Introduction:

Thank you for returning to my little tale. As always I like to start my tale by saying I don't own Naruto. Kishimoto does........damn him and his creativity.

Message from the Author:

I'd also like to take the time to apologize to all the fans of this tale that I missed last weeks release. Unfortunately I was sick with the flu. Add that with a few other issues that came up and I ended up unable to complete this chapter in time. It's actually the first time I missed a frelease date and it pissed me off. Oh well.

Thank You:

A special thanks to all those who reviewed my last chapter: GravenImage, the loverofanime, Kushina's Truth of Hell, dragoshaun9, Weaponx178, dark waffle, Amurru, airnaruto45 & ZnudzonY.

Responces:

GravenImage: Thanks Graven. Yeah I still can't stop thinking about how Kishi and I are following the same theme simultaneously.

theloverofanime: Now now, close your mouth. If you keep it open drool will dribble out. Ewww! :)

Kushina's: What?! No, no, no, no.....I didn't mean it that way. It was a joke. I'm sorry if you thought otherwise. Now, as for Sakura's betrayal, it seems like a natural progression if you consider her personality and how she views Sasuke. And I'm glad I made your day. As usual you continue to make mine.

dragonshaun9: Quick, someone get the defibulator. Alright, alright! Everyone get back! Clear!!! Alright guys...*sigh*.....I think his heart's working again.

Weaponx178: I'm glad you liked the fight scene and Yamato's breif scene. I had to get him into the act and don't be surprised as I intorduced other characters as well as i go along. And I can't believe you'd be ok with Sakura's death! Sorry but I can't agree here. Sakura con't die. At least not in a fight like what we just saw in the canon. That would be a pathetic way to go. I'd hate Kishi if he did that. Anyway I'm glad you liked it.

Dark waffle: Well, i wanted you to enjoy my tale not give you a headache. Lol. Anyway as my story progresses you'll see that there was a very good reason Sakura has done what she's done. Just believe me on this one.

Amurru: Do we really? Hmmmm......maybe we do......or maybe not. Lol.

Airnaruto45: No, no, no, no.............wait...........yes. :p

ZnudzonY: Glad you liked what i did with the Byakugan. Like you I belive Kishi really aloud this KKG to fall to the side. If the Sharingan and Rinnegan are so strong why isn't the Byakugan? So what i did was create a technique that gave it a really deadly affect, yet was limited much like the sharingan in that it con't be overly relied on. I think it worked well.

And now, here's chapter fifteen. Please remember to leave Reviews on your way out.

Naruto: Chronicles of the Seventh

Book Two: New Dawn

Chapter Fifteen: Judgment of the Kazekage

Iwagakure – Office of the Tsuchikage

The Tsuchikage sat back in his seat and regarded Madara with a blank stare. Madara walked over to the front of the Tsuchikage's desk and took a seat without being offered. "So," Onoki said. "The time has come has it? I'm surprised by this Madara. This wasn't the plan at all."

"Unfortunately," Madara, "the recent failures of those I placed far too much trust in has forced me to change my plans accordingly."

Onoki leaned forward in his seat and enclosed his hands in front of him. "Ah," he said with a sly smile, "you must mean the Nine Tails no? We've received word from informants that the host has recovered and as come back from the dead. Word has spread that this boy is a living miracle! It's become quite the messy affair."

"Yes," Madara said with a hint of contempt. "I leave Danzo with a simple task and he has failed me at every turn. Now this Uzumaki has become more than just a hero to his people. He's slowly becoming a legend. Danzo's failure has made things difficult now to say the least."

"My, my Madara," Onoki said as if he were probing for weakness, "if I didn't know any better I'd say you were concerned. This Uzumaki isn't a true threat to your plans is he?"

"Of course not," Madara responded confidently, "More an annoyance really. Like a bug that refuses to know its place in the world. But I have little concern. He'll be swatted soon enough. The real reason I'm here is to confirm that your army is ready to go. The time has come for you to make your move."

Before Onoki could respond his front door swung open and two of his closest bodyguards, Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi crashed into the room, kunai at the ready. "Lord Tsuchikage," Kurotsuchi yelled, "Are you alright! Our sensors indicated that an intruder is in the room and…."

Seeing who the person was that was sitting in front of Onoki caused Kurotsuchi to grow silent. The tension seemed to flood from them both and they put their weapons away as Onoki and Madara regarded them silently.

