Ninja of the Void

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters associated with it.

"Talking"

Thoughts

One against Nine

~ Konoha (exterior forest) ~

It was at this time that Gaara was growing increasingly agitated and unstable with his opponent as he wasn't able to kill him after spending this long fighting him. At feeling his blood pulsating through his eyes, red veins began to etch from them. "Why won't you die?" he roared.

Gamabunta tried to level his breathing as he was covered in bits of sand and bruises. For the sand tanuki was proving more of a match then he anticipated. However he still held the edge over the Ichibi's jinchuriki when it came to reflex, agility, and experience. However he had a feeling things were going to get a bit harder.

Gaara was having a hard time formulating thoughts as his anger had completely clouded his mind reducing him to nothing more than instinct. All he could contemplate now was killing the giant frog in front of him for even challenging him in the first place. However he was still able to understand that he was in a disadvantage since it took considerable concentration just to control the Ichibi's body in its true form. But no longer running on reason, self-preservation was the only thing he cared about now. So putting his hands in a cross seal, "feigning sleep no jutsu!" to which Gaara had lost consciousness to which in turn the Ichibi was now out to play.

"Oh crap" Gamabunta then muttered.

~ Konoha (rooftops) ~

"Kushina-chan . . . ." was the only thing Minato could say as the secret he wanted to keep from his wife was now out in the open. He wasn't certain if time was passing him by or it was a trick of perception. However he didn't dare say a word. Seeing his wife still facing forward, he could only assume she was in shock at learning her future. Feeling the pit of his stomach weighing down, he finally gained enough courage to approach her.

"You knew . . . . Didn't you?"

At hearing this, Minato stopped as he looked down in guilt. Due to the gravity of this realization, he found it difficult to admit it to her. This wasn't a time for a problem like this to crop up when they were at the moment in the middle of a major battle. However he knew if he declined to answer, it might prove to be a liability which he couldn't afford. Although he had the choice to lie, Kushina knew him well enough that for all that he was, he was completely transparent to her. So with a heavy heart, ". . . . Yes . . . . I did".

Minato still couldn't see her face as she continued to show her back to him. However he could tell she was tormented at that answer by the almost unnoticeable way her body shook as her fists were clenched tightly at her sides threatening to bleed at any moment. But then after a few more seconds, "We'll talk after things have finished here because we have this snake bastard to finish off".

The elder blond quickly returned back to his previous demeanor as he gave a nod to this. "Understood".

As events unfolded before the snake sannin, there was no comprehensible way he could describe his current situation. Adding up his problematic dilemma, what was once his glorious death match ring with his former teacher has now turned into his personal coffin against lousy odds. Before him now was Hiruzen the third hokage, Enma his teachers loyal summon, Minato the fourth hokage and someone who was supposed to be dead, and Kushina the seal master and jinchuriki of the Kyubi who like the former is supposed to be dead. If his odds weren't bad enough, Hashirama and Tobirama were now outside his control as they laid inert on the ground from whatever seal the red headed jinchuriki placed on them. So for the most part it would have been foolish of him to stick around any longer to fight to which it was best to cut his losses and run now.

It was apparent his loss was inevitable as looking around Konoha from the rooftops only confirmed this fact. His sound ninjas and ally sand ninjas were falling like flies before the leaf. Even with the unexpected appearance of fourth hokage nothing in the plans should have changed as they not only got the jump on Konoha, but had them outnumbered two to one. But still Konoha fought on only to come out on top.

So looking to his sound four, he gave the signal as they nodded back to which they lowered the barrier for them to escape. "Retreat now! Pull all our forces back!"

"But Orochimaru-sama, there still might be a chance for us to win" said Ukon.

"If we strike together we can defeat them" said Tayuya.

"Do not question me!" roared Orochimaru. "We are escaping now!"

"You're not getting away!" Minato shouted as he was about to charge them.

But then Kidomaru jumped into his path catching him slightly off guard as he inhaled deep before spitting out a rather large spiders web over his master's enemies. For the spider ninja was well aware of the capabilities of these adversaries. Although his webbing was as strong as steel, it was best to assume the enemy party could easily tear right through it like tissue paper to which at best it was just a parlor trick. However it would give them the necessary head start in making a run for it to which he turned about as he prepared to leave with his colleagues and master. As for the rest of his sound comrades, they were on their own as far as he was concerned. If they didn't make it then they were S.O.L. as far as he cared since the weak had no place under Orochimaru.

"Suiton! Water dragon bullet no jutsu!"

'What?' would have been the first thing Kidomaru would have said if he wasn't easily moved aside by one of Tobirama's strongest attacks.

"Why you!" said Jirobo as he turned about and readied himself to attack. Seeing how easily Kidomaru fell, he knew what he had to do. In order to ensure his master's escape, he was willing to sacrifice himself to make it happen. To make it happen, he couldn't afford not to pull any punches to which his body began to mutate as he started to activate his level two cursed seal. At this effect, lines began to form over his body as his skin began to turn a reddish hue as his eyes shifted colors with his physical appearance beginning to turn more demonic. Instantly finishing his transformation in that split second just as Kidomaru fell, a reddish black blur blitzed at him with his fist cocked back ready to attack. "How arrogant" the large ninja thought confidently. "In this form there is no way I can lose in physical strength".

However Jirobo would come to regret his overconfidence as Hashirama's punch connected with him not only penetrating his defense, but completely pulverizing into his body as any organ within the linear projection of his attack suffered major trauma to which in that slow moment in time it was quite easy to see how much pain he was in at feeling his insides easily crushed like that. As if time resumed again, Jirobo was launched off from where he was attacked as he crashed through three buildings only to stop when his body crashed into the ground creating a three foot impact crater. "I think I might have hit him too hard" said Hashirama at seeing how far his opponent flew.

"Impossible" said Tayuya eyes wide at seeing two of her colleagues go down so easily. For it was not only her as Sakon, Ukon, and her master Orochimaru could only look on dazed at what had now just happened seeing the major differences in both skill and power. But getting her wits back, she pulled out her flute and was about to play it. However it was too late for her as Minato had recently freed himself only to teleport behind her taking her down instantly. Just as the twin brothers were about to act, Hiruzen was already right on top of him as he smashed both of their heads into the roof with his staff.

At seeing his elite bodyguards go down in less than a minute, Orochimaru felt something he hadn't felt for many years. For the feeling he felt was fear as cold sweat dripped down the side of his face as he couldn't help but fell his legs shiver at the anxiety he was faced with. It was at this moment that the four hokages had him completely boxed in without an exit plan. "How?" as he looked to the two undead brothers, "you two shouldn't even be functioning any longer when your connection was lost to me!"

"That's where you're wrong" then said Kushina as she approached the currently contained snake sannin. "The impure resurrection technique is indeed a rather fearsome move with a complex seal algorithm. But in comparison to me, you're still an amateur when it comes to seals. Not only did I rip them from your control, I gave them back their freewill".

"A part of me now detests the fact I created this technique" said Tobirama. But then he cracked his knuckles as a smirk appeared, "but you made a big mistake in bringing me and my brother back to which I'm going to enjoy this more then I should".

Orochimaru gritted his teeth at this. "No! I refuse to go down like this! My greatness will not end here! Not by the likes of you!" So using his last ditch effort, he dropped every explosive he had on him in the hopes of disorienting the kages long enough for him to escape. As a smokescreen permeated the area, the snake sannin cleared the smog as he jumped into the air.

Just as he believed he made a clean escape, "did you honestly believe a childish trick like that would work on us?" Minato questioned as he had his hand on the sannin's shoulder as he was at this moment right behind him.

As Orochimaru looked back fearfully, the elder blond cleanly punched him across the face sending him back down again. As the snake sannin flew back down, Hiruzen then came flying up from the smog as he intercepted his former student with a kick sending him in another direction. "Tobirama-sensei, he's coming your way".

Next to jump out from the smog was Tobirama as he then intercepted Orochimaru with a punch sending him into a downward spiral back to the rooftops. "Brother!"

At that call, Hashirama was waiting on the roof to deal the finishing blow. With force of how hard Tobirama struck Orochimaru, his downward momentum cleared the smog due to the difference in air pressure as he was falling at an incredible rate. Finally closing the distance, the shodaime caught Orochimaru by the neck instantly stopping his inertia which significantly strained his neck. Dealing the finishing blow, Hashirama slammed Orochimaru into the roof which rattled the entire area shattering every tile above. At that finish, the snake sannin now laid broken, defeated, and unconscious on the roof as the four hokages stood around looking down to his pathetic form.

"Wow that was brutal" said Kushina as she began poking the body. "Is he dead?"

"No" Minato answered. "But with the damage he took, he'll never be a ninja again. But now he can answer for the crimes he has committed against this village". So taking a moment to soak in the victory, Minato looked around Konoha to update himself on the current situation. By the looks of things, the enemy was slowly being pushed back as soon victory would be theirs. But looking to a particular situation, his eyes widened in shock. "The Kyubi?" which caught everyone's attention as they looked out to see the nine tailed fox currently in the middle of fighting the one tailed tanuki. They were so busy with their fight that they failed to notice the two giants duking it out with each other just outside their village.

"That isn't the real Kyubi" said Kushina as she narrowed her eyes at the sight. "It doesn't have the same malicious chakra that it's supposed to have. But from the feeling alone, that's definitely Gamabunta under henge. If I sense things close enough . . . ." to which a moment later her eyes widened as she just now recognized the second chakra signature. "Naruto?"

"What?" then shot Minato. "Naruto is out there?" as he focused his senses to confirm what his wife felt. Without a second thought he then turned towards the shodaime in desperation, "Hasirama-dono, you once had the power to control the bijuus right? Can you stop them?"

Hashirama could only shake his head disappointingly at this. "Whatever Orochimaru did, I'm not at the peak of what I used to be. Furthermore I don't have my necklace anymore making it all but impossible right now to stop there fighting".

"My son is out there!" Minato then retorted. "We have to do something!"

The shodaime could easily see how distressed the elder blond was as he could empathize with his plight in worrying for his child. However, "I'm sorry" was all he could say.

"Minato, if you send me out there I can contain the Ichibi with my seals" said Kushina. "I should be enough to stop the sand's jinchuriki".

"No" Minato then said adamantly. "It's too dangerous for you".

Just as the pair were going to argue some more, "I don't think that will be necessary" said Hiruzen as he watched the battle play out. Turning their attention back to the outskirts of the city, the Kyubi was handling the Ichibi as he tackled him to the ground pinning him as he went in to bite his face only for the sand tanuki to catch his mouth attempting to push him back. "Naruto will be fine for now. Taking on the Ichibi directly is already a reckless move. So if we're going to do something like this we better have everything prepared before we even attempt to do something as dangerous as that".

"What do you suggest?"

"We take back the village first. Once our forces have been prepared and established, we can then deal with the sand's jinchuriki".

Minato's expression scrunched at this. He didn't like his options. As a hokage, his priority was to his village first securing the lives of its people. But then he was also a father too as his priority instead would be to protect his family. The two sides of him were conflicted on this matter. But for the most part he was tired of seeing children his son's age fighting battles they shouldn't have to deal with as it was a battle adults like him were supposed to handle. As much as he wanted to relieve his son of this burden, the third hokage was right in his planning as it would be foolish to come at the Ichibi prematurely. Looking to his wife, the look in her eyes equally knew his torment of wanting to be there for their son. But they knew what they had to do.

"There are still many enemy ninjas left in the village" said Hiruzen. "If we spread out, we can cover more ground and take back the village quicker".

"I agree" said Hashirama. "I'll take the north".

"South is mine" then said Tobirama.

"I shall take the east then" said Hiruzen.

"Then I shall take back the west" said Minato. With that agreement the group dispersed to their cordial points as they got to work on their assignment. Heading to the conflict, Kushina ran right beside him as they shared the same thought with each other. "Hang on kiddo. We'll be there as soon as we can".

