"Boss, I..." Naruto looked at Haruto sadly.
"I don't want him to die, and I'm so sad to see him like this."
Haruto ignored Naruto's request but quietly looked at the ground next to him.
Suddenly, there was an explosion, and several figures appeared from the ground, interrupting the movement of the sealing team.
"Kankuro, Temari, take Gaara and run away quickly." Suna's Jōnin Baki stood in front of Gaara.
"Wind Style: Wind Blade!"
Countless small wind blades rushed toward Haruto and the others.
Although Baki put in all his strength and the power of the jutsu was strong, the expressions of the few people present did not change. After all, standing in front of him were some of the top combatants in the ninja world. The strength of an elite jōnin was really not enough.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough."
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough."
Just two simple Wind Style Great Breakthroughs shattered Baki's wind blades.
"Damn it." A few drops of cold sweat dripped from Baki's forehead.
On the other side, Kankuro carried Gaara on his back with a puppet, rode on the puppet with Temari, and ran. Temari stood on the puppet's back and turned around to release ninjutsu.
"Wind Style: Gale Scythe!"
Suddenly the air was filled with swirling winds and blades; no one could open their eyes. Seeing this, Haruto silently pulled out a special kunai and threw it at Kankuro's puppet.
After running less than 100 meters, Kankuro stopped, sweat on his forehead.
Haruto teleported with Flying Thunder God Technique, appeared in front of them, and looked at the two playfully.
"I said you two, can't you see the situation clearly? With your strength, it's too naive to try to save someone from our hands."
"How… The speed is too fast, I didn't even see it clearly." The two hadn't expected Haruto to use Flying Thunder God; they thought he just ran fast. Despair began to sink in.
Boom! Kankuro and the puppet were kicked back hard by Haruto.
"The last time I let you go was just because I was too lazy to chase you. Do you really think you can escape?"
"Kankuro! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, but..."
Temari helped Kankuro up and looked at him seriously."You take Gaara away quickly. I have this—it should be able to hold them back." Temari pulled out a uniquely shaped sealing scroll from her chest.
Kankuro grew anxious."I should be the one to hold them back. I'm a man, how can I hide behind a woman?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm your older sister. Protecting my younger brother is what I should do. Go, or it'll be too late."
Gaara looked at Temari and Kankuro in astonishment."Why?"
"Gaara, although I've said it many times and you never believed me, I'll say it again—Mom didn't regret giving birth to you. Maybe she resented the world, but she definitely loved you. Dad never let me tell you, but Mom actually sacrificed herself to save you. The sand that protects you—that's her."
"Mom, are you going to have a boy or a girl this time?" young Temari asked softly in Karura's arms.
"I heard it'll be a boy. Your father already decided on the name—he'll be called Gaara." Karura smiled.
"What? I wanted a sister."
"Haha, maybe next time. Even if he's a little brother, Temari, you must take good care of him."
"I definitely will! But why name him Gaara?"
"Because 'Ra' is part of my name. His name shows the love between me and your father."
Temari, waking from the memory, looked into Gaara's eyes seriously. "And your name doesn't mean 'a demon who loves only himself.' Mom said 'Ra' is her name—your name proves Dad loved her. And he loves you, too."
"Father..." Gaara's eyes widened. "You're lying! Uncle told me the truth."
"I think… Uncle lied. And maybe Dad too—perhaps to draw out your power. But I think Uncle always loved you."
"How... how could this be..."
"Kankuro, take him away now!" Temari yelled, rushing toward Haruto.
Haruto sneered: "You're overestimating yourself. You can't even stop me for a second."
"Really? Evil Sealing Barrier!" Temari unrolled the scroll, and a translucent barrier trapped Jiraiya and the others, including Haruto.
Jiraiya tried to hit the barrier with a Rasengan, but it didn't move.
"Don't waste chakra. This was meant to seal Gaara when he rampaged. Not even a tailed beast could break it quickly," Temari warned. In truth, she feared Konoha's people might still break it—especially Haruto, whose power had surpassed even One-Tail.
"Gaara, I'm sorry." Temari called out from behind the barrier.
"When you became like that, I distanced myself out of fear. Maybe I wasn't a good sister… but I really love you." Tears welled up in her eyes.
"You were so cute as a child... I miss holding you in my arms."
"Sister..." Gaara looked at her in disbelief.
"And Gaara… Kankuro may seem cold, but he does care about you. Listen to him in the future." She turned to Kankuro. "Take good care of him when I'm gone."
Kankuro shed tears, gritted his teeth, and ran away with Gaara.
"Sister!" Gaara shouted frantically. "Put me down, damn it! Let me down!"
