A/N: Im really sorry about the long wait for this update, its been an emotional rollercoaster to say the least, but you probably dont want to know, so i won't bore you. Anyway, thank you for your kind reviews and thank you especially to S'mores Poptarts for her beautiful fanart! if you have a spare moment, take a look its amazing :) By the way, if you're ever confused at the meaning of any of the romaji (Japanese written in English) that I use, just ask. Or would you prefer I put them in brackets or at the bottom of the page? I'm not sure how much you all know, I pick up words all the time and tend to us them so just pm or put it in a review ok? :)
Disclaimer: All Naruto characters and the Naruto plotline belong to Masashi Kishimoto, until he dies and leaves it to me in his will.
Claimer: Kari, and all not in the original manga are property of me Ookami Tsubasawa. Stealers will be found and burned, for hell hath no fury like this woman scorned.
Sunano Seishin
Sand spirit
Her eyes widened slightly, her lips parting but unable to draw breath
That's what she was, that's what she might become…
"Sasuke and Kari have stopped" Pakkun told the others while Kita's ears perked. "We're quite a distance away from them though." Pakkun slowed and stopped on a branch, Kita and Naruto landed either side of him and Sakura on the branch behind.
"Doushita, dattebayou?" Naruto cried.
"Did something happen to Sasuke-kun or Kari-chan?" Sakura cried worriedly. Pakkun looked around at her with blank expression. "I didn't notice until now but you… use the same shampoo as me." His small nose twitched and a dopey smile crossed his face, ignoring Sakura's horrified shock. "This scent is floral green… I'm sure of it!"
"Eh? Oi dattebayou!" Naruto cried.
"Demo, demo my hair is much glossier" Pakkun said vainly as Sakura's depression seemed to grow in a dark cloud around her.
"Don't bring up something stupid like that in a serious situation!!" Naruto shouted while Kita tilted her head confused.
"Sorry" Pakkun chuckled simply.
"I use the same shampoo as a dog…" Sakura murmured, facing a tree. "Same thing as a dog… Same thing as a dog… Same thing as a dog…" she began hopping through the trees murmuring the same thing like a mantra "Same thing as a dog… Same thing as a dog…"
"Sakura-chan?"
"Nani desu ka?"
"Matte! Don't get ahead of me!" Pakkun cried, rushing after her.
"Bring it on then!" Kankurou cried but Temari jumped forward.
"Kankurou! Take Gaara and run!" Temari cried. She flung three kunai at Sasuke but he just tilted his head and they shot straight passed him. "Let me deal with him."
"Demo Temari… You can't handle him alone" Kankurou cried.
"Don't worry about it, this is an important mission for Suna no Sato. Prioritise Gaara's condition. Uchiha's going to be slowed down by Kari's injuries anyway" Temari said and Sasuke scowled slightly, shifting her slightly so she was more behind him. "Besides… this guy's my type."
Kari chose this particular time to burst into a fit of light giggles. While Sasuke scowled and glared darkly at Temari, squeezing Kari's thighs which made her squeak and slightly eased her giggling fit.
"Go Kankurou!" Temari cried and Kankurou immediately jumped to another branch.
"I won't let you!" Sasuke cried, flinging two kunai at him, but he evaded and kept going. "You're not getting away!" he leapt up and tried to follow but Temari appeared blocking their way.
"Eat this!" Temari cried, using her fan to send them flying backwards. Kari instinctively locked her arms and legs around Sasuke while he jumped to a higher branch.
'My opponent is the Uchiha. This is bad; I don't have much Chakra left. And if he uses his Sharingan I'll be at even more of a disadvantage. But… I need to make him waste a lot of Chakra and… Maybe if I get Kari away from him…?'
'Should I use Chidori to get rid of her quickly? Or should I…? Kari's already getting weak, she can't hold out much longer. I can't afford to get too badly hurt because she'll automatically be hurt too…'
They both jumped up simultaneously, Sasuke flung shuriken at her, but she deflected easily with her fan. He flipped and landed lightly on a higher branch, his hand going to Kari's arm, making sure her grip was secure. He grit his teeth, wanting to end the match quickly. Kari was starting to get too quiet, which meant she was on the border of passing out.
'Just as I thought… He's trying to save his Chakra for Gaara's battle.' She opened her fan again and swung it out. "Ninpou Kamitachi!" she cried sending a gust of slicing winds toward him. He quickly jumped up, heading higher and flipping from branch to branch successfully managing to avoid her attack. "Another!" and she sent another gust of slicing winds Sasuke and Kari's way. Jumping up higher into the air Sasuke pulled out multiple kunai and threw them down towards Temari. "Don't underestimate me! Ninpou Fuusajin!" Sasuke was caught off guard and was thrown backwards into a tree, Kari being crushed between the bark and his back. He heard a soft groan and quickly manoeuvred them behind the tree, Kari's grip slipping.
