SWNOVELXO Chapter 88: Chapter 098
Even though Danzo and the Third Hokage are the same kind of people, the two of them represent the light and dark sides of Konoha.
According to Danzo himself, "You are the Konoha basking in sunlight, while I am the root buried deep in the earth."
But the things Danzo did were far darker than the Third Hokage's. For example, if there was information he didn't want to pass on to the Third, he'd have members of Root attack the Anbu to block it.
He'd also go around various clans in the village under the pretense of "recruiting talent for the Anbu," forcibly taking people into Root.
So, while both organizations were technically doing the same job, Root members were often at odds with the Anbu.
But all of this… was Danzo's problem—not something that needed to be fixed.
To prepare for the Chunin Exams, Kitahara Kaede made another bold decision: to directly annex Sunagakure as part of Konoha.
It actually made a lot of sense.
Shukaku had already surrendered—but Shukaku was still inside Gaara. So how could they extract Shukaku from Gaara?
If they forcefully extracted a Tailed Beast, the Jinchuriki would die.
If they didn't extract it, then even though Shukaku belonged to Konoha, it would still have to go back to Suna with Gaara. Wouldn't that be weird?
So the conclusion was obvious.
If Gaara also became part of Konoha, then there'd be no need to extract Shukaku at all.
Both Shukaku and Kitahara Kaede agreed to this logic.
And with that, the matter was settled.
But what Kaede found acceptable… was like a thorn in the throat for Sunagakure.
The morning after the exam ended, the Suna Three—Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara—received a mission: return to Suna and inform the village leaders that Sunagakure was now a subordinate village of Konoha.
Yes.
They were simply told to go say it.
As far as Kitahara Kaede was concerned, Sunagakure was already a part of Konoha.
"..." Temari.
"..." Kankuro.
"..." Gaara.
"Then let's go," Gaara said.
Unlike his silent sister and brother, Gaara didn't have much objection to Sunagakure belonging to Konoha.
Or rather… the current Gaara had already been reshaped by Konoha.
His past had been miserable.
But Kitahara Kaede had promised him: if he completed his tasks, he would use Edo Tensei to resurrect his uncle—Yashamaru.
Yashamaru was Gaara's mother's younger brother. The two looked very much alike.
When Gaara was born, his mother Karura died in childbirth.
So he was a child without a mother.
And not just that. Because Shukaku's seal was imperfect, he couldn't sleep as a child, always staying awake—he was the "Champion of All-Nighters."
Even waking someone with morning temper is risky—but Gaara never slept at all. Of course his emotions were unstable.
To young Gaara, Uncle Yashamaru was his entire emotional anchor.
His world only had his never-seen mother, and Yashamaru.
But when he was six years old, Yashamaru tried to kill him—and told him he had always hated him, that Gaara's birth had led to his sister's death.
After saying that, Yashamaru committed suicide.
Gaara's emotional foundation crumbled.
In that instant, he lost the only two people he had ever truly loved.
So...
Thinking of this—he couldn't help but feel excited, even a bit twistedly euphoric.
Because…
In the past, he hadn't been mature enough. But now, he was growing up.
He really wanted to see his uncle again, to tell him what he had become—thanks to him.
In other words, Gaara was filled with hatred and wanted to face Yashamaru again.
"Don't you think there's something a little… off with Gaara's mental state?" Kakashi asked, watching them leave Konoha.
"..."
"Gaara does have issues," Kaede replied, "But this is a form of therapy."
"What kind of therapy?" Kakashi asked.
"Psychotherapy," Kitahara Kaede said calmly.
"All psychological problems originate from bad parenting."
"And since the Fourth Kazekage doesn't deserve to be called a father, I'm using Yashamaru—the person most important to him—as bait."
"Look—he's been perfectly well-behaved, hasn't he?" Kaede added.
"..." Kakashi broke into a cold sweat.
He had only just been moved by the first part, thinking Kaede had suddenly become warm and gentle.
But then… reality hit.
Kaede continued, "Also, you might not have used your Sharingan to observe Gaara's sand carefully enough."
"Some of his sand automatically protects him, right? You noticed that during the fight with Sasuke."
"Yes," Kakashi nodded. He was aware of that.
It had also been Sasuke's first successful "cool guy" moment.
When Sasuke fought Gaara, the sand protected Gaara instinctively. But Sasuke, using his Sharingan and near-Jonin-level taijutsu, managed to get past it and land hits.
"That particular sand isn't powered by Gaara's chakra, nor by Shukaku's," Kaede explained.
"It's his mother Karura's chakra."
"Eh?" Kakashi was stunned. "Didn't Gaara's mother die during childbirth?"
"She likely transferred her chakra to Gaara through the umbilical cord at birth," Kaede explained.
"She poured all her chakra into him."
"Just like when I entered Naruto's mental space and noticed traces of chakra there."
"That was Minato's insurance during the Nine Tails sealing."
"Parents' love is universal. Gaara's mother must have done it to protect him."
"..." Kakashi fell silent.
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-)]
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: This world is really full of tragedies, isn't it…
[Tobirama]: Brother, you're too sentimental.
[Fourth Hokage - Minato]: It's simply reality.
[Fourth Hokage - Minato]: A parent's love is always there.
[Fourth Hokage - Minato]: …Eh, my dear Naruto…
[Tobirama]: Don't worry. I will definitely see that your son gets justice.
[Fourth Hokage - Minato]: …
[Fourth Hokage - Minato]: Thank you, Second Lord Hokage.
[Tobirama]: Just the fact that you still call me Second Lord Hokage… I'm moved.
[Tobirama]: Though you don't need to, honestly.
[Tobirama]: After all, all your disciples are idiots.
[Fourth Hokage - Minato]: …
[Fourth Hokage - Minato]: …
[Fourth Hokage - Minato]: I can't say I forgive them. Naruto really was treated unfairly.
[Fourth Hokage - Minato]: He's had it so hard.
[Fourth Hokage - Minato]: And I'm partly to blame for that.
[Fourth Hokage - Minato]: So I don't have the right to forgive or condemn them. That right belongs to Naruto alone.
[Tobirama]: …Eh.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: But hey, when Gaara and the others left Konoha, didn't Little Kaede give Temari a note?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: What did the note say?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: By the way, are we really just letting them go back like that? Will Sunagakure really submit?
[Future Mizukage - Mei Terumi]: I'm curious too.
[Future Mizukage - Mei Terumi]: I'm still in Konoha, but Kaede didn't ask me to stay and help keep the pressure up.
[Future Mizukage - Mei Terumi]: I thought he might need me to arrange some Kirigakure ninja to assist.
[Cowardly - Onoki]: Mm… if it's about military presence, I guess Iwagakure can send troops too.
Even though he only offered after Mei brought it up, Onoki was genuinely feeling helpless.
At first, he had respected Kaede's strength and tried to deal with things rationally.
But now? It's not just strength—all four Hokage are about to return.
"..." Onoki.
This…
He's living in harder times than even the very first Tsuchikage did.
This is going to be the hardest era for Iwagakure.
Given all the bullying Iwagakure once did to Konoha, he feels like karma's going to come around hard.
Now all he can do is curry favor and build goodwill—he has no other cards to play.
Because… Konoha is just that strong.
Onoki sees no hope.
Now he just prays that Kaede keeps his word and leaves at least three Great Ninja Villages standing—rather than randomly invading Iwagakure next.
He really doesn't have the confidence to hold the village any longer.
[Tobirama]: As for that note…
[Tobirama]: Based on analysis, Suna will comply.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Oh?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: So, Tobirama, you saw the note when he wrote it?
[Tobirama]: Mm-hmm.
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