A.N.: This chapter has been hard to write for me. The whole fight with Gaara was something I originally didn't plan on including, but then it wrote itself and turned into a three-chapter miniarc. It almowt destroyed what I have prewritten of the Exams.
So please read and review.
A.N.2: Now reposted with less grammar and spelling errors.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I repeat it every chapter, you should know it by now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Kazekage's office~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Yondaime Kazekage was ready to bang his head on the table. Maybe if he hit hard enough he would knock himself out and wouldn't have to deal with any of this mess. Maybe he would even stay out long enough for it to resolve itself. But no, however tempting the idea was, once he was the Kazekage, he had to deal personally with whatever major crap happened in Sunagakure. And this definitely counted as major crap. His predecessor didn't warn him that days like this might come, but to be just, his predecessor couldn't give him much advice on anything, with that mysterious disappearance incident and all. He tried to remember what so terrible he had done to deserve this, but his mind drew a blank. 'It must be bad karma from previous lives,' he decided.
He forced himself to turn his attention back to the shinobi giving his report. It was another account of panic in the village. He suppressed a sigh and recalled everything he knew about the latest incident, both fact and speculation.
Fact One: Gaara is a murderous psycho.
Fact Two: Gaara met a Leaf genin here for the Exams who spiked his interest.
Fact Three: Gaara threatened said genin in front of his team, but Baki intervened and convinced Gaara to leave.
Fact Four: Baki promised the Leaf jounin they would rein in Gaara so he wouldn't bother them again.
Fact Five: Gaara fought the Leaf genin and injured his teammate.
Fact Six: Gaara lost, when the Leaf boy turned out to be a stronger jinchuuriki.
Fact Seven: There was a powerful jinchuuriki of unknown mental state and foreign affiliation within his village.
Fact Eight: No permanent damage was done.
Fact Nine: Every shinobi and civilian present within Suna felt the release of demonic power, many people panicked.
Fact Ten: Delegations from allied villages here for the Exams are demanding explanations from him.
Speculation One: Gaara attacked a guest of the village without provocation. This one was almost certainly a fact, but due to lack of unbiased witness testimonies he could pretend it had happened differently. It was the only way he could save the face of Suna now.
He considered his options. How can he weasel his way out of this without costing Suna any of its precious resources? How to salvage the treaty with Konoha? He knew that many of his subordinates hated the other village, but the treaty was one of the few things allowing them to put up a strong image. The budget cuts of their idiot of a daimyo reduced their strength considerably and now there were even rumors of further reduction. If it happened, it might very well mean the end of Sand Village. If the Daimyo-baka ever learned they broke the laws of hospitability, it would be bound to happen.
Their only chance was to deny it was them who attacked first. But he couldn't put the blame on Konoha either. The Hidden Leaf didn't need to break a sweat to make their lives difficult. If that accursed thing could just keep its temper in check… such wishful thinking got him nowhere. He deeply regretted ever attempting to create an ultimate weapon. What was he even thinking? All previous hosts of Shukaku had turned out insane, whatever gave him the idea that his son would be different? Strange, he hadn't thought of that thing as his son in years. He would have to do something about him soon, one incident he might somehow get away with, but two would be impossible to cover up.
He cut the useless stream of thoughts, instead concentrating on possible solutions. If he could just pretend that… And why not? If he could convince the Leaf jounin to go along with it… Konoha didn't want to break their alliance with them, did they? With ninja politics it was always hard to tell, but he believed he was right on this account. With a plan formed in his mind, he proceeded to take action.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Inside Naruto's mind~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He once again found himself walking the familiar dark, damp hallways of his mindscape. He didn't want to be here, but he knew there was no choice. If the demon wanted to speak to him, he had no choice but to obey. He strolled through the long corridor until he reached the cave that housed the Kyuubi.
The kitsune was sitting right behind the tall bars, his gigantic tails dancing lazily behind him.
"So here you are," he drawled. "I was beginning to think you got lost within your own mind."
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Kyuubi-sama," Naruto answered sarcastically. "I see you have many more important matters to occupy your time here."
"Impudent whelp," the demon growled, but somehow he didn't sound really angry to Naruto.
"Yes, I love you too," the boy replied. "So is there a reason I am here or did you just want to chat?"
