The results are in! Thank you to all the people who have PM'd me and left reviews! Here is chapter 14! Don't worry… smuttiness will return soon!

I don't own Naruto!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Only a Shadow can Reach into the Darkness

Chapter 14: The Sun's Return

"SHIKAMARU!" Naruto screamed as he approached the scene. He and Jiraiya had seen the explosion in the distance and ran towards the source, ignoring the rain altogether.

Landing near the brunette, Naruto dropped to his knees as tears poured from his eyes. With a gulp, he reached his hand down to the pale face, caressing the stained cheeks before searching his neck for a pulse. The blonde's eyes opened wildly "there's still a pulse! It's weak but I can feel it."

"Naruto! I think these three are still alive but they are critically injured and aren't breathing. They won't make it." Jiraiya called.

Naruto started shaking; he felt so helpless as his friends died from internal hemorrhaging.

"Kit, remember our training"

"I never got it right remember Kyuubi? We just started coving medical ninjutsu and if Pervy Sage can't help there's no way I could."

"I told you to call me by my name! It's Kurama! And you were close. The worst thing that could happen is it doesn't work and they die- which will happen anyway if you don't try!"

"Aside from Shikamaru and maybe Sasuke, why should I help them? They didn't notice how much pain I was in back home."

"Don't be an idiot! You read the letters from Sasuke and have received some from all your friends; everyone always talks about you and wants you to come home already! They were stupid and blind before brat, but even if they bought our 'loose seal' story, they know about me and don't care that you're my host!"

Determination filled Naruto's eyes. Kurama was right, friends didn't always make the right choices, but his comrades hadn't begun to hate him like he believed they would. "Jiraiya-sensei, bring them over to me quickly!"

The Toad Sage did as he was asked and quickly laid the three boys down at his feet. "When I say so, pull the rod out of Shikamaru," Naruto said as he stood up. He closed his eyes and concentrated, flooding his chakra pathways. "Now!"

Jiraiya pulled straight up on the pole, removing it all at once while Naruto's healing chakra surrounded the four of them in a green aura. As fast as they were losing blood, the blonde was replacing it while realigning bones and mending torn organs.

"Well look who it is hm! We could get the nine-tails right now hm!" Deidra mused to Sasori.

"You shouldn't have done that Deidra, you attracted the attention of Naruto yes, but also one of the legendary Sanin" the puppet master replied, annoyance clearly lacing his voice.

"Shut up Danna! You're just jealous they noticed my art instead of yours hm!" the blonde exclaimed.

Naruto could hear the two Akatsuki members bickering behind them, and anger surged through him. He withdrew his chakra, hoping that they were out of immediate danger since he still didn't have the skill to heal them much more.

"You're going to pay for that!" he growled. As Naruto turned, his eyes started glowing bright red, forming slits for pupils and his hair became wilder. Leaning forward, his canines and nails grew sharp while bubbling red chakra covered his body.

"This is not good, Naruto is starting to lose control and go into nine tails mode," Jiraiya thought. He watched three tails sprout from the chakra, knowing that if he got to four, the fox could overtake him.

Before he could move, the blonde had bolted towards the two enemies, hitting Sasori with an energy-filled punch. The redhead flew backward, his hunched outer shell shattering under the stress, exposing his true form.

He then moved to swipe at Deidra, but the bird took off putting distance between them.

"Alright Naruto, are you ready?"

"Yeah, let's do it Kurama!"

Naruto began forming his Rasengan, filling it with both his and Kyuubis' chakra before he threw it at Deidra. The clay user attempted to dodge the attack, but it expanded at the last minute, catching his bird.

Before Naruto could finish him off, Sasori intervened, pulling out his one hundred puppet show, sending them speeding towards the jinchuuriki.

A smirk covered his face as he skillfully performed a series of hand signs. "Lightning style, lightning dragon!"

A screech similar to the sound of the Chidori filled the air as the monster leap from Naruto's hands, sending shockwaves of charged energy from its mouth, eradicating the puppets.

"How interesting, no one has ever taken down my army so easily before, perhaps it's time for my specialty." Sasori pondered. Pulling out another scroll, he called forth the third Kazekage, his prize puppet.

Deidra, who was now starting to get off the ground glared at the other blonde boy. "He disrespected my art! I'll show him!" He shoved his hands back down into his pockets to mold more explosives.

"Naruto! Since you've mastered lightning style you are better suited for Deidra than I am. I'll take on Sasori!" Jiraiya called as he charged forward.

Naruto looked back and saw a toad hastily hoping away from the battlefield. "That's one of Pervy Sages summoning's."

"Don't worry! They'll be fine, Gamahiro is going to take them back to Konoha for treatment! We'll catch up to him." Jiraiya called out before he summoned Gamaken.

"I'll do my best Lord Jiraiya, but I must tell you, I'm not that graceful," Gamaken commented when the smoke cleared.

Naruto nodded at them before returning his attention to Deidra. The older blonde retracted his hands from his clay and raised them.

"That's not going to work" Naruto laughed. "You use Earth style, and my lightning is Earth's weakness."

Deidra scowled, "Don't disrespect my art hm! I'll blow you away!"

Gaara was pacing back and forth in his office. He had felt an odd chill earlier that made the hairs on his neck stand up.

