Chapter 278: Value of Existence
"!"
Vision finally refocused. The dazzling sunlight made him instinctively squint. What entered his view was that azure sky. Gaara's consciousness, after Shukaku was completely sealed and fell into "slumber," finally returned to reality.
Warmth from detailed healing came from various parts of his body. That massive yet exceptionally gentle chakra was smoothing away the wounds and exhaustion left from his earlier battle.
"It's over now." That familiar voice sounded nearby. "Does it still hurt? Sorry, I had to use a bit more force to subdue Shukaku. But I couldn't let you harm my comrades."
It's him... this person with a similar past to his own, yet who walked a completely different path...
After using Nine-Tails' power to completely heal those shocking wounds on Gaara's body, Naruto's body was still enveloped in that brilliant golden chakra cloak, not releasing his combat state.
His gaze occasionally swept toward Konoha Village's direction—clearly, his shadow clones were still engaged in fierce battle with invaders within the village.
"That 'monster' inside your body..." Naruto paused, considering his word choice. "I'll still call it a 'Tailed Beast.'"
"I've already reinforced the sealing formula on Shukaku. From now on... it won't run out to hurt you anymore, nor will it whisper in your ear and interfere with your sleep..."
"Why."
Suddenly, Gaara's hoarse voice interrupted Naruto's words.
Naruto stopped his explanation. Gaara turned his head. Naruto met Gaara's eyes filled with confusion, chaos, and a trace of barely perceptible struggle.
Under Gaara's persistent gaze, Naruto didn't rush, only waiting quietly.
"Why... why do all this for me? Just now... I truly wanted to kill you. Even if you hadn't stopped me, I would've destroyed your village without hesitation, killed your comrades... Why... why are you still so good to me?!"
Though having glimpsed Naruto's dark and lonely childhood in the depths of consciousness, witnessing how he stepped out from rejection step by step, Gaara still couldn't understand.
Clearly they had such similar starting points—both viewed as monsters, feared, isolated... Even if Naruto was lucky enough to meet someone who pulled him from darkness, that didn't mean he had an obligation to extend a helping hand to another person trapped in darkness who'd even tried to drag him into the abyss too?
This didn't make sense. This violated the rules of this cold world as he understood it.
"...Because I know your nature isn't bad." Naruto's voice carried unquestionable certainty. "You were just hurt by certain people, fed wrong perceptions, which made you seal yourself up... Moreover, from the first time I saw you, I felt we were very similar."
"Mm, I saw it."
Gaara responded in a low voice, his gaze somewhat wandering. "Those were your memories, right? Your past... is really similar to mine. They called us monsters... nearly everyone hated and rejected us... Are we... the same kind?"
Hearing Gaara say this, Naruto froze slightly. His consciousness had indeed reached Gaara's inner world. Could it be because his chakra entered Gaara's body that he in turn saw his own past?
...Looks like he shouldn't have seen the most critical parts... and Menma is a shadow clone, so the perspective should be independent. Naruto watched Gaara's confused expression, rapidly analyzing internally.
"You're right, we are the same kind." Naruto confirmed. "But the 'same kind' I see isn't that 'monster' filled with hatred that you understand."
"I'm doing this for you not because like me you were called a monster, but because I saw in you the shadow of my former self—lonely, helpless, struggling in darkness. I couldn't just stand by and watch that 'self'... die."
"Just because... such a ridiculous reason?"
Gaara's voice carried a trace of trembling. Didn't that simplify down to "I just wanted to do it"? What kind of reason was that?
"But!" His emotions became somewhat agitated. "Those people who were good to you... were only those few, right? Why do you still risk your life to protect this village? To protect those who once also called us monsters! Don't you... truly not hate them at all?"
"I did hate them."
Naruto gave his answer without any hesitation, straightforwardly. This wasn't a lie. During those isolated days and nights, under those gazes full of malice, how could he not have hated? He'd even thought that if such days continued, someday he'd have to leave Konoha.
"But hate is a double-edged sword. While trying to harm others, it first devours yourself, making your heart full of holes. I'm grateful I found something more worth cherishing than hate."
"It's 'understanding.'"
"I gradually understood why people fear, and also understood... that there really would be people who feel sad because of my existence, and people who would be angry because I was hurt."
"Satsuki, Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, the Third old man, Teuchi-oji, Sakura, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba... They made me understand that the meaning of my existence is to form connections called 'bonds' with these people who cherish me and whom I need to cherish."
Understanding... bonds... cherishing...
These words were so unfamiliar to Gaara, yet carried an indescribable attraction. This was a completely different path walked by "the same kind" from the same starting line—this realization almost completely overturned the survival philosophy he'd firmly believed in until now.
"If!"
Gaara's voice carried a trace of barely perceptible panic. "If I don't fight only for myself like I do... then what should I fight for?"
"What... value does my existence... even have?" This was his deepest fear and confusion.
"No matter who it is, the value of existence was never proven by 'killing others.'" Naruto's words were resolute.
"The meaning of existence... is for each person to find and define themselves. But killing others is the most wrong, most tragic answer."
His tone carried earnestness. "I'm begging you—don't keep punishing yourself with your father's mistakes after he hurt you, continuously hurting yourself!"
He took a deep breath, looking intently at Gaara. "You're right, you asked what reason I have to do this for you? The answer is simple—simply because I want to! That's all!"
"And if you temporarily can't find the meaning of your existence and feel confused..." Naruto stepped forward and extended his hand.
"Then let me become the first person to 'protect' you. This isn't charity, nor sympathy—this is... the beginning of a 'bond.'"
"...Is that really okay?" After a long silence, Gaara finally found his voice. Even he felt surprised—that voice actually carried a trace of uncontrollable choking.
"Mm." Naruto showed an incomparably warm and resolute smile. "I'll protect you. Because I'm very strong, and more importantly... this is the path I've chosen."
His final words branded on Gaara's heart like an oath.
"True strength isn't making the entire world fear your existence, but when you finally become a harbor where someone can return with peace of mind."