A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! I know I promised to make this chapter better, but if it doesn't seem that way, I'm really sorry. I'm not that good at describing action scenes. Fell free to review and say it sucks. sniff

Chapter 9: Confusion. Lies.

"Naruto-kun!" Hanabi yelled, running at top-speed towards the blonde-haired ninja. He jumped out of the way and caught her before she slammed headfirst into the building.

"Hanabi-sama!" He exclaimed. "What's wrong?"

She was breathing too hard to answer. He let her sit down. She finally managed to gasp out a few words.

"Hinata nee-chan…danger…Gaara of the Dessert…"

"What?" He shook his head. "Be kind. Rewind. You said something about Hinata in danger?"

"H-hai!" She stammered. "She left the house early in order to train. When she didn't come back, I went to call her. When I reached her usual training spot, she wasn't there."

"Then where did she-?"

"What's worse, " she said, cutting him off. "I found a small mound of sand in the corner."

"Sand…"

"I'm sure it was Gaara of the Sand!" She said, her voice near hysterics.

"Gaara!" He pulled away and looked at her. "You're really sure?"

She nodded. "You have to look for her! You have to!"

"Don't worry," he said softly. "I think I know where he took her."

He stood up and looked at the horizon. The sun was slowly setting. So many months ago, by the cave on the mountain…

Sasuke had come out of the cave, said he had been training in there for a "change of scenery". Naruto knew better.

"I think I know…"

Naruto crept into the cave, all senses alert. It was just an hour after sunset, but it was pitch dark.

Of course, that could be because it was new moon…

Suddenly, he stopped. He could make out light flickering up ahead. Somehow, he knew what he was going to find.

He walked closer. For some strange reason, he felt no fear. He only felt pain. Anger.

Revenge.

He finally steeped into a large room. 7 torches hung in brackets on the wall. In the red, flickering light, he could see him.

"Gaara." Naruto said, somewhat surprised. He got over it though, and said softly. "Where is she?"

He didn't answer. He simply kept staring at him.

"Where. Is. She?" He said, louder this time.

As if in answer, Gaara stepped sideways.

"I knew he couldn't wait," Kakashi mumbled, climbing up the steep side of the mountain. "He's too impatient, too hardheaded, too confident…"

He stopped. The memory came flooding back.

"The Naruto you knew is gone!"

"He's gone, so just accept it."

"Who knows, I may just say the wrong thing and end up making everything worse."

Naruto, he thought, gripping the stone ledge tightly. You were always so confident, so cheerful.

Why did you change?

No, he realized, hauling himself over the edge of the cliff. He made his way to the cave. He didn't change.

He took of his mask. That's all he did.

He stopped short.

A tall, dark figure was at the entrance of the cave. Kakashi couldn't see well enough in the dim lit, but he could tell who it was. He walked closer to make sure.

"Itachi." He could see his face. There was no mistaking those red eyes. He looked at him nonchalantly. "Didn't know I'd find you here."

Itachi didn't say anything. He simply returned Kakashi's gaze, his deep, penetrating eyes emotionless.

After a few moments of silence, Kakashi simply shrugged.

"I'd like to stay and play stare-down with you, but I've got other things to do, so, if you'll excuse me…" he made to walk past Itachi.

Suddenly, at the corner of his eye, he saw Itachi's hand twitch. He jumped away.

Seconds later, the place where he had once been standing erupted. Water sprayed out.

Kakashi waited for the smoke to clear, before fixing his eyes on Itachi.

"Why are you here?" He asked in a low voice.

For several seconds, Itachi didn't answer. Kakashi knew he had to be patient. Beside's he was pretty sure he already knew the answer.

"Two Jinchuuriki in there…"he murmured. Kakashi could almost sense a note of excitement in his voice.

Creepy and deranged, Kakashi thought, shaking his head.

"Look," he said evenly. "I don't really care about that. All I care about is the fact that Sasuke and Naruto could be killing each other by now. I need to put an end to it!"

Silence. Then, "Don't stop them."

Kakashi looked at him. Is he nuts or what? "Why?" He walked closer. "Why should I not stop them?"

Itachi looked at him, tilting his head slightly. "…I need to know."

"Know what?"

