13 chapter, enjoy. There are some melodramatic parts that are really crony, hehehe. Plus, my odd writing style might make it seem even worse…

Disclaimer: I don't own Inu-Yasha or Naruto.

You should know the talking, thoughts, and Kyubi thing by now, right?

(Chapter Begin)

"So what's with your clothing?" Naruto asked, eyeing the black silk. The cape had elegant designs that didn't look like anything in particular. The shirt and pants had the same designs. The designs were in red. There was a sash in deep red around the demon's waist. Inu-Yasha's gloves were also silk.

"What? My onii-san told me I dressed like a commoner. He wouldn't leave me alone once I wore 'something more appropriate of my status.'" Inu-Yasha laid back easily on the sofa. Naruto sat down next to the demon.

"Why are you all the way over here?"

"Came to check up on you." The dog demon eyed him. "You don't look to be fairing well."

Naruto grinned sheepishly. "Hehehe. I kind of went into a exam for a promotion. It didn't turn out well…"

"You got hurt by ningens? Are you really a c-class?" Inu-Yasha raised his eyebrows skeptically.

Naruto sighed and decided to tell him what happened. After the explanation, Inu-Yasha had this odd look in his eyes.

"This snake guy beat you? Orochimaru, was it?" Naruto nodded. "I think I've heard of him before. Some guy who betrayed his home village. There was some minor talk about him switching bodies back in that youkai village. The demons there thought it was funny a human was trying to cling to his life so desperately." Inu-Yasha smirked.

Naruto laughed. "Well, I can't believe I got beaten by him. But he's stronger than a jounin, I know that for sure. He sort of…reminded me of Naraku…just a little. His aura was so…-sickening-."

Inu-Yasha nodded, understanding.

"Hey! Since you're here, can you help me train?"

(Scene Change)

"A frog?"

"It's a toad."

"A toad." The demon raised an eyebrow under his hood, but the tone of his voice was all that was needed.

"Yeah. I mastered the summoning in a week. I have three more weeks until the third test," Naruto said.

Inu-Yasha sighed and said, "All right. Let's see how far you got."

Naruto charged before he even finished the sentence.

(Three Weeks Later)

Naruto walked down the street to the area where the third test was about to commence. He remembered yesterday when a messenger came for Inu-Yasha telling him something that sent the demon running out the door, saying over his shoulder he had to leave.

The blonde's spirits were low. He changed directions to a training ground. He saw someone who had her back turned to him. "Hinata-san? Are you okay?"

Hinata quickly dashed behind a tree log and stuttered out, "N-N-Naruto-k-kun…Why are you here? I-isn't it th-the day of the finals?"

"Yeah…I just came here to think. This was the place where I became a genin." Naruto paused. "Hinata-san…Neji-san…is a relative of yours…right?"

"Yes…b-but…you might be able to beat him…"

Naruto smiled at her and she looked away. "Thanks, Hinata-san."

"Oh…umm…when you cheered for me…I felt like I had become stronger…after the prelims…I started to like myself a little more…to other people, it might look like I didn't change…but I feel like I did. It was thanks to you, Naruto-kun." She smiled hesitantly.

"Do you really think that?" he asked. "I may appear to be strong…but that's because I act all tough because I'm frustrated at failing." Mostly true. Naraku wasn't killed yet.

"That's not true," Hinata said. "Even when you always fail…when I look at you…I get an intense feeling in my chest…because you're not perfect…because you fail, you have the strength to get back up. I believe that is true strength. I-I think you're an incredibly strong person, Naruto-kun." Hinata blushed.

Naruto grinned at her. "Thanks. I was feeling depressed earlier…but now I feel great! You know…I thought you were always shy and never opposed things you didn't like, always agreeing. But I was wrong, I like people like you. You're really nice, Hinata…chan." The former chakra user started walking. "Come watch me beat Neji-san! Later!"

Hinata watched the blonde walk away, eyes wide in surprise.

(Scene Change)

The blonde looked over himself. A week ago, he got new clothes. He wore a loose, long sleeved white shirt. The sleeves were five inches pass his finger tips. The shirt had a v cut. Naruto also wore loose black pants with many pockets. The pant legs slightly covered his feet, where he wore no shoes. He had instead had bandages wrapped in an x around the midsection of the feet, showing his toes. He had a black collar around his neck, which was strange. His hitai-ate was tied like he first did.

Naruto faced Neji as the fight was about to begin. Neji smirked. "Looks like you have something to say."

Naruto held up his fist. He said with a light smirk on his face. "I told you before…I'll beat you."

'Eyes of someone who totally believes in himself,' Neji thought after he had activated his Byakugan.

