Chapter 16

The sun had only recently set and yet the temperature change was immediate. Suna, especially at night, was beautiful. Not the same way Konoha was, admittedly, but there was a stillness that was often hard to fine in his home village. The air wasn't as crisp, feeling drying but it was pleasing all the same. Naruto was sitting on the roof of his inn, taking in the village.

The Konoha duo just arrived earlier today, the match was scheduled for tomorrow in their Chunin Exam Arena and they were slated to leave the day after, health provided. Traveling with Jiraiya was fine. Naruto didn't take to his sense of humor, the Gama Sannin relied to heavily on innuendo for Naruto and it felt disingenuous for some reason. However, when he wasn't making his pervy jokes, Jiraiya could be good company. The two discussed fuinjutsu a bit and strategies to combat Gaara. Jiraiya was satisfied with Naruto's intended approach so Naruto felt prepared.

He wanted to enjoy the Chicken Satay he ordered from the stand but the killing intent directed toward him was making it impossible. He was familiar with the source, Gaara spilled killing into like a bottle with a hole in it leaked fluids. Naruto just wished he'd do something or leave, his presence was becoming bothersome. But seeing as his fellow jinchuuriki wasn't going to do anything but observe Naruto decided to act.

"Can you just come on out?" Naruto said, annoyance clear in his tone.

"Mother wants your blood, Uzumaki."

"Ok."

"..." Gaara was momentarily thrown for a loop, there had been many reactions to his declaration of his mother's desires but never an 'ok'.

"You're not afraid?"

"Not really. You're strong for your age, sure; dangerous even but no real reason to fear you now."

"Why not?"

"You aren't attacking me. I don't believe you came here to attack me now, not when we'll fight tomorrow. So, what do you want?"

"To tell you you're going to die tomorrow and help me prove my existence." Gaara said, coming out of his confusion.

"How does that work?" Now, it was Naruto's turn to be confused.

"I only exist for me and I prove I'm alive by killing all those that would seek to harm me."

"Oh… that sounds lonely. So, you want to kill me because we have to fight tomorrow?"

"Yes. Mother says you are strong and therefore are a threat to me. I must remove all threats."

"Then you're focused on the wrong person. The guy I came here with, he'd cracked both our skulls with minimal effort. That's power. We're both just exceptional for our ages. Besides, not everyone who could harm you would want to."

"That has not been my experience."

"You want to tell me about it?"

"Why would you care, Uzumaki? It won't help you defeat me."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "I didn't think it would. Look, my food is getting cold but I hate eating alone. You can come sit down and talk to me while we share this or you can leave and let me eat in peace. I'm not trying to trick you, as far as I'm concerned we aren't enemies." Gaara was initially hesitant, and the voice of his mother wasn't helping but he decided to sit down and share a meal with the confusing redhead.

The two jinchuuriki initially sat in silence, both staring at the moon before Gaara spoke. He said the moon reminded him on the night his Uncle tried to kill him and then relayed his experiences in Suna. How everyone viewed him as a monster, how no one cared for him and when he decided to live only for himself.

"I get it. I mean, no one attempted to assassinate me, not that I know of at least so your situation was worse than my own but I do understand. I used to be really angry when I was younger, angry at everything and everyone. Why did they ignore me? Why did they seem to wish I wasn't there? Why could everyone else have friends and family but me? What had I done?" Naruto said.

"I was so angry but too weak to do anything about it so I started to train. When I entered the academy and the sensei didn't like me, didn't want to treat me like everyone else I trained even more. I wanted to prove I didn't need them. If they didn't want to teach me jutsu, I'd create my own. If they didn't want me at the academy, I'd graduate early. If the Sandaime didn't want to give me a team, I'd become the most powerful reservist ever. But you know what?"

"What?"