"You shouldn't be insulting your betters, little monkey," the kitsune advised him.
"I know," the blond nodded. "It just seems so easy when they are behind the bars."
"You're trying my patience, worm," the demon growled. Now it sounded like he was getting annoyed. Naruto decided it would be safer to quit his teasing.
"I apologize, oh great and powerful one," he said without twitching. He didn't sound particularly honest, but the Nine-tails decided to ignore it. He just snorted.
"Now we have the formalities out of the way, we should get down to business," the Nine-tails suggested. "As you saw today, you are nothing without my power."
"I wouldn't put it quite that way," muttered the boy.
"Oh? So you deny that without me you would be just a bag of minced meat feeding the fleabag Shukaku by now?" The fox tilted his head sideways in a questioning expression.
"No," Naruto admitted grudgingly.
"So you see," replied the Kyuubi triumphantly. "You need me to win your battles."Naruto took a deep breath to say something, but the demon spoke first."So you want to deny it? That would make you even dumber than I originally thought."
Naruto grimaced like he just ate a lemon. The Nine-tailed demon fox was right, he knew it, but he refused to let the furball dictate what he should do. He thought carefully about his response.
"I can handle my battles unless I run into another demon," he said in the end.
"Hmmm, is that so?" The beast raised his eyebrow. It was quite the feat considering he had none. "I clearly remember you drawing upon my power against the bone user and he wasn't a demon, that I know for sure. And what about the Grey Mist Mountains? You would have died without me and there wasn't a single enemy around."
Naruto had to agree the Nine-tails had a point, but he didn't want to admit defeat just yet. He was just stubborn that way.
"Those are exceptions." It sounded lame even to him.
"It isn't an exception if it happens too often," the kitsune pointed out. "In fact, how many serious battles have you been through without needing me?"
The blond scratched his head in embarrassment. The fuzzball was right and they both knew it. He had no doubt the demon intended to use it to his full advantage. The only question was what it would cost him.
"What do you want?" he asked with a resigned sigh.
"Not much, little kit," he replied in a benevolent tone. It didn't suit him at all. "Just rip that seal off."
"You're kidding," shouted the jinchuuriki in disbelief.
"Well," shrugged Kyuubi, a difficult task without shoulders, but he managed, "it was worth a try."
"It was sick," the boy corrected scowling.
"I'm a demon," the gigantic fox reminded him, "just what did you expect from me?"
"Point taken," the child admitted. "And now seriously. What did you want to talk about? Surely this wasn't all."
"Quite right, it wasn't," the monster confirmed. "I wanted to propose a deal."
"What kind of deal?" Naruto went instantly on guard.
"One quite profitable for the both of us," the kitsune leaned closer to the bars. "You would get easier access to my power and abilities and in return you allow more of my power to flow constantly through your body."
"What would that mean?" the boy scrunched his face in suspicion. "You wouldn't ask for it if it didn't mean a big gain for you, but what could it be? Are you trying to gain more influence over me? Are you trying to weaken your prison?"
"Paranoid little thing, aren't we?" the demon observed. "Just why do you think everything I have to say is a trick?"
"I don't know," the blond shrugged. "Maybe because you are just an overgrown kitsune and all kitsune are notorious tricksters? Or was it because you don't like me one bit? Maybe I'm just naturally suspicious to all offers that sound too good to be true, because they usually aren't true."
"And just what good would it do me?" Kyuubi retorted. "If you die, I die. That's one fact. I don't want to die. That's another. Therefore I have to do everything in my power to keep you alive. Do you understand or is it too much for your tiny brain to process?"
"Hmm, it is a sound reasoning," Naruto admitted, "but that doesn't mean you wouldn't try to get out using any means available. I have just your word that you'll behave."
"Maybe you aren't completely brain-dead," the Nine-tails remarked. "But the fact stands that I can't get out as long as the seal holds."
"Which brings us back to my original question," the genin replied. "Would constant use of your power weaken the seal?"
"No," the demon stated in his most convincing tone.
"I don't think I can take your word on that," the human said.
"Quite right," the beast nodded, "But it's the truth nevertheless."
"You would have said that even if it wasn't," the demon vessel pointed out.
"Right again," the Kyuubi no Kitsune admitted.
