Forced to sell misery

"that……"

Gaara hesitated.

"Don't disturb the guests' rest, Gaara."

A hand landed on the top of Gaara's hair and gently rubbed it.

"Temari."

Gaara looked at the person who came with some surprise and turned his head to avoid Temari's hand on his head.

"Call me sister, sister!"

My brother is becoming less and less cute...

Before Gaara dodged, she still took the opportunity to ruffle his soft hair, Temari emphasized with dissatisfaction.

"……elder sister."

Although a little reluctant, the red panda still called obediently.

"Um,"

Having spared Gaara's hair as she wished, Temari raised the corners of her lips.

Kimimaro looked at the brother and sister silently without saying anything. He just hesitated whether to close the door. However, it was very rude to do so...

"I'm really sorry to bother you."

Noticing Kimimaro's gaze, Temari nodded to Kimimaro and left with Gaara.

The door closed softly behind him and Gaara stopped walking.

"what happened?"

Temari naturally reached out to hold her brother's hand, but then she thought that Gaara had grown up and was no longer the little, quiet child holding the teddy bear, so she naturally raised her hand and ruffled his hair again.

Gaara looked into Temari's eyes, pursed his lips, lowered his head, and spoke in an almost inaudible voice.

"Why doesn't Brother Jingye want to see me?"

Staring with a pair of innocent big eyes, Gaara exudes a sad feeling like an abandoned little animal.

"…Probably, he's very busy with his mission, just like his father."

Looking at Gaara like this, Temari was speechless for a moment, but still explained in a low voice.

In my memory, that guy with black hair and black eyes, who had a very nice smile and played with them, didn’t look like a ninja big brother at all. He really had a great influence on Gaara.

The last time Kankuro accidentally broke a flowerpot while fiddling with a puppet, Gaara got really angry... Not to mention Kankuro, she was a little scared.

Gaara said that it was a cactus that he had grown with great effort and wanted to give to his brother Jingye.

Originally it was Kankuro who was wrong. After she forced Kankuro to apologize to Gaara, Kankuro kept avoiding Gaara.

My younger brother is so difficult to take care of... Temari felt a slight headache.

My childhood memories are a little vague, but since meeting that older brother, Gaara rarely loses his temper. Even though that older brother eventually left, Gaara has always behaved well under the guidance of his father.

How did my father teach Gaara?

Temari thought about it, then pressed Gaara's shoulders, looked him straight in the eyes and said,

"Brother Jingye must be a very powerful ninja, so I, Gaara, must also practice ninjutsu well..."

Forgetting the words for a moment, Temari thought for a moment and said,

"Didn't father arrange for you to take part in the Chunin Exam with us? If Gaara can pass the exam and become a powerful ninja, perhaps Brother Jingye will recognize Gaara."

"Ah."

Having heard these words countless times, the red panda hung his head and nodded obediently.

"Brother Kagamiya is a ninja from Konoha, right? We are going to Konoha for the Chunin Exam as well."

Sure enough, when Gaara heard the word Konoha, his eyes lit up instantly!

Temari couldn't help but smile secretly. She knew Gaara very well. For Gaara, who possessed great strength, the Chunin Exam was indeed not worth worrying about. However, if it came to Brother Jingye, Gaara would definitely be obedient.

"Let's go. We still have a lot to prepare for before going to Konoha for the exam."

"Ah."

Gaara nodded, and he remembered what Brother Jingye once told him, that the person he would meet, "the one who would give him the courage to change himself, would become a companion that he could cherish each other."

If Brother Jingye is from Konoha, then is that person also a ninja from Konoha?

I will find you.

-

Back in the room, Kimimaro placed the box of small cacti on the table and stared at his palm.

The wound had indeed healed, leaving only dark stains where the blood had dried.

He was thinking about Gaara.

To be able to ask such a question, he must be a very well-protected child, right?

It just gives people the feeling that it is some kind of abandoned animal.

For some reason, he thought of Bai again, and the little white flower he saw under the tree that winter.

Just when Kimimaro was in a daze, the Flying Thunder God Seal left in the room was triggered, and Kagamiya and Chiyo Granny appeared in the room together.

"Lord Jingye?"

Kimimaro stood up, but felt that the atmosphere in the room was really weird... so he quietly stepped back, trying to reduce his presence.

Staring at Jing Ye unkindly, Chiyo rolled up her sleeves and told Jing Ye to take action.

"why?"

"Because it's not necessary."

Not in the mood to fight with Grandma Chiyo, Jing Ye sat down, poured a cup of tea, and placed it in front of Grandma Chiyo.

"Or are you ready to kill the scorpion or be killed by it?"

"I……"

“So I stopped it.”

Jing Ye also poured himself a glass of water, took a sip, and said slowly,

"I know that as an outsider, I have no right to interfere in the affairs between you and your grandchildren, so I am not interested in your ideas. The agreement to let you see Scorpion has been fulfilled. What happens next will be decided by you, Grandma Chiyo."

"But don't forget that I am also a member of Akatsuki."

Looking up at Grandma Chiyo, Jing Ye said calmly, "Orochimaru betrayed Akatsuki, so he is naturally our target. I will also leave Sunagakure and continue to track down Orochimaru's whereabouts."

"That's all I have to say. You can go now."

Ignoring Grandma Chiyo's livid face, Jing Ye directly ordered him to leave. Although it was not good to be so arrogant on someone else's territory, he was at least an honorary consultant recognized by Sunagakure.

Granny Chiyo snorted coldly and left.

"This is?"

Looking at the extra cactus in the paper box on the table, Jing Ye was stunned for a moment and looked at Kimimaro.

"A child brought it to me and asked me to pass it on to Lord Jingye."

"...That's it."

Jing Ye didn't ask any more questions and reached out to touch the thin sharp thorns of the cactus.

"Did Lord Jingye abandon the child?"

A tiny spike suddenly pierced into the fingertip. Jing Ye withdrew his hand, lowered his eyes, and watched the small drop of blood slowly seeping out of the skin.

I don’t know why, but often times these small wounds are the most painful.

"Why do you say that?" Jing Ye looked at Kimimaro with a puzzled expression for a moment.

"Then why doesn't Lord Jingye want to see him?"

"I……"

Jing Ye was speechless for a moment.

"That kid said you were important to him."

Looking directly into Jingye's eyes without any hesitation, Kimimaro continued.

"Kimimaro,"

The teacup was placed on the table, making a slight sound, but because the room was so quiet, it was extremely clear.

"The man you helped Orochimaru kill, the Sandaime Kazekage of Sunagakure, is the father of that child."

Kimimaro was stunned.

"Are you blaming me, Lord Jingye?"

"No, it's not anyone's fault for standing on different sides, but..."

Jingye did not continue to speak. Kimimaro also understood what Jingye meant, but he still felt puzzled. He looked at Jingye and asked,

"Then Lord Jingye, do you think it's your fault?"

Because he felt that he was responsible for the death of the Fourth Kazekage, he was unwilling to see the child.

"No."

Jing Ye looked away, looking a little embarrassed for a rare moment.

"I see."

Kimimaro nodded. For a moment, the room was terribly quiet. The only sound that could be heard was the faint sound of sand hitting the window.