"The anger never went away. I was often too tired to think about it but it'd still be there in the morning to greet me. It'd still be there when I ate, filling the silence of my life. My summons helped, I got them when I was eight and it helped having them but it wasn't enough. The glares and the shunning were still present. Creating my own ninjutsu didn't help either, not fully. Graduating early certainly didn't. All these things I was gaining and accomplishing diminished it but never removed it."

"So, what did you do?" Gaara asked, truly interested in what the boy had to say.

"I had to let it all go. Part of the reason I was still angry wasn't just because it was unfair but in wanting their acknowledgement. I had to accept I may never get it and truly embrace those that did see my value. In a sense, I forgave them. Not absolved but I gave myself permission to not hate them anymore. I had my summons, I had my training and I was starting to gain people who did see me for myself.

One of the academy sensei that was so cold to me, apologized a few months after I graduated and said I could come to him if I ever had any questions. A couple of Jounin helped me further my knowledge in their areas of specialty, one even became my Jounin sensei. I'll probably never be universally loved, I can't change the minds of everyone but I can value those that value me.

I don't know what will happen tomorrow but if you want, after everything is settled maybe we can try being friends." Naruto suggested at the end.

"Is this a trick?"

"No, Gaara, no trick but I get why you think it might be. Even if you decide we can't be friends try to find someone you can connect with. Living for yourself is hollow and you don't deserve a hollow existence. Well, it's getting late, think about what I said Gaara and I'll see you tomorrow." Naruto said, leaving the roof. Gaara just sat there for awhile in silent debate before shunshining away as well.

The near midday sun couldn't be a more pronounced distinction from the night Naruto enjoyed. It was beaming, unrelentingly upon all beneath it. He'd arrived at the arena twenty minutes ago, waiting for the start of this farce. The arena was full of Suna shinobi and civilians, something that further annoyed Naruto. He'd be going to war with an organization of S rank shinobi soon so of course he'd want to broadcast his techniques to any so inclined to see them.

This was so very stupid. Not that Gaara wasn't a challenging opponent, he'd have to stay sharp to avoid getting seriously injured it just seemed pointless. He was a shinobi and this was a cockfight, even more so than the Chunin Exams because this had no larger purpose than one man's curiosity. Naruto truly disliked people that abused their authority, especially when they did it for idiotic reasons like this. Learning the man attempted to murder his own son only deepened his dislike into a true loathing. The Kazekage was scum, as far as Naruto was concerned.

Gaar finally arrived and the procter, the Jounin that accompanied Gaara to Konoha signaled a start and Gaara immediately sent his sand after Naruto. Naruto, wisely, made haste, performing a shunshin to create distance from his opponent. When coming up with a strategy to defeat Gaara Naruto ran into some limitations, namely Gaara's sand defense. He didn't want to kill nor seriously harm an ally, the problem was anything that could penetrate his sand defense could penetrate him. When you make a hole in a human they tend to die. He'd already resigned himself to not using his sword, blunted and it couldn't cut through Gaara's defense but edge active and it might cut something off Gaara.

That was just another reason this fight blew a fat one. Deciding to go on the offense Naruto performs another shunshin to close the distance and tests the reaction speed of Gaara's defense. Appearing to the right side of Gaara, Naruto throws a kick but the sand intercepts it, meeting his shin before he could make contact. Undeterred, he spins around with increased speed and aims a hit on Gaara's back but, once again, the sand blocks him though he did get closer. Pulling back his fist Naruto increases his speed again, performing a three hit combination to Gaara's left side. Two were stop but the last slipped through and Gaara ate the body blow. Naruto was unable to follow up as he felt the sentient sand attempt to close around his fist. He dash backward to create some distance again, signaling the end of their first exchange.

The crowd, the Kazekage included, was shocked that someone managed to get through Gaara's defense with just taijutsu. Gaara was unhappy he was struck, never having been hit before. Naruto was shaking off the pain he felt and deduced Gaara had a layer of sand on his skin. He was taking deep breaths, not because the exchange was taxing as his natural stamina and training would allow him to do much more but the adrenalin of trying to bypass the sand defense while avoiding it all the same.

