Temari collapsed onto her knees, drained of all strength, as she watched Mirai rescue her from Gaara's grasp.
As Gaara's older sister, she understood his nature all too well.
If not for the man before her, Gaara would have killed her just now.
"W-Who are you?"
Hearing Temari's trembling question, Uchiha Mirai reached up and pulled down his mask.
"Uchiha Mirai."
"What?!" Temari froze in shock, her body stiff. After a long moment, she stammered, "U-U-Uchiha... Mirai?!"
Mirai replied indifferently, "That's right. I don't think there's anyone in this world who would dare impersonate me."
Hearing those words, Temari immediately bowed her head, her entire body shaking uncontrollably.
She knew many things about Uchiha Mirai. She understood just how terrifying he was.
Her father had opposed him many times—and had even been killed by him once.
It was only thanks to Elder Chiyo sacrificing her own life that her father had been revived.
Now, standing before her was the supreme Emperor of the Divine Nation, while she was nothing more than an orphan at the lowest rungs of Sunagakure.
A single word from him could doom her and her brothers to an inescapable fate.
Seeing the fear on Temari's face, Mirai sighed and reassured her,
"You don't need to be so afraid. I mean you no harm."
Hearing his words, Temari finally raised her head. "Yes, Lord Mirai."
After calming Temari, Mirai turned his gaze toward Gaara.
Activating his ocular power, he began drawing the chakra of Shukaku into his own body.
The process lasted only a moment before the One-Tail was completely sealed within Uchiha Mirai.
Gaara, having lost his Tailed Beast, was left without any signs of life.
Seeing this, Temari's eyes filled with despairing tears.
So it happened after all.
Everything Mirai had just said—was a lie!
Noticing the shift in her expression, Mirai explained, "Your father was revived after his death, wasn't he? Gaara can be brought back just the same."
"Surely you don't think I can't do something even Elder Chiyo was capable of?"
Temari froze.
That... made sense.
If Elder Chiyo could do it, there was no reason Lord Mirai couldn't.
And besides—
With his status and power, if he truly wanted to kill Gaara, there was no need for deception.
Temari was sharp; it only took her a moment to grasp the crucial point.
Hope reignited in her heart.
Mirai activated "Takamagahara," reversing Gaara's body to the state it was in before the Tailed Beast was extracted. Life returned to him.
As Gaara regained consciousness, Uchiha Mirai took the opportunity to ask, "It seems like things haven't been going well for you all?"
Temari hesitated, then nodded slightly. "Yes."
"After our father became Kazekage, he advocated war against Konoha, which cost the village dearly."
"Later, in order to secure his position, he even conspired with Kirigakure to betray the village's hero..."
"So after his death, the villagers saw us as nothing more than a stain on Sunagakure."
"If not for Lady Pakura's order forbidding anyone from harming us, we would have been dead long ago."
Mirai nodded in understanding.
Considering how badly Rasa had betrayed Pakura, the fact that she had spared his children was already more mercy than he deserved.
Just then, Gaara slowly opened his eyes.
"The... the monster inside me—is it gone?"
Gaara looked at Uchiha Mirai, his voice urgent.
Mirai nodded. "That's right. You no longer have to suffer because of Shukaku."
"Now, you can finally get a peaceful night's sleep, Gaara."
Hearing those words, Gaara's face lit up with excitement.
Then, without hesitation, he picked up a stray senbon from the ground and thrust it toward his own chest.
Boom!
A layer of sand surged up, blocking the attack and shielding him completely.
Gaara froze, then his expression twisted into fury. "What is this?! Why is this damned sand still here?!"
He turned a cold glare toward Mirai.
"You said the monster was gone!"
"You lied to me!!!"
Gaara's outburst made Temari's heart skip a beat. She hurriedly reprimanded him,
"Gaara! Show some respect when speaking to Lord Mirai!"
This reckless idiot—
Did he have any idea how terrifying the man before them was?!
Uchiha Mirai placed a reassuring hand on Temari's shoulder, signaling her not to worry.
Gaara's mental state was clearly unstable. There was no need to be angry over this.
He turned back to Gaara and said calmly, "I didn't lie to you. The monster inside you is indeed sealed within me now."
Gaara pointed at the sand and demanded, "Then what is this?"
"Why is it still here?!"
Uchiha Mirai replied indifferently, "Because this sand was never the power of your Tailed Beast."
Both Gaara and Temari froze at his words.
What did he mean?
Gaara struggled to his feet, his gaze locked onto Mirai.
"That's impossible. If this isn't Shukaku's power, then why does the sand protect me?"
Mirai countered with a question of his own. "Exactly. If this was the Tailed Beast's power, why would it protect you?"
Gaara was taken aback.
Seeing his reaction, Uchiha Mirai continued, "You know the kind of hatred your Tailed Beast harbored toward you. It wanted nothing more than for you to die."
"So why would it use its own power to shield you from harm?"
Gaara suddenly felt lost.
He had never thought about it before.
All he had known was that Shukaku controlled sand, so he naturally assumed the sand that protected him was part of its power.
But now—
Hearing Mirai's words, doubt began creeping into his mind.
Just as he said, Shukaku had always tormented him, wishing for his death.
So why would it protect him?
Not only Gaara, but even Temari was confused.
She turned to Mirai and asked hesitantly, "Lord Mirai, do you know what's going on with this sand?"
"Why does it protect Gaara?"
Mirai looked at Temari for a moment before shifting his gaze to Gaara.
Then, he spoke, emphasizing every word:
"Because this sand's power comes from your mother."
"Gaara, you've always been surrounded by love."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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