Ahoi! What? An update? Really? Yes, my friends, I actually updated, even though I wanted to keep this story on hiatus! Why? I can tell you several reasons:

1. Since this story still get's so much attention even though I wasn't updating for what seemed an eternity I just couldn't stand ignoring it any longer and HAD to update this!

2. I'm going nuts right now since exams are nearing and I desperately needed a distraction from learning before I lost the rest of my mind because of the randomness that is my physics professor!

3. Because I frigging can! Ha!

And thank you all for your wonderful review that make my story feel so loved! Yes, my story has feelings and you awesome people that stop by to read it are flattering it! You all are so awesome!

Now here's the next chapter, enjoy!

Sins and Sunshine

Chapter 25: Gaara vs Naruto

'That way' Kumiho exclaimed mentally pointing to a certain direction.

'You sure?' I questioned her skeptically. For some time now I was running through the woods only listening to Kumiho's instructions on where to head to and still didn't find any of my friends.

'I can feel their chakra being close. You're almost there.'

And she was right.

In front of me the forest opened up to a small clearing, that was more of a little patch of grass that provided a little gap in the dense treetops to let a few rays of sunlight leak through.

And there they were. Up on the branches of the sturdy trees Sasuke and Gaara battled each other.

Gaara stood hunched over on one of the thicker branches. One arm and half his face were already turned monster including a big tail that seemed to emerge from the bottom of his oversized gourd. A transformation I wouldn't mind, really, if it wasn't for the saliva that was dripping from his monster half face. Saliva can ruin even the cutest of faces!

On a different branch stood Sasuke panting heavily and curse seal activated. He was about to collapse from exhaustion and Gaara jumped off the branch about to land the final blow.

Reacting instantly I did the same and luckily made it in time to get Sasuke out the way of the attack. But I miscalculated the weight of the ravenhead so I made a little crash landing on the ground, trying to shield the boy in my arm from the hard impact.

"Ouch.." I grumbled and held my aching shoulder, then looked at the boy that now lay on ground next to me.

"Sasuke-kun." I whispered worriedly and examined his current state. Looked like he used up all his chakra, nothing to serious.

The boy stirred upon hearing his name.

"M-Minari... why..." he managed to say before he convulsed in pain.

"Hold on." I told him then turned around to face Gaara, at least what was left of him.

"Gaara. Please stop it." I pleaded with determination in my voice.

"Kill! I'll kill you!" I screamed and laughed maniacally. I shuddered from the bloodlust he was emanating. Did Shukaku already take over his mind?

He headed straight at us with his monster arm ready to strike. I hovered over Sasuke protectively and braced myself for the attack that never came.

In the last moment Naruto appeared and kicked the redhead away. The blonde then landed right in front of me and pointed at Gaara in his half monster form.

"Oi, Minari-chan. Who the hell is that?"

"Although his appearance changed, this is Gaara." A doggy explained after he landed right next to me together with Sakura.

"Holy cow! A speaking dog!" I yelled shocked and started to poke the side of the dog as if that would make him speak more words. But instead he grumpily glared straight ahead, a vein popping on his forehead.

"Speak doggy, speak." I chanted and kept poking him till he couldn't take it any longer and batted my hand away. I pouted at this harsh treatment and turned to Sakura that was hovering over Sasuke, worry written all over her face.

"What happened?" she asked with fear in her voice as she stared at the activated curse seal on the ravenhead's neck.

"I just arrived a few moments before you. So all I can say is that he used up all his chakra and that the curse seal inflicts him pain." I explained obligingly. Yes I actually answered one of Pinky's question without sarcasm or taunt, that's how serious the situation was right now!

Like on cue Sasuke got another fit of pain and even caught up blood. Sakura and I tried to steady him. Then suddenly Naruto shouted at us as Gaara completely ignored the blonde and rushed towards the suffering Uchiha in an attempt to kill.

"Die, Uchiha Sasuke!"

The pinkhaired girl and I acted in unison as we both stood up with weapon in hand and readied ourself for the attack to protect our teammate.

Strangely enough this made Gaara flinch for a moment, but unluckily that didn't stop him from coming at us. By a swing of his monstrous arm Sakura got batted away like a fly and crashed hard with the head against a tree going down unconscious. I didn't fare any better. The transforming boy pinned me with same arm against a tree, the impact pressing the air out my lungs and making my flinch in pain at the same time.

My head got fuzzy and the sand claw around my body kept squeezing my lungs making it harder for me to breath.

Gaara held his pain in pain and looked like he was remembering something. When he was back in the present he was sweating and panting.

"What's the matter. Weren't you gonna retreat?" he then mocked the blonde.

I could hear Naruto and Gaare exchanging a few more words but my head became too fuzzy to make any sense out of them. Naruto rushing at the redhead was the last thing I saw before my world finally went black.