It was as he thought, his taijutsu would be of limited aid, the required degree of near perfection with him going near his top speed was just a waste of resources unless he softened Gaara up first. Gaara had gotten past whatever shock and discomfort he felt, his sand armor absorbing most of the impact so the pain he felt was dull to begin with. He opted to take the initiative this time and not allow Naruto to attack as he pleased.

Naruto could feel the ground moving beneath him and back flipped right before sand emerged underneath him. The sand began to give chase but Naruto manage to dip and dodge each attempt. More focused on the sand than his opponent he didn't see the Sand spear headed toward him until it was too late. Narrowly, Naruto avoid serious damaged but it did graze his side, bloodying the Uzumaki.

Reflexively Naruto grabbed at his side and also stopped his movement, allowing Gaara to finally capture him with his sand, by his ankle. Naruto thought quickly and moved quicker still. He tossed two kunai up into the air both hurdling at impressive speeds. Naruto managed to replace himself with one of the kunai before Gaara could perform his [Sand Coffin], and watched as his kunai was crushed by the jutsu.

Naruto instantly grabbed the second kunai he through, as he appeared right beside it, and on instinct alone channeled the supersonic chakra into it and threw it at sand user,. As Naruto fell to the ground he watched as the kunai tore through Gaara's initial defense and even pierced his sand armor at the shoulder, slicing him cleanly.

Everything seemed to stop when Gaara's blood started to spill from his wound. The audience was unnaturally silent, not quite able to believe what they were seeing. Before long their stupor was broken when they heard a shrill scream.

"BLOOD! IT'S MY BLOOD!" he said in a panic and quickly put up a sphere of dense sand around him.

Naruto was at a loss as to how to proceed. He could get through the defense, he'd shown that but it would only continue to hurt Gaara and the boy was clearly unstable. If he pressed the advantage the jinchuuriki might do something regrettable and a lot of people may get hurt, even if some of them deserved it Naruto didn't want that on his conscience so he waited.

"M-my blood. My blood." Gaara repeated having a conversation none could hear.

['You must kill him. He's just like the rest of them, he only wants to harm you. You don't need him, you don't need anyone.']

'Is mother right? Was he lying? Is he like everyone else? Just wanting to deny my existence?' Gaara was confused by his short dinner with the Uzumaki. That pain he saw in the other boys eyes was so familiar to him, only someone that had experienced a comparable hell of loneliness could have that look but then what could he make of this? The boy claimed to want to be friends but wounded him.

['He was lying! That's what people do, they lie so they can kill you. You must kill him!']

'I must? But if he were trying to kill me why hasn't he attacked me again?'

['Because we are too powerful. His trick won't work again! Just let me out and I'll take care of him. And all your enemies, I'll kill them all for you.']

'Yes, you could kill them all.' Gaara agreed.

['With ease. Release me and I'll do just that.']

'And then where would I be? Alone.'

['You don't need other people. You only need me, no one else matters.']

'Then why hasn't the pain ever gone away. Why does it always hurt no matter how many I kill?'

['You just haven't killed all who would oppose you, once you do you'll see, it'll be better then.']

'You're lying. Your way doesn't work, it has never worked.' Gaara thought

['Release me now! You are nothing without me so release me!']

'No. No, I won't. I'm going to follow a different path and you will not stop me.' Gaara said and stopped the conversation. Only a few minutes had passed since he created his sand dome but everyone was waiting for what he'd do. His siblings, expected to see the miniature sand monster emerge as Gaara has used it before but were shocked when the dome dropped and it was just Gaara holding his injured shoulder. He gave a slight smile to Naruto and Naruto nodded back in understanding. After a brief stare down the match continued once again.

Now with much more vehemence and resolve, Gaara attempted to trap Naruto in his sand but like before, but much more carefully, Naruto slipped out of his traps, even running up a wall when cornered. The cut to his side had since healed but lingering pain and tenderness limited Naruto's mobility. He was being pushed by the constant sand attacks and he didn't like it. While his stamina may be superior to Gaara's it wouldn't matter if he's the only one having to move. He dodged a wave of sand and resolved to get closer. One Naruto was within teen feet he blurred through a series of hand signs while inhaling and then exhaled, subvocalizing his jutsu.

