Chapter 24
Hey everyone! How's it going? Well...here it is! My next chapter! I got it done relatively fast. I hope to have the next chapter done soon too.
I'd like to thank those who gave me their suggestions for my story: mr. cloud, Serious Sam, Aqua Rules, and Randomness-Sama.
I was given the suggestion to do yaoi in this story. I have no qualms with yaoi/yuri/gay/lesbian anything. In fact, gay marriage has been made legal here in America. It doesn't bother me, and honestly I don't care as long as people are happy. But as for this story...i don't know if I'll do yaoi or yuri. I might do several mentions of passerby ninja, but I'm not sure yet.
Alright, time for reccomendations! I'm recommending Senju's Heir by Seldom Prodigy. It's not far along, but it's really really goo.
I'm also recommending A New Lifeby GaaraTheFifthKazekage. It's a wonderful story, and I enjoy it a lot.
I would like to thank Chibiusa for being my Beta!
"The fights have been most entertaining this year." Hiruzen said with a smile. The Hokage had been enjoying the fights, but he was on high alert, waiting for Orochimaru to show himself. He had ANBU scouting the arena and the gates, waiting for any sort of attack.
"Indeed, Hokage-Sama. Though I am most surprised that the Uchiha was defeated." Came a cool, gruff voice.
"As am I. Although...Rock Lee is a very strong shinobi." Hiruzen smirked, looking at the man out of the corner of his eye. He was the Kazekage of Sunagakure, and the Suna team's father. Hiruzen stared at the man a few more moments before returning his gaze to the field. Hiruzen slowly and silently tapped his finger against the arm of his chair in several different intervals.
An ANBU, who was standing guard for the Hokage, slowly vanished into the shadows.
When Hayate called for the next fight, the Kazekage smirked behind his face mask. "A Hyuuga vs a Hyuuga? This should be interesting."
Hiruzen nodded and turned back to the fight. 'Hopefully they get my message in time.'
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"Your brother did fairly well." Kakashi said, sitting next to the henged Itachi.
Itachi nodded. "I agree. However there is still much room for improvement."
After several moments, the Hyuuga children walked onto the field. "Are you ever going to reveal yourself?" Kakashi asked.
Itachi sighed. "When the time is right."
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Hinata and Neji stood on the field, facing each other. Hinata and Neji bowed to each other, and took their appropriate stances.
"Hyuuga Hinata vs Hyuuga Neji. Begin!" Hayate called, vanishing from the field.
"I'm excited to see what you've learned during the last month, Hinata-Sama." Neji smirked, activating his Byakuugan.
"As am I, Neji-Niisan." She nodded, as she activated hers. "I don't want to outcome to affect anything."
Neji nodded. "I agree. Now...be prepared." Neji took a deep breath and rushed Hinata, throwing a palm strike at her.
Hinata blocked the attack with a palm strike of her own.
The two traded blows back and forth. If one threw an attack, the other blocked. They traded attacks for several moments before separating.
'We're fairly evenly matched.' Neji smirked. 'Not bad, Hinata-Sama. However...I shall win this.' Neji smirked. "Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!"
Hinata didn't looked fazed as Neji attacked. "Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!" She yelled.
The two Hyuugas made similar attacks, but each attack was countered by the other. Once the attacks were over, the two Hyuuga looked at each other, breathing heavily.
"Hinata-Sama...I didn't realize you improved your attack." He nodded.
Hinata smiled. "I did. I couldn't let you get the upper hand, Neji-Niisan." Hinata jumped back. She closed her eyes, concentrating on her chakra. She opened her eyes, and threw a palm thrust towards Neji.
Neji stared confused, wondering why she was striking the air. That is until a large chakra needle flew towards him. Neji dodged, turning towards Hinata with wide eyes. "What is that?!"
Hinata smirked. "Jyuken Needles." She said calmly. "I created this technique forcing water into sharp needles after molding it with my chakra. During the last month, I've been trying to use it without water." She nodded.
Neji frowned. 'That's a dangerous technique. I need to be careful and not get hit by that.' The Hyuuga boy saw that Hinata was continuing with her Jyuken Needles attack. Neji took a firm stance, smirking. "Rotation!" Neji yelled.
The boy began spinning, a large chakra dome encircling him. Hinata's chakra needles were easily deflected by the attack.