~ Konoha (residential district) ~ (twenty minutes earlier)

After an intense battle which seemed to have lasted next to forever, the area was quiet now as all enemy ninjas were pacified. But in the wake of this outcome, many of the houses and apartment complexes were completely obliterated as nothing but rubble lay around them.

"They destroyed my apartment!" Naruto exclaimed at seeing the remains of his former home. But then after a moment he let out a sigh. "Although I suppose it wasn't such a great loss seeing it was a big mess to begin with" as the blond tried to put an optimistic spin on this. However his body just sagged as it was visible to see how depressed he was at the loss of his residence as well as all his earthly possessions.

"I'm so sorry Naruto-kun" said Hinata sympathetically as she patted her friend on the back.

Sasuke just stared blankly at this. But for the most part his did feel slightly sorry for his teammate.

"Finally we can take a break" said Sakura as she flopped onto the ground truly exhausted now. "For a moment there I thought we were goners".

Just as the resistance fighters were about to take there well deserved break, a thundering boom was felt which shook the village knocking down a few already structurally compromised buildings as well as a few exhausted ninjas. At that feeling the group looked to source of the boom to be met with an intimidating sight.

"My god, that's the sand's jinchuriki!"

"Can Gamabunta really handle that thing?"

"If Gamabunta falls, we're all doomed!"

"Boss frog . . . ." said Naruto under his breath. Watching the battle, Gamabunta was barely hanging in there as the Ichibi was proving a bit too much for the frog summons to handle as he was barely just avoiding his attacks. It was also quite easy to see how exhausted the giant frog was as he wasn't even attacking back anymore. So not sparing another thought, the blond began to run.

But before he could leave, "You can't" said Hinata as she grabbed his hand. Simply by looking at him, she knew exactly was he was thinking and more so what he was about to do. "It's too dangerous Naruto-kun. Please don't go" she pleaded.

" . . . . I have too" as Naruto kept watch over the battle between giants. "Boss frog is fighting a jinchuriki and he won't be able to hold out much longer. Besides" as he turned back to smile at his friend to calm her down. "It's like fighting fire with fire right? A jinchuriki against another jinchuriki".

"But you don't know how to control that power" said Hinata worriedly. "And look at that!" as she looked to the ongoing battle between the Ichibi and Gamabunta. "You can't face something like that alone!"

Naruto's expression tightened at this as he looked down. But almost immediately he returned back to his sunny confident disposition. "Don't worry, everything is going to be alright" to which he soon ran off.

"Don't! Naruto-kun!" shouted Hinata. As much as she wanted to go after him she couldn't as she was too physically exhausted to give chase.

"What is that moron doing?" questioned Sasuke at seeing him run.

"Naruto! Get back here!" then yelled out Sakura.

As for the other on looking ninjas, they had mixed feelings about the current situation of seeing the blond jinchuriki run off to the next fight. In one notion of things they were fearful as the last thing they needed was another jinchuriki fighting right outside their doorstep rampaging and unable to control the monstrosity that dwelled within him. However, the enemy was another tailed beast to which the only equal to that was either an insanely strong ninja like their hokages or another bijuu to match its strength. Seeing that their third hokage was nowhere to be seen, Naruto was there only shot.

Watching his distant figure disappear from sight, the ninjas of Konoha did share one common thought with each other. "He's going out to fight for our village".

But for Naruto as he ran, there was only one thing he could think about. "I'm . . . . Scared". He was well aware he was way over his head on this one. Hinata was right about the Kyubi's power, he couldn't control it or at least not in the same league as Gaara with what he has seen firsthand. Additionally he was neither his dad nor was he Hiruzen as they were both exceptionally skilled ninjas who were always ready to face whatever problem occurred with a contingency plan in their back pocket. "But I'm not like either of them . . . ." Naruto was well aware he was head strong and had a bad habit of running head first into danger without completely thinking things through. Usually Hinata around this time would be the one to slow him down to help him think things through clearly. But for the most part his current tactics worked well for him so far.

