My Family (A Naruto FanFiction)

Interlude 1 - A Mother's Love

The Match between Kankuro and Shino was rather anti-climatic. Kankuro forfieted immediately as the Proctor announced the match.

Both participants made their way to the stands, Kankuro grumbling about 'troublesome bug users'. The crowd deadpanned at the Kabuki wearing boy.

As congratulations were being exchanged, Genma had announced the next match.
"Will Naruto Uzumaki and Gaara Sabaku enter the arena."

Gaara disappeared in a sand sunshinn. Naruto vanished in a swirl of flames.

Genma waited for both of them to start a monologue or sorts but they both kept staring at each other.

Sea Green eyes bore into sea blue. One had insanity and thirst for blood while other had understanding and kindness.

The irony was not all to lost on Genma. Both were Jinchuuriki but both were exact opposites. Like two sides of the same coin.

"Begin!"

The two continue to stare at each other, both looked as relaxed as visibly possible. But experienced nins could see the minute coiling of muscles and tenseness of limbs.

Gaara looked at his prey with a gaze so cold that it would've made Iron Country look like a burning desert. The boy before him was his prey. And judging by the chakra he had, he was strong. Yes, he would do well. Mother shall like his blood. He would prove his existence.

Naruto looked at his brother-in-curse in silent pity. What kind of life must have he had to be turned into this ...this monster. Naruto could never fathom the amount of pain the young boy must've felt through his life. He knew Gaara's story very well. His father, the Kazekage had sealed the One-Tail into him when he was still in his mother's womb. And as a result his mother had died anf he grew up motherless, never knowing about the tender touches of a mother. He was then taken in by his uncle and was raised till he was five, when his uncle was ordered by the Kazekage to kill Gaara. Gaara's sand had done its work and protected him, at the cost of Yashamaru, his uncle's life.

That was the turning point in his life. The day when he vowed to never love anyone else and only himself, live for himself and kill for himself. Each drop of blood he spilled would validate his existence so would the pain of each blow he ever felt.
'Perhaps if not for Sasuke Sakura and Kura-chan, would I have turned out the same way he did'
The thought passed from his mind as soon as it came. Now was not a time for this.

A leaf floated in the air and silently drifted towards the ground. The leaf touched the ground, and as if an unspoken signal was given, the blonde dissappeared.

Gaara's sand violently smashed the ground Naruto was standing on, kicking up the debris. Naruto reappeared right beside a cluster of trees and regarded the retreating sand with a cool gaze, not ruffled in the slightest.

The redhead sent another wave of sand, with the intention bury and crush the blonde before he dissapeared again. This time he landed very close the the Sand nin and delivered a vicious kick, but was cushioned by the Gaara's sand. But the shockwave from the kick sent the insane boy skidding a few meters.

Naruto took a deep breathe to soothe his frazzled nerves. The boy before him may be his brother-in-burden, but right now he had to make him see the light. He could not afford to keep defending if he wanted to beat the insanity out of the younger boy. So, with that thought in mind, he vanished again, this time moving faster than his opponents sand could react and delivered a viscious punch on his face.

Gaara recoiled in shock and pain. That made two people who had managed to land a solid hit on him, in Hidden Leaf. His head was twisted sideways and his sand armour fell in pieces from his face, exposing the murderous intent that was horribly etched on his face. Naruto took a step back and beckoned Gaara to try again.