"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
As Gaara continued pouring chakra into the sand waterfall beneath him, the condensed sand grew heavier, more compact—until sharp cracking noises began to echo from deep within the arena floor.
At that moment, Shino felt as though his heart were bleeding.
These bugs… the ones he had painstakingly bred and raised over the years...
Could a single shinobi from Sunagakure really wipe them out so effortlessly?
Finally, when Gaara no longer sensed any movement or signs of life within the sand, he straightened slowly, his eyes fixed coldly on the resilient shinobi before him.
"Do you have any insects left?"
"If so, release them. This battle ends now."
Gaara focused inward. Only about one-fifth of his chakra remained. The Quicksand Waterfall Flow and Sand Burial had devoured almost three-fifths, and the earlier combat with Shino had consumed another fifth.
He lifted his right hand as though grasping an invisible weapon.
"Shukaku's Spear."
At his command, glittering mineral fragments began to rise from the surrounding sand, condensing and spinning rapidly in his palm. The particles merged, transforming into a two-meter-long spear, gleaming with chakra.
Its shaft was deep brown, and the spearhead glowed crimson with four curved blades, reflecting a dazzling brilliance under the sun.
"This is my strongest weapon. It ends here."
Gaara's declaration echoed like a final judgment. He hurled the spear with force, and it tore through the air, trailing afterimages in its wake as it screamed toward Shino.
In that instant, Shino felt locked in place—as if a monstrous predator had fixed its gaze on him. Every cell in his body screamed in alarm.
You'll die if that hits.
He tried to move—but the sand had already infiltrated the nest beneath his feet, anchoring him like roots in concrete.
No escape.
A flash of despair filled his chest.
Am I going to die here?
Ridiculous. My ideal Zerg colony hasn't even taken shape yet. It can't end like this…
Just then—
Three slashes of sword light flickered in front of him.
They didn't ring out sharply. No sound of steel splitting air. Just a soft, whispering motion—like rain gently touching budding leaves.
But those three subtle arcs of light collided with Shukaku's Spear and shattered it completely. The weapon disintegrated into a burst of sand and glimmering particles, scattering harmlessly across the battlefield.
And standing in front of Shino was Hayate Gekkō, motionless, his blade still extended in the follow-through of his strike.
"Secret Technique – Swallow Returns."
He sheathed the blade in one fluid movement, then turned to Shino with a calm gaze.
"You're safe now."
Shino lowered his head.
"…Sorry, Captain. I lost."
Hayate rested a hand on Shino's shoulder.
"It doesn't matter. You gave everything. That was one of the most thrilling matches we've seen."
"And your insects… they've proven their worth."
Then, without delay, Hayate flickered beside Gaara and lifted the boy's arm high into the air.
"The winner is Gaara of the Sand !"
No one flinched at the unique title. In fact, some even felt it suited him perfectly.
For a few seconds, the stadium was silent.
Then, a wave of wild cheers erupted.
"Gaara of the Sand !"
"Gaara of the Sand !!"
"Gaara of the Sand !!!"
To Gaara's surprise, the usual looks of disgust and fear in the crowd were… fading. What he saw instead was admiration. Excitement. Joy.
He had won. And not through Shukaku's power—
But with his own.
And now, he was being acknowledged.
Deep inside his chest, something long frozen began to thaw.
He turned silently and walked down the tunnel he had entered from. The corners of his mouth lifted ever so slightly—stiff, uncertain, but undeniably there.
After he left, Hayate announced a thirty-minute pause.
The arena needed repairs, and Earth Style specialists were summoned to rebuild the shattered terrain.
Meanwhile, the crowd surged toward the food stalls. In the long queues, emotions bubbled—some triumphant, some bitter.
Some had won bets. Others had lost everything.
But no one was bored. Everyone agreed: this match had been unforgettable.
And already, conversations buzzed around the food stands.
"I never really saw Gaara around the village before, but... he's nothing like they said."
"Yeah! He's strong and calm—not some out-of-control Jinchūriki."
"I didn't know the Aburame clan's bugs were this insane! If it wasn't Gaara he fought, he might've crushed someone else!"
"I mean, he looked stronger than Uchiha Sasuke to me."
"Careful now! They haven't fought. You don't know that."
"Oh god! Another ten-minute wait?! If they don't start the next match soon, I'm gonna lose my mind!!"
"Tell me about it! I lost over 100,000 ryo! I need to win it back in the next round!"
As people from all villages chatted animatedly in their lines, another scene played out high above, in the observation box.
Rasa sat silently, reflecting on his son's battle. A small smile tugged at the edge of his lips.
"Maki was right. Gaara can control Shukaku now."
"Even when drained almost completely of chakra… he didn't lose control."
"He's close… to becoming a perfect Jinchūriki."
Rasa tilted his head back, eyes drifting toward the clouds beyond the glass.
His voice was quiet, almost tender.
"Karura… wait a little longer."
"In a few more years, I'll come join you."
"I was never a good father… but he'll protect Sunagakure in my place."
Down below, in the preparation room, Gaara sat slouched on a sofa, popping a few military ration pills into his mouth to slowly restore his chakra reserves.
He wondered what expression his father might've made when he saw him win.
Would he smile?
Behind him, grains of sand danced lightly in the air, flickering with joy.
As if someone—somewhere—was celebrating with him.
…
…
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Bonus Chapter at 150 Power Stone
Second Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
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