Temari closed her eyes, a single tear slowly tracing a path down her cheek.
"I thought I succeeded with my method, and everyone finally remembered me,"
Naruto continued.
"Just like you, who always felt your existence was affirmed through the fear of others..."
Kankuro lowered his head further, his shoulders trembling slightly.
"But at that time, the night I was thoroughly deceived by Mizuki-sensei and almost died foolishly,"
Naruto smiled faintly, recalling that important moment.
"I suddenly realized that even if I didn't play pranks or cause trouble, there was someone who was always watching over and worrying about me from afar. I finally found out that even if I didn't do silly pranks like that, they could all still remember my name well and even accept me."
Kakashi leaned against the wall, his usually listless eyes now filled with sincere relief and pride as he looked at Naruto.
"I want to become Hokage,"
Naruto said, his voice now firmer and full of conviction.
"I want everyone in this village to acknowledge me, so I decided to become a ninja. I met so many people on my journey, including a rogue ninja from Kirigakure whose tongue was as sharp as a sword but whose heart was as soft as snow, and a handsome long-haired young man who also doubted his own existence in this world just like you, Gaara, but in the end, he was willing to sacrifice his own life for someone he deeply cared for and protected."
Haku's gentle, peaceful smile was still clearly etched in Naruto's memory.
"Hey, Gaara."
Deep sadness appeared in Naruto's blue eyes.
"Instead of continuously using painful methods like that just to maintain and prove your existence in this world, why don't you try to believe that you have always existed and are precious? Just like the sand that is still near you right now, which always faithfully protects you. Are they all just lifeless killing tools to you?"
Naruto pointed towards the fine sand particles still floating slightly around Gaara.
"Even after you lost your chakra and Shukaku's chakra was also sealed, look, this sand still tries to protect you... Have you never once wanted to see and feel it, Gaara?"
The sand floating in the air seemed to have a soul, as if reflecting Naruto himself.
Even if there was only a little will and strength left, it would always try to block enemies and use everything it had to protect Gaara.
"I... I'm not strong at all, Gaara."
Naruto looked intently at Gaara.
"Compared to that genius Sasuke, and also you who possess monstrous power, my kunai-throwing skills are also very bad, and my taijutsu abilities are nothing special or outstanding. So, I'm not strong at all. I just... I just want to protect my important friends and family. And I will try my best with all my soul to be able to do this."
"Just like this sand... which always tries to protect you."
... ... ... ...
Naruto finally left Gaara's cell, because Jiraiya was apparently ready to depart, and one of the Anbu came to inform them that their time was almost up.
After uttering his last sentence, Naruto stood silently for a long time in front of the cell door.
No one present spoke; even the members of the torture department and the Anbu, who were usually cold and emotionless, seemed to fall silent, affected by the atmosphere.
Everyone silently watched Naruto's retreating back, as if they had once watched their own shadows in the past, shadows that also struggled to cultivate their own sparks of hope on this harsh land of Konoha.
Wherever the tree leaves dance, there the fire will continue to blaze and will never be extinguished.
After everyone had left and the atmosphere returned to silence, Gaara sat alone in the deepest part of his dark cell.
He stared blankly at a small handful of sand in his palm.
As Naruto had just said, even without the support of his own chakra and also Shukaku's chakra, the sand apparently never gave up on protecting him.
Why? Gaara still didn't quite understand the reason.
But looking at the small ball of sand now gently formed in his hand, he seemed to begin to understand something, although everything still felt so vague and confusing.
After what felt like a very long time, Gaara slowly lifted his head and looked at the dark cell ceiling.
It was still pitch black in his vision, but for some reason, the golden color of his sand now looked so distinct and shone softly in that darkness.
He spoke slowly, his voice hoarse and barely audible: "Kankuro... Temari... Baki-sensei..."
The three people whose names were called, who were in separate cells but could still hear Gaara's faint voice, simultaneously turned towards Gaara's cell, surprised.
"I'm sorry..."
Gaara's voice was very soft, so soft that he himself might not have been able to hear it clearly if he wasn't focused.
However, the three of them – Kankuro, Temari, and Baki – heard it very clearly, as clearly as if the words had been shouted directly into their ears.
There was a long silence.
Then, Kankuro smiled faintly, the first sincere smile he had ever shown his younger brother.
Temari shed tears again, but this time they were tears of relief. Baki nodded slowly, a heavy burden seemingly lifted from his shoulders.
"It's okay, Gaara," Temari finally replied, her voice still trembling slightly.
"It's okay."
Inside Naruto's seal, Hana smiled warmly.
"My prince... you truly managed to touch even the coldest of hearts. You are a true light."
... ... ... ... ... ...
The next morning, the sun had just climbed the eastern horizon, spreading a soft golden light throughout Konoha Village, which was slowly waking from its slumber.
The morning air felt fresh and slightly cool, carrying the scent of dew still clinging to the leaves.
In front of Konoha's grand and sturdy main gate, a typical farewell atmosphere began to be felt.
Karin, with her fiery red hair tied neatly and glasses perched on her nose, stood a little awkwardly.
In her hand, she held a medium-sized, seemingly full backpack.
Before her stood Naruto, who, as usual, was already full of energy despite the early hour.
Beside Naruto, with a much flatter and colder (Tsundere) expression, stood Sasuke Uchiha.
And a few steps behind them, Jiraiya the legendary Sannin leaned casually against a gate pillar, his arms crossed over his chest, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
This time, it wasn't just Naruto who would accompany Jiraiya on the important mission to find Tsunade.
Sasuke was also coming along.
After the invasion incident and the real threat from Orochimaru who was still after his Sharingan, the Third Hokage felt very worried about the safety of the Uchiha clan's last heir.
