Naruto's head was splitting. The rush of memories returning to him in that instance gave him the mother of all migraines, and the dueling memories of his time in Ne and the memories that he assured himself were implanted somehow weren't helping at all either.
After hearing the confidence in Naruto's voice ring out in the forest Sasuke spoke up, "Naruto… What happened to you? What's going on?"
Naruto looked down at Sasuke with one eye and back up at Gaara, "You know, I'm not entirely sure myself. Right now, I feel like crap, but compared to the way I've been feeling for the last four years I feel amazing. It's hard to explain."
He grunted, "It's not important right now. I have to beat his ass, hustle back to Konoha and find someone, like Danzo or something, that can explain all of this to me. So here's what we're going to do. I'm going to attack him, and you… aren't. Now commencing Operation: Beat Gaara's Ass!"
Sasuke had a myriad of questions running through his head at this point, 'What happened to the dobe? Who is Danzo? What the hell does he mean I'm not fighting!'
Gaara heard his voice speaking to Sasuke the entire time and cackled to Naruto across the trees, "You aren't strong enough Uzumaki! Leave them behind and run! Nothing has changed, you still don't fight for yourself!"
Gaara flung more sand shuriken at Naruto who scoffed and grabbed Sasuke by the back of his collar and ducked and weaved out of the way of the projectiles. After he had gotten through them all he dropped Sasuke back on the branch and scoffed, "Pathetic… I'm slow as dirt… Did my muscles atrophy or something? I became a ninja anyway which means I should be conditioned like a genin… I should have kept my speed at least."
Gaara looked at Naruto looking himself over after dodging with Sasuke. This angered him, it was like Naruto was ignoring his existence, just like everybody else, "Just like everybody else… Don't ignore me!"
Gaara had mouths appearing all over his body as he took a deep breath and released it ahead, "Fuuton: Mugen Sajin Daitoppa (Wind Release: Sandstorm Devastation)!" Gaara released a massive blast of air in a sandstorm in Naruto and Sasuke's direction, tearing off branches and cutting into the bark of trees.
As the wind died down Gaara couldn't see Naruto or Sasuke, no sign of either.
"It's a shame."
Gaara turned around to see Naruto standing behind him right before Naruto's fist lifted him off of the branch and sent him crashing to a lower level. Naruto crouched on the branch and watched Gaara try to stand, "You had a defense that only the fastest could bypass and only the strongest could breach, and what do you do? You cast it away for raw power when things get a little tough. Raw power can only overwhelm skill and finesse in extreme qualities."
Naruto pointed at Sasuke who was over by Sakura, Pakkun, and Gamakichi, "You beat him in this form because he was already burned out when you transformed. He used Chidori twice here, once during your fight in the stadium, and I'm sure he tested it one time when he and Kakashi were late. If he had more shots then you wouldn't have won."
He smirked down at Gaara, "I don't know what happened to me all of those years ago, but I'm not the kid that just had Kage Bunshin flying all over the place anymore. I could beat you like that, but that wouldn't be very fun, after all of this time, I can finally fight like I used to, if only a little bit. I'm still not fast enough to avoid taking hits, but I can almost assure you that however hard you hit me…" A feral grin came onto Naruto's face, "I'll hit you twice as hard. So let's see who can still stand up when this is all over."
Naruto's hand moved unconsciously to his back before he pulled it down, clicking his teeth, 'Damn that's right. I don't have a sword. Seriously, what happened to me? These phantom urges to fight like I was trained to are going to get me killed if I don't get it together.'
Gaara stood with a growl, "You aren't stronger than me! You fight for the Uchiha… You fight for the pink-haired girl… Fighting for others makes you weak!"
Naruto scoffed, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. There are detailed stories of mere mortal men, overcoming demons, for others. The Yondaime Hokage overcame the Kyuubi no Yoko for his village. Orochimaru fights for himself, you fight for yourself, and that's why you will both lose here today, because you don't have a true purpose to fight."
Naruto cracked his knuckles, "But let me show you, just how wrong you are. Don't blink." One flash tag later and Naruto's presence was gone from the area.
Everyone looked around for any sign of the blonde boy who had changed from the orange loudmouth they had taken him for based on past experience. Chuckling rang out through the forest, but not from any particular area, as Naruto was projecting his voice.
"That little sandstorm from earlier wasn't a Fuuton jutsu. This is a Fuuton jutsu! Fuuton: Reppuushoo (Wind Release: Gale Palm)!" A fierce gale came from the trees above, sending wind and weapons at Gaara from above. Gaara lifted his arms to block vital spots and allowed the kunai and shuriken to bury themselves into them.
