Kiba Inuzuka spent his days hanging around his family's ninja dogs, sometimes even eating and sleeping alongside them. As a result, he possessed a stronger, almost beastlike instinct than most.
And the One-Tail inside Gaara could be considered a creature at the very pinnacle of the beast world. Facing him, Kiba Inuzuka could not stop trembling inside, as though the person before him were an unimaginably vicious monster.
Gaara said nothing in response to Kiba Inuzuka's excuses. He simply continued to watch them expressionlessly, though a restless eagerness began stirring in his eyes.
Just then, Hinata gritted her teeth. A flash of resolve crossed her eyes as she stepped out from behind Kiba Inuzuka and stood in front of her teammates.
Beside Gaara, Kankuro looked over the people before him, his gaze lingering on Hinata's pure white eyes. With a hesitant expression, he said:
"Gaara, forget it. They're just small fry."
At Kankuro's words, much of the eagerness in Gaara's eyes slowly faded. But just as he was about to leave, his brows suddenly knotted tightly, and he pressed a hand to his forehead.
"Heh, heh, heh..."
Temari was all too familiar with this reaction. Knowing that the monster inside him was acting up, she called out anxiously:
"Gaara, are you all right?"
But neither Temari nor Kankuro could rein Gaara in now. He ignored their words outright, the bloodlust in his eyes growing stronger as he stared at the people ahead with a gleaming gaze.
Seeing this, Hinata unleashed her chakra, its fluctuations making her long hair rise and fall gently.
"Kiba, Shino, go on ahead. You both know how strong I am. I'll hold him off and come find you afterward."
Yet neither Kiba Inuzuka nor Shino Aburame showed any intention of fleeing after hearing her words. Kiba