"Oi, oi! Kari!" Sasuke hissed, pulling her into his lap and shaking her slightly. Her eyes were dulled and she looked at him drowsily.
"For a skinny person you don't half hurt…" Kari mumbled, a drop of blood escaping from the corner of her mouth. He noticed sand collecting on the tree from Temari's attack.
'Damn it, I need to do something about that troublesome fan' Sasuke thought, pulling her close to his chest and nudging her, trying to keep her awake.
'How long will you last fighting like that? Kari's distracting you too much.' Temari thought with a slight smirk. She was still bothered by Gaara's interest in the blonde kunoichi, he rarely spoke to anyone and to warn her of danger? What exactly was going on?
"I have no choice…" Sasuke murmured. "Kari, oi baka, come on I need you to hold onto me, I can't leave you" he whispered standing up and pulling her onto his back. She flopped slightly, not even holding on. "Don't make me grope you again…" he threatened, though was beginning to feel sick with worry. She grumbled and lightly gripped his shirt. He jumped up so he was opposite Temari.
'Looks like he serious now' Temari thought, her smirk widening. His hands fluidly performed signs, ending in the tiger seal.
"Katon: Housenka no jutsu!" Sasuke cried spitting fireballs at her. He heard Kari mumble about him being warm and fuzzy and felt her snuggle into his back. He just hoped it wasn't going to make her fall asleep.
'Now we're talking' Temari thought as she back flipped and avoiding the fireballs, hitting the floor at the same time as them, standing in the middle of the ring of fire they made. She looked up to see Sasuke's hands performing more signs finally landing once more in the tiger sign.
"Katon: Goukakyuu no jutsu!" Sasuke cried blowing a large amount of fire directly at Temari. Kari sighed softly, trying to ignore how sleepy she felt. "Did I get her?" Sasuke asked. "Oi! Baka!" Sasuke cried, noticing she was starting to slide down him as her grip loosened.
"Hm? Ara?" she mumbled as Sasuke hoisted her back up.
"Kamitachi!" Temari cried, blowing the fire away and sending a wind attack towards him. He back flipped to avoid and landed on a branch covered in sand, slipping and falling backwards. "You fell into my trap! Now!" she jumped up and flung kunai at him, all three hitting him in the torso, two in the chest and one in his abdomen. He fell hard to the ground, Kari silent beneath him. "Yosh!" Temari said confidently but her smirk faded when both Sasuke and Kari poofed into a log. "Nani?! Kawarimi?!" she cried in shock. Hearing a sizzling sound she noticed the exploding tag on the log and gasped. "Shimatta!!" she screamed as it exploded, flying backwards and landing hard on her back, coughing up blood.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have all day to deal with you" Sasuke said, looking down at her. Kari's eyes half opened, and she sent Temari an apologetic look, before Sasuke darted once more into the trees, racing after Gaara.
"How far are they?" Sasuke asked. He could sense them himself, but chose to rely on Kari's keener senses rather than his own. The only problem was her lack of response. "Come on Kari, I need you to stay awake" he hissed.
"Not far…" she mumbled, her voice thick and slow.
"Oi, don't go to sleep!" Sasuke cried, giving her a little shake.
"But it hurts…" she said softly, making his stomach knot painfully. 'She didn't get proper medical care, she hasn't even got stitches or been healed, it's a miracle she's stayed awake this long…' "Don't be a baby, you've had worse" Sasuke snapped, though he could feel the slight tremor in his voice.
"Mm… You should be able to aim shuriken now…" she sighed as he held her steady with one hand and reached into his pouch.
"Hold on or you'll fall" he instructed, realising he was indeed getting close. He flung shuriken but heard it thud into wood, not a body. He quickly darted in front of Kankurou, forcing the Suna-nin to stop, Gaara still an unconscious dead weight. Sasuke panted heavily but smirked in victory. "Don't run" he said, his eyes fixed on the foreign ninja.
"Bring it on, I'll fight you this time then" Kankurou said, panting just heavily, seemingly in the same shape.
"Matte!"
"Nani? Temari!" Kankurou cried as she dropped down beside him and Gaara. "I thought that he beat you, you're okay?"
"Yeah, somehow" Temari agreed. "But… I couldn't stop him at all."
"No it was enough to give Gaara time to recover, and you also made him use up some of his Chakra as well" Kankurou said.
Sasuke smirked and hoisted Kari up slightly. 'It'll be over soon baka…'
"This is…" Pakkun exclaimed as they hurtled through the trees.
"You smell shampoo again?!" Naruto shouted.
