"Gaara, be good," Menma said gently, patting Gaara's head.
The negotiations between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind had lasted for two whole months. The Fire Country was determined to extract as much compensation as possible, while the Wind Country wanted to minimize its losses.
Finally, after weeks of tense discussions, an agreement was reached. Menma didn't know the exact details, but he knew he had gotten something out of it — the Reanimation Jutsu.
Hehe, he smirked to himself, now I just need Hidan…
Somewhere far away, Hidan sneezed loudly. "Damn it! Who the hell's talking about me?" he muttered irritably.
Gaara nodded, eyes filled with reluctance.
Today was the day he would leave Konoha, and he didn't want to go.
These past two months had been the happiest of his life — days spent surrounded by friends, eating, training, laughing, and simply living.
Most importantly, Gaara now knew his mother had always loved him — even in death, she had turned into sand to protect him.
"Naruto, take care," Gaara said softly.
Naruto grabbed him in a tight hug. "You too, Gaara! And don't forget me, alright?"
Hearing about Gaara's childhood — so much like his own — Naruto had been extra kind to him over the past two months, always dragging him out to play, eat ramen, and make up for the loneliness both of them had once endured.
Sasuke, standing nearby, clenched his fists. He looked like he wanted to hit something.
"Thank you, Naruto," Gaara said, smiling faintly.
Memories flooded his mind — playing with Naruto, the warmth of home-cooked meals made by Menma, the comfort of a real family. For the first time, he understood what home felt like.
When he heard Naruto's and Menma's pasts, he couldn't help but think, We're the same. We really are.
A sense of kinship so deep that tears welled up in his eyes.
Suddenly, someone pulled them apart.
"Huh?" Naruto and Gaara both blinked — it was Sasuke.
"What are you doing, Sasuke?" Naruto asked.
"I want a hug too," Sasuke said flatly, and immediately embraced Gaara.
Gaara froze for a moment — then slowly returned the hug.
"Take care, Gaara," Sasuke said as he stepped back. You'd better not come back to Konoha, he thought quietly.
"Thank you, Sasuke." Gaara smiled. Though Sasuke often seemed irritated with him, Gaara knew that beneath that coldness was someone who understood. Next to Naruto, Sasuke had become his most trusted companion — and frequent sparring partner.
One by one, Shikamaru, Kiba, and the others came forward to hug Gaara goodbye.
Menma watched his "younger brothers" saying farewell, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. Not bad, he thought.
Temari stood nearby, smiling as well. Seeing her little brother surrounded by friends filled her heart with warmth.
She remembered Gaara asking her the night before, "Temari… can't I stay here?"
She'd hesitated. Deep down, she wanted to say yes — as long as Gaara was happy. But they had to go home. Gaara was next in line for the Kazekage's seat.
Why Gaara?
Because among his generation in the Sand Village, there were few strong ninjas left — and even fewer capable leaders. Gaara was the most powerful of them all.
Temari and Kankuro were skilled, but Gaara's strength, status, and potential made him the only choice.
Kankuro was brilliant with puppets, but too impulsive and not suited for leadership.
And the Sand Village itself was struggling — poor, isolated, and surrounded by desert. They relied on selling sand, tools, and weapons just to survive. With so few resources, the value of their One-Tailed Jinchuriki skyrocketed.
As the son of the Fourth Kazekage, Gaara's succession was inevitable.
"Gaara, it's time to go," Temari said softly.
Gaara looked around one last time, eyes misty. "Goodbye, everyone!"
Menma raised a hand. "Hey, Gaara — don't forget our deal! Once you become Kazekage, open a Nine-Tails Café for me in Sunagakure!"
He grinned. The third branch of my Nine-Tails franchise — and Sand Village gets 50% of the profits!
Why? Development, of course.
Menma knew the real reason behind the Sand's invasion of Konoha — desperation. Their funding had been cut, their economy was dying, and they had no options left but to fight.
By investing in their economy, Menma wanted to help Sand rise again — to make it stable, prosperous, and peaceful.
If he could, he'd even build a railway connecting the villages. "If trade moves, people thrive," he'd said once. "And when people thrive, no one wants war."
Look at Konoha — they never started wars; they were always the ones attacked.
That's the advantage of being strong — others fear to strike first.
But Menma often thought: If only Hashirama and Tobirama had unified the world when they had the chance…
Back when the Senju and Uchiha clans founded Konoha, they were unmatched. With Hashirama and Madara, no one could have resisted. If they'd pressed forward, maybe the world could have been united, and there'd be no need for endless wars.
Instead, they chose compromise.
Hashirama's naivety was clear at the first Five Kage Summit — he sold the Tailed Beasts for money to "maintain balance."
He gave Sand the One-Tail, Stone the Four- and Five-Tails, Cloud the Two- and Eight-Tails, Mist the Three- and Six-Tails, and Waterfall the Seven-Tails.
It brought temporary peace — but only while Hashirama lived. When he died, all restraint vanished, and the First Great Ninja War erupted.
If it were Menma, he'd have chosen differently — unify the nations by strength, reform them, and create a world where no one needed to fight.
"Got it, Boss," Gaara said, smiling faintly. Menma's strange philosophies had completely brainwashed him — in a good way.
Then Gaara and his siblings turned to leave, heading home to Sunagakure.
Jiraiya, who had been watching nearby, asked, "Menma, what kind of agreement did you make with Gaara? Just opening a Nine-Tails shop?"
Menma replied casually, "That's all. Once he becomes Kazekage, he'll help me expand the brand in the Sand Village."
Jiraiya frowned. "...Is it really that simple?"
Menma stretched lazily, grinning. The Chunin Exams were finally over — but something new was about to begin.
After all… someone's wedding is coming up.
(End of Chapter)
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