Mirrored lives and pain

After Naruto's and Temaris escape from a less then happy Tenten, Temari began to lead Naruto through the village as she spoke. "So, Naruto-kun... I guess I need to explain a few things to get to why I want... no... I need your help.", Temari said as Naruto nodded. "Well, it has to do with my youngest brother, Gaara.", she started, making Naruto look at her. "The weird redhead with the sand?", Naruto asked, getting her to nod in return.

"You see... Gaara is like you in more then one way.", she stated, knowing what she was doing could be considered treason since she was revealing a secret of her village to another. But if Naruto could help her to get her brother back, then she would do so at any cost. "Well, it all started when my brother was born...", Temari began as she began her tale of her brothers life.

Naruto was shocked to find out that Gaara was like him. The fact that he had a monstrous creature in him as well was something he couldn't believe, he wasn't the only one of his kind! What was more shocking to Naruto was how similar they had been treated growing up, but how shockingly different they had turned out to be. Whereas Naruto had slowly gained some acceptance over time, Gaara had been pushed to the edge and broke.

Now it seemed Gaara held no love for anyone and what was more, he had no problems using his sand ability to take peoples lives. Naruto said not a word but merely listened to Temaris story of how the Sand Spirit Shukaku was sealed in him not moments after his birth and how his own uncle had accepted an order to try to get rid of him after so many other attempts had also failed.

Naruto had to swallow a lump in his throat after hearing the tale. He was suddenly feeling very happy of his life. Not only did he have many loving girlfriends and people he could call his family even if they weren't related by blood, but he had friends who would be by his side and cared for him enough to die protecting him. Gaara had been alone his whole life despite what Temari had tried to do to help him in the past.

Naruto tried to imagine being like Gaara for the briefest second, but quickly stopped it after all the horrible thoughts of what he COULD have been like as to opposed to what he was and... it scared him a bit.

"So... um, Temari-chan.", Naruto started after clearing his throat a bit. "What... do you need me to do... and why did you tell me all this?", Naruto asked as she made him look at her to see how serious she was. She seemed almost **** for his help. "Naruto-kun, you've seen how Gaara is, how easily he fights without fear or morals.", Temari said, making him nod again.

"I-I need you to help me save him.", Temari said, unsure as if to believe he would. "I need you to help me save my brother from himself!", Temari asked as she continued. "He knows about you too, Naruto-kun. I didn't tell him, he just somehow knew.", Temari said, making Narutos eyes widen. "He wants to fight you, Naruto-kun, and I think if you show him how wrong he is, if you beat him then... maybe I can have my brother back.", Temari whispered on the end.

Naruto felt a little uneasy. Fighting Gaara? It seemed insane to do that after the way he took down Lee and Naruto wasn't sure if he could even fight the weird leaf ninja and win, let alone the one who beat him.

But seeing Temari looking at him with those big eyes of her, which Naruto could swear all girls had inbedded deep in themselves for the sole purpose of either conciously or unconconciously getting their way, he felt the need to help her. Naruto stared into Temaris eyes as she held onto his coat tightly. She was biting her lip, obviously hanging onto whatever his next words were going to be.

Naruto mulled the thought over a bit as he nodded to himself. "Tell Gaara... if he promises not to hurt anyone in his fights, I will not lose 'till I face him in the finals!", Naruto said slowly as he knew there was no turning back from this point on and he wanted to make sure his friends were at least a little bit safer in these exams if he had to fight someone as frightening as Gaara was.

"Naruto-kun... you mean...", Temari asked quietly, not believing his words as he nodded his head. "I know it seems unbeliveable, but yeah, I might as well. I mean, I'm not gonna lose any fight in the exam, so I will probably end up fighting him anyway.", Naruto said, rubbing is head before smirking at the blond girl before him.

"Besides, I can't just not help you, Temari-chan. I promise I'll do everything I can to help your brother out, even if I have to kick his ass to do it.", Naruto grinned and got a very unexpected response from Temari. She grabbed his jackets edges before yanking him down into a hard kiss.

Naruto was beyond shocked at this point. He had just promised to beat her brother in a fight and now Temari was pressing her lips against his in a heated kiss,. Was that her tongue he just felt? Temari was giving a slight moan as she held onto Naruto tightly, her shut eyes missing his expression as he eventually gave into the kiss and his hands wrapped around her a bit.

Temari shivered a bit when their tongues met for the briefest moment before she suddenly broke the kiss, a slight blush on her face. "One step at a time, Naruto.", Temari whispered, trying to sound even, but her tone told Naruto she had enjoyed it a lot. Grinning, Naruto asked, "So, if I get a kiss for saying I will fight your brother, what happens if I beat him?".

Temari had the good sense to blush before she lightly knocked him on the outside of his head with her palm and muttered "You baka!", though her lack of **** behind it told Naruto she wasn't being too seious. That and she kissed him again. Temari finally released Naruto afterwards and stepped back from him. "Naruto-kun, thank you.", Temari grinned sincerely. "See you tomorrow.", she said before disappearing in a gust of wind.

Naruto sighed to himself, knowing he had picked a major fight with a dangerous opponent, and although he didn't doubt Shikamaru would be happy to Naruto had arranged a bit of space for him to relax in, he wondered if he could keep his promise to Temari.

No, there was no doubt. He WOULD keep his promise one way or another. Nodding to himself, Naruto saw the sun setting as he headed home, his mind already trying to make a gameplan for each opponent he would soon face.