The sudden eruption of sand didn't just stun the quarreling shinobi—it also drew the attention of the entire Allied Shinobi Forces to the central platform.
After all, the power of sand was no secret to the world anymore. Only one person could manipulate sand on such a massive scale—Kazekage Gaara, seated high in the stands.
Sure enough, as all eyes turned toward him, Gaara stood and began to speak:
"For the sake of their own villages, shinobi have hurt and hated one another—once, twice, even three times over. In a world steeped in hatred, people crave power. I was born into such a world!"
As he spoke, painful memories from his childhood surfaced—bloody, lonely, and dark.
Temari and Kankurō watched their brother with concern, their hearts aching at the weight he still carried.
Gaara's voice rang out again:
"I was once the very embodiment of hatred. I was power. I was the Jinchūriki of the One-Tailed Shukaku, a shinobi of Sunagakure. I loathed the world and humanity itself—I wanted to annihilate everything! In that way, I was no different from the Akatsuki!"
Down below, the shinobi forces fell silent, listening intently as Gaara recounted his past.
He took a deep breath, then shouted with conviction:
"But then... a shinobi from Konohagakure stopped me!"
Gaara closed his eyes. In the darkness of memory, a familiar figure appeared—Naruto Uzumaki. That confident grin… it had once lit up Gaara's world.
When Akatsuki captured him and ripped Shukaku from his body, he had been adrift in despair, locked in a nightmare he couldn't awaken from.
But then Naruto's chakra had entered his body—searching, calling out to him.
In a desolate dreamscape, Gaara, broken and bowed, felt a warm hand tap him on the shoulder.
He raised his eyes—and there was Naruto, his face full of concern, shouting:
"Gaara!"
That moment changed everything.
To Gaara, Naruto was the sun that shone on his world for the first time.
A rare smile touched Gaara's lips.
He looked at the Allied Shinobi Forces gathered before him, spread his arms, and declared with passion:
"That man cried for me—even though I had once been his enemy. He called me… his friend!
He saved me!
Although we had been enemies, he too is a Jinchūriki.
There is no wall between those who share the same burden—who understand each other's pain!
Yes, some of you may ask, 'Didn't Naruto abandon the village? Isn't he no better than Akatsuki?'
No! That's not the truth.
Naruto is still one of us!
Akatsuki seeks to gather the Nine Tailed Beasts and cast the entire world into an eternal illusion. Naruto left his village not to betray it—but to protect it!
When Sunagakure was under attack by Akatsuki, Naruto came to save me—his friend!
I believe other villages have also received his aid!"
His voice rose in intensity, echoing across the field:
"So now—there are no enemies here! Every village has suffered at the hands of Akatsuki. We have all lost. We have all felt pain.
There is no longer Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Konohagakure, Kumogakure, or Kirigakure—there are only shinobi!
And if you still cannot forgive Sunagakure—then when this war is over, you may take my head!"
Gaara's final declaration silenced even the most skeptical shinobi from Konoha. His sincerity was undeniable.
Moreover, Naruto, though absent, had not been officially labeled a rogue ninja—no public decree from the Hokage had declared him a missing-nin.
From the other villages, no one spoke. All eyes remained fixed on Gaara, the youngest of the Five Kage.
Raising his voice once more, Gaara addressed them directly:
"If we allow Akatsuki to continue… if they capture Naruto and Killer Bee, the world as we know it will end!
With all Nine Tailed Beasts, Akatsuki will wield unimaginable power. They'll dominate the world and trap it in the Infinite Tsukuyomi—a Genjutsu that will enslave all living beings!
I want to protect Naruto. I want to protect Killer Bee. I want to protect my village—and this world!
But I am still young. My strength alone is not enough. So I ask you all—lend me your strength!"
As Gaara's words rang out, many of the Sunagakure shinobi were already in tears.
Every single one of them knew how far Gaara had come—how much pain he had endured.
They leapt to their feet and shouted:
"We support Lord Gaara!"
"You are not alone, Lord Gaara—we stand with you!"
"Raise the Kazekage's banner! Let's save the world together!"
Their shouts ignited the Konoha shinobi.
Gaara had spoken repeatedly about protecting Naruto, their Nine Tails Jinchūriki. If the Kazekage was this passionate about Naruto, then Konoha should be even more so!
Not to mention Kumogakure. Who would dare let harm come to Killer Bee, younger brother to the Fourth Raikage?
Of course they supported the alliance!
When Iwagakure and Kirigakure saw shinobi from the other villages cheering, they joined in as well.
Gaara's speech had been righteous and inspiring—it stirred every heart on the battlefield.
Kakashi Hatake glanced at Gaara and smiled.
"Naruto… you didn't just save a person. You saved an entire village."
Kitsuchi, son of Ōnoki, looked at Gaara in a new light.
"As expected of the youngest Kage… I've got a lot to learn."
Mifune, leader of the samurai, felt hope welling in his chest.
"The future belongs to young leaders like this."
Darui, watching with folded arms, smirked.
"Damn… I gotta be that cool someday."
Meanwhile, tensions between different villages began to thaw.
An Iwagakure shinobi turned toward a Sunagakure ninja.
"I'm sorry. I take back what I said earlier. Your Kage is worthy of respect."
The Sand shinobi scratched his head awkwardly.
"Don't worry about it. I was out of line too."
A Kumogakure ninja looked toward a Konoha shinobi.
"My bad. I went too far earlier."
The Konoha ninja smiled, extending a hand.
"Me too. I heard Naruto and Killer Bee are good friends. Let's become comrades as well."
The Kumogakure ninja laughed and grasped the hand firmly.
Elsewhere, an Iwagakure ninja turned to a Kirigakure shinobi.
"I apologize for Yosuka. Truly."
He even bowed deeply.
The Kirigakure ninja was stunned, visibly flustered by the sudden show of humility. His lingering resentment began to waver.
Then, a new figure stepped forward.
"Brother Yanryū?! Why are you here?"
Yanryū, a former Kirigakure shinobi, pulled out a forehead protector bearing the symbol of the Allied Shinobi Forces. He tied it firmly around his forehead.
"Now is not the time for personal grudges. We who share pain must unite—against Akatsuki!"
Moved, the Kirigakure shinobi turned back to the Iwagakure ninja, then finally took his outstretched hand.
On the high platform, Kankurō looked at the unifying shinobi below and said with emotion:
"Amazing… the more passionate people are, the easier they are to unite. Right, Gaara?"
Temari smiled up at her brother, eyes gleaming with pride.
"Gaara, you're becoming incredible."
Gaara took a single step forward, then raised both arms high.
With a powerful voice, he roared:
"Those who agree with me—follow me! Let's march into battle together!!!"
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