Gaara vs Kukui

I looked at Gaara who was waiting in the arena for me and then back to my friends. I put on a confident grin, "Time to show the world who Kukui Tanku is," My friends who were here were still worried, "Don't worry. I'll kick his ass and then some. I got a few tricks up my sleeve," This was going to be a short fight and I knew it. It would go either way. I win or Gaara wins.

Ino grabbed my shoulder before I could leap off the guard rail, "We know. But still be careful. He can still beat you if your not careful," I could still lose if I allowed Shukaku to be freed. I wouldn't though.

Tenten nodded, "Yeah this guy feels like he's crazy strong and I'm not even a sensor. His chakra feels tainted and weird," Again fair point. I didn't know how strong Gaara was in this timeline. He could be as strong as he was in shippuden for all I knew.

I kept my grin, "I know, I know. I'll kick his ass though don't worry. Now bye!" I jumped off the guard rail and flipped mid-air. Landing across Gaara who I could tell was itching with excitement and bloodlust. I let out a bit of my own in turn.

"Mother wants your blood Tanku," Gaara was now barely restraining himself.

I rolled my eyes, "I know, I know but she isn't going to get my blood now isn't she? I said I'll beat you and I intend to follow through on my words," I settled into a stance that set my hands close by. I wanted to do the hand seals required for my best jutsu as fast as possible. I felt danger sense go haywire as I also felt a sea of calm wash over me.

Gaara's grin only grew, "Yes defy your death! Mother will enjoy your blood even more!"

Genma looked to the two of us, "Are you two ready?" I saw him gulp as we both nodded, "Begin!" Genma jumped back quickly. I dodged the cap to Gaara's gourd of sand quickly and then I went through three hand seals which I practiced instinctively. This was my faith gate. My Curse mark. My Version one cloak. This is my opportunity to prove my power. Not just to me. Not just to my friends. Not just to konoha even. But to the world. As I cycled through the seals. Sand was rushing toward me. Lots of it. It was like a tsunami

"Fire style: First form Kaentenshi!" the sand reached me as my body ignited in flame.

I saw Gaara's grin as Sand consumed me, "DIE!" He extended his hand and balled it into a fist

I grinned as my jutsu took effect. Flame channeling itself toward the left side of my body. The sand turned into glass at the heat and fell down, shattering, "I'm afraid I won't" I broke through the rest of glass now clad in blue flame. Or at least part of my body was. Blue fire coated my right arm and the upper right part of my chest and back. A line of flame extended to my eyepatch making it burn off and reveal my scar which burned blue. The right half of my hair ignited in blue as well. Luckily it didn't burn my hair. This wasn't my original jutsu plan... But it was what I had time to make and refine. It was based off of Asta's first Anti-magic transformation/Power up... Nah its a complete rip off, "I've got some tricks up my sleeve," I had about 77 seconds.

Gaara looked stunned as I flew to him within seconds. I kicked. Sand blocked. I kicked again. Sand blocked. I was disappearing fast. Like Lee would. Gaara was shocked at my speed. I smiled at the sight, 'Sprinting,' I felt my attacks get faster right away. I was breaching the sand barrier. I kicked once more.

I felt the kick connect. I kicked Gaara away and the crowd was stunned but cheering. I blazed toward Gaara once more and Punched him with my fire covered fist. Turning some sand to glass. I grinned, "Now lets kick it up a notch!" I grabbed my Katana and coated it in flame, '60 seconds' I had a minute left.I slashed the air releasing an inferno. Sand rose to protect Gaara right away and it all turned into glass. Gaara was beginning to look frustrated and a pillar of sand rose and spiraled toward me.

I dodged easily and sheathed my sword once more. I then looked toward Gaara, "I'm gonna need to take away a bit more of that sand of yours. Fire style: Great flame annihilation!" I used my existing flame body to release a sea of flame at Gaara. Sand again rose to protect the boy. It all turned to grass, 'That cut off around three seconds... I have 48 left,' I knew I needed to end it quickly.

Gaara was now pissed, "MOTHER WANTS YOUR BLOOD. DIE AND SPILL YOUR BLOOD!" More sand came out of nowhere. I sensed he was making more from underground. I dodged once more. I felt sand climb onto the left part of my body. the sand grew until it tried to smother me. I burnt it all. Ignoring the pain of having glass be created on my skin I flew towards Gaara through the sand.

