21. Hardest of Hearts

Chika felt the toll of carrying Gaara for so long, as she felt heavier than she thought. She settled him down on a branch for a minute, as he seemed to be stirring a lot more in his sleep. His red hair was matted, and his pale, pointed face was covered in beads of sweat, as his ringed eyes were flickering open and closed.

"Temari?" His quiet voice whispered, and Chika shook her head, as she supported Gaara's head, sitting him up.

"No, Gaara, it's Chika Nara. Don't worry, we need to get you away from Konoha, so no one will hurt you, and you can hurt no one." Chika told him in a soft tone as if she was talking to a frightened animal. Gaara was still semi asleep.

"But, I must fight Sasuke Uchiha. Shukaku, he wants to fight, and I don't know how much longer I can… Withold him." Gaara's breathing became slightly shallow, his chest rising up and down.

"It's okay, Gaara, everything's going to be fine." Chika was worried at the slight sound of fear in Gaara's rasp. She knew Gaara was the host of the one-tailed beast, but by the sounds of it, Shukaku was getting restless. "I'm here, Gaara, I'm doing my best to make sure you don't get hurt."

She picked him up again, this time he seemed even lighter, as his hands gripped her shoulders. "But why?" He asked, confused, as his half-open eyes looked at Chika.

Chika grinned, even though she knew she must have looked terrible. "Because I care, Gaara. And I know that we've both lost something precious to us. I did today, you did some many years ago. I know Haru would want me to take care of you, because I can't take care of him any longer. And your mother, well, I know she does her best to protect you as well, so I'm going to do the same."

Gaara felt bewildered, as he was open up to a new reality. His skin didn't feel quite so cold, as the girl he threatened to kill just a day or two ago, was helping him, because she cared. He realized now, why Chika was a favourite in Konoha, she had the ability to love and care, unconditionally. And although Gaara didn't understand it, it didn't mean he couldn't see it.

Suddenly, his head began to ache again. Gaara tried to fight the demon inside him, but he couldn't control it any longer, as he clutches his head, letting out a moan.

"Put me down." He snapped, and Chika obliged quickly, as Gaara shrieked in pain, Chika saw the wound on his shoulder was still bleeding. She felt the danger surrounding Gaara, and she knew that although he was doing his best, it still wouldn't keep Shukaku away.

"Get away from me, Chika." Gaara hissed, his green eyes bloodshot. "I don't know how long I have left. Get away, now."

"Hn, so I've finally found you." A familiar voice smirked, as Chika and Gaara saw the raven haired Uchiha standing in front of them.

"Sasuke Uchiha." Gaara murmured, and then let out a scream of pain, as his body became mutated, and the Shukaku took over. Gaara's face began to crack, and a sand-coloured skin with blue lines going through it was there instead, one of his eyes large and black with a yellow pupil. His arm and shoulder was the same, disfigured, and huge, a large claw instead of a hand. The smell was putrid, and Chika resisted the urge to retch, as Gaara looked bloodthirsty, as well as a little scared.

"My sole purpose in life is to kill." Gaara stated, as he stood up. "My purpose is stronger than yours, Uchiha."

Sasuke was shocked by the appearance of Gaara. Gaara let out a laugh. "Are you disgusted, Sasuke Uchiha, by my true form?"

He turned to Chika. "I bet you are too, Chika Nara. Are you frightened by me, yet?"

Chika felt terrified at the demon within Gaara. "Yes, Gaara. I'm terrified, but not by you, by the monster inside you. I am scared of Shukaku, not Gaara, because I know Gaara really is a good person, he's just misguided. You are not Gaara. You are Shukaku in Gaara's body, and will you please tell Gaara that I'm scared, and I just want him back."

Gaara's green eye was surprised by this outburst, and a fleeting moment of pity passed through his eyes.

"Chika Nara…" Gaara hissed, glaring at her venomously. "Go back, now. This is not your battle. You have aided me enough, and for that, I am grateful. I will spare you. Go find your brother, your friend, and my brother. I will take the Uchiha."

Chika nodded, and quickly leapt to where Sasuke stood, and the two shared a look, before Chika headed forward, leaving the two behind, whether she liked it or not.