"Our apologies My Lord," Akatsuchi said, "Had we known it was a guest we never would have interrupted you."

Onoki waived them off. "No, no," he said, "I would expect nothing less from my most loyal of ninja. It is the impulsiveness of youth. Now please allow me and my guest to finish our conversation."

Both ninja bowed and made their way to the door. As Kurotsuchi closed the door behind her she looked back at Madara and grimaced.

As the door closed the two men looked at each other. "Now where were we," Onoki said feigning confusion. "Ah yes, as I've said my army is ready to go and we can be at the borders of the Land of Fire within a few days."

"Actually I've decided to change those plans," Madara said. "At this time there really is no point to sending your forces to Konoha. You see what you have yet to learn is that The Nine Tails is no longer there. It appears that last night he slipped out of the village and Danzo is having trouble pinpointing where he has gone. His friends keep giving conflicting reports."

"So Danzo lost containment of the Nine Tails," Onoki said with a hint of amusement that seemed to annoy Madara. "Well, well, things seem to be getting more complicated indeed."

"Never mind that," Madara said sharply. "What you need to focus on at this time is sending your forces to Kumogakure. With the Raikage completely focused on Konoha and Suna he will be ill prepared to deal with a direct assault from your forces."

"Ah," Onoki said, "But what of Danzo. I'm sure he was expecting my forces to attack Konoha and just as planned he would send some of his ROOT to face me and I would then agree, under the false pretence of defeat, to aid him against Suna and Kumo. Without our aid how long can they possibly last?"

"That is none of your concern," Madara said, "Danzo has failed me once too often. Losing the Nine Tails was the last straw. His only purpose now is carrion for my hawk."

"Ah yes," Onoki said, "the Uchiha boy. Taking him under your wing has been beneficial so far; and foolhardy. Someone like that will eventually turn on you Madara. It is as you like to say….destiny."

Madara rose from his seat and said, "As if you wouldn't betray me given the opportunity?" Suddenly Madara began to disappear in a swirl of energy centered on his right eye. "Focus on your task at hand Onoki," he said as he departed, "and let me focus on the destiny of the Uchiha."

After Danzo left Onoki sat back in his chair and seemed lost in his thoughts. After a few minutes the doors to his office opened once again and Kurotsuchi entered. "I'm sorry to intrude my Lord," she said, "Our scanners just informed us that the Akatsuki has left. I just wanted to confirm that you were ok."

Onoki lighted bitterly. "Yes Kurotsuchi," he said, "I'm fine. I'm far to valuable to be harmed….for now."

Again Kurotsuchi grimaced and bowed slightly and turned to leave. "Wait Kurotsuchi," Onoki said. "I may be old, but I am not yet to senile to not see that you have something you'd like to say. Come I want to hear it."

Kurotsuchi turned to face her Tsuchikage and for a moment she hesitated. Then after a moment and making up her mind she stepped forward. "With all due respect My Lord," she said, "I fail to see why we need to work with such filth. If word got out that we were assisting Akatsuki we would be forever shamed."

"Yes," Onoki said, "but we really have no choice. Please Kurotsuchi look at it from my perspective. At this moment Akatsuki is in control of seven of the nine beasts. It is a force that we could never stand against. And unfortunately due to past transgressions none of the other villages would aid us now. Right now we have no choice. But perhaps, if we remain vigilant and look for an opening perhaps there will be a way for us to truly benefit from this. But for now I need you to have faith."

Kurotushi grimaced. Everything she had been taught about honor told her this was wrong. But there was one thing she was also taught since she was a child. That the word of the Tsuchikage trumps all things. Even your own personal sense of honor. Bowing she said, "Yes My Lord. Forgive my questioning of you."

"It all right," he said, "It is all the brashness of youth. Now please if you don't mind, leave me and see that our men are prepared. They leave for Kumogakure in the morning. Tomorrow, Iwagakure goes to war."

Meanwhile – Sunagakure – Office of the Kazekage

For hours Gaara had been up poring over documents detailing the progress of this war. How many men were sent here, how many there, how many were injured, how many dead, missions that were succeeding and were failing; they were all blurring into one and Gaara felt that it was slowly burying his soul.

