I Am Uzumaki Menma

The Star City. The Yuga River stretched like a band of dark green silk from north to south, bisecting the entire city and dividing it into two shores with distinct styles.

West of the river lay the sprawling commoner residential areas. Rows of white-walled, gray-tiled houses stood in orderly lines. With the recent booming development of the Star City, newly built residential zones continuously expanded into the Yuu River plain.

Previously barren land was purchased by the government, re-planned, and transformed into brand-new communities.

East of the river, however, was the administrative heart of the Land of Stars.

Towering government buildings, heavily guarded military zones, white-walled experimental compounds, and the residential clusters allocated to various levels of officials and military families.

Many Ninja Clans' lands were situated along both banks of the Yuu River, the most prominent among them being the Uchiha Clan.

Next to the traditional Japanese-style architectural complex of the Uchiha Clan's land, a three-story modern building stood quietly, its white exterior walls reflecting the soft glow of the morning light.

The morning sun filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting fragmented light spots on the 'love' character tattooed on Gaara's face.

He slowly opened his eyes, his pale green pupils gradually focusing after the initial confusion of waking.

Sitting up from the soft bed, Gaara rubbed his messy red hair. Neatly folded at the bedside was the standard blue-gray uniform of a Star Ninja.

"Awake?" A coarse voice echoed in his mind, carrying its usual impatience.

Gaara did not respond immediately, instead getting up and heading towards the bathroom.

Turning on the tap, cool water flowed over his fingers.

He scooped up a handful of water and splashed it on his face. The icy sensation fully woke him.

"Your partial Tailed Beast Transformation." Gaara said calmly in the mental world while picking up a towel to dry his face. "It is different from the method Aunt Kushina taught."

"You bastard!" Shukaku's voice immediately rose, its noisy tone unchanged for a millennium. "Do not you dare compare this Lord to that nine-tails guy! Every Tailed Beast's transformation is unique! This Lord is Shukaku, the mighty One-Tail Shukaku! Got it?!"

Gaara soaked the towel, wrung it dry, his movements unhurried.

He hung the towel back on the rack and looked at his face in the mirror, which had now shed its childishness.

Over the years, the once deep-eyed, gloomy-faced boy now carried a quiet composure between his brows, though a hint of aloofness still hid deep in his eyes.

"Then last time during the partial transformation." Gaara continued inwardly. "Why were you almost bound by the Adamantine Sealing Chains?"

"That-that was just an accident!" Shukaku retorted angrily, but Gaara could sense the underlying guilt.

"Who knew that little girl opposite was from the Uzumaki Clan! Those sealing techniques inherently suppress Tailed Beast's Chakra! Can you blame me?!"

A slight smile touched Gaara's lips. He turned away from the bathroom and started changing.

The war from a few years ago was still vivid in his memory.

Back then, he was still Sunagakure's 'ultimate weapon', taken to the battlefield by his father, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.

In the madness of the Tailed Beast rampage, he had glimpsed that dark-colored Nine-Tails absorbing the Ten-Tails, and the man called Shura.

The once-overbearing Shukaku was thoroughly beaten into submission by that man.

In Shukaku's own words, this was called 'the wise submit to circumstances'.

But for Gaara, the greatest change brought by that beating was that this irritable Tailed Beast finally learned restraint.

More importantly, he could now sleep peacefully, no longer needing to be constantly vigilant against the monster within stealing his consciousness.

After the Land of Wind's defeat and Sunagakure's annexation by the Land of Stars, Temari, Kankuro, and other young generation members of Sunagakure were also brought to the Land of Stars.

The blue uniform fit snugly over the young man's frame. Gaara carefully fastened the Star Ninja's forehead protector on his left arm.

The star-shaped emblem on the protector gleamed with a metallic sheen in the morning light.

He opened the door and walked downstairs.

The aroma of fried eggs and toast wafted up from the living room below.

Temari was helping Mikoto set the table, her golden explosion-style bun swaying slightly with her movements.

Hearing footsteps, Temari looked up and smiled upon seeing Gaara. "You're up? Come have breakfast."

