The Cycle of Hatred: A Naruto Insert

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They didn't see the snake coming—or rather, Sakura didn't. Lately, she hadn't seen a lot coming, and this snake was just the latest in a string of blind spots. Four hours in, her drive to get stronger had burned away, much like the motivation that had taken root after Team 7's disaster of a C-rank mission.

Sasuke had gotten stronger. Shino, too. They were honing abilities they were born with. But Sakura? She had none of that. No innate talents to lean on. It didn't excuse her weakness, though since Naruto Uzumaki had made more of the Academy's basics than she had, even when they were kids.

Sure, she wanted to get stronger. But between their mission and the looming Chunin Exams, there wasn't enough time. Just enough to begin to undo a few bad habits and the effects of years' worth of dieting—nothing more.

She was faster now, her stamina better. And yet, four hours in, none of that mattered. Her throat ached with every swallow, and a deep fatigue settled in her bones. Despite her precise chakra control keeping her in the game, she knew—if she didn't rest soon, she'd drag her team down—again.

A faint rustle. Shino's eyes narrowed behind his glasses, sensing it first thanks to his bugs. "Something's coming," he said, voice low.

The ground exploded as a massive snake shot up, its fangs flashing.

"It's coming!" Sasuke yelled, already moving.

Shino was a blur, slipping out of the snake's path the minute it emerged.

Sakura's heart raced. She saw it coming, knew she had to move, but fatigue clung to her limbs like lead. The world slowed with startling clarity; Sakura saw the light gleaming off the snake's brown scales; slitted brown eyes stared back at her, hungry—its maw opened.

"Sakura, now!"

She pushed off the ground, barely avoiding the snake as it hurtled past, barrelling through several trees.

"Sorry," she whispered, breathless, her mind still catching up to the danger.

Of course, they paid her apology no mind—the snake was already returning for its second attack. Its massive body coiled, preparing to strike again, fangs bared and eyes locked onto her. The world narrowed to that moment, instinct kicking in as adrenaline surged.

"Sasuke!" she shouted, but he was already moving, positioning himself between her and the snake.

Shino's eyes were focused, his insects swirling around the creature in a dark cloud. "We need to blind it!"

The snake lunged, and Sasuke sidestepped, drawing a shuriken. "Now, Shino!"

Shino released a wave of bugs that surged toward the snake's eyes, momentarily blinding it.

"Go for its belly!" said Sakura, desperate to contribute despite her fatigue weighing them down.

Sasuke seized the opening, dashing forward. "Cover me!"

Sakura forced herself to focus, channelling chakra down her arm and legs to steady herself, and threw a kunai. She aimed for the snake's tail to keep it off balance. Despite its thrashing due to Shino's bugs obscuring its vision, her kunai struck the end of its body, causing the creature to recoil, hissing in frustration when the bugs followed.

Sasuke aimed low, his posture tight and tense. The snake writhed in an attempt to shake off Shino's swarm, but it was too late. With his offhand, he threw two shuriken that went wide. The bugs parted from the snake's eyes like curtains only to be replaced by the shuriken, blinding it permanently.

Sakura thought their part ended there, but to her horror, Shino's bugs returned, slipping through and around the kunai and entering the snake through its eyes.

It released a furious hiss, its massive body thrashing. Sasuke seized the moment. With the snake disoriented and Shino's bugs inside it, he buried a blade into the creature's underbelly, dragging the kunai up with him. The snake slammed against the forest floor in agony. Leaving the blade just below its mouth, Sasuke flipped back.

Sakura saw flickers of chakra fire in his mouth as he leaned forward, setting the giant snake alight. A wave of heat rolled over her, the sight of the flames dancing across the massive body sending a shiver down her spine. The once vibrant colours of the snake's scales turned to charred black and deep crimson, its life licked away by hungry tongues.

