Growing Stronger, the Ancient City of Rōran

"Join us, or die?"

Gaara looked up at Naruto with a frown and fell into thought.

Strictly speaking, he and Naruto were still enemies. Still consumed by darkness, Gaara had never considered Naruto a comrade.

But after being captured by the Akatsuki, he felt as though he understood a little more about the world.

About power, about how the villagers treated him, and about comrades.

"I'll join you!" Gaara's brow eased, though his voice remained cold as he spoke to Naruto. "But don't think you can control everything I do. If you try, I'll kill you!"

Naruto raised an eyebrow and smiled, holding out his hand. "I won't control everything you do. But if you want to kill me, you're welcome to try!"

"Hmph!" Gaara snorted. He took Naruto's right hand and pulled himself to his feet.

So Gaara was willing to join his organization. Naruto grinned. That's another Kage-level fighter on our side!

"All right, that's it for this operation. On to our next destination: the Land of Wind!" Naruto told everyone cheerfully.

At the mention of the Land of Wind, he glanced at Gaara. Seeing no reaction, he added, "We're going to the Ancient City of Rōran in the Valley of the Wind!"

The small island where Naruto and the others were staying lay in the sea south of the Land of Wind.

There were no other countries or large islands nearby. The island looked desolate amid the open water, but that also made it harder to find.

Naruto had discovered it only by sending Shadow Clones flying across the world to search.

Now he wielded the power of wind to carry the other five high through the sky, heading straight for the Ancient City of Rōran, deep in the Land of Wind's desert.

Meanwhile, the entire