"Where the hell is everyone?" asked Renji as he raced through the abandoned streets.
"I don't know, Renji, this is erie," answered Kisuke.
"Pay attention," ordered Byakuya. "Most of the population is at the stadium watching the finals."
The trio of Otogakure shinobi continued to race up the streets.
"Renji, do you sense anyone nearby?" asked Kisuke.
There was no answer.
"Byakuya?"
Kisuske looked behind to find he was completely alone. Then he felt a breeze and saw a piece of paper shuffle across the street. He couldn't understand though why vision was rolling forward until he saw his own decapitated body as his head continued to fall and everything faded to black.
"Team of three eliminated, one jounin, two chuunin," said an ANBU agent into his radio as he collected the body and erased any evidence of the fight. He then returned to setting up another ambush.
BREAK
"Try to keep up Karin-chan," said a vindictive tokubetsu jounin known best as Mitarashi Anko or 'you know, that one pysho-bitch'.
"Yes Anko-chan," she answered, nervous of the woman. Why Anko insisted the girl call her 'Anko-chan' she had no idea. All she knew was that she was told to stay with Anko at all times and follow any order she was given.
Currently the pair were running the halls of the bunker checking the seals and various barricades to ensure the safety of the citizens. Karin was a bit nervous that she was assigned to such an important detail given that she could do a lot of damage if she was a spy. It became very evident that this was a test of sorts to check her loyalty.
She was drawn out of her introspection by the call of a young boy she'd met a few times now thanks to Naruto. "Oi, Karin-neechan, what's going on? Why are we in here? Is this really a drill?"
"I'm sorry Konohamaru-kun," said Karin placing her hand on top of his head and rubbing his hair. "I can't really talk right now. Just mind Iruka-sensei and I promise I'll come back and talk to you when I can."
Konohamaru frowned. "Okay, but you'd better keep your promise or I'm telling the boss and he'll kick your ass."
Karin giggled at the boy's antics.
"Oi, let's move," ordered Anko.
"Here you are baka," said another child Karin had gotten to know recently. The young Hyuuga Hanabi and Konohamaru had become something of rivals constantly trying to one up or prank the other. The latest point of contention was their ongoing argument of who was cooler, Naruto or Hinata, another new friend.
Karin shook her head and ran to catch up with Anko while Hanabi dragged Konohamaru back to his class group.
"You're good with those kids," said Anko.
"I like kids," said Karin with a fond smile. "They're a lot of fun."
Anko's face twisted as if she'd swallowed something bitter. "You'd never catch me looking after a bunch of brats let alone having a brat of my own. The only fun part of kids to me is the process by which they are created. I practice that as often as I can plus it's a great work out."
Karin turned bright red in the face. "Ero-hebi!"
BREAK
"Juujin bunshin no jutsu," cried out two voices, one male and one female. In a puff of smoke there were now four of the female and two of the boy.
"Try to keep up little brother," said Hana while her triplets all growled a taunt at Akamaru.
"Just watch us sis," said Kiba with a confident smirk.
"Stop flirting and start killing," ordered another jounin that landed between them for a moment the sprung away after another of the enemy plants.
Kiba and Hana both paled considerably then looked at each other and shuddered turning slightly green.
"Ten," said Kakashi as his kunai slid across a Sunagakure shinobi's throat.
"Ha, I have take out twelve my rival," said Gai finishing an Otogakure shinobi with a punch that crushed the woman's throat.
"Fifteen," said Hinata, Ino and Sakura together as an Otogakure shinobi fell to a combination of Ino's poison and Hinata's jyuuken causing Gai to gape.
"That's not fair," said Gai almost pouting. "I didn't know we could team up."
"You're a jounin," said Ino as she continue harassing the various invading shinobi while they battled the jounin and chuunin placed in the stadium to defend against the invaders.
"We're just genin," said Sakura as she healed a cut on Ino's arm.
"We're supposed to team up," said Hinata, protecting Sakura's back.