"It'll be fun to watch you fall apart when you discover reality," Neji went into a stance.

Naruto stopped having any expression on his face. "I already have. It's merciless." He also went into a stance.

"Begin the first fight!" Genma the examiner declared.

Naruto charged.

'That idiot!' Sakura thought. 'Close range combat is no good!'

'Neji will win this,' Tenten thought.

The two boys fought. Neji pressed pressure points as he exchanged blows with the blonde. Naruto didn't look like he registered the touches. They jumped back from each other, both breathing a little heavier.

"You fool. I pressed your pressure points," Neji said as he smirked.

Naruto smirked right back. "You really think I'm stupid, don't you?"

"Obviously."

Naruto shook his head in amusement. He laughed. Neji glared at the blonde, thinking he had gone insane. "You don't get it, but I can't blame you." He shrugged. "You'll see."

Naruto pulled back a sleeve, revealing a clawed hand. He snapped his fingers and a small flame appeared at his finger tips. Unlike most of his flames, this was red.

"You don't think I'll fall for that, do you? I saw your fight with Kiba. Those flames are just genjutsu," Neji told Naruto. 'But how are you able to even make that without hand seals? I also pressed your pressure points!'

The former chakra user smiled dangerously. "You have your Byakugan activated, can't you tell?" He threw the fire ball.

Neji stood his ground, unconvinced. That was until the fire hit him. He quickly put out the fire on his clothes by rolling on the ground. "What? I pressed your pressure points! How are you doing it -and- without hand seals!"

"I knew you wouldn't understand," the blonde said with a small smile. "Even if I explained it, I doubt you'd believe me, friend." He threw more fire balls. Neji was on the defensive and dodged.

"Playing rough, are we?" Neji glared at the blonde that was calmly throwing fireballs. "I'll also heat things up. Kaiten!" The fireballs rebounded away from the dark haired shinobi.

"A shield," the blonde observed.

"It's over. You are within my field of Hakke." Neji looked at the blonde. "Gentle fist style, 64 hands of Hakke.

"Hakke, two hands!

"Four hands!

"Eight hands!

"16 hands!

"32 hands!

"64 hands!"

He hit hard and fast. "I have hit 64 points on your body, you can no longer stand. Is it painful? Stay on your knees before a power you cannot change and realize your worthlessness. Having your dreams come true through hard work…is an illusion." Neji stared coldly.

Naruto steadily got to his feet, coughing blood. He stood proudly in front of the Hyuga, defiant. His eyes were cold and serious. Neji felt like he was staring into the eyes of a demon. "Is that what you truly think? Hehehe…pathetic." He slowly raise his right hand high into the air, catching many people's attention. The sleeve fell back to his shoulder, showing his whole arm. There was a paper like thing wrapped around his wrist. "You really think that?"

"Why try so hard?" Neji asked. "Quit already. Continuing won't change anything. I have no grudge against you."

"I don't like people like you," Naruto said. He brought his hand down, yelling, "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!"

"Kaiten!"

There was a loud explosion. Everyone stared in awe, waiting to see what happened. When the dust cleared, Naruto was standing calmly in the middle, clothes dirtied. Neji was also standing, but he was slouched.

"I can't lose. Destiny will not allow it!" Neji yelled.

"Destiny?"

"I'll tell you…the Hyuga destiny of hatred."

'I feel like I'm about to listen to a long, anger filled explanation,' Naruto thought, bored.

Me too.

"The Hyuga have a special ninjutsu passed down by the main family. The curse seal the represents 'the bird in a cage.' It is the symbol of being tied down to an inescapable destiny." The dark haired shinobi removed his head band to reveal a seal. He continued to explain. "When I die, the Hyuga blood line limit will be sealed inside of me. I will be denied my own heritage! And this is all done, because the main family wants the branch family to obey them."

After the explanation, Naruto relaxed back into his joking manner. "So…because of that, you believe in destiny?" The blonde laughed. "That's it?"

Neji retied his hitai-ate, glaring coldly at the blonde.

'Naruto…how insensitive you are,' Sakura thought angrily.

"Because of that…you think that is an excuse to hurt people like Hinata-chan?" Naruto grinned at him. "Who are you, a mere mortal, to say what is destiny and what is not? You don't even know what is destiny if you say such things! But…there is no such thing as destiny. Not even the Gods believe in it."

"If you say who am I to say what is destiny and what is not…who are you to say that the 'Gods' don't believe in it?" Neji countered. "You have never met one, have you?"

"Maybe not a -God-…" Naruto smiled at him. He shrugged carelessly. "Everyone has problems, it just depends on how you deal with it. Are you so weak that you blame it all on destiny? 'Oh, it wasn't my fault I hurt her. Destiny made me.'"

