Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Together With You: A Gaara Story ❯ Kazekage vs Apprentice! The Final Showdown ( Chapter 31 )

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine........................................................

 

Recap:

The only jutsu that Sasuke had in his arsenal, that Gaara knew of, was the Chidori. And that had done exponential damage to the red head. Gaara remembered the pain he had felt from that simple blow. The jutsu he was not aware of, however, was which ones Orochimaru had taught him. Forbidden, secret, normal...he was not sure. All that was certain, was that this was going to be an all out war. It came down to the ultimate battle:

 

Sand vs Sound/Former Leaf.

 

 

Chapter 31: Kazekage vs Apprentice! The Final Showdown

 

Sasuke continued to survey Gaara. He was so still. So tense. So stiff. He grinned. “Since when was Sabaku no Gaara ever tense?” he mocked. Gaara glared at him and saw this to be true. He was tense. Tense beyond all comparison. He didn't even realize he was thinking too hard. It had caused him to let down his physical awareness barrier that he worked so hard to always keep up. So, then, why did he let it down? Sasuke started snickering as he looked on at Gaara. The play of emotions across the red head's face was rather amusing. “Geez, Gaara...loosen up!” he teased. In a swift second, a kunai was hurled toward Gaara without his knowledge. He barely dodged it. He drifted to the left and avoided it, the tip skimming his cheek. Gaara growled low at Sasuke to find that he wasn't where he was. Gaara's eyes widened. How had he missed that? How had he been so out of tune with his surroundings that Sasuke had enough time to disappear from sight, and on top of that, land a hit with a kunai on his cheek? Gaara angrily swiped the blood off his cheek, clearly angry with himself. He looked around for Sasuke. Sand shot up behind him. Gaara stood motionless. Knowing Sasuke, he would repeat what he did at the Chunnin exams. He stood and waited. Sand shot up in front of him as Sasuke threw a punch, stopping mid-punch, whirling around behind Gaara, past his sand and tried to deliver a kick.

 

Gaara, ready for this action, knowing it all too well, grabbed his ankle and swung him away and into the wall of the cave, earning a strangled gasp and howl in pain from the Uchiha. Gaara smirked. “Seriously, Uchiha. Be more original,” he patronized.

 

Sasuke growled. He stood weakly and glared at Gaara. “Don't patronize me,” he growled as he disappeared again. Taijutsu at its finest. Gaara cursed it. His eyes tried to follow Sasuke's movements. As soon as Sasuke realized he caught onto his movements, he switched. Gaara growled at himself. He was getting frustrated. He tried to remain calm. He knew all too well what happened when emotions dictated battles. You always lost. “What's wrong? Kazekage-sama can't keep up?” he mocked, spinning in circles around Gaara just as in the Chunnin exams. If Gaara was lucky this would be a repeat in the forest before Naruto interrupted. He didn't doubt that circumstances would change very quickly, however. Sasuke indeed has gotten full control over his Sharingan. And on top of that, he had exceptionally high speed as well. Much faster than before. Gaara had issues keeping up with him before but this was rediculous.

 

Gaara drifted from his thoughts as sand shot up to the right, the left, the right again, the back, and finally, the front. He too has gotten faster. He heard a snarl behind him and shot sand backward, only a little. Sasuke smirked. While the sand was preoccupied with his clone, Sasuke attacked the front. Gaara smirked unexpectantly. Sasuke didn't hesitate to notice this. He kept up his attack and came within an inch of Gaara's face, only to have his wrist grabbed and his chest slammed into the ground below them. Sasuke growled in pain. He noticed the sand extension had been a distraction. Gaara grinned sadistically. His sadist side was coming out again. “What's wrong? You act as if you are surprised, Uchiha,” he mocked. Sasuke growled at him. Gaara laughed sinisterly. This laugh always made Sasuke uneasy. He glared up at Gaara over his abused shoulder. Gaara glared down at him. “In case you are suspecting...yes. I did use the sand to distract you. Apparently, you have not decided upon any new battle tactics,” he continued to criticize. Sasuke growled and glared at the Kazekage with a look that could kill. Gaara found this pleasurable. “I see...you are hating me now,” he smirked. He twisted Sasuke's wrist, causing a loud pop to be emitted from Sasuke's shoulder. He hissed in pain. Gaara smirked.

