The heavenly curtain had lifted, yet its shadow lingered over the Sand Village, refusing to dissipate.
Chaos swept through the village like a desert storm.
Angry villagers and ninja crowded around the Kazekage's residence, blocking all passage.
They no longer looked upon it with awe. Their gazes burned with betrayal, rage, and open resentment.
"Rasa! Get out of here!"
"Liar! You shameless fraud! You are unworthy of being our Kazekage!"
"Return Lady Karura to us! Tell us the truth!"
The uproar crashed against the symbol of supreme authority like mountains and tidal waves.
Inside the Kazekage's office, Rasa sat in the chair that symbolized ultimate power, his face pale as death.
Every shout from outside pierced him like a blade through the heart.
His prestige, his dignity, everything he had built as Kazekage, had turned to dust under the judgment of the sky screen.
Several village elders and advisors entered, their eyes cold and calculating as they regarded the troubled Rasa.
"Rasa, due to your reckless actions, the village has fallen into an unprecedented crisis," said the chief elder without emotion. "Effective immediately, all your authority is temporarily revoked until the village stabilizes."
You need rest.
It was both an order and a sentence.
Rasa offered no resistance. He nodded numbly.
He had lost. And utterly.
Escorted by several ANBU, the once-mighty Fourth Kazekage was led from the office like a prisoner and placed under house arrest.
Baki stood at the window, watching the scene. He glanced at the raging crowd below, confusion etched across his face.
In a dark corner of the Sand Village, Gaara knelt alone.
The whirlwind of sand around him had settled.
He held out a hand, and sand slowly filled his palm, swirling and gathering.
Warmth.
A warmth he had never felt before. It radiated from his own bloodline, wrapping around his hands and thawing the ice that had gripped his heart for six years.
"Mom…"
He whispered again, tears falling silently.
He was not a monster.
He possessed his mother's love.
But… what now?
Yashamaru… hated him, yet loved him.
His father… had deceived him for the village's sake.
The villagers… had hated him for lies, and yet felt guilt for the truth.
Love, hate, deception, truth… all tangled together in his mind, forming an impenetrable knot.
The creed he had lived by for so long "fight only for yourself, love only yourself" crumbled completely.
His murderous intent faded, replaced by endless confusion.
He did not know who to trust, who to hate, or where to go.
Then, two figures appeared before him.
Temari and Kankuro.
They looked at the hollow-eyed boy kneeling on the ground. For the first time, fear did not show on their faces. Only guilt and helplessness.
"Gaara…"
Kankuro opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but his throat was too dry. Not a sound emerged.
He wanted to apologize. To explain that everyone had misunderstood him.
But against six years of coldness and fear, words felt empty.
Temari bit her lip. Quietly, she removed her jacket, stepping forward to drape it over Gaara's frail shoulders.
It was something she had long wanted to do, yet never dared.
Gaara shivered as the warmth of the jacket touched him. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to his sister and brother.
Those emerald eyes, once cold and merciless, now reflected only childlike vulnerability and confusion.
The three stood in silence. Yet an invisible force was quietly breaking the barriers between them.
Meanwhile, in Konoha, at Ichiraku Ramen…
Naruto sat frozen, staring at a bowl of ramen that had gone cold. He hadn't touched a single bite.
Gaara's story reflected his own childhood.
Loneliness. The Byakugan-like eyes of disdain. Nights called "monster."
"Turns out… he had it worse than me…"
Naruto murmured.
Though he had been ostracized, he had received the quiet care of the Third Hokage, Iruka-sensei's recognition, and the unwavering warmth of the ramen shop uncle.
But Gaara?
His only family had inflicted the deepest wounds.
His only light had been a complete lie.
Naruto felt a surge of sympathy and connection.
"If I see him again," Naruto clenched his fist, his eyes blazing with determination, "I will become his friend!"
The ninja world stirred once more at the revelation of Gaara's refuge.
In the Hidden Cloud, Raikage A glanced at the intel and scoffed, "You sacrificed your own son for the village? That Rasa is utterly useless."
In the Hidden Stone, Onoki stroked his beard, eyes glinting with shrewd calculation. "Motherly love… jinchuriki… It seems our understanding of jinchuriki needs serious revision."
And far away in the Hidden Rain, the Akatsuki regarded the heavenly curtain with intense interest.
"Even to uncover a secret buried so deep underground, the power of this curtain exceeds our expectations," said Pain, his Rinnegan eyes still as a deep well.
"Is this an obstacle… or an aid to our plans?" whispered Black Zetsu, his thoughts unreadable.
Back in Konoha, at Jun Chen's apartment…
He stared at the long string of zeros on the system panel, unable to contain his joy.
Over 1.7 million points!
He had unlocked the Intermediate Trading Marketplace and the special ability: Emotional Resonance.
This wave of points promised enormous profit.
Jun Chen's eyes lingered on the description of Emotional Resonance.
During video playback, he could select a specific target or group, amplifying or syncing their emotions with the content.
"This is literally a tool for causing chaos…"
A sly smile curved Jun Chen's lips as a daring plan formed in his mind.
He would deliver true light to the world's "protagonist."
He opened the system database, scrolling through the names until he settled on a familiar one.
Top 10 Most Heartbreaking Moments in the Ninja World: Top 8
"Candidate: Iruka Umino"
"Decided. It's you."
Jun Chen made his choice.
After a brief pause, the mysterious heavenly curtain that had captivated the ninja world flared to life again.
"It's back!"
"So fast! Who will it be this time?"
All eyes were fixed on the sky.
The images on the curtain began to flash rapidly.
A lone swing swayed gently under the setting sun.
The Hokage Rock, covered in chaotic graffiti.
A massive Fuma shuriken cut across the night sky, its power undeniable.
Finally, a wide, warm back appeared, with a blonde girl partially hidden in its shadow.
The ninja world was confused.
Swings? Graffiti?
What did any of this have to do with heartbreak?
The previous items had been an S-rank rogue ninja and a jinchuriki!
While speculation buzzed, light and shadow merged on the curtain, and the final title slowly appeared:
Top 8: Guardian in the Dark – Iruka Umino
The words settled. The world fell into a strange silence.
Then came the commotion and confused murmurs.
"Iruka Umino? Who's that?"
"Never heard of him! Is he some strongman from a village?"
In Konoha, countless ninjas and villagers wore puzzled expressions.
"Iruka? The teacher from the Ninja Academy?"
"How… how is he on this list?"
"What a joke! A mere Chunin, ahead of the Bloody Mist's Zabuza and Gaara, the One-Tail Jinchuriki?"
Doubt and laughter rippled through the crowd.
Inside the Ninja Academy office, Iruka, marking papers, looked up at his name flashing across the sky.
The red pen in his hand clattered to the floor.
He froze.
"Me…?"