Fading Scars

This was written as a one-on-one RP, so the point of view of the story will change, usually with every paragraph. Scenes will also change abruptly and large periods of time will pass with little notice, though I’ll try to give some warning at the beginning of the chapter.

***Warnings for some graphic material***

Thoughts in Italics


Please read and enjoy!

Fading Scars
Chapter Forty-One:


Naruto nearly soared out of the Hokage's room once the meeting was over. Curses flew past his lips as he ran, hurrying to where he had left Shikamaru earlier--at a ramen stand. Unfortunately, his welcome home meal was going to have to wait. "Shikamaru! We have to go!"

Shikamaru glanced up in surprise. "Naruto...?" He slid off his stool to meet him. "What's going on? What's wrong?"

"Come on!" He grabbed Shikamaru arm to pull him along, heading for the building that housed his apartment. "I just heard from Hokage," he said breathlessly, eyes wide and angry. "Hyuuga finally picked Hinata for his heir, but they're practically gonna lock her up. Something about training and arranged marriages." And they would have to tell Gaara--they needed to get to her before things went too far.

"Arranged marriage?" Shikamaru echoed, growing immediately serious. "Naruto...are you sure we ought to tell Gaara right away...?" If the Hyuuga were serious about that--and they did take their bloodline very seriously--there might not have been anything they could do, and rushing in with Gaara….

"Of course!" Naruto glanced back at his friend, just for a moment. "We have to stop them before it becomes official, because then there's nothing anyone can do about it." He tried to pick up their pace, darting around the few townspeople out in the street. "Think of what he'll do then. Tsunade will have to order us to stop him."

Shikamaru gulped. "You really think we could…?" Well, not him, but Naruto…. He shook himself. "Just be careful what you tell him, Naruto," he insisted.

He nodded, not speaking again as they rushed up the outside of the building. "Gaara!" Naruto pulled himself up to the open window, looking around for his former teammate. "Gaara! Are you here?"

Gaara glanced up from his own meal, and moved to the window. "Naruto." He frowned when he saw how anxious the pair of them looked. "What's wrong?"

Naruto hopped down in front of him. "I have to tell you something," he said firmly. "But you have to listen to all of it first, okay? Promise me you'll listen to me before you go running off, because I know you'll want to, but we need to be careful." He took Gaara's shoulders, meeting his eyes seriously. "Okay?"

Gaara straightened; he couldn't imagine many things that would make him 'run off' anywhere, and that alone set him on edge. "What is it? I'll listen."

He took a deep breath. "I just got back from talking to Tsunade. She let it slip that Hyuuga's chosen Hinata for their heir." He felt Gaara tense under his hands, but he held firm. "There are a bunch of things that go with that, including extensive training, different rituals, and those include the family finding her a husband. But from what I know, they always pick someone a few generations away from their bloodline."

Gaara's eyes went wide. As soon as Naruto had finished his sentence he started to turn, but Shikamaru was suddenly behind him, helping to keep him still. A tremor went through him. "They can't do that."

"They can," Naruto insisted. "But we still have time, okay?" He licked his lips. "We have to get her. If we want to save her from getting engaged to someone else, we have to make it official that you two are going to be together." He glanced at Shikamaru, hoping he was getting all this right.

Gaara clenched his fists in restraint. "She's my wife," he said lowly. "She loves me. If they marry her to anyone else I'll--"

"Let's just worry about preventing that first," Shikamaru interrupted, squeezing Gaara's shoulders. "We'll talk to Hyuuga-san. If he knows how much you and Hinata…." He trailed off, sending Naruto a doubtful glance. You've got to know there is no way this will work….

"We'll try," Naruto insisted. "He won't turn us away, that's for sure; I'll make sure of it." He grinned. "And if that doesn't work, we'll think of something else. Maybe find a way for you to elope--I don't know." He thunked Gaara lightly on the chest. "We won't let it happen, okay? But you gotta keep calm, Gaara, okay? It won't help her if you get mad. Think about helping her."

Gaara shuddered. Don't…get mad. He took a deep breath, forcing his fists to unclench. I don't know if I can manage that. "All right," he said anyway. "I will. Where is she?"

"Probably with Hyuuga," Naruto replied, stepping back. "We'll go together, okay?" He started for the window. Please, just...let this work. Let something work.

Gaara nodded. "All right..." When Shikamaru let him go he followed Naruto out the window. Hinata…I'm not letting them do this to you!

Shikamaru cringed a little as he followed after them. Man…I hope this doesn't get out of control…. He stayed behind Gaara as they went, as if by keeping him between the two of them they could prevent...anything bad.

They got to the Hyuuga compound without incident, though it took some hard insistence from Naruto that they be allowed inside to meet with the head of the clan. Hiashi was not pleased to see them, and he continued his paperwork as they were shown to his study. Naruto bit back any illness he might have felt and gave a very sketchy bow. "Hyuuga-san. We wanted to talk with you."