"Gaara-kun, what did you do?" I questioned the little redheaded boy in front of me with a disapproving look.

"I... I lost control... It.. It was..." he stuttered, tears running down his face as he stared at me with wide open eyes.

The sand floating around him slowly fell back down to the ground as the little boy managed to steady his hectic breathing. His bottom lip trembled violently and I couldn't help but to glomp the little 5-year old that was hardly any taller than my own 5-year old self.

"There, there." I cooed and patted his head.

Behind us a boy around our age, maybe one or two years older, lay on the sand covered ground. Not moving. Not breathing. A puddle of blood forming around his lifeless body.

"H-He threw stones at me. And.. And wouldn't stop calling me names." little Gaara told me still crying into my chest.

"I know... I saw it." I replied calmly.

"I just wanted him to stop!"

"Of course. After all he was really mean to you."

"The sand attacked on its own! I.. I didn't mean to.."

"Gaara-kun."

"Y-Yeah?"

He hesitantly looked up, teal eyes meeting hazel ones.

"Are you sorry for what you did?" I asked him. He nodded eagerly.

"Than it's okay." I replied with a smile.

"Mommy always said it's important to realize that you did something wrong. Then you can learn from your faults and become a better human." I recited what my mom had told me some time ago when I stole the doll of another girl and felt bad about it later that day. Totally similar to the current situation, I know.

"I'm really sorry!" the boy kept crying "I didn't want to hurt you!"

"It's okay. I forgive you." I answered still smiling as the boy clutched my arm that held a sand inflicted injury almost as long as my forearm.

Slowly I woke up and found the pressure on my chest gone. What had happened? And why did I seem to only dream of my past whenever I passed out lately? Why did I even pass out that much that I could already make this sort of assumption? Isn't my life wonderful lately!

"W-What happened..." I asked drowsily as I struggled to get up.

"... Naruto won." A voice explained.

I turned around to see Sasuke next to me who had answered. I was lying on the ground next to a still unconscious Pinky.

Then I noticed Naruto and Gaara lying on the ground on the other side of the clearing that was now significantly bigger then before, both unable to move. But still Naruto kept himself pushing forward towards the redhead with his chin.

I gave Sasuke a meaningful look. He nodded, then gave the dog instructions to take care of Sakura before he helped me up and we headed to the two boys.

"That's enough Naruto." Sasuke said as he came to a halt next to the blonde. "Sakura and Minari are alright now."

While Sasuke stood besides the blonde I wobbled over to Gaara to kneel down in front of him.

"Gaara." I whispered and cradled his head in my lap.

"Minari..." he replied barely able to look at me. I never saw him have such a tired expression on his face before. It actually looked kinda cute.

"I..."

"It's okay, Gaara. I know."

"I'm sorry..."

"...It's okay. I forgive you." I answered smiling and hushed him.

"Gaara!" his siblings yelled as they appeared next to him.

"That's enough. It's over." the boy stated.

I handed him over to Kankuro then walked back to stand next to Sasuke.

"Minari..." Gaara said again looking at me. I flashed him a sweet smile.

"When I get to go to Suna again some day, I'll make sure to visit you."

Then the sand siblings vanished and I turned to the blonde who was now unconscious.

"Well done, Naru-kun. Just as expected from the future Hokage.", I whispered softly wiping a blond strand of hair out of his face.

Then I faced the ravenhead.

"You okay? You looked horrible when I found you." I stated with a mocking smile.

"Che." he retorted with a small smirk on his face. "Says the one who was unconscious during the whole fight."

I huffed and flashed him a sheepish grin.

The boy looked over to where Sakura was then back to Naruto.

"Let's get them back to the village." he stated and picked up the blonde. I nodded , then walked back to where Sakura was lying and did the same with her.

"Pretty weak if you faint that easily." the Uchiha sprout stated as we were on the way back.

"I want to see you getting almost squeezed to death. Let's see who's weak then." I retorted and stuck my tongue out at him. Which got me a smirk in return.

Meanwhile in a certain building, in a certain storage room, in a certain locker...

"H-Hello?"

…..

"I-Is it over yet? C-Can I come out?"

…..

The shy girl hesitantly pushed open the door of the locker glancing around.

"D-Did they forget about me?" she wondered out loud, tears forming in the edge of her eye and she sniffled lightly.

One of the mops from inside her hiding spot tipped over startling the shy Hyuga girl. She eyed the cleaning tool that was now right on eye level with her, the bundle of strings looking exactly like her current hairdo.

"I'll definitely let my hair grow out!" she cried out, tears falling down her face.

And another chapter finished!

So Gaara's finally able to become a better person. What does that mean for Minari's future? Hmmmm...

If you still have some spare time on hand why not use it to review? That would make this little author really happy!