"I'm really not good with words," Ino sighed, looking at Gaara, who was curled up in the corner, appearing no older than seven or eight.
The boy kept his head lowered, showing no reaction to the outsider who had entered his inner world. He hugged his knees, his face buried deeply, appearing utterly numb.
"I don't know much about Kankuro, but your sister loves you. She's actually very scared and timid, yet she mustered the courage to protect you with her inexperienced hands."
Gaara remained silent.
Suddenly, Ino thought of something and said, "Your father is dead. Did you know that?"
Gaara had not an ounce of affection for that father of his who dug sand and scavenged garbage, yet Ino still detected a faint ripple of emotion in his inner world.
It was the same common flaw of all Jinchuriki—their hearts were full of love, yet because of the Tailed Beast, they were met with hostility from everyone. They suffered, yearning for recognition, especially from their family.
Naruto was like this. Kaede was like this. And Gaara seemed no different.
In the inner world, Ino grabbed the utterly despondent Gaara by the collar, lifting him with one hand—the exact same posture she had used during the tournament.
"I asked you a question. Your father is dead. Did you know?"
Gaara glared at her. Wasn't that obvious? He had known all along!
Reading fragments of his memories, Ino realized it was true. This troubled young man had noticed something amiss when Orochimaru had undone his Five Elements Seal earlier.
"Since you already know the truth, then this makes things easier. Stand up like a man. Don't make your sister or your somewhat reckless brother worry. Fight with us. Hunt down Orochimaru. Avenge your father!"
In this world, there was no talk of laws or justice—only vengeance. You kill my father, I kill you. Someone like Uchiha Itachi was a rare exception; most people's way of thinking wasn't that extreme.
Gaara fell squarely within that majority.
Ino's words aligned with the world's values and human nature.
"You're willing to help me? Why?" Once Gaara shed the hostility in his heart, he displayed a calmness and wisdom beyond his years. He cut straight to the point.
Ino answered frankly, "That's right. Helping you is also helping ourselves."
She released her grip. In the inner world, Gaara clutched his head as his body rapidly grew from that of a seven- or eight-year-old to a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old—now slightly shorter than Ino, no longer the childlike figure from before.
Stepping out of the cage he had built for himself, he stood up and glanced back, as if looking at his past. After a moment of thought, he finally extended his hand. Their hands clasped together.
"Fine. Let's work together."
Ino withdrew from Gaara's inner world and gave Shikaku a slight nod. On his end, he released the Shadow Imitation Technique, freeing Temari and Kankuro as well.
Gaara knelt on one knee, gasping for breath as the Tailed Beast's traits rapidly faded.
Ino tossed a bottle of antidote to Temari. "Take it orally. The poison will be neutralized soon. Any remaining traces will be purged naturally by his constitution."
Inoichi gave her a meaningful glance, and she nodded slightly in response.
Inoichi then exchanged looks with Shikaku, followed by Choza.
The three clans had made up their minds—they would "assist" Gaara in quelling the current unrest.
In the original timeline, Shikamaru had managed to marry Temari not just because they were well-matched, but also because the Nara Family had secretly laid groundwork in Sunagakure.
How many years had the ninja villages existed? Only sixty. The history of the ninja clans, however, stretched far longer.
The Hyuga Clan and the Kaguya Clan had always been allies, and that had nothing to do with the village.
The Ino-Shika-Cho Formation also had their own external influence. With Konoha now in turmoil, making early moves in Sunagakure was simply the survival strategy of ninja clans.
Gaara was not only a Jinchuriki but also the son of the former Kazekage, with exceptional ninja techniques. If he raised the call, he could rally a significant number of supporters.
The three clans, united, were more than qualified to form an alliance with him.
If he wanted to inherit the position of Kazekage, he would need some external backing—just as the Ino-Shika-Cho Formation did.
If things truly reached a point of no return, the three clans could leave Konoha for Sunagakure and still remain as prestigious ninja clans. Shikaku would continue as their strategist, the Yamanaka Clan would still control intelligence—aside from some damage to their family assets, they wouldn't suffer much else.
Going to Sunagakure was their last resort. The place was too poor, and for now, they still wanted to keep Konoha afloat.
The Ino-Shika-Cho Formation had intercepted the bond between Naruto and Gaara, but Ino saw no issue with that. With Naruto's negative political acumen, what help could he possibly offer Gaara? Being a ninja wasn't just about fighting—it was also about navigating human relationships!
Temari and Kankuro were skeptical, but Gaara firmly pointed out that the previous Fourth Kazekage had been an imposter—Orochimaru in disguise. The entire Sand Hidden Village had been deceived.
The three siblings still held considerable influence. Some Sunagakure ninja, seeing them standing alongside Konoha ninja, hesitated after hearing their explanation and refrained from further attacks.
Soon, Gaara had gathered nearly a hundred Sunagakure ninja.
Meanwhile, the Konoha ninja were also discussing their next steps.
"Lord Shikaku, what should we do?" Shiranui Genma couldn't hide his frustration.
Originally, he had served under the Third Hokage. Later, seeing the Fourth's youth and lack of subordinates, he had swiftly switched allegiance—only for the Fourth to die shortly after taking power. Forced to return to the Third's side, he had painstakingly regained trust, only to be caught up in this disastrous Chunin Exams. And now, what? The Third was finished? Damn it, what had he even been doing all these years?
Outnumbered and outmatched, he had no choice but to align himself with the Ino-Shika-Cho Formation. After all, Shikaku was the Jonin Commander and a high-ranking strategist in the village. For a washed-up Special Jonin like him, following the strategist's orders wasn't shameful.
"Gather the Konoha ninja and assist Sunagakure's forces. We begin our counterattack." Shikaku set the tone for the operation. The Ino-Shika-Cho Formation slowly began regrouping scattered ninja, advancing toward the Chunin Exams venue at the leisurely pace of elderly folks taking an after-dinner stroll.
The Ino-Shika-Cho Formation team contacted the Hyuga Clan, the Inuzuka Clan, the Aburame Clan, and the Sarutobi Clan of the Third Hokage. Numerous ninja clans joined forces, and a large number of ninjas, as if they had just learned of the enemy invasion, rushed to the battlefield under the leadership of their families. The previously deadlocked situation began to reverse.
Ino, dissatisfied with the slow speed of the main force, said to Inoichi, "I heard the Second Hokage is over there. I want to go see him."
"Don't enter the battlefield, and be careful," Inoichi replied. He knew she had learned many of the Second Hokage's ninja techniques. Now that Orochimaru had summoned the Second Hokage through Edo Tensei, watching her idol pummel the Third Hokage would probably broaden her horizons?