Copyright notice: I do not own Naruto or its characters.
Weapon Part 8: I Never Wanted You To See
"You are weak. I can see it. You cannot dodge forever."
Gaara grunted, the muscles spasming in his thighs, as he once again leapt from the attacks from Hoki's weapons that seemed to be advancing quicker each time. Gaara felt a spasm in his right leg and dropped on one knee for barely a second before he felt a sharp pain across his left arm. His right hand covered his shoulder, the blood dripping between his fingers. He barely registered it for a mere second before he snapped his narrowed eyes up at Hoki, his chin tilted up.
I will never show weakness.
I will never show pain.
I will never retreat.
"Ah, you bleed. Interesting. Your sand armor has failed you. Release Shukaku and make it easier. You may get your feeble student back."
Gaara attempted to stand up, even as his muscles started to seize up and his arm pouring blood in rivers. This Hoki had done more damage than he first assessed. This would be aggravating, considering his chakra was nearly gone. He only had one move left, one card left up his sleeve. He just needed to concentrate.
"Gaara!"
Gaara snapped his head to the side and lifted the drying bangs from his eyes. His tired eyes widened more and more.
No, it can't be.
XXXXXX
"Naruto has joined the fight! Gaara is weak, the chakra barely registering. We must make a move soon, Shikamaru."Neji yelled down from the trees, the veins throbbing along his pale temples.
Neji felt the light landing of feet beside his on the tree branch and a soft body next to his own lanky one. He glanced over at Hinata and tightened his jaw, the teeth grinding together. She looked sickly and pale, paler than normal. The pink from her cheeks and lips were reduced to a nearly ashen color. At the moment she placed a hand on Neji's arm, he felt her trembling and her uneven breathing.
"You are not well, Hinata-sama."Neji whispered under his breath.
Hinata tried to smile gently. "Don't w-worry about me, Neji-nii-san."
Her nails then dug into his skin and her eyes focused intently on him.
Her voice lowered then, surprising even Neji. "We m-must focus on the mission."
"You mean Gaara, do you not?"
Hinata lowered her lids, the lashes brushing her cheekbones before she bit her chapped lip and dipped her head away. Her hand fell away from his arm and touched her chest.
"Neji! What's going on? How much further?"
Temari.
Neji moved his eys from Hinata and cocked his head past her to look down at the others. Everyone was relying on Hinata and himself but it seemed Hinata had…compromised herself.
"Not much further. I estimate 10 minutes. We must move quickly."
Shikamaru moved his head and swiped his nose with a dirty finger then nodded.
"Well, lets press on. Be on your toes and stay aware."
Neji patted his pouch, checked Hinata's arm where her sleeve had torn and moved to leap.
"Hinata, compose yourself. We will talk later."
Hinata lifted her wide eyes at him, emotions ranging from fear to anxiety then ending with sadness. Neji almost felt pity for Hinata but it would be for the best, both for her and the Hyuga.
"Wait! Hinata cannot go!"
Everyone turned and answered with the same response.
"What?"
XXXXXX
Naruto, you fool. You followed me, but I knew you would.
You are my…friend. You and I have had the same emotions, the same hardships, and pain. We have felt that anger, that loneliness, but you chose a different path to battle it. Only you know me…deep inside.
Gaara sat against the crumbling wall of the mountain, watching Naruto dodge and try to land energetic hits on Hoki to no avail. This was hopeless…but his card was still up his sleeve. He just needed to wait a little longer.
Naruto paused and took a heavy breath. Naruto sneered at Hoki then turned his deep blue eyes on Gaara.
This was it, or so Gaara thought.
Hoki made his move, a deathblow towards Naruto that he wouldn't see coming. It looked like the card would be used now.
Gaara knelt on the dirt, placing his palms down and letting the last of his chakra bleed out through the soil. He felt the connection, the last he could give. He knew it was deadly, that death could result from this last move.
I cannot let a precious person be hurt.