She could see the steam rising, mingling with the smoke, and heard the sizzle of cooked flesh; her stomach churned at the sight. Sakura staggered forward to look at Shino, who stood still, scanning the area for any further threats. His eyes were hidden, but she could see the tension easing from his shoulders.

His insects danced around his sleeve and she couldn't help but think of them as a strange, happy cloud. A dark cloud—one composed totally of flying insects—but she could pretend.

"Nice job," she said, breathless. "For a second, I thought Sasuke had caught your bugs in his jutsu." The insects disappeared up Shino's sleeve, vanishing to places Sakura didn't care or want to know.

"I knew he would end this with the Fireball Jutsu," he replied.

"Right," she said, feeling the fatigue creeping up to her. "We should—"

"Stay alert," Shino interrupted, cutting her off. He stepped closer, scanning the surroundings with keen precision, tense once again. "Something's still here."

Any indignation died at his warning. Sakura removed another kunai from her pouch, painfully aware that if she lost another to the flames, she'd be down to her last.

"Another snake?" Sasuke asked, exhaling smoke.

Sakura's back muscles tensed at the phantom hiss reverberating between her ears and pivoted, looking all around her. After a certain point, the greenery blended into darkness and anyone or anything could be waiting beyond it.

The notion didn't do good things to her already exhausted body…

Sasuke stood a few paces ahead, his eyes narrowed, scanning the treeline. His hand hovered close to his pouch. "What do you see, Shino?" he asked, voice low.

Shino didn't reply immediately, his focus split between his surroundings and the faint tremors his insects detected in the earth. He sent out a few more bugs, their tiny forms vanishing into the shadows. "It's not another snake. Someone's coming."

Before Shino could elaborate, a figure emerged from the smoke—a woman from the Hidden Grass.

Her long, black hair fluttered slightly in the wind, and her face was wrinkled around slitted eyes. The front of her robe was torn to shreds, the same as the sleeves, yet where were the injuries? There was an eerie calmness in his gait as he walked toward them, unbothered by his wounds or the carnage surrounding him.

Sasuke tensed, eyes narrowing. "Who are you?" he demanded, stepping forward, shuriken already in hand.

She paused, head tilted slightly, as if amused. "Such sharp instincts... impressive for mere children."

Sakura's pulse quickened at the way she spoke. There was something off, something wrong. She felt a chill snake up her spine, but her fatigue kept her reactions sluggish. Still, she gritted her teeth and raised her kunai, determined not to be the weak link again.

Shino stepped closer, his bugs returning to him. "You were controlling the snake."

The stranger smiled faintly, though her slitted eyes held no warmth. "I see you've dispatched my pet rather effectively." Her gaze flickered to the charred corpse of the snake, seemingly unconcerned by its loss. Then, she held out an Earth scroll clear for them to see. "No matter—you desire my Earth scroll, no?"

Sasuke's patience wore thin. He brandished a kunai. "If you're looking for a fight, then that's what you'll get."

The grin widened—her skin folding to accommodate the expression. Her jaw unhinged and her tongue wrapped around the scroll, swallowing it whole. Sakura watched its shape pressed against her throat before the woman audibly swallowed, wiping her mouth with a finger.

Sakura met her gaze and nearly regretted it—goosebumps exploded across her arms. Her heart stopped under an invisible, overwhelming weight pressing against her. She swallowed, fighting the urge to hyperventilate and her already-tired knees threatened to buckle underneath her. Next to her Shino was in similar spirits, his insects nowhere to be seen. 

Maybe, like her, he'd realised that the smallest move would lead to death and hid them away. The woman chuckled, aiming three kunai at them. She held her arm high, almost teasingly. Jaw clenched, her kunai's leather grip rubbing against calluses, she tried to raise it, but her exhaustion combined with the oppressive presence, stopped her from doing anything.

