Naruto entry

Page 658

Kiyoshi slowly turned around.

The moment he turned around, his gentle and refined facade seemed to melt away.

Instead, there is an undisguised, scorching scrutiny.

From top to bottom, the flow is slow and oppressive, as if reaffirming a lost and recovered collectible.

Gallo stood rooted to the spot by that gaze, his hands and feet turning ice-cold.

She watched him approach step by step, his boots making a soft sound on the floor, each step feeling like it was stepping on her heartbeat.

Kiyoshi stopped a step away from her, a distance that far exceeded the bounds of safe social interaction.

However, Kiyoshi's gaze suddenly shifted from Karura's face and landed on the bewildered Gaara.

He slowly reached out his hand, not toward Karura, but gently placed it on Gaara's black hair, the gesture even described as...gentle.

"Extraordinary talent, not only did he inherit the Sharingan, but it seems he also possesses something else..."

Kiyoshi's fingertips lingered on Gaara's hair, as if sensing something, and his tone became meaningful.

"Work hard, Gaara. Maybe you can even compete with your reincarnated brothers."

Kiyoshi was referring to Naruto and Sasuke, who, although both were Kiyoshi's sons, had their chakra influenced by Indra and Ashura.

As they grow up, this influence will expand.

Kiyoshi was pondering whether or not to strip away this chakra.

But Naruto and Sasuke would lose the opportunity to become top-tier fighters.

Karura suddenly pulled Gaara even tighter behind her, her voice trembling uncontrollably:

"Gaara, be a good boy and go back to your room!"

Gaara looked up at his mother's unusually pale face, then at Kiyoshi's inscrutable expression. Although puzzled, he obediently nodded and walked towards his room, glancing back every few steps.

Gallo forced himself to keep his back straight until the child's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor.

She raised her tear-filled, pleading eyes to look at the unfathomable man before her, and said:

"Kiyoshi... I beg you... to spare Rasa... don't tell Yekura about that... and don't make it public..."

She knew how futile her plea was, but she had no other choice.

If Rasa, the Kazekage of Sunagakure, is exposed for betraying his comrades, he will be utterly disgraced, and may even...

Kiyoshi watched her quietly, watching the tears rolling down her cheeks and her lips trembling with fear.

Instead of answering directly, he took another half step forward, almost touching Gallo's body.

He raised his hand, his cool fingertips gently wiping away the tear stains on her cheek.

Only when Kiyoshi's fingertips left her cheek did Karura dare to truly breathe.

His chest was heaving violently, as if he had just struggled out of drowning.

But the air inside seemed even more stifling than the desert dust outside.

"Yakura is back."

Kiyoshi spoke again, his tone casual, yet it struck her eardrums like a heavy hammer.

"Heroes always have to be settled... What do you say, Gallo?"

Galuro was startled.

Her eyes dimmed instantly, her lips pressed tightly together, and her fingertips gripped the kimono sash.

She knew that Kiyoshi was telling the truth.

Luo Sha... has no chance of escaping.

"I can persuade Yekura not to kill Rasa and let him atone for his sins in other ways, but what are you willing to give in return?"

Karura's lips trembled, and after a long while, she finally spoke:

"I... can only give you what I can give..."

Gallo lowered his head, his long eyelashes casting a shadow beneath his eyes.

The night wind outside blew in through the cracks, carrying sand and grit as it brushed against the paper door, making a "rustling" sound.

She finally raised her head, her eyes red-rimmed, her breathing rapid.

"I'm willing to give everything."

She had no way out.

Galuro actually understood.

Some things can be negotiated, while others cannot.

Rasa is shaking the very foundation of a ninja village, and someone has to be pushed out as a sacrifice. Those high-ranking officials of Sunagakure who are involved in this matter will be the first to shirk responsibility.

For a fleeting moment, she felt a sense of relief.

Fortunately, Kiyoshi did not immediately demand an explanation from her, but instead offered her a possibility of "exchange".

This humiliating sense of relief made her almost unable to look at herself.