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"Woah...Otou-Sama, Hinata-Oneesan and Neji-Oniisan are really strong." Hanabi said, watching the fight with fascination. "I didn't know Onee-San created her own jutsu." She said looking up at her father.
'Neither did I. Otou-Sama and Holo never mentioned this...' Hiashi cleared his throat. "It is most surprising, Hanabi."
Hanabi turned back to the fight and smiled. 'What else can you do, Onee-San?'
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As Neji finished the Rotation, Hinata rushed her cousin. The two quickly traded blows again, each trying to outdo the other. As the two continued to attack, it was obvious the two Hyuugas were tiring. The continuous attacks were draining their chakra, along with closed chakra points.
The two separated again, both breathing heavily.
"I have to say Hinata-Sama...I'm surprised you lasted this long." Neji nodded.
Hinata smirked. "What? Did you think I was just going to roll over and let you beat me?"
Neji chuckled. "No...though I'll admit I didn't think you'd give me this much of a challenge."
Hinata frowned. "Thanks for making me sound weak." She rushed Neji again, and threw a palm strike at Neji, who blocked it.
Hinata dropped down and swept Neji's feet from under him. Neji fell back, surprised; Hyuuga almost never used their feet. Hinata jumped up and drove her heel into Neji's stomach.
Neji's eyes widened and he coughed up blood. He curled slightly, holding onto his stomach. "H-How...?"
Hinata smirked. "I'm not as solid as you are in the Gentle Fist. I'm more flexible than what's needed for the form. So...I decided to incorporate my feet into the technique."
Neji frowned and got to his feet. Neji's eyes widened, feeling the impact of the heel kick. Neji coughed again, blood splattering the ground. 'D-Dammit. That attack did more damage than I thought. I must end this quickly.'
Hinata smirked, knowing she hit a vital organ. While she knew it wouldn't do any permanent damage to her cousin, though it was a solid hit.
Neji glared at Hinata. "I'm sorry Hinata-Sama. But I believe it is time I end this." Neji rushed Hinata, although slower.
Hinata blocked Neji's attacks, countering with her own. Hinata yelped and skid back slightly when she felt Neji's palm his her shoulder. She frowned as she felt her arm start go numb. "Not bad Neji-Niisan."
Neji smirked. "And I'm not finished. You're within my range."
Hinata didn't look worried. She stood her ground, her arms ready to attack. 'I only have one shot at this...' She thought. She needed to pull this off before her entire arm became useless.
"Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!"Neji yelled, rushing Hinata.
Hinata took a deep breath and began spinning. "Rotation!" She yelled.
Neji's eyes widened as he hit the spinning dome. He flew back across the arena, skidding along the ground.
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Hiashi stared at the scene before him with wide eyes. 'What?! When did she learn the Rotation?!'
Hanabi was staring at her sister with the same wide eyes. "No way! Onee-Chan used the Rotation!" She yelled excitedly. "YOU GO ONEE-CHAN!"
Hiashi could only gape at his eldest. 'How strong have you become, Hinata?'
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In the competitor's box, Naruto was staring at his girlfriend. "No way...Hinata-Chan is awesome!" He cheered.
Sasuke, who was beside the blond, nodded. "Agreed. Hinata's really doing well."
"You bet she's doing well! She's totally going to kick Neji's ass!" He bellowed.
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Once Hinata finished her attack, Hinata fell forward. Her breathing ragged from exhaustion. 'I don't know if I can continue...The Rotation took too much out of me, and my arm is completely numb now.'
Neji looked up from his spot on the ground. 'How did she get so strong? And she learned the Rotation! I've completely underestimated you, Hinata-Sama. But I'm afraid I'll win this match.' Neji struggled to his feet, swaying slightly when he finally stood up.
Hayate appeared on the battlefield, staring at the two Hyuugas. He noticed Hinata attempting to get up. After a few moments of struggling to get up, her body gave out, falling back down. "Winner: Hyuuga Neji."
The crowd erupted into applause at the amazing battle.
Medic nins ran onto the field and placed Hinata on a stretcher. Neji watched her being carried off the field and followed the medics towards the infirmary.
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Naruto pouted as he rested against the railing. "Aw man...I was so sure Hinata-Chan would win!" He sighed. "I hope she's okay."
Sasuke nodded. "I'm sure she's fine. She did really well against Neji."