Although he knew his friend was right. He couldn't skate the rest of his life on luck or talent to solve his problems. But for this particular case, this was something he had to do on the fly. If Gamabunta was defeated, there would be nothing to stop the Ichibi from tearing right through the village. Although he was scared about the enemy he was facing, there were people that were depending on him. That gave him all the courage he needed to do what needed to be done.

"I don't have much of a plan, but I'll figure it out when I get there. But I need to get there faster" to which Naruto then thought of the most obvious answer as he began thinking inwards. "Hey! Stupid fox I need some of your power now!"

~ Inner World ~

Now standing within the inner world of his soul, Naruto stood before the great nine tailed fox as the beast was simply lying down staring at him behind his cage. "You heard me. I need your power now!"

"Chee, don't get mouthy with me brat. I see no reason why I have to help you" responded the Kyubi nonchalantly.

"I don't have time for this!" Naruto yelled angrily. "I need your power now! Everyone is in danger!"

"Why should I care? I already gave you some of my power because you amused me boy. But you already used it all up and I have no intention in giving you anymore. Besides, those people you're trying to protect sealed me in here not to mention made you suffer for most of your life. So why should you even care what happens to them?"

Naruto was taken aback by this as the beast did hold a valid point which caused his body to tense up as memories of those bad times came rushing back to him. But soon he relaxed himself as he looked directly into the beast's eyes with absolute certainty. "You're right . . . . Those people were awful and they deserve to hurt the way they hurt me. But . . . ." as his mind reflected back to the good people he's met along with the meeting of his parents. "Regardless of what they did, they all still mean something to me. Konoha is our home and I want to protect it". What happened next even surprised the Kyubi as the young blond fell to his knees prostrating himself to him lowering his head to the fox. "Please I beg of you . . . . Give me the power to protect my home!"

To say the least the fox was stunned silent at the pleas of his jinchuriki. For the Kyubi has always watched over the boy from the recess of his mind since the time his father sealed him in there. From the years growing up, he knew Naruto only as well as he knew himself. As he watched the young blond bow his head to him he knew it must have taken a lot of guts not to mention a blow to his ego in doing what he is doing now.

Modesty and humbleness was never Naruto's strong suit. Although that Hyuga girl he hung around with was successful in drilling some of it into his head, he was a bit too stubborn for it to truly sink in. "Probably something he inherited from his mother" as the fox thought to his former jinchuriki Kushina. However there were two things that stood out to him the most. The first was the fact he himself was the sole reason for all his suffering and yet here he was bowing his head to him asking for his help. As for the second, "never in the countless centuries have I watched humanity have I ever known a human to bow their head to a bijuu". Unknown to Naruto which should have been obvious in hindsight was that he could understand Naruto the best as he could feel everything he felt and know everything that he was thinking. At this very moment, he could sense his desperation and sincerity in asking for his help. Although truthfully he hated Konoha in reflection to Hashirama, Mito, and Kushina, he found it strange that some part of him wanted to help Naruto.

"Please" Naruto continued. "Give me the power to protect everyone".

The Kyubi simply scoffed at this. "Since you're being so pathetic, I'll give you a hand this time. But don't count on this being a constant thing"; "besides this would be a good opportunity to mess with Shukaku some more ke ke ke".

The young blond looked happily at this, "thank you".

~ Konoha (exterior forest) ~

"This is getting to be a real pain in the ass" said Gamabunta. For with the Ichibi in control his capabilities jumped to an entirely new level as not only was he faster, but he was far more aggressive now with the increased intensity of his attacks. "I really hope he doesn't try to fire a bijuu ball at me". With his current physical condition, there was no way he could handle an attack of that magnitude. Dodging was out of the question as well as it would hit Konoha that was right behind him. But at seeing the sand tanuki beginning to fire out several volleys of sand projectiles, all the boss frog could do was retort with his own water bullets. Upon collision, a dust storm was a result of it. But out from the storm, another bullet was now flying at him. "I won't stop it in time!"

But then out from the corner of his eye, Gamabunta saw a streak of red and orange chakra blitz out from the woods as a bright blue sphere began to shine at the tip of it. Taking a closer look, he knew who it was. "Rasengan!" Naruto cried out as his Kyubi powered chakra attack collided with the Ichibi's creating an intense pulsating force. But then a moment later both attacks were cancelled as the young blond was thrown back by the attack only to be caught by the frog summon. "Wow what a rush" he half laughed.

