Naruto jumped back down into the arena and faced off against Gaara. The Suna boy waited for him to return and as he watched him he could see his face started transforming now as well. Half of it was covered in sand and his left eye was golden, it must have belonged to the demon.
Watching the transforming boy he couldn't help but think just how similar the two of them really were. He didn't like admitting it, but Kankuro was right about them when he spoke to him in the arena during the preliminaries after the second round of the exams.
He could imagine just how mistreated Gaara must have been in his own village. And now looking at him in this state reminded him of himself when he lost control two years ago.
It was actually quite the sad sight. And yet, at the same time, Gaara had siblings. Family that cared about him, so how did he end up like this?
"Show me your hatred!" The deranged boy screamed. "You said we were alike. Show me!"
Looking at the state the Suna redhead was in Naruto had no choice, he had to use the Chidori again. Gritting his teeth and making the necessary hand seals he concentrated chakra into his hand. Soon the chirping of birds could be heard as the jutsu took form.
Charging each other the two boys attacked each other, with Gaara using his transformed arm to try and rip the Uzumaki to shreds, only for him to have his sand arm cut clean open by the boy's jutsu.
But as the Taki genin turned around he was hit hard by the other jinchuriki and sent into a wall dozens of feet away. Painfully getting up he felt like he barely had any chakra left and he felt winded. His new jutsu tired him out way too quickly. And from his own training he knew he wasn't capable of more than two shots in a day. Nobody knew what would happen if he overdid it. But now? Nothing worked against the berserk Gaara.
"Is that all you got?!" Demanded the Suna boy. "Show me your true strength! Show me that my life has meaning!"
Naruto looked at him curiously. What did he mean by that?
Taking several deep breaths Naruto calmed his breathing. Thanks to the two shots he fired there was little he could do with his current strength and chakra level. He had to get creative.
Charging directly at the jinchuriki he slid on the ground under the boy's sand shuriken and then created a few clones before kicking Gaara in the jaw and sending him flying.
His clones intercepted the boy and sent him into the air where Naruto already was and, just like before, he sent the sand demon crashing with a strong kick to the gut. Before he himself landed on the ground he went through more hand seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Neither the hard landing nor the fire fazed the Suna boy as he got up immediately after, merely laughing madly.
The Taki redhead grit his teeth and jumped out of the way of Gaara's transformed arm. The Suna genin was trying to catch him and crush him.
For several long minutes Gaara chased Naruto all over the arena, firing air bullets and sand shuriken at him, trying to get him tired.
Getting tired of the cat-and-mouse game the Suna boy blew a wind bullet at his opponent knocking him back once again.
As this went on Gaara transformed further, with his head being enveloped in sand and looking more like a Tanuki. However, that was the least of his worries just now. He could feel himself tiring greatly and as that happened he could feel the mark grow stronger.
The crazed jinchuriki laughed. "You're weak!" He screamed. "You have all the making, so tell me, why do you fight for others?" He surprised Naruto. "Only when you fight for yourself you attain true strength!"
The young Uzumaki grit his teeth and bawled his hands into fists. His words felt so familiar. But at the same time he remembered Haku. "When a person has something precious they want to protect it's only then they become genuinely strong." And as he did he remembered Kimiko speaking about him as about her brother.
Naruto gave him a curious look. "What did you mean by 'showing you your life has meaning?'" He asked at last.
"Only through destroying my enemies has my life meaning! Through bloodshed!" He screamed. "That is also why I only live for myself. Connections make you weak! Only through hatred will you find real strength!"
Behind them an explosion sounded and looking over they could see the place the leaders sat ruined and a short distance away a strange barrier arose. Somebody was attacking the Kage. And if Naruto had to wager a bet he'd say it was Orochimaru.
At that moment Naruto felt conflicted and torn. He knew Shibuki was strong, but what should he do? In the past month his old self was awakening in him and he could feel the darkness in him rising, but at the same time he couldn't help but feel for these people that gave him a home and friendship, even a family.
