So Chapter 34 was supposed to be uploaded on the same day as Chapter 33, but FanFiction messed up and you couldn't view Chapter 34 until 20 hours later. Hopefully it isn't the same for this chapter.

To all the Chinese readers, if any: Happy Chinese New Year! :)

Fernlight: And I like you, random citizen!

TheOrangeStar802: It isn't really that big of a deal - it's only because I'm writing this story. :P

Charrmed: They do :)

The True Not Important: Orochimaru IS invincible ;) what would happen to the Sasuke Retrieval Arc if he died there? :P

Awais: Make Sasuke stronger? All I have to say is... wait for the Sasuke Retrieval Arc. ;)

Thanks to Fernlight, Deadly In Pink, TheOrangeStar802, Charrmed, The True Not Important and Awais for the reviews!

"I see them!"

"Naruto, don't be so loud!"

It was too late. Temari and Gaara both noticed the two Konoha ninjas' presence.

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"

Sasuke's jutsu blasted towards the two Suna nin, destroying every tree it touched.

Gaara and Temari leaped away from the flames.

They're here... so does that mean Kankuro has...!

"Gaara," Temari said quickly. "You go on ahead. I'll handle these two."

"B-But, Temari-"

"No buts," she hissed, bringing her voice low to a whisper. "If Konoha gets a hold of you..."

Gaara grabbed and pulled the front of his shirt in frustration, but relented. "Be careful." He jumped from the branch he was standing on towards the ground. Sasuke frowned at this.

The Uchiha closed his eyes. When he opened them, black marks had invaded the left side of his face.

That's what he looked like when he fought Kankuro in the Exams... Temari's grip on her fan tightened.

"Naruto," Sasuke turned to his teammate. "Chase after that guy, and put an end to the match you couldn't finish."

Naruto looked at Sasuke with a clueless look, and only figured out what his raven-haired friend was talking about after a few seconds. Nodding, he descended from the trees as well.

Temari grunted, and turned her attention towards Naruto. Unfortunately, she was then kicked in the face and sent flying into a tree.

Sasuke jabbed a thumb into his chest. "I'm your opponent," he glared at the fan wielder, his Sharingan eyes blazing.

Gaara felt his Sand Shield rising up. He turned, to see Naruto's fist sinking into his sand.

Thrusting his arm forward, Gaara morphed the shield into a blade. Before Naruto could react, the sand-made weapon was driven into his chest, puncturing his heart.

"S-Sorry," Gaara muttered.

However, 'Naruto' vanished in a puff of smoke.

Gaara's eyes widened, and he turned to see Naruto charging at him with his katana. Looking up, the Jinchuriki also noticed two more Narutos in the air, their katanas raised.

"Leaf Style: Crescent Moon Dance!"

His Sand Shield appearing once again to protect him, Gaara stepped back as the Naruto on his left managed to bypass the shield. Thrusting his sword forward, Naruto aimed for his abdomen, but Gaara blocked the attack with his hand.

"Arrrgh!"

The blade sank into his hand, drawing blood. The Naruto and his katana dispersed.

Gaara clutched onto his new wound, groaning. Using Shukaku's powers always drew so much chakra from him. He didn't even have enough to use his Sand Armor technique.

"Looks like I can finally test my new jutsu," Naruto spoke. Gaara turned to see his opponent behind him, and immediately went on the alert. "Ninja Art Summoning: Bring Down the House!"

Gaara blinked.

The next moment, a small toad landed on his head and disappeared.

He blinked again.

"Dammit! I failed! I failed!" Naruto yelled.

"Spear of Shukaku!" Gaara raised his hand, and a long spear of sand appeared. He charged towards Naruto, spear raised.

Drawing his katana, Naruto jumped forward to combat his Suna counterpart.

Gaara swiped low, but Naruto dodged it with a jump and kicked Gaara in the eyes skillfully, before infusing his blade with Wind chakra. As Gaara thrust his spear forward, Naruto dived to the side and slashed through the spear, severing it in half.