 

Sasuke then proceeded to slash at Gaara's arm with a kunai. Of course, he missed because of the sand. Gaara emitted an unpleasant snort and glared down at him. Sasuke saw him losing control like before. Gaara's right eye had Shukkaku's amber color to it. Sasuke's eyes widened. He was enjoying this! “You sick bastard!” he growled. Gaara just growled.

 

“No. I wish to make you feel everything Shiruki felt when you violated her.” Sasuke's eyes got wide and he had a disgusted look on his face. “Not that way, Uchiha,” he growled as he applied more pressure to Sasuke's wrist, earning a snap this time. Sasuke, not being able to mask the pain, growled and yelped out.

 

Gaara's growling stopped abruptly. Sasuke looked up to see the intrustion. Naruto had a hand on Gaara's shoulder, pleading with him to stop. Shiruki was now donning Naruto's shirt and begging as well with tears. Sasuke took the opportunity to punch Gaara's jaw and get him off of him. He stood to his face and retreated to the darkness of the cave.

 

Gaara growled and glared towards the darkness, searching desperately for Sasuke. He turned back to Shiruki and Naruto and his voice became dangerous. “You better have a good reason to interrupt,” he growled, half Shukkaku, half normal.

 

Shiruki glared at him through her tears. She took him by the shoulders and shook him lightly. “You promised!” she growled. Gaara just looked at her. All was fine. He was starting to calm down...until he saw the bite mark Sasuke inflicted. His eyes met hers, stern as ever. “Some promises are meant to be broken,” he said simply with a hint of a growl and underlying regret.

 

Shiruki's eyes widened. Her grip on him loosened. Her hands dropped, as did her head and Gaara stared for a minute. Her head shot up and her love was replaced with hate and betrayal. She slapped Gaara's cheek sharply. Instantly, he woke up from the half possession. He looked at her and touched his cheek gingerly. No doubt there was a red hand print. He looked at her with visible shock and bewilderment. Shiruki's tears fell faster as she looked at him. Her hands were clenched into fists. “Teme!” she growled. “How dare you say that!” she cried angrily. Gaara just stood there. His brows knitted together in understanding. He truly said that he broke his promise. His eyes returned to normal size and he sighed quietly. He dropped his hand and looked at Naruto to see sympathy. He mentally snarled at that. He returned to Shiruki and put his hands on her shoulders. Well, tried to. Shiruki slapped them away. Gaara felt hurt and anger wash over him. He grabbed her roughly and kissed her. She cried and struggled against him.

 

Naruto's eyes widened. He knew why she was fighting. She wasn't in her current mind that Gaara was kissing her and not Sasuke. He quickly stepped in and wrenched Shiruki away from Gaara. “Gaara, stop! She's still reliving Sasuke!” he cried out as Shiruki cried into his chest.

 

Gaara's eyes widened. He looked at his broken lover and felt guilt wash over him. He looked at Shiruki and tried a different approach. “Shiruki,” he said quietly. Shiruki reluctantly looked up at him, still hiding close to Naruto. She was shaking violently. From anger or from fear, it was not certain. Gaara held his hand out for her to take it, palm up. Shiruki looked at it and then back at him. She saw a sense of apology in his eyes. It was a sincere look. She hesitantly took it and Gaara gently and easily pulled her to him. Their bodies were not touching, but they were close enough. She looked down and felt more tears coming. Gaara slipped his hand under her chin and softly lifted it, careful as if she would break. She gave in and looked up at him. Gaara kissed her forehead after he was certain she saw that it was him and not the damned Uchiha. Shiruki wrapped her arms around Gaara's neck and hugged him tight. Naruto smiled. Gaara kept his senses aware and looked behind him. He was anxious to kill Sasuke. But now, he had to comfort Shiruki for a little bit. “Uzumaki...go to Sasuke. Don't let him out of your sight,” he ordered, holding Shiruki close, whispering words of comfort into her ears. Naruto nodded and dashed off into the darkness. Gaara returned his sight to Shiruki. “I'm sorry...” he whispered. It was rather choked because he was not used to apologizing to anyone. But it was said, nonetheless.

