Chapter 20 revised and edited. Review or PM me on what you think about this chapter now.
Disclaimer – I don't own anything from the Naruto anime/manga all I own are my original characters and plot twists.
'Talking'
"Thinking"
'Heavily demonic voice'
'Fox talking'
"Fox thinking"
*expression*
Jutsu
Flashback
Chapter 20 – Fighting To Protect
Gaara quickly released the cork from his gourd and let the sand pool at his feet. Naruto pulled out four shuriken and threw them before making hand signs and calling his jutsu 'Wind Style: Gale Palm.'
The shuriken were sped up by the gust of wind that was formed when Naruto clapped his hands together speeding them up to significant speeds.
Gaara stood there impassively as his shield of sand rose to protect him but slightly furrowed his brows when they slammed into the wall of sand and nearly broke through.
'It seems as though you are quite capable Uzumaki so it seems I may have to actively try to win here.' Said Gaara in the same tone of voice before raising his left hand and in doing so directed his sand at Naruto.
Naruto leapt back and started running away from the sand. Naruto quickly created a clone which he then had throw him away from the advancing sand.
'Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu.' Shouted Naruto after finishing his hand signs and turning to face Gaara.
Gaara's sand rose to protect him but the sand which was hit turned to glass.
Naruto raised an eyebrow at this.
"Hey Kurama do you think using the Nine-Tailed Fox Fire Stream would get through the sand shield of his?" thought Naruto.
'Well it might work but you haven't used it often and it may take a lot out of you. I'd suggest holding off on using it for now.' Said Kurama.
"Fine I'll see if my sword can get through." Thought Naruto before drawing his blade and going into his tailless form causing his pupils to turn into red slits.
Naruto channelled Kurama's chakra into the blade and lunged at Gaara. The sand rose to protect him but wasn't able to stop the blade going through it and as such Naruto was able to slash Gaara's clothing but wasn't able to draw blood.
Gaara's eyes widened before he started to smile bloodthirstily.
'Ha Uzumaki you came so close but I won't be giving you that chance again.' Said Gaara before flaring his sand causing Naruto to jump back.
Gaara surrounding himself in his shield of sand and activated his Third Eye. Naruto looked on before throwing some kunai at the sphere. Instead of waiting for the blades to come close the sand shot out in spears and went straight for the kunai and beat them back.
"Now?" Thought Naruto.
'Very well but only go to the first tail.' Said Kurama after some thought.
Naruto nodded even though no one knew why and got down on all fours before allowing the first tail to appear.
-line break-
The sand ninja in the stands widened their eyes when they saw this.
'Kankuro what are we going to do we were never told that the Leaf had a Jinchuuriki?' Whispered Temari.
'I don't know either and Gaara wasn't supposed to try and turn into the Shukaku yet either. I guess we just wait for the signal and go on as if nothing has changed.' Suggested Kankuro.
-line break-
'Gaara I know you can see me so I hope you're ready for this Nine-Tailed Fox Fire Stream!' Shouted Naruto before unleashing a stream of super heated fire which started to turn the sand into glass before shattering it.
"Hey Kurama is it just me or is this thing stronger than before?" asked Naruto in his mind.
'It has gotten stronger because you have gotten stronger it's not that hard to figure out.' Said the Kyuubi with a monotone while he blinked at Naruto's stupidity.
"Man I was just asking." Retorted Naruto.
'AAAHHHH it burns.' Cried Gaara inside his shield of sand.
Naruto then cut of the chakra flow to his throat and mouth and looked at the damage he had done.
More than half of the sand was glass and was shattered on the ground revealing Gaara with first degree burns around most of his body where his clothing had burnt off and second degree burns covering his legs and arms.
'AAAAHHH the pain what is this?' asked Gaara.
-line break-
Up in the Kage box the Kazekage turned and looked to the Hokage 'Now.' He said and his bodyguards caused an explosion.
-line break-
In the stands feathers appeared around everyone and caused everyone to fall asleep except for the Jounin and Sasuke who had activated his Sharingan and saw it was a Genjutsu.
-line break-
'What's going on?' said Naruto out loud.
Kankuro and Temari dropped down near Gaara and each put an arm over their shoulders before jumping away.
'Wh-wait.' Said Naruto as he jumped after them but Baki, the sand Jounin charged at him forcing him to dodge and jump back.
Genma then jumped near Naruto and spat the needle that was in his mouth at Baki causing him to jump away from Naruto.
'Uzumaki the Chunin exams are over. However I have a mission for you which is probably only one you can do. You need to go after Gaara and either capture him or ensure his isn't allowed to transform and rampage in our village.' Said Genma seriously.
'You got it.' Said Naruto nodding before charging after them while Genma stalled Baki.
