Part VIII: Attack on Konoha
What's this? the Hokage thought in surprise when he sensed the illusion spell. An attack? He stood up quickly and saw that many Jounins and ANBU imposters were fighting in the stands and now in the arena. Everyone else was asleep. Then two smoke bombs exploded at his feet filling his seating area.
"Hokage-sama!" one of his body guards shouted as he jumped in front of the Hokage. Then out of nowhere, two kunais came straight for the guard and he was struck down.
"No!"
"Hokage-sama…" the guard said weakly coughing up blood. "Please, run!"
Then he felt an arm catch his neck and a kunai against his throat. "So," a dark voice said from behind him, "the attack begins."
The Hokage turned his head to see his attacker and it was the Kazekage. "What? You?"
He laughed. "You really are getting old," he mocked. "Let's see what you've got left!" With that, he jumped up onto the rooftop of the building taking his hostage with him.
Four imposters wearing ANBU uniforms came out of the smoke and each landed on a corner of the roof. They shed their cloaks and masks revealing four Sound Nins. One had six arms while another seemed to have two upper bodies connected back to back. Another one was very tall and big while the last Nin was an evil looking female with an attitude to go with her. "I hate those damned cloaks," she spat shaking herself off.
"Well, if we hadn't used them, we wouldn't have been able to get here obviously, bitch," the one with six arms shot back annoyed.
"Shut the hell up!"
"Hey, we're supposed to be a team so stop bickering and let's get on with it!" the big one said to both. Then the four made simultaneous seals with their hands.
"Do it," the Kazekage ordered.
"Ninpou, Shishi Enjin (Quad-Violet Flame Field)!" the four elite Sound Ninja said together. Four violet beams shot out from each of the four Nins' hands. Then from the lines each of the sparks made, a transparent purple barrier formed blocking the two Kages inside and keeping everyone else out.
"We've got to help Hokage-sama!" a real ANBU guard said to his team. The four of them rushed towards the growing barrier and leaped into the air.
"No, wait!" the Hokage shouted.
It was too late. One of the ANBU members crashed into the barrier and burst into flames. He let out a terrified scream and was dead in seconds.
"What?" the ANBU leader said. He and his other two teammates landed a few feet away from the barrier.
"It's an impenetrable barrier," the Kazekage said laughing at the angry look on the Hokage's face. "Now we can fight without any distractions."
"I didn't expect the Sand to turn on Konoha," the Hokage said keeping his voice calm.
"A treaty is just a camouflage to relax an opponent and catch him off guard," the Kazekage sneered. "The petty mock battles end here!"
"Are you trying to start a war?"
"Yes." The Kazekage smiled evilly behind the cloth covering his face.
"Conflicts should be resolved through negotiations instead of killing," the Third said. "There is still time to stop this."
"Perhaps when you get old, you become used to peace, Sarutobi-sensei."
The Third's eyes widened. It can't be…
"Heh, it's a shame," the Kazekage continued. "I was going to steal Sasuke away when Gaara did his thing but it seems as though I can't have everything my way."
"So you're after Konoha and Sasuke?" the Third questioned.
"Well, yes," the Kazekage said. "Once Gaara is fully awakened, the mission will be complete. You could've seen something much more interesting. But anyway, your ignorance has driven Konoha to its end. I win."
"Hm," Sarutobi said. "We don't know the result until the very end. I believe I taught you that much,"
The Kazekage smiled and pulled off his veil revealing his real face.
"Orochimaru."
He sneered. "Surprised to see me, Sensei?"
"I knew a day like this would come, but you will not take my head so easily."
"You really are getting old, Third," Orochimaru said. "You should've picked a Fifth sooner since you're going to die here."
"Hm," Sarutobi responded. Then the two fell silent for a while as Orochimaru scanned the area. Sarutobi waited patiently for him to move. He looked up at his former student and saw tears in his eyes. He smiled. "Are you that happy to see the destruction of Konoha or do you find the heart in yourself for killing your old teacher?"
Orochimaru turned to look at him. "No," he said. Then he drew back his kunai and stabbed.
"Hokage-sama!" the ANBU squad leader yelled as he saw blood fall. He couldn't see much else since the barrier was darkening.
"I was just sleepy," Orochimaru continued and let his hands fall. He had stabbed his own hand but it didn't seem to affect him. "Now I'm awake." He slipped his arm off of the Hokage's shoulder lazily and walked away.
"I thought so," Sarutobi said unfazed.
Orochimaru took off the Kage hat and let his long black hair fall freely behind him. "I like to see moving things," Orochimaru said. "If something doesn't move, then it gets boring. A windless windmill is nice to look at from time to time but most of the time it's useless to even notice. Now, I want to move the windmill with the wind called the Destruction of Konoha."
"Hm. You haven't changed a bit I see," the Third said moving his hand up to his hat.
The three Genins raced through the forest, jumping from branch to branch in the trees, as fast as they could. Pakkun was leading the way sniffing out where Sasuke had gone. No one even attempted to talk since they were all moving so quickly. Then suddenly Pakkun stopped.
"Huh?" Sora said and stopped immediately behind Pakkun.
Shikamaru noticed as well and was able to stop a few feet ahead.
"Hey, why'd you- " CRASH! Naruto finally stopped by running into a tree trunk. He fell backwards shaking from shock and pain.
"Naruto!" Sora exclaimed and jumped over to him. "Are you ok?"
Naruto twitched slightly. "Agh…"
Sora helped him stand.
"Hm," Pakkun said sniffing.
"What is it?" Shikamaru asked.
"I smell enemies approaching us." The three Genins stiffened up. "Nine of them."
"What should we do?" Sora asked quietly.
"I'm not sure. If we fight, we won't stand a chance."
Naruto and Sora both took in a breath.
Shikamaru fell silent for while with thought. "Then we've got to ambush them," he said finally.
"Ambush?" Naruto asked.
Shikamaru nodded. "In order to be successful in the ambush, we need to be silent when moving and discover the enemy first. Then we must secure a location to catch the pursuers off guard and inflict critical damage to them and then quickly conceal ourselves. Otherwise, these Jounin-leveled Nins will almost certainly kill us."
Naruto shuddered.
