บท 132: Temari

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In a single-family villa in Sunagakure, two children, a boy and a girl, were sitting on the sofa, each busy with their own tasks.

The girl played with the fan in her hand, her face looking a little sad. The boy was busy applying poison to his kunai.

"Kankuro, why hasn't Gaara come back today?" Temari asked, glancing at the time.

"Don't know. Maybe something delayed him," Kankuro replied without looking up.

"Hey, I asked you, as an older brother, how come you don't care about your younger brother at all?" Temari's voice carried a hint of anger.

"Sister, what do you have to worry about? Can anyone even hurt Gaara? Besides, if we worry about him, it's hard to say whether he appreciates it or not," Kankuro said casually.

At first, because Gaara was born prematurely, he and Temari were determined to protect the last child left by their mother. But over time, Gaara became more and more eccentric, even killing people at every turn. He had nearly killed Kankuro several times.

In this case, of course, Kankuro wouldn't have any good impressions of Gaara anymore. In fact, he didn't care if Gaara came back late; he sometimes wished his brother had died outside.

"You!" Temari's face turned red with anger. How could he say this about their own brother?

Just as she was about to lash out, the door suddenly opened, and Gaara walked in.

Seeing Gaara, Temari and Kankuro immediately fell silent. Gaara hated noise in his presence.

"Gaara, you came back a little late today. Did something happen?" Temari asked cautiously.

Kankuro, on the other hand, positioned his puppet in front of him, ready to react if needed.

"Something did happen. Sister Temari, brother Kankuro, do you want to listen?" Gaara said softly, his head lowered.

Temari and Kankuro were shocked. Were they hearing things?

"Gaara, what you just said, I didn't hear it clearly," Temari asked in disbelief.

"Really, sister, brother, I want to tell you what happened today." Gaara smiled.

Knowing the whole truth, he was relieved of his past burdens. Since his father and mother had been silently guarding him, what did he have to resent? Moreover, from now on, he could live a normal life without worrying about the monster inside him breaking through the seal when he fell asleep.

"Gaara, you say it, we're listening," Temari said, her voice choked with emotion. Although she didn't know what had happened, Gaara's change made her very excited. Kankuro also sat back on the sofa.

"Sister, brother, I was wrong before. Please forgive me. I will never lose my temper again," Gaara assured. Then he told them everything that had happened that day.

By the end, Temari and Kankuro had tears in their eyes.

"Gaara... so our mother has been protecting you all this time?" Temari touched the gourd on Gaara's back, shedding a few tears.

"That's right. And my father doesn't resent me because of mother. All misunderstandings have been resolved," Gaara said solemnly. He also learned that his father had long regretted making him a Jinchūriki, but because losing the tailed beast would mean his death, he could only keep this feeling deep in his heart.

"Thanks to Takuya-sama. I heard that he is Hokage of Konoha and the most powerful ninja in the world. He led Konoha to victory in the Third Ninja War, fought against the other four Kage alone, and won decisively. The current structure of the ninja world was created by him," Temari said, knowing a lot about the ninja world.

"Takuya-sama saved Gaara?" Kankuro asked, equally surprised.

"Yes, he did," Gaara confirmed. "That gentleman is very charming. His presence is calming."

"I really want to meet Takuya-sama one day," Temari said, her voice filled with admiration. She had idolized him since childhood. It was incredible that the legendary hero had saved her brother.

"Temari, after you graduate from the ninja academy, I will send you to Konoha to study. Then, you will be able to see Takuya-sama with your own eyes," their father, Rasa, said as he entered the living room with a smile.

"Father!" Temari and Kankuro stood up and bowed respectfully.

"Don't be so formal," Rasa smiled and waved his hand. Temari and Kankuro exchanged surprised glances. Their father had always been strict, and it was the first time they had seen him so happy.

"Temari, to leave a good impression on Takuya-sama in the future, you must work hard now. When you grow up, you might even become the admired Mrs. Hokage," Rasa said, smiling at Temari.

Temari blushed. Becoming Mrs. Hokage... could she really achieve that?

