Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

"Shukaku's target is Naruto!"

Temari continued chasing after Gaara, who had transformed into Shukaku. Along the way, she encountered multiple of Naruto's shadow clones. Every time she came across one, she saw them taking down Cloud Ninjas with precision.

But shortly after, Shukaku would find and obliterate each shadow clone.

At first, Temari assumed Shukaku was simply attacking randomly. They were just shadow clones—there didn't seem to be a reason to read into it.

But as it kept happening, a pattern became clear. Shukaku wasn't striking indiscriminately—he was targeting Naruto's clones specifically. He was trying to find and kill Naruto himself.

Temari's brow furrowed deeply. She looked up at Gaara, still asleep atop Shukaku's head, and whispered in her heart, "I'm sorry, Gaara."

"I can't let Shukaku find your brother-in-law. Forgive me."

Temari raised one hand without hesitation and activated a micro detonating tag attached to Gaara's back. In a burst of sparks, it blew apart his clothing and cracked through the sand armor that shielded his body. The sharp pain jolted Gaara awake, forcing him to regain control over Shukaku.

"Damn it!"

"I was finally free…"

Before Shukaku could finish speaking, the light in its eyes faded. The massive body fell still—Gaara was back in control.

"Perfect… the tag's strength was just right," Temari sighed with relief, preparing to retrieve her brother.

But then, something unexpected happened. Gaara didn't stop the transformation—he continued moving in one direction, as if on a mission.

Was Shukaku released by Gaara willingly?

A chill ran down Temari's spine. She suddenly remembered—Gaara had once harbored intense hostility toward Naruto.

She'd lived so peacefully with Naruto for so long now, she hadn't communicated much with her brother. She had forgotten Gaara used to want to fight him.

Temari opened her signature three-star fan and, mid-air, swung it hard behind her. The force of the wind launched her forward.

"I have to stop Gaara. Fast."

This wasn't just about concern for Naruto's safety.

Temari knew better than anyone how dangerous Naruto could be when provoked. If Gaara pushed him too far, Naruto might kill him.

Up ahead, she spotted Naruto—and Sarutobi Hazuki was beside him. It looked like this was the real Naruto, not a clone.

"Uzumaki Naruto! I finally found you!" Gaara roared, his voice crazed with excitement.

Ever since the Chunin Exams, Gaara had wanted to challenge Naruto again. First Sasuke got in the way. Then his plans fell apart, and he was arrested.

After enduring torture in Konoha, he was finally free. And now, standing before him, was Naruto Uzumaki.

This was it—the chance for the decisive battle he'd dreamed of.

Shukaku's giant body blocked out the moonlight. Hazuki blinked, startled by the enormous silhouette. She turned serious.

"Shukaku's out of control?"

"Maybe," Naruto replied, looking up. He didn't seem particularly worried, just annoyed that Gaara was interfering at such a terrible time.

He glanced at Temari behind Shukaku.

So much for using this opportunity with Hazuki…

What a waste.

"Uzumaki Naruto! I'll kill you!" Gaara shrieked, sending Shukaku's massive arm crashing down toward Naruto and Hazuki.

"We need to stop him!" Hazuki quickly formed a water sword with hand seals.

Naruto nodded, calm and unfazed.

Still… if I can't enjoy some alone time with Hazuki, I might as well enjoy the battle.

He silently activated a system within his mind.

[New Event Triggered!]

[Gaara has released Shukaku to attack you, interfering with your plans to seduce Hazuki. You're furious and vow to punish him.]

Choose Your Response:

Stay Friendly: "Forget it, he's my brother-in-law after all."

Reward: 10% Gaara corruption value

Handle It Rationally: "Time to teach my brother-in-law a lesson."

Reward: 10% control over One-Tail Shukaku

Act Recklessly: "Beat Gaara and Temari both right here and now."

Reward: 100% control over Temari

Be Ruthless: "Kill Gaara."

Reward: Torture Temari for 30 days

Tch. As twisted as ever.

Naruto immediately dismissed choices 1 and 3. He had zero interest in men. And choice 4? Too cruel. Temari was obedient enough already.

Choice 2 was best.

Let's see what 10% of One-Tail's power looks like.

Naruto waited for the giant arm to fall.

"Hold on," Hazuki said. "I'll circle left, you take the right."

"Got it." Naruto infused chakra into his legs and moved.

Together, they avoided the arm and charged up its length toward Gaara.

Gaara, still controlling Shukaku, panicked.

"Damn it! Stop!" He clapped his hands, turning the ground into quicksand.

Hazuki's feet were snagged. Though she could escape with ninjutsu, her speed dropped.

Gaara smirked and continued shaping sand to trap them.

Temari arrived just in time to see Gaara begin his assault. Her hands clenched tightly around her fan.

"Gaara, stop!" she shouted.

But Gaara ignored her.

"Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere!" Hazuki blew away the sand, turning to Naruto. "Move!"

"You're not getting away!" Gaara howled, unleashing a torrent of gravel.

Naruto stood calm in the storm of sand, hair whipping in the wind.

But help had arrived.

From the border came Sunagakure's reinforcements—led by none other than the legendary Granny Chiyo.

She had long since retired from politics, but with no Kazekage and the village in crisis, the elders had begged her to return and negotiate peace with Konoha.

Chiyo, seeing the scene before her, was stunned.