"With Pakkun's nose and our familiarity with the territory, we might just be able to pull off something. However, it is possible that our pursuers might actually know the terrain since they've probably been preparing for a while." Shikamaru sighed. "It seems that since our team is made up of an idiot, a Chakra-less female, a dog, and a big coward, we should devise an operation that looks like an ambush, meaning only one person will stay behind and set up things to look like an full fledged ambush and stop them."
Naruto became angry. "What do you mean an idiot?" he yelled forgetting to be quiet. "YOU BLAH BLAH BL-"
Sora clamped her hand over his mouth. I guess he could sense that my Chakra's gone, she thought miserably.
"Then who will stay behind?" Pakkun asked the daunting question.
Shikamaru sighed again. "I guess I will."
"What?" Sora exclaimed.
He nodded his head slowly. "I'm the one who has the highest chance of pulling this off and surviving. Besides, that's what my technique, Shadow Bind, is for."
"You can't just-"
"Sora," he interrupted and jumped over to her and Naruto's branch. He touched her shoulder. "We've got no choice."
She looked into his eyes. They were usually lazy and filled with a feeling of dullness, but not this time. He had the look of determination in his eyes. "But you might die," she said urgently.
Shikamaru closed his eyes for a moment then opened them again. "I'll take the risk," he said softly. He moved his hand up to her cheek.
"But why?" she whispered never looking away from his eyes.
So I can protect you… "For the good of the group," he said. "I'll make it."
Naruto popped up getting a little uncomfortable with Shikamaru being too close to Sora. "He'll make it!" he repeated to Sora. "But we've got to go now or we'll lose Sasuke."
Sora looked down still not completely convinced. "I…"
"They're very close," Pakkun warned jumping to join his group.
"Sora," Naruto said.
"Sora," Shikamaru said nodding. "Go now."
Sora nodded slowly. "Please be careful," she said then she, Naruto, and Pakkun began leaping through the forest leaving Shikamaru.
He sighed. She really does make me do things I would never do, he thought. Good things. Then he began to set up an ambush seen. He made fake paw and foot prints to throw off the pursuers and then hid himself. A few minutes later, he saw them stop exactly where he predicted.
"What's this?" the leader of the group said. The others looked around but then none could move.
"Huh?"
"Heh, you fell for my trap," Shikamaru said coming out from his hiding place. He had used his Shadow Bind to capture the Sand Nins. Wait, there's only eight here, he thought. Then he noticed where the ninth was but pretended to look like he didn't. Crap, I don't have enough Chakra to reach him. I must've miscalculated. He looked up at the sky again and sighed. All I wanted was a normal life, he thought bitterly. Then I had to make the stupidest decision of my life and become a ninja…how troublesome. He knew he was running out of Chakra and quickly.
"You're weakening," the leader of the Sand group sneered. "You can't hold us for long."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes and didn't respond. No, that wasn't the dumbest mistake of my life, he thought. If I hadn't joined the academy, I would never have met Sora and gotten to know her the way I do now. He tried to keep his Chakra level up. She really does bring me to a higher level. I've never felt this way about anything before. It's like she's taken over me or something. I think I've fallen for her…
His shadow contracted slightly. Well, I guess my time's up. The Sand Nins eagerly looked towards the shrinking shadows. It won't be too bad. He fell to his knees panting. I just never got to tell her how I feel. Then his shadow disappeared.
"Finally," one of the Sand Ninjas sneered. They all leaped towards Shikamaru.
He closed his eyes waiting for the worst but then he heard a buzzing sound and then slashes and thuds. He shot open his eyes. It was his sensei. "Asuma-sensei!"
"Well, well, well," Asuma said smiling. He had his trench knives on his knuckles and his Chakra had elongated the blades. A cigarette was still hanging out of his mouth. Around him, all nine of the Sand Nins were dead. "Nice job, Shikamaru."
Shikamaru fell back to a sitting position. "This isn't my thing," he sighed.
Asuma looked back at him. Heh, he's really got what it takes to make it all the way through, he thought. If only he could take a more serious interest.
Shikamaru looked back up at the sky. Yeah, if it wasn't for Sora, I don't know what I'd be doing right now…
Pakkun, Naruto, and Sora picked up their speed as they ran through the trees. "Will Shikamaru really be ok?" Sora wondered out loud.
"Of course he will!" Naruto said confidently. "He's got the smarts to do it so he'll pull through."
"As a matter of fact," Pakkun interjected, "I can smell that he's already stopped them. Their scent is rapidly diminishing."
Sora brightened up. "Thank God."
"Actually," Pakkun said sniffing with his nose, "I smell blood and it's not Shikamaru."
"What? You mean he actually killed all nine of the Sand Ninjas?" Naruto asked in jealousy and amazement.
"No," Pakkun said. "I smell someone else there too. He must've gotten help."
Sora breathed a sigh of relief. "So he's ok."
"I told you he would be," Naruto said smiling.
Sora nodded her head and smiled.
"But hold on," Pakkun said stopping again. This time both Genins were able to stop fairly quickly.
"What?" Naruto asked.
"I smell another figure ahead of us," he said. Naruto and Sora stiffened. "There's another pursuing Sasuke besides us." His voice had dropped very low. "And it's not human."
A short silence filled the forest air. "Can you tell if this thing is from Konoha or from the Sand?" Sora whispered.
Pakkun shook his head. "No, but I think it might be to our advantage to pick up our speed. Can you two keep up?"
Naruto frowned. "Of course we can!" he said loudly.
Sora and Pakkun shuddered at the volume. "Sh! Naruto!" Sora said. "Let's go then." Pakkun nodded and the three once again took off faster than before. Good thing I had that Taijutsu training or I would never be able to keep up at this rate, Sora thought.
After a while of running in silence, a huge explosion was heard. The three stopped in astonishment. "What the heck was that?" Naruto asked.
Pakkun sniffed the air. "Well, it seems as though Sasuke and one of the Sand Genins have stopped to fight a while," he said. "That probably means the other two Sand Genins have gone ahead."
"But is Sasuke all right?" Naruto demanded.
"Eh," Pakkun said lazily. "I don't know that yet."
"What?" Naruto shouted. "Then we can't just stop here!" He took off without warning.
"Hm...does that kid and Sasuke have some sort of intimacy I don't know about?" Pakkun asked Sora.
Sora cocked an eyebrow and sweat-dropped. "What?" she asked in disbelief.
"Not meaning to offend anyone," Pakkun said dryly.
