Chapter 535: Staying Further Away Is Safer
The note Kakashi handed to Gaara contained a method he had come up with.
It was simple, straightforward...
But effective.
This idea had come from the influence of Shiromo, Amegakure, and the Akatsuki's way of thinking after Kakashi had come into contact with them.
To a true believer of Konoha's original Will of Fire, however...
Kakashi's way of thinking would be considered a fall from grace.
The so-called Will of Fire was not the doctrine about Konoha's leaves burning away to nourish future generations.
That was merely something derived from the original philosophy.
The true origin of the Will of Fire lay in the Sage of Six Paths' belief that "love is greater than power."
The solution Kakashi proposed now went directly against that belief.
After realizing Hōichi might betray him, Gaara hadn't arrested him.
Instead, he had even given him a place in the Sage Mode training program.
His intention had been to reform Hōichi through compassion.
When Kakashi accepted this unspoken mission, it had already given him a headache.
After actually meeting Hōichi...
His headache only got worse.
He simply couldn't think of any way to move the man with kindness.
But when Kakashi changed his perspective and looked at the problem through the lens of power instead...
Everything suddenly became clear.
Most "villains" in the shinobi world were relatively rational people.
If someone seemed beyond saving, it was often because they had already walked too far down a single path and believed there was no turning back.
In the future story Shiromo had told them, Orochimaru was a perfect example.
After Orochimaru saw Yakushi Kabuto achieve what Orochimaru himself believed had been the best possible outcome...
And still fail...
He suddenly came to an understanding and changed his way of thinking.
Was that because love had reformed Orochimaru?
No.
It was power...
Power had forced Orochimaru to face reality.
With that realization, Kakashi found a solution to the current problem.
Gaara simply needed to cooperate.
They had to let Hōichi witness the overwhelming difference in strength.
Only after giving up because of that gap in power would he be able to calm down and genuinely appreciate the changes Gaara had brought to Sunagakure.
Otherwise, someone blinded by prejudice would only ever see darkness.
Just like Obito.
Moreover, while this method wasn't guaranteed to awaken Hōichi's conscience or "redeem" him.
Objectively speaking, it would produce the best outcome.
Because if, after seeing the enormous gap in strength, Hōichi still stubbornly persisted in his madness.
Then that would prove he truly was beyond saving.
At that point.
The proper course of action would be obvious.
Gaara hadn't transformed from a murderous psychopath into some saint who spared everyone.
When necessary...
He still knew how to deal with enemies.
Shira practiced the Seven Heavens Breathing Method and possessed extremely keen senses.
While carrying Hōichi back, he had already noticed that Hōichi had regained consciousness.
The man simply kept his eyes closed and pretended to remain unconscious.
Kakashi signaled Shira not to expose him and to continue acting normally.
Just like Guy, although Shira was a straightforward taijutsu shinobi, he was completely reliable when it mattered.
He didn't blurt anything out.
After returning to Sunagakure, Kakashi sent out a Shadow Clone to request reinforcements.
If Gaara accepted his plan, then they would soon be dealing with power on the level of a Tailed Beast.
Even if it was only a portion of Shukaku's strength...
It was still a Tailed Beast.
Although Kakashi believed that, with Kamui, Purple Lightning, and Sage Mode, he was now capable of fighting a Tailed Beast...
Being able to fight one...
And completely overwhelming one...
Were two entirely different things.
Hōichi wasn't Yakushi Kabuto, who had already completed every preparation imaginable.
Simply defeating him wouldn't be enough to make him realize his mistakes.
He had to be crushed.
Utterly and completely crushed until he fell into despair.
Among everyone present...
Only Naruto in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode should be capable of achieving that.
The problem was...
This plan required improvisation.
With Naruto's intelligence...
Could he really keep up?
Obviously not.
So Kakashi had his Shadow Clone head to the Flying Thunder God relay station to request reinforcements from Amegakure.
At the same time, he sent a brief report explaining the situation here.
Kakashi glanced toward a distant corner.
At some point, a mysterious figure wearing a black cloak had silently appeared there.
That was probably the secret reinforcement Amegakure had dispatched.
Following Kakashi's gaze, Gaara also noticed the newcomer.
Without hesitation...
He began putting the plan into action.
Giving Hōichi an opportunity was easy.
He simply needed to walk closer...
And expose an opening.
"How is Hōichi? Shira, did you hit him that hard?"
Gaara took the initiative and walked over.
He crouched beside Hōichi, whom Shira had laid on the ground, and reached out to check his pulse.
The instant Gaara touched him...
Hōichi's eyes flew open.
The hand he had secretly been using to form seals suddenly grabbed Gaara's arm.
Several chains shot out from his body.
It could only be said that although Hōichi had been Bunpuku's disciple...
His experience was far too limited.
If he had been thinking even a little more clearly...
Or if he had simply paid a bit more attention to what was happening around the village...
He would have realized something was wrong.
Ameno, a medical ninja, was standing right there.
Why would Gaara personally examine him?
And with Gaara's mastery over sand, he could have easily checked Hōichi's condition simply by placing sand against his body.
Why insist on touching him with his own hand?
Hōichi paid no attention to any of that.
The "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" before him had already clouded his judgment.
At such close range...
Combined with a surprise attack...
He instantly dragged out more than half of Shukaku.
Of course, this "surprise attack" was only from Hōichi's perspective.
In reality, before carrying out the plan, Gaara had already discussed everything with Shukaku in his mind.
Just as he had done when lending chakra to Naruto, Shukaku would directly separate a portion of his own power.
It was similar to how the Eight-Tails had escaped by severing one of its tentacles.
At the same time, they could also test how much power the other Jinchūriki could borrow with Naruto acting as an intermediary.
When Tailed Beast chakra was transferred between them, Naruto couldn't sense it himself unless Kurama specifically informed him.
It was just like how he normally couldn't feel the blood flowing through his own veins.
So when Naruto saw Gaara being restrained...
He immediately panicked.
Just as he was about to rush forward...
Temari, who had been waiting for exactly this moment, suddenly pulled out her Giant Folding Fan.
Like delivering an enormous slap across the face, she swung it straight into Naruto, sending him flying.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
Naruto was completely dumbfounded.
After climbing back to his feet, he covered his bright red cheek and looked at Temari with a deeply wronged expression.
He even let out the exact same pitiful cry as Brother Chicken.
That fan was made of iron!
If Naruto hadn't known Temari was Gaara's older sister, he would have suspected she'd betrayed them too.
Why was he getting hit for trying to save Gaara?
Was there no justice left in the world?
"Hōichi's technique counters Tailed Beasts. If you charge in, do you want him to pull Kurama out too?"
Temari explained with her mouth...
But her hands never stopped moving.
She rushed forward again, swung the giant fan once more like another massive slap, and smacked Naruto flying a second time.
"Stay even farther away."
"That's the safest place for you."
Temari planted her fan into the ground and dusted off her hands.
(End of this chapter)