AN: Several readers have expressed confusion about why Sasuke has entered the story, especially after we just got rid of Neji, and the simple answer is Naruto. Naruto cannot stop and have a relationship if he is too busy chasing after Sasuke and Sasuke, as evidenced in manga, is not simply going to come home without motivation. In this story, Sasuke's group got him away before Madara could sink his teeth into him so he's not the revenge driven person he is in the manga. With Sasuke home, Naruto can turn his attention to what he truly wants and a little competition never hurts or maybe it will!
Chapter Thirteen
Gaara moved with one thought in her mind. She had to find Naruto. She had to find him and keep him out of Akatsuki's clutches. She would not allow Naruto to suffer through the hell she did while in their captivity.
No, she would die first.
She moved instinctively toward the large crater in the middle of the village paying no heed to the dead, shell shocked, or injured. She could feel massive amounts of chakra centered there and that's where she would find Naruto.
Upon reaching the cusp of the crater, she had only a moment to register that Naruto was pinned to the ground with long black pieces of metal while a man with multiple piercings and the telltale black cloak with red clouds approached him.
There was no thought as she was suddenly between him and Naruto with arms crossed and gourd uncorked.
"Gaara! What are you doing?! Get out of here!" Naruto's voice was panicked, angry, and surprised all at once.
"I will not," she didn't look at him but at her opponent, "I owe you a large debt-"
"Damn it, Gaara! I can't lose you again!"
Her eyes widened the tiniest bit and she had to fight the urge to glance over at him, "Then get up, Naruto Uzumaki, and together we'll show him what it means to be strong."
**
No.
No.
No.
NO!
This was not happening!
Naruto pulled desperately pulled against metal that was skewering him to the ground without care how he was tearing into his own flesh and muscle. He had to get free! He had to get to Gaara. He had to stop her! She didn't know what Pein was capable of and-
Pein sent a pulse of chakra at her and immediately the sand leapt to her defense but it only barely blocked the blow.
She widened her stances and her barrier thickened considerably as the pulses started to increase drastically.
Not good, Naruto let out a pained grunt as he nearly dislodged one of his arms, she can't attack if all her attention is on defense!
"Gaara! Get out of here!"
"No," she growled and her head turned to eye his situation, "I will not leave you to die." Sand pushed through his wounds painfully and he gritted his teeth as the spikes started to move out of the ground. "You are far too precious-"
A metal spike pierced the barrier like it was water and quickly found it's distracted target
She released a startled sound that was part scream and part grunt as it hit her upper body and went straight through, sending her flying into the rock wall of the crater.
The spike, having obviously been powered by a chakra pulse, went on to embed itself into the rock and Gaara's head hit with a sickening crack.
All the sand dropped as her entire body went lax and then still.
And then all Naruto saw was red.
**
Neji raced to the crater, having only vaguely heard the instructions to help any they could, and hoped he wasn't too late.
His first thought had been of his gentle cousin Hinata and had immediately searched her out only to find her safe by a large depression. He had been about to turn his attention to locating the rest of his family when he happened to glance into the hollow to find the last person he ever expected to be in the middle of this mess.
Gaara.
Injured Gaara.
He had to reach her.
He knew he was dating Tenten and it was probably inappropriate to be feeling this level of alarm for another female but, damn it, Gaara had made him realize what he had always wanted! She was the one who had given him exactly what he had thought he'd wanted and revealed it for the sham it was! He would always carry a soft spot for the Kazekage and he didn't care if no one understood it.
He slid down into the pit and quickly moved to assist her as she writhed helplessly against the spike unable to get the proper leverage to pull it out.
He checked her with his blood limit and then had to blink his astonishment. The spike had gone almost harmlessly through her shoulder but that wasn't what had stunned him. Naruto must have been leaking vast amounts of demonic chakra that Gaara hadn't been able to help but absorb.
Anyone else might have suffered chakra poisoning or massive burns but Gaara's system had been handling demonic chakra since birth and, despite her demon's removal, the paths were still there if dormant.
In fact, he was pretty sure her wound was trying to heal around the spike-
"Get it out!" She snarled and gave a short scream as he yanked it out. She fell to her knees clutching at the wound that had started to steam.
Neji reached out to touch her shoulder and then turned into a spin to punch a certain Uchiha in the face.
Caught completely off guard, the Uchiha hit the ground and could only blink his confusion at the Hyuuga while holding his cheek.
"I don't know why you are here, Uchiha," Neji effortlessly slipped into his stance, "But I will protect the village and the Kazekage with my life."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the presumptuous comment as well as the protective positioning.
Wait a minute . . .
The Hyuuga was a threat. He had dated Gaara, in fact, he was the one who had started this whole mess. If the rumors had never reached Sasuke about the relationship and consequent breakup then he would have never decided to assassinate Gaara, thus, never found out her true gender, and would have missed this opportunity completely.
