"No, Teacher,"
Gaara, still kneeling on one knee, raised his head. His voice was calm but resolute.
"I have already died once. Compared to that, this danger is nothing. Please… grant me this power."
His gaze did not waver, not even for a moment.
Though he had fallen to Sasori and Deidara, losing the One-Tail sealed within him, Gaara did not allow despair to consume him. He understood perfectly well—without Shukaku's chakra, his strength had dropped sharply. If he wished to fight those of Akatsuki's level again, he had to move forward—to transcend the limits of his past self.
"Gaara…"
Temari's voice trembled. Even if she wanted to stop him, even if her heart screamed in protest, seeing her brother's determination left her speechless.
Kenya watched quietly, a faint smile curving his lips.
"Good. You've already attained the resolve of one who carries the title of Kage."
With that, he raised his hand.
A brilliant violet light radiated from the Hōgyoku, slowly enveloping Gaara's body.
The scene was eerily familiar—exactly like Suigetsu's evolution months before.
Nearby, the Hōzuki brothers, Suigetsu and Mangetsu, instinctively tightened their grip on their blades.
They had seen this ritual many times. They knew what it meant.
When the light faded successfully, it meant a new power had been born.
But if it failed—
Kenya would not hesitate to end it immediately.
Even the Kazekage would not be spared.
The glowing light dimmed gradually. The air was heavy with spiritual pressure.
Suigetsu's hand eased slightly from the hilt of his decapitating blade.
But the next instant—
Whoosh!
The massive sword flew from his grasp as though pulled by an invisible force, slicing through the air toward Gaara.
"W-What!?"
The blade grazed Gaara's shoulder, missing his heart by inches.
"Shuiyue, you idiot! What are you doing!?" Temari roared, her fan snapping open in rage.
Suigetsu threw up his hands frantically, face pale. "It wasn't me! The sword—it moved on its own!"
Kenya lifted his hand calmly, intercepting the weapon midair. His fingers clamped down on the back of the blade effortlessly.
But to everyone's shock, the sword continued to strain forward, as if dragged by an unseen magnetic pull.
Kenya's crimson eyes glimmered. "I see now… this is Gaara's new ability."
The others blinked, confused.
Then it began.
The metal forehead protectors of everyone in the chamber started trembling faintly. Even Temari's giant iron fan vibrated, drawn toward Gaara's body.
When the last glimmer of the Hōgyoku's light faded, Gaara slowly lifted his right hand.
Outside the chamber, the surrounding guards' weapons—kunai, shuriken, ninja blades—suddenly lifted from their holsters and flew into the room like a metallic storm.
They swirled around Gaara in a whirling cyclone of steel and sand.
A harsh, grinding crack-crack-crack echoed as the desert sand from his gourd mixed with the airborne weapons.
Before long, the yellow sand turned black—dense, metallic, and deadly.
Temari's eyes widened. "That's… the Iron Sand! The same power as the Third Kazekage!"
Even Jin'narō, standing by the door, was stunned.
Every Sand ninja knew the legends of that jutsu.
The Third Kazekage had been called the strongest Kazekage in history because of it.
But Kenya's eyes gleamed with deeper understanding.
"No. This is different," he said, activating his Sharingan. "The Third Kazekage controlled iron through magnetism. Gaara… fuses the iron itself into his sand. His control is absolute. The density alone surpasses any form of Iron Sand we've seen before."
Temari gasped. "Then… Gaara has surpassed the Third Kazekage?"
Kenya shook his head slightly. "Not yet. He hasn't fully mastered the form. His potential, however… is beyond comparison."
Almost on cue, the swirling iron sand lost its shape and collapsed to the ground with a metallic crash.
Gaara exhaled deeply. "Apologies. I can't fully control it yet."
Kenya smiled faintly. "That's fine, Gaara. You've done well. Power gained through evolution always demands patience."
"Thank you, Teacher," Gaara said, bowing low.
Kenya's gaze softened. "Kamui's Nemesis… we're one step closer."
Everyone exchanged confused looks, but none dared ask.
Then—
"Lord Aizen!"
The deep, desperate voice came from Jin'narō, who suddenly dropped to one knee before Kenya.
"Please! Grant me this strength as well! I cannot allow myself to fall behind. I wish to be of use to you!"
Suigetsu barked a laugh. "You? You're just a Jōnin without a Kekkei Genkai. You didn't see what happens to those who fail—?"
Thud!
Temari punched him squarely in the head. "Shut up!"
Kenya looked down at Jin'narō silently.
"If you have no Kekkei Genkai," he said slowly, "then you understand your odds of survival are very low. Are you sure?"
Jin'narō didn't hesitate. "Yes! Even if I die, I wish to serve you, Lord Aizen!"
Kenya closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. "Very well. If that's your resolve… I will not deny you the chance."
"Thank you, Lord Aizen!"
Kenya raised the Hōgyoku once more. Its light flared brilliantly, swallowing Jin'narō whole.
Everyone held their breath.
Suigetsu and Mangetsu once again gripped their blades tightly. This time, even Gaara tensed, ready to defend.
The light pulsed rhythmically. Then—
A violent chakra burst erupted from within, so sharp that it distorted the air itself.
"Gaara!" Kenya barked.
Gaara instantly raised his hand. "Iron Sand Shield!"
A dome of black metallic sand rose to protect the others.
Shhhrrrip!
A piercing sound tore through the air—the Iron Sand Shield shattered as if sliced by invisible blades.
Temari's pupils shrank. "Impossible! Gaara's defense was breached in an instant!"
Kenya's expression hardened. He brought two fingers together. "Bakudō #83 — Kūkan Kekkai!"
A translucent sphere of compressed space expanded outward, trapping the surging energy within it.
The distortion stopped immediately.
Everyone stared at the glowing figure within the light.
When it cleared—Jin'narō stood tall, his eyes gleaming with a strange silver luster. The air around him shimmered, bending slightly, like distorted glass.
Kenya smiled faintly. "So… it was a success."
Suigetsu blinked. "Success? But what the hell was that? It looked like space itself was ripping apart!"
Kenya's voice was low, measured. "Because it was."
He looked directly at Jin'narō, the corners of his mouth curving upward.
"This man's ability neutralizes space-based ninjutsu. Kamui, Dimensional Warp, Summoning—none of it can affect him."
He paused, eyes narrowing with satisfaction.
"A perfect counter to the Mangekyō Sharingan's Kamui… the natural enemy of Obito Uchiha."