And now he felt torn between these feelings for his friends and what Gaara was saying. He desperately wanted to know what the snake sannin knew of the attack of the fox, as well as to know who the last surviving Uzumaki were and what happened to them. If he could he wanted to bring them together and protect them. Perhaps together they could go and visit their ancestral home of Uzushiogakure together. He'd build his clan back up from the ashes.
In that moment he made up his mind, despite his pull. "You're wrong." He turned back to the Suna genin.
Gaara after hearing the redhead speak up looked at him. There was no hesitation in the boy anymore for now. He looked resolute and ready to battle to the death. It pleased Gaara.
"You're wrong." Naruto repeated. "Those that fight only for themselves are weak. You are weak!" This agitated the jinchuriki. "You have others that care for you, but you refuse to see that! You push them away and hurt them, but they are there anyway! Look!" Naruto pointed up into the waiting area where the jinchuriki's siblings were fighting their own battles. But every now and then they stole a look at their brother, worry clearly visible on their faces. "They care about you, no matter what you became!"
Gaara stared up at his brother and sister in disbelief. Then a great pain spread through his head and memories of his uncle flooded his thoughts. His uncle who took care of him after their mother's death, protected him, explained things to him and showed him….love. And the same uncle that gave his life for him when his own father dispatched assassins to murder his youngest son.
It was on that night that Gaara lost himself.
A five-year old Gaara stood on one of the highest bridges between buildings in Sunagakure looking up at the moon. He loved the moon and surrounding stars. They were so far away, but looking down upon them with such a bright light. It always mesmerized him and made him smile.
He often sat in the same place, looking up at the moon. Tonight it was full-moon and the village was peaceful, with people having fun out or going to bed. Everything was alright. It made him happy and he smiled.
His protective sand then jumped to life and intercepted several kunai aimed at his back. Turning around he could see several members of the Anbu Black Ops, all with their weapons drawn and prepared for a fight.
Little Gaara was scared of them, the people in the masks were scary. "Who….who a-are you?" He asked in a tiny voice, only to get no answer back. "Wh-what d-do you w-want?" He stuttered, tears in his eyes.
The special unit soldiers only threw more kunai at him. Cowering he looked up. His sand protected him once again. It always did, although he didn't understand why.
"It's the power of your inner demon your father sealed inside of you that protects you." One of the Anbu spoke up. It was a man.
"I-Inner demon?" The young boy didn't understand.
"Shukaku, the one-tailed Tanuki. You're his jinchuriki, our weapon." The same soldier continued. "But you're a failure!" Disgust was apparent on the masked man's voice. "Soft and weak!" Gaara tembled now out of fear, but none of the Anbu seemed to care. "That is why Lord Kazekage ordered your termination."
"D-dad….?" Gaara couldn't believe his ears. His father had ordered his assassination? His father never showed any interest in him whatsoever, but that was alright with the young redhead, he had his siblings and his uncle. But to want to kill him? His child?
The Anbu let out noises of disgust as they watched the boy cry and they prepared to attack.
Two of them jumped forward and attacked the boy, wishing to cut him open with their weapons, only for his sand to protect him once more.
Looking at the cowering boy they knew this was going to bed harder than they thought it would be. Charging again they wanted to get close to him and slit his throat if possible, but then somebody else came on the scene and killed those two special unit members.
Looking up Gaara recognised the bob of shaggy, dirty-blonde hair. "U-uncle?"
"Gaara, stay back!" Commanded the blond man.
The young boy the man was merely a medic ninja, he wasn't suited for combat in any way. Actually, his uncle hated combat and was a long-life pacifist. The only reason why he was able to kill the two Anbu members was because he surprised them and they had no way of reacting to him. There was no way he could defeat the rest of the special unit.
Without any warning the Anbu officers charged the doctor and although he was brave and did all he could to fend them away he was no match to them. He was only a medic after all. A peace loving medic.
