Deep Forest Bloom

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Bloom!"

Bzz—

The moment Lin Mu pressed his palm down, the space around them seemed to change.

It had been filled with the howling of the wind, the thunder of battle, and Shukaku's crazed laughter...

But now, it had fallen into an eerie silence.

A mysterious power spread gradually from Shukaku's body.

It was gentle and mysterious, making people want to draw near.

The flowers, grass, and trees in the forest around the One-Tail seemed to heed its call, as if they had received a blessing.

They grew at a visible pace, brimming with renewed vitality.

The wild beasts and birds that had been fleeing in all directions were soothed as well. Their agitation slowly subsided, and they hid among the trees.

This was the power of life!

Wood Release contained this power of life. Otherwise, Senju Hashirama could never have possessed such powerful healing abilities.

Nor could his granddaughter Tsunade have become the most renowned medical ninja in the Naruto World.

But this power also carried an unquestionable authority!

At that moment, the One-Tail was faced with nothing but overwhelming authority.

The power was rich and mighty, exerting absolute suppression. It seemed to contain a will that could not be questioned or defied.

The berserk chakra that had filled Shukaku quickly fell silent under its suppression, like a tame kitten.

His formidable Wind Release, Magnet Release, and sand control abilities had also vanished without a trace. He could no longer use them at all.

"You're... This... this power..."

Everyone was astonished as the power spread.

But Shukaku was more than astonished. He was utterly horrified.

He knew this power all too well. It was the power of Wood Release—the power of Senju Hashirama!

Hashirama had once forcefully subdued him and handed him over to Sunagakure.

Bzz—

The power took effect again. Though Shukaku's mind was now full of doubts, he could only succumb to its pressure, slowly closing his eyes and falling asleep.

"I'll remember you..."

In the final seconds before falling asleep, Shukaku forced his eyes open and took one long look at Lin Mu above him, murmuring inwardly.

With the One-Tail's power fully suppressed, the Shukaku Body beneath Gaara, who was still in a state of feigned sleep, could no longer hold its shape.

Rumble—

The enormous body turned to sand and scattered across the ground.

Lin Mu and Gaara fell toward the forest below.

"At this height, I'm going to die if I hit the ground..."

As he neared the trees, Lin Mu used the last of his chakra to reach out toward them.

Crack—crack—

Branches stretched out from the forest trees, cushioning Lin Mu's fall.

Thud! Thud!

Two muffled impacts rang out as Gaara and Lin Mu hit the ground one after the other.

The trees broke Lin Mu's fall, leaving him with only minor injuries.

Gaara, however, fell hard straight down.

The impact made him cough up blood, and it jolted him out of his feigned sleep.

Thud, thud, thud...

"Are you all right?"

Naruto Uzumaki came running over and hurriedly helped Lin Mu up from the ground, anxiously asking.

"Cough, cough. I'm fine," Lin Mu replied with a few light coughs.

Naruto helped Lin Mu over to a nearby tree and sat him down. After a brief pause, he strode toward Gaara.

He stood beside Gaara, staring at him in a daze.

This person was so much like him.

"It hurts more than anything, doesn't it? I don't know why, but I can understand how you feel..."

Naruto paused. A sorrowful light glimmered in his eyes, but his gaze soon grew resolute.

"But I have people I love now. I won't let you hurt them. Even if I have to kill you, I'll stop you!"

Gaara, who had already woken up, suddenly opened his eyes wide. That sorrowful light in Naruto's eyes...

He knew exactly what it was: loneliness!

"...Why? Why would you go this far for other people?"

Gaara was filled with confusion. Why would someone like him be willing to make sacrifices for others?

"Because they're important companions who saved me from the hell of loneliness and accepted me for who I am!"

Naruto was badly injured, and his voice trembled, but it was filled with resolve.

Gaara's heart stirred. Through his hazy vision, a figure began to emerge.

She smiled at Gaara and said gently:

"Love is the desire to give of yourself for the people you cherish, and to protect them."

"Love... So that's why this guy is so strong?"

Whoosh, whoosh—

Several figures swept in with the wind and landed beside Naruto and Gaara.

"That's enough, Naruto. The sand that trapped Sakura has long since scattered. That guy must have run out of chakra by now."

Sasuke reached out and steadied Naruto, who was swaying on his feet.

Hearing this, Naruto sighed in relief. He could no longer hold on; his body went limp, and he passed out.

Temari and Kankuro rushed to Gaara's side and helped him up, watching Sasuke Uchiha warily.

"Forget it. I don't want to fight anymore!"

Gaara's voice was weak, and his gaze was lost. No one could tell what was going through his mind.

Kankuro and Temari exchanged a look, then helped Gaara up and half-carried him away at a run.

"Love... affection..."

"Yashamaru..."

Gaara's thoughts grew hazy, then settled on a memory.

In it were Gaara and Yashamaru.

As a young child, Gaara stood beside the table by his bed, staring at a photograph of a woman who looked a little like him.

Her hair was pale yellow, and her eyes held a gentle warmth. But he had never met her.

"Is this my mother?"

"The woman I killed!"

As he stared at the photograph, an inexplicable feeling rose within him.

He suddenly reached out with his right hand, picked up the dagger on the table, and drove it toward the back of his hand.

Shhk—

He felt no dagger piercing his flesh.

Sand surged up, blocking the dagger and keeping it completely away from Gaara's body.

Shhk, shhk, shhk—

Gaara's face twisted more and more fiercely as he frantically swung his right hand, trying to stab the back of his left hand.

But the sand kept him from hurting himself.

Just as his emotions were spiraling further out of control, a gentle voice reached his ears.

"Lord Gaara..."

His body gave a slight shudder. He turned to look at the woman walking toward him.

She wore an apron, and the bandages wrapped around her hand were faintly stained with blood.

His sand had caused that wound!

Yet the woman didn't seem afraid of him, nor did she seem to care about the wound.

She bent down slightly, looking at Gaara with tenderness.