Black Roses666: OMG I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN THE LONGEST TIME!!!! I am truly sorry. It's just that things were piling up one after another towards the end of my school year, plus a lot of emotional stress, then I didn't have any inspiration to continue due to the sucky Naruto chapters over my summer, and it's only now that I have the will to continue this fic.
PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!! –bows-
ANYWAY, thank you SO MUCH for all the people who reviewed and gave me inspiration to write some more! I hope this chapter will make you all happy and will make up for the LONG period that I didn't update. We're back now with Gaara so don't get confused!
Well, better late than never, ne? (I know I've said this before, but hey!)
Oh, and please don't forget, the events taking place between Olha and Gaara are happening AT THE SAME TIME. Just so you won't get confused about when these are happening.
Also, special thanks to Lady Akina who actually took the time to e-mail me. Thank you for your message! It was very kind of you!
THE POLL IS STILL OPEN IN MY PROFILE IF YOU HAVEN'T VOTED YET!!!
Disclaimer: -sigh- I really get tired of saying this all the time but I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. THAT IS WHY OLHA IS NOT REAL AND WHY SASUKE IS STILL ALIVE. (sorry, I'm really annoyed at that guy).
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Dance 12: The Power
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The Livarte Jounins may not be the most delightful people in the world to meet in your lives, but they are very intelligent and cunning; a deadly combination.
They knew that they are no match for the man who managed to render their former Mizukage useless, but they also knew that they had an elemental advantage. Water turns sand to mud, and Gaara of the Sand cannot possibly be so strong to control mud perfectly. Their specialties are water jutsus, and considering that they are in a team of six, there is a high possibility that their plan will be a success.
Along with this, their opponent, Gaara, was also quite bright and knew the situation as well; but unlike the men before him, he knew that this situation was to come sooner or later and, through the years, developed more tricks under his sleeve.
Even with his preparedness, there was still nuisances blocking his way: he was fighting a team of Livartes, and he cannot predict their fighting styles since each Livarte is known for his own personal style.
As the Kazekage, and as Olha's husband, he made it a point to make sure that he was familiar with the Livarte's arsenal of attacks, and that he is able to counter them with techniques of his own.
It would've been flawless if only he knew the order of the said attacks.
He spared a quick glance behind him and spotted Rio burning the first layer of metal with a small, yet intense flame. Kaido and Reina looked as if they were ready to kill anyone within a three-feet range. Hikari was more focused on the cage than the battle itself, probably afraid to see what will happen, and poor Reiko resembled her mother in so many ways with her look of worry.
It broke his heart.
"'Tousan!" she suddenly screeched, gathering everyone's attention, "Look out for the big fwying wawa snake!"
'Fwying wawa snake...flying water snake...the water dragon technique!'
Gaara immediately jerked his head back to the Jounins, preparing to shield himself with his sand for whatever was to come, but instead of dragons coming his way, he saw the Jounins smirk before creating a series of hand symbols simultaneously.
There was no creature, no battle cry, nothing. If that was the case then why did Reiko try to warn him on something non-existant?
Unless...
Gaara decided to take the gamble. There were two things that could possibly happen: one, he will conjure the correct jutsu and defeat theirs; two, he will waste his chakra on a pointless attack and may get pummeled after.
"Wow...how exciting..." he muttered.
Immediately, the Kazekage's hands began shaping different symbols at such a breakneck speed that one could barely see said appendages. This speed, he harnessed for such an advantage that both parties ended their series of hand symbols at the same time.
"Water Dragon no Jutsu!"
"Sand Dragon no Jutsu!"
Every single water source joined together and morphed, twisting and turning to create a dragon of water for each summoner. Simultaneously, Gaara's gourd began to deform as well, and along with the minerals he secretly collected, he made a multi-headed dragon of his element, one head for each dragon.
A small scream was heard from a little girl as the dragons collided head on; an earthquake shook them all as a result of the dispute.
"What's this?" a Livarte stepped back in fear, "the sand isn't being affected by the water! How is this possible?"