And although he wanted to do everything needed to protect his nephew from these assassins he never could stand a chance against trained professionals.
Within seconds the man was cut down with ease from the professionals. Once they were finished with him they turned their attention on the boy now.
Gaara stood there in absolute shock and looked at his defeated uncle. Tears streamed down his cheeks without him even being aware of it, or anything else. All he saw was his uncle's mangled body.
When they were almost upon him Gaara screamed and with it his sand lashed out, killing all of them in the most terrifying ways possible. Grabbing them and crushing them with brute force or tearing them apart.
When he was finished the sand swirled around him before retreating. He then hurried over to his uncle's side.
Looking the man over he could see he was still alive. "G-Ga-Gaara." The man coughed up blood. The young redhead took his hand and held it tightly, wishing to say something, but unable to. "Yo-your….mo-mother…." He never finished as he exhaled for the last time and went still. He was dead. He never learned what his uncle wanted to tell him about his mother.
Before his death his uncle's face spoke all about caring for Gaara, fearing for his wellbeing and safety, wishing to protect him. Care and love for the young was written all over the man. And now he was dead. Murdered when he tried to protect his nephew.
Gaara screamed again, a tortured wail of a hurt animal. His sand burst all around him once more before tearing into his forehead, engraving the kanji for 'love' into his flesh. Marking him forever.
It was on that day that the Suna redhead close himself and his heart off to everybody else, dedicating his life only to himself.
Naruto could see the young jinchuriki was lost in thought. It would appear he got to him. "You always had somebody, but you refused to see that." He broke the genin out of his thoughts. "You were afraid to be hurt again, so you closed yourself off and lived for yourself." The young Uzumaki continued. "I never had anybody or anything to begin with, and I had to fight for everything I ever got, including my own life!" Gaara disgusted Naruto. "You never fought for anything, you gave up, and yet you want to preach to me?!" His eye twitched.
As his anger rose he could feel the seal weaken and the mark spread. He screamed and fell to his knees, his body spasming. He unwittingly let it go rampant and now it was causing agonizing pain.
Gaara smiled, enjoying the boy's suffering. He had no idea what was going on, but his pain was sweet. "So much for your little speech." He laughed as he lunged himself at the helpless boy with his clawed arm.
Paralyzed as he was he was only able to arch his body away as not to be completely ripped open by the boy's claws, but nevertheless his left shoulder got torn and now his arm was useless and was bleeding considerably.
Before he could do anything the Suna jinchuriki punched him hard and sent him flying into a wall, cracking it.
Naruto lay there in great pain, bleeding and unable to move. He was certain that some of his ribs were cracked, maybe even broken. If he stayed like this he would die a gruesome death, unable to do anything.
'No!' He thought. 'I can't let it end like this!' He gritted his teeth against the pain.
The young Uzumaki screamed again as the mark spread all across his body, causing more agony to him.
"Where is your strength now?" Screamed the crazed Gaara. "There is nothing behind your words, they are empty!" He laughed. "And now I'll destroy everything and everyone in my path!"
The Taki redhead's anger was rising and with it the power of the mark and agony it caused. He hated the jinchuriki and if he didn't do anything everybody would get killed in his rampage.
As he thought about the bloodshed the genin wished to unleash an image of a crying Fu entered his mind, followed by Kimiko calling him her brother, and then the rest of the Taki genin as they fought for him in the forest, nearly giving their lives just to protect him.
No, he wouldn't let it end like this! He wouldn't let any of them be killed! They all were there for him when he needed it, and now they needed his help. He wouldn't give up like this. He needed to fight. He needed to win!
He couldn't fight the mark and Gaara at the same time. There was only one thing he could do. He needed to accept the power of the mark. He needed to take control and use its power if he was to win here.
Concentrating he let go of all of his resistance against the mark, and with all of his being he forced his will upon it, making it help him.