"No, it's Sasuke and Kari. There are some other scents near them as well" Pakkun explained while Kita took a big sniff and pulled a delighted expression. "We've caught up."
"Finally!" Sakura cried in relief.
"Kari-chan… Sasuke…" Naruto murmured.
"They've stopped completely" Pakkun said in surprise. "Are they going to fight? Lets hurry." 'Kakashi didn't say much about injuries, one of them, it seems to be Kari, is bleeding very badly. Wait… what is this thing that's made of a clump of smells?' "Oi! There is someone other than us after Sasuke and Kari!" Pakkun cried, looking back to the Genin while Kita looked puzzled.
"Who?" Naruto asked.
"An enemy? An ally?" Sakura questioned.
"I don't know… but… it's not human" Pakkun said.
Kankurou set Gaara down on a branch and Sasuke resisted the urge to do the same. Despite Kari being light, she was starting to tire him out.
"Go Kankurou!" Temari urged. "I'll fight him again!" Kankurou ignored her and jumped forward, taking the thing wrapped in bandages off his back and holding it next to him.
"Temari. Take Gaara and go. You can't fight anymore, we don't need anyone to burden us" Kankurou said, glancing back at her.
"But--!"
"GO!" Kankurou bellowed. "Hurry!" Temari looked pained, before going to pick up Gaara. "Looks like I'll have to fight you, are you going to put Kari down or are you going to fight with a handicap?" Kankurou taunted as Temari jumped off with Gaara.
"Hn, I don't care who I battle" Sasuke said smirking but he was cut off.
"Iie. I am his opponent." Sasuke noticed Kari respond to the voice, lifting her head up and tightening her grip on him.
"Shino-kun!" she cried happily.
"Shino? Why are you here?" Sasuke asked. "A-Aa?! Baka what're you doing?!" Kari had slipped down and then flipped with her arms, landing with a thump next to Shino. She wrapped her arms around his waist, sitting on the ground next to him.
"Shino-kun! You were smart and took the initiative and followed us!" Kari cooed. Shino's glasses gleamed and he placed a hand on her head.
"Kari-chan is in no condition to fight" he said, lifting her up and supporting her. He pointed to Sasuke. "I placed a female bug on you and Kari before you left the stadium. The scent is almost odourless, and the only thing that can smell that faint scent is the male of the same species. The males have a stronger odour to them though." Kankurou cringed and moved away from the bugs near his feet.
"Uchiha Sasuke, go after Gaara, since the match between you and him was not completed. I will fight him, as his opponent was originally me. Take Kari-chan with you, but be warned that any further injury to her will not be good for you." Shino said with a slight threat, jumping over to Sasuke and lifting Kari onto his back. "Leave this to me, go!"
"You seem rather confident, but will you be ok?" Sasuke asked with a smirk.
"Are you mocking Shino-kun?" Kari hissed, burning holes into the Uchiha's head with her glare.
"There is no need to worry, give me ten minutes and I'll come to back you up." Shino said.
"Hn. By that time I'll be finished" Sasuke said smirking wider.
"Ja ne Shino-kun!" Kari called happily as she and Sasuke shot in the direction Temari and Gaara left in.
"This is bad…" Pakkun said, halting on a branch, Kita and Sakura landing either side of him.
"Pakkun?" Sakura asked.
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked looking around to see why she had stopped and not paying attention to where he was going. There was a rather large painful bang when he slammed into a tree in front of him. "AA! Why did you stop all of a sudden, dattebayou!!" Naruto whined, just managing to hold onto the tree with his chakra.
"They're getting farther away at a rapid pace. The scent of Sasuke, Kari and two others that is" Pakkun explained while Kita nodded, having notice her Okaasan and Sasuke's smells getting fainter. "It seems like Sasuke and Kari are going after those two."
"Eh?"
"They are?"
"The others show no signs of moving. But…" Pakkun trailed off.
"We can't afford to waste time here, Kari-chan's still hurt, let's go after her and Sasuke dattebayou!" Naruto cried impatiently.
"But what?" Sakura asked the small dog, completely ignoring Naruto.
"The remaining guys are about to fight. We must take a longer route to avoid them." Pakkun said.
"Nande yo!? If we do that it'll take us even longer to catch up to Kari-chan and Sasuke!" Naruto complained.
"What are you talking about Naruto?! We don't know what will happen in a combat area!" Sakura cried. "There's a possibility we'll get dragged into a battle, even if we do not fish to fight" Sakura explained.
"I don't care about that!" Naruto whined.
"Kid, our mission is to bring back Sasuke and Kari, if we're going to do that then we need to avoid engagements as much as possible until we complete the mission." Pakkun said.
