The battle was short and brutal. For all their size and power the Doki were nothing compared to the might of Gaara's sand. Unsatisfied Gaara turned to Tayuya. In her frightened state she was unable to properly form her genjutsu and died easily. That done Gaara searched for a new target. He found Naruto.

"Hold it right there!"

"If you want to stop me, you have to destroy me"

"Then get ready cause you're going down!"

An orange swarm closed in on Gaara. Many were smashed by Gaara's still mutated arm, but some landed effective blows. Gaara smashed everything near him with his arm. The tactic worked, delaying the orange onslaught long enough for him to crush them all. Naruto's response was a barrage of kunai, some of which had explosive tags. The intermittent blasts disoriented Gaara as Naruto tried to capitalize on it.

"Kuchiyose no ju-"

"Die!"

Naruto dodged the strike and the two genin continued in their deadly dance as other battles around them raged. One in particular was truly heated.

"Just hurry up and die you old fool!"

"You first Student!"

The Kongounyoi staff deflected the Kusanagi blade with a shower of sparks. Both combatants glared at each other, circling slowly. No more jutsu were used, the time necessary for the hand signs being too long a pause, any such pause in a fight of this caliber would result in a quick death.

gggggg

"Konoha Gouriki Senpu!"

"Tatsumaki Senpu Kyaku!"

Sakura was spellbound by how the green duo easily handled the Oto nin.

'Wow. And to think I helped Lee-kun become that strong'

Interrupting his student's admiration Kakashi turned to Gai for an update on the situation.

"The stands are mostly cleared; I am unaware of how the Hokage is faring"

"I don't know that either. But outside the arena we've found and routed another contingent of Oto troops and are currently engaged with a Suna force. Luckily we stopped the summoning they tried"

"There is the situation your remaining student is in, my rival"

"Naruto's fighting Gaara"

"Yes"

Kakashi looked over to the floor of the arena. Gaara's huge arm smashed into the ground, sending multiple Naruto's flying.

"I have to help him"

"We have the situation in hand here. Go"

Without even acknowledging Gai Kakashi dove into the arena.

ggggggggg

Naruto landed with a curse. Gaara was half covered with sand and merely shrugged off any attack he tried.

'Damn! What can I do to hurt this guy?!'

"Naruto!"

"Kakashi-sensei?"

"Let's do this together"

"Alright! We can't lose now!"

Gaara's eyes narrowed at the show of camaraderie and released a volley of suna shuriken. Kakashi grabbed Naruto and dashed behind some rubble. He turned to his student.

"Listen Naruto, that kid is strong but not invincible. We just need to out maneuver him"

"So what do we do? I hit him with all my best moves and exploding tags! He didn't even feel em!"

"That's because you were attacking the sand, not him. It's tricky, but we can get around it"

"How do we do that?"

"Like this…"

Gaara turned about, trying to find is quarry. Despite the fighting that was still going on up in the stands the arena floor was devoid of movement, save Gaara himself.

"Come out! Fight me worms! Are you afraid to die at my hands?"

"Yeah right! You're just pissed off 'cause you got sand in your crack"

"Perish!"

Gaara's sand arm rocketed at Naruto, plowing straight through him. The bait Naruto proved to be a ration bunshin; the lightning consuming it and blasting it into dust. Gaara cradled his smoking, charred human arm as he fell to his knees. Kakashi smirked and nodded to Naruto. Naruto sprung into action.

"Kage Bunshin no jutsu! And then Konbi Henge!"

The dozens of Narutos join hands and with a burst of smoke become one giant Naruto. Gaara looked up at the immense orange clad shinobi with a touch of fear. Naruto lifted his foot and stomped on the sand user with a tremendous crash.

ggggggggggg

Sparks and broken tiles sailed through the air. Grunts of exertion and the clang of steel were the only sounds heard. The ANBU didn't dare approach the pair for fear they would only get in the way. After a particularly vicious clash the Hokage and Orochimaru both slide back. They glared at each other. Each had cuts, bruises, torn clothing. The Kongounyoi staff had multiple gouges and even the Kusanagi had some damage to the blade.

"You're breathing heavy old man. Why don't you go lie down for awhile?"

"You should talk. Can't even keep up with an old timer like me? You need to train more"

"Are you accusing me of slacking off? The man who will master all ninjutsu?"

"Not to put too fine a point on it, but yes"

Orochimaru seethed. One ANBU saw an opportunity and charged. Orochimaru turned his attention to the operative and cut him down.

"No!"

Sarutobi rushed over with concern for the fallen man. Orochimaru found an opening. Sarutobi evaded immediate death but received a wound that put him out of fight. Orochimaru confidently stood over his former teacher's injured form.

"Oh poor dear Sandaime. I always told you kindness had no place on the battlefield"

"Caring… for others is… never wrong"

"Fool. Now it will be your death!"

The snake summoner thrust his sword at the Sandaime. Just before the tip pierced a tremor shook the building, ruining his aim. Seizing the opportunity the Hokage kicked the sword out of Orochimaru's hands and grabbed the hilt. Before anyone could move the Sandaime slashed off Orochimaru's leg. Even with only a single leg Orochimaru was able to leap away. Kabuto, albeit a very roughed up Kabuto, appeared next to his leader in a puff of smoke. They were gone in an instant. The tired Hokage turned to see his unlikely savior; the giant Naruto. He smiled at the boy's back.

"To think... he saved me while... not even looking"

The ANBU quickly took the Hokage to get medical treatment as the fighting in the stands ebbed. All eyes drifted to the arena floor, where the battle had not yet ended.

ggggggg

Konoha Gouriki Senpu – leaf strong whirlwind; much faster and stronger version of the Konoha Senpu, but still a spinning kick

Kongounyoi – diamond like hardness; property Monkey King Enma takes on when he transforms into his staff form

Raiton (Kage) Bunshin – lightning (shadow) clone; clone made out of electricity that is discharged on contact (the author found the name showing the 'kage', but doesn't see a need for it)

Konbi henge – combination transformation; two or more individuals combine their physical forms and chakra to form a single individual