Chapter 275: Rescuing Gaara Arc
Asuramaru himself did not seem particularly concerned by the atmosphere around the table.
Fortunately, Naruto noticed how tense everyone had become and quickly spoke.
"This is Asuramaru."
He smiled at the others.
"Kakashi sensei, Sakura, you really don't need to be so formal around him."
Asuramaru gave no reaction to the introduction.
That alone helped everyone relax a little.
Sakura, however, kept sneaking glances at him.
She had heard stories about Asuramaru for years.
An ancient deity once worshipped by the Uzumaki Clan.
A mysterious being capable of granting Naruto extraordinary power.
Someone who had appeared before the entire village and even wounded the Shinigami summoned by the Reaper Death Seal.
Naturally, Sakura had imagined many possibilities.
None of them matched the person sitting beside Naruto.
Shoulder length purple hair.
Crimson eyes.
An exquisitely beautiful face that could easily make someone mistake him for a girl at first glance.
Sakura stared.
So this was Asuramaru?
A god?
He was far too beautiful.
And somehow, watching him sit quietly beside Naruto made him seem almost cute.
Sakura felt a strange urge to reach over and pat his head.
She immediately crushed that thought.
Absolutely not.
That was a deity.
A deity who could probably kill her before she even touched him.
Kakashi was much calmer.
He had already seen Asuramaru manifest three years earlier during the Chūnin Exams.
Even so, knowing what Asuramaru was did not make casual conversation easy.
After several seconds of awkward silence, Kakashi decided to change the subject.
"Speaking of which…"
Naruto looked over.
Kakashi continued.
"Hokage sama has already issued the official assignment."
"Sakura and Naruto will be placed under me again."
He curved his visible eye.
"From tomorrow onward, Team Kakashi will formally begin operating as a unit."
Silence.
Kakashi waited.
Naruto stared at the sizzling meat.
Sakura stared at Asuramaru.
Neither responded.
Kakashi slowly raised one hand to his forehead.
His authority as their teacher really had disappeared completely.
Fortunately, Naruto eventually remembered that Kakashi had spoken.
He looked up.
"Then I'll be counting on you again, Kakashi sensei."
Even while speaking, his attention returned immediately to the grill.
A piece of meat had just finished cooking.
Naruto picked it up with the tongs and carefully placed it into Asuramaru's bowl.
Then he set down the tongs and reached for his chopsticks.
He was clearly preparing to feed him.
Asuramaru stopped him before he could try.
"I can eat by myself."
Naruto froze.
"Oh."
Asuramaru picked up the meat with his own chopsticks.
He placed it into his mouth.
The taste spread across his tongue.
For a moment, his expression changed almost imperceptibly.
It had been far too long.
Hundreds of years without sitting at a table.
Without food.
Without anything resembling an ordinary meal.
That familiar taste stirred memories he had not thought about in a very long time.
Across the table, Sakura stared even harder.
He was even cute while eating.
This was dangerous.
Neji and Lee sat nearby, both unsure what they were supposed to do in front of a literal deity.
The meal continued.
Naruto repeatedly placed freshly cooked meat into Asuramaru's bowl.
Asuramaru ate at an unhurried pace.
Yet somehow, the food disappeared with astonishing efficiency.
Plate after plate emptied.
Naruto looked increasingly pleased.
Asuramaru himself felt nothing resembling fullness.
That was not particularly surprising.
He had stopped being human a very long time ago.
When the meal finally ended, black mist began gathering around him.
His physical form dissolved.
Within seconds, he disappeared completely and returned to the sword.
Sakura watched the empty seat.
A small trace of disappointment appeared on her face.
The others continued eating for a while longer.
Once everyone was satisfied, Kakashi reluctantly paid the bill.
By the time they stepped outside the restaurant, night had already fallen over Konoha.
The group separated.
Naruto returned home.
After washing up, he sat cross legged on his bed and began cultivating.
The night passed quietly.
Another month went by.
At noon one day, Team Kakashi received an urgent summons to the Hokage Building.
Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi arrived together.
Tsunade was already waiting.
The moment they entered, she spoke.
"I just received emergency intelligence from Sunagakure."
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Tsunade continued.
"The Hidden Sand Village was attacked last night."
Naruto's eyes sharpened.
"By whom?"
"The Akatsuki."
His expression changed.
Tsunade's voice became heavier.
"Their target was Gaara."
Naruto froze.
Tsunade continued.
"Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage, was defeated."
"And taken alive."
Naruto's fists clenched.
The Akatsuki.
The tailed beast collectors.
They had finally made their move against Gaara.
Tsunade looked toward Team Kakashi.
"Sunagakure has formally requested Konoha's assistance."
"There is no time to assemble another squad."
She stood.
"You three will leave immediately."
Kakashi nodded.
"Understood, Hokage sama."
Hiruzen sat quietly to the side of the office.
When he heard the mission details, his expression changed.
For a moment, it seemed like he wanted to object.
Naruto was also a Jinchūriki.
Sending him toward the Akatsuki was dangerous.
But Hiruzen looked at Naruto again.
The boy from three years ago was gone.
The Shinobi standing there now possessed Kage level strength.
Flying Thunder God.
A powerful arsenal of ninjutsu.
Asuramaru.
And enough experience to face major threats alone.
The warning died before Hiruzen could speak it.
Naruto no longer needed to be protected from every danger.
Kakashi turned.
"Let's go."
The three left the office.
They moved through Konoha and immediately departed through the village gates.