 

Shiruki shook her head and quieted down. “No...I should be apologizing. I...hit you...” she said with difficulty.

 

Gaara snickered and rubbed his cheek. “Yeah...that kind of hurt...” Shiruki looked up at him. She stared in disbelief. She had assaulted him and he was laughing? “You hit pretty hard,” he offered, trying to make her smile. It worked. Shiruki started to giggle quietly and she kissed him. Gaara leaned into the kiss and held her protectively. “I won't let anything else happen to you,” he whispered possessively. Shiruki nodded. Gaara opened his mouth to say something else but he heard Naruto's scream. His eyes widened. He quickly picked her up and ran towards the scream. He saw Naruto against the wall, pinned by one of Sasuke's overgrown shuriken. His shoulder was bleeding rather badly. He scanned the area for Sasuke. No luck. He ran to Naruto's side, Shiruki still draped over his shoulder facing behind them. “What happened?” he asked, worried.

 

Naruto just breathed irregularly. Shiruki started to squirm. “Gaara...that's not Naruto,” she said lowly. Gaara looked back at her and then back at “Naruto” to see him smirking arrogantly resembling a certain Uchiha. Gaara's eyes widened. A kunai was now protruding from his stomach. Shiruki screamed as Gaara's grip on her loosened and he slumped against the wall. Shiruki fell off and looked at the sight. Naruto...er...Sasuke had stabbed Gaara in the stomach, dangerously close to a vital organ. Her eyes widened in horror as Gaara fell to the ground, his body lifeless and showing no signs of movement. The transformation jutsu faded and Sasuke stood victoriously. He stared at Shiruki, who, at this time, was now crawling backwards in horror.

 

Sasuke advanced. He grinned. “What's wrong, Shiru?” he smirked. Shiruki shook her head in disbelief. Gaara couldn't be dead. He couldn't be! It was impossible. Tears started to stream down her face again. She backed up into the wall of the cave and pressed her body as close as she could against it, trying desperately to escape Sasuke. It was no use. Sasuke had knelt in front of her, oggling her as before. He outstretched a hand to touch her and she flinched with a whimper.

 

Suddenly, his movements stopped. Shiruki cracked an eyelid open and saw wide eyes staring at nothing in particular. She turned her head to look at him completely. Behind him, a figure stood indignantly with a scowl on his lips. She couldn't make out who it was due to her tears, but she knew it was either Naruto or Gaara. Sasuke growled and whipped around in time to throw the being against the wall roughly. Naruto. Gaara wouldn't be handled like that. Sasuke, turning his back on Shiruki, got up to go over to a now inhibilitated Naruto. Shiruki took the opportunity to stand bravely and grab ahold of the protruding kunai. She thrust it deeper into Sasuke's back depserately. He yelped out in pain and snarled at her. He whipped around and backhanded her roughly into the wall, striking her head on a sharp protruding rock, knocking her out with minimal blood. She lay on the cave floor bleeding profusely.

 

Sasuke glared at her and yanked the kunai from his back, tossing it on the ground next to her lifeless body. He turned his attention back to Naruto who had gotten up and now standing in front of him, fist drawn backward. He let the punch fly as hard as he could and missed as Sasuke dodged to be behind him. Naruto froze. Sasuke felt someone behind him as well. He froze and turned slowly as Naruto turned to look back at Sasuke to see Gaara looming darkly behind Sasuke. The look on his face was a murderous one. Filled with limitless anger and rage. Hatred was prominent as he glared down at Sasuke. His icy blue eyes looked threatening, promising much pain and torture. Sasuke turned on him and threw a punch. Sand shot up and grabbed him by the wrist, gripping roughly enough to shatter bones. Sasuke growled and kicked at Gaara, releasing himself from the sand and leaping backward. Gaara merely growled and sent his sand after him. He controlled the movements and glared at him. Sasuke dodged and shot fireballs at the sand and at Gaara only to be stopped. He stopped and landed on the ground, glaring at the sand coming toward him. He smirked as the sand hit the ground as he jumped out of the way in time. He quickly did hand signs and glared at Gaara before holding his wrist, gathering chakra into his palm. A chirping sounded and Gaara showed no signs of being worried. After all, Sasuke could only do two. What was the worry. Now, if he could do three, Gaara was in some serious trouble. But, hopefully luck was on his side. Sasuke smirked. He saw Gaara's underlying worry for the limit on the Chidori. Once all the chakra was gathered, he swung it backward to get ready to attack. He ran at Gaara full speed and Gaara put up a sand barrier in time. Sasuke pierced through it and a couple of seconds went by with Sasuke smirking. No doubt he had hit something. Question was...what?

