Gamabunta

"We're almost there, but those Sunagakure ninja have split up and are heading toward us," Pakkun said.

"They're probably trying to stop us from catching up to Sasuke and Gaara," Shikamaru immediately concluded.

The laid-back genius of the Nara Clan had guessed exactly right. A few minutes later, the puppeteer among the siblings blocked their path.

"Leave this fight to me. Keep going after them," Shino said calmly.

"Shino, are you sure? We can't leave you here alone," Naruto asked.

"I'm sure. If we all stay here, we'll only let our targets escape. There's no point," the boy from the Aburame Clan said.

"All right. Good luck, bug boy," Naruto said, trying to lighten the mood.

The others continued on, but before long, someone blocked their way again. This time, it was Temari.

"I won't let any of you get past me." Temari took the folding fan off her back as she spoke, but just as she was about to swing it, her body suddenly froze.

"Shadow Imitation Technique, successful," Shikamaru said. His shadow had firmly caught the tall kunoichi's shadow. "Keep going. I'll hold her here for as long as I can," the laid-back genius continued.

"All right, she's yours! Come on, Sakura, let's go save that bastard! Pakkun, lead the way!" Naruto shouted. A vein bulged at Sakura's temple, furious that Naruto had called her Sasuke-kun that, but she ultimately said nothing. She knew they had to make sure the brooding boy was safe first.

When the boy, the dog, and the girl arrived, they saw Sasuke down on one knee, utterly defeated, as towering waves of sand swept toward him.

Naruto acted immediately, grabbing the brooding boy and leaping out of the attack's range. His eyes quickly swept over the markings on Sasuke's face and arms. What is this stuff? His chakra is so evil. It's not furious malice like the Nine-Tails', but a sick, twisted coldness. The source is this Cursed Seal on his neck... God, whoever made this thing is definitely a genius. A deranged, utterly insane lunatic, but a genius all the same. This has to be Orochimaru's Cursed Seal. I don't even need a close look to tell. It contains a slave contract, mental suppression arrays, and an addictive seal. Obviously, the more someone uses it, the more control that snake bastard has over them. He even made it addictive so the user would crave this power more and more.

Naruto set Sasuke down on a branch, turned, and fixed his gaze on Gaara.

Gaara had completely transformed. Sand encased his entire body, and a tail made of sand had grown behind him. His once sea-green eyes had turned black, with yellow, cross-shaped pupils. His face was utterly unrecognizable.

This must be Shukaku's version of the Chakra Cloak, Naruto thought. Judging by how Gaara looks, the rage and hatred in that sinister chakra have already consumed him. What should I do? I've only just started learning the chakra Suppression Seal. I don't have any Sealing Jutsu capable of suppressing a jinchūriki. Looks like I'll have to do this the old-fashioned way: beat him awake.

With that thought, Naruto pushed off the branch and charged at Gaara.

Gaara could not keep up with Naruto's speed at all. Naruto was far faster than the Uchiha he had just fought, and that drove his fury to its peak. Meanwhile, Naruto soon discovered that Taijutsu had no effect whatsoever on the tanuki's jinchūriki.

Naruto pulled out an Explosive Tag and wrapped it around the base of a kunai. He carefully studied the sand armor and noticed that its defenses were weakest at the base of the tail. He immediately dropped beneath the enraged Gaara and drove the kunai hard into that spot.

When the smoke cleared, large sections of the red-haired boy's sand armor had fallen away. Without wasting a moment, Naruto created fifty Shadow Clones and attacked from every direction. The first group of clones kicked the disoriented Gaara into the air, shouting, "Na-ru-to U-zu-ma-ki Barrage!"

The clones kept kicking him one after another in midair. The last few heavy kicks sent Gaara crashing into the ground.

Sakura stood nearby, her eyes wide with shock at Naruto's strength. She checked on Sasuke while watching the battle. The Cursed Seal on Sasuke's neck was still spreading, and he stared fixedly at the fight, his eyes filled with jealousy and rage. How is this happening? I'm the elite. I'm an Uchiha. He's just a worthless orphan, a dead last. Why does he get to have this power when I can't? Why?!

"Damn you, Naruto Uzumaki! I'll kill you! Ninja Art: Feigning Sleep Technique!" Gaara roared, then collapsed to the ground.

Naruto stared curiously at the fallen boy, unable to understand what sleeping would accomplish. The next second, sand erupted from the Sunagakure boy's body, rapidly expanding into the shape of the enormous tailed beast, Shukaku.

"Hahahaha! I'm finally free! Now I'm going to destroy everything! But first, where's that little bastard?" The gigantic tanuki let out a deafening roar.

"Oh, shit! I've got to do something! Summoning Technique!" Naruto shouted. Smoke exploded all around him. When it cleared, he stood firmly atop Gamabunta's head.

"Hey, brat, what did you summon me for? This had better not be one of Jiraiya's stupid, boring tests." The giant toad took a puff from the pipe in his mouth and spoke.

"Ah, sorry, Gamabunta. This really is urgent! Look!" Naruto said, pointing at the tailed beast nearby.

"Oh? You want me to fight Shukaku? Heh, that brings back some old memories. All right, brat, I'll help you, but you owe me extra sake. You hear me?" Gamabunta shouted, leaping forward and swinging his sword to sever Shukaku's arm. The blade got stuck halfway through, however, forcing the giant toad to wrench it free. This brat is just like his father. Now this is getting interesting.