Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Isn't the new opening for Naruto great? I love it... then again, I love all of the openings until I get bored of them.
Kimi wa ima, namida nagashite... Nakidasu kodomo no you ni...
Oh, sorry... Well, let's get to the chapter already, shall we now?
Also, lets clarify one thing... the poll on my profile isn't for the pairing. It's out of curiousity.
Chapter 35: Revived Obito: Defeating Gaara!
"You're... dead." Obito stated. He took a step forwards, giving Gaara a death glare.
"I... am going to drag you down." Obito snapped. He took a single step with his blue sandal.
His single eye blazed red from behind his orange goggles.
"The ghost?" Sasuke said incredulously. Then he shook his head fiercely and raced at the hand clentching Naruto.
He broke it open using the Chidori that sparked in his hand.
Obito didn't even bother to point out that Sasuke should be calling him Obito-san.
He was too furious.
"Naruto..." Obito muttered, staring at the body which Sasuke withdrew carefully from the sand.
Sasuke quickly checked his pulse. "It's... there..."
Obito sighed with relief.
Sasuke picked up Naruto and walked back to Obito.
"Are you the ghost?" Sasuke asked, looking at Obito.
"Obito-san." Obito said automatically, still staring at Naruto. "Wait, you can see me?"
Obito glanced at his hand quickly. It's not transparent... Wait! Is my Sharingan activated?
"Your Sharingan's activated." Sasuke noted.
Am I... Obito blinked, staring at his hand again. "Alive?"
Obito shook his head. That's not important right now! Well, it is, but Naruto's more important!
He might have a pulse, but he's still covered in blood!
"Naruto!" Obito cried, looking down at Naruto's face. He took short, shallow breaths.
"You dobe." Sasuke stated, hiding his fright well.
Meanwhile, Gaara had become even more like a demon. He was already the size of the average tree.
"Sasuke... do you know any genjutsu?" Obito demanded.
Sasuke shook his head.
"Gee, and you're an Uchiha?" Obito muttered.
"In case you forget, the whole clan died when I was seven!" Sasuke snapped in annoyance.
"I... guess." Obito sighed. He looked up. "Anyways, Sasuke, back me up here."
"What?" Sasuke demanded.
"You know 'Wind Ropes' now, right? You copied it off Naruto?" Obito asked. "Naruto's out of the picture. Seriously, the only chance we have to defeat Gaara is to capture him, even if it's temporary. Luckily, he doesn't move much so it should be easy."
"Wind Ropes." Sasuke stated, his hands in a handseal.
Ropes flew up from the ground and captured Gaara.
Gaara struggled against the ropes, crying inhumanly a few times.
"Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu! Great Fireball Technique!" Obito exclaimed, shouting out the name of one of the only fire techniques he knew.
The fireball hit the invisble ropes and travelled up them in a flash of fire. Gaara screeched as burns appeared on various parts of his monster-like body.
"Woah... I didn't think that would happen." Obito commented, staring at the black burns that had appeared.
Sand covered the wounds and healed the wounds. He grew even bigger, his head rearing above the trees.
He screeched again.
"Then again..." Obito stared at the even-bigger monster towering in front of him.
Obito laughed nervously. "Maybe that was a bad idea?"
1010101010
Hinata's eyes flew open. "Hm..."
Where am I? Trees... Kumo...
I was kidnapped!
Hinata struggled in vain against the strong arm that held her up.
"She's awake." a voice stated.
Another voice, deeper, piped up. "She can't do anything... don't worry about it."
"Got it." the first voice agreed. "Her eyes are blind-folded... she can't see anything."
That's why everything's black... Byakugan!
Veins pulsed from behind the blindfold. One of the powers of the Byakugan was to see through solid objects... Blindfolds were useless.
Luckily, they didn't know that.
Hinata scanned the forest. She could only see around seven hundred metres around, but that was enough.
Kiba-kun! Shino-kun! N-neji-san! Sakura!
Are they coming to save me? Then I have to escape to help them!
Hinata struggled further.
"She's struggling again." a voice commented.
"Knock her out." the other voice decided.
Hinata's eyes widened and she struggled further.
"Gatsuga!" a voice cried.
