Naruto's Betrayal: "You Thought Sasuke Was Bad?"

Sasuke P.O.V.

As we continued our approach, I turned around to notice that Neji and Hinata were gone, and Gaara was falling to the ground, clutching his stomach. In a split-second decision, I turned and jumped toward Gaara, catching him before landing on the ground, and hiding behind the largest tree I could find. He was panting, as the red stain of his blood was becoming visible through the spaces between his fingers. I looked at him, as he looked around frantically.

"Gaara... You have to calm down... I... I don't remember much about medicine from the academy but..."

He interrupted me, his voice choked behind pain he was obviously suppressing.

"W-WHAT HAPPENED TO HINATA?!"

I wasn't sure what he was talking about. I started to consider that he might be hallucinating from the lack of blood. Before I could ask him what he meant, I instinctively picked him up, carrying him out of the way of a barrage of poisonous pellets being shot at us. I quickly scanned the area, barely able to block a kick from the side of my head. I grabbed onto the leg of the attempted assailant, realizing all too late that it was a puppet... And one that I recognized. I quickly jumped back, barely avoiding a slash from the puppet's blade before hearing a laugh. The voice was unmistakable, and made Gaara nearly jump out of his skin. Suddenly, in the trees above us, stood Kankurō, wearing the same devilish smirk as he always did. He looked down at me, unable to contain another sickening laugh.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the leaf village bad-boy and my good-for-nothing brother. I knew you two would come to save that pipsqueak."

My eyes shot open, and I could feel my blood beginning to boil.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO KONOHAMARU?"

Kankurō ignored my question, continuing to speak to Gaara, who was just barely conscious.

"Do you remember me, little brother? Remember how I used to protect you? How everything Temari and I did was to protect you? And how do you repay us? By becoming Kazekage and forgetting all about us."

Gaara looked at him, and spoke almost inaudibly toward his brother.

"Kankurō.. w-what is the meaning of this?"

Obviously pissed at Gaara ignoring his questions, Kankurō readied his puppets to attack again. I stood in front of Gaara, clutching a kunai in my hand to defend him. Kankurō looked at me, his anger become more noticeable with each passing second.

"Get the hell out of my way, Uchiha."

He smirked before speaking the rest of his thought.

"Or do I have to go get your brother and have him come discipline you?"

I quickly leapt forward, swinging with my kunai at Kankurō's throat, but he easily sidestepped, taking advantage of my anger and wrapping me up tightly in the arms of one of his puppets. I struggled to release myself, but the wire and wood were too strong, albeit enhanced by insane amounts of chakra. He stepped closer and punched me in the face, before putting a kunai to my throat.

"This almost feels like the chunin exams all over again, huh Sasuke?"

I smirked, staring him directly in the eyes as blood dripped from my mouth.

"I vaguely remember me saving Konohamaru from you back then too... With a pebble?"

His eyes flashed, and as he swung at me again, I leaned my head back to avoid the blow, before looking back at him, with a poison dart sticking out of my mouth. He quickly jumped back, releasing the strings of his puppet just enough for me to leap free. I flew into the air, forming hand signs as quickly as possible before taking a deep inhale.

"FIRE STYLE PHOENIX FLOWER JUTSU!"

Bursts of crimson red fire flew from my mouth, streaming toward Kankurō who was quickly losing his footing on the branches of the trees. I landed in front of Gaara, checking his pulse quickly before jumping back toward Kankurō, connecting with a furious barrage of punches and kicks that sent him flying down to the forest floor below. I landed in front of him, my red pupils staring him down as he stumbled backward, sending a puppet at me that I was quickly able to sidestep. I could tell his chakra was depleting, but in that moment my anger was at the forefront of my consciousness. He looked at me, then down at the ground.

"If you don't kill me... I'll tell you where Konohamaru is..."

In a flash, my hand was covered in chakra, and singing a song of 1000 birds.

"No... You'll tell me now... BEFORE I KILL YOU."

I darted toward him, clutching my wrist with my opposite hand to keep the Chidori steady. I raised my arm, aiming to pierce through his heart, but was suddenly stopped by a wall of sand, that absorbed the blow, and pushed me back. I looked around, seeing Gaara standing on a tree limb directly above us. He looked down at me, then over to Kankurō, his wound still bleeding. He spoke to Kankurō in a voice that sounded sad and concerned, though he tried to hide it.

"Kankurō, answer me one question... Your reason for doing this... Was it to aid The Akatsuki?"

Gaara jumped down from the tree, landing directly beside his brother. Kankurō looked at him, a small smirk appearing on his face.

"You wish. I've been tracking you down for months Gaara, and your little punk friend in the scarf was just a happy coincidence for me. The perfect bait to get you alone. Of course, I didn't count on Uchiha or the Hyūgas being here."

Gaara nodded, looking at me and speaking softly.

"I'm sure you've realized it too... That Konohamaru is in the puppet case on his back. Right?"

I nodded, only having realized it moments before he said it. Gaara once again looked to Kankurō, who was slowly rising to his feet.

"Release Konohamaru, and I will grant you the fight you desire."

Kankurō stood silent for a moment, before quickly taking the puppet case off his back and throwing it to me. Inside was Konohamaru, unconscious, but alive. I breathed a sigh of relief, pulling him out and putting him on the ground.

"Gaara, he's fine. What now?"

Gaara didn't turn to me, but responded to my question.

"See if you can find Neji and Hinata. They shouldn't be far. I'll watch over Konohamaru while you're gone."

I nodded, propping Konohamaru on a tree a few yards away. I looked back to where Gaara and Kankurō were, watching as sand was beginning to erupt from Gaara's gourd. I wanted to stay. Wanted to help him, especially knowing he was already injured... But, knew that this was something he had to do for himself. So, after taking one last glance back, I quickly sped off to search for Neji and Hinata.