Chapter 17 - True strength

Naruto reached into his ninja tool back and took out a kunai and an explosion tag. ' the look in his eyes have changed' Gara noticed the change in naruto's mentality, his will to win was the strongest he had seen his whole life. Naruto wrapped the explosion tag around the hilt of the kunai. He looked around to make sure Sakura managed to get Sasuke to safety "hey what's the problem, you should focus on the enemy infront of you".

"" Naruto created four clones and immediately charged in, jumping into the air. "Advanced Taijutsu Technique, " Three clones attacked Gaara at once, but they were all caught by one of Gaara's arms. "Do it now," one of the caught clones signaled Naruto. The original was being carried above a clone that was holding on to his waist. "ORAAA!" The clone launched Naruto over Gaara's arm only for Gaara's second arm to block his path. "AGAIN ," Naruto created a clone he used as a platform to jump over Gaara's second arm. Flipping over Gara Naruto was now behind him with no place to land on " ONE MORE TIME " he used another clone as a stepping platform and attacked Gara from behind "HIDDEN LEAF ANCIENT TAIJUTSU SUPREME TECHNIQUE!! ONE THOUSAND YEARS OF DEATH"... Gara's got stabbed with a kunai right in his sandy cheeks. There an awkward silence that filled the air, Gara stared back at Naruto and slammed his massive tail on Naruto's face blasting him away.

Naruto flying backwards had a smile on his face " boom" the paper bomb wrapped around the kunai detonated with a mighty rumble. Shikamaru revealed himself and caught Naruto and landed safely on a tree branch. ' G..Gara!' temari's was afraid for her brother's safety, yet she could do anything to help she was a poor state heraelf. Asuma really thought he needed to step in but naruto outperformed his expectations "Heh, this kid is full of surprises" he decided to sit back and watch the show. He placed a cigar and his mouth and set it a light by pinching his fingers on its end.

' ugh I can't believe you went for the weak point behind the tail, I wasn't injured but look what you did to my body' Gara's sand body was in disarray, with sand flowing down from all over it. Shikamaru stood next to Naruto and peered at his pitiful appearance ' looks like he won't be able to get back up this time, he took a direct hit... What the hell is he made of' Naruto got back up again although he struggled to do so. " Naruto we should retreat this situation isn't favorable we should capitalise on Gara's momentary weakness and make a run for it" Naruto chuckled and looked at shikamaru " sorry shikamaru I can't run from this I need to make sure I win this no matter what".

" What are you on about now" shikamaru looked at Naruto with light frustration. " I need to protect him shika" shikamaru looked around but found no hostages and looked back at Naruto " protect who" Naruto stood up straight " I'm gonna protect Gara from himself" shikamaru face grew emotionless "what a drag...!!!" A burst of immense Chakra came from Naruto ' I understand now I thought Gara was strong but I was wrong... You cannot be truly strong alone, only by protecting those dear to you can you truly become strong' "HAAAAAAAA ILL KNOCK SOME SENSE INTO YOU GARA FULL POWER ". *POOOOOFFF* the entire area was dyed orange as countless clones appeared in every direction. "What the!!" Gara was surrounded in every direction. "This is incredible" Pakkun marveled at the shocking scene." Leave it to me shikamaru, ALL RIGHT LETS GO, JUMP" Naruto and all his clones charged in jumpiang down towards Gara , ' my body still can't move from the aftermath of the explosion, can't help it I'll have to defend myself with the sand'. " Naruto ninja technique all around shiruken barrage" countless shiruken were launched by the hoard clones.

Gara took a defensive stace blocking the shiruken with his arm. From below another horde of clones kick Gara up into the sky "NA-RU-TO UZUMAKI 2K BARRAGE" Naruto's clones sent countless barrage of attacks finishing it of with a double uppercut to Gara's chin sending him plummeting to the ground. "Who is this guy, WHO THE HELL IS HE ..all of a sudden out of nowhere..." Gara layed on the ground nearly defeated. "DON'T THINK IT'S OVER GARA IM JUST GETTING STARTED" the ocean of clones rained down towards Gara on the forest floor." how can I... Lose to this ..guy AAAAHHH I CANT LOOOSSSSEEEE" Gara grew larger sand gathered and surrounded him, his body changed and he grew titanic in size. His transformation into the sand spirit Shukakuwas complete. With out even uttering a word he immediately send sand to surround Naruto "whaaa!!", ' I used up all my Chakra already.... NO I'M NOT DONE YET!!' his eyes pulsed turning red, as his body got surrounded by Shukaku's deadly sand. .*POOOFF* breaking through the ensiclement of sand a giant toad appeared on the battle field

" What in the world since when did Naruto..." Shikamaru looked up lost for words. Asuma's cigar dropped out of his mouth looking up at the giant's about to clash he couldn't just sit back anymore. He flashed around the battle field and took everyone away from the chaos about to commence, including temari. She was now a prisoner of war, but because of her special identity as the kazekage's daughter she might just be spared from the torture part when she's sent to Torture and Interrogation. He moved along the path Sakura took while carrying Sasuke to safety " She left behind easy to follow tracks , if it was anyone else I might have considered it to be a trap but it's just that Sakura kid...*sigh*".

He followed the path and eventually found Sasuke and Sakura without difficulty and the were being secretly watched by enemy sound Shinobi scouts. With a smooth flash and a quick slash the sound Ninja's lives were taken before they even registered his presence both the world spun as heads flew into the sky and back down onto the ground.

Sakura heard a sound from behind a bush and took out a kunai from her ninja pouch. She watched as a leaf Shinobi walked out of the bushes carying temari on his shoulder and shikamaru walking next to him along with Pakkun. " What's the secret code" Sakura probed the possibly transformed enemies infront of her. "There isn't one, we don't have much time" shikamaru stopped her on the spot the amount of destruction about to take place, would kill them in seconds.

"Where's....na..ruto" Sasuke struggled to sit up because of the injuries he sustained during the battle *BOOOMMM* Trees uprooted from the ground *CLAAANG* " That should be him fighting Gara" Sasuke looked at Asuma with a shocked expression ' This can't be... Naruto, how could that be possible' *BOOOMMM* " We have to leave now Sakura Cary Sasuke, shikamaru take this blonde girl with you Im going back to provide Naruto support" Sasuke struggled to get up his curse mark fells as if it was burning him alive yet he ignored it " I'm coming with yo..." *Thud* Sasuke fell to the ground after Asuma knocked him out "SASUKEE" Sakura ran to Sasuke's side and held him in her arms. " Take him and leave, I don't have time to deal with this, Pakkun I'll leave you incharge" in a flash Asuma left the scene heading towards the battle between two genin.