"Is that so?" After hearing Kirito's words, Naruto seemed to grasp something. He took a deep breath, raised his innocent face, and stood firm before Kirito.
Seeing this, Kirito immediately knew what was coming—Naruto's infamous words of persuasion. Unfazed, he used Kyōka Suigetsu to obscure himself in the shadows. Simultaneously, he raised his right hand, placing two fingers together, and fired a small pulse of chakra at Gaara.
Gaara coughed violently as he began to wake up, the hazy image of Kankuro's painted face filling his vision.
"Gaara, are you alright?" Kankuro asked anxiously.
Temari, standing beside him, added with concern, "Gaara, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine… Thank you," Gaara murmured.
For the first time in his life, since Yashamaru's death, Gaara felt the warmth of genuine concern. It left him momentarily stunned and at a loss for words.
Hearing Gaara's uncharacteristic gratitude, Kankuro and Temari were equally dumbfounded. After a brief pause, they both stumbled through a response. "No, it's nothing…"
The fleeting warmth was gone as quickly as it came. Gaara's expression hardened once again, returning to his usual icy demeanor. His eyes darted toward Kirito, but deep within his pupils was an unmistakable flicker of fear.
Moments earlier, the One-Tail had warned Gaara against provoking the man named Fujiwara Kirito. Not only would Gaara face certain death, but the Shukaku itself would perish alongside him.
Yet before Gaara could dwell further on his thoughts, his attention was drawn to Naruto, who began his mouth-to-mouth combat.
Naruto spoke directly to Kirito, his voice steady despite his tearful eyes. "Brother Kirito, I don't fully understand everything you said—about Neji's father, about Kakashi-sensei, or about Grandpa Hokage being selfish. But none of these are reasons for you to defect from the village."
"You must love this village very much," Naruto continued, "Otherwise, you wouldn't have let Kakashi-sensei and the others go. I may not understand the wars you adults talk about, but I know this: if powerful ninjas like Kakashi-sensei and his companions are gone, the village will be defenseless. The war Grandpa Hokage fears will come."
Naruto placed his right hand over his stomach, his voice trembling. "As for me… Ever since I was little, I've been treated like a monster by everyone in the village. People look at me with disgust. They hate me. Do you know how painful it is to be completely alone? Sometimes, I even wondered if my existence was a mistake."
"But then, I met you, Brother Kirito," Naruto said, his voice breaking. "I'll never forget that cold day when I was wandering the streets, seeing families together while I was alone. You came to me, and for the first time, someone acknowledged me."
Naruto's voice grew stronger. "Uncle Teuchi told me that the Nine-Tails in me might have taken your parents away. But even then, you didn't look at me with hatred. You treated me to ramen, Brother Kirito. You treated me like I mattered."
"Since that day, I wasn't alone anymore. I found my bond."
Naruto wiped his tears as he continued. "Later, I met Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, and Sasuke. I've never had parents or siblings, but when I'm with Iruka-sensei, it feels like I have a father. With Sasuke, it feels like having a brother. And you, Brother Kirito… even though you're not much older than me, you feel like a father to me."
"That's why I can't lose you. Please stop this, Brother Kirito!"
By the end of his plea, Naruto's face was drenched in tears.
The scene fell silent. Everyone stared at Naruto, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief. Naruto's heartfelt words seemed to strike a chord with everyone present.
Kirito, however, was left speechless. He muttered to himself, "Father?"
For the first time, Kirito found himself stunned by Naruto's words. If Naruto had tried this with anyone else, they might have already surrendered to his plea. But Kirito wasn't just anyone—he was a reincarnated soul from another world.
Naruto's words, however, reminded him of someone else: Kushina Uzumaki.
At the same time, Gaara's mind began to race. Memories of his past, Yashamaru's betrayal, and his father's attempts to kill him flooded his thoughts. The kindness from Kankuro and Temari earlier added to his confusion. The emotional weight was too much for Gaara to handle.
He clutched his head and screamed, "Ahhhh!"
"Gaara! What's wrong?" Kankuro shouted, panic evident in his voice.
"Gaara!" Temari called out, worry etched on her face.
Kirito observed Gaara's turmoil with interest. It seems the seeds of change have already been planted. Naruto's influence is starting to work, even on Gaara.
After a while, Gaara regained his composure. He glanced at Kankuro and Temari, his gaze softer than before. Clutching his chest, he muttered, "Is this… a bond?"
Kirito's applause broke the silence, drawing everyone's attention back to him.
"Naruto," Kirito said with a smirk, "I'll admit it—you're quite the talker. To be honest, I was almost moved by you. I originally planned to reveal your life's secrets and the truth about Sarutobi Hiruzen, but I think I'll hold off for now."
He raised his hand, his fingers spreading apart. "Five seconds."
Everyone froze in confusion. "What do you mean?" someone asked.
"In five seconds, I can kill everyone here," Kirito declared, his tone calm yet chilling. He unsheathed Kyōka Suigetsu for emphasis.
Kankuro's face turned pale. "Hey, wait! We're not from Konoha!" he shouted.
"Five… Four…" Kirito began counting down, ignoring Kankuro's pleas.
Sarutobi Hiruzen gritted his teeth. "Everyone, prepare to defend yourselves. Fujiwara Kirito is capable of striking from anywhere!"
Just as the tension reached its peak, a familiar voice called out, "That's enough, Kirito!"
Everyone turned to see Yuhi Kurenai arriving with a team of medics. She stood just outside the fiery red barrier Kirito had erected.
Kirito blinked and sighed, his expression softening. "You're lucky," he muttered. With a snap of his fingers, the barrier dissolved.
Before anyone could react, Kirito vanished into the depths of the forest.
(End of Chapter)
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