"So it comes down to the question of trust," the youth sighed.
"It appears so," the fox grinned. Naruto gained a perfect view of his teeth. "We might spend an eternity discussing it and still not come to any conclusion. Do you have that much time? I do."
"So we're stuck," the Konoha genin threw his hands around in an exasperated gesture. "Do I have to answer now?"
"Yes." The monster seemed excited to hear his answer.
"Really," the young ninja doubted. "If it is so beneficial for you, then why would it be just a one time offer?"
"Oh, I have a lot of time," the kitsune elaborated, "but you don't. The Chuunin Exams start in three days time and you would be facing a lot of tough opponents there. Do you think you can handle them alone?" Naruto's worried face was answer enough. "I thought so," the beast nodded. "So would you take my power and become strong enough to protect those pathetic teammates of yours you seem to be so attached to or would you remain a pathetic wimp and allow them to be slaughtered in front of your own eyes, knowing you could have saved them but stupidly refused the means?"
Naruto almost accepted. He was sorely tempted to do so. He would do nearly anything for his precious people, but a sliver of doubt still lingered. Then an image of Gaara shot through his mind. 'Mother wants blood,' the boy had said. He didn't understand what he had meant back then, but suddenly it started to make sense. A sick, twisted sense, but sense nevertheless. Was the other jinchuuriki talking to his demon? Was that what made the two of them so different? Would he end up just like him if he accepted the offer? Did using the Kyuubi's power regularly mean turning into a monster?
"No," he decided. "I cannot accept your offer."
"Think about it carefully," the tempter replied. "Do you really want to be powerless when your dear girls are in danger?"
"I'm far from powerless," he scowled.
"You think so," the Nine-tails chuckled.
"Yes, I think so," the blond replied with absolute certainty.
"Well, your choice," the fox shrugged. "When your dear friends die, don't come crying to me, unless you are ready to accept my offer."
"I'll remember it," the genin promised. "If you excuse me, I will take my leave now."
"Just go," Kyuubi said in a disinterested tone. "And if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me."
Naruto paid him no mind and left his mindscape.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Kazekage's office~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tenzo wouldn't even try to deny he felt nervous about being called to the Kazekage's office. The situation at hand was a mess. The Hokage had sent them to the Exams to show the strength of future generation of Konoha shinobi, not to cause an international incident, though, the man supposed, Naruto had proven his prowess quite spectacularly.
He had been worried out of his mind when he had felt the outbreak of demonic energy near Suna. It had been so much worse when he had realized there had been two sources of the tainted power. The thought of his little Naruto fighting against a demon made him shudder in fear. Then he had run into Hotaru and the frantic girl told him about their encounter with the deranged Gaara. He swore. Exactly what he had been trying to avoid had happened. He ran toward the battle zone at top speed. He knew that his meager powers couldn't stand against the force being unleashed, but he had to try anyway.
When he saw Naruto standing above his fallen opponent, he had been immensely relieved. There was still a bit of worry, Naruto had never before used so much power it had formed a whole tail, but the boy had it under control. He managed to suppress the Kyuubi's power and passed out shortly thereafter. He had carried him to the hotel and entrusted him to Daisuke, the medic in Konoha's delegation. The man had already treated Hotaru and assured him the girl would be alright in time for the Exams. Tenzo waited until he examined Naruto and declared him mostly healthy, just exhausted. Only after that he took time to consider what he should do next.
The problem was he had never been much involved in village politics, much less international one. Even his time in ANBU gave him only marginal understanding of who is in power and what are their areas of interests. He had only vague idea about the value of the treaty with Hidden Sand and who gained what from it. Should he put on a strong façade? Should he be polite and agree to whatever Suna would want? One thing he knew: he would defend Naruto no matter what. The only one who could order him otherwise was the Hokage and he was three days away. Speaking of which, he would have to be informed. But what would he report now? It wasn't like they brought messenger birds with them. This situation would probably resolve itself before the Sandaime would receive word that something had happened. He'll wait and send his report once this situation was over.
This was when a messenger form the Kazekage approached him, informing him he was summoned before the Suna village leader. 'Here it comes,' he thought. 'For better or worse, this matter is going to be resolved soon.'
