Although Naruto had fallen from a height of several dozen meters, he was fortunately protected by the Tailed Beast cloak, which provided some cushioning.
Therefore.
Naruto didn't suffer any particularly serious injuries, but the violent impact when he hit the ground had knocked him unconscious.
Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief and was just about to reach out and pick Naruto up.
But at that moment.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes and let out a groan-like cry of pain!
"Everything hurts... Kakashi-sensei?"
Naruto felt as though every bone in his body had been shattered, the pain radiating through his entire being. When he regained his senses and saw Kakashi beside him, he clearly froze for a moment.
Then, as if remembering something, Naruto fought through the pain and quickly scrambled to his feet, looking around.
"Where's Sasuke?"
Naruto surveyed his surroundings while urgently questioning Kakashi.
Seeing Naruto grimacing through the pain yet looking so frantic, Kakashi didn't know how to begin.
Naruto always claimed it was for Sakura's sake that he wanted to bring Sasuke back, but Kakashi was well aware of Naruto's true feelings.
In Naruto's eyes, Sasuke had long since been more than just a comrade or a rival to surpass.
In a sense, their bond had transcended ordinary friendship...
Perhaps without even realizing it!
Deep in Naruto's heart, he had already placed Sasuke in a position similar to family.
"He's gone."
With these thoughts flashing through his mind, Kakashi spoke with a helpless tone.
Hearing Kakashi's words, Naruto froze for a moment, then his face twisted with frustration.
"Damn it, that guy got away again!"
"And Sasuke's gotten even stronger than before!"
Naruto's voice was thick with frustration, and he moved a bit too vigorously, the pain hitting him instantly and making his face contort.
Seeing Naruto wince from the pain, Kakashi pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed again:
"You know you're injured, so stop moving around."
With Uchiha Obito, Kakuzu, Sasori, and the others having withdrawn in succession.
The Kirigakure forces, the Konoha forces, and the Sunagakure forces regrouped.
Among those present, aside from Nagato whose clothes were only slightly damaged, everyone else had sustained injuries of varying severity.
Kisame Hoshigaki's upper body clothing was completely scorched, revealing deep and shallow scars across his skin.
Although Samehada had restored some of his Chakra, everyone present could still gauge the intensity of the battle between Kisame Hoshigaki and Kakuzu.
Of course, the worst off was the Sunagakure side. Kankuro's puppet techniques had been completely overwhelmed by Sasori, and Baki and Temari had been suppressed from start to finish.
If Sasori hadn't held back, the three of them would probably never have left here today.
The group exchanged glances, everyone's faces wearing somewhat grim expressions.
"Miscalculated..."
Nagato's eyes flickered with a hint of heaviness as he murmured softly to himself.
He had indeed anticipated the enemy's plan to extract Shukaku's Chakra from within Gaara.
But Nagato had never expected Uchiha Madara to move so quickly.
The fact that Uchiha Obito and the others had engaged them in battle was clearly to delay them. And now, their withdrawal alone spoke volumes.
No one present was a fool—they could all grasp the implications.
Kankuro and Temari, dragging their injured bodies, were the first to dash toward the valley below.
Nagato, Kakashi, and the others quickly followed.
With no obstructions along the way, they soon reached the bottom of the valley and swiftly entered the cave.
Inside the cave at that moment.
Chiyo and the Sunagakure shinobi who had arrived earlier were all looking down with bowed heads at Gaara lying on the ground.
The air was thick with grief.
Temari and Kankuro, who rushed in first, both felt their bodies tremble at the sight.
Their eyes filled with disbelief and a storm of emotions, they walked slowly toward Gaara.
Kankuro and Temari walked very slowly, as if trying to delay confirming what they already feared, hoping against hope that their suspicions were wrong.
But no matter how slowly they walked, they would eventually reach their destination.
Besides, the distance wasn't very far.
When Kankuro and Temari reached Chiyo's side, they saw Gaara lying on the ground, completely devoid of life.
Drip.
Drip.
Tears rolled down Temari's cheeks, landing on the ground with a barely audible sound.
Kankuro kept his head down, hiding his expression, his hands clenched into tight fists, his knuckles turning white.
At that moment, Nagato, Kakashi, and the others arrived as well. Seeing the scene in the cave, they realized what had happened and their steps involuntarily slowed.
"I was too late..."
A look of defeat washed over Chiyo's face.
"Is Gaara... dead?"
Standing beside Kakashi, Naruto looked at the lifeless Gaara and couldn't help but murmur.
Because of Yuto's appearance and intervention, aside from the Chunin Exams, Naruto and Gaara hadn't had much interaction.
They had even fought during the Chunin Exams.
In a way, Naruto had always found Gaara's arrogant attitude insufferable.
But often, the people you dislike the most are the ones you understand the best.
And Naruto was no exception!
Beneath Sasuke's cold exterior lay an "obsession with power!"
Behind Hyuga Neji's calm facade lay a "defiance of fate!"
Hidden beneath Gaara's brutal and bloodthirsty nature was a "profound loneliness!"
If Sasuke occupied a place in Naruto's heart akin to family.
Then Gaara was someone Naruto felt could "understand his very soul."
As fellow jinchuriki, Naruto understood better than anyone the "loneliness" and "need for acknowledgment" that dwelled deep within Gaara.
You must be so frustrated, Gaara!
Naruto stared at Gaara's body, clenching his fists as wisps of the Nine-Tails' Chakra began leaking from his body.
Kakashi immediately noticed the change in Naruto and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, bringing him back to his senses.
"Kakashi-sensei..."
Naruto's voice caught in his throat.
Kakashi didn't know how to comfort Naruto either and could only let out a soft sigh.
Chiyo naturally noticed Naruto as well. A complicated expression appeared on her face, and her already hunched frame seemed to stoop even further.
"To think the first person to understand you was someone from another shinobi village... Gaara."
Chiyo looked at Gaara's body and spoke softly, her tone a mixture of both relief and sorrow.
Suddenly.
Chiyo turned to look at Naruto, her eyes carrying an inscrutable light:
"If I'm not mistaken, when you were in Sunagakure, you said you wanted to become Hokage, didn't you?"
Faced with Chiyo's sudden question, the clearly dejected Naruto froze for a moment before reflexively lifting his head to look at her.
"I will definitely become Hokage!"
Naruto's face and voice carried absolute conviction.
Chiyo's wrinkled face revealed no discernible change in expression, though she seemed to be pondering something.
"Why do you want to become Hokage? That's a very difficult path."
Chiyo thought for a moment, then looked back at Naruto and asked slowly.
"Because becoming Hokage is my dream!"
"And I want everyone in the village to acknowledge me. No matter how hard the road, I will never give up!"
Naruto's unwavering and earnest voice echoed slowly through the entire cave.
[
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