Difficult Engagements
Chapter 17
Insomnia
Gaara POV
Naruto starts talking and goes off on each of the constellations in the sky, pointing to them as he tells me their stories. After each one getting a little closer to me for warmth. I Iet a little smile out, letting him take over the entire conversation. It was just like the one of the first times we were here, the two of us just stared at the sky, and went over each one just like this.
Maybe I can't get him to remember, but I can remake some of the memories.
You're a fucking idiot. Trying to remake the past. That's not going to last.
Shukaku was right as I clarified later in the night, "Your previous sutor."
"Why?"
"I'm curious." I have to know if he's a real threat.
"Ummmm…" he seems so hesitant with his response.
"You can be honest with me."
"I, uh, well, I really liked him."
"Oh."
"I mean.. That was.. Before I met you..." he starts panicking like he doesn't want me to lose control.
Maybe Kyuubi was right.
Shut the fuck up with that. If I hear this talk one more time, I'm taking over and executing the man myself, like I should have earlier today.
I need to know the whole situation, I'm not risking anything this time... Too many things aren't adding up.
"No. Be honest with me. I don't want you to lie."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"You can't get mad at me. You said I could do this."
"Yes, Naruto, I won't be mad at you." I try to assure him, with a promise I know I can keep.
I could never be mad at him.
But you can get pretty mad…
Not that I'm complaining.
"I liked him a lot. He was really kind when I first met him. He didn't judge me and I felt safe with him. Okay?"
"Oh." Instead of anger, I feel the defeat of sadness take hold of my body.
Naruto felt safe with someone else.
"But then some stuff happened... and then he died… and everyone expected me to be over it right away. The same day I was told he was dead, I was told there was a replacement. Like he wasn't a person. And yeah, everyone told me that I only knew him for a few months, but it still hurts." he kept filling the air up with more and more words.
"And I'm grateful that you helped, or whatever, but it was a lot. A lot happened at once. And it felt like everyone just wanted me to be okay with it." He tries to cover everything he can.
I try to look at him, but I can't.
I failed him.
After some silence, he whispers out, "Sorry."
"I told you to be honest with me."
"Yeah, but I don't know, it's weird."
I don't know what to say, "You went through a lot in such a short time."
"Yeah." That word barely escapes his lips as his body starts to shake.
I reflexively wrapped my arms around Naruto, keeping him close to my body. Soft sobs start spilling over my chest. Not knowing what to say, I just hold him closer with each one. Eventually it quiets down as he finds himself falling into a deep slumber.
Since I was a child I never slept, Shukaku made sure of that. So while Naruto was able to find some peace from today, I was stuck here stewing in it. There were some good moments, but I kept fucking them up.
Ya' happy?
No.
If you did what I said at the beginning, you wouldn't be in this mess.
Maybe he's right.
No. I couldn't risk it. Nothing is adding up, Kyuubi is up to something.
You worry too much… mark the little fox in your arms. He's yours once you do that. Then we can finally kill Kyuubi, like you promised.
"Shut up… my friend." Naruto mumbled out, while his arm wrapped him closer to me.
Did he just remember?
Your mind is playing tricks on you. He's just sleeping, don't think too much into it.
"Shu-ku… Dumb-" the fox in my arms starts nuzzling closer to my chest.
He must be remembering. Is this a good thing?
No response came.
In the new found silence, I can practically hear my foxes heart pounding with how close his body is to mine. It's so loud that it echoes throughout my body. Maybe it's just mine.
I finally have what I have wanted for years lying in my arms. In Naruto's sleep any reservations he had about being close to me left his body. His body tangled up perfectly into mine again. This is everything that I was working for, but it feels so hollow now.
Unlike most nights, Shukaku doesn't bother me again.
6 Years Ago
The Final Fight.
"It's time for the long awaited fight, Uzumaki Naruto and Sabaku no Gaara!" an announcer shouts over the intercom system of the Sunagakure Arena.
"The two boys were the obvious contenders for the last battle of our International Tournament of Strength. Uzumaki Naruto stands the son of the great and powerful Kyuubi, can the foxes strength get past the Ultimate Sand Defense of our own Sabuku no Gaara?" The booming sound asks the question the entire audience has.
