Next chapter of Blood Is Thicker Than Bone. Naruto and Kimimaro do battle with Gaara as they fight against him as the attack on Konoha comes to an end and the aftermath of it is felt.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Naruto and Kimimaro dodged the bursts of sand aimed at them from Gaara as they did battle with the Jinchuurki of the Sand Village. The redheaded boy sent his sand after them and they dodged and cut it through preventing it from grabbing them.
"Drilling Bullets!" Each fired bones from their fingers at him but his sand protected them from it.
"We have to find a way to get past his defenses." Naruto told Kimimaro. "His sand makes him hard to hit as he doesn't have to move to use it to block. Above all else you gotta make sure he doesn't grab you with it." He explained to his cousin giving him what info he had on him recalling his fight with Rock Lee who had been crippled by him. Kimimaro looked at him and back at Gaara who did hand symbols and fired shuriken made of Sand at them which they deflected and blocked with their swords.
Gaara followed up by sending pillars of sand after them. Naruto and Kimimaro dodged it and each charged and slashed at him but his sand blocked the attacks. Not done yet they threw their swords at him and his sand yet again blocked it.
Gaara shot his sand at them and Naruto and Kimimaro avoided it. Naruto dashed past him and then charged him from behind. "A Thousand Years of Pain!" He shouted.
Gaara's sand blocked his attempted attack. "What the hell was you trying to do?" He asked him not turning his head wondering what that was suppose to be. Naruto only grinned and leapt backwards. Gaara then looked down behind him and noticed that the Kunai he had used had an explosive tag latched onto it.
"…Damn."
BOOM! The tag went off and Gaara staggered a bit as the force of it at such close range meant he felt the blast. He was unharmed from it but Naruto dashed at him and kicked at him and his sand blocked it.
To his surprise however that was just a diversion as he looked up and saw Kimimaro above him and diving down a great sword in his arms. He swung down at him and broke through the sand and cleaved him in two. Or would have, if Gaara at the last second didn't do hand symbols and replaced himself with a statue made of sand which crumbled apart from the force of the attack.
The Sand Jinchuurki formed hand symbols and sand burst out of his gourd and surrounded the area to prevent them from escaping. "Your blood will please my mother!" He shouted at them and fired his sand at them which they dodged. "You can't escape me!" He snarled and created several spears made of sand and threw them at the two. Naruto and Kimimaro dodged them and each rushed him. Kimimaro swung his leg at him and a blade stuck out of it aiming at his chest while Naruto threw a fist at him and a bone shot out of it. Gaara's sand blocked both attacks and wrapped around their limbs surprising them. He then using his sand slammed them into each other and threw them on the ground.
"I will shed your blood all over this place!" He snarled his lips contorting in anger and lashed out at them with his sand. Sand formed around his hand taking the shape of a gigantic claw and he lunged it at them. It hit Kimimaro who struggled against it as they were in a test of strength and slowly he was being pushed back from the force of it as it was overpowering him. It drove him back and he lost his footing and was slammed into the ground. Gaara pressed his claw on Kimimaro's body looking to crush him.
"Kimimaro!" Naruto shouted and rushed at him and formed a bone sword and slashed at the claw. Gaara hissed and raised the claw up and swatted Naruto with it staggering him backwards. He then lashed out at him with the Claw and Naruto struggled against it as he too was being pushed back. Gaara his face twisted in rage and anger roared as half of his face changed.
"I will kill each and every last one of you!" He snarled as he overwhelmed Naruto with the claw and Naruto found himself being pushed back and starting to lose his footing, He struggled against it when his head lowered suddenly and his body went limb. Gaara grinned sadistically and prepared to kill him when Naruto's hands grasped the claw and to his surprise began pushing it backwards. Slowly his hands started to change as they became harder and stronger and his nails grew longer and sharper. Naruto lifted his head up and his eyes had turned blood red surprising Gaara as fangs appeared in his mouth.
"What is this?!" He shouted not understanding when he noticed a fox like tail formed behind Naruto. "He's one as well?!" He said not believing that he was one as well just like him.
Naruto fought back against the claw and began pushing it back overpowering him. Gaara tried to crush him but to no avail as Naruto began walking his way back towards him. He then grasped it and tore it off shocking Gaara as his hand returned to normal.
