It's the big day! Hope you like the chapter, I sure was proud of how it turned out. Tell me what you think and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to send a review my way or PM me. Thanks for reading!
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
"Demon"
(flashbacks)
-888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888-
"Haaaaaawwwwwwnggh" Mika yawned as she stretched in her bed.
Naruto had been able to come back to the apartment after being hospitalized for three days. He wouldn't tell her what happened but she could tell that something had spooked him.
Now Mika was getting ready for the day. She had nearly forgotten who she even had to fight.
'Who was it in the first round? That sound ninja guy?'
Mika sat on the couch and stared at her hands, off in her own world.
"What's wrong pup?" Okami could sense her frustration.
"Nothing."
"Mika" he warned and she knew this was her only warning to tell him.
She sighed, "It's just that" she hesitated, "About what Gaara said to me that night on the roof. He told me to leave as if he was angry with me. Is he mad at me Okami?"
The wolf demon was silent for a few moments before replying, "No. I did not sense any real malice towards you that night. In fact, I think he cares for you."
Mika smiled, "That's good."
She stood up and walked over to the door. The finals would start in about three hours and Naruto was still in bed.
'Should I wake him?'
"No. He'll be on time."
The girl nodded and opened the door to find Sasuke standing there. This time he was in a different uniform, though. He wore a similar style but it was black. A jumpsuit of sorts. And he wore a similar style of arm cuffs. In truth, Mika hadn't even realized that Uchiha had let his hair grow out but with the new uniform he looked entirely different.
"Uchiha?"
He nodded to her, "Can we talk?"
Mika narrowed her eyes, "Why?"
Sasuke turned his gaze away, "Has Naruto been acting strange since he came back from the hospital?"
Mika didn't know how he knew this but she merely nodded and Sasuke sighed, "He hasn't told you why right?"
"Why would he? What's wrong? Did something happen?" she was getting worried now.
"Come with me and I'll explain." He jumped up to the roof and waited for Mika to follow. They bounded form roof top to roof top until they managed to get to their training grounds.
"What is it you wanted to talk to me about Uchiha? Just spill it."
Sasuke leaned against the wooden post, "Yesterday me and Shikamaru were visiting Naruto. We were all going to visit Choji when Naruto wanted to see Lee. But when we went in, your little sand ninja friend was in there, claiming that he wanted to kill Lee. If it wasn't for Shikamaru's shadow possession then Lee would have been killed."
Mika didn't really even know what to say, "What?"
Sasuke tried to place his hand on her shoulder but she flinched away.
"Mika, it's true. He threatened all of us saying that he was going to kill us. He told us his story, that's why Naruto's so scared! He's scared of him!"
Mika shook her head, "You're lying. Gaara would never say or do anything you just said."
Sasuke grabbed her by her shoulders and pinned her against the post, "Listen to me Mika! He's a monster! He tried to kill Lee and then he tried to kill us! If it wasn't for Guy sensei walking in the room then we would have been dead!"
Mika shook her head and Sasuke growled with impatience, "He also told us you already knew of his story. That he has a demon in him. Is this true?"
Mika nodded, trying not to look Sasuke in the eye.
"Mika, I know you like him and think of him as a friend but this has got to stop. You're obsessed over him like he is over you. He told us you belonged to him. That you would be his. Do you understand now?! He's dangerous! He's a monster!"
SLAP!
Mika swatted him across the face, giving the Uchiha a red mark on his cheek. Sasuke glared at her and snarled his lips.
'Uh-oh. It's different when you know Gaara wouldn't do anything out of shock. But what would Sasuke do?'
Sasuke grabbed her by her throat and hissed at her only an inch away from her lips, "If you ever do that again, I'll make you regret it, Uzumaki."
Mika let out a few shaky breathes and Sasuke licked his lips, "I will not tolerate any more violence from you, Uzumaki. I've had it with you. I tried to be nice since you were training me but this is the last straw. One more incident of violence towards me and I'll make you regret it."
Mika was scared, she wouldn't deny it and Sasuke still didn't let up on her neck, "Uc-hi-ha" she croaked out but he just smirked, enjoying her submissiveness.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" a new voice shouted and Sasuke turned to see Master Kakashi coming up from behind them.
"Ka-kakashi!" Mika tried to choke out.
"Sasuke" the gray haired ninja warned, "Let her go. Now."
Sasuke smirked and removed his hand from Mika's throat, "Whatever. It's what she gets for not listening to me."