"Gaara will be at an advantage, seeing as the arena floor is covered in a layer of sand. Is that advantage going to be enough to beat the brute strength of the foxes famous Flamed Chakra?" The announcer continues to raise the stakes for the audience, ''What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?"
The audience didn't need much of a push to be hyped about this long awaited event. A fight between the two sons of the Kages was enough of a draw that anything the announcer said was just icing on top of the cake. This was going to be a public preview of anything that might happen between their two nations.
All eyes focused on the pair in the center of the arena, the most important being the Kages themselves. Both sharing the private Kage box with a few other important audience members. The Kyuubi was calm as ever, while the Kazekage was anxiously on the edge of his seat.
The Fox and Tanuki were at the center of the arena waiting to get this show on the road. The blonde stretched out his muscles to prepare for the upcoming battle, while the redhead stood rigidly stiff.
The bell rang.
Uncharacteristically, Naruto waited as his partner made the first move.
Sand erupted from Gaara's gourd marking the start of the fight. Everything was going smoothly, until the sand jerked down and almost dropped from the air as he flinched and grabbed for his head.
Gaara was desperately whispering to himself, "Please, I beg you don't get so mad at me."
"Stay with me, Gaa'! We're in the arena right now." The blonde's eyes desperately tried locked with the others.
No avail, the other was too busy fighting his own internal battle to focus on the one in front of him. Heavy breathing and eradicate movements of sand surrounding the two, were obvious indicators of a real problem about to happen.
Everyone in the audience was anxiously waiting for the first strike, but they were too far away to see the actual danger happening on the arena floor. Naruto knew if he didn't get a hold of the situation right away this could end in something a lot worse than any results of the competition for the two nations. He stood still for as long as he could trying not to provoke his sparring partner. The fox couldn't couldn't avoid taking action for too long.
"Gaara!" the fox boy threw two kunai at his partner knowing it would be caught by the sand, "With me! Okay?"
That seemed to do the trick, the pale green eyes snapped to a temporary focus, "Thanks."
"Anytime, just stay here with me." hoping that the other will do just that, he wouldn't be any danger if he could keep in control.
Naruto lunges forward prepared to punch the other boy when the sand descends down on him quickly. Trapping his leg and stopping any forward momentum. He quickly throws a kunai at the sand freeing his leg, and flips back to a better position.
Gaara flicks his wrist throwing 3 sand darts at the other boy who berly was able to dodge the first two. The boy got a small knick on his arm from the last dart. Everyone knew the redhead would be the first to draw blood.
With the dodge of the attack pushing Naruto even further back from the other he was at a disadvantage. His opponent was a distance fighter and he was not. The fox had to close the gap quickly before the match was over without much fanfare.
Sand started to swirl around the redhead's feet in a protective manner, covering him in a full ball except for his eyes. He was in one of his first defensive positions, from here he would be protected from all sides and able to keep Naruto at bay long enough to try to wear him out.
Naurto knew he had to take this opportunity to run forward and strike the small opening. Each step forward he had to dodge a spike of sand erupting from the ground. When he finally managed to make it to his opponents strong hold, the sand spiked out in a porcupine defence strategy slicing up the blonde's arms. Red chakra starts spilling out from the cuts healing him as he prepares his next strike.
"You're not in any danger right now. No matter what that stupid voice says." He reminds his friend, not sure he got to him the first time.
The small opening in the stronghold closes up as Gaara is now fully protected in his sad cocoon. It wasn't a good sign.
Naruto couldn't let the other stay inside his head for too long. Alone inside the first sand defense, his opponent would have nothing to keep him safe from himself.
The fox wraps the red chakra around his arm, ready to try to break open the defensive shell. He pulls back for a full swing and pierces right through the sand barrier connecting with Gaara's face. The sand shards out from the impact of the blast cutting through more of Naruto's skin, which almost instantly heals.
The sand collapses down on Gaara exposing his body, now with a bloody nose and bruised cheek. All the watchers in the audience now know the sand defense is not as impenetrable as they once thought.
As the redhead lifts his newly damaged body from the ground, he manipulates his sand to transform into a racoon shape around his form. None of the blue markings of the cursed jinchuriki appear on his sand body.
Naruto sighs in relief.