"Pakkun-sempai is right Naruto-kun" Kita agreed.
"Let's go!" the pug ordered.
"Ryoukai!" Sakura and Kita cried, hurtling after him.
"Fine dattebayou" Naruto agreed reluctantly, peeling himself off the tree and following them.
"You're more lively now" Sasuke commented, noticing Kari seemed more awake, her grip more secure.
"Gaara is regaining consciousness" Kari stated, ignoring Sasuke's comment. The Uchiha nodded in understanding and picked up his pace.
"Put me down, Temari" Gaara ordered.
"Can you move again Gaara?" she asked stopping and letting him down, he dropped to his knees clutching his head and groaning in agony. "Gaara!" She looked back anxiously 'Kankurou should be delaying the Uchiha right now… I'll use this time to…' She pulled out a pot. 'I need to hurry or the plan will be…' she started unscrewing it.
"Temari go away…" Gaara mumbled. She looked up in shock as he sloppily stood up "Just go over there! You're in the way!" and with that he threw her away, his fist slamming into her gut, sending her flying into a tree. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, then his eyes snapped open, fixed on Sasuke.
'Uchiha Sasuke! Did he get past Kankuro already?! Iie, he came too fast to have done that, especially as he's got Kari to look after. Another pursuer?' Temari thought worriedly.
"I don't know what you Suna guys are planning, but I will stop you!" Sasuke cried.
"Yeah forget about me being here why don't you…" Kari muttered under her breath.
"And I will determine what your true identity is!" Sasuke said sternly, remembering the golden eye that blazed within the sand sphere. He felt Kari's slight shudder, but ignored it. Gaara cried out holding his head in pain.
"Gaara!" Temari cried as cracks started forming across Gaara's armour. Sasuke tried to stay calm as he felt Kari's muscles become extremely tense and tremors rake through her body.
'Is he… it he going to awaken it right here?!' Temari thought alarmed. "Yamero Gaara! Did you forget the plan?!"
"You are strong. You are called Uchiha. You have friends. You have goals. You are similar to me… By killing you, I can exist in the world as the one who erased your existence!" Gaara cried in pained delight.
Sasuke was torn between Gaara and Kari, the kunoichi starting to writhe and slightly spasm. Her breaths came in harsh pants, and she felt hot against his neck and back. She softly groaned, her eyes wanting to roll into the back of her head.
'He's going to transform! So should we! Let's kill! Let's kill every last one!!' Kumouri screeched with glee. 'Shukaku wants to kill, so let's rip him to shreds! Let's stain this forest!!'
'Don't listen to her Kari-chan! Fight her! Fight her!'
Kari whined, she felt hot, her gums sore as her canines began to lengthen.
'You don't have the strength Kari-chan! You can't try to transform!'
'She will transform! Consequences aren't important! I NEED TO KILL!'
"Kari" Sasuke muttered, as her body trembled against his back. "Doushita?"
"Nothing…" Kari panted. "Focus… Concentrate on Gaara… Sasuke… He'll kill you…"
"I will be able to feel that I am alive!!" Sasuke's mind flashed back to training with Kakashi.
"Doushita?" Sasuke asked, noticing Kakashi was distracted.
"Your location is obvious with that intense murderous intent of yours" Kakashi said. The Jounin glanced at Kari "Kari, pockyfish." The blonde kunoichi burst into a fit of light giggles. Kakashi looked back at a large rock. "Come out."
Sasuke watched as the redheaded Suna-nin stepped out from behind the rock.
"Omae ka?"
"What is your goal? Why do you seek power?" Gaara asked, his eyes fixed on Sasuke with an almost… hunger.
"It doesn't concern you" Sasuke said bluntly. "Get lost, you're interrupting our training."
"You don't have to be so rude" Kari scolded.
"You… have the same eyes that I have" Gaara said turning away. "Eyes that seek power, filled with hate and murderous intent. You are similar to me."
"And Kari? I noticed that you glanced her way" Kakashi asked, acting overprotective.
"Her eyes are filled with pain, loss, and desperation." Gaara said. "She hides it and continues to suffer." Sasuke automatically took a step in front of her, but noticed how her lips thinned and her eyes glared at the floor.
"Uchiha Sasuke. Don't forget, you are my…"
"You are my…" Gaara screamed and fell to his knees, writhing in pain, Kari's body shuddering with each of his screams. "You're… my… PREY!" Sasuke's eyes shot open in horror at Gaara's half transformed form. Half of his body was gold with blue markings and deformed half his face, his right arm large and his hand like a claw. "Now… Let me feel!" He opened his eyes to reveal one that was similar to the one Sasuke had seen in the shell.