I saw one of Gaara's eyes go yellow and I knew it was time to end things, "Okay we can't have 'mother' come out to play. Not here at least," I flew as fast as I could toward Gaara(Which mind you wasn't like that fast compared to a lot of people in the world at this point. Frankly I was surprised I was able to fly this well with one wing. I can't fly high though)

I then channeled chakra to my left hand and channeled the necessary chakra's into it, "Five element seal!" I slammed my hand into Gaara's gut and I saw the color drain from his face. He collapsed onto the ground and I deactivated my jutsu.

Gaara began looking around. Terrified, "Mother? What did you do to mother?" He looked scared. Now Gaara should be knocked out but I wasn't shitty at doing this like Orochimaru. So he'd remain conscience

I smiled softly, "That was not your mother. That was Shukaku. The great sand demon. It seems to me Suna's seal masters aren't worth their salt if they screwed yours up this badly... Now Gaara. I won our little bet. You are now my friend," He looked confused, "As your friend I needed to do that so we can find a way to get 'Mother' properly sealed and to be calmer. Okay, Gaara?" It was at this point I sensed Baki, Kankuro, and Temari's chakra go haywire.

Gaara looked at me strangely. Like I was a unicorn, "Why are you so strong Tanku?"

I smiled, "I'm strong because I have people to protect. If I died here I couldn't protect them. Strength is supposed to be used to protect those weaker than you until they can become stronger. I wanted to protect my friends so I became stronger than them. You are now my friend Gaara. It is my job to protect you. Even from your own village," I knew any second now things were going to go to shit but hopefully I talk no jutsu'd Gaara enough.

Soon enough I saw three people standing over Gaara protectively. Snakes crashed through the walls of Konoha. It was invasion time.

Kage box

Ay looked at Hiruzen, "Hokage-dono. Why does your genin know both a flight jutsu and the five elemental seal? Who taught him," Rasa was seething. He was fucking pissed off.

Hiruzen relaxed with a smug grin, "He's not the only one whose the student of a kage, Raikage-dono. I figured since there was an unstable jinchurriki in the exams someone ought to have a way to stop him before he could release Shukaku. The first jutsu he used was created by him though,"

Rasa looked at Hiruzen with steam practically coming out of his ears, "Isn't that cheating? Getting rid of my jinchurriki's access to their Bijuu,"

Ay rolled his eyes, "Clearly your son's unstable. I'd say the kid made the smart choice and saved everyone here the trouble. Besides we're shinobi. If you ain't cheating you ain't winning,"

Hiruzen nodded, "Well said Raikage-dono,"

Rasa at this point made a hand seal in rage. Suddenly a teen with white hair was behind the Hokage trying to kill him. Hiruzen dodged the bone that came out of the boy's hand and then two people appeared. Jiraya of the sannin and an anbu. Ay, and Yugito were on guard now.

Ay looked at the situation and saw this was an attempt to destroy Konoha... He saw Oto and Suna shinobi begin to seige the village, " What is the meaning of this?" Ay had two options. One that was beneficial. The,other not so much.

"Rasa" seemingly pulled off his face. Revealing the man Ay recognised as Orochimaru of the sannin, "Oh the usual. Revenge and burning down a wretched village," Orochimaru then turned to Hiruzen, "I see you've raised a prodigy of the likes of me. Such a jutsu he has there. He will make for a mighty fine body," What Ay heard sickened him. But their goals aligned. This was the perfect opportunity to dismantle Konoha for good. Their biggest rival would be gone. Orochimaru then turned back to Ay, "Raikage-dono would you and your jinchurriki like to format a temporary alliance?"

Ay smirked. He thought the man was disgusting but their goals aligned, "Heh. Our goals seem to be aligned. A shame Bee isn't here," The Raikage then turned to Yugito, " Go kill as many konoha shinobi as possible. Be merciless. If they overwhelm you, fall back," Yugito nodded and jumped out of the Kage-box. Soon enough someone erected a barrier around them.

Orochimaru smirked, "Give up old monkey your outmatched,"

Hiruzen smirked, "It looks like you don't believe in the will of fire at all my traitorous student. A shame. I still wonder where I went wrong with you. Weasel. Jiraya. I'll take Orochimaru. Weasal you take the Raikage. Jiraya you get the Kaguya," Both nodded. Hiruzen looked to the Raikage, "It is a shame you turn on your fellow Kage-like this Raikage-dono. It is also a shame you leave your jinchurriki alone to fight my best shinobi besides these two here,"

Ay chuckled, "Its just business old monkey. Now its time to die,"

Weasal walked up in front of the Hokage, 'I was about to say the same,"

Jiraya then chuckled and walked to his opponent, "Well lets begin out fight shall we?"