She closed her eyes; Sasuke would die first for standing in front of them, swiftly followed by her and Shino—and she didn't want to see it. Sakura heard his grunt and trembled, cracking her eyes open. Blood leaked down his right leg, staining his white shorts red and if she looked up, Sakura was sure she'd see worse.

"Move!" Sasuke's voice forced her gaze up, past the kunai in his thigh, and towards the woman from the Hidden Grass, three kunai still fitted between her raised hand.

Sakura's eyes widened. "S-Sasuke, you…"

"I said move, damn it!" He ripped the kunai out of his thigh and shoved Shino out of the way before tackling her to the ground.

Shino scrambled to his feet, his eyes narrowed as he pushed his glasses back into place, the insects in his body stirring again. His swarm buzzed back to life, reacting to the danger as they swirled protectively around him.

"That was close," he muttered, casting a wary glance at the woman.

Sasuke hurled his kunai in retaliation, the weapon still slick with his blood. Without warning, she struck. Her speed was blinding, vanishing and reappearing in an instant as she lunged. Sasuke barely had time to react, throwing himself in front of her and Shino. She deflected his attack effortlessly, her hand lashing out toward his chest.

He managed to sidestep at the last moment. "Move, you two!" Sasuke shouted, his voice hoarse.

Sakura's muscles screamed in protest, but she forced herself to move, her body reacting on pure instinct as she bolted. Shino did the same, his insects swarming the woman. She tilted her head slightly, seemingly intrigued by Shino's insects as they buzzed around her, their wings humming in agitation.

The momentary distraction was all Sasuke needed. He darted in from her blind spot, kunai in hand, aiming for her throat, but she caught his arm without looking and threw him into a tree with bone-rattling force. Sakura paused mid-step, more out of horror than concern for Sasuke. If the woman was that strong, what had she fought to leave that kind of mark on her? 

Sasuke grunted from beside her. "...I won't die here." Coughing, he rose to his feet and bent over, launching himself towards her. "Shino, Sakura, cover me!"

Sakura watched in horror as Sasuke's fighting grew more and more frantic, his usual precision abandoned in favour of brute force. The Hidden Grass woman was dodging every strike effortlessly, a mocking smile curling at the edges of her lips. Sasuke's Sharingan was active, his eyes sharp and glowing red, but it was like he wasn't thinking anymore.

He was just throwing himself at her, again and again, without any real strategy. Sakura bit her lip, her hands trembling around the kunai she held. Next to her, Shino's insects buzzed, ready to act, but even he seemed hesitant to intervene.

Then, the Hidden Grass woman laughed, a low, sinister sound that made Sakura's blood run cold.

"My, my… you really are a disappointment," she said, her voice dripping with condescension. "I had heard so much about the Uchiha clan, about their power, but look at you. Is this what passes for an elite genin in the Leaf these days?"

Sasuke's eyes widened, his breath quickening. He growled, launching himself at her again with renewed fury, but the woman dodged, sidestepping him with ease.

"Or perhaps…" she continued, her tone taunting, "you're simply upset because you know, deep down, that you'll always be second-best to him."

Sasuke froze mid-strike, his kunai hanging uselessly in the air. "What…?"

Sakura's stomach twisted.

"Yes, him. The one with no family, no clan… and yet, he's already stronger than you. He's surpassed you, Uchiha. I fought him earlier; he's the one who did this to me, in fact." the woman said, gesturing to her destroyed clothes and the faded burns.

Sasuke's knuckles turned white as he gripped his kunai tighter, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Shut up."

"But you know it's true, don't you?" the Hidden Grass woman pressed, her smile widening. "You've seen it, haven't you? He'll continue to grow, and you'll be left behind, legendary eyes or not."

Sasuke's Sharingan spun furiously, his chest heaving with ragged breaths. The anger radiating from him was palpable, and Sakura felt a wave of panic surge through her. This was dangerous—if he made the wrong move, the woman would capitalise on it and kill him.