'It's that eye! That eye I saw before!' Sasuke's hands shook, but it was nothing compared to Kari's violent shaking. Her body was burning hot, her skin itching, violent shakes travelled through her body, her breathing ragged and dry. Her eyes were wide with horror, her heart hammering in her chest.
'That… Is that what I'll be like if my demons take over?!'
Without hesitating Gaara hurtled towards them with new found speed, saliva running from his open mouth. Sasuke gripped Kari's thighs and rushed out of the way as a large claw smashed through the branch he had been standing on. Bark and branches were ripped from trees from the impact.
Sasuke was hidden behind a more sturdy tree a safer distance away, holding Kari close to his chest. She was still trembling, her raging fever back with a vengeance. He carefully lifted her shirt and bit his lip when he noticed red stains beginning to sink through. Sasuke flinched and grasped his shoulder. 'Looks like I won't be finished by the time you come to back me up Shino…' Sasuke thought, looking round the tree at Gaara. Sasuke gasped, and quickly gathered Kari in his arms before jumping away. Not a second later, the tree was mere splinters.
"Is he a monster?" Sasuke cried darting behind another tree.
"No…" Kari groaned, her eyes fluttering closed.
"Kari! Stay awake!!" Sasuke hissed.
"Are you afraid of me, Uchiha Sasuke?!" Gaara cried. "Are you scared of my existence?! Come out! Uchiha Sasuke!"
"Tch" Sasuke growled, hoisting Kari up and holding her body close to him.
"You are my… Prey!!" Gaara screamed. The loud noise seemed to echo through Kari make her whole body tremor violently.
"Kari listen to me…" Sasuke whispered. "I'm going to put you on my back, hold on to me and no matter what do not let go…"
"Hai…" she panted her eyes opening slightly. Sasuke hoisted her onto his back and darted out towards Gaara, Kari hanging on loosely.
"There you are!" Gaara cried with glee, his golden claw shooting towards them but his face fell when he noticed he had pierced clones.
"Over here!" Sasuke cried, pulling out three kunai in each hand and throwing them down at him. Gaara simply smirked and shielded himself with his transformed arm, the kunai piercing him, but drawing no blood, he didn't even react. Sasuke grabbed hold of a tree branch and used it to flip himself back up.
"When all you gotta keep is strong, move along, move along, like I know you do… And even when your hope is gone, move along, move along, just to make it through…" Kari mumbled softly under her breath. Sasuke grit his teeth, grabbing her thighs to hold her steady. 'She's struggling to stay awake, she's barely aware of what's going on anymore. She freaked out when I caught her humming to herself as she cleaned her katana and got all flustered and embarrassed so she wouldn't sing with other people about…' Sasuke's eyes widened as his kunai sank into the transformed limb.
"Here I'll give them back!" Gaara cried, and the kunai shot at him, luckily it was just a clone. Sasuke and Kari were behind a different tree, a short distance behind Gaara. Kari had stopped mumbling lyrics and was starting to go a bit floppy.
"That guy…" Sasuke murmured. He needed to hurry up for Kari's sake, she was worsening by the second, but he was struggling even if he didn't count her hindering his movement and worrying him constantly.
"Uchiha… Sasuke! Why will you not attack me?—Arrgh!" He groaned grabbing his head and fell to his knees. Sasuke gasped as Kari fell from his back and he span and managed to catch her. Her eyes were glazed and dull, unfocused. Her face had lost its feverish flush and had gone that horrible white shade it did when she was very sick. He felt her forehead and could feel the heat prickling at his hands.
"Shimatta… Kari…" Sasuke lightly tapped her cheek and she groggily turned her head towards him. "You promised you'd stay awake and hold on to me, remember?" he said with a slight accusing tone, she blinked and mumbled something. He bent closer, struggling to hear her.
"Sasu…" she said hoarsely.
"Why do you run…?" Gaara growled.
Kari's body lurched and her eyes widened, clouded by images that could only be from Gaara's memories.
The chatter of children echoed around as they played football, running about with glee. Gaara sat alone watching them, gently rocking back and forth on a swing, holding the rope with one hand and a teddy in the other.
"Shoot!" a boy cried, kicking the ball too hard. It soared up in the air, landing on the edge of a high wall.
"What should we do?"
"We cant use the rock climbing jutsu yet…"
There was sighs of disappointment as they stared up at the ball that was far out of their reach. They gasped when the ball miraculously floated down on a cloud of sand. Their eyes followed the toy until it landed in Gaara's hands. He stood facing them shyly, he struggled, trying to speak.
"You're…"
"Here" Gaara offered holding the ball out towards them.
"Its Gaara…"
"Suna no Gaara…"
"NIGERO!!" they screamed turning and running away as fast as their legs would carry them.