He was led into the audience chamber. He had fully expected it to look similar to the Hokage office back in Konoha, but it couldn't be more different. There was no table and no racks filled with scrolls, instead there was just a raised dais separated from the rest of the room by transparent curtains. Behind them the Kazekage was sitting cross-legged in his full regalia, his face covered by a veil. Oh, and did he mention there were guards everywhere?
He didn't know how he was supposed to act. Visitors were probably supposed to kneel upon being given an audience. But he wasn't the Kazekage's subordinate. He was the wronged party here and if he behaved too submissively, he might find the tables turned on him. He opted to just bow deeply. He waited for the Kage to speak first.
"There has been an unfortunate incident earlier this afternoon," the robed man started, his tone sharp. "A fight has broken out close to the village. Why didn't you inform us you brought a jinchuuriki to our village?"
"We aren't required to inform the host village about the abilities of the contest participants," Tenzo replied evenly. He noted that the Kazekage fired a powerful shot right at the beginning of the conversation. As far as his limited experience in diplomacy went, that wasn't something usually done. So what was the other man up to?
"That is no small matter and it cannot be brushed aside so easily," the Suna village leader claimed. "A jinchuuriki is a weapon of great destructive power, not just some average genin and cannot be regarded as such."
"Uzumaki Naruto holds the rank of genin in Konohagakure," the Mokuton user stated. "He came here along with his teammates to take part in the Chuunin selection Exams. This village guaranteed our safety, yet he was first threatened and then he and his teammate, Uzuki Hotaru, were attacked by one of yours unprovoked. Both of them sustained injuries during the attack."
"There is no proof of this," the man with the Kage hat said. "Only you claim they were attacked without provocation. For all we know they might very well be the ones who broke the truce of the Exams."
"One of your own shinobi saw Gaara threatening us," the Konoha jounin pointed out. "He assured us we wouldn't be bothered again."
"We did our best," the Yondaime Kazekage replied, "but Gaara broke his detention."
"Is that so?" The former ANBU raised an eyebrow. Inwardly he was rejoicing. The Kazekage had just admitted that the fault was theirs. "What kind of detention it was that it couldn't hold a single child?"
"That thing isn't a child." The hatred and revulsion was thick in the Kazekage's voice. Tenzo had a hard time not to grit his teeth.
"That is of no consequence," he spoke with great effort, but his voice stayed even. "What matters is that he belongs to Suna and he assaulted my students for no good reason."
"As I already said, there are no impartial witnesses of the event," the Suna Kage repeated his statement.
"Are any witnesses ever impartial?" Tenzo asked philosophically.
"That isn't the matter here," the Sand Village leader answered. "The matter is that the fight occurred and there must be consequences."
"I agree." That was without doubt. There would be consequences, he just needed to make sure they wouldn't be as the Kazekage wanted. "My students were injured while being guests of your village. This cannot be allowed to slide."
"I have been informed that their injuries are only superficial." So the Kazekage had good spies. Tenzo himself had learned that barely minutes before he had been summoned. Well, no surprise there, a Kage must be informed about the events in his own village, lest he wouldn't be able to keep his position for long.
"They could have easily been much more severe, if my genin weren't so adept at defending themselves," the Konoha jounin pointed out.
"But they are not," the Suna Kage replied.
"This isn't what matters here," the Wood user stated.
"I don't think so." The Kazekage's tone changed a bit. It seemed like he was finally ready to make his point.
"And why would that be?" Tenzo both couldn't wait to hear the answer and dreaded what the Kage would say.
"No permanent damage was done. Even though somebody managed to prove without a doubt, who is at fault for the incident, there wouldn't be a high penalty for the offender," the man with the Kage hat claimed.
"Breaking the laws of hospitability is a serious offense," the Leaf shinobi countered.
"Indeed," the Yondaime nodded. "But the thing is here is nearly impossible to prove who broke them. Do you want to risk your students being blamed?" The Kazekage was trying to bully him into submission. Did he really think he was that weak?
"I don't think this is up to me to decide, Kazekage-sama," the jounin fired his most powerful shot. "Hokage-sama is the one who deals with international diplomacy matters. It would be better to inform him and wait for his decision."
