Chapter 256: The Struggle of the Heirs Has Always Been Like This
While [Tsunade] was over here recounting to Shiromo the bizarre experiences of Rasa's family in this world, on the other side, the very-much-alive Karura walked up to the two siblings with a gentle, kindly smile.
"My dear children, come. Mommy brought you two pieces of cake. Say 'I love you, Mom,' and you can eat."
Karura said with a smile, patting their heads.
"This scene is rather heartwarming."
"What a pity. Gaara is the Kazekage now. Affairs in the Land of Wind are busy, and Sunagakure doesn't have the manpower to spare. He couldn't come to see this. Otherwise, he'd definitely be very happy."
In the audience stands, Tsunade sighed as she continued taking notes.
"Uh… Tsuna, are you sure? If he came, he wouldn't just see this scene. He'd see quite a few earlier ones too."
Even Hashirama felt something was off about Tsunade's remark.
If Gaara really came, wouldn't the first thing he saw be Rasa "dying together with him," and then himself getting pinned under a mountain with his backside sticking out?
"No. Grandpa, you don't understand that child. He was extremely deprived of love before. After Naruto brought him back, there was only one person left in his heart from the past, and that's his mother."
Tsunade shook her head.
As for who else might appear in his heart in the future, there was no need to mention it.
Whether in the Limited Tsukuyomi world or the real world, that person who used explosive tags for the Thousand Years of Death.
"That's true. His mother in this world is fairly normal. As long as the image of his mother in his heart isn't ruined, seeing his living mother again would indeed make him very happy."
Hashirama nodded in agreement.
However…
"Love you, Mom, hehe."
[Kankurō] immediately shouted it out, grinning as he grabbed a piece of cake and began eating.
"This cake is delicious. Mm, Mom, your cooking is as amazing as ever… Huh? Sis, why aren't you saying anything?"
Halfway through his fragrant feast, [Kankurō] noticed that his sister, who usually fought him for things, was acting strangely calm this time, not making a single move.
"I won't say it. If I did, what would Mom eat?"
[Temari] smiled faintly and handed the remaining piece of cake to Karura.
[Kankurō] froze.
That… works too?
"Urgh! Ah! My stomach hurts!!!"
[Kankurō]'s expression suddenly changed. Clutching his stomach, he began rolling on the ground.
"Hokage, don't come over!"
[Temari] stopped the only medical ninja present, coldly watching her brother struggle on the ground.
"Kankurō, don't blame Mother. The struggle of heirs has always been like this."
The gentle, kindly smile on Karura's face also vanished. Her gaze turned equally cold as she looked at Kankurō, who was gradually going still.
"Kankurō, don't blame your sister. Your behavior is far too perverse, it's no less than your father's."
"In the new world your sister will create, there is no place for you. Your existence would only bring shame upon your sister and upon Sunagakure!"
"Urgh…"
[Kankurō] shed two lines of despairing tears. In his final moments, he reached toward the puppet doll buried in the sand, one identical to Gaara's.
He hadn't even had the chance to properly enjoy it a few times.
To die just like this… how unwilling he felt.
Watching the scene of sisterly friendship and brotherly respect below, the audience fell silent.
Even Tsunade paused her writing.
"What vicious women… yet for some reason, I feel like they did a beautiful job."
Tsunade spoke slowly.
The others silently agreed.
Not because [Temari] and [Karura] were beautiful, nor because [Kankurō]'s face paint looked like smeared filth, but because the words spoken by the mother and daughter genuinely made sense.
If such a new world truly existed, it would probably resemble the real shinobi world.
And in the real shinobi world, having someone like [Kankurō] would indeed bring shame upon Sunagakure and Temari.
"This part is worth recording. It's quite good."
Tsunade resumed taking notes.
She had originally been debating whether to document this segment.
If this story worsened relations between the two nations, that would be troublesome.
Now, it seemed there was no issue.
Karura of the Limited Tsukuyomi world had become decisive and ruthless, yet paradoxically more charismatic.
Besides, appropriate emotional stimulation could help train a jinchūriki's stability.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Uchiha Hikari had already begun silently absorbing the One-Tail's chakra.
Gaara lay there unconscious, his upper body gripped by a Susanoo arm.
This "wired mode" transmitted faster than "wireless mode." Hikari genuinely wanted to get over this as soon as possible.
"Menma… Menma… Menma~"
Gaara, having had the tailed beast extracted, felt an oddly pleasant and comfortable sensation, even murmuring in his sleep.
Half an hour passed.
All of Shukaku's chakra had been fully converted into the real-world Gedō Statue.
[Temari], holding the last remaining piece of cake, stepped forward and stuffed it into [Gaara]'s mouth, granting a swift end to the Gaara who had lost his chakra and was on the verge of death.
"Go find your Menma in another world."
[Temari] shoved the cake down hard.
Before [Gaara] could be poisoned by the cake, he choked to death first.
"Next, we head to the Land of Water."
"Mm. We won't accompany you. Let the Mizukage take you. Remember to honor the agreement afterward, and also…"
[Temari] turned her gaze toward Terumi Mei.
"Mizukage, don't go taking advantage of your proximity."
"Relax. I have principles."
[Terumi Mei] patted her chest in assurance.
On the way to the Land of Water…
"Kirigakure only has confirmed information on the Six-Tails. Should we deal with the Six-Tails first?"
Terumi Mei suggested.
"No. The Three-Tails first. I know where it is."
[Konan] shook her head.
"Hm? We've searched for so long without getting any intelligence, yet you know?"
[Terumi Mei] stared at [Konan] in surprise.
[Konan] ignored her, speaking to Shiromo with a serious expression.
"The Three-Tails is connected to a mysterious man. That man once approached our organization and even attempted to gain control of the Akatsuki for his own use."
Uh…
The masked man?
Shiromo remained silent.
This Limited Tsukuyomi world was so absurd that he didn't dare jump to conclusions.
"You said 'once.' What about now? Did he disappear?"
Shiromo caught the key point in Konan's words.
"Mm."
[Konan] nodded.
"He called himself Uchiha Madara. He once controlled Yagura, the Three-Tails' jinchūriki, in Kirigakure. He even claimed that Nagato's Rinnegan was given by him. At first, we trusted and acknowledged him. Until one day…"
"I was pushing Nagato's wheelchair out for some sun. As we passed that mysterious room, I heard him inside…"
"Inside the room, he was shouting, 'Zero, I love you! Zero, I want you! Zero! Zero! Zero!!!'"
"Zero is the codename of the Pain controlled by Nagato within the Akatsuki."
"Nagato never imagined that the mysterious man was… indulging himself while imagining him. He was so frightened that he accidentally used Shinra Tensei and blew the entire house apart."
"And the mysterious man was exposed before us. He was extremely embarrassed and ashamed, shouting 'Zero'."
"Then he vanished without a trace."
(End of this chapter)