Konoha Destruction Plan V

Sasuke leisurely followed Kankuro and Gaara. Their destination was close, and Shino was following behind as well. Then it's time to begin, Sasuke thought, picking up speed.

"Gaara, you need to keep going on your own. I'll hold Sasuke back. Find a place to recover your Chakra and treat your injuries," Kankuro said, setting Gaara down before charging back the way they had come. Gaara gave the departing Kankuro a complicated look, then continued forward with some difficulty.

"Oh, you split up again. That just leaves Gaara," Sasuke said, looking at Kankuro.

"I've been conserving my Chakra this whole time. Now I'll show you a puppeteer's pride." Kankuro set down the puppet Crow, which had been strapped to his back with bandages.

"Unfortunately, I'm not your opponent. Isn't that right, Shino?"

"That's right. I still have an unfinished match with him. Leave this to me." Aburame Shino stepped forward.

"Fine, but watch out for his puppet. It should have traps and deadly poison on it. I'm leaving." After offering that warning, Sasuke left. He knew Shino was strong.

"Damn it." Kankuro could only watch Sasuke leave as Shino blocked his path. Sasuke quickly caught up to Gaara. He should be losing control by now.

"Uchiha Sasuke." Gaara was already on the verge of collapse. One of his arms was covered in sand and had grown enormous. "I'll kill you."

"You really look pathetic, Gaara. Who are you now? Gaara, or Shukaku?" Sasuke said indifferently.

"How do you know?" Gaara asked in surprise.

"Because I have a companion just like you, with a monster living inside his body. But he's much stronger than you. He's always worked hard to earn the village's acknowledgment. I acknowledge him now. We fight side by side."

"Why?" Gaara asked in confusion.

"You'll have to find that answer yourself. For now, let's continue our match. I want to see just how strong you've become. It's time I showed some of my real skills too." Sasuke took up a fighting stance.

"If you won't tell me, then I'll defeat you first and question you at my leisure." Gaara swung his massive arm and fired several sand Shuriken. Sasuke did not know whether Water Release would still work against Gaara in this form, but he could only try. Leaping onto the lake's surface, he shouted, "Water Release! Great Waterfall Technique!" This ninjutsu was far larger in scale than it had been in the arena. This was a great lake, with more than enough water, and it could conserve Chakra as much as possible. Otherwise, its power would not be sufficient.

With a boom, an enormous torrent rushed toward Gaara. Gaara raised his transformed arm in front of himself to block it. After launching the ninjutsu, Sasuke ran along the waves, Lightning Cutter gathering in his hand once more. As the massive wave passed, he instantly appeared before Gaara and thrust forward.

With a squelch, he pierced through the sand arm again and wounded Gaara. "You deserve to die!" Gaara cried out miserably and fell backward. The gourd on his back began turning into sand, and a large tail appeared. It landed first to support his body, then bent and snapped straight, launching him at Sasuke with its recoil. He flew incredibly fast, but Sasuke flipped down to the lower part of a tree trunk and evaded the attack.

"Water Release! High-Pressure Water Stream Technique!" Sasuke had developed this technique by improving several single-target Water Release impact techniques. By using Chakra to increase the pressure of the spray, it created a high-pressure stream. It was a B-rank ninjutsu—not particularly complicated, but extremely destructive. A high-pressure line of water shot forth like a sharp blade, severing everything in its path as it struck toward Gaara's back. Gaara raised his tail to block it. The water stream cut the tail clean off, but its force weakened, losing its cutting power and merely striking Gaara's back like a hammer.

After smashing through several trees in succession with a series of bangs, Gaara finally came to a stop. He then blocked several Shuriken, Sasuke's follow-up attack.

"You really are strong. So strong. Ahahaha!" Except for his feet, Gaara was entirely covered in sand. He looked exactly like a miniature Shukaku.

Sasuke frowned. This is troublesome. This guy really isn't easy to fight. Why hasn't Naruto arrived yet? Do I have to use Naruto's version of Thousand Years of Death? It was an extremely awkward technique, and Sasuke did not want to use it. Once Naruto arrived, he could use it instead.

"Sasuke!" Sakura's voice rang out. Sasuke turned to look. Her timing was perfect. "Sasuke, where's Gaara? What is this thing?" Naruto asked blankly.

"This is Gaara. Like you, he has something strange inside his stomach. It's good that you're here. He's yours now. I'm going to rest for a while." Sasuke sat down as he spoke. His Chakra was not exhausted, but he did not want to fight that opponent anymore. They were not on the same level. Resting first was better, in case Naruto really could not handle him and Sasuke had to step in again.

"Leave it to me. You rest. I'll take care of a guy like this in no time." Naruto pulled out a Kunai and charged forward, only to fly back less than five seconds later after being knocked away. "Cough, cough. He really is strong."

"Can you handle it? If not, I'll go. Take Sakura and leave first," Sasuke asked with a grin. "Who says I can't? Watch this! Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto charged forward again, and the two began fighting. Naruto had not yet learned the Rasengan, but he was highly proficient with the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. It had always been his primary combat method.

The outcome was about the same. After Sasuke's provocation, Naruto unleashed his potential. Sasuke's words were now the only thing that could spur him on. Gaara was beaten badly, then released Shukaku. Naruto summoned Gamabunta, and the two colossal creatures brawled together. When Air Bullet and Water Bullet collided, it was like a typhoon sweeping through the area. It really was enviable.

Standing beside Sasuke, Sakura watched Naruto fight with mixed feelings. She had not expected Naruto to become this strong. She needed to work harder too, or she would never catch up to either of them. In the end, Naruto knocked Gaara back to his senses. Both sides, utterly exhausted, fell into the lake and floated on the surface. Sasuke hurried over to help Naruto up, while Temari, who had arrived from behind, supported Kankuro and stood before Gaara, warily watching Sasuke. The two of them had basically lost all ability to fight.

"Can you tell me why?" Gaara continued asking that question.

"Isn't it obvious now? You just haven't felt it yourself," Sasuke said with a smile. Everyone else was confused. Temari and Kankuro, who did not know the full situation, watched Sasuke warily. Sasuke was still in the most complete fighting condition; Sakura and the others did not count, since they were too weak.

Gaara looked at the tense Temari and Kankuro, seeming to understand something. "That's enough. The battle is over. There's no need to keep fighting. We lost." Then he looked at Sasuke. "I think I understand a little. I hope we can meet again." Although Naruto had not used his talk-no-jutsu, the simple conversation and trust between Sasuke and Naruto had made Gaara understand something. Temari and Kankuro's behavior had also made him realize something. The three of them left, and Sasuke did not stop them. After all, they would be allies in the future, and reliable ones at that.