The fox now knows he can do this next move as his friend is in control. He releases more red chakra from each of the cuts that just formed, healing himself as he creates his own flamed chakra fox form around himself.
"You ready?" Naruto taunts, preparing for the next stage of their battle.
"Yeah." a sick grin ripps across Gaara's face, as things were going according to plan.
The red chakra infused boy flips forward landing his foot on top of the other's head, only to have it absorbed by the sand body. The sand quickly drags the leg down then morphs into a hand to flings the fox towards the back wall of the arena.
Naruto quickly flips in the air landing his feet against the wall, to propel himself back to his sparring partner.
He lands by slamming Gaara's body down to the ground in one swift movement. Naruto legs pinning either side of the other's body down. There was practically no distance between the two boys now, giving the fox the advantage.
The flaming red chakra surrounding his body gave an uneven surface for the sand to grasp on to. Unfortunately the sand was also an uneven surface to break through as he learned as he started striking the other. Each punch either squishes into the surface or being met by a hard surface. It would be hard to land another real hit.
Gaara waits out each strike as he starts collecting the sand of the arena floor to bury himself deeper into its protection. When he finally collects enough, like a wave he uses it to dip himself under and then pushes the other boy off of him.
It was Gaara's turn to be on top.
The fox is now beneath him, restrained at all sides. The red chakra being absorbed by the sand as the blonde tries to struggle for dominance. Gaara smirking on top, knowing he was in the power position now.
Eventually the fox is able to free one arm. With this new found freedom he immediately strikes Gaara in the face, sending him flying. Allowing him to escape the stand trap entirely.
The two continued this dance of dominance for as long as they could. With each action the entire area filled with more dust and sand. Finally obscuring the view of the audience of the two boys.
Eventually, as the sand settled the audience could see the arena again. The two were in the same spot as the beginning, flat on their backs with exhaustion. Naruto turned his head to see his friend, and smirked with a thumbs up. Gaara nodded.
"With only a few seconds left on the timer, it looks like both boys are down for the count!" The announcer shouted the obvious scene in front of everyone.
A second before the final bell rings, Uzumaki Naruto stands to the shock of the entire audience.
The blonde goes over to his friend and reaches out a hand for him, immediately to be taken by the redhead. The fox boy pulls him up in one swift motion, pulling his hand to his chest, and wrapping the other arm around his waist for a quick hug.
With the biggest grin on his face, "See I told you we could do it."
"... Yeah." Gaara admits the blonde's plans always seemed to work.
Naruto steps to the side raising both of their clasped hands up as the audience cheers.
"Both boys look like they could do a round two, but it seems like they are going to end it here! Uzumaki Naruto is the victor!" the news echoes throughout the arena.
"Remind me next time not to let your dad talk to you before a fight." Naruto laughs, "He's got away about getting into your head. You already got two voices up in there, you don't need a third."
"Shut up or I'll kill you." Gaara tried to joke, anyone from the outside would hear it as a legitimate threat.
"Oh, could you? Because you hear that, it sounds like I just won?" he puts his hands to his ear listening to the crowd cheering.
"Only because this is a show." Knowing they picked the winner based off whose dad would be less pissed at the outcome. "If this were real you'd be dead."
"If this were real I wouldn't have gone easy on you." He wraps his arm around the others shoulders shaking a fist in the air for the audience to see his joy. The redhead stands with his arms crossed, accepting the physical affection with a small almost unseen smile.
"Both seem to be good sports about this! Truly showing the great alliance between The Fire and The Wind!" The announcer goes on.
It's just the two of us in the locker room washing up before the final ceremony tonight. Naruto is apologetically cleaning off the dried blood from my face with a damp rag. His hand cupped over my bruised cheek, he's the only one who's ever been able to break through my defense.
The only difference is everyone saw it this time.
I almost never get hurt. I don't like it, it stings. I know it's not life threatening, but I don't like it. I don't like the smell of my own blood, either, the copper smell is more intense than anything else. I hate it.
Naruto gets hurt all the time, he just heals it really fast. Is this what I put him through each time?
A warmth radiates off of Naruto's hand into my cheek, he grins wildly at the sight. Slowly the stinging feeling starts to disappear from the area. I glance down at his hand so close to me, red chakra is softly humming around it.