With every step she took, Chika became more and more desperate to find Shino and Kankuro. Chika had no idea who would have won in their battle, as they were both very equally matched. A part of her wanted Shino to have won, but for them both to be alive.

Chika finally stopped, when she saw Crow, Kankuro's puppet. It was broken, the wood snapped, the blades without poison. She kicked Crow until she heard it hit the ground, and then looked out for Shino and Kankuro. She saw a familiar figure huddled on the branch, doubled over in pain. Immediately, she rushed to him.

"Shino!" Chika knelt beside him, and gently shook his arm. Shino stirred slightly. "Shino, come on, stay with me, what's wrong?"

"Kankuro…Poison." Shino coughed, as he let Chika prop him up. He could barely move his body, as Chika searched her satchel for a small glass vial filled with a honey-coloured liquid. She pulled out the cork, and pressed it to Shino's mouth.

"Come on Shino, this is an antidote, it'll dilute the poison, so it will slow and be less effective." Chika urged, as she managed to get Shino to ingest the small vial of liquid. Quickly, his breaths were less shallow, and he managed to speak.

"You came back." He said, as Chika wiped the layer of sweat from his face with a cloth from her satchel. She smiled.

"Of course I did, Shino. I had to know you're okay."

Shino noticed a maturity to her eyes, that he hadn't seen before. Chika looked much older, as she struggled under pressure to keep everyone safe. Shino realized just how much she had done, in the space of an hour since the invasion began. She got Gaara as far away from Konoha as possible, she had calmed him down, tracked Sasuke, Kankuro and Temari. And now she had come back to make sure he was okay.

Shino moved to support himself, as his breathing was all right again. "You should check Kankuro." He pointed to the figure in black, as Kankuro too was knocked out.

Chika darted to the puppeteer, and took off Kankuro's black hat, and shook him. His eyes fluttered open, as he rolled onto his back, and saw the girl with the spiky brown hair and dark serious eyes.

"Chika?" He questioned, feeling light-headed and woozy. Chika smiled, as she helped him sit up.

"Yeah, Kankuro?"

Kankuro shook his head, and then winced at the pain, as Chika studied him, before rooting in her bag, and taking out a small box of pills, and giving him two. Kankuro gave her a skeptical look, before swallowing the pills in one go.

"What were they?" He questioned.

"I just poisoned you." Chika replied sarcastically, "Any minute now you'll drop dead."

"Knew it." Kankuro smiled, before his face fell. "Where's Gaara?"

Chika's face was grave, before answering. "Kankuro, he tried so hard to contain Shukaku, but he couldn't. He's halfway through the transformation, and he wished to battle Sasuke. His last request was for me to find you and make sure you're better."

Kankuro nodded, accepting there was nothing he could do for the situation. "I see. So what now?"

"You and Shino should regain your strength. Gaara specifically asked me to keep as many people away from him as possible. He really is a good person, Kankuro. He's trying to cope, he's trying to protect you. It's not Gaara's fault that he was pulled in the wrong direction."

"By the sounds of it, you've already had an effect on him." Kankuro commented, as he attempted to stand up, with no avail.

Chika shrugged. "You could say that. But right now, we need to find Temari."

"No need." A new sharp voice purred. "I'm already here."

Temari, looking bruised and beaten leapt up beside Chika and Kankuro. Her sandy hair was matted and muddy, and she looked generally worn out. Her arms were covered in an array of cuts and bruises, mottled blue and yellow.

"Temari," Kankuro said, taking in his sister's state. "We can't go near Gaara, not in the state he's in. He's going to kill Sasuke Uchiha, and then God knows what.."

Temari looked at Chika, with her aqua eyes. "Then how did you get away? Gaara's a monster…"

Shino could see a bolt of anger go through Chika. "No, Gaara's not a monster, the Shukaku is. I spoke to Gaara, I told him I'd keep everyone away and make sure you were safe because that's what he wanted."

Temari's mouth hung open. "Then you have to go, and calm him. Nobody else can do it."

"But I have to," Chika stammered, "I mean, what about Shikamaru, Kankuro and Shino?"

"I'll take care of that." Temari said firmly, "Shikamaru is safe, I know that much. Asuma saved him in battle. As for these two, I think I can handle it."

