Hey guys welcome back, glad you enjoyed the last chapter. I will say that it was a bit drab, but I can't really have Naruto releasing ALL his best techniques before the REAL fight begins. Zaiaku vs. Sasuke was an exception. I'm really trying to improve on my character interaction so please indulge me if I stray slightly. Anyway, all the crap out the way, here we go.

Disclaimer - I do NOT own Naruto, Kishimoto-san does!

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-Chapter 16: Watch Me-

Naruto watched as Gaara and Zaiaku eyed each other for a moment then turned their eyes down to the arena floor. 'I remember the last time those two girls sparred,' thought the blonde.

Kyuubi chuckled, 'I remember that as well, Gaara and Zaiaku came to blows.'

-Flashback-

Zaiaku and Gaara ran into the reception area of the Konoha hospital, "Hanuro Sakura!" Zaiaku barked at the girl behind the desk.

"Hyuuga Hinata," added Gaara quickly with a glare

"R-room 108," she replied meekly

Tearing down the hall they came to room 108 and bolted in to see Hinata and Sakura bandaged, but giggling at their antics, "Oh come on," said Sakura between giggles, "You've both had worse than this."

"Exactly," added HInata, "I've patched up more than a fair share of wounds on Gaara."

"That is not the point!" barked Gaara, "Hinata you know you can't fight Sakura that seriously, I have problems keeping up when you do not hold back."

"What the hell are you saying Gaara?" questioned Zaiaku glaring, "that Sakura isn't a challenge for HInata?" The redhead merely shrugged, "Maybe we should see if I'm a challenge to you then!" growled Zaiaku as his chakra flared

Gaara narrowed his eyes, "I doubt you are" he replied his chakra also releasing

Hinata and Sakura ceased their laughing, their men were best friends, they didn't fight like this. Thankfully Naruto had kicked open the door and been nearly blasted back to the wall as the large amount of chakra erupted from the room, "OI! Getting a little out of hand in there!" he cried as Temari helped him up. "I heard you two were sparring," he glanced at the two girls then burst out laughing, "went a bit overboard, ne, Sakura-chan, Hinata-chan?"

Zaiaku and Gaara were still glaring at each other, "Outside," hissed Zaiaku as he stormed out the door

"Gladly," replied the redhead as he followed

Naruto just blinked at the closed door in confusion, "GO!" cried Temari, "Before they destroy the entire block!" Turning she eyed the two girls, "What the hell was that?"

"I don't really know," replied Sakura, "It was kind of like a train wreck, Zaiaku-kun got mad, then Gaara did too."

Hinata shook her head, "No one can get Gaara aggitated like Naruto-kun and Zaiaku-kun."

-End Flashback-

'Oh yes,' thought Naruto, 'all five of us ended up in the hospital, Temari-chan wasn't happy.' Shaking his head he leaned against the railing, emmulating his friends, "Wonder who's gonna win?" Both boys turned a glare on him, "Whoa! sorry!"

Gaara looked down at Hinata, her bloodlimit activated and she was in her Jyuuken stance.

-Flashback-

Gaara scowled as he readjusted the sling on Hinata's arm after she pulled on her nightgown, "I do not like you fighting."

"You would prefer that Sakura, Temari, and myself be good wives and sit at home?" she questioned with a scowl, this was always a sensitive subject for them. "I think not."

"That is not what I meant," he replied, "I cannot lose you."

-End Flashback-

As Zaiaku watched Sakura place a kunai in each hand he smiled.

-Flashback-

"I'm not that weak!" cried an enraged Sakura as she crushed a fist into the side of a sound-nin's skull

Zaiaku scowled as he ripped his sword from the chest of an Akatsuki cultist, "I didn't say you were!"

"Then stop trying to coddle me!" she yelled back

"I'm not!" he replied glaring, "I don't want you to die! That's why I don't want you to fight!"

She ran a bloody hand through her pink hair and huffed, "Other shinobi put their lives on the line every day! I'm no different!"

Zaiaku clenched his sword tightly, "Yes you are!" he shouted as he glared through welling up tears

"WHY?" she screamed back, also nearing tears

"Because I love you!"

-End Flashback-

The voice of Genma broke them both from their memories, "THIRD MATCH: HYUUGA HINATA VERSUS HANURO SAKURA, HAJIME!"

The first to charge was Sakura, her fist clenched around a kunai, she brought her arm forward in a right cross. Anyone that didn't know the legendary sannin's apprentice would think it a harmless punch, but those that did know her, knew that it would crack a skull. Ducking quickly, Hinata aimed a rising palm strike at her chin. As Sakura stepped back to dodge the white eyed girl tried to seize the opportunity and pressed forward. The pink haired kunoichi jerked her head back as her opponents strike came at her chin, quickly seeing the follow up attack she continued her backwards motion and went into several back flips. This placed a good distance between herself and the Hyuuga Heiress.