Gaara lowered his hands and shouted out loudly, "Is that the best you have Uzumaki? Come out and fight me! Give me a real fight! Let me feel alive!"
Naruto's voice rang out again in mocking laughter, "If you wanted to feel 'alive' then you shouldn't have caught those weapons. Even with all of that power, you're still just a baby genin huh? Just listen… and tell me what you hear…"
Everyone silenced themselves in order to listen for Naruto's warning. Temari's eyes widened, too late to help, a hissing noise coming from Gaara was being muffled by the sandy appendage he had caught the mishmash of ninja tools in.
"Gaara no!"
Temari's shout of warning did no good. It was too late for him to cast them out as a massive explosion took place in the trees, and the fireball that used to be Gaara fell to the forest floor. The others could only look on in amazement as the goofy boy in orange was systematically decimating the strongest person out of them all.
Naruto's voice rang out again, "Damn it I should have just killed you." Gaara was like a puddle of melting sand on the ground as Naruto spoke, "I guess my fake self has more influence over me than I thought. I should be down there killing you right now. But for old times' sake I guess I'll hit you with an attack inspired by him."
Suddenly several Naruto's rushed out of the foliage and kicked Gaara into the air, one after another. U!
Zu!
Ma!
Ki!
As Gaara was stuck hanging in the air a wave of orange revealed itself from the leaves above. Countless Kage Bunshin from Naruto descended with their fists and feet cocked to strike, "Naruto Nisei Rendan (Naruto Uzumaki 2K Barrage)!"
Naruto's Bunshin dropped an obscene amount of physical offense on Gaara's prone form, driving him back into the ground hard. Naruto and his clones littered the trees looking down at Gaara. Naruto sighed yet again, "If I was at full strength he'd be a puddle in a crater right now… Someone's going to answer for this…"
Gaara looked up at the masses of Naruto Bunshin looking down on him. Each of them had the same uninterested look on their faces, as if they were trying to ignore him. Cold blue eyes magnified by one-thousand staring down on him.
'There's no way…' Gaara allowed the final shred of sanity and reasoning inside of him snap, "There's no way I'm going to lose to a guy like that!"
The original Naruto's eyes widened as Gaara's chakra spiked, "Oh crap. He can transform again!"
Naruto was blown back hard as Gaara was completely immersed in sand, swelling to the sky. Naruto's Kage Bunshin were dispelled as Gaara's towering sand smashed them asunder. Gaara ended up sticking out of the head of Shukaku looking down on Naruto, who was covered in sand, "It's too late Uzumaki! Time to die!"
"Ugh, like I said, power cleanly outclasses skill only in overwhelming quantities…" Naruto sat, entirely incased in Gaara's Sabaku Kyu, "Well this is great… I'm too weak to break it. Now what?" Naruto smirked as he remembered that he didn't stop learning things when he lost his memory, "Ero-sennin, you might have been useful after all…"
Naruto bit his thumb and made a few handsigns.
Gaara put out his right hand, "Sabaku Sos-."
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Jutsu)!"
In a massive burst of smoke Naruto found himself seated atop the head of Gamabunta smirking out at Gaara, "You didn't think it would be that easy did you?" Naruto looked down at Gamabunta, "Hey there Boss Toad. You want to help me out and take this jerk down with me? He's a little too big for me to handle alone at this time."
Gamabunta directed his gaze up at Naruto, 'Something feels different about this gaki… Like he isn't as frantic and spastic as he was the last time I saw him.' Gamabunta huffed out smoke from his pipe, "Ichibi no Shukaku… No can do kid. Why would I want to go out of my way to fight a guy like that?"
Naruto dead-panned the giant toad a look, "I thought summons were supposed to help their summoners fight in situations like this." Naruto pointed out at Gaara/Shukaku, "Look at that thing. If you don't help me then I'll end up a bloody smear on the bottom of its foot for sure."
Gamabunta laughed, "Tough. We haven't even had a drink yet. I can't accept you as my summoner until we share a drink together"
Naruto glared down at him, "You'd better be the one supplying then. Because my genin-ass can't afford enough liquor to get you even slightly buzzed."
Gamakichi then appeared and landed on Naruto's head, "Aww help him out pops. I like this kid."
Gamabunta looked at the smaller toad in surprise, "Gamakichi? What on Earth are you doing here?"
