Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! And this one has been a very long time in the making and…gonna be completely honest I had a really hard time finding the inspiration for it, even when I did it still wasn't easy to write. But I did my best and hopefully it'll have proven worth the long, long wait. So, without further ado.
I own nothing
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" Kakashi said, snapping out of his shock at the sudden turn of events before jumping into action, going through handsigns before unleashing powerful gale-force winds at the Anbu.
"Fire Style: Ash Pile Burning!" Said Asuma, following behind the Copy Ninja while releasing a cloud of Chakra-laced gunpowder, being blown everywhere thanks to the wind.
With the Anbu being blow back from the wind, quickly jumping away before they could get caught in the gunpowder. Only for several of them to soon find themselves rooted in place as roots emerged from the ground wrapping around them until they were bound to trees.
"Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death." Kurenai said, trapping the Anbu in her illusion, leaving them trapped as the cloud engulfed them.
Knowing what they were planning, Raven held her hands out as she formed a barrier between them and the Anbu, leaving a small opening to ignite the powder. Seeing the sudden shield forming, Asuma smirked as he used the flint in his mouth, creating a spark that ignited the gunpowder engulfing the Anbu.
As the Jōnin were focused on the Anbu, the Rookies, Raven and Magik were focused on Gaara as he made his way towards Naruto.
"Hey! Leave him alone!" Sakura said, throwing several kunai with Explosive Tags at Gaara only for his sand to rise up blocking them, with Sasuke quickly going through handsigns.
"Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!" Said Sasuke breathing out a large fireball at Gaara, which too was clocked by his sand but also caused the Explosive Tags to detonate and explode around the Suna Jinchūriki.
"M-mu-mu-mu-must…c-c-ca-c-c-ca-ca-ca-cap-capture…" Gaara said through gritted teeth as he stumbled out of the explosion, clutching his head while feeling a stabbing pain coursing through his body.
"Capture this!" Said Illyana, summoning her Soulsword as it was engulfed in blue, fiery energy before she swung it at Gaara, releasing an energy blast, one that managed to even slice through his sand knocking Gaara back from the hit.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven said while aiming her hands at the sand pinning Naruto to the wall, unleashing multiple tendrils of darkness, ripping the sand apart allowing the Uzumaki to fall to the ground.
"Thanks." Naruto grunted as he tried standing up, only to stumble if not for Illyana catching him.
"You're in no condition to fight again." Stated Magik, putting his arm over her shoulder to support him, Sasuke moving to get his other side.
"I'm not gonna let you-" Said Naruto, not wanting them to get caught in the fight when it's clear Gaara and these Anbu were after him.
"Shut up and let us handle this, dobe." Sasuke said, cutting him off.
"They're right, Naruto, as you are right now you can't hope to fight." Added Kakashi as he, Asuma and Kurenai stood in front of their students.
"Right now none of us can fight here. We need to get outside!" Asuma said, knowing in an enclosed space like this they were liable to hit each other.
"Fang Over Fang!" Said Kiba as he and Akamaru began rotating around right towards the wall, smashing right through it, giving everyone an opening out of the room.
"Good job Kiba! Everyone move now! Shino cover us!" Kurenai said as everyone began jumping outside, with Shino going last.
"Secret Technique: Insect Wall!" Shino said, turning in the air and holding his arms out as a swarm of Kikaichū flew out of his sleeves, forming a wall, sealing the hole shut to hopefully stall their attackers long enough for them to get away.
"Kakashi-sensei, why did those Anbu attack us?! What's going on in the village?!" Sakura said looking at her teacher, only for her and everyone else to be shocked when they saw fighting happening all over Konoha.
The Jōnin though narrowed their eyes when they saw those attacking them were Suna and Oto Ninja, combined with the Anbu that attacked them. Ones Kakashi recognized as members of ROOT, meaning Danzō was making his own moves as well.
"We're being invaded by Suna and Oto, most likely Orochimaru's behind this." Asuma said, much to the Genin's shock they were now caught in the middle of an invasion.
"And those Anbu are part of it, they work for someone that's been working against the Sandaime for years now. They don't feel or hesitate, all they do is follow their orders no matter what they have to do or who they have to kill." Added Kakashi, getting Naruto's Illyana's and Raven's attention.
"They don't feel? Meaning they do not have emotions?" Magik asked, remembering the Ame Ninja Naruto's landlord hired to kill them.
"Not exactly, they've just been conditioned to suppress their emotions, turning them into what their master considers the perfect Ninja. Ones that are little more than weapons to be used and tossed aside." Replied Kakashi, causing the threes eyes to widen.
"Those Ame Ninja, they were more of those Anbu!" Raven said, realizing the Ame Ninja were more of those Anbu in disguise.
"What Ame Ninja?" Questioned Sakura, wondering what they were talking about.
"During the month break, my asshole landlord tried charging me triple rent because Raven and Illyana were staying with me, so I refused to pay and they scared him away. So he hired an Ame team, the same one we encountered in the Forest of Death, to kill us as payback. But we were suspicious on whether it was actually them or not, after seeing that they all had seals on their tongues. If we had to guess, it was probably more of these Anbu." Naruto replied, much to the Genin's shock to hear someone actually tried hiring a foreign team to kill the Uzumaki and these girls.
"Yeah, that's them. All of them have the same seals on their tongues, ensuring they can't reveal any information even if they wanted to." Said Kakashi while greatly concerned at this information, a sentiment that was shared by Kurenai and Asuma.
Both by the fact that someone hired a team to kill Naruto and his new friends, as well as Danzō making such an attempt to capture the whiskered blonde. Knowing if the warhawk would try such a risky move then he must know something about Raven and Magik that made him try something so reckless.
Though knowing they had other things to worry about at the moment, the Jōnin pushed it to the side for the time being and focus on the situation at hand.
"UZUMAKI!" Screamed Gaara as a wave of sand smashed through the Insect Wall and the arena wall, getting everyone's attention to see the controlled Jinchūriki coming after them with the remaining ROOT Anbu.
"All of you, keep moving!" Kakashi ordered while jumping onto a rooftop, skidding and turning as he did so while making a Shadow Clone before they both went through handsigns.
"Lightning Style: Lightning Beast Tracking Fang!" Said Kakashi, forming a beast of lightning that launched itself at the Anbu.
"Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu!" The clone said, spewing out a blast of water, which was electrified when it made contact with the lightning beast.
"Wind Style: Gale Palm!" Said one the Anbu, thrusting his hands forward releasing a gale of wind dispersing the lightning and blowing the water away.
"Big mistake! Fire Style: Flint Yagura Jutsu!" Asuma said, tossing his lighter at their pursuer while quickly making handsigns, causing the flame to suddenly explode into a massive wall of fire.
With it only growing bigger thanks to the Gale Palm Jutsu, with several of the Anbu being incinerated while the rest managed to escape, but not unscathed. Though Gaara didn't stop as he simply swiped his arm through the air launching a wave of sand that began smothering the flames..
"DIE!" Gaara shouted, bringing the sand crashing down on top of the Jōnin, intent to kill anyone in his way from capturing Naruto.
Both from the seal forcing him and to stop the agony it's inflicting on him
Only for them to burst into flower petals which began flying around Gaara blocking his view of where he's going. Before the enraged redhead shouted as he through his arms out, unleashing a blast of sand all around him sending the petals flying away. Though his eyes widened when he saw numerous flower petals floating down and burning before they all suddenly exploded, surrounding Gaara in numerous explosions while Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma jumped back up to the roof. Having gone down to street-level after Kurenai cast her Genjutsu to distract Gaara, while Kakashi and Asuma threw Explosive Tags around him.
"Wind Style: Breakthrough!" Kakashi and Asuma said breathing out blasts of wind at the explosions, intensifying the flames wanting to at least slow down Gaara as much as they can if not knock him out.
Until the Jōnin were forced to jump back when a demonic-looking arm made of sand shot out of the fire before Gaara launched himself out of the inferno. Showing half of his body was encased in sand, with one of his eyes sclera turning black with a yellow iris and the pupil turning into black four-pointed star with four black dots around it. The sight making the three tense at seeing he's begun accessing Shukaku's Chakra.
