Free Hired Hand

Fang Over Fang!

Kiba and Akamaru began spinning, transforming into two high-speed tornadoes.

The two tornadoes charged straight at Temari.

Temari had no time to counterattack and could only frantically dodge the assaults of the two tornadoes.

Secret Technique—Insect Swarm Summoning!

Countless flying insects emerged from every direction, slowly gathering into an enormous insect swarm.

The swarm swept directly over Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari.

Absolute Defense!

The moment the insect swarm appeared, Kankuro and Temari's expressions changed as they rushed toward Gaara.

When the two reached Gaara's side, an all-round barrier formed from sand enveloped all three of them.

Gaara did not remain completely passive within Absolute Defense. Instead, he launched an attack from inside the defense.

Sandstorm Cascade!

A torrent of sand surged, and two pillars of sand shot into the sky, transforming into two massive sand arms.

As though they had eyes, the sand arms reached out to grab Hinata and Shino.

Rotation!

Seeing the sand arms coming for her, Hinata swiftly unleashed Rotation once more.

Secret Technique—Insect Swarm Defense!

Countless tiny insects formed a shield before Shino, blocking the sand arms.

"Damn it!"

Fang Over Fang!

Seeing his teammates in danger, Kiba gritted his teeth. He and Akamaru transformed into two tornadoes once again and charged toward the sand arms.

Boom!

Absolute Defense dispersed, and a new sand arm suddenly appeared, smashing Kiba and Akamaru's two tornadoes into the ground with a single palm strike.

At the same time, Shino and Hinata were also seized by Gaara's sand arms.

"Looks like they've reached their limit. It's time for me to make a move!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Mirai vanished from where he stood.

Boom! Boom!

Two explosions rang out in rapid succession as Gaara's sand arms suddenly exploded, turning into sand that filled the sky.

Mirai appeared behind Hinata and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Q-Mirai..."

Hinata's face flushed crimson as she looked at the Mirai who had suddenly appeared.

Seeing Hinata's blushing face, Mirai could not help but kiss her on the cheek.

Hinata froze completely, then her entire face turned bright red.

Even the tips of her ears had reddened.

At that moment, she was so embarrassed it was beyond words.

Clearly, she had never expected Mirai to do something like that in public.

The sand drifting through the sky fell, and everything became clear again.

"It's you!"

Kankuro spotted Mirai at once, instantly gritting his teeth in hatred.

Sand Giant Palm!

Gaara was even more direct, immediately unleashing a powerful move against Mirai.

An enormous palm of sand gathered and slammed toward Mirai.

"Looks like you really hold quite a grudge against me."

Water Release—Water Dragon Bullet!

With Hinata held in his arms, Mirai casually unleashed a Water Release ninjutsu.

A massive water sphere shot straight toward Gaara's sand palm, instantly destroying the hand formed from sand.

Sand was naturally weak against water, not to mention the elemental properties of ninjutsu.

Seeing his Sand Giant Palm destroyed, Gaara flew into a rage.

Combined with their previous conflict and what Mirai had done during the first exam, Gaara's eyes were filled with killing intent.

"Hinata, go stand to the side first!"

Letting go of Hinata's hand, Mirai smiled as he looked behind Gaara.

More precisely, he was looking at Temari behind Gaara.

Shino and Kiba also took the opportunity to move behind Mirai.

Seeing Mirai break Gaara's ninjutsu with a single move, the two of them felt considerably more at ease.

"Gaara, let's go together!"

Kankuro controlled Crow, preparing to coordinate with Gaara's attack.

Temari frowned. She had a feeling that this Mirai was far from simple.

But the two people beside her were both her younger brothers.

And they were shinobi from the same village, so she had no choice.

Unfolding the Seven Star Fan, she moved to Gaara's side.

"Don't hold me back!"

No matter who he faced, Gaara had always been like this.

"Absolute Sand—Sand Assault!"

A skyful of yellow sand flew out from the gourd on Gaara's back.

The yellow sand fell to the ground, merged with the earth, and transformed into two enormous sand arms.

"Crow, we're going in too!"

Under Kankuro's control, Crow darted nimbly toward Mirai.

All the mechanisms across its body activated, sharp blades covering it from head to toe.

Seeing Gaara and Kankuro go all out, Kiba and Shino's expressions changed.

They had not expected them to be so strong.

"Heh, looks like I'll have to show a little of what I can do too!"

"Susanoo!"

The Eternal Mangekyo activated instantly!

A small portion of Susanoo activated instantly!

A massive skeletal right arm appeared before Mirai. Its bony hand opened and met the charging Crow head-on.

"Not good!"

The moment he saw the skeletal arm, Kankuro's expression turned exceptionally ugly.

He had never imagined that Mirai could use such a monstrous ninjutsu like Gaara's.

With a bang, Crow was crushed apart by Susanoo's skeletal right hand.

Kankuro looked sorrowfully and indignantly at the puppet fragments scattered across the ground, his heart bleeding.

At that moment, the two sand arms of Gaara's Sand Assault had arrived as well.

Bang!

The two sand arms collided with the skeletal arm, instantly unleashing a violent gale.

The gale howled fiercely toward both sides.

"Wind Release—Sickle Weasel!"

Temari swung the Seven Star Fan, unleashing a powerful gust that offset the oncoming gale.

Mirai, meanwhile, casually used a portion of Susanoo to block the gale with ease.

"Little panda, looks like you're still not strong enough!"

Mirai's ocular power intensified once more, and the skeletal arm that had been evenly matched with the sand arms instantly began crushing them.

With a bang, the sand arms shattered beneath the skeletal arm and fell as yellow sand.

The skeletal arm formed a palm, its momentum undiminished as it slapped straight at Gaara.

"Great Sickle Weasel!"

Temari suddenly stepped in front of Gaara and swung the Seven Star Fan, sending a fierce storm toward the skeletal palm.

The skeletal palm was slightly hindered by the storm, but then broke through its resistance.

As the storm dispersed, Temari turned and shoved Gaara away.

With a thunderous bang, the skeletal palm completely engulfed Temari.

Kankuro watched it all in grief and fury, yet could do nothing.

For the first time, he hated himself so much—hated how weak he was.

Temari's actions just now had stirred something deep within Gaara.

Within the always cold and heartless Gaara, ripples finally appeared.

It was a feeling he had never experienced before. Perhaps this was what they called familial affection.

Anger and killing intent began to intertwine as an unprecedented murderous urge raged through Gaara's mind.