Naruto an aura surrounding him slammed into Gaara penetrating his sand and knocked him backwards. Letting out a cry he knocked him through a tree and bringing his hands up formed hand symbols.
"You lose! Bone Release: Drilling Lance!" He shouted and brought his hands forward and a large bone taking the shape of a drill appeared out of them and began spinning and struck Gaara in the stomach and knocked him through the air.
Naruto landed on the ground and his features returned to normal and he saw Kimimaro getting up. He went over and helped him out as it appeared they had beaten him.
The two then sensed something and saw several Sound Nins leap and appear and encircle around them trapping them in a sphere so they couldn't run. Naruto looked around as their must've been over twenty of them.
"Kimimaro, what now?" Naruto asked his cousin as they were surrounded by the Sound Nins and Kurosuki members.
"Now things get interesting." Kimimaro responded to him his arms folded across his chest as they looked on at the group of men who surrounded them on all sides.
Amongst the three and seemingly the commanders of them was a large one wearing small dark glasses carrying a gourd on his back, a small one wearing a purple vest and the final one a dark green haired one who had claw gauntlets on his hands.
"Move back men, you're in the way." The large shinobi said and the other Sound Nins and Kurosuki members backed away giving him and the others room.. "Well what do we have here? Mura you take the blonde one and the traitor is mine." He said cracking his knuckles.
"Oh what a ripoff! No fair!" The shorter one complained.
The leader of the threesome only seemed to shrug. "Just be happy Tora and Mura that you're getting this chance."
"You pieces of trash, Shut up and fight." Kimimaro said to them not intimidated.
"What you'd call us?!" The large Shinobi shouted and charged Kimimaro and swung a fist at him. Kimimaro leapt backwards and dodged his attacks the man was strong but slow as he missed his attempts as Kimimaro evaded his attacks and leapt up on a building dodging his fist which broke through the wall. Tora leapt up after him and stood across from him as the two were at a standoff
"Alright mister big shot, so you're fast and know how to avoid getting a fist in the mouth. But can ya fight, huh?" Tora said to him.
Kimimaro only smirked. "Take your best shot right here," He said aiming at his chest.
"Your dead!" The man shouted and ran at him and swung his fist at him, Kimimaro caught it with his other hand and the two struggled in a test of strength looking to overpower the other. Tora growled and snarled trying with all his might to overwhelm him. To his surprise Kimimaro smirked at him and brought his hand up and began overpowering him. Using his other arm he jabbed him in the chest stunning him and grabbing his arm produced a dagger from both his arm and knee jammed them into it and snapped it breaking it. Tora cried out in pain and staggered backwards clutching his limp arm.
"No fair!" He protested. "I didn't know you could do that!"
Naruto dodged the attacks of Mura who was deceptively fast. The small man lunged and dashed at him from different angles and attacked him. He stood in one spot and looked around trying to get a pattern from his attacks.
"Your dead!" Mura shouted thinking to kill him. To his surprise Naruto turned and struck him across the face knocking him to the ground. He got up and saw that Naruto was virtually unharmed from his multiple attacks.
"What how are you still standing?!" He shouted.
"Your attacks are weak, you maybe fast but your Taijutsu strength is nonexistent" Naruto said as in truth even if he didn't have the bone armor he possessed due to Shikotsumyaku he'd still be okay.
"We'll see how you like this!" Mura shouted and did hand symbols and suddenly created multiple half sized copies of himself.
"Great just what I need," Naruto muttered dryly as he faced off against the man and his miniature clones.
As that was happening Tora opened his gourd revealing sake and taking a swig spewed it out and set it on fire aiming at Kimimaro. Kimimaro dodged them and avoided the flames and charged him. Tora swung at him with his gourd and he blocked it with his swords and kicked him in the chest knocking him off the building. The heavy ninja got up and snuck inside a store and got his gourd ready.
(Ah, a perfect place for an ambush, he'll never know what hit him.) He said preparing to incinerate him when he emerged.
Unknown to him however the roof from above suddenly gave way and when he turned and saw it his eyes widened as Kimimaro dropped through the roof and producing a Kanabo club shattered his gourd and struck him knocking him through the wall crashing outside.