"Two," said Kiba, landing amongst them again.
"Thirteen," said Kakashi, dropping an Otogakure shinobi he was previously holding by the back of his neck which was smoking from recent electrocution.
"What?" shouted Kiba.
"Eighteen," called Hinata, Ino, and Sakura again.
"Shit," said Kiba looking for someone to attack.
"Seven," said Hana with a feral grin. "What's wrong little brother? We moving too fast for you?"
"Double shit," said Kiba as he moved to find someone to attack.
"Medic," called Lee as he guarded an injured civilian that was caught in the crossfire.
"Sakura go," said Ino as she threw a brace of her poisoned senbon needles at a trio of Otogakure shinobi.
"I'll cover her," said Hinata, running with her.
"I'll help Ino," said Kiba as he and Akamaru hit one of the enemy shinobi in a pincer attack.
"The genin are performing well," said Gai. "Twenty!"
"Twenty-one, black jack," said Kakashi. "They are doing very well."
BREAK
"Henge: kongonyoi," said Enma standing next to his long time friend Sarutobi. The very tall monkey king transformed into his adamantine staff form.
Sarutobi gripped the staff as he peered out over the village from atop the hokage monument. Flanking him were his son Asuma and his son's girlfriend Kurenai. He had high hopes for the pair but now was not the time to reflect on it. Behind him both standing and crouching were fifty other shinobi, mostly ANBU and jounin.
"Squad 3 reinforce the southwest wall," ordered Sarutobi. "Squads 6 and 9, I don't like that smoke in the market district, go help clean it up." Twelve shinobi vanished.
"What do you want to do about that barrier pops?" asked Asuma, the ever present cigarette present at the corner of his mouth.
"I'll deal with that personally," said Sarutobi darkly.
"Sir, the east gate," said an ANBU drawing all of their attention to the giant three headed snake.
"Squad 4, find and eliminate the summoners. Follow the tunnel the snake burrowed out of to its source and they should be there," ordered Sarutobi cringing at the funds it was going to cost to repair that much damage to his village.
"What about the summon?" asked Asuma.
"Once the summoners are dead it will vanish. For now, there is no need to waste lives trying to slow it down. If we're lucky Jiraiya will take care of it assuming he's not otherwise occupied," answered Sarutobi.
"Sir, oh dear kami!"
Sarutobi looked to the source of the voice to see one of his jounin on his knees pointing a shaking hand to the distant west.
Seeing a fully manifested Shukaku battling a fully manifested Kurama was not a good thing at all.
"Is Naruto going to be okay?" asked Asuma tossing his cigarette away.
"I hope so," said Sarutobi. "For now we have to focus on driving out this invasion and putting down my wayward student once and for all. Send up the flare to initiate operation 'Hard Burn'."
"Asuma, Kurenai," said Sarutobi calling their attention. "You're both with me," he said looking angrily at the purple barrier in the middle of his village.
The trio jumped from the monument traveling in a straight path for Orochimaru.
"Asuma, when we get there I want you to take out the roof supports on the northwest corner. Kurenai, you're on counter genjutsu so stay hidden as best you can," ordered Sarutobi as they quickly approached their destination.
"I'll join you once the support is destroyed, assuming it successfully disrupts that barrier," said Asuma pulling out his new trench knives.
BREAK
Sasuke followed orders and obeyed the jounin's instruction that Naruto was to be in command. He didn't like it or agree with it but understood the need to follow orders. Worse though, as much as he disliked admitting it, Naruto had improved significantly since SIPA's evaluation. Being given access to certain classified information about Naruto after the revelation of the kyuubi came as a major slap in the face to every preconceived opinion of Naruto he'd had previously. To think the dobe was that important, had that kind of family line, had that much potential that was squashed by the idiots in the village. It almost made him sad to think it could have just as easily been him if people decided that Sasuke would become just like his brother.
"There is an ambush ahead, at least six shinobi," said Shino. "I believe they intend to cut us off from our pursuit."