Kiba-kun! Hinata thought.
The two Kumo nin scattered as the Inuzuka and his partner burrowed in between them.
"What? It's just a kid..." the bald Kumo nin, the one who was holding Hinata, commented.
"He's still a ninja... Let's take care of him." the brown-haired Kumo nin decided. He twirled a kunai in his hand.
"Just try it." Kiba growled, Akamaru barking right next to him.
"Do you really think you can take the two of us by yourself, when we have a hostage?" the bald Kumo-nin demanded, holding up Hinata to prove his point.
"Uh huh." Kiba stated. And what makes you think I'm alone?
"Now, I want you to stay right there." the bald Kumo-nin ordered, walking up. "Unless you want this Hyuuga girl to be hur-"
The Kumo-nin coughed as Sakura' foot hit his back. He flipped around. "You little... How dare you do that?"
"Ninja." Sakura pointed to her headband.
"Gee, Konoha must be getting short-handed." the Kumo nin commented, staring at Sakura. "What, are you from a family of candy makers or something?"
Sakura twitched and tried to punch the bald Kumo nin in the face. Unfortunately, he dodged it easily.
"What now, candy-head?" the Kumo nin demanded with a smirk. Then he slapped his neck with his free hand. "Lots of bugs..."
1010101010
"They should've listened to the plan... If they die, it is because of Fate." Neji retorted. He and Shino were hiding in the bushes a little way away from everyone else.
"My bugs are already sucking their chakra." Shino stated. "In another half an hour they will be completely out."
"I suppose we must help." Neji commented in evident annoyance. He stood up and activated his Byakugan.
"I suppose you are right, for both Sakura and Kiba shall be captured or worse along with Hinata if this continues." Shino stated, his sunglasses flashing.
He stood up as well, bugs floating behind him.
The two of them walked into the clearing where everyone was fighting.
1010101010
"Huh?" The brown-haired Kumo nin stared at the two genin who had entered the clearing. "More ridiculously weak genin?"
"You should not understimate us." Shino stated.
"Did you forget that we have a hostage?" the bald Kumo nin asked rhetorically, pushing Sakura aside easily to show them Hinata.
"True." Neji stated coldly. He gazed at Hinata without a touch of emotion. "But that relies on one thing."
"What?" the brown-haired Kumo nin snapped.
"The fact that I actually care about her." Neji stated coldly. He got into a Gentle Fist stance. You are in my field of divination. Hakke Rokujūyon Shō : Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!
"Neji! What do you think you're doing!" Kiba exclaimed, staring Neji down.
Neji ignored the Inuzuka and raced forwards, placing his hand on the bald Kumo nin's chest and pushing hard.
The Kumo nin coughed up a little blood.
Then he promptly hit the Kumo nin again and again, causing major damage. The Kumo nin dropped Hinata onto the ground.
Neji continued on hitting the Kumo nin, until he fell to the ground.
Neji looked at Hinata coldly. "You are a disgrace to the Hyuuga. You should have not let the Byakugan be endangered- yet again. Especially as one of the Main Family. Do you wish for another person to die because of your actions?"
Hinata looked to the ground in shame. "I-I am s-sorry."
"Hey! What are you saying?" Kiba exclaimed, racing up to Hinata. He glared at Neji. "Hinata didn't do anything wrong!"
"Hmmph." the brown-haired Kumo nin glanced at his unconcious partner. "You'll pay for that."
"I do not think that is a good idea." Shino commented. "You are outnumbered an-"
"Shut up!" the Kumo nin growled. "Doton: Doryūha! Earth Style: Earth Flow Wave!"
"Uh oh." Sakura blinked in worry as earth rose up underneath the Kumo nin.
1010101010
Obito and Sasuke jumped back as a sandy hand slammed down onto the ground.
"Nice." Sasuke muttered sarcastically. "Now he's even angrier."
"Hey! How was I supposed to know that was going to happen?" Obito objected.
"A Uchiha... Naruto..." Sasuke shuddered. I didn't want to admit it. Well, I guess he's slightly smarter than Naruto...
"Now what?" Obito inquired. "What techniques do you have?"