As Gaara watched something about the Uzumaki changed. Whatever it was that caused him pain he stopped resisting it. He let the agony fill him. And as the boy did so his power went through the roof. Suddenly strange crimson chakra with wisps of black and purple started swirling around him and the boy stood up.
The Suna redhead watched with astonishment, he could feel all the power the boy was releasing and it felt about as dark and menacing as his own. If not more.
Naruto stood up and arching his back he screamed up at the heavens, releasing a small shockwave of power all around himself.
Up in the viewers gallery Fu together with her comrades were fighting the enemy. They already defeated about a half a dozen of enemy ninjas, protecting Kimiko, who was healing the injured, but more kept coming. And now as they looked around they could also see Sand shinobi as well. It was taking no end and they were getting tired.
Hanae, Kenzo, Shinobu and Yashamaru, together with Gai and Kakashi stood their ground and protected the children and civilians, but they were badly outnumbered. They tried dividing their numbers and go help Shibuki, but each time they were blocked by the enemy. And looking up they could see a barrier surround their lord and the Hokage. There was nothing they could do now, but hope for the best and do their duty, just like Naruto ordered them to.
Gritting their teeth they repelled another wave of enemy attacks, defeating several of the enemy's forces. They wouldn't fail here.
The enemy's ninjas weren't anything special, but one of them. He was still dressed in an Anbu uniform and had his face covered by mask. They could tell he was the strongest from them all and was pulling the strings here as their commander. They needed to take him out, but were unable to get close to him.
Suddenly they could feel a massive chakra build up and released in the arena, followed by a scream. Looking around and down their hearts nearly stopped.
Down in the arena they could see Naruto with Gaara. The Suna genin was transforming more and more into a beast, but what truly worried them was the state Naruto was in. Not only was he badly injured, but they could see the mark fully spread across his body, taking full control and giving the boy unimaginable power. They could feel it, but it was dark, menacing and cold.
From they they learned from the Hokage they knew the mark sapped at the sanity of its host and cause the person turn dark and evil. Was that happening to their friend?
But at the same time as they looked at him they could see he was different now. He didn't behave the way it was described to them by their genin. If anything he seemed composed now. His behaviour pointed more to a concentrated effort than anything else.
Looking into the eyes of the Uzumaki Gaara could see they were golden with black sclera and the strange tattoos that looked like flowing water spread all over his face and body.
After taking control Naruto actually felt better than ever before. The power the mark was giving him now was amazing. It made him wish for more.
Giving his hatred freeflow his power increased. It made him smile. "It's over now, Gaara!" He single-handedly made hand seals and surpassing his own limit he formed a full Chidori before charging his opponent.
Gaara roared as he made to defend himself and rip the boy in half. "I will not cease to exist!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.
The two boys clashed and Gaara screamed again as his sand arm got completely cut off and part of his sand body fell apart as well. Before the jinchuriki could turn around to face his opponent Naruto sent him crashing with a hard kick.
The Suna genin lay there on the verge of defeat. Somehow his kicks and punches were now on par with the strongest attacks of the bushy-browed boy.
"Gaara!" Kankuro called to his brother. How did the Uzumaki do this? How was he able to injure their brother like this? Gaara was somebody nobody could even get close to in the past, let alone injure him.
The Sand jinchuriki was boiling on the inside with anger and hatred. When he reached his breaking point he screamed at the top of his lungs and when that happened something massive and made out of sand shot up into the sky. When the smoke settled everybody was looking up at a massive, one-tailed Tanuki.
"He….He really did it." Temari looked up in horror. "The perfect possession."
"Gaara." Whispered Kankuro.
"I'll crush everything and everybody!" The giant thing yelled. "I won't let a stone untouched!" The thing laughed.
Naruto grit his teeth. There was only one thing he could do. Biting his thumb he performed a one handed summoning, as his left arm was still pretty unusable.