Mika fell to the ground and coughed. Sasuke started to walk away when Kakashi stopped him, "What's gotten into you? Why would you do that to your teammate?"
Sasuke was quiet and Kakashi frowned harder under his mask, narrowing his eyes, "Answer me Sasuke!"
"Because she's so stupid!" he rounded on his sensei, "You don't understand! You haven't been here! She' been hanging around that freak sand ninja who wants to kill everyone and she doesn't care! You can call me the unstable one all you want but look at the real Mika. She's a freak, herself."
With that, Sasuke left the training grounds, leaving Kakashi and Mika alone.
"Mika" Kakashi slowly came over to her, "Are you okay?"
He patted her back and noticed that she was crying, "I'm sorry Master Kakashi. I'm so sorry."
She sobbed and the jounin held her in his arms like a child, "What for little one?"
Mika cried in his chest, "I knew he was dangerous. Gaara. But he looked so lonely. I just wanted to give him a friend. That's all."
Kakashi rubbed her back and picked her up so she was on his back. She wrapped her arms around his neck, "Come on. I'll take you to see your friends. How about that?"
"What friends?" she sniffled, "No one really likes me. Naruto hates me, Sakura hates me, Uchiha hates me, Kiba hates me. . . I have no one!"
She hadn't cried this much since she was little, "Don't worry little one." Kakashi smiled, "You have many more friends than you realize. I passed by some of them earlier in town. You want to go see?"
Mika laid her chin on his head and whined, "Whatever" she muttered like a whipped puppy. Kakashi sighed.
When they reached their destination, Mika found that Kakashi had brought her to Ichiraku's.
"Why are we here?"
Kakashi just walked in to the seats and Mika blanched to find Naruto, Shikamaru and Sakura in the restaurant.
Naruto looked over to see his sister's crying face, "Mika!" he finished his slurp of ramen, "What's wrong? You okay?!"
Mika sniffled and wiped her tears, Kakashi still holding her on his back. Shikamaru and Sakura smiled.
"Mika?" Sakura looked concerned for her for once.
"Hey little tough girl. Why the tears, Uzumaki?" Shikamaru tried to tease as he lay back on the chair against the noodle bar table.
Mika shook her head and buried her face in her sensei's hair. She didn't care if she was acting like a kid.
Kakashi set her down gently on the chair next to her brother and she was shocked when he hugged her to his chest, petting her hair gently.
'This is weird. Naruto hasn't hugged me since. . .'
But she didn't even want to think about it and she hugged him back fiercely crying even harder, "I'm sorry Naruto. I'm so sorry for everything." her voice was muffled in his jacket.
Naruto just hugged her harder until she stopped crying.
"So." Naruto started, "You gonna tell us why you were crying?"
The restaurant owner put a bowl of how fresh ramen in front of her, "Here, kiddo. It's on the house. You'll need your strength today in the finals."
Mika smiled at him and nodded a thanks and turned back to Sakura, Shikamaru, Naruto, and Kakashi, "Uchiha said that Gaara was going to kill you and Shikamaru yesterday. I didn't want to believe him. I thought Gaara was my friend. That he wouldn't hurt my friends, especially not my brother. I thought he changed."
Naruto placed a hand on her shoulder, "Hey sis, don't worry about it. I'm sure he's probably a lot better guy when he's around you. I believe you."
Mika finally smiled, eating her ramen so it wouldn't get cold.
Kakashi smiled as Sakura came over to her, "Mika?"
Mika looked at Sakura and the pink-haired girl continued, "Look. I'm sorry for all the times we've argued. Sasuke told me how you felt about that Gaara kid. I just wanted to let you know that you're strong and you're a great person. Good luck today in the finals."
She held out her hand and slowly, Mika stretched out her own and shook Sakura's hand, "Thanks, Sakura. But you better be prepared to lose today because I'm gonna be the winner. Got it?"
Sakura smirked, "We'll see"
"Oh yeah!" Naruto shouted, "We'll see alright! I'm gonna beat all of you! Believe it!"
Two more hours blissfully went by until the group decided that it was time to leave for the tournament.
On the way, Naruto and Mika ran into Hinata and the poor shy girl wished them good luck.
'Oh Naruto. Will you ever realize that she loves you?'
Once they made it to the arena, they all stood in a straight line before the audience crowd. Many people were there to watch the fights but mostly for Sasuke and Gaara's.
As far as she knew the rounds went from Naruto and Neji, Sasuke and Gaara, Kankuro and Shino, Shikamaru and Temari and then Mika versus Dosu and Sakura.