Naruto clicked his tongue annoyed. "Are your bugs still draining Gaara's brother?"
"Yes," said Shino. "He should be depleted shortly. He has already caused their retreat to slow significantly."
"How is your chakra level Sasuke?" asked Naruto as they continued moving forward.
"Just under half," said Sasuke.
"Okay then," said Naruto. "Sasuke, I'm going to give you two dozen clones to deal with the ambushers. Shino, we're going to break through and continue pursuit."
Sasuke nodded once.
"Don't play with them. Get them dead fast and catch up. And don't get dead yourself," said Naruto seriously.
"Orders acknowledged," said Sasuke. "Try to kill one each as you break through."
Naruto and Shino both nodded seriously.
Naruto spawned the promised two dozen kage bunshin that spread out quickly.
"Shino, once we catch up to them I want you to finish off Kankuro quickly and then bind him for capture. I'll do what I can to keep the girl Temari occupied but you'll have to take her out second. As soon as you're done with them get them and yourself clear. I have no idea how devastating the fight between me and Gaara will become."
"Here they come," said Sasuke flatly as he drew his tanto and began to flow chakra turning it orange followed by sparks flowing down it turning it blue and then flames igniting.
"I hate to admit it but that is bad-ass, Sasuke," said Naruto with a small grin that Sasuke couldn't help matching.
"It's the only enton I've been able to get so far and it takes a while to channel," said Sasuke. "However, it is worth it if I have enough time to channel it like now."
"Kick some ass," said Naruto as the six Otogakure appeared.
Sasuke watched closely as Naruto and Shino didn't even slow as they blasted through the group of Otogakure shinobi. Sasuke couldn't keep back his frown. He'd expected Naruto to be smarter than that. Then he saw Naruto and Shino grow up out of the ground a few meters past the Otogakure shinobi.
The two that ran directly into the cluster of six shinobi were stabbed multiple times. Shino seemed to melt instantly wrapping the ambushers in mud or clay. Naruto then exploded very violently.
Only three of the Otogakure shinobi escaped and one of them would bleed out in minutes from the lost leg and arm.
Sasuke was impressed and that was not easy to admit. He didn't even see Naruto substitute clones with himself and Shino. Still, it was pretty brilliant.
Sasuke came down on the injured shinobi first to finish him off so as to not get caught off-guard if he did manage to live more than a few minutes. His sword stabbed through the heart putting him down. Turning to the shinobi doing hand seals Sasuke rushed him only to freeze and roll out of the way as other survivor dropped down on to where he was standing.
The Otogakure shinobi had two giant metal gauntlets covered in spikes. The gauntlets were easily six or seven times larger than the man's fist was and his arms were easily thicker than Sasuke's entire body. The odd thing was that the symbol on his headband was upside-down. "I smash him good, Jyoju."
The other one was slight and apparently a fire user as Sasuke dodged a stream of fire from the his mouth. "Keep at it, Renni."
Two of Naruto's clones attacked Renni but were smashed almost instantly while another two attacked the ninjutsu user and managed to force him to dodge.
Sasuke saw that Naruto's clones seemed to have a handle on Jyoju for now which meant he could focus on Renni.
The only problem was Renni was focusing on Naruto's clones to free up Jyoju. It became obvious to Sasuke that these two were a team and had worked together often.
Sasuke signaled the remaining clones to keep harassing Jyoju.
"Osokume no jutsu (slow eyes)," mumbled Sasuke looking Renni directly in the eyes specifically.
Renni shook his head and blinked his eyes several times as Sasuke watched the man's eyes continual drift in opposite directions. Eventually Renni punched himself in the head piercing his brain with one of the spikes on his gauntlet killing himself instantly much to Sasuke's surprise.
"Renni!" screamed the ninjutsu user seeing his partner fall dead.
Sasuke now understood better. Renni was probably all brawn and no brains, possibly even simple based on the upside-down headband. Which meant the other guy, Jyoju, was the brains of their team. It also explains why Renni kept trying to protect the other guy and didn't think much for himself.