"Must…k-k-k-ki-ki-ki-ki…c-c-c-ca-ca-ca-ca-cap…AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! Sand Shuriken!" Gaara screamed, swinging his arm releasing a barrage of sand shuriken at the Jōnin, being torn between wanting to kill them and finding Naruto to capture him.
"Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu!" Said Kakashi, spewing out a jet of water at the shuriken, causing them to dissolve into mud before they could hit them.
With the water impacting Gaara, knocking him back as the sand on him grew heavy as it turned to mud, weighing him down.
"Let's go!" Kakashi said as they rushed to catch up with their students, knowing if Gaara were to transform it'd devastate the village, meaning it was their best option to get outside of Konoha before that happened.
The Genin, meanwhile, had kept running while their teachers stayed behind, though they could hear they were still being chased, knowing they wouldn't be able to run forever.
"Just let me fight! They're clearly after me, the rest of you just go!" Naruto said, trying to shake Illyana and Sasuke off, only for the mutant to smack him on the head.
"Keep struggling and I'll simply knock you out! Do you really think they'll stop chasing us just because we leave you behind?!" Demanded Magik, given if these Anbu worked for the same person as the ones disguised as Ame Ninja, then she doubted they'd stop at just grabbing Naruto.
"She's right. You remember they were also after me and Illyana, it's likely they're still trying to get us too." Raven added, Illyana nodded in agreement doubting they were targeting just Naruto.
"You really have to explain everything that happened over the past month!" Said Sakura, honestly wondering just what kind of trouble the Uzumaki got into.
"If we survive this, sure! But you can't keep carrying me, it'll just slow you down and leave all three of us defenseless!" Naruto said, knowing he's a liability at the moment.
"First smart thing you said! These should help!" Kiba said, taking out some Soldier Pills and threw them at Naruto, with Magik catching them since the whiskered blonde couldn't at the moment.
"I'm gonna need more than just Soldier Pills!" Said Naruto, not sure regular Soldier Pills will be enough.
"They're ones my clan use, helping us fight more like wild animals when we need to. They dull your pain receptors and help ignore exhaustion, you could be dead on your feet but still ready to fight." Kiba replied, making Magik and Raven frown at what they do.
"That seems rather dangerous." Raven stated, given if Naruto couldn't feel pain then he could end up ignoring lethal injuries.
"The affects will only last an hour, and right now it's either that or needing to protect him!" Said Kiba, aware they were dangerous, which is usually why they're used as a last resort.
"Here! These should help too! Special Akimichi Soldier Pills, my family made them to feel like you're eating a days' worth of food and replenish your Chakra! But it's not permanent, once it wears off you'll be lucky if you can even stand up!" Chōji said, tossing some of his own Soldier Pills, with Magik looking at Naruto.
"Are you sure?!" Magik asked, the Uzumaki immediately nodded.
"Just give them to me!" Said Naruto, knowing it'll be better than having to be carried and shielded.
Nodding Illyana put the pills in his mouth, with Naruto grimacing at the taste but still swallowed them before his eyes shot open. Feeling his exhaustion fade away and his Chakra begin refilling, though not completely it was still enough for him to fight some more.
"Okay, now I'm ready! Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto said as Illyana and Sasuke let go allowing him to begin moving on his own.
Before he created a few dozen clones with them staying back to stall their pursuers.
"Great! Now do you have a plan to deal with Gaara?!" Kiba asked, doubting even all of them together could take on Gaara.
"Yes! But I need time to fully recover and get an opening to take him out!" Said Naruto, having an idea for how to beat Gaara, but he needed to fully recover and get an opening.
"Are you serious?! Why can't you just wipe the floor with him like before?!" Ino said, wondering why he couldn't just beat Gaara like in their match.
"We were fighting in a limited space that I could manipulate and I had pre-prepared to take advantage of Gaara's weaknesses that we saw from his fight with Lee! I can't exactly do that now, so I need time to actually prepare!" Naruto said, having been prepared in the event he fought Gaara during the Finals, now he needed time to get ready if he was going to fight.
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!" Said four ROOT Anbu that suddenly appeared in front of the Genin and magic-users, releasing jets of fire right at them.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!" Naruto said, making handsigns as a rock wall rose up in front of them blocking the flames.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Said Raven, flying over the wall and shooting beams of darkness at the Anbu ensnaring them before they could escape.
"My turn!" Illyana said, smirking as she leapt over the wall, summoning her Soulsword as she did so.
Flipping her sword in her hand, the blonde mutant stabbed it right through one of the Anbu's heads before swinging it. Slicing through the body as she released a wave of energy at the other three, cutting them in half. Before she then quickly turned blocking the tanto of another Anbu that jumped from the ground towards her.
"Goodbye!" Said Magik, grabbing the Anbu's head before releasing a magic blast blowing their head clean off.
"What are you all still doing here?!" Kurenai demanded as she, Kakashi and Asuma caught up to them.
"There were more of those Anbu waiting for us, we don't know if-" Sasuke said, unsure just how many Anbu there were waiting to attack.
"UZUMAKI!" Shouted Gaara, charging at them on a wave of sand, shocking the Jōnin that he was able to catch up that quickly.
"Sand Drizzle!" Gaara said, raining down condensed lumps of sand on the group, forcing them to scatter to avoid being hit upon seeing how easily the lumps punched through the building's roof.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!" Sasuke said, going through handsigns as he shot out several mini fireballs up at Gaara.
"Wind Style: Flower Scattering Dance!" Naruto said, creating a large vortex of wind and flower petals which he directed at the fireballs.
The moment they made contact, the vortex was ignited into a massive, fiery inferno that the Uzumaki sent straight towards Gaara. The Suna Jinchūriki's sand quickly rising up to block the flames, but once the fire hit the sand it began fusing together into glass from the intense heat.
"Wind Style: Drilling Air Bullet!" Gaara said, slamming his fist into his stomach before firing a large ball of wind out of his mouth that blasted through the glass towards Naruto and Sasuke, with them quickly using Substitution to avoid getting hit.
"Let's see you handle this!" Said Magik, holding her sword up, covering it magical energy before swinging it at Gaara and unleashing a bolt of magic at the rampaging redhead.
"Sand Wave!" Said Gaara, forming a wall of condensed sand in front of him to block the bolt, only to be shocked to see it still managed to blast through it.
With only his Sand Shield rising up to block it, saving Gaara from being hit, before the Suna Jinchūriki suddenly found himself trapped in a sphere of darkness.
"Be thankful you aren't in control of yourself or this would hurt much more." Raven said as she lifted Gaara high up into the air before slamming him right back down into the ground.
"Shadow Possession Jutsu!" Shikamaru said with his shadow shooting forward towards Gaara, grunting in exertion as they connected only to feel Gaara already starting to break free.
"How much longer can you hold him, Shikamaru?!" Asuma asked, only for the Nara Heir to grunt as he used more Chakra.
"About…ten…seconds!" Said Shikamaru, knowing he wouldn't be able to hold Gaara for long.
"That should be long enough! Water Style: Water Binding!" Naruto said, making handsigns as water tendrils formed behind him lunging towards Gaara.
"Water Style: Water Binding!" Said Kakashi, copying the Jutsu and forming his own water tendrils to further restrain Gaara.
With the Jinchūriki screaming in pain as he thrashed around to escape, only for the water tendrils to prove stronger than they looked. Combined with the water soaking into his sand, turning it to mud and weighing him down, making it difficult for him to move.
"Hold him steady!" Raven said, flying down behind Gaara and grabbed his head to see if she could either knock him out or break whatever's controlling him.
But the moment she grabbed him, the half-demon screamed in pain as she was suddenly assaulted by unbelievable feelings of rage, hatred, madness, bloodlust, fear, pain and loneliness.
"GET OUT!" Shukaku screamed, feeling Raven's presence trying to enter Gaara's behind before forcibly expelling her.
The force of the mental expulsion, intensified by the sheer amount of negative emotions that she just was exposed, managing to physically throw Raven back and away from the Jinchūriki of Sunagakure.
"Raven!" Said Naruto, looking at her in worry, but was relieved when Magik rushed and caught her before she could hit the ground.