"Matte!" Gaara cried, reaching out to them. "Don't leave me alone!" Sand wrapped around two of the children's legs, pulling them to the ground and dragging them back towards him.
"Help!!" They screamed.
'I… don't want to be alone anymore…' Gaara thought desperately. 'I…'
"IIE!!" the girl screamed as sand shot towards her, but she was shielded by someone jumping in the way.
"Gaara-sama! Please calm down!" the man cried, ignoring the blood running from his arm and forehead.
"Yashamaru…" Gaara said softly in shock. He looked away in shame, the wind lifting up some sand.
Gaara roared, knocking Kari out of her trance. 'W-what was that?'
"You're not getting away, you can't hide behind her forever Uchiha Sasuke!!" Gaara bellowed, smashing trees with his transformed arm before jumping and speeding forwards, cutting through tree after tree, laughing at the destruction he left.
'What the hell?' Sasuke thought pulling away from Kari, having tried to shield her from the dust and wind kicked up from Gaara's attack against the forest. 'What's with his monstrous strength?'
'Transform brat! Kill! Make me feel alive!'
'No… Go away… Go away…'
'I'll never go away! I'll be with you every second of your pathetic life!'
'Then just shut up and leave me alone…'
'NOT UNTILL YOU KILL!!'
"Are you afraid of me?!" Gaara taunted.
'He's too strong…' Sasuke thought grimly. 'If Kari was at full strength we might stand a better chance, but in the state she's in now she'll be killed instantly…'
"Uchiha Sasuke… Are you scared of my existence?! Then shouldn't you fear the one you're trying to protect?! Uchiha Sasuke!"
Sasuke looked down at Kari, as she turned her dull eyes onto him, sweat starting to coat her skin.
"Go… Sasuke… You…" she trailed off and grimaced slightly. "I'll… hold him… Go… Back up…"
"I'm not leaving you baka…" Sasuke said coldly and she lazily lifted her arm and tapped it against the side of his head. His brows furrowed and a dull pain hit his chest. 'She doesn't even have the strength to hit me…' A smile twitched at the corner of his lips. 'As if I could ever fear her…' He glanced back at Gaara, a flashback once again hitting him.
"Don't forget… You are my prey" Gaara stated, as he began to walk away.
"Matte!" Sasuke ordered.
"Aa! Sasuke! Don't be so rude!" Kari scolded. Gaara paused and looked back at them.
"Why are you so obsessed with me? And why are you so interested in her?" Sasuke demanded, causing Kari to give him a glare for his lack of respect towards other people.
"You have eyes that know true solitude… Eyes that know loneliness is this world's worst kind of pain." Gaara said. Sasuke's expression hardened and he didn't miss Kari move closer to him, their arms brushing. "I told you before, you have the same eyes as me. Eyes that seek power, filled with hate and murderous intent, the same as mine… Itching to kill the one who put you in the pain known as solitude."
"Kari, calm down" Kakashi murmured.
"That doesn't answer my question about her." Sasuke forced himself to say, trying to push back the rage bubbling inside him.
"Like I said, her eyes hold suffering alike to ours. She knows loneliness. She's always in pain, and always hides it. Yet there are moments… Where that murderous intent brushes the surface…" Gaara murmured staring fixedly at her. "But instead she turns that anger inwards, and suffers through her mind. Like now…"
"Okay that's enough" Kakashi interrupted, as Kari's eyes took a purple tint. Immediately they returned to normal and turned to Kakashi. "Gaara was it? I don't know what you know about Sasuke or Kari… But you shouldn't talk as if you know everything about them. What did you want to tell them by going through the trouble of finding this place before the main tournament?" Kakashi asked.
"The purpose of a battle… Is to put your lives on the line… and try to kill each other" Gaara said, staring intently at Sasuke. "Only the winner can confirm the value of his existence."
"So you came to say you don't want a match, but a battle to the death" Kakashi said. "Oi…" he said glancing Kari's way, Sasuke could feel the static charge thickening the air.
"Uchiha… I know you want it too… Deep within your heart… You want to confirm your reason to exist and to see if you're really strong, stronger than the one your murderous eyes are directed at…"
"WOAH!" Kakashi cried rapidly appearing behind Kari and locking his arms around her as a violent hiss escaped her. "Down girl, calm down…" Kakashi whispered. Sasuke could feel her chakra wash over him, it prickled his skin like a dull sting, but he was unable to take his eyes off the Suna-nin opposite him.
"And she suffers yet again…"
"Doushita?! Uchiha Sasuke!!" Sasuke's expression hardened. He adjusted Kari, who seemed to have temporarily lost consciousness, still against his chest. "Are you afraid of me?! Did your hate and murderous intent cower because of fear? Is your existence that weak? Fight me, and confirm it! Your value and existence that is!" Gaara demanded. "Experiment, if you want an answer! If you don't she'll suffer because of it! FIGHT ME!!"