Gamabunta gave a sigh to this as he placed Naruto onto his head. "I enjoyed the sentiment of you coming to help. But you're not exactly the one I need to be facing something like this".

"Sorry I can't be someone more useful" Naruto then said sarcastically. "But I'm all you got right now. So deal with it". The boss frog could only sigh at this. "So is there an actual idea on how we plan to beat this guy?"

"The problem here is that we need to hold him steady long enough to wake that sand jinchuriki up. If we can at least do that much we can win this".

"OK . . . . So?"

"The problem here is that I'm not built to do something this. So something with claws would be very useful. But I suck at henge. So you're going to have to do it. Do you think you're up to it brat? Because the Ichibi has already buried his user inside his head so we're going to have to go digging for a bit".

"I'm good. Just send me any chakra you can and let's finish this".

"Just like his old man" thought Gamabunta as he smirked inwardly.

As Naruto began weaving through his seals, he could feel the boss frog's power flowing into him. With the addition of the Kyubi's chakra, there were no words he could use to describe at how incredible he felt as his body was radiating with power. Following Gamabunta's henge request, there was only one thing he knew that was big enough to match what they needed. Upon finishing his seal, "here we go!"

As the smoke cleared, the Ichibi was now red with rage at what had appeared before him now. There stood the one being out of all existence that he hated the most. Now growling at him was the nine tailed demon fox at it glared at him ready to pounce. Not giving another thought to it, he went straight on at him.

"Not bad kid. Just the thing I needed" as Gamabunta pounced forcing the sand tanuki to the ground as he attempted to bite a hole in his head only to be stopped meters away as his fangs were just digging at the surface. But then was thrown off as they continued their stare off.

"Can you hurry this up?" then thought Naruto. "This henge is becoming really difficult to hold on too".

The two bijuus would continue to clash against each other attempting to get the upper hand but without success as their battle continued to drag on.

"This battle is way too long. We have to end this now! I can't hold this henge for any longer!" said Naruto.

"Easier said than done brat" said Gamabunta. "Besides this body is far more difficult to control then I thought".

The young blond quickly contemplated this as he knew what he had to do next. "I have some control over the henge right? Then I got something up my sleeves".

"Then go for it twerp".

Charging in once again the Ichibi was ready to take him on only to find his movements restricted as the Kyubi's nine tails wrapped around his limbs, tail, and neck which significantly lowered his movements. At being tied up, the demon fox stabbed his claws into his head as he immediately knew what he was going after. So using his sand control, Shukaku attempted to inhibit his movements. However it was clear he had the better leverage as he started to reel back his arm to which soon he opened his paw to reveal a sleeping Gaara as its contents. Then within the next moment Naruto jumped out ending the henge as the Kyubi's body turned back to Gamabunta. As the young blond flew through the air cocking his fist back, the sand tanuki cursed internally to what was about to happen next. At knowing he was about to be forced back into his container he only had one last thing to say. "Damn you Kurama!" to which in the next moment Naruto's fist met Gaara's face as they both were launched into the air due to the blond's forward momentum. With that attack, the Ichibi's body collapsed into the ground leaving only a giant pile of sand from where the beast once stood.

At feeling the hit Gaara regained consciousness just in time to grab a tree to slow his decent as did his currently present blond opponent. ". . . . What the hell just happened?"

"I guess they can handle it from here" as Gamabunta analyzed the situation. "The invasion force inside the village is close to being subdued. The external is close to defeated. Looking at that sand brat . . . . I'm pretty sure Naruto can handle it. Although I'm already out of power as it is. Plus I've already reached my summoning limit. So might as well head back home now. Good luck twerp" to which he exploded in a puff of smoke as he returned back to mount Myoboku.

"Damn my body feels like lead right now" as Naruto was barely staying on his feet. Frankly he's been having a rather long day. But seeing this was the final boss in the way of perceiving, he might as well go out with a bang. So focusing what he had left, he straightened himself out as he looked to Gaara who was now glaring at him. "It's over now! Give it up! You're beaten!"