"I've got her! Are you alright?" Illyana asked, with a concerned look as Raven gritted her teeth while holding her head.
"Too…much…" Said Raven, feeling Anger trying to claw her way to the surface of her mind after such an influx of negativity.
"I'll kill all of you!" Gaara shouted as the ground began shaking and breaking apart before sand erupted from the ground, forcing everyone to jump back, knowing they're dead if it touches them.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears!"
Everyone was then forced to move again when stone spikes burst out of the ground coming towards them, looking to see if more Anbu had arrived. Only to be shocked when instead of Anbu, they only saw one Anbu being joined by several Jōnin, Chūnin and even a few Genin.
"Kō! What are you doing?!" Kakashi said with a disbelieving look, recognizing his old teammate from Team Ro, wondering what he's doing here with all those Ninja.
"What should've been done long ago and get rid of that demon! And now Danzō-sama's given us the chance!" Said Kō with the gathered Ninja cheering in agreement, all of them eager to get rid of the "Demon Brat" once and for all.
"Are you all crazy?! Do you even see what's going on right now?!" Demanded Asuma, not believing they were actually siding with Danzō when they were being invaded.
"You're the crazy ones! Trying to help the demon when it should've been kill-" Said one of the Ninja, only to be silenced when Illyana launched herself at them, swing her Soulsword and taking their head off before she shouted as she unleashed a magical wave from her blade.
Launching several of the Ninja back as the rest quickly jumped away to avoid being hit. While those that were hit weren't so fortunate as they smashed into buildings, with some screaming in pain or going still from the impact.
"I really must thank you. I have been looking for an excuse to kill some of you humans all month, now you've give me the perfect excuse to do so." Magik said, smirking eagerly as she pointed her Soulsword at them, pleased at the chance to finally kill some of her student's/friend's/crush's tormentors.
"You foreign bitch! You'll pay for that! Kill them and the rest of the traitors!" Shouted Kō before more Ninja appeared, shocking everyone further at just how many of their apparent comrades were turning on them.
With Illyana merely gripping her sword tightly, feeling more eager than worried at all the targets they were providing her. Her eyes glowed a solid blue color as she got ready to start cutting them to pieces.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven said waving her arms, unleashing a large wave of darkness that threw the Ninja back before any of them could reach Magik.
"I could've handled them." Magik said, looking at the violet-haired girl as she descended down next to her.
"Nobody will hurt my friends." Stated Raven, her eyes flashing red for a moment.
"You'll regret ever coming here, you foreign freaks!" Kō yelled as he and some Jōnin jumped forward before going through handsigns.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Wall!" Said the Ninja, releasing breaths of fire that soon surrounded in a large ring of fire preventing them from escaping.
"Sand Tsunami!" Gaara said, raising up all the sand he's created into a massive wave that began descending down on the group.
"Wood Style: World of Tree Wall!"
Only for them to really shocked when numerous wooden branches emerged from the ground in front of the Sand Tsunami, rising up higher and higher as they wrapped around each other. Until soon a wooden wall protected them from the sand crashing down on top of them.
Illyana and Raven looked at Naruto, wondering if he had been the one to make the wooden barrier, only for the Uzumaki to shake his head just a surprised at seeing Mokuton being used.
"Severe Leaf Hurricane!" Said Gai as he descended on the rogue Ninja, delivering a powerful spinning back kick, sending anyone he hit flying back along with anyone they crashed into.
"Any of you with Whiskers, get down or get out of the way! Wind Style: Wind Cutter Jutsu!"
The shout made Raven and Magik quickly put up a barrier around everyone, just as several blades of wind blew past them, blowing out the ring of fire while also igniting the wind blades. As they rushed towards the rogue Ninja, many of them using Substitution to escape or trying to get out of the way.
Only for several objects to rain down on them, releasing purple clouds of poisonous smoke, causing the Ninja caught in the clouds to begin coughing and choking as they breathed in the poison.
It didn't stop there as everyone then heard the sound of a flute being played, as several of the rogue Ninja found themselves frozen, gasping in horror as they saw their flesh melting off their bones. Before several senbon flew through the air, accompanied by ringing bells. With the senbon stabbing deep into their heads causing them to fall to the ground.
The group was surprised as Team Gai, minus Lee, appeared alongside Tenzō, Yūgao, Tayuya, Kin, Temari and Kankurō, though they were relieved at the backup. But were wary at the latter four, given how both their villages were currently attacking.
Only for them to be shocked, especially Sasuke, when they saw Kin's eyes were now red with a single tomoe spinning around the pupil.
"How do you have the Sharingan?!" Demanded Sasuke, wanting to know how an Oto Kunoichi had his clans Kekkei Genkai.
"You really need an explanation on how someone awakens a Kekkei Genkai, dumbass? You need us to draw you some pictures too, so you can jerk yourself off to them later?" Tayuya rhetorically asked sarcastically, much to Sasuke's growing annoyance.
"That's impossible! Itachi killed everyone, there aren't any other Uchiha left!" Sasuke said, not believing someone else could have survived.
"Yeah, well it was a surprise for me too when my eyes suddenly looked like this!" Said Kin, having never known she was descended from the Uchiha Clan.
Only learning after awakening a Sharingan after being ambushed by Oto Ninja that were planning to bring her to Orochimaru to be used as a sacrifice for some Jutsu. Something the Snake Sannin didn't bother hiding even after she awakened her Sharingan, as well as the fact that it was the only reason he spared her and gave her a Curse Seal to begin with.
While Kin was angry that he planned on sacrificing her, she also wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, she's still alive and much stronger than before.
"What do you think you four are doing?!" Kurenai demanded, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at the Oto and Suna Ninja.
"Helping, in case you didn't notice. How about a little gratitude." Replied Temari not taking her eyes off the rogue Ninja.
"Your villages are attacking us, right now! How do we know this isn't some trick?!" Retorted Sakura, doubting they were here simply to help us.
"Believe us or don't, pinky, I don't give a fuck and doubt they do either! But in case you didn't notice, these fuckers are actually from your village and planning to kill you! Be thankful they're working for someone Orochimaru-sama wants dead!" Tayuya said in annoyance, hiding the fact that he also ordered them to keep an eye on Naruto and ensure he stays out of Danzō's hands.
Knowing that wouldn't go over well, given how trust was very thin towards anyone affiliated with Sunagakure and Otogakure at the moment.
"She's right. This wasn't part of the plan, Gaara wasn't supposed to transform in the village, let alone be controlled like this. So right now we're helping because all of us have the same enemy." Said Kankuro, not denying they were planning to invade, but not like this.
Before their attention turned to Gaara when he ripped through the wooden barrier, more sand covering him making him look even more like Shukaku. Breathing heavily as he glared murderously at them all, before focusing on Naruto specifically.
"Sand Shuriken!" Gaara shouted, swinging his arm releasing a barrage of shurikens made of sand at the whiskered blonde.
"Wind Scar!" Said Naruto, channeling Wind Chakra into the Kubikiribōchō before swinging it, releasing a wave of Chakra and wind that tore right through both the sand shurikens apart and Gaara's Sand Shield when it rose to defend him, sending the transformed redhead flying back.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven said, forming a dome of shadows around Gaara, grunting as he began slamming his sand-covered arms against it.
"We don't have time to argue when they're offering their help. Deal with the immediate threats then worry about them, later!" Said Illyana, forming her own barrier over Raven's, wanting to restrain Gaara for as long as possible, knowing between him and the Ninja he's the bigger threat.
"She's right, focus on the enemies in front of us for now!" Kakashi said, knowing they already have enough problems to deal with, without having to fight those showing up to help them.
"Enough of this! Kill the traitors, Danzō-sama only wants the demon and the foreign freaks, the rest can die!" Kō said, not caring who they had to kill to fulfill Danzō's orders, as long as it mean the demon brat was turned into the weapon it was always meant to be.
With the rogue Ninja charging forward, uncaring if they were about to fight and try to kill those they called allies. They were finally getting their chance to get rid of the Kyūbi and weren't going to let anyone stop them.
