Chapter 54

Temari recalled what Baki had told the three of them.

"This Chūnin Exam... Sunagakure sent you three not just to pass, but to use it as a means to crush Konohagakure in the name of the exam!" Baki declared.

"Why? Didn't Konoha and Suna sign an alliance treaty?" Temari asked, shocked.

"The problem lies within that treaty.

As Genin, you might not be aware, but the fool Daimyō of the Land of Wind took advantage of it. He forced us, the shinobi of Sunagakure, to reduce our military strength. Missions that should have been ours were instead handed over to Konoha, and to make matters worse, he drastically cut the funding of our village.

Now, our coffers are so empty that we might as well sell our dignity!

We've been forced to claim that we're taking the 'elite shinobi' route and reducing our numbers, but the truth is, we're just broke!" Baki said angrily.

"The Land of Wind is in an extremely dangerous position, but that damn Daimyō and his advisors refuse to see it!

If our village collapses due to lack of funds, the entire Land of Wind could be absorbed by other nations! Luckily, Kazekage-sama realized this and allied with Otogakure to launch an attack on Konoha! This is all for the honor and survival of Sunagakure! It will also serve as a lesson to that fool Daimyō about the importance of national defense!" Baki exclaimed with barely contained rage.

Temari clenched her fists. "If we engage in battle, won't it just lead to another war? The peace we fought so hard for—our comrades' sacrifices—will all be for nothing..."

"This is the will of Kazekage-sama!" Baki stated coldly.

...

Temari snapped back to reality and silently gazed out the window, deep in thought.

Meanwhile, Baki had returned to Sunagakure.

"Thank you, ."

"As planned, all three of them passed the preliminaries and entered the final round, Kazekage-sama," Baki reported. "The conditions with Otogakure have also been settled. This is their agreement."

The Fourth Kazekage took the document from Baki, scrutinized him, and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Baki hesitated for a moment before saying, "Kazekage-sama, if we conduct a military drill and move our forces closer to the border, the four of us could—"

"Konoha isn't blind," the Kazekage interrupted. "Their Anbu have already begun investigating us. Any movement now will only expose our intentions."

"But with our current combat strength..." Baki hesitated.

"That is why we sent Gaara and the others. The revival of Suna's power depends on them!" the Kazekage said firmly. "Now go!"

...

Meanwhile, Orochimaru smirked in the shadows.

"Tsk, I only came to Konoha to grab a certain someone, and I end up sending the old man off to the afterlife. And now, Suna is marching into Konoha under my plan...

This is perfect.

Once Shukaku runs wild in Konoha, I can use it to manipulate Sunagakure. If things go south, I can even use it to blackmail them into further cooperation.

Perfect!" Orochimaru chuckled to himself.

...

Baki returned to Konoha and knocked urgently on Temari's door.

"Damn it! Didn't I tell you to keep a close eye on Gaara?!" he barked, sweat dripping from his forehead.

Temari and Kankurō jolted in alarm before dashing towards Gaara's room—only to find it empty.

Baki stared at the open window, his expression grim. "I hope nothing has happened..."

...

By the Konoha River, Naruto lounged under the sun, lazily fishing.

Rustling sounds came from behind him.

Suddenly—

A massive wave of sand exploded behind him, obliterating the ground where he had just been sitting.

"Whoa, whoa, that was dangerous!" Naruto called out, appearing a few meters away. "Man, you scared the fish away! What the hell do you want from me—Gaara?"

Gaara stood silently for a moment before speaking in a cold voice. "I want to kill you."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Wow, straight to the point, huh?"

Gaara ignored him. "You were right.

I was born by taking my mother's life.

To make me the ultimate ninja, my father infused me with the Sand Spirit—Shukaku. From birth, I was a monster, the host of a demon sealed within a cursed vessel."

Naruto remained silent, realizing how misinformed Gaara was.

"The burden of being possessed by a monster drove me insane.

Since I was six years old, my own father, the Kazekage, has sent countless assassins after me. They believe my instability is a threat to the village.

I have no reason to exist! Why do people like you get to have so many bonds, while I have nothing?! It's not fair!" Gaara screamed, his voice raw with pain as sand surged toward Naruto in a violent attack.

But this time, Naruto's expression darkened.

His Sharingan flashed, morphing into a deep violet hue—

A surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted from his body!

Gaara's eyes widened in shock before his consciousness was forcefully knocked out.

But then—

Gaara's eyes shot open again, his expression twisted into a crazed grin.

"Ahahahaha! That brat finally fell asleep again!" a monstrous voice cackled from Gaara's mouth—it was Shukaku, the One-Tail!

Naruto sighed. "Tch. You again."

"What the hell did you do?!" Shukaku roared, staring at Naruto's glowing purple Sharingan.

"Shut up!" Naruto snapped, his gaze locked onto the beast with an overwhelming killing intent. "Behave yourself unless you want to die!"

His Sharingan spun wildly, shifting into a yin-yang fish-like pattern, pulsating with immense power.

Suddenly, Naruto's consciousness entered Gaara's mindscape—inside the seal that contained Shukaku.

Shukaku's eyes widened in pure terror. "I-Impossible! Your eyes—!"

Naruto's glare remained icy cold. "I don't care about your past grudges. I don't care about your hatred. But I won't let you run wild in my village. Now...

Submit."

The pattern of Naruto's Sharingan reflected into Shukaku's eyes, slowly consuming his vision.

Naruto clenched his fists, then turned his gaze toward the Hokage Monument, his eyes locking onto the Third Hokage's statue.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen... Since I don't have any deep hatred toward you, I'll respect my master's wishes...

And give you a dignified death."

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