Mikoto brought out warm milk from the kitchen, her gentle smile causing faint wrinkles to appear at the corners of her eyes.

She wore an elegant kimono, her demeanor carrying the unique grace of a lady from a prominent family. "Did you sleep well, Gaara?"

"Very well, thank you, Aunt Mikoto." Gaara replied softly, sitting down at the table.

His gaze swept across the living room.

This was completely different from the cold, empty home in Sunagakure. Paintings of landscapes hung on the walls, potted green plants sat on the windowsill, cushions were casually placed on the sofa, and even Gaara's childhood toys were tucked away in a corner. The house was filled with the atmosphere of life.

Everything was warm, lived-in, even somewhat ordinary.

And it was precisely this 'ordinariness' that was the most precious luxury for Gaara.

Hurried footsteps sounded on the stairs as Kankuro tumbled down, sleep still on his face, the purple face paint somewhat blurred in the morning light.

"Ah! Sorry, sorry! Overslept!"

Temari put down the plate she was holding, placed her hands on her hips, and glared at him with displeasure. "Did you forget what day it is today?"

Kankuro ran towards the table while grabbing his messy hair. "What day? Hmm...Ah! The Ninja Sword Tournament!"

Before he finished speaking, Temari had already stepped forward, her fist unceremoniously knocking on his head.

A dull thud sounded, and Kankuro let out an 'ow!' as he crouched down, holding his head.

"You tomboy, no wonder no one likes you being this fierce..." Kankuro muttered under his breath, but clearly underestimated his sister's hearing.

Temari's eyebrows shot up.

She slowly took off the white apron she was wearing, folded it neatly, placed it on the back of a chair, then clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking audibly.

Step by step, she approached Kankuro, who was still crouching, a sweet yet terrifying smile plastered on her face.

"My dear brother..." Temari's voice was frighteningly soft. "What did you just say? I do not think I heard you clearly."

Kankuro covered his mouth, shaking his head frantically, his pleading gaze shifting to Gaara and Mikoto.

Gaara sighed, took a sip of milk, and showed no intention of intervening.

"Temari." Mikoto's gentle voice interjected at the right moment. "Remember your ladylike demeanor."

Temari immediately dropped the fierce expression, turning to Mikoto with an obedient smile. "Yes, Aunt Mikoto."

She then shot Kankuro a fierce glare before returning to Mikoto's side to continue helping set the table and breakfast.

Kankuro felt as if pardoned, quickly scrambling up to sit next to Gaara. He grabbed a piece of toast and stuffed it into his mouth, mumbling, "We should just pray this girl gets married off soon, otherwise who could stand her temper..."

Gaara did not respond.

His gaze moved between Temari and Mikoto. The two were conversing in low tones, Temari nodding from time to time, Mikoto smiling and gently patting the back of her hand.

The intimate, natural interaction did not resemble that of an adopted orphan and her guardian, but more like a real mother and daughter.

He glanced at Kankuro wolfing down food beside him.

This brother, who once only dared to look at him from afar, eyes filled with fear, now complained to him about Temari's ferocity, stole sausages from his plate, and sought his help to bandage wounds after training injuries.

Everything was changing.

Five years ago in Sunagakure, everyone looked at him as if he were a monster.

His father Rasa's cold gaze, the fear in the villagers' whispered gossip...

Even Temari and Kankuro, back then, only dared to stand far at the doorway of his room, never daring to step inside.

Even his most beloved uncle, Yashamaru, had tried to assassinate him for some reason...

Until that man appeared.

"Hey, daydreaming again?" Shukaku's voice interrupted his thoughts. "You are going to spill the milk."

Gaara looked down and realized he had been holding the milk cup in mid-air for a while.

He set the cup down. Mikoto looked over with concern. "Is something wrong, Gaara?"

"It is nothing," Gaara shook his head, offering a faint smile. "Just thinking about what exciting matches we will see today."

Mentioning the tournament, Kankuro immediately perked up.