"Sand Pillar!" Said Gaara, slamming his sand-covered arm into the ground, with Raven and Magik soon feeling the ground shaking beneath them.
Realizing what Gaara was doing, the magic-users quickly moved out of the way just as two pillars of sand shot up from the ground where they'd been standing. With this also causing the barriers around Gaara to fall.
"Deserts Hands!" Gaara said, morphing the pillars into a pair of massive, clawed hands which he directed towards Naruto to crush him.
"Water Style: Snake's Mouth!" Said Naruto, going through handsigns before spewing out a massive amount of water which soon transformed into a gigantic snake.
Lunging forward, the snake wrapped around the sand hands, causing them to begin turning into mud only for Gaara to summon more sand to smother the snake while increasing the size of the hands. Forcing Naruto to channel more Chakra into the Jutsu to turn the sand into mud.
"I'm sorry for this, Gaara. Wind Style: Sickle Weasel Jutsu!" Temari said while swinging her fan at Gaara, creating numerous wind currents surrounding him, lifting Gaara into the air with his sand trying to follow him up.
"Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!" Said Sasuke, making handsigns before breathing out a large fireball at Gaara, trapping the rampaging Jinchūriki in a vortex of wind and fire.
Causing Gaara to cry out as the wind cut through his Sand Armor while the fire was burning him, the flames only intensified from the wind turning the sand that was covering him red hot.
"Water Style: Water Trumpet!" Naruto said, shooting out a jet of water slamming right into Gaara, knocking him out of the air and crashing into the ground.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven said, firing a beam of darkness, though rather than aiming at Gaara she aimed at some street lamps and brought them to life.
Twisting and bending the street lamps, Raven wrapped them around Gaara to restrain him before she ripped off pieces of buildings and slammed them together around him as well. Leaving Gaara trapped in a ball of debris that'll hopefully hold him for a few moments.
"How much longer do you need to stop him?" Magik asked, looking at Naruto while gripping her Soulsword tightly, hearing Gaara thrashing around and screaming as he tried escape.
"With the Chakra I'm using, even longer than I would have before." Said Naruto, knowing if he was going to take Gaara out then he couldn't keep wasting his energy with more fighting.
"I can help!" Ino said, running over to them as Shikamaru and Chōji were covering her.
"Just give me a clear look at Gaara and I'll send my mind into him, I should be able to hold him for a while." Said Ino, something none of them were sure about given Gaara's current state of mind and Shukaku inside him.
"Are you sure about that? His mind isn't the most…stable, at the moment." Raven said, grunting as she condensed the debris around Gaara, feeling him starting to break free of the lamp posts.
"We don't exactly have a lot of options! It's better than nothing, so just let me try!" Ino said while getting ready to project her mind.
"It's worth a try. I can also use my Sharingan to cast a Genjutsu on him, it should help weaken his mind enough for Ino to control him." Said Sasuke, activating his Sharingan, while Naruto frowned before looking at Raven.
"Do it." Naruto said, knowing it would be a good chance to buy them some time.
Nodding, Raven held her hands out as she began moving the debris enough to expose Gaara's upper body and head. With Sasuke immediately rushing forward before Gaara could try breaking free and locked eyes with the redhead.
"Genjutsu: Sharingan." Sasuke said, causing Gaara to freeze for a moment, before screaming in pain as the seal sent another pulse of agony through his body combined with the Genjutsu assaulting his mind.
"Sasuke, move! Mind Transfer Jutsu!" Said Ino, projecting her mind out of her body, with Sasuke jumping out of the way allowing the Yamanaka a clear target towards Gaara.
Gasping at the sudden intrusion in his mind, Gaara slumped forward for a moment as the others looked at him warily, to see if Ino was now in control or not.
"Ino…are you in there?" Naruto asked, only for Gaara's head to snap up screaming madly with bloodlust shining in his eyes.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" Shouted Gaara releasing a powerful blast of wind blowing them all away from him.
With it also breaking Raven's concentration as the debris around him fell apart before launching his sand-covered arm at the Cambion to crush her for restraining him. Only for Illyana to jump in front of Raven, slicing the sand and causing part of the arm to fall lifelessly to the ground.
"My turn then!" Illyana said before she began swinging her Soulsword repeatedly, releasing multiple waves of magical energy at Gaara.
His sand rising up to block the waves, only for it to be blasted away with Gaara being thrown back as the waves slammed into him.
"Dust Wind Jutsu!" Temari said swinging her fan, releasing a gust of wind that kicked up a cloud of sand, making Gaara grunt in annoyance as the sand was blown into his eyes blinding him.
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!" Sasuke said, breathing out a stream of fire at Gaara.
"Wind Style: Gale Palm!" Said Naruto, releasing a gale of wind that combined with the fire, boosting its power and intensity.
The flame crashed into Gaara, making him scream in pain at feeling his and begin heating up around his body.
"M-m-me-m-m-m-me-me-ME! I-i-i-i-it-it-it's….ME! ME!" Gaara screamed, making Naruto and Sasuke quickly stop their Jutsu at the cry.
"Ino?!" Said Naruto, as Gaara fell to the ground grabbing his head in agony.
"P-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-pa-pain! C-c-c-c-c-ca-ca-ca-can't…h-h-h-ho-ho-ho-hold…o-o-o-o-o-on-on-on…AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! RELEASE!" "Ino" screamed, unable to stand the pain the seal was inflicting combined with Shukaku trying to forcibly expel her mind before she shakily made a handsign to return to her body, causing Gaara's body to slump on the ground for a moment as he began regaining control of his body.
Unfortunately, more ROOT Anbu had soon arrived and joined the fight, with three of them rushing at Ino's still motionless body with their tantos drawn. Intent to eliminate one of the obstacles while they could and distract the remaining ones with one their allies being killed.
"Back off you bastards! Multi-Size Jutsu! Human Bullet Tank!" Said Chōji, expanding his body into a large ball before launching himself at the Anbu before they could reach.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow River." One of the Anbu said, slamming their hands on the ground turning the ground beneath Chōji into mud, causing the Akimichi to get stuck rolling in place from the lack of traction.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears." Said another Anbu, slamming their hands down as well.
With the fighting pausing for a moment as the Rookies, their teachers and their allies looked in horror when stone spikes shot up right beneath Chōji, stabbing straight through his body. The Akimichi's rolling coming to a stop as he returned to normal size, his body hanging impaled on the spikes.
"Chōji!" Asuma shouted in horror and devastation at seeing one of his students die.
"Eliminate the Yamanaka, ne-" Said the Anbu that created the spikes, only to suddenly lose control of his body and begin gagging as something wrapped around his throat.
"Shadow Strangulation Jutsu." Shikamaru said through gritted teeth and tears in his eyes, using as much Chakra as he needed to extend his shadow all the way up the Anbu's body to their neck.
Not hesitating as he had his shadow squeeze the Anbu's neck until he heard a snap as the Anbu's body went limp in his shadows grip. Though the Nara Heir didn't have time to enjoy avenging his best friend's murder or send his shadow after another Anbu before he gasped in pain as another Anbu took the chance to get behind him driving their tanto through Shikamaru's throat.
"We must move quickly if we're to secure the-" Said Anbu pulling their tanto out, knowing they needed to move quickly if they were to secure their targets.
Only to be cutoff when Asuma rushed forward swinging his trench knife taking the Anbu's head clean off with a single strike.
"Wind Style: Verdant Mountain Gale!" Asuma shouted, throwing his trench knives after infusing them with Wind Chakra.
The Jōnin making a handsign as he began manipulating the blades, having them fly through the air and began slicing through several Anbu's throats. With the Anbu unable to simply dodge as Asuma redirected the blades to follow them.
"I'm gonna kill all of you!" Swore Asuma, intending to make them pay for killing two of his students.
While Ino soon woke up as her mind returned to her body, gasping as she shot up only to be horrified when she saw Shikamaru's and Chōji's bodies.
"Sh-Sh-Shi-Shikamaru…C-Ch-Chōji…!" Ino said, trying to get up, only to stumble still feeling the mental strain of being inside Gaara's head.
