Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor the characters inside of the anime. I'm just a mean person who feels like a bully on parts of the story.
Thanks: Thank you guys for being so patient, I know it isn't really going to make you feel great but I will be putting five more chapters out so you can get your fix. I hope you enjoy them.
Cassie07: My daughters doing great now, it's my hubby I've been worried mostly about lately since he is now a diagnosed diabetic and had vessels in his eye rupture. My little girl is about to turn eleven which will be a shocker at some so we hope she continues to get even better and will watch her every step of the way as she grows older.
Silverman1: Thanks.
Darkhuntressxir: Yup, and we will see more of it here.
Guest: You actually made me laugh on that comment, and don't worry you can still put a name up if you don't feel like logging in. I give everyone thanks and mentions and I enjoy reading all of your wonderful reviews. Here is the start of the next five chapters so I hope you have some patience to wait for them to come out.
Melway: I'm glad you enjoyed it and I will be putting out the next five practically back to back so you might love that.
gunsAndROSES2656: Got to love your name, who doesn't love G&R? I figured to put a little bit of humor in this and didn't want it to have none in the story. Stories that don't tend to turn me away from them.
Guest 2: You are lucky in that part, they suck majorly. I've been having mine for more than 15 years and can say sometimes they get even worse. Then of course I met a chick that just made me mad because she didn't ever have a period in her life and no cramps but I guess for her it's a good thing she didn't because she's worse than I am when she bleeds. I get a small cut and it trickles, hers it gushes. I hope you all love this.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Naruto balls up her fist and hits Gaara straight across his face. 'Alright! In the condition he's in now, with not much time passin' since the medium went to sleep, this single blow should be enough…'
'The Jutsu is unraveling!? I only just came out, and then! Shit!' Shukaku thought as he loses control of the body.
'Even with the Tanuk Neiri released I'm still being pushed…!?' Gamabunta wonders as his feet slide along the forest floor. At that time Gaara's eyes fly straight open and Naruto glares at him. She starts running right along the giant beasts face to get to Gaara. Her foot starts sinking as sand starts flying straight at her.
"Pops!" Gamakichi shouts to get his father's attention. Right before the sand could touch her Gamabunta's tongue whips up and wraps around the girl's body.
'It's boss' tongue.' Naruto thought while grinning.
"Don't lick me!" Gaara growls out at the giant toad. Naruto's attention flares down below her as she notices the sand is still coming inside.
"What the…?" She grits out.
"What kind of…" Gaara stops in mid sentence. Gamabunta continues to slide back while the sand creature grabs him. '…Power does this guy have…!'
'Damn this is bad…! He and I should both be out of Chakra, eh!' Naruto thought and then she turns her attention to her teammate. 'Sakura-chan!'
"You're going to be killed by me, my existence will continue." Gaara tells her with a smirk on his lips.
'It's useless, unless this demon badger's stopped.' She starts concentrating on talking to the Kyuubi. 'I'm beggin' you…all I need is a little bit…enough so I can protect everyone…give me…your Chakra!' She begs the giant beast sharing her body. Naruto's body is suddenly covered in the Kyuubi cloak, which pushes the sand away from her. Her forehead protector flies off and her coat unzips the rest of the way. She stops concentrating and glares at Gaara.
"Die!" Gaara shouts and uses the sand to attack. He catches her just as she was about to hit him when she quickly rushes up to him.
"You…" Gaara restrains her arms and she glares at him. "Bastard!" She shouts and slams her forehead against his. By doing this it causes both of their skin to split and they start bleeding from the wounds. The sand beast suddenly starts crumbling away until the whole thing falls to the ground around them.
"Did she win!?" Sasuke wonders out loud while watching.
'Only an ordinary head blow…her fighting styles really awkward but…for her to have created more Chakra after she reached her limits, impressive! I've never seen a Kunoichi that's so noisy but, she's the first kid in a long time that's been so out of this world!' Gamabunta thought while watching Naruto and Gaara start to fall. 'It's a pity I can't be watching her to the end, but…I'm about at my limits too, eh…'He looks over at his son. "Gamakichi, let's be headin' on home!"
