Techniques are translated at the bottom of the page.

I do not own Naruto or anything that is the property of Masashi Kishimoto.

"So you specifically requested Naruto and Jiraiya for an S-rank mission which is apparently escorting you to a sandstorm in the far reaches of the desert. A sandstorm which is apparently of unusual intensity and has persisted longer than it should have right?"

"That is indeed the situation Kakashi-san."

"It seems like a bit too high a rank for such a simple mission, and there doesn't seem to be any reason for you to contact Konoha requesting two shinobi in particular for this mission. So why don't you share your suspicions about this storm with us Kazekage-sama."

"Sandstorms of this type are not unprecedented in our history, actually. We've had several fairly recently in our history. The most recent ones generally coincide with every time I fell asleep as a child."

"Ah that is a good reason to make this mission S-class and request those two, but if your suspicions turn out to be true just what do you intend to seal it into?"

"Where it would be most convenient and safest."

"Very well Kazekage-sama we are ready to preform the mission whenever you are ready."

"Shouldn't the rest of your team be informed?"

"They all decided to skip out on the briefing so... I'll tell them later."

"Just be sure to do so before we have to fight Shukaku."

"Hey Gaara we've been traveling through this desert for almost a week now aren't you going to tell us what the mission is?"

"I told Kakashi. He will tell you when he feels it is necessary."

Looking around the desert and seeing nothing around Naruto asked, "Hey Gaara we are near the western edge of the Wind country desert right?" Seeing Gaara's nod Naruto continued, "Well do you know of any ruins out here?"

"Yes, but only one ruin. What it was nobody can figure out, and nobody really wants to get close enough to find out due to the demonic energy that lingers in the ruins. Why are you all of a sudden interested in Wind Country ruins? I didn't think archeology would be all that interesting to you."

Looking around to make sure the others were still too far ahead to overhear Naruto said, "The fox wants me to get some weapons and information on techniques from a town he destroyed out here. It happened centuries ago according to the fox, but there should still be some ruins left."

"The ruins happen to be near our destination. After the mission is accomplished we'll stop by them and see if what you're looking for is there."

"Thanks Gaara!"

From ahead Sakura shouted, "HEY KAKASHI-SENSEI SAYS WE'RE STOPPING FOR A REST SINCE WE WILL REACH THE DESTINATION TOMORROW!"

After camp was set up Kakashi cleared his throat then said, "I think it is time that I explained the mission Kazekage-sama hired us for. There have been reports of a sandstorm that he suspects Shukaku may be behind. In the case that the bijuu is responsible for the storm our job is to aid Kazekage-sama in subduing and sealing it. If we encounter the bijuu Naruto is to be the only one to fully engage it, Sakura is to avoid the fight and stay back so that she can treat any wounds we suffer, Jiraiya is to seal the bijuu away as soon as possible, and I will be assisting Either Naruto or Jiraiya depending on the situation. Now Jiraiya you will have to speak with Kazekage-sama about what he intends to seal Shukaku into, and everybody should get to sleep as soon as possible."

'Better talk with the fox about this.' Getting into a meditative posture Naruto went to meet with the fox while his teammates stared at him with shock.

Looking at the meditating blonde Sakura could only think, 'If he was telling the truth about meditating then what else might he have told the truth about...' She fell asleep wondering how much of his supposed bragging was actually true.

Kakashi on the other hand was busy using his Sharingan to see if the Naruto before him was an imposter. 'Damn that is really Naruto. Since when did he meditate?' Deciding it was no longer his problem what Naruto did he promptly fell asleep.

"Hey Kyuubi what the hell am I supposed to do here? If I don't help Gaara seal away Shukaku again then they are probably all gonna die, but if I do than the other bijuu may decide that since I helped seal one of them away they no longer owe me those favors."

"You have two choices that will avoid that situation. Choice one is you beat Shukaku to as close to death as a free bijuu can get when not fighting another bijuu. Choice two is you talk with him, see what he is up to, see if you can't get him to not antagonize Sunagakure, and if not call in the favor to make him not antagonize Sunagakure. Either one you choose you'll need to act on it tonight. Choice one you should probably pick up the weapons, and if you go with choice two it would be best to talk with Shukaku without all the others around."

"Do you have any tips for fighting Shukaku, or finding those weapons?"

"Not that I haven't already told you. However I suggest making a choice quickly since the one called Gaara probably intends to seal Shukaku back into himself."

Dazed at finding himself back in reality so quickly Naruto decides to see if the fox's guess at Gaara's plan is true. Finding him staring off into the distance outside of camp Naruto began his questioning. "Hey Gaara are you going to try sealing Shukaku back into yourself?" Getting no response Naruto decides to take that as a yes and begins trying to talk him out of it. "Gaara doing that would kill you just like taking it out did. There are other ways of dealing with it. It may not even be a threat!" The last one gets as response as Gaara turns to look at him.

"Just what makes you think an insane and immensely bloodthirsty creature like Shukaku might not be a threat?"

"Well it was sealed away in one thing or another for who knows how long. How do we know that it wasn't it being sealed in something for so long that made it bloodthirsty and insane?"