"Ino, come on! You need to move!" Said Sakura rushing to her friend, pulling her up to get her out of the way of the fighting, seeing she's in no condition to defend herself.
The chaos of the fighting causing many of the fighters to lose sight of each other and those they weren't currently fighting. With Kō spotting Naruto and Sasuke near Gaara, gritting his teeth in fury before charging at them with his sword drawn.
"Die with the rest of your traitorous clan!" Kō shouted, lunging forward at Sasuke with his sword held up, taking advantage of the Uchiha's shock at seeing two of his allies die.
With Sasuke snapping out of his shock only for his eyes to widen at seeing Kō's blade coming down at him, moving to pull out a kunai to block it. Only for Naruto to beat him to it using the Kubikiribōchō to block the strike before slamming his foot into Kō's chest knocking him back.
"That's twice now." Naruto stated, glancing at Sasuke, making the Uchiha let out a "Tsk" as he regained his composure.
"Don't let it go to your head, dobe." Retorted Sasuke before seeing Kō charging at them again.
"Danzō-sama said he wants you alive Kyūbi, but he never said you needed to be in one piece! I'll make you suffer after wiping out the last of those Uchiha traitors!" Kō said, much to Sasuke's anger as he shot towards the Anbu.
Naruto moved to go help him, only to be forced to jump out of the way when a wave of sand came rushing at him. Making the Uzumaki curse as he saw Gaara getting back up, while more sand spread over his body.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!" Sasuke said, firing a barrage of mini fireballs at the rogue Anbu.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!" Said Kō going through handsigns before slamming his hands on the ground creating a rock wall blocking the fireballs
Only to hear several impacts on the wall, not seeing Sasuke had hidden shuriken within the fireballs which stabbed into the wall. Nor did Kō see the Explosive Tags Sasuke put on them, before they detonated destroying the wall and sending Kō flying back.
"Never say anything about my clan! They were loyal to the end!" Said Sasuke, throwing a punch at Kō, which blocked only for the Uchiha to twist his body slamming his foot into the Anbu's head.
"The Uchiha were nothing but traitors that got what they deserve! Everyone knows they caused the Kyūbi Attack, them and their damned Sharingan! It's your fault, yours and that demon's, that my sister was killed in that attack! You're nothing but traitors, Danzō-sama is a hero for being the only to see it and wipe out your cursed clan!" Revealed Kō, making Sasuke's eyes widen in rage at the insults to his family.
"SHUT UP!" Sasuke shouted as he suddenly vanished in a burst of speed, appearing behind Kō smashing his foot into his back knocking the Anbu forward.
Before blitzing in front of Kō lifting his knee and slamming it into his face causing his head to snap back, with Sasuke then pulling out a kunai and driving it right into Kō's neck. Only to scowl in anger when he was suddenly replaced with a log. With the Uchiha quickly turning, blocking a stab when Kō tried sneaking up behind him.
"What's the matter, don't you want to know the truth of your traitorous clan?! That they were planning a coup to take over Konoha, that bastard Itachi was a spy working for the Hokage to spy on them or that Danzō-sama was the only who knew what needed to be done and ordered him to slaughter them like the traitors they are?!" Kō taunted, much to Sasuke's shock before he glared murderously at him.
"YOU'RE LYING! Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!" Said Sasuke breathing out a giant fireball at the Anbu, intent to incinerate him for saying such lies about his clan.
"It's the truth, the Uchiha were nothing but traitors that got what they deserved, the only mistake was letting you live! Ask your precious sensei, Kakashi was part of the Anbu sent to watch the Uchiha!" Said Kō, using another Substitution avoiding the fireball, while Sasuke was shaking at his words.
"N-no…NO! It's not true, my clan…my clan would never…" Sasuke said, not wanting to believe his clan would ever plan a coup.
But he remembered all the meetings his parents attended with the rest of the clan, how distant Itachi became after joining Anbu, how he was accused of killing Shisui and how he reacted. Then the times he saw how other Uchiha were treated by the rest of the village, being treated like outsiders and intruders. No matter how much he wanted to deny it, part of Sasuke began wondering if it was true, if his clan had been planning a coup.
'Then…Itachi…he…' Sasuke thought, falling to his knees and covered his mouth, feeling like he was going to be sick.
"You see it, the Uchiha were nothing but traitors and now…you'll get to join them!" Said Kō, charging forward, intent to kill one of the last Uchiha.
"Wood Style: Great Forest Jutsu!" Said Tenzō, turning his arm into wooden spikes that shot out towards Kō, forcing him back before he could kill Sasuke.
"That's enough, Kō!" Kakashi said as he, Yūgao and Tenzō got between him and Sasuke, the Copy Ninja glaring at his former ally.
"What's the matter, Kakashi? Weren't you the one who always said to value our comrades, you always stuck up for Itachi. I'm just doing the same and telling your student the truth about his clan." Said Kō, mockingly.
"Is it true?! Did you spy on my clan?! Did Itachi…did he kill everyone because he was ordered?!" Sasuke demanded, glaring the three wanting to hear the truth, with Kakashi frowning as he looked at his student.
"…Yes, it's true. All three of us were ordered by the Hokage to monitor the Uchiha Clan, when Itachi join Anbu he was made a double-agent. He was meant to be spying on the rest of the village for the Uchiha Clan, but the truth was he was a spy for the village. Shisui was a spy as well, neither of them wished to go through with the coup and wanted to prevent a potential civil war in Konoha. But we didn't know the truth of the massacre, only suspicions of Itachi's motive and reasoned that Danzō had been involved in his decision. And now you just confirmed, I take it you learned this from Danzō, Kō." Kakashi said, narrowing his eyes at the rogue Anbu.
"That's right, Danzō-sama told me the truth, how he forced Itachi to choose between all the Uchiha dying or killing them himself if it meant sparing his brother. That was his only mistake, Danzō-sama should've just killed every last one of them, a mistake I'll be happy to fix!" Kō declared, rushing forward, refusing to let them get in his way from killing Sasuke.
"You've brought this on yourself, Kō. Wood Style: Smothering Binding Jutsu!" Said Tenzō, turning his arm into wood with branches shooting out to grab and restrain Kō, only for the rogue Anbu to jump into the air before they could grab him.
"Then I'll kill all of you! If you want to side with a traitor, then you can all die like traitors!" Kō exclaimed, madness and bloodlust rolling off his tongue like a venom, willing to kill them and anyone else who gets in his way.
"You're the only traitor, you and everyone that sides with Danzō. Hazy Moon Night!" Said Yūgao, jumping into the air while swinging her sword in a circular motion, leaving afterimages behind in its path.
"You think I'll fall for your tricks?! I know how that wor-" Said Kō, confident he can deflect Yūgao's strike regardless of where it comes from.
Only to gasp in shock when his arms and legs were suddenly restrained with from behind, making him look only to see Tenzō behind him on a rooftop.
"Did you know how that works?" Tenzō asked rhetorically as the one on the ground was revealed to just be a Wood Clone.
Before Kō gagged in pain as Yūgao lunged forward slashing him deeply across the chest, with Tenzō releasing the bindings letting the rogue Anbu fall to the ground.
"You were so consumed by your own hatred, you let yourself be used and manipulated by Danzō, just like Itachi. Itachi might've killed his own family and clan, but he chose his path to prevent greater bloodshed, you only care about satisfying your own twisted belief that Naruto and Sasuke are responsible for your sisters death. You're a traitor to your village, your comrades, yourself, as well as your late sister's memory, now it's time to finish this." Kakashi said, going through handsigns to end Kō himself.
"I…I-I w-w-w-wo-won't st-st-s-s-s-st-stop…n-n-n-no-not u-u-u-un-un-until…" Said Kō, pushing himself up to his knees as he struggled to stand, refusing to stop, not until he's killed them.
"Chidori!" Sasuke said, rushing past Kakashi with lightning flaring to life in his hand.
With Kō having no time to react as Sasuke closed the distance between them, driving his hand right through his chest, causing the rogue Anbu to gag as he coughed up blood.
"You can die knowing it was an Uchiha that ended you. Your master will join you, soon." Sasuke swore, glaring at Kō, unaware as a third tomoe appeared in his eyes before ripping his hand out of the Anbu's chest.
