News that Konoha would co-host the Chunin Exams spread quickly across the shinobi world.
For the past month, Konoha's gates had scarcely closed. Teams of genin from smaller countries—Kusagakure, Takigakure, Amegakure—arrived one after another. They stepped into the village carrying a tangle of moods. Some were curious, some reverent, and some hid their wariness deep in their eyes.
What they found exceeded expectations. There were no scars of war, no patrols choking the streets with tension. Everywhere, caravans passed and villagers smiled. The peace puzzled the outsiders—and pushed them to guess at the real depth of Konoha's strength.
Among all arrivals, Sunagakure's ninja drew the most attention.
When the Kazekage's three children—Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara—appeared at the gate, every gaze snapped to them.
Temari shouldered a giant folding fan, her expression lofty. Kankuro bore a bandage-wrapped bundle—his puppet "Crow"—eyes sweeping the streets as if hunting for amusement.
The boy at the front carried a massive sand gourd. Red hair, green eyes sunk in bruised circles, a face without expression.
Gaara.
Anyone who met his gaze by accident felt a chill climb their spine—a cold that started at the heart.
In the top-floor study of the Namikaze residence, Shinju stood before the window and looked out over the village.
At the instant the three from Suna stepped through the gate, a system notice chimed in his mind.
[Ding! High-intensity negative-emotion energy source detected within monitoring range.]
A data overlay only he could see flickered above Gaara's head.
[Target: Gaara]
[Emotional State Analysis]
[Killing Intent: 95% (Extremely Dangerous)]
[Hatred: 92% (Extremely Dangerous)]
[Loneliness: 99% (On the Verge of Collapse)]
[Internal Energy Source Analysis]
[Detected: One-Tail "Shukaku" chakra. Current State: Agitated. Cause: Stimulated by the chakra of fellow tailed beast "Kyubi, Kurama" located nine kilometers away.]
Shinju studied the blood-red numbers without surprise.
He could clearly "read" the red-haired boy's inner world—seized wholly by hatred and killing intent. And in the deepest dune of that mental wasteland lay a soul curled into itself, one that longed to be loved yet had been feared and rejected by the world.
This boy's fate mirrored Naruto's in another timeline. But he had met no teacher like Iruka, found no family to accept him, and so walked the opposite road.
"Interesting," Shinju murmured.
His feelings were complex: the hunter's interest on sighting prey, and the onlooker's cool regard for tragedy.
He knew Gaara was the key piece in Orochimaru's plan—a threat that had to be removed.
And at the same time, a mistake that might be "corrected."
On Konoha's streets, a Leaf ninja guided the Sand siblings toward their inn.
Kankuro eyed the shops and passersby, muttering to his sister, "Oi, Temari—this is Konoha? Looks a lot richer than our village."
Temari didn't answer. She watched the surroundings with quiet vigilance.
Gaara was indifferent to everything. He walked in silence like a puppet without will.
A ruckus sounded up ahead.
School had let out.
Konohamaru, with Udon and Moegi, tore down the street in a game of chase.
Konohamaru ran too fast, didn't watch his path, and crashed straight into Kankuro.
"Ow!"
He tumbled to the ground.
Kankuro's face darkened. He bent, grabbed Konohamaru by the collar, and hauled him up. "Hey, brat—don't you look where you're going?"
"Let me go, you jerk!" Konohamaru struggled.
"Kankuro, stop!" Temari stepped in at once. "Don't forget what we're here for! No trouble."
Kankuro clicked his tongue, about to let go—
A cold voice cut in from behind him.
"Put him down."
Kankuro turned. Gaara was hanging upside down from a nearby tree branch, those emotionless green eyes fixed on him.
Kankuro's body trembled. He released Konohamaru at once, fear plain on his face. "I… got it, Gaara."
Gaara dropped from the branch and walked on without another look at brother or sister.
Just then, another voice broke in.
"Hey! You out-of-towners! Bullying little kids on Konoha turf—real tough, huh!"
Naruto stepped forward, hands in his pockets, blocking their way.
Sasuke and Sakura came up behind him.
Seeing more Konoha brats, Kankuro's temper—momentarily doused by Gaara—flared again. "Oh? More idiots lining up?"
Temari's gaze sharpened at Naruto and Sasuke; her hand crept toward the fan, itching for a swing.
The air tightened—one spark from a fight.
Gaara, who had been walking in silence, suddenly stopped.
For the first time, change rippled in eyes that had been dead calm.
His look went past Kankuro, skipped Temari, ignored Sasuke and Sakura, and locked on Naruto—as if something about him was more interesting.
From the blond kid's body, Gaara felt a breath painfully familiar—and utterly detestable.
The breath of a "monster" like him.
Sand boiled of its own accord inside him. The gourd at his back gave a faint, cracking groan.
Shukaku had sensed the Kyubi's presence and howled within him; neither tailed beast had expected to meet here of all places.
"You… are unusual," Gaara rasped, voice dry as dust. Murder swelled in his eyes. "What's your name?"
Naruto met the hostile stare without flinching. "I'm Naruto! You?"
"Gaara."
"Sabaku no Gaara."
Two boys with tailed beasts sealed inside them met at last.
The Chunin Exams had not yet begun, but a destined clash had already opened its curtain.
(End of Chapter)
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