"If I choose the right one to avenge the clan…"

"So," Kakashi could feel his temper rising. "That's why you're okay with it. You 'need to know'. If he kills Naruto, you'll know he's the right one. But, if he doesn't…"

"Then I'll kill him," Itachi said simply. "I kept him alive for that reason only. If he's not strong enough to fulfill it, he is not worth keeping alive."

Kakashi glared at him. "You know," He said, taking a step closer, "I really need to stop those two, and I really don't care if I have to kill you to do it!"

Hinata was stuck to the wall with sand, much like what had happened to Sakura months ago. She was bleeding all over.

"Gaara…" He murmured, shocked.

"Consider it punishment." He said softly. "Revenge."

Naruto took a deep breath. His mind told him to get the hell out of there, but his body didn't seem to want to respond.

Suddenly, Hinata groaned softly. That shook him out of his temporary paralysis. He narrowed his eyes.

"I was expecting Sasuke, to be honest," he said, his tone low, colored with anger. "Instead, I find you." He looked at him, his eyes burning. "And to tell the truth, that doesn't really matter."

He charged forwards, different emotions fighting for center stage. Anger. Pain. Confusion. Disappointment. Betrayal. Fear.

Confusion won out. Why? He thought, dashing left and right, trying to confuse him.

Why? I thought we had worked everything out. He glared into Gaara's forest green eyes. Those calm, emotionless, hateful eyes.

"Why!" He screamed, aiming a blow to his head. Gaara dodged him easily. He was so furious, he couldn't think straight. He kept trying to hit him, but Gaara dodged, ducked and blocked each and every one of them with very little effort.

"How. Dare. You." He panted.

Gaara tilted his head and looked at him, slightly amused. "Simple. You deceived me."

"Cut the crap!" Naruto growled. "What do you mean, 'deceived you'?

"You called yourself 'my friend'." Gaara smirked. "I can't believe I was stupid enough to believe you."

"I thought you changed!" Naruto yelled, his patience wearing thin. "We are your friends! Who the heck told you otherwise?"

"Like you'd care!" Gaara yelled back. The sand around him started to shift. Slowly, it made it's way to Naruto. He noticed and quickly jumped away.

Why is he acting like this? Naruto thought, dodging the sand. I thought we talked this over. I thought he believed us! Who else could have-? Then it hit him

"It was your father, wasn't it?" He said softly, looking straight into Gaara's eyes.

The sand froze. Naruto straightened up. "I can't believe this." He said, coming closer. "I can't believe you'd listen to the man who deceived you-lied to you-for so many years."

Gaara was confused. Half of him knew Naruto was right. The other half completely opposed it.

I won't believe him, Gaara thought, I don't want to!

Believing in him you'd mean that his father had lied. Believing in him would mean that he couldn't believe in his father.

Naruto's cerulean eyes penetrated his. It was too much.

"We're not the one's who deceived you."

Gaara's forest-green eyes looked fearful. Don't say anything. I don't want to hear it.

"It was your father."

"Nooo!" Gaara screamed, causing the sand to rush forward. It was too fast. Naruto didn't stand a chance.

The sand washed over him, cutting and grazing his skin in about a million different p his skin.

Dammit! He thought. His emotions trigger the sand. Should've remembered that. He tried to stand up. He couldn't. It hurt too much.

Gaara glared at him. "Don't you ever say that again. You don't know him."

Naruto returned his gaze, despite the pain. "I know that he's lying, Gaara. He's using you. He's. Just. Using. You."

The words came rushing back. "They befriended you to save their lives."

"SHUT UP!" Gaara cried, pushing the sand towards him again. Naruto was too weak to move. The force of the sand was enough to send him flying towards the wall. He cried out in pain as more blood poured out and fresh wounds appeared.

"You're trying to confuse me!" Gaara cried. "This is another futile attempt to save your pathetic life!"

I…can't…fight…him. Naruto thought weakly. Blood-loss was making him lightheaded. Then his gaze rested on Hinata.

"I'm tired…" Her pale lavender eyes pooling with tears. "I…can't…fight."

I can't fight…I can't…He closed his eyes, trying to block out the pain. Gomenasai, Hinata. I…I'm too…weak.

I…let…her down…

Suddenly, her face burst clearly in his mind.

I won't…let her down. He thought, opening his eyes. I won't…

Kakashi groaned as he felt his ribs. Some of them were obviously broken.

"Is that all?" Itachi said. "I expected better. The only thing you've done so far was to slice my leg. Hardly fatal."

