Chapter 23: When You Least Expect It
A few minutes earlier
I feel like a sitting duck right now. This is not fun Gaara, not fun at all!
"I don't like this situation just as much as you do, but sometimes you just have to make the tough decisions in order to live another day." Gaara grumbled as his sand dome completed itself. Sasuke's scowl was the last thing he saw before his shield closed tight, the sound of his fist hitting the surface sounding faint to his ears as he stood in absolute darkness. "Right now, I bought us some time, something we didn't really have the longer I stood out there getting my ass handed to me around the arena by a guy who really improved his speed over the last month!"
We're in here practically blind thought!
"No, we're not . . ." Gaara grumbled as he switched to a different hand sign. "You just didn't allow me enough time to start up my Third Eye technique first. It'll be complete in a couple more seconds."
Oh joy . . . The tanuki grumbled as the technique finally granted them a view of the outside world. Sasuke was now standing about thirty feet away, his expression stoic as he threw a few shuriken at the dome. None of them left a scratch. Ha! As if he could break through with measly throwing stars.
"Or his fists for that matter . . ." Gaara added as Sasuke moved toward the dome. As soon as he was close enough, the dome acted on its own, forming spikes that moved to impale the Uchiha. Sasuke managed to avoid most of the damage, earning a few scratches for his efforts as his fist connected to the surface.
It didn't leave a dent either. Gaara was about to command his sand to grab the wily Uchiha, but the dark-haired boy moved out of the way before the sand could even strike. "Now what will you do Sasuke Uchiha?"
I have a few suggestions. He could come over right now and let us beat his ass right here, right now. He's been doing it to us since this battle started. It's only fair we repay the favor.
"Yeah, he won't go for that. . ." Gaara conceded as they watched Sasuke backtrack toward the wall. "We need to nullify his speed."
There's a simple solution for that. We use the same strategy we implemented when we faced the bowl cut wearing brat!
"That involved you taking control when I didn't want you to, and there's no way in hell I'm letting you do that again!"
Looks like someone doesn't want to win today . . .
"Oh, I want to win, but I don't want to rely on you every time to do so," Gaara mumbled as he kept his eye on Sasuke. "Unless you have any other better ideas, I suggest you be quiet and let me think."
Haven't you realized that being quiet and leaving you alone to think are two things that are not my forte?
"Oh, I know. Also, it's nice to see that you can admit to your faults Shukaku. That shows growth."
Don't you dare fucking mock me! The tanuki exclaimed as the Third Eye picked up on some movement.
"I wasn't trying to mock you. Sheesh, every time I concede you a compliment, you think it's an insult." Gaara grumbled. "It doesn't hurt to take a compliment and leave it at that you damn tanuki. Are you really that adverse to them?"
Not really . . . Shukaku admitted, grumbling petulantly. They just tend to leave a bad taste in my mouth after having to live centuries with my brother giving me the backhanded version of them every chance he got.
"Let me guess: Kurama?"
Who else flesh bag? Who else? Shukaku grumbled as Sasuke moved up the wall, stopping when he was near the top. He methodically went through a series of hand signs before bringing his hands down. Anyway, you're right in that you need to nullify the other brat's speed, but that's a hard thing to do when he won't stay still and moves so fast that not even the sand can touch him. . . Should we rip his legs off his body?
"I think it's for the best to hold off on all the grisly, traumatizing stuff till the later rounds." Gaara mumbled, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the tanuki. "Would breaking them enough that he won't be able to walk for the next few weeks good enough for ya?"
It's not as grisly as ripping them clear from his body. Shukaku grumbled, sounding a little put out by the suggestion. But it still works, though I'm loathed to admit it.
"But you did admit it, so there's that . . ." Gaara mumbled as a sudden sense of dread overwhelmed his senses. "I do not like this feeling I'm getting."
Neither do I-FLESH BAG LOOK OUT!
Shukaku's warning came a hair too late, the sound of sand crumbling - and chirping birds? - hitting his eardrums before blistering pain erupted from his left shoulder and spread through his entire body.