"I'll kill you. I'll kill all of you," Jyoju nearly shouted in blind anger and rage.
Suddenly a tanto emerged from the man's back through his heart killing him. The man barely had time to look down in shock as the false image of Sasuke in front of him faded like a mirage.
With the area clear Sasuke sat down on the ground breathing heavily. He reached into his pouch to grab a hyorogan to replenish some of his lost chakra. He needed to try to catch up to his team.
A clapping noise a few meters from him caused him to jump back and take a defensive stance. "Well done Uchiha-san. Very well done."
Sasuke looked at the newcomer carefully. The man had managed to sneak up on Sasuke too easily. The man had silver-gray hair and large round glasses. On his forehead was a headband with the musical notes of Otogakure.
"No need to be defensive. I'm not here to fight with you," said the man.
"Who are you then? What do you want?" demanded Sasuke not trusting him. The man's face was too fake. It reminded him of Itachi.
"My name is Yakushi Kabuto."
"The spy?" asked Sasuke aware of the name from one of Danzo's briefings.
"Spy, traitor, mercenary. I've had many descriptions. For now though, I am your potential friend. I've come with an offer from my employer," said Kabuto calmly.
"And who is this employer of yours and what does he want with me?" asked Sasuke trying to find a way to escape without the other man noticing. For some reason he could not seem to ensnare the man in a genjutsu using his eyes. He also could not seem to locate one of Naruto's clones.
"I'll get to that in a moment. For now please calm yourself. I will deliver my message and you will be free to leave, you don't need to keep trying to put a genjutsu on me or look for escape routes and the clones have all be dealt with," said Kabuto smirking slightly.
Sasuke nearly snarled but his training with Danzo kicked in. "Speak your piece then."
"My employer is Orochimaru of the legendary sannin. He wants to give you the power you seek to kill your brother in exchange for your willing service," said Kabuto.
"And what service is he asking me to provide so willingly?"
Kabuto smirked. "To find out the exact terms you'll have to choose to join him. For now I have been ordered to let you go so that you may come to your own decision."
Sasuke didn't trust this man at all. He watched closely as Kabuto turned and started to walk away.
"Oh, and you might want to ask Danzo about the Uchiha's coup that got them all killed... Well, all of them but you," said Kabuto as he vanished.
Sasuke's eyes widened. "What coup?" But there was no answer.
Shaking his head Sasuke jumped up into the trees to try and catch up with Naruto and Shino.
BREAK
"Did you really think Sarutobi would not keep me apprised of my brother's status?" asked a calm flat voice that sent tremors of fear coursing down Orochimaru's spine.
"No!" hissed Orochimaru angrily for the fifth time. It should not have been possible.
"Saying 'no' repeatedly will not change your situation," said the young man as he let the illusion surrounding him fade and reveal two sharingan eyes.
"Kuchiyose: edo tensei," Orochimaru spoke with haste as he finished a number of quick hand seals.
Three coffins had begun to rise from the roof top but stopped half-way as they ignited in black flames.
"That will not be allowed," the young man's sharingan eyes now forming a kaleidoscope pattern.
"Curse you," said Orochimaru as he backpedaled away from the source of several of his nightmares. "Drop the barrier, we're leaving!" he shouted except that his Otogakure no shinobi yonin shu were not responding to his orders.
"They won't help you escape this fate," said the man as he continued moving forward. "They are all trapped within my genjutsu. All they can see is you fighting the sandaime. They also believe you're winning."
Fear. Total overwhelming fear was coursing through Orochimaru's veins in that moment. "So be it," he hissed again as decided to attack. Opening his mouth wide a sword shot out which he took in hand.
Orochimaru charged his opponent, trying to be careful not to look him the eyes, a lesson that had already cost him a hand once before. "Let me out of here Itachi or my agents will kill your brother in retaliation."
Itachi didn't react except to sidestep or dodge the ragged and furious sword swipes.