Huh, so Neji wasn't gay . . .that was so weird.
"He's with me," Gaara finally spoke as she checked her shoulder gingerly. It was mostly just surface wound now. She was lucky Neji had come along. Her body might be built to channel demonic chakra but Naruto's demon far outstripped hers and it had hurt.
A lot.
Hurt so much that she couldn't concentrate on using her sand to free herself and she was just happy the excess chakra burnt itself out on the healing. She still wouldn't have full range of movement for a couple of days but it was far better than the months it would have taken to recuperate otherwise.
"With you?" Neji intoned darkly and didn't loosen his stance at all.
"Yes, with me," Sasuke smirked at the outrage in the other male's eyes.
"I brought him home," she got to her feet carefully, "And he'll stay here according to our agreement."
"Agreement?" Neji finally relaxed as he realized that Gaara didn't seem to care about their posturing or didn't think it was relevant.
"Is personal," Sasuke glared as he got off the ground.
"Neji!" Rock Lee slipped into the crater, "Is everything all right? You took off so fast - Gaara!"
Sasuke and Neji's eyes swung around to eye the currently sand armor less Kazekage.
"Don't look at me," she turned quickly and tried to scrap together her sand.
"You're injured," Lee appeared at her side and took her shoulder into his hands so he give it a look.
Neji just sighed and figured that if Lee gave out Gaara's secret then he couldn't be held responsible right?
Sasuke's expression was steadily growing darker as Lee continued to handle Gaara in a way that she would have personally ensured he had no legacy to leave behind.
Gaara could only watch as Lee bent her arm this way and that as he checked her bones, ligaments, and range of motion.
"You don't seem very surprised."
"Hmm? Oh, that's because your injury was not as serious as it looked," he remarked guilelessly.
She blinked, "Lee, I don't have my sand armor on."
"Yes," he met her eyes, "I did not want to bring attention to a topic that you obviously wanted to keep secret. I swear I will keep your secret on my ninja way as I have since I discovered it years ago!"
"You knew?" She blinked, "How long?"
Neji and Sasuke leaned in, yes, how long?
"Since our first battle," Lee shuffled his feet nervously, "One must always be able to read their opponents body language and only then will you truly know their soul! Such is the power of youth!"
"You knew this whole time and didn't tell anybody even though I tried to kill you," she intoned softly, more to herself then to him.
"Yes, I kept your secret. It was the right thing to do and I know what it is to have a deep, dark secret," Lee intoned passionately.
Deep, dark secret, Neji thought incredulously, since when? What could possibly be deep and dark about Lee?
Sasuke's thoughts ran along similar lines though he had to wonder what the hell had been going on since he left.
Gaara just at him, mystified that such a person could exist.
"Since I know your secret without your permission, the only way to make it right is to tell you my own," Lee spoke lowly and then met her eyes passionately, "I do not have the ability to use chakra outside my body so I can perform neither genjutsu nor ninjutsu!"
Neji and Sasuke nearly fell over in their shock. He really thought he that was a secret?!
"You can't?" Gaara was appropriately stunned.
Neji and Sasuke fell down that time. She didn't know?! How could she not know?! And what were the odds that Lee would confess his well known secret to someone who didn't know?!
"It's true," Lee's head was down as shame colored his voice, "It was a very painful part of my life until Gai-sensei showed me the path of a taijutsu specialist!"
"I had no idea," she spoke softly, something disturbingly close to awe entered her eyes, "I just thought it was a personal choice. I had no idea . . .You are a great ninja."
"You think so?" A blush spread across Lee's cheeks and, suddenly, she was pulled into an enthusiastic hug, "Thank you so much! I, too, think you are a great ninja! I did it, Gai-sensei! I was acknowledged by a great leader!"
Gaara was lax in his grip and slowly rested her head onto his chest. He was truly a great person and ninja. He also knew her secret. Maybe she should date him? She would ask Naruto later.
Naruto.
She pushed the other ninja firmly away and turned to Neji, "We have to find Naruto. He was fighting an Akatsuki member when I arrived. He's in danger."
Neji nodded sharply and activated his bloodline only to start with disbelief.
"What is it?" Sasuke asked sharply.
Neji frowned but otherwise comment.
"Neji," Gaara inquired, her sand armor finally complete.
"The chakra systems of all the dead seem to be reactivating," Neji spoke.
"That's impossible," Sasuke felt the mostly foreign emotion that had to be hope welling in his chest.
"Is the ninja Kakashi Hatake reviving as well?" Gaara's urgent tone immediately diverted Neji's search.
"Yes," he spoke after a few minutes, "He seems to be moving towards the gates. Everyone is heading towards the gates. . . Naruto is coming back from the forest."