Naruto, I will not let you be hurt.
You are my friend.
Gaara yelled out, feeling the last burst rumble out and the sand swirl through the air around Naruto. Gaara fell back, his slanted eyes watching with relief as the sand formed a hard circular wall of defense around Naruto. He saw the attack slam into the sand and the scream of anger from Hoki. The sand gently floated into the ground, Naruto untouched but dazed. Deep blue eyes pierced his bloodshot green ones again.
"Gaara!"
A dark laugh followed Naruto's high shout.
"It seems you have used your last ounces of chakra protecting this annoying boy. Why would you do such a thing? Why protect another person? Why?" Hoki shouted the last part in exasperation.
Gaara moved forward slowly, crawling on torn knees and dirty hands toward Naruto. The sand should feel calming, but at the moment it felt like a grave. He had nothing left.
Hinata, would you think me brave?
Would you find me at least a little compassionate?
Would you care that I care?
I would care…I do care…if.
Gaara's thoughts were distracted and sharply brought back to reality, reality of his possible death and the whirring of some sort of contraption around him. He sat up and focused his mind, listening for any possible weapons nearby or anything Hoki may have sent at him.
"Why do you protect others? It won't matter now. I will make Shukaku come out by force. It looks like for all your supposed brilliance you missed analyzing your enemies better."
Gaara felt the whir of screeching metal and the darkness surround him immediately. A cage, he was in some sort of metal cage resembling a ball. He should have thought about the enemy better, analyzed their strategy quicker after the water veins.
"Shukaku will come out. Sometimes a little pain does wonders but you should know that. Enjoy your own pain, Shukaku."
It was then that Gaara felt the pain in his bones, his blood, and his mind. It was a pain unimaginable to his body and soul. It was also then that he felt Shukaku ripping into his skull, shrieking with him but he did not know if it was in joy or anger.
Gaara…the gate…
You will not come out…
You will die if I do not. Tsk tsk, we cannot have that.
I will not have you take over…not after so long.
"Gaara! Gaara! Let him out! Gaara, can you hear me?"
Gaara heard the loud clanging of fists against metal, the sound ripping through his eardrums. He also felt his body change, his vision changing and his grunts of pain become deeper.
Ahhh…this feels perfect.
No…it is what they want. The gate…
Has been broken.
XXXXXX
"What? Why can't I go?"Hinata shouted, feeling fury rumble through her and a tingle of terror. Something was going on here.
Sakura looked around the group of confused shinobi before huffing and grabbing Hinata by the shoulders to drag her away from them. Her green eyes closed then opened after she took a shaky breath. Sakura swept a hand through her pink hair, a hand Hinata saw was shaking.
"You're n-not telling m-me something."
Hinata bit her lip and waited for Sakura to answer.
"Ugh, Hinata, I hate that look you give me sometimes. Hyuga always seem to look right through you, but you're the worst. One cannot help but give in to your sad eyes," Sakura huffed.
Silence.
"Okay, listen…let Neji or Ino stay with you. I don't think its best for you to come with us as backup to help Gaara. Its really for the best…for you."
Hinata felt the blood rush quicker and her hands become fists.
"Everyone f-feels t-they know w-whats best f-f-f-for me!"
Sakura bit her own lip and sighed. "Hinata, its not like that. You don't understand…"
"Sakura-san is right. It is for the best. Ino will stay with you as she is wounded."Neji's voice rang out from the side.
Hinata dropped onto the ground, her hands holding her up as she fought to keep angry tears away.
"O-okay."
"As your guardian, for your health it is better. Sakura, grab Ino and have her stay with Hinata. The rest of us will continue."
Sakura looked from Hinata to Neji's stern look then felt her face melt into sorrow.
"All right."
Sakura turned and began walking away but not before a last look back to Neji hovering over Hinata like a stern father over a disobedient daughter.
I am so sorry, Hinata.
Forgive me.