Naruto nodded. He looked over towards Gaara, who was smirking at him. Naruto shivered. "I guess I'm up next."
Sasuke nodded, looking at the blond. "Be careful. He's not going to go easy on you just because you two are...similar."
Naruto sighed. "Yeah, no kidding. If anything, he'll go harder on me."
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Hiashi stood up, surprising his younger daughter. "Otou-Sama? Where are you going?"
Hiashi turned to his youngest with a neutral expression. "I must see to something. Do not fret, Hanabi. I'll return soon."
Hiashi walked through the arena halls until he reached the infirmary. Once inside, he saw both Hinata and Neji sitting on the small beds.
Hinata was looking a little more revived, having been given a soldier pill to replenish her chakra. Neji was being inspected by the medic nin, making sure that his organs were in tact. The medic's hands were glowing green, healing any damage done to the boy's insides.
Hinata heard someone come into the infirmary and gasped. "Otou-Sama!"
Neji attempted to get up to bow, but was pushed down by the medic nin. "Don't move!"
Hashi walked in, moving towards the medic. "Any permanent damage?"
"No, Hyuuga-Sama. He should be fine once I'm done." The medic said, continuing his work.
Silence filled the infirmary, only small hisses came from Neji. Even though his gut was feeling better, it still hurt to feel it being repaired. Once the medic was done, he instructed the Hyuuga's to rest. He bowed to Hiashi, and left the family to have some privacy.
Neji and Hinata stared at Hiashi.
'Is he going to call me a failure? Tell me I'm a disgrace because I lost to Neji-Niisan?' Hinata thought with despair.
'I'm going to be punished. I should have just let Hinata-Sama win...' Neji sighed.
"I'm very proud of both of you." He said softly. The two teens stared at the man with shock. "You two showed much talent and brought honor to the Hyuuga clan." he said firmly.
"Otou-Sama..." Hinata whispered.
"Neji...You have made your father proud." He could see Neji looking shocked. "He always said that you would prove to the Main House that the Branch House is just as strong as the Main. And he is correct. You have made Branch House very proud and proved many wrong. I am proud to have you as my nephew."
Neji could feel tears forming, though he wouldn't let them fall. "Thank you so much..."Oji-Sama..."
Hiashi nodded, turning to Hinata. "Hinata...my daughter." He walked over and dropped to his knees in front of her.
"O-Otou-Sama!" She cried, taken back by his move.
"Hinata...I am so sorry." He said softly. "You were right...that day with the elders. I have been a dictator. I wish to be more of a father to you and Hanabi. One that you two can be proud of." He said taking his daughter's hand.
Hinata had a few tears trickle down her cheeks. A large smile appeared on her lips. "Otou-Sama...I forgive you. For everything. We can repair our relationship to what it once was." She cried.
Hiashi smiled, moving to sit on the girl's bed. "You are so much like your mother, child. She would be proud to see the woman you are growing up to be."
Hinata smiled again, hugging her father.
Hiashi smiled, hugging the girl back. "I love you, Hinata."
"I love you too, Otou-Sama!" She cried.
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"Will Uzumaki Naruto and Sabaku no Gaara please come to the field." Hayate called with a cough.
Naruto turned towards Gaara was standing, but saw that he was vanishing in a swirl of sand. He looked down to the arena floor and saw Gaara standing there waiting for him. The blond sighed and made his way down towards the arena.
He was stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Naruto turned around, seeing at serious looking Sasuke. "What's wrong?"
"You be careful. He's dangerous." Sasuke frowned.
"Really? I never would have guessed." He said sarcastically. "Be prepared for anything."
"You think it's going to get out of hand?" Sasuke asked, worried about Naruto's answer.
"I guarantee it." Naruto frowned leaving Sasuke, walking down to the arena floor.
Hayate looked at the two genin and nodded. "Begin!" He said, vanishing.
The jinchuuriki stayed rooted in their spots, Naruto glaring at Gaara. 'This is going to be a bad fight...I can feel it.'
'You aren't the only one kit. He's probably going to release Shukaku during your match. Be prepared for it.' Kyuubi warned.
'I figured...I just wish I knew what he was thinking.' Naruto frowned.
"Uzumaki."
Naruto looked at Gaara with a raised eyebrow. "What?"
