Chapter 156 The dust has settled

Sasuke blocked them with his phantom wings extended, the black wings curving around him to form a protective barrier.

He swung his other wing violently, and feathers flew out like shurikens, slicing through the desert's shifting defenses.

Some of them hit their targets, and bright red blood began to stain Gaara's heavy sand armor.

Gaara's roar was low and long.

The sound made the hair on Sasuke's arms stand up, and brought back a clear and heavy memory in his mind - Naruto's eyes, blood red, surrounded by black, and his voice was creepily low and full of violent power, unstoppable, like a monster.

Naruto was careful now. He might not be shy about using the power of the Kyuubi anymore, but he had never let it take over his mind like that, let it pour out with the same darkness and fury. Not since that night in the Land of Waves.

Sweat dripped from Sasuke's temple and down his chin. He felt his skin tighten as if it were burning, his breath quickened as if it turned to steam, as he gathered strength to attack again, to draw out more of the dark, mad power within the Jinchūriki.

He never got another chance.

"Wind Escape·Big Breakthrough!"

At first, Sasuke didn't understand what was happening; a deafening roar echoed throughout the arena, shaking the sand around them.

The sand particles vibrated violently, lost their cohesion, began to slide, and fell weakly to the ground.

His expression changed from bestial fury to palpable dismay, the madness fading quickly as if he had been rebuked.

The sand fell to the ground in piles, gradually revealing the outside world, and Sasuke began to control his chakra, dispelling the demonic illusion and the thick illusion around him.

The darkness receded, the sword feathers disintegrating into pure energy, seeping back into his skin, and a small amount of chakra returned to his body.

However, before the sand completely dissipated, revealing his exhausted state completely, Sasuke felt the gazes of his teammates, his sensei, and Ryouta, his hands still raised, clearly the one who had stopped the fight.

This jutsu was not cast by him, nor by teacher Kakashi.

It came from a burly, dark-skinned man with grease paint on his face next to him - the Jonin teacher of the Sand Village.

Genma stood at the edge of the arena, on a platform he had built for himself out of stones.

He picked his teeth with a long steel needle in his mouth and announced, "The game is over! Medical ninja! The winner is, Sandfall Gaara!"

---

Naruto was the first one to run to his side.

Sasuke was still standing firmly, so he just grabbed the idiot's shoulders instead of picking him up like he thought he would.

Naruto's eyes were narrowed in worry, and his muscles tensed beneath his fingertips, but he remained calm so far, less angry at Sasuke's behavior than he expected.

All Sasuke wanted to do was sit back and relax for a while, to get back to the safety of his team and Naruto's side, but with Ryouta's tirade, that was impossible.

When it was over, their teacher led the three of them to a more secluded corner, away from the prying eyes of the stands.

Sakura hovered near Kakashi, while Naruto stood behind and slightly to the left of Sasuke, close enough that he could feel his body heat.

Kakashi squatted down, looking at Sasuke at eye level, and pulled down the forehead protector covering his left eye.

The swirling light of the Sharingan was always startling, and not just because of its dark familiarity - Kakashi's Sharingan...

No, the color was brighter and darker than his brother's or his father's, and it looked strange up close.

It whirled slowly, softly and steadily, and Sasuke swore that sometimes he could see something through the swirling kaleidoscope patterns, something branching and weird.

Sasuke knew that Kakashi's Sharingan was not his own, that it never stopped, even when Kakashi was sleeping; Kakashi covered it to reduce the inevitable chakra consumption and the complicated feelings he would have when he saw it.

Now, the Sharingan was calm, though it had not always been this way.

It spun slowly, absorbing the chakra damage, assessing it gently and patiently.

Sasuke stood there motionless, allowing Kakashi to do whatever he wanted.

When Kakashi pulled his hand back, he nodded, tilting his chin and bringing his hand to cover his eyes.

"Naruto," he said softly, then looked up at Naruto who was standing behind Sasuke, "I think it's time to complete the seal."

Naruto nodded.

"is teacher."

Kakashi turned and looked at Sasuke, who expected to be reprimanded, to be lectured on for what he had done was at best reckless and at worst blatant insubordination.

Whatever Sasuke's motives were, whatever his promises to Naruto, Kakashi had every reason to be angry with him.

Kakashi seemed to realize this as well. His eyes softened a little and the corners of his mouth rose almost imperceptibly.

"Even though you already know his identity, you still keep your sanity." Kakashi said softly, his head tilted slightly, his eyes sharp, "Did you find the answer you wanted to know?"

Sasuke was surprised at Kakashi's insight, and his eyes widened. Then he remembered what Kakashi had said last night when they were talking heart to heart - "No matter what happens tomorrow, I'm proud of you."

Kakashi seemed to be thinking the same thing, for he smiled slightly, a gentle crinkling at the corners of his eyes.

Sasuke hummed and smiled as well. "Yes, sensei."

He could almost hear Naruto's confused voice behind him.

Naruto was like a warm and strong guardian standing behind him, and he was aware of Naruto's presence just like he was aware of the warm morning sunshine, feeling reassured and relaxed.

The feeling from the curse was heavy, and Sasuke was tired of it.

He knew Naruto must have questions to ask, must have sensed what kind of monster he had drawn out of Gaara during their battle.

But he didn't have the energy to answer questions right now, he just wanted to find a place to lie down, let down his guard, or even pass out.

Fortunately, Sakura appeared in time and rescued him.

"I'm going to go get Ryouta what I need." She told Kakashi and turned away, "I'll catch up with you guys later, okay?"

The last words were addressed to their sensei, and Kakashi nodded.

"I'll be back later and bring back whatever news I can." He turned and looked at Naruto first, then Sasuke, "Get some rest, you two."

"Yes, teacher." They answered in unison.