As he pulled yet another document from the seemingly endless pile his door is thrown open and a ninja flew into the room. Quickly the ninja droped to one knee and bowed his head. "My apologies Kazekage-sama," the ninja said. "We've just received word from one of our advanced guards that was stationed out in Hell's Pass that they have captured two ninja from Konohagakure."

Gaara leaned back in his chair and played with a pencil in his fingers. "I fail to see why this news would require telling me immediately," Gaara responded.

Looking up with an astonished face the ninja said. "According to the scout the two ninja in custody are Nara Shikamaru and Uzumaki Naruto."

Gaara immediately dropped his pencil in shock at what he had just heard. Stunned, Gaara then said, "Are you sure about this? That we have Naruto and Shikamaru?"

Smiling the ninja responded, "Yes my Lord. In fact they should arrive within the hour. What are your instructions?"

Gaara seemed to be lost in thought for a moment and then said to the ninja, "When they arrive through the gates have them remain in the courtyard. Then inform me immediately. I don't want either of them moved until I arrive."

"Yes Kazekage-sama," the ninja said as he rose to his feet and left the room leaving Gaara, once again alone.

Gaara turned in his chair and looked out the large bay window behind him. Naruto, he thought, what the hell could you be up to?

Sunagakure - Western Entrance – One hour later

The ninja ran through the sand at top speed. The word had spread through the village of Sunagakure like wild fire. To think, he thought, that we would be able to capture two of Konoha's most powerful ninja without so much as a fight. This is great victory for Suna.

As the ninja turned a corner, his destination came into view. It was the Western entrance to Sunagakure. There, near its summit stood the person he was heading to see. As usual she could be found barking orders to the men. Temari, had always been a hard ass as far as the men were concerned. But it seemed since this war had begun that she had been riding them harder than usual.

"C'mon," Temari yelled at her men, "Get you're asses in gear! You think our enemies would slow down for you to finish these reinforcements!?"

The ninja arrived at the base of the barricade and quickly leapt to the top and bowed. "Temari-sama," he said. "My apologies for disturbing you but I just heard some news that may interest you."

Visibly annoyed Temari responded, "Damn this better be good. Can't you see I'm in the middle of something here?!"

"We just received word Temari-sama," the ninja said, "that we have captured two of Konoha's most powerful ninja. They were attempting to sneak into our village through Hell's Pass. According to the advanced scout they are Uzumaki Naruto and Nara Shikamaru."

"Impossible," Temari yelled. " That's impossible! Are you sure the persons they captured are Naruto and Shikamaru?!"

"Very much so," the ninja responded. "In fact they should be arriving shortly through the Northern entrance."

Without another word Temari leapt down the barricade and ran through the city on her way to the northern entrance.

Meanwhile – Sunagakure - Northern Entrance

Word had spread quickly of Naruto and Shikamaru's capture and as they were led into the city, there was a large turnout to witness their arrival. "Well," Shikamaru whispered to Naruto, "I never expected to walk through these gates like this."

Slowly more and more people made their way out to the courtyard to see the famed ninjas of Konoha. Among them were members of the Sand ninja and normal citizens that Naruto and Shikamaru had come to know well from their many visits. The faces of these people told that they weren't particularly happy about seeing Naruto and Shikamaru like this.

As the group entered the center of the courtyard several guards arrived and addressed the ninja who caught them. "Ok you guys have to stop here," one of the guards said. "We received word that the Kazekage wants to meet with these two immediately. He's already been notified of your arrival and is on his way."

Hearing this seamed to calm Shikamaru a bit as he exhaled deeply. All right, he thought, maybe Naruto's half-assed plan will work after all.

"Out of the way," someone said from within the crowd as they slowly parted to allow the person through. As the man came into view Naruto and Shikamaru saw it was an older man, dressed in the traditional robes of a Sunagakure elder.

Shikamaru groaned slightly and grimaced as he saw the man slowly, confidently walk up. "Hello Krolik," Shikamaru said. "You're looking smug as usual. I'm sure you're enjoying this."

"My, whatever do you mean young man," Krolik said in his most patronizing tone. "Seeing you like this, cuffed in chains like common filth, gives me no pleasure. But I can't help but wonder what would bring you here?"

"I take it you know this guy Shikamaru," Naruto said. "Just who is he?"

