Aoki Yoru moved.
In an instant—
His figure vanished.
The next moment—
He appeared directly in front of Gaara.
There was no hesitation.
No wasted motion.
His right hand surged with chakra, five fingers glowing faintly as he thrust them forward—
And struck Gaara's lower abdomen.
"Five Elements Seal!"
The seal activated instantly.
The violent chakra surrounding Gaara—
Collapsed.
The sand armor that had been writhing like a living beast suddenly fell still.
The tailed beast's manifestation—
Receded.
Gaara's body trembled once—
Then went limp.
He collapsed to the ground.
Unconscious.
Inside him—
The One-Tail, Shukaku—
Was roaring in fury.
"DAMN YOU—!!"
It howled, its voice filled with rage and frustration.
Gaara had already lost control.
Just a little more chaos—
A little more stimulation—
And it could have broken free.
Freedom—
Was within reach.
But—
This human—
This cursed shinobi—
Had intervened.
Not only suppressing it—
But sealing it even further.
Now—
It felt like it had been shoved back into a narrow prison.
A teapot.
Confining.
Suffocating.
"GAAARA!!"
Temari rushed forward, panic written all over her face.
She dropped to her knees beside him, pulling him into her arms.
Aoki Yoru glanced back briefly.
"Relax."
"He's just asleep."
His tone was calm.
Almost casual.
"Guests are guests."
"You're welcome in Konoha."
With that—
He turned.
And walked away.
As if what he had just done—
Was nothing worth mentioning.
His destination—
Tenten's weapon shop.
He had run out of explosive tags.
"…Ah, right."
His voice drifted lazily through the air.
"Nao, Chino—don't stay out too late."
"Go home early."
And just like that—
He was gone.
Behind him—
Silence.
Team 7—
Konohamaru—
And the others—
All stood frozen.
What had just happened…
Was too overwhelming.
Too fast.
Too clean.
Too… unbelievable.
The younger kids stared after Aoki Yoru—
Eyes sparkling.
"…So cool…"
Their admiration was obvious.
Meanwhile—
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura—
Were still trying to process everything.
"…Was that really ninjutsu?"
The same thought crossed all three of their minds.
"Hey!"
Sasuke suddenly spoke.
His fists clenched tightly.
His knuckles turned white.
His gaze—
Burning.
"…Who is that guy?"
His voice was low.
But filled with emotion.
Anger.
Frustration.
Unwillingness.
That person—
Wasn't much older than him.
Yet—
The gap between them—
Was immense.
If that was the case…
Then what about—
Uchiha Itachi?
How strong—
Was he?
A suffocating pressure gripped Sasuke's chest.
"…What have I been doing all these years…?"
"…When will I ever catch up…?"
"I know! I know!"
Chino suddenly raised her hand enthusiastically.
Ever since Aoki Yoru had saved her—
She had been paying close attention to him.
Standing proudly—
She clasped her hands behind her back—
And began explaining.
"What?!"
Naruto and Sakura shouted in unison.
"At thirteen—he and his teammates defeated a Kage-level opponent?!"
"And they're only two years ahead of us?!"
Their faces—
Full of disbelief.
Sakura clenched her fist.
"But…"
"Kakashi-sensei looks so lazy…"
"How did he train someone like that?"
Naruto suddenly slapped his forehead.
"Ah! I remember!"
"He's the big brother who treated me to ramen!"
His face lit up.
"No wonder he's so strong!"
"Because he's a good guy!"
Sakura rolled her eyes.
"…There's no connection between those two things."
Sasuke ignored them.
Without another word—
He turned—
And walked away.
Toward the training ground.
His steps—
Heavy.
Determined.
"…I'm still too weak."
"…I can't afford to waste time."
Meanwhile—
Aoki Yoru walked calmly through the streets.
"…That worked pretty well."
He was quite satisfied.
That move—
Was extremely effective for dealing with weaker opponents.