XXXXXX
"Ugh, this is terrible. I get left behind. I feel like such a loser…I didn't even help anyone. I just got in the way."
Hinata held her knees tightly, her head against the tree and listened to Ino's mumbled moans. She knew all too well those feelings of never feeling like she contributed and like a loser. She was a loser, who was she kidding.
I got left behind.
I will not be able to complete my mission.
I will not be able to help Gaara-san.
Hinata scrunched her nose and wiped her face with her ragged sleeve. Her thin eyebrows knitted together and she looked off to where everyone had sprinted.
I will not fail…
Just then the earth rumbled and a loud roar rang out over the forest.
Ino and Hinata jumped up and yelped in surprise. Hinata felt Ino slink right towards her side. She was shaking almost as bad as herself.
"What was that? Was that an animal? Oh wow."
Hinata turned toward Ino, her eyes opening and the veins throbbing along her temples. All ready Hinata felt the regret wash over her before she moved, quicker than Ino would even react to.
"I a-am sorry, Ino-chan."
Ino turned to her slowly, her diamond face scrunched up in confusion. Hinata struck quick, her palm hitting Ino in the chest a few times before she slid to the ground. Hinata check her pulse and moved her under some foliage. Hinata noted she looked like a sleeping princess from one of her fairytales her handmaid read to her as little girl.
Hinata sighed then twisted her hair into a high knot, her face frozen into grim determination. She broke into a dead run after the rest of her teammates. She would be there in less than 3 minutes at the speed she was going on.
I am so sorry, Ino-chan.
I hope you understand.
I hope everyone understands.
Gaara-san, I hope I am not too late.
XXXXXX
I feel eyes upon me, many sets of eyes. Shukaku, you feel them as well. We are being watched. This cage has disappeared. Do you feel it?
We are free. Blood, I desire it.
Hoki is gone, I see another being, a pale albino being. How dull.
The gate will be broken. You will sleep again. No more pain, no more suppressing me, no more wondering if she will take you as you are. Why would she accept you? We are monsters.
No, never. I will drag you into that gate. You will never know her, never harm her. No one will, not even me.
Hehehe. Brave Gaara. Alas, this man is annoying. More so than the other one, the dead Hoki. Let me taste his blood.
My eyes, they open. Temari, Kankuro, Naruto. Everyone is here. I felt them. I didn't want this, not like this.
"The Ultimate Weapon, that is what I am! You are nothing!"
He speaks again. Your precious Naruto is alive, scratched and bleeding but alive. The pink haired one is mending him. I am angry after our last fight. I want his blood….I miss blood.
"My head…"Gaara moaned, his voice nearly unrecognizable to himself. His hand ran over the soft fur of Shukaku's ear and along his face. The ripping pain travelled across his body, what was human and what was transformed.
Blood…I crave blood again. I never wanted them to see me.
"Gaara-san!
Gaara opened his eyes and turned his head over to the high female voice calling his name.
White eyes….
XXXXXX
"Gaara-san!"
Hinata's feet skidded along the sandy earth, her shaky body between the rest of her teammates and Gaara. Her mouth dropped open and her hands crossed over her chest.
Gaara-san…what has happened to you?
Hinata felt her heart thud in her chest and in her ears. Her eyes connected with his unmatched ones. White met with green and black…confusion meeting fear.
He holds the One Tailed Beast…Father always held the secrets of Jinchuriki from me.
Hinata squinted and felt her hand move up to her lips. Her feet moved forward of their own accord toward the changing Gaara, her shaking hand raising up.
He is afraid…
XXXXXX
"Hinata! What is she doing?"Temari exploded, grabbing her fan.
"I got this!"Naruto shouted before popping off the earth and quickly landing on his butt. He rubbed his head and coughed loudly.
"You don't got this, Naruto."Sakura replied dryly before wiping his forehead and turning her attention to the scene before her.