"NO WAY!" Sora said. "In fact they practically hate each other."
"Oh, I see," Pakkun said chuckling. He took off.
Sora shook her head. What kind of a per-well, dog would think that about them? she thought. Well, then again, he is Kakashi-sensei's. She laughed to herself and ran after the other two.
The running never seemed to end as the three jumped from branch to branch. Pakkun had sensed that Sasuke was once again on the move while the one Sand Nin that had stayed behind earlier was pursuing him. He must have had no time to finish her off, he thought. Soon they came across the area that the explosion had taken place. They stopped briefly to inspect it.
"It was Temari who stayed to fight Sasuke," Sora said immediately recognizing the cuts in the trees as the same attack that was used against Shikamaru. "But Sasuke won."
"Good," Naruto said shortly. "Then let's get going."
The three kept running. "I smell that Sasuke and the Sand Genins have stopped again. They aren't too far ahead," Pakkun said while running.
Sora and Naruto nodded their heads.
"But that other thing that was following Sasuke is there too," Pakkun continued. "It looks like another battle. Sasuke is not involved though."
"Then we should find a way around it to save time!" Naruto shouted back at the dog.
"Ok," Pakkun said lazily. He sniffed the air. "Let me lead then, huh?"
Naruto slowed down a tiny bit and let Pakkun take the lead. They then made a slight right to avoid the battle taking place.
After a few minutes, Pakkun spoke again. "They're close."
Naruto could already sense Sasuke and Gaara's Chakra as they closed in. Don't lose, Sasuke, he thought. What kind of rival would you be if you lost to that freak?
I hope Gaara hasn't transformed into that thing, Sora thought. She shuddered at the thought of the mutilated arm that had shot out of the sand barrier back in the Chuunin exam stadium. They slowed down a bit now that they could hear occasional clashes of metal against metal. Then the sound of the all too familiar Chidori rang through the air. Oh, no, Sora thought. The curse! What if…? Then she saw them in the distance.
Gaara's arm was growing out of his shoulder back into the enlarged mutilated state. He was laughing in a crazed manner at a heavily panting Sasuke whose hand was still glowing slightly from the Chidori. "What's the matter?" Gaara taunted. "You lack the intent of a murderer you weak, pathetic fool. Your existence is worthless!"
Sasuke tightened his grip on his arm. I've got to use it one more time, he thought. Kakashi's warning lingered in the back of his mind for a second but he shook it out. No, it's the only way. "Chidori!" he said again. But instead of feeling his Chakra gather in his hand, his body was shot with pain. "AHHH!" he screamed and fell to his knees on the branch. He couldn't move. What…what is this? he thought as he writhed in pain. My Chakra's gone!
"Hahaha!" Gaara jeered. "I guess you're too weak to even use your master technique." He then sprouted a tail but he didn't notice. "Now, I'll kill you!" he screamed as he flew at the immobile Sasuke.
Temari who was watching in paralyzed fear was shaking. He's really enjoying this, she thought. He actually likes fighting this Uchiha kid because he can cause him pain.
No, can't move, Sasuke thought trying to move but only feeling more pain course through his body. Then the burning sensation ran through his veins. What? Marks began spreading from his curse across his body. The seal's broken? He would have screamed if he could've but his voice was lost in the indescribable feeling of torture he felt.
A shout was heard as Naruto came straight at the attacking Gaara. "AHHHH!"
"What?"
Naruto slammed into the half transformed Gaara and knocked him off his course towards Sasuke.
Pakkun and Sora landed next to Sasuke. No, it can't be! Sora thought kneeling next to him but afraid to touch him. What happened to the seal? Is this curse so powerful that it can break through the seal? She mustered up her courage and lifted Sasuke's head up. She made sure she didn't touch the mark. I know I can help him if I just touch it, she thought miserably. Her hand was still wrapped in cloth from the earlier burn. But…
Sasuke felt his head being lifted and placed on something soft. He forced his eyes open though it caused him severe pain to do it. S-Sora? he mentally screamed. No, she's going to-
Sora closed her eyes and reached for his neck.
NO! Sasuke yelled in his head but all that came out was a mumble of some sort. He tried to move and succeeded in twitching his hand. Come on, COME ON! Sasuke shouted at himself. Then miraculously, his hand shot up and grabbed Sora's wrist stopping her movement.
"What? Sasuke?" Sora said.
Sasuke weakly shook his head. "No…" he managed to whisper.
"Sasuke, just…" She tried to move her hand towards the mark again but Sasuke held on fast. She saw his pain-filled eyes and stopped. "You can't…"
Although it hurt like hell, Sasuke didn't let go of Sora's wrist. She can't, he thought over and over again. I don't care if I have to suffer…she just can't.
Naruto and Gaara went crashing into another tree trunk and it shuddered from the impact. But Gaara was already more than half way transformed into a monster and was able to recover faster. He shoved Naruto out of the way and leaped straight for Sora and Sasuke. "I'LL KILL YOU BOTH!" he shrieked. Half of his face was that of the monster now. His mutated eye gleamed with hatred while the other blazed with insanity.
"NOO!" Sora yelled and was able to get out from under Sasuke's head and out of his grasp in time to stand in front of him. She pulled out her kunai ready to take him on even though she knew she couldn't win.
"Sora, no!" Naruto shouted and tried to leap back in time to save her but it was too late.
What? She's…protecting him? Gaara thought. He automatically slowed down slightly and instead of attacking with the intent of killing, he thrust his monstrous hand forward.
The clawed hand collided with Sora. She stabbed right through the hand but her kunai seemed to have no effect. Gaara's hand continued forward taking her with it and she was swept off of her feet and behind Sasuke. Her body slammed against a tree trunk causing her to cough up some spit and blood.
"Sora!" Naruto screamed.
Sora's vision went blurry. Blood trickled down the back of her head where it had collided with the tree. "Un…" she choked out incohesively. She shook her head trying to clear her vision but the throbbing pain increased.
Sora! Sasuke thought. No! Why? Why are you doing this for me?
"YOU BASTARD!" Naruto snarled viciously. He felt the fox's Chakra rise up in him automatically. His eyes turned pointed and his fingers grew into claws. New found power surged through him but he was too enraged to notice any of this. All he could think about was saving Sora. He flew towards Gaara's arm that was still holding Sora onto the tree. He whipped out his kunai and powered up. "AHHHHHH!" he shouted and then with a flash of red power, he sliced through the mutilated arm.