Falling to the ground, Kō gasped weakly as everything around him began fading away until he saw a figure appearing from a light. His eyes widening in shock and hope when he saw his little sister appearing in front of him.
"I…I'm…I'm s-so-sorry…I…I couldn't avenge…y-yo-you…" Said Kō reaching out to her, relieved that they'll be able to see each other again.
Only for the rogue Anbu to be horrified when his sister looked at him with nothing but disgust and sadness on her face.
"This wasn't for me…it was only for yourself." She stated before turning her back on him, much to despair.
"No…no…no! Come back…come back, please!" Kō begged, reaching for her only for her to fade away as he soon went still on the ground.
Glaring down at the Anbu's body, Sasuke didn't even acknowledge Kakashi, Yūgao and Tenzō as they approached him.
"Sand Drizzle!"
But before any of them could say anything, they were suddenly assaulted by large, compacted clumps of sand raining down on them. Making them quickly move to avoid being crushed or incapacitated, seeing the damage caused by the impact, with Kō's body being completely crushed when it was hit.
"Sand Bullet!" Gaara said, aiming his arm at Sasuke, firing a small, compressed ball of sand at the Uchiha.
Jumping out of the way, Sasuke gritted his teeth in pain when the ball suddenly changed coursed and followed him, gagging when it slammed right into his chest, feeling a ribs crack from how hard it hit him.
"Die!" Said Gaara, extending his arm out towards Sasuke to crush him, making the Uchiha's eyes widen at the sight knowing there's no time to dodge.
"Sasuke!" Sakura screamed, running as fast as she could and pushing him out of the way, only to cry out when Gaara's sand arm smashed into her.
"Sand Coffin!" Gaara said as his sand wrapped around the pinkette's body.
"Sakura!" Naruto and Sasuke shouted upon seeing their teammate trapped In Gaara's sand, remembering what happened to Lee and knew exactly what Gaara was going to do.
"Not so fast!" Said Illyana, stabbing her Soulsword into the ground, summoning a pair of large demonic hands that burst up from the ground bringing them down on top of Gaara.
The impact helping break Gaara's concentration, with the sand starting to fall of Sakura's body while Sasuke rushed forward to get her out of it. Only for the Suna Jinchūriki to scream as sand exploded off of him throwing the hands away. Before he held his hand out towards Sakura, covering her in sand once more, intent to spill blood.
"Sand…Burial!" Said Gaara, clenched his fist, just as Sasuke grabbed Sakura's arm to pull her free.
Only for the pinkette let out a short scream as the sand crushed her, before she began gasping and choking no longer able to breathe.
"No, no, no, no! Come on!" Sasuke said gritting his teeth as he pulled her free from the sand, falling backwards when the sand began falling off her.
"S-S-S-Sa-Sa-Sas…uke…" Muttered Sakura, the Uchiha looking at her in horror as she began coughing up blood.
"No…not again…not again…" Said Sasuke, not wanting to see someone else die, someone he was actually starting to care about, something he swore to never do after losing his family.
"S-Sa-Sa-Sasuke…N-Na-Na-Nar-Naruto…" Sakura muttered out, looking at her friends and teammates before going limp.
Sasuke could only look in horror and despair, his mind flashing back to how he found everyone in his clan and family dead, killed by Itachi…on Danzō's orders. Now he's forced to see someone else he cared about die, because of him!
Four ROOT Anbu leapt at the Uchiha their tantos held up to impale him while he was distracted. Only for Sasuke's head to snap up, blood leaking from his eye just as the Anbu burst into black flames, falling to the ground screaming in agony.
"You're all going to die." Sasuke stated looking around, intent to kill every last person that's sided with Danzō.
With his Sharingan having changed again, now resembling three overlapping ellipses, while all the enemy Ninja he looked at were soon consumed by black flames.
"Yes…kill…kill…KILL! I must kill!" Screamed Gaara as sand began swirling around him, wrapping around his body as he called on more of Shukaku's Chakra.
His mind being torn between capturing Naruto, the unending pain the seal was causing him, and his own desire for blood.
Meanwhile Naruto stood frozen after seeing Sakura be killed, before he looked around seeing so many more bodies on the ground. His eyes widening when he saw Kiba on the ground as well, Hinata and Akamaru standing over him with Shino doing what he can to keep the enemies back. Before seeing Asuma fighting off multiple ROOT Anbu around Kurenai, until one managed to stab him in the leg. Leaving the Sarutobi open as the rest rushed to finish him off.
The sight made Naruto grit his teeth before grabbing his head as red Chakra began emitting off of his body, feeling the Kyūbi's Chakra flowing through him refilling his Chakra Reserves entirely. With his eyes turning blood red with slit pupils, his whiskers growing more defined, his canines lengthening into fangs and nails growing into claws. All while a single black tomoe appeared in his eyes, his anger and adrenaline causing him to not notice as he began to perceive the combatants more easily and memorize their movements as well as the Jutsu they were using.
Raven grit her teeth as she held her head in pain, feeling so many negative emotions swirling around her, the intense bloodlust radiating off of Gaara before soon feeling Naruto's own emotions and the Kyūbi's Chakra. Before the Cambions' eyes snapped open now a solid, glowing red color, looking back at the Ninja that have caused this.
Grinning darkly, Raven shot up into the air, her cloak seeming to grow and wave around her before shadow tendrils shot out towards the Ninja and Anbu wrapping around them.
"You want a demon so bad?! Let me show you one!" Raven said, her voice being twisted and raspy as she began dragging the Ninja into the darkness under her cloak.
"More demons! The Kyūbi summoned more demons to kill us all!" Screamed one of the Ninja, only to silenced when Raven's head snap towards them followed by her bringing a wall down on top of the Ninja.
The sight causing those she grabbed to scream in horror, even more so as they grew closer to the darkness, much to Raven's glee at their fear.
"What's the matter, afraid of the dark?!" Hissed Raven as she dragged them into the darkness, their screams echoing through the area before going silent.
Not stopping there, Raven threw her arms out before unleashing a blast of her power. Causing buildings to come crashing down on the Ninja or the ground splitting open as they fell to their demise. With her even lifting some of the Ninja into the air before immediately smashing them into the ground, painting the ground red.
"Raven!" Magik shouted, running towards the violet-haired girl, tackling her out of the air and sending them both tumbling to the ground.
The impact made Raven gasp as her eyes returned to normal, seeing Illyana on top of her only to look around, horror coursing through her when she saw the remains of those she killed.
"D-di-d-did I-I…" Raven said, still getting used to the idea of killing, leaving her shocked and terrified at what she did after losing control of her emotions.
"Yes, but we aren't done yet. We'll be there for you when you need us, but right now we still need you. Okay." Magik said quickly, not wanting Raven to freeze up when the fighting isn't over yet.
"R-ri-right." Said Ravem as they quickly got up, looking to where Gaara and Naruto were, seeing the Suna Jinchūriki's transformation was complete.
"Uzu ma ki ! I will have your blood!" Gaara said as the sand solidified around him, making the redhead resemble a mini-Shukaku, with only his legs being left uncovered.
"You want blood?! Have theirs! Wood Style: Great Spear Tree!" Said Naruto while going through handsigns, before massive roots exploded out of the ground right beneath ROOT Anbu and the Ninja that sided with Danzō.
'Mokuton?!' Thought Kakashi, Tenzō and several others upon seeing Naruto use Mokuton, their shock only growing when they noticed the freshly awakened Sharingan, wondering how he could have these Kekkei Genkai.
"Yes! Show me your power Uzumaki! Sand Tsunami!" Said Gaara, slamming his hands on the ground, causing a wave of sand to erupt up from the ground, rising up over Naruto.
"Gold Dust Tsunami!"
Though before it could crush the whiskered blonde, it collided against a wave of Gold Dust as Rasa arrived, much to Temari's and Kankuro's shock at the sight of their father.
"Tou-san?! What're you-" Temari said only to notice his eyes weren't normal, before realization dawned on her.