Gamakichi looked at his father sheepishly, "I just wanted to come out and see the outside world you know." He pointed over at Gaara/Shukaku, "And then that guy tried to bully me! Our boy here kept me alive and started kicking that guy's butt, but then he cheated and got all big, and now here we are."
Gamabunta glared out at the sand spirit, "Alright then gaki. You helped out my son, I appreciate that. You're alright with me. You have my support in this fight, but we're still having that drink later, you hear?"
Naruto stood up and nodded, his face hardening as he looked out at Gaara, "Gamakichi, you're going to want to get off of my head for this next part." Gamakichi got off of Naruto's head as Gamabunta drew his tanto and held it at the ready, "Whenever you're ready Boss Toad… Give him hell."
Gamabunta launched forward and dug his sword into Shukaku's arm. With one mighty heave he lopped it off, dropping it uselessly onto the ground before he jumped back to his distance and stared at his opponent. Gamabunta huffed in exhaustion, "That almost took everything I had, and all I took was his arm."
Naruto smirked down at Gamabunta, "Wow, and I thought I was out of shape. I've been out of full commission for four years, what's your excuse?"
Gamabunta eyed the boy, "Watch it brat or I'll squash you…"
The smile disappeared from Naruto's face as he looked back out at their mutual foe, "Kill me later, we still have a problem."
Gaara looked at Naruto excitedly, "Interesting… Interesting Naruto Uzumaki! I like this, this is a fantastic battle!" Gaara brought his hands into the ram seal, "Tanuki Neiri no Jutsu (Feigning Sleep Technique)!"
Shukaku's star-shaped pupils spun wildly and he yelled to the sky, "I'm free!"
Naruto kept an impassive face, "He just made this a lot more difficult didn't he?" Gamabunta nodded with the boy on his head, "And why wouldn't he? Alright let's try something here…"
Shukaku inhaled deeply, "Fuuton: Renkuudan (Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet)!" He launched a massive air ball at Gamabunta who prepared his own attack, "Suiton: Teppodama (Water Release: Liquid Bullet)!"
Naruto flew through his own hand-signs, "Let's give you a boost Boss Toad, Fuuton: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough)!"
Naruto let out a massive crushing wind that sped up Gamabunta's water bullet, forcing it to obliterate Shukaku's attack on contact. It continued on to collide with the demon itself, knocking it off balance and sending it to the ground.
XxX
Sasuke was watching the fight with envy. Naruto had seemingly hit some mental switch in his head and now Gaara couldn't even touch him, "What kind of power is this? This Naruto is completely different from the one I've been working with for so long…"
Temari was completely overwhelemed. She had left to find Kankuro after Gaara had fully transformed and returned, thinking that Gaara had killed Naruto and moved along towards Konoha, she wanted to bypass him entirely and avoid his killing spree. When she returned she was shocked to see that Naruto was not only still fighting, not only forcing Gaara into a full-possesion, he was winning.
She and Kankuro had to check to make sure they weren't dreaming, "This boy. He isn't normal. How can he keep pace with Gaara."
XxX
Naruto looked down at Gamabunta, "So how do we end this?"
Gamabunta was impressed by Naruto boosting his attack. He knew it would have been a stalemate otherwise, 'This really isn't the same kid from last week…' Gamabunta remembered that Naruto had asked him a question, "We need to wake up the host. The boy on his head, you need to wake him up."
Naruto frowned and grunted, "Killing him would be easier… Way easier, we can just pepper him with big attacks until Gaara's a big red blotch on his forehead. He's totally exposed."
Gamabunta chuckled, "That's ruthless gaki. It's an idea that would give us more problems than answers though I'm afraid. Killing the medium in the midst of a full-possession could end up with the demon being freed. It already has a form to go with its soul so it wouldn't need the host in that instance."
The blonde nodded, "Okay, so wake him up it is then." He furrowed his brow in thought, "But all of my attacks that I could launch from here can kill him, I need you to get in close so that I can wake him."
Gamabunta looked at his hands, "These webbed hands of mine aren't much for grabbing a hold of things. How do you suggest I get him?"
Naruto scoffed, "I said get close, I didn't say grab him. I can reach him myself don't you worry." Gamabunta prepared to charge, as Shukaku reached an upright position once more. Naruto closed his eyes to get in touch with his inner demon.
XxX
(Naruto's Mindscape)
Naruto appeared in the sewer of his mindscape in front of the Kyuubi's prison. Naruto looked around and shook his head, "Kami, this place is a dump. I didn't leave this place looking like this…"
Demonic laughter rang out from behind the bars in front of him, No you didn't ningen. Whoever placed the seal on you messed with your mental functioning and reverted your mind into a dump, as you can plainly see."
