Uchiha Akira had become a legend throughout the entire ninja world by now!
More importantly, Kankuro had personally witnessed Uchiha Akira's Deep Forest Emergence when it was first unleashed. Kankuro, along with his two teammates from Sunagakure, had kept their distance during the fight between Akira's Wood Golem and the Gedo Statue.
It hadn't been that long since that battle, and now, here Uchiha Akira was, walking into Sunagakure. Even though Kankuro found Naruto irritating, he couldn't help but take note of what Naruto said about them coming to save his father.
So, when Akira invited him to sit down and share a meal, Kankuro accepted and joined them.
As they chatted, Kankuro couldn't help but probe further, wanting to understand the real reason behind their visit.
"You don't need to dig for information," Akira said with a casual wave of his hand. "It's pretty simple. I've already spoken with the Kazekage." Then, Akira explained the situation, mentioning the upcoming attack by the Akatsuki.
"What? The Akatsuki is coming to Sunagakure for Gaara?" Kankuro immediately tensed up.
Having personally witnessed the Akatsuki's strength in Konoha, the idea that they were now targeting Sunagakure sent chills down his spine. Could Sunagakure's forces really hold off the Akatsuki?
Kankuro couldn't help but feel uneasy at the thought.
"All because of the monster inside me, huh?" Gaara's voice suddenly cut through the conversation. He pointed at Naruto, then looked at Akira. "Aren't you worried they'll take the fox from him, too?"
As it happened, Gaara and Temari had just arrived.
"Oh? You three are sitting here, having ramen together? Looks like you've got a good relationship with your siblings!" Akira remarked, somewhat surprised. It seemed like Gaara's relationship with his brother and sister was much more relaxed compared to what it had been in the original story. Perhaps things had changed without Kotoamatsukami being involved?
"Hmph," Gaara grunted. He thought Akira was mocking him, so he didn't bother responding.
"Kurama says he can't stand the stench of that raccoon inside him," Naruto suddenly said, breaking the silence.
Thanks to Akira's help, Naruto had met Kurama much earlier than in the original timeline. Though he hadn't yet fully gained Kurama's trust, they had at least developed a relationship where they could have the occasional conversation.
"Shukaku says the same thing," Gaara responded, his own Tailed Beast's chakra stirring uneasily. He stared down Naruto, the tension between them evident in their hostile glares.
Akira couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. Naruto's relationship with Kurama had significantly improved compared to the original story, and it seemed Gaara had also grown somewhat closer to Shukaku over the years.
Akira knew from the original that the Tailed Beasts often didn't get along, especially Kurama and Shukaku.
The reason? Kurama ranked the Tailed Beasts by the number of tails, with himself being the strongest and Shukaku, with only one tail, being the weakest.
Naturally, Shukaku couldn't stand that, and their rivalry had been ongoing ever since.
Now, because of this animosity between the two Tailed Beasts, Naruto and Gaara seemed to be butting heads just as much as their respective beasts did.
Watching the sparks fly between the two Jinchuriki, Akira found the situation rather amusing.
It was almost like the two of them were walking their pets—pets that were snarling at each other—and now the owners were about to start a fight themselves.
"What's so funny, Akira?" Naruto finally asked, frustrated that Akira was laughing when he was in the middle of a tense staredown with Gaara.
"Oh, nothing," Akira replied with a grin. "I just think you two are more alike than you realize. You could probably end up being great friends."
"That'll never happen!" Both of them shouted in unison.
Naruto and Gaara's voices were filled with conviction as they rejected the very idea.
Nearby, Temari and Kankuro exchanged glances, a look of quiet satisfaction in their eyes.
They knew better than anyone what Gaara had gone through growing up—how the village treated him as a monster. They had felt a mixture of sympathy and fear for him, understanding his pain while also being wary of his instability.
Over the past two years, Gaara had come to terms with the monster inside him and had matured somewhat. He wasn't as extreme as he had been as a child, but the change had been gradual, and he was still largely isolated.
But now, seeing Naruto, who was also a Jinchuriki, interacting with Gaara, they couldn't help but feel hopeful. It seemed Gaara had finally met someone who could truly understand him.
Of course, neither Naruto nor Gaara would admit it, but their constant bickering and rivalry were signs that they could eventually become close friends. The tension between them wasn't born of hatred but of mutual understanding.
Meanwhile, the owner of the ramen shop watched in horror as Naruto and Gaara's argument escalated. He couldn't believe the audacity of this ninja from Konoha—daring to talk back to Gaara of all people. Didn't Naruto know Gaara could kill him at any moment?
Most of the other customers had already fled in fear, sensing Gaara's growing agitation.
"Enough, both of you! If you don't settle down, I'll make sure you do," Akira finally intervened, raising his voice at the two of them. As he spoke, his eyes transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan, and he directed the full force of his ocular power at the two Jinchuriki.
Tailed Beasts were indeed powerful entities, but when it came to controlling them, few abilities rivaled the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Even the strongest of the Tailed Beasts, Kurama, had once been subdued and used as nothing more than a summoned beast by Uchiha Madara.
Both Naruto and Gaara, who had been on the verge of unleashing their Tailed Beasts' chakra, immediately felt the oppressive force of Akira's gaze. The chaotic energy swirling around them quickly dissipated, leaving the room eerily calm.
"Damn those cursed eyes..." In Naruto's mind, Kurama grumbled to himself, once again forced to retreat. Even within Naruto's subconscious, the Nine-Tails could feel Akira's powerful presence, just as he had when Konoha was attacked.
In that attack, Kurama had sensed the presence of multiple Mangekyō Sharingan users—Uchiha Fugaku, the current Hokage, Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Sasuke, and of course, Akira. Not to mention the masked man who had summoned him from Kushina's body all those years ago.
The realization that the world now held five pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan left Kurama muttering, "The shinobi world has truly changed. Even if I escape, what could I really accomplish?"
On the other side, Shukaku, similarly pressured by Akira's gaze, growled in frustration but ultimately quieted down as well.
"Damn those eyes..." Shukaku muttered, feeling utterly suppressed by the powerful Mangekyō Sharingan.
Gaara looked at Akira in disbelief. He had known Akira was strong, but this level of power was beyond what he had expected. Akira had not only easily subdued him during the Chunin Exams but could now silence Shukaku with nothing more than a look.
This was the first time Gaara had ever felt Shukaku so... docile.
"Don't look so surprised," Akira said casually, his Mangekyō fading back into his regular eyes. "When the Sharingan evolves into the Mangekyō, its ocular power becomes strong enough to control Tailed Beasts."
Gaara didn't say anything, but inside, Shukaku remained unusually quiet, not daring to protest.
Seeing this, Gaara couldn't help but think, This is the strongest bloodline limit in the entire ninja world? It can even control a Tailed Beast...
Gaara studied Akira more closely. A thought quietly took root in his mind.
If I could marry a woman from the Uchiha clan... one with the Mangekyō Sharingan... would I never have to fear Shukaku again? Could I finally sleep peacefully?
The idea started to grow inside Gaara. It wouldn't be easy, but it was at least something worth hoping for, right?
*************
A bonus chapter if we reach 300 Powerstone
*************
Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 255+ at patreon.com/Emik01.