Naruto's POV (Courtyard of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Naruto frowned as he heard Gaara's cry. 'I was gonna kick your ass anyway… but now I'm gonna enjoy it… older brother, my ass.' His clones and he took off with a boom of air, all the clones shooting off from the ground. The force of which cracked the ground beneath them.
Each clone zoomed through the air at high speeds. Each posed with a chakra-flooded Riptide prepared to unleash powerful strikes once they came close. Gaara peered down at them, smiling feral as they drew close.
"Racing towards death?" Gaara mocked. "Let me meet you halfway! Piercing Sand Avalanche!" The spikes of sand set off booms as they raced toward the clone. Easily dozens of them sailing forward with the single intent to kill Naruto.
The Blondes group did not hesitate as they met the rain of death. Each pointed Riptide forward as if to ward off the sand. The giant spikes of sand mere inches from the first clone suddenly flattened out and dispersed around the clones like they had hit a curved and invisible wall. Naruto smirked when he saw Gaara's shock. "Personal Atmosphere: Directional Surge!"
With a raising of one hand, half of his platform suddenly spread out and filled the sky, blocking all pathways to Gaara and moving to subdue him with the massive amount of sand. It slowly became a gigantic net of sand that began to wrap around the clones. The net of sand was huge, with the gaps between strands closing as smaller strands worked to leave no gaps. "Impressive, but you're caught! Sand Net!"
Naruto felt a shit-eating smile fill his face as his clones and he sliced through the sand with ease. Each turns to face Gaara from above. "Now that was pathetic! Try this out for size! Uzumaki Style: Slicing Wave!" They called in synch as each cloned slash Riptide sent several curved chakra lines converging toward Gaara.
Gaara's smile became so broad it threatened to split his face. With a snap, most of the remaining platform beneath him converged around him, forming a dome. The chakra slices cut into such with an explosion of power. Yet again, Gaara was unharmed as his dome collapsed, much of it melting from the onslaught of chakra. "No, that was pathetic."
"No!" Naruto countered as he and all his clones pointed their Riptides at Gaara, and they called out again. "Personal Atmosphere: Directional Surge!"
Naruto watched as Gaara flinched and sent a boulder-size glob of sand flying so suddenly. With such speed, it missed Naruto but hit three of the clones. Flying through the air above them, its momentum carried it past them. However, it did nothing for Gaara as the sudden and powerful burst of wind sent Gaara careening through his sand. Sending Gaara careening to the ground and smashing into it with a bone-crushing thud. Naruto flinched but lowered himself slowly with the remainder of his clones. Before he gasped, he realized there was no injured Gaara but merely a pile of sand. Suddenly, it shot off, managing to destroy another clone. The others and Naruto himself were utterly caught off guard as the massive pile of sand from earlier slammed into them and indented them from the force.
"A sand clone," Gaara informed the downed Naruto, who crawled from the sand and slowly receded back to Gaara. "I could've ended this there, but I wanted to clarify. I guess I won't crush you yet."
Naruto crawled to his feet, somewhat bruised and dazed from the sand landing on him. "You should've done this while you had the chance. Now, I finally have the chance to finish this. Personal Atmosphere: Directional Surge!"
Gaara's sand wrapped around him to protect him but was unsuccessful. The ground burst open, revealing the remaining six active clones beneath Gaara. The force of the gust shot Gaara through his sand and high into the air. Naruto smiled happily at this before he nodded to his clones. Each aimed their hands at Naruto. "Naruto Sniper!" they called as the real Naruto shot off after Gaara.
Naruto shot forward head first. The wind whipped at his face, and the speed made his spine feel as if it was bending, but he smiled all the same. For a mere instant later, his skull smashed into the ribs of the airborne and stunned Gaara. The redhead cried in pain as the impact carried them further into the sky. "I figured out your weakness!" he taunted as he grabbed Gaara's top.
"You think so!" Gaara countered. "My sand never leaves me!" Naruto glanced back to see a massive amount of sand a short distance away and gaining.
"I do because you can't defend yourself without your sand! And it's much too slow!" Naruto laughed. "Personal Atmosphere: Jetstream!" Suddenly, the two shot off at absurd speeds, racing even higher into the air. The clouds in the sky were now closer, and the air was becoming thinner and colder. The arena looked smaller in the distance, and the sand was much too far to be of help.