The scream was foreign to the redhead's ears, taking him seconds to realize that the yelling was coming from his own lips. It wasn't just the pain that got him, it was the ongoing tingling sensation that flowed through him, almost like an electric shock.
With his opponent's lightning-shrouded hand impaling his left shoulder, it wasn't hard to see why.
Ok, this is getting fucking stupid at this point! Shukaku angrily grumbled, manipulating the sand to push Sasuke's hand out of Gaara's shoulder. He formed it to look like one of his own arms, successfully sending the appendage toward the raven-haired teen, who backed away quickly before it could fully grab him in its talons.
"Great; if there were people suspicious of me being your jinchuriki, then the arm confirms it now." Gaara mumbled, clutching his injured shoulder as he allowed the dome to slowly crack.
That's a bit irrelevant at this point flesh bag. The tanuki grumbled, seemingly accelerating the speed of the dome's breakdown the angrier he got. That bastard just drew first blood and I want him to pay!
"Trust me; we both want to stop him but attacking without a clear head will spell our downfall whether you like it or not!" Gaara argued as he allowed the sand to collapse on him, re-emerging seconds later for all the world to see. "Look, we still need to stop his speed, but now we also need to be wary of that lightning jutsu he just struck us with."
What do you mean by us?! Shukaku argued, his tone full of contempt. You're the one that got stabbed in the shoulder!
"I really don't need your bullshit right now."
"So, you've finally decided to emerge from your little tomb huh?" Sasuke asked, his tone maintaining a challenging edge as he fell back into his default fighting stance. "You know, I was expecting better from you."
Honestly, you and I both duck-butt bastard!
"Shukaku, seriously, not right now." Gaara mumbled as he looked down at his injured shoulder, the sight of his own blood an odd sight for him, considering it was the first time someone had injured him so much that they managed to get it to spill.
"For someone that's the son of one of the Five Imperial Monarchs and managed to wipe out a taijutsu prodigy like Lee in the preliminaries, I figured you would be a tougher opponent," Sasuke mumbled, loud enough that Gaara was still able to hear him. "Something off?"
"Wouldn't you like to know...?" Gaara managed to spit out, refusing to wince at the pain throbbing from his wound.
"You know, hiding yourself within your sand was not the best idea," Sasuke mumbled as he pulled out a couple of kunai. "You closed yourself off too much. I'm sure that eye of sand you made was supposed to serve as your sight while you remained hidden in there, but it didn't help you against my Chidori."
"Chidori?" Gaara mumbled as he looked at the hand that Sasuke attacked him with. "So that's what that jutsu's called . . . Never heard of it."
"You wouldn't," Sasuke agreed as he flexed his fingers. "It's a technique my sensei created, though it's something that not every person can handle."
"Including you?" the redhead challenged, noticing that the Uchiha was taking in some very deep breaths, even though he was trying hard to hide it. "Granted, it was a powerful technique, but it seems to have done a number on your stamina. . . Am I wrong?"
Are you really trying to attempt SMALL TALK with the bastard that spilled your BLOOD?! Shukaku exclaimed. He's your OPPONENT! Your ENEMY! You should be smashing him against the pavement right now, not engaging him in trivial chit-chat!
"I know what I'm doing you damn tanuki," he growled back, not in the mood to listen to his whining. "Just sit back and watch."
This should be interesting . . .
"Wouldn't you like to know?!" Sasuke grumbled as he stuffed his hand into his pack. "I still have enough stamina in me to beat you."
"Are you sure about that?" Gaara mumbled, subtly testing out his shoulder. He somehow managed to not wince at the blistering pain that show through his system, though he figured that Sasuke suspected that he was trying to save face. ". . . Lightning is an affinity that is unforgiving on one's chakra stores. Your technique was impressive, but I highly doubt you can pull that trick again."
Gaara knew he had confirmation once the scowl showed up on the other teen's face. "It looks like I was right. . ."
"Perceptive, I'll give you that . . ." Sasuke grumbled. "However, I don't need to use the Chidori again to beat you."
"You sure about that?" Gaara challenged. "I'd love to see you try . . ."