"That should help." his smile doesn't leave his face that is now even closer to mine.
He's gotta leave tomorrow, today's my last day with him at least for a couple of months if not longer. He's going on another one of his trips again after this. Each time he leaves now it's longer until he returns.
I should tell him, I don't know the next time he's going to be here.
As soon as you tell him you'll be all alone again. He's going to abandon you.
He won't. He might not like it but he won't abandon me. He promised.
"Hey, um, Naruto?" Even with all this courage, I'm still worried he might leave me.
"Sorry… I should have been more careful." he tilts his head to look me in the eyes now, "I was just worried with the way you were acting at the beginning."
"No, it's not that." This might be a bad idea.
What if we can't do this? What if I tell him-
And he hates you?
"Shut up in there. My friend is trying to say something." he lightly taps at the side of my head that holds my scar.
Fuck. At least Shukaku is quiet now, but now I'm just standing awkwardly in front of him. This was a bad idea.
"I like you." I managed to finally say out loud.
Naruto laughed… fuck. "Yeah, and I like you too. Was that it?"
"No, I like you." Naruto doesn't seem to understand what I mean.
"Yeah, and I like you."
Is he a fucking idiot?
"No. Naruto. I like you. I -" he kissed me. It was short and sweet, just enough to shut me up.
"I got you the first time." he laughed, hand now on the back of my head "I thought you knew I liked you. I just didn't know if we could be together… or if you even wanted to be. I mean I thought I made it pretty obvious… so I figured you either didn't like me back or if you even did like me… I don't think our parents would like that idea… and what would that even mean, you're from Sun-"
Then I kissed him. Fuck.
"Why don't we worry about all of that later." I say to him, not wanting to think about all the complex political issues wrapped up in this kiss.
I just want to enjoy his company right now. We can figure this out later. Fuck, his lips are so intoxicating that I don't stop myself. I'm on top of him feeling every inch of him that I can while he's still here.
He presses back into the kiss, parting his lips just enough for me to gently lick my way into his willing mouth. His own tongue twisting and dancing with mine in a playful battle. Naruto's breaths start becoming shorter and shorter, panting against my lips with need, desperately wanting more, but needing air. He pulls away abruptly gasping for air, a string of saliva still connects me to his kiss-swollen lips. Naruto's soft blue eyes are hazed over in lust.
This was our first real kiss and I want to remember it. I wanted to burn this memory into my brain and never forget it. I am atop Naruto Uzamaki, the crown Prince of Konoha and he is looking into my eyes wanting more. I own this moment with him forever.
Fuck, I need him.
"Gaara." My father is in the doorway looking disapproving at us.
I didn't notice him coming in.
"Yeah," I jumped almost a full foot away from Naruto. My dad's looking very disapproving of what he just walked in on.
"I wanted to talk to you about your match… but now I think I understand it." his eyes are casting a disapproving stare at me.
"Haha, well we knew how important it was to put on a show for everyone. Our family's are good allies, you know how important those are." Naruto was laughing, but that sounded like a threat to anyone who knew him.
Our nation has one of the largest land masses, but it's quite unstable politically. For the last couple of years, Kyuubi has been using his influence to help us stabilize in exchange for natural resources. It's also why I was born, and why they did this to me. I was supposed to be the Savior of Suna, but just became the monster of it.
"So we made sure it was big and flashy for everyone to see. Kept it close too, didn't want anyone thinking we were on unequal ground. Made sure to time out to the buzzer too. I think we did good?" He keeps going on taunting my dad with how successful our plan was.
"If I didn't know any better, it's almost like you didn't want Gaara to keep his cool." he accuses. This was his threat. This was his way of telling my dad to back off.
"Lucky, I know better, you would never do anything to make Gaara lose control… Right?" This is an attack. I've only ever seen Naruto get like this a few times.
He's cool and confident. Leaning back against the couch arm slung over the back of it. His arm was almost close enough to be protective around me. Taking up as much space as he can to show dominance. Big happy grin on his face, with a touch of malice in his eyes. Staring down my father to tell him to back off.
"I was very proud of you two today, for your show of strength." each word was pained out of his mouth, my father admitted defeat.
"Good. I'm glad." Naruto grinned.
