Author Note: Gosh, I love you guys! The reviews are awesome, the response is great, what else could I ask for? This is great! I think I'll get around to responding to each review individually when I manage to kill some evil biology projects or push aside some studying for psychology. But anyways, here is chapter eleven. Thanks for all the great reviews once again!

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Darkside

Mumbling: the sign of life

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Gaara and Temari spun around. Both had not been able to sense anyone else in the room besides them, so when a somewhat familiar voice spoke up, their hearts almost skipped a beat.

Dull light from the window faintly allowed them to see the stealthy ninja's face. It was a very unforgettable face, one that almost everyone who encountered him remembered. Why, of course it could only be Hatake Kakashi! The one and only.

He had put his favorite book away and remained in the shadows. Before, his mind had concluded several things about Naruto's health and settled for watching his student closely until something happened. And, of course, company had shown up after visiting hours had ended.

Kakashi pulled himself off the wall he was leaning against and stepped towards Gaara and a very cross looking Temari. He witnessed her unleash strange behaviour before and wondered what exactly he did to put that angry expression on her face. It only meant one thing...T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

"You might want to show some more respect towards Gaara," she warned Kakashi. "He's the Kazekage, remember?"

Gaara didn't comment. He turned back towards the direction where Naruto lay unconscious, his eyes narrowing at a sliver of painful chakra that lashed out at him. Whatever the Kyuubi inside Naruto was doing, it sure wasn't letting anything or rather anyone near it's vessel.

"Hey, Gaara, what happened?" Temari could feel a sudden change in the atmosphere and caught her younger sibling's narrow eyes staring at something before reverting back to the usually calm look held within them.

Gaara averted his eyes from Naruto, having gave up on trying to spot more of the deadly chakra. He glanced at Kakashi, assuming he had a few questions itching to crawl out. He was correct.

"So, Kazekage, what brings you here so suddenly? Naruto is always in the hospital and.."

"This is different."

So, he's already figured it out, huh? Kakashi blinked his only visible eye a couple of times, crossing his arms and glancing at Naruto.

"You know," he said, unnerved by Gaara's piercing eyes. "This isn't the first time this has happened. But, you are right, this is different. Do you know why?"

"Man, you're awfully full of questions, aren't you?" Temari pointed out, placing a hand on her hip and looking towards her sibling, expecting a glare of some sort for her interruption but received nothing.

"His chakra is different. He's not... chipper and lacks any sign of regaining health. That is solely the Kyuubi's fault."

Kakashi stroked his chin whilst craning his head to the right. "Quite observant, aren't you?" He fully expected another comment from the strong kunoichi, but his ears were met with nothing.

The copy ninja left his position near the wall and with a few quick strides, he stood beside Naruto's bed. Almost instantly he felt dreadful power lash out at him and drew back. He narrowed his eye and concentrated on locating the– as Shikamaru would say– troublesome chakra. He couldn't find anything.

"Well, this is going to be trouble, no wonder he hasn't made any improvements."

"What do you mean by that?" Temari asked.

"Perhaps you'll find out if you so kindly went and asked the Hokage? She knows a lot more than she lets on."

Temari 'hmphed' and hesitantly walked out of the room. But, not before giving Kakashi one of her icy glares. She would probably try to kill him if he spoke to Gaara in a way she didn't like. It was best to stay safe.

The door closed with a quiet 'click'. Only machine 'beep, beep, beeping' echoed throughout the room. Kakashi, only moments after Temari left, bid Gaara farewell. He needed to track Jiraiya down, where ever the old man was...

Gaara was left completely to himself. He liked it that way, there were no interruptions. He found a wooden chair tucked neatly into a corner and dragged it to Naruto's bed. Then, sitting down quietly, the Kazekage of Sunagakure fell into a deep state of thought.

There had to be a way to break through the protective chakra barrier. Starting from scratch, Gaara summoned a few grains of sand towards the blond. As predicted, they were repelled by chakra so Gaara tried again, but added more force to his sand.

Red chakra, this time completely visible, lashed outwards, eliminating the sand. Then, without warning, the chakra aimed for Gaara. Dodging a probably painful injury, Gaara moved from his chair quickly and decided that more force was needed. He had to break through.

Ever since Akatsuki had taken the fearsome Shukaku from within his body, Gaara's sand depleted in power, but it still listened to him, more so than before. Silently, he watched small grains of sand rise up in front of him. Without a word ushered, Gaara's protector rose up and slammed down on Naruto, a serpent-like hiss echoing all around.

Chakra, just like before, acted up to protect Naruto; however, Gaara's sand prevailed. Red light engulfed the small hospital room, piercing through thick wall yet leaving no marks. A strong, invisible force field struck Gaara while his sand was still slithering back to him. Stumbling, but not showing any signs of faltering mentally, he neared the occupied hospital bed and this time, he was not held back.

"Wake up."

Naruto still lay motionless, his eyes clamped down tightly, hair placed in a very neat and un-Naruto manner. His lips were pursed together, forming a smug frown. It was sickening, the way he looked. How could someone like Naruto turn into this?

"Wake up," Gaara repeated. He got no answer, he knew he wouldn't get one, and he didn't care that it was pointless, he had to try at least. He owed Naruto his life, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

There had to be a way to get Naruto out of his current condition, Gaara would make sure of that.

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Gentle water lapsed over his bare feet, such a perfect temperature that it seemed all too surreal. Dreams, to him, were only associated with the flavor of ramen of course, so he refused to come to terms with his current situation. The water, now drawing him in using the perfect feeling it brought, dulled Naruto's awareness and he fell victim to a beautiful, peaceful state of serenity.

He never remembered falling 'asleep' at night so, when Naruto took in his surroundings, he was quite confused. The dark, midnight blue sky was speckled with stars and the Milky Way. The only noise here was the calm flow of small sized waves that graced the sandy shore. Naruto then found himself standing amidst the sand further away from the water, small grains of it sliding between his toes when he wiggled them around. If felt good.

Yeah, this is definitely a dream.

Before this, Naruto usually suffered from dreams involving the demon inside of him, 'dreams' that could or should be classified as nightmares. This time, though, he couldn't feel Kyuubi's presence at all. He was safe, for now anyways.

Absentmindedly, Naruto moved towards the shore, where water met sand and stone. He felt hypnotized, at a loss of control over his movements but, since he was completely at ease, he didn't seem to mind. In no time, the blond was back at the water, craving its perfect touch.

Cold, crisp water struck his toes first. It was an odd feeling, that coldness, and Naruto felt that he recognized it from somewhere. But, the blond didn't have a chance at escaping once it dawned on him.

That cold belongs to Kyuubi!

Waves at least twice as tall as Naruto swept over him out of nowhere, so sudden that he fell out of his peaceful trance and into one of fear. He was flung into the sandy shore, limp and broken. His entire body hurt, he felt weak and that was the perfect time for an attack.

"Why are you doing this?" He yelled loudly. "I thought you said you'd help me, not hurt me!"

Cold waves roared closer towards Naruto, stained crimson this time. He would be a goner this time for sure, his body remained shattered like a broken doll. He was stuck.

Only ten inches away from sending Naruto into oblivion, the waves seemed to retract instead of moving forwards. Bewildered, the blond looked around and then downwards as he felt his hands being pulled on. The sand dragged him away from danger, sending Naruto into a different world.

It felt odd. More alive, more real. Then, before he could fully make out his surroundings– whatever there were anyways– Naruto began to feel more awake. He could hear his heart beat and it didn't sound all that healthy. Slowly, he began to push forwards, his eyes shifted, opening the doors of reality.

He was awake.

Continued in chapter 12!