Konoha Crush Plan 14

Gaara's firm reply stunned Sasuke and Sakura. It left Temari and Kankuro, standing beside him, utterly speechless.

Their mouths fell open, as though they were seeing their younger brother for the first time.

Temari rubbed her eyes in disbelief. Never had she seen such a peaceful expression on Gaara's face, one that even held a trace of warmth.

The violence and coldness that had always shadowed his brow had mostly vanished!

Temari suppressed the turmoil in her heart and stepped forward. "Gaara," she murmured into his ear, worry in her voice, "but Lord Kazekage's orders..."

Gaara turned his head slightly. His gaze remained calm, but his resolve brooked no argument. "I'll explain it to Father. Let's go."

His voice was quiet, yet neither Temari nor Kankuro could argue.

Sakura had no idea what was happening, but as the tension eased and the prospect of a dangerous fight faded, she let out a silent sigh of relief. "Thank goodness."

Just as everyone lowered their guard at this sudden reconciliation—

"Naruto! Look out!"

Gaara's pupils contracted, and he shouted a frantic warning!

Naruto instinctively turned his head.

Behind him, ripples spread through the empty air like water. A figure wearing a spiral-patterned One-Eyed Mask and the Akatsuki Organization's Black Robe with Red Clouds appeared without warning!

The figure held a short blade that gleamed coldly. Its edge carried a chilling intent to kill as it swept toward Naruto's neck with speed the eye could barely follow!

"Got you," the Masked Man said in a low, flat voice, as though stating a foregone conclusion.

"Naruto!" Gaara tried to send his sand to the rescue, but he was too far away. The attack had come too suddenly. There was no time!

Sasuke's Sharingan spun furiously. In his crimson eyes, the path of the deadly