 

Suddenly, Gaara screamed out in pain. He stumbled backward and held his left shoulder. Just as the Chunnin exams. He growled ferociously at the Uchiha. Gaara's body showed signs of giving up on him but his mental state refused it. He remained standing. Sweat beaded on the Kazekage's forehead and Sasuke smirked. He performed hand signs for the fireball jutsu and put the ring he made with his fingers to his lips. He smirked. “Fire style: Fireball jutsu!” he said, exhaling, fire streaming towards Gaara.

 

The sand shot up again while Gaara recovered. Sasuke smirked at this seeing that he injured Gaara just as before. What was so unusual though...was his recovery rate. It seems to be faster than before. Sasuke growled at this. By the time Sasuke hit the ground, Gaara was recovered from the could-be-fatal Chidori attack. Sasuke smirked. Gaara glared. Naruto regained consciousness and looked around to see Gaara fighting Sasuke. His thoughts automatically drifted to Shiruki. He looked around for her and saw her slumped against the ground in a puddle of blood. He ran to her, avoiding getting in the way of Gaara and Sasuke, valuing his life. He made it to her side and picked her up gently, feeling a wetness under his left hand under her head. He pulled it away to look at it still holding her. He gasped. He looked back at Gaara and saw an apologetic glance shot his and Shiruki's way. It was clear he was apologizing for letting this happen. Naruto nodded and picked Shiruki up, fleeing from the cave to get Shiruki medical attention.

 

Gaara, seeing that Naruto and Shiruki were both safe and out of harm's way, started to get serious to fight the Uchiha traitor. Sand shot from the gourd on his back and hissed with movement. He was getting down to business. Sasuke too noticed the seriousness of Gaara's stance. He was merely holding back to avoid hurting Naruto and Shiruki. Now, however, was different. He was now at full power and was willing to do anything to kill him for what he did to his loved ones. Sasuke understood but could not allow this to happen. He smirked at Gaara. He prepared for another Chidori while Gaara took necessary precautions to guard himself. He allowed Shukkaku to partially possess him. It was the only way he knew he could defend himself without shedding his own blood. So why not?

 

Sasuke ran at Gaara with Chidori ready. Gaara ran at the traitor as well, possessed arm (er....claw) ready and bared. The two clashed and they landed with their backs faced toward the other. Gaara's possessed arm started to disperse, sand leaking off of him and to the ground. He looked over his shoulder at the Uchiha, who was currently forcing another Chidori. His eyes widened. He could do three. Sasuke turned to look at Gaara and saw the momentary shock. He smirked. The Chidori was fully ready and Sasuke crouched to get ready to charge at him. Gaara quickly imprisoned himself in his ultimate defense shield. He growled low at himself. How could he have been so careless to have underestimated the enemy? This was not like him. He must have been so worried about Shiruki that he forgot. Which was another thing that was not like the cold Kazekage. He was snapped from his thoughts as he heard Sasuke.

 

“Ahhhh.....Chidori!” he yelled as he thrust the ball of chirping chakra into the ultimate defense. Gaara ducked in time to dodge it. He sat on the ground, staring up at the dispersing chakra. He avoided it. He almost let out a sigh. He grabbed ahold of Sasuke's arm and yanked him against the ultimate defense, the defensive spikes lunging out to pierce right though him. A strangled scream was heard and Gaara smirked. He opened the shield a little to see Sasuke. Blood trickled from his lips and a far away look was in his eyes. He was dying. He looked at Gaara and smirked weakly. Gaara glared. “I will not die...” he said with a laugh. Gaara remained silent. “Immortality jutsu,” he explained into a whisper as he slumped down in his own pool of blood.

