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What is a brother?
What is a friend?
Gaara, who had inherited Naruto's memories from the future, now fully understood everything Naruto had done up to this point.
So he asked without hesitation, "Naruto, what do you need me to do?"
Because he completely understood it now. No wonder Naruto had said before that it was pointless to explain everything to everyone. Instead of trying to convince a whole group, it was better for one person to shoulder the burden first.
Gaara looked at Naruto and said, "I can see it now. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I was a Jinchūriki."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah, because Shukaku's chakra still lingers within your body, my retrospection resonates with it. That connection allows the power of the Sage of Six Paths to reflect and lets you see glimpses of those futures."
Gaara nodded solemnly. "So that's how it is."
After a moment of thought, Gaara asked, "Since the Eye of the Moon Plan is ultimately about reviving Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, why don't we just get rid of Black Zetsu and the masked man—Obito, right?"
Naruto responded calmly, "Because their existence is necessary. I've traveled through time, but aside from you, Killer Bee, and a few other Jinchūriki, I can't go back and convince the others. It's almost impossible. Trying to convince people of something as insane as the future... it's just not something they'll accept."
Gaara fell silent in thought. With Naruto's memories now in his mind, he put himself in Naruto's shoes and thought deeply. If he had been in Naruto's position, what would he have done?
Then he suddenly understood Naruto's plan.
"I get it now. When Obito declared the Fourth Great Ninja War, you actually supported it. Without a powerful external threat like him, none of the Five Great Nations would ever unite—especially not just based on a prophecy of the future.
But once they join forces to fight Obito and then you defeat him, you'll have earned their trust and recognition. That way, you can take the lead and steer the world in a new direction, right?"
Naruto gave a small nod and looked at Gaara. "Exactly."
"But… if this continues, there will be a lot of casualties." Gaara sighed, eyes downcast.
Naruto inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly. He stared at the vast desert in silence.
Gaara stepped forward and placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "You must be feeling awful. For someone like you, who longs for peace, even watching the shinobi from other villages die must hurt deeply."
Naruto's eyes grew moist. Gaara understood him completely. Trying to act casual, Naruto smiled bitterly. "Yeah… I really don't want to witness those kinds of scenes again. But for the sake of the future… there's no other choice."
Gaara squeezed his shoulder in support. He could completely relate now, having just lived through a hellish battlefield.
His sister, Temari, and his brother, Kankurō, had been killed in battle.
The shinobi of Sunagakure had died protecting him as the Kazekage. His hands were stained with the blood of his comrades.
He could only imagine what Naruto must have gone through as the Hokage—facing horrors far worse. After all, Naruto and Sasuke had once represented the highest level of power in the shinobi world. Facing the Ōtsutsuki Clan was a nightmare in itself. The burden on Naruto must have been unimaginable.
Naruto wiped the tears from his eyes and looked at Gaara again. "Still, I've been thinking—there is a way. Ever since I came back, I've been researching resurrection jutsu to bring back the fallen shinobi."
Gaara's brows furrowed. "You mean resurrection techniques? Those are forbidden."
Naruto nodded. "Currently, there are only two ways that can bring the dead back—retrieving their souls from the Pure Land. One is the Rinne Rebirth technique, and the other is the Life Transference Jutsu used by Chiyo to bring you back to life."
"You mean the Reanimation techniques..."
"Yes," Naruto affirmed.
"But the Life Transference Jutsu requires the user's own life in exchange," Gaara said. "It's essentially a one-for-one forbidden jutsu. Whoever casts it dies in the process."
Naruto inhaled again and said, "That's the part I've been stuck on. I'm not worried about chakra or life force, really. The issue is the caster—just like the Rinne Rebirth Technique, the user has to sacrifice their life."
Gaara shook his head helplessly. "You're not seriously thinking of sacrificing innocent people to use the jutsu, are you? Even if it's for the future, I can't believe you'd go that far."
Naruto patted Gaara's shoulder again. "Don't worry, I've always been against forbidden techniques like that. But… for the sake of the future, I had no choice but to look into them. I'm still not sure how I'll do it… but I've thought of a substitute."