But where was Dosu?
Mika didn't see him anywhere. However while she was looking around, she noticed that Sasuke was staring at her with a pained look on his face. She glared at him and flipped him off.
Uchiha's eyes widened comically but returned to narrowing in a glare.
Mika looked over to Gaara, although he was just staring up above at the Kazekage.
'His father' Mika thought, 'This must be painful for Gaara'
"Listen, pup" Okami spoke to her in her mind, "You need to forget about him and think about your match. Think about it. If that sound ninja isn't here then you'll be fighting your own teammate."
'Don't worry, Okami. Sakura isn't a problem'
"She will be. Because I am not helping you with your battle. You cannot show so many people what you can do with my chakra. No normal citizen can know, you understand? At least not here in the arena. It's too dangerous for you"
Mika sighed, 'Alright. Fine'
Mika then decided that she should listen to the proctor who had a stick in his mouth, "There's been a slight change in the order of matches, everyone! First match will be Naruto Uzumaki versus Neji Hyuga. Then it will move onto Kankuro Sabaku and Shino Aburame, Shikamaru Nara and Temari Sabaku, Mika Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno and then Sasuke Uchiha and Gaara Sabaku."
'Wait. What? Why has my match been moved to the end?!' Sasuke thought angrily.
Mika raised an eyebrow and looked at her brother who shrugged.
Gaara looked completely apathetic.
"Alright then will Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga please come forward? Everyone else can go up those stairs and wait in the stands above."
The participants did as they were told except Mika stayed behind and hugged her brother.
"Good luck" she whispered in his ear and pulled back, her hands on his shoulders.
Naruto looked shocked as Mika said, "I know you can do it. I believe in you, brother."
Naruto smiled, 'Mika' she walked away and up the stairs. He looked over to Neji and held his fist up.
'Thank you sis'
"You got something to say to me, failure?" Neji asked mockingly.
Naruto narrowed his eyes, "I vow to win"
Mika made it up the stairs with the others and stood by Sakura and Shikamaru, trying to stay as far away from Gaara and Sasuke as possible, 'Can't have them ruining my focus'
Mika watched as Naruto conjured clones but Neji found the real Naruto and attacked him, telling him his dreams will never come true.
"Wake up and face reality!" Mika could hear Neji's hurtful words, "Those who will become Hokage are born with that fate! You cannot get there by trying. You have to be pre-selected."
Mika clenched the bar rail in front of her.
"Calm down pup"
Mika ignored Okami's words.
"Each person's life consists only of being swept along in the inescapable current of their destiny."
Mika could see Naruto's face falter.
"All of us only have one shared fate. Death."
Naruto looked angry, "Well so what? Guess I'm just a sore loser then!"
He conjured more clones and went at Neji again only for Neji to find the real one once more and hit Naruto in the chest, pressing his tenketsu.
Naruto began to spit up blood and Mika's hands clenched the bar rail tighter. Sakura saw Mika's anger and watched her closely, "Mika, you okay?"
Mika didn't respond, watching the battle with concentration.
'Win Naruto!' she thought, 'Prove this bastard wrong!'
"I told you it was useless to fight"
Naruto looked up at Neji with a smirk, "And I told you I'm a sore loser"
That Naruto went poof and Mika relaxed, 'It was just a clone'
The real Naruto and another clone came up behind Neji and punched him.
Except then Neji began rotating and pushed Naruto away with Chakra.
Naruto was flung away and Neji laughed, "You thought you had me beat?"
All of a sudden, Neji cam at Naruto again, pressing all of his tenketsu at once.
Mika's heart raced with fear and anger for this Neji, 'Is this what happened to Hinata? This guy's a total jerk! This is why Naruto feels the need to beat Neji. Hmph! And he said he doesn't have any feelings for Hinata. Yeah right!'
"Believing that you can simply get to the top if you work hard enough is just a fantasy! Face reality. You're just a failure!"
Naruto stood up, "Shut up!"
Neji smirked, "Look, just give up alright? I have no grudge against you so"
"SHUT UP! I DO ALRIGHT?!"
Neji looked confused.
Mika felt an incredible anger well inside of her.
"Pup, calm down. Your anger will get the better of you"
Mika growled, not being able to hear what neither Neji nor Naruto was saying.
The group around her of participants suddenly felt something in the air. Gaara stared with wide eyes at Mika, astonished by the girl's bloodlust. Sasuke was even more surprised.
"Mika?"
She ignored them and clenched the bar rail so hard that it was crushed and being bent under her strength.