X-X
Gaara's POV
Gaara had grown used to life being somewhat predictable. Harsh training pushed by his harsher father. Being shunned as equally as he was feared. Killing those who failed to understand reality. Plotting and biding time until he could engage in his dream. A dull and repetitive life, but one Gaara had grown accustomed to all the same. Yet, as of late, it has been changing.
The change was something Gaara could say in earnest he was a fan of. He intended to restructure society, which would surely lead to a fair bit of it. But it was somewhat startling to experience. The lynch point of such was one Naruto Uzumaki.
Gaara hadn't been entirely convinced at first. Their first meeting had been interesting, and he had been excited about the potential. Yet when Naruto attacked, Gaara couldn't help but worry. Was Naruto not able to meet the standard he had hoped for? Was this the limit to him? To wield the strongest of the beasts was something Gaara felt was the greatest gift one could hope for. Yet Naruto seemed… like them…
His attack had been powerful, but Gaara could tell Naruto had held back, merely attempting to end the fight quickly and without much trouble. Naruto against Gaara had struck without intent, and it had shown as well. Gaara was certain Naruto had thought himself quite capable by that showing; it had been merely luck. Naruto acted like a mere human, contrary to their morals and ideals, which were directly opposed to his. He was happy to serve his masters despite the cruel treatment he received.
Then, it was exposed. Naruto Uzumaki had not even known… not even the people around him had… A jinchuriki who received all the benefits and none of the drawbacks. He, similar to Gaara, had been blessed but had not earned it. Gaara was considerate; he had forgiven such a thing. Ignorance was not a crime, after all, merely a bit of an irritation. Gaara would slay him if he was a human, but his brethren could be forgiven. It had been straightforward to Gaara then. He would test Naruto to ensure he was worthy and valuable for his vision. If he failed, then Naruto would have to pay dearly. But if he passed, Gaara would spare him; the bold ones always snapped with just a little pressure. It would be okay; Gaara knew Naruto would survive it. He had, after all.
Suddenly, Gaara had purpose again, and his dream didn't seem so distant. Gaara's father couldn't have known his order would serve his eventual fall. All Gaara had to do was win Naruto over, preferably Fuu, as well. However, Naruto was the main target, and he had the most potential. It would prove easy, indeed!
But once again, Naruto had changed things; he was worthy! Perhaps even more so than Gaara had ever hoped. Gaara could not remember the last time he felt truly helpless. Only his father could achieve such, which was a rare occurrence. Gaara had avoided it for years.
Yet now, as Naruto flew headfirst into his midsection, the feeling returned. A rare sensation filled Gaara's nerves as the air was forcefully from his lungs. White hot pain flowed throughout as he gasped aimlessly. But Gaara was not afraid! He could feel his sand racing towards them. Soon, it would defend as reliably as ever, and he would congratulate Naruto on his decent attempt. Yet again, that changed all with the utterance of the blonde.
"Personal Atmosphere: Jetstream!"
Gaara felt the pain increase as his vision blurred, and he could feel them zip higher into the sky. His sand grew increasingly distant, unable to catch up to them. Gaara was truly def-
Naruto interrupted his thoughts. "I'll admit it, Sasuke's fight inspired this idea. But I think you'll find I have my original twist to it," He said with a smile as if it were a joke. This was a fight of life and death. How dare h-
Gaara did not see the strike that hit him in the face. He barely felt it, merely heard ringing from the impact and nauseousness. Gaara was actually being overwhelmed! Yes, this fight was what he needed! His body flew even higher, but Gaara felt a pull draw him close before it could escape the range of Naruto's reach. Another powerful blow rocked his ribs, and he heard a crack, not of bone but of his sand armor. Was Naruto managing to break such with his bare hands? Gaara had chosen well.
"Had enough?!" Naruto asked while Gaara flew back.
Gaara now understood why Naruto had held back in the beginning. He had assumed arrogance or ignorance, but now he saw the truth. Gaara underestimated Naruto and hadn't thought he would be such a plotter. His early, paltry, yet amusing attempts had been nothing more than him testing Gaara, seeing how his sand reacted, how strong it was, and its speed—all just to ensure Gaara would be defeated. It was thrilling. Was there a chance he wouldn't win today?
"No." Gaara spat with a smile. "GIVE ME MORE UZUMAKI!"
"Have it your way! Time for some brotherly tough love!" Naruto cried as, with a gesture, he willed Gaara back to him. Gaara smiled all the same. Let Uzumaki try his damndest to breach his defenses. He could feel his sand draw closer. He best takes this shot…
Gaara felt so alive…