"Come," Gaara ordered and they all dashed to join the deepening tide of people.
They arrived at the ruined gates just as the cheers broke out and Naruto's blue eyes widened with pure joy.
Gaara felt a smile pull at her lips and didn't fight to remain impassive. She had had her moment and now it was time for Naruto to have his, to realize that he had gained the acknowledgement of the people, that he was not a monster but a beloved comrade. He was precious to the village and she was happy for him.
A porcelain masked face caught her eye and she turned her head slightly to see the mask disappear with a person in tow. What was going on? Where was Tsunade?
Gaara pulled back from the crowd intent on pursing the Leaf anbu and ninja, most likely a council member or emergency committee member.
She had to find out why they were meeting and what had happened to Tsunade. The Hokage would not have hid from the action but Gaara hadn't seen her at all and that mean bad things.
**
Naruto pulled away from the vanishing well wishers intent on finding the two faces that he had most wanted to see but couldn't quite believe they were really there. Why would Gaara be in the Leaf? Why would Sasuke? He had to be mistaken but, no, there he was!
"Sasuke!" Naruto called out and could only stare at his long lost rival, "You're here."
"Where else would I be, dobe?" Sasuke planted a hand on his hip, "Looks like you couldn't keep the village in one piece while I was gone."
"Bastard, I'd like to see you try to keep the village in one piece when fighting the Akasuki!" He yelled and then his eyes turned serious, "Why are you here? Are you going to attack?"
Sasuke snorted, "If I was going to attack don't you think I would have started by now?"
"So you're really back?" He couldn't believe it. All those years of worrying and training and Sasuke just waltzed right back in like nothing happened. He didn't know if he was happy or pissed.
Sasuke sighed as he noticed the faces around him start to realize he was there, "Yes, I'm back."
Naruto pulled him into a tight hug. Mad or not, this person who had acknowledged him, the one he saw as his brother was safe and home.
Sasuke held himself stiffly before reluctantly returning the embrace. Idiot or not, whether he wanted it or not, Naruto had always treated him as a person before an Uchiha and he would always remember that.
Naruto released him as quickly as he had grabbed him and started looking around, "Was Gaara with you? I mean, I thought I saw him."
Sasuke blinked and whipped around to where Gaara should have been standing and cursed to himself. She was too good at getting around his defenses. It had been true when they were twelve and it was still true now.
"Sasuke?"
"Yeah, Gaara was here," he pushed through the crowd, "Come on, he can't have gone far."
Naruto nodded and they left the remaining well wishers confused at his sudden departure.
**
"No! It was the Third Hokage's teachings that lead to the downfall of the village! Their weak policies that allowed enemies to live to later wreak havoc to the magnitude we saw today! It is I who should become Hokage-"
The door burst open interrupting Danzo's speech and bid for power.
"Where is Lady Tsunade?" Gaara demanded, "I wish to offer aid, manpower, resources, supplies. I cannot move without the Hokage's permission so, I ask again, where is Lady Hokage?"
"The Lady Hokage is in a coma," Shikaku Nara informed the Kazekage as the rest of the room sat stunned.
Gaara deliberately blinked surprise and glanced around the room, "You . . .are replacing her."
"Our need is dire," Danzo spoke slowly, "and your presence here-"
"So the Fire Daimyo is now the acting Hokage," Gaara nodded sharply, "Perhaps we should-"
"No, you've misunderstood the situation, Lord Kazekage," Danzo's voice was tight, "We are electing a new Hokage-"
"You're what?" Gaara's voice wasn't quite disapproving, "Your leader is in a coma and your first priority is to replace her?"
"What would you have us do, Lord Kazekage?" The Fire Daimyo asked curiously.
"Whatever the Daimyo decides is best," Gaara inclined her head respectively, "It's just I didn't expect Leaf's policies to be as ruthless as Sands."
"What are you trying to imply, Lord Kazekage?" Koharu's voice was sharp.
"When I was abducted by the Akatsuki," Gaara's spoke clearly and instantly captivated the Fire Daimyo to Danzo's extreme annoyance, "My own council was more concerned with securing borders then my rescue. It was the Leaf ninjas who fought to save my life and they were the ones who brought me back."
"Who were they?" The Fire Daimyo inquired.
"Team Kakashi assisted by Team Gai," Gaara caught the approving look from Shikaku.
"Ah, Kakashi Hatake," the Fire Daimyo fluttered his fan, "His name just keeps popping up."
"Is he in running?" Gaara asked, not caring if she was obviously seeking information now.
"Why don't you tell us who you think should be Hokage?" Homura glared.
"Naruto Uzumaki," she ignored the sarcastic tone and the room was in chaos.
"The jinchuuriki?! You wish the jinchuuriki to be Hokage?!" Danzo roared above the rest.