What? Gaara thought as he jumped back. He cut through with just a blade? Impossible.
But although Naruto had cut through the arm, Gaara's hand was still pinning Sora to the tree and the arm grew back on Gaara's body. "What?" Naruto said and whirled around to face Gaara. His features went back to normal from his shock.
"Why?" he questioned a slowly fading Sora. His voice was eerily soft. "Why do you protect them?" He clenched his fist causing the hand pinning Sora to the tree to tighten squeezing Sora's body.
If she had had enough consciousness to scream, she would've but all she could do was wince in pain from the constriction.
"I don't understand," Gaara continued his volume level rising.
"Stop it!" Naruto shouted. "Let her go, now!"
Gaara turned his gaze to Naruto and hardened his expression. "You worthless fool. You think you can even fight me?"
"Yeah, and I'll beat you too!" Naruto said with an equally hard expression.
"Aren't you forgetting her?" he asked. "I have the upper hand."
Naruto looked back at Sora. The hand surrounding her was tightening slowly.
"As time passes, it will keep constricting until she cannot breathe anymore," Gaara said unfeelingly.
"SHUT UP!" Naruto screamed. I'll summon that Frog Boss. Then I'll be unbeatable! "Summoning Jutsu!" A poof of smoke appeared and then-
"Eh? Hey, I got summoned!" a tiny frog with a high-pitched voice said happily.
Naruto fell over. "What?"
"This is pretty cool!" the frog said jumping onto Naruto's head. Then he saw the half-transformed Gaara. "AHHH!" He shook with fear and clutched onto Naruto for safety.
Naruto sprung back up. "What the hell?" he shouted. "I wanted the Frog Boss, not you!"
"Hey, with that kind of summoning energy, there's no way you could summon Gamabunta!"
"What? Fine then! I'll just take care of this myself!" Then he leaped off of his branch into the air towards Gaara with the frog still clutching onto his head. "Kage Buushin No Jutsu!" he yelled and 30 Narutos appeared.
"Mugen Sajin Daitoppa (Wind Element, Infinite Sand Gust Storm)!" Gaara yelled and blew a huge sand gust at the Narutos.
"Wha?" The Naruto clones all disappeared in an instant leaving the real Naruto to face the storm. He was forced backwards and the sand around him cut him over and over again.
"AHHH!" the tiny frog screamed again and hid in Naruto's shirt.
"HAHAHA!" Gaara laughed hysterically. "You weakling!" Then he transformed again into the full monster that was inside of him. He yelled out in agony at his changing limbs and muscles but finally it was complete.
"I AM SHUKAKU!" the new creature bellowed smiling wickedly.
Shu-what? Naruto thought and shakily stood up again.
The creature was enormous. It was standing on the ground now and many trees were crushed underneath and around him to make room for his gigantic body. He was taller than the forest roof and looked like a giant, armored, evil, raccoon monster. His eyes twinkled disgustingly. "It feels so good to be freed!" his voice rumbled through the forest like an earthquake.
Naruto shook at the enormous bulk in front of him. What the-I can't beat him like this. I've got to summon the Frog Boss this time! "GRRR!" he said and made the necessary seals to summon the frog he had only been able to summon once before, only when his life had depended on it. Now someone else's life was depending on him. "COME OUT YOU STUPID FROG!" he yelled as he slammed his hand downward.
Sora was not completely out yet and forced her eyes to open slightly. Naruto…she thought. He's grown so much stronger…much more than I have. Then a new feeling washed over her. If he can do so much, then I can at least try! She tried to move her arms but could only move her fingers slightly. No, I can't give up! She felt the hand tighten and she gasped for air. If I don't get out soon, I'll die…
The ground rumbled with the coming of Naruto's summon and with a humongous poof of smoke, an enormous red frog with a pipe sticking out of his mouth appeared with Naruto on top of it. "What's this?" a deep echoing voice demanded. The frog had spoken.
"Frog Boss!" Naruto shouted at the top of his lungs so that he could be heard. "I've summoned you again to help me fight this thing off!"
"What?" Gamabunta turned his gaze towards Shukaku. "Him?"
Shukaku returned the gaze. "Bring it on!"
That annoyed the gigantic frog. "Naruto, why'd you bring me out to fight him?" he asked shaking his head a little to get Naruto off balance.
"Wha-whoa!" Naruto managed to hang on. "Hey! I summoned you to help me! You shouldn't ask questions like that!"
Gamabunta sighed. "I'm not in the mood-"
"Hey, Gamabunta-sama!" the tiny frog piped up climbing out of Naruto's shirt. "This Shukaku dude's been picking on us and Naruto's only trying to save his friends!"
"Hm?" Gamabunta looked down to see the helpless Sasuke and Sora both in deep pain.
"Please Frog Boss!" Naruto pleaded. "I need your help!"
Gamabunta sighed. "Oh, ok," he grunted. "Let's get this over with quickly now."
Shukaku laughed hysterically. "We'll see who'll get who!" With that the giant armored raccoon ran towards the frog.
Gamabunta narrowed his eyes and then leaped swiftly to the side drawing his sword that had been hanging around his waist. As Shukaku passed by, Gamabunta sliced off an arm of the raccoon.
"Uh?" Shukaku said and stopped running skidding to a halt causing the ground underneath him to pile up.
"Hey, hey, Frog Boss!" Naruto shouted. "Sora and Sasuke are in that direction! Don't let him-"
"I know," Gamabunta bellowed. Then with one giant leap, he swung his sword at Shukaku forcing him to dodge backwards away from Sora and Sasuke.
The two giant animals landed on the ground and the trees almost jumped off the ground from the impact. "You'll regret that!" Shukaku shrieked in fury. "I'll get my full power out and then you'll see!" The raccoon monster concentrated his focus onto the center of his forehead and there appeared Gaara with his lower half inside of Shukaku.
"Gaara?" Naruto asked. This is so weird…
"This is my medium!" Shukaku said a little too energetically.
"Medium?"
"Yes," Gamabunta said. "That demon raccoon has possessed Gaara making him unable to sleep. That's why he has such large, black rings around his eyes. If Gaara was to fall asleep, Shukaku would gradually eat away at his personality until nothing remained."
"Ew, really?" the tiny frog squeaked with a shudder.
