Gaara

Gaara's team watched as Sasuke was caught with such ease.

Their faces were full of shock. Among Konoha's rookie genin, Sasuke ranked at least in the top three.

And yet he'd been caught in a single move.

Gaara fixed his gaze on Feng Yao and spoke slowly.

"I'm very interested in you. What's your name? I'm Gaara of the Sand."

Feng Yao noticed Gaara looking at him and considered it for a moment. He couldn't fully trust Orochimaru.

Besides, the Fourth Kazekage was still alive this time around. He might need some allies, so he replied in a gentle tone.

"My name is Dosu. I'm a ninja from Sound Village. I'm interested in you, too."

As he spoke, he released Sasuke.

Sasuke still felt a little unsettled. When he'd been beside Feng Yao, he'd felt the warmth and happiness he'd known as a child.

"He shouldn't be the person we met in the Land of Waves. His presence is completely different from that person's."

Then he slowly walked back to Naruto.

Temari watched Sasuke, her face a little flushed. The guy was pretty handsome.

"All right, now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, we have things to take care of, so we should get going. Zaku, Kin, let's go."

Sasuke had helped clear things up for him, and Feng Yao was more than happy to take the opportunity to leave. He made an excuse.

With that, he led Zaku and Kin toward the Chunin Exam site, but deliberately ditched them along the way.

"I have something to take care of. Go on ahead and wait for me at the exam site."

Zaku and Kin both froze for a moment, but they didn't dare disobey Feng Yao's order.

"Yes, Lord Dosu."

Feng Yao turned and ran back the way he'd come.

Gaara's team was walking through Konoha's streets, discussing what had just happened.

"That ninja with the bandages seems pretty formidable. I never expected Sound Village to have someone that strong. I really want to fight him."

"Do whatever you want. There'll be plenty of chances during the Chunin Exam, but don't forget why we're here."

The speakers were Kankuro and Temari. They knew some of the details of the plan and understood that, in a way, the Sound Ninja could be considered their allies.

Suddenly, Gaara stopped and looked toward a large tree in the distance.

"What's wrong, Gaara?" Temari asked in confusion.

Gaara didn't answer her. Instead, he spoke to the tree.

"Stop hiding and come out. I've already spotted you. Can't wait to fight me?"

Hearing this, Feng Yao climbed down from the tree. Gaara was still emotionally unstable at this point, his heart filled with loneliness and hatred.

"Gaara, I want to talk to you."

With a single Moonwalk, he appeared in front of Gaara in the blink of an eye. Gaara instinctively controlled the sand to strike back, but...

"So warm. What... is this feeling?"

Gaara lowered his hand. He'd always felt utterly empty and alone, but now his heart was at peace.

After all, Gaara was still a child. What he'd endured was simply too painful for him.

His heart was covered in wounds, and it stayed that way until he met Naruto and was won over by his words.

But now, Feng Yao had the Xiaoyao Wise Heart Body, an ability even more powerful than Naruto's talk-no-jutsu.

Feng Yao gently placed a hand on Gaara and activated the Flying Thunder God Technique.

"Whoosh!"

Only then did Temari and Kankuro react.

"Hey! He took Gaara away! You just stood there and watched?"

"I don't know what happened. For a moment, I just thought he was a good person and didn't guard against him. You didn't either."

"I... I... How could Gaara let him take him away so obediently? Hurry and report this to our leader, Baki!"

After blaming each other, they hurried off.

By then, Feng Yao had taken Gaara to an open area several kilometers outside Konoha.

Gaara didn't panic. Partly, he wasn't afraid, and partly, he felt that the man in front of him meant him no harm.

"What do you want?" Gaara asked.

Feng Yao didn't answer. Instead, he first unwound the bandages around his face, revealing his stunningly beautiful features.

Gaara's eyes widened. He seemed to understand why the other man had worn bandages.

"Actually, my name is Feng Yao. I was using a false name earlier."