"I look forward to spilling your blood." The red head smirked.
Naruto's eyes widened and he dodged a shot of sand sent straight towards him. Naruto dodged every attack Gaara sent his way.
Gaara watched Naruto with a smirk. "Mother thirsts for your blood, and I will give it to her."
Naruto frowned. He saw another blast of sand shoot towards him. He needed to act now. He performed a quick hand sign. "Wind Release: Divine Wind!" Small tornadoes rushed towards the blast of sand, sending it flying every direction.
Naruto smirked at Gaara. "Looks like I found a way around your sand."
"Or so you think." He said, firing more sand at Naruto. When Naruto sent another Divine Wind, it was dispelled by the sand.
Naruto's eyes widened, dodging the blast. 'The fuck?!' Naruto glared at Gaara. 'How did he get through that?'
"He's able to change the density of his sand. The denser the sand, the stronger it is. Your wind techniques won't do much if his sand can get through them." Kyuubi frowned.
Naruto frowned as well. "Now what...?" Naruto frowned for a moment, as a sudden idea hit him. Naruto smirked. "Well here goes nothing." Naruto made another quick hand sign, a dozen Naruto's appearing around the arena.
Gaara looked at the Naruto's with indifference. "It will not matter how many clones you make. I will kill you."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I'm going to win this fight, make Chuunin, then Jonin, and finally Hokage!" He smirked.
Gaara frowned. "Why do you wish to become Hokage? For power?" He smirked.
"No. I'm going to become Hokage to protect my precious people. Hinata-Chan, Sasuke-Teme, Kakashi-Sensei, Iruka-Sensei, the Old Man, the Ichiraku's, Konohamaru and his friends, Konoha 9, Team Gai: They are all my precious people. Even the civilians and shinobi I don't know; I want to protect them all." He nodded with a smirk. All his clones nodded in agreement.
Garra frowned. "Why? Why fight for others?" He asked softly, confused by Naruto's answer.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Why? Because they give me strength. Having something to fight for is the only reason you should fight."
Gaara grabbed the side on his head. "No..." He groaned. "Fighting for something makes you weak. The only way to be truly strong...is to fight for yourself." He growled, several blasts of sand erupted from the large gourd on Gaara's back.
Naruto and his clones dodged the attack, several clones dispelling as they were hit. Naruto summoned several more clones, ordering an attack. All of the Naruto clones jumped up, flying towards Gaara.
Gaara sighed, his sand destroying all of the clones. He frowned slightly, realizing his was now surrounded by the smoke from when the clones were dispelled.
Expecting the smoke to clear, Gaara attempted to wait it out, but it only grew darker. Gaara blinked, slowly looking around. 'Why isn't the smoke clearing?'
There was a loud explosion, enveloping Gaara in fire.
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"Woah!" Lee exclaimed, covering his face with his arm to deflect the aftermath of the blast. Once the initial aftermath was over, Lee stared at the smoke filled arena. "What jutsu was that?" He gasped.
"Burning Ash." Came a soft voice behind him.
Everyone turned towards the new voice, seeing Neji and Hinata approaching.
"Hinata." Sasuke said with wide eyes. "What are you doing out of the infirmary? You should be resting."
Hinata smiled. "I'll be fine, Sasuke." She nodded. "I've been given orders to rest. Nothing too serious."
Neji nodded. "I received the more serious injuries of the fight." He pouted.
"Neji-San! Hinata-Hime! It is most wonderful that you have joined us to watch Naruto-Kun's match!" Lee exclaimed.
Shino nodded. "It is good to see you two are recovering well." he said bluntly.
Hinata blushed slightly. "Thank you, Shino-San."
Neji nodded as well. "How's Naruto doing?"
Sasuke looked back at the arena. "Gaara's sand is giving him trouble. But I think his Burning Ash did do some serious damage."
"What does Naruto do to avoid the attack?" Shino asked quizzically.
"He's come up with an idea." Sasuke smirked. "He digs underground to avoid the initial blast."
"Smart." Neji said with a nod.
Hinata looked down at the arena, gripping onto the balcony's bars tightly. 'You can do it Naruto-Kun.'
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Once the explosion cleared, Naruto was standing in the center of the arena, smirking. His smirk faltered when he saw that Gaara was still standing. "No way..." Naruto breathed.