Orochimaru suddenly released a huge wave of snakes from his sleeves to surround and capture Itachi. They all struck and bit into Itachi firmly only for him to dissolve into mud.
From behind Orochimaru a kunai was stabbed into the back of his head causing him to also dissolve into mud.
Both Itachi and Orochimaru materialized from thin air across from each other.
Orochimaru knew instantly he was in a genjutsu as hundreds of crows flew at him rapidly.
"Kai," he said trying to disrupt the genjutsu. "I forgot about that damned ring."
Itachi vanished and reappeared behind him attacking with twin kunai which Orochimaru blocked with his kusanagi sword.
Orochimaru retaliated by breathing a deep breath of venomous gas right in Itachi's face.
Itachi didn't move breathing the venom in deeply and smirking. "This is the only warning you'll get, Orochimaru. Stay away from my brother or I will hunt you down and destroy you," said Itachi causing Orochimaru to look up at him as he simply faded from existence and in his place was the dead or dying body of Kimimaro, there was foam at the corners of his mouth as he convulsed and shuttered uncontrollably.
"Orochimaru-sama!"
The shout broke him out of his stunned disbelief. It was Tayuya yelling for him. Just then the building shook violently.
Orochimaru looked to the corner of the roof that seemed to be collapsing. He watched as the disturbance shook Kidomaru inside his part of the barrier such that he struck the wall violently and was incinerated by it causing the whole of it to collapse.
Tayuya had her flute out right away trying to place a genjutsu to hide them all. She had barely played a note when she screamed and began bleeding from her ears, eyes, and nose. She collapsed only seconds later, twitching.
"Orochimaru-sama," said Jirobo while standing defensively next to him. "What are your orders?"
"We're leaving right?" asked Sakon, standing opposite of Jirobo.
No response. The pair both looked at their master only to see that Orochimaru was only a husk of dried hollow skin.
"Doton: doryudan," said a new voice from behind them. Unfortunately, they were still stunned that Orochimaru had abandoned them so easily.
Jirobo could do not but watch as the giant dragon head made of earth rose from the roof top and fired balls of mud at him. He simply closed his eyes knowing his was going to die. The pain in his chest was only temporary as the mud ball crushed his rib cage and subsequently his heart.
"Sakon, we have to run," said Ukon, his head just emerging from his brother's back.
Sakon fell back and tried to turn and run only to feel a sharp cut along his stomach. The pain only lasted a second as his upper body fell while his legs were still running forward a few steps before falling too.
Ukon emerged from his brother, tears in his eyes and rage on his face. Before he could act, he was suddenly crushed into the roof from above as a very long black metal staff was swung downward on him. Life left his eyes before he even hit the roof, his neck was snapped cleanly with that one blow.
BREAK
Shino was not easily impressed. The combination effort that he and Naruto had put together so suddenly was beyond impressive. "How did you know I made a mud clone?"
"I didn't," answered Naruto as the pair continued moving forward through the forest. "I was planning to replace you with one of my clones but you did it first and went underground. I just liked your plan and did the same. I didn't know you used a mud clone though. I thought it was just regular clone."
"The combination worked quite well," said Shino. "I did not know you knew any doton techniques."
"I know a few," said Naruto. "I have a minor doton affinity. You?"
"I have a very strong doton affinity," said Shino. It was a simple conversation that was out of place considering what they were about to fight.
"When we catch up to them I'm going to grab Gaara and keep going to try and put some space between us. I'll leave you a few clones to help out," said Naruto.
"That is acceptable," said Shino appreciatively.
"I know the basic hand commands so don't be afraid to use them to command my clones," said Naruto.
"Twitch or movement?" asked Shino. There were two common hand commands that Konohagakure used. The first was movement in which you moved a hand into a specific sign that represented an action or plan. The second and more subtle was twitch in which you would literally twitch a specific part of the body to signal an action or plan.
"Twitch," said Naruto.
Shino nodded. He knew both methods but definitely preferred twitch.
