Chapter Eight: Control

Now you're DEFENDING her fighting another demon. What is going on with you…!

Naruto snarled at the Sand-Chuunin, pacing back and forth before him. Gaara crossed his arms, and watched the possessed-Chuunin with no emotion or worry at all. Naruto snarled suddenly, and pounced at Gaara. The Kyuubi raged in his mind.

Let me take full control of you, Naruto! Let me DESTROY them both before the Sand-Chuunin gets a hold of you!

Naruto winced for a moment, and put one of his clawed hands up to his head. He closed his eyes, and began to stand upright. The aura began to grow sharper, and his claws became more steel-like. When he opened his eyes, though, one of his eyes was red while the other was normal blue.

Gaara looked forward at this. "Wha--?" Naruto took his chance while Gaara was distracted and threw a fiery punch at the Sand-Chuunin, sending him flying back into the ground. Hinata was still on the ground where she had been hit, but she could hear what was going on. Her body couldn't move because the blow from earlier had left Hinata in a state of shock. The raven-haired girl struggled to move. I…I have to help him…

Gaara launched back up, heaving a wave of sand at Naruto as he raced at the Sand-Chuunin like a wild animal. The Kyuubi was beginning to extend more of its power outside of its human container, and Naruto was able to slash through the sand waves that came at him with a flash of claws and red aura. Every time that Gaara would try to defend against or attack Naruto, it would always fail and Naruto would leave a searing cut on Gaara.

The Sand-Chuunin couldn't defend against the possessed Naruto much longer. Naruto identified his weakness, and ran at him full speed, leaping in the air, and extending his claws further. Gaara shut his eyes, ready to take another blow, when Naruto stopped. The Chuunin's hair returned to its blonde sheen, his claws returned to normal, the aura around him disappeared, and his eyes returned to their normal blue color. Naruto fell to his knees and passed out-The possession had ended.

Hinata woke up with the sun shining onto her pale face. She shielded her eyes from the light, and sat up, examining her environment. She was back--Back in Konoha, in the building where Tsunade had cared for her, and where she had stared out of the window and seen Gaara stare up into her eyes. Hinata thought to herself quietly. Perhaps someone found me and brought me back…But, what if Gaara brought me back, even though the people here are watching out for him? Would they have--! Before she could finish her thought, Shikamaru, Neji, and Tenten walked into the room.

Hinata smiled at her company. "Guys, you're here…What is it?" Neji placed his hands at the end of her bed. "….What happened in that forest, Hinata-chan?" Hinata frowned, and placed a hand up to her mouth. "What--What do you mean?" Tenten stepped up next to Neji. "Hinata, we--We found you in a forest unconscious with a nearly DEAD Naruto nearby." Shikamaru spoke up. "Yeah, but guess who we found next to you?"

The raven-haired Chuunin covered her mouth with both of her hands. "Gaara…" Neji nodded. "Hinata-chan! Did Gaara try to attack you, and Naruto got tangled in the fight!" Hinata shook her head. "No, Neji-niisan, it's not like that! Naruto was--!" Everyone stopped and turned toward the door as the red haired Sand-Chuunin walked in through the door. Neji put a hand up as Gaara walked toward them. "Stay back, you monster--!" Gaara simply walked past the three Chuunin, and stood next to Hinata.

Hinata looked up at Gaara, and smiled softly. The Sand-Chuunin kneeled down next to her. Gaara knew that the other three Chuunin were staring unbelievably at him, but he didn't care what anyone else thought. The red-haired teenager put a hand on the Hyuuga girl's cheek and silently kissed her. Hinata gazed at him for a moment, and slowly kissed him back. There was nothing else but them at that moment.

Then reality came back, as Gaara was slammed in the back by Neji, and held back by Shikamaru. "DON'T TOUCH HINATA-CHAN, YOU MURDERER!" A group of Chuunin had now gathered at the door, and Kakashi and Gai-sensei pushed their way through the crowd into the room. Just then, as the group was ready to take Gaara away, the Sand-Chuunin disappeared in a blast of sand. The whole room was silent, and then they all turned to the raven-haired girl who had accepted Gaara's affections.

Gaara reappeared in the forest. He was now frustrated beyond comprehension, and he strode through the brush. The Sand-Chuunin stopped, leaned his back against a tree, and placed a hand up to his face, his teeth bared. He felt a mix of frustration and despair.

Gaara slid down to the ground, and crossed his arms across his chest. He leaned his head back towards the sky, and shut his eyes. Then, he felt something running down his face. He lifted a hand toward his cheek and realized that, for the first time in his life, he had cried.

A voice whispered behind him. Heh--You little fool…

Gaara knew that there was no one there, and that it was just Shukaku speaking in his head. "Shut up," Gaara grumbled.

Why should I? You protected that girl, and know the others are trying to kill you. You see? You can't trust anybody, not even those you "help".

Gaara placed a hand on his forehead. "I said shut up. Hinata loves me, and I love her in return."

Gaara, the only one that cares for you and will EVER care for you is ME.

Gaara stood up angrily. "You don't 'care' about me! You only use me as a puppet to kill people and earn pleasure through blood…"

Did your little girlfriend tell you that?

"No! I KNOW that!"

Do you really? Did you ever think that maybe SHE'S the one using you! Just as a tool for protection and safety!

"SHUT UP!" Gaara thrust a fist into a tree, blood streaming down from his knuckles. Gaara panted in anger. "I…Don't NEED you to tell me what's right for me…"

What!

"I have someone that needs me now, and I need them badly in return. You're no longer my burden, Shukaku!"

And Gaara's mind was silent. The Sand-Chuunin smiled, and walked away.

Muahahaha! That's right, Shukaku, you're DONE! Heh heh. XD! Go on, read Chapter Nine :D