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-Two:


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.

Hiashi was, for a moment, completely dumbfounded. It wasn't until Naruto had jerked him out of the way of a flailing limb that he realized what was happening. "What in the world is--"

"You stupid idiot," Naruto snarled, throwing the confused Hyuuga to the ground. "Get your people out of here now."

"What?" Hiashi pushed himself to his feet, starting towards Naruto. "What the hell are you---"

"I said go!" Naruto interrupted again, glaring. "You can't fight this."

Low laughter echoed out from the remains of hardened sand. Slowly, Shukaku began to peel the fragments away from him. "I remember you," he growled. The beast shook himself free and glared down at Naruto with strange eyes. "The Nine-Tails brat."

Naruto turned away from Hiashi--he couldn't be bothered with the Hyuuga any longer. "That's right!" he shouted at the beast. "You wanna fight again? I beat your ass real good last time, don't forget." Gaara, I'm sorry. I should have stepped in earlier....

"There are no frogs for you here, boy," Shukaku snarled. "I'll make sure of it!" His clawed hand shot forward, aiming to squash the nuisance.

Naruto was too quick, darting away long before the hand came within striking distance. It did, however, take out one of Hyuuga's buildings, and he cursed softly. Landing in a tall tree, he faced the creature. "Wanna know what else?" he yelled. "It was my idea for Gaara to sleep in water! It was because of me you've been trapped all this time, you ugly shithead!"

Shukaku snarled, lumbering after him as quickly as his thick limbs allowed. "You insect! I'll devour your pathetic human body!" His tail whipped back and forth, sending several of Hiashi's men flying and knocking down another tall pillar.

Naruto led the beast out into the forest, the nostalgia making his stomach twist. He knew what he would have to do--he just wasn't looking forward to it. Once they were a safe distance from the Hyuuga--not to mention the village--he faced the creature again. "Come on, slowpoke! I’ll beat you easily, this time!"

Shukaku hissed curses. "All you can do is run," he snarled, toppling whatever trees came in his way. "You pathetic coward!"

"You think so?" Naruto lifted a hand, holding his wrist as he called his chakra into focus. The air vibrated and twisted between his fingers, gradually swirling into a tight ball. "Try this!"

He attacked directly, certain the beast wouldn't expect it from him--it had been a while, after all. He was faster after working with Lee, stronger after training with Gaara...and maybe even smarter after all the time he'd spent with Shikamaru. He wasn't a child anymore.

Shukaku's eyes widened, and he couldn't dodge a shot that concentrated with his bulk. The blast of twisting chakra struck him in the gut, drawing a long scar across his belly. Shukaku hissed in rage. "Damn you...!" His mouth gaped wide, sending a wave of sand at his opponent.

Naruto dove into the trees, letting them take the brunt of the attack and dodging the rest. His stomach was tight as he started to draw more chakra to him. He popped up a little further away. "Gaara!" he shouted. "Gaara! I'm coming to wake you up! You're gonna owe me a big meal for this!"

"Shut up! The boy can't hear you!" Shukaku continued to lumber forward, knocking trees aside in his efforts to catch up with the nimble shinobi.

Hinata couldn't be satisfied with just leaving, and when a serious of explosions came from the Hyuuga compound, it didn't take much for her to convince Shikamaru that they had to go back. Gaara-kun, please.... She ran just ahead of the other, following the path of destruction through the forest.

Seeing the beast, she abruptly froze. "Gaara-kun...."

That's…! Shikamaru took Hinata's arm, though he was pretty sure she wasn't going anywhere near the beast. "Damnit, Naruto!" he hissed under his breath. "I knew it'd come to this…." He shook himself when he realized how still Hinata was beside him. "Hinata...it's all right," he tried to comfort her awkwardly. "Naruto's helped him before. So let's...just stay out of his way."

She shook her head. "We have to do something," she said quietly, clasping her hands. "We can't just...leave that to Naruto." Hinata took a deep breath and looked to Shikamaru. "Besides...that's my husband out there. I have to help him."

Shikamaru pressed his lips together grimly. "Hinata…all right." He sighed, scanning the forest--he was supposed to be a master strategist, after all. "Let's get a little closer."

Hinata nodded, following Shikamaru as they moved closer. Despite her worries, though, it seemed that Naruto was doing all right against the beast--when had he gotten that strong? When they were finally within shouting distance, Hinata broke away to climb to the top of a large tree.

