NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: "Summoning Gamabunta! Who Saved Gaara?"
[Ding!]
"Congratulations, Uzumaki Naruto, on answering correctly!"
"Reward: Tenfold increase in chakra!"
Naruto, still training with Jiraiya, suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of energy course through his body.
"What's this feeling?" he said, clenching his fists in amazement. His previously depleted chakra reserves had not only been restored but had multiplied several times over, spilling out like an uncontainable flood.
Even Jiraiya couldn't hide his surprise. "Your chakra has grown exponentially, Naruto. Don't waste this chance—perform the Summoning Jutsu now!"
Nodding eagerly, Naruto bit his thumb, quickly weaved hand signs, and slammed his hand onto the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Boom!
A massive cloud of white smoke erupted, revealing an enormous toad standing tall, at least 100 meters high.
The toad had a long pipe in its mouth, a scar over its right eye, and striking yellow pupils.
"Gamabunta!" Jiraiya exclaimed with a grin.
Naruto, now standing on Gamabunta's back, jumped in excitement. "I finally did it! I summoned a real toad!"
"Hey, kid! Who said you could yell on my back? Get off!" Gamabunta roared, glaring at the boy.
Naruto froze. "What? Aren't you my summoning toad?"
"Summoning toad? Kid, you must be joking," Gamabunta scoffed.
Jiraiya chuckled, leaping onto Gamabunta's back to explain the situation. After hearing Jiraiya's explanation, Gamabunta let out a frustrated sigh. "So, this brat summoned me by accident, huh?"
Naruto grinned sheepishly. "So, you're my toad, right?"
"Not a chance!" Gamabunta barked.
"Why not? I'm your summoner! Isn't that how this works?" Naruto pouted.
"Get off me!" Gamabunta growled, shaking his back.
"I won't! Not until you agree!" Naruto yelled stubbornly.
The two bickered endlessly, much to Jiraiya's amusement.
[Ding!]
"Second Question: Who is Gaara's savior?"
The veil's next question drew the attention of the ninja world.
"Gaara's savior? That dark, twisted kid from the Sand Village?"
"From what I've heard, his story is even worse than Naruto's. And his father, Rasa… what a monster!"
"He experimented on his own child? That man deserves the worst kind of punishment!"
Sand Ninja Quarters in the Leaf Village
Gaara's siblings, Kankurō and Temari, exchanged uneasy glances as they heard the question.
"My… savior?" Gaara muttered, his face blank. "I don't need a savior. I fight for myself, and myself alone."
Kankurō and Temari remained silent. They couldn't imagine anyone saving Gaara—not in his state of mind back then.
Gaara's voice grew colder. "I'm a demon. I live to destroy. Don't bother me with this nonsense about redemption."
With that, a swirl of sand enveloped him, forcing his siblings to back away.
Training Grounds
Sasuke watched the veil thoughtfully. He remembered Gaara from the Chūnin Exams—a cold, unfeeling presence that mirrored his own loneliness.
"Redemption, huh?" he murmured. "Who could save someone like him?"
But Sasuke's thoughts quickly shifted back to his own goals: vengeance against Itachi. He clenched his fists tightly. "The only thing I need is power."
Kakashi noticed Sasuke's growing anger and sighed quietly.
Back on Gamabunta's back, Naruto tilted his head, lost in thought.
"Gaara? That guy who defeated Bushy Brows?" Naruto frowned, recalling their earlier encounter. Gaara had been terrifying—a cold-blooded killer with eyes that seemed devoid of emotion.
Yet, Naruto couldn't shake the memory of Gaara's past, shown in the veil. They were alike in many ways, both Jinchūriki who had suffered at the hands of their villages.
"Someone saved him? But who?" Naruto muttered.
Ninja World Commentary
"Gaara's savior is definitely me!"
"Pfft, as if. It's obviously me!"
"Shut up! Everyone knows it's me, Background Ninja #3!"
[System Response:]
"Wrong answer. Penalty: Perform a public dance."
"What?! There's a penalty? What kind of dance is this?"
Moments later, those who answered incorrectly found themselves performing strange and embarrassing tasks against their will. Some danced awkwardly, others sang ridiculous songs, and a few resorted to outright absurdity.
"What's happening?!"
"Ahhh! I can't stop myself!"
"Is this some kind of cruel joke?"