"Yeah! Pops!" They both disappear in a cloud of smoke causing the two fighting to fly back from it. They both land on opposite sides of Gamabunta's huge sword that is still sticking above the trees. They both stared at each other.
"I'll reach my limit after one final blow to you…same with you too, right…! Like, even I'm…empty after all this…" They continue to pant and stare at each other. "We're both alike, you and I…let's make this the end of it!" They both stand up and continue to stare at each other. When the sword disappeared they jumped at the other with their fists drawn back. They hit each other and start falling towards the ground, bouncing off every branch along the way. As soon as they hit the ground they look at each other.
'W…why…' Gaara wonders looking into the girls blue eyes. While they were staring at each other Sasuke quickly catches Sakura as she was now going to drop from the sand that was pinning her to the tree.
"Hey." Pakkun says and he watches as Sasuke places the girl down on the thick branch he landed on.
"Take care of Sakura." Sasuke tells him and takes off.
"Hey!" Pakkun shouts out to him. Naruto starts trying to crawl using her chin to make herself move forward.
'Why…is she this strong!?' Gaara wonders as he lays there filled with pain. "My existence will never be extinguished…it won't be extinguished! There is no way that I would let it disappear!" He shouts to the grunting girl. Naruto was suddenly overwhelmed by her demons from her past.
"She can't hear us, right?" Someone says.
"Wah! She stinks, doesn't she?" Another says.
"There she is…that's it…" Tears start falling from the young face of Naruto. "No one cares about her, disappear from here."
"Monster." Then Gaara pops up as soon as that word was shouted.
"Just die, that's him. Don't get involved with him. Idiot." Gaara couldn't help but start bawling his eyes out.
"Don't look at me. Get lost."
Naruto kept on thinking on the things that Gaara and Haku said to her, making her realize her true feelings. Gaara's eyes widen when he saw her getting even closer.
"Do…don't come any closer!" He shouts at her panicking since he cannot move an inch. Naruto grunts out as she continues on.
"The pain of being alone…is not an easy one to bear…your feelings…why is it…" Naruto starts talking and lifts her face to show the tears escaping her blue eyes. "That I can understand your pain?" Gaara's eyes widen as his turquoise orbs never leave hers. "But…I already have many people who are important to me now…I won't let you hurt those people important to me…" Gaara looks at her, speechless as red fills her eyes and the anger illuminates them. "Even if you try to kill them…I will stop you…"
"Why…" Gaara stops himself as she places her head down only to rise up and look at him with those reddened eyes. "Why do you go so far for other peoples' sake?"
"They saved me from the hell of being alone…they acknowledged my existence…that's why they're all important to me…" When she finishes his eyes are softening as he thought of his uncle.
"Love…" His face gentles while thinking of him. 'That's why she's so strong…' Naruto grunts as she tries to move closer again.
"That's enough Naruto…" Sasuke tells his girlfriend as he kneels down besides her with his face emotionless. "Sakura is fine now. This guy is most likely out of Chakra…the sand holding Sakura has completely collapsed…"
"I see…" Naruto says with a small smile curving her busted open lips. Sasuke's eyes narrow as Temari and Kankuro lands in front of their little brother.
"That's enough…it's over." Gaara says as he looks straight up at the blue sky. 'Uzumaki Naruto…'
'It's the first time I've seen Gaara this beaten up.' Kankuro thought as he looks down at his little brother. "Alright." He says as he lifts the smaller frame up from the ground.
The rain starts pouring down, showering all that is in front of the alter giving thanks to the fallen ninja that has died a few days prior. The cracked face of the Sandaimei looks down on all that is there. Naruto's tears flood down her cheeks as Sarutobi was the closest thing to her to being family and she has now lost him. She hears the almost quiet sobs besides her and looked to see Konohamaru wiping furiously at his tears. Iruka stood there and put a hand on the young boys shoulders trying to give him comfort since he has similar experiences with loss as the boy. He kneels down and takes the boy into his arms to hug him to his chest. He looks over and saw Naruto quickly look away as she quickly wipes away her own tears. He smiles gently and realizes that Sarutobi was as much a grandfather to Naruto as he was to Konohamaru, so he yanked the girl into his arms as well and they all three hugged each other.
