Ino becam limp. The two returned to the ground Ino in Momo's arms.
"Um, the match goes to Sakura Haruno." The proctor said unsure. Momo floated up to the balcony where Kakashi was. (He came back during one of the matches)
"I believe this is your student." Momo said handing Ino to him. He took her in his arms eyes narrowing at Momo. "I mean no harm but I also believe that you wanted to see Sakura."
"Yes, I did." Kakashi answered. By now Sakura's team was over by the two.
"What is going on, what do you need with my student?" Sasori questioned.
"I believe this conversation would be more suited with less people around." Momo suggested.
"Yes, your students still need to here whats going on for the next part of the exam." Kakashi agreed still studying Momo and her ability to seemingly fly. Sasori narrowed his eyes but agreed nonetheless. Naruto shook off the whole thing quickly and turned to Momo.
"Hey, how can you fly like that?" Naruto asked.
"My mind and of course some chakra." Momo answered.
"How come Sakura can't do it?"
"I haven't taught her it."
"Oh, can you teach me?" Naruto asked excitedly.
"Enough Naruto, lets go." Gaara said coldly, his eyes narrowed at Momo before gathering in the arena with the others that beat their opponents dragging Naruto with him. Momo sighed and followed. Once on the ground, Momo's features changed her hair once again short and pink, and her eyes their normal stunning emerald. The third cleared his throat to get the attention of the winners.
"Congradulations on your wins. However, the next part of the exam won't be for another month, until then you may train, learn new jutsu's, whatever you need to do to prepare for this." The Third explained.
"Why do we have to wait a month?!" Naruto shouted.
"You all have just witnessed what the others can do, this time period is used to learn new things so you could surprise your opponents. It is also so the right preparations can be made for our guests." The third explained.
"Oh."
"Anko will come around and you will pick a number out of the hat, the number will have a corrisponding spot on the bracket. This is how you will find out when and who you are facing."
"If it's a tournament does that mean only one of us can become chunin?" Shikamaru asked.
"Each participant will be evaluated on their performance and not necessarily if they win. All of you could become chunin or none of you at all, it all depends." The Third responded. Each participant picked a number.
"Tell me your number when I come to you and see where you are on bracket." Anko told them beginning at Dosu and holding up the bracket.
"8" He said.
"Number 1 of course!" Naruto told her.
"I got 7" Temari said.
"5" Kankuro said.
"3" Gaara said.
"9" Shikamaru said lazily.
"10" Sakura told her.
"2" Neji said.
"6" Shino told her. Anko nodded and turned to the Hokage.
"That means Sasuke is 4." He said. "Well you each have your opponents, and the time you are free to go." The Third said dismissing them. Sakura sighed and looked to Kakashi. He was looking at her as well and signaled her to follow him, Sakura just nodded to him.
Its for the best, Sakura. Momo told her. Sakura mentally agreed and went to follow Kakashi. Naruto, Gaara, and Sasori following her trying to grasp the situation.
"You can seal it right." Sakura stated as the rest of her team got to them. They were in a room by themselves, seals on the floor already in preperation.
"Seal what exactly? What do you all know that I don't." Sasori asked wanting to know what was going on. Sakura sighed and lifted her hair out of the way revealing her curse mark given to her by Orochimaru. "When did you get that."
"Forest of Death." Sakura replied.
"Why didn't you tell anyone right away Sakura?" Sasori questioned.
"I didn't want anyone to panic, I didn't know what I was supposed to do, and after seeing Sasuke struggle with it…" Sakura explained trailing off. Sasori turned to Kakashi.
"Your student has it too?" Sasori asked and Kakashi sighed and nodded.
"I am going to seal Sakura's just like I sealed Sasuke's, but I warn you Sakura the seal is only as strong as your own will, the curse will spread if you let it." Kakashi explained. Sakura nodded in understanding.
"I only ask that you do everything you can, I have to deal with the rest."
"Why do you make it sound like your all alone in this?!" Naruto shouted. Sakura looked at him anger and sadness showing in her eyes.
"Because your not the one he's after Naruto!" Sakura yelled back at him, tears pricking at her eyes. Then a sharp pain shot in her neck making her grab it. The curse mark began spreading, the room grew silent. Sakura yelled out in pain then used everything she had to make the curse mark retreat.
"I think it would be best if you all left during this." Kakashi told them. Sasori nodded and grabbed Naruto thinking he would be the one to fight it. But Gaara stayed put.
"I'm not leaving Sakura." He said, his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at Kakashi as if daring to say something else. Sasori sighed and tried to grab Gaara, but his sand stopped him from touching him.
"Gaara…" Sasori said.
"No Sasori, I'm not going to stand here and let this guy do something to Sakura that we don't even know about or what it could do to her." Gaara said still glaring at Kakashi. Sakura walked up to Gaara and put an hand on his shoulder. Gaara looked to her, concern now the dominant emotion in his eyes.
"Please Gaara, I don't want you to see me like this, when I get the seal done." Sakura said to him. Gaara looked at her and frowned.
"I won't leave." Gaara said stubbornly.
"Gaara, please just trust my decision on this. I don't want to have to worry about this curse, I don't want to change who I am, but I can't do that if it keeps activating changing me into someone I'm not. You and Naruto and even Sasori will be able to help me after I get this seal, you all keep me grounded here to Konoha. I don't want to lose that." Sakura begged, tears streaming down her face as she silently wept about the thought of leaving her home, of all the people in it. Gaara was also saddened by the thought of her leaving and nodded.
"Alright Sakura, but good luck getting rid of me after you get this seal done." Gaara said agreeing to leave. Sakura looked to him and smiled through her tears before embracing him.
"Thank you." She whispered to him. He just nodded as they parted before leaving with one final glance at Sakura and one final glare to Kakashi. Once they were gone Sakura turned to Kakashi.
"You ready?" Kakashi asked. Sakura nodded, and Kakashi began instructing her on what to do and what was going to happen. Sakura sat in the middle of the seal and Kakashi began the hand signs.
The last thing heard was Sakura's scream, as the seal was completed.
Me: The end of another chapter, and things just grew more interesting. Anyway like I said this is going to be a GaaSaku, so sorry to the people who wanted a different couple, hope you still enjoy the story if you continue to read it. Oh and don't forget to REVIEW!!!!