"Sasuke, don't listen to her!" Sakura shouted, stepping forward despite the fear tightening her throat. "She's trying to mess with your head!"

Sasuke wasn't listening—just not to her. His eyes were locked on the woman, his expression twisted with rage. He lunged at her again, his strikes more violent, more erratic. The Hidden Grass woman easily dodged, her smile growing with every miss. Her voice was poison to his ears, burning him with each word.

Sakura clenched her fist—never before had she felt her powerlessness more than now. Unable to contribute to the fight, all she could do was prevent Sasuke from making a fatal error, but she couldn't even do that.

"Shut up!" Sasuke roared, slashing at her with everything he had, but she wasn't even trying anymore. She simply stepped aside, watching him stumble forward in his blind rage. Shino's bugs streamed ahead, aiding Sasuke's wild attacks by covering his blindspots and swarming the woman, but it didn't seem to help. 

"Sasuke, stop!" Sakura screamed. "She's manipulating you!"

Sasuke froze, his kunai trembling in his hand.

His breaths came in shallow, rapid bursts, and for a moment, Sakura thought he might ignore her again, but then his shoulders dropped, his grip easing ever so slightly. Sasuke's eyes flickered toward Shino, his breathing slowly beginning to steady. His Sharingan, still spinning, locked onto the woman's movements with renewed clarity.

Sakura could tell his anger was still there, but it had cooled down. She exhaled in relief, watching as Sasuke's stance shifted. His kunai lowered, but his eyes never left the woman. He wasn't attacking blindly anymore—he was thinking.

"Shino," Sasuke muttered, his voice low, "keep her busy for me."

The woman tilted her head in amusement and backed away as if to humour him. Shino's insects surged forward, a swarm of black buzzing shapes that enveloped the Hidden Grass woman. Sasuke used the distraction, slipping into her blind spot and launching his kunai towards her.

His Sharingan gleamed, analysing her every move and calculating the perfect moment to strike. Sakura watched the battle shift in his favour; his attacks were precise now, each one aimed with purpose—he was finally fighting like the Sasuke she knew.

The moment her attention faltered to block the kunai, Sasuke flipped backwards, his hands flashing through hand seals faster than Sakura could follow, burying her under a massive fireball.

Shino grunted, making Sakura flinch. "Your bugs," she murmured.

"It couldn't be avoided," he replied sullenly. "The woman was too dangerous to give any leeway. Thankfully, I managed to save more than half of them."

Everything was still.

Then, with a low, chuckle, the Hidden Grass woman stepped back, her hand resting over her face. "That was an impressive attack."

Despite Sasuke's victory, the tension in the air hadn't lifted. If anything, it had become worse. The woman wasn't retreating, and that smile on her face—it was like she had won something, despite Sasuke landing a blow.

The woman tilted her head, almost as if she were studying him. "You've shown such potential today," she murmured, her tone almost affectionate. "But you're still held back by your limitations. Your rage, your teammates… your need to surpass Naruto Uzumaki."

Sasuke flinched, his jaw tightening. His hand clenched around the kunai, knuckles white, but he didn't respond.

The woman's smile widened. "Of course, you crave power to avenge your clan too… and I can give it to you."

She lunged.

Sakura screamed, Shino sent the rest of his swarm on without hesitation, both of them watching in horror. The woman's face was peeled away, revealing unnatural pale skin beneath… a skin mask? She moved faster than she had during their fight, taking Sasuke completely by surprise. Long arms snaked around him, holding him tight before her teeth clamped down on his neck.

The Hidden Grass woman stepped back, her smile growing as she watched Sasuke writhe in pain on the ground. "This is a gift. Use it wisely, Uchiha. It will give you the strength you need to surpass everyone: Naruto Uzumaki… and Itachi Uchiha."

Dark lines spread around every inch of Sasuke's skin like vines while the woman retreated further and further away. "My name is Orochimaru and I believe my gift will bring you to me once again, Sasuke. I look forward to that day."