"Iruka-sensei…" Naruto says while her tear filled eyes looked at both of the Hokage faces that she admires. One that she feels she has a connection with and doesn't realize why. "What are humans? Is life just that simple?" She asks.
"When a person dies…doesn't matter if it's the past, present or future-they will lose everything…He died fighting in a mission-death caught him unaware because life was that simple. It's like a dream, it's all the same even if you haven't reached your goal…but everyone knows that the most important thing is to die for a cause. Family, friends, lovers, and all the other villagers-to me, those are the most important people…we trust each other, help each other…from the day we're born to the day we die, we start to feel that love is the most important and…that kind of relationship takes time to develop…and trust…Anyone with this headband on knows…because it's very important…" Iruka explains as he looks up at the Hokage faces.
"Yeah…I know that as well. But…death is still painful." Naruto says as she grips the shirt over her chest.
"The Hokage wouldn't think it's painful because we both agree that people should not be hurt for no reason…" Kakashi says causing Naruto to look over her shoulder at him. "But…it's no use even if you do understand."
"Right! But not knowing is better than knowing…" She says with a smile on her lips and Iruka looking up at her proudly. "Bye Iruka-sensei!" Naruto waves at her old teacher as everyone starts to leave and the other teammates were waiting on her.
"Bye." He says watching her run off. 'Ninjas of Konoha…Hokage…This "spirit of the fire" you speak of, it will shine no matter where it goes. Even though it is a little fire, it shines brightly…At the same time, overlooking this village, protecting it…and the Ninja's once again head towards a new tomorrow…'
Naruto could always be found at Ichiraku's and it never fails that the young girl is yet again craving her much loved ramen. Jiraiya enters the small stall and smiles when he saw the pig tails swaying behind the girl.
"I heard this is where you go to all the time…it's really true. You always come here to eat ramen…" Jiraiya says with a grin on his face.
"Haa! It's the pervert Sennin!" Naruto says with her mouth full of noodles as she swung her head toward him.
"Eh-! Why! Why! Why! Why do I have to go on work trip with a pervert Sennin! Why should I go? And what for!?" Naruto screeches out.
"Because it's a paid-for work trip. We're supposed to find a certain girl. It's also a "special" trip. We'll stop by the red light district in Hima. You will learn much more than what Kakashi Sensei has taught you." Jiraiya says while looking down at the girl.
"I don't want to know and I want Kakashi Sensei to teach me the Chidori." She says while pouting. "Nope…" She puts her arms behind her head. 'I don't think that's going to work on me.' She sticks her lip out further.
"And also this woman. She's so hot! She wants to meet you!" The elder man says while trying to talk the girl into going.
"You don't realize that I'm not a guy! Whatever you say! I don't want to!" Naruto screams at him.
"Ha…she knows a technique even more amazing than the Chidori. Did you know? But you're not coming-I guess I'll have Sasuke accompany me instead…" He tells her while looking at her from the corner of his eye.
"Alright! Let's go! I'm going-I'm going to my house. I'm going to pack up my things. Pervert Sennin…don't leave without me!" She shouts as she speedily runs down the road.
"Kuku…really..She is such a cute brat…" Jiraiya says while rubbing his head.
Naruto leans down to fix her sandal and lifts her head protector up a few centimeters on her head. 'Sasuke, Kakashi Sensei, I will surprise you all. Sakura-chan, maybe she'll be nicer to me…!' She grins as she thought of her teammates. "Let's go!" She struggles with her massively filled bag trying to bring it with her.
"Are you really serious about this…you're bringing everything you have. Aren't we just going for a trip…" Jiraiya says with exasperation on his face.
They continued on with finding Lady Tsunade and Naruto kept on asking the old man tons of questions that she thought was intriguing. He was shocked at how much thought this young girl had on all of the things that happen around her. The fact that she is not brainless as everyone thinks of her.
"Hey, hey, Pervert-Sennin. What sort of Jutsu are you going to teach me this time?" She asks while her big blue eyes look up at him.