"Hm," Gamabunta nodded his head. "Shukaku's powers are limited while Gaara is awake, but once asleep, he will emerge in complete control of all his powers."
"Tanuki Neiri no Jutsu (Forced Sleep Technique)!" Shukaku said evilly.
"As I was saying…"
"What?" Naruto turned to see Gaara quickly falling completely asleep. "NO!"
"Now I can achieve maximum power!" the raccoon cried out happily. He ran towards the frog and Naruto. "Fuuton Renkuudan (Wind Element, Compressed Air Ball)!" A huge mass of compressed wind shot through the air towards them.
"Suiton Teppoudama (Water Element, Gun Bullet)!" Gamabunta countered and leaped out of the way. The water bullet hit the air ball and a huge explosion shook the earth.
Both giants were pushed back from the force. "AHH!" Naruto yelled and tried to hold onto the giant frog he was on.
"AHH!" squeaked the tiny frog and dove back into Naruto's shirt.
"Naruto! You've got to wake up Gaara! It's the only way we can win this battle," Gamabunta said.
"Right!" Naruto said confidently.
Meanwhile, Sora was trying to fight the steadily advancing blackness in her eyes. Don't close your eyes, she thought. Don't even think about giving up. The hand tightened again. Sora couldn't help but have some wind knocked out of her. She gasped for air but couldn't take any in. She felt like she was dying…again.
Sasuke painfully turned his head towards Sora. "S…Sor…" He was still unable to move or speak for very long. Dammit! he shouted at himself. Why am I so weak all of a sudden?
The battle raged on between the two giants and Naruto kept getting thrown around on Gamabunta's head. "Hey! I can't wake Gaara up if you can't get closer!" he yelled in frustration.
"I know!" Gamabunta said while dodging another swipe of Shukaku's claws. "But if I have to hold onto him I can't do it in this form! I don't have claws like he does."
"Then transform into something that does!"
"I'm bad at transforming."
Silence.
"What?" Naruto said in disbelief. "The great Frog Boss? Bad at transforming?"
"Shut up…"
"Hehe, sorry but-"
"Are you going to help me or just sit there and laugh?" Gamabunta roared.
"Oh, right!"
"Now, I'm going to run at Shukaku and when I say now, transform me into something with claws!"
"Uh, wha-" Gamabunta took off at full speed towards the insane raccoon. "AHHH!" Naruto yelled and hung on for dear life.
"NOW!"
"Uh, uh, transform!" Naruto yelled.
Gamabunta began to glow. He felt his webbed feet become clawed. He felt his entire body become furry and pointed. "What the hell?" A giant, red fox was now charging at the raccoon. It resembled the fox demon locked away inside Naruto.
"It was the first thing that came to mind!" Naruto exclaimed. Then in the blink of an eye, Gamabunta latched himself onto Shukaku.
"GO NOW!" Gamabunta commanded as he dug his claws into Shukaku.
"What do you think you're doing?" screeched Shukaku. He struggled to get free but the fox's claws were too strong and too deeply embedded through his armored skin.
Naruto quickly slid down Gamabunta's forehead and onto his nose. Then he leaped across the small gap between the two animals' faces and landed in front of Gaara. "YOU!" He ran up to him and landed a punch directly in his face.
Blood trickled out of Gaara's mouth but he remained asleep.
"It's going to take more than that!" Shukaku snarled as he began to free himself.
Gamabunta tried to latch on tighter but his transformation time was coming to an end. Hurry up you fool! he thought.
Naruto continuously punched Gaara over and over again but nothing seemed to work. "AHHH! DAMN YOU!" he screamed and finally knocked his own head into Gaara's. A loud crack echoed above the other sounds of the fight at the contact of the two heads. Naruto's head started bleeding, but so did Gaara's.
Then slowly, Gaara's eyes flickered open revealing his pale green stare again. "Wha-what?"
"NOO!" Shukaku screamed. He broke free of Gamabunta's hold and leaped back. "NO! MY POWERS!" He began dissolving.
"Naruto," Gamabunta said going back to his frog form. "My time is coming to an end here."
"Wha? Wait!" Naruto said turning from Gaara.
No, it's not possible, Gaara thought with rising anger in his eyes. "DESERT COFFIN!" he shouted and closed his fist. Sand rushed from around him towards Naruto.
"Uh, WAHHH!" The sand closed in and Naruto shut his eyes but then nothing touched him. "What?" His eyes opened and he saw that he was inside some sort of red, bumpy shield.
"Marthootho!" Gamabunta said. His tongue was wrapped around Naruto saving him from Gaara's sand thus impairing his speaking abilities. "Geth thour thass moothing!" Then he disappeared.
When the smoke cleared from Gamabunta's disappearance, Naruto saw that Shukaku was getting smaller and smaller. He seemed to be disintegrating as his body looked like it was made of sand that was being blown away by the wind. "NOOOO!" the raccoon shrieked one last time.
Gaara put up his hands again. "You!" he snarled. "Desert Coffin!"
Naruto didn't wait around to be attacked again. He dodged the sand attack which was slower than usual since Gaara was running out of Chakra. "GOTCHA!" He attempted a kick at Gaara's head but then he realized that he was almost out of energy as well. Dammit!
Gaara managed to block it and tried a physical punch of his own. Naruto saw his attack and threw his fist forward too. The two fists went past each other and landed right into the other's cheek. Then both fell down towards the ground since Shukaku was now completely gone. Neither could break his fall and they landed hard on the ground making indentions in the dirt. They didn't move for a while as they tried to catch their breath.
The sand surrounding Sora dissipated and shriveled away. Her limp body fell downwards as she gasped for air. Amazingly, she was still awake but she couldn't break her fall. Then she felt herself get caught by two arms. She looked up. "Sa-"
Sasuke put a finger to her lips. He had finally been able to move and managed to catch Sora before she fell. "Sora," he whispered. "I'm so sorry…"
Sora widened her eyes in concern but was unable to speak. She tried to shake her head to tell him that she didn't blame him but he suddenly lifted her upper body towards himself and wrapped his arms around her. He was shaking.