Sakura's mind reeled and her plan to rush towards Sasuke died in its cradle. Against an S-rank criminal and one part of the Legendary Sannin, they might as well have been babies. She and Shino rushed over to Sasuke the minute she was gone.

"Sasuke! Sasuke, are you okay?" Her hands hovered over him, unsure of what to do, terrified of making things worse. His skin was clammy, his face pale beneath the dark, creeping marks.

He didn't respond, his body still trembling, his eyes shut tight in pain.

"Shino!" she called, her voice barely holding together. "Shino, help me!"

At her side, Shino's insects buzzing in a protective swarm around them. "We need to get him out of here," he said quietly, his voice steady, but there was an underlying tension in it that Sakura had never heard before. "We're sitting ducks for anyone still struggling for a scroll before turning in for the night."

She nodded, her hands shaking as she carefully touched Sasuke's shoulder, trying to steady him. "Sasuke, can you hear me?"

His eyes flickered open, the Sharingan still glowing faintly in his gaze, but there was something different. The black marks hadn't faded, but instead pulsed against his skin, as if alive.

"We need to move," Shino urged, his eyes scanning the forest. "It's a good thing we already have an Earth scroll to match our Heaven one. Tomorrow we'll head straight for the tower. "

Sakura nodded again, though her mind was still spinning. She didn't know how to help Sasuke, didn't know what had just happened to him, but she knew one thing for sure: this thing Orochimaru had left Sasuke was no gift.

"Okay," she propped Sasuke up, half-leaning him against her as he stumbled forwards. "Let's go."

.

— — —

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Karin crouched beneath the roots of a massive tree, clutching the two scrolls to her chest beneath a combat jacket. Her breath came in shallow, uneven bursts, the weight of dread pressing down on her with every passing second. The thick canopy above shrouded the forest in darkness, but her senses were sharp enough to feel something far worse lurking in the gloom.

She warned her teammates. Well, she had tried, but as always, they hadn't listened.

"Just stay here," Shiren had said with a dismissive wave, his sharp eyes never lingering on her for more than a moment. "We don't need you getting in the way."

"Yeah," Kento had sneered, smirking as he adjusted the straps on his gear. "You're only useful when we need a bite, right? So keep quiet and don't screw this up."

Karin had said nothing. What was there to say? She was nothing but their healer, the one they bit into when they needed to replenish their chakra. She wasn't meant for fighting or making decisions. She had learned long ago that it was easier to accept their orders, to let their harsh words slide off her back like water than to argue. Arguing never changed anything.

But something was wrong today. Something dark was hunting them.

She had felt it. The chakra—wild, suffocating, dripping with bloodlust—had brushed against her senses like the edge of a knife. She had warned them.

"I'm telling you, something's out there," she'd whispered, voice thin, barely audible over the rustling leaves.

Shiren had scoffed, eyes hard. "Always so paranoid, Karin. You're imagining things."

"Yeah, stop whining," Kento had muttered, already walking ahead. "You're just scared because you're weak."

And so, she had stayed. Hidden. Like the tool she was, clutching the scrolls they had entrusted to her. Silent.

The air was thick now, heavy with the promise of death. Karin's heart pounded in her chest as she strained to listen, to hear anything beyond the oppressive quiet of the forest. The dark chakra had moved closer, much closer, and it was unlike anything she had ever sensed before—deep, suffocating, and cold. The kind of chakra that promised violence.

Suddenly, a scream cut through the silence. It was Shiren. The sharp cry pierced her as if she could feel the terror coursing through him.

And then… nothing.

Karin's breath hitched. She closed her eyes, reaching out with her chakra-sensing abilities. Shiren's life force—flickering—then gone, extinguished like a flame snuffed out by the wind.

Her hands trembled. Shiren was dead.

The forest remained unnervingly still for a heartbeat, and then, another sound. A loud, wet thud. Kento's chakra flared for a split second, panic and pain surging through the air, before it, too, vanished.

