After Maki finished the farewell breakfast served by Konoha's hospitality department, he'd immediately gathered his students to begin the journey back to Sunagakure.
The reason for his haste was straightforward: Orochimaru had abandoned the plan to crush Konoha. More than that, the Sannin had explicitly ordered Sunagakure not to disturb Konoha privately, claiming it would interfere with his own schemes.
Orochimaru's unilateral decision-making infuriated both Maki and Lord Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage. Konoha's demonstrated strength during these exams had already made Sunagakure feel the looming crisis of being left behind. When Maki returned to the village this time, he'd already decided to present a formal proposal to Rasa: even without Orochimaru's cooperation, they should still consider striking at Konoha while the opportunity existed.
That political urgency explained why Maki hurried everyone along right after breakfast, forgoing the usual leisurely departure.
What he hadn't expected was arriving at Konoha's village entrance only to find a line of young ninja blocking the gate completely. Most of these young ninja didn't particularly concern Maki. But one of them did.
That blonde boy. The one who'd deflated Orochimaru like a punctured balloon.
Maki had witnessed the boy's strength firsthand. Worried about the safety of Gaara and the others during the Forest of Death exam, he'd rushed to the training ground. There, he'd seen with his own eyes how Orochimaru's body had collapsed under Naruto's assault, literally exploding from a single punch.
Maki possessed deep understanding of Orochimaru's capabilities. The Sannin wielded Kage-level strength. Even Lord Rasa couldn't subdue Orochimaru in direct combat. That overwhelming power was precisely why Sunagakure had sought cooperation with him in the first place.
It was also because of Orochimaru's strength that after the Sannin unilaterally cancelled the Konoha Crush operation, neither Rasa nor Maki could implement the plan independently. Sarutobi Hiruzen alone would tie their hands, capable of containing Rasa in direct confrontation.
But the most worrying possibility? That Orochimaru might become enraged at any interference and redirect his fury toward Sunagakure. If that happened, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Facing Naruto now, Maki felt genuine hesitation creep up his spine. He needed to establish his position carefully. So he spoke first, choosing his words with deliberate precision. His earlier statement essentially meant: We come to Konoha as guests. You, as the host village, cannot bully guests without severe diplomatic consequences.
Naruto immediately recognized that Maki had misunderstood the situation completely. The jonin instructor didn't know about Naruto's plan to make friends at the village entrance. So Naruto felt it necessary to explain, to clear up the confusion.
After all, Maki could also become his friend. Naruto made friends regardless of age, position, or village affiliation.
"Maki-sensei from Sunagakure, hello!" Naruto's voice carried warmth and genuine friendliness. His smile was disarming. "I'm not here to prevent you from returning home. I'm here to make friends with you and your students."
Hearing this explanation, Maki's tense expression immediately relaxed. Relief washed through him like cool water. He'd been most afraid that Naruto, being young and hot-blooded, wouldn't think things through properly. That the boy might beat them all to death right here at the gate. Even if Sunagakure found people to demand justice afterward, their deaths would still be meaningless.
But making friends? That wasn't a problem at all. Easy to handle!
Thinking this, Maki returned Naruto's smile with diplomatic warmth. "Ah, I see! So Naruto wants to befriend my students. This is actually a wonderful thing. Young people should interact more, build connections across villages."
As he spoke, Maki glanced meaningfully at Temari and Kankuro. His expression conveyed clear instructions: Get closer to Naruto. Extract useful information for Sunagakure. This is your duty.
Kankuro understood his sensei's intent immediately. He stepped forward and announced proudly, "Actually, I'm already friends with Naruto-kun!"
Maki nodded with pleasant surprise. Well, well. I couldn't tell at all. The usually arrogant Kankuro has already established friendship with this powerful Konoha ninja.
His gaze shifted to Temari, silently commanding her to follow her brother's example.
Temari's face showed visible nervousness. Unlike Maki-sensei, she actually understood what Naruto's "making friends" process truly entailed. Her younger brother Kankuro standing right there served as living proof.
She'd glimpsed his battered face after that "friendly discussion." The memory made her stomach clench.
Temari never shied from honest combat. She welcomed fair fights, relished the challenge of evenly matched opponents. But making friends with Naruto wasn't an evenly matched battle. It was a beating delivered by someone with vastly superior strength. A one-sided thrashing.
Nobody actually liked that experience.
However, it appeared this particular ordeal was completely inevitable. This was her life's tribulation, unavoidable as sunrise.
