Iruka is barely managing to maintain the barrier. It's not that it takes a lot of chakra, it's more that he has to constantly adjust the size it is on the inside. But if he fails, the stadium will be crushed. ANBU and ordinary shinobi are gathered around the barrier.

"Let us in there!" one of the ANBU says.

"NO!" snaps Hayate, from his perch on the arena wall next to Iruka. "I say when the match is over."

"But that's a bijuu!"

"And that's a giant toad! What's your point?"

"Don't disturb my concentration!" snaps Iruka. "Keeping this barrier up is difficult enough as it is."

And then Naruto and the Chief Toad transform into the Nine Tailed Fox.

Iruka closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, calms himself. It's just a transformation. And in that instant where Iruka is not paying attention, Shukaku wacks the barrier with his tail, cracking it. Iruka fights to keep the barrier up, but it is slipping from his grasp.

Gamabunta and Naruto charge Shukaku in the form of Mr. Nine Tails Sir. They are faster, they are nimbler, they dodge and weave around attacks. They grab Shukaku with their claws, holding him still. Naruto sees Shukaku hit the barrier with his tail, cracking it. On the other side of the barrier, Iruka-nii is an alarming shade of white. If they don't stop Shukaku soon, Iruka sensei might collapse.

Naruto and Shukaku release the transformation jutsu. Naruto leaps down, punching Gaara in the face.

"That should'a done it!" Says Gamabunta.

"Aw, come on!" whines Shukaku. "Gimme a break, I just got here!"

Gaara straightens up, awake. "How dare you interrupt my jutsu! Sand Coffin!"

Just as Gaara's sand reaches Naruto, Gamabunta's tongue wraps around him, deflecting the jutsu. But then the section of Shukaku's skin below Naruto turns to sand, trapping him. Gamabunta's tongue retracts as Shukaku shakes him off.

Naruto looks at Gaara, then at the crack in the barrier, then at Iruka-nii, who looks ready to collapse. This jutsu must be harder than either of them thought. Naruto cannot break free. Mr. Nine Tails, Sir, says Naruto. I need your help to defeat Shukaku. Please, lend me your chakra! An overwhelming amount of Mr. Nine Tails Sir's chakra fills Naruto, enveloping him and making his forehead protector fly off and his jacket come open. Naruto leaps out of the entrapping sand and aims a flying punch at Gaara's face. Sand rises to stop Naruto, holding back his fists. Naruto headbuts Gaara, hitting him with the only part of his body that will reach.

For a brief moment, everything seems to go silent as blood runs down Naruto's forehead and Gaara's forehead. Then Shukaku begins to crack, dissolving into sand, kicking up a huge dust cloud. Naruto falls into it, hearing Gamabunta announce he is leaving. The giant toad and his son leave, along with the sword sticking up out of the ground. Naruto feels the barrier break, and the size of the arena go back to normal. He flips backwards, landing on top of one of the arena trees. Across from him, Gaara does the same.

Naruto and Gaara stare at each other, panting.

"That's it," says Naruto. "I've got no chakra left. And it looks like you've got none left too. You and I are a lot alike, more than you know."

Gaara leaps forward, and Naruto mirrors his movements. Both genin aim a punch at the other, but Naruto's connects, sending Gaara flying to the ground. Naruto falls down a short way away.

Two boys, both jinchuuriki, lie on the arena floor with bleeding wounds on their foreheads. One boy cannot move, he is too sore. The other rolls over and drags himself across the ground, towards his opponent.

What is it, thinks Gaara. That makes him so strong? I will not let myself fade away into nothing!

Naruto drags himself towards Gaara with his chin, too drained of chakra to move his body.

He is five years old again. He is alone. No one will look at him. He cries, wishing someone would look at him.

"What are you doing? I told you not to talk to him!"

"Watch out! It's HIM again! Why don't you just go away! You freak!"

"Freak!"

He is older. A hand lands on his shoulder, and he looks up into the eyes of the Police Chief. The Chief smiles sadly at him. "Just hold your head up high," he says. "And pretend it doesn't bother you."

"Monster boy! Evil Uchiha! Figured you'd get along…"

Gaara stares at Naruto, dragging himself along the ground.

He is five years old again. He is crying.

"Freak! Why don't you just die!"

"He's a monster! Don't even look at him!"

"Go away!"

Their backs are to him. He is alone.

He is always alone.

Both boys can see what the other is thinking. Both know what the other is feeling.

I am simply a relic of the past they all wish would disappear, Gaara's voice echoes in Naruto's mind.

The most painful thing in the world is to be unwanted. Unneeded. Completely alone, Haku's words echo in Naruto's mind.

But in order to live you need a purpose. To exist for no reason is the same as being dead, Gaara's words return to Naruto.

"Stay away!" Gaara says, afraid of the strength inside Naruto. "I forfeit! Just stay away!"

Naruto stops advancing and looks up at Gaara. "It hurts, doesn't it?" he asks. "The pain of being alone. I know that feeling. I've been there, in that dark and lonely place. But now I have people who mean a lot to me, and I won't let anyone hurt them."

"But why?" asks Gaara. "Why would you do this for anyone but yourself?"

"Because they saved me from myself," explains Naruto. "They were the first to notice me, the first to care. They rescued me from my loneliness. They are my friends."

Love is the heart's desire to watch over someone, Yashamaru's word come back to Gaara. The desire to protect them from all harm - like my sister did for you, Gaara.

"Love?" mutters Gaara. "Is that the thing that makes him so strong?"

Naruto tries to get up, but the proctor says, "That's enough. The match is over. The winner is Naruto Uzumaki."

Medics rush out, lift the two boys onto stretchers and carry them away.

The audience is silent. In fact, the only sound is that of the leaves dancing in the wind.

Where the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, tree leaves shall bud anew.

Hiruzen has seen many things in his time. But never before has he seen the Will of Fire awaken in quite this manner. He watches the leaves dance in the wind as Naruto and Gaara are carried out and feels an immense pride swell up in his chest.

Were you watching, Minato? Did you see that, Kushina? Your son just awakened the strongest Will of Fire I have seen since the First Hokage. And that boy from the Sand… Hiruzen smiles and turns to Rasa. "Don't be surprised if your son starts behaving differently from now on."

Rasa just stares at him.

Rain sits on the stadium roof, above the Kage box. No one knows he is there because he is well camouflaged. He is good at camouflage. Heck, he could use Naruto's orange jumpsuit as camouflage in maze of mirrors.

Rain smiles down at Naruto Uzumaki. Yahiko...Sensei...your dreams, your hope of peace… This boy might just be able to do it. Twice now he has touched the heart of another by knowing their pain.

Perhaps your dream is possible after all. Rain leans back and looks at the sky. Perhaps we can bring peace to the world by talking and understanding. I didn't quite believe it...She did, though. She trusted you from the start.

Under his mask, Rain smiles.

I believe it now. The Will of Fire. The ability to change. Peace through negotiation. I believe it all.

Yahiko. I will follow you to the end. And I will believe in this boy.