"A substitute?" Gaara raised an eyebrow.
Naruto looked out at the sky. "I haven't tested it yet. But once everything's ready, I'm going to return to Orochimaru and try it out."
Gaara's eyes widened. "Wait… isn't Orochimaru dead? Don't tell me…"
Naruto smiled slyly. "I brought him back. Not with a forbidden jutsu—Orochimaru had left behind a resurrection technique of his own. I just unlocked the seal."
Gaara couldn't help but exclaim, "He truly lives up to his name as one of the Legendary Sannin!"
Naruto chuckled. "That guy's unkillable."
Then Gaara asked, "You said you were waiting for me to arrive—what is it that you need from me?"
"Do you still have Granny Chiyo's forbidden technique—the Life Transference Jutsu? Sunagakure must have kept it, right?"
Gaara nodded. "Yes. It's sealed in the Kazekage's Scroll of Seals. It contains all the forbidden techniques that have been recorded during the reigns of the previous Kazekage."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Yosh!"
Seeing Naruto so excited, Gaara couldn't help but smile too. It felt good to be useful. Naruto's burden was far too heavy, and as his friend, Gaara wanted to support him as a true comrade.
"Just as I thought, Sunagakure also has a Sealed Scroll like the Book of Sealing."
Naruto's thoughts drifted back to his childhood, when he had once stolen the Scroll of Seals on Mizuki-sensei's suggestion just to pass Iruka-sensei's test. That night, he had secretly learned the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Looking back, Naruto felt strangely grateful to Mizuki—for leading him to that moment. Without it, he wouldn't have learned that powerful jutsu, nor met Iruka-sensei in that life-changing moment.
As for Mizuki… well, the grass on his grave was probably a few meters tall by now.
"Come on, Naruto, I'll take you to Sunagakure's secret vault."
Naruto nodded and followed Gaara.
Sunagakure – Secret Vault
A group of elders from the Sand Village stood guard at the entrance.
"Kazekage-sama, do you understand what it means to bring an outsider into this sacred vault?!"
"That's right! Naruto may have saved your life and earned the title of honored guest, but this is a classified facility! Letting him enter this place is completely unacceptable!"
"Kazekage-sama, please reconsider!"
But Gaara's voice was cold, unwavering. "I'll say this one last time. Naruto is not an outsider. Now move."
Standing to the side, Baki frowned slightly. He glanced at Temari and said, "Temari, try to persuade your brother."
Temari nodded. "Don't worry, sensei. I was going to say something anyway."
But before she could step forward, Kankurō rushed ahead and stood in Gaara's path, both arms outstretched. "Gaara, do you even know what you're doing? You're exposing our clan's most guarded secrets to an outsider!"
Gaara took a deep breath and responded, "I told you. Naruto is not an outsider. What he needs is for the future of our village. Please, brother—step aside."
Yūra stepped forward, eyes flicking to Naruto's Rinnegan. He narrowed his eyes and whispered something to Baki.
Baki's face went pale with surprise. He quickly motioned Temari aside and approached Gaara.
Seeing Baki advance, the elders immediately stepped aside. As the trusted Jōnin of both the Third and Fourth Kazekage, and the one who helped appoint Gaara as the Fifth Kazekage alongside Yūra, Baki held immense authority in the village.
He looked sharply at Gaara, then at Naruto, and said in a firm voice, "Gaara, are you being controlled by the Rinnegan?"
At those words, the Sand Shinobi became immediately alert. Kankurō summoned his puppet, the Crow, in preparation.
Gaara didn't flinch. The sand behind him rose menacingly as he said in a low, commanding voice, "In the name of the Kazekage, I order all of you—stand down. I am not under any form of control. Naruto would never do such a thing!"
Yūra stepped forward again. "Then please, Kazekage-sama, give the village a proper explanation for your actions."
Gaara's eyes narrowed. "I am no longer just your Kazekage… and I don't owe you an explanation for everything I do."
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