Temari glanced at Gaara's calm, expressionless face. She mentally prepared herself to volunteer first when Naruto made his friendship proposal. Who told her to be the older sister? It was her responsibility to protect her brothers, even from this.
Especially from this, she thought grimly.
Meanwhile, Maki's thoughts continued along a completely different track. Both Temari and Gaara should be able to befriend Naruto easily. As for Gaara specifically, it's genuinely difficult for someone with his personality to make friends with anyone. But Temari should manage just fine.
Naruto, however, had fixed his attention entirely on Gaara. Because the Nine-Tails had whispered to him earlier that he'd detected a familiar scent emanating from the red-haired boy.
The distinctive chakra signature of the One-Tail, Shukaku.
From this observation, it seemed Gaara existed as a Jinchūriki just like Naruto himself. A container for a tailed beast. Someone who carried that burden of isolation and fear.
Observing Gaara's various behaviors and mannerisms, Naruto recognized that Gaara was profoundly unhappy in his existence as a human being. How similar that was to Naruto's own childhood. Therefore, Naruto felt deep resonance with Gaara, an understanding that transcended words.
"Since Maki-sensei agrees to this, which of you would like to make friends with me first?" Naruto addressed the group but looked directly at Gaara.
What Naruto truly hoped was that Gaara would step forward immediately and declare his willingness to become friends. That he'd recognize their kinship as fellow containers and embrace the connection.
But obviously, that wasn't happening. Gaara remained standing with arms folded across his chest, watching everything with the detached air of a cold observer. A spectator viewing events that held no personal relevance.
Instead, Temari stepped forward. She met Naruto's eyes and spoke with forced courage. "Naruto, I, Temari, will become friends with you first."
Previously, at the exit of the Forest of Death, Naruto had intercepted them once before. That time, he'd just finished making friends with Kankuro when Kakashi had persuaded him to return home. The encounter had been cut short.
Now Naruto was blocking the village entrance again. From Temari's perspective, he probably wouldn't let them pass this time. Not unless they completed the friendship process.
Better to endure short-term pain than prolonged suffering.
Temari glanced at Kankuro one final time, drawing strength from her brother's survival, then looked back at Naruto with determination. "Naruto, I understand the requirements. Friendly discussion. I'm ready."
Temari had always been a straightforward person who faced challenges directly. After finishing her declaration, she stepped forward and unslung the massive three-star fan from her back. The weapon's weight settled familiarly in her grip.
She knew perfectly well that even wielding her three-star fan with its wind techniques, she couldn't withstand a single serious move from an opponent as overwhelmingly powerful as Naruto. But fighting with anything less than full strength simply wasn't her style. If she was going down, she'd go down swinging.
Naruto expressed genuine appreciation for Temari's direct approach. His voice carried respect. "Temari, you're very perceptive. I can already see your sincerity shining through. I like you very much as a friend."
He shifted into a combat stance, his body language radiating focused intent. "Since you've made all the mental preparations, let me properly witness your true sincerity."
After Naruto finished speaking, he settled into a ready position, his muscles coiling with controlled power.
Watching his student Temari and Naruto both assume combat stances, Maki felt his brain screech to a halt. Confusion washed over his features.
Didn't they say they wanted to make friends? Why has this suddenly turned into a duel?!
Maki's head swiveled toward Kankuro, the only one of his students who'd apparently already become Naruto's friend. His expression demanded explanation without words.
Kankuro scratched the back of his head with visible embarrassment. He offered his explanation reluctantly, knowing how absurd it would sound. "This is Naruto's method of making friends. Before the actual friendship is established, there must be a friendly fight first. Through that discussion, Naruto can feel the other person's sincerity. He uses this to judge whether they're genuinely committed to friendship."
Kankuro warmed to his explanation, trying to find logic in it. "I think Naruto probably values a person's strength. Since Naruto himself is so powerful, naturally he doesn't want his friends to be complete rookies. He uses this testing method to evaluate the other person's capabilities."
His voice gained confidence. "If your strength receives Naruto's recognition, then you can become his friend. If your strength doesn't meet his standards, then naturally the friendship can't be established."
Kankuro's chest puffed slightly with pride. "And me? Being able to become Naruto's friend means my strength was naturally recognized and approved!"
Hearing his student's detailed explanation, sudden understanding dawned across Maki's weathered features. Of course! Naruto is a truly strong individual after all. This testing approach aligns perfectly with how powerful people think and operate.
It made complete sense from that perspective.
Maki settled in to watch the upcoming match with interest, curious to see how Temari would perform.
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