Kankuro and Temari knocked gently on the door. Ever since Naruto and Gaara had fought, the redhead had done his best to keep his temper in check and be kind to everyone he met. But they had heard that today the Kazekage had locked himself in his office, and wouldn't see anyone.

"Gaara, what's wrong? Let us in!" Temari cooed.

"Go away Temari, Kankuro, I don't want to be bothered right now!" he growled back. "Something isn't right. I've got a pit in my stomach that won't go away."

"Come on Temari, I'm sure he will be alright. Let's give him some space… He is the Kazekage after all" Kankuro urged his sister.

Her eyebrow twitched in annoyance as she closed her eyes. "Fine, if he won't open the door, I'll just bust it in!" Kankuro sweat dropped as she raised her leg and broke the door down.

Temari marched up to her younger brother and twisted him around to face her. She was about to lecture him when she saw the worry and pain in his eyes. Putting her hands on his shoulders she softened her face, "Gaara, please, tell us what's wrong."

He dropped his head to her shoulder, leaving both of his siblings shocked at the sudden display of vulnerability. "I don't know Temari, it hurts right here," he said as he gripped the clothing above his heart.

Temari and Kankuro locked eyes, not knowing what to say. "Shukaku is restless, I think something happened to Neji" Gaara continued.

"Why would it matter if something happened to Neji?" Kankuro asked in confusion.

Temari gasped when she felt warm liquid start to seep into her dress; her suspicions were confirmed.

"You and Neji are together, aren't you? I thought it was strange you spent so much time together, even with him being the Leaf delegate."

Kankuro's mouth dropped open and stayed there for several seconds. Finally regaining the strength in his jaw, he cautiously pushed for more answers. "Why do you think something happened to Neji, Gaara? He's a strong shinobi…"

Gaara started to quake under Temari's hands as he shook his head. He didn't know why, it was just a feeling.

The two older siblings gave each other another glance. Temari wrapped her arms around her younger brother's trembling form as Kankuro crossed the room. He wasn't sure what to do, but it was clear his little brother was upset. Gently, he placed his hand on Gaara's back, turning his head to stare out the wide window towards Konoha.

Jiraiya punched through Sasori's heart, finally ending his battle. He dropped to his knees to catch his breath. Fighting the third Kazekage puppet was difficult since it still held all its jutsu from when it was alive. He looked over to where Naruto and Deidra were continuing their fight.

The rogue ninja just wouldn't give up, and he was sure the Kyuubi was influencing Naruto to play with him instead of just ending the fight. "Naruto told me about their relationship. There is no doubt that the Fox has assisted him many times, and has been teaching him jutsu that even I don't know… But Naruto still hasn't conquered the hatred in his heart and even if Kyuubi isn't intending to do it, he feeds off that hate and Naruto loses more and more of himself. He'll need to fully overcome that anger if he is ever to fully discover his power and not be a threat to his friends. That hate will eventually take hold of him, and Naruto would be lost to all of us, even the Fox."

Deidra new that he wouldn't be able to defeat Naruto, and decided to make it appear like he blew himself up in an attempt to take the vessel down with him. "You mock my art, but soon you will be a part of it just like me! True art is an explosion!" he screamed as his body bloated up.

Another land shaking shock wave ripped through the ruins of the village, leaving Jiraiya, and Naruto believing he had died.

The two shinobi leaped away from the blast and headed towards Konoha. After spending an entire day fighting, they were exhausted, but now that Naruto had calmed down, his stomach was tight with worry. He had only been able to partially heal the wounds, it was still possible they wouldn't survive the journey, or that Tsunade wouldn't be able to help them.

It would be another two days before the toad made it to Konoha, and another five until they did. He would just have to wait.

Gamahiro had leaped as quickly as he could all the way back to Konoha, making it in just three days. Tsunade recognized him as one of Jiraiya's summons and hurried to him. Without a word, the toad opened his mouth and unrolled his tongue, placing the four injured teens gently on the ground.

The Lady Hokage wasted no time in barking orders to everyone near her, having them sent to the hospital immediately as she headed that way.

"Wait! Gamahiro! Where are Naruto and Jiraiya? Are they okay?" She questioned nervously.

"I don't know my lady, I was sent here as their battle began nearly three days ago" he panted in response.

She nodded before turning to rush after her comrades.

***Two Day Time Skip***

Jiraiya and Naruto made it back to Konoha in about five days. Knowing that their friends had arrived two days earlier, they headed straight for the hospital.

The uninjured Konoha 11 greeted them, their faces tired and worried. "What happened? Are they okay?" Naruto asked hurriedly.

Tenten was the one to answer, "Shikamaru, Shino and Sasuke are in the ICU, their injuries are serious but Lady Tsunade believes they will recover."

"And Neji?" Jiraiya pushed.

Hinata started crying as Kiba tried to comfort her.

"Neji is still in a coma. Shizune, Sakura and Lady Hokage are still trying to bring him out of it but it's been two days with no improvement. The nursing staff doesn't believe he will ever wake up." Ino whispered.

Naruto backed up into a wall before he slid down, his hands pulling on his hair. "There's got to be something I can do. It can't end like this, not for Neji… What am I going to tell Gaara?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Whoop whoop! Another chapter finished! I can't wait to get started on the next one… homework calls so it may be a few days!

Please continue to review/follow/favorite! I adore you all! Bye, Bye For Now!