"Shut up! You could never understand what it feels like to be burdened with a symbol you could never rid yourself of!" Neji yelled with anger.

Naruto stopped smiling. He said quietly, "I can…and…so what? Like I said, everyone has problems, it just depends on how you deal with them. But if you can't handle it…that's why the term 'friends' exists." The blonde smiled again. "In truth, you are trying to defy 'destiny.' You hurt Hinata-chan even thought the branch family is supposed to protect the main. What do you have to say now?"

"You don't know anything," Neji hissed out.

Naruto grinned at him viciously. "I made a blood oath I would defeat you. Pieces of trash like you…make me sick." He pulled back his left sleeve.

Neji asked him, "Why do you go against your destiny so much?"

The blonde smirked at him. "Because I was called a loser." He snapped his fingers. Flames erupted around him in a ten feet radius. They were mixed in color, ever weaving into each other. "Can you tell what is real and what is not?"

"How can you do this when your points have been pressed?" Neji muttered in wonder. He didn't stay to find out. He jumped back, out of the fire's range.

"Fox Fire!" The whole area was in flames.

'I can't see through these flames!' Neji realized. 'It's practically like I'm blind!'

He felt himself being hit. "Kaiten!"

"That won't help you!"

There was another explosion in the area. Dust covered everything, the flames were gone. When things cleared, everyone saw two large craters. In each of them were the two boys.

"Which one's Naruto?" Sakura yelled.

"I don't know!" Ino yelled back.

One of the bodies started to crawl out. When the dust settled some more, it revealed that the boy was Neji.

Up in the crowds, Tenten breathed out a relieved sigh. She thought, 'Neji's Kaiten is a technique that knocks away an opponent's chakra. Since Naruto was the one advancing, he was the one who got the greater amount of damage.'

"Loser…sorry, but this is reality," Neji said as he approached the other crater.

Slam!

"Maybe you shouldn't think you know everyone's destiny. It makes you look stupid once you lose," Naruto said. He kneeled down next to the boy he hit down. "You're conscious, but paralyzed for the next five minutes or so."

"Ugh…to use Kage Bunshin in that situation…Your main ninjutsu, right? How careless of me…" Neji muttered.

Naruto sighed and admitted, "I failed the academy graduation three times…that's because, unluckily for me, the test was always decided as my weakest ninjutsu. The Bunshin no Jutsu…was my worst ninjutsu." He grinned at the boy. "Destiny this, destiny that, blah, blah, blah. Stop whining about stuff like that…since you're not a loser like me." He smiled brightly at Neji, shocking the dark haired youth.

Genma smirked and said, "Heh. Winner, Uzumaki Naruto!"

The crowd erupted into cheers. "That was great, shrimp!" "That was incredible!" "Greta fight!" could be heard.

Naruto waved to the crowd, grinning. He got up and made his way to the stairs, saying over his shoulder. "Get better, Neji-san. Maybe I'll help the Hyuga if you change, that would be a sign of hope."

(Scene Change)

"He is the first one to make the move, then," Sesshomaru said darkly.

Inu-Yasha leaned over Kouga's body, examining it. "He's alive…for now."

"I have my best healers looking after him. One of my sentinels spotted him a day ago. The sentinel brought him back here, to me," Sesshomaru explained.

Inu-Yasha looked over Kouga again. The wolf demon's body was wrapped in bandages. Patches of blood was seen through the once white wrappings. He supported a swollen eye and broken teeth. His right leg and arm were broken.

Inu-Yasha cursed. "I didn't expect him to move against us, at least not so soon."

"He has become bolder. There must have been something to make him so confident."

Inu-Yasha stayed silent for a while. He muttered, "This is only a warning. If it wasn't, Kouga wouldn't be alive. A mistake he'll ay for. Were do you think he'll strike next?"

"Anyone who opposes him is a possibility…including that Naruto child."

"Shit."

"Are you going?"

The younger one turned away from the wolf and to his older sibling. He nodded. "Yeah, can't let anything happen to him, after all."

"Take this." Sesshomaru reached into his shirt and pulled out a small object. "If anything happens, this will be easier to communicate then messengers." He tossed it.

Inu-Yasha caught it with one hand and examined it. It was a small, hand held mirror. The edges was silver, looking like it was woven than shaped. The glass was smooth and instead of a normal reflection, the dog demon's body was completely red and silver. His turned to the back. His family seal was there. He turned back to the mirrored side. "So it shows auras."

"It has more uses then for communicational purposes. If there is an imposter, you will be able to tell by their aura," the lord of the western lands said. "Don't break it, it was expensive."