"Sasuke…" Kari mumbled. He stood and lifted her onto his back, pulling her up.
'He kept me alive…' His hands fluidly formed hand signs. 'Just me, alone. Why?' Chakra sparked in his palm. 'No, I know the answer… He kept me alive, because he wanted to be tormented… by a living embodiment of the guilt he felt from killing the entire clan.' The Chidori chirped, his chakra large and bright. 'Itachi wanted an avenger to kill him and chose me for that job!' Gaara turned to see the bright chakra and his eyes lit up with excitement.
"Let me have fun, Uchiha Sasuke!" Gaara cried with glee.
"I'll finish you off with one strike" Sasuke growled his Sharingan blazing. Both leapt at the same time, Kari instinctively holding onto him. Sasuke's Chidori cut through Gaara's transformed arm with ease, causing the redhead to scream in pain.
"Gaara!!" Temari cried in alarm as her brother crashed to the branch Sasuke had been on before. Sasuke landed lightly.
'That should've hurt him…' Sasuke thought, looking back at Gaara, who was lying on the branch. His eyes widened and then narrowed when Gaara began laughing. He sat up and then struggled to stand.
"Sou ka… I see now!" Gaara cried, holding his transformed arm.
"This cant be, he countered Gaara's attack when Gaara's in that form?" Temari whispered in shock. Sasuke panted, his Sharingan fading.
"Why is this so exciting, I finally understand…" Gaara said panting. "This pain… By defeating a guy who can hurt me and taking away everything he possesses, it will give me a stronger sensation of life!" Sasuke smirked.
'Gaara has never been wounded before… yet he hurt him twice… Is he a monster? No… the real monster is… So far only Gaara's right arm has transformed…' Temari shuddered and clasped her hands together in fear.
"More, more!" Gaara cried, forcing his injured arm to grow.
"Nani!" Sasuke cried as sand poured out of Gaara's gourd to form a large tail similar to his arm. Sasuke felt Kari shudder on his back, her grip tightening on him. 'Who the hell is this guy? He keeps doing something new…!' Gaara gripped the branch with his tail and arm and leant back. Kari's eyes shot open.
"Sasuke move!" she cried, her voice a mere croak.
'He's faster now!!' Sasuke thought in alarm, activating his Sharingan as Gaara sped towards him like a bullet. Sasuke jumped up, sticking his feet to the branch above him with his chakra and narrowly dodging as the thick branch he had been standing on before was broken in half with little effort. Gaara grabbed hold of another branch and prepared to hurtle himself back towards Sasuke.
'I can't dodge his attack unless I predict his movement. I would've been dead a long time ago if I didn't have these eyes…' Gaara shot back towards them. Sasuke quickly formed a hand sign. 'I can't use Chidori anymore… Katon Goukakyuu no jutsu!' Sasuke blew a ball of fire at Gaara, but he simply enclosed himself in sand and wasn't slowed down in the slightest. 'A fire element attack won't work against sand! And a technique of this level isn't enough! K'so Kari I could use a water technique about now!'
"Suiton… Suiryuu—uhh…" Kari trailed off, slipping from his back, trying to force the technique with such low chakra causing her to faint.
"Fakku!" Sasuke cried, grabbing hold of her wrist and pulling her to him as Gaara's arm slammed into them sending them flying. They slammed through branch after branch before hitting a thick branch, leaving a heavy dent in it. Sasuke panted heavily, cradling Kari close to him. He couldn't tell if she was conscious, she was still and floppy, her eyes open and glazed, blood trickling from her mouth.
'It has to be the Chidori…'
Sasuke panted, his Chidori dying in his hand. Kakashi looked at the two gaping holes in the rock.
"Looks like your limit is two shots. Pretty reasonable. That's the number of times you can use Chidori in one day with your current Chakra capacity" Kakashi commented. There was a loud bang and Kari fell to her behind, before flopping onto her back, panting as though she had run a marathon. "Kari's is four, seeing as number five pretty much knocked her out." Sasuke's Sharingan faded as he looked at his shaking hand. "Kari still needs to work on control, her arms are badly burned again" Kakashi sighed and she crawled over and flopped beside Sasuke.
"Sleepy…" she whined and flopped against Sasuke's leg, her chest heaving with each breath.
"This technique must be used in conjunction with your Sharingan Sasuke, and your speed Kari after all" Kakashi said, a smile stretching under his mask when Kari grabbed Sasuke's shaking hand and gave him a scolding look. "Using them both together, is like exploding the chakra in your body and using it all up in the blink of an eye, and thus uses it all up."