"I understand, Father! I will work hard," she said, determined but unsure.

---

In the Hokage's office of Konoha Village, Takuya was engrossed in paperwork. Beside him, three tailed beasts—Shukaku, Matatabi, and Kurama—were engaging in their usual banter, their massive forms nearly filling the room.

After a moment, Shukaku opened his eyes, his tone bitter. "Stupid fox, you've really lived the life, haven't you?" he sneered. "Turns out you've been enjoying all the comforts while I've been stuck in that hellhole."

Kurama, with a smirk, recalled memories of lounging in the sun, eating good food, and being respected by those around him. The difference between his life and Shukaku's, who had been confined in a dark cage, constantly battling his Jinchūriki, was stark.

"Admit it, Shukaku," Kurama taunted. "The more tails you have, the stronger you are. If you acknowledge that, maybe I'll consider protecting you from now on."

"Dream on, Kurama!" Shukaku snapped, his temper flaring. He had always resented the idea that a tailed beast's strength was determined by its number of tails. In his mind, he was the smartest of them all, a master of sealing techniques and ninjutsu. What did Kurama know?

"Enough, both of you," Matatabi intervened, her calm voice cutting through the tension before another argument could erupt.

Turning to Shukaku, Matatabi spoke more gently, "Remember the rules I told you?"

"Yeah, yeah, I remember. Just don't cause trouble," Shukaku grumbled.

Matatabi nodded approvingly. "Good. Now that we're all clear, how about we go outside and enjoy some fresh air?"

"Sounds like a plan!" Shukaku agreed enthusiastically, eager to enjoy some freedom after years of confinement.

The three tailed beasts briefly acknowledged Takuya before bounding out of the office. Watching them go, Takuya sighed and shook his head with a wry smile. They had it easy—eating, drinking, and playing all day. Sometimes, he envied them.

As he returned to his paperwork, a report caught Takuya's attention.

"Yunokuni is suspected of discharging factory sewage directly into the sea?" Takuya frowned. The Land of Hot Water, an island nation surrounded by the sea to the east of the Land of Fire, was famous for its hot springs. Jiraiya had often mentioned it in his novels, describing it as a paradise for men.

"Didn't I strictly prohibit the random discharge of sewage? Why is Yunokuni still doing this?" Takuya summoned an Anbu operative and asked sternly. He had been developing industry while enforcing strict environmental protection policies, including a ban on discharging sewage into the sea.

"Lord Hokage, we've issued multiple warnings," the Anbu responded gravely. "But the people of Yunokuni are unrepentant. They've even joined forces and killed several of our ninja."

"It seems I've been too lenient, and the world has forgotten who I am," Takuya's eyes darkened. Since unifying the ninja world, he had brought peace, but clearly, some still dared to challenge his authority.

Activating Kamui, Takuya vanished from the Hokage's office and reappeared in the sky above Yunokuni. He observed countless factories spewing toxic waste into the sea, guarded by heavily armed men. The capital city, in stark contrast, was lively, with people dressed in bright clothes, smiling as if oblivious to the damage being done. When he questioned the locals about the pollution, they dismissed him, mocking his policies as impractical.

After a day of investigation, Takuya realized that Yunokuni was beyond redemption. The entire nation had turned against him and would continue to sow discord if left unchecked.

The following day at noon, Takuya activated his Susanoo and appeared above Yunokuni. His voice, amplified by his immense chakra, echoed across the ninja world. "Yunokuni has defied the Hokage's orders and resisted with force. Prepare for your judgment."

The people of Yunokuni responded with defiance, cursing him as a tyrant and demanding the right to their own lives. They even challenged him to do his worst.

"If that's how you wish it, then you'll vanish from this world," Takuya declared coldly. He raised his hand, forming a ball of pure destructive energy, and hurled it down.

With a cataclysmic explosion, the entire Land of Hot Water was obliterated. The people didn't even have time to scream as they were incinerated by the searing heat. Buildings crumbled to dust, and in an instant, the entire island was devoid of life. The Land of Hot Water was erased from the ninja world forever.

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