-line break-
Kakashi and Guy were fighting off sound ninja who had been disguised in the stands when Kakashi saw Naruto leave. Kakashi looked around and saw only Sasuke had been able to break the Genjutsu.
'Sasuke I have a mission for you.' Said Kakashi as he threw a kunai at the head of a sound ninja killing him instantly.
'A mission, now?' Asked Sasuke.
'Yes the first A rank since the Land of Waves but you'll need a team.' Said Kakashi as he looked around and saw Tenten and Shikamaru nearby.
'Go break the Genjutsu on Tenten and Shikamaru and come here and I'll give you the fourth member for your team.' Said Kakashi.
Sasuke said 'Release.' Before poking Tenten in the shoulder causing the Genjutsu on her to be dispelled before he turned to Shikamaru which caused him to blink.
'Shikamaru, have you been awake this whole time.' Said Sasuke with a deadpan expression.
As he said that a small dog came and bit Shikamaru on his ankle.
'Ow what was that for?' Asked Shikamaru in pain.
'Huh what's going on?' Asked Tenten waking up.
At that moment a sound ninja charged at Tenten but was then punched through the wall by Guy.
'Guy-sensei?' Said Tenten surprised.
'Good your all awake alright let me tell you the situation.' Said Kakashi appearing near Guy.
'Naruto has gone after the sand ninja from the exam. Your mission will be to go back him up and if necessary fight them as well as I'm not sure why Naruto went after them.' Said Kakashi.
'He probably wanted to finish his match or something stupid like that.' Scoffed Sasuke.
'Hey Naruto isn't stupid, besides he has more sense than to chase after someone when there is an invasion going on.' Retorted Tenten.
Shikamaru just looked between them and sighed.
'Ok anyway go through that hole that Guy created and Pakkun will lead you to Naruto as he knows his scent. You got it Pakkun?' Asked Kakashi referring to the small pug that had bit Shikamaru's ankle.
Pakkun was a small pug with brown fur and a dark brown snout and ears. He had pink-coloured paws and wore the standard outfit of Kakashi's ninja dogs which consisted of a blue vest and a Leaf forehead protector which was worn on the top of his head in a similar style to Sakura. He also had a bandage on his right front leg.
'Yep I got it no problem and his scent is pretty easy to find since he has been fighting for a while.' Said Pakkun before jumping out of the hole in the wall.
Sasuke jumped out followed closely by Tenten.
'Oh I just know this is going to be troublesome *sigh*.' Whined Shikamaru before jumping after them.
'Kakashi you know I've taken out twenty-one ninja already.' Begun Guy before Kakashi threw a kunai past him hitting a sound ninja in the heart.
'Well that makes twenty-three for me.' Said Kakashi giving his eye smile.
'I MUST WIN THIS CHALLENGE KAKASHI AND IT WILL THEN BE FIFTY-ONE WINS TO ME AND FIFTY TO YOU! IF I CANNOT DEFEAT YOU I WILL DO A THOUSAND LAPS AROUND THE VILLAGE ON MY HANDS.' Said Guy with flames in his eyes.
-line break-
Naruto was catching up to Gaara but then all of a sudden Kankuro broke off from them and turned to face Naruto.
'You won't be getting past me.' Said Kankuro.
'Oh yeah.' Said Naruto as he made his signature hand sign. 'Shadow Clone Jutsu.' Said Naruto causing twenty more of him to appear.
'Deal with him.' Naruto commanded his clones and they all gave a slight nod before Naruto threw one of his three pronged kunai a good five hundred metres into the distance and vanished in an orange blur.
"Damn it. Sorry Temari I couldn't hold him back." Thought Kankuro before bringing Crow, now newly repaired, out to destroy the Naruto clones as quickly as he could so he could go back and help Temari but that was easier said than done.
-line break-
Shikamaru, Pakkun, Tenten and Sasuke where all leaping through the trees following Pakkun to get to Naruto. All of a sudden however Pakkun stopped and raised his paw.
He took a few sniffs before leaping off again prompting the Genin to follow him once again.
'It appears as though we are being followed by about eight *sniff* no nine enemy ninja and it seems as though they are catching up fast.' Said Pakkun.
'Well if that's the case it seems that one of us is going to have to be a decoy.' Said Shikamaru.
'However for one person to go up against nine enemy ninja, well let's just say the odds aren't in that persons favour for surviving.' Continued Shikamaru.
'Also we can't afford to lose Pakkun because he is the one leading us to Naruto which is our mission. This means that it will have to be one of us three that has to be the decoy. Unfortunately all we have are a weapon happy kunoichi.' Said Shikamaru prompting Tenten to glare.
'An Uchiha who despite his skill always manages to get in over his head due to being arrogant.' Said Shikamaru causing Sasuke to also glare at Shikamaru.
'Lastly there's me a lazy cloud watching bum who would much rather be asleep right now than doing anything.' Said Shikamaru bluntly.