Simple.
Clean.
Almost like—
A pressure-based suppression.
"…Not bad."
He smirked slightly.
"…Feels like Conqueror's Haki."
At the same time—
A thought crossed his mind.
"…That old man…"
The Third Hokage.
"…moves fast."
After bringing Nao back—
She had been shy at first.
But soon—
She adapted.
Especially after meeting Chino.
The two girls became inseparable.
Running around together every day.
And now—
They were even mixed in with Konohamaru's group.
"…If that wasn't intentional…"
"…I wouldn't believe it."
Aoki Yoru chuckled inwardly.
Look at Konohamaru's companions.
Moegi—
With Wood Release potential.
Udon—
With mutated Water Release.
Both—
Far from ordinary.
And now—
Nao and Chino.
One from the Uzumaki Clan.
One tied to Senju lineage—
And a potential Jinchūriki candidate.
There was no way the Hokage would ignore them.
"…Smart."
Childhood bonds—
Were the strongest.
Pure.
Unbreakable.
The Third Hokage—
Was laying the groundwork.
For Konohamaru's future.
"…Planning ahead…"
"…not bad at all."
Aoki Yoru admitted.
As for Gaara—
He had no intention of reporting it.
After all—
Anbu were already watching.
And knowing that old man—
He was probably observing everything—
Through his crystal ball.
Elsewhere—
In the Hokage's office—
A puff of smoke drifted through the air.
The Third Hokage lowered his pipe slowly.
"…Aoki Yoru…"
"…has grown stronger again."
His expression was complicated.
Even he—
The Professor of Ninjutsu—
Couldn't fully understand that technique.
"…Spiritual energy…"
"…Perhaps…"
He could only speculate.
Then—
His gaze sharpened.
"…Sunagakure…"
"What are you planning?"
Sending a Jinchūriki—
To Konoha—
Without explanation.
Impossible—
Without intention.
But—
Why?
Konoha had just repelled Kumogakure.
Its strength—
At its peak.
What confidence—
Did Sunagakure have?
After a long silence—
He spoke.
"Anbu."
"Increase surveillance."
"Monitor Sunagakure closely."
"I want to know…"
"…what they're planning."
Meanwhile—
At the training ground—
"Ahh—!"
Aoki Yoru yawned.
He hadn't slept.
All night—
He had been studying sealing techniques.
"…Too tiring…"
He glanced at Kakashi—
Leaning lazily against a tree.
"Kakashi-sensei…"
"Why did you call me here?"
Kakashi didn't move.
"…You've met them already."
"I signed them up for the Chunin Exams."
"…Help train them."
His tone—
Lifeless.
Aoki Yoru stared.
"…What happened to you?"
He looked… terrible.
Gaunt.
Exhausted.
Had he fought someone?
"Eh?!"
Naruto jumped.
"Kakashi-sensei is early?!"
"And Aoki-senpai too?!"
"…Did something happen today?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
"…Did the sun rise in the west?"
Kakashi ignored them.
"…Since you all know each other…"
"No introductions needed."
"Aoki will guide you."
Aoki Yoru stepped forward.
"Nice to meet you."
"I'll be in charge for now."
Kakashi nodded lazily.
"…I'll leave it to you."
Then—
He jumped onto a branch.
Pulled out a book.
Opened it.
"…Hehehe…"
A strange laugh escaped him.
Aoki Yoru glanced at the cover.
"…'Young Madam Bai Jie'…?"
His expression froze.
"…Are you serious…?"
Everything—
Made sense.
"…No wonder…"
"…you look like this."
To push even White Zetsu-enhanced recovery—
To this level of exhaustion—
"…What kind of reading intensity is that…?"
He looked at Kakashi.
Speechless.
"…This guy…"
"…looks like he just used dozens of S-rank forbidden techniques…"
And for the first time—
Aoki Yoru felt—
True confusion.
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