Change Of Heart And A Change Of Fate

Chapter 10

Alex winced as the sounds of fighting echoed trough the arena. He was in the spectators area, cheering and supporting his team mates as they battled out for the chunin rank. Naruto was her bubbly and over cheerful self, as if the whole Rasengan  business with Alex never happened. Sasuke was his normal brooding self, but Alex could catch the gleam in his eyes that showed his excitement. Sakura looked like she was having a mental nervous breakdown, but held a stoic face in front of the opposing competitors. Kakashi was in the back with his face planted in his little orange book, silently watching each of his students as they each faced their opponents.

Naruto had already gone against Neji and knocked some sense into him, only after barely making it out as the winner. Sakura also had a match against Tenten, winning but passing out directly after the fight from exhaustion. Sasuke's  fight was up next and it was against one of the suna nin that stood in the stands. Alex couldn't help but feel nervous when he sensed the massive killer intent coming off of the red headed suna boy in waves that no normal boy should be able to do. It took Alex a few minutes to realize that the strange chakra he could sense coming from the boy was similar to the chakra that resided in Naruto, only it was more agitated.

Alex gasped as he realized the potential danger Sasuke was in when he recalled everything that was taught to him about Jinchūriki . Kakashi peeked over the edge of his book and shot Alex a questioning look. Alex's face went grim as he explained his findings to his sensei. Said man just nodded his head in understanding before turning his gaze back to his book, throwing a glance at the fight every few seconds and muscles tense in case of something going wrong.

Sasuke and Gaara's fight was brutal, to say the least. Alex could instantly see the effects that the month preparation time had on his team mate . Sasuke was light on his feet and could move almost twice as fast than before. He still had an arrogant look and posture , but that would take some time to get rid of. Gaara stood in the middle of the arena with his arms crossed, his sand lashing out with the intent to kill and protecting him at the same time. Sasuke was dancing around his sand and attacking with projectiles while on the move, not staying in one place for longer than a few seconds. Alex could see Gaara's frustration build as his sand failed time and time again to get their target.

Alex stared in wonder at the lightning crackling in Sasuke's palm. He could feel the electricity in the air from where he stood, and shivered at the power radiating from it. He knew it was one of the new jutsu's that Kakashi had taught him to use against Garaa's sand, claiming it to be the only thing possible to penetrate his sand shields. 

The terrified bloodcurdling scream that echoed through the arena made Alex wince. The jutsu had cut straight through the sand and into Gaara's shoulder. Surprise , anger and fear flashed through his eyes as he clutched his bloodied shoulder and stared at the now smirking Sasuke who stood a few feet in front of him. Alex couldn't hear thew conversation between them , but from the look on their faces he could only guess. The air grew dense as red chakra started pooling out of Gaara and forming around him like a cloak. A long thick tail formed behind him and he let out a loud roar that vibrated through the stadium. 

Alex stumbled back and nearly tripped over his own feet as the chakra invaded his sense. He could see the jounin jumping into action and  escorting the civilians out as it was obviously too dangerous for them to remain here . A few of the Hokage's ANBU had surrounded Gaara and was keeping him busy so everyone could get to safety. The Hokage himself was busy keeping his daughter from entering the battle headfirst as she stubbornly struggled to see to reason.

Alex was pulled from his observing as a large cement slab fell from the ceiling and nearly crushed him before he jumped out of the way. He knew he would only get in the way if he tried to help the ANBU , so he settled with helping the others in moving the civilians to a safer place. As he was searching through the ruins of the collapsed walls, cries reached his ears. It sounded like children and they were crying our for help. Alex ran in the direction where the sound was coming from and had to suppress the urge to gag at what he saw. A woman lied crushed under the rubble with blood pooling around her. Two children sat on their knees near her body and clutching at her clothes while calling out to her . They couldn't be any older than 5 and younger and 3. Alex approached them carefully and crouched down so he appeared less threatening. They watched him with tired and weary eyes as he came closer, before stopping a good distance away.