The forest shook as Gaara's massive form loomed, a snarling beast of sand and rage. Naruto's grin was wild, his eyes burning with determination. "You think you're scary? I've got my own monster!" he shouted, summoning hundreds of shadow clones, their movements a chaotic storm. Inside, his distrust fueled him—Gaara was a Jinchuriki, hated like him, but Naruto wouldn't let that stop him. He needed to win, to prove he was stronger, to show the village he wasn't just a demon they could hide from.The Nine-Tails' chakra flared, red and searing, healing his wounds and powering his clones. He felt the fox's presence—those red eyes, that snarling rage—but he pushed back, channeling it into his attack. "I'm in charge!" he growled, his clones swarming Gaara, dodging waves of sand. Sakura and Shikamaru supported from the sidelines, but Naruto barely noticed, his focus razor-sharp. He didn't trust them, not fully, but he needed their help to survive.Gaara's attacks were relentless, his sand crushing clones by the dozens, but Naruto's sheer numbers and the fox's chakra kept him in the fight. He remembered Jiraiya's training, the summoning jutsu, and formed the signs, shouting, "Come on, Gamabunta!" The massive toad appeared, its grumbling voice a shock even to Naruto. "Kid, you're nuts," Gamabunta said, but he fought, clashing with Gaara's beast form.Naruto's clones worked with Gamabunta, landing blows that weakened Gaara's transformation. As the One-Tail's power faded, Naruto saw Gaara's face—pained, broken, like his own. "You're not alone," Naruto said, his voice softer, his grin gone for a moment. He'd won, not just with power but with something else—understanding. Gaara was a Jinchuriki, hated, used, just like him. The thought shook Naruto, but his distrust snapped back. He couldn't afford to feel for Gaara, not when the village's lies still loomed.As Gaara retreated, Naruto collapsed, panting, his grin returning. "Told ya I'm awesome!" he shouted to Sakura and Shikamaru, but his mind was on the Nine-Tails. Its power had saved him, but it was still wild, dangerous. He needed more control, more strength, to face threats like Orochimaru and to force the truth from the Hokage. The village was under attack, and he had to keep fighting—for Konoha, and for himself.
