Far away, Temari and Kankuro, the siblings who had used every ounce of strength to escape a distance, suddenly stopped.
A feeling of heartfelt shock caused them to simultaneously turn their gazes towards the battlefield.
Then, in the next instant, they witnessed a scene they would never forget.
Limitless smoke and dust rose from the center of the battlefield, instantly engulfing all surrounding areas.
"Not good."
Temari exclaimed, quickly opening her large fan and waving it behind her.
*Kamaitachi!*
Wind Release Wind Blades appeared, colliding with the air currents blowing from behind.
Shred.
Temari's sleeve was torn by the returning Wind Blade, but it saved her younger brother Kankuro and the injured Maki from being blown away and eating sand.
In their perception, the two palpitating killing intents and massive Chakra had gradually disappeared.
And at this moment, less than ten minutes had passed since the battle began.
"Can father possibly match such power?" Kankuro exclaimed in shock.
"Is this a natural disaster?"
Even Maki, a Jonin, looked grim at this moment. This was a power far beyond his imagination, even stronger than a Tailed Beast.
Such power made Maki tremble inwardly.
"Shukaku came out just now, such powerful Wind Release Chakra, was Shukaku defeated? How is Gaara now?"
Temari looked towards the center of the battlefield, shocked by such power, but even more worried about her brother's safety.
Although this brother was not gentle, nor did he rely on her as his older sister, Temari still cared for her brother.
"Put me down, you guys hurry back to get reinforcements."
Maki clutched his bandaged stomach and said with difficulty, "Such important news must be relayed back as soon as possible. Is Konoha launching a surprise attack on our Jinchuriki at this critical juncture because they discovered our plan and are responding in advance?"
"But, Konoha doesn't have experts powerful enough to easily deal with a Tailed Beast," Kankuro muttered to himself.
"Moreover, if it were Konoha's experts, why would they conceal their identities? It would be normal for them to openly warn us. Is it some mysterious organization outside the five great Ninja Villages in the Ninja World that covets the Tailed Beasts?" Temari frowned.
After a moment of silence, the group no longer hesitated.
They placed Maki in a hidden spot nearby, and the siblings ran towards the nearest Sand Hidden Stronghold without looking back.
Just like they said at the beginning, no matter which side the enemy was on, or what their purpose was, they had to report this news first.
...
Descending from the sky, Naruto stood before Shukaku.
At this moment, Shukaku looked somewhat miserable.
Its massive twenty-meter-tall form was gone, leaving only a miniature version of just over two meters tall.
Moreover, its miniature size was incomplete, appearing tattered and extremely wretched.
Looking at Naruto who had landed in front of him, Shukaku unwillingly opened his mouth and said, "Brat, if you have the guts, fight me in the desert next time, and see if I'm afraid of you."
"You would have died if I had used a little more force just now."
Glancing at Shukaku, Naruto wasn't angered by his stubbornness, but instead bluntly pointed out a fact.
The hundred Rasenshuriken just now not only cleared Shukaku's health bar but also emptied his chakra bar. If Naruto had used one more Shuriken, Shukaku would have had no choice but to wait for rebirth.
This wasn't just to scare him, because Naruto had only used his own Chakra just now, not even counting Kurama's power.
Hearing this, Shukaku fell silent.
This kid really doesn't give any face at all.
However, he had to admit that what Naruto said was true.
"Do you have an answer for what I told you before? The benefits are huge, Kurama can vouch for it. You'll love the gift I prepared for you in just three minutes."
Naruto didn't dwell on the topic, but instead took the opportunity to change the subject, giving Shukaku a way out.
"Hmph, I don't care about your so-called gift. If I lost, I lost, and I won't deny it, but I'll say it again, I definitely won't lose to you next time in the desert." As he spoke, Shukaku snorted coldly and raised his hand.
"Such a tsundere."
Naruto muttered in his heart, but didn't say it out loud, raising his hand to bump fists with Shukaku.
Afterward, he felt a powerful and pure Chakra flow into his body, finally entering the Sealing Space and merging into one of Kurama's tails.
Naruto entered Kurama Mode, not feeling any difference in his strength after gaining a portion of Shukaku's Chakra.
However, it wasn't without its benefits. Naruto discovered that he had gained a new Bloodline Limit called Magnet Release.
Although this Bloodline Limit was very small, it could be strengthened through practice.
Having done all this, Shukaku, having completely exhausted the little Chakra he had just gathered, fell into a deep sleep and retreated into Gaara's body.
The sand covering his body gradually dispersed, revealing the red-haired boy sleeping with his eyes closed.
At this moment, Gaara's face had less of a murderous and gloomy aura, and more of a sense of peace and happiness.
This boy, who had never had a good night's sleep since he was a child, enjoyed a rare moment of sleep and relaxation.
Gaara had a dream.
In the dream, there was always someone watching him gently.
There was no hatred, no killing intent, only gentleness and love with endless kindness.
Gaara wanted to get closer to this person who was always watching him gently, but he couldn't get closer. He reached out his hand, but only touched a piece of sand.
Slowly opening his eyes and wiping away the tears that unconsciously fell from the corners of his eyes, Gaara said in a low voice, "It was a dream."
"It's not a dream." A gentle voice sounded.
Gaara looked up and saw a blond boy wearing black clothes, sitting on the rubble next to him, watching him with a gentle gaze.
"Hello, I am Naruto Uzumaki, and from today onwards, I hope to become your friend."
Listening to these gentle and sincere words, looking directly into the clear eyes of this blond boy, and the hand extended towards him.
At this moment, Gaara was moved.
For the first time, someone was willing to accept his existence.
The coldness in his heart began to melt, a smile appeared on his face, and he sat up from the ground, grasping that hand: "Okay."
At this moment, Gaara saw a boy with the same experience as him, who had been ostracized by the people around him since childhood, isolated by everyone.
Longing for love, but ultimately only met with alienation.
His life, like his, was filled with coldness and darkness, but he also managed to obtain some bright colors after his efforts.
And now, he was bringing these bright colors to himself.
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