Sasuke dodged another attack of Gaara's. "A couple of fire techniques. A wind technique. I'm running low on chakra... I can't do Chidori anymore. You?"
"A couple of fire techniques. A really weak genjutsu. Not much else. But, I have nearly full chakra reserves because erm... I just revived?"
"Hn." Sasuke grunted. In other words, we're dead.
"Anyways, let's just try to protect Naruto and protect ourselves." Obito decided, ducking down as sand whistled over his head.
Sasuke's Sharingan flashed. "Don't be stupid. We need to fight back."
"How?" Obito demanded.
Sasuke twitched.
"Our best chance is to wait for a chance to hit him at the same time." Obito explained, dodging Gaara's foot. "We might be able to regain a bit of chakra, too... if we're lucky."
Sasuke paled slightly as he avoided a sand spike at the last moment.
He scowled. The ghost's right.
But we won't get anywhere if we don't fight!
Gaara's hand shot out- this time towards Naruto, who was lying on the ground helpless.
Naruto! Sasuke thought. He ran in front of him.
Sasuke placed his hands into a handseal. "Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu! Great Fireball Technique!"
He blew, fire streaming from his mouth and forming a fireball. It hit Gaara's hand point-black, casing much pain. It retreated.
Sasuke grabbed Naruto. He dragged him away farther into the forest.
Don't be such a deadweight. Sasuke thought in annoyance. He walked back to Gaara.
Gaara mustered up all of the human consciousness in himself to ask a simple question.
"Why do you protect him?"
"Hn?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Because..."
His eyes glazed over as he recalled the massacre.
"I lost everyone dear to me once." Sasuke stated. He looked up at the sky. "It won't happen again."
Obito blinked. Then smiled. "Yup. That's right!"
Gaara growled, recalling a certain brown-haired man. I will kill them.
I will kill them all!
Gaara roared.
1010101010
"What's happening?" Kiba demanded.
"He's using some sort of Earth technique." Sakura explained, looking up at the Kumo nin. "But all he's doing is standing on the slab of earth."
Akamru barked.
"Yeah, he must be planning something." Kiba agreed.
"Doton: Retsudo Tenshin!" the Kumo nin cried. "Earth Style: Mud Needle!"
The slab of earth formed into a suspiciously sharp earth needle which swiftly made its way forwards.
Everyone scattered, but the earth needle wasn't aiming for them.
It was a distraction.
"Kya!" Sakura cried, high-pitched. "What's this?"
"It was a trap!" Kiba exclaimed.
Akamaru barked fiercely.
"Hmmph." Neji's eyes flashed. "Hakkeshō Kaiten: Eight Trigrams Palms Heavenly Spin!"
"Doton: Doru no Ude." the Kumo nin smiled sadistically. "Earth Style: Mud Arms."
True to the name, mud arms had snaked up from the ground to capture the five.. four genin and one dog. They clamped onto their legs.
Except for Neji, who had knocked the arms off.
"Ch." the Kumo nin muttered, noticing the fact Neji wasn't captured.
"You should not use so many techniques requiring high chakra, for-" Shino glanced at his bugs which were still discreetly attaching themselves to the Kumo nin.
"Huh?" the Kumo nin interupted. He was still towering over them on the slab of earth he had created.
Kiba scowled and tried to pull the arms off in vain. His fingers simply sunk into the mud.
"Akamaru! Can you escape?" Kiba demanded.
Akamaru barked 'no'.
Neji scoffed. They are all useless... Not noticing a technique like that and not avoiding it...
I suppose I must take care of this by myself.
Neji walked up to the Kumo nin. He had a cold expression on his face that made even the Kumo nin twitch slightly.
"What are you going to do?" the Kumo nin snapped.
Neji jumped up onto the earth slab with ease.
"Idiot! Do you think you can beat me here?" the Kumo nin brought his hands into a handseal. "Doton: Tsuchi no Yaiba! Earth Style: Earth Sword!"
A sword of earth formed in his hand and he quickly tried to stab Neji with it. Neji parried it with a kunai.
"You are the idiot." Neji stated. "Fate... has confirmed your defeat."
The Kumo nin was holding the sword with two hands. Neji was finding it difficult to keep the Kumo nin from overpowering him.