"Thank Orochimaru, he killed me and is now uses me like a puppet. He sent me to subdue Gaara after sensing Shukaku's Chakra." Said Rasa, lifting his Gold Dust up and mixing it into Gaara's sand to weigh it down preventing his son from using it.
"Wood Style: Great Forest Jutsu!" Naruto said, turning his arm into wood shooting wooden tendrils out towards Gaara wrapping around and restraining him.
"NO! I'll kill you Uzumaki, I-I-I-I'll k-ki-k-k-ki-ki…c-c-c-c-c-c-ca-ca-capture…AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Gaara screamed, trying to break free even as he could feel his Chakra being suppressed by the Mokuton, the pain from the seal intensifying as he was kept from completing his objective.
"You're done!" Sasuke said, looking at Gaara his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning as he pushed passed Gaara's mind to find Shukaku, placing the Ichibi under a Genjutsu.
"N-N-N-N-No-No…no…m-mu-m-mu-m-mu-m-m-mu-mu-must…c-c-c-ca-ca-ca-capture…" Gaara said, weakly as the sand fell off his body leaving him bound by the wooden tendrils.
"Gaara! Gaara, it's okay, you don't need to force yourself to do anything. You're safe now." Said Temari, slowly approaching her brother.
Before the Suna Kunoichi's eyes widened in horror when she saw blood dripping out of Gaara's mouth as he slumped forward in the restraints.
"Gaara!" Temari screamed as she rushed to his side as Naruto retracted the wood, allowing her to catch him, as his eyes returned to their normal shades of blue
"What's happening to him?!" Said Kankuro, running over after hearing his sister shout, only to see the state Gaara was.
Running over, Raven and Illyana checked Gaara to see what happened, frowning gravely when they found the seal the ROOT Anbu placed on him.
"This is what was controlling him and inflicting the pain, forcing him to complete his objective. But…" Raven said, hesitating to tell them what else it seemed the seal did.
"But what?!" Demanded Temari, wanting to know what's happening.
"The seal…it seems to have a Deadman Seal built into it. Killing Gaara…regardless of whether he completed his objective or not..." Magik revealed, much to Temari's and Kankuro's horror.
"No! Th-that…that can't happen! There has to be something you can do!" Temari said, looking at them and Naruto desperately, hoping they would be able to do something to save her brother.
"I…I can't…" Naruto muttered sadly, not knowing enough about Fūinjutsu to stop a Deadman Seal.
And despite what happened, Naruto wasn't angry at Gaara, knowing he was simply being controlled and knew if things had been different he could've easily turned out like him. So it did make him sad that he was helpless to save him.
"If we had known…maybe…" Raven said before shaking her head, knowing they might've been able to do something if they'd known how the seal worked sooner, but now it's too late.
"Wh…why…why do…you…care?" Gaara asked tiredly, wondering why they care if he died, he would've thought they'd be happy he was gone.
"Your our brother that's why! Even if you don't care about us, we still care about you!" Kankuro said, gritting his teeth, angry at how there's nothing they could do to save him.
"You…care?" Said Gaara, having never expected to hear that.
"Of course we care! You're our little brother, we never wanted you dead or to be hurt! We just…we're sorry for not trying more to help you." Temari said, tears in her eyes that not they'd never get the chance to fix things.
This really shocked Gaara, to hear his siblings actually cared about him, that they're sorry for not trying to help him. It was something completely foreign to him, the idea of anyone wanting to help him, the last person being Yashamaru, but that had all been a lie.
Before he looked at Naruto, seeing Illyana and Raven standing at his side, even though he's a Jinchūriki too, they still stood with him.
"How…how can you…care? We're the same, but…you…you are not alone." Gaara said, wanting to know how Naruto could be like him yet so different.
"…I could've been like you. The loneliness, the pain…it's the worst feeling in the world, worse than being dead, to feel like you don't exist. I know what that's like Gaara, but I found people that did care about me, that saw me even knowing what I am. And I know you have people that care for you too, that want to help. You just have to look for them." Naruto said, much to Gaara's surprise before he looked at Temari and Kankuro, his family.
"Temari…Kankuro…I'm sorry." Said Gaara, surprising his siblings before they smiled tearfully at him.
"It's okay, Gaara." Kankuro said, knowing there's nothing to apologize for.
"Yeah…we're here for you, always." Said Temari sniffling, hating that they didn't have more time.
Looking at his children, Rasa couldn't help but frown at the sight, that his youngest child was about to die right in front of him. The pain Temari and Kankuro felt, the pain Gaara felt…the pain he caused because of his actions.
"Gaara…" Rasa said, stepping forward only for Temari and Kankuro to glare at him.
"Haven't you done enough?! This is what you always wanted, Gaara wasn't the weapon you wanted him to be so you tried killing him over and over again! Well I hope you're happy now!" Said Temari, glaring at her father, making Rasa stop with a downcast expression.
"…I know…everything that has happened is because of me. Your mother, Yashamaru, now Gaara, it seems no matter what, everything I do leads to more death and pain." Rasa said before looking up.
"The least I can do now is give you the truth, Gaara. Yashamaru…he never hated you; I was the one he really hated because it was my actions that lead to the death of his sister, your mother. My choice to seal Shukaku in you before you were even born cost Karura her life. And she…she didn't name you out of hatred for the village, she named you out of love, wishing to protect you from anything that would harm you. Yashamaru's final mission, I ordered him to take it, he didn't volunteer as he told you. He only accepted it on my order to test you, he was always sought to help you, to understand love and pain." Rasa explained, looking at Gaara's sand, that even now with Shukaku suppressed was still trying to reach out to him.
"I always believed your sand protected you because of Shukaku, but…now I see what it truly is. It's your mother, in her final moments she wished to keep you safe and it seems even when she's gone…she continues to fulfill that wish. It's her love and Chakra that makes your sand shield you from all threats." Said Rasa, with Gaara looking at him with wide, tearful eyes.
That his mother did truly love him that she wanted to protect him, even in death. That Yashamaru lied to him and only ever wanted to help him understand the pain he felt.
"I know…there is nothing I can say or do to make up for what I've done, that a simple apology will never be enough. But I am…I am truly sorry for what I have done to you, to all if you, Gaara, Temari, Kankuro." Rasa said, looking at his children,
"Heh…so…this is…what it…feels like…Temari…Kankuro…Tou-san." Said Gaara, looking at his family before shakily reaching out to his father, if he was going to die he didn't want to hold hatred or resentment in his heart anymore.
Surprised at the gesture, Rasa hesitantly reached for his son, knowing this is the least he can in his final moments.
With everyone watching sadly at the moment, feeling the pain of their own losses today, even Tayuya and Kin frowned at the sight.
Unfortunately before Rasa could take Gaara's hand, Jiraiya suddenly appeared slapping a Sealing Tag on his chest, before the reanimated Kazekage found his body wrapped up in cloth as he was sealed away.
"Rasengan!" Jiraiya shouted next appearing right in front of the shocked Naruto, before the whiskered screamed in pure agony as the Toad Sage slammed the Rasengan into his stomach.
Gagging as he spat up blood when he felt Jiraiya also slam his hand into his seal, feeling his connection to the Kyūbi being cutoff. Before Naruto was sent crashing into a wall, falling to the ground unable to move or scream at the pain.
"Jiraiya?! What've you done?!" Kakashi demanded, shocked at Jiraiya's appearance and actions, only to see the uncaring look on the Sannin's face.
"What I should've done when I first saw that annoying little bastard. Now Sasuke, be a good student and come here, we have business to deal with." Jiraiya ordered, only to be forced to jump back when the ground he was standing on ignited with black flames.
"No. You just showed me exactly what you are, and I'd sooner tear out my own eyes than ever join some sociopathic man child, like you." Sasuke spat, refusing to join Jiraiya after what he's just done.
"Fine. What's a few more years to find another apprentice, I don't care who it is, I'm the one that gets to decide the Child of Prophecy. If you don't want to save the world, then you can just die like everyone else here is going to." Jiraiya said with a shrug, feeling no remorse about killing his "apprentice", no matter how short-lived it was.
"You're the only that'll die, you perverted fucker!" Raven screamed demonically, her eyes glowing bright red before splitting into four eyes, fully embracing her rage after seeing what Jiraiya did to Naruto.
