Naruto: The Abstract Strategist of the Akatsuki

Chapter 527 Normal Konoha Friendship

Is Gaara a normal person?

"Of course!"

Naruto answered without hesitation.

Gaara is not only his friend, but also a Jinchūriki like himself, and even achieved his dream of becoming a Kage ahead of time.

Even if someone was a little abnormal before, they must be a normal person now.

"Oh, he's a normal person, and you're a normal person too, so you're the same kind of person, you could say that, right?"

Chang Ye appeared to know everything perfectly well.

"Um."

Naruto, unaware of the problem, nodded and continued to affirm.

Kakashi, who was standing nearby, had already realized what Tokiha was planning to do, but he didn't say anything to stop her or remind Naruto.

Naruto's lack of self-awareness is indeed one of his biggest weaknesses.

It's a good thing that Naruto has realized this.

"So if you find out he has a problem, it means you have a problem, right?"

Chang Ye immediately employed an equivalent substitution strategy.

Under normal circumstances, this is actually quite illogical.

But Naruto simply couldn't grasp the concept.

Upon hearing Chang Ye's words, Naruto inexplicably became excited and jumped up, slapping his thigh:

"Of course! I trust Gaara, just as he trusts me! Bring it on! Gaara will definitely meet your test head-on!"

Naruto didn't need Changye to guide him anymore; he jumped into the pit on his own.

[Naruto, that woman dared to look down on Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki. Shake hands with her, I'll say a few words to her.]

Just as Naruto was inexplicably fired up, the Nine-Tails' voice rang in his mind.

"Okay. But Kurama, don't scare her."

"Um, Kurama has something he wants to say to you. Let's shake hands."

Naruto had no doubt about his beloved friend and family member Kurama, believing that Kurama was also a man of true character.

However, the moment Naruto and Tokiha shook hands, Kurama transmitted a portion of its chakra along with a chunk of information to Tokiha.

Chang Ye heard the voice beside her, paused for a moment, looked up at Naruto, and then revealed a meaningful smile.

The Nine-Tails' method of bypassing Naruto's notice and perception relies on chakra to transmit information.

In the original story, the Nine-Tails used this technique to transfer its chakra to Kakashi while simultaneously providing him with information, allowing Kakashi to choose to be absorbed and attack Obito from within.

Now, Nine-Tails is using this method to convey the message of cooperation to Tokiha in advance.

One of the most crucial methods that Kurama (the Nine-Tails) and the Tailed Beasts originally discussed to counter the prophecy was to deplete the joystick's durability.

Once the joysticks have enough durability depleted, they won't be needed anymore.

Therefore, firstly, it is necessary to ensure that Naruto's Sage Mode continues to use the shortcut he created, and secondly, it is necessary to find more ways to deplete his energy so that Naruto, as the reincarnation of Ashura and the possessor of the Uzumaki clan bloodline, does not recover too quickly.

When they were discussing it, Kurama suggested that Gaara, the One-Tail Jinchuriki who already had abnormal feelings for Naruto, should also wear down Naruto's stamina.

This is the task assigned to Shukaku.

Shukaku kept making excuses and giving perfunctory replies to this task.

Although it is not itself that needs to be sacrificed, but only the Jinchūriki.

Although for Gaara, the Jinchūriki, this might not even be considered a sacrifice.

But it's a dignified crane hermit, doesn't it have any shame?

Moreover, this plan was proposed by Kurama, and everyone knows that Kurama and Kurama are the most at odds among the tailed beasts.

Why should it listen to the Nine-Tailed Fox?

Now, the Nine-Tails has finally found its opportunity.

In front of Naruto, they secretly allied with Tokiha, who had different goals but similar methods.

Kurama did not tell Tokiha, a complete stranger and female ninja, about the situation of the tailed beasts. He simply told her what he needed to do and gave her some kind guidance.

As for why she did this, the Tailed Beast doesn't need to explain; let her guess for herself.

This is consistent with the interaction between tailed beasts and normal ninjas.

Chang Ye didn't really feel that anything was wrong.

On the contrary, he felt that with the help of the tailed beasts this time, his success rate was even higher.

a few days later.

The three from Konoha and Tokiha arrived at Sunagakure.

The Kazekage, Gaara, knew in advance that Naruto was coming, so he personally went to the gate to welcome him, giving Naruto a lot of face.

Even when his brother Kankuro reminded Gaara that he was now the Kazekage while Naruto was still just a genin, Gaara did not waver in his decision.

He told Kankuro that Naruto was the future Hokage he recognized, and that he was equal to Naruto, who was also the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

They even brought Kankuro along to greet them.

Not only Kankuro, but also Temari.

The three siblings went into battle together, which was the highest level of support from Sunagakure, except for Granny Chiyo.

Granny Chiyo didn't come, not because she was afraid of being embarrassed to see her suitor Kakashi, but because she was still on vacation at the beach in the Land of Water and hadn't returned yet.

Temari didn't want to go.

If Bai Mo were to come, she might give him some face.

Why should she be the one to greet Naruto when he arrives?

But Gaara said that Naruto didn't come as himself, but to popularize Sage Mode.

Not only that, Gaara also transferred a portion of Shukaku's power to Naruto when he recently joined the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki Alliance at the invitation of Amegakure.

He is now able to contact any of the Tailed Beasts or Jinchuriki through Shukaku and Naruto, who serves as a relay station.

Upon hearing Gaara mention Bai Mo and Sage Mode, Temari recalled how, back in the Dragon Vein region, she had experienced a temporary "Sage Mode" with Bai Mo's help.

Temari had been thinking about this for a long time, but she really couldn't cultivate it on her own, and she was too embarrassed to go to Amegakure to ask Bai Mo.

Now, is the Konoha group here to promote the Sage Mode from back then?

Driven by these factors, Temari joined in the welcoming ceremony.

however……

"Gaara, it's been a long time!"

Naruto ignored Gaara's outstretched handshake and gave Gaara a big hug, even pinching Gaara's butt in a casual corner.

"Gaara, you've gotten so fat."

"..."

Such frivolous words and such shocking behavior were certainly not what Naruto wanted to do.

This is the first part of the "bet" that Changye made with him.

Before arriving at Sunagakure, Tokiha described this way of meeting and "reached a consensus" with Naruto that this way of meeting was just a normal meeting between friends, at most with a touch of playfulness.

Gaara would never have any strange thoughts about himself because of this behavior.

So Naruto did as he was told.

Temari was standing in a position where she could see Naruto pinching Gaara, which immediately shocked her.

Did Gaara have a deeper meaning in bringing Kankuro and Gaara together? Was it to officially announce his feelings for Naruto to the two of them?