He quickly brought his other hand out to hit the Kumo nin in the chest.
The Kumo nin scowled. "You little..."
He brought the earth sword back and starting pushing Neji back fiercely.
"You're sweating." Neji commented.
"Huh? What do you mean?" the Kumo nin snapped, sweat shining on his brow.
"You're going to fall unconscious soon." Neji predicted.
"So, Fate told you that as well?" the Kumo nin demanded.
"No." Neji stated. "Logic did."
"Logic?" the Kumo nin blinked. How can he tell I'm feeling weak?
Shino nodded.
"Shut up!" the Kumo nin growled, increasing his jab power.
Go. Shino thought. Bugs rose up from his body and streamed towards the Kumo nin.
"Bugs? Don't tell me, you're an Aburame?" the Kumo nin cried. "Then the bugs that were around me... Drat it!"
The Kumo nin raced backwards, but the bugs were faster. They surronded him and sucked up all of his chakra, and he fell to the ground.
"Nice going, Shino!" Kiba crowed. With the fall of the Kumo nin, the mud arms had disperced and freed everyone.
"Thank you, Shino-kun... Neji-san... everyone..." Hinata murmured, poking her fingers together.
"I merely did it because I had to." Neji stated coldly, staring at Hinata. "Because of your weakness."
Hinata flushed and stared down at the ground.
"Stop blaming Hinata!" Kiba snapped.
"I agree!" Sakura nodded.
"It is illogical, for while Hinata-" Shino started.
"We must go back to retrieve Tenten." Neji stated, walking into the forest.
"Hey!" Kiba growled.
"Kiba-kun... don't worry about it." Hinata whispered.
"What? But he-" Kiba objected.
"Tenten-san came as well?" Hinata asked Sakura, cutting Kiba off nervously.
"Yes, but she had to take care of a trap." Sakura explained. "We should go back to find her..."
Hinata nodded.
1010101010
Water dripped down onto the floor of the sewer with a splash.
Kyuubi growled under his breath from behind the bars of his cage.
Idiotic container.
Getting himself beaten up by that even more idiotic Shukaku!
He's so weak! Both of them!
And doesn't he understand that I'll get in trouble if you die? Seriously, how can each of my three containers be stupider than the last?
I suppose I have to heal him... For my life...
Idiotic Yondaime... connecting my life with my container...
Even more idiotic container... getting himself beaten by Shukaku...
In fact, the whole world is idiotic except for the great Kyuubi-sama... wait, that's me!
Kyuubi chuckled manically as he allowed some demonic chakra leak out of the bars.
1010101010
Naruto looked up blearily at Sasuke and Obito. He was lying on the ground, in much pain.
If a medic nin had assessed Naruto's status, one would observe that Naruto had two broken ribs, a broken arm and leg, much internal bleeding, and bruises all over his body.
One would also observe that the injuries were slowly healing themselves.
That was when red chakra leaked in a large amount into Naruto's normal chakra pathway system.
Naruto's elevated healing was the result of the constant tiny amount of Kyuubi's chakra leaking into his system.
Therefore, by increasing the demonic chakra in Naruto's chakra pathway system, Naruto's healing increased even more.
However, if too much demonic chakra entered his system the opposite effect would happen and Naruto would become even more injured in the long-run, even if current injuries were healed.
Kyuubi was aware of all of this- it was his chakra that was being used, after all.
While Kyuubi would love a dead Naruto, in this case if Naruto died, so did Kyuubi. It wasn't in his interests to place too much demonic chakra into the chakra system.
So, Kyuubi tried to minimize the chakra entering Naruto's system.
Nevertheless, some of the red chakra leaked out of Naruto's body.
On the bright side, it wasn't too much... and Naruto's injuries were healed really quickly.
Sure, a few plants in a fifty centimetre radius died because of the demonic chakra, but that isn't that important.
And it created a thin cloak around Naruto, reddened his eyes, and affected his mind slightly.
But let's not sweat the small details.
1010101010
Naruto's eyes shot open. What happened?
He felt some twinges of pain all over his body, but he managed to stand up.
Sasuke and Obito, who were trying to avoid getting noticed, flipped around and stared at Naruto.