"Sora…" he choked out. "Sora…I couldn't…I'm just…god, Sora…" He didn't let go. He couldn't let go. He shook with the threat of tears that had never fallen. I was too weak to protect her. I was too weak…
Sora let him embrace her. She didn't exactly have a choice but she would've let him hold her even if she did have the strength to push him away. Sasuke, it's not your fault, she thought begging for him to know what she was thinking. Sasuke…
Naruto raised his head after a while. Blood had streaked his face but he wasn't out yet. He inched forward little by little towards the unmoving Gaara.
"Why?" came a small cracked voice. "I don't understand you. Why do you protect others when it causes you so much pain?"
Naruto was panting but a smile crept across his face. "Heh," he said spitting out some saliva mixed with blood. "Because I'm protecting the people I love."
"Love?" Gaara said looking straight up at the sky.
"Yeah," Naruto said and continued inching towards Gaara. "We're very similar you know? I have a demon inside me too but there's one big difference."
"What is that?"
"I found people who care about me and I care about them…I didn't wallow in self pity," Naruto said. "I don't want to kill you, but I will if you keep attacking the ones I love!"
By then, Temari and Kankuro had found the two. "Gaara!" Temari gasped at the sight of him. I've never seen him in such a weak state before.
"Why you!" Kankuro said trying to go towards Naruto but couldn't. He was bandaged up and had to lean on Temari for support. His earlier fight had left him beaten and almost dead until Temari had left Gaara to search for him. She had saved him by tending to his wounds quickly but when she looked for his attacker, she had only seen many small black bugs crawling around on the branches.
"No," Gaara said quietly. "Leave him."
His teammates looked at him in shock. "What?" Temari asked.
"Let's go. Take me back and leave him be."
Temari was too shocked to argue further. She led Kankuro over to Gaara and then gently picked Gaara up on her fan. With a final glance at Naruto, she conjured up a wind and the three Sand Genins rode her fan away.
Naruto breathed a sigh of relief. His smile stayed on his face as he closed his eyes.
All the members of Team 7 were in the hospital but a few days later, they began to wake up. Naruto opened his eyes and sat up. "AHHH! That was a good nap," he said with a stretch. He swung his legs over the bed side but felt something pulling on him. "Uh?" Then he realized he had IVs sticking into his arms and bandages wrapped around his body. "WHAAAA!"
The shriek echoed through the halls of the hospital and soon a nurse rushed in looking like she had seen a ghost. "HUH?" she gasped when she saw Naruto trying to untangle himself from the mess of tubes and needles. "Don't move!" She ran over and tried to calm the struggling Naruto down.
In Sora's room, Sasuke sat next to her bed holding her hand. She hadn't woken up yet from her surgery. She had had multiple broken ribs and a severe lack of oxygen in her system from the constriction. Sasuke stared blankly at the girl breathing in and out of an oxygen mask in front of him. Naruto's become so much stronger…I can't believe he could beat Gaara. I couldn't do a thing. Is he stronger than me? He shut his eyes and held on tighter to Sora's hand. No, I can't let this stop me. I must fulfill my goal. I must kill my brother and make up for my weaknesses. I cannot be worthy of her until I do! Then he felt Sora stir. "Huh? Sora," he said leaning down.
Sora's eyes slowly flickered open. Her vision was fuzzy at first but then she could make out that someone was there. Who… She did one last hard blink then she could see. "Sasuke!" she said through her oxygen mask. Her voice surprised her and she looked down to see what she was wearing on her face. I hate oxygen masks, she thought and tried to sit up.
"No, Sora, lie still," Sasuke said gruffly trying to subdue the exploding happiness inside of him. "You're not fully recovered yet."
Sora didn't listen of course and she used her other hand not held by Sasuke to take her mask off.
"Sora-"
"Sasuke!" Sora interrupted and pulled his hand to her cheek.
Sasuke was shocked at her actions. Is she…?
Sora closed her eyes. He's ok, she thought. Was he able to tell what I was trying to say to him? Her mind flashed back to when he had held her in the forest. His shaking voice lingered in her ears. "Sasuke." She closed her eyes and gave a sigh of relief.
Sasuke trembled slightly at her actions. Why are you so forgiving of me? he thought. I failed to save you. I failed and Naruto succeeded. Why do you-
A knock was heard on the door and Sora's eyes opened. "Yes?" she called.
There was a slight pause and then the door was opened cautiously. "Up again?" a nurse asked. She was the same one that had freaked out when Sora had woken up the last time in the hospital.
Sora smiled and nodded. She glanced at Sasuke and saw that his gaze had never left her. She quickly looked away.
"Uh, I, uh have to check up on her," the nurse said carefully.
Sasuke nodded silently without removing his gaze from Sora and got up. He moved aside so that the nurse could inspect her. I need to prove to her…I need her to know that I will try with my all to be good enough for her! Then he left the room.
Sora was about to call him back when the nurse spoke. "Well, once again you do surprise me," she said writing something down on her clipboard.
"Huh?"
"You seem to be perfectly fine," she said smiling. "Amazing really."
Sora sat up and didn't feel dizzy at all. "No way…"
The nurse nodded. "I have to tell you some bad news though," she said.
Sora looked at her waiting for her to go on.
"The Third Hokage has left us," she said her expression quickly changing to one of sadness. "He gave up his life to save us from Orochimaru."
Sora's eyes widened. What?
"His funeral is today and I think, if you want to go that is, that you're well enough to." She gathered her things in her arms and with a final nod left Sora to herself in the room.
Once the door shut, Sora thought back on what the nurse had said. "Hokage-sama…dead?" She shook her head. Orochimaru is so powerful that he could kill the Third? Wait a minute! She twitched in new found realization. He's the only one who knows how to cure me of this seal! Am I stuck without my Chakra for the rest of my life? She had let him seal her Chakra only because she had thought that one day he would lift it. Then a pang of guilt washed over her. I'm being selfish, she thought. He's died and here I am thinking only about myself. She swung her legs off the bed and stood up. She was shaky at first but then she was able to walk normally. I guess I should just go then, and get ready for the funeral. She walked towards the door and reached for the knob only to have the door open in front of her. "Huh?"
"Sora!" It was Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei?"
He almost threw his arms around her he was so relieved to see that she was ok but he caught himself. "Eh-herm," he faked clearing his throat instead. "I see that you're well."
"Uh, yeah," Sora said looking down.
"I came here to take you home," he said.
"Oh, uh, thank you," she said.
Kakashi lifted her head. "Is everything ok?"