Gaara looked up from his position, giving Naruto a blood thirsty grin. Sand was falling off the boy's body like water.
"What the hell?" Naruto said, looking confused. "What's with the sand?"
"Uzumaki..." Gaara hissed. "Mother will have your blood!"
Naruto's looked in horror as he watched Gaara's right arm became covered in sand, creating this large sand claw.
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"No..." Temari whispered. "Not now...Dammit Gaara!"
Kankuro looked at Temari, shock and horror on his face. "It's too soon!"
Shikamaru, who had overheard their panic, turned and faced them. "What's too soon?" He frowned.
"Stay out of it, Lazy! This is way out of your league." Temari huffed. She froze when she felt Shikamaru's shadow capture her own.
Kankuro froze as well, now worried about their current situation.
"I don't think you heard me, Temari." Shikamaru growled. "What's too soon?"
Temari stared at Shikamaru for a moment, not sure what to do. "Gaara...he's-"
"Temari, no!" Kankuro yelled.
Kankuro's sudden outburst caught the attention of the rest of the genin. The approached their comrade and the Suna nin.
"What's going on?" Neji asked, suspicious of the siblings.
"We should be watching Naruto-San's Flames of Youth!" Lee exclaimed.
Shikamaru frowned. "It seems the Suna siblings know something." He glared more at Temari than Kankuro. "It's time to talk, Temari."
Temari sighed. "Gaara...he's...the secret weapon."
"Temari! Stop! We can't!" Kankuro hissed.
Shikamaru frowned. "If you know something...I think it's best you tell me." He said seriously.
Temari was torn. She looked at Shikamaru with a pained expression.
Shikamaru sighed. "It seems you're torn about what to do. I can't make you do anything. But...I will not hesitate to fight you if you choose to go against what's right."
Kankuro and Temari looked at each other, unsure of what to do.
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Naruto dodged attack after attack brought on by Gaara's new sand arm. The crazed look in Gaara's eyes made him extremely nervous.
'Kyuubi! What do I do?!' Naruto asked, still dodging each attack.
"You need to get him out of the village. He's losing control."
'Shiiiiiit...I need to do something. But how am I going to get around his sand?'
"His sand won't be as receptive as it was earlier. You'll be able to get attacks in a lot easier than before." Kyuubi explained.
'Thank God...But how am I going to get him out of the village?' Naruto said, dodging another attack. Naruto glared at Gaara, trying to figure out how to attack Gaara. 'Well...I guess I don't have a choice.'
Naruto held out his hand, a rotating ball of chakra appeared. Naruto rushed Gaara, jumping and dodging the attacks Gaara sent his way. Naruto threw his arm in front of him, the rotating ball slamming into Gaara's chest.
"RASENGAN!" The blond yelled.
Gaara's body was thrown back against the wall, hitting it with a sickening crack. The redhead's body slid down, until he was on his hands and knees. Blood trickled down the boy's face, dripping on the ground in front of him.
Gaara stared at the droplets with shock. "That's..." The redhead groaned, grasping his head with his human hand.
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"Temari...he made Gaara bleed." Kankuro said slowly.
"This is bad. We have to get him out of the village now!" Temari yelled.
The two siblings took off, out of the competitor's box. They landed next to Gaara, Kankuro putting Gaara's human arm over his shoulder.
"Hey! What the hell?!" Naruto yelled.
"Can it, Blondie! We're getting him out of here." Temari yelled as she and her brothers left the arena.
Naruto watched the siblings leave with a frown. 'At least he's leaving...' Naruto blinked, seeing feathers floating in front of him. "What?" 'Genjutsu...'
Feathers began falling around the entire arena, civilian's falling asleep left and right.
Naruto, along with the other Shinobi canceled the Genjutsu. Naruto looked up towards the competitor's box, nodding to his fellow genin. Naruto turned and took off after the Suna siblings.
Sasuke and Hinata jumped from the box, following their blond teammate.
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Kakashi looked around the arena, seeing his fellow shinobi releasing themselves from the genjutsu that was being placed on them. He turned and saw many disguised Suna and Oto nin attacking the city. He looked to his right as saw many shinobi engaged in battle, including Gai, Anko, and Asuma. He turned to his right and saw Kurenai standing next to him.