Then she heard a voice call out.
"I won't run away! I never go back on my word!"
Mika looked up with golden eyes at her brother, trying to listen once more. In truth, she really didn't know why she was so angry all of a sudden. Sure what Neji was saying made her upset up why was she getting so offensive about it? What's happening to her?
'I feel . . . Strange' she thought rather dizzily.
"You're just a joke! Stop trying to lecture me as if you know anything! Everyone is born with a destiny that cannot be defied."
Mika felt blood roll down her chin. Her teeth had gotten sharper and pierced the inside of her mouth.
Neji looked angry, "How could you understand anything about my fate?! About bearing an inescapable curse?!"
Naruto delved into memories of when Mika and him were children and had to fend for themselves on the streets. Everyone hated them because of the demons inside of them.
"Actually, I understand pretty well." Mika's brother said, "And? So what? Big deal! You're not the only one who's 'special' you know."
Mika let her teeth show in threat and Sasuke looked a little worried, "Mika? What the hell? You okay?"
A black chakra then started to surround her and then Mika was in pain everywhere. She lurched violently and held her stomach in pain.
"I told you to calm down little one" Okami scolded her.
"Mika! What's wrong?!" Sakura tried to keep her standing but Mika was so confused.
'What's going on with my body? Okami?'
"Call for Kakashi. It's because that you are my first Jinchuriki, Mika. I was going to tell you after the exams but I guess now is the time when you have over exerted yourself."
'What do you mean?'
"Have you teammate get Kakashi first"
"Sakura."
"Yes?"
"Get Kakashi for me." She rasped, blood oozing from her shirt on her stomach.
She collapsed on the floor, holding her stomach in pain. Gaara looked over to her with a mild interest. He showed no emotion but on the inside, he held a pinch of concern for her. Shikamaru kneeled beside her, worried for his friend.
Sasuke stopped Sakura, "I'll go get him. I'll find him faster with the Sharingan. You stay here with Mika."
Sasuke ran and entered the audience stands, looking for his sensei until he finally found him standing with Ino, Choji, a recovering Lee and Guy.
"Kakashi! It's an emergency! Mika needs your help! Now!"
The gray haired ninja didn't even ask questions and followed Sasuke immediately to Mika.
When Kakashi and Sasuke got back to her, Mika was close to passing out, "Mika! You alright? What happened?"
Sakura spoke, "We don't know. She was just surrounded by a black chakra all of a sudden and she started shuddering in pain."
'This is bad' Kakashi took her in his arms, "Tell the proctor that Mika Uzumaki will not be participating in the exams. She forfeits."
Mika whined in pain, "No" The sand siblings watched as Mika shuddered again, crying.
'Poor kid' Temari thought.
'What's wrong with her?' Kankuro wondered.
'Hmm. A forfeit?' Shino was curious.
"Just listen to me, Mika" Kakashi held her bridal style and took her quickly to the hospital room. Immediately, he brushed her shirt up to show her navel where the curse seal was. It was bleeding.
"I'll need help with this" Kakashi cut his finger and placed his hand on the ground, "Summoning Jutsu!"
A small dog appeared, "Pakkun, I need you to go find Jiraya, alright? Quickly now!"
Pakkun nodded and left without a word, leaving Kakashi alone with Mika. Kakashi tried to wipe the blood away and placed a cold towel on Mika's forehead. By now, Mika was barely conscious.
It was about twenty minutes later when Pakkun and Jiraiya arrived.
The Sanin walked up to Kakashi, "Hey, what's the matter with her? Pakkun wouldn't give me any details."
Kakashi rubbed Mika's wrist in comfort, "I'm afraid I don't really know for sure myself. However I do know that whatever it is, it has to do with the Eleven tails."
"Hmm" Jiraiya pondered and placed a hand on Mika's naval. The girl jerked in pain.
"That's it. I think I know. Okami has never had a host before right?"
Kakashi nodded and Jiraiya continued, "Well if I'm think right then it's because of that is why she's reacting this way."
The sanin placed his five fingers onto Mika's seal gently, releasing Chakra into her to ease the pain and stop the bleeding.
"What do you mean?"
"Well think about it. The nine-tails has had countless Jinchuriki hosts and the demon's spirit has just been passed down through generations by a new birth. This makes the demon more calming to the host and the host will be more adapt to the demon, genetically speaking. However, in Mika's case, she's not use to the demon's power and Okami cannot help her control it because he's never had a Jinchuriki. In this case, both parties are inexperienced."
