Chiyo gritted her teeth as she uttered those fateful words. Her entire being seemed drained, collapsing into the arms of the two Sunagakure elders beside her.
She had no choice but to agree.
To agree meant Sunagakure would lose vast resources, their jinchūriki, and even their military autonomy within the Land of Wind. But at least the village would survive. As long as Sunagakure endured, there would always be hope for its revival, a chance to reclaim its former glory.
To refuse, however, would likely spell the end of Sunagakure's very existence.
The recent devastating bombardment by Konoha had claimed the lives of many lower and mid-tier shinobi in Sunagakure. Yet their elite forces remained intact. With these individuals alive, the village could rebuild. In ten or so years, once the next generation of shinobi matured, Senju Tobirama would most likely no longer be around. When that time came, Sunagakure would take back everything that had been stolen.
Chiyo knew this. She understood the stakes and the implications.
But her name, Chiyo, would forever be branded a symbol of disgrace and submission.
As she finally agreed to Tobirama's terms, a mechanical, electronic voice echoed in his mind.
Mission: Defeat Sunagakure (Completed)
Reward: Spiritual energy doubled, natural energy doubled (Claimed)
A thin ray of light flashed.
Even though Tobirama was already immensely powerful, he couldn't suppress a muffled groan as the transformation began.
Within his mind, his spiritual energy surged, evolving, transcending. However, due to the limitations of his Edo Tensei body, the natural energy couldn't flow into his organs and meridians. Instead, it gathered within him, lying dormant. Once he regained a body of flesh and blood, this energy would transform him completely, purging all imperfections from his being.
During the brief silence as Tobirama stood motionless, the others in the tent began to notice something extraordinary.
If Tobirama had previously been like a majestic tiger, exuding raw, unrestrained power, now he felt like a coiled dragon—calm, profound, and immeasurable. Although no visible chakra flared from his body, his innate aura alone was overwhelming, making it impossible for anyone to summon the will to oppose him.
The nearly fainting Chiyo felt this change most acutely. Overcome, she completely blacked out.
The two Counsellors supporting her trembled as they stammered apologies to Tobirama before hurriedly carrying her out of the tent.
Once everything settled, Tobirama allowed himself a faint smile. Turning to Kakashi and Might Guy, he said with ease:
"Kakashi, Guy, I'm entrusting the task of receiving Sunagakure's compensation to you and your teams."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," the two replied in unison, nodding firmly.
...
Two Days Later
When wagons loaded with goods began arriving in Konoha, the villagers could hardly believe their eyes.
"We… won?"
"That was so fast! Hokage-sama has already defeated Sunagakure?"
"Hokage-sama, banzai!"
"Konoha is unbeatable!"
The streets were alive with jubilant cheers as villagers lined both sides of the road, warmly welcoming the returning shinobi.
Some Konoha ninjas couldn't help but blush. They hadn't contributed much to the victory, yet Sunagakure's swift defeat left them feeling both elated and a little embarrassed.
The Hoshigakure's ninja, on the other hand, were brimming with pride. Their flying techniques had dealt a decisive blow to Sunagakure, earning them the admiration of their peers. People swarmed them, offering handshakes, hugs, and endless praise.
"I swear, I was flying overhead when this Sunagakure shinobi tried to knock me out of the sky. Guess what? I dropped a paper bomb right on his head—boom! He didn't stand a chance!"
"No way! That's amazing!"
"Of course! It's the secret technique of the Star Clan—Peacock Method. It lets me grow wings on my back! Here, check it out!"
A Quiet Clearing
Gaara stood silently, watching the celebration from afar.
Since Sunagakure's surrender, the captured Sunagakure shinobi had been released and sent home on Tobirama's orders. This included his siblings, Temari and Kankurō.
Only Gaara remained.
As a symbol of Konoha's victory, he had been left behind.
Now alone in Konoha, he thought back to the expressions on his siblings' faces when they departed—relief, as if they were finally free of a burden. His heart stirred, and Shukaku raged within him, threatening to break free. But the beast's power had been sealed even tighter by the Hokage, leaving it to fume helplessly.
"Gaara, there you are!"
A cheerful voice rang out behind him. Gaara turned to see Naruto Uzumaki bounding over.
"C'mon, Gaara! Let's train together today! Sasuke's been itching to spar with you, but he's too shy to say it himself."
Naruto slapped Gaara on the back, grinning broadly. Behind him, Sasuke Uchiha pinched the bridge of his nose, his aloof demeanor intact. Despite his stoic facade, the spark of challenge in his eyes was unmistakable.
"Let's go, let's go! I've got a brand-new jutsu to show you guys. It's crazy powerful!"
Before Gaara could reply, Naruto grabbed his hand and started dragging him along. Sasuke, with a small huff, followed close behind.
Maybe… life in Konoha won't be so bad after all, Gaara thought.
In Sunagakure, even as the son of the Fourth Kazekage, he had always been feared. His siblings walked on eggshells around him, and his father saw him only as a tool of war, never as a person.
But in Konoha, Naruto—someone who shared his burden as a jinchūriki—lived so freely, so joyously. And Sasuke, despite his icy demeanor, was fiercely loyal to his comrades.
For the first time, Gaara felt like an equal, like a comrade.
From now on, I won't see myself as Sunagakure's jinchūriki. I am Gaara of Konoha.
With that thought, his steps became lighter as he followed his new friends into the bright future ahead.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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