A/N: Since this is done and everyone has been waiting so patiently I decided to post this tonight. I hope you all enjoy.

Beta: Angelslaugh

Chapter 12

Naruto woke to Sakura poking him in the shoulder. As soon as he rubbed the bleariness from his eyes the sight and sound of fighting came from all around him, he knew something went very wrong. He tried to get some information about what had happened and what had caused him to pass out as she moved to wake Shikamaru, but it seemed as if things were serious enough for her not to have the time to explain right at that moment.

He watched passively as a small ninja dog bit Shikamaru and the boy jerked up in pain while Sakura berated the lazy genin for faking being under a genjutsu. Naruto took a good look around at that and saw most of the spectators slumped over in their seats. That actually explained part of his question and brought up so many more, like where were Sasuke and Gaara because they were no longer in the arena from what he could see. For a moment he wanted to panic but Sasuke was a skilled ninja and he could hold his own until backup arrived.

Seconds later Shino and Neji appeared behind the group with Haku and Zabuza not far behind them. Before anyone could say anything, Gai flew past Naruto and using an enemy ninja's body, punched a hole in the outer wall. Kakashi paused when there was a lull in the fighting and started giving orders.

"Zabuza, stay and help out here. Haku, stick to Zabuza, you're still too low on chakra to do much." He stopped to take down an enemy before quickly continuing. "You 5 follow Pakkun, he'll lead you to Sasuke. If what you said about Gaara is correct then you'll need to stop him and get somewhere safe."

No one argued. When Pakkun jumped from the hole, they all silently followed.

…

By the end of Sakura's explanation, Shikamaru was grumbling about having to come on this mission and covertly scanning the area, Shino was impassive as usual and Neji had activated his Byakugan.

Pakkun warned the group of 9 enemy shinobi following them and Neji confirmed the fact. With Shikamaru's quick thinking it was decided he and Neji would stay behind to confront and delay them.

Neji and Shikamaru fell back and the two groups split up, neither looking back but silently wishing each other good luck in their coming battles.

…

Pakkun could sense that they were closer now and just before he could alert his companions, one of the ninja's ahead of them broke off from the rest. The dog could tell it wasn't Sasuke so it must have been one of the Sand ninja and whoever it was, was approaching fast. He had enough time to yell "Incoming," before Kankuro was there in front of them and being blocked by Shino.

"Keep going, I'll keep him busy." Shino advised them.

"Right," Pakkun nodded. "This way." He leapt to another tree branch with Sakura right behind him. Naruto hesitated for a second; he placed a hand lightly on Shino's shoulder murmuring a quick and quiet "Be careful," before he too followed.

Shino watched Naruto's retreating back from the corner of his eye and silently promised to finish this quickly.

…

Pakkun, Sakura and Naruto were just in time to see Sasuke and Gaara flying away from each other; Sasuke stilled and lay unmoving so Sakura and Pakkun went to his side while Naruto stood in between them and the monstrous thing that Gaara had become.

Naruto kept an eye on Gaara while he crouched on a branch not far from them and listened as Sakura spoke to Sasuke while he attempted to get up on his own. Naruto tried to keep calm but he recognized the feel of the chakra rolling off the Sand ninja, it wasn't exactly the same but it was similar enough to when he met the Fox, that he knew beyond all doubt that Gaara was in the process of becoming the thing that was sealed within him.

He had a split second to realize that Gaara was getting ready to attack and screamed for his teammates to move. Unfortunately, Sasuke couldn't move without help and Sakura wasn't quite strong enough to get him out of the way fast enough so instead she pulled a Kunai and when Gaara flew past Naruto faster than he expected she met him head on and while she had grown a little bit faster and stronger, she was not a match for someone like Gaara. And so he pinned her to a tree with a claw made of sand.

Naruto wasn't even sure he was a match for Gaara; yeah he could tap into the Fox's chakra and use it to a point but this guy was becoming the monster, however he couldn't just leave Sasuke and Sakura to be killed while he stood there scared. "Gaara, leave them be. If you want a fight I'll give you one but they can't do that for you." He tried to negotiate.

When there wasn't a response from Gaara he charged him but it did no good when Gaara's sand attacked from his left and he was forced to dodge it. Gaara pulled away from his two comrades, his arm separating from the claw pinning Sakura. And worse, he started transforming even further.

"The sand won't release her unless you defeat me and on top of that, it will keep getting tighter over time until it kills her." Gaara growled.

