Understanding Sasuke's intentions, Gaara couldn't help but sneer. "Sasuke, you're awfully confident, aren't you?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, "It's not confidence, it's the truth."
"Then let's see who's right in battle."
Gaara said with unhappy expression.
Though he grasped Sasuke's motives and the intricacies of his plan for revenge, the fact that Sasuke intended to use him as leverage was infuriating. It implied Gaara wasn't worth taking seriously.
Once upon a time, Gaara had been stronger than Sasuke.
'So what made Sasuke so sure of himself now?'
'Is this what Naruto meant by an overconfident fool?'
…
Whoosh!
Soon, the group found themselves in a desert ten kilometers outside Sunagakure.
On the left stood Gaara, with Deidara and Sasori behind him. On the right was Sasuke, accompanied by the black-robed figure.
"Gaara! Teach this arrogant brat a lesson!"
Deidara raised his fist and shouted.
Deidara himself was notoriously arrogant, but even he couldn't stand Sasuke's smug attitude.
Especially after he learned about Sasuke's background, being Itachi's brother and receiving special treatment from Naruto, Deidara's disdain only deepened. He detested those who coasted on external advantages.
If it weren't for Itachi, Deidara wouldn't have been forced into the Akatsuki. And why should Sasuke, just another of Naruto's subordinate, receive so many privileges?
In contrast, Deidara had seen Gaara's strength and witnessed his relentless determination. This is the kind of fighter he respected. Sasuke, relying on borrowed power, was beneath his notice and deserved to be put in his place.
"Focus. Be ready to fight at any moment." Sasori warned from within Hiruko, his voice calm but heavy with gravity. His attention remained locked on the black-robed figure.
"Sasuke isn't the concern here. The real threat is that one." Sasori muttered.
Deidara waved off the caution, "I can't get a read on him, sure, but that robe of theirs probably blocks sensory abilities. If they had any real power, they wouldn't be hiding their face. You're overthinking."
"Don't underestimate him. Naruto-kun himself warned us against careless arrogance. Do you want to fall into the same pit as Sasuke?"
Sasori shot back.
Deidara's body stiffened, "Sasuke? Did you just compare me to him? I really have fallen, haven't I?"
Their exchange wasn't subtle, it was deliberately loud, as if meant for everyone to hear.
"Are they seriously ignoring me? These two bastards!" Sasuke growled, his teeth clenched in fury.
The duel with Gaara was supposed to be a strategic sparring match, one where Sasuke could use Gaara as a stepping stone to strengthen his resolve. But Deidara and Sasori's open contempt pushed him to his breaking point.
No one had ever dared to make fun of him like this before.
"Fine. After I deal with Gaara, I'll make sure to handle you two!"
Sasuke declared coldly, his eyes glinting with murderous intent.
Though he didn't mind sparring with Gaara, the audacity of outsiders making remarks about the fight was intolerable. Even if they were subordinates Naruto had gathered later, Sasuke wasn't about to let them off lightly.
But Sasuke's words enraged Gaara.
'What did he mean by 'deal with me' before turning to Deidara and Sasori?'
'He actually disrespected me so much!'
"Fine, let's see who deals with who!"
Gaara's figure flickered as he charged at Sasuke with unexpected aggression.
Sasuke was caught slightly off guard by Gaara's current action. After all, Gaara's combat style typically involved controlling sand from a stationary position.
'For him to launch a direct attack meant one of two things: either his power had grown, altering his fighting approach, or he was acting out of sheer frustration.'
Sasuke leaned toward the latter, and a sly smile crept onto his face.
He wasn't some naive child anymore, so how can he be easily provoked by Deidara's words? This was all calculated. Let's not forget, before being outplayed by Naruto's tricks, Sasuke had pulled off his fair share of schemes alongside him.
Watching from the side, Deidara cursed internally. He hadn't anticipated Sasuke turning the tables like this. When Sasuke opened his eyes again, revealing those scarlet Sharingan identical to Itachi's, Deidara's frustration boiled over.
"Damn those Uchiha!"
Deidara clenched his fists as unpleasant memories resurfaced.
"Don't let that kid play you."
Sasori remarked calmly, having already seen through the layers of psychological maneuvering.
Whoosh!
Gaara, who is rushing forward, froze the moment he caught sight of the Sharingan. He quickly summoned sand to shield his vision.
"Too late!"
Sasuke seized the opportunity, then his three-tomoe Sharingan narrowing.
His target of revenge is the masked Madara. But even though he is a hated enemy, he also understands one thing. Uchiha's Sharingan Genjutsu has some ability to control the Biju.
'Gaara's foundation is the Ichibi. And as long as Ichibi is restrained, Gaara will fall without any attack!'
Bang!
In an instant, Gaara's figure fall backward.
Meanwhile, Sasuke's consciousness had already dove into Gaara's mindscape.
Rustle!
The surroundings were dim, and the ground beneath his feet felt strangely soft… it was sand.
As Sasuke advanced, a massive iron cage came into view, housing Ichibi.
"You've got guts coming here, brat! Let me out if you dare!" Shukaku snarled, its voice full of menace.
Sasuke smirked disdainfully, unfazed by the provocation. He stood before the towering yellow tanuki with growing interest.
"So, you're Gaara's trump card, the Ichibi, Shukaku. Without you, Gaara's nothing to fear."
Sasuke snorted coldly, and his scarlet Sharingan solidified again. Several black sealing symbols appeared out of thin air, forming several Sealing Techniques outside the large iron cage.
As the seals took hold, Shukaku's angry roars were stifled, and its Chakra Flow ceased entirely.
This is the Five Elements Seal Sasuke learned from Orochimaru. It was formidable enough to silence even Shukaku.
Seeing that the yellow Chakra stopped flowing out, Sasuke withdrew from Gaara's mindscape with satisfaction, and his consciousness returned to his body.
The entire sequence, though appearing to take time, transpired in an instant.
As Sasuke opened his eyes, Gaara was still in mid-fall, collapsing backward.
'This time, you're done for!'
Sasuke quickly formed hand seals.
Lightning crackled in his palm, with the sound akin to a flock of chirping birds.
"Chidori!"
With a shout, Sasuke dashed forward.
The activation of Lightning Attribute Chakra enhanced his cellular activity, increasing his speed to near-instantaneous levels. In the blink of an eye, he was at Gaara's side.
The destructive power of Chidori was mere inches away. Confident in his success, Sasuke allowed himself a smug smile.
Whoosh!
However, just as his attack was about to connect, a wall of sand erupted from the ground, shielding Gaara.
"Still struggling?"
Sasuke scoffed, knowing full well that Chidori's explosive power and piercing capabilities could easily breach the hastily constructed sand shield.
Bang!
Just as Sasuke expected, the moment Chidori landed, the makeshift sand shield was instantly shattered.
Gaara was left vulnerable, seemingly unable to defend himself further.