"Oh, I get it. But how did this happen? Her sudden pain and the blood?"
"Well a demon is formed with hate correct? Even though we know Okami isn't hateful towards the girl, it doesn't matter. That means Mika's hate must have called forth the demon's chakra. And since she has only ever been able to use the chakra so recently, she's being consumed by the hate slowly. She's also using Okami's chakra too much. All she has to do I'd say is do some calming exercises and not use Okami's power anymore. There. Problem solved."
When he was finished healing her, he pulled her shirt back down and gently pat her stomach. She was a very extraordinary girl.
(Flashback)
"Here take this water balloon." Jiraiya threw it at her.
"And do what with it?" Mika asked, catching the balloon easily so it didn't pop on her.
Jiraiya laughed, "Well all you have to do right now is pop it with your chakra. Swirl your chakra around, rotating it until it pops. Got it?"
Mika's face lit up, "That'll be easy!"
"Wait! One more thing" her new teacher grinned, "I know you have a better grasp at your demon's chakra than Naruto does but try not to use the Eleven tail's chakra with this, alright? IF you manage that, you'll become even stronger without the help of the demon spirit!"
Mika nodded in understanding and concentrated on the water balloon. However, no matter how much she tried, she couldn't pop it. She went the whole day without making any progress.
'Well I guess stubbornness runs in the family' Jiraiya thought, 'This will definitely keep these two brats busy while I do my research' he grinned.
Once it was night out, Naruto had passed out trying to use summoning jutsu too much. Mika, however, was still sitting in her one spot trying to pop the fucking water balloon. Jiraiya smiled
"You know, you might want to take your brother home now. You can come back tomorrow if you want and train with us again."
Mika shook her head, "He'll be fine. We've slept on the streets before, no big deal"
Jiraiya frowned, "Really. You two don't look like street urchins to me. Don't worry about the Rasengan, kid. That was the fourth Hokage's original jutsu, you know. Even then, it took him years to master it."
Mika's eyes widened, "It won't take me that long! I swear! I'll master this jutsu soon, I promise, Jiraiya sensei!"
The sanin smiled, "Yeah. I believe you kid."
'Their twins alright'
(end of Flashback)
'But even mastering the Rasengan might not be enough to protect her'
"But what about her right now?" Kakashi interrupted his thoughts.
Jiraiya looked down at the now, unconscious girl, "I say she just needs rest now. She'll be fine."
The two fell into a silence, watching the girl and Jiraiya spoke again, "She looks just like her mother, doesn't she?"
Kakashi smiled under his mask, "Yes and Naruto's a spitting image of his father too."
"Yeah. Well I better run. See you later, eh Kakashi? You gonna watch the rest of the matches?"
"Nah" the gray-haired jounin brushed Mika's hair out of her face, "I'm going to stay in here with her for a while longer. Make sure she's okay."
Jiraiya shrugged, "Alright. Suit yourself. Just watch out alright? I think something big is about to happen soon."
Kakashi nodded as the sanin left.
'Oh Mika. Why did you get so angry?' he thought.
Meanwhile at Naruto's match, Neji had pressed all of his tenketsu but he had summoned the Nine tail's Chakra to help him. He Was much stronger and faster and came to Neji with all he had against his rotation.
They had been flown apart and Neji thought that he had won. Except he didn't expect Naruto to come bursting through the ground underneath him, knocking him to the ground and enabling him to move.
Naruto had won the match.
"So shut up about 'destiny' and 'inescapable fate'. You shouldn't whine about such trival stuff. Because unlike me, you're not a 'failure'."
The crowds cheered for Naruto, not expecting such a great match. Of course then that's when Naruto's ego popped in and cheered with them, jumping up to the competitor's stand to hug Mika.
However, when he got up there, she wasn't there, "Where is she?" he asked Sasuke and the Uchiha frowned.
"Kakashi had to take her to the medic room. Something happened to her. I don't know what."
Naruto looked worried but Sasuke's eyes softened, "Don't worry, idiot. She'll be fine. She's probably fighting the medics and Kakashi right now to come back up and fight."
"But you know what Kakashi said, Sasuke" Sakura interrupted, "She won't be able to fight in the matches now. Kakashi told us to tell the proctor that she will have to forfeit the match."
Naruto grunted, "Aw man. Maybe I should go visit her? She's probably so pissed."
Kakashi appeared with a puff of smoke, "No need. She'll be fine. Neji and his uncle are in the medic room right now and Neji promised he'd keep an eye on her. She's asleep now, so don't go bugging her. She needs rest."