Dead.

They were both dead.

Karin's body froze, her blood running cold. Her teammates—her only protection, the ones who mocked her but kept her alive—were gone. Killed by whatever monster was out there. She could feel it, moving through the trees with terrifying calm, as though nothing could stand in its way, chakra fouler than anything she'd ever encountered.

And now it was looking for her.

She pressed herself deeper into the ground beneath the tree roots, heart pounding so hard she thought it might give her away. She couldn't run. She wasn't fast enough. She wasn't strong enough. There was no fight in her, only fear. All she could do was hide and hope that it wouldn't find her. 

She had always been insignificant. Maybe, just maybe, she could remain invisible. The air shifted. The chakra surged again, so close it made her stomach turn. She swallowed a sob, every muscle in her body locked in place as she held her breath.

Footsteps. Slow, deliberate, crunching through the undergrowth just a few paces away. The chakra pressed closer. Karin's eyes squeezed shut, her body trembling uncontrollably. She dared not move or make a sound. The figure drew closer. She could feel his chakra, cold and malevolent, rough like sand, stalking through the forest.

Her senses screamed at her to run, but her legs were frozen, rooted to the spot in terror. Then, he stepped into view, his outline barely visible through the thick tangle of tree roots that concealed her.

Pale skin. Red hair a shade darker than hers; the colour of blood. Dark circles framed his hollow, lifeless eyes; eyes that held no emotion, only a quiet, unnerving calm. He stopped, his gaze sweeping over the forest floor with cold, methodical precision, and then… his eyes locked onto her hiding place.

Karin's heart stopped.

The sand at his feet began to stir, snaking its way toward her, curling around the roots of the tree with a slow, lazy inevitability. She was going to die. She was going to die here, just like Shiren and Kento.

The boy's lips twisted into a slight, almost bored smile. "You're not the one I'm looking for," he muttered under his breath as if talking to himself.

The sand surged forward, ready to crush her and Karin squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the end. A sudden, fierce wind whipped through the trees, scattering leaves in all directions. Her eyes flew open in shock as a figure in black and brown landed between her and the boy, his stance steady.

He was tall, with blond hair that spiked in every direction, tied at the back into a small ponytail and his familiar blue eyes met hers briefly before turning to face the monster in front of them.

"You've done enough," the blond said, his voice calm, unwavering.

Karin stared, breathless in remembrance. He was the same boy from the first stage who seemed convinced that they were related. What was it he called her again? Two others appeared at his side just as two others appeared at the red-haired boys'. A boy with slightly round cheeks and kind eyes wearing a hooded pelt vest and a girl with gleaming white eyes that glowed.

A grin split the monster's face. "...It's you!"

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki," he replied. "And you?"

"Gaara of the Sand."

Naruto's eyes remained locked on the monster in front of them, unshaken by the threat of the swirling sand. "You're not going to hurt anyone else today, Gaara," he said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument. "How about we pick this up some other time?"

Gaara hummed amusedly. "And miss the chance to fight someone so intriguing?"

Karin let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her muscles, her mind, everything was sluggish, weighed down by the terror that had held her captive. But she reached out, embracing the mass of chakra in front of her—her heart stopped again.

It was faint, easy to miss at first, but sure as the fading daylight around her, Karin felt it. The wailing remains of a chakra more malevolent than Gaara's. Naruto's chakra overlaid it, firmer, brighter, but Karin would not allow herself to hope. As far as she was concerned, she'd escaped one monster and encountered another.

And yet, Naruto Uzumaki stretched out a hand, half-facing Gaara. Karin shifted, revealing the Heaven and Earth Scroll pressed tight against her chest. Slowly, she reached out, her fingers brushing his before she allowed him to help her to her feet. Her legs were shaking so badly that she almost collapsed, but he caught her, steadying her with a reassuring nod before he let go.