"Bleh… I don't like not having much chakra…" Kari sighed.
"You're both still incredible. If I used my Chidori or Raikiri four times in one day, I'd be running on empty. Kari, your chakra is difficult to control, which results in those burns, so I'd suggest not using it more than twice for you, especially as low Chakra isn't good with your… situations." Kakashi said, pulling out the cream and bandages causing her to wrinkle her nose but allow him to take her arm and apply the cool cream to her sore, burnt skin.
"Ekk! That's cold!" Kari shuddered as it met her burning flesh, Kakashi placing a large amount on, covering her dark burns. He rubbed it in and then wrapped it, starting to become an expert in wrapping Kari's arms. Luckily though, the deep cuts from Zaku were now almost fully healed, with a fading line as the only visible reminder.
"What will happen if I try to use it more than twice?" Sasuke asked.
"The third will not happen. Remember that. For both your sakes." Kakashi said as he continued wrapping Kari's other arm. "If you try to use the technique forcefully… it will not function properly, and your chakra will be reduced to zero. And in the worst case scenario you'll die, in which case, so will Kari." Sasuke looked round surprised as Kari's ears lowered.
"I wouldn't let him die Kashi-nii, you know that" Kari said stubbornly.
"Even if you did survive, it wouldn't have any positive effects on you" Kakashi continued. "Especially, on the both of you."
"Doushita? Is this all your existence is worth?" Gaara taunted. "Let me make this clear… You are weak! You are too soft… Because your hatred is weak! The power of hatred is the power of murderous intent. The power of murderous intent is the power of revenge! Your hatred is weaker than mine!"
"Shut up…" Sasuke said lowly, his anger bubbling under the surface. Kari's eyes shifted to him, but he barely noticed.
"Do you know what this means?" Gaara asked.
"Shut up!" Sasuke shouted.
"It means that you are weaker than me! I'm going to take everything away from you, starting with the one you're trying to protect!"
'Itachi chose me to be the avenger and kill him. I am an avenger!' Sasuke thought as the third Chidori blazed in his palm. 'No one is taking her away from me! Not even you Itachi!!' They flew at each other once more, Sasuke holding Kari with one arm as Chidori sparked in the other hand. He flinched in pain as the Chidori faded and began to die.
There was a deafening bang as they collided and they landed on the others branch, backs facing each other. Gaara's transformed arm fell off, revealing his normal arm underneath. He groaned in pain as he forced another arm to grow.
Sasuke was silent for a moment, taking note of the feeling of the cursemark spreading through his system. Then his heart froze in his chest when a high scream exploded from next to him.
"No…" Sasuke murmured, his Sharingan eyes turning to look at Kari. She collapsed to her knees, her hair falling over her face. Blood flooded from beneath her fingers, where he knew her cursemark was. Another weaker scream ripped through her throat before she fell to he side, curled up in the foetal position, in absolute agony. "Kari…" Sasuke tried to rush to her side, but his strength deserted him and he fell heavily on top of her. Gaara had wounded his left shoulder, he could feel it becoming slightly sticky as it stung.
"Make it stop…" Kari whimpered, shaking from under him, her canines cutting the sides of her tongue. "Sasuke make it stop…"
"I'm here…" Sasuke said, trying to soothe her, her shaking vibrating against his torso. "I'll get help soon, stay strong" but his reassurances died as she cried out in pain again, the markings across her left side lined in angry red.
"It hurts…" she whispered, a red river sliding out her mouth, her blood mixing with her saliva. "It hurts…"
"It hurts me too" Sasuke said, grasping her hand and squeezing it tightly. "But you have to be strong for me okay?" His body was heavy, and he couldn't move at all. Everywhere hurt, he felt so weak. "It's the cursed seal again—ugh!!" Sasuke cried, hearing Kari whimper. His other hand grasped the crook of his neck, where his curse mark was. There was a creak as Gaara sprang towards the two defenceless ninja. 'K'so… my body won't…' Kari cried out as she tried to force her body to move, the thunderous crash of chains and enraged roars deafening her. The claw stretched towards them and Sasuke tightened his hold on her hand.
"KARI-CHAN!!"
Sasuke's eyes widened as a flash of orange appeared in front of him, delivering a powerful kick to Gaara's jaw, sending him flying away from them. Naruto landed on the branch in front of them, panting.
"Sasuke-kun!"
"Okaasan!"
Sakura, Kita and a pug landed on the branch around Sasuke and Kari.
"Na-Naru…" Kari whispered.
"It's ok Kari-chan" Naruto said softly. Sakura looked round in surprise at the gentleness of his tone.
"I'm here now Ookami-nee."