"Tough talk for someone that's about to kiss the dirt below his feet!" Sasuke exclaimed, moving to end things quickly. Unfortunately, his plans came to a sudden halt once he felt the blistering pain shoot through his knees and legs. "WHAT THE HELL!"
THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED?! Shukaku yelled out as he watched the Uchiha lord collapse to his knees. Only then did he see the sand that was caking around his calves and shins. Oh . . .
"Now do you see what I did?" Gaara asked as the audience - who were amazingly silent for most of the match - started buzzing at this latest development. "Sometimes your best move is the move you don't see till it's too late."
While you distracted the other brat with your talk, you sent some of the sand that was floating around the battlefield to get his legs without him noticing! Shukaku concluded as they watched Sasuke try to get to his feet to no avail. Smart move! It's a lot less bloody than I would have hoped for, but still, smart move.
"I'm not trying to damage him to the point that he doesn't have a viable ninja career anymore." Gaara reminded him as he walked forward. "I just need to stop him from moving long enough so that I'll finally have the upper hand in this fight."
Well, you definitely got it. . . Now then, let me see what you got planned next.
"It's not anything bloody Shukaku . . ."
You really are no fun sometimes you jackass.
"SHIT!" Sasuke yelled as he looked down at the damaged legs. "You've gotta be fucking kidding me!"
It wasn't obvious to the naked, normal eye, but with a dojutsu like the Sharingan, the young Uchiha lord could see exactly what his redheaded opponent had done to him. The chakra-infused sand was all around the battlefield, covering it like a barely-there veil. He honestly thought that it would be a non-issue, just wayward sand that broke off during the attacks, but boy was he proven wrong.
Gaara had the terrain advantage from the get-go, and he used it best when Sasuke least expected it. Before he knew it, the sand had slowly converged on his knees, covering them, but not being obvious enough that Sasuke would immediately notice it. He paid for that dearly, now unable to put any weight on his legs after the sound of two distinct pops hit his eardrums in one quick second.
"Sorry about your knees, but your speed was starting to get on my last nerve," Gaara admitted, his sand started to swirl around the wounded Uchiha. "I don't think my sand damaged them enough that you won't be able to walk anymore, just enough that your speed has been rendered a non-factor in this match."
"You're effectively a sitting duck at my mercy right now." Gaara continued as he outstretched his hand, the sand going faster by the second as a result. "Your ninja tools are useless against my sand. You can use any fire jutsu you want but considering how much sand I can still control and how much chakra you've already used, you wouldn't be doing yourself any favors on that end. As for your Sharingan, don't even bother. I have a counter for that too."
Would that counter happen to be me? Shukaku snidely asked, but Gaara ignored the comment.
"It's your choice Sasuke," Gaara concluded as he stared down his opponent. "Forfeit now or continue. I'm fine either way."
The audience was abuzz, wondering what choice the prodigy would make as his opponent held him at proverbial knifepoint. Sasuke himself was incensed, glaring at the redhead with his Sharingan active, but as the seconds ticked by, he realized that he had too few options.
Gaara had effectively neutralized the one asset that gave him an edge in their match. He knew using the Chidori would always be a risk, especially since he had only recently learned it, but he took it anyway and it seemed to work in his benefit. However, his unawareness of his surroundings proved to be his downfall, and he was forced to admit it.
Gaara had him, hook, line, and sinker.
"If I try to face you now, it would basically be a suicide mission," he grumbled as he powered down his dojutsu. "I can't put any weight on my legs thanks to you, and sometimes you just got to know when to retreat to fight another day. . . Proctor!"
Genma, who had been watching the proceedings from a safe distance, approached, still with his toothpick tucked into the side of his mouth.
"I can't fight anymore," Sasuke announced, grimacing as another spasm of pain sailed through his legs. "The prince wins. I forfeit."
Yeah, so as you can see the past couple of chapters. The first half of the battle was pretty much canon, but since it never finished in canon, I was free to create my own ending for it. As you can see, this is what I came up with. I hope you all enjoyed it.
Also, leave a comment if you like.