Chapter 279: War's End Approaches
Gaara's brain fell into unprecedented blankness.
Those pains gnawing at him day and night, the confusion leading him toward destruction, the rage supporting him to live until now... all heavy and dark emotions were quietly smoothed away and dispersed by an invisible warm force at this moment. What remained was only shock sweeping in like a tsunami.
"So-called love means devoting and sacrificing for those around you, protecting them with a compassionate heart."
That gentle phrase already sealed in memory's deepest depths along with blood and betrayal, accompanied by that bone-deep sense of abandonment and tearing pain at that time, uncontrollably surfaced in his mind again.
"Love..."
That final complex indecipherable look, remembering those warm blood spatters flying everywhere, and those pupils gradually losing focus and becoming vacant before his eyes.
Since then, familiar scenery in memory lost all color. The world he perceived became a cruel arena full of endless malice toward him.
Unable to sleep—every time he closed his eyes might bring fatal assassination. Unable to rest—even if he did nothing, merely "existing" itself was enough to draw comrades' cold killing intent.
He'd begged, pleaded, prayed to gods who might not exist, humbly hoping for even the slightest bit of goodwill... but what came back was only deeper despair.
Until finally, all softness was worn away, leaving only the sole thought of tearing apart all who wanted to harm him.
I can't receive anyone's goodwill... Mother died because of me... I shouldn't have come to this world at all...
This was once the cold cornerstone Gaara believed unquestioningly, using it to construct his entire world.
Perhaps... after personally killing that final warmth in that cruel world, after getting the definite answer that "no one ever loved me"... what exactly... was I still thinking?
The answer was obvious—become an Asura who only loves himself, using others' fear and blood to fill the void inside, proving his existence's value.
Until now—
Until this blonde youth he couldn't kill, whose strength far exceeded his, made such an incredible vow to him.
He said... he would protect me?
He said... my value doesn't need to be proven through slaughter?
He said... he wants to become my... bond?
"Gaara!!"
Until familiar shouts came from far to near. After confirming those two disaster-like behemoths finally disappeared, Kankuro and Temari finally gathered all their courage, rushing to where Shukaku vanished, anxiously searching for their brother's figure.
When they clearly saw the scene before them, their hearts nearly stopped. That youth enveloped in brilliant golden chakra cloak—Naruto Uzumaki—stood right there.
Recalling that heaven-destroying, earth-shattering power far exceeding their understanding just now, neither doubted that if this person wanted to take their lives, it would probably be simpler than crushing an ant.
However, given current positions, this was war—the Hidden Sand were invaders. By logic, Gaara who'd nearly caused massive destruction in the village had absolutely no possibility of being spared.
Could it be... even Father was defeated by his hand? Both simultaneously thought of that glimpse of gold dust ninjutsu and its subsequent complete disappearance. A chill rose from their hearts.
But even so, looking at that exceptionally weak brother, despite their legs softening slightly from fear, Temari and Kankuro still gritted their teeth and rushed forward, using their trembling bodies to firmly stand between Gaara and Naruto.
Even if this brother once made them fearful, even brought death threats, that never truly extinguished protective heart originating from bloodline overwhelmed everything at this moment.
Was I really... always alone...
This thought rippled again through Gaara's chaotic mind. Someone kept pulling Naruto toward light... but what about himself? Really... never had anyone?
Or rather... had he actively closed his eyes, refusing all glimmers, choosing without hesitation to fall into darkness?
"The war is almost over," facing the siblings on high alert with tense bodies, Naruto spoke peacefully. The intensely oppressive golden chakra around him also gradually restrained somewhat. "I won't kill Gaara."
He looked toward Gaara protected behind them. "Before that, please take him somewhere safe first."
"...!"
This completely unexpected answer made Temari and Kankuro simultaneously freeze, then relief like surviving disaster swept over them. Getting such a result was already extremely fortunate!