 

Gaara glared down at his unconscious form. Shiruki knew the reverse of the Immortality jutsu. She could break it. He had to either find them or bring Sasuke to them. Neither was favorable. Gaara grudgingly picked up Sasuke and made his way to the others.

 

 

Naruto ran as fast as he could back to Konoha. He rushed to Tsunade's office and saw that she was alright. He burst through the door and Tsunade jumped. Her eyes landed on Shiruki and they widened. She shot up off the chair as she saw Shiruki's blood dripping onto the floor. This was bad. She took Shiruki from Naruto and laid her on the desk. She started to heal her quickly. “What happened!?” she growled.

 

Naruto looked uneasy. He sighed and clenched his fists. “Sasuke...” he said simply. Tsunade's eyes widened as she slowly looked at Naruto. A small “what did you say?” left her lips. Naruto nodded and looked at Tsunade seriously. “Sasuke was the apprentice,” he said, barely above a whisper.

 

Tsunade growled and finished the healing process. She looked at Shiruki and set her on a couch in her office. She grabbed Naruto by the arm and led him out of her office, quietly shutting the door behind her to not wake Shiruki. She looked at Naruto expectantly. “Explain.”

 

Naruto sighed and told her the whole story of the rape, the betrayal, and Gaara fighting him. Tsunade's fist clenched angrily at her sides as she listened on. Naruto looked at her sadly. “He was my friend...” he said simply.

 

“You should have known when he went off with the Sound Five,” Gaara said as he stepped forward, a bloody Sasuke on his shoulder. Tsunade and Naruto turned to him and stared. “Shiruki needs to cancel the Immortality Jutsu. Otherwise, this will never be over,” he said simply.

 

Tsunade sighed and took Sasuke from him. “I'll do it,” she sighed. She started the jutsu as Gaara set him on the floor.

 

Naruto looked away and went in the office with Shiruki. It had to be done. He went over to Shiruki and sat near her on the floor, head in arms on the couch. He watched her sleep and a thought came to him. His eyes widened. “Gaara!” he called urgently. Not a minute later, Gaara walked through the door. He walked over to Naruto. “That jutsu!” he said. Gaara must have caught on because he started the Demon Sealing jutsu. He pressed his fingers to Shiruki's right shoulder and Naruto emitted a sigh of relief. Gaara stayed and looked at Shiruki's sleeping form. “Is he...” Naruto whispered.

 

Gaara remained silent. He glanced at Naruto and sat next to him, facing Shiruki. His gourd was set at the foot of the couch behind him as he looked at Shiruki. He took her hand in his and remained silent. He held it gently and went over the days events. He was exhausted, but he could not sleep. In order to sleep, Shiruki had to be awake. He sighed lightly and Naruto looked at him. “He is,” Gaara finally answered.

 

Naruto lowered his head and sighed. “Figured...I'll leave you with Shiruki...let me know when she wakes up, alright?” he asked. Gaara nodded and Naruto got up to leave.

 

Gaara sat there in silence, not making any move to get up or move. How could this have happened? The Leaf Village was falling apart. It was definitely in Shiruki's best interest to come back to Suna. But then again, it would also be in her best interest to stay and reconstruct Konoha and get it back up on its feet. Gaara, however, couldn't stay. He had duties as a Kazekage to fulfill. He couldn't abandon his village so easily. His mind was waging war against itself. Something that never happened. Why was love so complicated?

 

 

TBC

 

 

A/N: there's chapter 31! It won't be much longer til I end it....probably be about another 3 chapters then an epilogue..............I dunno yet...............XD and besides, theres not too much further I can take it without it ruining my ideas for another story. Anyways. R&R ^^ tell me what ya think so far! Questions...concerns....comments....all are welcome. Just don't flame me...I tend to get rather.....bitchy at that. Ja ne