Not gotten any criticism for quite a few chapters. Let's see how long that can last. :P

I know everyone has been waiting for it - Naruto vs Gaara, but I'm sorry to say I'll be writing something short on Gaara, like how he managed to control Shukaku, and how instead of the self-loving killer he was supposed to become, instead became a normal kid. It's something like Kakashi Gaiden, and a last-minute think-up of mine.

Well, hope you enjoy!

Pyr00tje: I thoroughly dislike bashing fics too. The only thing I can stand is very little Sasuke bashing, but I have read some fics that bash Sakura, purely because the fic is brilliant, and only has that one flaw. Thanks for your feedback!

AelitaOfTheWolves: I'll have to keep you waiting, unfortunately!

The True Not Important: Nice to see that someone likes Tenten's iron ball! :)

Charrmed: I'm glad you stayed! ;)

Thanks to Aurora-chan, Pyr00tje, AelitaOfTheWolves, The True Not Important and Charrmed for the reviews!

"Halt!"

The Suna guards eyed the two newcomers suspiciously.

"State your intentions. Depending on what they are, we will allow you to enter the Hidden Sand."

One of the guards then noticed the two strangers were both blonde females, and also ninjas, judging from their forehead protectors. He also noticed they were both rather cute, but his cautious nature overtook his perverse thoughts.

What business do two Kumo ninjas have in the Sand?

A letter was handed over to the guard who had spoken.

"We are delivering a letter to the Kazekage on behalf of the Raikage. Political business. It's confidential."

Nodding, the guard returned the letter.

"State your names, and we will let you pass."

"Samui of the Hidden Cloud."

"Yugito Nii, of the Hidden Cloud."

The guards stepped aside.

"Enter."

Yugito and Samui entered.

"So, Samui, shall we head up to the Kazekage's first?"

Samui simply nodded, and the two Kumo kunoichi made their way towards the Kazekage's residence.

Along the way, the citizens of the desert-like village cast them suspicious glances. A Suna shinobi also noticed their different forehead protectors, and cast a cautious gaze towards them as the two blondes walked past.

Samui and Yugito ignored all of that, knowing it was common. It wasn't everyday you got ninjas from a different village walking around in your village, after all.

They stepped into the first floor of the tower.

There was a counter, and behind it was a man with a hood covering the left side of his face. Distinctive red markings were painted on his right cheek.

"Greetings. I am Baki. Kazekage-sama has been expecting you."

Getting up, Baki led Samui and Yugito up a long flight of stairs, and finally, in front of the Kazekage's office door. Baki knocked thrice.

"Come in."

Opening the door, Baki walked up to address the leader of his village. Yugito took a close look at the Kazekage. She had been brushing up on her history and geography lately, and because of this, the Two-Tails container knew that this Kazekage was the Fourth.

The Fourth was a middle-aged man with messy red hair. His Kazekage hat and mask was hung neatly on a nearby hanger, and he only wore his regular Kazekage outfit.

"Kazekage-sama," Samui said respectfully, bowing.

Yugito almost forgot about greeting the Sand leader. She quickly bowed as well. "Kazekage-sama."

"Arise," the Fourth replied. "Baki, you may leave us."

"Yes, Kazekage-sama." Baki exited the room as quickly as he'd entered.

Yugito walked forward and placed an envelope on the Kazekage's desk.

The Yondaime inspected the envelope closely, and noticed it was sealed. Just as he was about to ask the question, Yugito placed her hands into a hand seal.

"Unseal."

The seal disappeared in a puff of smoke, and the Kazekage took out the letter within. Reading the contents of the letter, the redhead set it down.

"Thank you for coming," the Yondaime had only the slightest hint of a smile on his face. "I will have my reply written by tonight, so please come by tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, you can stay here in my tower. On the third floor are the guest rooms. Pick whichever you like."

Samui and Yugito nodded. "Thank you, Kazekage-sama."