Kankuro took a deep breath, trying to calm his wildly beating heart as he turned around. When he clearly saw Gaara's current state, he couldn't help freezing—those eyes always filled with bloodlust, madness and numbness had now become completely clear, even... carrying a kind of near-fragile confusion he'd never seen on Gaara before.
Seeing such a brother, even though fear still lingered deep inside, an indescribable heartache quietly overwhelmed other emotions.
He carefully bent down, gently helping up the weak and powerless Gaara, draping his brother's arm over his shoulder to support his weight. Temari also immediately came forward to help.
The siblings deeply looked at Naruto who'd given them a path to life, no longer hesitating as they immediately used Body Flicker, quickly leaving this dangerous place with Gaara.
The Hidden Sand's three siblings sped through dense forest, searching for temporary shelter before receiving news of defeat. Wind howled past their ears, surrounding scenery continuously retreating at high speed.
This fleeing scene gradually overlapped with certain deliberately ignored, suppressed fragments in Gaara's memory.
It wasn't all cold killing intent and betrayal... it seemed that earlier, there had also been blurry figures trying to approach, only to be mercilessly pushed away by his deeper coldness and violence.
"Temari... Kankuro..."
Suddenly, Gaara leaning on Kankuro's shoulder spoke in an extremely weak yet no longer ice-cold voice.
This abnormal tone made both siblings racing at full speed simultaneously freeze, puzzledly turning to look at him.
Gaara didn't meet their gazes, only lowering his head as he squeezed those heavy words from his throat.
"These past years... I'm truly... sorry..."
"...?!"
Temari and Kankuro completely froze, their brains blank. Was this... really something Gaara would say? That brother who viewed all emotions as nothing, only believing in slaughter?
"...? Oh... it's, it's fine."
Kankuro recovered first, his voice somewhat hoarse, carrying obvious bewilderment as he instinctively gave this response. Temari also unconsciously nodded nearby, her eyes full of shock.
---
One minute earlier.
"Well done... descendant of the Uzumaki Clan..."
Her body already completely covered by pitch-black sealing runes, Mito Uzumaki spoke in a tone carrying relief and release.
Through Mind's Eye of the Kagura, clearly sensing that familiar chakra belonging to her husband Hashirama Senju being controlled in the distance, Mito Uzumaki instantly understood her current situation.
Though the youth before her didn't have signature red hair, that resonance from bloodline's depths along with the brilliant and skilled Adamantine Sealing Chains behind him made Mito certain of his identity.
In the instant before consciousness was completely dragged into darkness by the seal, she used her final strength to issue an earnest request.
"Please... don't let that despicable person continue toying with... Hashirama's soul..."
As her words fell, Mito Uzumaki's figure like Rasa and Kushina was completely sealed, transforming into three massive cocoon-like objects wrapped in black runes quietly standing on the ground.
Menma slowly turned his head, his gaze penetrating vast distance toward Konoha Village's direction. In his vision, that brilliant golden Nine-Tails was using absolute power to forcibly throw the berserk Shukaku out of the village.
However, his mood wasn't relaxed. Though sealing succeeded, as long as the caster Orochimaru didn't actively release Impure World Reincarnation, these three people's souls remained bound in Impure World bodies.
Unable to gain true rest. That face full of love and reluctance from consciousness depths flashed through his mind again, along with that final phrase...
Menma silently raised his hand. A brand new fox mask appeared in his hand. He gently placed it over his face. Simultaneously, that head of brilliant golden hair transformed into deep jet-black as if fading. Powerful Wind Style chakra rose from beneath his feet, wrapping his entire body.
WHOOSH—!
The next moment, his entire figure transformed into a blurred cyan afterimage, speeding toward Konoha Village's direction!
Beneath the mask, those ice-cold eyes had already locked firmly onto that twisted, cold serpent still engaged in fierce battle with the Third Hokage on the distant rooftop.
The target was unmistakably clear.
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