Slamming his hand down there was another massive puff of smoke and when it disappeared Naruto stood there on a lizard the size of the Tanuki.
Shibuki and Hiruzen were watching the tailed-beast when the massive lizard appeared. "Naruto!" Shibuki knew immediately. Their friend was fighting the monster, but as they looked they could see the boy was using the curse mark.
Orochimaru too looked. "Magnificent!" He laughed. "Use its power and crush all in your path!"
"You'll never get your wish!" Shibuki got the man's attention. He then made the first move to continue the battle with Hiruzen right on his heels.
The two leaders once again engaged the reanimations. "Water Release: Water Spikes!" Exclaimed Shibuki when he prepared his jutsu and impaled the white-haired man, letting his summon attack as he was forced to defend himself with the water sword by Orochimaru who attacked with his Kusanagi.
Right from the beginning he could just how dangerous the sannin's sword was. He could usually go toe-to-toe with most using his water sword, but the grass sword cut through his blade like it was butter. Were it not for Sarutobi he himself would be sliced in half.
Hiruzen saw the young lord in trouble and using Enma he intervened and stopped Orochimaru. Their battle got a lot more difficult now that the sannin stepped in. And because Hiruzen was busy with the sannin that mean that Shibuki had to fight both of the reanimated kage himself.
If they wanted to win they would have to push Orochimaru back and separate the two undead.
Before Hashirama and Tobirama could once again attack the young lord went through a series of hand seals and created water tornado around himself. Once it subsided he was gone and before the reanimations could react he was attacking Orochimaru, kicking the snake-man away from Sarutobi and sending his summon after him. Hiruzen let go of Enma who transformed back and too went after the snake.
While Orochimaru was occupied the two leaders concentrated on the two undead.
Summoning a hail of water bullets Shibuki bombarded them. Hiruzen too used water and sent a slicing wave of pressurized water at his two predecessors, cutting them both in half.
"Now, Lord Shibuki!" He called to the dark-haired man and both of the rushed forward before the two undead could reform themselves and retaliate.
Each of them took one, Sarutobi concentrated on Hashirama, while Shibuki took his brother Tobirama. Both of the men took out seals and slapped them on their opponents, paralysing them, giving the long enough to prepare for their permanent sealing.
Working fast they both created a clone of themselves and started drawing a circular seal in the ground in their blood. Once finished they performed a series of hand seals and slammed their hands on the ground. "Sealing of the cursed body!" They both exclaimed.
The circular seals started to glow and the reanimated Kage froze. As the seals took effect they regained themselves and looked at Hiruzen and Shibuki and smiled.
"Well done, Saru." Praised Hashirama.
"I owe you an apology, young lord." Tobirama smiled and nodded at Shibuki.
"None needed." He shook his head. "It was an honour, Lord Second."
"Likewise, Lord of Takigakure." The white-haired Kage bowed his head in respect.
As the two kage fell apart and into the ash and dust that made up their bodies they revealed the sacrifice for this jutsu.
"You monster!" Exclaimed Sarutobi as he saw that the sannin used Konoha nins as the sacrifice for the reanimation jutsu. HIruzen recognised them both, they were Udon Ise and Moegi Kazamatsuri, Konohamaru's friends and teammates.
"I couldn't help myself, sensei." Orochimaru gave him a cruel smile.
"No! Please, no!" whispered Hiruzen, watching the two bodies in horror.
The sannin's smile grew into a feral grin. "I wished you could meet him as well, sensei."
A shiver ran down Hiruzen's spine. "No, not him!"
"Your little grandson." Orochimaru stretched out his words and took great pleasure in his old sensei's look of utter horror and pain.
Hiruzen's greatest fear was confirmed, which also meant Konohamaru was still alive as Orochimaru needed a living sacrifice, but was held captive somewhere in Konoha, waiting to be sacrificed or murdered. "You monster!" Sarutobi screamed in hatred and in his blind rage stormed the sannin.