"Well well, Kurenai...it seems we have to put our little dinner date on hold." Kakashi smirked, embedding a kunai into a Suna-nin flying towards him.
Kurenai chuckled. "It's not a date, Kakashi." She smirked. "I was just making you dinner. Nothing more." She said kicking an Oto-nin in the gut, sending him flying backwards.
"Oh?" He chuckled. "How about we make our wager even more interesting." Kakashi chuckled, intercepting another enemy shinobi.
"Name your terms, Kakashi." She chuckled, engaging several enemy nin in a genjutsu.
"If I defeat more enemy shinobi, then we have a proper date. One where I take you out to a lovely dinner, we go for a relaxing stroll through the village, and what-not." He smirked. "But you pay."
Kurenai blushed slightly, though never losing her focus. "Fine...but if I defeat more, than you pay. And trust me Hatake...I am not a cheap date." She smirked.
"Alright. Deal." He smirked, driving another kunai through an Oto-nin's head. "Starting now."
The two smirked, taking off to defeat the intruders.
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"It seems your son is out of control, Kazekage-Sama." Hiruzen smirked. "Then again...he isn't really your son." He said standing up, glaring down at the Kazekage.
"Inquisitive as ever." The man chuckled. "You always knew when something was going on." The man stood up. He threw off the robes, revealing his true identity.
"I'm not surprised to see you, Orochimaru." Hiruzen frowned, throwing off his robes as well, revealing his combat outfit.. "I've been prepared for your appearance."
"Oh? It doesn't matter. I will destroy Konoha...and kill you." He smirked.
"I don't think so, you bastard." A dark voice said, behind him.
Orochimaru's eyes widened slightly. He looked over his shoulder, chuckling. "Oho...If it isn't my old teammate. How are you, Dobe?"
"Better once I sever your head from your shoulders." Jiraiya smirked, throwing a punch at the Sannin.
Orochimaru dodged, glaring at his old teammate. "It seems you were more prepared for me than I thought. How was that possible?"
"Well...it didn't help that you left your mark on Uchiha Sasuke." Jiraiya shook his head.
"Also...a young girl managed to make her way to the village." Hiruzen smirked. "She warned us of the attack."
Orochimaru's eyes widened. 'Dammit...it appears Kokone has made it here.' Orochimaru chuckled. "It matters not. All that matters is that you die here and Konoha burns." Orochimaru smirked darkly, his hands erupting into snakes, the snakes flying towards Hiruzen and Jiraiya.
The two dodged the snakes, Hiruzen performing a few hand signs. "Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!" He took a deep breath and blew out a long stream of fire.
The snakes sizzled and burned as Orochimaru canceled the jutsu. The snake chuckled, staring at Jiraiya and Hiruzen. "You can't beat me Jiraiya. Nor you, Sarutobi-Sensei." He chuckled.
"Oh yes we can." Jiraiya smirked. "Even if it kills me...I'll make sure you leave here in a body bag." He yelled, rushing towards the Snake-Sannin.
Orochimaru smirked, dodging Jiraiya's attacks, only to be attacked by Hiruzen. The three engaged in battle, desperately trying to fight off the other.
As the trio fought, four ANBU appeared, standing in a square formation around the fight. They performed several hand signs, and four black walls erupted from the top of the arena, surrounding the three shinobi.
Hiruzen stopped fighting, seeing the walls coming up. "Dammit..." He turned back to Orochimaru, who was smirking.
"Looks like it's truly a fight to the death, isn't it Sarutobi-Sensei." The snake smirked.
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Naruto and his teammates followed the Suna siblings, trying to catch up to them. Naruto wanted to help Gaara calm down and regain control over Shukaku, if it was possible.
"What are you going to do when we catch up to them, Naruto?" Sasuke asked, leaping from tree branch to tree branch next to the blond.
"Well...I want to try and talk to him, but it's probably not going to matter. If he's losing control, we're going to have to fight." he frowned. "I'm sorry guys. But we don't have much of a choice."
"We kind of figured that would happen." Sasuke said bluntly.
After a few more minutes of leaping, The Suna siblings were in sight.
"There they are." Hinata pointed out.
"HEY GAARA!" Naruto yelled, putting more chakra into his feet and launching himself towards the siblings.
They all turned around in time for Naruto to land a punch on Gaara's cheek. The redhead flew backwards, hitting a large tree.