It's not Konoha attacking us—it's us attacking them again.

Her eyes narrowed. "Stop this immediately!" she barked.

Gaara didn't even blink.

Chiyo's expression darkened. If we kill Konoha ninjas now, there'll be no way to make peace.

Suddenly, red chakra exploded around Naruto. He shattered the sand, soared into the sky, and landed a brutal punch on Gaara's forehead.

Boom!

Gaara's vision blurred. Before he could recover, Naruto slammed a second punch into his gut.

Then a Rising Dragon Fist knocked him into the air.

Shukaku's body dissolved into sand.

As Gaara plummeted, Naruto continued his assault—fist after fist, shouting:

"Stupid brother-in-law! You dare hit your brother-in-law?!"

"You ignored your sister!"

"You brought this on yourself!"

By the time the others caught up, Gaara was unrecognizable—swollen, bruised, nose bloodied.

Even his own mother wouldn't have recognized him.

Chiyo stood speechless.

"That's… the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki? He looks the same age as Gaara. How is there such a difference?"

Ye Yue grinned proudly. "Naruto's Konoha's strongest next-gen ninja. Skipped Chunin. Went straight to Jonin. Most of the Hidden Cloud casualties were his doing—even their Jonin."

Chiyo opened her mouth, then shut it.

This is the genius Konoha breeds. We... can't compete.

"Stop! That's enough!" Temari ran up and pulled Naruto off Gaara. "He's going to die!"

Naruto wiped his fists calmly. "Don't worry, I held back."

Temari stared at Gaara's swollen face. "This is what you call holding back?"

Naruto shrugged. "If I hadn't cared about your feelings, he'd be dead."

Temari's expression softened. Her heart skipped.

He said he cared about my feelings…

For a moment, she forgot Gaara looked like a beaten watermelon.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You're not a stranger," Naruto replied with a wink, walking toward Hazuki and Chiyo.

[Ding! Option 2 complete. Reward granted: 10% One-Tail control.]

Inside Shukaku's mindspace, the tailed beast rampaged in fury.

"Let me out! I'll kill you all!"

But no matter how violently it attacked, the space held firm.

Then something new appeared—a black sphere began sucking in its chakra.

"What is this?!"

Shukaku pumped more chakra to resist, but the sphere only sucked harder.

Its body began to shrink.

"W-Wait… What is this thing?!"

For the first time in centuries, Shukaku panicked.

It had never felt this helpless.

Finally, the black orb vanished, leaving Shukaku shrunken and exhausted. It reinforced its seal immediately.

Compared to this… being sealed inside a Jinchūriki felt safe.

In the Nine-Tails' prison, the fox watched the tiny form of Shukaku reform from the residual chakra.

"…That idiot got eaten."

Kyuubi swallowed hard.

So… he really can kill me too…

By 11 PM, Konoha and Suna ninjas had retrieved the fallen. The dead from Suna were returned to their village; Konoha kept its own, as well as those from the Hidden Cloud. Enemy bodies were stripped of supplies and burned to avoid spreading disease.

Fires lit up the forest like daylight.

Naruto sat on a high branch, holding Temari's hand as they waited for Hazuki to finish talking with Chiyo.

Temari was unusually quiet—she didn't want to say goodbye.

So Naruto just sat with her.

He could feel Shukaku's chakra now within him. Not exactly dismembered, but very similar.

Could I… one day gather all the Tailed Beasts? Would that make me the Ten-Tails?

Maybe.

"Naruto~" Temari whispered, leaning close.

Her soft breath brushed his cheek. The scent of gardenia filled his nose.

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Wait… are you using my gold medal shower gel?!"

Temari: "…"

Just like that, the mood shattered.

"You ruin every moment," she grumbled.

Naruto pointed toward Hazuki and Chiyo. "Girl, be careful. They're watching."

"What?! I didn't even do anything!"

"You showered. You came to see me late at night. You're seducing me!"

"You—! That's not true!"

"It is!"

"It's not!"

Naruto grinned. She just wanted to ask if I'd miss her again.

She never tired of asking.

He held her hand tighter.

The breeze carried the smell of autumn leaves. Temari's hair brushed his face.

"Do I look good?" she asked.

"You're beautiful."

Naruto smirked. She was too bold—no blushing at all.

Unlike Hinata, who'd faint from one glance.

"Don't you have something else to say?" Temari nudged his side.

"Like what?"

"Like… compliment me or something."

Naruto chuckled, brushing a leaf from her head. "I had jerky this morning."

"No! I want you to say I'm beautiful!"

"You want Konoha snacks? I'll send you some."

"Ugh! You're impossible!"

"I'm very handsome!"

Temari rolled her eyes and sulked in silence.

When Hazuki called them over, Naruto leaned in and whispered, "I'll save the compliments for next time. I'll miss you."

Temari's cheeks turned pink. Her eyes darted away.

She left with Chiyo and a swollen-faced Gaara, unable to say another word.

As Naruto watched her go, Hazuki appeared beside him.

"Looks good, huh?" she asked coolly.

Naruto turned. His wife looked slightly… frosty.

"Yeah. She's pretty. But not half as pretty as you."

"Liar."

But she smiled beneath the moonlight.

[Friend "Sarutobi Hazuki"'s corruption level increased by 5%. Current value: 55%]