"Whatever," Inu-Yasha muttered as he left out the door.

(Scene Change)

"Style -and- grace," Naruto said loudly enough for Temari to hear as she stepped off her giant fan. She smirked at him haughtily, then at Shikamaru, were the smirk wasn't as friendly.

"Ugh…how troublesome," Shikamaru said under his breath. "I can always forfeit-"

"Yeah, go Shikamaru!" Naruto yelled out obliviously as he shoved Shikamaru off the balcony.

"Uwaaah!"

Thunk!

Several people winched when the dark haired boy landed. Only Naruto grinned.

"Why did you have to shove me off?" Shikamaru yelled out in surprise and anger.

Naruto called back, "It was only a small push in the right direction."

"Small push my ass," the shadow user mutter in annoyance.

"If you won't come, I will!" Temari yelled out as she charged with her fan in hand.

Genma said, "I didn't start the match yet."

Bam!

As the dust cleared away from where the female Sand shinobi hit her fan, Shikamaru stood above her on two kunai he had partly inserted into the wall.

"Smart," Naruto muttered.

As the match progressed, Naruto found out two things. One, Shikamaru was apparently smarter than everyone took him credit for, and two, Temari got this really cute look when she was all smug.

Kyubi was laughing insanely at the last thought. He managed to say, Hormones.

Naruto mentally smiled. When Shikamaru got back up the stairs, Naruto said, "You quit too easily."

"I wouldn't have won," Shikamaru replied, walking over.

Naruto grinned. "Whatever."

They both turned their attentions to the crowds. "Looks like Sasuke isn't here yet."

"They crowds aren't very happy."

"Probably only came to see the Uchiha."

"Agreed."

As soon as Naruto finished saying the word, there was a swirl of leaves. The leaves spun faster and faster until finally reaching their climax and simmering down to the ground, revealing two people.

"Cool entrance!" Naruto shouted down at them, smiling. "Don't even need to work on the timing!"

Several people grinned at the comment.

Kakashi looked over at the examiner. He said, "Sorry we're late…"

"Your name?" Genma asked, grinning.

"Uchiha Sasuke," the dark haired shinobi said.

"Well…we showed up all flashy and the like, but…could Sasuke have been…disqualified?" Kakashi asked nervously.

"Don't worry, your fight was pushed until the end."

"That's good! Good!"

Sasuke looked over at Gaara, eyes cold. They shared a look before looking away. The red head stepped back and to the stairs. After he left, Naruto distantly heard screams. "Death taints the air," Naruto murmured.

"What?" Shikamaru asked.

Naruto looked up and grinned. "Uh, nothing!"

Something lurks at the edges of this village, Kyubi suddenly announced.

'What?'

Do you feel the air's unease?

The blonde sniffed the air, making Shikamaru stare. "The wind whispers carnage."

"The wind whispers carnage?" Shikamaru asked, alert.

Naruto looked at him, he had this odd look at the dark haired boy didn't understand. "There will be a war. That is the only time the wind bothers to speak."

"Naruto, you're creeping me out."

The blonde looked at the fight about to commence below, ignoring everyone or thing else.

There was an awkward silence.

As the fight began and continued, Naruto was conversing with Kyubi. 'A war, now? This is such bad timing.'

Agreed…You know, if there was a choice between Konoha and the fight with Naraku, which would you choose?

'If Konoha has to burn down for Naraku to die, I would gladly see to it. As long as Naraku dies, no price is too high for me.'

Even the life of 'Tou-san?

'…'

Kit, I want you to know something. Saving lives is better than ending them, even if it's one as evil as Naraku's. If your village is in trouble, I want you to stay and protect it, even if Naraku is so close to being defeated, to being killed.

'-My- village? This isn't "my" village.'

Admit it! You grew attached to this place, again!

'Shut up!'

Oh, for crying out loud! Lots of thing in this village is shit but there are some things that are at least a little above that. Like Iruka, remember? And maybe even your teammates, Kakashi, that Konohamaru kid with his little friends, and maybe even those other girls you keep flirting with!

Naruto mentally grinned sheepishly. 'Do I really flirt that much?'

Every girl you see, kit, every girl you see.

'Alright, fine,' Naruto conceded. 'There are some people that I'd call…"precious people." Just like what Haku-kun told me all those months ago…though it feels like centuries since I met him…I guess I'd even give my life for them…'

Then you better start now.

The blonde's eyes widened when he saw Gaara's aura. "Fuck," Naruto cursed under his breath. He hurriedly made his way to the stairs.

Shikamaru yelled, "H-hey! Where are you going?"