"What are you and the Kyuubi up to?"

"What makes you think I'm up to something? Especially with the fox!"

"I saw you meditating. That means you were talking with the fox. What plan have the two of you come up with that will prevent me from needing to seal Shukaku back within me?"

"We came up with two plans actually. One is I go get some weapons that hurt the Kyuubi, and use them on Shukaku to beat him to a point where he is no threat to anyone. The other is I go chat with Shukaku and see if I can't set up a deal where Shukaku agrees to leave Sunagakure alone."

"I would like to assist you in whichever plan you decide on."

'Take him up on his offer servant. He will be helpful no matter which choice you make.'

'Dammit stop just popping into my thoughts like that Kyuubi.' "Alright Gaara, but I'm not sure which plan would be better."

"I doubt we would be able to strike a deal with Shukaku unless we had the force to make sure the demon abides by it."

"Yeah that makes sense. So lets go get those weapons and then see if we can get Shukaku to talk with us. If not well then we go to Plan B." Seeing Gaara's agreement Naruto continued, "The weapons are in those ruins we discussed earlier. I'm not sure what type of weapons they are or what they might look like if they are of a type we are unfamiliar with, but hopefully the fox will point them out while we're searching. We have a lot of things to do before the others wake up and not all that much time so lets hurry to the ruins."

"We're here."

Looking around and seeing nothing but sand in every direction Naruto said, "What do you mean we're here. Here is nowhere. The only thing here is sand and us!" Waving his hand Gaara moved the sand before them to reveal the ruins. "Oh... well then what are we standing around for lets get searching!" Shaking his head at Naruto's antics Gaara silently followed him into the long destroyed village.

After awhile the two could be found standing before a pile of things which the two either recognized as a weapon, thought looked like a weapon, or could not figure out the purpose of such a thing was. "Alright Gaara whatever weapons Kyuubi meant should be in this pile so all we gotta do is have the fox look it over." Seeing Gaara's look Naruto decided to stop explaining and just do it. 'Hey Kyuubi can you tell me what the weapons you told me to get are as I look through this pile?'

'Yes but it is not necessary to go through the whole pile. The ones I wanted you to get are near the top along with something that might interest Gaara. The five-pointed shuriken with seals on them are one weapon for you, get as many of those as you can find. Another weapon is that pair of nodachi on the very top of the pile. Before you complain I should mention they are a set that compliments each other. While meant to be wielded by two people working together they can be used by just one person just as effectively. Now for Gaara there is that stone staff you came across. I'm not gonna tell you what any of them do, that information should be in the scrolls and books you found along with other information that you can use. Now let me sleep until this mess with Shukaku is over unless you really need my help.'

Grabbing the staff Naruto tossed it to Gaara, "For you, look through the scrolls and stuff for what it does." He then set the nodachi the fox had mentioned aside before digging through the pile for five-pointed shuriken.

"Naruto Kyuubi does know we can't read these things right?"

"Oh right I forgot about that. Set them down on the ground Ero-sennin thought me a seal that can copy documents and translate them. I didn't really listen about how it works just how to do it and what it did so here goes." Pulling out a scroll with a seal on it Naruto placed the scrolls and books on top of it after placing some of his blood on the seal. Forming some handseals Naruto then channeled chakra into the seal through the documents above it. After a small puff of smoke Naruto tossed the decaying scrolls and books aside to see that the seal scroll was now covered in instructions on weaponry and fighting styles as well as tactics and other information written in what appeared to be Naruto's handwriting. "Cool it worked now lets see what these things do and how to use them."

Approaching the wall of the sandstorm Naruto and Gaara stopped to decide how to proceed. "Can you clear a path with your abilities Gaara?" Seeing him shake his head no Naruto said, "Well I don't have any techniques that can get us through this either. Maybe he'll stop the storm to find out what is going on if I flare the fox's chakra?" Getting no objection from Gaara Naruto proceeds with his plan. The sandstorm doesn't stop instead it condenses and begins taking the shape of a massive tanuki. Seeing that it had worked Naruto decided to get them up to a level where they would be able to be heard without being right at the demons feet. Biting his thumb then doing some handseals Naruto called out "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

"What the hell are you doing summoning me to the desert gaki!"

"I'm trying to get Shukaku to not attack Sunagakure. If we can't negotiate a deal with him to that end than we're gonna to take him out, since you helped me so much last time I fought him I figured you could be just as much help this time."

"Last time he was sealed inside that redhead. This time he is free and at full power. That is just with ignoring the fact that we are in a desert which is where he is at his strongest and I'm at my weakest."

"Are you still going to help or not?"

"Yeah I'll help, but next time you better summon me around water or I'm gonna treat you like I do Jiraiya."

"If you two are done Shukaku is approaching."

"Well isn't this a surprise Kyuubi's servant, the toad lord, and my former vessel. Hmm aren't you supposed to be dead?"

"Yes. However it was only temporary."

"I thought you were a human. When did death become temporary for human's?"