Naruto nodded, "So will it get better? Because this is seriously depressing… Wait seal? There was a seal on me?"
"Yes kit, if your mind goes back to the way it was before four years ago then your mindscape will return to its former state." The Kyuubi turned serious at this point, "There was a seal placed on you after your disastrous mission to Otogakure. I can't tell you who did it because I was unconscious from using so much chakra to heal your wounds and keep you going until you reached the border. I woke up here… again. Needless to say I wasn't too happy."
Naruto laughed slightly, "So that's why you were so pissed off when I showed up here last time. You tried to freaking eat me you know. Why didn't you say anything?"
Kyuubi huffed and sat down on its haunches, letting its snout touch the floor, "First of all, would your other self who had been taught to mistrust me, believe me in the first place? If I had tried to tell you about it I would have been harmed by the seal, as would you. It was a memory seal. Whoever placed it on you placed many others on with you that coincided with one another. You forcibly broke one, the chakra restrictor, and allowed me to force a chain reaction with the rest of your mental seals to free your mind."
Naruto smiled at the massive kitsune, "Well I guess I owe you one soon then. But right now could you give me a shot of your chakra for old times sake? I need to smack down your comrade Shukaku without killing his host."
The ground in Naruto's mind rumbled as the Kyuubi jumped to its feet, tails waving behind it excitedly, "Really? You need my help again after so long? All right then kit. Why not? I just wish I could experience the fight through your eyes and other senses like I used to."
Naruto smirked as the red chakra engulfed his body, "Well after we survive this I'll set up my mind the way it used to be so you can. It's the least I can do… I missed being so bad-ass."
Naruto slowly faded from his mindscape as the Kyuubi lay back down on the ground, "I did too kit, I did too…"
XxX
Naruto's eyes shot open as his body filled with the Kyuubi's chakra. Almost simultaneously Gamabunta charged at Shukaku. As the two massive creature got closer they both shot off their projectile attacks again.
Naruto judged the distance just as the smoke from the collision of attacks rose, 'This is close enough I guess.' Naruto crouched deeply and propelled himself high over Gamabunta's head, leaping over the explosion and posturing himself above Shukaku's head.
Naruto hovered overhead for a second before forcing wind chakra out through his hands, accelerating his descent, "This is going to be amazing!" Naruto fell at high speed aiming for Gaara, who was stuck sleeping on Shukaku's head, "Wake up you pasty bastard!"
Naruto delivered a double-stomp right to the top of Gaara's head, driving him completely through the Shukaku figure forcing it to collapse on itself as they crashed to the ground amid a deafening roar as the sand crashed around the trees.
Gamabunta stood slack-jawed at Naruto's vicious/reckless attack on Shukaku, the kid jumped from the relative safety of his head, thirty feet higher than he already was, towards a crazed homicidal demon. The more amazing thing was that it actually worked. He hit Gaara with the force of his body weight focused into his feet from thirty feet above his head, making the impact more intense by using wind chakra to send him down faster. After the attack he softened his landing considerably after he destroyed the Shukaku as he landed in sand that had been 'tenderized' by his previous attack.
Gamabunta was broken from his musing by his son, "I like that kid pops. He's insane. Can I hang out with him more often?"
Gamabunta chuckled, "If he allows it Gamakichi. Jiraiya sure picked an interesting one this time… I'll be watching you Naruto Uzumaki."
Naruto stood up and shook the sand off of his body, dragging Gaara out with him and dropping him on the ground, watching him look up at him in fear, "Stay away from me! I don't want to die!"
Naruto slapped Gaara across the back of his head, "Act like a shinobi damn it. We deal in death for a living. Besides I'm not going to kill you. You're a weapon like me." He dropped Gaara onto the grass and walked away slightly, "You're a weapon that I broke already. And while you can be repaired… Most of the time a repaired weapon is easier to break a second time around."
He turned back to look at Gaara, his cold blue eyes turned back to their formerly bright nature, "I'll beat you down every time you try to harm me or anyone in my village. Because only when you fight to protect and defend others can you be powerful and find the strength to push beyond your limits."
Naruto looked up to the trees, "Sasuke!" The Uchiha in question landed by his side, "Is Sakura-chan safe? Was I fast enough?"
Sasuke nodded, "Yeah Naruto, you saved her."