"Gotta tell Kakashi-sensei something!" Naruto said over his shoulder.

"How troublesome," Shikamaru sighed. He followed the blonde.

Naruto didn't run, but he walked quickly. Shikamaru caught up halfway there. When they arrived to their destination, Naruto watched them watch Sasuke before saying hesitantly, "Kakashi-sensei…" Everyone turned to him.

"Naruto-kun!" Lee said, happily surprised. Naruto gave him a half smile before turning back to the silver haired jounin.

The said jounin asked, "What's up?"

"You have to stop this match!" Naruto said, getting straight to the point. His demand shocked everyone.

"Naruto…what are you talking about?" Ino asked.

"This guy…he's not normal. Totally different from any of us," Naruto said more calmly.

Shikamaru added, "He said that he lives to kill others…not that I'm agreeing to stop this fight."

"Don't worry…we weren't late for nothing," Kakashi said with not a hint of worry.

Sakura asked, "What do you mean you weren't late for nothing?"

"You wanna know?"

"Look, Sasuke-san is-"

"Be quiet and watch him," the jounin ordered.

Naruto narrowed his eyes, slightly. 'I tried…'

The man continued to say, "You'll be surprised."

They all turned their attentions back to the Uchiha. He was clutching his left hand. There was a bluish glow around it.

"Is that…?" Gai asked.

"The reason I trained Sasuke was because he is the same type as me."

There was a surge of power as Sasuke concentrated. The dark haired shinobi raised his eyes to glare at the sphere of sand.

"I see, so that's why you had him train only in taijutsu…and had him greatly raise his speed," Gai said to the other jounin.

Kakashi smiled and said, "Yep."

"Incredible, you can clearly see the chakra in his hand…what's going on?" Sakura said in amazement. "What is this technique? And that sound…"

"A simple stab," the green spandex wearing jounin said, confusing people. "But it is the Leaf's number one technician. Copy Ninja Kakashi's sole original technique. It's specifically for assassination. The speed of the stab and the chakra that creates the heightened flesh. Because the chakra is concentrated in the hand with the speed of the user, you hear 'chi, chi, chi'…it produces a special sound sounding like a thousand birds flying towards you. That's why that technique is called the 'Chidori.'"

"Not enough," Naruto said after the speech, making people look at him again.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes, annoyed. "Not enough? It's a jounin level technique, Naruto. You're being silly."

Naruto shook his head mockingly. "No, I'm not. You think I don't understand, that I'm blind to what is happening. You're wrong, because you are the one not opening his eyes, Kakashisan-," the blonde said, stressing the "san," making people look at him like he was crazy. "Gaara-san…is not using your human 'chakra.'"

Kakashi's eye widened. He looked at Naruto, completely serious now. "Naruto, explain."

The former chakra user sighed. "In a way, he's like me." Everyone who was listening had a confused face except for the jounin. "Watch."

They looked in time to see Sasuke pull his arm out of the sand, a large thing being pulled out as well.

Suddenly, feathers were falling down the area. People began to fall asleep.

"Genjutsu," Kakashi muttered. Him and Gai made a hand seal and yelled, "Kai!"

"Kai!" Sakura followed their example.

'Pretty strong,' Naruto observed. 'But not strong enough to actually make me concentrate to get rid of it.' Naruto turned his head when he heard a loud "Boom!" come from the balcony where the two Kages were. "And so this is what the wind said to this one," Naruto whispered.

He watched impassively as the Hokage was held hostage by the Kazekage. A huge fight broke out. Four people came, wearing sound forehead protectors. They enacted a giant purple shield. He turned to the arena and saw the two sand shinobi take Gaara away, Sasuke going after them. He heard screams as he felt a giant snake break into the village. 'Lots of things are going around.'

"Orochimaru!" Kakashi yelled in shock as he stared at the purple shield.

Two sound ninja came out and charged at the stand Sakura, she didn't move out of shock. Kakashi quickly put an end to them by killing them with kunai to the head. "Sakura, get Shikamaru and Naruto to go after Sasuke! This is an A class mission and your team is composed of the basic four members."

"Who's our fourth?" Naruto asked as he sliced a sound shinobi's neck with a kunai. Sakura looked at him in horror. "What? This is war! Spoils goes to the victor!" Naruto grinned at her. "Sooner or later, you're going to have to kill someone in a mission." He may have been grinning, but everyone could tell by his eyes that he wasn't happy about the kill.

Sakura relaxed, glad to see that he wasn't one of the types to enjoy the kill, and turned to her sensei. The jounin answered Naruto's question with a puff by his side. "Him. This is Pakkun."

