Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Together With You: A Gaara Story ❯ Stem for all Reason ( Chapter 28 )

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine...I swear I am tempted to just stop putting these...wonder if I'll get in trouble >.> <.< v.v best not risk it....damn annoyances..........

 

Recap:

Gaara felt the urge to release Shukkaku become overwhelmingly strong. He pushed it back the best he could in fear of harming Shiruki. He glanced to her motionless form and saw that she showed signs of waking soon. This was to their advantage. If she awoke, she would squirm throwing his attention on Gaara, Sasuke, and Naruto off while they attacked him, retrieving her. Of course, this plan was useless if she did not wake soon. He looked ancy. As if he were waiting for the word to leave. As if he wanted to leave. But couldn't. Something was stopping him. Gaara had no clue what, but a thought came to him. This man had said that the apprentice was among them. It wasn't him. It couldn't be Naruto. Gaara was unsure why, but he still suspected the Uchiha. Ever since the meeting, he could not get his mind off of accusing Sasuke. He knew not why. But it was all he had. With a quick glance back at Sasuke, Gaara saw that he was determined. Of course, this could all be a front. That is...until the real battle began.

 

If it was not Uchiha, then the apprentice was indeed watching from somewhere. The question was...where?

 

 

Chapter 28: Stem for all Reason

 

Gaara started to scan the area until Naruto popped up with a remark. He walked up to Gaara, his face by his ear, glaring at the man that held Shiruki close. “Gaara,” he whispered seriously. “To our right...see that? On the building wearing black,” Naruto whispered so only he could hear.

 

Gaara released the man's stare and started to look over to where Naruto had pointed out. He too saw a black figure, sitting on the rooftop observing them closely. Gaara returned his sights back to the man with Shiruki and spoke to Naruto quietly. Almost too quiet to be heard. “Take Sasuke and find out who that man is,” he ordered, somewhat calm. The calmest he could manage when this strange man was holding his unconscious lover. Any other man would have snapped and attacked blindly. Blinded by rage and hatred. Gaara knew better. He mentally scouted the area around them. He sensed Naruto and Sasuke take off and he glanced at them before keeping an eye on the man before him. “I tire of your riddles. Who is the apprentice?” he asked, rather commanded, in his low voice.

 

The man smirked. The man sighed and shrugged. Shiruki's eyes opened and Gaara saw it, but said nothing. He saw her eyes close again, feigning unconsciousness. The man smriked. Did he know? Or was it arrogance. He readjusted Shiruki to make her drape over his right shoulder, his hand on her thigh. He glared at Gaara. “You want to know so bad? You're going to have to kill me. The other two took off after him,” he smirked. Gaara was unsure why. He was hiding something. “By the way...since I know your name...I think I'll give you the pleasure of knowing mine, seeing as how I am going to be the one that kills you!” he snapped at him. “Shisuke Kisuname!” he grinned, throwing a kunai at Gaara.

 

Sand shot up out of his gourd and shot at the man after blocking the incoming threat. What did he take him for? A child? He was taking on the Kazekage. You'd think that title alone would mean that Gaara was no push over. But this guy was just asking for it. Gaara easily would have hit him, if they guy didn't use Shiruki as a shield. `Pathetic coward,' Gaara thought to himself with a look that could kill. Shisuke grinned and threw shuriken at Gaara, expecting him to dodge. Gaara did, but sand shot up to block a fireball to his right afterward. `Come on, Shiruki...wake up!' he growled mentally.

 

As if on cue, Shiruki jammed a kunai deep into Shisuke's spine, causing him to drop her in midair. She fell and Gaara's sand caught her, lowering her to her feet at his side. She kept her eyes on him and snarled. The stripes on her cheek became jagged. Gaara looked at her and frowned. He turned his attention back to Shisuke, who was on the ground on his knees, holding his back in pain. He snatched the kunai out of his back and performed some hand gestures of his own. Flames emitted around his wrists and he grinned. “Alright...time to get serious,” he snarled as he disappeared. He appeared to Shiruki's left and Shiruki barely avoided his enflamed fists. She leaped backward and glared at the man. She did her own jutsu, one from Sasuke's handbook and brought her hand to her mouth. “Fire Style! Mythical Fire Flower!” she yelled as she spat multiple fireballs at Shisuke, following his movements. He dodged to the right and dodged to the left, running away from the assaulting fire. Sand shot up behind Shiruki and she hit Shisuke. The clone disappeared and she snarled. She saw the sand behind her and saw it retreat. She looked around and didn't see him. She felt a grab on her shoulder and felt her chakra leave her, as well as her energy. “Energy Absorbtion jutsu,” she whispered. She tried to move, but found that she was frozen. She suddenly felt the hand detach and she almost fell. She felt arms around her waist and looked at Gaara. She looked at Shisuke and saw him grinning arrogantly with the flame gone. “Bastard!” she growled. Shiruki tried to stand and charge at him, but felt her knees give out. She fell and glared at the man. Her energy was gone. She had to tap into Nikkaku's. She cursed again and snarled at the man. She heard a voice in the back of her head. `You need me...allow me to assist you.' It was Nikkaku. Shiruki pushed that thought aside. She would be damned if she would let that damn cat assist her.

