Please note that I have removed the previous Chapter 11 because I find that it really wasn't necessary to the story and no one really liked it.

Tsuki-no-Komoriuta does NOT own Naruto or any of the characters belonging to said program. She only owns her own.

The Immortal Enemies Can Be Defeated

A strong gust swept across the field where Hitomi and Gaara had appeared to save the taijutsu shinobi. Hitomi could make out traces of chakra in the breeze, indicating that Temari had finished her battle. Hitomi and Gaara stared with equally placid expressions, shifting their gazes as Rock Lee took a fighting stance. Both saw the blood that trickled onto the fresh grass at his feet; Gaara watched while trying to stifle the thoughts that bombarded him.

"I'll take care of this." The redhead's expression was stern and hinting towards that hidden apology. However, the shinobi in that green jumpsuit was unwilling to yield.

"No, you both, please be my back up." Without waiting the ninja sprinted off, not noticing that Hitomi was reaching to stop him, nor did he see the Suna ninja throw her a glance. Several paces away Gaara's sand lashed out towards the boys ankle, sending Lee face forward into a pile of well placed sand.

"The sand is in my mouth..." Lee turned back, glaring at his ally. "Please let go!" As both Gaara and Hitomi had expected though, the battle had taken its toll and the male cringed in pain. Hitomi assisted the boy to his knees as Gaara stepped forward, ready and somewhat eager to fight this male enemy.

"You can't do anything right now in that condition. Kunoichi take care of him." More sand filtered from the gourd as he paced forward. "I'll do it."

"Please be careful! He uses his bones to attack!" Lee allowed the female shinobi to support him. "He can launch his bones like before, and make them stick out of his body. He can control his bones freely!" Lee was certain his words hadn't fallen on deaf ears.

"My name is Shimizu Hitomi, let me see your arm." Hitomi ordered introducing herself as she removed some medical supplies from her side pouch.

Sabaku no Gaara..." Kimimaro quickly analysed his opponents, with the female tending to the other he currently focused on the male. "As your name implies, I'm guessing you use sand." Gaara's expression remained the same, this battle already felt different; it was to protect another. More sand streamed out, he wasn't going to take any chances with his opponent. Sensing his enemies attack, Gaara moved into action striking the ground where Kimimaro had stood. Regardless of the amazing speed Gaara's sand had, it was as more than easy for the white-haired ninja to evade, and even counter with 'Hessendan'. The projectiles sailed at blinding speed; but just as easily as his attack was blocked, it was unnecessary for Gaara to even flinch, the sand would protect him. The lashings of sand continued and Kimimaro eluded them still. Sending several of his fingertips towards the two ninja on the sidelines, which where sheltered by sand. Hitomi glanced to her red haired companion, she was still in awe of his abilities. Forgetting Rock Lee she watched with sharp eyes; the sand defended from the bones and attacked from all directions.

"These two... they're on par with each other in speed and strategy. Although... those bones." Hitomi thought her eyes on the white haired ninja. Her mind had almost suddenly stumbled upon the fact she had been searching for.

"Sabaku no Gaara. What a stupid name." Kimimaro taunted receiving no reaction. "Without sand, you can't do anything!" Another wave of his fingertip bones and the two ninja returned to action. Hitomi disregarded Rock Lee for the moment and took a place beside Gaara.

"Gaara-san, his ability... to launch his bones is a kekkai genkai. If I'm correct its called Shikotsumyaku. He can manipulate the density of his bones, and as you've seen, and use them as weapons." Hitomi kept her steel eyes straight, Gaara was by now faintly aware of this information.

"Your point?" Gaara kept his focus on the battle, narrowing his eyes he mumbled his jutsu 'Suna Shigure' Hitomi was distracted by this new ability, the sand fell like rain and though he went to avoid his attack Kimimaro was trapped by tendrils of sand at his feet.

"As long as I have sand, I can do anything. You're the one who's a fool!" Gaara reached forward clenching his hand the sand tightened. "It's simple for me to create sand from the ground." Hitomi was already of aware of his ability to form more sand from the earth.

"You got him." Lee made a motion of celebration, but other two where a bit more aware.

"Not yet..." Both replied, Gaara closed his fist this time, compressing the sand around the Oto ninja.

"Looking at him reminds me of that guy." Gaara kept his guard up, but directed the comment towards Lee. "Uchiha Sasuke... They have the same eyes." Hitomi had no part in this conversation, but she listened intently.

"The same eyes...?" Lee responded glancing to the mass of compressing sand. Hitomi pondered on this, without any answer she returned to her former point. The kunoichi shook herself to focus.

"My point was simply that, the possibilities his bloodline might hold are unknown. The Kaguya clan was supposed to be finished, but he must have been the only one left." Hitomi was only interested in making him aware of that fact. Gaara glanced over, seeing Hitomi lazily wave her hand. "But don't worry about it now." She sighed, trying and failing to hold back a smile. A moment later though she returned her steel orbs to where Kimimaro had been trapped.