"Hey." Naruto waved with his left hand as he kicked another shinobi in the ribs.

"This little doggy?" Sakura asked skeptically.

The dog yelp out, "Don't call me a cute little doggy."

'But I never…said cute,' Sakura thought.

"I love dogs!" Naruto ran over and petted the dog, grinning ear to ear.

Sakura stared at Naruto in amazement. 'How can he be so calm?'

"Oi! Shikamaru, get up! We got a mission!" Naruto yelled at the boy.

"What are you talking about, Naruto?" Sakura screeched. "He's-"

Shikamaru sat up, grumbling. "I refuse! Who cares about Sasuke?" The dog bit him. "Ow!"

Another sound shinobi ran over, behind him. "Behind you!" the pink haired ninja cried out.

Bam!

"Go!" Gai yelled at them, created a wall with the sound ninja's body.

They ran, Shikamaru still grumbling. Naruto hummed as he ran, seemingly at ease. That irritated yet somewhat comforted his teammates.

"Eight are chasing us!" Pakkun announced after a short while of running. "They haven't fixed on our true position yet, but they're closing in quickly while looking out for traps!"

"Can we ambush them?" Sakura asked.

"They're subordinates of Orochimaru, a former Leaf shinobi," Pakkun excused the idea.

"Damn, I thought that might of worked!" Shikamaru complained.

Sakura looked confused. "Eh? Why won't it?"

"They probably know the area at least fairly well," Naruto cut in before anyone else could. "We're the ones running, so we can't let them hear any noises or notice us first! We have to hide in a good place but that snake Orochimaru must have taught them this place, so that's gone. If we make an ambush, it might not go as well as we hope."

"To top that," Shikamaru continued. "We have a kunoichi with no special skills, a dog, this year's dobe, and the guy best at running away, me!"

"Way to add the confidence," Naruto said cheerfully.

"That leaves us with one option…one of us has to stay behind and fake an ambush, but there is one problem with that…the person who stays behind…" Shikamaru left it hanging in the air, letting them fill it themselves.

"I'll do it!" Naruto said after a pause.

"I'll have to do it!" Shikamaru interrupted Naruto, preventing him from saying anything further. "I'm the one most likely to succeed, anyway." He stopped running.

"Better come back alive!" Naruto yelled. 'Hope he's ok…'

After a moment, the dog yelled out, "They're coming closer!"

"He couldn't have run away, could he?" Sakura yelled out in fear.

Naruto shook his head and said, "He's not that kind of guy. Don't worry, he'll handle them."

After another moment the dog declared the pursuers gone. Sakura sighed in relief.

"Are we close?" Naruto asked after a while.

"Almost," Pakkun replied.

They ran for what felt like miles until they came upon a monster like being about to pounce on Sasuke. Naruto intervened by kicking the thing away. "Gaara-san…what happened to you? You look like melted candle wax!" Naruto joked.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura cried out as she landed next to the dark haired boy.

"Guh!" Sasuke yelled in pain as the curse seal markings spread.

Naruto gave him a worried glance before turning to the red head. "Hey, Gaara-san, how about we stop fighting for now, bring Sasuke-san to the hospital, and then finishing this up later, ok?"

A flying punch was his answer. The blonde ducked and rolled away.

"I guess that's a no," the blonde boy said as he kicked the half transformed demon away.

The half transformed demon charged, but not at Naruto. He aimed for the Uchiha, yelling out, "Die, Uchiha Sasuke!"

Sakura quickly stood in front of her crush and held up a kunai defensively. The demon shot his arm out and slammed her into a tree. "Kyaaa!"

The red head clutched his head in pain. "Ugh…Why…?" he moaned out.

Naruto relaxed and stepped up. He said soothingly, "We don't have to do this, Gaara-san. Calm down."

He twitched but let go of the girl, but she was till held in place by sand. The demon shook as he transformed even more. The demon announced, "She won't be released from the sand unless you beat me. Not only that, it'll get tighter and tighter as time passes, eventually killing her."

'The demon is in control,' Naruto realized. A rush of excitement ran down his spine. 'Haven't faced a demon for real in a while…'

"Sand Shuriken!" Pieces of sand were flung at Naruto. The boy held up his hand and burned them, turning them to glass that melted from the intense heat.

"Shukaku of the Sand," Naruto said calmly. "Release that boy from your hold. Now."

"Hahahaha! Why should I do that?"

"If you put it that way…" Naruto pulled both his sleeves back and flexed his claws. "Let's go." He ran forward, kunai in hand.

He swiped with the kunai, making Shukaku jump away from Sasuke and Sakura. Naruto needed him in a position far, far away from his teammates.