"I'm very busy," he replied shortly, not looking up.

"I want to see Hinata," Gaara demanded, and when Shikamaru tried to touch his arm he shook him stubbornly off. "Now. It's important."

"My daughter is equally busy," Hiashi replied, though his expression showed some surprise at the request. His gaze moved between Gaara and Naruto as if indecisive. "We have many ceremonies to prepare for, after all. If you have a message, you may tell me, and I will give it to her."

"Then I will." Gaara stepped forward, his eyes narrowing coldly. "Tell Hinata I won't let her father control her. We made a promise and I'm going to keep it!"

Hiashi watched him a long moment, expression closed. "Is that so...." Slowly, he stood, and caught both Naruto and Shikamaru tensing in anticipation. "She has new oaths to fill now, boy. Ones that outweigh those made by childish--"

"Save it," Naruto snapped. These last years, he'd gotten sick of dealing with Hyuuga's constant condescension. Now that they were both jounin, he wasn't about to take anymore. "Bring Hinata out so she can tells us all herself."

"As we've heard, Hinata-san is going to be the new head of the Hyuuga," Shikamaru stated, trying to sound reasonable even if his companions were having difficulty. "We're all high ranked shinobi here. We're only asking to speak to her."'

They were saved the trouble of further talk when a door behind Hyuuga slowly slid open. "Father? I thought I heard...." Spotting the three boys, her eyes widened a moment, almost fearfully, before she was able to pull herself back together. "Excuse me.... I didn't mean to...."

"No, come in, daughter," Hiashi said, waving her closer. "These boys claim to have a message for you."

"Hinata…." Gaara gulped, his anger suddenly giving way to anxiety. Ignoring the others he moved around past Hiashi towards her. "Naruto told me...you've been named heir?" He smiled hopefully. "Just like you'd hoped, isn't it? Now we can…."

"Now she can take her rightful place," Hiashi interrupted, glaring down at the boy. Things were starting to come together. "She will lead our family, will take my place someday." His eyes narrowed. "Will carry on our noble line."

Hinata cringed a little, but she turned to Hiashi, rallying her courage. "Father. I understand what an honor this is, but...I can't go through with all of it." He faced her, eyes narrowed, but Hinata quickly continued on. "I can not go through with the betrothal."

Gaara's heart thudded painfully in his chest as he finally reached Hinata, taking her hand. "That's right," he said quietly. "That's right--because it's me, right? We promised."

Hinata's fingers curled tightly around Gaara's, his presence giving her strength. "Right," she affirmed. "Gaara has already proposed."

Hiashi faced them squarely, jaw tight. "And you have accepted this...'proposal'?"

Hinata nodded firmly. "Yes. I have."

The elder man's hand moved faster than she had expected--certainly faster than she could hope to dodge. His knuckles connected with her cheek in a blow that sent her whirling away from Gaara.

Gaara had been so focused on Hinata that he didn't realize what her father was doing until she was torn from his grip. He acted without thinking, whirling on the man with an angry cry. Sand poured from his gourd, driving Hiashi back while creating a barrier between him and Hinata. "How dare you!"

Hiashi retaliated with his own barrier, snarling at the boy. "Those are my words," he snapped. "This family has worked too hard to be soiled by the likes of you, brat!"

Hinata struggled to sit up, but her balance was off with her head spinning. A pair of hands caught her shoulders from behind, holding her upright, and she glanced back. "Naruto-kun...."

"I won't let you control her!" Gaara hollered. A sharp pain struck through his chest, and he lifted a hand, clutching at his clothing. "She loves me--we're going to be married! You can't stop us!"

"She will marry the man chosen for her!" Hiashi snapped back. Behind him was a screen door, and he slid it open on the courtyard in case the sand came after him again. "I won't see you ruin her!"

"You're the ones holding her back!" The fingers of Gaara's other hand twitched, and the sand still floating in the air around them quivered as if the air itself were tense. "She...she loves me. You can't take that from me!"

"Gaara, Hyuuga-sama, please!" Shikamaru tried to interrupt. "There's no need for this!"

"All of you, be silent!" Hiashi gathered his chakra and shot it out at the group from a tight spin, tearing the screens around them in the process.

Naruto had recognized the move, and he was just able to pull both Hinata and Shikamaru behind him, grunting as he took the brunt of the attack for them--Gaara could handle himself. "Don't interfere, Shikamaru," he said to his lover, watching the other pair with strict attention.

"Naruto…." Shikamaru bit his lip to suppress a curse. Damnit, I knew this would happen. Don't you understand? However this ends, it's Gaara that'll be punished….

Gaara held his ground, allowing his sand to block the swirling chakra. He wasn't very good at arguing, but this--a fight--this he could understand. He could make Hiashi understand.