"It's not over yet!" Hitomi gasped, she saw the trapped ninja reach through the sand, and soon enough crawl through it. Lee was unable to believe it, and the three watched with various expressions as the holes in his skin gave them a view to thick white bone. Hitomi instantly recognized the lines upon his body, "Chi no Juin..." her knowledge of Earth seals was impressive but combining it with a kekkai genkai was new to her.

"What impressive pressure," The male looked up his eyes colder than before "If I hadn't created these masks under my skin, I would've been crushed." Kimimaro offered his complement. Even in battle a ninja knew to give credit where it was due.

"Those bones... He's a monster." Gaara watched concerned, he could stand up to his 'Sabaku Sousou' . This could prove harder than he thought.

"What a troublesome body." Lee added ready for action, just in case. Hitomi moved past both ninja; throwing them a backwards glance, her ebony hair moved in the breeze.

"Its my turn Gaara-san... I can't let you have all the fun." A tiny smile was offered as jade and gray eyes met, Gaara crossed his arms nodding, he was going to prepare his chakra for a new jutsu.

"Please take care! His taijutsu is nothing to scoff at!" Lee warned the kunoichi and her gaze shifted to him.

"Good... because neither is mine." Turning back to the white haired ninja, they examined one another. She was brimming with chakra and from her build he could tell that speed was her forte. Her purple tunic was light, allowing for easy movement. Her bandaged legs told him that she was most likely a kicker. Hitomi noted her opponents build, strong but lean; he was everything she was, but with a man's strength. His attire seemed heavy, but from what she'd seen, it didn't interfere. Whatever chakra he'd lost in his fight with Gaara, was now back thanks to that seal, and from his movements earlier; he was a loose and fluid fighter. Hitomi cracked her knuckles again, taking a more advanced shura dansu stance. She crossed her left leg over her right; placing her weight on the balls of both her feet, her left arm leveled with her waist and her right with her forehead, this posture allowed a better offense than defense and the weight transfer was almost even. But to be most effective, it was required for the attacker to make the first move; and as she watched him she thought for a moment that she was counting on that too much.

"A dancer... Is your art above most taijutsu trash?" Kimimaro found a peculiar interest with this kunoichi, it heightened as he recalled her name.

"You said your name was Shimizu, I believe I've heard of your clan... Shinto priests. But a fighter, this is unexpected." The female shinobi listened, bored with the presumptions of her family.

"Then clearly you've never encountered a Shimizu, we have never been humble priests, our way is fighting." Hitomi countered, holding her ground; he liked to taunt his enemy. The first attack was always vital, it could determine a fight and ones life.

"Perhaps your kind have never lived long enough." Kimimaro launched in return; this struck the nerve he'd wanted. Hitomi growled, aside from the insult to her family, she hated wasting time talking before a fight. She took off, in the blink of eye to attack.

"She's too headlong... combined with that arrogance..." Gaara watched as her kick was countered by Kimimaro. "It's going to get her killed." Rock Lee looked over; somewhat curious if the red head's statement had been random speculation or if he was personally aware of it. Hitomi was now on the defense, her speed and reaction time was better than Kimimaro's, and her evasions and counters were a match for his close combat. Seeing the disadvantage that she was posing to him, he moved himself away from her; but even that proved difficult. The kunoichi was aware of his long range combat, she could easily counter it; but that meant revealing her stronger jutsu and she was unsure if she wanted to do that.

"What is her taijutsu style?" Although the two ninja were moving as such a high speed, Rock Lee was easily watching the fight.

"Shura Dansu, a geishanin art." Gaara responded, following with jade eyes as the kunoichi struck the male in the abdomen, she followed through with more kicks, forming several hand signs the two spectators squinted in curiosity.

"Kage Bousui!" Hitomi's jutsu summoned hundreds of thin strings that curled around her arms and extended latching onto Kimimaro. The Tsuki nin was well aware that, alone she couldn't inflict enough damage when throwing the white haired male. So she used the a jutsu that was normally for trapping an enemy to help her add force to the attack. Infusing the strings with chakra Hitomi tightened her hold, causing the male some discomfort as the wires sliced into his skin, but otherwise he knew where the damage was going to come from. Midair the kunoichi motioned downward, the most delicate of movements were all that was needed, so her sudden motion was taken into extreme action. Hitomi sailed past as Kimimaro met with the ground, however as she landed she pulled again throwing him past her.

"A shadow technique?" Lee searched his allies face for answers, but Gaara was preoccupied with her words from the Taiyo manor. The Tsuki shinobi had been notable in the cover of night, but here in the middle of a forest clearing, the kunoichi seemed to hold the upper hand. Breaking free from the shadows, Kimimaro launched more of his fingertips. Rolling to avoid them had taken up to much time, and the male was finally at a comfortable distance. He called again on 'Tsubaki no Mai' hardening his humerus and extracting a sword, he now held an advantage. Hitomi scowled, that was unexpected, but regardless she could now continue her attack from a distance. The strings around her arms had buried themselves into the ground, moving with a shadow's ease towards the Oto ninja. Springing out in sharp needles, the onslaught of wires once again put Kimimaro on the move. Gracefully evading the attacks and slicing them away with his sword. In an open moment Kimimaro charged forward, heading straight towards the kunoichi, who in the instant only managed to attach her shadows to the sword, twisting it away the shadow tightened and crushed the bone. As Hitomi rose to her feet, she was met on the side of the head with the white haired male's foot, sailing through the air her last moment of conciousness was presented with the feeling of something grainy against her skin.