Naruto smiled, "Alright."
"Alright!" the proctor shouted, "The next match is Kankuro vs Shino! Please come down!"
Kankuro was a little worried, 'I don't want to show the enemy what I can do yet.'
"I forfeit the match!" he called and the proctor tsked.
"Alright then how about Temari and Shikamaru?" the proctor asked.
Temari smirked and whipped out her giant fan, riding it down to the arena and waited for Shikamaru.
'Aw man' Shikamaru grumbled, 'I got to fight a girl?'
-88888888888888888888888888888888-
Meanwhile in the medic room, Mika was slowly waking up and looked around to notice where she was.
She tried to sit up but failed miserably, 'What happened to me?'
"You might just want to lie down and rest for a bit longer, Uzumaki" a new voice said and Mika turned to see Neji in the room with her, sitting up in his own bed, staring out the window.
'Naruto must have won' she thought, proud of her brother.
The two stayed in silence for another hour until they could hear the overwhelming cheers of the crowds screaming and shouting.
'Gaara and Sasuke's match'
Even though Mika had helped train Sasuke, there was a doubt in her that he would be able to win against Gaara.
It wasn't because she thought Sasuke was weak and Gaara was invincible, no. It was because she knew what Gaara was and she knew that the demon within him had more control over him that anyone realized.
"Must be a good match" Neji commented.
Mika nodded.
They listened for a bit until strangely enough, everything went quiet.
"Something's wrong" she spoke and it was Neji's turn to nod.
Mika jumped up in the bed, flinching in pain, and ran outside. What she saw confused her. There were sound ninja around and a few sand ninja fighting Leaf ninja, "What's going on?"
Just when she was about to move forward, a sound ninja appeared behind her only to be punched through the wall by Kakashi.
"You okay Mika?"
Mika nodded, a little blood splattered on her face and her eyes wide, "What's happening?"
"The sound and sand have betrayed Konoha. This is war, Mika. It was all a part of a plot and your sand friends knew about it. I'm sorry. The sand ninja trio ran out but Sasuke is going after them. I sent Sakura, Shikamaru and Naruto to retrieve Sasuke."
"I'm going" was her immediate answer and before Kakashi could stop her, she bolted through the hole in the wall Kakashi had made and ran for it.
'Please be careful Mika'
Mika ran through the gates of Konoha but stopped on a tree, 'I have to smell for them now. Did the sand siblings really know about this?'
She heard screams and the sound of battle in Konoha.
'Did Gaara really know?'
She sniffed and found the scent of Gaara and Sasuke together about a mile or two away.
She opened her eyes with a glare and shivered, 'Why? Why would they do this?'
She bolted into a run towards the scents.
"I tried to warn you Mika"
Mika felt a few tears fly off her cheeks, 'Yes, Okami. I'm sorry I didn't believe you.'
Her glare hardened and she went even faster, "They'll pay." She spoke.
-88888888888888888888888888888888888888888-
Meanwhile with Sasuke, he had tried to stop Gaara but failed, his curse mark appearing. His body weakening.
Before Gaara could finish him off though, Naruto came and kicked him, keeping him away from Sasuke, his friend.
At first, Naruto wanted to run but Gaara was too fast and tried for Sasuke again. That's when Sakura stepped in in front of Sasuke. Gaara slammed her against a tree, using his large monster sand arm.
Naruto decided that he had no other choice but to fight. He tried to use Summoning Jutsu to get Gamabunta but failed, summoning a smaller toad instead. Naruto was knocked back.
"What is this? What is this feeling?"
Gaara knocked him back again but Naruto picked himself back up, "This feeling welling up inside of me."
"For whatever reason. . . Just against this guy"
'I'm not going to lose to him. I have to save Sakura, even if it means I end up dying!'
Naruto summoned many clones to his side and attacked, using the thousand years of death on Gaara and a letter-bomb. It made a rather large impact on the form Gaara was using but it was only one blow. Gaara knocked Naruto with his tail, sending him flying.
Naruto expected to collide with the tree but was caught by someone.
'Sasuke?'
He looked behind him and saw that he was wrong.
"Mika! What are you doing here?!"
It was true, Mika had been the one to catch Naruto. She had arrived in time to catch Naruto before he impacted with the tree. Mika glared at Gaara, though, not paying hardly any attention to Naruto's question.
Gaara looked different but she could tell by his scent. This was Gaara.