Temari and Kankuro gasped. "What did you do?!" Kankuro yelled.
"Listen...I know the only way to stop Gaara is to defeat him. You two taking him away isn't going to do anything." Naruto frowned.
Temari stood there frozen. "Maybe...but now you've made him mad!"
Naruto looked back and saw a large blast of sand shoot right at him. He yelped when he was shoved out of the way. He landed on a branch on his hands and knees and looked back. Hinata was pinned to a large tree trunk, the sand holding her steady.
"Hinata-Chan!" Naruto cried. He turned back and glared at Gaara, but was taken back. Aside from Gaara sand claw, half his face was transformed. His teeth were fangs, his right eye was black with a gold pupil, the right side of his face was covered in sand with purple veins, and his ear was like a raccoon.
Naruto stared at the boy, a blood-thristy look on Gaara's face. 'So this is Shukaku?'
"Not quite. He still has a little bit of his humanity left. But Shukaku's influence is growing rapidly. You need to hurry up, Kit."
Naruto looked over towards Hinata, who was struggling against the sand. "Hinata-Chan...are you alright?" He said moving towards her.
"I'll be fine!" She yelled, stopping him in his tracks. "Hurry, Naruto-Kun! You have to stop Gaara!"
Naruto nodded and looked at Sasuke. "Ready?"
"Always, Dobe." He smirked.
Gaara looked at the team with wide eyes. He groaned, placing his human hand on his head. "Why...Why do you care for each other...?" He hissed. Sand started gathering around his backside, forming a large, sand tail.
Naruto frowned. "I told you Gaara. Fighting for my precious people is what makes me strong." Naruto said holding out his hand, a Rasengan forming.
Sasuke nodded. "I used to be like you Gaara."
Gaara's head snapped up, staring at the Uchiha.
"I wanted to kill my brother and I would have given anything to have the power to kill him. But after learning the truth about him, I decided that it would be better to get stronger on my own with the help of my friends and the people who care about me. "
Gaara's eyes widened even further and let out a loud roar. His body was transforming in front of them. Everything but his legs looked like the demon tanuki. Behind the teammates, Hinata let out a piercing scream. The sand that held her in place was spreading and crushing her.
"Hinata-Chan!" Naruto yelled worriedly.
Hinata continued to scream as the sand crushed her body, bones cracking under the pressure. Hinata soon passed out from the pain.
"We need to end this. Now." Sasuke said firmly. He gripped his left wrist, cracking sounds erupting from his hand. Within seconds, his hand was crackling with blue lightning.
Naruto's eyes widened. "Are you fucking kidding me?! Kakashi-Sensei taught you the Chidori?"
Sasuke smirked. "Hey...you were being trained by a Sannin. He had to give me some sort of edge."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Yeah sure...'edge' my ass. You have the fucking Sharingan. You don't need any more of an edge." He smirked.
"Don't be jealous, Dobe." He chuckled. He glared at Gaara, then nodded at Naruto.
Naruto nodded back. They turned to Gaara and leaped towards the jinchuuriki. Gaara jumped up to intercept their attack, his two clawed arm reaching out.
"RASENGAN!"
"CHIDORI!"
The attacks created a large explosion, sending all three boys flying backwards. Naruto and Sasuke rushed to get to their feet, breathing heavily from the attacks. They looked at each other, wondering if what they did was enough.
Once the smoke and dust cleared, Gaara was still standing. He growled as the sand ran down his body on to the ground below.
"Shit...how is he still standing?!" Sasuke frowned.
Gaara let out a piercing roar, his body being encompassed by sand. Once his body was surrounded, the sand exploded, the boy now growing into the large, One-Tailed Tanuki.
Sasuke and Naruto stared wide-eyed as the boy transformed into the bijuu. They looked up at Shukaku, horrified.
Shukaku looked out at the forest he was in and took the deep breath he hadn't taken in many years.
"I'M FREE!"
End Chapter
Well? What did you think? I hope you all liked this chapter! I was actually very happy with this chapter, especially with the banter I put between Sasuke and Naruto.
Now just so nobody gets any ideas, there will be no threesomes, harems, or yaoi between Naruto and Sasuke. I wanted Naruto and Sasuke to be best friends, even brotherly towards each other, like they were supposed to be.
Anyways...please review!
~Lu Lu-Chan25