"Yes. Well, we have to finish getting ready for the ceremony, you'll be walking in with your brother and sister today." he never let me do that before.
I'm usually either not invited or made to be in the background of these things. He doesn't like showing off his failed experiment.
I make one last glance at Naruto before I leave with my father to finish getting ready. He gives me a large smile, happy from the victory over my father. The toothy grin filled me with warmth and safety.
"Be careful around foxes." my father warns me once we're alone. The rest of our walk was made in pure cold cutting silence.
"Sabaku no Gaara." my name was announced to this room for the first time.
Everyone pauses and looks at me, I scan each face looking for Naruto. He's much better than me in these social settings, but he's nowhere to be found.
"Don't worry, he'll be here later, remember, the Hokage likes to arrive late." My sister whispers over when she notices my anxiety.
I'm not usually here to know these things. I try to cling to my sibling most of the night.
"Lord Gaara," someone I don't recognize comes up to me, "I saw your match today! You really kept that fox boy on his toes. I totally think if you kept going you would have kicked his ass."
Perfect, then our plan went off without a problem. People will see the strength in Suna, while still respecting the strength of The Kyuubi.
"The timer ran out, so, I don't think we'll ever really know that." I say as diplomatically as I can.
"Haha, being modest I see. Well our clan saw you, and we recognize your power."
I'm gaining the confidence of the people.
Shukaku seems to quiet down when I'm more confident in myself. Maybe I really can get rid of his voice one day. I chatted for a little longer with this clan leader trying not to worry too much.
I kept glancing at the door throughout the night, Tamari wasn't kidding when she said he likes to arrive late. Just when I was about to ask her again the doors opened.
"Introducing, The Kyuubi and partner Uzumaki Minato and son Uzumaki Naruto."
His parents in front. The Kyuubi was his title, he always preferred it to Hokage. He was in traditional Kage Robes. His husband was dressed in something vaguely femine. No one was sure why he did that or what to refer to him as. So everyone tried to keep it gender neutral, hoping not to get it wrong.
Naruto is dressed in nice fitted orange linen slacks, and a black jacket folded three quarters at the sleeves. His family's crest on a red arm band. He made a point to look vaguely military without going overboard, he never liked looking like a threat at parties. Ever since he presented he seems to try to reinforce that his life isn't going to change because of it.
"Your knight in shining armor is here." Tamari jokes. I think she is just glad to get rid of me, she's been talking to some beta boy from Konoha all night.
"Shouldn't it be the other way around?" the man I now know as Shikamaru asked, probably alluding to Naruto's secondary gender.
"No." I don't elaborate.
My sister does, "He hates these parties. If he even comes he clings to me all night, that is, until blondie over there does me a favor and takes him off my hands."
"Sounds troublesome."
"It's a lot of responsibility, but someone has to take care of everything around here." I think she's trying to impress the beta, "I swear everything would fall apart without me."
I should help her.
"You are very good at maintaining order." I complimented her, in hopes that it would help.
"That's because everyone else here is so bad at it." she says.
"Tamari, are you being mean to your brother again?" Naruto's voice rings out as he joins us.
"Me? Bully my baby brother, I wouldn't dream of it." She makes a joke. When we were kids she never would have said anything like that, but our relationship has actually gotten a lot better.
"So you're the knight in shining armor?" Shikamaru asked.
"Ah, so you've heard of me." he holds his hand to his chest fanning intrigue, "Yeah, you can call me that. You're one of my father's guys right?"
"Not toni-"
Before Tamari can continue with what she's saying she is cut off by the beta, "Not exactly, my father is, but they are training me to become one of your strategists."
"Oh then I should probably tell you, as my future strategists, you probably should avoid pissing off one of our best allies." he said pointing to my sister, then whispering, "She's the scariest of all the Sabaku siblings, and you don't want to get on her bad side."
"I don't have a bad side." she remarks.
"Oh, my mistake, she has absolutely no bad sides, and is definitely not terrifying." he jokes, before grabbing my arm, "I'm stealing him now. You two have fun, ya hear."
I'm dragged away before that conversation could get any more awkward.
"I'm terrified of her." Naruto says to me when we're finally out of ear shot. "Who knows what she'll do to me."
"She wouldn't hurt you." I reassure him.