'This is my traitor'
Gaara glared right back at her, "I thought I told you to leave, Uzumaki" he growled.
Mika's eyes widened in recognition, "You bastard. You knew the whole time!"
Gaara laughed at her, "You're a fool, Uzumaki! Hahahah!"
Mika clenched her fists, "You son of a bitch! I thought we were friends!"
Gaara smiled insanely in his half-form, "You were wrong! I fooled you! I was never your friend! I just used you to piss off Uchiha! Would it make you feel better if I told you it amused me?!"
She couldn't take it anymore and bolted to her 'friend', only to be knocked away by a tail. This time, Naruto caught her.
Mika groaned in agony when she realized that Gaara had sliced a nice cut down her shoulder and arm. It was gushing blood and Okami was doing all he could to help her heal the wound.
"I won't be able to heal this completely Mika" he told her, "You need a medic ninja. If I were to help you even more then you'll turn out just the way you did a couple hours ago. Too much of my chakra"
"Hold on sis. You're still too weal from earlier. Let me handle this." Naruto spoke.
"NO. I can't, Naruto. You're my brother and I will fight with you." She tried to get up but failed. Naruto was right. She was still too weak from her episode earlier and the new gash didn't help matters.
Sasuke landed over on the same branch with us, "Naruto, Mika. You two get Sakura out of here. I'll hold him off."
"You're in no condition to fight either, Uchiha" Mika retorted to him but Sasuke just stood up.
"Even in this state. I can still delay him a little." He struggled to stay standing and Mika was impressed at Sasuke's strength.
"I've already lost everyone I've cared about before. I don't ever want to watch my friends die in front of my again. Not again."
Mika was close to tears. Even after she had been to rude and bitchy around him, Sasuke still considered her a friend. She placed a hand over her bleeding shoulder to stop the bleeding.
Naruto looked shocked, "You're right. You're absolutely right."
Mika's brother stood up, "I thought of him as strong because like me and Mika, he grew up in the same sadness and loneliness that we did. He fought and loved only himself and because of that, I thought he possessed strength. I really did."
"Naruto" Mika was astonished.
'Is this really my brother talking?'
"But that's not what it takes to be truly strong is it? You can't get strong just by fighting for yourself."
Naruto clapped his hands together and called for chakra, "Hyyyyaaaaaaaaa!"
"Naruto!" Mika had to hold onto the bark and Uchiha for support.
"I swear I'll protect all of you!" Naruto shouted before conjuring hundreds of clones.
"What the?" Was all Sasuke could manage to say.
Mika however, spoke more firmly, "Naruto, let me help you."
She stood up and glared at Gaara but Naruto placed a hand on her uninjured shoulder and shook his head, "You thought of him as your friend but he betrayed your trust, Mika. I know you want revenge. But just let me handle this alright? Let me protect you this time."
Mika stared into her brother's eyes and saw only confidence and determination in them.
She nodded, "Alright. I trust you, Naruto. Kick his ass for me."
Naruto smirked and looked back at Gaara, "Alright, let's go!"
Him and his clones ran towards Gaara and Gaara, being a little defenseless at the moment after Naruto's last attack, could only barely block the punches and kicks as his sand around him started to fly off. Gaara landed on the ground.
'No. I won't disappear like this. No! No!'
"No! I won't lose to you!" Gaara roared.
A wave of sand burst up in the air and formed a giant monster.
'Shukaku' Sasuke and Mika thought.
Just then Mika could smell someone else nearby.
'That's Temari's scent. She's a traitor too. They're all traitors.'
Mika glared at the bark she was sitting on with Sasuke and clenched her fists. She could feel Okami trying to soothe her in her head.
She could only watch in terror as Sand swirled around her brother.
'That jutsu. Sand coffin? No!'
Gaara was going to kill him.
Until, that is, Naruto summoned the great Gamabunta once more.
Mika's jaw dropped, "When did he?"
Sasuke beside her was shocked into silence just as much as she was.
All of a sudden, there were giant earthquakes and winds that almost blew Mika and Sasuke away.
'That giant toad and Shukaku are fighting now. Such power!'
Mika could only wait for the small giant battle to stop until she saw that Naruto had head-butted Gaara, forcing the Shukaku form to crumble away to the ground. The giant toad as well disappeared, blowing Naruto and Gaara on the tops of the trees.
"You know? I really don't get you" Naruto talked to Gaara and the sand Jinchuriki only listened with a glare on his face, "My sister gave you all of her love and friendship and you just threw that all away only to betray her trust. She truly cared for you. She's never cared for anyone else like that! Not even me."