Naruto wanted to scream and insult like he used to but he pushed the urge back, he had no time for childishness if he wanted to keep Sakura alive. He had just enough warning to dodge the sand shuriken thrown his way and he landed on a nearby branch.

Naruto couldn't help but wonder if this is what he would have become without all the people he had in his life. He could sympathize, really he could, but this, what Gaara was doing now was wrong and he would prove it to the Sand ninja if it was the last thing he did. He was startled from his thoughts when the sand tightened around Sakura and caused her to moan.

"What's wrong, afraid of me?" Gaara taunted. "To fight for yourself, or fight for others… Just love yourself! Fight only for yourself; that is what will make you strong. Come on fight me!" He growled and kept on taunting. "Show me the power you used to defeat the Hyuuga and I'll crush it. I'll kill the girl if you don't fight me." He screamed finally.

Naruto summoned 5 clones and attacked. Not that it did much good; Gaara's Mugensajin Daitopa blew them away with minimal effort. He groaned in frustration when he landed face first on a nearby branch and Gaara started taunting him once again.

"I won't kill you for now. I'll just play with you. I wonder how long it will take for you to give up your comrades and run off to save your ass. Not that I'll let you get away."

Naruto pushed himself up and just barely dodged another attack. Then Gaara himself was flying toward him while he was still in midair, he had no chance to dodge this move and was knocked backwards but Gaara did not let up; he threw a few sand shurikens right after and knocked Naruto back into the trunk of a tree. He fell to his hands and knees and for a moment he despaired but he forced that deep down inside himself; he was better than that and no matter what had changed about him recently giving up was not one of those things so he summoned 5 more clones and attacked even though he had no clue what to do.

Naruto hit Gaara once then summoned more to attack again. The second hit embedded a kunai, wrapped with an exploding tag, at the base of his tail and maybe that hadn't been a good idea because he took a rough hit for it but the resulting explosion was satisfying enough. Sasuke caught him before he could hit the tree too hard.

"Even after all that you only managed one hit." Sasuke scoffed. "Shape up will you…I can't save you this time like I did in wave…you idiot." He panted out.

"Shut up will you." Naruto gritted out. Even injured Sasuke was still criticizing him.

"Hey, Naruto. Sakura… You have to save her. I know you can save her. Once you've got her… Carry her and run… as far… And as fast… As you can." He panted and forced the whole thing out.

"You…" Naruto had no idea what to say to the declaration.

"Never again," He stated harshly. "I already lost everything once before… I don't ever want to watch those dear to me die before my eyes again."

"Yeah, I get it." Naruto said quietly. "For a moment I thought he might have been right but he's not. His strength isn't real; it doesn't come from fighting alone. Real strength is not what you have when fighting for only yourself…" He thought of Haku's words to him that day in Wave and sent a quick prayer up that he was okay, and then focused back on Gaara.

Naruto stood and built enough chakra then summoned a thousand clones and attacked with everything he had. Gaara tried to block with his sand but the amount of attacks one after another left him with no time to rebuild the shield with sand. Naruto saw Gaara go down but wasn't going to stop. The only problem with that was Gaara finally finished the transformation process and Naruto looked up at the freed demon in awe and apprehension.

Almost immediately sand started creeping up his body fairly quickly and when he tried to use a jutsu to get away, he realized he had no more of his own chakra. But that was perfect so he closed his eyes as the sand covered the rest of his body and dug deep into that place where the fox resided and gathered as much chakra as he needed for the summon he made the signs and summoned Gamabunta.

…

Neji and Shikamaru had declined going back with Asuma so that they could catch up with Naruto and lend any assistance they could, when Gaara hit the final transformation and the giant burst up from the ground, towering over everything and stopping the two in their tracks.

Neji glanced over to Shikamaru who stopped right next to him. "Do you know what that is?" He asked quietly, as if he spoke too loud the monster would hear them.

"I am not positive, but I think it is something like the Kyuubi and it was inside that Sand ninja, Gaara." He spoke slowly and just as quietly.

Neji jerked his head back to the scene as he felt the same chakra as before during his match with Naruto and, in a towering puff of smoke, there was a toad squatting just as large as the demon in front of them. With his Byakugan active he could just barely make out Naruto standing atop the toad.

"Naruto is on top of that thing." He told Shikamaru. "Did you know he could summon?"

