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Note – Credit for all beta work is given to the wonderfully fabulous YamiTenshi!(who has gone missing, anyone seen my beta?) –cue massive rounds of applause- This also means any mistakes is her fault, so address them to her, not that you addressed them to me, but hey, it's out of my hands now!

Pairings have been decided and are as follows:

NarutoxGaara

KibaxLee

InoxChoji

TemarixShikamaru

KankuroxShino

SasukexSakura

ItachixAtsuko Kikumi (you remember her, well she'll be coming back)

TentenxJin Azekawa (new OC, to be introduced at a later chapter.)

There is one last OC in the works; he will also be introduced at a later time.

-- In This Chapter: Haku and Gaara, showdown time, but you won't expect my twist, or will you? READ ON!

"Spoken word"

'Thoughts'

"Demon speech/speech between host and demon"

"Jutsus"

"Snake/Master speech"

'Demon thoughts'

(Land of Waves, Gaara's fave Tea Shop, 3 hours before Zabuza's attack

Gaara sat contently at what became his regular booth in the back of the quaint little shop. Excusing that one incident with the Leaf shinobi, the café was quiet and not crowded at all, and the tea was not half bad, despite the economic hardships. In short: Gaara's haven for thinking. And he had plenty to think about; since his confrontation with Haku Gaara hadn't been able to locate another clue about Gato's stranglehold on the region. Immediately after all of Gato's thugs and henchmen had left, the tax collector ceased coming, and none of the bridge workers were hunted down, despite the bridge's obvious near completion.

It was nerve-wracking; it was the proverbial calm before the storm and all Gaara could do was wait, which normally wouldn't be a problem except for his deadline. He had been keeping a detailed log of his experiences, and he would bring back Gato's head, but he wasn't sure how the Tsuchikage and his advisors would take his tardiness. He had missed the personal deadline last week, and he was approaching the normal deadline of two weeks, he wasn't sure how to proceed short of revealing himself and razing the countryside until he found the Kingpin's hideout.

On top of all of that there was his own problems to deal with, namely the rash and impulsive decision he had made with the Uzumaki boy. He was at war with two things that both pulled for his attention; Shukaku was alternately praising and cursing him about his decision leading to a massive headache, and his own mind and body rebelling against him. His mind was thinking logically and was resisting the possible relationship with every fact, figure, clause and point it could deduce, and his body…UGH! Gaara suspicions were confirmed by a gloating Shukaku - he had entered what he had dubbed his mating phase, he would not under any circumstances call it heat, and his body was going rampant with hormones over his prospective mate. Every time he saw yellow, leaves, hell thinking about his mission all led back to that blonde boy and he didn't Shukaku this time to make the images come, not that the Tanuki didn't decide to help supplement those images, with complimentary moans and extra 'spice'.

Cool and calm Gaara was anything but on the inside. Gaara sighed and took a sip of his rapidly cooling tea, 'One problem at a time, and most pressing is my current mission.' Due to the pressing matter of his mission, Gaara had dropped the disguise and paraded about freely his shinobi status, hoping to either alert Gato, or at least have Haku find him. So far all this new plan got him were terror and hate filled stares from the broken populace. He paid his tab and left the café, it was time to confront this once and for all.

The second he stepped out of the café three senbon planted themselves at his feet, instantly on guard Gaara searched for the culprit only to have a kunai pressed to his neck.

"Please, before you retaliate, hear me out."

"Haku was it? Fine, I'll listen to you, but you must tell me what I want to know."

"Fair enough, I will tell you on the way, we must act quickly, time is of the essence."

"What's going on?"

"We don't have the time, follow me, I'll explain on the way."

Haku leapt to the rooftops and waited impatiently for Gaara.

"Well, I know you're dying to share your opinion."

"I trust him."

"WHAT?!"

"Well, not necessarily trust, more along the lines of follow him and we're bound to find our target, sooner or later, and that spells blood for me."

"What do you know, another good idea, you're on a roll lately."

