After putting away all the items, Jokichi returned to the competitor stands to watch the matches.
The people battling in the arena were Temari and Shikamaru.
Originally, the second match was supposed to be Kankuro against Aburame Shino.
However, to conserve stamina, Kankuro chose to forfeit.
Shikamaru and Temari from the third round of matches took their place.
However...
"Didn't Shikamaru forfeit?"
Looking into the arena, watching Shikamaru hiding behind a large tree thinking about a problem with a depressed face, Jokichi was slightly curious.
In the anime, Shikamaru was also planning to forfeit.
As a result, Naruto kicked him down from behind.
Naruto hadn't arrived at the arena yet, so he didn't know who made him go down and participate in the match.
Judging by his expression, it didn't look like he changed his mind himself.
"Jokichi, you went too far!"
Just as Jokichi was lost in thought, Naruto's voice came from behind.
Alright, no need to wonder.
Jokichi smiled and turned around. Naruto's figure just happened to walk out from inside.
Naruto came in front of Jokichi, saying indignantly, "We agreed you'd help me train, but you threw me to the Pervy Sage and ran off yourself!"
"I didn't have a choice either!" Jokichi shrugged, a helpless look on his face.
"That's one of the legendary Sannin. When it comes to teaching people, I can't catch up to him even on a horse."
"That's true!"
Naruto nodded in deep agreement. Then, he changed the subject and said confidently, "Jokichi, I've become much stronger this month. When the time comes, we'll see each other in the finals."
"You should win against Gaara first!"
Hearing Jokichi mention it, Naruto remembered that his first-round opponent was Gaara.
The conflict on the street a month ago, and Gaara's invincible posture when crushing his opponent in the second preliminary round, all made Naruto feel immense pressure.
Although he had become stronger this month, he still didn't have 100% confidence in winning the match.
However...
Even without confidence, he couldn't lose his momentum.
Naruto's momentum instantly surged. "It's just Gaara, I will definitely win."
"Is that so?"
A faint voice came from behind.
Naruto's body stiffened, and he slowly turned around. He saw Gaara looking at him calmly.
Only, although his expression was very calm, those bloodshot eyes were full of killing intent, making one shudder with fear.
Naruto subconsciously shivered.
Then, mustering his courage, he stepped forward, pointing at Gaara and provoking, "That's right, I'm the man who will become Hokage! How could I lose to someone else!"
"Very well!"
The corners of Gaara's mouth curled up slightly, sketching a cold smile. "Only like this is it interesting to kill you."
After speaking, he cast a glance at Jokichi, who had been watching the show, and turned to leave.
The Sunagakure competitor stands were on the opposite side.
He just saw Naruto and wanted to come over and take a look, to see what kind of guy this person who was the same as him actually was.
As a result...
Heh!
...
Seeing Gaara's back disappear into the darkness of the tunnel, Naruto's legs went soft, and he sat down on the ground.
"What kind of look was that!" Naruto couldn't help but say with lingering fear.
"That hatred as if wanting to kill everyone, and also..."
"Jealousy!"
"Eh?"
Naruto looked at Jokichi, who suddenly interrupted. He blinked and asked, "How did you know?"
Jokichi smiled and said, "Gaara is like you, with a monster sealed inside him."
"He's like me?"
Naruto was somewhat stunned. He seemed to have never thought there was anyone else in the world with experiences like his.
"That's right." Jokichi nodded and said, "Not only do you both have monsters sealed inside you, but your childhood experiences are also very similar. However, he had it even worse."
Naruto didn't speak, just quietly waited for the rest.
Jokichi leaned against the railing, looking up at the white clouds drifting across the sky.
"He has Shukaku sealed inside him. Because the seal is incomplete, he hasn't dared to sleep since birth. Otherwise, his body would be taken over by Shukaku."
"Moreover, people fear the monster inside him, fear the power, and thus fear the person sealing the monster. You should be the clearest on this point!"
"Ah!"
Naruto nodded, saying sadly, "No one is willing to get close to me. They look at me with fear, terror, and hatred. No matter what I do, I can't get their acknowledgment. That kind of look..."
Recalling how the villagers looked at him when he was young, Naruto couldn't help but shudder.
"You had it relatively well!" Jokichi smiled.
"Although most of the villagers are very afraid of you and hate you, you still have me, Iruka, Shikamaru, and the others who acknowledge your existence."
"Yeah!" A smile appeared on Naruto's face.
"Sometimes I can't help but think, if it weren't for you guys, I don't know what I would have become. Every time I can't help but think deeply about it, every time I feel afraid. That kind of me is absolutely unacceptable to the current me."
"But Gaara walked the path you find absolutely unacceptable!" Jokichi sighed.
"Not only adults, but kids of the same age also feared him. Even his father, the Kazekage, wanted to kill him because his mental instability caused by prolonged lack of sleep. It resulted in his uncle, the only one who loved him, dying by his hands."
Naruto's hand couldn't help but tremble.
He put himself in Gaara's shoes. What would happen if he killed Iruka, killed Jokichi with his own hands?
It was completely unimaginable.
"So, seeing you, a fellow Jinchuriki, having friends and people who care about you, he was very jealous, so jealous that he wants to kill you no matter what!"
"...Phew!"
Naruto remained silent for a while and took a deep breath.
He stood up, turned around, looked at Gaara who had returned to the Sunagakure competitor stands, and his gaze was resolute.
"I will definitely defeat him. I will definitely save him from hell!"
"Is that so." Jokichi chuckled lightly.
"Looking forward to your performance."
At this time, enthusiastic applause erupted from the spectator stands.
The two looked down at the arena. Shikamaru had used the Shadow Possession Jutsu to bind Temari and surrendered.
However, although he lost.
The cheers and applause from the audience were all for him.
He had brought everyone a brilliant battle of wits.
Shikamaru and Temari left the arena respectively. Hayate shouted toward the competitor stands, "Next match, Gaara vs. Uzumaki Naruto."
"It's your turn." Jokichi looked at Naruto.
"Mhm!"
Naruto nodded and jumped straight down.
As for Gaara, he used a Sand Body Flicker, dissipating like an incarnation of sand, and then gathered and materialized like sand inside the arena.
Seeing both in position, Hayate nodded. "Then, the match begins."
However, neither of the two moved.
They stood five meters apart, looking at each other.
A warm breeze blew past, kicking up a gust of dust.
Naruto looked at Gaara's indifferent eyes and expression, his feelings somewhat complicated.
"I heard about your situation from Jokichi."
"Hmm?"
"I also have a monster sealed inside me."
Naruto touched the seal on his stomach, as if confiding, yet also seemingly talking to himself.
"Being feared, hated, alienated... I have also experienced these. It's just..."
Naruto raised his head, looking at him with a firm gaze.
"I will absolutely not become like you. This hard-won bond, I will never let go. Furthermore, I will pull you out of the hell I once experienced!"
"What big talk!"
Sand rose like an ocean wave, carrying Gaara's anger, and surged toward Naruto.