"If I channel my chakra into this," Naruto showed off his glowing katana. "You'll never be able to use your sand!"

Grunting, Gaara raised his hand. "Sand Shower."

Naruto slashed his way through the lumps thrown at him, and eventually reached Gaara. With an almighty yell, Naruto swung his weapon, expertly cutting Gaara's shirt in half.

Suddenly, 'Gaara' turned into sand and grabbed his wrist.

"Take this."

Naruto screamed in pain as the sand compressed and crushed his wrist before it dissolved. With use of his right hand cut off, he dropped his katana.

As Naruto bent down to pick his weapon up, a wave of sand that flew into his eyes temporarily blinded him. He felt somebody picking up his weapon and holding it at his neck.

"It's over!"

Naruto kicked out, finally relieved of his blindness.

Gaara was knocked back with a painful grunt, dropping his opponent's sword. However, as Naruto tried to pick it up again, Gaara raised his right arm and the dissolved sand sprung up again to trip Naruto over.

The blonde was sent falling to the ground, and Gaara picked up the katana, tossing it up and suspending it in mid-air with his sand.

Dammit... my right hand... Naruto got up, and at the same time, inspected his bloodied right wrist. He tried to do a hand seal, but found that he couldn't, not with his injured hand.

"You are not in my league, Naruto Uzumaki," Gaara panted.

"O-oh yeah?" Naruto charged. "I just have to beat you with one hand then, you creepy sand bastard!" He launched himself towards Gaara, who side-stepped to avoid the punch. "Who do you Suna bastards think you are, huh? Coming into our village and trying to invade and all that!" He kicked out, but Gaara's sand pushed him back.

"We had no choice," replied Gaara.

Naruto reappeared behind him, his fist three centimeters away from the back of Gaara's head. The redhead's sand pulled Naruto's arm back just in time. Growling, Naruto tried a kick, but Gaara leaped away.

"Our village did this for good reason," he continued to insist, dodging a couple of left-handed punches.

"A good reason to harm the innocents in our village! Piss off! War is never the answer!" Naruto answered fiercely.

Gaara looked away in remorse, his Sand Shield rising up to defend against Naruto's further punches. "I-I tried to stop them, but they wouldn't listen to me, and..."

Naruto stopped his attack, frowning.

"... and they said I was speaking out of place, because 'after all, you are just the demon'." He said bitterly.

Naruto softened. "Hey... you host the One-Tail... right?"

Gaara nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "And you host the Nine-Tails."

The blonde one of the two stepped back. "What is this 'good reason' you speak of?"

Gaara sighed, but before he could speak, collapsed.

"H-Hey!"

Naruto ran over to the boy he'd been fighting just minutes ago, helping him up.

"I think... my chakra's... all depleted..." He panted.

"You idiot! I warned you before not to use my powers too much!"

"Heh, are you worried, Shu-chan?"

"O-Of course not, you little brat! How can I have my own container with near zero chakra all the time?"

Naruto helped his opponent to a tree.

"Well, you seem out of chakra now, so if this 'reason' of yours ain't good I'm going to take you back to Konoha!" Naruto warned, hoping he sounded intimidating.

Panting, Gaara spoke.

"Suna suffered a series of budget cuts from the Wind Daimyo... it weakened the village and re-routed missions frequently to Konoha. That missing-nin called Orochimaru... he came to my father, the Kazekage, with a proposal to invade Konoha. We would get resources, while Orochimaru would get what he want - the death of the Hokage..."

"Orochimaru?! Old man Hokage? No way!" Naruto yelled. "I have to get back to Konoha immediately!"

"I have to collect my siblings," Gaara grunted.

Naruto nodded with a grin. "Let's go."

A terrible, terrible chapter, and something I didn't put much effort in. But I've not written much for the past two days because of the festive period (Chinese New Year, yes, I'm Chinese). The Invasion of Konoha arc isn't one of my favorites at all. Anyway, I think that concludes it for the Invasion of Konoha arc, just one more chapter to write I think (yes, it's that fast!). In the next chapter, the invasion concludes! Until next time!