As Team Guy battled their own shadows, no victory seemed in sight. The clones were relentless, putting our heroes under severe strain.
"Ah, it's actually quite simple," Rock Lee said, cracking a slight grin amidst the chaos.
"What are you getting at?" Neji queried, his brows knitting in confusion.
"I've got it! The key to taking them down!" Rock Lee exclaimed, his spirit unbroken even as he was forced back by his clone.
"And what might that be?" Guy inquired, interest piqued in his voice.
"Come on, spill it. How do we beat them?" Neji pressed, eager for any sliver of hope.
"It's foolproof, isn't it?" Tenten asked, looking for certainty in Lee's revelation.
"Absolutely foolproof!" Rock Lee affirmed, even as he continued to trade blows with his clone. "We just need to be stronger than we were when we first met these guys," he declared.
"They copied our strength at that exact moment, right? So, if we surpass that, we win," Rock Lee elaborated with unwavering conviction.
"Spot on, Lee! That's why you're the star pupil!" Guy cheered, his voice a beacon of support.
"But, getting stronger on the spot? That sounds like a stretch," Tenten countered, skepticism laced in her tone.
"Did you forget our mantra, Tenten?" Rock Lee challenged, his gaze intense but encouraging. "Stronger than yesterday—that's what we've lived by, isn't it? It's why you and I advanced to Chunin and Neji to Jounin. It's all about pushing past our limits every single day. But the question is, are we content with where we are now? I'm not. I want to be better than I was yesterday, even better than a minute ago. That's the goal." Rock Lee's words rang with the fervor of their unyielding will to improve, to never settle for yesterday's strength.
"I never really saw becoming a Jounin as the end of the road, you know?" Neji threw out with a cool determination, charging at his clone with all the finesse of a seasoned fighter.
"Slowing down? Not in my vocabulary," Guy declared, his fists a blur as they connected with his clone's face, each punch a testament to his unwavering spirit.
"Thinking of quitting? That's not in my cards," Tenten gritted out, her resolve ironclad as she unfurled a scroll with a flourish.
Rock Lee, with a slick maneuver, darted towards his clone, attempting a leg sweep. The clone leapt up, dodging with agility, but Lee was already there, mid-air, delivering a powerhouse kick. "The fire of youth, burning at its peak!" he exclaimed as his clone hit the ground, the impact sending a shockwave through the vicinity.
"Eight Trigrams…Hazan Strike!" Neji announced, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of excitement, as he launched his attack. The clone was sent spiraling through the air before crashing down onto a rock.
"With a flick of the wrist...Tensasai!" Tenten chimed in, her eyes glittering with mischief as she sent a large scroll soaring into the air, unleashing a torrent of weapons on her clone.
Might Guy, not to be outdone, landed a couple of swift punches to his clone's face, setting it up perfectly. "And for my next act...Great Leaf Flash!" A kick aimed with precision sent the clone reeling into a stone, defeated.
And just like that, each of them showcased their unique strengths, bringing the battle to a close with their clones bested.
"Nice!" Lee couldn't help but cheer, the adrenaline still pulsing.
"That clone put up a good fight. Had me a bit excited there," Guy admitted with a chuckle, clearly impressed by his own double.
"Alright, squad, time to regroup with Team Kakashi. They might be in need of our brand of assistance," Guy proposed, his tone suggesting it was more of an adventure waiting to happen than a mere task.
"Understood!" Neji, Lee, and Tenten responded in unison
---
After Team 7, along with Chiyo, took down the Akatsuki members, it hit them hard — Gaara was gone, lifeless. They moved him out of the hideout, a place now in ruins from their intense showdown.
"Guess I'll take a shot at this technique, just to see what happens," Naruto remarked, laying his hands on Gaara, channeling an attempt at the reverse curse technique he'd used before.
"But honestly, don't hold your breath. It's kinda hit or miss," he added, a shadow of doubt in his voice.
Naruto gave it his all, but after a while, he had to face the facts. "Looks like this isn't going to cut it... This Jutsu's still a work in progress," he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of defeat.
Then, Chiyo made her move, settling beside Gaara. A soft glow of blue chakra illuminated from her hands.
"That technique, huh?" Naruto started, curiosity piqued, but he trailed off as Chiyo shot him a look.
As Team Guy arrived, Naruto filled them in on the gravity of the situation.
"...Are we really okay with this? She's about to use that Jutsu, which means she'll..." His thought process was cut short by Chiyo, "You've outdone yourself today. How about lending a hand here?" she suggested, glancing over at Naruto.