Shikamaru then said without hiding his disgust, "Yes. This is the guy I was telling you about, who now speaks for Gaara, Yu Krolik."

"Yu Krolik huh," Naruto said as he seemed as if he was trying to recall something. "Yeah, I think I've heard that name before."

"It's a name you will come to know well Uzumaki," Krolik said. "Now that you're the prisoner of Sunagakure."

Naruto laughed lightly and said, "I'm your prisoner huh? Why don't we just let Gaara decide that Krolik?"

Krolik went close to Naruto's face and whispered so only he could hear. "I am the voice of the Kazekage, and as a result, the voice of Suna. My word is law. If I were you, I'd show respect."

Smiling Naruto responded, "If I were you I'd back up a bit. I didn't come all this way to speak to you. You should slink back to your filthy master and hide until I destroy him."

Krolik lurched back and yelled, "How dare you refer to our Kazekage in such a manner you insolent bastard!"

Smiling still Naruto responded, "That's not your master I'm referring to. Well, I'd say not the real one anyway."

Krolik's expression grew nervous as he considered Naruto's words and almost knowing smile. Could he possibly know the truth, he wondered.

Shikamaru stood watching their exchange, confused by what had just happened when he saw the crowd part yet again. This time the person who came into view was Temari. Seeing her, he smiled weakly as she stared back in near disbelief. Her expression a was a mix of concern, fear, sadness and anger. She couldn't believe what was happening.

Before she could approach the crowd parted yet again. This time Gaara finally came into view. Naruto, upon seeing his old friend, smiled widely. "Hey Gaara," he said. "Nice to see you again. Although I gotta admit the situations a little odd."

Gaara merely stared coldly at Naruto and did not answer. It was something Naruto quickly took note of. "Look," Naruto said as he tried to step closer only to be barred by the guards. "We need to talk Gaara. This whole war is just a big misunderstanding. If you just give me a chance I know we can figure this out."

Still Gaara did not respond but continued to stare coldly at Naruto. Krolik stood of to the side and smugly observed this situation. I warned you Naruto, he thought. Things here are not as they once were. You will not find Gaara to be so willing an ally as before.

"Gaara," Naruto said, "C'mon man, you know me. I would never kill anyone in cold blood. I was set up by Akatsuki to trick you into starting a war."

Without addressing Naruto, Gaara looked to the guard nearest to him. "Guard," he said, "please remove the chains from Uzumaki Naruto." The guard quickly un-cuffed Naruto who immediately walked towards Gaara with a broad grin.

However much to his surprise, Gaara quickly created several hand signs and said, "Ninja Art: Sand Tornado!" Suddenly a massive amount of sand rose up around both he and Naruto and began to swirl around them with incredible force. And much to the surprise of those around them the miniature tornado of sand moved off to the East, taking both Naruto and the Kazekage with it.

Shikamaru, looked on in shock and quickly looked to Temari who also seemed to be in shock at Gaara's actions. "Oh boy," he said, "No way is this going to be good."

As the Sand Tornado came to a stop it deposited both Naruto and Gaara in a large desolate plane, completely surrounded by a shear wall of rock. As soon as they landed Naruto recognized the place as the personal training ground of the Kazekage; a place where he could practice his Jutsu in peace. Only he and those he invited where ever allowed to set foot on this ground. Naruto remembered being allowed to come here once, where he and Gaara trained together for a few hours.

"Naruto," Gaara said, "I'm not sure why you came here. But you shouldn't have." Much to Naruto's surprise, Gaara took a defensive stance and seemed poised to attack.

"I see," Naruto said as he looked at Gaara with sudden steely resolve. "I guess I should have expected this. Okay, if this is how you want to do this."

Naruto suddenly raised his fists and got into his fighting stance. For a long moment the two combatants merely stared at each other as they tried to get a proper measure of each other. Then finally Gaara began to rush at Naruto in a zig zag pattern. Naruto's eyes followed Gaara's movements as he closed, ready for his first attack. As Gaara closed in, he threw a punch at Naruto's face which Naruto blocked with his right hand and countered with a punch of his own.

Gaara used his free hand to bat away Naruto's punch and threw his knee and struck Naruto squarely in the kidney. Naruto quickly absorbed the blow with little difficulty and using the opening Gaara provided, punched him in the sternum and forced him back.