"I told you… you're too naive." Haruto suddenly stood before them.
???
Kankuro stared blankly. How had Haruto escaped?
"How could this be… Kankuro, run!" Temari shouted.
Kankuro sealed Gaara inside the Salamander Puppet and sent it fleeing. He faced Haruto with his remaining puppets.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Within seconds, Kankuro was down.
After a while, Haruto dragged along a dazed Gaara and an unconscious Kankuro.
The Third Hokage looked at the captured trio. Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari—Kazekage's children—held great value. Would killing one or all even make a difference? Would sparing them invite revenge?
Just as Hiruzen was about to issue the execution order, Haruto stopped him.
"Sister, you lied to me, didn't you? I don't believe it. Uncle told me the truth—Mom cursed me, Uncle hated me, Dad tried to kill me. You're all lying!"
Gaara's mood spiraled; a tailed beast transformation threatened.
"It's easy to prove your sister told the truth," Haruto said, walking up to Gaara.
"What method?" Gaara asked, lost.
"You said your sand attacks out of hatred, from your mother. Let's test that."
Haruto extended his hand.
"Don't control the sand. Let's see what it does."
As his hand approached, the sand gathered but did not strike. It gently wrapped around his hand.
"Haruto, be careful!"
He ignored them and moved closer.
"Relax. Don't try to control it."
The sand softened. At last, Haruto placed his hand on Gaara's face.
He embraced Gaara.
"See? I think I understand. Your mother sealed part of her chakra and soul in you. The sand reacts to killing intent or extreme emotion—it protects you. It proves she loved you."
"Mother..." Gaara whispered, recalling Yashamaru's words.
"Yashamaru, it hurts... here."
"There's only one thing that heals a broken heart… but it must come from others."
"What is it?"
"Love. I think my sister loves you. The sand contains her will. Even in death, she protects you."
Haruto continued, "As for your father, I heard he could suppress the Tailed Beast alone. If he really wanted to kill you, you'd be dead. Maybe he did it to force you to master your power. I don't agree with his methods—but I get it. In other villages, a failed Jinchūriki like you wouldn't survive. It must've been hard for him to save a son like you."
"Father..."
Memories rose in Gaara's mind.
"Gaara, you are my son. Grow strong and protect this village."
Young Gaara nodded. "I will, Father."
"Yashamaru, does Father hate me?"
"No, I think Kazekage-sama loved you very much. He just didn't know how to show it. My sister used to say he was stiff like a log. Maybe he just had high hopes for you."
"I see... I'll try my best to meet his expectations."
Drip... drip...
Tears hit the ground.
Gaara bit his lip. Tears kept flowing. First sobs, then full-blown crying.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah—what is this?"
Haruto hugged Gaara and patted his back. "Let it out. Don't hold it in, Gaara. You're not alone. Your family loves you. And if you need friends—we'd be honored."
"Yeah! I'd love to be your friend too!" Naruto patted Gaara's shoulder.
Haruto looked at Sasuke. Sasuke hesitated, then slowly placed his hand on Gaara's shoulder. "I… I'll reluctantly be your friend too."
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah..." Gaara cried harder.
But Haruto smiled.
Gaara looked at the ground, vision blurred. I'm not alone. I finally have friends, Yashamaru. I found the medicine to heal my heart. The pain is less now.
"Lord Third, I hope to let them go." Haruto begged, standing beside Hiruzen.
Hiruzen looked at the crying Gaara, stared at Haruto after a moment of silence and asked, "Do you know what you are doing?"
"I know." Haruto nodded slightly.
"Do you know that they are our enemies?"
"I know." Haruto continued to nod.
"Then how can we let them go? Maybe they will come to attack Konoha one day. Don't be arrogant, Haruto. For the benefit of the village, I can't promise you this condition."
Haruto looked at Hiruzen quietly. He knew that it was impossible to impress him with feelings, so he could only persuade him from the perspective of the village.
"Although killing him may allow our village to gain the power of a Tailed Beast Jinchūriki, in my opinion, such power is dispensable."
"Is it necessary?" Hiruzen looked at Haruto suspiciously.
"Lord Third, you must not have changed from the old way of thinking, and you must have seen that the power I used before was just gathering the power of a hundred chunin, and I obtained the power enough to rival the Tailed Beasts. This kind of power will only become stronger and more diverse in the future. Perhaps there is still a lot of room for development of the Tailed Beasts, but the position they occupy in war is no longer decisive. Not to mention the future—just now, if you gave me command of the village's power, I could unleash the strength of seven or eight Tailed Beasts."
