Kei-Kei Yuki: Re-reading Neji chapter made thinking of how shall I write his fate in this story. Neji was one of my favorite characters and it honestly broke my heart when he died.

Beta: Ana-DaughterofHades

Drabble Twenty-Six

Light and Darkness: Gaara and Naruko

Dramatically and at the last second, Kakashi appeared with Sasuke. Seeing the two brought a large smile to Sakura's face; the young kunoichi had been worried about the Uchiha since the whole curse mark incident that took place in the Second Exam. Appearing down below right in front of them, stood Naruko, pointing right at Sasuke.

"Teme... You look more girly than you did before! Cut you freaking hair already, and why are you so late? Trying to appear all cool like: 'Yo, I'm Uchiha Sasuke. Bow to me.'" Naruko did her best imitation of Sasuke which got a laugh out of Kakashi and the proctor. Sasuke only increased his glare towards the blonde, aggravated that after all this time of being separated, the first thing she said to him was that his appearance was girly.

"Judging by your spirits, I take it that you won?" asked Sasuke.

"Of course! I defeated Hyuuga Neji, last year Rookie of the Year! Praise me!" Naruko beamed those large adorable azure eyes at Kakashi and Sasuke, which in their eyes, Naruko had grown a pair of fox ears and a tail waving happily behind her, eagerly awaiting to be praised. Reaching out a hand, Kakashi patted Naruko's head.

"Good job, Naru-chan. Sensei is very proud of you."

"Hn."

"Damn you, Sasuke-seme, at least say something other than 'hn' all the time!" yelled Naruko. Seeing the blonde acting like her usual self caused Sasuke to smirk. Even though he wasn't one to admit it, it was nice seeing Naruko again after being separated from her for so long.

Sasuke was taken by surprise when Naruko invaded his personal space, cupping his face as she bought it closer to her own, wearing a serious expression on her face. "Listen to me, teme, that Gaara guy is no joke. You gotta be careful around him, ya hear me! This guy already put Busy-Brow in the hospital and if that happens again..." Naruko showed a worried expression that honestly earned a weird reaction from Sasuke, such as his heart pounding hard in his chest.

The raven-haired boy was already fighting himself from blushing to the amusement of Kakashi, who was watching on the sidelines. Itching to hear what Naruko had to say, Sasuke leaned forward only for him to oddly feel crushed when she said, "Poor Sakura-chan would cry a river of tears! So watch yourself!" Sasuke may still be blind to his true feelings, but Kakashi knew that deep down Sasuke was hoping Naruko would've said that she would be the one crying a river tears and not Sakura if something happened to him.

"Ah, young love," uttered Kakashi.

"Tch, troublesome idiots," muttered Shikamaru, whose presence was forgotten, eyeing both Sasuke and Naruko.

Sitting in the audience, Ino was ranting about Naruko invading Sasuke's personal space and touching on him. "Sakura, how come you're not angry? That idiot just totally made a move on Sasuke!" yelled Ino. Honestly, Sakura also wondered the same thing, seeing how in the past she had reacted differently, though now...

"I guess it's because Sasuke-kun is nowhere on Naruko's radar," Sakura calmly responded to which Ino felt kinda silly to have acted the way she did.

"Naruko has really changed you, Sakura," admitted Ino, earning herself a confused look from Sakura. Since Sasuke had finally arrived, the crowd was now pleased and the battle between Sasuke and Gaara was underway; everything was normal. At least it was until everything slowly started going to hell in a handbasket when sand ninjas suddenly invaded.

After regaining consciousness, Sasuke followed the sound of destruction and Naruko's voice that rang throughout the forest, despite Sakura calling out to him. Nothing could prepare him for the battle he witnessed between Gaara and Naruko. Sasuke knew that Naruko had become stronger, but this was unheard of!

"Sasuke-kun, wait up..." Sakura stood there frozen after having watched over the unconscious Sasuke as Naruko ordered her to do before she fought Gaara.

"Sakura-chan, watch over Sasuke-teme while I take care of this guy."

