Silence.
A deathly silence.
The wind stopped, and the sand settled.
At the center of the circular sand pit, the man held the child in his arms, forming a scene both strange and peaceful.
The Sunagakure shinobi around them still trembled as they gripped their kunai, their minds utterly blank.
Everything that had just happened had completely shattered their understanding.
That was a rampaging Tailed Beast—the One-Tail Shukaku!
A natural disaster, a nightmare, an absolute force capable of easily destroying an entire village.
Yet before this man, such a being had been calmed with just a single sentence and a single gesture?
"Stop!"
A sharp shout mixed with fury and shock shattered the dead silence.
Golden dust swept up as a stern-faced man wearing a hat bearing the character for "Wind" appeared in the field with a squad of elite ANBU, using the Body Flicker Technique.
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.
He did not look at the devastation around him, nor did he show any concern for his wounded subordinates.
All his attention was locked onto Kamizuki Yu and... the "thing" in his arms.
"Who are you?" Rasa's voice was as cold as ice. "What did you do to our village's weapon?"
Weapon.
The newly opened turquoise eyes of Gaara darkened again at that word.
His small body trembled uncontrollably in Kamizuki Yu's arms.
Kamizuki Yu did not answer Rasa's question.
He merely lowered his head and gave the child in his arms a soothing smile.
He adjusted his posture, letting Gaara rest more comfortably against him, before slowly raising his head to look at the lofty Kazekage.
"Weapon? Is that what you call your own son, Fourth Kazekage?"
Kamizuki Yu's tone was flat, without accusation or anger, as though he were merely stating an insignificant fact.
Yet those calm words