Feng Yao didn't hide the truth from Gaara. He revealed his face and told him his real name.

He knew that only sincerity could move Gaara and bring him over to his side.

Hearing Feng Yao be so honest with him, Gaara's gaze softened further.

"I've heard about you. I can't believe you'd hide your identity and infiltrate Konoha. Why tell me who you are and bring me here?"

If anyone else had treated him this way, Gaara would have torn them into dozens of pieces long ago.

But facing Feng Yao, he found it hard to feel any murderous intent. He even wanted to hear what Feng Yao had to say.

"I want your help. This time, I've entered Konoha knowing there'll be danger everywhere. A lot of people want to kill me, so I need a friend—someone I can trust."

Feng Yao spoke with genuine sincerity. Gaara's pupils contracted slightly when he heard this, but he still furrowed his brow.

"I can't promise that. I'm a ninja of Sunagakure. Without my village's orders, I can't just help anyone."

Feng Yao wasn't discouraged by Gaara's answer. Instead, he thought, There's a chance.

"I understand. I'm not trying to force you. If you don't want to help me when the time comes, you can do whatever you think is right. I won't stop you."

As he spoke, he gently placed a hand on Gaara's head. He was going to give Gaara a gift.

Gaara instinctively wanted to dodge, but seeing Feng Yao's gentle gaze, he stayed still.

Pure spiritual energy entered Gaara's body and found the sealing formula that held Shukaku. Feng Yao frowned as soon as he saw it.

The Sealing Technique was extremely crude. Sunagakure had done a far worse job than Konoha in this regard.

The Fourth Kazekage had probably relied on his Gold Dust to suppress the One-Tail, so he hadn't thought to properly improve the seal. As a result, Gaara had to use his own spiritual energy to suppress Shukaku.

That was what caused Gaara's insomnia.

Feng Yao poured some of his spiritual energy and chakra into the sealing formula. His spiritual energy was probably the purest in the Naruto world, and it was just as enticing to a Tailed Beast.

"Th-this spiritual energy... how can it be so pure?"

Shukaku, who existed inside Gaara, hated humans deeply, but this spiritual energy made him feel warm. He grew much less restless.

Now Gaara wouldn't have to worry that Shukaku might take over his consciousness whenever he fell asleep.

When Feng Yao withdrew his hand, tears streaked Gaara's cheeks.

He'd been lonely and tormented all his life, and he'd never felt safe. Shukaku wanted to seize control of his consciousness, and his father wanted to kill him.

But now, it seemed someone like Yashamaru had appeared—the Yashamaru he'd once trusted and loved so deeply.

"Remember, Gaara, you're not alone. No matter what you choose to do from now on, I'll always consider you my best friend."

With that, Feng Yao gently stroked Gaara's hair again, his gaze even softer.

Gaara wiped away his tears.

"Feng... Yao-sama, may I call you that?"

Gaara had meant to call him Feng Yao, but suddenly felt that addressing him so casually was disrespectful, so he added the honorific.

"Of course. It's only a form of address."

"Feng Yao-sama, I can't promise to help you with anything, but if you're in danger, I'll stand by your side."

Hearing this, Feng Yao pulled Gaara into a hug. Gaara stiffened for a moment, then relaxed and wrapped his arms around Feng Yao.

"That's enough. Gaara, I have another gift for you."

He took Gaara's hand and put a ring engraved with the character "Moon" on his finger. Gaara froze.

Feng Yao gave a light cough.

"We're friends now, so of course I should give you a gift. This ring will symbolize our bond."

Gaara lowered his head and ran his fingers over the ring Feng Yao had given him.

"Host, you're getting more shameless by the day. You've just gained such a powerful ally for free."

"Ahem, watch what you're saying. I'm only thinking of Gaara. Akatsuki might target him in the future, and then he'll have me, the 'Immortal,' to protect him."

After speaking to the system, Feng Yao put his disguise back on and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Gaara back to Konoha.