Edited 20/01/2017
Ashley's POV
My heart thuds in my chest as I sprint down the hallway, Naruto and Shikamaru not too far behind me. I know they're confused as to why I suddenly ran away like that, but I don't think there's time to explain.
Skidding to a halt in front of a closed door, I reach out and grab hold of the handle, before abruptly shoving it to the side. It slides to my left and hits the doorstop with a loud crack, causing the person inside the room to pause.
"What do you think you're doing?" I ask in a low, harsh voice, Shikamaru and Naruto quickly appearing behind me.
They both look into the room over my shoulders, with an audible intake of breath coming from my blonde teammate. I'm sure neither of the boys had expected to see him here.
Gaara, poised beside the bed of a sleeping Rock Lee, slightly turns his head to look at us from the corner of his eye. Sand slowly seeps out of the large gourd on his back, slithering across the floor and rising up to surround Lee's unconscious form.
Before anyone else can do or say anything, Shikamaru swiftly drops to one knee and places his hands together in a hand sign. Looking down, I see a shadow suddenly stretch out along the ground beside me, darting across the room and attaching itself to Gaara's own shadow.
Not bad thinking, for someone who's usually so lazy and slow to action. Shikamaru's Shadow Possession Jutsu renders the victim incapable of moving, and if they do move, it is only because they are forced to mimic Shikamaru's movements.
"Hey!" Naruto suddenly shouts, right in my ear as he forcibly shoves me out of the way. "Leave him alone!"
I fall to the floor as the blonde rushes inside, a furious look on his face and one arm pulled back. Unable to move, Gaara is slammed in the cheek with an angry punch from Naruto, only for a shout of pain to escape Shikamaru's mouth.
"Hey!" the Nara sputters, rubbing his cheek with one hand, which causes an unhappy Gaara to do the same. "Be careful Naruto! If you beat him up while I've got him in my Shadow Possession Jutsu, you'll hurt me as well!"
"Oh, sorry Shikamaru" Naruto hurriedly apologises, before swiftly turning back to glare at Gaara. "I'm sorry for knocking you over too Ashley, but just what's this guy think he's doing?!"
I frown as I climb back to my feet and dust myself off, though my eyes don't leave Gaara's face. It was stupid of Naruto to push me over and ordinarily I'd get my revenge, but right now, that creepy Sand Ninja seems to be the bigger issue. Why the hell is he in Lee's room?!
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Naruto shouts, jabbing a finger in Gaara's face. "What were you gonna do to him?!"
"........I was going to kill him" the pale boy responds quietly, though there is a menacing edge to his tone. I don't like it, at all.....
"Wh-What?" Shikamaru asks, shifting uncomfortably. "Why?"
"Yeah, what's your problem?" Naruto demands to know, his brows furrowing further. "You already beat Bushy Brow at the Chunin Exams! Are you carrying a grudge against him or something?!"
"I have no grudge" Gaara answers, sounding eerily calm. "It's not that complicated. I merely just want to kill him."
"Merely?" I repeat incredulously. "You don't even have a reason for wanting to kill him?"
YOU ARE READING
The Wolf Inside - A Naruto Fanfic - Watty Award Winner 2013
Fanfiction****Winner of the Most Popular Naruto Fanfic Watty Award 2013/14**** **Currently being rewritten as the original is old and awful in this author's opinion** A coming of age story about a young Ninja, confused and hurt by the instances in her past, s...