With those words, the sand platform beneath Deidara and Rasa sped away, heading toward the desert outside the village.
Meanwhile, within the Hidden Sand Village...
The ninjas tasked with assassinating Gaara noticed the battle in the sky.
"What's going on up there? That's Kazekage-sama's sand! Wait, is that a giant bird? Is he fighting a bird?"
"Are you blind? There's a person on the bird's back!"
"Captain, should we help him?"
The captain shook his head. "No! We must complete the mission Kazekage-sama assigned us first. The monster is inside. Be prepared! Let's finish this quickly!"
Rasa had tasked them with assassinating Gaara.
On the other side of the wall was Gaara's bedroom.
"Go!"
The lead ninjas burst through the door, rushing into the bedroom. Gaara sat expressionless on the bed, hugging a teddy bear, staring out the window in solitude.
By now, he had grown used to these sudden intrusions.
"Are you... another one of my father's assassins?"
The captain shouted, "Stop playing dumb! Die, monster!"
Several kunai flew from the assassins' hands, aiming for Gaara's heart. Just as they were about to hit, a shield of sand appeared, blocking the attack.
"Tch! That absolute defense again? Don't underestimate us!"
Each kunai was covered with explosive tags.
"Boom!"
A massive explosion erupted in Gaara's bedroom.
The sudden loud noise in the middle of the night woke the surrounding residents.
"What was that sound? Where did the explosion come from?"
"Calm down, it must be Kazekage-sama trying to kill his son again. It's not our concern, go back to sleep..."
"Good, I hope he succeeds this time. That little monster gives me the creeps every time I see him."
"Sigh, living next to Gaara, we're really unlucky."
...
Back with Gaara...
On the ground lay the shredded bodies of the ninjas, crushed to pieces by the sand.
Despite being only ten and a half years old, Gaara's strength was already enough to easily overpower several elite Chunin.
He sat on the platform, trembling. The blood on his face made him extremely excited. Under the moonlight, Gaara's young face looked even more sinister.
A raspy voice sounded from behind him.
"Yo, kid, not bad..."
An "old" man wearing a black cloak with red clouds, hunched over, slowly approached Gaara.
It was Sasori of the Red Sand.
Gaara turned his head coldly, unfazed.
"Are you another assassin sent by my father? The blood... the blood isn't enough. I'll kill you too!"
"Sand Binding Coffin!"
Gaara, consumed by bloodlust, would likely kill any living being that appeared before him.
"Swish!"
A mass of sand appeared around Sasori, surrounding him completely.
Gaara stretched out his right hand, palm open, and murmured fiercely, "Sand Waterfall Funeral!"
"Bang!"
The sand's pressure crushed Sasori's body.
However, there was no rain of blood. Instead, it was just normal sand.
"The One-Tailed Jinchuriki is truly terrifying. In just one move, you destroyed my sand clone..."
"Kid, I've heard about you from Yura. Everyone in the village sees you as a monster. Your father, brother, and sister all despise you..."
"Come with me. I'll take you to a place where only monsters exist. I don't like waiting, and I don't like being waited on. If it weren't for the order to capture you alive, I wouldn't be wasting so many words."
"Decide for yourself whether you want to go or not..."
...