"[Fire Style: Combustion Stream.]" The jutsu made a beeline for Gaara and while his sand intercepted it. Gaara had not expected the outcome, though as a thin layer of the sand detonated in front of him. The rest of the sand absorbed the heat and shrapnel but couldn't absorb the concussive forced and Gaara was sent backward midair, facing the sky.

Naruto wasted no time creating three shadow clones. One appeared under Gaara, kicking his back. The other two clones repeated the process, kicking the Suna jinchuuriki higher and higher, or further and further away from his protective sand. Before he could get his wits, Gaara saw Naruto above him, with a glowing orb in his right hand.

"[Rasengan!]" he shouted mightily while bearing the, underpowered, jutsu in Gaara's stomach, sending him down at rapid speeds. Gaara landed with a thud, his sand hadn't been there to soften the blow and all watched to see what would happen. It was clear, if you could see his face, Gaara was hurting and exhausted. He waved Baki over and the Jounin came to his ward.

"I give." Gaara said in his usual monotone but there was a slight smile on his face. While suffering from disbelief, Baki still managed to call the match for Naruto and after a period of silence the crowd erupted in cheers and applause at the battle they just witnessed. The Suna ninja gave both boys looks of respect and acknowledgement. It warmed something deep inside Naruto and he could only smile bashfully as he scratched the back of his head. He waved to the crowd and walked to the exit, only to be met by Jiraiya.

"You did good, kid."

"Thanks, Pervy Sage."

"I told you not to call me that, brat!"

"Get better jokes and I would, 'tebayo.'

By Gaara, Temari and Kankuro arrived on the arena floor and picked their little brother up. Both were surprised he hadn't given in to his bijuu and were impressed with his fight.

"Temari, Kankuro… I'm sorry, for everything." he said and both elder siblings smiled. It'd take awhile but maybe they could be a family again.

Later that evening, the Sand siblings dropped in on Naruto at his room, Gaara's shoulder noticeably wrapped up. They brought a spread of native dishes and all had dinner together. Naruto enjoyed the food, especially the curried eggplant, but enjoyed the company even more. Temari and he exchanged some ideas on wind jutsu whereas Kankuro put on an impromptu puppet show of their fight from earlier, except Gaara one this time. It was a nice night.

Jiraiya, was not having a nice night. He'd been summoned to the Kazekage's office and while he had no desire to talk to the man he knew he didn't have a choice. Kage were a lot of things but rarely where they dull and joyless. Rasa was. A hard man that thought being a hard man was a personality. Jiraiya, through his network, knew about what the man did to his son and his attempts to kill the poor kid. If it wouldn't have destabilized the nation, Jiraiya considered removing the man from office. Nothing could justify what Rasa attempted to do on multiple occasions.

He arrived to the office with little fanfare, Rasa only lifting his head as an acknowledgment that Jiraiya was there. He then handed Jiraiya a file folder. Jiraiya quickly skimmed the information, not liking what he was reading at all and was, increasing, unconcerned with what the man's death would do to Wind Country. Once he finished reading he met the man's eyes, Jiraiya's face a mask of emotionlessness.

"Why show me this?" Jiraiya asked.

"Because you needed to know I have this. I was never fully sold on if your jinchuuriki was really he's son. The facts my spies were able to gather suggested as much and your interest in him did as well but seeing him fight… it just felt like Minato."

"Naruto fights nothing like Minato, I should know seeing as how I trained him from a genin."

"You're right, their styles are nothing alike but there's an intensity of focus there. Even if the boy never knew a single one of his father's infamous jutsu, in Suna we believe the blood will tell. Given how Minato's and my reign as a Kage were similar I wanted to see who created the superior weapon. It appears the Fourth Hokage bested me."

