---
Inside the Kage Summit hall, the atmosphere was tense. The Mizukage, Tsuchikage, Danzō, and their guards stood alert, while Mifune maintained order. They could hear the distant booms of jutsu outside—Sasuke had arrived, and chaos was unfolding.
Gaara, watching silently, finally stepped forward.
"I'm going," he said.
Before anyone could stop him, Gaara vanished in a swirl of sand.
---
Outside, the clash between Sasuke and the Raikage reached its peak.
The Raikage, still burning with lightning chakra, roared and tried to grab Sasuke with brute strength—but Sasuke was already in motion, faster than before, his blade ready to end it.
With terrifying precision, Sasuke swung his Chidori blade , aiming straight for the Raikage's neck.
Just before it could connect— a wall of sand surged in and deflected the attack, locking the Raikage in place and pushing him back.
Everyone froze.
Gaara stood between them, his hand raised, sand swirling protectively. The Raikage was breathing heavily, eyes wide in disbelief and fury.
He looked down at his neck—a fine cut had already appeared on the metal brace, and he knew: if Gaara hadn't come… he would have been decapitated.
His rage was silent now—overshadowed by pure **shock and humiliation**.
Sasuke lowered his blade slowly, glancing at Gaara with interest.
He saw the boy he fought during chunin exams now became a kage of its own village.Sasuke smirked and greets
"Long time no see Gaara, heard u don't have a pet racoon with u anymore" making temari raises her brow in anger .
Then Sasuke sees both temari and kankuro and says " You haven't changed a bit" while smirking as if he is not causing the international incident.
"You've fallen into darkness," Gaara said softly, his voice shaking slightly. Tears formed at the corners of his eyes.
"You weren't like this… back then."
Sasuke stared at him for a moment, completely unaffected.
"I'm here to kill Danzō," he replied coldly. "No need to get all sentimental."
A single sweatdrop slid down Gaara's temple at the bluntness sighs " Somethings don't change "