"I'm sure you two have so much to tell each other about things from during your separation, but I'm kinda on a schedule here so Gaara if you would get down to business."

Glaring at Naruto slightly before turning back to speak with Shukaku who was also glaring at them Gaara said, "I am not sure how you got away from Akatsuki nor do I care what concerns me is what you may do to those under my protection. Which brings me to why I am here. Why are you here and do you intend to attack Sunagakure or Wind Country?"

"I'm here because this is my desert you humans are just occupying it. I don't care about the humans under your protection or any other humans for that matter unless they annoying me. As long as you humans don't bother me I won't destroy all of your villages. So unless you want me to destroy that which you try in vain to protect go away!"

"Shukaku as the Godaime Kazekage of Sunagakure it is my duty to defend Wind Country and its inhabitants against those who wish to destroy it. By your own words you have declared yourself to by my enemy. Surrender and never threaten the Wind Country again or prepare yourself for defeat at my hands." Pulling out the stone staff Naruto gave him Gaara took a fighting stance that was more suited to someone using a blade than one wielding a staff.

"You think you can beat me? You arrogant human! Without me you are nothing! It is because of my power you were made Kazekage of your pitiful village. Now I will show you a power that you can never hope to obtain!" The titanic sand demon lashed out with its claws at Gaara, and Gamabunta prepared to jump out of the way.

Before the toad boss could however, Naruto said, "No Gamabunta let Gaara deal with those claws. However once Gaara gets off I want you to get out of the way of any attacks the two may use against each other. Once Gaara needs help we shall step in, but until then this is his fight."

"Fine, but I'm not taking responsibility if he dies."

"My death shall not come at Shukaku's hands, not tonight at least." With that Gaara leaped off of Gamabunta and into the path of Shukaku's attack while raising the staff above his head as if it were a katana being raised for an execution. Swinging at the claws just as they were about to hit, Gaara's staff struck and the claws exploded. Turning the sand into a platform for him to stand on Gaara hovered in the air taking the same stance as before while Shukaku stared at him in shock.

"What the hell was that! Since when can you fight without using sand?"

"Since you were removed. That particular attack however was something I just learned tonight. Are you ready to reconsider or must we continue?"

"Even with some new tricks you still don't have what it takes to kill me!" Taking a deep breath Shukaku prepared for his Fuuton : Renkuudan.

Rushing at the tanuki Gaara said, "That attack won't work on me Shukaku." As he closed the distance at incredible speeds Shukaku raised his hands and Gaara positioned the staff like spear. As the demon's hands swung at his chest Gaara thrust the staff at it's face. Although Gaara was to far away to hit him Shukaku still stumbled backwards as a giant pillar of rock rose from the ground in line with Gaara's staff. The top of the pillar and part of Shukaku's mouth were blown apart from the blast of a Fuuton : Renkuudan being launched without Shukaku having his mouth open.

Reforming a mouth the Ichibi no Shukaku began to raise it's arms and along with them a massive amount of sand from the desert. "Now you're just pissing me off! Die human!" Tossing his hands and the sand they guided at Gaara Shukaku tried to crush him beneath the sand with a demon scale Ryuusa Bakuryuu followed by an equally massive Sabaku Taisou.

"Split the land with your might, crush the skies with your power. Daichi Kyojin no Tekken." The sand crushing Gaara shot towards Shukaku, encircling the bijuu before turning into a hand made of rock that held Shukaku immobile. "Shukaku that is but the first half of my attack surrender under the conditions that you will never again threaten Wind Country or Sunagakure if I release you. If you do not I will finish this attack and finish you as well."

"Fool you cannot imprison me with rock. I can simply turn it into sand!" When the bijuu tried to do so however he found that he couldn't make the rock break apart to form sand again. "What is going on you can't be powerful enough to match me in control over sand!"

"I am not. However this staff's power is that it allows it's wielder to control minerals to a limited degree. This technique is at the limit of that control and the staff wouldn't normally function on this scale, however combining the inherent abilities of this weapon with the remaining sand manipulation abilities I have from being your vessel allows me to temporarily match your control of sand with this attack. Now I will end this since you seem set on destruction of either yourself or that which I defend." Holding out one hand as if preforming Sabaku Kyuu and holding the staff in the air with the other Gaara called out, "Fallen one's revenge, Punishment from the damned, drag them to their fate. Akunochimata Soushiki." Gaara embedded the staff into the sand like a grave marker as the stone hand turned into a demonic claw and began sinking into the ground with Shukaku in it's grip. Shukaku trashed and roared trying to get lose, but couldn't even turn his own body into san to escape. The claw managed to drag the demon completely underground before Gaara released the staff and collapsed in exhaustion.

Kuchiyose no Jutsu - Summoning Technique

Fuuton : Renkuudan - Wind Element : Drilling Air Projectile

Ryuusa Bakuryuu - Quicksand Waterfall Current

Sabaku Taisou - Desert Imperial Funeral

Daichi Kyojin no Tekken - Earth Giant's Fist

Sabaku Kyuu - Desert Coffin

Akunochimata Soushiki - Underworld Funeral