"Hold on Hold on! Please, Please don't kill me!" The man pleaded with as Kimimaro walked towards him preparing to finish him. "You're strong but you can't beat Lord Raiga and Orochimaru, so why not rejoin him while you can?" He said and Kimimaro stopped short and appeared to offer his hand to help him up. "Ah, Excellent I see you want to live. It's the smart thing to do." Tora went to take his hand when Kimimaro's went past his and near his head. "Hey!" He shouted in surprise when Kimimaro shot out a bone sword impaling him through his brain killing him.
Sensing his death the leader of the group stood up. "So it seems its my turn, Tora you weakling." Yosi said and leapt up and dove into the ground.
Naruto threw a giant shuriken at Mura and avoided his copies attacks. Suddenly he felt something grab his leg and saw one of them had snuck aroud and grasped his leg and sunk his teeth into his flesh.
The creatures latched onto him as well and began glowing sapping him of his chakra and energy. One clung to his face as they immobilized him.
"Now you die!" Mura shouted and leapt over him looking to kill him.
Naruto's fist slammed into his stomach suddenly and with another blow knocked him high up into the air. Activating Kyuubi's power a red aura surrounded him and burned and incinerated the copies around him destroying them. He then looked up and saw that Mura was falling down towards him.
Mura continued to fall down and Naruto raised his fist in the air and he landed on it breaking his back killing him on contact.
Naruto tossed his limp lifeless body aside. "Anyone else want to fight?" He asked the other Sound Nins and Kurosuki members who turned and fled not wanting any part of him.
"Finally." Naruto said having dealt with them. Suddenly before he could move Sand suddenly formed around him and trapped him as he was unable to move. He looked and saw Gaara having reappeared, virtually unharmed as cracks was on his body as he used his sand as armor to protect him from it and using his sand was immobilizing him. Naruto struggled but was unable to break free of it. A dark look was in Gaara's eyes as he was trapped
Kimimaro saw what was happening and went to help him when he felt something grab his legs from underneath. He looked and saw that his legs had been grabbed from underneath by a pair of hands emerging from the ground.
"Hey pal, you should worry about yourself!" Yosi said his head emerging from the ground as his special abilities and enhancements enabled him to use his chakra to allow himself to travel and burrow underground. Kimimaro struggled but couldn't get loose from his grip. Yosi then dove underground and went after him chasing after him and causing Kimimaro to avoid his attacks making him unable to help Naruto who was immobilized by the sand.
"OH CRAP!" Naruto shouted as Gaara tossed him and he went flying through the air and crashed smacking against a building and fell to the ground dazed and unable to move.
Yosi dove out of the ground aiming at Kimimaro who dodged and kicked him away he then looked and saw what had happened. In rage he went after Gaara who summoned a wave of sand and slammed it into his chest knocking him through a series of trees slamming him through them.
"Well done, with you on our side we're invincible." Yosi said to him an arrogant smirk on his face. Gaara turned his head to look and regard him for the first…and last time as he sent his sand after him..
"What are you-ARGHHH!"
The sound of a body being crashed was heard as Gaara paid no attention to the corpse as he went after Naruto knowing he wasn't dead.
"Lightning Ball!" Raiga shouted lashing out sending a ball of electricity at Kakashi who countered it with a fireball and the two attacks slammed into each other canceling one another.
"Not bad, I guess The Leaf can produce a fighter worthy of the Hidden Mist Swordsmen." Raiga said to him with a smirk.
Kakashi dodged his attacks as electricity channeled through his Kiba Blades, in a way he was more dangerous than Zabuza was back at Wave as while Zabuza's sword would kill anything in its path with one blow, his pike swords only needed to touch him to electrocute. Plus any attempts with an ambush was nullified cause of that kid he had on his back who had the ability to detect threats with his eyes.
"Kill him…" Raiga ordered and his men appeared and attacked Kakashi as they formed a tower and began spinning using the Black Tornado to tear him to shreds. Kakashi dodged and suddenly produced five clones as well which formed a tower of their own.
"Not a bad move, mind if I borrow?" He asked with a smirk seated on top and each had Kunai in their hands. "Black Tornado!" He shouted and the tower spun and attacked the Kurosuki members knocking them off and one by one to the ground.
Raiga snarled at him and channeled Lighting. "Rock Wave!" He shouted and fired a bolt at a building destroying part of it looking to bury Kakashi who dodged it. Raiga took that moment to leap at him and dissected him in half. He let out a laugh of mad truimph when Kakashi suddenly turned to water. "What? MizuBushin?" He said and saw that he was surrounded on all sides by mutliple Kakashis. "Ranmaru's Which ones the real one?" He ordered the boy who activated his eyes.