"Look!" another one cried, "there's a shield of chakra on the surface of the dragon. The water can't get through!"
Gaara paid no heed to what else was exchanged by the Livartes. All he concentrated on were the movements of his dragons, making sure that the weakening water ones wouldn't get passed his defenses, and the sounds of those behind him, still trying to get Reiko out of the cage.
"'Tousan; the fwying snake near the painting is - - "
Before she could even finish, Gaara trusted his daughter and waved his arm to the left, to the foe Reiko described, and increased his concentration. As if following Reiko's command, the expected water dragon charged at full speed at the Kazekage's dragon, but because it was weakened and that Gaara increased its defense, the water dragon dissolved from the impact.
One down.
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"Wow..."
Rina looked at Kaido, his mouth hanging open in awe as he watched the majestic battle before him. She understood his feelings. Everything the Kazekage displayed was breathtakingly artistic and powerful; he looked so calm as he fought. His every move brought inspiration to the outcasts.
To think: Sabaku no Gaara was an outcast too.
"Kaido..." she spoke.
"Yes, Rina?"
"I want to help him..."
Kaido smiled, "I, too. But how?"
"'Tousan, you're gonna be smushed! Like a sandwich!"
The two older one's eyes widened. When they looked at the Kazekage, they realized that he couldn't hear her. There was an explosion the moment Reiko said it.
"Rina!"
"Hai!"
Both formed numerous hand signs as fast as they could. Kaido slammed his hands on the ground, and Rina pulled out a notebook she kept with her. Their movements weren't wasted, and it couldn't be any closer.
Two Livartes transported on both sides of the Kazekage mere milliseconds after the two casted their jutsus. Kaido created a small wall to Gaara's right, and Rina forged a fortres of paper to his left; both protected the mentioned kage from various assaults ranging from punches and kicks to kunais and shurikens.
They didn't care if Gaara noticed their efforts or not, as long as they win. They have to win.
Once the Jounins realized the obstacles hindering them from the Kazekage, the duo attacked the ninjas and just managed to render them unconcious. Kaido and Rina exchanged triumphant smiles.
The final water dragon was finally destroyed with a deafening 'BANG' and the Kazekage jumped backwards, in between Kaido and Rina, slightly panting from exhaustion.
"Thanks." the red head shinobi managed, his body cut, and some wounds were bleeding. There was one more still standing, one more to finish off. That last person was in the same state as Gaara, showing that he was in a different caliber compared to his comrades, who fell out of consciousness.
"Let us help you, Kazekage-sama. You will need your strength!" Rina pleaded.
Gaara seemed to consider it, "Rina, you stay behind. You must protect the kids at all costs, understand?" Rina pouted, but fell back.
"Kaido, I will need your assistance."
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The final Livarte seemed worried. The Sabaku was muttering something to Kaido. Something he couldn't hear nor understand.
The Kazekage was well known for two things: his strong ability over sand, and his unpredictable strategies that, no matter how insane they may seem, always work. The first one was alright, but the latter made him worry, and he began asking the same question to himself over and over:
'What will he do next?'
He noted the sudden shock on Kaido's face before it became serious once again, and in the end, he replied with a proud "Hai!"
The Livarte spotted Gaara's glare, and he knew that the battle will finally start. He got into his traditional battle stance, ready to take on anything Gaara could possibly dish out. His eyes widened, though, when the red haired Kazekage stepped back and sat down, letting Kaido take the forward tole, his hands ready for making hand symbols.
He was going to fight the outcast. Did Sabaku no Gaara's supposedly cary but flawless plan decide that a mere seventeen year old is able to defeat an elite Jounin such as himself?
"What a joke!" he cried out loud, "why pit an outcast like him against me? Your days are numbered, kiddo. Don't be stupid enough to shorten your life span even more."
"You're lying!" Kaido managed to bellow out, trying to hide his fear, "You can't kill me! I am seventeen years old, and my birthday is coming soon. My father will kill you if he doesn't get my power!"
