One More Light

Chapter 17

The next few days flew by with Gaara teaching Naruto other ways to manage his pain and his negative thoughts. These included a different form of meditating from his sage mode, which focused on stilling the internal rather than absorbing external energies. Naruto learnt so many things about himself and felt like he was almost ready to return to Konoha. It was time to depart for the five Kage summit and Gaara grew increasingly nervous about how Naruto would react to the change, but he had faith in his friend.

The travelling was tedious, crossing slowly to avoid exerting unnecessary energy should they run into conflict. Naruto couldn't help worrying his bracelet as they walked. It did not go unnoticed by the Kazekage.

Gaara didn't want to push the issue, after all, Naruto had made great strides in his recovery during his time in Suna however Gaara was troubled by the behaviour of his friend. It's like he was waiting for an attack, constantly looking to the forest at his left. Gaara used his connection with the sand below the earth to scan the area. No one else was around however he could feel something with malicious intent from the west of their position. It wasn't so much a person but a blank spot. Almost like a void. Gaara was amazed Naruto could sense that but worried that he hadn't said anything. There was something more he knew.

"Naruto. What is it?" Gaara asked, not wanting to raise his voice above a whisper so no one else in their travelling party could hear.

"Its him. He's coming for me..." Naruto's voice was hollow, like all the life had been drained from him. Naruto gave Gaara one last thankful smile as a giant snake emerged from below the earth and took Naruto as a captive in his mouth.

Gaara was thrown to the side with such force, his sand barley managed to stop him from being impaled on a nearby dead tree. The advisor in his company were not so fortunate. In a matter of seconds, their party had been reduced from 12 to 3. Gaara was left only with the company of his siblings as even his guards had been rendered useless against the companions of the attacker, using the water in their bodies to drown them from the inside.

When Gaara finally caught his bearings, there was only one word on his lips, "Naruto!"

Naruto didn't fight as the snake swallowed him. He knew Sasuke would want to taunt him so he wouldn't actually die in the snakes belly. He could feel that numbness begin to settle in his limbs and fought against his own mind shutting down. He focused on the training he had received from Gaara. He focused on his breathing. In... Out... Feeling the air fill his lungs. Nothing else but his breaths.

Once he got his breathing under control, he felt his bracelet activate, constricting around his wrist and sending a cool breeze along his skin. Naruto could feel himself regaining control. He thought now would be a good time to meditate and enter sage mode, ready for the fight that was sure to happen next. By the time he was removed from the snake's body, he was calm, powered up and ready to confront his best friend.

"Sasuke..."