Kakashi told himself not to look into Itachi's eyes. It was too risky. I have to hurry. He thought, getting to his feet once again. Who knows how serious their fight is.

He rushed forward. It was a brash decision, but he needed to hurry. I have to time this just right, he thought, focusing on the ground.

Itachi looked at him. His hand snaked towards his back.

Kakashi was just a few feet away. Now!

In swift motions, he managed to perform a seal. He touched the ground.

Everything within 10 feet of him exploded.

Gaara shook his head. "You really never learn, do you?" he asked, looking amusedly at Naruto's shadow clones. "However, I'll give you credit. Your stamina is remarkable."

Naruto gritted his teeth. He really didn't feel like listening to Gaara right now. He didn't even feel like fighting. He just wanted to get the hell out of there.

I can't believe he still wants to fight, Gaara thought. Surely he's not that stubborn.

"You're just wasting your chakra!" he yelled.

Naruto and his clones moved closer. I'll have to play along, Naruto thought nervously if I'm going to buy time. He glanced left and right. He had produced 25 clones. This should suffice. It'll keep him busy long enough.

"And you're just wasting your breath!" he yelled back. "If your not going to attack, then allow me!"

All his clones rushed forward, yet he deliberately stayed behind.

Gaara didn't even move. The sand that automatically protected him was more than enough to take care of the feeble shadow clones. One by one, they disappeared into puffs of smoke.

It shouldn't be this easy, he thought suspiciously. He's planning something.

He whipped around. Sure enough, Naruto stood behind him, holding Hinata's limp form in his arms.

Gaara glared at him. Looks like he's not as stupid as I thought.

She's fine, Naruto thought, looking at her pained expression. She's alive, she's fine. But still…

He glared at Gaara. "You hurt her. I can't forgive you. You. Hurt. Her."

Slowly, his icy-blue eyes turned fiery red, burning with anger. He told himself to calm down, but it was completely useless. Gaara watched in horror as red chakra swirled around him.

"Gaara," he said softly, "It's over. You're dead."

"It's all my fault," Hanabi said softly. "I made her leave the house. It's all my fault."

"Silence, Hanabi." Her father said sharply, turning away from the window to look at her. "What's done is done, and dwelling on it will hardly help matters." He strode towards the door and opened it. In came Neji.

"I asked you to come so you could take care of her." He gestured towards Hanabi. "All the Jounins are being summoned, so I must leave."

He walked out the door. Neji watched him leave, and then he closed it. He turned to look at Hanabi.

She was on a small chair, cuddled up and shivering. Her pale eyes had a blank look in them, but her mouth kept moving, muttering inaudible words.

He wandered over. She hardly noticed. He listened closely.

"It's my fault," she murmured. "I made her leave the house."

"It's my fault."

Gaara tried to stand up, but his body wasn't responding. He coughed up blood.

Naruto rushed towards him. "I'm not done with you!" he yelled, grabbing him by the neck. More blood poured out, but Naruto barely noticed.

Naruto slammed him into the wall, causing stalactites to fall from the ceiling. He let go of Gaara's neck and he slowly fell forward.

Naruto looked at his broken, bleeding body and told himself to calm down.

He's fighting, Naruto thought, and its results could prove fatal. I have to stop. Now.

"Gaara," Naruto said softly. "He lied. We didn't. You know that."

"No!" Gaara said forcefully, looking at him, eyes burning with hate. "You're lying. You don't know him." He looked down. "You. don't. know. him."

"I've heard enough about him," Naruto said evenly. "to know how insensitive he is. And you know that too." He felt impatience rising, and he struggled to keep it down. "Why do you keep insisting that he's right?"

Gaara simply looked at him. His eyes were slightly filmy.

"I just wanted to make him proud." Gaara whispered. "I-I just…I just wanted…"he shook his head, closing his eyes to stop the tears that threatened to show.

"You don't know how lucky you are," he continued. "You know the one thing I have been trying-and failing-to know all these years. You know what it's like to be cared for."

"You know what it's like to be…loved."

His voice cracked a bit. "What is love? Do you know how…how long I've been searching for the answer? I thought I knew before but…I-I"

He trailed off. Naruto almost felt sorry for him. After a few minutes, Gaara looked straight at him, eyes overflowing.