Naruto spawned a two dozen clones as promised. Half the clones sunk into the ground while the other half spread out to the sides and behind them.
Shino saw the trio come into sight. Kankuro seemed to be laboring hard just to keep up. He was sweating profusely and breathing heavily.
"Kankuro, what the hell is wrong with you?" demanded his sister Temari.
"I don't know," said Kankuro. "I feel like my chakra is being drained."
Temari came to sudden stop as did Kankuro. She roughly jerked back the collar of his shirt to see Shino's bugs.
"Shit, that Aburame's bugs are all over you," said Temari.
"Futon: daitoppa no jutsu," shouted Naruto, warning the siblings of their incoming attack.
Shino frowned at first then he saw the way it scattered them even before the blast of wind disturbed everything around them.
Shino watch where they landed carefully while Naruto put on a burst of speed and ran straight past Gaara and his sister. Thinking he overshot them at first he was surprised as chain shot up from the ground and wrapped around Gaara and yanked him rather violently from his sister. The rest of the chain burst from the ground and lead to Naruto's hand. Then Gaara was launched skyward by the chain and thrown over the trees and a fair distance away.
"Good luck, Shino!" yelled Naruto as he chased after Gaara where he'd thrown him.
"Shit," cursed Temari again.
Shino twitched his right index and heard a shuffle of leaves near Kankuro signaling acknowledgment. "Please surrender," he said calmly. "Why? Because your brother will be captured momentarily, you are outnumbered, and your jinchuuriki brother will not be able to come to your aid."
"Like hell I will," said Temari, an inkling of self-doubt on her face betraying her real emotions.
"I see," said Shino. He dropped low to the ground and took a deep breath and began spewing mud from his mouth. The mudflow began to widen and pick up momentum as it traveled towards the girl rapidly.
Temari frowned. This was exactly like the preliminaries but this boy didn't likely have Tenten's weapons. Still she had no choice but to hop on her fan and take to the air. The difference here was that she could probably range him if he did have something that could get her at range.
"Mushidama," said another Shino from a high perch on a branch. In his hand was a dark black ball that seemed to be moving. Shino lobbed the ball high in the air above her. At the apex of the flight the ball burst apart like a small firework made of black light instead of bright colors.
Temari flew quickly out of the range of the falling black dots that she knew were his bugs.
"Mushidama," said another Shino from another perch on a high tree branch.
"Mushidama."
"Mushidama."
"Mushidama." It repeated over and over again as more and more bug bombs were sent skyward only to burst and shower the area in his kikaichu.
Temari was so focused on the air that she stopped paying any attention to the ground below her.
"Doton: kaku no yama no jutsu (Earth: grasp of the mountain)," said Shino from directly below Temari. The earth began to rumble and then rock rapidly grew from the ground all around her and rose up over her and surrounded her on all sides and closed in rapidly around her completely encasing her in earth. The dirt eventual retreated until just her head was above ground.
Naruto's clones appeared a moment later with a bound and gagged Kankuro. "You're totally gonna have to teach me that one."
"I will consider an exchange with you at a later date and time," said Shino as he moved to knock out Temari.
"Fuuton: kaimaitachi no jutsu," shouted Temari causing the earth to explode in Shino's direction. Shino had to work quickly to dodge the chunks of earth and cutting wind. Shino's shoulder got clipped by one of the rocks causing him to spin and roll on the ground a few meters before coming back up to his feet. His shoulder was clearly dislocated.
"How were you still able to use a jutsu?" asked Shino as he watched Temari breathing heavily.
"I used my fan to create space enough for my hands," explained Temari as she dropped to a knee.
"I see," said Shino. "I does not matter anymore as you will be completely out of chakra shortly."
Temari looked down at her arms and legs wide-eyed to see Shino's kikaichu almost covering her. "How?"
"When I used the mushidama," said Shino. "My kikaichu were spread out and they then burrowed into the ground. So when you were trapped by the earth my kikaichu drained you directly through the dirt as they moved towards you."
