Gaara's / Naruto's POV (Courtyard of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
"Collaboration Jutsu: Personal Atmosphere Level Two!"
"Collaboration Jutsu: Personal Atmosphere Level Two!"
Gaara couldn't help the wide smile that broke out as he saw Naruto reveal his summon and unleash his chakra. The blonde's wind technique had been troublesome before, but he would be even more formidable now.
Was it possible Naruto Uzumaki was not only worthy but even more? Gaara was nothing short of ecstatic to find out. Besides, now he could start to cut loose. With a flex of his chakra, gold sand whirled through the air around him, taking moments to form into large golden spikes. Unlike before, however, Gaara allowed his sand to move in tandem. Two growing spires spiraled through the air. It forms into two large Dust Devil-looking funnels.
"Golden Dust Manipulation: Headstone Golden Volley, Sand Devils." Gaara said with a smirk as he glared at Naruto and his newest ally, the small raccoon.
"So this redheaded human is the one you told me of? Gaara was it?" Muri asked as he held up his palms, aiding Naruto in maintaining the technique. Focused even as he began chatting with his summoner.
"It's the one; remember how we do this technique, right, Muri?" Naruto asks as he starts to lightly stretch and test out his new technique and the power it seems to fill him with.
"Of course, the Okami clan takes our duty seriously, ya know? There's little time to waste anyway, Naruto. You need to remember the limit." Muri answered dutifully.
"Don't need the mockery," Gaara interrupted. "You forget who you face, the arrogance. I will humble you, brother!" With a chop of his hand, Gaara commanded the Sand Devils to spin even faster, the trunk-sized golden spikes cycling them quicker and faster. Gaara smirked as he released his volley.
Gaara was surprised, however, as Naruto merely walked to meet the speeding projectiles. For one, he could tell the blonde was tracking their movements easily, whereas, as before, he had struggled. To walk towards it so confidently suggested a defense, a counter, but it would matter little. This attack would make Golden Weasel Hunt look tame. The piercing golden attacks would not be deflected or blasted away. They could not be tanked as Naruto had the orbs.
Naruto seemed to disagree with Gaara, however. The wind seemed to move independently as the attacks drew close, similar to Gaara's defenses. Somehow, a wall was seemingly formed that each spike collided with and was destroyed. Somehow, the mere wind repelled one of his stronger attacks. No matter! Gaara had planned for him to survive anyway.
"Let's see you deal with this foolish brother!" Gaara mocked as the living storm that was Naruto Uzumaki continued his march. Gaara whipped the Sand Devils towards Naruto, who stopped his march and raised both hands. Similarly to the spikes, the sand twisters met the invisible wall. Unlike them, however, it was not repelled or destroyed; instead, it attempted to grind through the wall. All the while whipping small bits of zone and debris into it. Gaara smiled at the standstill and, with a hand sign, willed the golden dust into it. There was a shrill sound, sand and gold ground against condensed wind and chakra. "So much power wasted on y-" Gaara was shocked into silence as Naruto slowly sheathed Riptide and crossed his arms. He seemed to grip the air as even more chakra filled the Courtyard. Naruto ripped his hands back to their original sides with a silent grunt as if tearing something in two. Gaara felt confused until the two Sand Devils suddenly split in two. The sand and gold flowed back to Gaara as Naruto completely negated them.
"It's not wise to use a twister against a powerful wind nature user," Naruto mocked with a smile as he crouched, prepared to leap.
"You are nothing to me!" Gaara roared. Never before had anyone dared to not fear him or crumble before him. His joy was slowly being replaced with Rage.
"Prove it," Naruto answered simply as they suddenly released a hand chop. Gaara rose a brow before suddenly flying back, his face aching as if there had been an impact. Had he been at Another painful blow hit his legs, making Gaara's head point to the ground and his legs the sky? Overcoming the sudden pain, Gaara buried himself in a massive amount of sand. Gold forms into several smaller spikes before shooting off to kill Uzumaki. "Gold Seeking Slivers, Living Sand Pyramid!"
Naruto knew not what he was doing… Gaara would have to try to remember his plan…
Naruto's POV
Naruto frowned as a massive form of sand completely buried Gaara, which formed a giant pyramid that filled half the field.
"Get your head in the game, lazy bastard!" Muri complained. He handled the defensive part of the Personal Atmosphere and constantly repelled the hastily formed golden blades that badgered Naruto as he observed the large, smooth pyramid of sand. "Hey! Seriously, this isn't nearly as easy as it looks!"
"Sorry, Muri." Naruto apologized, rubbing his head. "I hadn't expected him to retreat like that, especially considering my track record of punching through his defenses, ya know?" Suddenly, the pyramid writhed as dozens of massive tentacles of sand formed and surged towards them. Their massive size and number cast a shadow over both Muri and Naruto. "I'll help out here. Are you ready for a boost?"
Naruto did not wait for an answer as he drew Riptide, which shined with chakra before a tornado seemed to form around the blade. All the while, Muri worked tirelessly to deflect the constant barrage of gold from all angles. Naruto then began slashing slowly and with power. Each slash unleashed a massive howling line of wind, slicing through each tentacle of sand easily. Naruto marched forward, calling out the technique and preparing the final blow.