Gaara just stared at him, 'Love?'
"Let's make this it. I've only got one more punch let. You too right? You and I are a lot alike you know."
Gamabunta's sword poofed away and Gaara and Naruto flew towards each other for one last punch.
Naruto hit him first, though, sending them both falling to the ground.
They landed hard and Mika watched as her brother was still trying to crawl over to Gaara by his chin. Mika felt tears run down her cheeks. Sasuke had run to catch Sakura before she fell to the ground, the sand around her having crumbled away with Shukaku.
'He's still willing to risk his life even though he can barely move. Oh Naruto, you truly are amazing, brother. You've grown so much.'
"I will not cease to exist! No! I won't! I refuse!" Mika never heard Gaara cry out like that before and she almost felt bad for him. Naruto stopped and Mika closed her eyes in shared pain.
Gaara was getting scared of Naruto's strength to keep coming at him and he shouted at him, "No! Stay away from me! Go away!"
'Serves him right, the bastard'
Naruto looked up to him, "It's almost unbearable isn't it? The pain of loneliness. The way you feel. I understand it so well, the pain of being all alone. Mika understands it too. We were never accepted before."
Gaara stared at Naruto in shock.
"But I've got other people I care about now. And I won't let you hurt them! Even if I have to kill you. I will protect them with my life!"
He tried to move more but couldn't. Gaara calmed slightly and asked, "But why? Why are you fighting for them?"
Naruto answered his question, "Because they saved me from myself. They were the first to accept me and Mika for who we were. Their my friends. I couldn't live without them. I love them."
'Love again?' Gaara looked up to the sky, 'Is that what makes him so strong?'
He thought about Mika and how she had been doing nothing but trying to be his friend and he rejected her in the end.
But then he remembered.
(Flashbacks)
"Love is the heart's desire to serve someone who is precious to you. To watch over them. Like my sister did. . . for you Gaara." Yashamaru had told the six year old Gaara.
-888888888888-
"You're not alone Gaara!" Mika shouted to him before he killed the clone. The real Mika appeared in of him and lifted his shirt up to look at his curse seal.
-8888888888888888-
"Do you want to come with me and Temari to hang with me and my other friends?" Mika spoke to him.
'Other friends?'
-888888888888888-
"You do not fear me." It wasn't a question but she answered anyways.
"No. I do not."
"Why not?" his voice was soft but she could hear his confusion. Mika placed her own hand on Gaara's who still had his own on her neck.
"I believe I've answered this question before."
There was silence, "We are not the same."
-888888888888888888-
"You're my friend and I would never betray you."
"How did you know-"
"How did I know what you were thinking? Because I used to sport that look all of the time." Mika interrupted him, "I know how it feels to be betrayed by others. How it feels to be lonely and wonder whether or not you really have a purpose in this world or not."
(End of Flashbacks)
Gaara opened his eyes again to stare into the sky, 'Mika'
Just then Sasuke landed beside Naruto, "Naruto, it's alright now. The sand around Sakura has disappeared. She's safe now. This guy used up all of is chakra."
Naruto sighed, "That's a relief."
He fell unconscious and Mika found the strength in her to jump down on the other side of Naruto. Gaara stared at her, his eyes half-closed.
Then Temari and Kankuro appeared, glaring at the leaf ninja.
"That's enough. No more." Gaara rasped in exhaustion.
"But-" Kankuro tried to protest but the look on Gaara's face said it all.
'He's done. I've never seen him like this before. He's completely exhausted.'
"Alright Gaara" Kankuro agreed and hooked his brother's arm around his shoulder. Gaara gave one last look to the Leaf ninja.
Mika stared down at her brother, determined not to look back at Gaara while Sasuke glared at them. Temari sent an apologetic look to Mika but the girl refused to look at them, snarling her nose in disgust. Kankuro and Temari took off with Gaara in Kankuro's arms.
'Who knows.' Gaara thought, 'Perhaps even I one day. Naruto and Mika Uzumaki'
"Kankuro. Temari" he rasped out again.
The siblings were alerted to Gaara but what he said next almost made Kankuro drop him, "I'm so sorry."
Kankuro looked over to Temari, "It's. . . It's alright, I guess."
Meanwhile Mika stared down at her brother and about the war in Konoha.
'How many have died already because of them. I thought that we were friends, Gaara. Why?'
She let a tear fall by her brother's face.
'Why did you betray me?'
-888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888-
R&R