"I think this is the opportunity to realize my ideal." Haruto looked at Hiruzen confidently. "The Land of Wind is barren, and the people live in poverty. That is why the Sand Shinobi always provoke wars first. In fact, it's not that they want war—they just want to survive. And in my vision, the Land of Wind is exactly the place where I realize my ideals."
"I plan to use the opportunity of this war to form an Aid Corps to go to Sunagakure. On the one hand, I will deter them militarily. On the other hand, I can help them improve their living environment. At the same time, we will influence them internally. Of course, our assistance will be limited. I plan to jam their throats in key places. For example, if they lack water, I can create special pipelines and canals to provide it directly. But once they leave our support, they'll have nothing. As long as we continue to support pro-Konoha factions, I believe that in a few years, the entire Sunagakure can be assimilated into one of our subordinate villages—becoming our most solid ally."
Hiruzen shook his head and said: "You're thinking too simply, Haruto. Sunagakure may not give in so easily. No matter how much you help them, they may still stab you in the back when the critical moment comes. You are too idealistic, and the Sand shinobi are not fools. When Konoha threatens their foundations, they will definitely resist fiercely."
"Then what if their Kazekage is on our side?" Haruto looked at Gaara and smiled.
"You mean?" Hiruzen suddenly looked at Gaara. "How can you guarantee that he will become Kazekage? Whether it's ability, age, or qualifications, he's unlikely to become Kazekage."
"I believe he will become Kazekage."
"What do you believe in?"
"Because my name is Haruto, and I am a man destined to quell the troubled times. If I can't even accomplish this, then what is my ideal?" Haruto silently shouted in his heart: "In the original story, no one helped Gaara become Kazekage. Wouldn't it be even easier now with Konoha's support? If it doesn't happen, that would be ridiculous."
Hiruzen looked at Haruto hesitantly, unsure whether to make this decision. Psychologically he believed in Haruto, but logically he felt that this idea was not feasible.
"Sensei, just do what Haruto said." Jiraiya had been listening silently and finally gave his opinion.
"As Haruto said, even if we kill Gaara, all we gain is a Tailed Beast. With Haruto's ability, it may only take a few years before a Tailed Beast is nothing in front of him. But if Haruto's plan succeeds, what we can gain is immeasurable. I believe in Haruto—after all, he is—" Jiraiya didn't finish the sentence. Haruto is the Child of Prophecy.
Hiruzen thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement with Haruto's idea.
"Haruto, I hope you won't disappoint me."
Haruto smiled brightly. "Don't worry, Lord Third."
When Haruto returned to Gaara, Gaara was still crying, while Temari, Kankuro, and Baki looked at Haruto expectantly. Their expressions were full of tension. They knew their fate was in Haruto's hands.
"I've discussed with the Third Hokage. We Konoha can let you go, but in exchange, there will be many agreements in various aspects. You must be mentally prepared."
Temari and the others couldn't help but be overjoyed when they heard this, but their expressions turned cold again shortly after.
Baki asked: "May I ask what kind of requirements Konoha will have for our Sand Shinobi? If they're too strict, we would rather die here."
Haruto smiled: "Don't worry, I've spoken up for you. It won't be too harsh. But what kind of relationship should exist between us and Sunagakure?"
Upon hearing this, Baki patted his chest and promised: "Don't worry. We of the Sand will become Konoha's most solid ally."
When Haruto heard Baki's assurance, he didn't take it to heart at all. Did they really think he was that easy to fool?
Haruto looked at Gaara's siblings.
Temari stood up and looked at Haruto sincerely. "Don't worry. We Sand Shinobi will definitely become your most solid allies." Kankuro echoed her.
Gaara said quietly: "I, Gaara, will not betray my friends."
Haruto nodded. Gaara's words were the most sincere—he only spoke of himself. The others claimed to speak for the Sand, which was unreliable.
"Alright. Although we will release you later, for now you'll stay in Konoha's cell for a while. We will let you go after we negotiate the treaty."
After handling all of this, Haruto finally breathed a sigh of relief. Just when he was about to relax, a Konoha Anbu appeared before him—with Tenten.
Tenten was covered in injuries and shouted weakly to Haruto: "Hinata was taken away by the people of Kumogakure. Neji, Kiba, and I tried to take her back, but we failed."
Haruto suddenly felt his world turn blank. For a moment, he seemed to be unable to hear anything. The words "Hinata was taken" kept echoing in his mind.
"Haruto! Haruto! Are you okay?" Naruto and Sasuke saw that Haruto was tottering and kept shaking him.
After a while, Haruto came back to his senses and said softly to them, "I'm fine."
Naruto and Sasuke shivered at the same time. Although Haruto's voice was very calm, they—who were very familiar with him—could hear the endless coldness behind it.