"Now... which one of you is the Jinchuriki?"

Both Cloud shinobi froze.

The Yondaime quickly raised his hands.

"No, no. I don't mean any harm," he assured. Samui relaxed, but Yugito still had a cautious look on her face.

"Me," she finally said. "I'm the Jinchuriki of the Two-Tailed Monster Cat, Matatabi."

"Interesting."

"Why do you ask, and how do you know?"

"How do I know? Well, I have my sources," the redhead said mysteriously. "And for why..."

"Well?" Yugito prompted.

"It just so happens that my son is the container of the One-Tailed Shukaku."

Hearing this, Yugito's eyes widened in surprise. She had no idea that Suna had a Jinchuriki of their own.

"Unfortunately, he is unable to control his Tailed Beast." The Fourth revealed with a grim look on his face. "... Something happened last night, and his anger made the Shukaku come out. He nearly destroyed the village, until I stopped him."

"And?" Samui asked, now realizing why a few of the buildings within the village looked like they had went through a war.

"I just want to know if you can help my son control the beast," the Kazekage now fixed his gaze firmly on Yugito.

Samui looked away, expecting her companion to refuse. Yugito disliked teaching or being a sensei, she knew.

"Sure, I'll do what I can."

Samui frowned at Yugito's words, but said nothing.

"Very well. Thank you. My son's room is on the fourth floor. It's the only bedroom on that floor - you can't miss it."

As Samui and Yugito departed from the office of the Kazekage, Samui turned to her friend. She didn't need to ask, for her questioning gaze already told Yugito what she wanted to know.

"I just feel I should help a fellow Jinchuriki out," was the answer.

Samui was apparently satisfied with the reply, and nodded.

As the two kunoichi arrived at the fourth floor, she extended her palm to Yugito. Understanding, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki relieved herself of her heavy backpack and passed it to Samui.

As Samui walked further down the stairs, Yugito walked down the fourth floor corridor, and finally saw a door.

She knocked softly.

"Go away!"

Yugito was stunned. By the voice, she could tell the person behind was no older than a child. She persisted in her knocking, and finally a redhead opened the door and glared hatefully at her.

"What do you want?"

The most noticeable of his features was the kanji for 'love' marked on his forehead. His looks were also strikingly similar to the Kazekage.

But what Yugito noticed most was how this boy looked no older than seven or eight. By roughly judging, Yugito narrowed his age down to seven or below.

"I'm Yugito, and-"

The child's hateful glare remained.

"I have no interest in your name. I asked you what you wanted, not who you were!"

Yugito was taken aback by the rudeness of this young boy, a mere kid. But she reminded himself that he was a Jinchuriki, and as such, was probably shunned and discriminated by a lot of the villagers.

"Right, I was getting to that. I am Yugito Nii of Kumogakure, and I'm here to deliver a letter to your father, the Kazekage, from our village's leader, the Raikage."

"Nobody cares." The kid was about to shut the door, but Yugito kept it open by sticking out her foot.

Sand emerged from behind the boy. The sand wrapped around her foot and forcefully pulled it away, allowing the child to shut the door. As he did, the sand disappeared.

Not giving up, Yugito pounded on the door again.

"Hey, kid! Open up! Believe me, I know what you're going through, because I've got a monster inside me as well, and-"

The door flew open.

"You've... got a... monster inside you... as well?"

Yugito smiled. "Yes... yes, I do. I'm here on behalf of your father to see how you're doing with your... um, monster."

The redhead's expression visibly soured at the mention of his father, but silently stepped aside to allow Yugito entrance. The Kumo kunoichi stepped into the room, and was surprised by how plain it looked. There were no toys, no decorations, just a bed, and some plain walls. The only decoration she could see was a picture of the redheaded boy himself, smiling slightly at the camera.

"Let's kill her, kid."

Yugito was shocked as the boy started screaming and clutching onto his head. Then he looked up to stare at Yugito with a crazed look.