Please, let this work. "Gaara-kun!" Her voice almost sounded tiny, frightened, and she prayed she would be heard. "Gaara-kun, please stop!"

Shukaku paused, his attention momentarily diverted by the new voice. His eyes swiveled toward the distraction. The girl? The one who the brat.... His lips twisted into a sneer. "Girl. You're the one who--"

He stretched his claws, but before he could even start an attack something in his chest clenched, and he fell still. "Agh! Damn you, you pathetic human brats!"

It was what Naruto needed--Gaara wasn't anywhere on the creature's surface, not like he'd been before, and Naruto hadn't been able to feel his chakra. Now he could, flaring faintly within the beast. He pulled off his jacket and took a deep breath. All right, shit-fox. Here we go again.

Naruto felt his skin burn at the beast's chakra, and he turned his focused sight on Shukaku. Distracted as he was, it would be almost too easy.... He shot forward, with a loud shout striking the sand monster's chest and plunging inside him. "Gaara!" Reaching through the gritty, tearing sand, he felt his hand connect with clothing, and he gave the limp body he found a hard shake. "Wake up!" he shouted, though he had to shut his mouth immediately as sand poured in on him from all sides, rubbing his exposed flesh raw.

Shikamaru stared, eyes wide and jaw dropped as Naruto disappeared into the creature. "Naruto!" When Shukaku began to thrash he threw his arm around Hinata's waist, leaping back to a safer spot.

"Damn...you!" Shukaku raged, pawing at his own stomach. "You won't stop me again!"

Gaara stirred. He was still caught up in his suspended sleep, but Hinata's voice, Naruto's sudden grip…. He shuddered, slowly coming back to himself. "Hinata…."

Naruto continued to grope blindly for Gaara, finally able to find his face. The sand was still tearing at him, and it was all he could do to keep it from his eyes. As it was, he had to plug his nose with one hand to keep it out of there. He struck with his one hand at Gaara's face, hoping to wake him up at last.

"Gaara-kun!" Hinata struggled against Shikamaru's arm, watching the scene with horrified eyes. "Gaara-kun!! "

Gaara shuddered again. This time the feeling--Naruto's fist, cracking against his jaw--was too familiar to ignore. Hinata…she's calling me. His eyes snapped open.

Shukaku gave one final cry of rage and frustration, as suddenly his body began to disintegrate. Heaps of sand were dispelled into the air and surrounding woods, until his shape could no longer hold, sending a pair of boys crashing to the ground.

Hinata shook the other free and ran. Gaara-kun-- It took a moment, but she found both boys sprawled on the forest floor, Naruto coughing and looking pale, Gaara just sitting up. She nearly flung herself at the redhead, eyes tearing. "Gaara-kun! Thank god--"

"Hinata--" Gaara caught her, though the force threw him onto his back once more. He held her tightly in relief. "Hinata...I'm sorry, I…."

Shikamaru approached just after Hinata, crouching down next to Naruto. Shit, that looks painful. He pulled off his jacket, slipping it under Naruto's head. "Hey…." He checked him for injuries, but the sand burns seemed to be the worst of it. "Naruto...?"

Naruto coughed the last of the sand out of his mouth, blinking back tears. "Man, that was scary," he muttered. His arms shook a little as he pushed himself up, glancing over towards Gaara and Hinata. "It worked. Good."

Hinata hugged Gaara tightly, face turned into his neck. "Gaara-kun…. You didn't need to go that far. I'm so glad you're okay…."

"I'm sorry…." Gaara cringed as he held her close. I went too far. "I...didn't mean to…."

"Naruto…." Shikamaru clenched his fists against the ground. He didn't know what to say. He was relieved, and angry, and…afraid. Because even now he knew the Hokage was on her way, and soon so would Hyuuga, and a whole handful of other problems. "You're…." Relief won at the moment, spreading a weak smile across his face. "…such a pain in the ass, Naruto."

Naruto chuckled. "Yeah. I know." Before he could get anything out, a sharp pain went through his stomach, and with a strangled cry he curled up on himself. He dropped back to the ground, shuddering and gasping. Damnit--damnit, not again!

"Naruto!" Shikamaru leaned over him with concern. His stomach…? Isn't that what…damnit, what's going on?

Gaara sat up, still clutching Hinata, when he realized something was wrong. "Naruto? What happened?"

