Naruto Hikikaeru

Naruto and Sasuke were rushing toward each other, Sasuke thrust his hand holding the Chidori toward Naruto's heart. Naruto didn't do anything as he continued getting closer to Sasuke, then at the final moment, Naruto brought his hand up hit Sasuke's arm, forcing him to change direction. Naruto then avoided the blow from Chidori before bringing his other hand and clenching it into a fist as he sent it straight toward Sasuke's face, and slamming him into the ground.

Then Naruto grabbed Sasuke's body and jumped out of the way as a blast of wind hit the ground he and Sasuke were originally standing in.

"Tch." Temari said as she frowned.

"I missed."

"He wouldn't have been able to humiliate me if he couldn't dodge your attack Temari." Kankuro said as the two of them were standing on a nearby tree branch.

Naruto looked at the two newcomers with a calm expression. Then he glanced over toward the direction of Kakashi and Baki, and Sakura, Lee and Gaara. After analyzing the situation, he understood what had probably happened. Looks like despite the chunin exams being halted, the Sand are still hostile toward the Leaf, Naruto thought.

Then he looked over at Kankuro and Temari.

"Oi, doesn't his eyes look different?" Temari stated as she looked closer at Naruto.

"What does it matter, he's still going to die all the same." Kankuro replied.

Naruto frowned slightly, looks like things are getting out of control.

"So, does this mean the Sand is declaring war on the Leaf?" Naruto suddenly asked aloud.

Both Kankuro and Temari stared at Naruto in surprise.

"How?" Kankuro began before Naruto cut him off.

"I can sense what's happening, Gaara is facing Sakura and Lee while your team leader is facing against Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said.

"Eh?" Both Kankuro and Temari stared at Naruto.

"Shit, he was a sensory type?!" Temari cursed.

"Doesn't matter! We need to kill him!" Kankuro said as he pulled the puppet on his back out of the bandages, he carried it in.

"Let's do this Crow!" Kankuro shouted as he began operating the puppet.

Naruto stared at the two of them before creating three shadow clones.

"You take Sasuke out of here." Naruto told the third clone.

The clone nodded and picked up Sasuke's unconscious body before running away.

"Damn, don't let that clone get away Temari!" Kankuro shouted.

"Right!" Temari replied as she started rushing after the clone.

"Did I say you guys could go!?" Naruto yelled as one of his clones got in front of Temari.

He then glared at both Kankuro and Temari.

"Sorry, I don't have anything against you two, but I'm upset and you two aren't giving me any options here. So I'm going to have to get rough with you guys." Naruto said as he started walking toward them.

"What?! Don't make me laugh!" Kankuro shouted in anger.

Temari also grit her teeth in anger after hearing Naruto's words. He was completely disregarding them, as if he knew that the two of them couldn't match him together let alone on their own.

"We'll make you eat those words you bastard!" Temari shouted as she fully opened her fan and swung it through the air.

She created a large gust of wind that soared toward Naruto.

Naruto stopped moving and started forming hand seals.

Tiger → Ox → Dog → Rabbit → Snake

Augmented by the sage chakra, Naruto used the Great Breakthrough jutsu and blew away the gust of wind Temari had sent toward him. The difference in power was so great that not only did Naruto overpower her jutsu, canceling it out, but the remaining gust of wind blew Temari high up into the air.

Seeing this, Kankuro stared at Naruto in utter shock. What the hell? Kankuro thought before he looked back at Naruto as if he was some kind of monster.

"I have no time to be playing games with you guys right now, I have to stop Gaara before he goes out of control and hurts someone important to me!" Naruto said as he glared at Kankuro.

Oh shit, Kankuro thought as he finally realized the difference between him and Naruto. Then he clenched his teeth as he sent Crow toward Naruto.

Naruto then raised his hand and began gathering chakra.

Naruto raised his hand high as the massive swirling mass of chakra formed, then using the assistance of his remaining clone, he launched himself into the air and thrusted the swirling mass toward Crow. Crow was crushed to pieces as it was launched toward the ground by the Rasengan and then ground up further into smaller pieces. Kankuro stared at the whole process and understood that he really did stand zero chance against Naruto. Forget about trying to get back at Naruto for humiliating him, he couldn't even deal with one move from Naruto.

Naruto then appeared behind Kankuro.

"Sorry, but I'm going to need you to go to sleep for a bit." Naruto said with a smile before slamming his fist into Kankuro's face, launching him toward the ground by the shattered pieces of Crow.

Then Naruto looked at Temari who had managed to keep his clone at bay for the time being. Now I know who's stronger between the two, or maybe it's a matter of match-up, Kankuro is a puppet master, he's not one for close combat. Temari glanced over and paled when she saw that Kankuro had already been defeated and she was surrounded by Naruto and his two clones.

There's no way I can win, I'm already having trouble dealing with one of him, and I don't even think I could win, let alone facing off against three of him. Temari landed on a nearby tree branch and stared at Naruto. Naruto had already instructed one of his clones to tie up Kankuro who had been knocked out.

"So, what's it going to be?" Naruto asked as he looked up at Temari.

...

...

...

Lee and Sakura stared at Gaara who was clutching his head in pain.

"What's happening?" Sakura asked.

"I don't know, but I don't think anything good is going to happen." Lee replied. He then grimaced in pain.

Sakura stared at Lee in concern and reached out to his arm.

"Here, let me help you." Sakura said.

Lee looked over and saw Sakura start applying first aid to his arms.

"Eh? I didn't know you were a medical-nin Sakura." Lee said in surprise.