"Right here!" The real Hatake Kakashi and lunged at him who dodged it. The rest of the copies attacked as well looking to overwhelm him. The swordsmen roared in fury and electricity surrounded him forming a barrier and two of the copies turned to water trying to break through it.
He sent lightning in all directions hitting and destroying the copies but Kakashi only continued making more of them as more and more water appeared.
"Idiot! I'll destroy you all at once!" He shouted preparing to unleash a devastating attack which would wipe them all out.
"I wouldn't do that if I was you, unless you wanna get shocked." Kakashi said to him smirking under his mask as they both stood in ankle deep water having been created from the clones. The Swordsmen's eyes widened seeing it as he realized he had been duped into destroying so many that his next attack would harm him as well. "Can you beat me without using your lightning?" Kakashi asked him.
"I don't need that to behead you!" Raiga shouted and charged him.
Naruto shook his head in a daze slowly getting his bearings trying to recover from the force of the impact he had sustained from getting thrown.
"YOU! I'll finally have my revenge!" A voice shouted suddenly at him.
"You!" Naruto shouted seeing Mizuki, appearing a bit ragged in front of him. The man who had tricked and deceived him months ago when he first became a Genin. It was also because of him that he managed to first activate Shikotsumyaku and he had skewered him in rage for what he had said to him.
The traitor had taken that opportune moment during the chaos to escape from his cell and made his way into Konoha and try and sneak out. "Now I'll kill you for what you did to me you freak!" Mizuki shouted seeing an opportune moment to have his revenge on him. He produced a potion that Orochimaru had given him based off of the ingredients listed on a tattoo he had and when it was consumed he would have strength to defeat twenty ninja so he was told
He drank it and swallowed it all in one gulp and his body suddenly transformed into a tiger crossover with a man. He let out a roar at Naruto who slowly got to his feet and prepared to fight him. "I'll tear you to pieces!"
Before he could try and attack him, sand suddenly wrapped around his head. Naruto winced when he heard a crashing sound imagining that his skull had just been crushed, Mizuki's corpse was thrown away into the distance and Naruto saw Gaara standing before him.
Firing a pillar of sand at him. Naruto nearly dodged it in the nick of time as that would've impaled him, Gaara fired more pillars at him and Naruto dodged evading his attacks.
"Sand Tail," Gaara said preparing a Jutsu channeling the Sand from his Gourd he created a giant stinger like that of a Scorpion behind him and hardened it. Making motions with one of his hands, He stabbed at Naruto who dodged it as fast as he could just missing being impaled by it.
The Tail lunged at him and he moved out of the way and it hit a building behind him and got stuck. Gaara snarled in anger trying to break free.
"Gotta think of something fast before, he gets free! If only I can distract him." Naruto said seeing him trying to get loose, he then looked up and saw that the Sun's brightness. "Wait, that's it!" He shouted and went for the last Jutsu that Iruka had taught him.
Gaara managed to get the tail out of the building and was prepared to kill Naruto with it, however Naruto quickly did Hand symbols and brought his hands to the side of his face.
"Sun Flare No Jutsu!" He shouted activating it and a bright light engulfed the area where they was at. Gaara let out a scream as the brightness consumed his eyes. The light stopped as fast as it had appeared. Gaara was shown clutching at his face seemingly in pain from it as he had not expected it. Naruto took that opportunity and drawing out a sword lunged at him. The Sand from before blocked it but Gaara took a swing at him which he dodged easily as Gaara was blinded and unused to not seeing.
Kimimaro having recovered dashed to the battlefield and fired a blade from his elbow at him, aiming to take his head off.
Kimimaro's blade shot towards Gaara and his sand managed to form and stop it, however the force of it was strong enough and part of it burst through and nicked Gaara across the back of his neck. Sand went to get him but Kimimaro dodged it and reappeared next to his cousin. Gaara his eyesight returned to normal prepared to attack them when he suddenly felt something he hadn't felt before.
(What? What is this?!) Gaara thought as he felt something trickling down his neck. The feeling of it unlike anything he had ever felt on him before. He brought a hand up to it and felt a liquid smearing across his hand. He brought his hand to his face and his eyes widened and twitched wildly when he saw what it was on it.