"I'm not confirming Naruto is Minato's son but I will tell you Minato didn't seal the kyuubi in Naruto to make him a weapon."

"Sure, sure, Jiraiya. He was too noble for that."

"You still haven't told me what you want."

"Now? Nothing. But we are due to renegotiate our alliance a few months after your planned Ame invasion. I just want you to know I have options and as much as Iwa may hate Suna, they hate Minato Namikaze one thousand times more. I won't be screwed over by Konoha again, Jiraiya. Tell your Sandaime that and you can keep that file. I have copies." Jiraiya simply took the file and left.

The next morning the Sand siblings bid Naruto a fond farewell and he did the same, delighted he may have made three new friends. As they traveled back, Naruto could tell something was bother Jiraiya. His jokes were even more forced but even as Naruto called him out on his act, Jiraiya wouldn't divulge any details so he let up but was worried about his Godfather. When the pair arrived back to Konoha, Naruto made a beeline toward the Hokage Tower and Jiraiya off to parts unknown. Naruto was motivated by something Gaara said during their parting.

"Naruto, it is admirable you let go of your hatred but the villagers were wrong. While revenge is hollow, accountability is not. You deserve justice, my friend."

He'd never really considered making the villagers pay after he'd resolved to move past his anger and resentment. He simply didn't know how to do so with the means available to him. He'd thought about and on the last night of the trip it occurred to him what he needed to do. Some may hate him for it, some may call it petty but Naruto was confident it was the right thing to do.

He wasted no time arriving at the Hokage's office and gave his debrief, giving a detailed description of the fight. The Old Man seemed pleased with his win but truthfully, Naruto didn't care how he felt about anything. As soon as his debrief concluded Naruto started in on his second bit of business.

"Sandaime-sama, I speak to you now as the heir of the Uzumaki Clan as I have an official request." Hiruzen looked confused as to what clan business Naruto could have but hoped it wasn't anything too series. After his fight with Asuma he just didn't want any more bad news.

"What is it, Naruto-kun?"

"I'd like my Clan's crest removed from all Jounin and Chunin vests and anything else he may have appeared on. I'm revoking Konoha's privilege of bearing it as a sign of friendship, Konoha hasn't been a friend to the Uzumaki in some time." Hiruzen could only pinch his nose as the headache this was going to cause.

Jiraiya, hadn't just drifted off when he returned, he too, had a destination in mind. He didn't like Rasa's threat. True, any Kage would attempt to strengthen their negotiating position to do better for their village so in that regard he couldn't fault Rasa. But he was holding a knife to Naruto's throat and that, Jiraiya would never abide. He resolved to not tell the old man what Rasa had, if his plan worked out the issue would be resolved before it ever came up.

When he arrived to his destination he laid out everything, every detail he had and his aims. It made his skin crawl, not what he was setting in motion. He'd been an assassin for decades but who he'd gone to for help with this. He just hated allowing her to have anything over him.

"You want me to kill Rasa?" she said bluntly.

"Yes." he said and waited for her list of demands. It was going to be painful and he prepared for her to take a pound of flesh.

"Ok."

"Ok?"

"Yes, ok. He'll be dead a month before the negotiations would be scheduled to begin."

"And what do you want?"

"What could I possibly want from you, Jiraiya?"

"My body." She snorted in response.

"I'd sooner seduce Tsunade."

"Ooh, could I watch?"

"And when the pervert appears that means it's time for you to go. Bye, Jiraiya."

"Fine, I'm leaving but don't think I'll allow you to blackmail me over this."

"Goodbye, Jiraiya." She said again.

"Bye."

Orochimaru waited a few minutes after Jiraiya left and then trashed her study. She'd had plans to kill Rasa when she was going to have Suna attack Konoha but those plans changed. Now, now he's made himself an obstacle to her plans and that simply could not be tolerated. Rasa would never see his children reach adulthood and all because he dared to threaten Naruto.