Disclaimer : I do not own Naruto. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto.

Chapter 19

Previously…

…By the time Gaara noticed a loud chirping in the air, Sasuke had used the branch he stood on to launch himself at Gaara, his right hand with the Chidori outstretched and aiming for Gaara. Upon impact, a loud explosion erupted, smoke and dust forming in a large cloud. The forest was silent after the explosion, as if it were holding its breath for the outcome.

When the smoke cleared…

Now…

Hinata watched in bated breath as Naruto stood off to the side, both praying that Sasuke's attack had worked. But when the cloud of dust cleared, their eyes widened in shock. Gaara was barely standing, the sand that formed around the right half of his body dripping and melting before swirling around his body. Sasuke stood there, his hand outstretched, seeming to be stuck within the sand.

"SASUKE! QUICK, GET AWAY FROM THERE!" Naruto shouted, frantic.

But it was too late and Sasuke was stuck. He gritted his teeth as he anticipated the arm Gaara shot forth and punched Sasuke away. He crashed into the tree and grunted in pain.

"Sasuke!" Naruto ran to him and helped him up.

"I…pant…I was able…pant…to injure him slightly before he hit me…" Sasuke panted, pointing.

Hinata and Naruto looked to where he pointed and saw that underneath the shield of sand, signs of blood could be seen mixed in with the sand. However, that did not seem to stop Gaara as he let out a horrendously loud roar. And before their eyes, the sand slowly gathered around him. The sand grew in size and volume and before they knew it, a giant two-tailed raccoon stood towering above them.

"Oh Kami…" Hinata whispered.

A deafening roar erupted from the sand raccoon as he shouted in murderous glee of freedom. The full Shukaku form then turns its attention back to the three and sent a wave of sand towards them, attempting to perform Sabaku Kyu (1). All three froze in horror and Naruto took in the sight of Sakura, pinned to the tree in suffocation; Hinata, eyes wide at their impending doom; Sasuke, fists clenched and teeth grinding at his inability to move due to his injuries. Thus, in a state of panic to try and protect his loved ones, Naruto's hands flew in a series of signs as he executed the newest technique he learned, praying to the gods that it would work. Naruto slammed his hand down on the branch they stood on as a giant bang cracked out and a large poof of smoke erupted.

"What's this? Oi! Gaki (2)! Why was I summoned?" A loud voice shouted.

Hinata and Sasuke stared wide-eyed at the giant toad that stood in front of them now.

"Since when did Naruto learn a summoning technique?" Sasuke asked.

"I-I don't know..!" Hinata stuttered.

"YATTA! I ACTUALLY SUMMONED SOMETHING THAT'S NOT A TADPOLE!" Naruto shouted and jumped for joy on top of the toad.

"Oi! Listen when someone talks to you! Why did you summon me?" The toad shouted.

"Gamabunta-jii-san! I need your help!" Naruto shouted back at the toad.

"My help with wha-!" the toad, now identified as Gamabunta, stopped mid-sentence as he saw what was in front of him – the full form of Shukaku.

"Sigh…what did you get yourself into this time, gaki…" Gamabunta grunted.

"So will you help?" Naruto shouted again.

"…Take a hike!" Gamabunta shouted back.

"Pops! You can't say that! You made me your henchman last time I was able to summon you!" Naruto started to freak out.

"I didn't even seal the deal yet!" Gamabunta grunted.

"But you already said so!" Naruto shouted. "Besides, he's trying to destroy Konoha!" Naruto reasoned.

Hearing this, Gamabunta's eyes narrowed. Huffing, the giant toad turned his eyes upward to where Naruto stood on his head.

"Hang tight, Naruto. You're in for a bumpy ride." Gamabunta said as he leaped forward in a burst of speed.

Using his knife to cut off one of Gaara-turned-Shukaku's arms, Gamabunta then swiped his legs underneath Shukaku's effectively knocking his balance off. He then jumped back to avoid the sand attack as Shukaku rages. Shukaku then manifests his human form, Gaara, on his forehead. Gamabunta instantly notices this and points it out to Naruto.

"That boy hasn't had any sleep his entire life, I assume. Gaara stayed awake for all those years because if he fell asleep, Shukaku would eat away at Gaara's soul." Gamabunta stated.

Naruto started at that. 'No sleep? For all these years?'

Obviously, for someone who treasured his sleep as much as Naruto did, the idea seemed blasphemous.

"With that boy asleep, Shukaku has complete control over his container." Gamabunta grunted as he then entered a furious battle with Shukaku and exchanging air and water styled attacks.

"Well then, how do we stop him?" Naruto shouted.

All of a sudden, Hinata and Sasuke appeared next to Naruto on top of Gamabunta with Hinata slightly supporting Sasuke.

"You two-!" Naruto started to tell them to get away for safety before being cut off by Hinata.

"We heard everything Gamabunta-sama has said. I considered the information and an idea formed." Hinata said.

