Naruto watched Gaara retreat in terror and slowly raised his right hand to form a hand seal.
"Yamanaka Secret Technique."
Whoosh...
A ripple of spiritual energy forcibly penetrated Gaara's mind.
Unlike Tsukuyomi, the Yamanaka Secret Technique was not a mental attack. At most, it could transmit messages or project images from the caster's memories.
So even though Gaara's mind had been invaded, he felt neither discomfort nor pain.
Still, the invasion of his mind clearly terrified him.
"Your consciousness... you can actually do that?"
Naruto looked at Gaara and said calmly, "I've suffered no less than you."
With that, Naruto willed the technique into action.
Immediately, Gaara clearly saw a scene in his mind: a blond-haired boy of six or seven being cursed and despised by the villagers.
"Look... it's that kid."
"I really don't understand why someone like him is still allowed to stay in the village. If only he'd die at home."
"The Demon Fox's Child. If it weren't for him, my little sister wouldn't have died so horribly seven years ago."
Surrounded by cold stares and curses, the blond-haired boy's eyes filled with fear and confusion. Clenching his fists, he demanded loudly, "Why? Why are you all treating me like this?!!"
He shouted at the crowd, wiped away his tears, and ran across the street.
Scenes of Naruto being targeted and cursed by the Konoha villagers throughout his childhood kept flashing through Gaara's mind.
Seven, eight, nine, ten... twelve.
The final image froze on the day before the final round of the Chunin Ninja Exams, when a shopkeeper looked at Naruto with disgust as he bought Sugar Balls by the roadside.
After witnessing everything Naruto had endured over the years, Gaara stared at him with wide eyes.
Before this, whenever Gaara looked at Naruto, his eyes had