"Your clan...is corrupt," Gaara hissed, drawing his sand together in front of him in a mass. "I won't let you use your own daughter!" The sand shot forward, spinning madly in its wild attack.

Hiashi retreated out into the courtyard, diverting the attack and sending a few daggers at the boy to distract him.

Once it looked like they were moving off, Naruto quickly urged Hinata towards Shikamaru. "Both of you, get out of here," he told them seriously. He looked to his lover. "Get her to Tsunade before the rest of them show up. I'll handle them."

"Shit, Naruto…." With a growl of frustration Shikamaru took Hinata's arm, dragging her up. "Don't let them do anything stupid."

He smiled in reassurance, turning to a worried Hinata and touching her cheek. "I'll take care of him," he promised. "Tell Tsunade what's going on--she'll come up with something."

Nodding tearfully, Hinata allowed Shikamaru to pull her away. "Be careful, Naruto-kun...."

Gaara didn't notice when Shikamaru left, pulling Hinata with him. He was focused entirely on Hiashi. Though he wasn't entirely in his full wits, he was still aware that Hiashi was a master. He wouldn't let his guard down. "When I defeat you," he growled, "you'll have to accept my strength."

"As though a child like you could," he retorted. "Lower-class deserter, you want to challenge the strongest warrior in Konoha?" Hiashi took on his fighting stance, pale eyes almost glowing. "I won't let you touch my daughter, scum."

Gaara's eyes thinned. "It's a little late for that," he replied, without mocking or arrogance. He sent another wave of sand at his opponent--if he could capture even one limb, it would be enough.

The sand was all controlled by chakra, and it didn't take too much for Hiashi to find the connecting points and closing them. Of course, they easily reformed--he'd need a blow to the boy's actual body to do real damage--but for now it was a simple matter to keep the sand from getting a hold of him. Vaguely, he noticed Naruto watching them from the side, as well as many of his family, but for now they could be ignored. "Is this all you have, desert brat?" he challenged, sending another wave of sand to the ground. "You were made a jounin for this?"

Gaara snarled, calling his sand back to him. It was his defense that had always been his strength, but that would do him little good here. The thought that Hiashi could defeat him here simply by not willing to attack made his chest ache, and his hand tightened against it. "I...could tear your clan apart," he growled. His sand began to tremble again, awaiting orders. "To the last man, the last foundation...then nothing will keep Hinata from being my wife!"

"Ha! Except your execution. We are the most powerful tribe in Konoha. Even if you managed to get even one of us, you'd never be able to get near her again!" Hiashi charged, striking his way through the barriers of sand, eyes flashing as he strove to land a hit on the boy.

Gaara stepped back, and once he realized the barriers wouldn't hold Hiashi back drew the sand to his body, covering himself in his sand clone technique. Hiashi managed to strike his shoulder, and though Gaara was flung back he kept his balance, hissing in anger.

They continued on for some time, though Hiashi managed to remain on the offensive. Their expressions and voices grew more strained and angered as they went, and it soon became clear to all watching that such a serious battle was growing to the point of becoming deadly. Naruto watched from the side, fist clenched, knowing he had to let them fight, fearful that...Hiashi just didn't understand what he was facing. If Gaara got desperate....

I'll tear this place down. Gaara took another hit, and felt cracks beginning to spread through his stone-mask exterior. Her own father…I can't let this happen! He yelled in wordless rage, throwing Hiashi back just long enough to call his sand back. It quickly began to twist and harden around him, sealing into a thick shell.

Hiashi rushed in as the barrier formed, hoping to take advantage of Gaara's slowed movements to try and seal a few more chakra points. He could easily feel the building power in the other, but for the most part was almost disappointed--they had been so worried about this boy, years ago. What fools they had been.

Gaara closed the shell around his body, sealing Hiashi off from him. Master or not, Hiashi wouldn't be able to break through it anytime soon. He clasped his hands together, beginning the chant. Naruto…you'll wake me up when it's over, won't you? You understand. He took a deep breath. Hinata….

Hiashi backed off, frowning. "What is this?"

Shit! Naruto leapt across the courtyard, reaching for the cocoon. "Gaara!" Before he could reach him, Hiashi suddenly turned and struck at him. "Knock it off, you stupid geezer!" he snapped. "I have to stop him!"

"You stay out of this, orphan," Hiashi snarled, driving Naruto back. "This is my fight!"

Gaara's transformation didn't take long. He had kept the beast inside him trapped for so long, and so effectively, that as soon as he called on those ancient threads of chakra it responded in full. As the stone shell began to expand and twist, Gaara felt his consciousness quickly ebbing away. Just…kill him, he prayed, letting himself fall. Kill Hyuuga for me.

I will, the creature assured. But not for you, child. Stay asleep.

The shell began to splinter, and soon a long, grotesque limb burst through and dug long furrows in the ground.

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