Still, Karin could feel it and didn't know where to place his strange kindness amongst the dregs of the most evil chakra she'd ever felt.

He turned, the swirling sigil she saw at the back of each Hidden Leaf shinobi. Over his shoulder, she saw Gaara. His mostly expressionless face stretched and warped, manic glee on his face at the prospect of a three-on-one fight—or perhaps it was because he'd reunited with Naruto again.

Karin felt the chakra thickening, sturdy and hot in the boy to Naruto's right, and electrifyingly precise in the dark-haired girl to his left. She swallowed, aware of Naruto's chakra but intentionally staying above the surface. That alone was difficult enough; he had more chakra than her.

The malevolent chakra was present, still faint, but only compared to Naruto's chakra. That it had increased compared to moments earlier was undeniable. Karin stretched her sense further to Gaara of the Sand and frowned. His chakra was similar; both human and not, and far murkier.

Karin's pulse pounded in her ears as Gaara's sand twisted like a serpent, as hungry for blood as he was. The crazed look in Gaara's eyes made her knees weak, and the oppressive, chakra only grew thicker. Naruto, however, wasn't waiting for death like she was. His eyes narrowed as he watched the sand rise, his muscles tensing.

He wasn't standing still—he was reading the flow, and as soon as Gaara twitched, he moved.

"Choji, get ready!" Naruto shouted.

Gaara's sand lunged, a massive wave rushing to engulf them. But Naruto was already gone, blurring to the side with chakra-enhanced speed. His movement left only a light wind to wash over where he once stood. The sand smashed into the space he'd vacated, spraying dirt and debris into the air. Karin gasped as the wind from Naruto's sudden dash whipped through her hair.

Choji slammed his hands to the ground, already in position. "Earth Release: Mud Wall!" he roared, and a thick wall of earth erupted between them and Gaara. The ground rumbled as the wall rose high, solid and thick, standing firm against the swirling sand.

The sand clashed against it, grinding and cracking the surface, but it held. Karin could see it straining, though, as if Gaara's sand was eating away at the defences like acid.

Naruto wasted no time and climbed atop the broad wall. He formed a series of hand seals and a powerful gust of wind burst from Naruto's palms, sweeping over the battlefield. The wind smashed into Gaara's sand with an explosive force, sending ripples through it and pushing it back just enough to create an opening.

Karin's breath caught as Naruto's chakra signature moved in a blur of speed, cutting through the distance between him and Gaara in seconds. She risked looking around the wall to follow it, feeling his chakra flare as he darted around the scattered tendrils of sand, each one too slow to catch him.

Gaara's eyes flickered in surprise while Naruto weaved in and out of the sand's reach. His chakra surged into his hand, spiralling into a bright blue sphere—Gaara didn't have time to react. Naruto's attack slammed into Gaara's chest, the force of it tearing through him. The impact sent Gaara flying, smashing through the air with a grunt of pain.

Sand exploded in all directions, lifeless, scattering wildly across the ground.

Karin's eyes widened. She hadn't expected Naruto to hit Gaara so hard, so fast.

Gaara staggered as he landed, his face twisting in shock. The sand around him writhed, reforming sluggishly, but it couldn't keep up with Naruto's relentless speed.

Naruto stood firm, breathing heavily but already preparing for another attack. He was giving Gaara no time to recover.

Choji stayed back, the mud wall still holding but barely. "You got this, Naruto!" His large hands were still pressed against the ground. Karin could feel him repairing the wall, but judging by the amount of chakra in his body, he was ready for more defensive moves if necessary.

Gaara's expression shifted, a mix of anger and frustration. His sand was slower now, a thin layer of sand armour cracked where Naruto's chakra attack had struck, but that crazed gleam in his eyes only intensified.

"You're not escaping me!" Gaara growled, his voice on the cusp of euphoria. The sand began to twist again, rising like a storm ready to swallow them all. "I'll kill you!"