Chika nodded, and leapt to where Shino sat. He beckoned for her to come closer, and he held onto the sleeve of Chika's jacket. Shino saw that Chika's face was covered in grime, and her hair was falling out in strands around her face, which was lined with worry and determination. Her trousers were torn, and her boots caked in mud, her satchel strap hanging on by the last threads. The headband around her arm fixed the look. She looked a true ninja.

"Shino, I've to go now. You have to stay here, and try not to get hurt."

"Don't worry. Just be cautious around Gaara. I know you say he's no monster, but he is in a very dangerous state." Shino took off his glasses, and flinched at the sunlight, but he could see Chika better.

Chika finally saw Shino's eyes in the daylight. They were the colour of chocolate, and had a very serious look to them, unsurprisingly. Chika was surprised at how handsome he was without the glasses.

"Come back safely." Shino told her, and Chika nodded, and immediately set off.

There was something even more different than this trip to Gaara. The air was cold, and very smoky. About 20 minutes of running into the forest, she saw it. A huge orange flame, so big, Chika was nearly crushed under it. Then she realized it was not the orange flame, but a giant orange fox.

Chika remembered the night of the 9-tailed fox attack. She remembered being terrified with her mother and Shikamaru, who was still only a baby. This was the same fox, the same Kyuubi. The ground shook, as Chika struggled to keep her footing.

And then there was a clash, as Chika saw a sand coloured tanuki, which she recognized as Gaara's demon, Shukaku and the Kyuubi come together in a battle of demons.

Chika tried to make her way to where she left Sasuke, as trees came crashing down all around her. Quickly, she drew her sword, as several trees came together, about to smack into her. She plunged the sword in the tree opposite her, using it to cling to the bark. Travelling like this for a bit, she finally found Sasuke, except he wasn't alone.

He lay on a branch, clearly wounded, as a small pug dog, which looked to be a ninja dog sat beside him. Chika landed beside him, startling the young boy.

"What are you doing here?" Sasuke asked, shocked. The pug looked at her with curiosity.

"I promised Gaara to keep everyone safe." Chika told him. "Shino, Kankuro and Temari are all okay, so now I'm back here to you guys." She then noticed the black markings on his body. "What happened to you?"

Sasuke shook his head, "There's not enough time to explain, but this won't affect me anymore."

Chika nodded, "Is there anywhere injured? Can you move okay?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, staring at the ground in disgust. "I'm out of chakra, my energy levels are low."

Chika gave him the same medicine she had given Kankuro. "Eat it. It won't replenish your chakra levels, but you'll be able to move in a matter of minutes."

Sasuke obeyed the girl, as the pug introduced himself, padding over to Chika.

"Little lady, my name is Pakkun, I'm a ninja hound of Kakashi Hatake."

Chika smiled at the dog, as he seated himself on her shoulder. "Charmed. I'm Chika Nara, I was sent here to make sure Gaara got as far away from Konoha as possible, before he woke"

"I see. You did quite well." Pakkun commented. "At least he's not in the village."

"Sasuke, what's going on?" Chika asked, "Where did the 9-tailed fox come from?"

"Naruto." Sasuke answered, looking a little healthier. "Naruto summoned a frog, and he turned into the Nine Tailed Fox. I don't know what's happening now."

The two looked up to where Naruto was performing a jutsu on Shukaku, and he suddenly started glowing a fiery red.

Chika was astounded. "No way. He's getting chakra from the Kyuubi. That's incredible."

Naruto leapt towards Gaara, only to be held by the sand, as Gaara reacted. The blond ninja struggled to punch him, as his hands were confined, but settled for pounding his skull against Gaara's.

A blank shock struck Gaara, as a stream of blood poured from his forehead. Shukaku's body began to crack, and suddenly crumble, leaving Gaara and Naruto freefalling in the air.

"I've never seen a knucklehead with this much promise." Noted the large red frog, "Wish I could stick around to see this." And he disappeared.

"Did he win?" Sasuke asked, looking to Chika. Her eyes were wide, but she nodded.

"I think he did win, Sasuke."