"I don't know," Shikamaru admitted. He touched Naruto's face, and was surprised by how hot he suddenly felt. "Damnit. We need Tsunade-sama…."

"No," Naruto managed to croak. His hands clawed unconsciously at his sides, nearly tearing his shirt. He was shaking hard now, breath thick and pained, but he still shook his head. "No...'m fine. I...."

Hinata carefully eased Gaara's hold, allowing them both to move closer. "Naruto-kun? What's wrong?"

Gaara leaned anxiously closer. "I hurt him...?"

"I don't think it's you," Shikamaru assured, trying to keep calm. "But...we need help."

His eyes abruptly widened. It's…it, isn't it? The Nine Tails…. He watched as Naruto continued to writhe on the ground. Damnit! He reached forward suddenly, pulling at Naruto's arms. "Let me see!"

Naruto tried to jerk away, eyes sharp and glaring at Shikamaru. "No! Leggo!" Hinata seemed to understand what the dark-haired boy was trying to do, and Naruto found himself having to struggle even more as she tried to help Shikamaru pin him down. His stomach was burning, fingers clawing at his sides as if to rip the sensation away.

"Naruto, stop it!" Shikamaru hollered at him, trying to lift his shirt up to see. The seal--it's not, is it-- "You need to--"

Gaara leapt at him suddenly, pushing Shikamaru away from his writhing friend. "Don't!" he shouted back, placing himself between the boys. "You're going to make it worse!"

Naruto curled back up as both Shikamaru and Hinata backed away, arms around his sides and face pressed into the dirt. Now that he could turn his concentration inwards, it didn't take too long for him to get the boiling in his stomach under control.

He wasn't fast enough, however. Hiashi came through the break in the trees just as Naruto started to breathe a little more normally, flanked by half a dozen members of his clan. He glared around at the four teens with narrowed eyes, lingering on Gaara the longest. "What is this?"

Gaara pushed to his feet; though a little unsteady, he tugged Hinata quickly to his side. "Hyuuga…." His fists tensed.

"Stop!" Before either could act, another group of shinobi dropped out of the remaining trees--Tsunade was at the head, along with several members of Anbu. She glared between the two groups, clan and teenagers, with a curious but wary eye. Her gaze landed on Naruto. "Uzumaki. Are you injured?"

Hearing that voice was enough to bring the rest of him back under control. Naruto pushed himself slowly into a sitting position, one arm around his midsection, and faced the group. "I'm fine," he replied simply.

"Hokage-sama." Hiashi moved towards the woman, bowing briefly. "How convenient that you've come. I request that you take these boys in for the destruction of many of the Hyuuga's buildings. That brat--" he jabbed a sharp finger towards Gaara. "--attacked me in my own home, then turned into a youma! I was under the impression that the creature was under control!"

Tsunade held up her hand to silence Hiashi's complaints a moment--or at least, she hoped it would. She looked to Gaara. "Gaara of the Sand. He is right--I saw the beast myself. You had promised me never to call on the creature outside of due cause."

Gaara shivered a little. Despite the righteous anger that had spurred him to call on it, he couldn't help but feel a little ashamed now. "I only did it," he said quietly, "to protect my wife from him."

Hinata stood as well, moving bravely to Gaara's side and taking his hand in both of hers. Her cheek was already starting to darken and swell faintly from the blow she had received.

"She is not your wife!" Hiashi snapped angrily. "I won't allow it! She is to be my heir, and--"

"Father, stop!" Hinata's grip tightened. "He was only trying to protect me!"

"Enough!" Tsunade snapped in irritation. Her eyes slipped to Naruto again, but it looked like Shikamaru was edging closer to him, so she left the two boys out of it for now. Instead, she looked to Gaara. "Your wife," she repeated. "Is that true?"

Gaara's expression darkened warily. "I asked her to marry me, and she said yes."

Tsunade frowned, looking to Hinata. "And you?"

She nodded, ignoring the snarled protests of her father. "He asked me," she repeated softly. "I said yes."

"This is unacceptable," Hiashi continued to rant. "I won't have this demon brat become a part of our noble family!"

"Gaara is a jounin of Konoha," Tsunade snapped at him. "If the two of them have made a vow of marriage, your protests mean nothing. Do you understand that, Hyuuga Hiashi?" She abruptly smirked. "You should have trained your daughter better."