"Oh really, you mean just like…"

Gaara's hormonally crazed body did not need the images Shukaku selected; he hurriedly sped up to and after Haku. Gaara took note that they were speeding to the bridge production area.

"Alright, I'm coming, now explain."

"I need your help. I plan to kill Zabuza."

"Zabuza?"

"My former sensei, I can no longer serve him, however. When I was younger he had been different, I was abandoned by my father and village once they discovered my ability while I was still only a baby, Zabuza intervened when they had attacked me and my mother. He was not able to save her, but he had saved me, and that was enough. After that he cared for me and taught me to fight, but oh how I detested conflict and battle, but I carried on, repaying the debt I owed him. Zabuza once made me a promise: that he would never abandon to the two precious things in his life; his goal to become the greatest swordsman and take revenge against Kirigakure for his fallen comrades, or me. I also made a promise after that, I would fight to protect Zabuza, that Zabuza is no longer alive and so I must fight to be rid of him. He has abandoned both of his goals; he no longer cares about the honorable and has forgotten why he fights. He'll take any job that pays well, and his eyes, he no longer cares for me past the extent of how much power I can bring him. His hunger for power must be put to an end, even at the cost of my life."

The anger and sorrow Haku felt was nearly tangible to Gaara, they were radiating off of the boy in waves.

"I see…how does this include me exactly?"

"We shall work for a common goal: Even with my skills and abilities I may not be able to ensure Zabuza's death, you wish for Gato's head? Aid me, if you will support me, and make sure that I kill Zabuza I will tell you the location of Gato and his headquarters."

"Even if I am somehow unable to prevent your death, while he still lives?"

"For you assistance, with my dying breath I will tell you the location, if it must be so they will be my last words."

Gaara smirked, that's all he needed to know.

"Even if you detest fighting, the upcoming battle is a worthy cause, your honor speaks volumes."

"Then I have your cooperation?"

"From the start."

Haku allowed a small smile to play on his face before he became grim again. The bridge was within sight.

"What exactly is your plan for defeating him?"

"He has become rash, he plans to blow up that bridge, if we can foil that plan his anger is sure to cloud his judgment, with that I should be able to overcome him, you are an extra insurance."

They had reached the cliff line, a couple of meters away from where the bridge began. From this vantage point they could see the position of all of Tazuna's protectors, a head of blonde oddly missing. Gaara saw the bug boy stiffen and hurry towards his sensei the same moment Haku spotted Zabuza.

"We're almost too late! We must hurry; I cannot allow his plan to work!"

Haku sped off with that speed that Gaara still hadn't figured out darting straight at Zabuza just as a chilling aura passed over Gaara.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu."

All Gaara could feel from that point to the end was the detachment that came when he faced down his opponent. He allowed his body to move with the smallest thought, increasing his reaction time. Haku, for all his speed would not make it in time to redirect the jutsu. Gaara pulled every grain from his body and the surrounding beach to form a shield for the jutsu to intercept, the dragon hit it head on and burst on contact spraying chakra fused water droplets arching everywhere. Gaara pulled his personal sand back and used the beach's sand to absorb all of the stray droplets before they could reach the bridge.

Haku on the other hand had made it to Zabuza and was unleashing a storm of senbon and punches at the man, preventing him from drawing his sword. When Haku finally broke through Zabuza's defense he delivered a sharp blow to the abdomen followed by a turn kick to his neck. Zabuza burst into water.

"So you've betrayed me!? I'll kill you all!"

The water below the bridge churned and was instantly full of hundreds of water clones. The clones leapt at everyone. Gaara's sand and Haku's speed served as an adequate defense, and so did the Hyuuga's taijutsu, but each time one clone was defeated five more replaced it, and the numbers quickly turned the tide of battle.

"Enough of this brat, it's time he played by my rules!"

Shukaku's feral growl actually startled Gaara into hesitating; a clone seized the opportunity to deliver a swift blow to the back of Gaara's head with the hilt of its sword.