Sora immediately put on her best fake smile. "Oh yeah! Everything's fine. I just need to get out of the hospital."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Hm."
The two left the hospital and Kakashi walked Sora home. Once he saw that she was safely in her apartment, he went to his own to get ready for the funeral.
A few hours later, the entire village had gathered in front of the Hokage's tower in the middle of the village. They were all dressed in black for mourning. Sobs were heard everywhere as people tried to comfort each other. Sora stood by herself wearing a long black dress and a black lace veil to cover her face and red hair. She didn't want to attract any attention.
As in most sad funerals, the weather complimented the feelings of the people. It was raining. A picture of Sarutobi was placed on the coffin with flowers surrounding it. Then family by family, the people of Konoha went forward to pay their respects to their fallen leader.
Sora stayed in the back not exactly wanting to go up to face the memory of the Third Hokage. She let two tears drop down her face and lowered her head even further. She didn't want to let other people see her cry. Hokage-sama, she thought. You truly are a great leader. Sacrifice. I don't know if I'll ever understand it completely but you've taught me so many things. I didn't really know you that well. In fact, I hated you for sealing my Chakra. But you are wiser than I am. I respect your decision… She clenched her fist. But I will try to find a way to stop this thing inside of me once and for all! Then she felt a hand grasp her tensed wrist. She quickly looked up to see who it was. It was Sasuke.
He gently lifted her veil so that he could see her face clearly. "I'll take you home," he said softly looking into her crimson eyes. He lifted his hand to her cheek and wiped the tears away.
Sora shivered at his touch. "Sasuke," she whispered.
Sasuke wanted to draw her close and kiss away her sadness. He wanted to hold her in his arms and not have to worry about anything but her. He wanted to spend every moment he was alive knowing that she was his, but he disciplined himself to softly kissing her cheek. It almost drove him insane but he managed to keep a calm face. "Let's go," he said.
The two Genins walked slowly down the empty streets of Konoha with the heavy weight of depression sinking into them with every drop of water that fell from the sky. Why does it always rain in these kinds of things? Sora thought as more rain showered the muddy ground. There was a heavy but understood silence between her and Sasuke but she felt uncomfortable. She didn't think that Sasuke had understood her expression when she had tried to convey the message that she didn't blame him for anything. "Uh, Sasuke?" she barely whispered. Her voice seemed to be swallowed up in the sound of the rain.
But Sasuke heard her. "Hm?"
Sora took a deep breath. "I want you to know that…" She paused.
Sasuke stopped walking to look at her. He held her arm so that she would stop as well.
"I don't blame you for anything that happened and," she spoke with more confidence now, "you shouldn't blame yourself either. It's not your fault."
Sasuke knew that he had been showing his emotions too openly lately. She doesn't understand, he thought miserably. It is my fault that I'm still so weak. It's mine and mine alone. With one swift motion he pulled Sora forward.
She stumbled from the shock and her body fell towards Sasuke's.
Then Sasuke placed his hand under Sora's chin and lifted her head so that their faces were only centimeters apart. He stared into her deep red eyes. His breath was taken away for a moment but he quickly recovered. "You don't understand," he finally said with a surprisingly even voice.
"What?" Sora asked trying to pull back but Sasuke didn't let her. "What don't I under-"
Sasuke closed the gap between their lips and he poured his soul into her being. Nothing could describe his hunger, his emptiness without her. He pushed her back against his arm that was around her waist as he moved his head forward trying to deepen the kiss. His hand that had been holding her chin moved to the back of her head making sure she couldn't resist.
Sora felt his lips suckling hers passionately demanding for more. His tongue pushed against her lips wanting access to her inner depths. She tried to pull away but was trapped. She could only try to stand against Sasuke's burning passion but she couldn't hold on for long. With a stifled noise of defiance, her lips eventually parted and Sasuke immediately entered her mouth.
He delved deeper…as deep as he could possibly go. He was addicted to her taste, to her touch. He breathed in through his nose so that he wouldn't have to break the connection as he eventually backed her against the wall of a building. His hand around her waste slid up the wet plaster of the wall beside Sora's trapped figure. Then he ran his fingers through her wet hair down to her exposed neck, all the while never breaking their soul-searing kiss.
The rain continued to fall splashing on the two Genins' faces, sliding over their connected mouths. Sasuke kept pushing forward for more and more every time deepening the kiss. Sora breathed in through her nose as well seeing that he wasn't going to let up any time soon. She managed to place her hands on Sasuke's waist and tried to push him away but it only made him more obsessive than ever. The kiss lasted for a few more seconds then finally Sasuke broke away panting heavily. Sora gasped for air as well leaning her head back against the wall. Her chest was rapidly rising and falling trying to suck in the much wanted air.
The sound of Sora panting and the exposed skin of her neck drove Sasuke insane. He forced himself to recover more quickly and thrust his head in the crook of her neck suckling the soft, sensitive skin.
Sora gasped not only for air now but at Sasuke's continued fervent outburst. "S-Sasuke!" she managed to get out still recovering from their extremely long kiss. She felt a hand slide down her back and across her butt down to her upper thigh. Sasuke stopped worshipping her neck and tried to capture her lips again. Sora turned her head. "Please-"
"Sora," Sasuke whispered roughly and leaned his head against hers. "It's too much." Sora started to say something but he cut her off. "I'm desperate for you. Can't you see? I can't live any longer without knowing that you're mine, that you'll always be mine…always." He began planting soft but firm kisses across her forehead and cheek.
Sora shivered at the gentle caresses. She couldn't deny that she had also felt a wave of ecstasy wash over her when they had shared that kiss. Am I in love with him? she asked herself closing her eyes letting Sasuke continue to kiss her.
Sasuke's kisses became harder now as he once again connected with her lips. You're killing me inside! he screamed mentally. Do you love me or not? He wanted so badly to just ask the damn question but although he didn't want to admit it, he was too scared of the response to try. He was too scared of possible rejection. No, she can't! He suddenly stopped his onslaught of kisses and looked Sora straight in the eye. She was still breathing heavily. I won't be parted from her! He used some of his Chakra to transport them right outside of her apartment door.
"Sasuke, what-"
He stopped her words by stealthily taking her keys from her, and he unlocked the door. Then with one swift motion, he swept her off of her feet. Her black gown flowed freely through the air from the sudden movement.
"Sasuke!"