Hiruzen then looked to Orochimaru, "The will of fire will live on even if I fall. Where leaves fall flames burn after all,"

Orochimaru smirked, "I'll enjoy destroying everything you've built up until now. I'll make sure the that boy becomes one of my pawns,"

"That we shall see,"

Kukui's pov

I looked at the three suna shinobo in front of Gaara. Weapon's drawn(Puppet in Kankuro's case) I almost laughed, "I beat him with ease you think I won't trounce on you? Besides your Kage is dead. He isn't even here. Look at the Kage box,"

Baki glared, "We won't fall into your tri-"

"HOLY SHIT HE'S RIGHT!" Kankuro was pointing at the Kage box. Orochimaru was very visible in the box. Kankuro then looked to me, "Yeah fuck this. He's the one who ordered this wasn't he?"

Baki and Temari looked and saw Orochimaru, the Raikage, and the Hokage conversing. With Orochimaru wearing the Kazekage robes. Their jaw's dropped, "We've been duped!" Baki was shocked. It was at this point I grabbed Gaara and placed his arm over my shoulder. I was holding him up now.

Gaara looked even more confused than before, " Father's dead?" He said father with more venom than Naruto had for Ramen haters.

I looked at Temari, "You are the most logical person here at the moment next to me. I'm going to take the seal off. I want you to take him out of Konoha. Make sure you come back later. I still have a promise to deliver after all. I won't allow my new friend to be used as a weapon any longer," Temari nodded warily. I then looked to Gaara once more, "Yes your bastard of a father is dead. Twinsies now. Listen to your sister," I looked to Kankuro last, "Yeah. It was kinda expected though. The bastard wasn't good at hiding it. By the way you should get the fuck out of here as well," I looked to Baki when I said that last part.

Baki gripped his sword once more, "No... I will fight with my comrades. Konoha will fall tonight," He tried to stab me with a wind chakra enhanced katana but a senbon stuck into him. Ino. Baki cursed. I dodged the sword, "Damnit. Kankuro, Temari help me," I looked at Temari with Gaara ready to be dropped at a moments notice.

Temari grabbed Gaara as soon as possible, "Why shouldn't we stay and fight you?" she narrowed her eyes at me, "We can beat you. Even if us three can't someone else can,"

I looked at Gaara, "Wasn't he supposed to be unbeatable? I beat him. There are still shinobi stronger than me. I'm confident that your forces will be repeled," It was at this point Baki was knocked out by the senbon, "Plus not only is he knocked out but my allies are here to aid me. You would lose easily,"

Kankuro nodded, "Makes sense to me. I don't want to try to attack your friend again," Kankuro then looked to me as Ino Mika, Shino, and Kiba came down to help us, "Uh are they friendly?"

I nodded, "If they try to attack you I will personally kick their asses,"

Kankuro nodded, "Good I don't feel like killing a bunch of fresh genin tonight. Although... Yeah nevermind I'd be stopped by that witch... So what are we going to do about the rest of our forces?"

Temari shrugged, "They won't listen. If they are anywhere as hateful as Baki-sensei then they won't care if the Kazekage's dead. They will just see it as an act of war from Konoha and nothing else," Temari then looked to me with what was Akin to fear in her eyes, "We'll leave. But if not when we come back you better promise to not kill us,"

I grinned, "Well said. I won't betray you. Remember Gaara is my friend now. I'd never betray a friend," I then turned to my other friends plus Kiba and Shino, "Let them get away. They are non-combatants and no longer an issue," I quickly used the five elemental unseal on Gaara again after turning around once more, "Get out of here now!" The suna trio complied rather easily. I could almost taste their fear. Well Temari's. Kankuro almost felt relived and Gaara was passed the fuck out.

"Why did you let them go?" I heard Shino ask.

I turned around to the Aburame quickly before seeing a giant flaming cat form in the air, "We have far, far, far, bigger issues to deal with," It wasn't the full Nibi no Nekomata but it was close, "GET OUT OF THE WAY EVERYONE!" Everyone scattered as the giant flame cat landed in the middle of the arena. Attracting a lot of attention from the shinobi and the civilians in the crowd.

I saw the looks of a lot of my fellow genin's faces sour, "What the fuck will we do against that thing?" I turned to Mika who asked the question.