Unleashing a blast of pure darkness that slammed into the Toad Sage sending him crashing into the ground. Before screaming in pain when Raven had wrapped his arms and legs in darkness, viciously snapping them as many times as she could.
But the pain didn't stop there when Illyana jumped up and smashed her foot down on his back, grinding it into his spine before swinging her sword cutting off Jiraiya's right arm at the elbow, much to his agony.
"Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! FUCKING DIE, YOU BASTARD!" Shouted Illyana, stabbing Jiraiya repeatedly with her sword, her voice growing louder and more demonic as she did so, her eyes having turned solid yellow with no visible irises or pupils, along with beginning to sprout horns from her forehead.
With Jiraiya screaming in agony with each stab, as despite her rage Magik was intentionally missing any vital spots, simply wanting to inflict as much pain as she possibly could on the Toad Sage.
"We're going to drag you into the deepest pits of hell!" Said Raven, smiling wickedly as she used her magic to lift up Jiraiya's head and began repeatedly smashing it into the ground, wanting to reduce his head to a bloody paste.
"Hey! Psycho girls, as fun as it is watching you rip the fucker a new asshole, Shithead here needs help!" Tayuya said, motioning to Naruto as Kakashi lifted him up, the Uzumaki only able to groan in pain from the movement.
This got Raven's and Magik's attention as they slowly returned to normal and looked at Naruto in concern, though gave Jiraiya one last glare.
"You're fucking dead if we see you again!" Illyana hissed, stomping once more on the Sannin's back before they rushed over to Naruto.
"Y-yo-yo-you…you-you th-th-th-think…I-I'm g-go-gonna…" Jiraiya growled, struggling to get up on his broken legs, intent to rip them to pieces for thinking they could do this to him.
Only for him to groan in pain when Kin threw multiple senbon with bells on them around him, making the Toad Sage feel like they were stabbing into his brain from the ringing.
"Let's go!" Kakashi said as the survivors all took off running out of Konoha, knowing the village was no longer safe for any of them.
Tayuya, Kin, Temari and Kankuro following them, while the latter two made sure to take Gaara's body with them.
Much to Jiraiya's rage that they got away with the brat still breathing, gritting his teeth in anger as he forced himself to stand up.
'DAMNIT ALL TO HELL! I was so close!' Jiraiya thought, furious that he lost his chance to kill that brat for daring to think he could be anything without his training.
Before the Sannin calmed down a little and looked around, specifically at the dead bodies of all the dead Konoha Ninja that were killed by the brat, those bitches and their allies.
'But…maybe I can make lemonade out of this. Sensei and Danzō are both dead, no one knows what happened here and there's now no one around who could be Hokage or take control of what's left of ROOT.' Jiraiya thought, knowing with enough effort he'll have his own private army to sway to his side.
But for now he needed to get to the hospital and get healed enough to plan out his next move.
Later-With the group*
The survivors didn't stop running once they were out of Konoha, with them going as far as they could until they found a cave that was a good distance away from the village. With Raven and Magik quickly getting to work on trying to heal Naruto, only for it to prove difficult.
"Damnit! Why isn't this working?!" Magik said, gritting her teeth at how the damage from the Rasengan was barely healing.
"The damage from the Rasengan isn't easy to heal, even for most Medical-Ninja. Even those with powerful healing factors won't be able to immediately get up from it, and given Jiraiya's own strength along with how he intended to kill Naruto, we're going to need more than the two of you." Kakashi explained looking at his student solemnly.
"It looks like he also put this on Naruto after hitting him, another Five Elements Seal." Raven said, frowning worriedly at seeing the Five Elements Seal over the Eight Trigrams Seal.
"You know what that is?" Questioned Kakashi, wondering how they knew that.
"Yes. The one you call Orochimaru put one on Naruto in the Forest of Death. We removed it before we arrived for the finals, since it helped with his training to improve his Chakra Control." Replied Illyana as she and Raven quickly removed the seal so Naruto's healing factor could start working.
"That'll help only a little, enough that you should be able to stabilize him. But if Naruto's going to be fully healed then we're going to need a master Medic-Nin." Said Kakashi, knowing who they needed to find.
"Who?" Raven asked as she and Magik looked at him, willing to find anyone they could to help Naruto.
"Tsunade Senju, the third member of The Legendary Sannin."
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see the battle taking place while the Hokage fought Orochimaru, as the Rookies and their sensei fight against ROOT and Gaara, with them escaping out into the village for more space to fight. With the Jōnin staying behind to try and stall them, while the Genin try to escape, Kiba and Chōji giving Naruto some special Soldier Pills to restore some of his strength.
Unfortunately things take a bad turn when one of Kakashi's old teammates from Team Ro, Kō (not Kō Hyūga a different one) shows up along with several Jōnin, Chūnin and even Genin that have sided with Danzō to get rid of Naruto. Luckily backup also arrives with Team Gai, Yūgao, Tenzō, Temari, Kankuro, Tayuya and Kin. The latter four being met with suspicions, but with the circumstances they all work together, being the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
As we see Naruto fighting Gaara with help from Magik, Raven, Temari and Sasuke, with Ino trying to help and take control of Gaara's body. Only to be unable to handle the pain being inflicted on him by the seal or Shukaku forcing her out. Which leads to her ending the Jutsu, along with Chōji and Shikamaru dying protecting her defenseless body.
Which then leads to Kō trying to take the chance to kill Sasuke, revealing the truth of the Uchiha Massacre, which he learned from Danzō. Something that leaves Sasuke open to nearly dying if not for Kakashi, Tenzō and Yūgao saving him, having to reveal it's true. Before they finish Kō off, with Sasuke delivering the final blow, swearing kill Danzō next.
Only for Gaara to then attack and almost kill Sasuke, if not for Sakura intervening, which sadly leads to her death next along with Sasuke awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan from the constant emotional turmoil reaching its peak.
With all the negativity causing Raven to lose control of her emotions, giving in to her demon side and wipe out a good portion of Danzō's forces, until Illyana snaps her out of it. While Naruto has his own emotional turmoil from all the deaths, seeing Kiba and Asuma having fallen as well. Leading to him shockingly awakening the Sharingan, going off the idea that members of the Uzumaki and Senju Clans, particularly Asura's Transmigrants, have the potential to awaken the Sharingan under the right circumstances. As he wipes out more of Danzō's followers with his Mokuton.
Before Rasa arrives after Orochimaru sent him to subdue Gaara, with him along with Naruto and Sasuke manage to restrain and subdue Gaara and Shukaku. Only for the seal the ROOT Anbu put on Gaara to also have a Deadman Seal integrated into it, one that would kill him regardless if he completed his objective or not.
Leading to a touching moment as Gaara realizes his siblings truly did care for him, along with Rasa learning the same lesson he would've learned in the Fourth Shinobi War. Telling Gaara the truth of his mother and Yashamaru, that they did truly love him, that Yashamaru only took his last mission because Rasa ordered it. Allowing Gaara the chance to reconcile with his father, to pass on knowing he was loved and cared for.
Unfortunately Jiraiya then arrives sealing Rasa away and hitting Naruto with a Rasengan, putting a Five Elements Seal suppressing the Kyūbi and his healing factor. As he fully drops his mask showing what he's really like underneath, even willing to kill Sasuke when he refuses to join him, uncaring if he's his apprentice or not, even if for a short time.
Only for his attack on Naruto to send Magik and Raven over the edge as they brutally beat Jiraiya, desiring to simply make him suffer. Only snapping out of it when Tayuya reminds them about Naruto, before the survivors make their escape from Konoha. While Jiraiya begins planning how to turn this to his favor.
Finally we see the group having made to a cave a fair distance away from Konoha, as Illyana and Raven try healing Naruto and remove the Five Elements Seal. Only to be met with little success as Kakashi explains just how much damage the Rasengan can cause. Revealing only one person would have the skill to heal Naruto in time, Tsunade Senju. So, for those that like the story, thanks for your support. For those that don't or at least don't like the direction taken, you're more than welcomed to drop the story. But thanks for giving the story a chance anyway.
Storm out