Hinata straightened, suddenly hopeful. She glanced up at Gaara briefly before facing the Hokage. "Then...we really can...?"

Naruto coughed quietly, still feeling a bit weak but unable to stop a smirk. Tsunade's...not so bad after all.

"It's not as easy as all that," Tsunade scolded. "Because I'm afraid your 'husband' is still about to be arrested by Anbu." She gestured to her men, who each took a step forward. "I cannot allow even a shinobi as decorated as Gaara of the Sand to unleash youma on this village for petty quarrels. He will be detained, and punished, for this outburst."

Gaara struggled to keep his expression carefully even. Though he knew he should have expected no less for his actions, the thought of being locked up made his body tighten warily.

Hinata closed her eyes a moment, though...there was still some relief in her. She faced her lover as the men approached, searching his expression. "Gaara-kun? You'll be okay...right?"

"I...don't want to go," Gaara said under his breath, and when one of the Anbu stepped closer he drew back, like a threatened animal. But he was too weak from his summoning and battle to fight very hard, and when the Anbu struck he couldn't put up any resistance. They jerked him away from Hinata, forcing him to his knees. A pair of them quickly began to bind his wrists. "Stop--!"

"You will be detained," Tsunade repeated. "Accept your punishment honorably, Gaara, and then I'll attend your marriage ceremony myself."

The Anbu wouldn't let Hinata close, so she turned to Tsunade. "Hokage-sama...." She really will let us.... Hinata offered a deep, sincere bow. "Please, allow me to bring him a few things," she requested. "I want to ensure that...this doesn't happen again."

While she spoke, Naruto managed to get his feet beneath him, moving closer to Gaara--the Anbu knew better than to try and stop him. "Gaara," he said firmly, crouching down to meet the other's eyes. "Just relax, okay? You'll be fine."

Gaara met his friend's gaze, and slowly he was able to calm. He nodded slightly. "All right...Naruto…." When the Anbu began to heft him upright he followed without complaint.

Tsunade nodded to Hinata's request. "You can come with us," she agreed. "The last thing we need is for him to transform inside a jail cell…." She glanced back to Hiashi, looking a little smug. "Do you have anything else to say?"

Hiashi scowled darkly. "I will be making my formal protests," he informed the group on a whole. "This is unreasonable, Hokage-sama. My family is old and powerful, and we will not--"

"Put a cork in it," Naruto interrupted, dropping onto his rear again, glad that Gaara wasn't fighting anymore. "No one cares."

Tsunade smirked a little--she'd been trying to say that for years. "You can make your requests after I've seen to Gaara," she said, signaling again to her shinobi. They began to lead Gaara out of the forest. "Hinata, you can accompany us." She glanced at Naruto and Shikamaru over her shoulder. "And I'll probably have some questions for you two later."

Shikamaru, who had spent the majority of the confrontation on his rear, dumbfounded, nodded. "Yes, Hokage-sama."

Naruto offered a wave to Hinata as she hurried off after the group, looking worried, determined...and relieved. Good for you. Both of you. Hiashi was giving him a venomous glare, but he seemed to think better of openly challenging the younger ninja, and with an angry tone ordered his own group back towards their compound. Leaving him alone...with Shikamaru.

Naruto glanced over his shoulder, sobering at the look on his companion. "Shikamaru...?"

Shikamaru let out a long, low sigh once it seemed that everyone had finally gone. He felt...exhausted, even though he hadn't really done anything. He couldn't lift his eyes to Naruto. "Are you...okay?"

He ducked his head a little. "Yeah." Naruto gave his stomach one last rub, wincing at the raw feel--part of that was probably from the sand, he reasoned. After a moment he pushed to his feet. "Yeah, I'm okay." He moved closer to his partner curiously. "You?"

"It is the Nine Tails, isn't it?" Shikamaru blurted out, his fists tensing against the ground. "It's the seal that's been bothering you."

Naruto tried to cover up his flinch, but even as he thought to hide it he knew it was already too late. He looked away guiltily. "It's no big deal," he said, wrapping an arm protectively around his middle again. "I've just been...really busy lately."

"It is a big deal!" Shikamaru retorted, pushing to his feet. "If there's something wrong with the seal it affects our entire village, Naruto! You can't just pass that off like it's nothing!"

Shikamaru...? He frowned, stepping back. "There's nothing wrong with it," he replied, tone unable to help rising to match Shikamaru's. "I've been careful--nothing's going to happen to Konoha!" His arm tightened.

