GaaSaku: Childhood & Chunin Exams

Chapter 27: The Broken Promise

Blood was spitted out from Sasuke's mouth as he was initially trying to resist the pain that was forming on his curse seal. He winced in thought. "I have to control this." His body was shaking uncontrollably without having so much stability and energy left.

Naruto, on the other hand, was preparing his attack towards Gaara with his Rasengan in his hand. He dashed forward that caused him to his beast claw instantly. "Ahhhh!!!"
But he was unaware of his beast tail behind him, which threw him off into one of the trees. Naruto's body got knocked a little, yet he still managed to stand up on his great and noticed that Gaara is about to strike directly towards Sasuke, who was in a fragile state.

"I fight for my sake only and I live to love no one but myself. As long as mankind exists for me to kill, my existence will never end," the words made Naruto realized that Gaara is going to murder his teammate without hesitation.

He warned them loudly for them to hear. "You guys!! Move out of the away!!"

Sakura slowly glanced around to see what she knew was coming. Unfortunately, she did not have the time to protect Sasuke as she was brutally pinned onto the tree by Gaara's beast claw hastily that covered her body. She grunted in pain, causing her to lose half of her consciousness. Although, her eyelids were starting to close and her vision of Gaara's tailed-beast form began to blur. "No... Please, don't."

Naruto carried Sasuke's arm around him, just in time to hop onto a different tree branch away from Gaara, who suddenly had another headache. "Sakura!!" He called out to wake her up, but she wasn't able to reciprocate due to the heavyweight of the sand beast claw that was suffocating her. "Damn it! What are we supposed to do?!"

Temari was shocked in thought. "She held her ground against Gaara for a few seconds, even in his current state."

Naruto gently placed Sasuke aside and recalled Gaara's satisfaction with death. "Anyone but him..." he said in mind sternly.

On the contrary, the redheaded half-beast was questioning in his thoughts about the memories of the people protecting their loved ones from harm. "Why...?!" He clenched his half-sharp teeth in wonder, figuring out the answers after seeing the eyes of Sakura, Guy, and the others who would stand up to their friends. Gaara looked up and opened his eyes, revealing the darkness and vengeance that was hidden among his pupils.

"Those eyes again..." Naruto stared at him frighteningly and swallowed a lump on his throat anxiously.

"What's the matter? Weren't you going to say something?" Gaara asked malevolently upon seeing the blonde-haired ninja's worried expression towards Sasuke and Sakura. "Who are these people? What do they mean to you?" He interrogated him again with a sullen look.

Naruto pointed a finger and said strictly. "They are my friends! Leave them alone or else, I will beat you if it's the last thing I do!"

Gaara growled vindictively and pressed his extended beast claw onto Sakura's body that almost made her choke out of breath.

"Ahh!!!" She cried out, which made Naruto snapped at his abuse.

"Bring it on," he declared and jumped off to fight Gaara. "Damn you!!!" He then got started by his beast tail twice that threw him off aside, just when Sasuke noticed at the corner of his eyes.

"Naruto is not acting himself. Did something happened between the two?" He asked in thought weakly.

Naruto quickly turned his head to Sakura and thinking of a way to free her out of Gaara's grasp. "I know I've got no other choice." He made a few hand signs, indicating to perform a summoning jutsu. Henceforth, letting appear a small toad in front of him, babbling.