The demon opened his mouth wide, and spat out balls of sand the size of the blonde's fist. Naruto dodged them, glancing behind to make sure it didn't hit one of his teammates. The blond threw the kunai he held, hoping it would make the demon distracted for a bit. He rubbed his hands together, rubbing them quickly. Smoke rose from the palms and Naruto held his palms near his mouth and blew.

At the same time Naruto breathed his fire, Shukaku aimed a punch towards him. The fire caused the arm to burn off, making the demon howl in pain, distracting the sand demon for the moment Naruto needed.

The blond quickly sliced the palm of his hand, making a design. He smeared the blood on his other palm and a circle glowed around the sand demon. The demon growled in anger and pushed against the barrier Naruto created. Naruto sweated with the strain. Shukaku began to chant and sand filled the barrier, causing Naruto to finally break the barrier.

"He's s tough. Naruto…go get Sakura. Once you got her, run…run as far…and as fast…as you can," the Uchiha said as he slowly got up. "If it's just for a little while, I'll be able to hold him in place."

"You-" Naruto began.

"Never again," Sasuke said with determination. "I already lost everything once before…I don't ever want to watch those dear to me die before my eyes again…"

Naruto gave him a soft smile. Sasuke was surprised by the honesty in it, unlike his other grins or smiles. "Hehehe…I'm touched, Sasuke-kun," Naruto said. "But…You're more important to the village than I am…besides…" Naruto looked away. "I'm selfish…I don't want to lose you either."

He pulled back his sleeves again. This time, he pulled the little pieces of paper off and ripped them to little pieces, even going as far as to burn them. He reached down to his ankles and there were pieces of paper there too. He proceeded to tear them. Finally, he reached under his collar and pulled out another paper. It met the same fate as the rest. "Ready?" He didn't wait for an answer.

They exchanged blows.

"Dessert Coffin!"

"Fox Fire!"

The sand turned to glass, which Naruto broke. He took a few pieces, cutting his hand but not caring. He threw them over at the demon. The demon caught it with his sand, mocking the blonde.

"Foxes can be tricky," Naruto said, smirking.

The glass melted and glued the sand together. The demon growled out, "It doesn't matter!" He grew in size. "My final form!"

Naruto whistled. "Biiig…" he said, stretching out the word as the demon continued to grow. He used his blood from the fight to try to summon. 'This better work!'

It did. The leader of toads stood tall and proud on the land, Naruto on top of his head.

"What's with you…You again?" Gamabunta yelled, "What cha want?"

"Help me beat that guy!" Naruto pointed to Shukaku. 'Shukaku appears to be a low B-class demon. I'm not up to his rank, I need this toad to beat him.'

Kyubi sighed. Never bother asking me, huh? Even though I'm RIGHT HERE and I DON'T have ANYTHING to do.

'Did you say something?' Naruto asked innocently.

Grr…

'Look, I need to perfect my summoning skills..'

Why bother?

Naruto mentally shrugged. 'I don't like to leave any of my skills unpolished.'

Kyubi was reduced to grumbling to deaf ears.

"Amusing, Uzumaki Naruto," Shukaku roared out.

"Not helping!" the toad king told the blonde.

"What?" As a last resort, Naruto came down to, "You said you'd make me your underling! A boss is suppose to help out an underling when they're in trouble, right?

Toads are so unreliable.

"I said that but I haven't exchanged my sakazuki with you yet," Gamabunta replied calmly.

"B…But I'm not old enough to drink sake! A-and it dulls a fighter's senses!" Naruto rebuked.

"How about this, I'll…uh…give you some good black mailing material on Jiraiya?" Naruto suggested. The toad looked like he was considering for a moment before he agreed. Naruto smirked in triumph.

Gamabunta took a wide swing with his sword towards the sand demon, who took the hit. The sword broke in half, useless. Naruto called out, "My two teammates are over there, ok? Don't squish them!"

The upper half of Gaara's body appeared from Shukaku's head and he crackled out, "Thank you for keeping me entertained so far, now let me show you the powers of the sand demon…" He formed a hand seal.

"That boy shows signs of insomnia," Gamabunta said to Naruto. "Take a look at his eyes. Those possessed by the badger demon Shukaku can't get a decent night's sleep. It's from terror! If they sleep, their personality gets eaten bit by bit…until they disappear. Because he can't sleep, his personality is unstable. But you know…while the median's awake, Shukaku's real powers are suppressed. But if the median were to fall asleep on his own…"

"Spell of Fake Sleep!" Gaara cried out before falling unconscious. Naruto groaned at the timing of it.

"I'm finally out!" Shukaku cried out in glee. "And there's someone I want to kill right off!"