Gaara vision began to turn red again as he was only running on instincts now. "I refuse . . . . I refuse to be beaten. Not like this!"

Naruto narrowed his eyes as he looked to the sand jinchuriki. "There's no point in pretending any further. We're both pretty much on our last legs here as neither of us should have any more power left to use anymore jutsus. So basically it's come down to this final attack" as he hoisted himself back ready to make a jump.

Knowing his words to be true, Gaara recoiled himself planning on finishing this.

Opting for the traditional showdown, the two jinchuriki's stared off with each other daring the other to move. Sensing the slightest twitch, the two jumped at each other with their punches with the full intent of defeating their opponent. As their attacks met with each other's face, Naruto in the end proved too much for Gaara as his momentum pushed more strongly against him forcing him back as he let out a war cry pushing everything he had into his fist. Soon they both fell through a few branches before colliding with the ground below as now the battle was over as neither of them could continue any longer.

"How?" Gaara questioned as he looked to the sky above. "How did I lose?" For simply the life of him, he had never once tasted defeat. Even the strongest Sunagakure had to offer couldn't handle him, but yet here he lay now beaten as he was now at the mercy of his enemy. Looking to his side, he could see his blond opponent now crawling to him with determination in his eyes which caused his blood to race through him once again. "My existence won't be put out! I will not die here!" However his enemy did not stop as he continued to crawl closer and closer to him, "stay back! Don't come near me!" he stuttered as fear began to grip him for the first time in many years. Just approaching a few more meters, the blond finally did as he looked up to him.

"You know you've been one annoying bastard since the moment I met you" said Naruto with his face in the ground. But slowly as he looked up, Gaara was surprised to see tears in his enemy's eyes as he continued what he had to say. "Being alone . . . . Being Incomplete . . . Your loss . . . . Your pain . . . . I can truly understand your suffering. But for the sake of those people precious to me and for the sake of my home no matter who or what they are I will always be there to stop them" as his eyes reflected slight bloodlust.

"Until now . . . . For the sake of others . . . ."

"Because they were always with me . . . . Because of our shared wish to protect our home . . . . That is why they are all important to me".

As Gaara quietly listened to this, he began to remember something from his childhood. Something his uncle told him so long ago that he had almost forgotten. Slowly recalling it, his eyes widened as if he were reaching an epiphany. " . . . . Love . . . . So that is why he's so strong". But now feeling his eye lids so heavy now, he soon fell unconscious. Looking at his current physical condition there was no way the Ichibi could come out as not only were they chakra exhausted but was physically incapable of fighting. So for this one moment in time, Gaara would enjoy his peaceful rest .

At seeing him pass out, Naruto then rolled onto his back as he looked to the sky above. "Man I'm tired. I just want to go to sleep now". But then he thought back to the moment he punched Gaara which struck him as strange. "And who the hell is Kurama?" to which somewhere in the back of Naruto's mind the Kyubi smirked at witnessing the defeat Shukaku suffered. "Whatever . . . ." as Naruto gave a sigh, "I wonder if I'll get any rescue out here . . . . Geez I'm so tired now. I suppose I can . . . . Close my eyes for a while . . . ." to which he soon too fell unconscious.

Just at that moment Minato and Kushina had arrived to find the two boys as they went to check on them. After confirming their condition, the elder blond went to pick his son up. "You did good kiddo. You were brilliant out there".

"What about this one?" asked Kushina as she looked to Gaara.

Minato looked to him blankly for a moment as he quickly contemplated for a moment before going to pick him up as well. "He may be the sand's jinchuriki, but he's still a kid. We're taking him with us". At that end, the pair got back into their henge as they returned back to Konoha.

To be continued . . . .

Author's notes: I hope everyone liked this chapter as it was a bit difficult to write as I had a lot of decisions to make in relation to the progression of this story. I just hope it was OK.

So I thank everyone for taking the time in reading this fic and further extend my gratitude if you can review it as well.