Naruto: The new beginning

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After strolling through the streets, Naruto returned with a bunch of goods, but his little frog purse was completely empty. To make matters worse, he had borrowed some money from Sasuke.

Although people often claim that Sunagakure is barren, it is still one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Its resources may be limited compared to others, but it is far from destitute.

Unexpectedly, Temari had a knack for being a tour guide. She subtly encouraged the group to shop and enjoy themselves, which not only entertained their Konoha guests but also contributed to Sunagakure's economy.

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"Konoha's White Fang, die!"

Just as everyone was having a good time, an elderly woman suddenly appeared and threw a punch at Kakashi.

Kakashi's eyes widened in shock. Hearing the mention of his father's name seemed to catch him off guard, and he didn't dodge in time.

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke stood to the side, carrying shopping bags. They didn't intervene, as the old woman wasn't particularly fast, and they were confident she couldn't harm Kakashi.

Temari, however, reacted quickly. She drew her giant fan and stepped between them, shouting, "Granny Chiyo, what are you doing?!"

Chiyo, her expression fierce, demanded, "Step aside! This man is the son of the White Fang of Konoha the man who killed my son and daughter-in-law and ruined my grandson's life!"

Temari stood firm and explained, "You're mistaken! This is Hatake Kakashi, not the White Fang!"

Granny Chiyo paused, squinting as she inspected Kakashi closely. After a moment, she realized her mistake. "Ah, that's right. The White Fang is already dead."

Temari exhaled in relief and lowered her fan. "Please be more careful next time."

Chiyo chuckled awkwardly. "My apologies, my eyesight isn't what it used to be." She turned and walked away.

Temari sighed and turned to Kakashi. "I'm so sorry, Granny Chiyo can get overly emotional."

Kakashi waved it off. "It's fine. No harm done."

Naruto, however, wasn't convinced. He muttered under his breath, "That old hag didn't seem all that remorseful. Maybe she really just wanted to hit Kakashi-sensei. 'Bad eyesight,' huh? Funny how her vision improves during battles."

Still, Chiyo's outburst soured the group's mood, so they decided to cut their shopping trip short and followed Temari to their lodging.

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On the way, Naruto asked, "Why did Gaara suddenly decide to host the Chūnin Exams?"

Temari hesitated before responding. "I suppose it's fine to tell you. Even though Gaara has become the Fifth Kazekage, his position is still precarious."

She continued, "Our father, the Fourth Kazekage, made some terrible decisions. His experiments not only cost countless lives, including our mother's but also caused Gaara to lose control of Shukaku. The result was Gaara's transformation from a sweet child into the terrifying figure everyone in Sunagakure feared."

"After the failed invasion of Konoha, Gaara returned to the village as a prisoner. His reputation hit rock bottom, and becoming Kazekage under such circumstances was incredibly difficult."

Temari explained that Gaara worked tirelessly to rebuild his reputation, taking on mission after mission.

Since he was used to sleepless nights due to Shukaku, he pushed himself even harder, determined to prove his worth.

Temari and Kankurō supported him as much as they could, but even they couldn't keep up with his gruelling pace.

Eventually, Gaara earned enough respect to be recognized as Kazekage. Even Maki, the acting Kazekage, willingly stepped aside, feeling unworthy of the title.

However, not everyone was pleased with Gaara's rise to power. Some harboured grudges against him, while others simply opposed his leadership for personal gain.

Gaara, knowing this, decided to draw out his opponents by hosting a large-scale event the joint Chūnin Exams.

He believed that such a high-profile event would compel his enemies to reveal themselves, allowing him to deal with them decisively and bring stability to Sunagakure.

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As Temari recounted these events, Naruto and his friends couldn't help but admire Gaara's resolve.

For a thirteen-year-old boy to bear such a heavy burden and work tirelessly for the future of his village was nothing short of remarkable.

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When they arrived at the hotel, Temari showed them to their rooms. Naruto looked around and remarked, "Not bad. At least it's not some cardboard bed like the underworld Olympics."

Just as Temari was about to leave, Naruto stopped her. "Wait a minute."

Temari turned, puzzled. "Is there something else?"

Naruto activated a soundproof barrier, his serious demeanour catching even Kakashi's attention. "Do you know the Yūra who greeted us earlier?"

Temari thought for a moment. "Yūra? He's the captain of the guard unit. He's known for being meticulous and hardworking. Maki holds him in high regard. Why?"

Naruto frowned. "I sensed something strange in his chakra specifically in his brain. He may be been manipulated. If he's in charge of security, you should be cautious."

Temari's expression darkened. "Are you certain?"

Naruto nodded. "I can't say for sure what's going on, but it's better to be safe than sorry."

Temari thanked him and left, her mind already racing with thoughts about Yūra.

Naruto, meanwhile, muttered to himself, "I could've told Gaara directly, but... Shukaku's voice is just too annoying."

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