Naruto looked back at Gaara just as his siblings landed and prepared for a fight. Naruto shook his head at the two Suna ninja, "I just beat the guy that terrorized you since he was six and I still have enough chakra that I'm gonna sprint back to Konoha and finish up the battle there. You both already got your asses kicked by this guy and Shino and he looks like he's ready to go another round. Do really think you can beat us if you were stupid enough to attack us?"
Kankuro and Temari bristled at Naruto's nonchalant threat as he shrugged, "Fine, be that way. We'll just knock you out and drag you to the village, and by 'we' I mean them." Naruto pointed behind them as two Kage Bunshin bashed them in the back of their heads with the blunt end of their kunai.
Naruto looked back at Sasuke, "Alright teme, go get Sakura-chan and Pakkun and we'll get out of here. We still have a battle to fight." Sasuke went to gather up Sakura as Naruto took to tying up the Suna ninja and hoisting them up on his and his Bunshin's shoulders.
As they set off through the trees Naruto mentally berated himself, 'How could I let myself be caught? Damn it! If I had never been sealed then I would have been able to warn Danzo that Orochimaru was planning an invasion and amassing forces. I hope things aren't as bad as they seemed at the stadium.'
XxX
(Konohagakure – Around the center of town)
Jiraiya stood atop the head of his massive toad summon as he watched Konoha forces engaging the Suna and Oto forces. Despite the fact that they had driven the enemy out of heart of the city the enemy had been putting up a dogged fight.
Suddenly Ibiki landed atop the toad's head, "Jiraiya-sama!"
Jiraiya put up his telescope and turned to face him, "Ibiki, report."
"Jiraiya-sama, our forces were caught in several ambushes as they chased the enemy forces out of the village. They ended up getting caught in a crossfire by some of Otogakure's ninja they had held back."
Jiraiya groaned. They would win, but such an unnecessary loss of life was unsettling. Just as he was about to try and switch the topic he saw Ibiki smile, "But when they were closing in on our forces they ended up getting sacked by a lone ninja of Konoha, wearing bright orange if they saw correctly, he was moving too fast for some of them to catch."
Jiraiya's eyes widened, "There's only one kid I know that is color-blind enough to run around this place in orange…"
Ibiki nodded, "At the same time a Kage Bunshin of Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha arrived at the hospital with their female teammate. And on the other side of town he delivered the children of the Kazekage to a makeshift P.O.W. site, in good condition too."
Ibiki scratched under his bandanna, "I saw how good the kid could be during his fight with the Hyuuga, but I never would have guessed that he was good enough to take down a squad like that."
"Ibiki, you shouldn't talk about me like I'm not there."
They both whipped around to see Naruto tapping his foot impatiently, "Although I guess you didn't know I was here… Geez if I was an assassin you'd both be dead."
Jiraiya looked at Naruto oddly, he couldn't sense his usual restless aura, and he had snuck up on him, "Gaki what happened to your jacket? And what's with that scar on your face?"
Naruto had ditched his orange jumpsuit jacket and left himself in his black t-shirt, "I tossed that bulky piece of crap so I could move faster to get here without much trouble. And I got this scar years ago. Someone put a bunch of seals on me that did a lot of stuff to me. Hiding that scar must have been one."
Naruto saw Jiraiya flinch when he spoke about the seals, "We can talk about that later… We will talk about that later… dattebayo…"
Ibiki gasped as he looked out over the buildings and saw Orochimaru being whisked away by the Sound Four. Naruto growled and crouched down like a track-runner, preparing to take off in hot pursuit until Jiraiya grabbed his collar, "You're not fresh kid. You can't take Orochimaru and his entire force of bodyguards alone."
Naruto looked at him blankly, "I'm not alone. You should be as strong as he is right? And Ibiki can help me beat his entourage and help you. If he's running away then that means he knows he lost today and he might be hurt. We can turn his retreat into a rout and finish this here."
Jiraiya was about to respond just as a cloaked Anbu landed on the toad, bowing to Jiraiya, "Jiraiya-sama, it's about Sandaime-sama."
Jiraiya grinned widely, "So Sarutobi-sensei sent the old snake back to his hole did he?"
The Anbu flinched under his mask, "Hokage-sama was killed in combat against Orochimaru."
The three other ninja stood in stunned silence atop the toad as the sounds of battle still rang out into the air. Naruto looked to Jiraiya who looked down at him, "That's enough death for one day kid. It's time to regroup… and mourn."
Naruto said nothing and followed Jiraiya back to the chunin exam stadium. He could get his answers later, he had nothing but time. Now belonged to the entire village as a whole.