"I think she would, but it's nice to know I'm safe." he flashes a smile while laughing.
"About earlier…" now that it's just the two of us as close as it we'll be to being alone tonight.
"I'm sorry about that," He rubs the back of his head in embarrassment, "I didn't mean to-"
I cut him off, "It's okay."
Of course he didn't mean to kiss me.
"No, it's not. I shoudn't have done that, it was stupid of me."
"I said it's fine." It's like he wants to add insult to injury.
"It's not. I acted on impulse again, you could have gotten seriously hurt."
"Huh?"
"In the fight. I shouldn't have broken your shield, especially not in front of everyone."
"I don't care about the fight."
"Then what?" He thinks for a second, "Your dad? He's an asshole. He deserves to be put in his place sometimes. He definitely tried to rile you up before the fight, and you're going to have to tell me what he said, because it got you on edge."
"It's not about the fight or my dad."
"Then what?" Naruto puts me on the spot.
"... The kiss?"
He grins, "Ohhhhh?"
"Yes."
"Well if you want another one, you're going to have to wait, we are at a party. I'm sure your guest would hate it if I took up all of your time." He gestures around us to the gathering set before us.
"I mean…" I can wait.
"We'll deal with all of this later, okay? Let's have fun tonight, I have to leave tomorrow."
"Okay." He's right, I should just enjoy the moment right now.
After all the confusion, Naruto quickly became my life raft to this party. I'm still not used to all of the attention being this positive. People usually just avoid me, but now they are coming up to me in droves.
Naruto al always loves being the life of the party. The blonde is impressing everyone with his feats in battle or knowledge of far off lands. He makes sure to talk me up when I don't seem to know what to say. Just being this close to him seems to be getting me some of his good will too.
Even though I… like? The new attention. I really just like being around my friend… that I told I liked and kissed earlier.
I still don't know what it means. He said we'll deal with it later, but I don't like that.
Towards the end of the night Naruto's mood seems to shift. He seems on edge about something, he's looking around the room for something or someone. His conversations with people become shorter. I worry that it's me, or the kiss from earlier causing my friends new found anxiety.
"They are gone." he whispers to himself. It's not me. Good.
"Who?"
"Stay here," he says orders that I don't plan on following. Naruto usually let's me in on his plans, no matter what they are for. So this really must be serious. I wait a few minutes after he's left to follow.
They are in a remote part of my family's house far away from the main party. I scan around looking for any signs of where he could have gone.
"I said, get your hands off of him!" Naruto's voice is full of rage, he has Kyuubi's wrist locked in his hand. His red Chakra is burning flesh as fast as The Kyuubi is healing it. He almost seems afraid of his son, because he's not moving an inch.
Hands off of who?
And then I see it, his dad is laying on the ground behind me bruised up.
"I told you to stay back, Gaa'."
Naruto knows it's me without looking, but me entering seems to have distracted him long enough to give Kyuubi the advantage. He starts to fling his son towards the wall, but I use my sand to brace the impact for him.
I know Naruto would want his dad to have a clean escape. I place my body between them, using my sand shield to create a wall between him and Kyuubi.
"Get out of here." I say as calmly as possible to the man on the ground. Building the wall thicker. I don't know how well it will do against the Kyuubi, but I'm going to try.
"You sure you want to do this, boy?" the older man looks at me with a twisted smile, like he wouldn't hesitate to kill me.
Ooo a good fight, let me join.
No. I can't lose control.
"My allegiance is to Naruto." I announce. I don't care if this isn't the right thing to do.
Let me join in.
"Gaara." he says, recovering from being slammed full force against the wall. His red Chakra beaded out from his cuts. "Leave while you still can."
I don't know if Naruto means before I can't control myself or if Kyuubi kills me. I remember him broken and bruised crawling towards me, he wouldn't leave me. "No."
"Kyuubi, I don't care to know what is going on here, but it stops here. We might be allies, but you still are on forigen land. You will abide by our rule." I don't know what's taking over me. It's not Shukaku, is this my voice?
"Your nation wouldn't exist without me." he laughs, it's true, he continues his taunting, "You wouldn't have existed without me either."
Let me at this bastard.
I can't lose control right now… Naruto needs me here.