"What do you need?" Naruto asked, joining them by Gaara's side.
"Just place your hands atop mine," Chiyo instructed.
"I've made plenty of mistakes in my time..." Chiyo began, her voice tinged with regret. "But now, as my time winds down, I might actually get something right. The villages of the sand and the leaf... I think the future's going to break from the past."
"Naruto, I have a request. You and Gaara, you share something no one else can understand. The pain, the loneliness... I'm asking you, help Gaara," Chiyo said, her eyes meeting Naruto's.
Memories of Naruto's own struggles as a Jinchuriki, the isolation, and the pain, flashed through his mind. He thought of Gaara, his eyes devoid of life, reflecting a shared torment. The connection ran deep.
Despite the newfound recognition from the village following the revelation of his heritage as the son of the Fourth Hokage, Naruto's journey had been anything but easy. His earlier years were marked by loneliness and a desperate yearning for acceptance, a sentiment that resonated deeply with the story of another - Gaara of the Sand.
Gaara, unlike Naruto, had grown up in utter isolation, bereft of friendship or familial warmth, his existence marred by the burden of being a Jinchuriki. Yet, in this shared hardship, Naruto saw not a foe but a kindred spirit, a brother bound not by blood but by fate.
"I will... I promise!" Naruto's words, soft yet resolute, were a pledge of unwavering support, a vow to stand by Gaara, come what may.
As Gaara's eyes fluttered open, the sight that greeted him was one he had never dared to imagine - his villagers, his people, encircling him with concern in their eyes, a testament to their collective worry for their Kazekage. And there, right by his side, was Naruto, the embodiment of the promise he had made.
"What is this?" Gaara's voice, laced with confusion, broke the silence.
"Don't be surprised, they came to save their Kazekage, everyone is worried about you!" Naruto's response, imbued with a warmth that reached out to touch Gaara's long-guarded heart, was a beacon of hope in the darkness that had long enveloped him.
As Naruto stepped back, allowing Kankuro and Temari to close in on their brother, the moment was filled with an unspoken understanding. The siblings' concern for Gaara, juxtaposed with his own vulnerability, painted a poignant picture of a bond that had weathered many a storm.
"Gaara...how do you feel?" Temari's inquiry, gentle yet filled with underlying anxiety, mirrored the collective sentiment of those present.
The confusion that had initially clouded Gaara's expression gave way to a realization - he was not alone, not anymore. The attempt to rise, halted by his body's protest, served as a stark reminder of the ordeal he had endured, yet in that moment of weakness, he found his strength in the support that surrounded him.
"You shouldn't try to get up so quickly, your body hasn't completely healed." Temari's caution, tinged with sisterly affection, was a balm to Gaara's weary soul.
"Thank you, Naruto!" Kankuro's gratitude.
"Don't give me all the credit, it was Granny Chiyo who pulled off the real feat here, saving Gaara," Naruto said, his voice carrying a mix of coolness and depth, a tear subtly betraying his composed exterior. "She pulled off the ultimate sacrifice with that Reanimation Jutsu, trading her life for Gaara's."
"Reanimation Jutsu?" Tenten echoed, curiosity lacing her tone.
"Yep, it's a jutsu that lets you bring someone back, but it costs you your own life. A steep price," Naruto simplified, a hint of respect in his voice, while Kankuro silently acknowledged the gravity of the situation.
"It can't be…!" Tenten couldn't hide her shock.
"Exactly what I deduced…" Neji murmured, his face shadowed by a thoughtful sadness.
"Guy Sensei?" Rock Lee sought confirmation, to which Guy solemnly nodded.
"Chiyo made a choice, a shinobi's choice. She passed the torch to Gaara and you, Naruto. Her end was nothing short of noble," Kakashi observed, earning an understanding nod from Naruto.
Trying to get up, Gaara found it tough, but Naruto was there in an instant, lending a hand with an effortless grace. Standing side by side in front of Lady Chiyo, they faced the moment together.
"Let's take a moment for Granny Chiyo," Gaara suggested, prompting a collective moment of silence, Naruto respectfully removing his glasses.
"Granny Chiyo, your past, whether filled with joy or sorrow, doesn't define you. Not to me. What matters is today—you showed us what it means to be a truly remarkable shinobi. You've earned my utmost respect. And don't worry, I'll keep that promise of yours, you can count on it," Naruto reflected inwardly, his eyes closed in a silent vow.
[A. N: Thanks for reading, drop Powerstones that will help a lot and drop reviews if you like the story and add to your library]