Haku watched in terror as his comrade fell, the Leaf nin looked equally shocked that the Stone shinobi fell in battle. Zabuza, still in the center of the ocean smirked.

"Don't look so smug. My host is a wimp, but now I'll make you feel…TRUE FEAR!"

Gaara's body released a huge wave of gold chakra blasting away all the clones near him. He stood up from the ground releasing massive amounts of killing intent just from his now amber eyes, his pupils were diamonds.

"W-who…what are you?"

"Scared speechless, eh Za-bu-za?"

Shukaku possessed Gaara punctuated every syllable in Zabuza's name with a step closer, with each step he called more sand from along the beach to him creating a massive tornado around himself.

"Impossible! You jinchūriki need time to transform!"

"Heh, that's right to transform, but I also get to come play when the brat goes to sleep unwillingly, a safety feature included in the seal. It means I have no one to stop me from having my fun, and Zabuza, we're going to have lots of fun. And do you know why?"

By now Shukaku had called the nearby rocky minerals from the forest and ocean floor creating a path on the water for him straight to Zabuza, grinning manically the whole time.

"You don't know do you? It's because you're my new best friend Zabuza, and I take good care of my friends."

Shukaku pulled the swirling sand to him, coating his body and forming his claws.

"See, now that was a transformation!"

"Buying time won't save you from the fun Zabuza, and it's not a transformation, just a coating. Now shall we play?"

Zabuza had used every moment it took the possessed boy in front of him to get close to gather his chakra, if there was one thing that could save him its wet sand is useless.

"Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu"

Zabuza shot forward with water formed around his fist; just before he connected Shukaku raised a finger from his now crossed arms, causing a pillar of rock to shoot up from the ocean floor slamming Zabuza in the chin.

"Now now, Zaby-chan, it isn't nice to interrupt your superior, let's teach you some manners, ne?"

Shukaku pointed his clawed finger straight ahead, the sand shot from it in a spike almost hitting Zabuza who barely managed to dodge and missed the arc of sand that slammed him from above only to be met with another rock pillar that shot him backwards into another rock pillar.

"My, my, it's been so long, I hardly know my strength. Zaby-chan, what do you think? Is it painful enough? You see I fear I'm not using nearly enough strength."

Zabuza coughed up a bit of blood and glared heavily at Shukaku, who had made himself a throne of rock and sand.

"Hmmm? Such anger and hostility in that gaze, is it the throne? You're right, it's simply not elegant enough, and it should be higher and bejeweled."

Zabuza charged recklessly at Shukaku who was busy redecorating his throne to his liking. Zabuza sent a kunai straight for Shukaku's neck and it plunged in. Astounded that he hit and the creature was still alive Zabuza kicked and punched for all his worth, before slashing Shukaku with his sword.

"Oh, you're still here, tch, so impatient how am I supposed to have any fun with a trashy throne? You'll just have to wait until I'm satisfied with its beauty, it must be perfectly symmetrical."

Shukaku barely registered Zabuza's rage as he continued to tear down and reconstruct his throne over and over, decorating it with seashells and leaves, all in perfect symmetry to his tastes. After five minutes of careful building he was finally satisfied and just realized the kunai that was plunged three inches into the sand around his neck and such.

"Such a temper Zaby-chan, shame, it seems you must be punished."

With a flick of his finger Shukaku sent a massive sand made claw smashing into Zabuza, it plunged into Zabuza's shoulder drawing and soaking up a good deal of blood and chakra before returning to its master.

"You boy, we fulfilled our end of the bargain, the bridge is still standing and you can kill Zabuza, you honor your side."

During Shukaku and Zabuza's entire confrontation Haku and the Leaf shinobi were paralyzed half out of fear of drawing attention to themselves and half out of awe at what Shukaku could do. At his words Haku jumped about two feet in the air and hurried over to tell Shukaku the information he wanted. The Leaf team and Tazuna still stood there stunned.

"That is the last place we encountered Gato, I'm sure you'll find him there."

"Looking for little old me? I'm flattered.