Blood…his blood. HIS OWN BLOOD!
Gaara's lips trembled as he stared at the red liquid in his hand and slowly his entire body started shaking as he snapped a vicious look, one that promised agonizing pain and death towards Kimimaro and Naruto.
"I'll…I'll…I'LL KILL YOU!" He shouted snarling in rage and Sand formed around him pouring out of his gourd as he drawed on the power of Shukaku unleashing it to its full extent. Naruto and Kimimaro watched on as they saw the sand engulf him and his body start to expand growing bigger and bigger with every passing second and towering over them as his hands became. The sand hardened around his body as it disappeared and in place of the boy was a gigantic Tanuki that stood over them and let out a roar that could be heard all around.
"What the hell do you call that?!" Naruto shouted and the beast snarling at them with dark pupils raised its foot up attempting to squash them. "MOVE!" Naruto shouted and they leapt in the nick of time. The beast spun around deceptively quick and lashed its tail out at them smashing through buildings with ease. It then took in a deep breath and fired a gigantic ball of sand at them which missed and headed it into the nearby forest and destroyed part of it.
"This isn't good, he'll destroy everything just to get at us!" Naruto said looking on unable to figure out a way to be able to take this guy down. He heard a cough suddenly and looked at Kimimaro who covered his mouth and clutched his chest. (He's still sick isn't he? He shouldn't have been forced to go through all this.) He thought to himself and looked back at the monstrosity before them.
"There is only one way I can think of, that could stop him." Kimimaro said suddenly and stepped forward. "Though I'm afraid that doing so may cost me my life." He said as he stared at the sight before him, knowing full well that their maybe no other choice. The disease was still in his body, the strain of using it would most likely prove fatal to him if he did use it, yet he saw no other way to be able to take this berserking monstrosity down. His cousin looked at him confused not understanding. "Naruto," He said and looked back at him and smiled. "I thank you for all you've done for me." He said and reached towards his shirt and pulled it down. Naruto looked on and suddenly saw the marking on his chest. It was similar to Sasuke's own but in a different shape. Kimimaro then activated the Cursed Seal of Earth and markings started to appear on his body flowing up towards his head and face. Using that which had been bestowed upon him from Orochimaru years ago he stood up straight with no sign of the illness in him as Naruto felt a dark power, similar to the one Sasuke had before emerge from him. With a cry he leapt off the roof and towards Shukaku at a fast speed.
The beast seeing him roared and went to swat him but he evaded it and disappearing in a blur reappeared above him and produced two claymore sized blades and dove down onto its arm piercing through it. Shukaku roared in surprise and pain and lashed at him who dodged and ran up the arm slashing at it with the swords in hand. At the bottom of his feet small spikes also appeared enabling him to keep on it and not fall off as he ran. Sand emerged from Shukaku's arm and went to engulf him and he spun and slashed and destroyed it as he fought on. He leapt backwards and Shukaku followed him deeper into the forest taking the beast away from Konoha so no innocent people would get caught in the attack.
"I gotta do something!" Naruto said and chased after them. A pair of Sound Nins appeared in his way but Naruto easily cut them down as he ran after them.
(Don't interfere Naruto! This is his fight.) Kyuubi shouted in his head but he ignored the fox. He couldn't let him fight him alone, no way was he going to let him fight him without any help.
"It's time to finish this." Kakashi said to Raiga Kurosuki the two having battled.
"We're not done yet!" Raiga shouted at him.
"Then you wouldn't mind facing all of us at once now would you." Asuma Sarutobi said and with him were other Jonins surprising Raiga.
"You're a bit outmatched here." Kakashi told him and Raiga noticed the odds were now against him as he was being cornered by ANBU and other Leaf Ninja. Ranmaru looked on fear in his eyes.
Raiga saw that his men where retreating and despite his love of battle he wasn't suicidal. "I grow bored of this. Next time you won't get so lucky!" He shouted and fired a bolt of lightning at him who dodged it easily and turned and fled.
Kakashi didn't do anything to pursue as he watched them go as many it seemed like were being beaten back and retreating. He looked and saw Sakura and Sasuke and he wondered where Naruto was at.