"Neither one is able to gain a foothold," said Shino watching the two girls

Tsunade was watching eagerly, "If either one of them would land a puch, the fight could very well be over."

"The jyuuken style damages the chakra circulatory system," added Neji, "there is no defense against it."

Gai nodded, "And Sakura's chakra enhanced attacks are more than devistating," interjected Kakashi

"Good," said Zaiaku curtly, "We've established that they can kill each other if they screw up. Now could you please shut up?"

Gaara nodded, "That would be fantastic at this point."

On the arena floor Sakura was forming several quick seals, "Chakra Enjintou!" (Chakra Scalpel) as her hands began to glow she charged again. Forcing her chakra into her legs, she dashed to the side to avoid an intercepting strike from Hinata. Coming around to the back of the white eyed girl she extended her hand forward intent on delivering a hit to the muscles in her left shoulder.

Using her three hundred and sixty degree sight, Hinata spotted the incoming attack, unfortunately even with her speed should couldn't avoid it. Forcing her chakra out she began her spin, "Kaiten!" (whirl). As Sakura's hand came into contact with the dome of chakra she was forcefully thrown back. As she attempted to regain her bearings she realized that Hinata was directly in front of her, "You're in range of my divination," said the Hyuuga as she dropped low to the ground, "Hakkeshou: Rokujuu Yonshou!" (Hand of the Eight Divinations: Sixty-four Palms) Launching forward in a blur of hands she began her systematic strike on Sakura's tenketsu. After the sixty-forth strike the pink haired girl crumpled to the ground.

"Hinata is progressing nicely," said Hizashi

"Hn," replied Hiashi with a nod, "She's getting faster, with a little more practice she'll be at Neji's level."

"She got her," said Zaiaku as he hung his head, "She tried her best."

"No," interjected Neji, "I've said it before, Hinata-sama is fast, but lacks accuracy. I'd say she only hit a third of her tenketsu"

Tsunade watched with pride as Sakura placed a green glowing hand on her right shoulder, "She healing her chakra circulatory system."

"healing in combat takes too much chakra though," added Kakashi, "I'd say she's at less than a quarter of her maximum."

"Hinata's stamina is about the same," replied Kurenai, "Three Kaitens or two Rokujuu Yonshou is her extent."

Temari was watching in awe, "Both of them are showing that they can fight at a chunnin level thought."

"So they are both at their limits," stated Gaara as he continued to watch intently

Sakura pulled herself up on shaky legs and noticed Hinata doing her best to steady herself, "Looks like we're about at our end, Hinata."

The lavender haired girl nodded, "I think y-you're right," dropping down low she smiled, "one last time though." Charging in a blur she forced her chakra into one last attack.

As Hinata's strike connected with her body, Sakura focused her own chakra and gripped her attackers arm. Pivoting her body she brought the smaller girls form over her head and slammed her into the ground. She wobbled slightly and smiled, "good fight, Hin-a-" she was cut off as she went unconcious.

Hinata offered a weak smile, "H-hai," she replied as she too fell into unconciousness.

Genma stepped up and eyed them both, "MATCH THREE IS A DRAW! BOTH COMPETITORS ARE DISQUALIFIED!"

Zaiaku was halfway over the railing when a hand on his collar jerked him back onto the balcony, "You'll just get in the medic nins' way," said Tsunade ignoring his glare. Turning around she headed down the stairs, "They'll be in the recovery rooms."

Gaara immediatly made after her, "let's go," he said to Zaiaku as he helped him up

Neji was scowling, "You seem a bit eager, Gaara."

The redhead ignored him and continued on his way with his white haired teammate, "I think both of them have admirers," added Kakashi grinning under his mask.

'You have no idea,' thought Naruto as he scratched the back of his head. "Ready for your fight, Temari-ch-" he was cut off by her death glare, "Right, not in public."

"Yes," she replied, "I am."

"I look forward to a good match," interjected Shino

Zaiaku and Gaara were glaring at the two ANBU guarding the room, "You weren't here a minute ago!" yelled Zaiaku glaring

"We're here," replied a raven masked man, "To ensure that no perverts enter while Tsunade-sama is inspecting the young ladies."

The ice shinobi and even his redhaired companion blushed at his implications, "Alright," responded Gaara after a quick recovery, "We will wait here till-"

"Let them in," came Tsunade's voice from inside the room. The two ANBU moved aside and granted the boys entrance. Stepping in they watched as the sannin finished marking something on her board, "Chakra depletion," she stated simply, "They'll be fine in a couple of hours."

Zaiaku looked to Gaara, the redhead nodded, "We can speed up the process," said Zaiaku

"You mean by giving your chakra to them?" both teens nodded, "I can't condone that after your fight Zaiaku-kun, and doing so before YOUR fight is silly, Gaara-kun."

"We have more than we really need at this point in time," replied Gaara, "A soldier pill will recover the small amount we will expend. We simply request that you not allow anyone in this room for the next few minutes."

The sannin eyed them warily, "Alright, I warned you."

Gaara walked over to the silent form of Hinata and placed a hand on her, 'Slowly,' he said to his demon. 'Too fast and you'll overwhelm her,' he added.

Shukaku growled, 'I know, I know.'

At the same time on the other side of the room Zaiaku placed his hand on Sakura's stomach, 'Just a little Shiva-san,'

'Hai' she replied

Tsunade watched in awe as the two boys released their chakra into the forms of the girls, 'This isn't normal chakra,' she thought. Looking at her apprentice she noticed her breath frosting as she exhaled. After only a moment both boys removed their hands, "What are you?" questioned the sannin through narrowed eyes

"We share a common trait with Uzumaki Naruto," replied Gaara

"That means..." she trailed off as realization hit her, "Kami-sama."

Zaiaku smiled at her, "They should be up in minutes now, instead of hours." Glancing over he noticed Sakura shiver, picking up a blanket he cast it over her, "They'll be a bit overwhelmed when they wake up, it's fine though."

Gaara cast a final glance at Hinata as he and Zaiaku made for the door after taking a soldier pill. "I'll keep your secrets," came the voice of Tsunade, both teens nodded and exited the room. Shortly after their departure Hinata and Sakura began to stir, "Well," said the sannin, "welcome back you two."

"Ano...Tsunade-sama," said Sakura, "What exactly happened?"

Tsunade smiled, "You have just recieved special medical attention."

"I'm cold," replied the pink haired girl, "but it's not a biting cold." 'it feels so familiar, and so comforting.'

"Why is there s-sand on me?" questioned Hinata as she brushed her arm, she watched as the sand fell then reattached itself, "Tsunade-sama, w-we had chakra depletion."

"Hai," replied the Sannin. She watched with a smile while both girls began deducting what had just transpired

Sakura picked up on the Hyuuga's train of thought, "Who gave us chakra? our match was only ten minutes ago, even with a soldier pill we should be down for at least two hours."

"Gaara," answered Hinata, "this is his s-sand. You said you w-were cold?"

The pink haired girl nodded, "That means...Zaiaku-san?"

"Nicely done," exclaimed Tsunade, "Gaara-kun gave Hinata a little of his chakra, and Zaiaku-kun did the same for Sakura." Clapping both hands in front of her she grinned, "So how do you both feel?"

"Like I c-could fight another match," replied Hinata.

Sakura sat up in her bed, "Tsunade-sama, did they say why?"

The sannin shook her head and smiled, "Just because you two might only see one person," she replied, "doesn't mean that only one person sees you." Standing up she walked to the door, "I want to tell you both something very important," she said with her hand on the knob, "I know you both think you're in love, but love is complicated. I don't even understand it, I don't try to either. Love isn't planned or scripted, that image you have in your mind of how it's all going to be perfect? It won't be anything like that."

"Tsunade-sama," whispered Sakura

"Love will come at you when you least expect it to, and it will come faster than any enemy," she continued as she felt a familiar chakra signature approach the door, "It will come at you, and you'll have a split second to make a decision: Get out of the way and let it pass you by, or stand in it's path and embrace it."

"How do we know what to do?" questioned Sakura twisting her sheets in her grip. She had so many questions and no answers, 'let it pass me by or embrace it,' she thought

Hinata was in the same situation, "How do we kn-know which decision is the pr-proper one?" she questioned

Tsunade shrugged, "You'll know," she replied and exited the room.

As she entered the hall she felt two strong arms encircle her waist, "It took you thirty-five years. Not exactly a split second decision on your part."

Leaning back the sannin rested her head on the mans shoulder. "I took a little artistic liscense, and besides you waited," turning around she smiled as she placed a light kiss on her companion's lips, "arigatou, Jiraiya." Leaning back she looked at him, "Why'd you come down here?"

"I felt some wierd chakra," he replied, "I thought with everything going on that I should check it out."

"because you were...?" she let the question linger before answering, "worried about me."

The toad sannin sighed in defeat, "Maybe a little."

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End Chapter 16: Watch Me

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