Re: Naruto Uzumaki

Here's @riojiyo131, your trusted writer.

You can now get early access up to Chapter 128 of Re: Naruto Uzumaki on my Patreon.

Up to Chapter 45 of Satoru Senju: Conquering the Omniverse is also available.

Lastly, I've launched a new story titled Marvel: Star Wars System, which already has 5 chapters published. Each chapter averages around 5,000 words.

patreon.com/riojiyo131

I won't bother you any further—hope you enjoy the chapter…

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After that emotional reunion, Baki explained to Kankurō, Temari, and Gaara what was happening in Konoha.

The dead were somehow coming back to life.

Karura had returned as well, although no one knew how, much less why she had done so in the Land of Fire instead of the Land of Wind, where her remains were supposed to be resting.

Naruto said nothing about it. He knew that if they tried to open her tomb, they wouldn't find a body.

The same had happened with his mother's grave, Kushina, and with those of Rin, Sakumo, and even Duy.

It was then that Naruto understood why Orochimaru never tried to use Minato in the Edo Tensei during his battle against the Third Hokage.

His father's body had disappeared the moment he came back to life.

Karura and her children spent several hours talking after that. Kankurō and Temari wouldn't stop talking, reminiscing about moments from the past, while Gaara remained silent, slightly on the sidelines.

It wasn't that Gaara didn't feel happy about his mother's return. On the contrary, part of him was immensely grateful. But he needed time. He still hadn't come to terms with it.

Since he was a child, he had been told that he had killed his mother at birth.

That he was her murderer.

That she hated him.

That that was why she had named him Gaara, "the demon who only loves himself."

And even though he now knew all of that was a lie, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

Deep down, he still believed he didn't deserve to be near her.

But Karura didn't push him away. She didn't ignore him or treat him like a stranger.

She approached him with affection. She hugged him. She kissed him. She asked him questions as if she had never been gone.

To her, he was still her son, just like Kankurō and Temari.

"Now, young man, explain to me why you have a tattoo on your forehead," said Karura, crossing her arms and looking at him with a mix of reproach and curiosity.

"That..." Gaara was left speechless, cornered for the first time in his life.

Not by an enemy, but by his mother, who was scolding him.

From a distance, Naruto let out a laugh.

Gaara's tattoo, the kanji '愛' on his forehead, meant love.

He had carved it into himself as a child, using his sand, as an expression of his pain, his loneliness, the total absence of affection in his life.

It was the way he represented his name... "the demon who only loves himself."

But Naruto knew that, over time, that symbol had changed for him.

It was no longer a reminder of his isolation. Now, that tattoo was a reflection of his desire to understand and live love.

And at that moment, surrounded by his siblings and with his mother at his side, he was finally feeling it.

...

"Are you sure about this, Mom? We can postpone the training for another day..." said Kankurō, walking beside her.

Baki had already left, reluctantly taking Kabuto to a cell at Naruto's request.

He didn't want to have to deal with him during their entire stay in Sunagakure.

Of course, he sent Suigetsu to watch over him.

Kabuto was too slippery to just leave locked up without surveillance.

Besides, Karin had sealed his chakra, so he had no way of escaping.

"I'm sure, Kankurō. I want to see how you teach those kids. They are the future of Sunagakure," Karura responded firmly.

She had insisted on not canceling the training with the academy students, despite her unexpected return.

When they arrived at the training grounds, the academy students were already waiting for them.

The start had been delayed by a couple of hours, so everyone had been waiting anxiously.

"Ah, Kankurō-sama," one of the children greeted, excited.

"Temari-sama!" several girls exclaimed, running toward her with enthusiasm.

Everyone seemed happy to see their usual instructors.

But as soon as Gaara entered the training area, the atmosphere changed.

The group fell silent.

Many looked away.

Some began whispering among themselves, though they immediately stopped when other classmates warned them it was dangerous.

Gaara wasn't exactly well-liked by most in Sunagakure.

His reputation had been bad for a long time.

Karura noticed the tension in the air and frowned.

Without a second thought, she approached her son and hugged him from behind, resting her head tenderly on his shoulder.

"What are you doing?" asked Gaara without moving, arms crossed, staring ahead.