"But you haven't been!" Shikamaru took a breath, forcing himself to calm--he knew this wasn't doing any good. It might have even been cruel. But his own stomach was twisting now, and he cared about Naruto too much to hold back. "You had to have known what would happen, bringing Gaara here. You know better than most of us that Konoha can't handle fights like these."

"It would have happened anyway!" Naruto shouted back, frustrated that Shikamaru didn't understand. "If I hadn't told him now--if I hadn't brought him here--it would have been too late! Hinata would be married away, and then nothing would have been able to stop him. Better that it happened now, and away from the village, than in the middle of a Hyuuga wedding!" Damnit, Shikamaru--why are you mad at me?

"There were any number of things you could have done," Shikamaru returned, kicking himself now that he hadn't engaged in any of them himself. "If we'd told Hokage-sama in the first place, we might have been able to prevent the fight all together!"

Naruto fingers clench, mouth opening to give some retort...only to realize he had none. The truth was...he hadn't trusted her. He didn't think she would put forth the effort of trying to stop Hyuuga--she never did before. His shoulders drooped. "Well, I didn't," he muttered. "I made a choice, and I took care of it. I stopped him, and now things'll be fine. They'll be together, just like they should be."

"Naruto…damnit, you just don't get it." Shikamaru sat down again; he didn't have it in him for arguments like this. "What a pain," he muttered, rubbing his eyes.

"What's to get?" he replied angrily. "I did what I thought was right. Who the fuck cares if Hyuuga has to make a new building? It's less than he deserves for what he did to Hinata and Neji."

"And what about you?" Shikamaru exploded again, his voice tipping with what might have been fear. "What if you hadn't been able to stop him? If something was wrong with your seal, and you lost control? What could I do then!?"

"I'm not gonna lose control!" Naruto snapped back. His own tone was sharp with frustration. "This thing was put in me--it's not coming out again! I control Nine Tails's power now!" Both arms went around his waist, stepping away, because he could hear the fear in Shikamaru's voice, see it in his expression, and it was making him sick.

Shikamaru's anger broke again, his expression falling. "Naruto…." He shook his head. Damnit, you don't understand! I'm not like you, or Gaara, or even Lee. None of my planning is worth anything if I lose you to a monster!

Stop it. He backed away further, growing more frightened when Shikamaru still wouldn't look at him. Stop looking that way. "You...what do you know, anyway!" he finally couldn't help snapping. "You don't know anything about this! It's my power--why shouldn't I use it? If you all didn't think I could handle it, then why the fuck give it to me in the first place, huh? Or are you all scared?" Naruto bit the inside of his cheek. You don't understand, Shikamaru.

Shikamaru shook his head again. I don't want to fight with him. "It's not you I'm scared of," he said. "It's what could happen. If something did…." I don't think I could do anything.

"Well, nothings gonna happen," he retorted, hating himself with every harsh word. "I've managed this long just fine on my own, okay? I'm not about to be beaten by something as stupid as a little fox!" Shikamaru, why can't you just understand? You said.... Naruto shook his head, arms tight and trembling. You said you weren't scared of me....

"Fine! Just...fine..." Shikamaru took in a shaky breath, and finally stood again. He brushed bits of sand from his clothing. "All right, Naruto. You do...whatever you think is best."

Shikamaru.... "I do that anyway." He hadn't meant to sound so harsh, hated that he was practically driving Shikamaru away, but...what else could he say? Naruto finally turned away and headed back towards the village, not knowing what to say. How...he could make it up to the other.

Shikamaru kept his head down, trying to ignore the sick sensation in his gut. He hadn't meant for this. Maybe Naruto was right to be upset with him, but he couldn't help that he was...afraid. Afraid of what would become of his long time friend, if anything really did....

"This sucks," he concluded, closing his eyes as he leaned against the closest tree. "All of it…."

Naruto glanced back after a few steps, but Shikamaru wasn't following him; he was alone. The thought brought the sick ache back to his stomach, and part of him wanted to go running back--to apologize, or beg, or whatever it would take to make Shikamaru not angry with him anymore. But he was too frightened to see the fear in his lover's face again. He couldn't take that, not from the one person who....

"Damnit." Naruto swiped angrily at his eyes, finally breaking away and tearing off towards his home. "Damnit! "

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