"Gato, oh my! I'm simply not ready for this, my hair isn't done and look at me all covered in blood, no this will never do! Brat, get out here while I freshen up!"

Instantly the sand and rocks dropped and the throne fell apart as Shukaku forced Gaara into consciousness. Gaara looked up groggily to the bridge to see it full of low grade rogue nins and common bandits. The Leaf shinobi had already engaged them as they had attempted to kill Tazuna right under the Leaf team's nose. Gaara could also see Haku engaging a much wounded Zabuza on the water surface. All that left him was…Gato. The man was staying far back from the fight and had four bodyguards around him, easily dispatched and Gaara was in no mood for nonsense; he had a killer headache, both from Shukaku squealing like a girl going on her first date and from the blow from that water clone. If Haku didn't kill Zabuza Gaara sure as hell will!

"Alright Gato, in the name of Iwagakure, The Village Hidden among the Stone, I am here to assassinate you and blah, blah, blah, you're going to lose anyway so just come peacefully."

"I don't think so; there is no way you're in any condition to get past my bodyguards."

"Oi, brat, look alive!"

"Hmm?"

"That Naruto punk is hiding behind us and protecting some girl and child, I suggest you show him you're no pushover."

"What? Wait, never mind, I don't want to think right now, what should I do?"

"The man is over confident, I know you don't want to move much but I think you should try that move."

"Ugh, whatever takes him and his goons out quickly, just make sure to preserve the head."

Gaara jumped behind the rapidly decreasing mob trying to overpower Kurenai and her students to face Gato head on.

"So eager to die, such a shame you would have made a good right-hand man. Well brat, anything you want to say?"

"Yeah…only one person can call me brat, and you're not him! The Sand Scythe!"

The sand around Gaara's hands and arms flew off and built a double bladed scythe in the blink of an eye. Gaara leaped at Gato, scythe poised above his head, when one of the guards rushed at him, forgetting the rest of Gaara's sand which broke open one of his pouches and threw a poison bomb straight in the man's mouth. His mouth was foaming in seconds. Gaara continued his descent landing a foot in front of a slightly worried Gato, he swung his scythe straight down, but instead of Gato feeling the blade, it had deformed and sent two spearheads straight through two more of his bodyguards. The sand soaked up the blood and chakra hungrily before breaking any resemblance of a weapon and coating the two dead bodies. Gaara leaped back before Gato could retaliate and sent his sand scarf billowing behind him to the guard thinking he was sneaking up on Gaara. The sand scarf quickly drained the man dry and coated him as well.

"The Sand Coffin: Sand Burial"

The three dead bodies were gone, and the sand recalled to Gaara, coiling around him loosely.

"That really is an interesting jutsu you use."

"Hn, disposed of his little army already, Kurenai?"

"I'm sure you could tell they were weaklings."

"Indeed, do you have any business with my target?"

"So he was your focus this entire time?"

"Yes, what did you think, I was here to spy on you or Naruto?"

"So you know?"

"As well as you know about me."

"Hey! Why are you two talking like I'm not here! I know of Zabuza's plan, I can blow up this bridge just as easily!"

"Kurenai, excuse me while I take care of a minor annoyance."

"Of course, but I'm not done with this conversation."

"Whatever, Sandstorm: Disruption!"

The sand along the beach and Gaara billowed into a massive sandstorm blowing all around the bridge ripping up the bomb tags, before the sand settled again.

"B-but how? Those tags are highly sensitive to chakra!"

"Because, my sandstorm absorbs chakra, not release it, and now its time for your silence! Sand-"

"Wait! Don't you dare say another word! Your mission is me is it not? Well I'm living time bomb! That's right I covered myself in bombs, either you let me go or I'll blow myself up."

"I'm afraid I can't allow you to interfere with Gaara-kun's mission's success, A Thousand Needles of Death and Destruction."

Gaara was mildly impressed.

"So I take it you finished your business."

"Hai, thank you for your assistance."

"It wasn't me, as I'm sure you saw, thank you for preserving his head."