The sudden feeling of being lifted off the ground stirred the unconscious female and her grey eyes opened to a cloudless blue sky. Someone was supporting her head, but Hitomi couldn't tell who it was.

"He was stubborn, but this is the end." That voice was familiar and the girl turned her head slightly to the red head. "He won't be coming back again."

"I see." Lee replied, taking some notice to the girl. Hitomi sat up, instantly plagued by a head rush, she tipped forward but was caught by the shoulders.

"Hitomi-san are you okay?" Reaching to her temple, the sticky feeling of drying blood was mixed with a grainy texture, sand she presumed.

"What happened?" Before her answer came, Gaara groaned and supported himself his his hand, sweat dripping down his cheek. Hitomi a tad more concerned than Lee.

"This is my limit. We're going down." Gaara warned, his voice strained slightly.

"It's not brainwashing!" Gaara's eyes widened as he raised his head. The boy saw his allies staring wide-eyed just above his head. "That person... Orochimaru-sama... It's all my own reasoning!" The now grey haired male was filled with rage, unable to form his sentence. "What the hell would you know about it?!" Frozen, Gaara only stared at the tip of the white bone coming closer. Hitomi reached forward, her mind reacting even its dazed state. Her hand barely touched the redhead's shoulder, when Kimimaro halted his attack, blood trickling from his mouth.

"He's dead." Lee quietly informed, the wind or near death chilled the three shinobi. Hitomi sat in shock, retracting her hand as Gaara turned back around. The girl slumped down, her mind spinning more than ever. Gaara set down the sand and supported Rock Lee first, taking him to lean against a tree.

"Are you okay?" Hitomi quietly inquired as Gaara helped her stand, she allowed the ninja to help her along. Gaara replied with a nod.

"And you?" Just as softly the redhead asked.

"Mmm." Hitomi nodded, she actually wasn't feeling as good as the others, but it was nothing to be concerned with. After setting her down against the tree across from the two, the Suna ninja unstrapped his gourd and took a seat against the tree beside Lee. Silence occurred for a few minutes as the three recovered.

"We would've been completely defeated." Gaara ran the past few minutes in his mind again, coming to that conclusion. Hitomi agreed silently, occupying herself with the wound on her temple, but listening intently.

"That's not true." Lee sounded very certain of himself. "My sensei always told me that luck is also part of strength."

"That busybody..." Gaara mumbled, just loud enough to be heard. For his condition Lee moved to the defense pretty quickly.

"He's not a busybody!" He yelled back. "That time... was because of my own weakness. I'm grateful to you for saving me, but please don't talk about my sensei like that!"

"He must be the golden child..." Hitomi thought to herself, flinching as she pressed against the wound. Gaara remained silent, his gaze ahead on the bone forest, staring at the darkness.

"You're the same." Hitomi noticed the change in his tone and raised her gaze towards him, his profile allowed her to notice a familiar pain on his features.

"If the person you admire is insulted, you become angry. If that person is important to you..." Gaara went silent, thinking more and more. To fight for that important person..." Jade eyes turned towards the sky. "He was the same as Uzumaki Naruto." Lee appeared slightly shocked, and Hitomi slightly raised a brow. "The person who is important to you isn't always good."

"Really?"Lee furrowed his thick brows. "You don't have to take someone bad as your important person."

"No... Even if you knew they were evil... People can't defeat loneliness." Lee turned his gaze upwards, pondering his words. Hitomi's expression became pained with truth, loneliness was an immortal enemy; it was the reason she was a shinobi. The reason she filled her life with the Suki twins, to escape the loneliness of the life she had to live and relieve herself of her own sad thoughts.

"Regardless, of the 'good' or 'evil' of that person. It will never change the fact that they are important." The two male ninja kept shifted their gazes, seeing the pain etched into her features. Gaara was now locked with those sad fog-gray eyes, it was disconcerting, but he couldn't turn away.

"An important person... they can't simply be handed to those fighting against loneliness, it takes time. Years even, there are people so lost in their loneliness, that they don't realize when someone important comes along. But we are all fated to protect someone, whether it is love... or admiration... We will find those people... and we will do all we can to protect that person. So be patient Gaara-san... That person is somewhere, I know you will meet them... someday." The girl broke their gaze, trying to smile.

-----------------Tsuki-chan's After Thoughts-----------------

Alright!! Two chapters in one week! I didn't really expect anyone to like that last chapter. I honestly wouldn't have done these last two chapters, but I really wanted to get that part at the end. So forgive me if I bored you.

You can expect a bit of a time jump in the next chapter! So look forward to that!

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FYI!!!
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Kage Bousui – Another Tsukigakure ninjutsu. This it literally means 'Shadow Spindle' And its normally used to trap enemies, but it also serves as an offensive technique for those who can control and summon enough strings.