The two boys fell onto the treetops, both drained of their chakra. They regained their breath, both panting heavily, before they leapt again at each other, arms extended to punch. However, only Naruto made contact with Gaara's face, and they both fell to the floor.

"Sasuke," Chika hissed, "Get Naruto."

Sasuke nodded, as he suspended himself in the air, and caught the blond knucklehead. Chika caught Gaara, his body feeble and weak, as blood poured from his head. Both her and Sasuke set the two carefully on the ground, and Sasuke went to get Sakura, who was stuck to a tree, because of Shukaku's grip.

Gaara opened his eyes, and saw Chika. "Did you….Find Kankuro….And Temari?" He rasped. Chika pulled out a cloth, and carefully dabbed at his wound, as Gaara flinched.

"Temari and Kankuro are fine, they will be here soon, Gaara." Chika reassured the boy, who was clearly in a lot of pain.

"I, I couldn't stop it. Shukaku- Gaara began, but Chika silenced him.

"Gaara you did well. And I know your mother would be proud of you." Chika smiled, as she taped cotton to the wound on his forehead.

"Why do you still aid me?" Gaara asked, unable to move. "I have caused nothing but trouble for you and your friends, why are you still here?"

"Because," Chika said, wiping away the dirt from his face, "I'd like to be your friend one day, Gaara. I want everyone to see what I can in you."

"I've never had one before…" Gaara stated, looking blankly to the sky.

Suddenly, he noticed Naruto who was sliding his way towards him. Gaara's eyes widened in fear, Chika saw.

"No, stay away from me!"

Naruto looked up at him. "It's almost unbearable, isn't it…the pain of being all alone. I know that feeling, I've been there, in that dark and lonely place, but now there are others, other people who mean a lot to me. I care more about them that I do myself, and I won't let anyone hurt them. That's why I never give up, I will stop you, even if I have to kill you! They saved me from myself, rescued me from my loneliness, they were the first to accept me for who I am. They're my friends. And look, look at Chika, Gaara." Naruto looked up to the dark haired Nara. "She wants to be your friend too, because of who you are."

Naruto slumped, suddenly overthrown with exhaustion. Sasuke knelt beside him. "Take it easy, Naruto."

Chika helped Gaara sit up, supporting him with her arms. He looked to her, like she was some sort of wild animal. "Chika Nara… Naruto Uzumaki. You both, you both have the same ability to take people as they are. You both live for others. I… I want to be like that one day."

Chika smiled at the red-head, as she stood up, she could feel him let out a whimper of pain. "It's okay, Gaara. You can go home now."

Temari and Kankuro materialized out of nowhere, standing protectively in front of Gaara, as they glared at Naruto and Sasuke. Kankuro looked much better, as did Temari.

"Kankuro….Temari…That's enough." Gaara ordered his siblings. "It's over."

Kankuro looked back to Gaara, catching Chika's eye. "All right, Gaara."

Kankuro took Gaara from Chika, and Temari turned to her. "I don't know if we'll see you anytime soon…I doubt we'll be welcomed to Konohagakure for a while."

Chika knelt beside Naruto, and with Sasuke picked him up. "Don't worry. I'm on your side. The only thing Suna can do for Konoha is to either stay out of their way completely, or help reform a bond. And I know that only in the strength of the bonds, match the strength of the villages." Chika advised. "But for now, you have to get as far away as possible."

Temari and Kankuro nodded, before disappearing in the air.

Together, Chika and Sasuke returned to Konoha, along with Sakura, as they carried Naruto between them, they said nothing. Suddenly, as they came to the opening of the forest, Chika saw a crowd of people, including her own brother, Shino and her father.

A feeling of sudden fear swallowed her stomach, as she dropped Naruto, leaving him with Sasuke, and ran to the closest person she recognized.

"Asuma-sensei," She began, but she was cut off, when she saw what everyone was looking at.

Lying on the ground, body cold and motionless, was the Third Hokage.

Asuma put his arms around the girl as she held back a choked sob. He carefully patted her head, not knowing any words to say to Chika.

The Third Hokage was dead.

So, reviews on this one too? Tell me what you think of it. What do you think of Gaara, and the way Chika sees him? What do you want to happen next? Tell me in reviews please. Thank you.