Kimimaro leapt up directly at the demon's face and did hand symbols and fired multiple bones and spikes from his chest at him. Shukaku roared and blew out wind deflecting them and the demon bellowed and blew out a gust of wind slamming into Kimimaro the force of it knocking him through trees and slamming into a large one sticking to it. Its eyes narrowing Shukaku lashed it with a claw ready to tear him to pieces. Kimimaro recovered at the last instant and leapt away. Focusing his chakra he then turned and fired several eight foot long spikes out of his back at him who blocked the attack.
"I'LL CRUSH YOU!" Gaara, no Shukaku shouted at him and lashed at him. Kimimaro dodged it avoiding the attack. "I'LL SLAUGHTER YOU!" Shukaku roared and took in a deep breath and fired a gust of air at him knocking down trees looking to crush him underneath them. Shukau then raised its foot and slammed into the ground creating a minor earthquake making Kimimaro lose his footing from the force of it. "DIEEEEE!" He shouted and lashed at him with his claws.
Kimimaro narrowly dodged the attacks as it cut through anything in its path. He fired bones at him which had no effect
Kimimaro followed it up by pulling a large Kanabo out of his leg and dodging his claws slammed it onto its hand. Shukaku roared in pain when Sand suddenly grasped Kimimaro's ankles and he found himself unable to move. "Damn!" He shouted as he tried to break free of the iron like grip.
Shukaku bellowed and brought his other claw up above and slammed it down onto him crushing him.
Naruto gasped in horror as he was too late. "Kimimaro…I'LL KILL YOU GAARA!" Naruto shouted as his eyes turned a murderous red.
Before he could do anything suddenly Shukaku let out a howl and it sounded like he was in pain. He removed his claw and Naruto saw to his shock Kimimaro but something had happened to him. His skin had changed color and his eyes had turned darker and pupils had become yellow. A tail like a lizard he now possessed as he was shirtless and he had four bone like swords sticking out of his back. In each hand he had a drill and was stabbing them into his claw.
"What in the world?" Naruto said looking on at what he saw as Kimimaro had activated his Cursed Seal Level 2 form. His last resort move that he had and undergone the transformation to try and beat him.
"Die!" Kimimaro shouted in a more vicious tone. He lunged up at Shukaku and fired multiple bone swords out of his chest at him hitting him in the chest area. Shukaku roared and lashed at him but Kimimaro was too fast for him.
"Dance of the Falling Petals!" Kimimaro shouted and appeared above him and began spinning and fired hundreds of spikes all at once at him. The attacks by themselves would've called anyone but due to his thick hide, they served as a minor injury to the Tailed Beast who lashed with his tail and deflected them.
"TEAR YOU APART!"
Reaching into his back he pulled out his spine which took the shape of a chain. When he lunged at him he swung the chain and it snared around his arm. Kimimaro then wrapped the chain around his arm so it couldn't move and prepared to do a move to finish him off. But before he could clutched at his chest and cried out in pain. "No…Not now!" He shouted as he felt his sickness coming back, usage of the Cursed Seal had brought the dormant disease back to him and he felt himself getting weaker. He began coughing and spat up blood as the transformation was being reversed.
He changed back and fell to his knees unable to move. Shukaku seeing this prepared to kill him when Naruto appeared right in front of him.
"Your fight is with me Gaara!" Naruto shouted. "Kuchiyose No Jutsu!" He shouted and summoned a Gigantic Toad large enough to combat him in his Shukaku form. Naruto stood on top of Gamabunta's head as he stared at his enemy across from him.
"Give me a light young one!" Gamabunta shouted and Naruto threw an explosive tag into his mouth. The Giant Toad shot out a large fireball hitting Shukaku in the chest. The Tailed Beast roared in pain and fired a gust of wind at him. Naruto held onto Gamabunta who stood his ground.
Shukaku roared and took a deep breath and fired balls of concentrated air at him. Gamabunta leapt out of the way of it and rammed him. Shukaku lashed at him but he fired his tongue out and blocked it as the two were at a stalemate.
"There's gotta be a way to beat this guy but how?" Naruto said to himself as Shukaku fired gusts of sand at him looking to bury him. Gamabunta fired out mucus which burned him.
(There's a way to beat him but you have to use my power!) Kyuubi shouted in his mind. Naruto was reluctant to use it but saw no other choice. He drawed upon his power and prepared to attack.
"Henshin No Jutsu!" Naruto shouted and he suddenly transformed into a gigantic fox as he surged with Kyuubi's power and slammed into Shukaku and bit him on the chest. The attack weakened it significantly as it fell backwards. Naruto returned to his regular form and landed on Gamabunta.