No preparation beyond what they already carried.
No delays.
They headed straight toward the Land of Wind.
Naruto barely spoke during the journey.
Gaara's face remained in his thoughts.
The boy he had once fought.
The Jinchūriki who had lived through the same loneliness.
The person Naruto had promised to call a friend.
Naruto clenched his fist.
"Gaara…"
His voice was low.
"Don't you dare die."
Kakashi heard him.
"Naruto."
Naruto looked over.
Kakashi's expression was serious.
"You need to be careful during this mission too."
Naruto understood immediately.
"The Akatsuki are collecting tailed beasts."
Kakashi nodded.
"That means they are not only interested in Gaara."
His visible eye narrowed.
"You are also one of their targets."
Naruto remained calm.
"Don't worry."
One hand rested against Ryūjin Jakka.
"I've wanted to meet them for a long time."
Kakashi studied him.
Normally, that answer would have worried him.
But Naruto possessed Flying Thunder God.
Even if the enemy proved stronger than expected, trapping him would be extremely difficult.
That alone gave Kakashi some confidence.
The three continued without stopping.
For three days, they travelled at high speed.
Eventually, the endless sand of the Land of Wind appeared.
Then the stone walls of Sunagakure.
The entrance to the Hidden Sand resembled a narrow canyon carved through towering rock.
The guards stationed there immediately noticed the Konoha forehead protectors.
"Konoha reinforcements?"
Kakashi nodded.
One of the Sand Shinobi quickly stepped forward and confirmed their identities.
Once satisfied, he did not waste time.
"Please follow me."
He ran ahead.
Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi followed him through the village.
There was no celebration.
No relief.
Sunagakure felt tense.
Gaara had been taken.
Their Kazekage was gone.
They were led directly to the hospital.
Upstairs.
Room Three.
The Sand Shinobi opened the door.
Naruto entered first.
Kankurō lay on the bed.
His usual face paint had been wiped away.
His skin was pale.
Sweat covered his face.
Various medical instruments surrounded him.
Every few moments, a low groan escaped his throat.
Temari stood beside the bed, visibly worried.
Two elderly figures were also present.
The moment Asuramaru sensed them, he recognized both.
Chiyo.
And her younger brother, Ebizō.
Chiyo's white hair framed an ancient, deeply wrinkled face.
She turned when the Konoha Shinobi entered.
Then she saw Kakashi.
Her pupils constricted.
Her expression darkened.
For one terrible moment, memory overrode reason.
"The White Fang of Konoha…"
Kakashi blinked.
Chiyo moved.
Fast.
Far faster than anyone expected from an old woman.
"You still dare come to Sunagakure?"
Her voice shook with anger.
"Then today I'll finally settle the debt for my son and daughter in law!"
Kakashi barely had time to react.
Fortunately, Ebizō did.
He grabbed Chiyo before she could reach Kakashi.
"Sister."
Chiyo struggled.
"Let go!"
Ebizō sighed.
"Look properly."
Chiyo froze.
"That is not the White Fang of Konoha."
She stared at Kakashi.
Ebizō continued.
"The White Fang died more than ten years ago."
His tone became almost teasing.
"Have you forgotten?"
"You cried bitterly back then because you would never get the chance to avenge your son personally."
Chiyo stopped moving.
Silence filled the room.
She looked at Kakashi again.
Then at Ebizō.
After several seconds, Chiyo laughed.
"Hahaha…"
Everyone stared.
Chiyo waved one hand casually.
"Don't mind me."
She smiled.
"I was only pretending to be senile."
The silence became worse.
Kakashi looked toward the ceiling.
Naruto said nothing.
Sakura had no idea what expression she was supposed to make.
Temari finally broke the awkward atmosphere.
She hurried toward them.
"Naruto."
Her gaze moved between the three Konoha Shinobi.
"Is anyone here skilled in Medical Ninjutsu?"
She looked toward Kankurō.
"His condition is getting worse."
Sakura immediately stepped forward.
"I am."
Temari's eyes widened with relief.
Sakura moved beside the bed.
"I'm a Medical Ninja."
Her professional focus replaced everything else.
"Give me all your examination results."
"Blood tests."
"Symptoms."
"Anything you have on the poison."
Temari immediately gestured toward a Sand medic.
"Bring everything."
Documents were quickly delivered.
Sakura began reading.
Her eyes moved rapidly across the reports.
Pulse.
Respiration.
Toxin progression.
Chakra pathway damage.
Organ response.
She began analyzing the poison and considering a method of neutralization.
Naruto remained behind her.
He looked at Kankurō.
The Sand Shinobi's face was nearly bloodless.
His breathing was weak.
Naruto frowned.
Then he spoke inwardly.
"Asuramaru."
"What?"
"Can Kankurō be saved?"
Asuramaru examined him through Perception.
Then answered casually.
"It is only poison."
Naruto waited.
Asuramaru continued.
"The girl with you can handle it."
Naruto looked toward Sakura.
She was already studying the medical records intensely.
He had complete confidence in her.
But Kankurō was suffering now.
Every minute mattered.
Naruto looked back toward the bed.
"Asuramaru."
A pause.
"Could you help him?"
Asuramaru remained silent for a moment.
Naruto continued.
"If Sakura can cure him, that's good."
"But right now, time is life."
Inside Ryūjin Jakka, Asuramaru sighed.
This Sword Master really did know how to make requests.
Then he answered helplessly.
"Well…"
"Who told you to be my Sword Master?"
....
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