Behind The Veil

Chapter Twelve

       Warm blood dripped down his arm as he sped past the trees, leaving crimson stains on his orange sweater. He still felt their prescene close behind him. What were they even doing there?

"Naruto!", Kakashi's voice rang out. He never wanted to hear it again. Never wanted to see him. His stomache churned as desperatly tried to escape. "Wait!" His voice pricked his ears, he didn't like it, didn't like this. They shouldn't of been there. He'd been so careful.

Sand crept behind him, wrapping around his leg before slamming him face first into the ground. Kurama sent a growl through his body.

"Naruto."

The blonde refused to look up. Refused to be forced to see the disapointment in those seafoam eyes. He felt the man's presence increase as they got closer to him. Naruto struggled against the sand, knowing there would be no escape this time. He was trapped.

"Naruto", He spoke again. A firm hand clamped into his shoulder. Hecould feel his heart crumble.

"Gaara."

"It's time.", Anguish disturbed Naruto's features as he forced a strained nod.

***

An hour earlier

The sun pulled him out from his deep, dark slumber. He felt heavy as he forced his arms up, he hated waking up so early. He missed his bed. He missed his home. He missed Hinata.

A small fox appeared out his peripheral and a smile broke across his face. It's been three weeks. He started traveling late last night and was now just out of Sunagakura. In a matter of days, he would have Hinata again.

He inhaled deeply, memories of her haunting every moment. He could hear everythhing. The animals moving, crickets chirping, birds singing in the distance. The sounds calmed his excited heart. He glanced around, their hastily made camp strewn out around him.

He carefully concealed his presence, he couldn't risk Gaara finding him now. Couldn't let it ruin his plan. He would sneak to Hinata's home, ask her to come with him. When she says yes, and only then, would he seek out Gaara.

"It's time."

He nodded to himself, he rested for two hours now, he was ready to go now. He watched as Kurama's body grew. His medium sized fox was far larger than he had assumed, reaching his waist while he sat.

"Naruto dodge!"

He moved slightly, a Kunai slashing through his arm, he stiffled a yelp of pain. He quickly applied pressure as his eyes darted around for the culprit.

"Who is there?", A sickening familiar voice yelled out.His stomach lurched as he decided to flee, this was a fight he did not want to participate in. Kakashi. He called Kurama into his body.

"Yamato."

"Hai", Suddenly a wooden wall shot up in front of him, causing him to fall. Next branches wrapped tightly around him.

"Shadow clone jutsu!", he yelled. Naruto's clone immediately took a stance of defense as he untangled himself from the branches. Leaves rustled and suddenly his former friend emerged. His seafoam eyes filled with strife as always.

Gaara. His blood heated. This wasn't happening. He shouldn't be here.

"Naruto", His eyes grew wide, his voice rung with shock. Kakashi and Yamato jumped from the bushes, their eyes wide.

"Where have you been, everyone was searching for you!" His former teacher yelled out breathlessly.

"Away from you.", his voice was rough, pain shooting through his raw throat as he pushed the words up. It couldn't have felt any less than swallowing glass. He stood quickly, flashing to a near tree. "Away from all of you."

"Why, Yamato yelled out.

Naruto stared at him, "Did Hinata wake up?"

The three froze.. Naruto's heartbeat sped up, fear crept in."She did, didnt she."

"She did", Kakashi grunted out.

Naruto slightly nodded and turned towards Gaara, his eyes never left him not once. Naruto smiled at him, a faint smile, but sincere.He turned and begun to jump the trees. Suddenly his body felt sluggish. His arm dripped blood, surely they will be able to follow him like this.

"Naruto stop! you need the antidote!" Yamato's voice was desperate. He was closing in on him.

"I'll manage" Naruto mumbled, his tongue suddenly feels foreign, darkness flowed into his eyesight.

'Kurama'

"On it"

From inside, Kurama worked on dispelling the poison.In the process Naruto's whiskers emerged and his fangs poked out. He growled in pain as he continued to avoid his chasers. He finally got out of their sight.

Warm blood dripped down his arm as he sped past the trees, leaving crimson stains on his orange sweater. Hecould still felt their prescene close behind him. What were they even doing here?

"Naruto!", Kakashi's voice rang out. He never wanted to hear it again. Never wanted to see him. His stomache churned as desperatly tried to escape. "Wait!" His voice pricked his ears, he didn't like it, didn't like this. They shouldn't of been there. He'd been so careful.

Sand crept behind him, wrapping around his leg before slamming him face first into the ground. Kurama sent a growl through his body.

"Naruto."

The blonde refused to look up. Refused to be forced to see the disapointment in those seafoam eyes. He felt the man's presence increase as they got closer to him. Naruto struggled against the sand, knowing there would be no escape this time. He was trapped.

"Naruto", He spoke again. A firm hand clamped into his shoulder. Hecould feel his heart crumble.

"Gaara."

"It's time.", Anguish disturbed Naruto's features as he forced a strained nod.