Land of Rain, Amegakure.
Black Zetsu stood at the top of the highest tower, rain passing through his body as if through a phantom.
His yellow eyes were looking in the direction of the Land of Fire.
"Kumogakure... Kirigakure... Sunagakure..."
"The stagnant water of the ninja world has finally been stirred."
Black Zetsu's voice was like dry leaves rubbing together.
Originally, he planned to borrow Uchiha Obito's hand to slowly stir up the waves in the ninja world.
But the Uchiha launched an internal war and abolished Konoha's original management.
The plan deviated...
But such deviation, for Black Zetsu, wasn't a bad thing.
It might even accelerate the Fourth Great Ninja War.
The Akatsuki organization was almost ready; perhaps the time for Mother's resurrection... would be advanced.
Thinking of this, Black Zetsu's figure slowly sank into the wall, as if he had never existed.
...
Kirigakure, Mizukage Office.
Obito stood behind the Yondaime Mizukage Karatachi Yagura. Yagura's eyes were hollow, like a puppet on strings, mechanically stamping the ninja dispatch orders.
"Uchiha Kaze..."
"What will you do?"
Under the mask, Obito's voice carried a hint of playfulness.
That test was the excuse Obito arranged to start a war.
...
Konoha, Seventh Training Ground.
Kaze took Naruto to the edge of the field, pointing to the lonely figure in the center.
"That is Sunagakure's One-Tail Jinchūriki, Gaara."
"From today on, he will stay in Konoha and train with you."
Uchiha Kaze looked calm, with some curiosity in his eyes.
Naruto's eyes widened.
The red-haired boy in the center wasn't much older than him but carried a huge gourd on his back.
There was no expression on that face, and his eyes were terrifyingly hollow.
Most striking was the blood-red character "Love" (Ai) on his forehead.
"Jinchūriki?"
"Like... me?"
Naruto subconsciously touched his belly.
"Hmm, you'll be considered partners from now on."
"Go."
Kaze gently pushed little Naruto's back.
"Partner?"
This word was too unfamiliar for little Naruto.
But... it seemed to be the existence he had always hoped for.
Naruto hesitated a moment, but still plucked up the courage to walk toward the center of the field.
Gaara slowly turned his head, those hollow eyes staring at Naruto.
"Get lost."
"Or else... I'll kill you."
Gaara's voice was soft but carried a bone-piercing chill.
Sand began to drift from the gourd behind him.
A somewhat familiar Chakra began to spread from Gaara's body.
Naruto didn't retreat but walked up to Gaara and barely stopped.
Then... grinned.
"Hello, my name is Uzumaki Naruto."
"I am also a Jinchūriki. Inside my body lives the Kyūbi."
Naruto had a cheerful, sunny smile on his face, and after speaking, he extended his small hand.
Gaara was stunned.
Even the drifting sand behind him lost control and fell rustling to the ground.
The boy in front of him was also a Jinchūriki...
But why could this person still have such a smile?
Why would he actively approach someone like him, whom even his own father loathed?
"You..."
"Aren't afraid of me?"
Gaara's voice was low and husky, like a wounded beast baring its teeth in self-defense.
"Why be afraid?"
"Teacher said we aren't monsters. We are... the chosen ones."
"Also, Tailed Beasts aren't scary existences; they are our best friends."
Naruto ignored whatever emotional changes Gaara had and spoke on his own.
At first, Gaara felt Naruto was somewhat baffling and even somewhat disgusted him.
But when Naruto talked about how he often went hungry and was bullied by other children in the village before becoming Uchiha Kaze's disciple.
Gaara's vigilant gaze began to soften.
He even slowly began to feel a lot of resonance.
"You... don't hate them?"
"You... don't want to kill them?"
During the break when Naruto got tired of talking, Gaara finally found a chance to speak.
"Hate?"
"They are just afraid of the Kyūbi inside me; why should I hate them?"
"Teacher said, being feared means I am too strong."
"Being isolated and targeted means I am not strong enough, so I have to become stronger."
"Strong enough that when they won't even have the emotion of fear, that will be enough."
"My father was the Yondaime Hokage, and I will be Hokage in the future too!"
As Naruto spoke, his azure pupils were filled with longing for the future and firmness in his ninja way.
As for whether Naruto truly understood Uchiha Kaze's words, it didn't matter.
A boy of his age just needed a vague direction forward and someone to guide him.
"My father is also the Yondaime Kazekage."
"But he doesn't like me at all."
"I..."
"He doesn't like you, meaning you aren't strong enough yet."
"So, you have to become strong enough to make him like you."
"Let's become stronger together."
Naruto's hand reached forward a bit more.
Gaara was silent for a long time, so long that Naruto's arm grew sore.
A cold hand was slowly placed into Naruto's hand.
"My name is... Gaara."
Although Gaara had made a decision, he was still somewhat awkward.
After all, this was his first time making a friend.
"Gaara?"
"What a nice name! We are friends from now on!"
Naruto's eyes lit up, and then he continued pulling Gaara to talk about how good his teacher Uchiha Kaze was.
As for Gaara, he soon got used to having a friend beside him who chattered endlessly and seemed somewhat troublesome...
His cold face softened unconsciously.
The arc of his mouth also expanded uncontrollably...
As for Shukaku...
It wanted to take the opportunity to cause trouble when Gaara had huge emotional fluctuations at the beginning.
But before Shukaku could erupt, a pair of huge Mangekyō Sharingan appeared in front of it.
At the same time, the Kyūbi also appeared.
In front of Uchiha Kaze and the Kyūbi, Shukaku was more helpless than a chick.
Thus, without Gaara or Naruto knowing.
Shukaku was pacified.
"Alright Naruto, it's already noon."
"Gaara will sleep in the same room as you from now on. Take him to eat. Later this afternoon, be here; there will be a practical combat teacher to teach you combat training."
Kaze interrupted the chatterbox Naruto.
This kid, perhaps because he found someone similar, talked a bit too much.
"Okay, Teacher."
"By the way, Gaara, Teacher said he also wants to accept you as a disciple!"
Naruto just remembered what Kaze had instructed him and spoke quickly.
"Teacher."
Gaara didn't have any resistance.
Mainly, Naruto had praised Uchiha Kaze to the skies.
Moreover, Gaara didn't see any trace of disgust or hatred for him in Kaze's eyes.
Naturally, he agreed to become Uchiha Kaze's disciple.
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