"Shit," cursed Temari as her consciousness faded.
It was then that Sasuke landed in the clearing breathing heavily.
"Uchiha-san," greeted Shino. "You were successful?"
"Yeah," said Sasuke. "I see you were too."
"Correct," said Shino as he began the process of binding Temari.
"Where is Uzumaki-san?"
Shino looked in the direction he last saw Naruto throw Gaara. It was then that the ground shook and a foul feeling filled the air around them.
"What the hell is that?" asked Sasuke as he looked the direction Shino had pointed out.
"I believe that is Shukaku," said Shino. "It would be best if we cleared out of this area with our priority capture targets."
Sasuke barely nodded unable to keep the frown off his face.
BREAK
"Good luck, Shino!" shouted Naruto with a quick look back as he charged after the recently airborne jinchuuriki.
"Come on, Kurama, let's teach your little brother Shukaku a lesson," said Naruto softly. Only a moment later Naruto felt a huge rush of Kurama's chakra surging through his system causing him to shoot off like an orange, red, and black rocket.
Gaara landed with a whump and a burst of sand cloud all around him. "Why? Why am I hurting so much? Mother, why?"
Naruto landed in the clearing studying Gaara as the sand began to cover his body in sand. Soon Naruto could see the start of a cloak forming on Gaara made entirely of sand with strange blue tribal markings.
"When Kurama said Shukaku was a little bat shit insane I think he may have underplayed it a bit," mumbled Naruto to himself as he let his one tail cloak fully envelop him.
"I'll kill you. My existence will not end here!" screamed Gaara madly. Half of his face was covered in sand and one eye was full-on bijuu.
"Thank kami that doesn't happen to me," said Naruto as he focused on filling his single tail with a single chain increasing his control of Kurama's chakra significantly.
A claw of sand extended from Gaara's half-covered body straight at Naruto. Naruto in turn rolled quickly out of the path and sprinted at Gaara. Naruto had to quickly change his path as multiple arms sprouted from Gaara's still elongated arm and claw.
Weaving in and out of the attacks Naruto positioned himself right in front of Gaara and leveled him with an overpowered left hook impacting the Shukaku side of the face.
Gaara rolled bodily away from the punch, the sand from the extended arm collapsed back to just sand leaving a small sand cloud.
"I will not be erased!" shouted Gaara regaining his feet and recreating his arm but now also covering his other leg and sprouted a long, spiky-looking tail, all with the same tribal markings.
Naruto knew he needed to force the sand away from Gaara as much as he could and began to rapidly circle Gaara leaving a red chakra trail behind him occasionally dodging the bursts of sand that would try to chase him.
Finally Naruto found the opening he was looking for. With Gaara's back now exposed, he charged in leveling Gaara to the ground below with a double-handed hammer strike to back of his neck. Naruto then flipped in the air above the face down Gaara and came down with a double ax kick and tail slam.
Gaara gasped in pain as he spat blood from his mouth.
Naruto rolled off Gaara quickly as the sand tried to grab hold of him. Naruto ended up having to leap backwards several times to avoid the sand.
Gaara's breathing was labored as the sand picked him up off the floor. "How? How can you be so strong?"
"I'm strong because I fight for all my friends... My precious people."
"Friends? Precious people?" asked Gaara, his eyes shadowed. He then leveled the most intense glare Naruto had ever seen. "You're weak. I'll crush you so you know. The only way to be strong is to fight for yourself. To prove your existence by killing everyone other than yourself. I'll destroy you, Uzumaki Naruto!"
Suddenly tons of sand erupted from the ground all around them forcing Naruto to retreat further and further away. When the sand settled Naruto was facing a fully manifested Shukaku.
"Well shit," said Naruto. It was then he noticed the sand floating in front of his face and encasing his feet. Suddenly time froze around him. Nothing moved or breathed, not even himself.
Everything faded such that Kurama and his cage were now transparent in front of him.
"My little brother is being unruly, ne?"
