Mikoto, who had been watching her younger son the entire time, noticed the deepening gloom in Sasuke's pitch-black eyes. She frowned in worry.
"Sasuke, calm down. Mom and Naruto are here—right beside you."
Sasuke slowly clawed his way back from the darkness. The feeling had been unbearable. He let out a heavy breath, trying to expel the suffocating weight in his chest—but before long, it began to gather there again.
Watching the footage, seeing just how terrifyingly powerful the Akatsuki were, it was clear that Naruto—who had been marked as their target—would be in grave danger. Including Sakura and Hinata, the Leaf genin who were close to Naruto all quietly resolved to train even harder.
After all, the Chunin Exams weren't over yet.
Shikamaru Nara muttered, "What a pain," and moved to stand on Naruto's other side.
Kiba and Akamaru edged closer as well. From Shino's collar, a female kikaichu quietly slipped into Naruto's clothes…
["Once the enemy gets him, the world is finished!"]
"Huh?" Naruto blinked stupidly. "Uh… Gaara, aren't you exaggerating a bit? I mean—"
["I want to protect my friend." Gaara's voice had never been this firm—like a vow carved from death itself. It was the bond he had gained at great cost, his salvation.]
Naruto suddenly felt a little awkward. Being told—right in front of so many people—that someone wanted to protect him…
It was just… really embarrassing.
"I-I'm not that weak, y'know. You really don't have to protect me or anything."
Still, becoming friends with Gaara—having someone acknowledge him like that—felt really good.
Naruto was completely focused on the footage and didn't hear him, but Shikamaru clearly did. "What a pain," he said again.
[Gaara shouted to the eighty thousand members of the Allied Shinobi Forces: "I want to save my friend! I want to save him! And at the same time—protect this world!"]
[The camera locked onto Gaara's resolute profile. "I'm too young… too shallow. Maybe protecting the world is still beyond me…" The shot alternated between his left and right profiles, the special framing fully capturing his unwavering devotion to 'his friend' and his unshakable resolve.]
"Aaaah—!" To ordinary people who couldn't understand the cruelty of the shinobi world, all that reached the eyes of young girls was the oath of a handsome boy and an irreplaceable bond between two people. "Those two ninja lovers are so cool~~"
"Eek—" Naruto shuddered. "Hmph! If they knew that was me, they definitely wouldn't be saying that, y'know." He puffed out his cheeks and muttered softly.
Those girls who said he'd be handsome in the future wouldn't even sell him goods now! He was way better off with Ayame from Ichiraku, who would secretly give him extra slices of Naruto fish cake.
["So…" The young Kazekage bowed deeply, his voice pleading. "Please—lend me your strength!" Protect Naruto. Protect this world!!]
The screaming civilian girls fainted on the spot from sheer happiness. Even the daimyo's little fan fluttered wildly.
What kind of bond was this?! Between two handsome ninja—mutual understanding, mutual salvation!!
A redemption born in youth, so powerful that it made the leader of the Wind Country bow his head for it! Even if it meant death, he would protect him!!! Asking the entire shinobi world to lend him strength!!!!
Ahhh! It was simply incredible!!
But in the shinobi world—
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Senju Tobirama was the first to applaud. His face held admiration for the younger generation—and relief that the future of the shinobi world would have people like this.
After a brief moment of surprise, Hiruzen Sarutobi joined in.
Then Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, Choza Akimichi, Hiashi Hyuga… one by one, the senior jonin and clan heads began to clap.
No one wasn't afraid of the Leaf being destroyed. No one wasn't afraid of the terrifying strength the Akatsuki possessed. But hadn't an even greater force appeared now?
He had revived the Second Hokage and shown them the future—along with the hearts of the shinobi. With that future ahead of them, what was there left to fear? Tobirama-sama himself wasn't worried—so it had to be solvable!
More and more people shook off the shock of the footage and joined the applause.
In an instant, the air was filled with thunderous clapping, even mixed with cheers.
Civilians watching the footage, as well as ninja from other villages, were likewise moved and began to applaud.
Just like in the footage—
["We will give our lives! Gaara-sama!!"
"Gaara-sama!!"
"Gaara-sama!!"]
[The cheers of eighty thousand people echoed without end. At this moment, the battle-ready shinobi alliance held no hatred between them. Just as Gaara had said—here, there were only shinobi.]
["Sorry about earlier."
"Yeah… that was my fault too."]
["I went too far—sorry."
"No, I should be the one apologizing."]
["Yanryu-san?! Why—"
"This is the moment for 'shinobi' who share the same pain to fight together. Since there's no longer any grudge between us, I should do my part as well." The man called Yanryu said, "This war will be extremely brutal. Even someone like me must take the field—you understand that, right?"]
["That's right! Together, we'll crush the Akatsuki's plot!"]
[Kankuro: "The hotter-blooded the people are, the stronger they become when united—right, Gaara!"]
"The more hot-blooded they are, the stronger they become when united… what a brilliant rallying speech. Linking hearts together, letting everyone feel the same pain."
In the footage stood an adult Kankuro. Outside the footage stood the Second Hokage with his arms crossed—saying the same thing, carrying the same bold, fiery spirit.
"Hm?" Naruto's gaze was far too direct. As a sensory-type ninja, Tobirama noticed and looked at him.
"It's just…" Naruto scratched the back of his head. The footage had shifted so fast—just moments ago he'd been hurting over Gaara's past, and now he felt proud of him. Even the pain tied to his own similar past didn't feel quite as heavy anymore.
"Uh, when you said 'feeling the same pain' just now, you kinda scared me."
"Hm?"
"I thought it was that guy—the one who turned the Leaf into rubble—showing up again. Ahahaha."