"We need to wake up Gaara. If what Gamabunta says is true and that Shukaku gains more power with Gaara asleep, it would then be best to wake Gaara to weaken Shukaku enough to incapacitate him." Sasuke said, before turning his attention to Sakura, who still resided pinned against the tree. "And we need to do it as fast as possible."

Naruto gritted his teeth. "But how? Gaara is asleep and Shukaku is raving! We can barely get close as it is!"

Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke were nearly knocked off as Gamabunta was tackled by Shukaku. Gamabunta then kicks Shukaku off before jumping back, panting.

"I can get you close, but not on my own." Gamabunta panted.

Naruto looked down at the large toad. "What do you have in mind?"

"I can try to grab onto Shukaku, bringing him close enough for you to jump over. But I don't have claws or teeth to hold onto him." Gamabunta started.

"If you don't then what's the point of telling us this plan!" Naruto screamed.

"Let him finish, dobe!" Sasuke hissed.

"You will need to use the combo transformation to turn me into something that has claws and teeth." Gamabunta instructed.

Naruto paused and an idea formed in his head. He then turned to Sasuke and Hinata. "You two better hold on tight." Naruto smirked.

Naruto put his hands together in a cross before shouting out, "HENGE!"

A large cloud of smoke covered Gamabunta. Shukaku waited in anticipation of what they had planned next. Then, out of the smoke, a red-orange blur flew out before tackling Shukaku. Large sets of sharp teeth clamped onto Shukaku's form as sharp claws dug into his arms. A loud growl erupted and echoed throughout the forest as Shukaku looked down in surprise.

"Kyuubi!" Shukaku shrieked.

Sasuke and Hinata stared in shock at the form of the Kyuubi underneath them. Naruto then took this chance to jump straight towards the figure of a sleeping Gaara.

"WAKE! UP!" Naruto shouted, his fist outstretched, before the blow connected in a resounding crack, effectively punching Gaara on the cheek.

The effect was instantaneous as Gaara woke up and was able to suppress Shukaku. As the two fell, Gaara stared at Naruto in shock and confusion.

"You know what I have felt. You know what I have been through. Yet how can you not be as I am…?" Gaara asked.

Naruto then proceeded to head-butt Gaara on the forehead before they landed on the ground. Though tired and injured, Naruto still tried to get to Gaara by crawling.

"Because…Even after all the fear…the hatred…the loneliness…I still found people who cared… Formed bonds that saved me from that darkness…" Naruto gritted as he crawled closer to Gaara.

Gaara started to panic as fear finally crept into him.

"S-Stay away! D-don't come a-any closer!" Gaara hyperventilated.

"And I'm…not going to let you…HURT THEM!" Naruto shouted as he reached Gaara and was about to deal the finishing blow.

But before he could, Gaara was swept away as a gust of wind blew Naruto back. Naruto felt himself fall into someone, who held him up. Hinata immediately grabbed his arm and slung is across her shoulders and supported some of his weight. Next to them stood Sasuke who held Sakura tightly and securely in his arms. She was still unconscious due to the lack of air entering her lungs from the constriction.

"That's enough, Naruto." Sasuke whispered.

In front of the four stood Temari, holding Gaara. She nodded at the four before jumping away. Naruto stared after them in understanding.

"He just wanted someone to acknowledge him…like I did…" Naruto whispered.

Hinata hugged him a little tighter in response as he looked down at her. She smiled serenely before kissing him on the cheek.

"And you have been acknowledged. By us." Hinata whispered.

"Yeah, dobe. Let's go home." Sasuke smirked.

Naruto smiled at them as tears slowly made its way to his eyes. Sniffing, he roughly wiped his eyes before plastering his trademark Cheshire-cat smile on his face, brightening it up considerably.

"Yeah, let's go home." Naruto smiled.

When they got back to the village, their brief happiness was quickly snuffed out as they find out what had happened to the Third Hokage. Sakura was quickly taken to the hospital and she woke up the next day. It took a few days for the village to repair all the damage done and a funeral was then held for the passing of the Hokage. The four heirs and heiresses stood together as they watched the funeral of their village leader proceed.

"What happens now…?" Sakura asked.

"We will need a new Hokage." Sasuke said.

"But who…?" Hinata asked.

"How about m-!" Naruto started before he was bonked on the head.

"Anyone but you!" Sakura snipped.

"Itai, Sakura-chan!" Naruto whined.

The other two chuckled. The clouds cleared to reveal a ray of sunshine as the four looked to the skies to see it clear to a beautiful clear blue and bright sun.

Unbeknownst to them, somewhere in a cavern, bright yellow eyes glared in hatred at what had become his hands – charred and burnt as if they were put in an oven.

"My plansss will have to be put into action sssooner than I thought…" the figure hissed.

(1) Sabaku Kyu – Sand Binding Coffin

(2) Gaki – Kid/Brat

Sorry for the late update! I'm finally done with finals! Anyways, please review!

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