"He's still not down?" Naruto said in disbelief as it slowly staggered upwards.
Naruto than realized and saw something, it was Gaara, Gaara's body was sticking out of the head area. And it looked like he was asleep. (There! Aim there and kill him!) Kyuubi shouted at him.
"I hope this works…" He muttered and got a kunai out and threw it aiming for his body.
Naruto's aim was a bit off but the kunai scratched him in the shoulder and Gaara jilted awake feeling it. Shukaku sensing it let out a roar and began to fade away sealing back inside him. Gaara as he awoke used his sand to levitate in the air as he looked on.
Both boys looked and saw each other and there was only one thing left to do now to determine who would win. Naruto leapt off Gamabunta sending him away aiming for Gaara
Naruto and Gaara lunged at each other and each one threw a fist putting all their remaining strength into it.
Gaara missed…
Naruto didn't…
His fist slammed into Gaara's face knocking him down and he fell to the ground.
Naruto slowly started to fall as well as he had no energy left, mentally and physically exhausted from all that had happened.
He didn't fell his body hit the ground as he stared up at the sky.
"This has gone long enough!" Jiraiya shouted reaching the place where the Sound Four was stationed.
"Who the hell is this fool?!" Sakon shouted.
Tayuya didn't say anything as he glared at them all.
"You four are responsible for this barrier, I shall break it!" Jiraiya vowed as he walked towards the barrier that prevented Sarutobi from getting any aid.
"That fool!" Jirobo sneered at him. "No one can break this Jutsu, he'll wind up being burned to ash!"
Jiraiya concentrated and did a long series of hand symbols and with a cry slammed his palm against the force field. For a moment nothing happened but then suddenly cracks appeared in it.
To the Sound Fours' surprise and shock Jiraiya broke the Jutsu that had been placed around the building, shocking them as no one had ever done that before.
"Kill him!" Sakon shouted and they activated their cursed seals and attempted to attack him. Kidomaru fired his bow and arrows which Jiraiya dodged. Sakon and Ukon charged him and he dodged their combined attacks and knocked them into the Spider Ninja.
Tayuya played a tune on her flute and Jiraiya found his arms starting to melt, however he ignored the burning pain and brought his hands up and formed a seal breaking her Genjutsu. Jirobo reached down and pulled out a large piece of the roof and chucked it at him. Jiraiya saw it coming and did a series of hand symbols. "Substitution Target Jutsu!" He shouted performing it and a poof of smoke appeared and he disappeared and in his place was Tayuya the two having switched places. Unable to comprehend what was going on and react in time she was hit by it and knocked down and rolled off the roof landing on the ground in a crumpled heap.
"R-Retreat!" Sakon shouted seeing they were no match for him.
"What about Tayuya?" Kidomaru asked as he saw that she was incapacitated.
"Forget her! She's nothing but dead weight!" Sakon responded and the rest fled.
Jiraiya didn't pursue as he watched them go. He turned and looked up towards the top of it where Orochimaru and Sarutobi was battling, he had to get there before it was too late.
The blonde laying on the ground felt exhausted over all that had happened today, right now he would give everything he had for a bowl of Ramen. Slowly he sat up and got to his feet when he heard a sound suddenly. He looked and Naruto saw Gaara nearby leaning against a building and he was heavily panting his head down and clutched at his chest as he was very weak after all that had happened as he leaned on it to keep him from falling down. Naruto watched him and slowly started to walk over to him. The red haired boy lifted his head and green stared into blue.
"Go ahead kill me, put me out of this miserable world." Gaara said to him. Naruto looked at him and saw instead of a raging snarling demon, a pitiful child.
"I know what's it like Gaara, I know what its like to have nobody, to deal with hatred almost everyday of your life. You're a Jinchuurki, so am I." Naruto said to him surprising him. "I've grown up with looks of hatred, but the world isn't as bad as you think it is. There are people out there who'll care for you even if they don't show it. People who love you and will do anything they can to help you."
"What utter nonsense, people only seek to hurt you and don't care that-"
"That's not true!" Naruto shouted at him surprising him. "Your family cares for you! Even if it doesn't appear they do, they still care for you! You are too blinded by your anger and rage to see it! Your brother and sister are concerned about you even if they are afraid."