He didn't stop to think. He went inside and shut the door. It locked automatically. He made his way over to the couch in an instant and swiftly set her down so that she was lying on it. He moved himself on top of her and reached for the buttons on her dress.
He's going to… Sora thought as she tried to grab his hands.
But Sasuke was too quick. He ended up grabbing her wrists with one hand and tearing his black shirt off with the other. He used the cloth to tie her hands together and he placed them around his neck.
Sora couldn't pull the knot apart. This is bad! she thought. He's losing control!
Sasuke's eyes turned red with the unintentional Sharingan. The black markings surrounding his pupils began blazing with an intense fire. Not ever! His fingers returned to the buttons on Sora's dress.
"Sasuke stop, please!" Sora said trying desperately to pull the knot apart. Is he going to…? She shut her eyes tightly shaking her head.
Sasuke was fed up with all of the buttons on Sora's dress and let his passion lead him to rip the rest of it off. He wasn't thinking. He hadn't been ever since he had first pulled her into his embrace. His rational mind had all but died. I will never let you go! his mind screamed fiercely. Within a matter of seconds, Sora lay completely naked underneath him.
"Sasu-"
"Sora," Sasuke almost snarled. "You're mine and only mine!" His lips crashed into hers as he roughly took off the rest of his own clothes.
Sora felt his hardened length against her inner thigh and gasped. She tried to speak but his lips only allowed her to let out a few unintelligible sounds of protest.
Sasuke didn't hear it. Nothing affected him anymore. All he wanted to do was take Sora right now. He rubbed his member across her sacred spot.
Sora moaned at the new sensation. She couldn't help it. Her body was not under her control anymore. It felt too good to resist and she couldn't help but relax her body. Sasuke's lips had once again captured her mouth but this time she didn't hold back. A new presence arose inside of Sora. Make him want you, it said. Make him desperate for you…make him love you with blind devotion, so you can break him!
Sasuke desire was climaxing. He rubbed harder and faster wanting to hear more of Sora's moans of lust.
"Ah, Sasuke…" Sora moaned out of pleasure and protest at this new feeling. Her hands automatically clamped onto his bare shoulders.
Then finally Sasuke made his move. He roughly thrust his length into Sora's chasm. Sora screamed out in pain, fear, and wild passion at the intrusion. Her fingers dug further into his shoulders almost breaking the flesh but Sasuke didn't care. He felt her body clamp around his member making him growl out of pleasure. He started pumping in and out of Sora letting her feel the friction between them. He grabbed her head and felt the sudden coolness of her still damp hair on his burning fingers.
Sora shut her eyes tightly as he began moving inside of her. She let out a small breathless moan every time Sasuke thrusted forward into her. Her back arched upwards letting her breasts push against Sasuke's hard chest. Her arms wrapped themselves around his neck pulling his head down to hers. His lips came crashing into hers once again but with their other body movements they slipped up and down in correspondence with the thrusting.
Both were reaching their climaxes as Sasuke moved faster and faster. He broke the kiss so that he could reach further into Sora. "Sora," his voice rasped in her ear. He wanted to hear her scream his name in lust and passion. He wanted the world to know that it was he who was making her feel this way.
"Sasuke!" Sora screamed out as her breath quickened. Sasuke had gotten what he wanted. They both moaned and panted as they climbed higher and higher towards the heavens.
Then Sasuke felt his release into Sora. With a final rush of air, he slumped forward panting heavily sweating all over. Sora was equally out of breath as she relaxed her muscles and fell back down to the couch. They lay still for a while letting their chests heave up and down filling their bodies with oxygen. The air was heavy and thick with their body heat and the only sound that could be heard was panting.
Sasuke recovered first and moved down to kiss Sora's neck knowing that she still needed air. "Sora," he whispered coarsely.
Sora couldn't respond yet as her chest was still rapidly rising and falling. She closed her eyes as her rationality came back to her. O god, she thought. I can't believe we just... She took in deeper breaths trying to slow down her heart rate more quickly.
Sasuke continued slowly, gently placing more chaste kisses up and down her neck and collar bone. His hands had moved down to her waist and his fingers caressed the smooth, heated skin there. His eyes went back to normal as he somewhat calmed down. He shifted his body letting his length slip out of Sora a little recapturing the fierce feelings of love from only moments before. He moaned heatedly and nuzzled Sora's neck harder letting his tongue slide over her salty skin.
"Sasuke," Sora finally got out but once again gasped as she felt the coolness of his tongue glide over her neck. We shouldn't have…she thought with rising fear.
And why not? the all too familiar voice of evil said in her mind.
YOU! she mentally screamed at her other self. Why are you here? You should be sealed away with my Chakra! That other self should not have been able to come out anymore since her Chakra was supposedly her door to Sora's mind.
The voice laughed maliciously. Oh, it said carelessly. You think you can keep me away, do you? That old man's seal couldn't hold me back forever.
What? Sora finally found the strength to move. She pushed Sasuke's body up a little causing him to stop his flow of kisses.
"Sora?" he asked. Does she regret this? he thought frantically. Did she not want this? Pain welled up inside of him as he looked into her fearful eyes.
"Sasuke," she whispered shakily seeing the pain in his expression. She could not deny that she had felt like she was in heaven when they had gone up to their climaxes. It felt so right, she thought. It felt so real… She wanted so desperately for her feelings towards Sasuke to be real love. She wanted to accept him and return his passionate desire, but she knew in her heart that something wasn't right. She knew that something held her back from truly loving him. She shook her head trying to clear her mind.
"Did you not want this?" Sasuke choked out seeing her shake her head. His heart wrenched in pain at the thought of rejection. He had given her his soul. If she said no, he didn't want any part of living anymore. It was all meaningless without her.
"I-I do," her voice spoke on its own.
Sasuke's heart skipped a beat. "Then you love me?" he asked breathlessly leaning his forehead against hers.
Sora placed her hands on the back of his head and pulled him closer. "Yes," she whispered then planted a soft kiss on his lips.
Sasuke's eyes widened. She…she said…o god, his mind rambled. The feeling of ecstasy mixed with relief took over. "You love me!" he repeated once their lips separated. He quickly caught her lips in another soul-searing kiss and this time, Sora's lips parted easily for his tongue to access. He couldn't control his happiness. His heart ran wild with his emotions. She is, he thought now kissing her with the same amount of passion as before, finally mine.