Naruto: Naruto's Uchiha girlfriend is too arrogant

Chapter 278 The Value of Survival

"!"

His vision finally refocused, and the blinding sunlight made him squint instinctively. Before him stretched a vast expanse of azure sky. Gaara's consciousness, after Shukaku's seal was completely reinforced and he fell into a "dormant" state, finally returned to reality.

A warm, meticulously repairing sensation spread throughout his body, and the vast yet exceptionally gentle chakra was soothing the wounds and fatigue left from his previous battle.

"It's all over now." That familiar voice rang out from the side. "Are you still in pain? I'm sorry, I was a little too rough when I was trying to subdue Shukaku. But I can't let you hurt my comrades."

It was him… this person who shared a similar past with me, yet took a completely different path…

After using the power of the Nine-Tails to completely heal Gaara's shocking wounds, Naruto was still shrouded in a dazzling golden chakra cloak and had not yet ended his battle state.

His gaze occasionally swept towards the direction of Konoha Village—clearly, his shadow clones were still engaged in fierce battle with the invaders inside the village.

"That 'monster' inside you..." Naruto paused, carefully choosing his words, "I'll still call it the 'Tailed Beast'."

"I have reinforced the seal on Shukaku. From now on... it will no longer come out to harm you, nor will it whisper in your ear and disturb your sleep..."

Why?

Suddenly, Gaara's hoarse voice interrupted Naruto's words.

Naruto stopped narrating, and Gaara turned his head. Naruto met Gaara's eyes, which were filled with confusion, disorientation, and a hint of barely perceptible struggle.

Under Gaara's persistent gaze, Naruto didn't urge him, but simply waited quietly.

"Why...why did you do this to me? I really wanted to kill you just now. In fact, if you hadn't stopped me, I would have destroyed your village and killed your comrades without hesitation...Why...why are you being so kind to me?!"

Despite having glimpsed Naruto's dark and lonely childhood deep in his consciousness and witnessed how he gradually emerged from rejection, Gaara still couldn't understand.

They had such similar starting points, both were seen as monsters, feared, and isolated... Even if Naruto was lucky enough to meet someone who pulled him out of the darkness, it didn't mean he had an obligation to help someone else trapped in darkness who was trying to drag him into the abyss.

This doesn't make sense. It goes against the rules of this cold world as he perceives them.

"...Because I know that you're not a bad person at heart." Naruto's voice carried an undeniable certainty. "You've just been hurt by some guys and instilled with the wrong ideas, which is why you've closed yourself off...Besides, from the first time I saw you, I felt that we were very similar."

"Yes, I saw it."

Gaara responded softly, his gaze somewhat unfocused, "Those are your memories, aren't they? Your past... it really is like mine. They called us monsters... we were hated and rejected by almost everyone... Are we... the same kind?"

Hearing Gaara say this, Naruto was slightly taken aback. His consciousness had indeed reached Gaara's inner world just now. Could it be that his own chakra had entered Gaara's body, allowing him to see his own past in reverse?

...It seems he missed the most crucial part...and Menma is a shadow clone, so his perspective is independent, right? Naruto quickly analyzed the situation in his mind, observing Gaara's confused expression.

"You're right, we're the same kind," Naruto affirmed. "But the 'kind' I see isn't the 'monster' filled with hatred that you imagine."

"I did this to you not because you, like me, are called monsters, but because I saw in you the shadow of my past self—a lonely, helpless person struggling in the darkness. I couldn't bear to see that 'self'... die."

"Just because of... such a ridiculous reason?"

Gaara's voice trembled slightly. To put it simply, wasn't this just "I just wanted to do that"? What kind of reason was that?

"But!" he said, his voice rising with emotion. "Those who are kind to you... there are only a few, aren't there? Why do you risk your life to protect this village? To protect those who once called us monsters! Don't you... really hate them at all?"

"I hated it."

Naruto gave an answer without any hesitation. This was not a lie. How could he not have felt hatred during those days and nights of isolation, under those malicious gazes? He even thought that if those days continued, he would have to leave Konoha one day.

"However, hatred is a double-edged sword. While it tries to hurt others, it first devours you, leaving your heart riddled with holes. I'm so glad I found something more precious than hatred."

It's about "understanding".

"I've slowly come to understand why people are afraid, and I've also come to understand... that some people are truly saddened by my existence, and others are angry because I'm hurt."

"Satsuki, Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, the Third Hokage, Ichiraku-san, Sakura, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba... They made me understand that the meaning of my existence is to form a connection called 'bond' with these people who cherish me and whom I also need to cherish."

Understanding…bonds…cherishing…

These words were so foreign to Gaara, yet they possessed an inexplicable allure. This was a completely different path taken by someone who was "of the same kind" from the same starting line, a realization that almost overturned his long-held belief in the way of survival.

"if!"

Gaara's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible panic, "If we don't fight only for ourselves like I do... then what are we fighting for?"

"What value does my existence still hold?" This was his deepest fear and confusion.

"No matter who you are, your value has never been proven by 'killing others'," Naruto said firmly.

"The meaning of existence... is something that one finds and defines oneself. But killing others is the most wrong and tragic answer."

His tone was earnest, "Please, don't continue to punish yourself and hurt yourself because your father hurt you!"

He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed intently on Gaara. "That's right, you ask me why I did these things to you? The answer is simple—simply because I wanted to! That's all!"

"And if you can't find the meaning of your existence for the time being, and feel lost..." Naruto took a step forward and stretched out his hand.

"Then I will be the first to 'protect' you. This is not charity, nor is it pity; this is... the beginning of a 'bond'."

"...Is it really okay?" After a long silence, Gaara finally found his voice. To his own surprise, his voice carried a hint of barely suppressed emotion.

"Yes." Naruto gave a warm and resolute smile. "I will protect you. Because I am strong, and even more so because... this is the path I have chosen."

His last words were etched into Gaara's heart like a vow.

"True strength is not about making the whole world fear your existence, but about finally becoming a safe haven for someone."