 

`Admit it...you need me. You have no energy left,' the voice taunted. It was patronizing. Yet, at the same time, it was welcoming. Shiruki shook her head, trying to get ahold of her own thoughts. The voice boomed in her head suddenly. `Quit being stubborn! If you do not allow me to help, you will DIE!'

 

Shiruki's eyes widened. She reluctantly agreed. Nikkaku's chakra circulated throughout her body and she felt her strength returning. She glared at Shisuke. Gaara had been fighting him all this time. He stood by her side, of course, but he used his sand to chase him. She noticed him doing hand signs. Her eyes widened. `No...not that one!' she whispered to herself. She watched him. He was partially possessed by Shukkaku. His once heavenly face, at least in her eyes, was now tainted by the horrid raccoon dog. Amber eyes replacing icy blue. Sand replacing skin. Gaara opened his mouth and sand spewed from it in a large blast, surrounding the area in front of him, and in result, striking Shisuke. He was blown back into a wall, where he reamined, until the onslaught of sand stopped. He slumped to the ground, cuts on his body from the grains, and growled. Gaara stared at him and glanced at Shiruki. When he turned back to Shisuke, he noticed it was a substitution jutsu. His face contorted in frustration and he looked at Shiruki again. “Are you harmed?” he asked.

 

Shiruki shook her head. “Nikkaku is lending me her energy...” she said grudgingly. She stood and looked around. Sand shot up to her right and she quickly whipped around to see Shisuke above her. She grinned. She held out her hand and sand shot to him. Another Sound ninja came and saved Shisuke in time. She sighed in frustration and felt Gaara pull her along. “Gaara? What the-“

 

“Uzumaki and Uchiha need your help. Go. I will take care of him.” He looked down at her seriously and saw she was about to protest. “I still have half my chakra left. Go,” he ordered rather harshly. Shiruki's brows knitted together in worry and he smirked. He kissed her chastely and nudged her. “I will be fine.” Shiruki nodded reluctantly and glared at the two Sound ninja before darting off in the direction of Naruto and Sasuke. Gaara, seeing Shiruki safely away, turned back to the other two.

 

“Well, well, Shisuke...Gaara of the Sand too much for you?” a younger man asked him tauntingly. Shisuke scoffed. The man looked at Shisuke blankly. “You really are useless...” he sighed. Shisuke's eyes widened and he started to grab his head in pain. “Silence,” the younger man said quietly. In that instance, Shisuke was indeed silent. He fell to the ground and was dead, blood escaping his ears and the corners of his eyes like crimson tears. Gaara watched carefully. What had the man done? The man laughed and Gaara's attention finally made it to the man's face. He had long black hair, Hyuuga style, with Uchiha's bangs. He bore red marks on his cheeks in the shapes of upright triangles. He stood at about 5'11, donning black baggy pants, black ninja shoes, and a cloak resembling the Akatsuki's, minus the red clouds and the high collar. The front dipped to about mid-chest, exposing mesh underneath. The sleeves were baggy to his knuckles. Gaara observed his village. It wasd no doubt Sound. The man grinned. “Allow me to apologize, Kazekage-sama...we have not yet been properly introduced...I am Mihara of the Sound,” he said with a mocking bow. He stood and glared at the Kazekage. “I bet you don't know why Sound is attacking Leaf...do you?” he grinned. Gaara crossed his arms and glared at the man. Mihara laughed. “Didn't think so...” His grin became an evil smirk as he eyed Gaara's impassive form. “As you know...Orochimaru is dead...but...are you aware of how he died?” he challenged. Gaara remained silent, letting the fool babble on. “Apparently...the Hokage, Tsunade, I believe her name was, found, or rather, created a jutsu to counteract Lord Orochimaru's Immortality jutsu, thus killing him and Kabuto, the previously planned successor. Luckily, Orochimaru was training the apprentice in case such an occasion happened.” Mihara smirked. “So you see...this is personal. Tsunade should die. And in order to defeat the woman, we need Nikkaku and Shukkaku. Kyuubi...is expendable. The two Sand demons are of our main interest. The Akatsuki succeeded in withdrawing Shukkaku from your body once, did they not?” he challenged. Gaara's glare just became harsher at that statement. He had lost his life and this insolent whelp found it amusing. This pissed Gaara off. Mihara laughed. “I see I struck a nerve...I do apologize,” he said, clearly patronizing the young Kazekage. Mihara looked Gaara over. “The previous Kazekage must have been stupid to have put such a powerful demon inside of you...you can't even defend it, much less handle it.” Gaara stayed calm. Well, as calm as calm could possibly mean while someone purposely tried to piss him off. It did not matter. He would be dead soon anyways.

