Naruto : Gamer System-Chapter 50 : Gaara of the Sand

Although Haruto Itsuki had all kinds of doubts, he didn't have time to think. Sasuke hadn't received Kakashi's special training yet—he wouldn't be a match for Gaara. If he wasn't careful, he'd be crushed.

As Gaara's sand surged toward Haku, Sasuke used Body Flicker Jutsu to pull him away at the last second. It looked cool and heroic, though Sasuke's arm was scratched and bloodied in the process. Haku stared blankly at Sasuke, who had descended like a hero from the sky.

Haruto silently gave Sasuke a thumbs-up in his heart. Perfect timing, classic "save the beauty" moment. Although... he still couldn't be sure whether Haku was male or female. Sasuke, why didn't you use a weapon or ninjutsu? Or... did you do this on purpose?

Sasuke wasn't thinking that deeply. After saving Haku, he breathed a sigh of relief and said in a tone even Haruto and Naruto had never heard from him:

"Haku, are you okay?"

Seeing the blood on Sasuke's arm, Haku hesitated, then softly replied:

"I'm fine... I'm sorry you got hurt."

Haku didn't say the rest: My teammate is hiding in my shadow. That sand wouldn't have hit me. But of course, he couldn't say that. All he could do was keep thanking Sasuke.

Sasuke smiled, unable to hide it. After a few seconds, he realized he was still holding Haku. Flushing red, he quickly let go and waved his hand, pretending to be cool:

"It's just a scratch, no big deal!"

He moved his arm dramatically to show he was fine—but it only made the bleeding worse.

His efforts may have been pointless, but Haku was genuinely moved. From this angle, Sasuke wasn't wrong. freēwēbnovel.com

When Haruto and the others ran up to assist, Haku quickly stopped Sasuke from moving and began treating his wounds.

"You're only making it worse moving like that," Haku scolded gently as he gathered chakra to his hands and healed Sasuke's arm.

Sasuke froze completely. He watched Haku work with quiet focus, captivated by the calm tenderness in Haku's expression. This feeling... it was so familiar.

Suddenly, a gentle voice echoed in his mind:

"Sasuke, don't move around so much. How many times has Mom told you? Don't overdo it with your training. If you keep this up, I'm going to ignore you."

Mikoto held the small, stubborn Sasuke still and gently applied medicine to his scraped knees.

"But I want to be strong like Father and Brother!" Little Sasuke's face was full of determination.

Mikoto sighed, helpless and doting:

"You really are impossible... Fine, I'll teach you a secret technique to become stronger faster."

"Really?! What is it?"

Mikoto kissed his forehead and smiled:

"It's this. Just now, I used a special jutsu that helps your injuries heal faster in the future."

"Wha—there's no such jutsu! Mom, you're lying!"

"Mom..." Sasuke's smile faded. His eyes grew distant, filled with quiet sorrow. Behind them were wounds even Haruto couldn't heal.

Haku didn't know what memory was playing out in Sasuke's mind, but he could feel it—the weight in Sasuke's silence. That pain... it felt familiar.

Unbidden, Haku remembered his own childhood. The night his father killed his mother... and then tried to kill him.

His eyes quietly misted over, and he whispered under his breath:

"...Mom."

Meanwhile, Gaara stood across from them, his eyes crazed and bloodshot, overflowing with killing intent.

"Heh... More people? Good. I'll kill you all! Then maybe I'll finally feel alive! HAHAHA!"

Haruto frowned. If Gaara kept this up, he'd lose control and fully transform. This had to end now.

"Everyone fall back," Haruto said, drawing Murasame and stepping forward alone.

Naruto blinked. "Boss, you're going alone?"

"Numbers won't help against him. The technique I'm about to use... I can't afford distractions."

Naruto nodded. "Got it."

Karin crossed her arms. "Don't look down on me. You might not be stronger than I am."

Haruto gave her a flat look. "Then go ahead."

Karin instantly went quiet.

Gaara sneered, unhappy at seeing only one opponent.

"Just one? Come closer then. I'll kill you fast and move on to the rest."

Haruto looked at Gaara and sighed. This Gaara was still broken. Talking wouldn't help—only Naruto could reach him. Only someone who knew the same pain could begin to heal a wound like Gaara's.

He looked at Gaara not with fear or hatred, but with pity. He understood him. Loneliness worse than Naruto's, a childhood drenched in hate and betrayal... How did he survive that?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Gaara snarled.

"...I pity you," Haruto said softly. "I can see how lonely you are."

"SHUT UP!" Gaara roared. "You don't know me! I HATE that look! I'LL KILL YOU!"

He'd noticed Haruto since before the Chunin Exams began. When everyone surrounded Haruto, laughing and supporting him, Gaara felt a rage like fire. Why is he loved? Why am I hated?

That jealousy had fermented into a single, simple goal: Kill Haruto Itsuki.

Haruto sighed. Yeah, words won't work. Let's finish this fast, before he goes full-tailed beast.

He activated the Curse Seal, dark lines crawling across his body, and opened the Third Gate of the Eight Gates. Now, even stronger than Lee's Fourth Gate, Haruto surpassed Gaara by far—especially with sealing jutsu and sword skills.

"Sand Waterfall Funeral!" Gaara screamed, and giant sand hands surged at Haruto.

Haruto vanished—and reappeared behind Gaara, moving too fast to see. He kicked Gaara hard, slamming him into the ground.

He didn't follow up. He saw the sand armor—pure force wouldn't work. Murasame could cut him, but that wasn't the goal.

In a flash, he slapped four sealing scrolls onto Gaara's limbs. Gaara was bound before he could even react.

He still tried to cover himself in sand, but Haruto wasn't fazed. Gaara's current strength? Barely Jōnin. Haruto was a terrible matchup for him—this was like a berserker taking out a mage before they could cast anything.

Haruto stood over him, sighing. Now what do I do with him? I need an excuse if I want to let him go...

He used a few flashy water Release and Lightning Release techniques to disperse the sand armor, then stood over Gaara with Murasame pointed at his face.

Gaara didn't flinch. He didn't even look afraid—only relieved.

Suddenly, Naruto stepped between Haruto and Gaara.

"Naruto?!"

Even Gaara looked surprised.

Naruto shook his head. "I... I don't know. But when I look at him... I don't want him to die. It just hurts, in here."

Haruto stared.

So this is... resonance among the same kind.