Swallowing his food, he leaned closer to Gaara. "Are you really not participating in this Ninja Sword Tournament? It is a triennial competition! This is the second tournament for the Twin Blades - Hiramekarei. Even though Morishita Shunji-senpai is strong, with your strength, you could definitely win!"

Temari sat down with her plate, elegantly cutting her fried egg, and also advised, "Kankuro is right. Among the four great swords of the Land of Stars, the Great Blade Samehada is in the hands of Kisame-sama, its position unshakable. The Kubikiribocho is with Iida Yusuke-senpai, the Lightning Blades Kiba with Saionji Sato-senpai. The tournaments for those two swords are next year and the year after. If you want to gain fame and enhance your strength the fastest, this year's Twin Blades - Hiramekarei tournament is the most suitable opportunity."

Gaara listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of his cup.

The Ninja Sword System in the Land of Stars had become increasingly formalized.

Apart from the Great Blade Samehada, which was directly bestowed upon the Anbu Commander, Hoshigaki Kisame by Shura, the other three swords, which are the Kubikiribocho, the Lightning Blades Kiba, and the Twin Blades Hiramekarei, all had their holders determined through the [Ninja Sword Tournament].

A tournament was held every three years, and any Ninja of the Land of Stars could register.

After layers of selection, only one final contender would face the current sword holder in the finals, with the winner becoming the new master of the sword.

In past tournaments, the first holders had all successfully defended their titles.

But with the rise of the new generation of Ninjas in the Land of Stars, more and more young people were registering.

Not only Ninjas from clans like the Uchiha and Hyuga participated, but many talented civilian Ninjas also made their mark.

This made the Ninja Sword Tournament not just a contest for weapon ownership, but also a stage for young ninjas to prove their strength and hone their combat skills.

The commercialization of the tournament had also grown significantly.

Multiple corporate sponsorships, live television broadcasts, sold-out spectator seats… ordinary citizens of the Land of Stars were enthusiastic about these events. The image of Ninjas was gradually shifting from mysterious killing tools to respected professional warriors.

For Gaara and his siblings, the desire for fame and status had an even deeper reason.

Their father, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, as a defeated party, remained imprisoned in a secret prison of the Land of Stars.

Whether out of familial bonds, or Gaara's need to unravel the mystery of his uncle Yashamaru's assassination attempt, they had to meet Rasa and ask him personally.

To gain visitation rights, or even interrogation rights, Gaara had to become a Ninja of significant standing in the Land of Stars… powerful, prestigious, and holding a high position.

"I have not even fully mastered Shukaku's power yet." Gaara finally said softly, his gaze calm. "There is no need to covet the power of the swords. If not for the concern that participating might take a spot from other Ninjas, I would indeed like to spar with those competitors."

Shukaku snorted in his mind.

Breakfast ended in a relaxed atmosphere.

After the three helped clean up, they changed into outdoor shoes and prepared to leave.

Mikoto saw them to the door, gently straightening Temari's collar.

"Be careful." Mikoto said, her gaze lingering on Gaara for a moment longer. "Come back early after the tournament. I will make your favorite dishes tonight."

"Thank you, Aunt Mikoto!" Kankuro waved energetically.

Temari stepped forward and gave Mikoto a light hug. "We're off."

Gaara nodded, saying quietly, "We will be careful."

Closing the door, the three descended the steps.

The morning streets were already bustling with activity, people hurrying by, and occasionally Ninjas using Body Flicker Techniques to leap across rooftops.

The morning in the Star City was full of vitality, completely different from the sand-covered dullness of Sunagakure.

"By the way." Temari said as they walked. "I met Natsuhi-sama at the mission desk yesterday. She said border patrol missions have increased recently. I suspect it might be related to movements in the Land of Rain."

Kankuro shrugged. "Amegakure? Just a bunch of Missing-Nin. They can not cause much trouble."

Gaara listened in silence.

About Amegakure, he did not know much. He only vaguely knew that a coup had happened there years ago, the original leader, Hanzo the Salamander was killed, but the specifics were rarely known to the outside world.

However, the higher-ups of the Land of Stars seemed to be closely monitoring their movements.