Gaara gazed out across the moonlit desert, tracing the lingering threads of chakra left behind by the owner of the mysterious voice.
It lasted only a few short seconds, but Gaara followed the trail relentlessly until he reached a barren stretch of sand where the chakra abruptly vanished. He knew immediately—this was the place.
The moonlight spilled across the dunes, pale and cold, while faint sandstorms rose and faded under the night sky.
A figure in a straw hat appeared before him, standing a head taller than Gaara.
"Who are you?" Gaara demanded, his killing intent rising uncontrollably.
He immediately assumed this was another assassin sent by Rasa. He was used to it. Though Rasa hadn't sent anyone to kill him recently, Gaara didn't care—only fresh blood could affirm his existence.
I am an Asura who loves only himself.
"Hello, Gaara!"
The stranger tossed aside his straw hat, letting it land against a rock in the desolate Gobi. His handsome face, framed by golden hair, was revealed. The smile he wore—genuine and free of malice—stunned Gaara for a heartbeat.
That smile, so untainted by hatred, made Gaara's chest tighten.
"Haha… ha!" Gaara's laughter rang out harshly. "Killing you will prove my existence even more!"
He was bloodthirsty, consumed by madness.
Naruto sighed as he looked at Gaara's distorted expression. Rasa really is a fool. A perfectly good kid… forced into a monster.
Taking two steps forward, Naruto clapped his hands, forming a medium-sized barrier to ensure their presence wouldn't be detected by the shinobi of Sunagakure.
Then, without hesitation, he released the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Inside Gaara, Shukaku—who had been feigning sleep—snapped awake, his voice echoing in fury:
"That stinking fox's chakra?!"
The One-Tail immediately slammed against the seal inside Gaara's body, sand surging as Gaara's form began to twist with partial transformation.
Feeling the sudden rebellion, Gaara thought Shukaku was trying to seize control again.
"Get back!" Gaara roared, forcing his chakra to suppress the rampaging beast.
Though the sealing technique of Sunagakure wasn't perfect, it was enough to restrain Shukaku. Under Gaara's pressure, the beast was forced back.
After a few futile struggles, Shukaku stopped. His tone shifted, wary now.
Strange… this isn't just Kurama's power. Could this brat have stolen some of the Nine-Tails' chakra?
Gaara felt Shukaku withdraw and assumed it was another of the beast's usual retreats. He didn't dwell on it and instead turned his attention back to Naruto.
The chakra in Naruto's hand… unmistakably Tailed Beast chakra.
Gaara's eyes widened. Could it be? He's… like me?
The murderous intent within him faltered, even if only slightly.
"Who are you?" Gaara demanded again.
"Me?" Naruto smiled faintly. "I'm the same as you—a jinchūriki. A so-called inauspicious child. But we weren't born that way. They forced this curse on us."
Gaara's expression wavered. The first half of Naruto's words stirred something strange in him… but the second half reignited his rage.
"We're the same, Gaara! Do you believe in the light? I've come to pull you out of the darkness!"
Naruto almost laughed at himself. Why does this feel like I'm trying to talk a kid out of a tantrum?
Gaara froze for a second before his face twisted again.
"I don't need anyone! I am an Asura who loves only himself!"
With a roar, Gaara charged, his madness fully unleashed.
"Tch." Naruto raised his hand, helplessly. So much for talk-no-jutsu. Everyone says I'm good at it, but where's the proof? Guess I'll have to beat some sense into him first.
He had expected this much—without strength, no one would listen.
Naruto studied Gaara's enraged expression and could already tell—his words had reached him. But years of betrayal had left Gaara unable, or perhaps unwilling, to trust anyone.
Problem children? A good beating will fix that.
Afterwards, he could try winning them over with sincerity.
After all, a gentleman who cannot inspire awe will not earn respect.
If I don't strike hard now, how can I establish my presence?
As Gaara charged, his right arm already twisting into the monstrous form of Shukaku's limb, Naruto didn't hesitate. He shifted back swiftly, hands flying into seals.
"Feel the fear of firepower saturation!"
A grin spread across Naruto's face. All fear comes from insufficient firepower!
"Earth Release: Quicksand Heavy Strike!"
Naruto formed only three seals before slamming his palms down, molding chakra into the desert. A B-rank jutsu burst forth—simplified by his own design.
Even in his frenzy, Gaara faltered. So few seals? This guy's no weakling!
Instead of fear, Gaara's excitement only deepened. The bloodlust of a true shinobi surged—facing the strong only made his desire to kill stronger.
The monstrous arm he raised glistened with the grotesque purple markings of Shukaku, grains of sand spilling off it in streams. His pupils shifted, monstrous and bestial, while the killing intent rolling off him was enough to shake even a seasoned jōnin.
The power of a Tailed Beast was no ordinary weapon—it was a calamity incarnate.
Naruto's quicksand fist surged forward, colliding with Gaara's transformed limb. Though it looked slim compared to the massive earthen strike, Shukaku's power was terrifying. The two forces smashed together with bone-rattling force.
"Earth Release: Vortex Blast!"
Naruto struck again instantly, taking advantage of the desert terrain. Here, the abundance of sand and stone meant his chakra expenditure was drastically reduced.
The ground erupted as sand and rubble twisted into a massive vortex, howling as it spiraled toward Gaara.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions rang out one after another, the shockwaves battering against Naruto's barrier—but not even a ripple spread across its surface.
Yet Naruto showed no joy at the apparent impact.
Gaara emerged, encased in a dense shell of sand—sand hardened with chakra, tougher than steel.
"Absolute Defense, huh?" Naruto murmured with a faint grin.
This wasn't Shukaku's power. No, this was something else—Gaara's automatic defense, born from his mother, Karura.
What kind of love and will could create such a power… to linger even after death, endlessly shielding her son?
The thought stirred Naruto's curiosity.
Ever since he had awakened his Heaven Rewards Diligence ability, Naruto's exploration of ninjutsu had been unstoppable. Now, witnessing this defense—a subconscious, automatic shield—he was utterly fascinated.
It looks mystical, but in the end, it's chakra. And chakra is life force and spirit combined. If the truest will of the heart can imprint itself on chakra… then of course it can remain, even after death.
That was why Karura's chakra continued to shield Gaara, and why, later, she had even manifested a massive sand guardian to protect him.
It wasn't just ninjutsu.
It was love.
Naruto's eyes softened slightly. That woman… she must have truly loved her son.
...
TN:
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