"Naruto? You're alright!" Obito exclaimed. "Wait, what's with your eyes?"
"Uh... I don't know." Naruto walked up to them. "So who's that?"
His eyes lit up with horror. "Don't tell me... that isn't..."
"Yes." Sasuke nodded.
"... an alien, is it?" Naruto demanded.
"Wha-what?" Obito stammered in pure shock.
"What... did you say?" Sasuke asked in disbelief.
"Joking, joking." Naruto grinned cheerfully. Then his grin faded. "That's... Gaara, isn't it."
"Yeah." Obito nodded.
"What are you doing?" Naruto inquired.
"Trying to stay alive?" Obito said dryly.
"But you're dead." Naruto dead-panned.
"I came back alive for some reason. At least I think so... since I can use chakra now." Obito explained.
Naruto's eyes narrowed. The demonic chakra that wasn't that noticable flared around him.
"Naruto?" Sasuke muttered in slight shock. "Is that..."
Naruto growled and raced at Gaara, claws forming from the chakra.
He swiped at him, creating four deep scratches on the side.
"Oh no..." Obito murmured, staring at Naruto in worry.
He took a deep breath. "Naruto!"
Naruto turned around.
Obito breathed a sigh of relief.
He's not been taken over... he's just been affected by the chakra.
"Get rid of it! The chakra!" Obito insisted. "You know that's from Kyuubi!"
"Calm. Down!" Obito finished his relatively short rant.
Naruto frowned and clentched his eyes shut. He struggled wildly against the grip of the chakra.
Go away.
I don't need this much! So go away!
NOW!
The Kyuubi scoffed in irritation in the seal.
First, this idiotic container wants chakra. Now, he doesn't want it.
Hmmph.
The demonic chakra recedded from Naruto's body. He breathed a sigh of relief and raced back towards Obito and Sasuke.
"Are you alright?" Obito demanded.
"Fine." Naruto muttered.
"You... will pay." Gaara stated, placing his hands into a handseal. He floated up from the monster which was Shukaku.
"Hey, it's Gaara!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Read the mood." Sasuke muttered.
"I will show you the true power of the sand demon." Gaara said clearly. Tanuki Neiri! Feigning Sleep Technique!
Gaara's eyes closed and he fell limply.
"He... fell asleep?" Obito said in confusion. "Why'd he do that?"
"I mean, it's not like he was so tired he just had to fall asleep..." Naruto paused. "Is it?"
"Yes! I'm free... finally free!" Shukaku crowed. He laughed manically. He was a sand-coloured tanuki, with dark blue markings all over its face, body, and tail, and a jagged, concave mouth.
"Looks like the monster's free." Sasuke commented, stepping back slowly.
Shukaku laughed again. "And there's some people I want to kill! Fuuton: Renkūdan! Wind Style: Drilling Air Bullet!"
"Run." Naruto stated, grabbing Sasuke.
"What are you-" Sasuke was cut off by Naruto's Shunshin. He raced through the forest, then stopped when he thought they were far enough away.
Obito appeared a couple of seconds later. "Why'd you leave me behind for? What if I didn't know Shunshin?"
"Sorry, I thought you were still a ghost..." Naruto laughed nervously.
There was the sound of falling trees.
Sasuke looked around wildly. I really... need to learn Shunshin...
"Look..." Naruto walked up to the top of the tree and beckoned for Sasuke to follow. "That's where we were."
There was a kilometre-long bare stretch of earth where there used to be a forest.
"I didn't think it would be that bad..." Naruto muttered, staring. "Good thing we escaped."
"This is crazy." Sasuke muttered. "How are we supposed to beat something like that?"
Naruto jumped down onto the ground. "Stay back."
He placed his hands into five handseals.
Boar. Dog. Monkey. Bird. Ram. Naruto thought.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke asked.
"You should stay back." Obito advised. "If it works, it'll be dangerous."
Kuchiyose no Jutsu! Summoning Technique! Naruto thought, placing his hand onto the ground.
There was a puff of smoke, and a tiny orange toad wearing a blue vest appeared.
"Yo! I'm Gamakichi- Do you have any candy?" Gamakichi asked.
