["After becoming Kazekage, I finally understood your choices… Protecting the village from threats is the responsibility of a village leader."]
The leaders of the Five Great Ninja Villages were all standing before the projected image.
Just as only a jinchūriki can truly understand another jinchūriki, perhaps only a Kage can truly understand a Kage.
The perspective and way of thinking of those below could never reach the level of those above.
Because if they ever did reach it—whether they were a genin, chūnin, or jōnin—they would never live an ordinary life.
Even so, they still could not fully agree with the Fourth Kazekage's methods.
But to be a Kage often meant choosing between pain… and even greater pain.
Standing before the image, Senju Tobirama recalled the Fourth Shinobi World War, when he and his older brother had been summoned back from the Pure Land by Orochimaru's Edo Tensei.
That same Orochimaru had once accused him, saying,"Second Hokage, the policies you enacted during your tenure—and the jutsu you developed—caused endless trouble for later generations."
"Hmph." Tobirama snorted dismissively and said nothing.
The Third Hokage and the advisory council: "..."
Why did sensei suddenly get angry?Shaking in fear…
Abruptly dragged to the front of the Konoha Ninja Academy, Itama stared blankly."???"
Why is Tobirama-niisan angry?Did Hashirama-niisan mess something up again?Should I plead for him later?
["When he heard that the monster he created with his own hands had become the Kazekage of Sunagakure, Gaara's father was beyond shocked!"]
["And as if that weren't enough to hit him even harder—"]
["Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage—who greatly approved of the Fifth Kazekage—delivered an even heavier blow to Rasa:"]
["Not only that! He's also the current Supreme Commander of the Allied Shinobi Forces! Despite becoming the leader of an entire village at such a young age, the other Kage—including this old man—hold him in the highest respect!"]
Naruto, who always immersed himself easily in others' stories, immediately felt his blood boil when he heard the Tsuchikage's words.
"That's so cool!! Gaara!!"
At the same time, Naruto quietly renewed his resolve.He, too, would become Hokage.He would earn the acknowledgment of everyone in the village—and just like the future Gaara, he would gain the respect of the other villages' Kage as well!!
"Alright! After this chūnin exam, I'm definitely going to become Hokage, believe it!!"
"Idiot, Naruto! Forget whether you'll even pass the chūnin exam—you have to become a jōnin before you can be Hokage!!"Sakura snapped, switching straight into Inner Sakura mode, once again furious at her teammate's stupidity.
Gaara, who had only just emerged from his unstable mental state, still didn't understand why his Absolute Defense had taken the form of that woman.
He stared blankly at the interaction between Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke.
Is this what friendship… is supposed to look like?
It seemed that Absolute Defense was, at most, only ineffective against Naruto.
But if he could find the reason why…
["In the image, the man wrapped head to toe in bandages was none other than the Second Tsuchikage, Mū—the teacher of the Third Tsuchikage."]
[Mū: "No wonder. I was wondering why I could sense different types of chakra from every village behind you. I never imagined the shinobi would actually form an alliance."]
[Gengetsu Hōzuki: "That Kazekage brat's got some real leadership about him, huh~"]
[The Third Raikage glanced at the short Fourth Kazekage beside him: "Your son? He's an outstanding shinobi."]
["An… outstanding son…?"]
[The image shifted into the Fourth Kazekage Rasa's memories. Young Gaara was being held up by medical ninja, supported under both arms."]
[Thirteen years ago—]
[Inside the Sunagakure maternity ward, several medical ninja had just delivered a baby."]
[Rasa: "Such a small child… Are you sure a premature baby like this will be alright?"]
[Chiyo: "But he's the only suitable one. He's already the third. We finally found the most compatible candidate…"]
["As a jinchūriki, raise him carefully." Chiyo spoke without a trace of emotion, as if reading from a mission report."]
Hearing this, Naruto's anger exploded instantly.
"Those bastards!!! What do they think Gaara is?!!"
"Naruto…" Gaara murmured.
"If this weren't something we couldn't change, I'd beat them to a pulp!!"Because of people like them—because of decisions like these—both he and Gaara had lived lives filled with suffering.
How could Naruto not be furious?
["C-Child… let me see… let me see the baby…"]
The woman on the bed was in terrible condition. She was drenched in sweat, breathing rapidly, her pale face etched with exhaustion.
"Mom!" Temari cried out.
"Mom!!" Kankurō shouted.
Their mother had died when they were very young.The only image they had of her came from photographs.
Knowing the cause of her death, this was the first time they had ever seen her in her final moments.
The pain hit them both hard.
"Mother…" Gaara whispered, lifting his gaze toward his protective defense.
How utterly ironic.
The woman who had named him "Shura who loves only himself."
The woman who had wished for his death.
And yet—even the stronger, evolved form of his Absolute Defense now bore her likeness.
Yes. He could feel it.
This Absolute Defense was far sturdier than the one he had before.
As for why he had awakened this power—
Gaara looked at Naruto and the others.
Was it… the desire to protect friends?
Naruto: "..."
He clenched his clothes tightly.
Gaara had once said that he killed his mother the moment he was born.
Then this scene…
This must be what she looked like before she died, right?
[In the image, the woman struggled to express her request. She wanted to see her child.]
[The Fourth Kazekage rushed to her side. Rasa looked much younger back then."]
["Are you alright, Karura?"]
[A medical ninja gently placed the frail infant Gaara beside Karura's face. The woman revealed a tired yet blissful smile…"]
"She really seems to cherish her child," Sakura said softly.Perhaps because the baby looked so small and pitiful—and because there was no "love" character on his forehead yet—Sakura hadn't immediately connected him to Gaara.
"Yeah," Sasuke agreed.
"Huh?" Naruto blinked.
So this was Gaara's mom…
For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to dislike her at all.
Gaara himself was stunned.
This was the first time he had ever seen that woman alive.
She was so weak, yet she forced herself to hold on—just to see him one last time.
Why?
And that smile…
Why did it make his chest ache?
...