"Konoha is three days of travel from here," the Sand Village leader reminded him. "He wouldn't get the message before the Exams starts." That was exactly what Tenzo had been thinking earlier. "Should we just put you under guard until his answer arrives?" That would mean missing the Exams. Tenzo was torn on what should he do. They were in the right, but Suna was the Kazekage's playing field. He had a lot of ways to make their lives miserable without breaking any treaty.
"What else could be done?" he asked. He didn't like it a bit, but it seemed like he couldn't maintain the strong façade anymore. He couldn't confirm it, but he thought the Kazekage smiled behind his veil. It didn't improve his mood any.
"As I have already stated, no permanent damage was done," the robed man spoke. "There is no need to make consequences out of this." He had been claiming the exact opposite just a minute before, but Tenzo didn't think it would be wise to call him on it. "We might pretend that the boys just engaged in a friendly spar and got carried away." A battle with so much demonic power released could hardly be called a spar, but the former ANBU could name a couple of worse cases of stretching reality. "Then there would be no need to turn this into an international incident." It already was one, but it was a good way of sweeping trouble under the carpet, Tenzo had to give him that. "This way your genin might be even allowed to take part in the Chuunin Exams, under one condition." Oh, well, he knew it was too good to be true. "I have to think about the safety of my shinobi and allowing somebody as dangerous as a jinchuuriki into Chuunin Exams isn't standard procedure."
"There is no rule against it." While that was true, there were many other reasons a determined person could come up with to deny somebody participation in the Exams. They both knew it very well.
"Nobody takes kindly to a village sending overpowered candidates for Chuunin Exams," the Kage pointed out. It was another well-known fact. Tenzo considered defending Naruto, but that would mean revealing his abilities to a foreign shinobi, something that simply wasn't done. He decided to wait for the Kazekage to speak. "I can allow him into the Exams under one condition: He wouldn't use his demon's power." That sounded reasonable, but something important was being left unsaid.
"What would happen should he use his power anyway?" he asked. "I cannot tell him not to defend with all his might in a life-or-death situation."
"He would be disqualified from the Exams," the Kazekage announced.
"This is reasonable," the Konoha jounin said. It didn't mean any serious hindrance for his students, Naruto never used his powers if there were any other possibilities.
"I am glad we reached an agreement," the Suna Kage said. "You are excused now."
Tenzo deeply bowed and exited the room. Despite the initial scare, nothing serious had come out of the incident. Yet, a more cynical part of his brain added. He sighed. He had to write a report for the Hokage about this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hotel~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Naruto woke up to the sensation of his whole body hurting. What could he have been doing the day before to still be in that much pain? Ah, fighting the sand-wielding whacko, now he remembered. That last blow that sent him flying must have been worse than he had thought. He slowly opened his eyes. He was lying in his bed in the hotel.
"Ah, somebody finally woke up," sounded a cheerful voice.
"Hotaru," he smiled. "So you are alright?"
"A bit sore and bruised, but I'll live," the girl recounted. "I'll even be back in shape for the Exams."
"That's great," the blond exclaimed. It would be really a pity if after all they had been through they weren't able to compete.
"Oh, and not to forget," the kunoichi added, "Tenzo-sensei wanted to talk to you as soon as you woke up."
"Where is he?"
"Right here," said the man closing the door behind him. "So how do you feel, Naruto?"
"Good," the young genin answered.
"I'm glad to hear it," the former ANBU smiled. "You gave us quite a scare."
"I'm sure it was nothing compared to how I was scared," the bedridden blond said.
"Quite likely, but that's not all I wanted to talk to you about." His tone turned serious.
"I imagined as much," the boy replied.
"I had a rather unpleasant audience with the Kazekage," their sensei informed him.
"Sorry," Naruto apologized for all the trouble. "What did he have to say about me beating his son?"
"His son?" Tenzo was genuinely surprised. "He didn't mention that."
"They don't exactly get along," the genin explained.
"That's putting it mildly," the older man grimaced. The image of the Kazekage calling Gaara 'thing' appeared in his mind.
"You have no idea," replied the jinchuuriki thinking about the assassins. "But back on the track: What did he have to say?"
"A lot of things, I won't bore you with the full recount, but it boils down to two things," the former ANBU summed it up. "First: We pretend that there was no life-and-death battle. If anybody asks, it was just a friendly spar."