Again Gaara rushed in to keep the fight close. Gaara kicked his leg towards Naruto's head and Naruto quickly caught the kick and was prepared to strike him in the knee when Gaara, realizing this, flipped and swung his other leg towards Naruto's head. This maneuver forced Naruto to let go and Gaara landed upside down on his hands and quickly flipped back onto his feet.

"I've got you Gaara," Naruto yelled as he rushed towards Gaara leapt into the air and came down with a kick intended to strike him in the head. Gaara quickly leapt back out of range as Naruto landed. Naruto then ran at Gaara and with a movement Gaara couldn't follow, created several hand signs and yelled, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Naruto then created five clones and he and the clones each drew kunai as they closed in. Gaara quickly leapt back as one clone slashed at his chest, ducked to avoid another attack and blocked the attack of another using his hand. He then flipped one of the clones on his back and broke its arm forcing it to disappear.

Another clone made his way behind him and it was then sand began to leak from the gourd on Gaara's back and began to weave its way through the clones destroying them as it went.

To Gaara's surprise, Naruto suddenly appeared bursting through the ground underneath him and punched him in the jaw forcing him to lurch skyward. Naruto then appeared next to him in the sky and kicked him in the stomach forcing Gaara to hit the ground.

As Naruto landed Gaara was already back on his feet and then created several hand signs. The sand from his gourd began to leak out from the top and began to break into small pellets. "Sand Drizzle," Gaara said as dozens of the pellets began to fire at Naruto.

"Damn," Naruto said as he began to run in an effort to dodge the attack. As he ran Gaara merely stood, arms folded, watching as Naruto ran. Suddenly, Naruto pulled to an abrupt stop just in time to avoid the pellets that were fired ahead of him. Turning now to face Gaara, he was surprised to see Gaara pointing up. When he looked up he saw why. Tons of sand was suspended, floating in the air above them.

Shit, Naruto thought, His sand drizzle was just a ploy to keep me busy while he placed a bunch of sand above me.

"Successive Shots: Sand Drizzle," Gaara said as sand shaped in the form thousands of bullets, began to rain down on Naruto.

Instantly Naruto began to dodge the bullets with a speed that left Gaara in awe. Naruto, Gaara thought, I've never seen you move this fast before. I've….I've never seen anyone this fast. Not even Rock Lee. When did you…..?

Naruto continued to dodge but quickly began to realize Gaara's attack wasn't ending any time soon. Damn it, Naruto thought as one of the sand bullets grazed his leg. I can't keep this up. Naruto then created several hand signs and yelled, "Multi-shadow clone jutsu!"

He then created hundreds of copies and launched them skyward as they were struck one by one by sand bullets only to disappear.

Hmmm, so Naruto, Gaara thought, you're using your clones as a shield between you and my Sand Drizzle. Almost like a human umbrella. That's very clever.

Finally Gaara's sand ran out just as the last of Naruto's clones disappeared. Naruto stood staring at Gaara and was breathing heavily from using so much chakra. "Very nice Naruto," Gaara said, "but unfortunately you still lose."

Gaara then pointed to Naruto's feet and as he looked down he realized what had happened. "Shit," he said as he tried to leap clear of the sand that now surrounded him for several yards.

Gaara quickly raised his index and middle finger and said, "Too late." And as Naruto expected the sand surrounding him stretched out and grabbed him by the leg and hand and pulled him back down.

"Sand Prison," Gaara said as the sand began to envelope Naruto. The sand eventually surrounded Naruto and covered him in a perfect sphere. Gaara then said, "Sand Coffin!" He then began to slowly clench his hand into a fist which simultaneously caused the sphere to constrict.

More and more the sphere shrunk to crush Naruto. Gaara forced the sand to shrink smaller and smaller when suddenly he felt a force push the sand back. And from within the sphere he heard Naruto say, "Wind Release: Human Tornado." And much to Gaara's surprise the sphere was blown away and standing there, surrounded head to toe by what Gaara could only describe as a swirling armor of wind, stood Naruto.

"So," Gaara said, "That's your new Jutsu Naruto? I see." Gaara then reached up and removed his Kazekage robes and dropped it to the floor. "I take it now we get to the actual fight, warm-ups are now over."

Naruto the got into a defensive stance and with a look of ice said, "Fine by me."

End of Chapter Fifteen

Next Time: Piercing Wind / Crushing Sand