With a heavy heart, but for maximum protection, Hiruzen decided that it would be safer for Sasuke to be under Jiraiya's direct supervision for a while, one of Konoha's strongest ninjas.
The journey to find Tsunade became the perfect pretext to get Sasuke away from the village and out of Orochimaru's direct reach, at least temporarily.
"Naruto, are you sure you've packed everything?"
Karin asked, her voice sounding slightly worried.
She handed the backpack she was carrying to Naruto.
"Here, I've prepared some additional daily necessities for you, some bandages and basic first-aid medicines, and also some dry food supplies. Your journey will surely be long and possibly dangerous."
Naruto accepted the bag with a wide smile.
"Wow, thanks a lot, Karin-chan! You're so kind to go to the trouble of preparing all this for me, dattebayo!"
"Hmph, it's nothing,"
Karin replied, her cheeks slightly blushing.
She turned her face away for a moment, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"I just... I just don't want you to trouble Jiraiya-sama or Sasuke on the way later because you forgot to bring a toothbrush or something."
"Hey! I'm not that forgetful!"
Naruto protested, although in his heart he knew Karin had a point.
He was indeed often careless with small things.
Karin sighed softly, then looked intently at Naruto.
"Remember, Naruto, out there will surely be many dangers. So, always be careful. Don't act rashly or be overconfident. And most importantly," she glanced briefly towards Jiraiya who was still smiling knowingly, "you must always obey Jiraiya-sama's orders and directions, understand? He is far more experienced than you."
"Yeah, yeah, I understand, Karin-chan. You're so naggy this morning, just like a mother,"
Naruto said with a chuckle, but a warm feeling spread through his heart hearing Karin's sincere concern.
"Fufufu~ My prince is indeed surrounded by caring women, isn't he?"
Hana's voice sounded amused in Naruto's mind.
"This Uzumaki girl, although her words are a bit sharp, her heart is actually very soft. She truly cares about you, my prince. Don't waste her attention."
Jiraiya, who had been observing the interaction between the two teenagers from a distance, couldn't help but smile faintly.
The scene before him – a red-haired girl thoughtfully preparing supplies and giving advice to a blond-haired young man about to embark on a dangerous journey – felt so familiar.
For some reason, the image of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki when they were young suddenly flashed in his mind.
Kushina, with her fiery red hair just like Karin's, was also always that naggy and attentive to Minato, especially before Minato undertook important missions.
And Minato, the blond-haired genius, always received all of Kushina's attention with a warm and slightly awkward smile, just like Naruto now.
Even their hair colors were almost identical.
The only difference was the situation: back then, it was the red-haired woman who was the Kyuubi Jinchuriki, whereas now, it was this blond-haired young man who carried the burden of that fox monster within him.
'Is blond hair indeed always destined to be paired with red hair, huh?'
Jiraiya thought to himself, a silly idea flashing briefly.
However, he immediately remembered the many blond-haired members of the Yamanaka clan in Konoha, and the fact that not all (or arguably none) of them were paired with red-haired people.
'Ah, forget it. It's just an interesting coincidence.'
Jiraiya dismissed his silly thought and refocused on the scene before him, his mischievous smile now returning.
"Ahem!"
Jiraiya cleared his throat loudly, deliberately interrupting the farewell moment which he found too 'sweet'.
"So, Sweet Miss, are all the admonitions for this 'lover boy' of yours finished? We have to leave immediately if we want to reach the next town before nightfall."
Once again, Naruto's and Karin's faces immediately turned beet red upon hearing Jiraiya's teasing.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING LOVER BOY, YOU OLD PERVY SAGE!"
Naruto and Karin shouted almost simultaneously, their voices filled with a mixture of embarrassment, annoyance, and a little... panic?
Sasuke, who had been standing silently leaning against the gate wall with his arms crossed, just snorted softly seeing the three of them.
"Troublesome," he muttered softly, though the corners of his lips unconsciously lifted slightly, forming a very thin and almost invisible smile.
Hana, inside Naruto's seal, once again burst out laughing.
"Buahahaha! This Ero-sennin never misses an opportunity to tease my prince! And look at their reactions! So in sync with their anger! Truly like a young couple in love! I love this! I love it so much!"
"Alright, alright, don't be so angry, young ones,"
Jiraiya said with a chuckle, completely unfazed by Naruto and Karin's scolding.
"You two are truly a compatible pair. One has an explosive spirit, the other has extraordinary attentiveness. A perfect match!"
"WE ARE NOT A COUPLE!"
Naruto and Karin shouted again, even more annoyed and embarrassed.
"Alright, alright, I believe you,"
Jiraiya said in a tone that clearly indicated he didn't believe them at all.
He then patted Naruto's and Sasuke's shoulders.
"Come on, let's go now. We still have a long journey ahead."
Naruto took a deep breath, trying to calm his pounding heart from Jiraiya's teasing and also the warmth from Karin's attention.
He looked at Karin one more time.
"Thanks a lot for everything, Karin-chan. Take good care of yourself in the village, okay! I'll definitely come back!"
Karin nodded, a sincere smile now gracing her still slightly blushing face.
"Be careful on the road, Naruto... Sasuke. I hope your journey is smooth." She waved her hand slowly.
After once again teasing the two 'young lovers' with a knowing wink that made Naruto want to throw a Rasengan at him, Jiraiya finally led Naruto and Sasuke out through Konoha's main gate, beginning their long journey to find and retrieve Tsunade, the last legendary Sannin, with the hope that she would accept the position of Fifth Hokage.
Karin stood transfixed in front of the gate, watching the backs of the three ninjas slowly recede and disappear among the trees, until they were finally out of sight.
Various emotions churned within her heart.