"This... this can't be real," Sakura whispered, covering her mouth as if unwilling to believe what had just happened.
Before Shiki Uzumaki could even react, he was already wrapped in sand.
A bead of cold sweat appeared on Temari's forehead. Though usually considered a strong woman, at this moment she seemed unusually fragile. "Gaara, isn't punishing him enough for now? Don't forget—we still have our mission here."
Temari also knew that [Sand Binding Coffin] was the opening move for [Sand Waterfall Funeral]. If he truly used that technique, Shiki Uzumaki might actually die.
Of course, she didn't personally care about Shiki's life or death—only naive girls judged people by appearances alone.
They still had a mission in Konoha.
Compared to one Konoha Genin, attacking Konoha itself was undoubtedly more important.
Temari could only use such reasoning to try to stop Gaara. Still, inside, she cursed that reckless kid from just now.
Gaara turned his head and glared at Temari. "Are you telling me how to do my job?"
Temari quickly looked away. It wasn't just her—few people could stand to meet Gaara's gaze directly.
His eyes looked like those of a dead man staring at another corpse—full of death's aura, dark and seemingly capable of swallowing a person whole.
"No, I just... just..."
Her voice kept getting quieter until no one could hear what she was saying anymore.
"Isn't treating a lady like this a bit impolite?" Shiki said, somehow ending up standing beside Gaara.
When did he—
Sakura widened her eyes in shock. She hadn't even realized how Shiki had managed to escape Gaara's [Sand Binding Coffin].
In her eyes, there had only been a sudden wave of yellow sand rushing forward, burying his figure.
"That's amazing! I knew it—you're definitely not someone who'd lose to that bastard, big brother! After all, you're my greatest rival on the road to becoming the next Hokage!" Konohamaru cheered excitedly. At least in his opinion, Shiki had taken down some of Gaara's arrogance.
"You're making me more and more excited," Gaara said, looking at Shiki. But still, there was no trace of actual excitement in his eyes—only that same chilling, unapproachable coldness.
Yet Shiki met his gaze fearlessly, not showing any hostility, almost as if seeing an old friend.
"Gaara, don't you think it's a bit too cruel to treat someone who approached you with kindness like this?" Shiki patted Gaara's shoulder, sighing as though they were long-time friends.
Gaara ignored Shiki's hand on his shoulder, simply replying, "Friend… such a distant word. Aren't friends meant to be killed?"
A chill ran through everyone present. What kind of thinking could lead to such a conclusion?
"What a tsundere kid! Come on, me hugging your shoulder like this—who knows, maybe you'll feel a little warmth from friendship?" Saying so, Shiki threw an arm around Gaara's shoulders.
The white coat looked ordinary enough. If not for the sword strapped to his back, no one would probably mistake him for a ninja.
Unlike Gaara, even if he wore the most ordinary clothes, no one would mistake him for an average person.
"Friendship's warmth? We're strangers, and yet you act this way. Are you a spy or an assassin?"
Shiki clicked his tongue involuntarily. Gaara was truly paranoid.
"With all due respect, you're either a spy or an assassin — for someone like you, does any of that really matter?"
Gaara turned his head slightly. "Their existence gives me meaning in endless killing."
"Oh, I see. But I came here simply as a friend trying to talk with you."
"Why." Gaara's voice sounded mechanical, almost like interrogation.
Scratching his head, Shiki seemed to struggle with this question. "Well, if I have to guess, someone your age shouldn't be this cold unless there's something really heavy weighing them down. But more importantly, even those kinds of people need friends."
Gaara remained silent. No matter how much he appeared to ignore emotions on the surface,
the real reason was that he valued feelings more than anyone else.
He actually longed for a friend.
But everyone he met along the way saw him as nothing more than a monster.
Yet today, why did someone reach out their hand so easily?
Before that incident, perhaps he would have reached back.
But when the one he cherished most came to kill him, he gave up all hope.
Even the person who meant the most to him came to assassinate him.
All the love he'd ever known turned out to be a lie.
Pain shot through his heart at the memory. The next moment, wild sand rushed toward Shiki Uzumaki again.
Here we go again.
Shiki's right leg suddenly pushed off the ground, using the powerful recoil to instantly propel himself out of harm's way.
The sand surged far forward before being reined in, eventually returning to gather behind Gaara, solidifying into his gourd shape.
"Temari, Kankuro, let's go," Gaara ordered.
Temari glanced at Shiki Uzumaki before replying nervously, "Yes, Gaara."
Thus, the group walked step by step into the evening sun, shadows trailing behind them.
"Gaara, if one day you're truly tired and lose your direction and purpose, then remember there's still a friend named Shiki Uzumaki."
Shiki's voice no longer carried playful teasing nor its usual cheekiness. Right now, his tone radiated sincerity that no one could doubt.
Still, Gaara continued walking away with steady steps, completely unaffected by Shiki's words.
After the trio had completely departed, Sakura finally reacted, asking Shiki, "Do you really want to be friends with someone like him? That kind of person genuinely has no emotions and was raised from childhood as a killing machine."
Looking toward where the wooden walls branched apart, Shiki couldn't help sighing. "People might grow cold and bitter over time, but someone your age looking at the world with so much hatred must've gone through things we can't even imagine."
"I might make fun of him a little, but honestly, he really does need friends."
Sakura nodded slightly with a puzzled look. She didn't often see Shiki like this — so serious.
Somewhere on the big tree, an ear made of sand dissolved into scattered grains that fell onto Naruto's head.
He couldn't help kicking the tree, "What the hell is this?! Now I've gotta go back and wash my hair again — all thanks to that lazy-eyed moron! Next time, I'm gonna make sure everyone takes me seriously, believe it!"
Chapter 116 – Recommended Reading
Temari glanced at Gaara — she couldn't believe he had actually held himself back.
Could it be because this mission was so critical that even he couldn't go against it?
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