Obito muffled his laughter.
"And what was that supposed to do?" Sasuke demanded in annoyance.
Naruto groaned. "Drat. Not enough chakra... Here. Candy."
He handed Gamakichi a chocolate bar that was hiding somewhere in his pocket.
Shukaku laughed manically. "You avoided that... but you won't avoid this!"
It raised its sand-coloured tail menacingly.
"Naruto!" Obito cried. "What are you doing?"
Naruto closed his eyes. Come on, furball, give me chakra! You're the great Kyuubi, right? Do you want to lose against this guy?
Come on!
Naruto squeezed his eyes even more.
If you don't give me chakra... I'm going to stay right here and basically kill myself with you! You need to give me rent, 'member?
Chuckles echoed from the edges of Naruto's mind- although Naruto couldn't hear it. The Shiki Fuuin that the Yondaime had used to seal Kyuubi in him was too strong for that.
Demonic chakra leaked out of the bars yet again.
Naruto's eyes flashed open. Boar. Dog. Monkey. Bird. Ram.
Kuchiyose no Jutsu! Summoning Technique!
There was a giant poof of smoke at the same moment as Shukaku brought his tail down.
"What is this?" a voice snapped from the cloud of smoke. A sword made its appearance as it blocked Shukaku's tail.
The smoke gradually cleared to reveal a giant toad wearing a blue vest.
"You summon me... yet again... and you're in a middle of a battle with a giant monster?" Gamabunta snapped. "You're worse than the Yondaime and the perverted sage combined! Well, maybe not combined. You're worse than that perverted sage!"
Gamabunta jumped back. What is it with this monster? I could barely keep him from pushing through...
"Can you help me? Please?" Naruto begged with barely concealed twitching. He didn't like begging, but this toad was his only chance. "Come on! A boss has to help his underling, ri-ght?"
"We haven't officially stated that... we haven't exchanged sake cups yet." Gamabunta pointed out.
"I'm underage!" Naruto complained. I'm not twenty years old yet!
"He's a nice guy! Help him out!" Gamakichi piped up.
"Pops?" Naruto blinked, staring down at Gamakichi.
"Gamakichi? That you?" Gamabunta demanded. "But even if you say that... that there is a tailed beast, you realize!"
"He was mean to me!" Gamakichi lied.
"What? Okay, then, kid... I guess I'll help you out!" Gamabunta exclaimed, his eyes flaring with anger.
"I want candy for this." Gamakichi muttered, looking up to Naruto.
"I'll give you all the candy you want! Thanks!" Naruto whispered with evident relief.
Shukaku screeched in annoyance. "I'll kill you!"
1010101010
Obito looked up at the toad that towered over him. He shaded his eyes. "Well, Naruto managed to summon him..."
Sasuke, meanwhile, was in a state of semi-shock. "How... That... That can't be Naruto... Even if he wasn't as weak..."
"Yup, that's Naruto!" Obito grinned. "Definitely Naruto! Can't be anyone else!"
Sasuke's eyes flashed red. I need to get stronger!
"Ghost... Do you know where the Uchiha Library is?" Sasuke demanded.
"Not that I'm going to tell you." Obito retorted. "And you don't know where it is? Well, I guess it's usally told when you get the Sharingan... and if you're a really late bloomer you can coerce a Sharingan-bearing Uchiha to take you in..."
"Hn." Sasuke grunted. It must be the 'ghost'. Maybe if I... call him... Obito-san... hn...
"Obito...san..." Sasuke muttered.
"Hm? What was that, you said? Obito-sama?" Obito inquired with a grin.
"Don't push it, Obito...san." Sasuke retorted with some hesitation.
"Ah, well, I suppose I'll show you where it is..." Obito shrugged. "Better than you going over to Orochimaru..."
Sasuke twitched.
1010101010
"So, explain. Is that boy on the monster the Jinchuruki?" Gamabunta demanded.
"Uh... yeah." Naruto nodded.
"Did the monster come out after he fell asleep?" Gamabunta asked.
"Uh huh." Naruto answered.