All eyes were on Hinata and Gaara. Sakura noted the intensity of the Sand Siblings and Neji the most. They wanted to intervene, especially Neji. Neji was Hinata's guardian so that made sense…but it seemed Hinata's health mattered to the Sand Siblings as well. Interesting.
"Temari, this is not good."
Temari bit her lip until blood trickled and swatted Kankuro. "I know that. If Gaara transforms completely, we will lose him. We can't lose him! Not now!"
Kankuro put an arm on Temari and squeezed it. "Wait! Temari look!"
Temari dug her nails into her fan and gasped. "No…no way."
XXXXXX
"Gaara-san…can you hear me?"
Hinata…I hear your gentle voice. Is that you? I see your milky skin, your hands. You are so close. I smell lavender…
She is close. She comes to you like a lamb to slaughter. Her blood will be worth it. Innocent blood always appealed to us, especially one as innocent as her. Exquisite.
No, never. She is precious to me…
"Gaara, its Hinata. Can you hear me? I am here with you…its just us right now."
Gaara quickly dug a palm over Shukaku's beastly side and turned to loo over at Hinata. Her eyes were brimming with emotion, nearly spilling with tears. Her weak body looked as if it might fall but she still moved slowly toward him, arms extended. She looked like a lost lover, a lover desiring to hold her mate.
"No…not like this…"
The rumbling voice of the albino cackled. "Ah, this is the one. She is precious to you. This is why you would not release Shukaku. You fear her seeing you as you really are: a monster."
Gaara turned to snarl at the ghostly man but felt Hinata's soft hand almost on his own. His normal eye connected with her. She had never stopped moving and her eyes had never left his body.
"Gaara-san, fight it. You are no monster…you are…y-you are.."
Yes, what am I?
Killer.
Monster.
Atrocity.
"Y-you are m-my friend."
XXXXXX
Kankuro couldn't explain what happened next but then no one really could. He could only remember Gaara, the holder of One Tailed Shukaku, slowly compress his beast back inside his body. The whole time he never let his eyes leave Hinata's own. She never flinched, never ran, and never let a blink of fear cross her face. He only remembered the sounds after. The push of Hinata to the ground by Temari when the ghostly albino attacked Gaara with a roaring howl, the sickening sound of Gaar's sand spear sliding into the pale man's gut, and the thud of Gaara onto the ground.
He couldn't find the words for the magnificent spear Gaara had made, some spear from Shukaku's own being both frightening and beautiful. He knew one word: dangerous. The ghostly man was dead and Gaara had passed out soon after falling to the ground. Pinkie had sprinted over to Gaara, nearly sliding on the ground as she whipped out her medical supplies. Naruto was right beside Gaara with a winded Temari panting not too far away.
Kankuro walked casually over to Hinata, who was being held closely by Neji. Neji ran his hand through Hinata's hair, whispering words of reassurance and blessings. Kankuro had never seen Neji so on edge and shaken up. Kankuro looked over at Hinata, eyes scanning over her.
So this pale, tiny little thing actually talked Gaara down from transforming and bloodlust.
She tamed the beast inside.
Kankuro then remembered some of Gaara's words to him, before they even had students. Words right now of great meaning that he had never thought too deeply about.
"Kankuro?"
"Yeah, Gaara? What is it?"
"I want to work hard and become an existence acknowledged by other people. I thought that looking at Naruto Uzumaki and…another as well. Ties with other people…for me until now, that was just hate and murderous intent. However, there is something I've understood a little about what the ties he goes so far for and talks about. Suffering, sorrow, and happiness can be shared with someone."
"Oh…"
Kankuro looked down at Hinata again before mumbling to himself.
"It looks like you found someone at last to share those feelings with, huh Gaara?"
Kankuro looked over to Temari and saw her eyes pierce his. He knew she thought the same as her stormy eyes landed on Hinata.
Author Note: This took me a long time to think over, just to get it right. I think its came out lovely, considering I am not too great at action sequences. I used a quote from Gaara to Kankuro in the anime. It was perfect and I loved it so much. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Read and review if you please!