"Gaara!"
Seeing Gaara challenge Sasuke, Kankuro instinctively tried to stop him. Although several years had passed since the chunin ninja exams, Kankuro still did not think Gaara could defeat Sasuke.
Gaara was now the Kazekage. If he were defeated in front of everyone, it would undoubtedly deal a tremendous blow to his prestige.
An aged hand stopped Kankuro from stepping forward to restrain Gaara.
"Have faith in the Kazekage."
Ebizo watched Gaara's retreating figure and silently sighed. Fortunately, the ninja from Konoha seemed willing to let Sunagakure save face.
"I have the advantage of terrain, but I doubt you'll mind."
Gaara did not fly far. He stopped somewhere the ninja of Sunagakure could all watch him fight.
"Come on."
Facing Gaara, Sasuke wasted no words either. He drew his Futsu-no-Mitama and readied himself.
Hearing Sasuke say that, Gaara immediately attacked.
The gourd on Gaara's back turned entirely into sand, which shot toward Sasuke at tremendous speed. At the same time, the sand on the ground surged around Sasuke under the control of Gaara's chakra.
At that moment, the entire desert was Gaara's weapon.
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
In response to Gaara's attack, Sasuke spewed a sea of fire toward the ground, its sheer force no less imposing than Gaara's sea of sand.
"Strange. With Sasuke's speed, he shouldn't need to waste chakra on Fire Release."
Although Majestic Destroyer Flame looked terrifying, an attack covering such a broad area was actually less effective against Gaara.
Seeing Sasuke waste chakra for no apparent reason, Uchiha Nobuo, who had accompanied him, could not help voicing his doubts.
"Keep your mouth shut and watch. If you have questions, ask Sasuke yourself when he gets back."
With Sasuke absent, Neji and Shikamaru were in charge of the group. Seeing Nobuo analyze the battle, Shikamaru