After pulling Gaara out of the Sand Wall, Zou Hyuga asked him what had happened. He still remained skeptical of Pakura's words.
By then, Gaara had also recognized Zou Hyuga as the Konoha ninja who had saved him not long ago.
Trusting his rescuer, Gaara gave him a full account of what had happened, though he was still somewhat flustered.
After listening, Zou Hyuga furrowed his brows and considered the matter for a moment before reaching a conclusion.
Sunagakure's hero, Pakura, was most likely dead. What he had not expected was that she had died protecting her rival's son.
On reflection, it made sense. In the original timeline, Pakura had apparently died while carrying out a mission for Sunagakure.
She had practically died at the hands of her own people, and she had still been bitter about it when brought back through Impure World Reincarnation.
Shaking his head to clear away those stray thoughts, Zou Hyuga looked at Gaara again. He wondered whether this experience would change something in the boy's heart.
For now, though, his priority was to make proper arrangements for Gaara. He still needed to pursue Shukaku.
After a brief moment of thought, Zou Hyuga cut his finger and summoned Bell Cat, asking the cat to stay here and guard Gaara.
Though Bell Cat looked thoroughly reluctant, the cat accepted the task and sprawled lazily on the sand. These days, Oto was no longer the only one working closely with the Ninja Cat Clan; Zou was as well.
After some threats and persuasion, Zou Hyuga turned to Gaara and said, "Stay here and don't wander off. Someone will come to take you back to Sunagakure."
"What are you going to do?" Gaara hesitated, then asked, "You're not going to end up like Aunt Pakura, are you?"
"..."