"He seems like he has insomina... poor guy. His seal must suck... He can't even sleep without risking getting taken over by Shukaku." Gamabunta commented. "So, by forcing himself to fall asleep, Shukaku comes out."
"That's horrible..." Naruto muttered softly. "Wait! Does that mean that if we wake Gaara up Shukaku will go away!"
"Oh? Seems like you understand things well." Gamabunta smirked. From what I saw, the Shukaku is strong.
The tables will be turned if the fight goes on for too long... Which is why breaking the technique is the most important thing.
"But how?" Naruto demanded.
"I'll get close to the toad and stop him! When his guard is down, knock the kid awake!" Gamabunta explained.
"Wait a sec... All I have to do is knock him awake?" Naruto blinked.
"Yes, so-" Gamabunta started.
"I can do it..." Naruto smirked. "Just get me somewhat close to it! I'll use Wind Ropes to pull him out!"
"I suppose that'll work..." Gamabunta blinked. "Okay."
He drew his sword out and pointed it forwards.
"Get ready, kid!" Gamabunta cried, racing forwards.
Fast! Naruto thought. He placed his hands into a handseal. Where's Gaara?
There! Wind Ropes!
Naruto stood up, wobbling a little. There was a impact as Gamabunta's sword hit Shukaku.
Wind ropes snaked out and captured Gaara.
"Come... out... GAARA!" Naruto cried, pulling back fiercely. Gaara flew out of Shukaku's body and towards Naruto. "Now... WAKE UP!"
Gaara's eyes shot open.
"No! I just got out!" Shukaku screeched. "No. No! NO!"
It's strong... as expected of a tailed beast... Gamabunta thought. Even though the jutsu is breaking...
Gaara flew through the air towards Naruto.
Naruto paled. "Uh..."
Gaara hit Naruto, knocking him off the toad's back.
"Oh... great." Naruto groaned as he fell through the air.
Shukaku disappeared.
"I suppose we'll be going as well, Gamakichi." Gamabunta stated, glancing at Naruto.
What a kid... I suppose recklessness is part of the job description when you're a ninja, but he takes it to a new level.
Interesting... I'll be interested to see what he does...
Gamabunta puffed back to his home.
1010101010
"Looks like it's more or less over..." Obito commented, looking up at the puff of smoke. "Is Naruto alright?"
"Hn." Sasuke grunted.
"Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're holding a grudge just because your pride was injured." Obito retorted, rolling his eyes.
"Hn." Sasuke repeated, purposely ignoring Obito.
"Hn, hn... You think saying that will heal your pride?" Obito groaned, walking up to Sasuke. "Get over it. So, Naruto got stronger. A lot stronger. Then you have to get stronger as well. Seriously, you have the Sharingan! Why don't you use it!"
"There's nothing to copy." Sasuke muttered.
"You think the Sharingan's just about copying stuff?" Obito demanded.
Sasuke didn't say anything, but his silence explained everything.
"There's genjutsu, too." Obito snapped. "Even I know a weak genjutsu."
Sasuke still didn't say anything.
"Personally, do you know what I think?" Obito demanded. "Being the only Uchiha did wonders for your personality. You think that you can always beat everyone 'cause of that. You don't know the meaning of actually trying."
"Shut up." Sasuke's eyes flashed with anger.
"Then why don't you try harder?" Obito demanded. "You say you want to kill the person who killed the Uchiha... But how do you think you'll be able to do that by just relying on your natural 'talent'?"
"I train." Sasuke stated. I train a lot, idiotic ghost.
Maybe not as much as that hyperactive Naruto, but enough... I thought.
"Then why don't you train more! I'm going to say it right now- You're weaker than Naruto." Obito retorted.
Sasuke's eyes flared red.
"It's true. You know. If Naruto went all out..." Obito gestured upwards. "You would lose."
Sasuke closed his eyes. I don't want to think that!
"There's no fast way to power... Mangenkyo has got to have some catch, like killing your closest friend, and Orochimaru wants your body." Obito snapped.
"Shut up!" Sasuke said loudly. He quieted down. "The next time we fight, I'll beat him up... definitely."
His eyes burned with determination.
Obito blinked then smiled. "If you say so."
1010101010
And... cut! Mostly 'cause I feel like it.