"Actually, I'm not good with words at all." Ino sighed as she looked at Gaara, who was curled up in the corner, seemingly only seven or eight years old.
He kept his head down, showing no reaction at all to a stranger entering his inner world. He hugged his knees, his head buried deep, appearing very numb.
"I don't know Kankuro well, but your sister loves you. She's actually very scared and timid, yet she still mustered the courage to try and protect you with her tender hands."
Gaara didn't respond.
Ino suddenly thought of something and said, "Your father is dead, you know that, right?"
Gaara truly had no affection for his father, who dug for sand and picked up trash, but Ino still detected a slight emotional fluctuation in his inner world.
It was the common problem of Jinchuriki; their hearts were full of love, yet due to the Tailed Beast, they were ostracized by everyone. In their torment, they sought acceptance, especially from their family.
Naruto was like this, Feng was like this, and Gaara seemed to be the same.
In her inner world, Ino grabbed the utterly dejected Gaara, lifting him with one hand, in the exact same posture as she had at the competition.
"I'm talking to you. Your dad is dead, do you know that?"
Gaara glared at her. Isn't that obvious? I knew it then!
Ino read part of his memory and found that it was indeed true. This spirited young man had noticed the abnormality when Orochimaru removed the Five Elements Seal for him earlier.
"Since you already know the truth, then it's simple. Stand up like a man, don't let your sister or your somewhat simple-minded brother worry. Come fight with us, go find Orochimaru, and avenge your father!"
In this world, there are no laws or legal systems; it's all about vengeance for grudges and retaliation for wrongs. If you kill my father, I'll kill you! People like Uchiha Itachi are truly rare; most people's way of thinking isn't that extreme.
Gaara was among the majority.
Ino's words aligned with the current world's values and human nature.
"You're willing to help me? Why?" After abandoning the hostility in his heart, Gaara actually possessed a calmness and wisdom beyond his age. He asked pointedly.
Ino answered very honestly: "That's right, helping you is also helping ourselves."
She released her hand, and Gaara in the inner world clutched his head. His body quickly grew from seven or eight years old to about fourteen or fifteen, slightly shorter than Ino, but no longer the child-like figure he was before.
Stepping out of the cage he had set for himself, he stood up, looked back as if at his past, then thought for a moment, and finally extended his hand. Their hands met.
"Alright, let's join forces."
Ino exited Gaara's inner world and nodded lightly to Shikaku. On that side, the Shadow Imitation Technique was released, freeing Temari and Kankuro as well.
Gaara knelt on the ground, gasping for air, the Tailed Beast's features rapidly receding.
Ino threw an antidote to Temari: "Take it orally, and the poison will be neutralized quickly. The remaining residue will gradually be expelled by his body's constitution."
Inoichi gave her a look, and she nodded subtly.
Inoichi then exchanged glances with Shikaku, followed by Choza.
The three clans made up their minds to "assist" Gaara in quelling this unrest shortly.
In the original timeline, Shikamaru marrying Temari was certainly due to their mutual affection, but the Nara Clan's covert arrangements in Sunagakure should not be overlooked.
How old is the history of Ninja Villages? Only sixty years, but the history of Ninja Clans is much older.
The Hyuga Clan and the Taketori Clan have always been allies, which has nothing to do with the Village.
The Ino–Shika–Choji also have their own forces outside the Village. Now that Konoha is in turmoil, making early moves in Sunagakure is the way of survival for Ninja Clans.
Gaara is not only a Jinchuriki but also the son of the former Kazekage, with outstanding Ninjutsu talent. If he calls out, he can gain a lot of supporters.
The Ino–Shika–Choji, acting as a group, are fully qualified to form an alliance with him.
If he wants to inherit the position of Kazekage, he needs some external support, and the Ino–Shika–Choji are in the same boat.
If things truly become irreversible, the Ino–Shika–Choji could leave Konoha and go to Sunagakure, still remaining a prominent Ninja Clan. Shikaku would continue as their strategist, and the Yamanaka Clan would continue to control intelligence. For them, besides damage to their family businesses, there wouldn't be much other loss.
Going to Sunagakure is the last resort; that place is too poor. For now, they still want to preserve the great ship that is Konoha.
The Ino–Shika–Choji intercepted the bond between Naruto and Gaara, but Ino didn't see a problem with it. With Naruto's negative political ability, what help could he offer Gaara? Ninja isn't just about fighting and killing; it's also about human relationships and social etiquette!
Temari and Kankuro were half-skeptical, but Gaara definitively pointed out that the previous Fourth Kazekage was a fake, an imposter by Orochimaru, and that Sunagakure had been deceived by him.
The three of them still had considerable influence. Some Sunagakure Ninja saw them standing with Konoha Ninja, and after some explanation, they watched the Konoha Ninja from a distance and did not engage further.
Soon, Gaara gathered about a hundred Sunagakure Ninja.
On the other side, the Konoha Ninja were also discussing.
"Lord Shikaku, what should we do?" Shiranui Genma's frustration was immeasurable.
Initially, he was a subordinate of the Third Hokage. Later, seeing the young Fourth Hokage with few subordinates, he decisively joined the Fourth Hokage's ranks. However, the Fourth Hokage died after only two days in power, so he had no choice but to return to the Third Hokage. Just when he had finally regained trust, he ran into the ill-fated Chunin Exams. Now, he heard, what? The Third Hokage was going to die? Damn it, what have I been busy with for the past decade or so!
He was outnumbered and could only gravitate towards the Ino–Shika–Choji. Regardless, Shikaku was also the Jonin Squad Leader and a Grand Strategist, belonging to the Village's high command. It was not shameful for an out-of-favor Special Jonin like him to obey the Strategist's orders.
"Gather the Konoha Ninja, assist the Sunagakure Ninja, and begin the counterattack." Shikaku set the tone for the entire operation. The Ino–Shika–Choji slowly began to gather the scattered Ninja, advancing towards the Chunin Exams arena at the leisurely pace of old folks strolling after dinner.
Along the way, the Ino–Shika–Choji contacted the Hyuga Clan, the Inuzuka Clan, the Aburame Clan, and the Third Hokage's Sarutobi Clan. With numerous Ninja Clans acting together, large numbers of Ninja, as if just realizing a foreign enemy had invaded, rushed to the battlefield under their families' leadership. The stalemate began to reverse.
Ino, finding the main force's speed too slow, said to Inoichi, "I heard the Second Hokage is over there. I want to go see him."
"Don't enter the battlefield, and be careful." Inoichi knew she had learned many of the Second Hokage's Ninjutsu. Now that Orochimaru had used Edo Tensei to revive the Second Hokage, watching her idol beat up the Third Hokage would likely broaden her horizons, wouldn't it?
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