The way he said it was as if he was the bravest man in the world, more courageous than how he really was back in the dungeon. It was as if the mere presence of the Kazekage alone brought bravery to the four children. Inside, though, Kaido knew that what he had exploded onto his senior Livarte was just a wish of what may happen, for his favor.
An angel somehow helped him, for the Livarte's face contorted into an expression somewhere between fear, shock, and realization. There was a short moment where everything seemed to stand still and quiet, a second when Kaido thought everything will turn out alright.
Then, the Jounin spoke.
"I may not be able to kill any of you four..." a sickening smirk graced his lips, "but that doesn't mean that I can't put you near death!"
Said Jounin failed to notice the clever gleam in Gaara's eyes.
Kaido and the superior both began forming hand symbols, each one hoping to finish first. Kaido was given that fortunate opportunity
"Rock Spikes no Jutsu!"
After slamming his hands to the ground, the rocks below began shooting up, contorting into spikes as they headed towards the more experienced ninja. It didn't faze the older one a bit, but he finished forming all hand seals and held out his hands in a stop sign.
"Twin Water Spears no Jutsu!"
Dual liquid-formed spears shot out of the Jounin's palms, each one went through the spikes effortlessly, taking out each one like a hot knife through butter. Upon reaching the final spike, the impact was so great that both the two spikes and the spears deformed and all chakra control over the two was lost.
All that was left is water and muddied debris.
"Heh, you're not as bad as I thought, but you're not good enough!" The Jounin brushed the dirt off of him cockily.
Those words triggered something within Kaido, and suddenly, he was afraid. What would happen next? He's not nearly as experienced as a Livarte that had been trained all his life! The realization of his weakness dawned upon him, why was he so afraid?
If he was caught now, he wouldn't be able to see the light of day again,
Kaido's brief pause gave the Livarte the perfect opportunity to charge with great speed towards the young one, murder in his eyes. The seventeen year old boy couldn't react quickly enough, but a large wall of sand abruptly formed between the two, and began wrapping around the Jounin.
His eyes widened, how could so much sand travel that fast? the Livarte's orbs scanned the area, trying to find out what he had missed. And then, he figured it out.
Kaido wasn't really supposed to kill the Jounin, but was merely a distraction, and furthermore, a provider. Gaara was running out of sand fast, and he knew that the Livarte's attacks could easily break through Kaido's, and that the Kazekage had the undeniable skill of turning surrounding materials into his element.
To make up for his lack of sand to finish off the Jounin, so he used Kaido as a medium, knowing that the Livarte would do anything in his power to prevent that very plan from happening.
In this very state of shock, he couldn't do anything to defend himself as the sand enveloped him; and with the closing of Gaara's hand, he could breathe no more.
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Rina ran to her cousin, who ungracefully landed flat on his bottom. She was worried. Hikari was concentrating on breaking the second layer of metal that encaged little Reiko, and Rio seemed tired and shocked, like everything that had transpired in that room was unreal.
Gaara gazed around the room. his gourd was taking form in his back once again, but the area looked dreadful. It was a mess, water dripping everywhere and dirt in every direction possible.
How he pitied the next person to come inside...
Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, adrenaline pulsing through his veins, still trying to convince himself that he had won this match, that he, and the five children in the room, were safe from any form of harm.
For now, at least.
As he glanced at his daughter, eagerly trying to get out of the cage in order to hug her daddy, he felt a wave of confidence within him.
If it was one that that made his daughter special, apart from all the rest, he had just found it out a few moments passed.
Reiko had the power of divination; she could see into the future.
Too many coincidences cannot make it unsure. There was no other way they would've won this battle if not for his daughter's predictions.
Question was...where did she get it?
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Black Roses666: I LOVE YOU ALL SO PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!!! XDD
I PROMISE TO UPDATE BEFORE APRIL 3! CHAPTER 13 WILL BE UP SOON!!!!
As usual, R&R, please!
