"Go to hell!" Gaara was completely overwhelmed by his murderous intent. "Shiro, as long as I kill you, I will be real!"
"Alas…" Shiro looked at Gaara as if he were looking at a child throwing a tantrum, and said helplessly, "The Tailed Beasts really are a menace. Look at what they've done to this boy. He's completely lost his mind."
BAM!
Just as Gaara's sand-claw was about to reach Shiro's head, Danzo suddenly leaped into the air and sent Gaara flying with a single kick.
"Don't underestimate my pet dog's taijutsu."
Although Gaara had been half-consumed by Shukaku and his strength had greatly increased, the gap was still too wide when facing Danzo, who possessed Kage-level strength.
"Shiro!" Gaara screamed, climbing up from the rubble. "Why don't you fight me yourself? Are you afraid of me?!"
"Don't you want to confirm the value of your own existence? If you want to confirm it, then fight me!"
"Is this the extent of your existence? Do you need to rely on others to prove it?"
When Gaara uttered those soul-searching questions, not only Shiro but almost everyone present was stunned. How twisted must a person's mind be to say such words?
"You really are… noisy," Shiro said, a little amused. "But since you want to fight me so badly, I will grant your wish." After saying that, Shiro patted Danzo's head, signaling him to stand down.
"Come on, then. Come and hit me," Shiro said, waving a hand and standing still.
"Hah!" Gaara rushed forward again. His body was being consumed more and more by Shukaku, and his strength was growing with each passing moment.
"Let me show you my true power!" Gaara charged at Shiro, a ferocious look on his face. He expected Shiro to use some ninjutsu to counter his attack, but he never expected Shiro to simply open his mouth and say, "Danzo, go!"
BAM! Hearing his master's order, Danzo, who had been struggling to contain himself, quickly stood up and kicked Gaara away again.
"…"
Gaara was completely furious. He shook his head violently, and when he regained his focus, he screamed, "Shiro, you coward who only lets others fight for you! I… I must kill you!"
"Alright, alright, I really didn't mean to do that. I just didn't react in time and gave an order out of habit," Shiro said, scratching his head with a look of apology. "I promise, no one else will interfere this time. Come on."
Gaara, surprisingly, took him at his word and rushed forward again. This time, Shiro wasn't going to play any more tricks. Originally, he hadn't wanted to target the Hidden Sand. But for this kind of persistent, mentally unstable opponent, it was necessary to use a cruel dose of reality to make him sober up.
"Wood Style: Cutting Sprigs Jutsu!"
Roots, branches, and vines erupted from Shiro's body. In the blink of an eye, the vines pierced Gaara's body, hoisting him high into the air.
"Ngh…" A large mouthful of blood spurted from Gaara's mouth. He widened his eyes, startled at first, and then suddenly burst into a fit of insane laughter. "Hahahaha, hahahahaha…"
"I see, so that's how it feels."
"This kind of pain… as long as I defeat the person who can inflict it upon me and take everything from him, it will only make me feel more alive!"
At that moment, Kankuro, Temari, and their teacher, Baki, hurried over. Looking at the scene before him, Baki instantly understood what had just happened.
"Stop it, Gaara!" he shouted. "You are no match for him!"
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