"Don't take away everything…I've been trying to…believe in…don't say…anything…to destroy what's left." He closed his eyes, telling him to stop crying. It was stupid. Pathetic. Weak. But he couldn't. "I need…to hold on…to something…"

It was torture to watch this. The once proud, strong sand warrior was falling apart in front of him.

I have to open his eyes, Naruto thought, shutting his, trying to block out the pathetic image. He's confused. I have to help him. It'll be painful…

…but he needs to know the truth.

"Gaara, even if he would be proud of you, it wouldn't make a difference." He took a deep breath. "He has never loved you before, and he never will. You know that."

"He is not capable of loving you."

"NOOO!" The scream of a tortured soul. Naruto gasped and took a step back. The Shukaku was coming out. The weakest of the 9 demons…

…but the most insane.

"Gaara, you have to calm down!" Naruto yelled. If the shukaku came out, he wouldn't be able to fight it. He had used up too much chakra. It would mean sure destruction for Konoha.

"Don't let it out, Gaara!" He yelled again.

"Naruto…I can't. I-It's eating on my…confusion. I-I-I can't control it."

"You can!"

Naruto looked behind him in surprise. There stood Temari, looking at Gaara with mixed emotions. Worry. Pity. Desperation.

"Gaara-kun!" She yelled, running towards him. "Don't…don't release it! Please…"

"T-T-Temari…" He muttered, clutching the left side of his head.

"Naruto's right!" She said, kneeling beside him. "You don't need your father! He didn't love you before, and he never will!"

"Please stop…" Gaara groaned. "I don't want…to hear it…so many lies…so much pain…"

"Why!" She cried openly. "Why do you turn to someone who will never love you, and yet completely ignore the one who does!"

"Wh-what…"

"I love you!" She said, closing her eyes so he wouldn't see her tears. And so that she wouldn't see his face.

Gaara simply stared at her, shocked.

"I love you," she said softly, "and I've been trying to tell you that for so long."

"You don't know the pain," she said, looking away. "The pain of not knowing what you should do. The pain of not knowing if the one you cared about returned your feelings. The pain of knowing nothing at all!"

Her sobs slowly lessened until she was somewhat subdued.

"I-I'm sorry," she said "I'm acting weak. I know you hate that…I just…I just really wanted…"

"Temari," he said softly, cutting her off. She lifted her head to look in his eyes. She saw disbelief. Doubt. Confusion.

Relief.

"Temari," he smiled. "arigato." He closed his eyes and slumped forward. She caught him before he hit the floor. I finally told him…

She held him close.

I know what you need, she thought.

And maybe-just maybe-I can give it to you.

After a few minutes, she looked up at Naruto. "Thank you," she said. "For everything." She stood up and slipped Gaara's arm on her shoulder. Without a backward glance, she left the cave.

Naruto watched them go. He'll be fine, he thought. They both will.

He turned his attention to Hinata. She was starting to stir.

"Hinata," he murmured, tenderly stroking her cheek.

Her pale, lavender eyes opened slowly. "N-Naruto-kun!" She sat up suddenly, surprised to see him here.

"Calm down." He said soothingly. "You're fine now."

She smiled. Without warning, she buried her face into his chest. "Arigato," she murmured. "Naruto-kun. Thank you so much."

He returned her hug, holding her frail figure tightly. It seemed like he never wanted to let go. Suddenly, he stiffened.

"N-Naruto-kun?" her voice was slightly muffled. She tried to pull away. "Naruto-kun, what's wrong?"

"Hinata," he said, his tone low.

And scared.

"Whatever you do, don't let go."

"What…what do you-?"

Suddenly, light erupted from behind him. He cried out in pain as he felt the burning sensation dig into his back.

"Naruto-kun!" she screamed. "What's happening?"

"As usual," a voice said, low and deadly. "You're so gullible."

Naruto collapsed on the ground. Hinata looked fearfully into those familiar eyes.

"S-Sasuke-kun…"

Kakashi looked around wildly as the smoke cleared. Certainly, he had stopped him. Itachi couldn't be that fast.

Suddenly, he couldn't move.

An immobilization technique! He thought. Who-?

He turned around in time to see Itachi emerge from the smoke. His eyes widened as he felt Itachi's kunai press against his forehead.

He wasn't wearing his forehead protector.

A/N: Sorrysorrysorry! I know this chapter sucks a bit! I'm not very good at describing action/fight scenes…like I said a while ago.