Watching Sasuke's successful showing-off, Naruto's earlier bravado instantly deflated. Like a punctured balloon, he stood frozen in embarrassment, his face cycling between red and white.
"Big bro Naruto, you're really the worst!"
Comparison is the thief of joy, and Konohamaru chose that moment to step up and stab Naruto's already fragile heart.
"I-idiot! If I used my real skills I could finish a guy like that in a second!" Naruto crouched in front of Konohamaru, stubbornly sticking out his neck.
"I don't believe you!" Konohamaru twisted his face away, every feature spelling out "doubt."
Naruto turned and glared up at Sasuke in the tree, grinding his teeth.
It's all that guy's fault, making me look like a fool in public again.
"Hey! You're with that brat, aren't you?" Kankuro pointed at Mamoru on the ground and barked up at Sasuke in the branches. "Get down here—now!"
"Kankuro, stop."
Another abrupt voice cut in, breaking the standoff. Low and heavy, it carried unquestionable pressure.
Mamoru was almost laughing and crying at the same time, thinking, 'What's going on? Is Konoha holding an Aura Farming Tournament today? One after another, non-stop.'
"You're disgracing the village."
With those words, Gaara appeared on the opposite side of the trunk, hanging like a bat, feet stuck to the branch as he stared down with icy eyes.
When everyone below caught sight of those signature dark rings around his eyes, shock spread across their faces.
"I… Gaara."
At the sight of him, Kankuro's anger flipped to panic, and he forced a smile uglier than tears.
Before he finished speaking, a hand settled lightly on his shoulder from behind and he jumped, turning his head in alarm.
"Hey." Mamoru had slipped beside him, one arm draped casually over his shoulder, grin wide. "Weren't you acting tough a second ago? Don't feel like fighting now?"
He leaned closer and whispered, "Scared of the panda eyes, are we?"
"Sh-shut up!" Kankuro slapped Mamoru's hand away, glaring with feigned ferocity.
"You, who only bring shame to Sunagakure." Gaara said, arms folded, eyes like frost as he stared at Kankuro. "Do you think we came all this way to Konoha for nothing?"
"L-let me explain, Gaara, they started it—" Kankuro stammered, beads of sweat on his forehead.
"Hold on!" Mamoru cut in loudly. "I don't like the sound of that. We started it? You were the one bullying kids."
He pointed at Sasuke and Gaara in their respective trees, disgust thick in his voice. "Look at you two—perfect match. One hanging upside-down playing bat, the other nesting up there like a sloth. Planning to set up house in the branches? Get down here."
"Hey… keep your voice down…" Kankuro, drenched in sweat, grabbed Mamoru's arm, pleading quietly, terrified any more taunts would set Gaara off.
"Let go!" Mamoru flung the hand off, revolted. "I'm not into guys, keep your hands to yourself."
"Damn you…" Kankuro ground his teeth, yet dared not strike.
At that moment Gaara's body began to turn to sand that drifted down. The grains swiftly gathered beside Kankuro and re-formed into the red-haired ninja.
"G-Gaara…"
Seeing Gaara appear silently beside him, Kankuro went pale, his tongue tying itself in knots.
"Cause trouble again and I'll kill you." Gaara didn't even glance at Mamoru. Those lifeless eyes merely flicked toward Kankuro, voice low and lethal.
"I... I understand, sorry… truly sorry…" Sweat dripped from Kankuro's chin as he bowed again and again, voice trembling.
Temari stood to the side, flustered, afraid to speak.
"Hey, shorty." Mamoru acted as if he sensed no danger, pointing at Gaara with deliberate provocation. "Keep your dog on a leash, don't let it bite people."
Gaara's vacant eyes slowly shifted, fixing on Mamoru. The air seemed to freeze for a heartbeat before he spoke in a flat tone, "My apologies."
Then he turned to Temari and Kankuro. "Let's go. We didn't come here to play."
Mamoru stared after Gaara's retreating back, astonished.
A double-standard weirdo, he can swallow that? Such good temper?
Seeing Gaara back down, Mamoru's mischievous streak flared and he decided to push a little further.
He raised his voice at their backs. "Hey! Outsiders—no manners at all. You come to Konoha and don't even pay respects to the local boss. Do you even know who I am?"
Still perched in the tree, Sasuke frowned, shooting Mamoru a sidelong glance that clearly asked: What is this guy babbling about now?
Gaara's steps froze. He didn't turn around, so no one could see his face, but the two beside him reacted dramatically.
A flicker of dread crossed Kankuro's face as he stammered, "G-Gaara, forget it… no need to waste time on a bunch of brats."
Temari chimed in cautiously, tension threading her voice, "Yeah, let's get out of here."
"Trash." Gaara's low voice cut through, cold and absolute. "You two just watch."
Mamoru showed no awareness he'd stirred up trouble. Instead, he pointed straight at Gaara and yelled to Naruto, "Hey, Naruto, check out the shorty with the gourd! He's probably shorter than you!"
"Why you—" Naruto's fists clenched at once, taking it as anything but praise. "Just wait! I'll outgrow you in no time, so don't get cocky!"
Except for the thick-skinned Naruto, everyone felt the murderous aura rolling off the gourd-carrying boy.
Kankuro glared at Mamoru, inwardly cursing, 'What's wrong with this guy? Can't he sense Gaara's killing intent? And he's still adding fuel to the fire, doesn't he know how to spell death?'
Right then, fine sand began trickling from the mouth of Gaara's gourd, flowing like living, viscous liquid. The moment the sand touched the ground, it shot straight for Mamoru as though it had a will of its own.
Kankuro and Temari instinctively stepped back, faces paling. The situation had spiraled beyond their control. All they could do was pray Gaara wouldn't go too far. Otherwise, a scolding afterward would be the least of their worries, it could wreck the village's upcoming plans.
Facing the animate surge of sand, Mamoru stood rooted, not the slightest intention of dodging.
"The sand… it's moving?" Sakura gasped uncertainly.
"What the heck?" Naruto's eyes bulged in bewilderment.
Sasuke focused on the living sand below, gaze sharp, body coiled.
Mamoru didn't flinch, he even licked his dry lips, excitement rising. Among kids his age, only Gaara could give him a real fight.
Sand Shield—let me see it for myself.
Dust motes hung in the air, glinting under the blazing sun.
Before anyone realized, the ground under Mamoru was carpeted with sand. The grains coiled up his legs like sentient tendrils, climbing, encasing.
He flexed discreetly, the sand clamped his limbs like forged steel, immovable.
He mused, 'Both are Jinchuriki, why does Naruto feel so dumb and weak at this stage?'
He closed his eyes. When they reopened, the deep black had shifted to a cold, icy blue.
Bang!
A burst of compressed air erupted from his body, blasting the cocoon of sand apart and sending grit billowing skyward. The gust came and vanished so fast it felt like an illusion.
What just happened?
Everyone shared the same stunned thought.
Kankuro and Temari, however, had clearly seen Mamoru's eyes change from black to blue and felt a jolt of alarm.
Gaara finally turned, his expression ominous.
Hands in his pockets, Mamoru smirked. "Short stuff, how old are you? Still playing with sand?"
Gaara didn't rise to the bait, he simply asked, "You've caught my interest. What's your name?"
"Mamoru."
"I'm Gaara of the Sand." Gaara returned at once.
"Yeah, yeah…" Mamoru cut him off. "I didn't ask. Fight or walk away—pick one."