Before Shikamaru could answer a deep voice spoke from the other side of Neji. "Kiba and I saw him summon that same toad when we were spying on one of his training sessions." Neji looked toward the voice and caught sight of Shino leaning against the trunk of the tree, his head turned toward the two monstrous beings just glaring at each other. Neji went back to watching and all three of them waiting for something to happen with baited breath.

They saw the giant toad pull a katana from its back and leapt at the demon. The resulting clash sent shock waves as far as they were standing and they had to cover their faces to keep dust and debris from getting in their eyes. It leapt back right after to avoid being hit by a large tan claw. And then the real battle started and all three were awestruck at the sheer power wielded between the two beings as well as the destruction caused.

After the toad took a hit there was a momentary lull in the battle and in another puff of smoke another demon stood in place of the toad and Neji made a low sound in his throat. In that instance it all came together, the malevolent chakra, the treatment by and of others and the unwanted seal. A pang of guilt hit him and he once again he looked to Shikamaru who didn't look at all surprised. "Did you know?"

He shook his head but answered, "I had all the pieces but only guessed, I figured he'd tell me in his own time."

"That actually explains a lot." Shino injected but said nothing more and neither did Neji or Shikamaru.

The Fox tackled the other demon and held on to it, transforming back into the toad. They were at a standstill for a minute or two and the three genin hardly dared to breathe. Then it seemed like it was over. The demon dissolved into sand, the toad was released and two distant figures fell to the ground.

The three looked to each other and took off in a burst of speed.

…

Naruto and Gaara landed on opposing tree tops and paused before leaping toward each other hoping to land one last hit. Naruto's punch landed and with it went the last of his strength and the two fell to the ground. Gaara landed on his back and not too far from him Naruto laid on his stomach, the both of them a bloody mess.

Naruto fought to crawl his way to Gaara who was shouting about his existence. And when Gaara noticed Naruto getting closer he shouted for him to stop. Naruto couldn't stop though; he wouldn't. "The pain of being alone… Is not an easy burden to bear… And I can understand that," He spoke softly pausing every so often as he inched his way to Gaara.

"I was alone like you once… But I have so many people who are important to me now… And I can't let you hurt them… I will stop you."

"Why do you go so far for other people's sake?" Gaara asked his eyes wide and confused.

"They saved me from the hell of being alone and they accepted me for who I am." Naruto was so close now, close enough to hear the barely whispered 'Love' from Gaara. And yes he did love all those who were important to him, in some way. He stopped in arms reach of Gaara and rested his chin on the dusty ground and so very slowly he reached out to the boy in front of him.

"I can show you what it's like to not be alone but you have to take the next step." Naruto kept his hand where it was, palm up, and waited.

Gaara stared at the boy next to him in amazement. He had tried to kill his friends; tried to kill him and yet here he was offering friendship. To his own surprise he could feel the sting of tears behind his eyes but lifted his hand and placed it in Naruto's.

Naruto smiled serenely at Gaara and the last thing he heard before he fell unconscious was the Foxes growl of 'You stupid homicidal maniac' and the answering high pitched maniacal giggle from Gaara's own demon.

…

Temari and Kankuro jumped from the trees to land next to their little brother, both very surprised at the amount of damage he had sustained and willingly touching someone else as well. They exchanged confused looks and crouched down next to him while he stared sightlessly at the canopy above.

Sasuke approached Naruto slowly with Shikamaru, Neji and Shino not far behind. Sasuke sighed in fond exasperation at his unconscious teammate while Shikamaru went to kneel next to Gaara's head.

Temari and Kankuro stiffened but made no move to interfere since the Leaf ninja didn't seem like he was going to do anything. "It's over now. Are you going to cause any more problems?" He asked not unkindly considering the situation.

Gaara focused on the face above him and just shook his head no.

"Good, then you three can follow us to the hospital and we can figure out what to do from there. But if you try anything we can and will take you out, especially in the condition you all are in." Shikamaru moved to get up when he heard Gaara's gravelly voice.

"Is he okay?"

Shikamaru looked to Neji who was checking on Naruto, he answered the question. "A little beat up and out cold from chakra exhaustion but otherwise fine, I believe."

"Thank you," Gaara replied gratefully and when Temari and Kankuro moved to help him up he made no complaint.

"Someone is going to have to grab him and Sakura," Sasuke told the other with a shake of his head. "I just don't have the strength to carry them." So with Shino's help they got Naruto draped over Neji's back and followed Sasuke to where Sakura and Pakkun were waiting. Shikamaru grabbed her and they all made their way back to the village.