Gaara's eyes could have rivaled glass, "Do you think a jinchuuriki is unfit to lead?"
The room dropped into awkward silence.
"You hold Naruto Uzumaki in high esteem," Shikaku held back his smile, "Why?"
"He saved me, not once but twice," Gaara glanced off to the side, "Once from the darkness of my own mind and then my life during the kidnapping. His philosophies have greatly influenced my own. I would not be where I am today without him."
"While you paint a shinning picture, Lord Kazekage, Uzumaki is not in the running," Koharu announced unyieldingly.
"He is still young," Gaara remarked ironically, "So Kakashi Hatake is up for Hokage?"
"Yes," the Fire Daimyo laughed behind his fan, "I like the idea of Hatake as Hokage."
"No," Danzo snarled, "One minor success does not mean the third's teachings work!"
"Minor?" Gaara asked sharply.
"She's the reason the village was attacked-" He tried to rebuild his momentum.
"You're blaming the victim?" Gaara's quiet voice cut through Danzo's impassioned rantings, "You're blaming the woman who put herself into a coma trying to protect and heal her village!"
"Her weak policies-!" He tried to salvage his argument.
"And I suppose it was my fault the Akatsuki targeted me," she continued, "My fault they were after the demon my own village implanted in me to make a weapon-!"
"That has no bearing-!" His frustration grew when she didn't even let him finish his sentence.
"They have attacked every major ninja village for their jinchuuriki and yet you claim Tsunade is responsible for them all?!"
"I am doing no such-"
"Shall we blame her for the weather as well?" She snapped, "For that makes as much sense-!"
"You have no right to be here! Get out! You jinchuuriki!" Danzo finally snapped, unable to control his fury any longer. This was his chance and the Kazekage was ruining it!
Silence.
Gaara slowly eyed every person in the room, "Elect this man Hokage and, debt or no debt, Sand will retract the offer of aid." She stepped up to Danzo and looked him dead in the eye, "You dislike Leaf policies? Then, be aware, as weak as they are, they are what is keeping me from taking advantage of your weakened state. Sand policies say I should kill everyone in this room to further weaken it, sneak my ninja in under the guise of aid, and then murder every last man, woman, and child claiming this land for our own. It would be the easiest take over in our history but instead I shed my own blood in defense of it and you call it weak."
She waited a moment to let everyone observe the horrible angry wound in her shoulder that was still bubbling blood in an effort to clot. A wound that stained her crimson cloak an even darker red that had somehow escaped everyone's notice. She spun on her heel and yanked open the door only to find a startled Sasuke and Naruto.
"Oh, and another thing," she glanced over her shoulder, "The Uchiha was on a deep cover mission by order of Tsunade. He was to gather intel of secret hideouts, techniques, and assassinate both Orochimaru and Itachi Uchiha if given the chance. He has completed his mission and, as a courtesy, I brought him home." She paused, "I suppose the report can wait until a Hokage is chosen."
She was about to shut the door when the Fire Daimyo called out to her.
"Lord Kazekage, what do you think of Kakashi Hatake?"
"He is a noble man and a unparalleled ninja who I owe my life," she bowed low, "I would gladly offer my aid to such a man. A man I know I could trust."
She shut the door and exhaled deeply.
"Gaara-"
She shook her head sharply and made her way down the hall with both of them trailing after her.
She didn't get more than twenty feet before she was yanked into an empty room by a livid, if concerned, blond. Sasuke quickly shut the door behind them.
"Gaara! What the hell was all that about-"
"Quiet!" She snarled and used her sand to soundproof the room.
Naruto set his jaw and waited for her to finish before yanking her into a tight hug, "Don't ever do that again! I was so scared, I thought-"
"You're hurting her, dobe!" Sasuke glared and started to step in to separate them.
"You're hurt?!" Naruto pulled away aghast.
"It's fine," Gaara rubbed her scar tiredly, "Uchiha, we're going to need your sharingon to copy Tsunade's handwriting for a forgery."
"Why did you do that?" Sasuke asked quietly.
"How else did you expect to reenter the Leaf with little to no consequences?" Her tone was slightly annoyed and she fisted a hand into Naruto's new cloak, "You're all right?"
"Yeah," he smiled and frowned as he was pulled away from her by Sasuke, "What-"
"We need to set a few things straight, Naruto," Sasuke frowned at him and placed himself between them, "I'm not here for you-"
"The hell-"
"- I'm here for her."
Gaara gave a quiet sigh and prayed for patience. She was tired, bleeding, and emotionally drained. She just wanted a quiet, safe place to sleep and these idiots weren't helping.
"You know?"
Gaara dropped her hand at the odd tone in Naruto's voice, "Naruto-"
"She's agreed to have my children," Sasuke smirked at his long time rival.
End Chapter