'Shit…'

He just turned into a middle B-class demon.

'Little help?'

What happened to, "I want to perfect my skills!"?

'…Pleeease?' Naruto sent an image of a cute, little puppy.

Kyubi sighed. Didn't have to go that far.

Naruto felt better as a serge of power came to him. "I gotta wake Gaara-san up!" Naruto yelled at the toad. "Can you hold the demon down?"

"I'm a toad!" Gamabunta yelled back at the blonde.

"Fine! I'll help you use henge!" Naruto didn't bother making hand seals as he slammed his hands down on the toad. There was a large smoke until to cleared away. The blonde had turned the toad into a fox.

Aw, it looks just like my old, crazed self, Kyubi cooed.

'Yeah, yeah, yeah,' Naruto thought but he silently grinned.

The toad leaped at the badger and bit him, claws digging into the demon's skin. Naruto jumped off the toad and landed on the badger. He kneeled next to the red head. He poked the boy's forehead. "Oi! You awake?"

'Damn it!' Gamabunta thought. 'Of course not!'

The blonde proceeded to slap the other boy until Gaara started to flutter his eyes open. Naruto yelled, "Morning, sunshine!"

'I only just came out!' Shukaku thought. 'Shit!'

Trendils of sand shot towards the former chakra user. The larger toad's tongue shot out and covered the blonde from the attack.

"Ick," Naruto muttered. "Reminds me of when Orochimaru-san started to lick me."

"You'll be killed by me," Gaara said. "My existence will continue."

Naruto jumped out of the tongue's safety and into danger. He ran as fast as he could towards Gaara, fist ready to strike. The sand coiled around his feet just when he was in striking distance and traveled up to his hands. Naruto used his head, literally. He slammed his forehead to Gaara's, causing blood to seep between where they touched.

There was a shocked silence before the demon called Shukaku crumbled to the ground, turned into sand. Gamabunta also left but in smoke. The two demon carriers went pummeling to the ground. They landed in a loud crash.

Painfully, the two boys fought to stand up. They leaped in a dramatic one-last-hit type of thing. And so, they gave their last hit in the fight their all. Naruto's was stronger. They collapsed on the ground, unable to get up at the moment. Naruto struggled to at least crawl over to the red head, to say one last thing.

'He…he's dragging himself over?' Gaara realized. He suddenly grew angry. "My existence won't be put out!" the boy screamed in a hoarse voice. "It won't be put out!"

The blonde didn't reply as he got closer.

"S-Stay away!" Gaara was alarmed.

"I know…that being all alone is hard," Naruto said, pausing for dramatic effect. "But if you hurt my precious people…I'll kill you." Though his tone was smooth, his eyes were hard. Despite his best efforts, a single, lone tear fell down.

"All…all this, for the sake of other people…you…"

"Because they rescued me from loneliness…acknowledged my existence…That's why they are important…" the blonde said. "They don't try and use me, nor expect anything from me, like a certain bastard demon I know."

Gaara's eyes widened, then he muttered out one word, "Love…"

Sasuke came into the scene. He knelt next to Naruto. The dark haired shinobi said, "That's enough, Naruto…Sakura's all right and this guy ran out of chakra…she's been saved from the sand…"

"That's good," Naruto said with a relieved smile.

When Sasuke turned to Gaara, his eyes became cold.

Temari and Kankuro also arrived and stood near Gaara.

"That's enough…stop it," Gaara said without emotion.

"Hey, Temari-san," Naruto grinned at her, surprising them all. "Hehehe…take care of Gaara-san, ok? And…did I ever tell you that you looked -really- pretty?"

Sasuke groaned. 'Even in critical conditions he flirts. With the enemy no less!'

Temari didn't know what to say so she ignored what she just heard. Kankuro picked up Gaara and the sand siblings left. After a while with no one pursuing them, Gaara said, "Temari…Kankuro…I'm sorry…"

Kankuro and Temari shared a shocked glance before Kankuro broke the silence by saying, "It's…it's nothing…"

Nicely done, Kyubi said happily.

'I know,' Naruto said proudly.

Didn't know you could fake cry.

'…Uh…yeah…'

…That tear wasn't fake, was it?"

'…'

Awww…my poor little kit!

'S-Shut up! I was caught up in the act, alright?'

Uh-huh, sure you were! Wait 'til I tell 'Tou-san!

'Ugh…I hate you.'

Love you too!

(End Chapter)

Review, ok? Anyone noticing that my chapters are about twenty pages long, now? This one was 23 and one tenth.

Review. Review! REVIEW! (Insert happy face.)

Does anyone else realize my fighting scenes suck ass?