"Hiruzen!" Enma called after his partner.
"Lord Hokage!" Shibuki called after the Kage before following him, but it was too late.
Sarutobi attacked the sannin wishing to end him once and for all and end this madness, but Orochimaru was waiting for this exact moment as his old sensei threw caution to the wind in his hap-hazard attack.
The snake sannin sidestepped the veteran Kage's attack and before the young Taki lord could intervene he delivered a devastating attack with his Kusanagi.
Shibuki cursed himself as he watched the monster's attack and heard Hiruzen scream in agony. Before Orochimaru could deliver the killing blow he stepped between the two and kicked the sannin away, taking the old Hokage and jumping away.
In the attack Hiruzen suffered a deep gash to the shoulder, but what was more worrying was that he lost his left arm altogether. Gritting his teeth he quickly went to stop the bleeding. Being no medic he had to use conventional methods of treating the wounds.
"I'm….sorry….Lord Shibuki." Panted the old man.
"What were you thinking!" Enma came to their side.
"You can fight no longer." The dark-haired lord spoke up and he finished bandaging the Kage's stump and shoulder.
"It's up to us now, young lord." The Monkey King looked over at a smirking Orochimaru.
"One down. Once I kill the two of you it's game over." The sannin laughed.
"That won't happen, you scaly bastard!" Spat Enma. "Young lord, this once I'll allow you to wield me. Only together can we defeat him." He looked at Shibuki.
"Me? How?" He was good with a sword, but he never used a staff before. Especially one that was a summon and could transform.
"Do not worry, I'll help wherever I can." Enma promised before transforming back into a staff.
"Do it, Lord Shibuki." Sarutobi encouraged the young man.
Shibuki took the staff and twirled it above his head. It was way lighter than he expected it to be. Steeling himself he charged the sannin and the two of them clashed with their weapons.
The dark-haired man was nowhere near as good as Orochimaru with his sword, but he could feel Enma helping him. When it was obvious the sannin was getting the better of him the Monkey King, in his staff form, suddenly extended, slamming into Orochimaru's stomach and sending him flying.
Not expecting that Shibuki too stumbled backwards and fell onto his backside.
"We will do that again, prepare yourself." The staff spoke up. Shibuki nodded and then jumped into the air. Enma then shot at the sannin several times, forcing the man to evade before the two of them clashed once more.
Once in bladelock an arm shot out of the staff and grabbed the sannin by the throat, squeezing hard. When that happened Shibuki pointed his finger at the sannin like a gun. "Water Release: Water Spirit Wave." His technique generated a water ball the size of a melon and shot it into Orochimaru's chest at high speed at point-blank range, sending the man back.
Before the sannin could pick himself up Shibuki prepared his last jutsu. "Water Release: Great Waterfall Jutsu!" Just like before Shibuki created another massive cascade and putting every last ounce of strength behind it sent it at Orochimaru, sending him crashing into the barrier his followers erected.
As the snake-man crashed against the barrier with his back he caught fire and was burnt badly, although Shibuki's own attack prevented him from burning into a crisp. The water actually saved his life, leaving him only with third degree burns on his back, arms and legs, with a few places with fourth degree burns. But all in all he was in a bad shape, although alive, much to Shibuki's dismay.
Hiruzen watched in amazement at the victory procured by the young lord. It was amazing what he achieved against Orochimaru and using Enma no less. Looking at him he could see he was at the end of his strength though, as he was on one knee, breathing hard and barely able to keep himself up. He used up the rest of his chakra on his last jutsu.
"I'll finish this!" Enma transformed back and went over to Orochimaru. Looking at him he could see the man was barely conscious and seemed in great pain, unable to move. "This is the end." The Monkey King raised one clawed hand, ready to end the man. But then the barrier dissolved and Enma was attacked from the four enemy ninjas that erected it in the first place, injuring him and sending him backwards before grabbing their master and vanishing. The invasion was over.