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"Sakura, I will definitely protect you!"
He turned his head.
Naruto's will reignited.
"There's no turning back!"
"I must finish off this tanuki as quickly as possible!!"
Naruto closed his eyes.
'Please.'
'Just a little bit is fine.'
A surge of crimson Chakra spread from the Uzumaki spiral pattern on Naruto's stomach.
The Chunin Exams Arc was also the period when Konoha was invaded.
Just as all the Ninja in Konoha were resisting foreign enemies at this moment.
The Hyuga Clan, the Nara Clan, the Akimichi Clan, the Yamanaka Clan, the Aburame Clan... The Third Hokage, facing Orochimaru's destructive plan, would also change into his battle attire to protect this Village.
Naruto also fought with all his might for Sakura, for Konoha.
One punch!
Naruto just wanted to land one punch on Gaara!
His elbows and calves were all ensnared by the Sand Binding Coffin.
Naruto struggled to break free from them.
Once again, his Chakra was depleted.
He was like a fighter who couldn't use Ninjutsu now.
His muscles were tense all over.
He just wanted to land a fierce punch on Gaara's cold, cruel face.
This kind of emotionless guy!
Like a living dead man!
The next moment.
A headbutt.
Accompanied by a sharp pain in his forehead.
Naruto used the only part of his body he could still move to make Gaara's forehead bleed.
Force is reciprocal.
Naruto's forehead also flowed with hot blood.
His head was dizzy, but he still had one belief.
He must fall after Gaara!
Gaara's giant Shukaku body was like porcelain struck by a hammer, covered in dense cracks from top to bottom.
Piece by piece, it shattered.
Sand filled the sky, and dust settled.
Two figures fell from the sky.
They landed on the lush big tree.
Naruto was truly exhausted.
He was utterly fatigued.
Gamabunta, without even seeing the final outcome, had already run out of Chakra and was teleported back to Mount Myōboku.
Naruto's face was fearless as he landed.
He wasn't afraid of heights.
Graffiti on the high Hokage Rock often required overcoming a fear of heights.
Moreover, Iruka-sensei would always catch him.
Although there would be no Iruka-sensei at this moment.
But that was also because he no longer needed him.
With the cushioning of the branches.
Neither of the two falling from a high altitude suffered too many injuries.
But what sustained them now was simply their refusal to give up.
Naruto's forehead was bleeding. "I really… I've used up everything."
"You too, right?"
"We are similar people, let's end it like this."
Gaara had told Naruto in the hospital.
He had been a monster since he was young.
At six years old, he was deemed a dangerous person.
From then on, the Kazekage constantly sent assassins to kill him.
Gaara couldn't find a reason to live.
Until.
He killed the assassin.
From that moment, Naruto felt similar to Gaara.
Both were hated by the Villagers since childhood.
They couldn't find a reason to live, and it was very painful.
Until Iruka-sensei's acknowledgment.
But their worlds also had significant differences.
Gaara grew up constantly killing people.
Naruto grew up more like in a greenhouse.
The first time he encountered life and death was after becoming a Genin.
At that time, Naruto felt fear.
He couldn't deal with Gaara at all.
Later, Sakura and Sasuke gave him the meaning of companionship.
Only then did he gain fighting spirit.
Gaara ignored the other party's so-called "end."
He stood up and clenched his fists.
Without Ninjutsu, he still had Taijutsu.
He came to Konoha to participate in the Chunin Exams, obeying the Kazekage's orders.
He was only there to kill.
If the Villagers wouldn't let him kill, then he would come to Konoha.
But what he saw were all sorts of so-called companions.
Lee always had Might Guy behind him.
Sakura in front of Sasuke.
And this Naruto before him.
This awakened painful memories in his mind.
'Uncle Yashamaru.'
How could it end like this...
Naruto and Gaara jumped from the treetop.
They both threw a punch with all their might.
No defense, only offense.
They fell to the ground in the same manner.
Their heads facing the same direction.
One lying face down, one lying face up.
Gaara, using his last bit of strength, turned his head to look.
Naruto was pressing his face tightly against the ground, moving his body towards Gaara.
'Why is this guy so strong?'
The smell of dirt, the smell of blood.
His body was weak and sore, so tired that it felt like he would lose all momentum the next second.
Countless wounds on his body constantly stimulated his brain to release pain signals.
At this moment.
Naruto thought of many things.
'I told you not to talk to that guy.'
'Let's go.'
'Ah, over there.'
'It's him, the monster.'
'Get lost.'
The little boy sitting on the swing.
A lonely figure.
What was the meaning of his existence?
Gaara had also suffered the same things as him.
For him, the entire Village wanted to erase him.
What did he live for?
And Haku.
If that person didn't have Zabuza.
He would consider himself someone not needed by the world.
Gaara watched Naruto get closer and closer.
"Don't… don't come closer!"
Naruto: "The pain of being alone."
"It's not just any pain, is it?"
"For some reason."
"I can deeply understand how you feel."
"But I already have people I need to protect."
"I won't let you harm my companions."
"Otherwise, even if I have to kill you."
"I will definitely stop you."
Outside Hidden Rain Village.
At the mouth of the cave.
A ripple flashed in Itachi's cold Mangekyo Sharingan.
He resonated with Naruto's words.
Ultimately, one must live for something.
Naruto lived for recognition.
Gaara lived to kill.
A reason for living like Gaara's would never be recognized by the world.
This was a path leading to certain death.
If he hadn't met Naruto, if he hadn't met a stronger Kage-level expert.
Gaara would have already met his demise.
Meeting an opponent like Naruto was Gaara's honor.
He infected those around him with his Ninja Way.
No wonder he could become Hokage.
The Third Hokage had such a resolve to dedicate himself to Konoha.
It's likely Naruto will have it in the future too.
Itachi himself, of course, also had something that kept him alive.
He glanced at the red clouds and black robes around him.
He also knew that everyone in this organization had it.
Some might be similar to Gaara.
Some might be similar to Naruto.
A hint of acknowledgment appeared in Obito's single Sharingan.
Then it was quickly erased.
No matter how beautiful these things seemed now.
Without that person's existence, everything was void.
He couldn't abandon his plan for the void on the screen.
Konan looked at the heavily injured Naruto on the screen.
She thought to herself.
If everyone in the world were like Naruto.
Why would so many tragedies occur?
But one person's strength is ultimately insignificant.
Presumably, the current Naruto doesn't know.
The future Naruto will eventually know.