"Personal Atmosphere: Slicing Wind Currents!" Naruto called as he finished with a two-handed slash. This ended with a massive, thick line of twirling wind that slashed through each tentacle and collided with the pyramid. There was an enormous screech and boom as the two powerful techniques matched. So much sand was thrown up, and it momentarily blocked the sight of all present. An instant later, Naruto's wind cleared reve, leaving Naruto holding another iron cup, and he flew towards the pyramid. Now revealed there was a massive groove in it. Nearly reaching the center where Gaara was sure to be hiding. Naruto aimed for the groove even as it slowly sealed itself. Once again, the familiar sound of wind and iron slowly shattering filled the arena, and Naruto trusted his uninjured arm to use that powerful and destructive technique.
"Wind Style: Implosive Rejection!" Naruto called as the cup was once again overwhelmed by the captured wind and shattered, unleashing the storm upon the pyramid. Luckily, due to the weakened structure due to his previous attack, it drills through with ease. Gaara's screams could be heard as the wind tore down the pyramid from within. The redhead eventually shot out of the remnants of the pyramid, covered in cuts, bruises, and blood as he smashed into the ground. The force embedded him slightly into it.
Naruto, focused and unwilling to take chances, zoomed toward where Gaara landed. Feeling Muri enhancing his speed with wind making him even faster than before. He appears before Gaara with a raised foot prepared for a kick. Gaara had just managed to crawl out of the hole Naruto had left him. A small amount of sand and gold attempted to shield him. But Naruto empowered his blows with chakra and wind manipulation, and Naruto quickly smashed through them. Hearing a painful crack as his foot impacted Gaara's face. Gaara went flying up into the air. More sand and gold desperately attempting to catch up to aid him. Naruto watched as it did before he lowered himself to jump. He did so and, with Muri's aid and his own physical strength, shot off like a cannon. His speed was so great he surpassed the sand and gold with ease. Smashing his fist into Gaara's ribs and watched as the redhead spat out spit and blood in equal measure. Naruto knows better than to lower the pressure now. Gripped his arms around the waist of Gaara.
"I always wanted to pull this off in a fight," Naruto said cheekily as Personal Atmosphere forced him and Gaara to spin through the air as they fell back to the Courtyard. The spin increased the force of the hold, making the blonde smile as he prepared to finally break through to Gaara. "Here comes the tough love, brother! Naruto Powerbomb!"
"What in the universe is a powerbomb!" Muri asked as Gaara screamed out.
"Watch and learn!" Naruto yelled as the two impacted into the ground.
Naruto was on top, using the spin and fall to land a massive slam. Driving Gaara's upper body into the ground. The impact of such shook the entire arena. Even Naruto, from his relatively safe position up top, felt each of his bones vibrate with pain from the effects. Naruto had never done this to someone before; it was mostly just a daydream he often had. Naruto had never met anyone he was sure could survive, and he seemed cruel. Against Gaara, however, it would be the perfect nonlethal finisher.
Naruto eyed Gaara suspiciously. The redhead's eyes were seemingly empty. His skin was covered in bruises and cuts, and unlike before, it didn't seem to be healing. Even his sand seemed still.
"That's a powerbomb! What a barbaric technique! Never pull that again, you bastard!" Muri commented exasperatedly. "Couldn't you have just slashed or punched him?"
"Oh, come on, it wouldn't have worked!" Naruto complained. "Besides, tell me that didn't look badass!"
"I suppose it was rather novel." Muri said with a shake of his head. "And he is breathing, well done su-"
"To be fair, that didn't work either…" Gaara interrupted the two. Gaara's stance was weak and loose, his eyes bleary and unfocused. Yet his smile was sharp and broad, as if he had no reason to be fearful. "Naruto Uzumaki… you're more than I ever could've hoped. I was wrong about you… But before accepting such a request, I must insist on one more battle. A more honest one…"
"I'm pretty sure this is over. You look half dead, ya know?" Naruto said cautiously. He was confident the fight was over but knew better than to lower his guard.
"Like I said, let's begin in earnest," Gaara continued. "Let's fight as we truly are; consider it a favor from you, brother." Suddenly, chakra exploded from Gaara in an insane amount, the pure force of which cracked the ground and threw dust and small stones.
Naruto flinched but faced Gaara down grimly, determined to end this here.
Gaara started to laugh as his incredibly killing intent grew even more robust. Naruto could see those of weaker constitution in the crowd faint from it alone. Before, it felt as if Gaara may kill anyone who bothered him and enjoy it. Now, it felt like he would kill anyone and would be thrilled.
"IT'S TIME UZUMAKI!" Gaara bellowed. "TIME TO SHOW THEM OUR GLORY AND BATTLE WITH THE GIFTS WE WERE BLESSED WITH!"
"No way, brother." Naruto replied with ease. "I intend to beat you with my own strength."
"You won't have a choice, my dear brother… it begins now!" Gaara's laugh turned pained as a startling transformation began to take place. His skin became coarse and dry looking like patches of sand in constant motions. Lines of blue shined and hummed with pure chakra. The new skin seemed to even grow over his face and clothes. The whites of his eyes darkened as his irises became golden, and his daze became even more crazed.
"SHUKAKU NOW THE TIME HAS COME!" Gaara cried, his voice shrill and wild. The calm facade he had maintained was discarded in his elevated state. With a powerful pulse of chakra, a pale yellow barrier wrapped itself around the Courtyard, seemingly cutting off everyone, even Kakashi, who had been standing outside of it to avoid debris. "THE FINAL TEST BEGINS NOW, BROTHER!"