A/N: Sorry it's late, I'm still moping about what's happening with the manga. D:

This chapter may suffer a bit. Sorry again.


The newly transformed Gamabunta growled and leaped towards the opposing tailed beast. Naruto crouched down and grabbed hold of the former toad's head.

"S-Slow down!" Naruto yelled. Gamabunta rolled his eyes and sped forward. "HEY!"

"Shut it brat! This transformation won't last long!" Naruto gulped and clung tighter to the transformed fur. Gamabunta latched onto the sand beast, who screeched at him, and gestured for Naruto to head towards the sleeping redhead.

"R-Right! Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Three other Narutos ran ahead of him, weaving in and out of the many sand tendrils that threatened to stab them. The real Naruto dashed forwards as well, and used one of his clones as a spring-board to launch himself towards Gaara. A large pop and a plume of smoke behind him signaled Gamabunta's transformation back to a toad. Naruto raised a fist as he closed in on the redhead, and grit his teeth. "GAARA!" He yelled, and thrust his fist forward. Just as it was about to connect, a whip of sand smacked it down, making him tumble. "Ah!" The sand crept up around him, slowly encasing his legs.

"KID! DO SOMETHING!" Gamabunta called, slashing down with his blade. Naruto struggled against the sand that was now at waist-height. His eyes widened slightly as the sand tightened and crept higher. 'FOX! I need some of your power NOW!' He shouted into his mind, hoping that the demon in his gut would respond. A flood of the heavy red chakra rushed out of his navel, pushing the sand away from him violently. Naruto grinned and rushed forward again, fist raised, as the red chakra died down. The sand behind him whipped towards him, wrapping around his arm and waist, tugging him away from the redhead. Naruto growled, and pushed on until his body was but a few inches from the other boy.

"WAKE UP!" Naruto slammed his head down onto the Gaara's, effectively waking him. Gaara's eyes widened at the sight of Naruto's face so close.

"You! But how-" Gaara started, being cut off by the giant demon below him screeching in pain and dissolving. Naruto fell back without the sand to hold him, as did Gaara. They landed on opposite trees, staring across the few metres separating staring in defiance and Gaara glaring in hatred. "...how? How are you so strong! You're just like me! Why are-"

"BECAUSE OF MY FRIENDS!" Naruto yelled, interrupting Gaara.

"USELESS!" Gaara shouted back, and Naruto scowled before crouching low. Gaara copied his motion. After a second, they both launched towards the other, fist raised, ready to determine who was the winner. Naruto thrust his fist forward, socking Gaara in the cheek, making the his head snap back and sending him flying to the ground. Naruto twisted mid-air and landed on the ground in a crouch, but teetered forward in exhaustion. Gaara lay on his back, staring up to the shifted his eyes to look at the blond.

"...it's almost unbearable, isn't it?" Naruto started, making Gaara frown in confusion. "The horrible pain of being alone. I know the feeling; I've been in that dark and lonely place all alone..." Gaara returned his attention to the sky. Naruto slowly tried to get up on his hands and knees. "But now... now I have people who mean a lot to me, and I care more about them than I do myself, ya' know." Naruto sat back, unable to continue any further than getting to his knees. "And I won't let anyone hurt them!" Gaara turned his head to the blond, and saw his glare. Gaara closed his eyes and shifted his head back. "I will stop you, even if I have to kill you! They saved me from that loneliness, they saved me from myself! They accepted me for who I was and they're my friends!" Naruto gathered his strength, just enough to start a slow crawl towards Gaara.

"...I... friends... what are they like?" Gaara asked, making Naruto pause. "I've... never had any..." Naruto let a small smile cross his face.

"What're you talkin' about?" Gaara cracked open his eyes and looked at the blond, just as he fell over onto his side and blue eyes closed. "Ya' got me..." Naruto continued, before his breathing evened out. Gaara felt someone try to pick him up, and turned to see his siblings. Kankurou had a kunai out, and was staring at the downed blond.

"Kankurou... enough. Take me home..." His siblings shared a look, before looping their arms around him. As they hobbled into the trees, Gaara let a smallsmile grace his face and muttered, "Temari... Kanurou... I'm sorry..."