When the two changed location, Sakura stayed behind to watch over Sasuke until the raven-haired Uchiha finally woke up. Only, as soon as Sasuke woke up, the first thing he did was follow after Naruko's voice with Sakura trailing behind him, worriedly calling out to him. Though even she wasn't prepared for the battle that was currently taking place.

"Is this... really N-Naruko?" questioned Sakura, something which Sasuke was also wondering. Gaara had transformed into a monster, and Naruko was riding on top of a gigantic toad that somehow transformed into the legendary Kyubi, both leveling the landscape with their attacks.

Witnessing such an intense battle, both Sasuke and Sakura had a hard time believing that this Naruko, who was fiercely battling the monster-like Gaara, was the same class-clown and failure that everyone used to pick on. Body cloaked with red-chakra, bruises scattered all over her body, Naruko rushed straight towards Gaara with her fist.

"I refuse to let you harm... my precious people!" Naruko screamed, decking Gaara straight in his face.

'Hot-tempered and fierce, never yielding, and protective. Though she is still clumsy, there is potential,' thought Gamabuta, before disappearing with Gamakichi.

"Such sad and lonely eyes. We are a lot alike, but we are so very different as well. You fight for only yourself, while I fight for those that I love." Naruko shakingly made her way over to Gaara, and just as she got close enough, she lost all strength in her legs, collapsing right beside him.

"Before I met Ruka-nee, I used to cry a lot. I hated everyone for treating me differently. For calling me a monster. The hatred of their glares, the unbearable loneliness, questioning your existence each day that passed. I too have felt that same way." Naruko reached out her hand, causing Gaara to flinch as he yelled out,

"Just how can you put your life on the line protecting other people! It doesn't make any sense! Tell me!"

"Because... I have people who I cherish. They are what give me strength. If I didn't have them, then I wouldn't be the person who I am today. Looking into your eyes, I can tell that buried deep down inside you is a very kind soul that just wants to be accepted. I can relate, so how about we be friends? That way, you'll never be alone again, ne~!" Naruko shot Gaara a large cheesy smile; such purity and kindness overwhelmed the red-headed teen.

"Do you really mean that? Wanting to become... my friend?"

"... I never go back on my word. Besides... something tells me you could really use one," smiled Naruko, the fatigue of her battle with Gaara finally catching up with her. Just as Naruko was about to fall over Gaara, a pair of hands caught her, hearing two worried voices call out to her.

"Naruko!" Sakura called out to her first.

"Dobe, don't move," said Sasuke, lifting the blonde in his arms just as one of her pigtails came undone. The red ribbon that tied the pigtail fell to the ground.

"My ribbon...! Please p-pick up... my ribbon..." Naruko was fighting herself to stay conscious, confusing the two for why Naruko was panicking over a ribbon. Watching Sakura reach down and pick up her treasured item, Naruko felt satisfied and surrendered to the darkness, faintly hearing Sasuke and Sakura distressingly calling out her name.

For some odd reason, while unconscious, Naruko recalled an old memory. A young Naruko was standing in front of the Old-Man, showing off her new hairdo. "Old-Man, what do you think? Doesn't Naru-chan look pretty!" eagerly asked Naruko. Sarutobi chuckled at the small blonde, reaching out a hand to pat her head.

"Maa, you have certainly become prettier, Naru-chan."

"Really? It's all thanks to Anbu-san who took the time out and did Naru-chan's hair for her. Look! He put pretty ribbons in it!" Naruko excitedly pointed towards the red ribbons in her hair. Just last night, Anbu-san took the time to comb out her messy blonde locks and put them in proper pigtails, using two red ribbons to finish the look. It was one of the nicest gestures that Anbu-san ever did for her before he suddenly disappeared from her life.

In the depth of her mind, unaware of situation outside and of the death of the Third Hokage, Naruko asked herself, 'Just why did I recall that memory from so long ago? Weird, I'm getting this bad premonition. Old-Man, something better not has happened to you while I was away!'

End of Drabble Twenty-Six