Chapter 44: Gaara's Heartache, the Third Hokage's Funeral

"I see, is this your wish?"

After watching everything, Haruko Zaoma felt mixed emotions. She had never imagined that Gaara would go through so many painful things after she left.

Haruko couldn't help but regret in her heart. If she had reminded Gaara earlier, would Gaara not be so sick?

It should happen. Even Haruko Hayama knows the result. After all, it is a betrayal from the family who has been with her for so many years.

Since I am the only one who loves him, his attitude towards me is so strange after he came to Konoha...

After Haruko figured out the reason in the morning, she turned the surrounding scene into darkness.

In front of her appeared the young Gaara.

Although he looks like a child, he is actually Gaara who has been pulled into a fantasy world.

Haruko Asahi went up to him and hugged him, "I'm sorry I couldn't be with you."

Gaara let her do it with an expressionless face. Years of unbearable experiences were all brought to his mind at this moment, and scenes passed before Gaara's eyes. He thought he would have a headache again when the experiences recurred, but nothing happened. With Haruko's company in the morning, he accepted it all with unusual calmness.

"They are all wrong. You are not a monster. You are not the murderer of your mother. You are not an unloved child."

"You are a hero. You protected the whole village with your own body. Everyone should praise you and love you."

"You deserve everyone's love, but you are standing in an empty heart and can only choose to fight for yourself."

"Do you remember what I said to you before?"

Gaara could feel that the clothes on his shoulders were soaked by Haruko's tears.

He said hoarsely, "What?"

“What you need to do now is to protect yourself, love yourself, and then use the extra love you have for yourself to love others.”

"In fact, you already have love other than me. Temari and Kankuro have always been by your side."

"There is still love waiting for you. Naruto has the same experience as you. I think he will definitely like you very much."

"So, Xiao Ai, you should not only fight for yourself, but also for the one you love most. This should be the meaning of your existence."

"Don't be afraid, Xiao Ai. I am sharing your pain with you..."

Gaara looked at Haruko Hayama in front of him, whose facial features were gradually becoming blurred. Her words were still echoing in his mind in the last moment before she lost consciousness.

Fight for yourself, fight for your loved ones...

Gaara, who was above Shukaku's head, opened his eyes. He stared at Haruko Hayama in front of him, unwilling to look away for even a moment.

In fact, out of selfish motives, Haruko also shared the content of the illusion with Uzumaki Naruto, who had the same experience. After seeing all this, Uzumaki Naruto clenched his fists.

He stepped forward and looked at Gaara with a determined gaze.

"Your eyes are lonely and isolated, just like mine before."

"There is a monster in my body, too. Everyone is hateful. I don't know why I am hated or why I exist in this world, but..."

Scenes of the villagers' disdainful looks flashed before Uzumaki Naruto's eyes.

"I have finally found someone who recognizes my existence! So even if the fox demon stays in my body and is treated coldly by the villagers, I don't care!"

Haruko, Sasuke, Kakashi-sensei, Iruka-sensei...

"Because... I'm not alone anymore!"

Shukaku under their feet suddenly trembled, and a crack appeared with Gaara as the center.

Gaara couldn't help but mutter, "A monster like me..."

Haruko Asahi steadied herself and smiled as she took both of their hands and put them together, "I think Naruto will be happy to be your friend once you return to your old self!"

Gaara hesitated and looked at Uzumaki Naruto, who was smiling a little embarrassedly.

click-

Shukaku completely shattered, collapsed with a loud bang, and turned into sand and fell to the ground.

In the morning, Haruko and Uzumaki Naruto were taken over by the Toad Boss in time, but Gaara used his last strength to move away from them and landed next to Temari and Kankuro.

Gaara finally looked at Haruko Asagumi and decided to tell her his original plan.

"Haruko, come with me and stay by my side for the rest of your life. I will always protect you."

Haruko was shamefully moved in the morning. This was too attractive for her, who was just a lazy person!

Not only can you stay away from the main storyline, but you can also get a bodyguard for free, which is simply a windfall...

"Haruko!" Naruto Uzumaki next to him shouted anxiously.

I originally thought that this red-haired guy was just like me and wanted to be friends with him, but I didn't expect that he actually wanted to kidnap Haruko!

Can this be tolerated? !

Looking at his pitiful expression as if he was afraid that he would agree, Haruko Asama scolded her conscience for a second.

"Xiao Ai, I look forward to seeing you with more companions around you."

When Gaara heard that Haruko had returned to her old name, he was surprised that he was not disappointed by her rejection.

Gaara looked conflicted, turned around and said, "Let's go."

After hearing what Gaara said, Temari and Kankuro were a little confused, but they quickly left with him.

Uzumaki Naruto said unhappily: "What do you mean, that guy?!"

Asahi Haruko laughed, "Xiao Ai, you are shy!"

Afterwards, Gama Boss went back to recuperate, and Haruko Zama and Uzumaki Naruto took the injured Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke back to Konoha.

But a sad news came -

The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen died heroically in the battle with Orochimaru.

The scene was dead silent for a moment, even the usually noisy Uzumaki Naruto was trying hard to hold back his sobs and his body was shaking uncontrollably.

Haruko calmed herself down in the morning, she walked gently to Kakashi Hatake and pulled at the hem of his clothes.

"Kakashi-sensei, I..."

Looking at her determined expression, Kakashi Hatake suddenly remembered that her eye technique had the ability to bring the dead back to life.

Hatake Kakashi touched her head, stopped her from talking, and pushed her behind him with an unquestionable attitude.

The soul of the Third Hokage has been taken away by the God of Death. It is useless to do anything, not to mention...

Kakashi Hatake glanced at the uneasy Haruko Zaoma again.

Understanding what he meant, Haruko Zaoma did not say anything else. She just looked at the thin body of the Third Hokage covered in blood not far away, and felt grief and respect in her heart.

The body of the Third Hokage was then carefully placed in a coffin and carried away.

Almost the entire village attended his funeral, and the streets were crowded with people, all walking with heavy hearts.

***

Gratitude list as of July 2024, 2:

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Gurgle cat, G's meow, Shen Lingqi, Fengqin who loves spicy chicken noodles, Yun Cheyun from Gumodao, Aning who likes Yang leaves, Yue..., Xiao Qi is not Qi, PinkTulip, An Xi, Sheng You Da Ju Ju, Lazy Sheep EMO, Tuo Tuo La Tuo, its Zhu Yan Yi Fa, I didn't say it, Yin Feng...? The gift is for love

Thank you for the gifts! The author is so touched! Xiao Ai makes a heart for you with sand online! ヾ(??▽?)ノ