"What?" the boy exclaimed. "But he hurt Hotaru!"
"Naruto," the Wood user sighed, "as you might have heard before, there is such a thing called politics. Fact is that Konoha doesn't want to break their treaty with Suna and Suna doesn't want to break their treaty with Konoha. If a shinobi of Konoha being guest of Suna was attacked by a Suna shinobi, that is what would happen. But because nobody wants that and no permanent damage was done, we pretend it didn't happen at all. Understand?"
"I understand," the boy nodded. "I really don't want to start a war here."
"That's well," Tenzo smiled before turning all serious again. "And now on to the second thing. You aren't allowed to use the Kyuubi's power during the Exams. If you do, the whole team would be disqualified."
"I can live with that," the blond said thoughtfully. "I don't use it unless somebody's neck is on the line anyway, and in such situation screw the promotion."
"That's good that you understand," the jounin smiled slightly. "And now listen what I have to say to you. There would be absolutely no wandering off alone again."
"But why?" the genin was confused. "I don't think Gaara is in the state to try anything else."
"This isn't just about Gaara," the man explained. "We barely averted an international crisis here. We wouldn't be able to cover up another incident. Understand?"
"I think so," the blond slowly nodded, "but I don't understand what do you think might happen."
"Anything unexpected."
"I still think you're paranoid," the boy sighed, "but well."
"That's not paranoia, that's experience," Tenzo corrected. "And I'm glad you're so cooperative. Now rest, you have to gain back your strength. You have only two days before the Exams start. You wouldn't want to miss it, would you?"
"Of course not!" The child looked scandalized. The adult ruffled his hair.
"So make sure you don't."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Gaara's house~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gaara was lying in his bed. He didn't know why he even owned one, it wasn't like he needed it. Shukaku didn't allow him to sleep. But now he took full advantage of the piece of furniture. His whole body was hurting and he didn't have the strength to stand up. He didn't see the point.
He was useless. That was the only conclusion he could come up with after the disastrous battle. He felt just like he had after Yashamaru had betrayed him. Back then he had felt unwanted and lost as well. He remembered how he had been lost and desperate after losing his teacher. It took him days, weeks even before he could come up with a purpose for himself. He became a killer. He found his new purpose in confirming his strength, slaying everybody who dared to cross him. But now even that was taken from him.
He remembered the eyes of the boy that had defeated him. He had never imagined somebody could wield such power. It had never once occurred to him that he could be defeated, not until the end. Cold fear ran along his spine. Even with the full power of Shukaku unleashed, he had still lost. He couldn't understand how it could happen. Yet it did. His strength was broken. He was broken. A broken weapon. Useless. Less than nothing. The last sense of purpose he had so desperately clung to was taken from him. Just like three years ago, he wanted to end it all. And just like three years ago the sand had prevented it.
When the obligatory assassin came in the middle of the night, he didn't even do anything to stop him. The sand saved him again, regardless of his wishes. He watched disinterested as the ninja tried another attack. It came again. Gaara grew bored of it and squeezed the life out of the man. It didn't fill him with the usual rush of satisfaction. Instead he felt just empty. He was trapped in a waking nightmare without a way out. He supposed he should do something about that, but he was too tired. For a while he considered simply letting Shukaku out, but something stopped him. He couldn't name what it was. Maybe it was something in the other jinchuuriki's eyes. 'You must not touch any of my friends ever again,' echoed in his mind.
He had no doubts that disobeying would mean the end for him. He was tempted to do just so. Friends were a lie. Yashamaru's face, first smiling kindly, then twisted in a hateful grimace appeared in front of his mind's eye. He didn't need friends. He had spent his whole life without them and stopped wanting them three years ago. He lived solely for his own sake. That was his strength. 'But it wasn't enough,' a traitorous part of his brain reminded him. Shukaku insisted it was enough. Gaara ignored him.
What drove the other boy? What made him so strong? What helped him push trough the days? He had no idea, but he wanted to find out. Yes, that's what he would do. Learn more about the boy. It was a small sense of purpose, but it was better than nothing.
That's it for today. Sorry, no action. I hope it didn't suck too much.
Next time: Some more about Gaara and the Chuunin Exams starting (finally).