Chapter 2.4 - The Conviction of the Sand's

In a separate room on the same floor of the lobby, Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara
are sitting around. Temari asks if those guys will ever awake. Gaara mentions
that the nurse said that all but two are awake and up. Kankuro asks whom, and
then asks a passing medic. He hears that Naruto and Sasuke are still out, and
when he returns to his siblings, wonders aloud why the strong ones are still
out. Gaara says that they are probably sorting things out. Temari asks him
what he means. Gaara then goes to explain the fight between them and what he
saw. He said that at the time of the explosion, he felt the forces of Sasuke
and Naruto, only that both felt different. Sasuke's, he said, had the feel of
the taint of Orochimaru like Kimimaru had, and that Naruto had the same force
he had last time, only that it was much more powerful and malevolent. He felt
a second force like a demon within him this time, and caught a glimpse of
Naruto's slit eyes and said he felt ultimate fear. He also was amazed a
Sasuke's eyes, which he said, "Showed a sharingan I had never seen." Kankuro
and Temari are confused and shocked at this time. Temari breaks the silent by
asking if Naruto has something similar to what Gaara has. Gaara replies that
he does, and yet he doesn't. A shinobi comes in informing them that the fifth
Hokage wishes to see them in a conference room on the fifth floor. The shinobi
leaves. They get up, Kankuro suddenly asks Gaara if the change in him was
brought on by Naruto. He says yes, that he made him realize that to be truly
strong is to protect the ones that you hold precious, and he, Naruto, had
shown him once again that that was the true way to be strong, since in his
anger and that final attack, he could have killed Sasuke, yet he continuously
refused, since he was someone precious to him. They leave, with Kankuro and
Temari thinking that they begin to understand Gaara a little.

Chapter 2.5 - Kiba's Determination

In his room, Kiba is bored stiff. He had finally been able to move after three
days, and he was wondering what he was going to do. A medic comes end and
tells him that he is going to be having a visitor that will be staying with
him. Kiba groans, thinking that it is his sister coming to fuss over him. He
is surprised then when someone brings in Akamaru and his entire family. He is
completely overjoyed to see everyone. His father says that he is glad that he
recovered, though he lost a lot of blood and Akamaru had almost died. Akamaru
is fine now and barks happily at seeing Kiba. Kiba tells Akamaru that he is
glad to see him. His sister, though, cuts him off saying that she learned from
the others that they had used "that" form, and asked how it was possible he
lost. Kiba told them that the enemy had the ability to deconstruct themselves
and vice versa. He said that his priority then was to get him and Akamaru to
safety. That was when the sands came in. Kiba's father tells him that he is
finally growing up, and they leaving telling him that his father will teach
him something new when he gets out since he put himself on the line for his
friend. Kiba smiles and lies back down, thinking that he has finally gotten
his father's notice and sister's approval.

That is all for now. Check back when we go with the elders and the Hokage as
Naruto and Sasuke's condition is fully revealed