I grinned, "We aren't doing anything. I will," Mika looked at me questioningly, "I'm going to fight it of course,"

Mika looked at me like I was stupid, "Your strong and all but how the fuck are you going to fight that?"

I grabbed all the chakra pills I had, " With these I should be able to fight for a while. That jutsu I created was meant to combat things like this but much bigger," I grinned, "As your comrade and friend I'm doing this alone. Go help the civilians and other shinobi. If it looks like things are getting grim for me then you can help me. Also go wake up the people in the infirmary," I downed the chakra pills and jumped back to the fight.

"Kukui!"

Tenten's pov

When Tenten had woken up she had heard a large crashing noise. She was confused so she obviously went outside of the stadium and saw the village get invaded by massive three-headed snakes. One of which was in the direction of her parent's shop. Tenten knew her parents took a nap around this time.

So Tenten found herself running toward her parent's shop/house at full speed. Throwing kunai into passing Oto/suna shinobi. These bastards were causing this. 'I won't make it in time!' Tenten was worried her parents would be dead. Surely they wouldn't sleep through this right? Surely someone would think to save them.

Tenten kept running until the voice stirred in her mind, 'These pesky shinobi are keeping you from your family. Do you want me to grant you some of my grace to take care of these shinobi?' Jashin was a benevolent god. All they asked for was blood in return for power.

Tenten needed as much time as possible, "Yes!" Jashin smirked internally as it used its tainted chakra to release blood from Tenten's abdomen. They took control of 4 blood tendrils which they formed.

"KILL IT,"

"ITS A MONSTER!"

"WE NEED GAARA NOW! WHY ISN'T SHUKAKU HERE YET?"

Tenten ignored the cries of agony she created as she kept running to her parents shop/house. They were unimportant. Her morality checks could wait until she made sure her parents were alive and well. Once that happened and she kicked some Oto and Suna ass then she could rest.

Tenten sighed a sigh of relief once she made it to her parents shop. It was intact. She saw her parents just leaving, "MOM, DAD. I'M HERE!" Tenten's parents looked at her with a smile. Before her father could say anything a giant snake crashed down upon the shop and its vicinity. Her parents were crushed.

"No... That didn't just happen," Blood stopped pouring out of her abdomen and the blood outside of her body began swirling around her protectively, "It did... They're gone... All because some shinobi wanted to invade Konoha," Tenten felt something die inside of her that very moment, "Why couldn't it have been me instead?" At this point several shinobi surrounded her.

Jashin spoke up in her mind to soothe her, 'They would have wanted it to happen to them rather than you little one. Be happy and remember their lives and what you had rather than what you lost. They wouldn't want that,' Tenten felt comforted by the sweet words of her new god.

Tenten stood up. Now pissed off and ready to kill, "Your right... They would want me to live rather than them. But... That won't stop me from wanting to avenge them," Tenten unsealed Hidan's old scythe, "Please Jashin-sama lend me your strength,"

Jashin smirked once more internally, 'Gladly. Their blood will taste delicious,'

Tenten stabbed one of the suna chunin and soon enough the blood bath began.

Chapter end.

There we go! The chunin exams arc is done and now we move onto the Konoha crush. For those who feel like Gaara vs Kukui was anticlimatic well fuck you. Some fights aren't going to be long like that. I did the best I could with what I felt like I had. I had to end things soon so Kukui would still be in decent shape for the crush. Besides he's going to get his fair share of pain don't worry! He still needs to fight Yugito :D Anyways yes Tentens parents are dead. Like disco. Also Ay is fighting Itachi. I thought about him vs Kimimaro but I decided that he'd fight Ay in the end.

Also Kukui's jutsu has been revealed. It is basically his version of black asta. Soon enough he will get his version of devil union don't worry.

So not much to comment other than that really. I've done a lot this chapter yet so little it feels like. Now in other news. Drum roll please: We hit 500 favorites! I know we celebrated a bit last chapter but still It feel official doing it here. Its been so long since we've started this journey. I remember I started with little but a dream. Now we are here 59 chapters later and over 200k words later at the Konoha crush. Big things are in the future. I can tell. I'm so excited to put the ideas I have down in this fic. I'm so excited for you all to see and react to said ideas. I'm so excited to soon write Kukui and whomever ends up as his girlfriend on cute dates. That will be a bit later though. Anyways I'm just excited and I hope you all are too.

No QOTC today. Tobi-kun out!

Ta ta!