'However the decoy, will most likely, die.' Finished Shikamaru.
'Alright I'll...' begun Sasuke before Shikamaru cut him off.
'*sigh* it has to be me. Sasuke your fire power will be needed in case Naruto needs help and Tenten you're primarily mid to long range support which means if you can't keep them at a distance you won't last long. Besides Shadow Possession Jutsu was primarily designed as a diversionary technique, so if you think about it I'm the best option for being able to distract them and survive.' Said Shikamaru before he stopped and turned around.
'Go complete the mission and hopefully everything will work out well in the end.' Said Shikamaru.
Sasuke and Tenten gave Shikamaru a nod of acknowledgement before leaping after Pakkun.
"*sigh* How do I get myself in these troublesome situations?" Wondered Shikamaru before leaping in the direction of the enemy ninja pursuing them.
-line break-
'Ha I caught up to you.' Announced Naruto arriving on a tree two metres behind Garra and Temari.
'Well that's too bad for you.' Begun Temari before Gaara lashed out and hit Temari sending her into a tree causing her great pain but not enough to knock her out.
'Uzumaki what are you doing here? Have you come to prove my existence?' Asked Gaara.
'No Gaara I can't let you go, not until I help you get out of the darkness that I came very close to falling into.' Said Naruto softly.
'You are a fool Uzumaki I already told you that fighting for others won't help you win it will simply bring your destruction.' Said Gaara beginning to channel Shukaku's power.
'Mark my words Garra I will show you that fighting to protect others is the way to win.' Said Naruto beginning to go to his first tail.
-line break-
'Ok we are getting close but there is some serious demonic energy building up ahead.' Said Pakkun before taking another sniff 'But it appears we are still being followed.' Said Pakkun surprising Tenten and causing Sasuke to frown.
'That lazy bum better not have run away to go sleep or something or he is going to get it later.' Said Sasuke.
-line break-
Eight sound ninja dropped down into a clearing. The leader walked forward and saw the tracks vanish.
All of a sudden all of the ninja were stuck frozen in place.
'Shadow Possession Jutsu complete.' Said Shikamaru.
"Wait a minute I only count eight where is the ninth ninja." Thought Shikamaru.
The leader looked ever so slightly to a tree about five metres from Shikamaru which caused Shikamaru to realise where the other ninja was.
'I see, you have one ninja stay behind the others to assist if you get ambushed. Very clever but there is a reason why you should always be mindful in a battle because you looking up into the tree gave me his location and thanks to that I caught him as well while I was talking.' Said Shikamaru.
"I have never been so happy I wasn't lazy. To think if I drew out my battle in the Chunin exams I wouldn't have had enough chakra to pull this off." Thought Shikamaru clearly amused.
Just then the ninth ninja fell out of the tree.
'What?' Wondered both Shikamaru and the sound ninja.
Asuma then dropped down behind Shikamaru.
'Asuma.' Said Shikamaru.
'Nice work Shikamaru I guess you're finally overcoming some of that laziness of yours.' Said Asuma.
Asuma held his trench knives and charged at the leader and nailed him with a punch to the face knocking him out cold, he then proceeded to kick another ninja into a tree. In Shikamaru's shock he let go of the sound ninja. Two of the sound ninja realised they were free and quickly threw kunai at Asuma but he just used the Substitution Jutsu.
Asuma then dropped down and slammed both of their heads down into the ground and then slammed both his arms into two more of them who charged at him. Asuma then blocked a kunai thrown at him with his trench knives and rushed at the ninja who threw it and grabbed his arm while slamming his knee into the sound ninja's back. Asuma then quickly threw that ninja at the last one remaining sending them both together into a heap right into a tree.
'Rest now Shikamaru you did good.' Said Asuma.
Shikamaru just yawned and laid back.
-line break-
'The ninja aren't following us anymore.' Said Pakkun.
'Hn guess that bum is good for something.' Said Sasuke with a smile appearing on his face.
'In any case we caught up now they're just beyond those trees.' Said Pakkun.
'Alright let's go.' Said Tenten.
'Wait I'm not really cut out for fighting so I think I'm going to have to leave you on your own for now.' Said Pakkun.
'That's fine you've done enough.' Said Sasuke before Pakkun puffed away into smoke.
They arrived to see a blonde covered in a red shroud with a tail and what looked to be a half raccoon half human with a raccoon's appearance from his head to his hips and human looking legs sticking out under that talking to the red covered blonde.
'Well Uzumaki you said you fight better than me because you have something to protect so.' Begun Garra before he launched two globs of sand and pinned Sasuke and Tenten to a tree each catching them both of guard.
'If you don't beat me then your two friends there, will die!' Said Gaara.
'Sasuke .Tenten. No there is no way that they will die here today!' growled Naruto angrily before bursting into the third tail bypassing the second.