"Pervert-Sennin…Hey you…don't you know what an amazing person I am? Eh?" He asks while looking down at her. "It's been said that I'm the Toad Sennin, and that's not all. In the north in the south, east and west…The legendary three Ninja's white haired frog-summoning child! The handsome man that can silence a crying child! He's Jiraiya-sama! That's me!" He does his little bit of a dance that he always does when he introduces himself. Naruto looks unimpressed with him and continues walking past while Jiraiya looks at her with shock. 'Minato, your daughter is really not impressed by your Sensei.' He thought as he looks up at the blue sky.
"Excuse me, excuse me, but the great Pervert-Esenin's traveling companion that he is bringing along is me, isn't it?" She says to him.
"The name is Jiraiya, damn it…" He pouts down at the girl.
"I've got a hidden talent don't I? Really?" She asks while wiggling her body around excited. "Hey, hey, why did you choose me? You're doing a Sennin-class in cool Jutsu and I'm the only one who ranks high enough to get in, right?"
"The Fourth Hokage was my apprentice, and you resemble him in a funny way. That's the reason." Jiraiya tells her.
'The Fourth Hokage?' She looks up at him and shocks the man even further. "I look like my father?"
"What a strange town…" Naruto says while looking around the lobby of a motel.
"Naruto, today we're staying here." Jiraiya waves her over to him and a beautiful woman has taken notice which draws the two of their attentions to her. She winks at Jiraiya. 'My pulse has sped up!' Jiraiya quickly turned to the girl. "Naruto!"
"Huh?" She asks as she looks away from the woman.
"Here is the room key. Go up to your room and refine your Chakra as training." He tells her as he grabs her hand and places the key inside of it.
"What-! This is adult stuff. What are you telling me to do? You Pervert-Sennin." She growls at him.
"What's this? What's this? This sort of thing is always happening with Pervert-Sennin. My training, right-I can see what he really had in mind." Naruto grumbles as she sits on her bed practicing the control of not only her Chakra but Kyuubi's as well to weave through her Chakra channels.
"Don't worry, kit. He's just a perverted old man; we can sit here all day and just get stronger control over our Chakra. I need to warn you though; soon you might want to be careful around Sasuke." Kyuubi tells her. "You do not think about your reaction to that boy. His scent makes your reasoning go out the window. I just want us to get stronger and he seems to be your weakness, like he is your mate or something."
"Probably because he sort of is." Naruto tells her as she smiles thinking about him. "Sasuke is the only one who has really been there almost from the beginning. I feel electrical charges when we touch and I know he feels it as well." Their conversation was interrupted by someone knocking on their hotel room door. 'What, he's already been rejected and is coming back.' Naruto thought as she got up to go to the door. The knocking doesn't let up and she shakes her head at the impatient person at the door. "Yes, yes. Shut up, already." She opens the door to show her Itachi's face looming down at her. 'Sasuke…!? It's not him…who is he!? He's got the same Sharingan as Sasuke…'
"However…could this child really be the Nine-Tails…" Kisame asks when he walks into view.
'How does he know about the Nine-Tails? How did he find out…!?' Naruto wonders as she looks at them with calculating eyes.
"Naruto-chan, we would like you to come with us." Itachi says to the girl gently, unfortunately for Kisame Itachi had a hidden agenda. He made a promise with someone to protect the girl and he would do it at any cost. "Come out of the room…"
'This guy isn't normal…' Naruto says as she slowly walks out of her hotel room.
"Itachi-san…choro choro. It's time we got started…We don't need her running around. We should cut off a leg." Kisame says while grabbing for his sword on his back.
'Wha…what's going on!' Naruto shouts in her head.
'Calm down, kit. I have a feeling that Sasuke's brother will not let any harm happen to us.'Kyuubi says while staring into the boys eyes.
'She is correct, young one. You might not remember me but I helped Sasuke protect you and made a promise to him to keep you safe if he is unable to.' Itachi says inside her head.
"Well…" Kisame stops what he is saying when they feel a presence behind them.
"It has been a while…Sasuke." Itachi says while he holds a tint of sadness in his eyes that he cannot show how much he misses his little brother.
"Uchiha Itachi…" Sasuke says his brother's name making Naruto's eyes widen.
"Yare, yare…indeed, today is a special day, don't you think? This is the second time I've seen another Sharingan." Kisame says while looking in the second stage Sharingan filled eyes of the younger Uchiha brother's eyes.
"I will…kill you!" Sasuke says.