"Your lying!" Gaara snarled at him.
"If I am then who's that over there?" Naruto asked and pointed behind him and Gaara turned his head and saw to his surprise Kankuro and Temari. His brother and sister watched on and they had concern in their eyes which surprised him. Were they…actually concerned about him? Was the fear he thought they always had actually worry and concern.
"Sometimes you need to look at the glass half full for a change." Naruto said to him and his brother and sister stepped forward each ready to fight and defend him it seemed like.
Temari and Kankuro got ready to fight Naruto when Gaara after several long seconds spoke up
"Enough," He said surprising them and the tone in his voice shocked them. "I'm done fighting. Temari, Kankuro." He said and each looked at him and back at each other as this was the first time he talked to them without anger or malice in his voice. "Let's go home." He said and walked away.
Naruto smiled as he watched them go. The siblings were confused but each followed after him wondering what had happened.
"Maybe there's hope for him yet, like there was hope for me." He said as he looked and saw Kimimaro walking towards him. He saw Kakashi and the others looking on as the battle was nearly over.
Orochimaru staggered backwards as his arms had changed to a lifeless purple color. He looked in horror at what had happened to them as he couldn't move them as they hung helplessly.
"What have you done?!" He shouted at Sarutobi who had a blade in him. "My arms, you've sealed them!" He said to him as he had summoned Shinigami to dispel his Edo Tensei on the resurrected Kages and had then used it on him, Orochimaru had struck him with his Kusanagi blade before he would be killed by the Death God but his arms were immobile as he couldn't move them.
"SARUTOBI!" A voice shouted and they saw Jiraiya making his way up.
"You'll pay for this, I promise you will pay!" Orochimaru snarled and leapt down.
Sarutobi brought a hand to the wound he had. "So it appears this is the end of my journey." He said to himself as he slowly sat down. "Naruto, Kimimaro, the rest is up to you."
Jiraiya didn't pursue Orochimaru as he saw the wounded man and knew he had to help him.
Orochimaru and The Sound Forces were in retreat fleeing the area and Suna was fleeing as well. Raiga and The Kurosuki members were retreating as well.
Kakashi looked on at the destruction that had been wrought this day.
"W-Wait," Tayuya said stretching out an arm seeing them leave. Her master hadn't even spared her a glance, not even caring if she was still alive or not. "Please don't leave me." She begged as she watched them go helplessly. A group of ANBU appeared suddenly with their blades aimed at her.
"Bind her…" The leader of the group ordered and they roughly stood her up and did so taking her prisoner. She didn't struggle against it as there was none of the fire or fury in her eyes before after she had watched them leave and not even spare her a glance.
Naruto watched them flee and looked at Kimimaro who was back to his normal state and clutching at his chest as he coughed in pain. The white haired ninja continued to cough and hack and fell to his knees. Naruto looked on in alarm at what was happening as using the Cursed Seal had drastically allowed the disease to overtake him, he looked at him and saw how pale he was becoming.
"Naruto," Kakashi said to him. "Let's get him to a hospital, he needs to be looked at." He told him and Naruto nodded and each took an arm and carried Kimimaro hoping to aid him.
"Sarutobi…" Tears welled up in Jiraiya's eyes as he held the old man in his arms. The old man struggled to take deep breaths and looked up at his student. "Hang in there, you're going to be alright, I promise just hang on! Medics are on their way just hold out a little longer!"
"It's too late my student," Sarutobi said but smiled. "This is a path I was prepared to walk, death is something we all must undertake. I now go to join my father and my wife, as well as sit beside my ancestors and the past Hokages."
"No…" Jiraiya said as tears fell out his eyes.
"Promise me, promise me this Jiraiya," Sarutobi said gasping for breath. "Help Naruto, and help Kimimaro, help them rebuild the Uzumaki and Kaguya clans. Help Naruto reach his dream of becoming Hokage."
Jiraiya nodded his head. "Yes, Yes I will! But you gotta stay with me and see it happen! Don't go Sensei please don't go! You have to live to see the kid become Hokage!"
Sarutobi smiled weakly at him. "That sounds like something I would like to see, maybe I will…when I wake up from my nap." He said and his eyes closed and his hand fell to the floor.
"Sarutobi?! SARUTOBI!"
A/N: That's it for this chapter. Review please.