"He talks to you doesn't he? Does he still want me dead?" he's ignoring his son to taunt me. Which probably wasn't a good idea, because Naruto just attached his fist to his father's jaw.
"Stop it, this doesn't involve him, it's a family matter." Naruto says.
Am I not family?
No, he'll never see you as his family. So why don't you let me at his dear papa.
"I think you hurt your friend more than me with that pathetic hit, dear Naru-chan." he saw the flash of pain in my eyes and used it against his own son.
"Gaara that's not what I meant." everytime he is talking to me he gets distracted long enough for his father to land a hit. His father clawed at his arm causing him to bleed profusely, it's taking a millisecond longer to heal than normal.
I shouldn't be here, I'm making it worse.
Then let me be here.
He jumps back to stand directly in front of me, he reassures me, "He just beats my dad. I don't want you to get in the middle of it. I can handle the backlash of this, you're a forigen power, you can't."
I hate this kid. I just want to kill Kyuubi!
Just like you do.
"Your dad's probably out of here by now." I direct his attention to the foot thick sand wall between us and the door.
"Thanks." he knows I'm not leaving his side.
I nod.
"You're not going to keep doing this father," he says firmly. "Dad is nothing but a kind man, and you treat him like shit."
His father flings 5 fire red Chakra darts at us, I use my sand to protect us. It penetrates deeper than any of Naruto's, almost breaking through my sand barrier. I used a lot of energy at the fight today. I don't know how long I will be able to keep us safe.
"That stops today." Naruto lunges at his father going for the neck. His father his stomach with such force it knocks him back, he's bleeding profusely from it. I wait to see if he gets up.
He's not healing.
Let me at his old man and I'll keep him safe.
Fine.
"This is my regard to you keeping me entertained until now. I'll set you see the real power of the sand incarnation." I released myself to the cursed voice inside.
"Yahoo! I'm finally able to come out!"
The last thing I see is my sand covering Naruto's bleeding body, he is going to be safe.
When I finally awoke there was a mound of dead bodies filling the room. I don't know how they got there. It was an excessive show of gore and violence. My sand is soaked thoroughly in blood that it can barely move under the weight.
My back is against the wall. Naruto with his arms wrapped around my legs and his head landed on my upper thigh.
He's still bleeding.
I placed my hand on Naruto's upper back. I think we were defeated. Kyuubi's body towers over the two of us with a large smirk on his face.
"I always win. Remember that." his eyes screamed victory, but there was a scar already imbued in his forearm from what Naruto did earlier.
He can be broken.
A few weeks later I awoke in a hospital. I was told all of this happened because outside invaders were found attacking Kyuubi's wife. That Naruto and I tried our best to protect him. We apparently were able to do so long enough for Kyuubi to save the day.
It's a great cover story.
I was also told Kyuubi didn't feel it was safe allowing his family to come over to our country any more. He didn't feel safe with me being out of control, even if "I saved his wife." No one was surprised by this. No one feels safe around me because of Shukaku.
Our alliance would still be in place. Which I'm glad I didn't fuck that up for my family. They just started respecting me.
I have a new goal in life, destroy The Kyuubi, get control of Shukaku, and regain everyone's trust.
What's up demon's? It's ya' boi.
So while I try to give everyone equal-ish POV time. The first third of this was mostly Itachi, the second third will mostly be Gaara, and the final will mostly be Naruto. I just feel it's the best way to make this story unravel. You're not going to miss out on any story lines, we're just foucing on some more than others.
For the next chapter, I am debating if I should finish out the Oasis area, and then move to Itachi again, or if I want to go see what Itachi is up to, then finish out the Oasis area. I'm going to read both and see which one flows better for the next chapter. lmk if you have a preference.
There will be a lot more flashbacks now. I do have a pretty good idea of the timeline of things, but I don't have a beta reader or anything so I might mess up… Which sucks because I also intentionally try to have unreliable narrators. I am probably going to make myself a full timeline for it soon just so I have a reference point.
The flashbacks are going to have a lot of my favorite trope: two idiots who clearly like each other don't realize it until it's almost too late. I'm hoping that mixed with the current predicament of the timeline, where they are together-ish, it will create some much needed tension.
TigrezzTail Oh I know… I'm sorry, it gets worse. It will get better, I promise, but it gets worse before it gets better.