"We might be in trouble, Kurama. I don't suppose you want to help me out this time?"
"Those chains of yours. Can you manifest nine of them?"
"I've done it a few times now but it's difficult, why?"
"Bring out all nine with my cloak and we'll take him out together. It's time to remind the brat that I'm still around."
Naruto was cautious of trying what Kurama wanted to do here but at the same time he knew he'd eventually have to take a leap of faith and trust him if he wanted to earn his trust in return. "Okay, let's do it!"
Kurama's and his cage faded from view and time once again resumed.
Faster than Naruto ever had before he manifested nine chakra chains which were quickly coated in Kurama's chakra pushing away all the same in a massive explosion of sand. When the sand settled a fully manifested Kurama stood. He was a semi-transparent, giant chakra construct with Naruto inside the center of the forehead. Throughout the body instead of bones were chain links that connect all over the body and ending each tail tip with a spike.
Gaara emerged from the head of Shukaku grinning like a loon. "I understand now. You will prove my existence once and for all. Tanuki neiri no jutsu."
"Why the hell would he go to sleep in the middle of a fight?" asked Naruto's voice booming through the area. "Whoa, that's so weird."
"Yatta!" screamed a voice that was neither Naruto nor Gaara's. "At last, I'm out."
"Not for long if I have anything to say about it," said Naruto charging at Shukaku awkwardly.
"Eh, Kurama-teme," said Shukaku, narrowing his eyes. "Hahahaha, you got caught too. Kyahahaha!"
Naruto felt Kurama shift irritably inside him. "Kick his ass!"
"That was the plan," Naruto replied swiping a claw at Shukaku tearing away a chunk of sand.
"Futon: renkudan!" he screamed madly firing an air blast at Naruto.
"Shit," said Naruto jumping skyward to avoid the hit.
Shukaku fired off another blast while Naruto was airborne. Unable to dodge, Naruto did his best to use his front paws to block the attack.
"Can we do anything like that, Kurama?"
"Hell if I know. He couldn't do that when we were kids."
"Double shit," said Naruto while dodging more air blasts. Then Naruto noticed that Gaara had stayed asleep but more than that, his going to sleep brought the Shukaku to the surface. Hence, waking up Gaara equals no more Shukaku.
"This is going to be uncomfortable," said Naruto charging forward.
Shukaku fired another blast of air.
Naruto ran right at it then slid underneath it. Once past the orb he bounced upward and headbutted the Shukaku dazing him. Naruto quickly pushed down Kurama's chakra and landed just in front of Gaara.
"Better you than me," said Naruto as he unleashed another double hammer fist strike to the left side of Gaara unprotected face both waking him up and fracturing the structure of Shukaku as Gaara's body shot through the top of the head and out the right side of his face and roughly into the forest ground.
Naruto's momentum carried him wobbly off the side of the now collapsing sand structure to free fall to the forest floor. He was lucky to have several tree branches break his fall on the way down.
Finally landing on his back Naruto huffed and puffed trying to regain his breath. He heard Gaara nearby also breathing heavily and moaning in pain.
"Why? Why does it hurt so much in here?" asked Gaara in a near moan. "How can I lose? I don't have anyone to make me weak."
"It sucks huh?" asked Naruto not looking at Gaara. "That feeling of being alone, that emptiness. I know it too well. My friends. My precious people. They stop that empty feeling. It was only a few at first but now there are more and more people I consider precious to me. Fighting for them has done nothing but make me stronger and stronger to keep them safe. To make sure I never have to feel that empty loneliness again."
"I have no one," said Gaara remorsefully after a moment of silence. "I've killed them all."
"You have your brother and sister," said Naruto. "They tried to protect you before when you were hurt. Maybe you just have to give them a chance."
A pair of footsteps landed near Naruto.
"Do you require assistance Uzumaki-san?" asked Shino calmly.
"Do you surrender Gaara?" asked Naruto.
"I surrender," said Gaara softly.
"Good," said Naruto. Then he began to snore softly.