That's right—the one who had come was Nagi.
Gaara looked at him in confusion.
"Who… are you?"
"Yeah… who am I? Why don't you take a guess?"
At this moment, Nagi seemed not only physically transformed into a child—his heart had returned to childhood as well.
"I don't know."
Little Gaara shook his head.
"Hehe, my name is Nagi. What's yours?"
"I… I don't know. The only name I remember is Gaara."
"Oh? There's a kanji for 'love' on your forehead. That must mean lots of people love you, right?"
"I don't know… No. The people in the village hate me. My family fears me. My father tried to kill me. Even my uncle tried to assassinate me. And my mother… there's no one. No one loves me at all!"
Yashamaru's death—and the cruel lie he told with his final breath—had become the last straw that crushed Gaara's heart.
Mei Terumi: "How pitiful… this child."
Onoki: "Hmph. To scheme against your own son—Rasa, you're truly ruthless."
A (Fourth Raikage): "Is there something wrong with how you treat your Jinchūriki?!"
Naruto Uzumaki: "Gaara! That's not true! There will be people who love you!"
Gaara: "…Thank you, Naruto Uzumaki."
Karura: "That's not true, Gaara. My child…"
Gaara: "M-Mother?"
Yashamaru: "Sister…"
Rasa: "Karura…"
Tsunade: "Hmm? Seems there's more to this story."
Chiyo: "That's—?!"
Rasa: "Impossible!!"
Gaara's emotions began spiraling out of control.
Nagi gently patted his shoulder again.
"How could that be? Someone has always loved you. If you don't believe me—look."
With a motion of his hand, Nagi formed a water-like mirror in the air.
Images began to appear within it.
Gaara stared—
And his eyes widened.
The scene showed a delivery room in SunagaKūre (Hidden Sand Village).
A doctor held a newborn baby in his hands.
"So small… a premature birth, it seems."
On the hospital bed lay a weak woman, one hand pressed against her heart, her expression filled with pain.
Yet she still said softly:
"Let me see the baby's face…"
The doctor placed the infant beside her.
The woman gazed at him with infinite tenderness, cradling him gently.
"So small…"
Using the last of her strength, she looked at the baby with loving, resolute eyes.
"No matter what happens… I will protect you, Gaara…"
"I have always… loved you."
With those words, her face relaxed into a peaceful smile as she passed away—without regret.
The image shifted.
Yashamaru's true meaning echoed:
"Mother… I believe my sister truly loved you. Shuka Kū was originally an aggressive entity. The reason the sand automatically protects Lord Gaara… is the manifestation of her love."
"Even if she is no longer in this world, my sister would never abandon him. She will always protect Lord Gaara."
Mei Terumi: "Is… is that true?"
Kūshina Uzumaki: "Of course it is! What mother doesn't love her own child?"
Gaara: "Mother… is this true?!"
Karura: "Yes, Gaara. It's true. I have always loved you."
Yashamaru: "Sister… I'm sorry. Back then, I…"
Karura: "It's alright. I can tell you were forced into it. You struggled for a long time, didn't you… little brother?"
Temari: "Mother…"
KanKūrō: "Mother…"
Rasa: "Karura…"
Tsunade: "Hey, you up there—shut it. Let the family talk."
Kūshina: "Exactly! Can't you see a mother and son are reuniting?"
Mei: "Don't ruin the moment."
Rasa: "I…"
Onoki: "Enough. You've done enough, Rasa."
Ebizo: "Wait… how does Nagi know about this?!"
Chiyo: "Exactly. Only Rasa, myself, and a few others knew."
Only then did the people of the Shinobi World realize—
By age alone, Nagi shouldn't even have been born yet.
So how did he know?
The childlike Nagi smiled at Gaara.
"See? I didn't lie. Someone has always loved you. You were never alone."
"I… someone really loved me. And Uncle Yashamaru…"
"Yes. He loved you too.
You were never 'no one.'
You are Gaara of SunagaKūre—the one who has always been loved."
The two children's figures gradually blurred—
And faded.
When Gaara opened his eyes again, he found himself back in the forest.
He looked at Nagi, who had already removed his glasses.
"You are… Nagi."
Suddenly remembering something, Gaara grabbed his hand anxiously.
"Was that real?! My mother… she truly loved me?"
Nagi smiled gently.
"Of course it was real.
Mind Body Distinction Technique—an enhanced version of the Yamanaka Clan's memory-reading technique that I modified.
It allows even memories from birth to surface."
Ino Yamanaka: "What?! Our clan's secret technique can do that?!"
Inoichi Yamanaka: "This…"
Onoki: "I see. That explains how he showed Gaara memories from infancy."
A (Fourth Raikage): "That's quite a technique."
Nagato silently watched with a grave expression.
Pain's Human Path possessed the ability to read memories and extract souls.
But even he had never attempted to reach memories from birth—such depth required enormous chakra expenditure.
He could not help but acknowledge the boy's prowess.
Meanwhile, in the classroom—
Nagi inwardly felt his composure slipping.
He did know a Mind Body Distinction Technique—
But not to this extent.
This was, in all likelihood, a bluff.
Nagi glanced around and said softly:
"If you still doubt it… look around you."
"Hm?"
Only now did Gaara notice his surroundings.
Behind them stood a woman formed entirely of sand—upper body only—her arms curved protectively around Gaara and Nagi.
"This… this is…"
Gaara's voice trembled.
"Yes. This is your automatic defense.
It is your mother's will—still protecting you."
Nagi looked up at the sand-formed figure—almost like a guardian spirit—and removed his glasses once more.
"Nice to meet you, Aunt Karura. I'm Shiranui Nagi.
Gaara's friend."
"Friend…?"
Gaara froze.
A friend.
As the weapon of SunagaKūre—
It was something he had never dared to hope for.
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