"I'm sorry... but Mother says you have to die, so you have to die!" He roared. Yugito then noticed a shaking gourd in the corner of the room. Sand seeped out from it and attacked her.

"Matatabi!" Yugito called. Her hand transformed into a giant blue-colored claw, and she swiped the sand away.

"Crap." The boy crouched down, clutching his head again. Then he looked up, this time a sad look in his eyes. "I-I'm s-sorry."

Her hand going back to it's original shape, Yugito walked up and hugged the boy, surprising him.

"Don't worry about it, kid. I... I know what it's like... so don't feel so bad, okay?"

Yugito wasn't the comforting type, but her words apparently worked, as the kid's sad look was replaced by a small smile.

"M-My name is Gaara," Gaara introduced himself shyly. "I am... um... six-years-old this year."

Six? Damn... Yugito nodded. "I'm Yugito. I'm going to help you try controlling that beast inside of you, so it doesn't hurt you or anyone else anymore." Gaara nodded slowly. "By the way, that is not your 'Mother'."

Gaara looked away, ashamed. "Y-Yes. I know."

"So, stop referring to it as such! It's name is Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast."

"Okay," Gaara looked down. He felt safe around another one of his kind, but he had also felt safe around Yashamaru.

How am I going to start? Yugito thought, cursing her inability as a teacher.

"Maybe you can find out what made him lose control of Shukaku last night, like the Kazekage said."

"Good idea. Thanks, Matatabi."

"Gaara," Yugito smiled. "Your father told me that... um, you almost destroyed the village last night. What happened?"

Gaara froze.

"M-My uncle, Yashamaru, has always been my only friend," he explained sadly.

Yugito tensed, reminded of her own childhood. At Gaara's age, she only had about one or two genuine friends. Her status as a Jinchuriki meant she wasn't exactly well-liked by most of the Kumo citizens.

"But yesterday he tried to kill me."

A tear ran down his cheek. Gaara didn't want to go into details, but his words were enough for Yugito to gasp. Betrayed by his only friend?

"He said something about... revenge," Gaara recalled. "Then he said how he never loved me, and even ended up committing suicide himself because he thought he could take me down together with him."

Gaara began sobbing at the memory.

"Oh my God... Gaara..." Yugito hugged him again, and Gaara returned the hug as he sobbed into his fellow Jinchuriki's shoulder.

"S-So..." Gaara sniffled. "A-After that... I just... fell a-asleep or something..." He tried his best to stop crying. "And when I woke up... everything was... well, like that."

Yugito understood. She simply smiled.

"Well, I'll make sure none of that ever happens again."

"Really?" Gaara's eyes lit up with hope.

"Yes. Really." Yugito jabbed her thumb towards herself. "I, Yugito Nii, will be your first true friend!"

Gaara smiled broadly. "I... I have a friend!"

Grinning, Yugito got up.

"I will have to go for now... but don't worry. I'll be back. Okay?"

"Y-Yes... Okay, Friend!" Gaara smiled. Yugito returned the smile with one of her own.

She remembered her fellow Jinchuriki in Kumo, and held out her fist.

Terrified, Gaara backed away, afraid that it was an offensive gesture.

Did I do something wrong already? Is she not my friend anymore?

"Gaara, this is a fist bump." Yugito's hands closed around his tiny hand, and instructed him to ball it up into a fist. When Gaara did, Yugito brought hers and his fist together.

"What does it mean?" Gaara asked in confusion.

"It is a sign that we are the best of buddies!" Yugito replied, grinning, reciting the exact same thing she had been told when she'd asked the very same question.

For the first time in God-knows-when, Gaara's grin stretched from ear to ear.

"Right... Buddies!"

And that's the first part. Hopefully, I'll have the second part out by tomorrow. I want to speed this up so you guys can get the battle you are all waiting for. Until next time, goodbye!