Nine-Tailed Chakra Mode comprehensively enhanced Naruto's various abilities, with speed being the most outstanding improvement.
Within the small confines of the Chunin Exams arena, Naruto, relying solely on his legs, ran with a golden flash effect similar to that of the Yellow Flash.
Just as Gaara in the original story was completely defenseless against Lee in the Gate of Pain, facing the current Naruto, Gaara could only passively endure the beatings.
Unlike Lee, who had opened the Gate of Pain, Naruto's punches were heavier!
The half of his body that had transformed into Shukaku was fine; even if Naruto punched a hole through it, it was quickly mended by the Chakra-formed sand.
The other, normal half of his body, was not so lucky.
Naruto's powerful punches landed on Gaara. The Sand Shield couldn't keep up with Naruto's speed, relying only on a thin layer of fine sand covering his body for defense.
It was quickly shattered, and Gaara, like a broken porcelain doll, had half of his body, from head to toe, completely fractured.
When Naruto's attack landed on Gaara again, Gaara experienced a sensation he had never felt since birth.
Pain!
True pain; not the heart-wrenching pain of feeling unable to breathe when Yashamaru died in front of Gaara.
It was a neural signal naturally generated and transmitted to the brain after the body was severely struck. Gaara, who had never experienced it before, understood in an instant that this was pain.
In the gaps between attacks, Gaara curled up his body and rolled up his tail, trying to prevent his body from being hit again.
Every Ninja trains to endure pain, but this was Gaara's first time experiencing it. All this time, the Sand Shield had protected Gaara too well.
Continuous neural signals flooded his brain, and Gaara cried, even shouting, trying to stop those sensations from reaching his brain.
That's right, Gaara was beaten to tears by Naruto!
And the Chakra within Gaara, as if sensing Gaara's will, caused the Sand Shield to no longer activate every time an attack came.
Layers upon layers of yellow sand completely enveloped Gaara, protecting him in the center. Naruto looked at the increasingly thick defense on Gaara's body.
He finally started to get serious, using a Ninjutsu he had developed himself.
"Planetary Rasengan!"
Multiple arms instantly condensed several Rasengan. The Rasengan, combining Nine-Tailed Chakra and Naruto's own Chakra, was many times more powerful than a normal Rasengan.
It seemed to sense the power of Naruto's move, as countless yellow sands emerged from the void, protecting Gaara in the center.
Naruto, who had tested the destructive power of the Planetary Rasengan, finally realized at this moment that he was merely trying to win the match, not kill an enemy.
At the last moment, he changed the direction of the Rasengan, some towards the sky, some towards the ground, like tree branches growing horizontally, his arms held Rasengan that bloomed all around.
The scene paused at this moment.
One side was like a golden giant tree swaying in the wind, while the other was a giant earthy yellow statue standing quietly, as if guarding something.
Karura!
Rasa recognized his wife the moment it formed.
Countless past memories instantly flooded Rasa's mind like pictures.
Karura, who grew weaker day by day after learning that her unborn child would become a Jinchuriki.
The prematurely born Gaara, so small, yet able to withstand having Shukaku sealed within him.
And himself, who had been unable to get within half a step of Gaara ever since that attempt to kill him.
Karura, have you come to see me as an enemy?
Rasa's originally gloomy eyes sparkled with moisture. In his emotional turmoil, his Chakra surged uncontrollably. Rasa quickly closed his eyes, trying hard to control himself.
The sudden surge of Chakra beside him caused everyone on the Presidential Platform to look at Rasa, but they could only see Rasa with his eyes closed, remaining silent.
What is this madman up to now?
Ōnoki muttered to himself and then turned his head, no longer paying attention.
Tomoki, however, instantly understood the whole story and looked at Naruto in the arena, sighing, "It's really you, Naruto. You truly have a fated, complicated relationship with Gaara."
After a short while, Rasa, having composed himself, opened his eyes with a calm expression.
Yet, his heart was still filled with mixed emotions. "I am a failure, whether as a Kazekage, as a husband, or as a father."
"I'm sorry, Gaara!"
Rasa looked at the arena, seemingly trying to see through the thick sand layers to Gaara hidden within, his eyes filled with guilt and regret, and a deeply hidden love.
In the arena.
The unleashed Rasengan disappeared one by one, and the arms Naruto had condensed retracted into his body.
He stared at the giant female figure in front of him for a moment, then, as if realizing something, gently touched his abdomen.
But in an instant, his eyes became firm again, and he slowly walked forward.
The scene was very quiet; everyone was waiting for the final result. As Naruto walked, the standing statue also became loose and slowly crumbled.
When Naruto approached, he could already see Gaara within. At this moment, Gaara had returned to his original appearance, but half of his body appeared tattered, and there were still traces of tears in the corners of his eyes.
And Gaara stared blankly at the disappearing giant statue, his eyes filled with disbelief.
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