Gaara sand decapitated Gato and formed an air-proof pouch at his side to store the head in until his return to Iwa.

"Wait, I thought that boy was working for Gato!"

"Kurenai you are out of the loop, I'm afraid anything further you wished to discuss with me will have to wait, I have a deadline to keep."

"Wait, tell me one thing."

"Proceed."

"Is the Stone at all interested in this region or Konoha?"

"I'm afraid I can't disclose that, come Haku."

"Come? You wish for me to travel with you?"

"You are my friend are you not, besides do you have a better plan?"

"No I suppose not, thank you Gaara-kun."

"Hn, let's go. Kurenai, tell that blonde boy I'm still making my decision."

And the two boys were gone from the bridge and traveling quickly away from the land of waves.

(Deep in the forests of Fire country)

"Gaara-kun, why do you wish for me to accompany you?"

"Because, I like you."

"You like me?"

"Calm down, as a friend. I do not have any friends my own age, or anyone I can talk to that would understand."

"What about…you know."

"That useless waste of chakra, Shukaku? He has no power or influence, and I don't care, feel free to talk about him any way you wish."

"I love you too, ungrateful little brat."

"But to answer your question, its not the same, I can't continually talk to a demon all the time, and I don't care what aniki says on this one, I need at least one friend I can count on."

"You have an older brother? Will he accept me?"

"I won't lie, you may have to fight, I'm not sure the Tsuchikage will let your talents go to waste on any civilian jobs, and as I said, I don't care what aniki thinks, I'll make him let you stay."

"Thank you, and it's alright."

"Hmm? What is?"

"Fighting, earlier I wasn't afraid of dying, and that was good because in a sense I did die. The old me died when he killed Zabuza, so now I will fight, to make you happy and protect my new friend."

"Then I shall extend the same service to you, and so will Shukaku, or else he'll never see anything but the same cactus and sand dune ever again."

"Alright, I get your point; the other brat is not to die. Sheesh, maybe I taught you too well, you're getting to be more sadistic every day."

"No, I just live to torture you, its so much fun."

"Oh brat! I'm so happy! Come here, I feel I sappy bonding moment coming."

"Ack Shukaku, nooooooooooo!"

"Gaara, are you alright, you look a little pale, perhaps I should-"

"No, no, I'm fine, save your medical talents."

"If you're sure…"

"I am, now we should rest, I hope to reach Iwa tomorrow."

"Hai, goodnight Gaara-kun, and Shukaku-san."

"Hn."

"Goodnight brats whom I love, sleep peacefully, Unky Shukaku will protect you."

"Shukaku, no."

"But I-"

"No."

"But-"

"NO!"

"Alright, fine, killjoy."

A/N: This chapter just ran away from me, I kept going back and re-writing parts and it just got longer. Hope you enjoyed.

I want to point out before this actually becomes a problem, I in no way am trying to bash females. In fact a good portion of my friends are female and so are my readers. I mean none of you any offense, I am simply playing off of stereotypes and/or Gaara's opinion considering his somewhat focused life and therefore narrow mind.

--Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu – See last chapter.

-- Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu – From the anime/manga – user wraps water around fist and hits target. The water expands forming a giant sphere/bubble that the target can not escape. User then proceeds to beat the crap out of said target or just one slice/slash from I've seen in the games.

-- The Sand Scythe – One of Gaara's sand based weapons, formed from the high chakra infused sand gauntlets he wears. The sand is highly durable/flexible being able to construct itself into different forms and weapons very quickly.

-- The Sand Coffin: Sand Burial – Gaara's signature move, see previous chapters.

-- Sandstorm: Disruption – You should remember this, if not, see chapter 7

-- A Thousand Needles of Death and Destruction – From the anime/manga. One of Haku's one handed jutsus, he forms lots of needles made of ice from nearby water sources and they plunge into the target.

Do I really have to keep asking? Just keep the reviews flowing folks and I'll do my best to present you with good quality work. REVIEW...sorry, couldn't help myself, force of habit.