Things Change [Naruto AU]

8

A certain blonde stood close by the arena for one of the final events of the exams. They were taking the young ninjas and randomly selecting other ones to battle. The next pair that was called was Gaara and another ninja the didn't recognize. The assassination plan was already going into affect. Somewhere in the middle of the battle the one tail was released and started to attack the crowds of people. Most ran in the panic except for the blonde who still stood with his black cloak and straw hat.

He watched as the Hokage ran forward to stop the beast. The Kazekage ran forward as well to act as if he were helping but the blonde knew better. The Hokage was killed after the lengthy battle, other ninja didn't come as back up because of the assassins that killed those who came too close. As the Kazekage started to run away the blonde stood in his way and didn't allow him to pass.

Naruto created a shadow clone and then a rasengan with help of the clone. He then charged at the Kazekage, knocking him back in the confusion, and pushed him into the tail beast. This was the first time that Naruto had created the rasengan in a fight this major, he had practiced many times from reading the scroll of the Fourth Hokage. The beast took care of the Kazekage and killed him.

Now came the tricky part, stopping the beast. While taking off the straw hat Naruto searched for Gaara in the sand monster. After a few moments he saw him. Getting past the huge monster wasn't easy, Naruto had to use the nine tails chakra to get past it's defenses. Then he charged for the boy within the beast and was able to land a punch on him.

After waking him the beast was submerged and it left Gaara in pain on the ground. Naruto quickly made his way to him.

"You stopped me, why?" Gaara asked as he saw the cut headband.

"They lied to you and made you weak. They turned you into a weapon. They've already used you to kill the Third Hokage." Naruto said with total seriousness. Gaara closed his eyes and turned his away. "I don't want that to happen to you anymore." Gaara opened his eyes and faced the boy again. The other Sand Siblings arrived but stayed away from Gaara and Naruto, unsure if it was safe.

"I want to help you, to create a place that's safe. I can protect you if you let me." Naruto said again with real concern for Gaara. Gaara gave a weak smile and tried to set himself up while Naruto helped him. The siblings finally took a few steps forward to talk with Gaara as well.

"Gaara..." Kankuro said he stopped himself. While seeing the act of kindness that Naruto was showing his brother alarmed him, no one did that for Gaara.

"What are you doing?" Temari shouted at the blonde.

"Helping him." Naruto said. When Temari looked confused Naruto began to elaborate, "Gaara is a jinchuuriki, he needs to learn to have more control over the one tail. I can help teach him how to earn that control."

"How?" Temari stared back with the same hostility as before.

"I am a jinchuuriki as well." Naruto stated with understanding. Temari nodded and accepted that. Naruto then tossed the pair who appeared a scroll. They accepted it and read it. Not long after they were enraged.

Gaara now stood leaning on Naruto watching confused as his siblings were angered by the scroll. "Is this true?" Temari demanded. Naruto nodded. The scroll told of the plans that the Kazekage made for Gaara and the Third Hokage.

"Do you wish to join me?" Naruto asked in their anger.

"Join what?" Kankuro asked.

"Akatsuki. To join you have to leave your village and become missing nins." Naruto said. Temari nodded her head quickly and Kankuro did after a few seconds.

"I will join as well." Gaara said looking at the blonde. Naruto smiled softly as he led the way away from the village. Two shinobi watched them leave. One had silver hair and glasses while the other, his master, had long black hair and purple outlining his eyes.

"Should we follow them." The silver haired boy asked. The taller man shook his head.

"No, we have bigger problems to face." He said and looked at the damaged caused by the beast.

Sakura ran through the village unnoticed by most of the people with Sasuke close by. As they got close to the Hokage's office there was one ninja that was instantly cut down by a sword that Sasuke held. After that getting into the sealed room went without trouble. They took plenty of scrolls and hid them in bags. Sakura departed with Sasuke and went to the hideout only hoping for the best of her friends.

Sasuke met up with his spy in the shadows. Making sure no one was there before he arrived he awakened his Sharingan to let his presence be known only to the spy. The spy was an Uchiha like him and older by 6 or so years. Sasuke had used a mix of genjustu and ninjutsu to control the man. The man's orders where to observe the clan and report anything major to Sasuke. Sasuke wished to put a spy into ANBU or somewhere with Danzo but it was too risky at the moment.

Now the man reported what he had seen over the time that Sasuke was gone. Not much had changed but most where curious as of to why he left and some even agreed with the young Uchiha. This was good. Sasuke's major plan was to create an army with the Uchiha Clan and using his spy he was planting seeds of doubt inside. It wouldn't be long until a group of Uchiha would seek out Sasuke to join him.

After the news Sasuke scouted the area and left. No one was watching. He met up this Sakura and checked her trail. No one had noticed her either. He smirked at how well thought out the plan was. 'Now, how did Naruto do with Gaara.'

««« End of Chapter 8 »»»
A/N - Sorry if I wasn't good at the fighting scene, I tried. Now a question for you readers: Should Konohamaru get revenge on Gaara for the death of his Grandfather? If so, would anyone be interested in a sequel that tells Konohamaru's story.