 

“So,” Gaara said quietly. “Sound is attacking Leaf because Tsunade killed Orochimaru and Kabuto,” Gaara reasoned, earning a simple nod from Mihara. Gaara couldn't help but smirk. “Sound Village is ignorant. I seem to have given them too much credit...” he mused lowly, earning a glare from Mihara.

 

Mihara resumed his tranquil facial expression before speaking. “It seems, Kazekage...that Sound carries a deep hatred for Leaf. Ever since Orochimaru was alive and attacked Sarutobi. And failed. Orochimaru was pissed that Sarutobi rendered his hands useless with that forbidden jutsu of his. With no hands, he could not weave hand signs to perform jutsu...of course...that would be rather frustrating, wouldn't you agree?” he challenged back. Gaara shrugged lightly. He could care less about Orochimaru. He just wanted the apprentice. He wanted to kill him, painfully and very slowly. It'd be a cold day in hell before he let Shiruki die again. Mihara suddenly sighed. “Well...there ya go. The stem for all reason.” He chuckled at himself. He uncrossed his arms and started stretching arrogantly. Gaara just watched. This man was truly full of himself, not to mention, annoying. “Now...shall we get this over with? Or...do you wish to flirt some more?” he winked.

 

Gaara growled and sand shot out toward Mihara. This was personal. He would stop it nothing, kill anyone in his way, until Shiruki's death was avenged. Though she was alive and well now, it did not matter. They still killed her once. That was enough. Mihara easily dodged and smirked. Gaara followed his movements with his eyes and kept his arms crossed. This would be easy. As soon as he hit ground, he would use his Desert Funeral. Just as Mihara was about to hit the ground, he leaped back onto a building. Gaara stared at him. Mihara wore a smirk. “I see...you were planning on using your famous Desert Funeral, were you not?” he inquired. Gaara remained quiet. He could read thoughts. Gaara smirked and cracked his neck. “I know every thought you have, no matter what you think of. I see all your thoughts, Kazekage,” he grinned. No wonder he was so cocky. The bastard knew all his moves before Gaara even knew them. He would just have to fake him out. Let Shukkaku out or at least take control to fight. That thought sickened him. “And you wish to let Shukkaku face me? How cowardly, Kazekage...” he said with disappointment.

 

Gaara let a growl escape his lips. “I have had enough of you!” he snarled as sand lashed out toward him again. Mihara's eyes widened temporarily and he attempted to dodge. He was another Deidara...how bothersome. Mihara smirked and snickered. Bastard heard that. Gaara smirked. He pressed his hands together. `I have no other choice...' Gaara thought to himself. Just as he was about to complete the full possession jutsu, Shiruki's face flashed through his head. He froze.

 

Mihara stopped for a second. He couldn't read Gaara's thoughts anymore. `What's going on? Why can't I read his mind? What is he doing!?' Mihara snarled to himself. He glared at Gaara. Gaara was frozen in place and looking as if he'd seen a ghost. He snapped from his confusion and looked at Mihara. He saw bewilderment in his eyes. Gaara blinked. Thinking of Shiruki...made him not be able to read his mind? How odd...

 

Shukkaku's voice resonated inside his head. His eyes widened. `He can't read your thoughts if I am clouding them,' he mentally smirked. Gaara visibly cringed. Shukkaku had prevented Mihara from reading his thoughts. `Now is your chance. Make use of the time. It isn't certain of how long I can keep this up. So get moving!' the Sand spirit raged.

 

 

TBC...

 

 

A/N: Moving right along...and don't worry...the next 2 or 3 chapters are going to be very action filled XD It seems Kittie is having a violent streak! Goody goody! Anyways...R&R!