"Oh, well, it's something I've been learning recently. It's the least I can do." Sakura replied.

Sakura's face flushed red slightly as she spoke.

"I think it's wonderful! You really do care about others Sakura!" Lee said while smiling.

Sakura looked up in surprise then smiled.

"Thank you for saying that. This is the least I can do, since I'm not very good at fighting." Sakura spoke.

"No, this is very important, without people like you to heal others, the people like me who can only fight wouldn't be able to keep fighting. So, don't sell yourself short!" Lee replied.

Sakura smiled even more and continued healing Lee's injuries as best she could.

Lee then looked back toward Gaara who was still clutching his head in agony for some reason. Then he tensed up when he saw Gaara stare at them again.

This is bad! Lee thought as he pushed Sakura out of the way in time before sand shot through the air sailing past where she had been standing.

"Hehe, let's see if you can continue protecting her!" Gaara shouted.

Then he moved his hands and caused more and more sand to attack Sakura. Lee grit his teeth as he continued defending Sakura. Guy-sensei, I can't beat him unless I do that, please forgive me, but this is so I can protect what is precious to me! Lee thought as the veins on his head started popping out on his forehead.

First gate, gate of opening, open! Lee thought as he accelerated faster. He grabbed Sakura and carried her to a safe distance before letting her down and turning to face Gaara.

"Stay here, Sakura, he's not someone you can face!" Lee said as he took off again.

Second gate, gate of healing, open! Lee thought as he continued rushing toward Gaara. Gaara stared at Lee in shock as he noticed Lee get reenergized.

Third gate, gate of life, open! Lee thought, and his skin began turning red. What's happening to him? Both Sakura and Gaara wondered as Lee was undergoing a transformation. I'm not done yet! Lee thought. Fourth gate, gate of pain, open! Suddenly, Lee's speed increased even further.

WHAT?! Gaara thought as he completely lost sight of Lee once again. He was then sent flying into the air before realizing what had happened. Sakura stared in amazement at Lee as he started treating Gaara like some kind of rag-doll. Sending him flying in all directions without being able to do anything about it.

The sand... Gaara thought as he started feeling the pain from Lee's blows. It can't keep up with him anymore. Gaara then started bringing the sand closer to his body.

"I don't think so!" Lee shouted as he knocked Gaara away from his sand.

"Do you think I'll let you do as you please. Think again!"

Lee kicked Gaara in the side and sent him flying before appearing next to him again and punching him straight into the air.

"It's time to end this!" Lee shouted.

The bandages wrapped around Lee's arms began coming undone as he appeared behind Gaara. Then Lee tugged on them and began wrapping them around Gaara's body.

"Take this! Primary Lotus!" Lee shouted as he wrapped Gaara completely in the bandages and began spinning around rapidly sending them both hurtling toward the ground.

Sakura stared in amazement at Lee's battle with Gaara from a distance.

Just as the two were about to hit the ground, Lee let go and jumped away from Gaara, landing on his feet as he began panting and gasping for air as he released the eight gates. That should do it! Lee thought to himself as he fell to his knees from exhaustion.

"LEE!" Sakura shouted as she ran up to him.

She crouched down and began dressing his injuries.

"Sakura…." Lee mumbled as he looked over at Sakura.

"Be quiet, let me focus, you really shouldn't have pushed yourself like this!" Sakura berated.

Lee laughed as he looked at Sakura, feeling happy that she was no longer talking to him negatively.

Suddenly, Lee heard movement and glanced over to where Gaara had landed.

"No way…." Lee uttered as he finally could see what had happened as the dust cleared.

Gaara was buried c.h.e.s.t deep into the ground, but what he had landed on was sand that had formed from the gourd he carried on his back. Gaara's legs began moving and the sand shifted as it slowly put Gaara back onto his feet. Once Gaara was on his feet he glared at both Lee and Sakura with a crazed look.

Gaara then raised his hand up into the air.

"Sakura! Get away!" Lee shouted as he pushed Sakura away.

Sand wrapped around Lee's arm that he pushed Sakura away with and then crushed it.

"GAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" Lee shouted in pain.

"LEE!!" Sakura cried out in shock.

"DIE!" Gaara shouted as he forced the sand wrapped around Lee's arm to move to the rest of Lee's body.

Suddenly, am explosion appeared right beside Gaara, but the sand had shielded him. When he glanced over, he saw Sakura standing to the side holding up more kunai with explosive tags tied to them.

Lee looked over at Sakura as he tried to move toward her. "Sakura.... Get away!!" Lee pleaded with her.

"No, I'm not going to leave you to die Lee!!" Sakura berated him.

"I'll never abandon my comrades!" Sakura yelled as she began running to the side and throwing more kunai's toward Gaara.

"Fine, then you can die first!" Gaara shouted as he changed target, releasing Lee from the sand as his focus changed to Sakura.

Lee struggled to move as he watched helplessly as Sakura faced off against Gaara by herself.

"Sakura..." Lee uttered as he stretched his hand out toward her.

-End of Chapter 43-

Author's Notes: So, Here's the fourth chapter in the six promised chapters. Here's a funny thing, I almost lost two of these chapters by accidentally saving over them with another chapter. Needless to say, I panicked a bit, luckily I had already posted them on my discord channel for my writing compatriots to look at and edit if needed. So all I had to do was download those versions back onto my computers and upload them here. So all's well that ends well, but I still had a heart attack when it first happened. Anyways, hope you guys are enjoying these chapters! Peace!