Naruto's blue eyes locked onto Gaara's. "We don't have to fight. Are death and slaughter truly the only things that give your life meaning?"

Gaara's chakra stiffened, and even without seeing him, Karin could imagine him doing the same. The inhuman element doubling in intensity—that she could feel it so clearly in Gaara where it previously mingled as one with his own was evidence enough. Naruto soared over the wall, crouching behind them with a cautious look in his eyes. Karin was just about to ask why he'd retreated when two more chakra signatures entered her awareness, giving her a moment's pause.

And then those two signatures drew even closer and landed beside Gaara; a tall blonde girl with a folded fan at her back and a taller boy, wearing a pointed black hood, and dark robes. Both wore Sand Village forehead protectors, leaving Karin no questions as to whose ally they were.

They took one look at the scrolls clutched tight to her chest and broke out into twin smiles.

"Are these the ones, Gaara?" the girl asked.

The murderous red-haired boy panted, his green eyes bloodshot and his face flushed with strange pleasure. "Stay out of my fight, Temari, Kankuro. I'll kill you if you interfere," his voice was low and dangerous, standing in stark contrast to his expression.

His teammates shared an uneasy glance. "Fine by me," said Kankuro with obviously false cheer. "I'm going after that Heaven Scroll. We've had rotten luck since the beginning; the one team we ran into had the same scroll as us."

"Right?" said Temari with a similarly false smile. "Things are finally looking up for us. Gaara's found his target and we have a scroll. You owe me money, Kankuro—we won't have to sleep in the forest after all."

"...Shit. Okay, how about this, ignore the previous bet; you get that scroll before me and I'll pay you," he said.

Their arrival served as a brief cool-down period between Naruto's team and Gaara—and the latter didn't seem to appreciate that one bit. He was one step shy of growling, the sand at his feet writhing in agitation, and when it seemed he would snap, Naruto extended an arm.

"Here," he said, speaking to the new arrivals, "You need a scroll, right? Then, how about this: you and yours take this and we can go our separate ways." He looked at Gaara. "And if you want to take our fight further, wait until the final stage of the exams; it's always a showy tournament. We'll settle it then."

"Why run when I can kill you now?" Gaara asked, very nearly growling the words out.

Naruto folded his arms. "Because you wouldn't be able to do it without killing your teammates—and if you don't care about them, then a fight in these circumstances is hardly exciting, is it? Not with everyone here to interfere. I didn't fight you on my own this time but in the tournament stage… I guarantee that I will."

Temari built up the courage to tap Gaara's shoulder, looking like she regretted doing so when his head snapped back. "...We have our orders too, Gaara… I-I wouldn't want to get in the way of your fight but—w-what about Father's instructions? He'll be here in a month to check in."

"Y-Yeah," said Kankuro, stuttering when Gaara's head turned to him. "Besides, a straight-up fight is a lot more exhilarating than something like this."

The sand at his feet slowly retreated, slipping down into the gourd fastened to his back. He stopped the bottle and closed his eyes, only opening them when a particularly fine but dull grey patch of sand in front of him refused to return to its gourd.

He stared at Naruto, frowning. "I agree to your terms, Naruto Uzumaki—but I will be watching."

"Feel free to," Naruto replied, tossing the scroll at Kankuro, who offered him a slow nod. No one on Naruto's side moved until the dark-haired girl announced that they had left her range.

Karin looked at them, only noticing then that she was one scroll short and cornered. She felt the beginnings of tremors in her knees and clenched the remaining one tight in her hands.

"Sorry about that," said Naruto, "But you'd never be able to pass the second stage anyway. Your teammates are dead."

Her grip slackened. "R-Right… so, w-what now?"

"That depends on you." He smiled, wide and blinding. "But I'd hope you'll come with us."

And despite herself, Karin agreed, purely because no one had ever asked her permission for anything before.