"I'm comforting my son so he doesn't feel sad," Karura replied naturally.

Gaara said nothing else, letting her do as she pleased.

Naruto, from the side, smiled at Gaara's blank expression. He knew Karura was doing everything she could to get him to let his guard down with her.

Temari stopped in front of a table full of weapons of all kinds.

There were one-handed and two-handed swords, spears, daggers, bows, and many others.

"All right, kids. Choose a weapon that suits your style," she said firmly, pointing to the table with one hand on her hip.

From the side, Karin watched the scene with annoyance.

"She's not as pretty as Karura said... mhpm," she muttered, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at Temari.

Naruto looked at her, amused.

"Jealous?" he asked with a smile.

Karin held his gaze, without a trace of shame or shyness. "Very," she admitted, without hesitation.

Naruto wrapped his arm around Karin's waist and gently pulled her toward him, focusing his attention on the Sunagakure students' training.

Karin's face turned red, as intense as her hair. She rested a hand on Naruto's chest, saying nothing, but clearly affected by the gesture.

Among the students, there was a girl who didn't feel comfortable using a weapon.

She explained, with a trembling voice, that if she ever used one, she might hurt someone... or even kill them.

She didn't want to hurt anyone.

Gaara tried to intervene, trying to explain that that was precisely the purpose of weapons. But as soon as he opened his mouth, all the students took a step back, looking at him with fear.

Noticing their reaction, he decided to stay silent.

Temari let out a sigh and responded in his place. Despite the admiration the students felt for her, she didn't hold back and was blunt with her reply.

"Missions aren't a game. If you go into battle with that mindset, you're going to die. If you're not prepared for what it means to be a kunoichi, maybe you should consider leaving the academy."

The girl, named Matsuri, lowered her head, hurt by the scolding.

From where he stood, Naruto took a good look at her and recognized her immediately.

He remembered Matsuri as a shy girl, but over time she would become much more confident. She would become a great kunoichi of Sunagakure.

He also knew that her fear of weapons came from a deep wound—the death of her parents.

That's why she acted that way.

Naruto observed the rest of the students more closely. Although they were still academy students, he noticed they weren't as young as one might expect. They were probably thirteen or fourteen years old.

They were close to graduating.

"Before choosing a weapon, you must choose one of us three as your instructor. Only then will you be allowed to choose a weapon," Kankurō explained seriously.

Karura, and even Temari, insisted that Gaara smile a little. They knew that if he didn't, probably none of the students would choose him.

But Gaara didn't listen to them.

He didn't feel the need to pretend to be someone he wasn't, especially not to please a group of kids.

As expected, the students split into two groups. One went to Temari and the other to Kankurō.

Only one girl remained standing, undecided.

It was Matsuri.

With slow steps, she approached Gaara, visibly unsure.

"I-I'm counting on you, sensei," she said, bowing slightly in front of him.

Gaara raised an eyebrow as he saw her approach.

"Are you sure?" he asked, surprised, though his face didn't show it.

Matsuri nodded, this time with determination.

Karura, still hugging her son's back, smiled warmly.

"For a second I was scared... even my little Gaara has his own admirer," she thought, tenderly.

From a distance, Naruto also smiled.

"She'll be Gaara's future wife, you know?" he said to Karin in a low voice.

Karin looked at him, surprised.

"How can you know that?" she asked, confused.

"I know everything," Naruto replied dramatically, raising an eyebrow playfully.

Karin gave him a playful tap on the shoulder, smiling amusedly.

The truth was, not even Naruto knew for sure.

But he remembered that in his past life, although it was never confirmed whether Gaara had a wife, in the Boruto anime it was hinted that he had a partner.

Also, Naruto knew that Matsuri would develop feelings for Gaara in the future, becoming more expressive and brave.

He was almost convinced that Matsuri would be his wife... or at least his partner.

When all the students had finished choosing their instructor, Naruto and Karin discreetly left the training room.

After thinking about it for a bit, Matsuri tried to choose a mace as her weapon.

But Gaara suggested something different—a dart with a rope.

Then he showed her that weapons weren't only made to hurt, but also to protect those you care about.

And for the first time, Matsuri understood that a weapon could be more than an instrument of pain.