Kiyoshi looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He reached out and gently stroked a stray strand of brownish-yellow hair that had fallen at her temple.

“Very good, Garuda.”

Kiyoshi smiled.

"Then I want you to offer... your loyalty."

Kiyoshi cut his index finger, and blood swirled around the wound.

“My blood carries the power of my curse mark. Once you swallow it, you will be under my control.”

Kiyoshi gestured for Karura to open her mouth.

The only drawback of being afflicted by the curse is that you will develop a tattoo-like pattern.

For example, a black three-comma will appear with the characters "Seijiro" written in the middle.

Galuro opened his mouth and swallowed it.

She felt as if she had swallowed a drop of magma, and her whole body was being roasted.

After a while, the noise subsided.

"Then, that's the second thing."

The priest began to form hand seals.

The wind tonight has reached Sunagakure.

……

The next day.

Karura was clearing the dishes off the table all by herself.

Kiyoshi has already left.

It was as if nothing had happened.

Only Karura had some cursed markings on her body.

Suddenly, soft footsteps echoed down the corridor.

"Why did you only tidy up this morning?"

Luo Sha yawned and asked in confusion.

"I was too busy last night."

"Yeah."

Luo Sha remained noncommittal.

He only remembered that he had drunk too much alcohol, and then Yashamaru escorted him upstairs.

In the end, it should be Yashamaru who escorts Kiyoshi back.

Karura's expression was slightly unnatural, but she managed to hide it well.

"By the way, I've discovered that Gaara has great potential."

Luo Sha spoke.

Gaara is a genius in every way, so there is one thing that Rasa intends to tell Karura in advance.

"So when you get old, if anything unexpected happens, I want Gaara to become the Jinchūriki of the One-Tailed Beast."

Luo Sha spoke.

This can be considered taking precautions.

Karura gazed at Rasa, who now seemed somewhat unfamiliar.

Because of Rasa, she was cursed by Kiyoshi, who could kill her with a single thought.

Rasa actually plans to make her child a Jinchuriki of a Tailed Beast?

Once Gaara becomes a Jinchūriki, he will face the cold stares of everyone.

Jinchūriki have historically been a group that is not respected.

Even Gallo himself would reduce the frequency of going out to avoid causing unnecessary trouble.

"Gaara is still such an innocent child."

"I know, but I am also the Wind Shadow. Besides, it's not now. It's just in case."

Luo Sha spoke up.

He betrayed Yekura in order to bring peace to Sunagakure.

The purpose of making Gaara a Jinchūriki at any time was to ensure that Sunagakure always had access to weapons of war.

Peace cannot last forever; it will inevitably erupt sooner or later.

They need to prepare as soon as possible.

Karura remained silent for a long time without speaking.

Luo Sha ate breakfast casually and headed outside.

Under his persuasion, Kiyoshi reluctantly decided to stay a few more days.

Luo Sha was taken aback; he was just being polite.

However, it doesn't matter if Kiyoshi stays here, since he won't spend much money anyway.

"Then enjoy yourself in Sunagakure."

Rasa subtly signaled to the Sunagakure ANBU hiding in the shadows, instructing them to keep a close watch on the Konoha ninja.

"I think I will."

Seiji smiled.

His assessment was that it was very smooth.

……

In a secluded basement in Sunagakure, a flickering fire illuminated the low stone walls, and the air was filled with the scent of sand and old wood.

Ye Cang sat on the stone platform, his back ramrod straight, his whole demeanor exuding a cool and dignified aura.

Her gaze swept over the group of people in front of her, people who had fought alongside her on the battlefield, or whose lives she had saved, or who had been protected by her.

"Lord Ye Cang..."

A Jonin with a bandage wrapped around his forehead spoke in a low voice, his eyes flashing with hesitation and awe.

"We never expected you to be alive. Lord Kazekage, you have truly disappointed us..."

Ye Cang did not answer immediately, but instead raised her hand to refill his wine, her slender fingers steady and calm.

After a moment, she said softly: